'To Infinity, and Beyond' - And a Plug for Home Schooling

From today's news:

"Buzz Lightyear's Out-of-This-World 'Toy Story' Told by Boy's Space Patch"
Space.com (June 21, 2010)

"In Disney's 'Toy Story 3,' Buzz Lightyear once again faces identity issues between being a real space ranger or being a toy. For at least one 11-year-old fan who designed the mission patch for Lightyear's real-life space adventure, the answer must seem clear: the animated astronaut is in fact, both.

"Before Lightyear returned to the silver screen this past weekend, his likeness — as drawn by Adam Carr of Tampa, Florida — returned to Earth last month aboard the final planned flight of NASA's space shuttle Atlantis...."

What's This doing in a 'Catholic' Blog?

I almost used that Space.com article on Apathetic Lemming of the North. But I've done several space-related posts there recently, and I try not to let ruts form there. Sometimes, when this sort of thing happens - several potential post topics coming at once - I either save some for later, or decide to pass the 'extra' topics by.

I didn't want to do that with the Buzz Lightyear story. Mostly because I'm something of a "Toy Story" fan - and definitely a fan of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command ("to infinity, and beyond!").

Which still doesn't explain what this post is doing here.

I'm not going to present you with some theologically-dubious claptrap that tries to tie the International Space Station (ISS) is with something "heavenly." Even if I hadn't read what Bishop Gabino Zavala had to say about roll-your-own theology online, I'm not about to be a case-in-point for the 'religious people are unreasonable' stereotype.

Let's Hear it for Home Schooling

My excuse for sticking a "Buzz Lightyear" post in this blog is in the article's fifth paragraph:

"...Carr, who is home-schooled, came across the contest as part of his studies...."
(Space.com)

Kudos to Space.com, for mentioning Adam Carr's educational status.

I've posted a few times about home schooling in this blog: the realities; and the stereotypes.

So far, I've written about reasons for getting kids out of America's government schools, and a little about the advantages of home schooling. The 'Buzz Lightyear' contest mentioned in Space.com touches on one of the reasons for getting your kids into home schooling. There's more to be said on the subject.

But not today.

Related posts:

• "Home Schooling: Students Miss the 'Socialization' "
  (May 28, 2010)
  • Which can be a good thing
• "Home Schooling: It May Not be What You Think"
  (May 20, 2010)
• "American History Textbooks: Good for Schools, Good for Home Schooling"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (April 17, 2010)
• "Police Handcuff Dangerous Student! School Protected From Erasable Marker!"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (April 6, 2010)
• "Home Schooling, Religious and Moral Instruction, and American Culture"
  (March 6, 2010)
• "Beaten High Schooler to be Home Schooled"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (April 9, 2008)
• "California Outlaws Home Schooling: Yes, I'm Biased"
  Through One Dad's Eye (March 21, 2008)