I’m still reading Guns of August, but it’s on hold for a day or two while I read The Last Jihad by Joel Rosenberg. Written after 9/11 and before Operation Iraqi Freedom, the book is somewhat prophetic fiction about an attack on the world’s leaders by Saddam and his henchmen. It’s also sort of eerie because in stead of being what could happen, it’s what could have happened if we hadn’t invaded Iraq. I’m also reading The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator’s Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child. The first rule is: “When responding to any adult, you must answer by saying “Yes, M’am” or “No, Sir.” Just nodding your head or saying any other form of yes or no is not acceptable.” I LOVE IT. We’re going to work on this all week at my house, and then we’ll go to Rule #2 about making eye contact. If my children only knew how impressed everyone (possible employers, teachers, authority figures) would be if they followed this simple rule all the time! And then if they could learn to look directly at someone who is speaking to them or to whom they are speaking, they’d almost be set for life.