Friday, February 24, 2012

Forced public schooling has led us to the gates of hell



(Warning: violence, profanity, nudity and deeply moving images of broken children)

Our leaders have led us to the gates of hell. Some have already passed through. Will the remainder of us be forced to enter or will we be able to pull back and save our own humanity?

Homeschoolers have the freedom to learn and teach the truth. We have a duty to reciprocate and allow others the opportunity to act upon this information. You can believe what you are told by our leaders and in the media, or you can seek out the truth for yourself.  This is a powerful video. Watch. Learn. Believe or not believe. It is your choice.

Just one more piece to the puzzle why free-thinking and independent homeschoolers are seen as a threat to the status quo.

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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Is your child "damaged goods already marked for failure"?

In 1992 Mark Tucker, known as the Music Man of Education Reform, wrote his famous 18 page letter to Hillary Clinton to congratulate her on winning the presidential election. Not much has changed since he penned the letter and education in this country has gone from bad to worse under Bush-1, the Clintons (yes, they thought of themselves as a team), Bush-2 and now Obama. It seems the only reform education gets in this country is the catchy little name put on the programs that are implemented by each administration: Goals 2000, Outcome Based Education, School-To-Work, No Child Left Behind, etc.

For those of you who remember this letter, it caused quite a stir. Once this idea took hold of the public schools in the form of OBE, homeschooling took off like a greyhound out of the starting gate. Tucker's cradle to grave idea is still around and much has been written about it. OBE was regretfully legislated into many states but here in Vermont it was allowed into our schools through the back door, thanks to a few old codgers looking to get their names engraved on some state owned buildings.

The most offensive part of Tucker's ideas that the politicians were thrilled to go along with, was his idea that children were simply considered as human resources. You know, sort of like chattel to be herded about and whipped into conformity. Everything was planned out for your child from birth because the government wanted to make sure (and still does) your child is prepared for the work force. If you didn't comply and your child wasn't properly primed using state standards, or if your child had learning disabilities, then your child could be considered "damaged goods already marked for failure". What happens to damaged goods? Take a look around. Just who, exactly, is creating the damaged goods? How much longer can America survive when its public schools continue to follow this path of non-education?

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OBE-Goals 2000 Revamped by Obama But Still The Same 'Ol Same 'Ol



Good grief. The Clintons were pushing for this same thing when they were squatting in the White House. Even Bush senior was talking Goals 2000 when he was in office. Has anyone noticed that public school children in this country aren't getting any smarter? Wait! Some people have noticed and they're taking their children out in droves in order to homeschool them.

Appears to me this book may be well worth the read.

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

5 Ways Grandparents Can Help Homeschool Their Grandchildren

As parents we've probably imagined at some time what it would be like to be a grandparent. Well, that time has arrived for many of us and it is a wondrous experience. Children grow quickly and there just isn't enough time to teach them all there is to know about life or all you want them to know. As grandparents we have a duty to see our grandchildren grow up in a loving, nurturing, safe environment.

Today, however, there is one major difference to the educational aspect of raising children. It is the re-establishment of the parent and family as the primary source for imparting knowledge to the young. It is known today as homeschooling. Homeschooling is not new. It's been around a long time. For centuries children have been taught by their parents well into their young adult lives. Without going into the nitty gritty of the history of education, here are 5 ways the grandparents of today can help homeschool their grandchildren: 

1. Learn all there is to know about homeschooling. Research the pros and cons, the history of homeschooling, and absorb as much information on the subject as you can. If you haven't had the privilege of raising a homeschooled child yourself, you weren't submerged in the day to day nuances of this natural way of learning.  However, you did raise your own child and you developed a common sense approach to learning. In other words, you're wiser! Some good books on homeschooling to get you started are The Homeschooling Book of Answers and Homeschooling: The Early Years by Linda Dobson.

2. Set aside money in your budget for your grandchild's homeschooling. Do you presently donate money to worthy causes? Then make your grandchild's education one of them. Start a special fund and use it to purchase homeschool materials and books.  Use it for field trips or pay for music lessons your grandchild is taking. Earmark a few dollars of that fund to teach your grandchild about money and how to invest it. Some great books for teaching personal finance are Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Increase Your Financial IQ by Robert Kiyosaki.

3. Make your own home child friendly and a learning environment. Keep a ready supply of educational toys, books and materials on hand. Make them available at all times. Take some of your old hats, shoes, clothing or jewelry and create a dress-up box for your grandchild to enjoy. Put together a tool box for your grandchild so you can work on special projects together. Keep child size garden tools handy if you like to work outdoors or equipment for other outdoor activities. Plan at least one special educational experience each time your grandchild visits or you visit them, even if it's as simple as giving them a new book for their home library. 

4. Become a mentor for your grandchild. You are a wealth of information--cash in on it and share what you know. Your grandchild will think you're the smartest person in the world and love you for it. Learning needn't be drudgery so develop your own special way to impart your knowledge that is fun and meaningful. As an older adult you've lived a full life so far and hopefully you've learned many good lessons. Read to your grandchild or teach them how to garden, how to build a birdhouse or how to cook a favorite old recipe. Teach them skills they need to know to survive and thrive in this world.

5. Let your grandchild inherit their history from you. Share with them your knowledge, your experience and your love of their heritage. Tell them about their ancestors and let them know who these people were. Most children want to know where they came from, historically speaking. Did they have ancestors who migrated from another country? Do they resemble a great-great-great grandparent? Pass on to your grandchild the treasures you've kept in a trinket box all these years and tell them the stories behind each old photo, lock of hair, pocket watch or letter. That way, if they should inherit one of those items they'll know it's history and why it was worth keeping. Children love listening to stories, especially when you have a prop to go with it. Become their favorite storyteller. 


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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Homeschooling Parents Get New Hope in Custody Dispute

Homeschooling Parents Get New Hope in Custody Dispute

“The government shouldn’t abduct and imprison children simply because it doesn’t like homeschooling. This atrocity must stop,” says ADF senior legal Counsel Roger Kiska, who is based in Europe. “The recent ruling from Europe’s highest court recognizes the harm that comes to a child when he is separated from his parents for such an excessive amount of time. Domenic should be returned to his parents immediately.”

Swedish barbarians! Yeah, we've got a few here who work for the Vermont Department of Education too.

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Preschooler’s Homemade Lunch Replaced with Cafeteria “Nuggets”

Preschooler’s Homemade Lunch Replaced with Cafeteria “Nuggets”

"The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs — including in-home day care centers — to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home."

Why do parents insist on torturing themselves and their children by participating in programs like this? I guess I'll never understand a parent not wanting to raise their own child and letting the state do the job.

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Monday, February 13, 2012

Cincinnati High School Paying Students To Come To School « CBS Cleveland

Cincinnati High School Paying Students To Come To School « CBS Cleveland

“People will say you’re rewarding kids for something they should already be doing anyway,” Davenport told the Enquirer. “But they’re not doing it. We’ve tried everything else.”

Here's an idea. How about just teaching these students what they need to know to live and survive in the real world, not all this touchy-feely politically correct garbage that goes on in there now.

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Friday, February 10, 2012

Getting your panties out of a twist: Why the compulsory attendance law is laughable

Our Vermont state legislature is presently considering revising the compulsory attendance law for public and home schooling. It will raise the age of required attendance from 16 to 18. These ninnyhammers lowered the age from 7 to 6 back in 2000 when they sneaked that bill through during the Civil Union brouhaha and no one was watching.

Some people have been asking me why I don't get my panties in a twist over these legislative shenanigans and why I don't campaign to stop them. It's because our legislators are going to do whatever they want. They're controlled by the teacher's union and big business lobbyists, not by the voters. Why waste my time with them when I can best use it to make a difference where the real power lies: with the parents!

Arming parents with information and tactics empowers them to stand up for their rights. It lets them experience a freedom they've never known. Once they get a taste of that freedom there is no returning to the oppression of the public school monopoly. Besides, what 16 to 18 year old in their right mind is going to stand for two more years of mandatory servitude in a failed and antiquated school system?

It isn't difficult to understand why these political hooligans push for laws like this. It's all about the money that follows the children. Here in Vermont, the bounty on each child's head is a whopping $16,000.00 and our public school test scores are abysmal. These insane laws are NOT about education. Parents have caught on to the lies of the legislators, the teachers and the mainstream presstitutes. It's nothing more than extorting as much money as possible from the taxpayers to propagate their thuggish existence.

So, next time our corrupt legislature tries to pull a fast one on us, just remember they are powerless to enforce such a law that is trumped by our Constitution and by our unalienable right to raise our children as we see fit. Now, untwist those bloomers and go about your business of providing your child with a real and unfettered education.


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Thursday, February 9, 2012

State: Older students struggle in math and science: Rutland Herald Online

State: Older students struggle in math and science: Rutland Herald Online

No surprise here. I've actually sat in on homeschool hearings conducted by the DOE (Department of Education) and listened to these ninnyhammers tell parents their (the parents) standards are too high for their children. HUH?! Yup! The state's Department of Education doesn't want parents setting their standards too high for their children. And they wonder why parents are flocking to homeschooling here in this state by the droves without enrolling in the state's home study program.

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Today's 10 most popular posts here at Guerrilla Homeschooling


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Learn In Freedom: Guerrilla Homeschooling



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Internet puts homeschoolers on even keel with public school monopoly

Twenty-five years ago it was difficult to find a decent book about homeschooling. As a home education advocate I managed to find about five good ones, tops! There were few homeschoolers, too. By the time our first born was ten years old, homeschooling had finally caught on and homeschoolers were everywhere. With all those parents garnering experience, a flood of books, magazines and newsletters about homeschooling appeared on the market. Then, homeschooling exploded!

With the advent of personal computers, homeschoolers began creating websites, weblogs (blogs) and publishing easily downloadable materials and information. Some of these websites and blogs are quite extensive and sophisticated.  Everything homeschoolers needed to know or find was at their fingertips. With the internet, homeschooling spread like wildfire. We even took full advantage of it with research, publishing our own newsletters and booklets, and even a stay-at-home-mom business.

Today, many homeschool families rely on their computer for much of their information. They can run a family business from home. They can correspond instantly with other homeschoolers, friends and relatives. They can even take a virtual tour of their local schools to see what they're not missing.

Every subject is available and free lessons are bountiful on the internet. Even those without online service can use educational compact disks that are available and inexpensive. We had the complete middle school and high school curricula on CD, as well as disks that teach phonics, typing and how to play chess. When homeschoolers balance their computer time with other hands-on activities, they can create a custom made learning experience unlike any the public school could provide.

With the many alternatives to public schooling available, parents are better equipped to take charge of their child's education. Outdated public schools can no longer compete with homeschooling. Their monopoly over the children and the money is being undermined by homeschooling because parents finally have access to the truth about public school.  Public schooling is a dinosaur. It's time to stuff it and place it in a history museum where it belongs.

If the internet disappeared tomorrow, never to return, it wouldn't matter to the modern-day homeschooler.  We have such a fire in our bellies about freedom, there would be no stopping us. We'd find a way to teach our own, with or without today's technology.

Public schools have tried to replicate homeschooling in hopes of creating its successes. That doesn't work because public schools will never have the one ingredient that homeschoolers have. Homeschooling children have an environment of cooperation (the home) with the ones who love them the most and unconditionally (the parents).


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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Welcome To The Neighborhood: Are Homeschoolers Flocking To Vermont?

While our children were growing up and I became a home-education advocate, I saw a pattern to the phone calls, emails and contacts I received from parents seeking information or help. The month of August, just prior to the opening of public school, usually included the largest spate of frantic parents. That was followed by another grouping of contacts in late December to early January from parents desperate to not send their children back to school after the holidays. The parents included doctors, lawyers, truck drivers, teachers and even a school principal. Once I began publishing information and my blog the direct contacts subsided somewhat.

Seeing a need for information that parents could access easily without my assistance, and so I didn't have to repeat myself over and over, I began to compile and publish my newsletter Right At Home along with several booklets. Once weblogs arrived on the scene, it was difficult to contain my euphoria. What better way to disseminate information without constantly parroting to others my discoveries and experience.

Our children are grown now and there was a time when I thought I could just relax, forget about homeschooling, and putter around in my garden until the arrival of grandchildren. That didn't happen. I thought I had passed the torch to the very capable hands of a few other homeschooling moms. What I learned over the few years since our children aged-out of homeschooling were two things:

1. Your children never truly age-out of learning from you.

2. There is a need--no, a demand--and an obligation for those of us seasoned, battle trained homeschooling veterans to share our expertise and maintain our position at the front.

The army of homeschoolers in this country and the world, has grown so large and so determined, there is no stopping it from accomplishing its mission. They want freedom and a safe haven for their families. When I made the decision to jump back into the fray with Guerrilla Homeschooling, the phone calls, emails and contacts began again and in full force. Still, they come in waves but, with the internet it's much easier to direct parents to information. Parents are now able to access volumes of material on their own. Twenty-five years ago we didn't have homeschool websites and there were barely 10 decent books written about the subject.

Lately, I'm noticing another pattern. The majority (and there have been many) of parents contacting me and inquiring about homeschooling, do not live in my state (Vermont). However, they are considering moving here or have recently moved here. There seems to be an influx of homeschoolers into Vermont from as close as New Hampshire, to as far away as Alaska, and beyond.

Vermont is a beautiful state. Most here have a 'live and let live' attitude. It's a popular destination for 'trust fund baby-boomers' and a playground for nearby New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Vermont is one of the most expensive states to live in. So, what is the draw to homeschoolers?

Vermont is independent. For many years it had what we call lapel politics because you could hold the lapel of the politician while giving him a piece of your mind. Vermonters vote for some whacky legislation at times and we have the most lenient gun laws in the nation. Vermonters love their guns and rightfully so.

Vermont has the best of both worlds. It is small, rural and laid back. Travel some of the back roads here and you may think you're in the Appalachians. It also has a teaming community of organic farmers, artists, writers and craftsmen. It has some well known industries such as maple syrup, snowboards, skiing and some darn good salsa. For such a small state there is a boat load of colleges here and, although the primary and secondary schools are truly deficient, the homeschool population is thriving! Many homeschoolers begin college at ages 15 or 16, thus skipping ahead of their public school counterparts who are dragging out their pre-graduation years.

Vermont also has some of the most lenient homeschool laws in New England. New York, Maine and Massachusetts have nightmarish homeschool laws. Connecticut is a darling in comparison with basically a shout out to the local authorities. Vermont homeschoolers tend to go their merry way too, providing the state follows it's own laws.

For the parents who are considering a move to Vermont and want to know about the homeschooling community, here is a run down for you:

* the home-study law and requirements can be found at
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?title=16&chapter=003&section=00166b 

* enrollment forms are at
http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_homestudy.html

* Vermont law:  
Title 16 V.S.A. Section 1121 Attendance by Children of School Age Required
A person having the control of a child between the ages of six and 16 years shall cause the child to
attend a public school, an approved or recognized independent school or a home study program
for the full number of days for which that school is held, unless the child:
(1) is mentally or physically unable so to attend; or
(2) has completed the tenth grade; or
(3) is excused by the superintendent or a majority of the school directors as provided in this
chapter; or
(4) is enrolled in and attending a postsecondary schools, as defined in Subdivision 176(b)(1) of
this title, which is approved or accredited in Vermont or another state.

Notice the law reads: or a home study program... A home study program...not the state's, not Oak Meadow, not Clonlara, etc. Some at the VT Department of Education may argue this but this is the law!


* some Vermont (there aren't too many) homeschool groups, forums or websites include:
- guerrillahomeschooling@yahoogroups.com
- VT-homeschooling@yahoogroups.com
- http://guerrillahomeschooling.blogspot.com/

* If your child is presently enrolled in public school and you want them out it is recommended you download the home-study application and enroll in the state's program. If you previously enrolled in public schooling the state owns you...for life! That also goes for welfare and food stamp assistance...the state owns you! At least they think and act like they do.

* Your signature on the state's home-study enrollment notification (it is NOT a registration--there is a difference) gives the state YOUR permission to hound you, harass you, make you jump through their hoops, and stick their nose into your personal business.

* If you enroll be wary of the assessment process. Of the choices, the portfolio is the least invasive and you will have more control over the assessment.

* Sometimes parents who homeschool choose to do nothing when considering enrollment in a program. The state of Vermont is unable to enforce truancy laws. That is done on the local level by the individual schools. Get to know your local school at arms length. They are a rat's nest of certified strangers controlled by a thuggish union. Your local school is not quaint nor is it immune from outside controls. It is a small kingdom run by tyrants. Your local school is required to follow state and federal mandates decided by the money changers in Montpelier and Washington, DC. Your child has a $16,000.00 bounty on their head. Public schools are not about educating your child. They exist for the money changers, and for the job comfort and the job security of the teacher's union members.

* Clean up your act if you plan to homeschool. Learn to read beyond a college level, write as though you're capable of penning the great American novel, and for heaven's sake, LEARN TO SPELL! Maybe you can't do these things but at least strive to.

Keep your hovel clean. Clutter is fine but no child should live in filth! I've been in homeschooling homes where there was lots of half finished projects, mounds of clutter, dirty dishes and laundry piled 3 feet high. That's fine and understandable. The perfection is in the child's knowledge, abilities, attitude and abundant love of life.

However, if you have 18 jobless, lazy people, all over the age of 21, living together in a 3 bedroom house, with 100 flea infested pets running around and a yard full of broken down vehicles so there is no room to play, don't expect your community or state to turn a blind eye to your child and your homeschooling. Children deserve better! All the constitutional rights in the world won't protect you from your pathetic dereliction of duty to your child, especially if you expect taxpayers to pay for your selfishly chosen uncouth lifestyle. Soap, water and a little self-improvement can go a long way.

A young homeschooler enjoying the laid back life in Vermont

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Saturday, February 4, 2012

5 Ways to Homeschool For FREE

Nothing is truly free. Or is it?

Today, while the economy is falling apart around us we need to rethink our priorities and allow room for some much needed deliberation. Everyone seems to be on the government dole but, if you're like me, you are constantly looking for ways to keep your homeschool humming along without sponging off the taxpayers or breaking your piggy bank. The following are a few ideas we found helpful and succeeded in keeping us out of the poor house.

1. Library card. Nearly every town and city in America has a public free library. Register for a free membership card and you'll have access to all the age appropriate books, magazines, videos and internet service you'll ever need.

2. Freecycle and dumpster diving. Freecycle is an online organization with members who run local chapters. Find the one nearest you, sign up and start receiving offers for a plethora of free stuff. The only drawback is you'll need to go pick the items up. A day at the local dump can net you some freebies too and it isn't always junk.

3. Tag sales and estate sales. Look for the seller's free piles. The early bird may get the worm but sometimes it's better to wait it out. Go to a tag sale or estate sale later in the day when the seller is ready to just give it away. By the end of the sale some of these free piles can be huge with gently used brand name items and tons of books or clothing!

4. Family and friends. Once family and friends learn you're educating your own children they eventually start talking your homeschooling language. Many are willing to pitch in and their gift giving and thoughtfulness becomes much more educationally oriented. Family and friends can also be mentors.

5. Imagination and creativity. Of all the ways to homeschool for free this is probably the most important. Einstein once said: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." Cultivate your imagination and use it. Don't overload yourself or your children with busy work. Focus on reading, writing, arithmetic and U.S. Constitution. That includes your own academic skills too. All things will branch out from there and fall into place.

Now, go forth and prowl the world as a proud freegan!




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How your children will learn after the collapse

Imagine for a moment there was no electricity, no fuel oil, or the trucking industry came to a screeching halt for some known or unknown reason. A zombie attack if you will. Zombies aside, are you prepared? In my hometown here in Vermont when a winter blizzard hits, the public schools shut down. The local children celebrate and everyone gets a day off. Off from what? Homeschoolers, however, continue about their business of learning that goes on 365 days a year. Even when the public schools do shut down homeschoolers don't miss a beat because to them it's all part of the learning process and education never takes a holiday.

Now, imagine something far more sinister happening that would cause your entire state, region or this country to shut down indefinitely. Would you be able to continue on with the education of your children? What if the economy did collapse as it's being predicted? What if a major natural disaster occurred and all communication and transportation ended? Do you have enough gumption and educational materials in your home to satisfy a young child's curiosity and creativity? Could you provide an environment for learning on a long term basis? Could you homeschool if you suddenly found you needed to?

Back in late August of 2011 we here in Vermont experienced flooding of biblical proportions from Hurricane Irene. Whole towns could only be accessed either by foot, ATVs, air drop or horseback after the flood waters receded. What if something of this magnitude occurred smack-dab in the middle of the public school year and continued for days, weeks or months? Could you provide your child a truly educational experience while waiting for the world as you know it to return?

Our country sits on one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. Several major fault lines are located under very densely populated areas. Weather patterns as of late have been extreme. Insane political leaders and debauched rulers around the world keep tinkering with our lives and the global economy. What if the world as you know it did come to an end tonight while you slept soundly in your cozy digs? Imagine you wake up late the next morning because your electric alarm clock isn't running. The school bus never shows because there is no more fuel, or you can't drive your children to school because there are no more roads. You can't go to work yourself because there are no more jobs! Bleak? Doom and gloom? Maybe, but just think for a moment: what if?

Now, I know this seems extreme and you're thinking this blogger has finally sailed over the edge but what is it you do all summer and on weekends when public schools are not in session? My guess is you're homeschooling. You're homeschooling and you don't even know it. If you're not homeschooling during those times then your public school dependent child is that much further behind his or her homeschooled counterparts.

Wouldn't you rather your child have an edge and the opportunity to keep on learning when that collapse switch is flipped? Start preparing today for a home-based learning environment that can sustain you and your child should the public schools close their doors for a period of time or forever. It could happen. Our country is being gutted financially, physically, morally and spiritually.  Jobs have left this country and are leaving at a rapid pace.  Homes are being abandoned and foreclosed upon. Resources are drying up. The dollar is collapsing and what is left doesn't buy much anymore. Our two-party political system is controlled by a one-party of bankers. People are getting down right moody and are reaching their boiling point. Homeschooling is already necessary in some areas for safety's sake.

Pundits are making their predictions for the future. If you care to learn mine read on. If not, stop reading and go back to your sand box. My prediction is that after the initial collapse of our economy many families will turn to homeschooling out of concern for their child's safety and education, and as a natural part of being self-sufficient. Somewhere down the road when communities have had to band tighter together for survival what will emerge will be the equivalent of the one-room schoolhouse where children of all ages will come together to learn in a more home-like environment. These tiny learning centers will be within walking distance and will only provide resources and some direction. The remainder of the child's education will be done in the homeschool without federal or state involvement to muck up the process of this form of open source learning. Local communities and families will be abundant in resources, have willing mentors ready to teach and unfathomable freedom. Are you prepared?



Friday, February 3, 2012

Can you think of a country that starts with the letter U? Utopia! Huh?



Charming, but I stopped being shocked by our public school system years ago. If nothing else, public schools are good for a belly laugh which is probably the best medicine from such a failed system and our present state of the union. How are these young people ever going to survive in the real world? Need to file this one under humor.

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