To Blog, To Blog, To Blog!

I very much enjoy blogging!  I have three personal blogs and several with my classes...AND each of my students has his/her own blog!  Why do I blog?  The power of reflection is immense, and this genre has become quite the journal of my literary life.  I, also, enjoy reading other's blogs and follow many within my Feedly account.

Blogs I Follow

• Literary Life:  I follow many, including some literary peers and giants in our curriculum area, including Dana Huff, 
• Crafty Chics
• Devotional Delights
• Bookish Thoughts

Growth Mindset: Is This a Sign of Intelligence?

Carol Dweck in her video entitled  The Power of Believing That You Can Improve discusses her research on fixed and growth mindsets.  (Later, in this article, she updates her findings.)

Dweck supports the growth mindset when she states, "

Oh, Cute Little Ladybug! NOT!

Just no!  Get out!  I will place you in your eternal home = the vacuum cleaner.  For several years now, these beautiful ladybug want-to-look-alikes have invaded my home, my space, my domain.

In the article Ladybugs or Asian Beetles, the author informs us that these critters were intentionally released, "Over the past 15 years, USDA, the Forestry Commission, state and private agencies have released this ladybug in several locations in the Northeastern part of the US."  What?!  Intentionally released these pests?

ISIS: Enemy of the State and World?

Here, in the good ol' United States of America, we often are so busy with our busyness that we forget the enemies we have abroad.  One of those remains the group ISIS, a group of militants who have little appreciation for the manner in which Americans live nor do they seem to appreciate the belief systems of many US citizens, was recently conquered (or were they) in a seizure partially enabled by own military.

According to Annie Barnard and Hwiadi Saad in their article "Raqqa, ISIS ‘Capital,’ Is Captured, U.S.-Backed Forces Say," they report, "American-backed forces said...they had seized the northern Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State, a major blow to the militant group..."  With the assistance of the US military, this group diminished in size and power, resulting in a victory for all who oppose this group, a group that is harsh to its captives (yes, see pics of beheadings and burnings...or not).

Now what? "The fall of Raqqa threatens to inflame relations between Kurds and Arabs, who have been fighting the Islamic State in an uneasy alliance with the United States-led coalition... Most immediately, they may be at odds over the future governing of Raqqa."  Fighting one's culture does seem to be a battle one cannot win.  Therefore, when the US goes in and assists and then leaves, very often no change has really occurred, as those living there simply cannot leave the past, their embedded culture, behind.

My concern?  This:  "The United States Central Command stopped short of declaring victory, saying that 'more than 90 percent of Raqqa is in S.D.F. control,' a reference to the Syrian Democratic Forces, an American-backed militia group made up of Syrian Kurds and Arabs."  Do the math.  That leaves 10%.  Too many for too much celebration, for this group seems to have not problem recovering, recruiting, and retaliating.

This groups concerns me, for they greatly despise what so many stands.