Actually, the President doesn't have the ability to line item veto bills--it would take a constitutional amendment to allow him to do so. As far as tracking legislative bills, that can be done at this website (where you will also find the wording for the bail out bill): http://thomas.loc.gov/

Also consider picking up compilations of Dave Barry's columns (or P.J. O'Rourke). I also really enjoyed AJ Jacobs' book The Know-It-All: One Man s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World--a true story about the guy who set out to read the Encyclopadeia Britannica in its entirety--it's actually pretty funny.

I've read three: Huck Finn, Chocolate War (loved!), and Color Purple (the movie was WAY better).

You can't forget all of the Abbott and Costello, Three Stooges, Marx Brothers, Ma and Pa Kettle, and Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis movies (and Charlie Chaplin). Then there's: The Incredible Mr. Limpit (w/Don Knotts as a fish--I loved this movie as a kid!) Mr. Mom The Money Pit The Long, Long Trailer Mrs. Doubtfire InnerSpace Home Alone What About Bob RV Ghostbusters

..what would you teach to each grade level? I may have bitten off more than I can chew (we'll see), but I've volunteered to be the Art teacher for my kids' school. They don't have a curriculum and I'd be teaching Pre-6. The classes are broken up like this: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1/2, 3/4, 5/6. It will be one day per week and, basically, it's entirely up to me what to teach and how. They do have supplies and a small budget. So, the question that baffles me is how to come up with a course of study that is different for each grade. This is keeping in mind that if I do this next year I wouldn't want to repeat myself (or maybe i do?). If anyone here has ideas for me, please, PLEASE, post. I would love you to pieces!!!

In rural Michigan the lines are very long, but the price hasn't yet jumped. I've been told by "reliable sources" that the price of gas in Lansing is $6-7/gallon and $5 gallon a little further north of there. Also, I've been told that in Saginaw people are brandishing guns to make sure no one takes their place in line. How reliable is this information? It has all come to me as "My niece says..." OR "My neighbor told me...." I've not yet spoke to someone who was a 1st person witness yet. But, to be on the safe side I did fill up tonight (at the gas station I was at they had already had many drive-aways and were policing the pumps to prevent further thievery).

Well, I am a libertarian (hence, my username), though I'm a small "L" libertarian (meaning, I'm not a member of the Libertarian party, nor do I necessarily always vote for their candidates). I didn't follow the other links (so, sorry if this is a repeat), but to put it in my own words I believe in personal freedoms and free markets with as little government interference as possible. As long as I am not harming someone else's person or property, I should be left alone, basically. Some libertarians go so far as to say, thus, that prostitution and drugs should be legalized (or at least decriminilized). Also, I'm a pro-life libertarian, meaning that I believe these liberties extend to the unborn also (for me, the life of the unborn is equal in value to the life--and choices--of the mother, except if the mother's life is in danger), but I'm probably not a typical libertarian in this belief. Also, there are two sets of liberties: social (abortion, drugs, gay marriage, etc...) and economic (lower taxes, ending corporate welfare, free trade, etc...). The Democratic Party normally embraces social liberties, but not ecnomic. The Republican Party normally embraces economic liberties, but not social. The Libertarian Party embraces both. If you wonder whether you are also a libertarian (many people are and just don't realize it), here's the world's smallest political quiz: http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html

For the question, I'd have to ask about mysteries that have always plagued my mind. Like, who really killed JFK? Or, what really happened to all those people who abandoned that New England colony way back when (can't remember the town's name now)? Or, is Atlantis real and, if so, where is it? Or, is there life on other planets? (It'd be very hard to pick just one, but I guess I'd pick that last one over the others) For the person, because I'm hopelessly adolescent still, it'd be Bono.

Congrats!!!!

The whole time I was growing up my dad was never home (barely ever). My mom always told me he was working late. I thought he was the greatest dad in the world because he worked so hard for our family. His work ethic inspired me to do great things in school and beyond. It wasn't until I was an adult that I found out the truth: my dad wasn't working most night-- he was at the bar drinking/partying every night. This may sound warped, but I've always greatly admired my mother for lying to me. I grew up thinking the BEST of my dad (who slowly gave up drinking over the years--his policy was to never get drunk around the kids). I'm very close to my dad and love him dearly--how might have things turned out if I'd grown up despising my dad? In all honesty, I do not know how my mom hid her own emotions so well, but she never did let on that anything was wrong in their marriage or with my dad (she is a rock). They've been married 60 years, my Dad never leaves the house and they are like newlyweds in love.

The situation with this particular child is that he and I are WAY too much alike. He knows every button to push and is very devious about pushing them (please don't misunderstand, though, he is a GREAT kid). The last time we tried hs him and quit, my dh said it was Strike #3 and that would be it. My 9yods, OTOH, was a DREAM to homeschool. He was always very compliant and we got along superbly. I truly felt like a teacher (in my element) during the whole process and he learned a lot. Sometimes, for fun, he'll get back out the work he completed w/me--like a photo album bringing back fond memories. He's been homeschooled twice: 1)The reason I stopped hs-ing him the 1st time was I had to take that job an hour away, so he followed brother. 2)The 2nd time I stopped homeschooling him was because I was spending 2-3 hours (depending on traffic) on the road driving ds#1 to charter school in the other city at the same time and it was way too stressful (for both of us). My other two were not yet school-aged the times we homeschooled. I have also thought about just homeschooling dc 2,3 and 4. Even though my 9yods did well in public school last year (all A's, developed an absolute LOVE of reading, etc...), he began to cop that public school attitude (he has changed dramatically in that respect in just the past year--it does make me very sad and filled with great regret, needless to say).

Thanks for posting- this does make me feel a little better. Do you mind if I ask--were you in a military family?

Well, actually, (and here I am thinking too much again--a road I probably shouldn't go down) there is a Christian private school 30 mi away that has converted their curriculum to a classical education (Latin and everything). The work I do from home can be done anywhere (w/laptop and internet aircard) and I know people w/ office space in this other town. I believe we could afford the costs for all 4 of my dc as the tuition is capped at 11% of total income (might be tight, but do-able). Also, the school does have a good basketball team, so ds wouldn't be completely out when it comes to sports. Drawbacks- (1)-My ds loves the public school so much that I know he'd be upset. (2)- In the past when we'd investigated this particular school, they didn't emphasize college prep at all (would this have changed now that they are classical? It's possible, but would have to research further to know for sure). (3)- What would I do if one of my dc is sick? How would I get the other 3 to school? Ughhhh!! Do you see the corners I paint myself into when I think about all this too much?! I hate that I lack wisdom, though I have been praying and am anticipating God's abundant blessing of such soon. Thanks, all, for listening to my rants.

Do mean in place of public school or as a supplement? If as a supplement, I have thought about this. This summer, he has been going to an Algebra teacher 2x/week (in anticipation of having no "real" math teacher next year). Currently, the tutor sees him in the morning, but, if I ask real nice, maybe she'd consider continuing on with him after school this fall. That would make me feel better about the math. I would then just have to make sure he's up to snuff with other subjects for college. Obviously, I'm thinking out loud here. (I knew posting on here might unlock some potential answers for me!! Thanks!)

Unfortunately, no. Right now they are concentrated too heavily on avoiding a takeover and that is where all their resources will be heading. They don't even have a gifted and talented program at this school. Sorry to keep complaining. I'm sure there are good things to say about this school, but they're just not coming to mind right now.

Have we done permanent damage to our children by never making up our minds about their educational fate? Here has been my oldest ds' educational journey. In parenthesis are the reasons we had for making whatever switch we did that year. K- charter school #1 1- 1 month homeschool / 8 months- charter school #1 (too difficult to homeschool-butted heads constantly) 2- charter school #1 (school starts getting influx of very badly behaved kids/influences) 3- ½ year- public school / ½ year- homeschool (public school terrible environment- bullying, etc…) 4- 8 months- homeschool / 1 month- charter school #1 (reached breaking point with attitude- hear reports that charter school has changed under new leadership) 5- 6 months- charter school #1 / 6 months- charter school #2 (finances force me to take a job 1 hr away- switch kids to school closer to work; charter school #1 had started to go down hill anyway; new charter school is best school in the entire state) 6- 1 month- homeschool / 7 months- charter school #2 / 1 month – public school (lose job in summer; get job from home; start to homeschool in fall but bad attitudes prevail, put back in very good charter school but unable to keep up with gas prices so switch to public) 7- public school Despite all the switches, my ds is extremely intelligent (though a tad on the careless side--I've mentioned that here before and was told that this is typical for a 13yo). He got good grades last year (all A's and B's) and got along very well with all of his teachers. He is very mature, participated in several sports and loves school. The one big drawback last year was the friend/popular culture/attitude saturation level we are enduring (almost intolerable, but not enough to switch schools). Now, he is going into 8th and we've learned that our public school high school (there is only one within 30 miles) has gotten so bad that only 27% of the 11th graders meet state standards for performance in math, and the school is at the 2nd step toward state government take-over due to dismal performance overall. Also, my ds' middle school had so many budget cuts this summer that the one good 8th grade math teacher was eliminated (leaving the one with more seniority who cannot teach--this is not my opinion; this is from other teachers in the school saying this). Here are the two biggest goals for our kids: 1- Relationship with Jesus Christ 2- Prepared for College (ds needs good math skills to pursue the careers he has talked about) Neither of the above goals will be met by our local public school, but, certainly, I couldn't change him again. At some point, we must resign ourselves to fate (right?). I don't even want to entertain all of the various choices there are, because, to be honest, I don't want to even go down the road that might lead to a switch. (ie. private Christian school 30 miles away or back to charter school #2 with me getting a job in that city to justify the drive, etc...) I guess I'm just venting to let you all know my truly shameful secret (and ongoing agony). Please do not despise me.

I went through this same process a couple months ago. At first, I thought I wanted stainless steel due to the health issues. But, I bought a set (expensive good ones) and learned that I'm too accustomed to things not sticking and my pans being painfree to clean. So, I returned the stainless and went with nonstick hard adonized (Cuisinart). Supposedly, flaking won't be a problem. Now, if money is no object, go with Le Creuset instead. This is enamal over cast iron. They are extremely expensive, but worth it (or so I'm told).

My 13yods is one of the most intelligent and responsible kids you could ever meet. And he has the tremendous gift (not inherited from me) of being able to do math in his head (not like Rainman--just normal everyday logical things that would baffle my non-math mind, such as figuring out 35% off an item while at the store, etc...) Anyway, his desire is to become an engineer, so even though he earned an A in Pre-Algebra last year (he's in ps), I arranged for him to see an Algebra tutor this summer to get him ahead of the game for next year (also 8th grade Algebra can actually be counted toward his high school credits if he does well). The problem is that, according to his tutor, my ds keeps making very stupid mistakes. I believe her. I noticed this last year in 7th grade where the policy was to allow the students to re-do papers until they got the problems correct--sometimes my ds had to re-do papers 2-3 times before getting them all correct. (Then, when he would have a test, he'd get a bad grade. Because the class only had 2 tests and because he was good about re-doing all the papers until they were right, he ended up with a good grade in the end.) The mistakes he makes are ones that even he notices once the tutor goes over them with him. This tutor says such mistake-making is common for my ds' age, but how does one train this tendency out of a child? I don't want him making mistakes in 8th grade Algebra and messing up his chances of making it count toward his high school credit. Even when I tell him to go back and check for mistakes (which he sits down and does), this happens. What is the remedy?

I was very surprised at how good Live Free or Die Hard was.

I'm assuming those choosing "1st born" were not only children (or else that choice would be equally large), so if every family that has a 1st born also has a last born wouldn't 1st and last be more evenly split in this poll? (I'm not good at math so please don't laugh too hard if this is a stupid question)

Gladiator: [after the final duel] Maximus: Quintus! Release my men. Senator Gracchus is to be reinstated. There was a dream that was Rome. It shall be realized. These are the wishes of Marcus Aurelius. and then... Lucilla: Is Rome worth one good man's life? We believed it once. Make us believe it again. He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him. Gracchus: Who will help me carry him? [Gladiators surround Maximus to carry him out of the arena] Cast Away: Kelly Frears: You said you'd be right back. Chuck Noland: I'm so sorry. Kelly Frears: Me too. The Little Princess (with Shirley Temple) When she finally finds her father alive in the hospital, but he is in a state of delusion- Sara Crewe: Daddy? [shouts] Sara Crewe: Daddy! I found you at last! Oh, Daddy, Daddy, you won't ever go away again, will you? Will you, Daddy? What's the matter, Daddy? Why won't you talk to me? Captain Reginald Crewe: Sara... Sara Crewe: Don't you know me, Daddy? I'm Sara, I'm Sara! Captain Reginald Crewe: Sara... Where is my daughter...? Sara Crewe: Oh, Daddy, something's happened to you! Oh, Daddy, you've got to know me! Look at me! Oh, Daddy... Captain Reginald Crewe: You mustn't cry... We must be good soldiers... Sara Crewe: But I have been a good soldier, and you don't know me, Daddy! Captain Reginald Crewe: You mustn't cry... My daughter Sara never cries... Sara Crewe: But I'm Sara! [shouts] Sara Crewe: I'm Sara! Amistad: Joseph Cinque: Give us, us free. Give us, us free. Give us, us free. Give us, us free. Give us, us free Shawshank Redemption: [last lines] Red: [narrating] I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope. Shindler's List: [at the end] Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don't know. If I'd just... I could have got more. Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them. Oskar Schindler: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money. You have no idea. If I'd just... Itzhak Stern: There will be generations because of what you did. Oskar Schindler: I didn't do enough! Itzhak Stern: You did so much. [schindler looks at his car] Oskar Schindler: This car. Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people. [removing Nazi pin from lapel] Oskar Schindler: This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me two for it, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern. For this. [sobbing] Oskar Schindler: I could have gotten one more person... and I didn't! And I... I didn't! Million Dollar Baby: Frankie Dunn: [to Maggie] All right. I'm gonna disconnect your air machine, then you're gonna go to sleep. Then I'll give you a shot, and you'll... stay asleep. Mo cuishle means "My darling, my blood." Philadelphia: this scene doesn't seem like much unless you know the context that he is dying- [Andrew transcendentally describes his favorite opera] Andrew Beckett: Do you like opera? Joe Miller: I'm not that familiar with opera. Andrew Beckett: This is my favorite aria. This is Maria Callas. This is "Andrea Chenier", Umberto Giordano. This is Madeleine. She's saying how during the French Revolution, a mob set fire to her house, and her mother died... saving her. "Look, the place that cradled me is burning." Can you hear the heartache in her voice? Can you feel it, Joe? In come the strings, and it changes everything. The music fills with a hope, and that'll change again. Listen... listen..."I bring sorrow to those who love me." Oh, that single cello! "It was during this sorrow that love came to me." A voice filled with harmony. It says, "Live still, I am life. Heaven is in your eyes. Is everything around you just the blood and mud? I am divine. I am oblivion. I am the god... that comes down from the heavens, and makes of the Earth a heaven. I am love!... I am love." And, of course, Passion of the Christ in its entirety

Are you speaking from experience? Have you been able to do this before (change several things at once)? If so, were you able to sustain the changes long term?

Thanks! I like this way of thinking. I guess I'm only around 1/2 way to the end (given a normal life span), so I've got plenty of time to turn it around and live most of my life doing the things I should do. Of course, I only think I've been "off track" for the past 18 years or so anyway (I was an overacheiver in hs and college, so I can't count until AFTER those years, right?).

I also was in NHS and got good grades through college. Is there a connection I wonder?