These may be timewasters or educators; you decide.

The Eyeballing Game. I did spend some time trying to get these right, but my accuracy remained abysmal. How did you do?

Lunch Bag Art I want to show this blog to Engineer Husband. He’s really a talented artist, and I wish he’d make some of these. Or do a mural on my wall. Or something artistic. Don’t you think that art, for those who are somewhat talented, is both therapeutic and a way of praising God? Why couldn’t one praise the Lord on a lunch bag? Or a wall?

The Cheerios New Author Contest encourages aspiring authors to write and submit an original story for a book for children ages 3 to 8. You have to be over 18 to enter, and the deadline is July 15, 2009. I tell my children Maria stories, and I may send one in.

From The Common Room: Could you pass this test? This exam is one that a late nineteenth century teacher had to pass in order to keep his teaching certification. Even in the literature section, what I would think was my forte, I couldn’t answer half the questions. The rest was hopeless.

Most Interesting Bookstores of the World. Eldest Daughter used to hang out at Shakespeare and Company when she was in Paris. She found it fascinating in a 60’s, hippie sort of way.

Pun for the Ages: “Dryden called it the ‘lowest and most groveling kind of wit.’ To Ambrose Bierce it was a ‘form of wit to which wise men stoop and fools aspire.'” If you like puns, you might enjoy this NY TImes article on the uses and abuses of the lowly pun.

Children’s reading skill correlates with orderliness in the home? Whoaaaa, this is NOT good. However, I’ve managed to produce four adult readers so far with a minimal amount of order in the home, so maybe the study cited is flawed. Or else we’re the exception.