Unschool Radical

Tomorrow, Ma3,2008 is Free Comic Book Day. Get your free comic book from participating retailers.
More info here
ARCHIE’S PAL JUGHEAD—FCBD 2008 EDITION
“Night At The Entertainment Museum!”—Jughead lands his dream job as a night watchman at the famous Geppi’s Entertainment Museum in Baltimore, but some of the exhibits are not what they seem. Mysterious things happen after hours! And when the museum’s one-of-a-kind items are replaced with identical look-alikes, it’s up to Archie and friends to unravel the clues and set things right! Especially since one of those items is Jughead!

BONGO COMICS FREE-FOR-ALL!—FCBD 2008 EDITION

by Matt Groening & Various

Sample The Simpsons and Futurama in the comfort of your own comic collection with this special pocket-sized Free Comic Book Day digest edition from Bongo Comics — boasting the best in humor comics!

HELLBOY/B.P.R.D.—FCBD 2008 EDITION

by Mike Mignola & Various

To celebrate the release of Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Dark Horse Comics presents an all-Hellboy/B.P.R.D. extravaganza for Free Comic Book Day 2008! Hellboy creator Mike Mignola teams up with Hellboy: Darkness Calls artist Duncan Fegredo for a look into Hellboy’s nightmares; Mignola also teams with his B.P.R.D. team of John Arcudi and Guy Davis for a breathtaking twist to recent events at the Bureau — a preview of the events in the upcoming series The Warning; and Hellboy Universe newcomers Joshua Dysart (Swamp Thing) and Paul Azaceta (Grounded) team with Mignola for another look into the world of their B.P.R.D.: 1946 series for an adventure from the early days of both the Bureau and its most famous member! A perfect jumping-on point for new readers and a terrific treat for seasoned fans of the rich Hellboy mythos! (C: 1-0-0)

ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1—FCBD 2008 EDITION

by Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely

Two of the comic industry’s biggest superstars, writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, the acclaimed team behind JLA: Earth 2 reunite to redefine the Man of Steel for a new generation. The first issue of the Eisner Award-winning series that Entertainment Weekly and Time magazine named one of the best comics of 2007 features the World’s Greatest Super Hero’s rescue of a group of astronauts on the surface of the sun, where he’s exposed to massive amounts of solar radiation. No one could have anticipated how he would be affected — except Lex Luthor!

PROJECT SUPERPOWERS—FCBD 2008 EDITION

by Alex Ross & Jim Krueger

Dynamite Entertainment and Alex Ross unleash Project Superpowers for the 2008 Free Comic Book Day event! In this special FCBD Edition, the creative team of Alex Ross and Jim Krueger present a special tale that connects the threads begun in Project Superpowers #0 and the seven-issue opening story arc of the series! Featuring a new cover by Alex Ross, this special FCBD Edition will not only be an essential release to connect the pieces of the entire Project Superpowers saga, but will act as an excellent entry point for the superhero series to end all superhero series! Plus, special previews of such Dynamite series as The Lone Ranger, Brothers in Arms, and more!

TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED—FCBD 2008 EDITION

This special 2008 Free Comic Book Day edition celebrates the new Transformers Animated series. In this, their first official comic book release, readers will be treated to a special 30-page story featuring the debut episode of the animated series on the printed page! See the introduction of young Optimus Prime, veteran Ratchet, and newcomers like Bulkhead, as they go up against Megatron, Starscream, and the Decepticon forces!

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The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today issued the following statement regarding the controversial film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed:

Anti-Evolution Film Misappropriates the Holocaust

New York, NY, April 29, 2008 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today issued the following statement regarding the controversial film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

The film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed misappropriates the Holocaust and its imagery as a part of its political effort to discredit the scientific community which rejects so-called intelligent design theory.

Hitler did not need Darwin to devise his heinous plan to exterminate the Jewish people and Darwin and evolutionary theory cannot explain Hitler’s genocidal madness.

Using the Holocaust in order to tarnish those who promote the theory of evolution is outrageous and trivializes the complex factors that led to the mass extermination of European Jewry.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

Tags: Unschooling // 1 Comment »

A great article from the New Scientist

If you think you understand it, you don’t know nearly enough about it

It will soon be 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin and 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species, arguably the most important book ever written. In it, Darwin outlined an idea that many still find shocking – that all life on Earth, including human life, evolved through natural selection.

Darwin presented compelling evidence for evolution in On the Origin and, since his time, the case has become overwhelming. Countless fossil discoveries allow us to trace the evolution of today’s organisms from earlier forms. DNA sequencing has confirmed beyond any doubt that all living creatures share a common origin. Innumerable examples of evolution in action can be seen all around us, from the pollution-matching pepper moth to fast-changing viruses such as HIV and H5N1 bird flu. Evolution is as firmly established a scientific fact as the roundness of the Earth.

And yet despite an ever-growing mountain of evidence, most people around the world are not taught the truth about evolution, if they are taught about it at all. Even in the UK, the birthplace of Darwin with an educated and increasingly secular population, one recent poll suggests less than half the population accepts evolution.

read complete article: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/dn13620-evolution-24-myths-and-misconceptions.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=top1_head_Evolution:

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While I am on a creation “science” rant about movie “Expelled” This are quite brilliant

Tags: Science and Nature // Add Comment »

I have written before about how appalled I am the “creation science” has actually become mainstream. Nauseated in fact.
The movie Expelled talks about how scientist have been ridiculed and expunged for exploring the IP belief. ( GOOD!) I prefer my science to looked at without the filter of delusion.

Scientific America: Ben Stein’s Expelled: No Integrity Displayed

Six Things in Expelled That Ben Stein Doesn’t Want You to Know…

…about intelligent design and evolution

Tags: Science and Nature, Unschooling, World Events-Politics // 1 Comment »

A movie about the trend to dismiss anyone - scientists, etc you challenge the concept of “Intelligent Design”. The movie is supposed to be exposing the suppression of thought.
Here is official site for the movie http://www.expelledthemovie.com/home.php
I am an atheists. I am sick of right wing nut cases cramming their religion down my throats. I am saddened by their stupidity and their need to believe in a fairy tale.
ALL religion is design to control people. Make them feeling better by suggesting an afterlife-m then scaring the shit out of them into “behaving”. Women are the biggest victim in this charade.

I am also a believer in freedom of speech so I thin this movie has as much right to exist as any other. I am shocked that christian and religious fundamentalist think that they are oppressed. It is the atheists who keep their mouth’s shut and “tolerate” their dumbness.
The only pace I REALLY feel free to express myself and how I really feel is on this blog and maybe with my husband and very close friends. I do have friends who are believers in something. I on some level I respect there right to believe whatever they want to- I do wish more people would speak about about religion. Freedom of religion is one thing- to expect others buy into it is another.
I am not sure what the answer is. I am not a communist but I do think religion is the placebo for the masses. Adding fuel to this motion of Intelligent Design is a stepping stone to science meeting religion. An no- the tow have business being connected. Science should be address and looked at through a completely clear lens- not shaded or clouded by ANYTHING not morals, not values, etc. Judged solely an completely on face value.

Tags: World Events-Politics // 3 Comments »

My NEW strategy is to stop rewarding the fighting. They must be getting something out of it or getting a “payoff” if they keep doing it- it must be working for them on some level. Maybe they like the drama? My losing it? One of them ends up getting their way and they are willing to take the chance?

My NEW improved way of reacting - is to not react at all. Ignore it. BUT reward the positive behavior- like I like how you are sharing… thank you for giving B. a turn or do something fun with the other kids you is not on PC.

I am also trying to honour their need to have own space and time with me and DH.
So far it has been okay- will take some time to permeate and me to get used to it.. Was a bad habit to get engaged with them and react to screaming and fighting. Will keep you posted.

Thanks for all the suggestion- the cabin fever consept really rang true!

Tags: Unschooling // 2 Comments »

yuck. More and more I can’t be around so-called mainstream families and a lot of homeschool moms. We are radical unschoolers which isn’t that odd here- but other similar style parenting families may not have kids my kids play with….

Yesterday my VERY shy son met a friend at a homeschooling event.. the mom was quite nice and her little boy adorable ( 4 years old ). The other older kids were doing something and I mentioned I had some paints, etc and did he want to do them with us- he replied he couldn’t because he had to do his homework. Yikes…

Later on the two boys talking about games and my son asked me for his Game-boy to show his new friend. His mom stopped me and said that she would prefer if her son didn’t look at it- and that he kids were not allowed video games…

My son was totally perplexed. I find it hard trying to explain other people stupid ideas and concepts to my kids. I am being blunt here. I normally don’t refer to other people ideas as stupid… this is one place I feel like I can be very raw and honest and not choose my words carefully.
I did tell my son that other families have different rules , etc and it REALLY bugged me that now MY son couldn’t play with his game boy… well I could have taken it out but in my mind wold have been more cruel to have that little boy watching B. play then B. waiting to play until later…

I have come across other families with rules that make no sense to me and have to curb my behaviour and go along with it. We have a boy come visit us and stay over night and his dad doesn’t allow him to have sugar… I though this was some kind of food allergy thing but turns out its because of dentist bills. The kids can have sugar Christmas, Halloween and Easter. They CAN have potato chips, raisin, dried fruits, etc which are just as bad if not worse! Have they not heard of a tooth brush??? So while they are here I am supposed to police them… which I just cant do so I tell parents that there kids can follow the rules but I am not here to enforce rules… Would I be different if it was an allergy- yes.
I have a very good friend who is vegetarian as are her kids. were were out one day and her daughter ordered a chicken sandwich and I asked her if it was okay and she said yes. I did feel weird… I mentioned to the mom that I felt I had to respect the child’s desire to have the sandwich and not follow a “rule” … The mom knew exactly where I was coming from and told me her kids could eat whatever they wanted and was their choice. Whew.

A religious thing? I don’t know. I am a DIE HARD atheist and believe people have a right to follow there own spiritual path,. I don’t think I could “enforce” if Jewish girl went fro a piece of bacon at the table. I highly doubt an orthodox family would let there kids stay in a home that wasn;t kosher and if they did there are all ready all kinds of rules being broken.

I certainly don’t think I would push the issue and wouldn’t serve pork but diary + meat would be hard. Tough one for me.

I am not sure I can even respect religious laws. I have been grappling with the idea of tolerance being the same as condoning vs. the right to choose your own path and feel more and more strongly that tolerating a stupid religion is the same as condoning (and by stupid I mean ALL ) . My belief is that religion is a weapon used to CONTROL thoughts and actions of people and very dangerous.

I also know if I were to express my real feeling my kids would have a VERY small pool of kids to play with I can’t just narrow my social choices to other radical unschooling, atheist families. Hard one to balance.

Tags: Unschooling, Unschooling Concepts and Ideas // 6 Comments »

I am not sure what ht our house this month. My children are at each other’s throats. I have a 10 year old girl and 4 year old boy. They have always got along and my daughter ADORES her little brother.

This month full blown wars have occurred over things like- she is looking at me. I don’t want her to watch TV. I don’t like her singing. Don’t hug her. She is on wrong side of the couch, etc. For her part she looks at hi extra hard when he doesn’t want her “looking” at him and sings louder when he asks her to stop.

He is asserting himself as a person and experimenting with free will.
The worst for me has been the crazy/nuts jealousy over our affection. I get a glare from him if I hug her. I I say thanks for putting laundry in dryer he glowers and says he helped too ( he didn’t)

World Was 2 erupts over the computer situation. The both like to be on the computer. He likes Youtube ans she likes making moving. Their own computer dies a couple of months ago and they have been suing my laptop.
I couldn’t take it anymore and went out to buy a new one yesterday to solve the problem . Nothing is stock. I went back to their older computer and took it apart ( did I mention I am bit of a geek?) . Checked everything and still wouldn’t work. I didn;t think ti was power supply because fan worked on and off- but yup- was power supply. Got a new one for 10.00 used yesterday and now back up and running ../ ( well sort of- the USB ports don’t work so will install a USB card later today)

I am stuck here. I have consciously tried t make sure this would not happen- by letting each person be their own- never comparing them, modelling like crazy, etc. I am struggling here!

My son has had some serious health problem in last few months and I am wondering if it is backlash from her perceiving that he is getting more attention than him.

My husband is trying to be sensitive however he does tend to expect her to take the “high” road all the time and I try to remind him- and myself- that she is still only 10.

Any ideas or thoughts?

Tags: Unschooling Family Life // 2 Comments »

I ALWAYS get post Christmas blues. I dont; love the day so much as the season! I love the baking and visiting and most of all the crafts. Feel a but of a void now that I don’t have candy canes to make, gingerbread to bake or card to design! Mu husband is Jewish an doesn’t get Christmas… so he is always happy to see it go away

Kids are still pretty rangy and house is a mess… I *may* take down tree today. At least I plan on getting rid of red and gold plaid place mats in dining room.
At any rate- every healthy and well . We plan on taking a road trip in February so at least i have that to plan for.

Kids start there routine as of tonight ( dance lessons) and next week they start skiing- which reminds me I have to figure out where the resort is!

Tags: Unschooling // 1 Comment »