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Major Victory for Homeschool Military Enlistees
- William A. Estrada, Esq. Director of Federal Relations
- 2014 8 Jan
On December 26, 2013, President Obama signed into law H.R. 3304, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is passed by Congress annually to fund our nation's military, pay our service members, purchase military equipment, and direct how the Pentagon operates over the coming year.
Over the past three years, HSLDA has worked with Congress to ensure that homeschool graduates have been able to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces without facing any discrimination because of how they were educated. We believe that this victory will finally close this chapter of the Pentagon's discrimination against homeschool graduates and ensure that patriotic homeschool graduates will be able to serve their country in the U.S. Armed Forces.
In 2011, we worked with Congress to insert an amendment into the NDAA to ensure that homeschool graduates would be able to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces, and that they would be treated fairly during the enlistment process. This was a great victory, but unfortunately, the Pentagon failed to fully implement the policy as Congress intended, instead requiring homeschool enlistees to score higher on the military's initial enlistment test than public and private school graduates.
Toward a Solution
In August of 2012, a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives sent a letter to the Pentagon demanding that officials eliminate this discriminatory policy, but the Pentagon ignored the letter. At this point, HSLDA determined that the only solution would be another amendment to the NDAA. Homeschoolers were able to enlist, but it was unacceptable that they needed to score higher than public and private school graduates on the military's initial enlistment test.
Your HSLDA federal relations team met with members of Congress and their staff to urge them to again fight the Pentagon's discrimination against homeschool graduates. This hard work came to fruition in June of 2013 when representatives John Kline (MN), Duncan Hunter (CA), Rob Andrews (NJ), and Jared Polis (CO) attached a bipartisan amendment to the House of Representatives' NDAA reauthorization requiring the Pentagon to have one single standard for all high school graduates who enlist in the military, regardless of how they were educated.
Our attention then turned to the Senate, and senators Lindsey Graham (SC) and Orrin Hatch (UT) introduced a similar amendment to the Senate's NDAA. Although they faced a great deal of pushback from some fellow senators, they and their staff deserve huge credit for ultimately ensuring that the amendment would be included in the Senate's NDAA.
New Obstacle
Then, the unexpected happened. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and a block of Democrat senators invoked the so-called "nuclear option" and changed the rules of the Senate to make it harder for senators in the minority party to filibuster the president's judicial and executive nominees. In the partisan atmosphere following the rule change, it became impossible for the Senate to pass its version of the NDAA. It looked like over a year of hard work was all for nothing.
However, it was imperative that the NDAA pass Congress. Military pay, benefits for the families of military personnel, and more was on the line. The NDAA had been passed annually for over 50 years, and both parties were determined to see it across the finish line. HSLDA began working closely with staff for representatives John Kline and Duncan Hunter to see if our language could still be included.
And thanks to representatives Kline and Hunter and their tireless work on behalf of homeschoolers, the House included our language in a modified NDAA bill which was then sent to the Senate. On the Senate side, senators Hatch and Graham and their staff worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure that our language was not stripped out. Upon final passage, President Obama quickly signed the bill into law. Our language is found in Section 573.
Bipartisan Support
HSLDA is grateful to see that homeschool freedom and equality is a bipartisan issue. Republicans and Democrats—culminating with President Obama's signature on the bill—came together to ensure that homeschool graduates will be treated in the same way as graduates of public or private schools when they enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces.
HSLDA's work is not done, however. It remains to be seen how the Pentagon will respond to the new law, and how military officials will change their current policies. It is very possible that the Pentagon will require all high school graduates to score 50 on the military's initial enlistment test. Regardless of how the Pentagon responds, HSLDA is ready to help homeschool graduates who face discrimination when they seek to serve their nation. Please contact HSLDA if your child runs into problems with military enlistment due to the fact that your child was homeschooled.
Protect Your Family
If you aren't yet a member of HSLDA, consider joining today! HSLDA's work benefits homeschooolers in the United States and around the world. We invite you to participate in our ministry to the homeschool community. Join now.
Will Estrada has been leading our efforts to defend homeschooling on Capitol Hill since 2006. As the oldest of eight kids, and a homeschool graduate who married a homeschool graduate, he has a passion for protecting homeschool freedom.
Courtesy HSLDA. Used with permission.
Publication date: January 8, 2014


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an inspirational entry for the times faith seems irrational
I always thought being reckless was riding a motorcycle without a helmet, skydiving or something extreme and hazardous to your health. At least that was until I was at a concert with Guy Penrod and he talked about serving Christ with a reckless faith.
Serving Christ...reckless? I'd never heard anything like this; I was intrigued.
As he continued speaking, he read Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." The concept of "reckless for Jesus" started to make a little more sense, as he explained "trust" in this verse is translated "a reckless action."
To place all your trust in one person is reckless, especially if that person is me. I let people down all the time, inadvertently...and sometimes not so inadvertently. That's just what we humans do. This is why it is so important for us to trust our Jesus recklessly...with all our heart.
Holding onto things gives me this false sense of control. It creates worry, doubt, frustration and that's not what God planned for us. He wants to have control so He can work His perfect plan and will. When I hold back a piece of my heart things get messed up and I try to blame God for the situation I'm in.
Giving up your whole heart is a scary thing. It makes you vulnerable, leaving you feeling naked and exposed. When we are used to getting hurt and being let down, we build walls so it doesn't happen again. Putting those barriers up is a defense mechanism to protect ourselves from experiencing the pain and rejection.
Barriers keep us from experiencing God's limitless love — love so large our finite minds can't comprehend it. {"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." Jeremiah 31:3 ESV} These aren't empty promises from just anyone. These are promises from the One who created you, the One who loved you before you were born and the One who died for you.
May I challenge you today? What if you and I were to exercise reckless faith in every aspect of our lives: job, relationships, finances, family, big stuff, small stuff, in between stuff...everything? Worry and doubt would vanish, problems wouldn't define us and we would have peace in knowing Jesus is in control. Let's be reckless and trust Christ with all our heart.
Something Else...
Watch Don't Waste Your Life by Lecrae on YouTube
Adam's day job is Production Director for Joy FM and Producer of Encouragement Cafe. He believes a day without laughter and coffee is a day wasted.
Check in with Adam at She Seeks this week.
© 2011 by Adam McCain. All rights reserved.
For more devtionals like this one, check out Proverbs 31 Ministries

subset: commoncrawl


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- Home
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HILLSVILLE — Citing poor emergency billing practices that burden the taxpayers, a member of the Carroll Emergency Services Advisory Board has resigned.
Debby Brady Goad turned in her letter of resignation at last Thursday's advisory board meeting.
In her time on the board, which included a term as chairwoman, Goad continually stressed the importance of making the "soft billing" for emergency medical services — billing insurance carriers, not patients — as efficient as possible for volunteer rescue and Carroll EMS.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Gazette, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
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MeritBadgeDotOrg talk:Bureaucrats
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
| Please familiarize yourself with Help:Talk pages before posting on discussion (a.k.a. talk) pages.
— Use headings, indentations; and please, always sign (~~~~) your posts. (See Help:Talk pages for details.)
— Ask your Scouting/advancement-related questions on our forums... several Scouters will be happy to help you.
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Removed {{Expand}}. —RWSmith (Bureaucrat), 11:21, March 13, 2012 (EDT)


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To begin with the Cauliflower with Spring Onions (scallion, green onion, salad onion), this is the first time I made something with spring onions. I never knew what to do with them, and was quite lost when R bought a pack when he shopped for groceries one weekend. I did google for recipes, but was more confused with all the results which were alien to me (I don't make salads! Yeah, not a healthy eater).
Thankfully, R had also bought cauliflower, and I decided I'd just chop those spring onions into whatever I would make with the cauliflower. I normally use onions, and therefore, it was easy to substitute them with the spring onions, including the green leaves. To make Dry Gobi with Spring Onions, you will need:
Gobi/ Cauliflower - 4-5 cups of evenly broken florets
When cooking, the outer leaves and thick stalks are removed, leaving only the florets. The leaves are also edible, but are most often discarded. The florets should be broken into similar-sized pieces so they are cooked evenly. After eight minutes of steaming, or five minutes of boiling, the florets should be soft, but not mushy (depending on size). Stirring while cooking can break the florets into smaller, uneven pieces. - Wikipedia
Spring Onions - chopped - about 2 cups
Tomatoes - chopped - 3 large
Green chilly - sliced - 1
Ginger - peeled and pounded - 1 tbsp
Garlic - peeled and pounded - 2 tsp/ 3-4 medium sized cloves
Lemon - 1/2 slice
Coriander leaves - chopped - 1/4 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Red Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
Pepper - 1/4 tsp
Jeera/ Cumin seeds powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Water - 2 cups
Salt - to taste
- After breaking the washed cauliflower florets into similar-sized pieces, boil 2 cups of water in a saucepan, remove from stove, add the cauliflower pieces, squeeze the lemon juice over it, add about a tsp of salt, mix well, and leave covered for 30 minutes.
- Heat oil in a pan, add the chopped spring onions, ginger, garlic, green chilly, and tomatoes
- Mix well, and toss in all the powders except pepper and garam masala
- Keep covered, and cook on low flame until tomatoes are cooked, stirring in between
- Drain the water completely from the cauliflower pieces, and add them to the tomato-spring onion mixture
- Add the garam masala powder, pepper, and salt to taste and mix well, taking care not to break the cauliflower
- Leave this to cook for another 5-10 minutes, covered and on low flame, until the cauliflower pieces are cooked well, but not mushy
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves
Serve with chapathi/ roti
Below, I have a picture of the same dish prepared with normal onions, instead of spring onions. As you will notice, the cauliflower became a little mushy and broken in this one:D


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2012 News Archives
Indy Library Receives Diversity in Business Award
July 17, 2012 — The Indianapolis Public Library has been recognized for its efforts to provide meaningful business opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.
LDI, Ltd. History Added to Indy Library Collection
July 12, 2012 — A newly-published book celebrating the 100-year history of one of Indianapolis's most successful family-owned businesses has been added to The Indianapolis Public Library's special collections area.
Winners Named for 2012 Indiana Authors Award
July 12, 2012 — Indianapolis author John Green is the National Author winner for the 4th annual Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award, a program of The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation that recognizes the contributions of Indiana authors to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation.
Spades Park Branch Manager Named
July 9, 2012 — A former Indianapolis Library assistant and digital projects coordinator has been appointed Manager of the Spades Park Branch of The Indianapolis Public Library.
Indy Library Summer Reading Program Continues in July!
July 5, 2012 — There's still time for children and families to experience the joy of reading during the summer by registering for The Indianapolis Public Library's 93rd annual Summer Reading Program, "Gear Up for Good," which continues through July 28.
Library Representatives Named for Sister City Exchange
June 27, 2012 — Three representatives from The Indianapolis Public Library will share their knowledge of the American library profession and acquire an understanding of practices in other countries when they visit Hangzhou, China and Cologne, Germany later this year as part of an Indianapolis Sister City exchange project with both cities.
Indy Library Unveils Redesigned Web Site
June 15, 2012 — Improved use and navigation of online services and quicker access to important library information are key features of The Indianapolis Public Library's updated web site.
2012 Summer Reading Program: Gear Up for Good
May 11, 2012 — Children of all ages and families are invited to "gear" their minds toward summer reading fun while learning about community philanthropy benefiting Indy Backpack Attack during The Indianapolis Public Library's 93rd annual Summer Reading Program.
National Digital Bookmobile Tour Comes to Indianapolis
May 11, 2012 — Readers of all ages can learn how to download eBooks from the Library through interactive demonstrations and high-definition instructional videos when the national Digital Bookmobile visits Indianapolis on Thursday, May 24 and Friday, May 25.
Indy Libraries Ready for New Service Hours
May 4, 2012 — Increased service hours and consistent opening and closing times are key features in the new schedule of operations that begins the week of May 13 at all Indianapolis Public Library locations.


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Click here to listen to Cheap Girls on Spotify
Welcome to a new column at the Bullz-Eye Blog, where we write mash notes to a singer or band that gets us excited about music, which we admit is increasingly hard to do in this age of Auto-bots (see what we did there?), famewhores, and teen-driven dreck. Our first love letter goes to three guys from Lansing who clearly love the pop as much as the rock, and remember when both used to live together in sweet, sweet harmony.
Yes, they look like the Geek Squad staff at the nearest Best Buy, don't judge this book by its cover – these guys bring it, dude.
The band drops their third album Giant Orange February 21. They recruited Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel to produce, and if the first single "Ruby" is any indication, Cheap Girls are primed to become the next Sugar, deftly blending the crunching guitars with the unaffected, straightforward vocal. More bands like this, please.
Ruby by CheapGirls
Related Posts
You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook for content updates. Also, sign up for our email list for weekly updates and check us out on Google+ as well.
Posted in: Music
Tags: Cheap Girls, Giant Orange, Lansing, Ruby, Sugar


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Caciotta Capra Foglie de Noce is a superb example of one of Italy's few goat's milk cheeses. Make sure to shave this cheese thinly to savor its intensely developed flavor. It pairs well with cured meats, sweet fruits, and mixed into beet or endive salads.
The Perenzin family firm has been making traditional cheeses for the past four generations, winning a gold medal at the Brussels "Salon des Arts M�nagers" in 1933. All processes are strictly craft-based, and supervised directly by Carlo Piccoli, a seasoned professional with twenty years experience acquired in all areas of the dairy chain: milk collection, cheesemaking, curing, and affining.


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Freitas named VP for student affairs and university and community relationsUniversity of Hawaiʻi
Jeanne Mariani-Belding, (808) 956-9803
External Affairs and University Relations
External Affairs and University Relations
Posted: May 20, 2010
HONOLULU – Rockne Freitas, who is currently chancellor of Hawai'i Community College, has been named to the newly created position of vice president for student affairs and university and community relations for the University of Hawai'i System. The position merges two vacant vice president positions at the system level – vice president for student affairs and vice president for external affairs and university relations.
In this position, Freitas will provide leadership in the area of systemwide student affairs policies and procedures and student life activities, as well as university and government relations efforts. Freitas will also work on key special projects systemwide, including the completion of the community college in Palamanui and assisting with the progress of the new West O'ahu campus.
"We are pleased to welcome Rockne Freitas to the Office of the President. He brings an excellent set of credentials and expertise that will help the university continue to move forward with some very important projects underway," said UH President M.R.C. Greenwood. "I know that our student affairs and university and community relations areas will thrive under his leadership and that he will continue to be an influential and effective part of our overall leadership team."
Freitas was named chancellor of Hawai'i Community College in August 2004, serving as the chief executive of the main campus in Hilo and its University of Hawai'i Center in West Hawai'i.
Prior to his appointment as chancellor, he served as vice president and executive director of the Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation and has held leadership positions at Kamehameha Schools and GRG Enterprises. He previously served as vice president for university relations for the UH system and associate athletic director for UH Mānoa. A former National Football League player and coach, Freitas was inducted into the Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame and the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame. He also served as a trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Freitas holds doctoral and master's degrees in education from UH Mānoa and a bachelor's degree in animal science from Oregon State University. His doctoral research focused on developmental systems and guidelines for drug prevention, education, monitoring and counseling for intercollegiate athletics.
He is scheduled to start in his new role on July 1.
"I am extremely pleased to have been offered this opportunity and to be a part of President Greenwood's senior administrative team. It is with a heavy heart that I leave Hawai'i Community College, but the college is in good hands with Noreen Yamane as interim chancellor," Freitas said. "I look forward to the new challenges and also look forward to maintaining my relationships on Hawai'i Island with my responsibilities for the build-out of the West Hawai'i campus at Palamanui and my role in the Thirty-Meter Telescope efforts. I thank President Greenwood and the Board of Regents for their confidence in me."


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Born in 1974 and having Burgundy as ground of adoption, I fed my passion for the photography for several years.
Everything began when I put the eye in the sight of Fujica AX-1 by realizing a macro of mimosa ; this frame opened on the world and surrounded with black changed definitively my look. Self-taught photographer, inspired by the flora and fauna, I really have no subject of preference. At random of a scene of the wild life or an atmosphere, I let make the nature.
Equipped today with equipment FUJIFILM, I try as the seasons go by to get a moment, to retranscribe an idea, to share with you an emotion, the time of a photo…
Having worked for a long time previously with DSLR high-end, I turned to the series X of FUJIFILM for several reasons.
The weight and the dimensions of the equipment are lesser, while remaining strong and tight, what favors the endurance on the ground and the shots in difficult conditions. The CMOS X-Trans sensor is a pure marvel which develops exceptional performances with an impressive management of highlights and lowlights. As for the electronic sight EVF, I could not take place anymore; I conceive and see my final image real time.
I use X-T1, X-Pro1 and X10 as well as several objectives of the range.


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The Minnesota Court of Appeals today rejected a request for a preliminary injunction that would have stopped the state's inaugural wolf hunting and trapping season.
That means the planned wolf hunting and trapping seasons will go as planned this fall and winter. Consistent with state law, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will issue 6,000 licenses, and the first season will start with the beginning of firearms deer hunting on Saturday, Nov. 3.
The late hunting and trapping season will begin on Nov. 24.
The Court of Appeals ruled that the petitioners, the Center for Biological Diversity of Howling for Wolves, did not meet their burden of proving irreparable harm for an injunction to be issued.
"We are pleased with the court's decision," said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. "It resolves any uncertainty that hunters and trappers might have had about the upcoming season."
The petitioner's lawsuit to challenge the way the season was established is still before the Court of Appeals and will proceed on its merits. A decision is not expected until next year.
The DNR has taken a conservative approach to the state's first wolf season by establishing a total target harvest of 400 wolves and a mechanism to close seasons when target harvests are reached. Minnesota has a robust population of about 3,000 wolves, and the season will not have any significant impact on the population.
Consistent with the state's wolf plan, the DNR is committed to the long-term survival of wolves in the state and resolving conflicts between humans and wolves.
To learn more, go to www.mndnr.gov/wolves.


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School Web Design
"I'm on the school website every day making changes and updates, and it's so simple to use, I love it! We're in the process of getting an app."- Judith Wright, Cottesbrooke School
School Jotter is the UK's most popular school website platform, and can be found in thousands of schools globally. It is a complete school web design, hosting and content management system (CMS) with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
With School Jotter, even the least tech-savvy teachers can effortlessly create, edit and update web pages themselves. With a bespoke design and an ever-growing list of add-on modules including Blogs and Surveys, you can seamlessly enhance your user experience and increase parental engagement through your website.
School Mobile Apps
"The Jotter Mobile app has saved us an absolute fortune and the parents love it! It's so easy to use. If I can do it, anyone can." - Gillian Austerfield, Asquith Primary School.
Designed with the custom themes and branding of your school website, your school mobile app is available to all parents for FREE in the App Store and Google Play.
This innovative app vastly improves communication with parents by sending all essential information straight to their phones. Both easy and convenient to use, it has proven extremely popular with parents and schools alike, and thanks to its push notification and newsletter features, it is saving schools "a fortune" in reducing long-term costs.
School Software
"The blog especially has made a huge difference to how we interact with parents and the children are really enthusiastic about the posts." - Sue Jackson, Drighlington School.
Enhance your user experience and increase engagement with our range of Jotter modules. With school modules dedicated to reducing administration time, inspiring learning, increasing parental engagement and improving digital literacy, there are various options available to help you and your school use your school website to its full potential.
jotter in 90 seconds
School Jotter is a suite of apps for managing your website, e-learning and communication tools in one place.
Why School Jotter?
Extensive content that is quick to navigate with drop-down menus
Google translate option to make your site accessible anywhere
Clear navigation panels that signpost sections for parents/pupils
Links to social media and sections for each year group
Fun and welcoming primary school web design in cartoon styles
Showcase your awards and accreditations
Big images for instant visual appeal
Easy to use drop-down menu taking visitors to useful information
Warm welcome from the headteacher
Bright, cartoon-based web design
Introduce your school's ethos
Signpost useful info and upcoming events
Hand drawn backgrounds to represent your school and community
Bright and attractive websites to showcase the latest school events
Moving elements that provide an inviting introduction to the school
Inviting and warm animated headers
Host huge amounts of information
Signpost the latest news, events and information on the homepage
Dedicated pages for each class, parental information and much more
Embedded calendar on the homepage
Charming rustic, 'textured' design
Accessible key information, from Ofsted reports to lunch menus
Lovely header sections with banners, school logos and children
Signpost your VLE to make it easy to access for staff and pupils
Incorporate links to all schools in Multi Academy Trusts
Bold, modern banner designs
Welsh language websites for Welsh schools with option to browse in English
Fun and bright cartoon designs with photo slideshows
Integrated calendars and Twitter feeds
Content packed sites for comprehensive info and resources for the whole community
Colourful, engaging sites that combine illustrations of the local area
Slideshows of pupil photos
Signpost social media, school awards and accreditations
Keep your school website colourful through use of photographs
Opt for professional photography to enhance their website
Use great images to really bring your School Jotter to life
Clean and professional looking websites
Homepage slideshows with big images of school life
Emphasis on core values
Use bright, bold colours and a rotating slideshows
no need for advanced graphics for a great-looking school website
Interested in
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You can start a free 7 day no obligation trial of School Jotter today, simply click on the button below to get started


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Mimi's sling change
There is no heart like the one of a butterfly who must ENDURE, you know? Our sparkle butterfly endured an injury last week but she found the strength, the courage to carry on. I realise this means nothing to you unless you know her song lyrics but still…
Mimi's sacrifice and bravery is universally inspiring.
Isn't it?
Mimi still performed this weekend. They jammed and sewed her into her gown, one size too small, and they even let her stand, all by herself, without a balloon around her to cushion her fall. As expected, she took every opportunity to remind the audience of what she had been through.
She CHANGED slings, for no f-cking reason. And this … IS ON VIDEO.
Didn't you need a pick-me-up?
There's a sequined sling. And a FUR sling. And a FEATHER sling. All produced in time for Mimi to take the stage. How many people had to work overtime to make this happen? Now I feel stupid for just using scarves when I broke my arm. It was four years ago. Mischa Barton is to blame. Three days later, fresh out of surgery in an ugly blue stanky sling, I interviewed Cate Blanchett who told me just to wrap an Hermes scarf around my arm and be done with it, like it was no thing. So I just started collecting scarves that summer. Scarves with stars. Scarves with stripes. Scarves with animals. Scarves with skulls. It was a fashion statement. I kept wearing it even after my arm had healed, in a knot at the elbow. Now Mimi's making me look like a f-cking amateur.
I love it when she uses the royal "we". Mimi really is an institution.