::checks diary topic cycle:: Ooh, haven't bragged on the kids in a while, tonight seems like a fine time. With the knowledge that my alternative topic was how I spent yesterday (flea scare at home, need I say more?) please follow me below the dingledoodle squigglie dKosagnocchi dividerthingie fold, after a word from our sponsor...
Here at Top Comments we strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group mailbox by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find!
As some of you may know, reading and writing didn't come as easily to K2 as it did to K1. English as a second third language at the age of 4 probably contributed, as did the fact that anything either physically active or electronically powered was infinitely more preferable to him than sitting down to ::heavy weight-of-the-world sigh:: read or write.
This year has seen a massive change in both attitude and abilities. Like his sister, the worst thing you can threaten him with at night is "if you don't get ready soon, there won't be time for reading together." His simple sentences have given way to long paragraphs and stories, and he LOVES to share them. It's been an absolute joy to watch his love of reading and writing develop. His interests and style differs from his sister's at his age, making it a fresh experience for all of us.
Which brings us to today. A week ago, his teacher motioned me over as school let out. I've described before that having her motion me over usually is NOT a pleasant thing, so I was surprised at K2's smiling face as he beckoned me over. Mom, its OK I'm NOT in trouble this time even though I went to the Principal's office! His teacher explained that the class was learning to write a "persuasive letter" and had read their rough drafts in class. K2's got applause, laughter at all the right moments, and the class decided his was "the best". His teacher had him read it to the OTHER second grade class, and then sent him to the Principal so that SHE could hear it. His teacher said that in her experience, this was one of the best she'd seen from a second grader.
K2 beamed. When your older sister consistently gets straight A's and has been reading since she was three, having your teacher gush TO YOUR MOTHER and IN PUBLIC is a major coup :).
Yesterday, his teacher let me know that the kids were reading their final versions aloud today in a "Publishing Party" and parents were invited. Mr. Brillig took the morning off to attend as well. Each child stood up in order (a cheat sheet on the whiteboard let them know!) and read their persuasive letter. About a quarter of the class desperately wants hamsters. Two wrote letters to the Principal, wanting more gym, and an ice cream room. Two more seemed oddly worried about the cost of State Farm Insurance (I have NO idea where that came from, I'd love to be a fly at their dinner tables...). Two other kids begged their parents for more food at snack/lunch. My heart went out to the parents whose kid implored (persuasively) "you don't want your child to go through the day hungry, do you?"
When K2 stood up to present his, the class applauded (beforehand). The teacher admonished them that they'd already heard it, so keep the laughter to a minimum. And off he went...
Campaigning in his very best persuasive voice for an Xbox Kinect. His main points:
(a) unlike the Wii where he "just sits there and uses his thumbs" the Xbox would keep him active. (As I remember, this was the exact same argument made for the Wii itself, over whatever system we had prior)
(b) it's for grownups too! I could play it with my best friend! It'd be like hours of walking, all inside! (Hold this thought...)
(c) he'd help pay for it with allowance, and also do his homework without complaint AND do "all the laundry for a week." (I must admit, after the week I've had getting us caught up clothing-wise then tackling the mad flea-controlapalooza yesterday, this sounded pretty damned persuasive :-)).
His closing line? Trust me Mom, with an Xbox you'll be looking better in no time! As the entire class turned to look my way and dissolved in giggles, I felt an immediate empathy with the parents who starved their child at snack.
I can't promise he'll be getting an Xbox for his birthday, but I haven't ruled it out. Until then I'll be walking many miles each day... and sneaking snacks to those poor starving children.
PS - Thanks in advance to Chrislove, who's covering for me next Tuesday while Casa Brillig heads to Washington DC for April School Vacation Week. K1's excited to go back to the Zoo and to the museums, K2's never been so isn't quite sure what he's in for! Me, I'll be at a music jam in a Rockville MD from Thursday thru Sunday, then will head over to join the family, who arrives Sunday afternoon. Hoping finally to get to the Air & Space Annex, too. K1 will still be in a brace so we'll see how walking all over works... think happy knee thoughts!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From vcmvo2:
Here's a really funny comment by here4thebeer. It was in Hunter's diary McConnell blames 'political left' for leaked tape, while NRSC blames, well, everybody.
From Yours Truly, brillig:
I've got two from Hunter's diary Inhofe on victims' families: Obama made them think gun debate 'has something to do with them'. The first is from Phil S 33 because he quotes what Hunter said that I really liked. A lot. The second is RonV's reply, which bring's Inhofe's views on climate change into play.
Top Mojo for yesterday, April 8th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary
FAQing Top Mojo.
1) She survived 25 years with Multiple Sclerosis by Annie B — 171
2) Obama's credibility goes out the window by FishOutofWater — 154
3) And note by Dem Beans — 129
4) Um, What about 2014, when we see $250M in by Jim P — 115
5) Ray, Professor Krugman by Youffraita — 115
6) I really like your "technical talk..." by bobswern — 111
7) That's not a "cruel joke," by Azazello — 109
8) Now that is sad news. by badscience — 106
9) Funny how Obama is paying for Bush's by George Pirpiris — 104
10) Every 2-term president by Dallasdoc — 96
11) My view of Obama by Richard Lyon — 94
12) I don't want to hear about McCain by joanneleon — 91
13) Obviously you just hate the president by Dallasdoc — 88
14) Yet I see here an army of people by anastasia p — 86
15) It's really quite stunning by deantv — 81
16) The JnH Guide to the Republican Brain by JekyllnHyde — 80
17) There are two victims in this tragedy by night cat — 78
18) God forbid he have a positive agenda by Dallasdoc — 75
19) All the people by Iberian — 73
20) His Negotiating Style Needs Work by JekyllnHyde — 72
21) Speak For Yourself, Village by Gooserock — 72
22) If nobody does nothing by TJ — 71
23) Taibbi ('07): "Obama Best BS Artist Since Clinton" by bobswern — 71
24) "The Republicans made me do it." by FishOutofWater — 69
25) Thank you. by badscience — 69
26) Hi Doc! Actually, I bought 2008 hook, line and by YucatanMan — 69
27) He's only a populist for campaign season by Dallasdoc — 68
28) 2014 is on the line. by Words In Action — 67
29) Aw, Sorry to Hear This. by Gooserock — 67
30) The American people... by vacantlook — 66
31) Yes. by Words In Action — 66
32) Hey, shit happens, by Azazello — 66
Top
Pictures Pooties for yesterday, April 8th. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!