Mood:  a-ok

Boy do I wish I were young again! When I was young, we didn't have the internet, we didn't have computers, we didn't even have VCR's. So, we didn't have anything like Light Speed's History of the U.S. AP Exam Prep. For that matter, I don't even remember Advanced Placement (AP) classes or AP tests. If I would have know about them, I would have definitely taken advantage of these great resources.

Now, when I first found out I was getting Light Speed's History of the U.S. AP Exam Prep. I wondered who in the world I was going to give this to to try out. I really didn't think that Jacob was ready for it, Joshua wasn't quite there either and , John Allen wasn't even in High School yet let alone ready to take an AP Exam. But, since John Allen had just gotten done with U.S. History, I decided to let him give it a try. He loved it! In fact, he loved it so much, I decided to watch it myself. 

This two disk set comes with a disk that explains what the U.S. History AP Exam is and includes an explanation of the different sections of the test along with ideas on taking the test. Boy would I have loved a DVD like this helping me to prepare for the SAT or ACT! The section that I really liked was a section called 30 in 30. The 30 in 30 was very entertaining. It took 30 of the  major events in U.S. history and explained them in 30 minutes. Now you wouldn't think that much could be covered with that little amount of time, but if you did, you would be sadly mistaken. They cover so much in a very fun way. I learned a lot, and never got bored. They covered things like 

• Manifest Destiny
• The Origin of the Two-Party System
• Slavery and the Civil War
• The Progressive Era
• World War II
• ...And much, much more

The second disc is an outline of what's on the DVD that you can use to follow along and take notes. It also has some helpful hints and suggestions listed.

Don't get me wrong. For someone who didn't listen in class or didn't study, this product is not a cure all. You won't pass just by watching this video. But, it is a great way to solidify the things that you learned in your U.S. history class and gain a lot of information on what the AP test is like and what you are expected to know when you take it. It's kind of like one of those expensive books that you buy to get you ready for a test, but much more interesting. However, get this, those boring books can run you $20 or $30 while the Light Speed's AP Exam Prep collections only cost $11.24!

Collections? Yes I said collections! So far there are also Light Speed AP Test Prep DVD's for Chemistry, English Language and Composition and U.S. Government and Politics as well as the U.S. History set. Other TOS Crew Members reviewed some of the other AP Test Prep sets and you can find out what they thought by clicking here. 

Light Speed is a subsidiary of the Cerebellum Corporation. They make loads of other well done educational materials for all ages and all subjects. You can click here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above to find out more about the AP Exam Prep collections or any other of the Cerebellum educational products. Of course, AP classes and exams are not just for homeschoolers. Public and private school students could really benefit from them as well. so, with that I'll say "Happy Home Educating".

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was sent a free copy of Light Speed's History of the U.S. AP Exam Prep DVD in order to try out and review on my blog. 

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Mood:  lazy

 

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Mood:  a-ok

Now, let me tell you, that when I first heard that we would be reviewing something from Lobster Network I wondered what in the world it was. Now that I know what it is, I know that it is great, but it is still hard to explain! Let's just say that it is kind of like Craig's List, Facebook, and Mozy all wrapped in one...but then again it's not. Oh well, I guess the only way to get you to understand is to just tell you another one of my stories . So, here goes!

Scene 1: Picture it. You're sitting down with a colleague, Sally, during your one hour lunch break:

Sally: So, how was your weekend?

You: Terrible! My mother-in-law is coming for a visit this weekend and so I was cleaning the house to get ready. I noticed a huge stain on our living room carpet. Freddy must have spilled something. It was too late on Saturday to go out and rent a steam cleaner and everything was closed on Sunday. Now I'm going to have to use one of my comp days this week just to get it done.

Sally: Well, we own a steam cleaner, I would have been glad to loan it to you. Why didn't you call?

You: I had no idea or I would have. Bummer!

Scene 2: Picture it. Two homeschooling mom's sitting and chatting during a play day.

Homeschool Mom 1: You know, I have all these homeschool books just sitting on my shelves collecting dust. Some I'd like to sell, but some I need to save until little Penny gets old enough to use them. 

Homeschool Mom 2: I know, I have the same problem.  I wouldn't mind loaning some of mine out if I knew someone who needed them. Someone should really make a list of our group and all of the things that everyone owns so that we can borrow or buy from one another. 

Homeschool Mom 1: Yeah, but who has the time?

Scene 3: Picture it. Husband and wife filling out insurance forms.

Wife: Honey, do you have that inventory of our household furniture that we did last summer?

Husband: Oh! No! I just realized that all of that was lost when the computer crashed last month! Now what do we do? I should have backed up my files with Mozy!

Do any of those scenarios sound familiar to you? Do you wish that you and your friends had a way to inventory all of your stuff so that you could loan and borrow from one another (what a deal in these economic times!)? Do you long for a way to sell your stuff to people who really want it and need it? Do you need a way to inventory all of your stuff and to keep it safe from disaster or computer crash? Well now you do! And guess what? It's all in one place and it doesn't cost a thing! It's called "Lobster Network". 

Lobster Network is a really neat website. First of all, after the easy registration, it gives you a place to inventory whatever you want for free. You can inventory expensive items, books, homeschool materials, ...anything you want. It's private and secure. No one has to know that anything is there at all...unless you want them to! So, why would you want them to?

That brings me to the next great thing about Lobster Network. You can make public (allow other members to see) items that you would be willing to loan out, or even sell to someone. "But wait a minute!" you shout. "I don't want just anyone borrowing my stuff!" Well, that's where the comparison to Facebook comes in. Everyone doesn't have to see your stuff. You invite your friends and family members to Lobster Network and you form "communities". They can be private communities or public communities. That way, you only "show" the things that you have to borrow or sell to people you know and trust! 

Now things are starting to get interesting. Aren't they? You've inventoried your stuff and invited friends and family and now your ready to start wheeling and dealing! You can even post things that you don't have, but would like to borrow or buy. That way, if anyone sees that you are looking for that item and they have it, they can notify you. The folks of Lobster Network have thought of everything. They even have reports that you can print out as to what you have loaned out and when it is due back, what you have borrowed and when you have to return it, what you have inventoried, or, you can even use it to keep track of things that you've loaned out to people who are not part of Lobster Network!

See how neat Lobster Network is? You can just use it to inventory, or you can loan, borrow, buy or sell and you can do it with people you know and trust. Are you convinced? I am! I love it. All you have to do to join in the fun is just click here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above and go at it. Still not convinced? I understand. It's hard to believe that something like this could really be true. But, don't take my word for it. Other TOS Crew members have tried it out as well and you can find out what they think by clicking here. Happy Home Educating!

 As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was asked to try out Lobster Network in order to review it on my blog.

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Mood:  quizzical

I've read a couple of interesting things lately. Things that have made me really think. Things that have made me wonder what this world is coming to, or maybe what have we become.

The first was when I read a retweet from one of my friends on twitter. It was about a lady who was an advocate for giving our children more freedom. She asks why we aren't the way we were in the 60's and the 70's. We would let our kids ride bikes all over town, We'd let them go to the park by themselves. It wasn't a crime to leave your 12 year old at home for a few minutes while you ran to the store. This advocate claims that the crime rate today is less than it was back then, but we shelter our kids and we don't let them learn on their own. Her organization proclaimed last Saturday as "Leave your kids at the park alone Saturday". You were to drop you kids off at the park for a half an hour or so and say goodbye. You weren't to go and watch them from behind a tree or anything else, you were to LEAVE! I really made me think about how we treat our kids these days. Are we overprotective?

The second thing that I read was a question that a lady posted on a forum. It seems that there is a bus stop close to her home and everyday she sees the same "older" lady waiting there for the bus. Occasionally she has said hello as she pulled out of her driveway but that was the extent of their relationship. One day, as she was pulling out with her kids in the car, the "older" lady came up to her window and asked if she was going "by the shops". Apparently you can't go anywhere in this town with out going by the shops, so she said that she was. The women then explained that she had missed her bus and asked if there was a way she could catch a ride to the shops and she would then ride the bus home. The mother then promptly answered "No! I hardly know you." The lady was taken aback and responded "I'm a mature lady", but the mother refused. After telling her story, the mother asked the forum if she were right. Some on the group were aghast that she would do something like that, others defended her decision.

Okay, here is my Men's Monday Meme question(s) for the week.

Are we being overprotective? Are we so cautious that we have lost sight of what it means to be kind and generous and outgoing with one another? Are all of the warnings correct or have we become a worrisome society? Or, should we be more wary these days? Have times changed and there is no going back? What are your thoughts?

As usual, here are the rule reminders.

1. This is a man's meme, so the answers must be the answers from a man. Either the man can answer on his blog, or a wife can interview her husband for her blog. However, if the wife puts it on her blog, she must stay true to what her husband said.
2. You are encouraged to put one of the Men's Monday Meme buttons found to the left on your blog. Just copy the code below the button of your choice. The more folks who link, the more readers you may have to visit your blog.
3. You may answer the question any time during the week up through next Monday. After you answer the question, add the address to your post to the Mr.Linky below. If you could, please only add the direct link to the post to make it easier for readers to find the entry.
4. My answer along with a new question will be posted next Monday. The new Mr. Linky will be added at midnight Monday night or sometime within the next couple of days after that .

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Mood:  a-ok

I know! I know! Today's Wednesday and not Thursday. But I couldn't wait. I saw this and had to post it.

This is why Sarah and have chosen to be missionaries to the low income folks with BCM International and why we have chosen to sponsor and correspond with children through Compassion International.  As you are watching this, please be in prayer as to what God may have for you to do for Him.

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