A Shocking, Subtle, Secret Story

No doubt you've seen the adds for the movie. It's reminiscent of the Narnia movie, but looks can be deceiving, just as the tip of the iceberg was to the Titanic--by the time anyone saw it, it was too late.

We had seen the trailer for The Golden Compass over the summer which looked like a fun, cute movie to take the kids to see. Fortunately, I recognized the storyline, and when I heard the name "Lyra", immediately scratched it off my list.

Lyra is the main character in the first of a trilogy of books put out by Phillip Pullman, and is the secondary character in the second book, The Subtle Knife. My son had innocently brought home this book from his elementary school's library when I picked it up and started reading it.

The reason I'm so fervent, for those of you just hearing this from me for the first time, is because I read the entire second book in the series called The Subtle Knife and was quiet disturbed by its content very early on.

The media is defending this movie, making it look like only "kooky Christians" are concerned. I'm here to tell you that while I am indeed a born-again Christian, I was disturbed about its content long before I ever learned of this book's plot at the very end when "killing the Authoriy" is revealed.

How many of us would be indifferent upon learning of a book that talks about castrating young boys and girls? Shocking? Just wait, there's more!

It also paints evil as good and good as evil, revenge and murder as justifiable and worthy, among many other things.

In a very short amount of time, our town received over 400 signatures from concerned citizens who signed petitions when a murderer moved into one of our neighborhoods. They were neighbors. I doubt very many, if any at all, would call this man, or any other murderer a "worthy companion" like Lyra does in the second book!

These books are vile even if they did not attack God or Christianity. They are surprisingly found in many elementary schools for the advanced readers. I strongly believe they should be removed. All books influence people, especially young, impressionable minds, even in the name of "fantasy".

Pullman writes very compellingly, and Hollywood is out for the big bucks. Mega efforts are going toward promoting not only the more benign film, but the wicked trilogy itself.

Does the below sound like a book you'd like your kids to read? They are taken from The Subtle Knife: --LKR


He (Will) couldn't get out of his mind the crack as the man's head struck the table, and the way his neck was bent so far and in such a wrong way, and the dreadful twitching of his limbs. The man was dead. He'd killed him.

And now he'd killed one of them.

So the police would be after him too.

Well, he was good at not being noticed. He'd have to not be noticed harder than he'd ever done in his life before, and keep it up as long as he could, till either he found his father or they found him. And if they found him first, he didn't care how many more of them he killed.



She had asked: What is he? A friend or an enemy?

The alethiometer answered: He is a murderer.

When she (Lyra) saw the answer, she relaxed at once. He could find food, and show her how to reach Oxford, and those were powers that were useful, but he might still have been untrustworthy or cowardly. A murderer was a worthy companion.

54 "I know the man Stanislaus Grumman. I used to love him. But I hate him now with such a fervor that if I see him, I shall kill him... .."--a young witch named Juta Kamainen 322-323 ...Something shot down from the turbid sky, and he John Perry) fell back dead before he could say a word, an arrow on his failing heart. "No! No!" Cried witch Juta K., and fell down after him, clutching her own heart. ... "Why did you do that?" he [Will] shouted. "Why did you kill him?" Because I loved him and he scorned me! I am a witch! I don't forgive!" "What did he ever do to you that you needed to kill him?" he cried. ... And she looked at the dead man. ... "No, I can't explain," she said. "You are too young. It wouldn't make sense to you. I loved him. That's all. That's enough." And before Will could stop her, she fell softly sideways, her hand on the hilt of the knife she had just taken from her own belt and pushed beteewn her ribs.

257

261 talking about his mother: "They were tormenting her just like those kids at the tower with the cat.... They thought she was mad and they wanted to hurt her, maybe kill her, I wouldn't be surprised. She was just different and they hated her. Anyway, I found her [his mom] and I got her home. And the next day in school I fought the boy who was leading them. I fought him and I broke his arm and I think I broke some of his teeth--I don't know. And I was going to fight the rest of them, too, but I got in trouble and I realized I better stop... so I just pretended to be sorry and told the teachers I wouldn't do it again, and they punished me for fighting and I still said nothing. But I kept her safe, see. No one knew [about his mother's problems--being afraid of things she couldn't see, but he didn't want people to think she was crazy and get separated from his mom] apart from those boys, and they knew what I'd do if they said anything; they knew I'd kill them another time. Not just hurt them. ..."

264 "What about the man you killed?" Lyra said, her heart beating hard. "Who was he?" "I don't know. If I killed him, I don't care. He deserved it. ... And I ran away. That's all that happened. So I didn't mean to kill him, but I don't care if I did. ..."

talking of killing the Authority pages 45-47


46-47 "...I think he's aiming a rebellion against the highest power of all. He's gone a-searching for the dwelling place of the Authority Himself, and he's a-going to destroy Him. ... I'd be afraid to speak it aloud to you if you weren't a witch and beyond the power of the church; but that makes sense. and nothing else does.He's a-going to find the Authority and kill Him. ... The Church teaches that some of the angels rebelled before the world was created, and got flung into hell. They failed, you see, that's the point. They couldn't do it. And they had the power of angels. Lord Asriel is just a man, with human power, no more than that. But his ambition is limitless. He dares to do what men and women don't even dare to think. And look what he's done already... ." --Thorold

50 "...There is a war coming. I don't know who will join with us, but I know whom we must fight. It's the Magisterium, the Church. ...For all history,...it's tried to surpress and control every natural impuse. And when it can't control them, it cuts them out. ... They cut their sexual organs, yes, boys and girls; they cut them with knives so that they shan't feel. That is what the Church does, and every church (c) is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling. So if a war comes, and the Church is on one side of it, we must be on the other, no matter what strange allies we find ourselves bound to. ..." --witches speaking???

319-320 "...If you're the bearer of the knife, you have a task that's greater than you can imagine. ... There's a war coming, boy [Will]. The greatest war there ever was. Something like it happened before, and this time the right side must win. ... The knife,...they never knew what they were making, those philossophers. They invented a device that could split open the very smallest particles of matter... .. They had no idea that they'd made the one weapon in all the universes that could defeat the tyrant. The Authority. God. The rebel angels fell because they didn't have anything like the knife; but now... " Will's father, John Perry, aka Stanislaus Grumman

Bettas and African Frogs

One little African frog.

Another little froggy. Unfortunately, neither of them lived that long.

This is Passion, one of our bettas, named after the purple passion plant. Passion really is more purple than he looks, here. We just lost him two days ago.

This is Pate II. We had another wonderful Pate when we lived in IL that protected our platy fry (babies). He wouldn't let any other fish near the netted breeder they were in! --LKR

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last year at Thanksgiving, we had the class guinea pig, Mel, with us as our guest of honor. He literally sat at the table for his meal, but not when we had ours!

This year, my hubby drove his mom 13 hours down to Ohio for his aunt's/his mom's sister's funeral. Bummy, huh? It's really sad, but the Lord's in control of these things, so I'm not complaining.

The kids and I watched part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on tv. I pointed out Times Square to them as well as the historic hand-carved wooden wagon I'd heard was being transported from Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI, for the event. We don't have cable, so we didn't have super reception, but at least we got to see it! The kids spent the rest of the day on the computer (where else?!), while I visited with a good friend across the miles via phone who was also alone for the holiday.

DV, we're planning on a Thanksgiving meal Sunday afternoon when hubby should be back. We can even put it off 'til Monday evening, need be.

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! --LKR

Albino Squirrels

I've never seen so many albino squirrels in one town, before. Just on the west side of Eau Claire, there are at least five that I see on a regular basis as I'm driving through residential areas. Often, I see this little one near South Middle School.

We also have at least one back in Lowes Creek County Park. It's technically part of the town of Washington, but is considered a part of Eau Claire.

Coming home from Church near the new "turn around" [a small circle], I saw one that had met the grim reaper at the side of the road. Yes, I do mourn the loss of little creatures along the sides of roads. When my hubby's with me, he'll say, "Wow! look at that!", pointing in the opposite direction to divert my attention. Amazingly, after 17 years of this, I still usually fall for this line! --LKR

Snow!!!

This is Wisconsin, so I shouldn't be too surprised that it's snowing in November--this for the second time, already! And, after all, 16 years ago it did snow in the Chicago area on my wedding day on the second of November!!! Imagine that--I've lived in the midwest for 17 years and I'm still not used to this weather! Never do I remember it snowing that early in New Jersey!

My poor little poochie puppy out in the white, fluffy stuff. It wasn't snowing when I put him out!

Some time after it stopped snowing, I counted 14 robins in just a small section of our yard! I'm sure there were even more of them hanging around close by--the deck obstructed my view. Yes, the snow did not stay on the ground too long!

Not all robins migrate south for the winter.

Those that stay behind feed on the fruits of bittersweet, crabapple, snowberry, sumac, and many others. At feeders, they look for treats such as apples, raisins, currents, oranges, cranberries, as well as other berries. They also like moistened dog food in the place of worms.

Bon appetit!

--LKR

A Walk Through Fairfax Park

Hi! It's me, Mister Poochie taking over for Mom while she's busy working on yearbook!

I took Mom for a fun walk through Fairfax Park, today, I did. It was the first time either of us have ever walked these trails! Mom was bringing me to the vet, she was, but had to stop at the middle school to drop off my oldest sister's violin, you know? Lizabeth had her hands full, this morning, she did, bringing a rubber band car on the bus that she built for her science class!

We had some time to kill, we did, and suddenly Mom thought of those trails. I love to walk, I do, I do! So, I pulled pulled pulled her all over the place. She didn't think she'd need my pinch collar and back-up choke collar since we were only going to the vet's! Thanks, Mom, really, thanks! I really got to be lead dog for real, I did!

Mom also didn't bring her camera, so I have no pictures to show you, none at all. But, it was fun, it was, even though it was cold and very, very windy, even for me. And I was too busy sniff sniff sniffing and watering things to let it bother me much, though, you know? Poor Mom--she rarely wears her gloves, but she sure took them out for this walk, she did!

Hey! Was that you we saw walking in front of us?

--Mister Poochie

Where to Find a Thermologist

Several people have asked where they could find a thermographer in their area, so I'm adding links that I've found. Check all five lists, as there are a few that are different on each site. The first one is of my thermographer who travels throughout the midwest. Also, ask around, or even call these places to see if they know of someone closer to you.

Don't give up--it took me three years to find someone who is a traveling thermologist that just started coming to my area. Check with chiropractors, alternative healthcare providers, wellness centers, holistic healers, massage and physical therapists--anyone and everyone!

Sports docs may know, as athletes have thermograms done on their injuries. Horses have thermograms done, too, so it's a lot more common than we are led to believe. My friend in IL had a thermogram done in Chicago several years ago and this doctor still does them, yet I haven't seen him listed anywhere. Once you find someone, check into their reputation. It's an extremely valuable tool! Make sure the kind they do also screens for Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC).

I had my thermogram done earlier this week, and just got the results today that everything is fine. It's just like having your picture taken, minus the blinding flash! I'll just need to go back in about three months to get my thermal signature baseline established, and every year or so after that.

--LKR

http://www.radianthealthimaging.com/index.php?key_id=7
http://www.thermologyonline.org/

http://www.iact-org.org/links.html
http://www.cancure.org/breast_thermography.htm
http://www.breastthermography.com/find-a-center.htm