Pinterest- I *Heart* You

Pinterest is taking the web by storm. Causing some swells along the way {you’ve heard of the possibility of infringing on copyrights, haven’t you?} but in general people are flocking to it with zeal! I’m actually just getting into it although I’ve been a member since almost the beginning.

I, for one, was not terribly impressed with it when it first was introduced to me. Not to say that I didn’t see the potential. Okay, okay, at first I truly did not see how awesome it could be.

But now… I pin something just about everyday. Why? Because the bookmarks I’ve created over the years from my browsers toolbar are next to useless to me. I cannot recall where I filed it under and I cannot recall what the website was titled {or what I chose to title it}. I’m pretty sure that I have quite a few duplicate bookmarks in that list. Sure of it.

With Pinterest I can *see* the bookmark. So even if I pinned it under, say, gardening {which I don’t appear to even have a board with that title- yet}, and it is truly clothing {and not related to gardening- who knows why I’d put it there- but it could happen }, I am able to *see* it.

And I love that it is a way to share bookmarks, share great sites {or just very interesting ideas}. There are *gulp* 175 ‘pinners’ that I follow which means to me that there are an exponential number of sites that I now have access to that I may not have even thought to look for before.

Oh, and if you are concerned that this is just another time leech- it can definitely be. Oh yes. But if we that worry about such things are careful, it can be an extremely useful resource. Perhaps use it for searching like you would your usual search engine. Or set a time limit…and stick to it

There is a search feature at the top of the site- type in what you are looking for and you are almost guaranteed with a nice return of results. {if you put in ‘Shamoo’, however, your results will be quite slim lol} The screenshot below is only a small part of the results for “classical education”…

Or for ‘blue’…

The pins go to websites that are commercial, personal, blogs, organizations, and just about anything else that you can think of. If it’s online, you can almost assuredly find a pin of it.

The *only* qualm I have with Pinterest is that the website must have an image to pin. I think it would be swell if there is *no image* that Pinterest could take a screenshot and pin that. That’d be just nifty.

Have you checked out Pinterest? Why or why not? If you do, how do *you* feel about it?

Highlighting Links by Subject for Schooling- Sites of Interest for Learning/Teaching

Each week there will be a post {or two or three} highlighting some links that have been collected and compiled on the Links by Subject for Schooling page on my blog. At this point, I plan to go alphabetically through the subjects because that’s how I am but the websites most likely won’t be alphabetized…sorry for any confusion!

Sites of Interest

Sites for Teachers- a collection of websites where you can find resources for teaching. It was being ‘upgraded’ last I checked (it is still accessible and still works). FYI- I think it may be moving to a different page/site.

All My Faves/Education- this is a site with so many sites listed you'll just have to check it out to see how great it is! Not all the sites are free but I'm sure there are a lot!

CK-12- open content, the mission is to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the U.S. and worldwide. (Thanks to Laurie from 3RHomeschooling for the great resource!)

SAT Practice & 4Tests.com- FREE practice! (fyi- the 2nd one does have occasional unrelated pop-ups) 

Hippo Campus great site for upper grades (rising middle schoolers through high school) features Algebra*, Statistics, US History, American Government, Biology, Calculus*, Environmental Science, Physics, Psychology, Religion *offered in Spanish also.

Those are some of the links for Sites of Interest for Learning/Teaching that have been collected. Stay tuned for more link ‘highlights’ every so often.

Highlighting Links by Subject for Schooling- Language Arts

Each week there will be a post {or two or three} highlighting some links that have been collected and compiled on the Links by Subject for Schooling page on my blog. At this point, I plan to go alphabetically through the subjects because that’s how I am but the websites most likely won’t be alphabetized…sorry for any confusion!

Language Arts

Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Companies Free workbooks grades 6-12 on this page...but check the rest of the site for more resources!

Scott Foresman Reading Headquarters Free workbooks online by clicking Teaching Resources and then Online Writing and Grammar Handbooks

The Basic Cozy Spelling Course Free site with links on the sidebar that lead to Grammar, Punctuation, and Essay courses

KISS Grammar- The site is a bit tricky to navigate but it looks like a good free program.

Grammar Lessons Free site by Joan the English Chick

Spelling City Free site that offers games, tests and more for learning a plethora of words!- the paid subscription is only $24.99 a year for a family with 5 students which includes quite a few more games and record keeping capabilities the free doesn’t offer. Watch for my review of this site on 2/20/12.

Those are some of the links for Language Arts that have been collected. Stay tuned for more link ‘highlights’ every so often.

Get Connected with Copper.net

As many of my readers know, I moved recently and was without internet for about a month (oh, I had access here and there at the library). When it came time to look for internet providers in my area…uh, well, let’s say I didn’t see much that I liked.

Well today I visited Copper.net and man! why do I find things like this after I’ve already made a choice?! If you are in the market for internet service, have a look at Copper.net. They are an American based company- with customer service in the United States. I found it interesting that would be a selling point on their website. Lately, I have had to deal with customer service that I know is based out of India, although not concerning my internet service. Often they cannot understand me (sometimes I find it difficult to understand them but generally I do okay). It would be nice to have someone in the states to address my customer service issues.

Did you know that dial-up internet is still an option?? I would say who would use that but I suppose for those that use the internet infrequently (not me) or for simple things (not sure what that would include!) dial-up may be just what they need. For me (and most people I know) it has to be dsl or cable. To me, the speed of dial-up is crippling and I cannot imagine using it again.

Check out how they compare to the competition. Copper.net also offers free back-up service (up to 2GB) using IDrive. And another very interesting feature is that you don’t have to download any software. I understand why some people do not want to have to download software and with Copper.net, it isn’t necessary.

This post has been brought to you by Copper.net. See my Disclosure/Policies.

Money is THE root of all that is Evil....& Prayer Request

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows- 1 Timothy 6:10

We probably all know that verse. I had to look it up because all I could remember were the words "money is the root of all evil."

Today I was presented with the problem that I may not get to take my Oregon trip this June. We recently had a 'flood' issue in our basement which has required a lot of money to remedy...and it still isn't taken care of completely. After I posted awhile back about trying to figure out where my money has gone, I stopped going to the local coffee shop, stopped buying random little gizmos and whos-its and whats-its at the checkout counter, and stopped transferring money from savings to my checking in an attempt to stop spending what little money I have.

Then I realized I pay for at least two services each month that I do not use to the full extent. That's a total of almost $90 a month. Yes, *GASP* with me! How could I have been so silly (oh, wrong word!...not strong enough..perhaps naive? no, still not right...) to have let that much go each month without even thinking about it? It comes out automatically each month and I have mentally subtracted it each month from the amount I have...automatically, without thought.

At first when I wrote that money is the root of all that is evil it was simply because without money I cannot go to Oregon to see family and friends. What a twisted view of it! If I had not carelessly handled my money, I would be able to!

"...which while some coveted after..."

While I do not think that I have coveted after money, I definitely have not dealt wisely with what I have. I have been careless, taken it for granted. So the last line of the Scripture in Timothy rings true with me today!

"...pierced themselves through with many sorrows..."

We had hoped to take our trip the middle of June and return by the first of July. Even though I am cancelling the subscriptions to the two services, my realization comes too late. The payments for this month have gone through already. As I type this I realize that there is one more subscription that I can cancel as well that amounts to just under $15 a month.

One of those services, unfortunately, is internet. I will continue to have internet until the first of June and then no more ...unless I find wireless around. The public library does have WiFi but it is unreliable. There are also various locations around town that offer it. I do love my internet though...

So although the love of money is the root of all evil, having it and carelessly spending it is definitely a branch of evil related to money!

I would like to ask for prayer for the condition of my heart- that I learn to be more focused on what God has given me and deal with it more wisely-also that I may be more like the woman I should be for my family.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.- Proverbs 31:27-31

Internet at the library....SCORE!

heehee...

I have been trying to get my wireless to work at the library for awhile now because I do not want to spend $52+ a month on internet. Today, IT WORKS!!

Anyway, that's my post for...now :)

Edited later... it takes forever to get it to work at the library. I think I will have to stick with spending the money. With my classes alone I need the internet to be reliable.