BACK TO SCHOOL HODGEPODGE!

     Have you seen where the Summer went? It was here just a minute ago! Here we are the day after Labor Day already. 
     In a lot of places the new school year has commenced. Parents are rejoicing everywhere! I hope that everyone has a productive and wonderful school year. I pray for our teachers and the Herculean task that they have trying to fill the young heads full of mush with valuable information under less than ideal circumstances.
    It is of course Wednesday and therefore it is time for another set of probing questions that is the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce for another fine set of questions. Enjoy!

1. When you think about your future what do you fear most? Hope for the most?
      When I think about the future I fear the continued deterioration of common sense AND common decency. What I hope for the future is that the character and selflessness on display in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana in the wake of hurricane Harvey would become so common place that it is no longer noteworthy when it happens.
    
2. September is National Chicken Month. How often is chicken on the menu at your house? What's a favorite dish made with chicken? What's something you're a 'chicken' about doing or trying?
     We really like chicken at our house. We have chicken, on average, once or twice a week. A favorite chicken dish is Chicken Pot Pie. 
     Something that I am "chicken" about doing or trying is skydiving. I have never seen the positive side of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. In my humble opinion only two things fall out of the sky...bird crap and fools, and Mama didn't raise no fool.

3. What are three things you don't own but wish you did?
     I really do not want for anything. SWMBO and I are fairly content with our lives with one or two exceptions.  So, in no particular order of importance I would like to own (1) a portable ice maker. Our freezer is often too packed with food to use ice cube trays. It would be nice to be able to make our own ice as we need it.  (2) A large weather tight storage shed. We would like a safe and secure place to store summer furniture and other seasonable stuff for the winter. (3) A BluRay DVD player. It seems everything is coming out is on BluRay these days.

4. Would you rather be a jack of all trades or a master of one? Elaborate.  If you answered one, which one?
     I would like to be a jack of all trades. It would be great if I do things for myself that I now have to rely on others for. It would be equally as nice to be able to share these skills with those who might have need of them.

5. Ketchup or mustard? On what?
     I like both, depending upon the food. I use mustard for Ham, Hotdogs and Bologna sandwiches. I like ketchup on meatloaf, roast beef, french fries and onion rings.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
     I mentioned in my introductory remarks above that the school year has begun. I am reminded that our founding fathers strongly believed that our citizens ought to be well educated. They believed that all citizens should receive instruction on the U.S. Constitution, how our government is organized and what was the intent of that organizational paradigm. Citizens should understand the limits imposed upon, and the specific powers granted to, the federal government. Citizens should also understand the power of the individual states and individual citizens.
     Another area that needs to be brought back is a course in life skills. These are the skills everyone needs to be able to take care of themselves. Some of the skills needed are basic cooking, basic sewing, laundary, money management, basic housekeeping and manners. 
     I believe that if all students were well educated in these two areas, as well as the basics of Math, Reading, Writing, History, and Geography, and other disciplines, we would not have as many problems in our beloved Nation that we now have. 
     God bless our teachers and their students as the new school year begins.

POST A TO Z BLOG CHALLENGE HODGEPODGE!

1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Are you blooming where you're planted as we begin the month of May?
     There are flowers blooming in our yard thanks to my beloved SWMBO. Flowers, blooming or otherwise, don't take up too much of my conscious thinking time though.

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no big deal, and 10 being full scale panic, rank your fear of spiders.
     Normal household spiders do not bother me, so I'd have to say I'm a 1. They do scare the bejesus out of SWMBO and many a spider has died for frightening her so. Now if the spider is one of those humongus gargantuan sized spider then I'm a 6 and I break out the shotgun and go tactical on the intruding arachnid.

3. May is National Salad Month (who knew???)...besides lettuce, what are two must-have ingredients in your favorite salad?
     I live a good garden salad. There absolutely must be onions and tomatoes in any salad I consume.

4. I mentioned on my blog last week that my Daughter1 will be moving to Washington State after she is married. Of the following sites in the Northwest, which would you most like to see in person-Crater Lake (Oregon), Seattle (Washington), Vancouver (British Columbia), San Juan Islands (Washington),  Mt. Rainer (Washington) Oregon Coast (Oregon), Mt. St. Helens (Washington), or Olympic National Park (Washington)
     I would not object to going to see any of the locations that you mentioned. If I have to pick a favorite I think I'd go to Crater Lake in Oregon.

5. This coming weekend marks the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby...when did you last race (literally or figuratively) to cross a finish line?
     I cannot recall the last time that I raced in any way, shape or form. I have chased my granddaughters around the back yard but they always win.

6. What is something little you love?
     SWMBO and I have a Chinese Crested dog. He is abut 13 pounds. He is a love...except for those times that he is not. 
     
7. Would you say you are more of a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? Elaborate.
     All of the above depending on the subject matter. For example, when I learned how to shoot a firearm I had to listen to the instructions carefully. I had to watch the instructor demonstrate the physical aspects of shooting. I then practiced what I was taught and what I saw the instructors do. 
     In an academic environment I use auditory and visual. I don't know which one I absolutely need to use.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
     This month I participated in the A to Z Blogging Challenge where participants had to write a blog entry every day of the month except sundays. The subject of the blog entry had to begin with the letter of the day. Tomorrow I will be posting the last blog of the challenge. I still haven't decided which word beginning with "Z" I'll write about. So if you're interested, please stop by, see what I wrote about and leave a comment. 

E - EDUCATION

     Is education as valued today than it was in years past?  Are people as anxious to become educated today as they were in years past? Do we as a people have a thirst for knowledge as the people who came before us?

Our nation was founded by men of great intellect and learning. They believed that one of the best ways to insure liberty was an educated population. Our founding fathers encouraged the formation of public schools. Ironically, these men advocated the use of the Bible for the purposes of educating the nation’s people. I say ironically because if a teacher were to display a Bible on their desk in the classroom today, they would be in danger of losing their job.

Also, throughout history, oppressed people were intentionally kept ignorant by their oppressors. It was illegal to teach people to read or write or to do math. People were severely punished for illegally teaching people to read, write or do math. People were also severely punished for trying to learn how to read, write or do math. Oppressors know that an educated population is difficult, if not impossible, to keep oppressed.

Look at the state of education in America today. Judging by the high school drop-out rates, Education is held in contempt by many young people. Unfortunately these young people bear the brunt of their short sightedness. Their refusal to become educated results in their being unqualified to perform jobs that require high school level proficiency in reading, writing and math. It does not bode well for them or America. The best safeguard of liberty is an educated people!