Melissa's Idea Garden

I haven't read any of Tom Savage's books before. I picked this book up at a book sale because it looked intriguing. I didn't realize I was going to be in for such a treat! Savage is a master at placing red herrings and developing a fabulous psychological thriller.

While in college, four girls play a prank that will later come back to haunt them. Unfortunately, their unpleasant joke was unknowingly aimed at a guy who was not quite right in the head. He get expelled, kills his parents and ends up in prison. While in prison he has 12 years to plot his revenge against the women who he blames for ruining his life.

This book will take you into the midn of a psychotic intellectual who gets his revenge through hard work, preseverance and brilliance. You won't want to put the book down! I do admit that the very end of the story was a bit too pat. I think it would have presented a much more interesting dillemma if things had played out a little differently, but you will have to read it yourself to see what I mean.

I am usually pretty good at figuring out the whodunit in books, but this book surprised me in the end and I am ready to go back and read it again to search for the clues I missed the first time.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:43 AM | Permalink

WOW! What a movie! If you like movies that are thoughtful, twisty and keep you thinking after the last credit rolls, then this is the movie for you. It is a movie that you can't say a lot about for fear of giving away the plot.

The movie is not a fast paced movie and you can't spend time doing needlepoint or a crossword puzzle while watching it. You need to keep your eyes glued to the screen or else you will miss something. It is a movie you will want to watch more than once so you can find the clues you missed the first time. All of the actors do a bang-up performance in this movie and I highly recommend it!

From the DVD box:

Award-winning actors Hugh Jackman, Christian Blae, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson star in The Prestige, the twisting, turning story, that like all great magic tricks, stays with. Two young, passionate magicians, Robert Angier (Jackman), a charismatic showman, and Alfred Borden (Bale), a gifted illustionist, are friends and partners until one fateful night when their biggest trick goes terribly wrong. Now the bitterest of enemies, they will stop at nothing to learn each other's secrets. As their rivalry escalates into a total obsession full of deceit and sabotage, they risk everything to become the greatest magician of all time. But nothing is as it seems, so watch closely. And be prepared to watch it again and again.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:21 AM | Permalink

Tearing through laundry, messing up the bathroom—river otters aren't all that different from human toddlers, as one Missouri biologist and his wife learned when they raised orphaned pups.

Watch as Glenn and Jeannie Chambers endure "otter chaos" to teach Paddles and Babyface how to swim, to eat fish Popsicles, and generally to be themselves—all leading up to an emotional farewell.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:05 AM | Permalink

By now, many people have seen this photo of the large toad that is being called "Toadzilla".

Toadzilla: 2 pound Cane Toad captured in Australia.

There are two things that interest me about this oversized toad. One is that I heard a story about him on the radio that told just enough of the facts to grab people's attention, but not the complete story. The other thing that interests me is the cane toad is another example of man's trying to improve on nature and failing miserably.

First of all, I was listening to a morning radio station when the DJs brought up this story. Now, either their information was brief and not well researched or they just went for the sensational parts and left out the rest. For instance, they mentioned that "Toadzilla" is as large as a dog. Well...last time I checked dogs come in all shapes and sizes. For an uninformed listener, they may be thinking this toad is as big as say...a German Shepherd! However, he really is only about as large as a very small dog. All the DJ had to say was that he weighed in at a whopping 2 pounds, but of course it is much more sensational to use the dog reference.

The DJ went on to say that the toad was rare. Again, he didn't do his homework. This toad was imported into Australia in the 1930s in an attempt to control scarab beetles. Instead, it devastated wildlife in Australia ranging from snakes to lizards to crocodiles (which all die when they eat the poisonous cane toad). There is a group trying to eradicated the toads from Australia (where they didn't originally belong) and they are having a hard time getting rid of all of them. So it was made to sound like the species was rare, when in fact it is not.

So that was my first complaint and it made me wonder how many other news stories we hear are partial truths designed to sensationalize the facts instead of tell us the truth of the matter.

On to the second and even more important issue...this is another example of man meddling and the consequences being less than optimal. And maybe we should take a long look at that before we start making other changes to our environment. Some things to look at:

Kudzu (it was supposed to stop soil erosion and ended up being a virtually indestructible weed that took over all plant life alongside our highways.)

Killing of predators (kill off the wolves and then people are keep the deer population in check so that deer don't destroy agricultural interests and/or starve to death). This is just one example of this imbalance.

Introduction of Cane Toad : Here a predator was introduced, but the long term consequences were devastating. There are many other examples of this type of thing occuring too, even though the introduction is often through ignorance (pythons being let loose in the Everglades for example).

Now, we are a conscientious people on this planet. We feel like we cause imbalances or we see imbalances around us and we are driven to fix it. But we never seem to stop and think it through. We want the problem fixed immediately and we jump to it. I would like to see us learn from past mistakes and start to think thing through a bit. We shouldn't jump at the first solution that presents itself as usually the easiest or most obvious is not the best.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:53 PM | Permalink

Hexagon Cloud at Saturn's North Pole

This interesting cloud formation at the North Pole of Saturn is interesting for two reasons.

One, it is a relatively stable feature on a planet not known for stable features (it has been present for 25 years that we know of).

Two, it may give clues as to the true rotation of Saturn.

Visit National Geographic for the rest of the article.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:33 PM | Permalink

Charlotte's Web is enchanting and will hold your attention from the beginning to the end. The writers stay true to the story on this one and this classic still ahs the ability to warm your heart and take you back to the first time you read the story of the profound friendship between Charlotte and Wilbur. My children, 10 and 6, were captivated throughout the movie. Dakota Fanning did an excellent job as always. I enjoyed the simpler tone of the movie and the story of how we can make a difference by using our talents. I recommend this movie for your viewing pleasure! It is one the whole family can watch and enjoy!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:57 AM | Permalink

Two weeks ago, the kids and I went to see Happy Feet. I wanted to walk out about 5 minutes into the movie. The movie had several stories going on, and within the first five minutes, the audience was hit with penguins singing lusty songs lustily to one another. Time and again Hollywood works to trick us into watching cartoons that are better suited for adults. They could have used less suggestive songs and portrayed the same actions going on.

My 10 year old son lost interest in this movie pretty quickly. My 6 year old daughter loved the dancing. I was saddened by the bad science information (the egg that the father dropped would not have survived, they freeze almost instantly and it is practically impossible for the father to get the egg back up on his feet once he has dropped it.) I also couldn't figure out why Mumble's feathers took so long to molt properly. I think it was perhaps to emphasize him sticking out from the crowd and to help others identify him easily. At any rate, it was scientifically unsound. And then there was the whole environment twist. And of all the countries that Mumble could wash ashore it...isn't amazing that it was America instead of say Australia or somewhere in Africa...I

I don't mind giving my children environmental information, but I prefer to do it in a factual way, not covered up in a bunch of dancing and mumbo jumbo. If you want to see a good movie about penguins, watch The March of the Penguins. It is excellent!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is a fascinating and unique book that my children and I just finished reading. If you liked to be on the leading edge of new trends in the publishing world, I would definitely suggest you checking this book out.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is unlike any other book I have ever seen. Part film, part comic book and part great story, this book moves quickly and pulls the reader along every step of the way. My children loved the fact that after the first night of reading for about 20 minutes, we had covered about 80 pp. There are over 280 illustrations in this book, full page illustrations. In between the illustrations is an enchanting story and we learn about the double entendre of the title.

This book reveals the value of friendship and loyalty. It promotes the value of dreams. It shows the ability for one to be invisible to those around them. And it promotes preserverance in the face of adversity. And we were delighted to discover that one of the character's in the story was an actual person, though the story is fictional. It gave us something to research when we were done reading the book. This book will be enjoyed by all ages in your family and is destined, in my opinion, to begin a new wave in children's books.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:20 AM | Permalink

Strange Owl

First spotted in 1976, this 'strange owl,' was finally seen in its native enviroment. Previous specimans were ones that had been caught in nets. This owl lives in Peru, and is very rare. It is beleived there are only about 250 of them left and civilization is creeping in on their once remote home. Can't you just imagine this owl delivering messages at Hogwarts?

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I have long believed that we are not alone in this universe. There are simply too many planets out there. Too many solar systems for our planet to be the only one with living inhabitants. Even in our own solar system, the search is on for possible life. Microscopic in some situations, definitely different from life here on earth, but life nevertheless.

This image of an alleged extraterrestrial event, or of a natural phenomenon linked to lightning, was among 1,600 files posted on the French space agency's Web site.

France has done what I believe is the only right thing to do. They have published over 100,000 documents on the Internet regarding UFO cases they have studied over the years. They publish the hoaxes as well as the unexplained. I can only hope that other countries will follow suit and provide full disclosure. I do not think the mass hysteria that so many worry about would prevail. Personally, I find it comforting and exciting to think we are not alone...I just hope that we get to meet friendly other beings before we meet the not so friendly ones.

Here is the link to the rest of the article on MSNBC.
The link to the website in the article, but they are being slammed and it is hard to get to now.

So dust off your X-Files tapes, watch some Star Trek shows and dream about the possibilities. The truth is out there!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:55 AM | Permalink

Toyger

Toygers are a new 'designer' animal, well, they are relatively new, they have only been on the market since 1993. The creaters of the Toygers have tried to get them to resemble tigers and thus raise awareness in the world regarding that magnificent and endangered creature. Part of the funds raised from the sale of these animals goes back to helping preserve Tigers around the world. For more information read this article at National Geographic.

My daughter loves tigers, her room has a border of baby tigers, lions, and cheetahs running around it. She thinks these toygers are the cat's miaou!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Gliding Lizard

Wow! What a cool looking little guy. Researchers from China uncovered remarkably preserved remains of the unique creature—an ancient lizard that glided through the air on membranes supported by eight elongated ribs.

Visit National Geographic for a little more information.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 3:13 PM | Permalink

Think before you type and hit that send button! God knows we all have opinions and the Internet allows us to share them others want to hear them or not. The nice thing about blogs is that people can share their opinions and you don't have to read them. People tend to visit blogs of like minded individuals or they are searching out specific information. But even on blogs, you should be thinking a little bit about what you say. Would you say these things to the people you are saying them about if they were standing in front of you?

I am all for freedom of speech, but I think we should also stick to the old adage that if you don't have something nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all. And if you are compelled to say something ugly, try to say it in as pleasant terms as possible, sticking in words like, this is my opinion.

And beyond blogging there are the comments that people make on blogs and the emails people send. How many times have you had a bad day, gotten an email, took it the wrong way and fired back an ugly exchange? Then you were left trying to repair a relationship or hurt feelings. Our tongues and the words we let fly loose are a constant thing to be vigilant over. We can do more damage with our words than we could ever do with our fists. We can chip away at people in bits, or knock off huge sections all at once, when we are inattentive to the things we say.

Today I read an article about an overweight woman who only realized she was pregnant two days before the baby was born and she got horrible emails and comments about her weight and implications that that made her a bad mother. These are statements from perfect strangers who know nothing about her or why she has a weight problem. Apparently people sharing their unwanted opinions has become the way life is these days.

So, please, take a moment, think before you write. You can still say the same thing later if you still feel that way. But type the words, save, don't send, then go back to read it when you are in a calmer mood and see if that is what you really want to say. In the days before instant email and chat groups, we either had to call, write a letter or go see a person we wanted to fuss at. And we often curb our tongue in face to face encounters or even over the phone because the other person is there to talk immediately back. When writing a letter, the effort of writing the letter actually calms you and takes the wind out of your sails. Years ago in counselling, a counsellor suggested to my husband and I that we have arguments on paper. It always made us stick to the issue at hand...who wanted to write down words bringing in dozens of other issues or the other person's mother!?

So before you send your bullets flying across the internet...think, how would you feel if those words came flying back at you...

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:25 AM | Permalink

7 potential caves have been located on Mars by the Mars Odyssey. The are near the volcano,Arsia Mons, located in the equator region. The Orbiter is going to try to get pictures inside of the caves when it passes over the region again. The Odyssey has recorded temperatures in the cave as being constant despite cooler or warmer temperatures on the outside (which is the way a cavern works). Exploring these caverns could lead to remarkable finds, as the caves would serve to protect biological evidence that may be inside from the forces of sun and radiation. The caves are also significant because they could conceivably provide the first shelter on Mars, especially if water/ice sources are located inside!

Book me on the first trip! I want to go! For the complete article, click here.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We love Pirates of the Caribbean in our house. I have a 10 year old boy and a 6 year old girl and they often play out that they are the characters from the movie. We have several Playmobil pirate ships, pirate action figures from the movies, the sound track, the DVDs, POTC Dead Man's Chest Chess set and POTC Life. We love these characters and the story and we are so EXCITED that May 25th is getting closer all the time. Well, yesterday, the trailer for the movie was released, along with a funny video clip. Be sure to check them out!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:57 AM | Permalink

My son found an awesome book at our local library that I plan to purchase and make part of our home library. And while this book is written for children, I have already learned a lot myself. I don't have much background in art and a class that I took in college on Art History left me scratching my head and unable to sort out the dozens of images I was shown with each class. But this book is a great find.

The Art Book for Children is 80 pp long. Throughout the book you will find amazing art work as well as information on the artist that composed it and questions for us to consider and things for us to look for in the art work. This book is very easy to understand and really gives you an opportunity to dip your feet into the world of art and find out that it isn't as intimidating as one may have thought! This is Book One, Book Two will be published in August 2007.

So, whether you want this book for yourself or your children, you won't be disappointed with it!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:42 AM | Permalink

Like The Sixth Sense, this is a movie you will want to see more than once to see what clues you missed the first time around.

The Night Listener is an eerie thriller based on true events. It received two thumbs up by Richard Roeper and Jay Leno. I was expecting a scarier movie, but it is more of a drama and a lesson of how those of us with a bit heart can be pulled into strange situations where we discover that people really do take what people say at face value. This is the best movie I have seen Robin Williams in in a long time.

Gabriel Noone (Robin Williams), a celebrated writer and alte-night talk show host, becomes captivated by the harrowing story of a young listener and his adoptive mother (Toni Collette). When troubling questions arise about the boy's identity, however, Noone finds himself drawn intoa widening mystery that hides a deadly secret!

There are some disturbing sexual scenes in this movie that relate to the young listener. There is also another story going on with Gabriel Noone as he is in the ending stages of an 8 year old homosexual relationship.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:22 AM | Permalink

If you enjoy a good supernatural movie with moments where you will jump in your seat and where it is a while into the movie before you really know what is going on, you will love this movie! Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this shocking, non-stop supernatural thirller. It is a bit reminiscent of What Lies Beneath with Michelle Pfeiffer.

Joanna Mills (Gellar) is haunted by increasintly terrifying visions where she can see and feel the brutal murder of a woman she's never met. With her life spiraling out-of-control, she follows the relentless nightmares to an eerie small town in Texas - a place where secrets can't be buried, a spirit seeks vengeance, and the horrific murder from Joanna's visions may just be her own.

A great performance by Gellar. You will be with her every step of the way, wondering what the heck is going on! But beware, if you like massacres, this movie isn't for you. This movie is about dramatic tension, jump out of your seat, emotional and thoughtful scares.

I highly recommend you purchase this on DVD where you will get bonus features of an alternate ending that is "Too Shocking for the Big Screen" and some\ terrifying deleted scenes.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:44 AM | Permalink

On February 25th, I wrote a piece regarding the fact that Virginia had apologized for its past role in slavery. Today, I read that Georgia is not planning on following in Virginia's footsteps. I am very pleased at that. They also are trying to set aside a month devoted to Confederate History. I hope they are successful in their endeavors.

Mullis makes the same point in this article that I made in mine. Why should I apologize for something done by my ancestors? When my step children were small, my husband's grandmother would excuse every action they did because their mother had abandoned them when they were young. Granted, that was an awful thing to happen in their lives, but as human beings with the God given ability to make better of themselves, it is up to them to toss aside something that happened when they were 2 and 6 months old and move on with their life. Blaming all of their indiscretions on one event was inappropriate and hurtful to them. When we continue to look back on slavery as the basis for all of the ills and misfortunes among black people, we are crippling them. We are keeping them from putting it behind them and moving forward. If we owe any apologies, THAT is what we should be apologizing for.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:00 AM | Permalink

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:04 PM | Permalink

We are already counting the days until the release of the 5th Harry Potter movie, The Order of the Phoenix and the release of the 7th book, Deathly Hallows. I am not actually sure that I want to read the last book, because then this wonderful saga and journey will be at an end. My children and I have enjoyed reading these books together and watching the movies. We have been to midnight parties to get the books...

and we have been to first showings of the movies with homeschoolers dressed up in their Hogwarts attire. We have watched these characters (and the actors who portray them) grow up on television. J.K. Rowling did a marvelous job when she created Harry Potter and the appeal this series has had to people of all ages has been nothing short of phenomenal.

If you have followed the series and feel you are well-versed on Harry Potter, be sure to check out this quiz and see how you do! Yours truly scored 100%. I told you I liked the books! Have fun!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:00 PM | Permalink

Way to go New Mexico! I have visited this lovely state twice and have particularly enjoyed Albuquerque and Sandia Peak. Now I have another reason to cheer this state. They are not letting Pluto go without a fight!

Legislators have introduced a resolution that would restore the newly classified dwarf planet back to its former status. The bill also sets a special day aside to honor Pluto: March 13, which is the 77th anniversary of the announcement of Pluto's discovery by the International Astronomical Union, the same board that last year demoted the planet.

However, after the bill was introduced, discussion was tabled. A similar attempt was made in California, but it never made it off the ground. However, there continue to be hope for our beloved Pluto.

Scientists also plan to take up the issue at upcoming conferences of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the European Geosciences Union.

"EGU and AAAS are both much larger professional organizations of scientists than the IAU," said Alan Stern, the principal investigator of a NASA probe that is on its way to explore Pluto.

"I think this is empirical evidence that the IAU definition is fatally flawed and other scientific organizations are now stepping up to the plate to repair the situation IAU has created," he said.

I sure hope that Pluto's status gets raised back to full planethood! I miss the little guy!

I read the above information at the Discovery website. Lots of great stuff there! Be sure to go and visit!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:44 PM | Permalink

I have my own personal feelings about global warming. I admit to not having seen the movie, though I am planning on borrowing it from a friend to watch it. The whole swirl of information around global warming is very interesting to me and I have been trying to read more about it. At this point, I do wonder if this isn't just another end of the world scare (remember global cooling in the 70s? Y2K? Acid Rain?) But I am trying to keep an open mind and my family works to do what we personally can to limit our pollution in the environment. Today, I read a very well written article from the New York Times about An Inconvenient Truth and the pros and cons of the movie and the presentation of it. I urge you to check out the article yourself. This is an important topic and it is up to each of us to research it it to the best of our ability and be informed.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:02 PM | Permalink

My mother's father died June 15, 1966. It was my mother's 20th birthday and six weeks before I entered this world. She awoke in the pre-dawn hours and heard a strange noise from her parents' room, but went back to sleep. When she got up he was gone. He died of deep vein thrombosis. As a child and even now into my adult years, this killer of my grandfather has scared me...

I have spent nights awake in my bed sure I was dying due to severe pain in my legs. As I got older and internet savvy, I learned the things to look for, but leg pain still sends warning signals to my brain. So because of this history, I follow news on DVT. In recent years, there has been a lot of news about the danger to airline passengers in economy class of getting these blood clots. People are encouraged to get up and walk around during long flights to help with this situation.

It turns out that people who spend their days tied to a desk are at more risk than those on airplanes. 21% of DVT victims are airplane passengers, 34% are seated at a desk for hours at a time without getting up. I just report this so you can be aware and be careful. Take regular breaks and get up and walk around your desk during the day.

While DVT is treatable when caught, it can be deadly. So if you are in a high risk situation, be aware and act promptly.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 7:35 PM | Permalink

There has long been a list of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. But now people are thinking that since many of these wonders no longer even exist, it is time to vote for a new list. Millions of people have already voted and the results will be announced on 07/07/07 (fitting, eh?). The choices are down to 21 and you get to go pick what you think are the top 7. I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Check out New Wonders and make your vote be heard! And in case you can't remember what the 7 wonders of the ancient world are, check out this vitual tour at CNN

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:54 AM | Permalink

When I was growing up, I had no idea that there might be career choices that would be better than others based on the trends of the economy. I knew I wanted to do something that helped people and went through thoughts of being a lawyer, a nurse and a journalist before ending up in the Early Intervention Field and later ending up at home as a full time mom. Did I know if those fields were overfilled? Heck no. But now, either due to technology and record keeping or because I follow these things more closely than my parents did, I have some information to share with my children...

It turns out that health care (both for pets and people) is going to be 7 out of 10 of the top job needs in the decade ahead. And we have the Baby Boomers to thank for this. Between the fact that they have money to spend on pet care and their own health care to increase their longevitiy and quality of life, they are driving the need in these areas. And as they grow older, one can only assume, the greated needs in health care will continue. The other top 3 in the top ten are computer related.

So, whether you are thinking about work for yourself or looking ahead for your growing children, keep this information in mind. While not all people are 'bent' in that direction, if you or your child is interested in those areas, you should definitely capitalize on your natural talents. If, like me, you aren't really sure what is out there, this can give you some direction. I found it interesting that the 'aide' and 'assistant' positions make the top ten and not doctors and nurses, but this is because of the health industries effort to keep costs down.

Here are the top 10 fastest growing jobs are:

1. Home Health Aides
2. Network Systems and Data Communications
3. Medical Assistants
4. Physician assistants
5. Computer software engineers, applications
6. Physical Therapist Assistants
7. Dental hygienists
8. Computer software engineers, systems software
9. Dental Assistants
10. Personal and home care aides

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:37 AM | Permalink

It has been more than 18 months since Hurricane Katrina roared into Louisiana and left 81.2 billion dollars worth of damage in her wake. Over 1800 people were dead and hundreds of thousands of people were left without a home. Surrounding communities folded tens of thousands into their communities. New Orleans itself is slowly being repopulated, but only about with about 1/2 of its previous number of occupants. Some have been able to get on with their lives in new towns across the country. Some were lucky enough to return to their homes or to new homes built in the same spot. Many others are stuck...

They live in trailer communities provided by the government. They were the renters and the uninsured. People who can't afford to move back into New Orleans as the newer buildings have higher rent. People who couldn't rebuild their homes because they didn't receive insurance money to do so. These people are making due in trailer parks that are often substandard. Today I read a story about a park that was closed down by FEMA.

FEMA showed up, began knocking on doors and told everyone they had 48 hours to move! This seemed to be in response to a less than easy to get along with landlord. The people who owned the land were being paid 42,000 a month to cover electricity and rent of their property for the trailers placed there. They would pay the electric bill late (they say because FEMA was late with payments) and the electric would get cut off. Many of these people have been bounced around and their children are going to suffer long lasting psychological effects. One child was afraid when their mother left them at school, wondering if she would return at the end of the day. Stability is very important in the lives of children, and this upheaval and rootlessness is taking its toll.

I know that our government was not prepared for handling the devastation that occured in Mississippi and Louisiana. It is not easy to find homes, food, clothing for hundreds of thousands of people. And people do need to do as much as they can for themselves. Perhaps an alternative, if it hasn't already been offered, is to go to these people and offer them money to start up in another town somewhere else in the country. Louisiana is struggling and can't take care of her own. If we can spread out those who need a helping hand, then wouldn't all be better off? Picking up and moving is not an easy thing. Leaving behiind a place you may have lived all of your life is difficult, especially when you have lost so much.

But American's have that spirit running in their veins. We are a country built on the backs of people who experienced diversity, death, loss and got back up, dusted themselves off and went at it again. Today, we seem helpless to do for ourselves. Part of this I blame on the way socieity is structured. It used to be a person knew how to tend to most of the things they had (my dad did carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, mechanic work and all of that was extra stuff at home. He had a 9-5 desk job as a scheduler in the nuclear power industry). We didn't take our car to the garage very often and work that needed doing around the house, we mostly did ourselves. But everything has become specialized and even my dad has a harder time working on his newer cars. We have become interdependent on one another and when adversity strikes, we sit, stunned and without the fortitude and talents to forge ahead. The complexity of our society and our technology has in some ways turned us all into idiots!

When we sat here watching the television during Katrina. We saw people waiting on the side of the road for help to come. My husband and I kept wondering...why don't they stop waiting. Why not start walking to the next town. Anything to feel like they were moving forward, taking charge, having some control. But society has made us this way. We tend to wait for help rather than find it for ourselves.

I am disgusted that the housing situation for the survivors isn't better and I am saddened and angry that our government hasn't come up with a better plan to help the survivors. And I am concerned because we live in a country where so many don't think to help their neighbor and where so many have forgetten how to help themselves. I have known local churches that have done more for the suffering of Katrina survivors than the government has. Indeed, I think that is a key role for the church to play. I hope that more people join in the effort and that more progress is made and that people are able to return to a more normal life.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:24 PM | Permalink

We just finished reading The Children's Book of America which is edited by William J. Bennett and illustrated by Michael Hague. If you are proud of America and the accomplishments of the people and events that built this great country, you will love this book!

As we read through the stories, I couldn't help but get a lump in my throat and feel a sense of pride in our heritage. I am not implying we are better than any other country, but I am proud to be a part of the country we live in. These stories are written in easy to follow language for children. The stories are full of adventure, hope, persistence, bravery, and history. The illustrations help to bring the stories to life. Here is a list of the stories you will find in this book:

"America the Beautiful," Katharine Lee Bates
The Legend of the Grand Canyon
The Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving
Father Junipero Serra
The Bravery of Abigail Adams
"Yankee Doodle"
Westward with Lewis and Clark
Paul Bunyan
The Story of "The Star Spangled Banner"
Johnny Appleseed
Abe Lincoln's School Days
"The Erie Canal"
Remember the Alamo!
"I Hear America Singing" Walt Whitman
The Tale of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
Robert E. Lee and the Wounded Soldier
Magaret of New Orleans
"Home on the Range"
John Henry and the Steam Drill
"The New Colossus," Emma Lazarus
The Wizard of Menlo Park
Martin Luther King's Dream
The Eagle Has Landed
"America," Samuel Francis Smith

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:55 AM | Permalink

Last night my husband and I watched Stranger Than Fiction. This movie got two thumbs way up from Roeper and his guest critics and we concur!

This movie is fantastic! It has twists and turns and really makes you think! Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, and Emma Thompson head up this star studded cast.

Harold Crick (played by Will Ferrell) is a lonely IRS agent whose mundane existence is transformed when he hears a mysterious voice narrating his life. He discovers that he is a main character of a novel in progress. The surface story is interesting, entertaining and has one wondering if Harold will be able to track down the author before the novel concludes. But there is a deeper story here and it is the story of man and his relationship to God. God writes the script for our lives and we don't always agree with the way the scenes play out.

I highly recommend this movie! You won't be disappointed!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:22 AM | Permalink

Our children are our most precious 'commodity'. We do everything we can from the day they are born to protect them. And the more the world changes, it seems the more there is to protect them from. Partially due to the sheer increase of population and partially due to the time they are not by our side.

Criminals of all kinds don't wear a sign on their forehead or their clothing that says, I am a criminal. How many times have we seen interviews on the news where the neighbors say..."he was such a friendly, quiet guy. I wouldn't never have suspected him capable of murder."

One of the very real dangers to our children are child predators. Most predators are people we know. It is rarer for an unknown person to swoop in and molest our children that it is for it to be a family member or a friend. One way to keep an eye on the people in your life and near you is through the National Sex Offender Registry.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:50 AM | Permalink

Today I found out about a great spot online! It is Homeschool Buyers Co-op and I have only begun to explore the website. But basically you can find great deals and discounts there. They also group together to power buy and save money! Be sure to check it out! You won't be disappointed!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 5:45 PM | Permalink

Today I found out about a great spot online! It is Homeschool Buyers Co-op  and I have only begun to explore the website. But basically you can find great deals and discounts there. They also group together to power buy and save money! Be sure to check it out! You won't be disappointed!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A discover in 2001 has led scientist to conclude that this 78 million year old fossil is a missing link between triceratops and centrosaurs. This new species has the horns of the triceratops and the ornate frill of the centrosaurs. This guy was massive!

Albertaceratops nesmoi, photos courtesy of National Geographic

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:06 AM | Permalink

There are still pristine locations in the world where the impact of man has not yet been felt. Such a treasure is to be found in East Timor. This war torn, impoverished country is trying to build their economy, and they have a resource that people from all over the world want to visit. They are working to balance keeping the area pristine with needing to grow their economy. Watch the video from Natonal Geographic for some amazing footage.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:58 AM | Permalink

Mountain Gorilla photo courtesy of National Geographic

This remarkable photo shows a rare baby mountain gorilla that has been born in the Congo. Park rangers named the baby "Ndeze" in honor of Rene Ndeze, a powerful local tribal chief who died two days before the newborn was discovered, even though the baby's sex isn't yet known. There are now 12 mountain gorillas in this family group.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:48 AM | Permalink

I waited all week with anticipation of the Discovery Channel show last night regarding the potential find of The Lost Tomb of Jesus...I have been reviewing the possible implications in my mind during the week. What would it mean for my faith if they found the bones of Jesus? There is controversy over whether he physically ascended or just his spirit ascended. My personal opinion is that the ascension of Jesus was a physical one, after all, it does say in the New Testament that the disciples could touch him. So when he returned he was in human form. However,

I can also see the potential argument that if only his spiritual self ascended, his followers would hide his bones because there would be those who would then doubt the story of Jesus. And the more important part of the story is that after three days he rose from the dead. And he was seen by many after his resurrection and before his ascension.

As I stated before I have no problem believing Jesus was married and had a child, though I do wonder if the ossuary in the Talpiot tomb was for a child was he the only child? And if he was, then Jesus' line ended with him.

So, I watched the documentary last night. My mind as open as I could make it. The statistician made a very compelling argument when he discussed the statistical probability of finding another family with all of those names in it from that time frame. In other words, there are lots of Brittany's running around the world today, but how many of them have moms and siblings with the same name as Brittany Spears (if she even has siblings, I am afraid, my Brittany education is about nil). So when I saw the statistics I was impressed and I also note that that information filled up the better part of the first hour, as it was indeed their strongest point.

Then they went on to the DNA and we were led through many shots of the scientists who were 'blindly' studying these samples of Jesus and Mary Magdalene (I assume they really didn't know whose DNA they were looking at, but they must have known something big was up...how often do filmmakers want to film you going about your work?) I accept that the fact that these DNA's weren't related would imply marriage between the two. But the big whole here that I can't fathom is why didn't they test the other DNA!?????!!!! I mean, it can't have been a matter of money, because for a find like that, people would mortgage their first born to obtain that data. Why not see if DNA from the James and Jose ossuaries matched Jesus. And better yet...how about Mary Magdalene, Jesus and Judah...come on...let's get facts here, people! If they had come back and said that the DNA indicated that James, Jose, and Jesus were related and that Judah was related to Mary and Joseph...now that would have been something. But strangely, this information is lacking. Perhaps, there wasn't enough material to do this testing with, but if so, it seems like they would have mentioned that. Or perhaps, they did the tests and came up with nada and were hoping no one would notice. Whatever is going on, I would very much like to know the answer.

Then there was the patina...stuffed in at the end and fastly gone through. I felt like I was back in school again looking at flash cards. Those graphs popped up so quickly, I was unable to ascertain if the minerals did match up. It did notice that the spikes were not exactly the same on a couple of them (even though they were in the same spot, they weren't as high). I wouldn't have paid much attention, but then, I noticed on some of the random samples they tossed up that it was the same. I would like to see these samples more closely and slowly so I could study them

So, bottom line for me is that they didn't give me enough information and it was information that, presumably, they could have easily provided. Are they going for the sequel ratings? Or is the real truth that there isn't a story here, that the other information is in and was unsupportive, so they conveniently left it out, hoping that no one would notice? Honestly, I mentioned it to a friend and she, a smart gal, said, 'well, I just assumed that they were unable to get to those samples because they were ordered to reseal the tomb.' I reminded her that the ossuaries weren't in the tomb so that shouldn't have been an issue. If she missed that, how many others did as well?

So in the paraphrased words of Cuba Gooding..."Show me the DNA!" Then we can have more discussion.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 12:07 PM | Permalink

National Geographic is well known for presenting the world with amazing photographs. Here a sample of what you will find. Aren't they adorable!?

Posted by Melissa Markham at 6:15 AM | Permalink

If you don't own a Wii, you should definitely put it on your list! It is a game of fun for the whole family and it gets you off the sofa and moving! I started looking for the Wii before Christmas. Because we homeschool, our children were only slightly aware of this new Nintendo system coming out and they hadn't asked for it, but we wanted to get it so it would be a big surprise...

Well, good thing they didn't ask for it. I sat with my finger poised to purchase the Wii from Amazon, but I was not quick enough. Later, I entered an Amazon raffle, but I didn't win that either. I haunted stores: Walmart, Toys R Us, EB Games, Gamestop, Target. I surfed websites...nothing. A couple of weeks before Christmas, I found out our local Walmart was going to be offering them on a certain day. I went at 9 pm hoping to be first in line for what I thought would be a midnight purchase. I got there and no one else was waiting. I was thrilled. But then I discovered, that they wouldn't go on sale until 8 am! I just wasn't up to spending a night in Walmart...so I came home and set the alarm for very early. I arrived at the Walmart at 5 am. There were 8 people waiting in the garden department (two were in a tent). They told me that there were only 8 units available...so I was out of luck. If only I had had the fortituded and stayed the night, then I would have been first! So I went home, empty handed and with the knowledge that Wii wasn't going to be under the Christmast tree.

But my search continued...December, January, and then the 16th of January, my husband and I went out to dinner by ourselves to celebrate Valentine's Day. Then we went to Walmart to buy some DVDs to take home and watch. I rounded the corner into the electronics area and spotted 5 Wii's lined up...waiting! I felt like I had won the lottery!!!!

The next morning, I hooked the Wii up (and of course played it) before going to get the kids from our friend's house. I didn't tell them about the Wii, only that there had been some changes at home while they were gone. And there had been...I had decorated for St. Patrick's Day and I had done something else, but I can't remember what now. It took them about 5 minutes before they discovered the Wii. And they spent the rest of the weekend playing it.

We are all enjoying the sports games and hope to get Zelda soon. I am just amazed at the fact that I feel like I am playing baseball and tennis and golf. We are all learning about sports that we previously knew nothing about. And we are enjoying the exercise too. And it is exercise. Play a few tennis matches and you will see what I mean.

If you don't have a Wii, I hope you will get one soon, because they are great fun!

Nintendo, you have outdone yourself!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:04 PM | Permalink

Remember how you mother always told you to go out with clean, hole free underwear? Well, perhaps she should add squeaky clean teeth as well...after all you never know who might be looking at them!

Some scieintist have developed a wash that enables them to removed fossilized food particles from teeth. This enables archaeologists to gather more information about what people were eating in times past. For more about this fascinating process, read the rest of the story on the Discovery website.

And remember...Brush your teeth! (Or don't if you want to further future archaeological studies).

Posted by Melissa Markham at 12:56 PM | Permalink