F-Word T-Shirt

This is classic. Definitely something Frederer would wear.

Advent Conspiracy 2008

Could Homeschooling Work for Us?

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This woman makes me want to homeschool my kids.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2008/11/color-me-counted/


Gorbulas just recently had his Kindergarten readiness test at school (now? in November? OK. whatever) and he met or exceeded all the marks except fine motor skills. Which doesn't surprise me. OK, so we just need to work on picking up beads with a tweezer...so be it.

But, as I started to think about how to prepare him for Kindergarten, I did a bit of research. This looks like just too much fun, I think I'm going to explode.
http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/learning/qt/coursehisk.htm

I like the Birk Plan

Sassybug had a terrific post that she found from a forum, and I thought it was just too good too pass up.
Enjoy.

I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife have $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college - it’ll be there
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs
Invest in the market - capital drives growth
Pay for your parent’s medical insurance - health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks
who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it. Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t. Sure it’s a crazy idea that can ”never work.” But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party! How do you spell Economic Boom? I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC. And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Kindest personal regards,
Birk
T. J . Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it’s either good for a laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!

It's Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas!

As you can see from my lack-of-blogging, I'm much busier now than I ever was when I was working. Which is ironic, because I felt busy then. I've really enjoyed not being chained to my desk and I've never been more active in volunteering and helping others. It's amazing.

Well, Fall is officially here and Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means my mind bypasses it and goes directly to Christmas. I love Christmas. I cannot wait for Christmas each and every year -- and each and every year, it seems to come more quickly than previous years, which is A-OK with me.

However, this year is different. Because...well...we really have no extra money. We can either pay the mortgage, or buy Christmas presents. We can either buy Christmas presents or pay our electric bill. Well, it's not quite THAT bad, but there are just no "extras" this year. I'm not sad, I'm just going to be adapatable. I'm a Gift Person if you're unfamiliar with Love Languages. OHHHH am I a gift person and there's always a way to make it work.

I'm hoping this year is the Year of Perspective, the Year of Family, or the Year of Anti-Consumerism, if you will. Black Friday may have come early, but still, without a job, there won't be multiple Christmas presents per person under our tree this year. And you know what? I'm OK with that. Presents will be given that's for sure (see prior paragraph -- hello, I'm a GIFT person!) but it won't have been purchased from any expensive retail establishment. No large eToys purchases will be coming via FedEx to our home, no plastic "Made in China" items will appear under our tree. Gifts will truly be from the heart, whether it's a set of handmade greeting cards or something edible or an inexpensive clothing item or a small toy for the kids. Maybe we'll revert to yesteryear when stockings were the big thing and there was one present under the tree.

And you know what, I think it might just be the best Christmas ever.

If you're like us and you live in the land of plenty....rest assured and be comforted knowing your kids need nothing except YOU and YOUR FAMILY.

And maybe a little surprise in their stocking.