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WITandWISDOM(tm) - October 29, 2002 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: "The brook would lose its song if the rocks were removed." - Author Unknown Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright 2002, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: In the movie Karate Kid, young Daniel asks Mister Miagi to teach him karate. Miagi agrees under one condition: Daniel must submit totally to his instruction and never question his methods. Daniel shows up the next day eager to learn. To his chagrin, Mister Miagi has him paint a fence. Miagi demonstrates the precise motion for the job: up and down, up and down. Daniel takes days to finish the job. Next, Miagi has him scrub the deck using a prescribed stroke. Again the job takes days. Daniel wonders, What does this have to do with Karate? but he says nothing. Next, Miagi tells Daniel to wash and wax three weather-beaten cars and again prescribes the motion. Finally, Daniel reaches his limit: "I thought you were going to teach me karate, but all you have done is have me do your unwanted chores!" Daniel has broken Miagi's one condition, and the old man's face pulses with anger. "I have been teaching you karate! Defend yourself!" Miagi thrusts his arm at Daniel, who instinctively defends himself with an arm motion exactly like that used on one of his chores. Miagi unleashes a vicious kick, and again Daniel successfully defends himself from several more blows. Miagi simply walks away, leaving Daniel to discover what the master had known all along: skill comes from repeating the correct but seemingly mundane actions. The same is true of godliness. By Duke Winster, Leadership. Cited in Encounter, July/August, 2002. p. 13. Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright 2002, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: THE EDGE INDEX Percentage of kids who say they're afraid of clowns: 30 Percentage of American college students who say they would try to evade the draft if one were called today: 37 Percentage of male British college freshmen who have never washed their own clothes: 80 Percentage of students in Cleveland's 6-year-old school voucher program who attend religious schools: 99 Minimum number of Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets that the company plans to open in France by 2006: 100 Number of men who think they should make all the household repairs: 1 in 2 Percentage of American women, who dyed their hair in 1950: 7 Percentage who dye their hair today: 75 Source: The Oregonian, Copyright (c) September 6, 2002, http://www.oregonian.com/ Submitted by Barbara Henry ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: Question: How does a home schooler change a light bulb? Answer: First, mom checks three books on electricity out of the library, then the kids make models of light bulbs, read a biography of Thomas Edison and do a skit based on his life. Next, everyone studies the history of lighting methods, wrapping up with dipping their own candles. Next, everyone takes a trip to the store where they compare types of light bulbs as well as prices and figure out how much change they'll get if they buy two bulbs for $1.99 and pay with a five dollar bill. On the way home, a discussion develops over the history of money and also Abraham Lincoln, as his picture is on the five dollar bill. Finally, after building a homemade ladder out of branches dragged from the woods, the light bulb is installed. And there is light. Hats off to home schoolers! Source: Kitty's Daily Mews, Copyright (c) 1997-2002 All rights reserved worldwide, http://www.katscratch.com/ Submitted by John L. Hoh, Jr., http://www.geocities.com/hohjohn/ ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Kids Plus TV Equal More Toys Stanford University researchers developed a curriculum designed to teach third and fourth graders how to reduce television, videotape, and video game use. After six months of instruction, the students requested 70 percent fewer toys than those who had not received the classes. The average number of commercials a child sees in a year is 40,000, with many focusing on toys. From: Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Source: Vibrant Life, http://vibrantlife.com/ Submitted by Nancy Simpson |