Thanksgiving

We had a tremendous Thanksgiving this year.  We started the day with pastry and the Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The parade was pretty poor - too much promotion, not enough parade.  Then to church for Morning Prayer, and back home to get dinner ready.

The turkey was started the night before.  We brined the turkey using a recipe from the Food Network.  Alton Brown is one of our favorites, and this recipe produced a moist, flavorful turkey.  The juices were used for a wonderful gravy.

The family came over, and we had a wonderful time.  Lots to be thankful for.

For those student wondering how Thanksgiving began, they can read the original proclamation here.  In fact, for American history, the entire site is worth the time spent.

The Antikythera Mechanism

OK, another treat for those interested in mechanical devices - with an archaeological twist, as this mechanism is 2100 years old. It was designed to track cycles of the solar system, including eclipses, and as a bonus kept track of the four year Olympiad cycles. Read about its discovery and the amazing tools used to analyze the remaining fragments here.

The Curta Calculator

For kids interested in mechanical devices, for kids interested in history and how dire circumstances can still bring remarkable innovation, for kids wondering how calculators worked before the era of solid-state circuitry...

the Curta! Follow this link for some remarkable links on a page dedicated to this calculator. Scroll past the posters to find the good stuff.

This is a remarkable piece of machinery (I have a bias toward Old World design and craftsmanship), and the story behind it is amazing.

The short version is this: Curt Herzstark was born in Austria, the son of a man in the business of manufacturing calculators. He learned the trade and became a skilled craftsman - which likely saved his life. After the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938, his life changed dramatically - the more so after he was sent to Buchenwald. His ability to work on precision calculators was of value to the war effort, and when it was learned he was working on a portable four-function calculator, he was provided the means to continue and complete that work - to be a gift to the Fuhrer after the war.

At any rate, a remarkable man, and a remarkable story - and a remarkable design. Well, I'm off to eBay to try and find one (if I can afford it).

Special on iPods at Calumet

Yes, a blatant plug. Full disclosure - I (through my company, Camera Collectors, Inc. am an affiliate of Calumet Photographic. A new relationship, I hope they can supply items my customers may want, but that I cannot supply. With luck, I may make a buck or two as well.

That said, they are offering free shipping on iPods. My older daughter loves hers, and I was sufficiently impressed I may replace my MP3 player with an iPod (I have some Scot blood in me, so I won't do it until the MP3 player breathes it's last breath).

How does this apply to homeschooling? Please, if you haven't already, check out iTunes University. My MP3 player does not have any music. I have iTunes U college lectures on the Epistles, I have lessons on Biblical Greek (these lectures are downloaded free of charge), and a few audio books from Audible.com. I load Jack Benny's radio programs to listen to while traveling - driving at night, kids and wife asleep, and I'm laughing out loud.

Anyway - here is the link. If it looks like a good deal, try them out. I buy hard-to-find photographic gear from Calumet, and have always been pleased by their prices and service.

Free Shipping on ALL iPods at Calumet Photographic! while supplies last. no code necessary