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Searching for the best sourced assistance regarding childrens clothing.

2008-03-02T04:20:00.002-08:00

When you're after better information relating to childrens clothing, it will be tricky unscrambling quality information from reckless childrens clothing suggestions or help so it's prudent to know how to judge the information you are offered.

Now we'd like to give you some tips that we believe you should consider using when you're searching for information regarding childrens clothing. You need to understand that the advice we are giving you is only applicable to internet based information regarding childrens clothing. We cannot offer any direction or assistance when you are also conducting research in books or magazines.

Look for childrens clothing
Find childrens clothing at one of the best sites the Internet has to offer!

A great tip to pursue when offered information and suggestions on a childrens clothing article is to verify the ownership of the website. This may show you who owns the site childrens clothing credibility The quickest way to work out who owns the childrens clothing site is to find the 'about' page.

Any reputable site providing information about childrens clothing, will almost certainly provide an 'about' webpage which will list the people behind the site. The details should let you know a number of indications about the owner's necessary expertise. This permits you to make an informed assessment about the vendor's qualifications and experience to offer advice about childrens clothing.

About the author:

Terri Suns is the webmaster for http://www.childrens-clothing-online.info

Robots Shoveling Snow? Humanoid Robot Inspires Students to Study Science

2008-03-02T04:20:00.001-08:00

Robots Shoveling Snow? Humanoid Robot Inspires Students to Study Science
By ARA

(ARA) – Imagine getting some help decorating your holiday tree or shoveling snow off your driveway from a friendly robot. It could happen sometime in the future.

Honda is asking kids to imagine what it would be like if robots were a part of our daily lives. The ASIMO Essay Contest provides a chance for one school to win an exclusive visit from ASIMO, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, in March of 2004.

“We hope that the ASIMO Essay Contest encourages students across the nation to dream about the future of robotics,” said Jeffrey Smith, leader of the ASIMO North American Project. “We also hope that it inspires them to learn more about the science and technology involved in humanoid robotics.”

Developed by Honda after 17 years of research, ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), can walk forward and backward, turn smoothly without pausing, climb stairs and maintain balance while walking on uneven slopes and surfaces. With its smooth moves, ASIMO can even disco dance with the best of them. This compact robot is about the size of a fourth grader, but it represents big possibilities for the future of robotic technology.

Created to resemble a human shape and operate in human environments, ASIMO has two arms and two hands, necessary to someday work in our world where we need to reach and grasp objects, switch lights on and off and open and close doors. ASIMO also can recognize the faces of a select number of individuals and respond to voice commands and hand signals.

Honda hopes that one day ASIMO may be able to assist elderly, disabled and other people in need with day-to-day activities. In the future, a robot like ASIMO could also possibly perform dangerous duties such as fighting fires and cleaning up hazardous wastes.

To enter the contest, each participating class or group of students will research the science and history of robotics and submit an essay on their school's vision of the role of humanoid robots in our society. The contest is open to all public and private elementary, middle, junior high and high schools in the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. The winning school will be notified by February 20, 2004.

ASIMO is currently traveling on a North American Educational to motivate students to study sciences such as math, engineering, physics and computer science. Classroom materials for teachers and robotics-related educational resources for parents can be found at www.asimo.honda.com.

For more information about the ASIMO North American Educational Tour and the essay contest, visit www.asimo.honda.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

Prom Night and the Prom Date

2008-03-02T04:19:00.003-08:00

How to get a prom date

Getting the right prom date is often the result of careful planning.

Girls typically work harder at getting a prom date than do boys. They seem to know intuitively how to get a prom date: planning months in advance, spending time with the right guy, and hanging out in the right group. These, the most successful methods, work best with advance planning.

Guys need to face their fears: Will you risk rejection by asking the person you are most attracted to, or play it safe by asking someone else? For you, how to get a prom date includes deciding what you want and what you are willing to risk. Then, ask-but don't wait until prom week.

If you did wait until prom week, you may still find a prom date. If you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, you should already know how to get a prom date-but you should have asked before now. The next easiest approach is to ask a good friend. After that, asking someone in a lower grade is a safe bet for guys, because junior girls often make it a top priority to go to prom with a senior. Asking someone in another school works, too, since it feels risk-free all around.

If prom week is upon you and you are still wondering how to get a prom date, try asking your cousin, or your brother or sister. Admittedly this is a last choice, but it has a long tradition going back to the earliest of proms.

About the author:
Ian Partridge lauched a website called http://www.promhair.uswhich includes more resources and links relating to prom night

Prom Night

2008-03-02T04:19:00.001-08:00

A large part of any girl's prom is the prom hairstyle she chooses. The most popular prom hairstyles are subject to change each year. This year feminine, wavy styles are popular, but edgy styles will also fit the bill.

Today's most popular prom hairstyles are luscious curls or waves. Multiple layers around the face, fresh curls, and shoulder length hair combine into an ideal of the feminine the mirrors the style of leading pop divas. Similar but less finished, soft twists combine those curls with styles that are half up / half down. Bangs are also in, especially large or sultry bangs swept to one side.

In spite of the emphasis on curls, straight hair still has its place among the popular prom hairstyles. Straight hairstyles that are textured or have a sleek mirror-shine are especially popular.

More daring styles include shoulder length bobs reminiscent of the late '70s; the mullet is also in, combining cropped sections with longer tresses. Also popular is the extremely short cut worn by actress Alyssa Milano.

Always have a fallback style in case your hair refuses your chosen prom hairstyle. The popular French braid is an example of a style that can add class and control to any bad hair day.

The right accessory can make the difference between attractive and stunning. Bejeweled hair sticks or vintage hair combs are popular. Whatever you choose, be certain the hairstyle is consistent with the dress you have chosen, as well as with your jewelry.

About the author:
Ian Partridge lauched a website called http://www.promhair.uswhich includes more resources and links relating to prom night

Pressure in Youth Sports

2008-03-02T04:18:00.004-08:00

Pressure is part of all sports and its impact in youth sports is something we need to carefully evaluate. The spotlight is brightest in baseball; there is simply no place to hide. For the pitcher, batter, catcher and anybody the ball is hit to, all the attention of parents and peers is riveted on that player. In soccer, basketball or other sports, it’s easy enough to "blend in", but not in baseball. I have tremendous respect for every kid who takes the risk and goes out to play ball – especially the kids who are not as talented; it’s not easy. This is especially true for a young pitcher who controls every aspect of the game. Is there simply too much pressure put on kids to early? I don’t think so. As we evaluate the physiological aspects of pressure, the kid’s psychology, our own beliefs, and effective ways to deal with pressure, I’ll let you know why.

What Is Stress? - Changes, such as sudden trauma, several big crises, or many small daily hassles, cause stress. The human body has different ways of responding to stress; one quick responding nerve-hormonal system involving adrenaline, another long-lasting system involving cortisol, and perhaps others. These systems not only determine the intensity of our anxiety reactions but also our attitudes, energy level, depression, and physical health after the stressful events are over. Stress can also be a source of energy that can be directed towards useful purposes. How many of us would study or work hard if it were not for anxiety about the future? Life is a dynamic process and thus forever changing and stressful. Physiologic changes including an increased heart rate and blood pressure, faster breathing, muscle tension, dilated pupils, dry mouth and increased blood sugar all take place. In other words, stress can also be described as a state of increased arousal. Up to a certain point stress is beneficial. We can perform with greater energy and increased awareness with the influx of excitatory hormones that release immediate energy.

Understanding Each Child – There are genetic, constitutional, and other factors that influence the pressure an individual will feel in any situation and their reaction to that stress. Some of us may have been born "nervous", “happy”, “emotional”, or even "grouches." Almost certainly we are by nature prone to be shy or outgoing, and we also inherit a propensity for certain psychological effects, including our reaction to stress. So, we have to expect that each child will be impacted by and deal with pressure situations differently. It is imperative to judge each child as an individual. Some kids are desperate to bat with the bases loaded or the pitch in a clutch situation. Does your child hope the ball is hit to him so that he can make the play or does hope it’s not hit in his direction so that he can’t make an error? My favorite Michael Jordan quote is: “I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” You want to put kids into a position where they can succeed and to do that you need to understand who they are and how they are impacted by different pressure situations.

Another difference in children can be the way that they act in team vs. individual sports. A friend of mine has a child who is a very good athlete and highly competitive in tennis and golf, but “disappears” in soccer and basketball. The psychology behind this is simply that this person is able to perform when she knows that it’s all up to her. However, she doesn’t want to be the one who lets down the team by missing a shot. On the other hand, some children may react in just the opposite manner and not want the outcome to be totally determined by their own actions.

The easiest thing to do is very simple – just ask the kids. You may be surprised at how honest the answers will be. Here are some questions to try:

1. When the game is tied and you’re playing in the field, do you want the ball to be hit to you or would you prefer that the ball is hit to one of your teammates?

2. If your team is losing by one run in the bottom of the last inning, the bases are loaded, and there are two out, do you want to be at bat?

3. If you’re on deck in the same situation, do you want your teammate to win the game or do you want a chance to get to the plate?

4. Would you prefer your teammate make the last out of the game so that you don’t have to bat with the game on the line?

5. Do you want to pitch?

6. Would you want to come in with the bases loaded and your team has a one run lead in the championship game?

Projection of Parents, Friends and Relatives – Projection is one of the defense mechanisms identified by Freud and still acknowledged today. According to Freud, projection is when someone is threatened by or afraid of their own impulses so they attribute these impulses to someone else. For example, a parent or grandparent who is so nervous about the outcome of a game can project their own insecurity and stress onto a child when the child isn’t bothered at all. For example, I know some grandparents, who are admittedly risk averse themselves and protective of their kids (no matter how old they are) are now at least as protective of their grandchildren. They have a grandson who is an excellent pitcher and loves to pitch, but they still feel that he’s under too much pressure and maybe he shouldn’t even be playing baseball. This is an example of projection of their feelings about the child rather than actually finding out how he feels. I know many parents who prefer their child not come to bat in a tough situation just in case their kid makes the last out. While this is very easy to understand since we all want to protect our children, it often isn’t the kids feeling the pressure, but the rest of us.

Dealing With Pressure – Webster’s Dictionary defines “Pressure” as “the burden of physical or mental distress”. Even that definition is interesting because it neglects the possibility that people can perform well and even thrive under pressure and stress. One misconception though with performing under pressure is that stress always has a negative connotation. Many times, "the stress of competition may cause a negative anxiety in one performer but positive excitement in another". That is why one frequently hears how elite players' thrive under pressure, when most others would crumble. As individuals, our nervous systems differ; however, according to Richard Dienstbier at the University of Nebraska, we may be able to modify our physiological reactions by learning coping skills. Not surprisingly, exercise and sports participation are commonly considered as activities to reduce stress from other areas in life. However, if a child is feeling pressure while playing sports, here are some solid stress relief techniques they can employ:

1. Visualization – Before a game, visualize yourself in stressful situations and dealing with them successfully. Put yourself into that place mentally so that you can deal with it better when it happens in reality. During the game, you can remember back to how you’ve already dealt with this situation and are mentally prepared for it. Just so you know where I’m coming from, visualization is simply a shorter version of meditation.

2. Breathing – If a kid is feeling stressed during a game, feeling less anxious can often be as simple as taking a few deep breaths. Deep breathing is a very effective method of relaxation. It is a core component of everything from the 'take ten deep breaths' approach to calming someone down, right through to yoga relaxation and Zen meditation. It works well in conjunction with other relaxation techniques such as Progressive Muscular Relaxation, relaxation imagery and meditation to reduce stress.

Conclusion - A lot has been made of the impact of pressure in youth sports and the negative impact, but much of this is simply projecting a parent or relative’s individual beliefs on the situation. While you can argue that I’m doing the same thing, but in reverse, I in fact take a different position which is: 1) to acknowledge that pressure does exist, but 2) to determine how each individual child can deal with the situation. Only by knowing each child can you determine if the situation is, in fact, distress rather than an adrenaline producing pressure moment which the kid loves.

About the author:
Ken Kaiserman is the president of SportsKids.com, a leading youth sports website featuring games,sports news,sports camp and league directories,community features, and with over 150,000 products.

Ken coaches youth football,basketball and baseball.He also serves on the local little league board of directors as well as the Park Advisory Board.

Press Release Vegan Baby Superstore KidBean.com Debuts First Natural Fiber Vegan Kids Shoes

2008-03-02T04:18:00.003-08:00

Vegan Baby Superstore KidBean.com Debuts First Natural Fiber Vegan Kids Shoes
KidBean.com is thrilled to announce the addition of natural fiber vegan kid’s shoes to their already extensive selection of all-natural baby and toddler products.

March 26, 2004--KidBean.com is thrilled to announce the addition of natural fiber vegan kid’s shoes to their already extensive selection of all-natural baby and toddler products.

KidBean.com’s shoes are made with both natural and recycled components and are softened through a non-toxic process of air blasting, which makes them more comfortable and safer for both the children who wear them and the environment. But comfort was not the only consideration for KidBean.com president Melissa Zenz. “These shoes are a perfect example of what we stand for. They combine environmentalism with veganism to make the most sustainable product possible. And they’re very fashionable, which translates into a bigger environmental impact—the more children who wear them, the greater the impact. There’s no point to an eco-friendly shoe if no one will wear it.”

Adding to the shoes’ appeal is the fair labor conditions under which they are manufactured. The workers in Romania who make and assemble the shoes work in high-quality conditions, are paid above-average wages, and are offered health care coverage and retirement pension benefits. As for the shoes themselves, the uppers are made from 100% chemical-free Romanian hemp that is grown and processed without the use of toxic chemicals--even the thread used in the stitching is made from hemp. And perhaps the best attribute of the shoes is their 100% recycled rubber tire soles. “Nearly all vegan shoes contain a great deal of plastic,” Zenz explained. “This is not only bad for the wearer, it’s devastating for the environment. We needed to insure our shoes lived up to our standards of sustainability and safety, especially since these shoes are made for children.”

It is exactly those standards that kept KidBean.com from offering shoes when the store first opened. “There were no natural fiber vegan kid’s shoes on the market at the time,” said Jeff Corpening, vice-president of KidBean and Zenz’s husband. “We searched for years to find shoes for children that would encompass all of our values, and we are elated that we finally have them to offer.”

“And this is only the beginning,” added Zenz. “We are currently in talks with different manufacturers to expand our selection of colors, styles and sizes. It really is an exciting time for us and all of our socially conscious customers.”

KidBean is owned by Envegan, Inc, and is a home-based, family-owned and operated Internet business whose mission is to provide a wide variety of eco-friendly, vegan products that positively impact the total health of the earth and its inhabitants. The company strives to make compassionate consumerism easier and more affordable.

For additional information, visit http://www.kidbean.com, or contact:

Melissa Zenz
Envegan, Inc. dba KidBean
2400 N.E. 10th Avenue
Pompano Beach, FL 33064
954-942-2830
info@kidbean.com

About the author:
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Press ReleaseStorming Robots Learning Center, Helping to Build a Generation with Robotics Science as Part of Its Culture

2008-03-02T04:18:00.001-08:00

Storming Robots Robotics Learning Center is the first learning center in New Jersey offering multi-disciplinary Robotics programs for youth, as well as the LEGO MINDSTORMS Center provides hands-on LEGO robots workshops. Its programs aim to inspire children's interests in robotics and science technologies by developing their intellect in fundamental engineering concepts, mathematics, strategic thinking, and problem solving.

Branchburg, NJ July 17, 2004 -- Storming Robots, the first learning center in New Jersey offering multi-disciplinary Robotics programs for youth as well as the LEGO MINDSTORMS Center provides hands-on LEGO robots workshops. The majority of exercises utilize the popular Lego, Mindstorm and Robotics Kits as learning tools. Its programs aim to inspire children's interests in science technologies by developing their intellect in fundamental engineering concepts, technology, mathematics, strategic thinking, and problem solving.

Be Fascinated by Your Own Built LEGO Robot

The popularity of LEGO among children is undisputable. Do you remember the wonderful feeling of completing your own LEGO construction with your own hands? It is even more fun programming your LEGO Robots to move on command. However, don't think it is a trivial task. It requires planning, problem solving, analysis and programming. Under proper instruction, children further develop their applied mathematics skill, fundamental engineering concepts, strategic thinking, and programming knowledge.

Children learn robotics by integrating basic mechanics, mathematics, design and programming.

Learning Tools include LEGO MINDSTORMS components, graphics user interface (GUI) programming languages such as RCX Code and ROBOLAB, along with other LEGO accessories. The MINDSTORMS' core comprises of various sensors along with a main building block housing an autonomous LEGO microprocessor named RCX which communicates to a PC through its Infra-Red port. You may think the LEGO Robotics Kit was created for entertainment value only but don't underestimate the benefit and intricacy of these tools. These robotics devices are much more than meet the eye. The same components are used at the college level and for PHD robotics classes.

Sponsoring a Robotics Youth Club and Robots Tournament

In order to promote awareness of science in robotics, Storming Robots is sponsoring a Robotics Youth Club for children aged between 9 and 15. Children will periodically meet at the Storming Robotics center. The center provides all software, computers, and LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics components for members to conduct their robotics activities and exploration. Membership is free, but the major requirements for participation are enthusiasm, interests in math and science, thirst for challenges, and respect for others. If interested, you may signup online at http://www.storming-robots.com . Because the first year enrollment is limited to 8 - 16 children, an assessment may be given as part of the membership enrollment process.

Members will participate in the annual FIRST LEGO League Robots Tournament as well. The FIRST LEGO League is an internationally known robotics program for children. Annual tournaments allow teams to conduct hands-on robotics design and authentic scientific research. For those with higher aptitudes in math and other science areas, Storming Robots will also make available other related contests, such as the National Continental Math League Contest.

Multidisciplinary Robotics Classes and LEGO Workshop for Youth

LEGO Robotics activities integrate LEGO construction with fundamental engineering concepts and strategic thinking. Most challenges involve a team of two to four members. At the end of most programs, children create an open-solution project by building their own robots, programming it and making a short presentation of their invention. For the more comprehensive programs, parents are invited to watch these presentations.

Storming Robots offer robotics programs which addresses the National Science, Math and Technology Standards.

Storming Robots utilizes robotics curriculum developed by the renowned robotics institutions as its guidelines. These institutions include: the Robotics Academy (a division of the National Robotics Engineering Consortium from the Carnegie Mellon University) and the Tufts University Engineering Continuous Education. These programs address the National Science, Math and Technology Standards. Storming Robots also participates in various related communities to include educational events which focus on software and educational program development involving LEGO RCX (the brain of the robotics kits).

See Some LEGO Bots...

Storming Robots has posted some of its simple robots in its activities page. Click to view some of the activities and programs currently available. Note all bots are made from scratch, i.e. starting from a couple of LEGO bricks.
You may also visit http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/inventions/default.asp to look at some inventions.

To sign up, the children need to be aged 8 or over. You may sign up online at www.storming-robots.com or email to classes@storming-robots.com. Note that each class size is limited to 8 children, while workshop is limited to 16.

The tentative Opening Date will be October 15th of 2004. If interested, you may sign up in advance and receive 25% off your first month class and workshop fees. Check the Storming Robots program site for possible early classes in August and September of 2004. All robotics challenges have open-ended solutions. The challenge is only limited to how far the child is capable to reach.

Cool experiences, Indeed!

Contact Information:

Elizabeth Mabrey
908-534-9996
pr@storming-robots.com
STORMING ROBOTS

Press ReleaseSpiderMan Movie and Comic Book Figure Toys with Danger in the Amazing SpiderMan Collectibles Sculpture Figures from HamiltonAction.com

2008-03-02T04:17:00.003-08:00

SpiderMan toys, action figures and comic books collectors are in for the Ultimate SpiderMan collectible as Marvel Comics' Spider-Man comes to life in a new First Edition sculpture exclusively from HamiltonAction! Created by Diamond Select Toys, the Amazing Spider-Man collectible statue combines bold hand-painted artistry with gleaming, crystal clear resin to create a truly unique Spider Man collectible that's certain to become a "must-have" for every Spidey comic book fan!

July 22, 2004 -- SpiderMan movie and comic book figure, the Amazing Spider-Man, comes alive in a new limited edition SpiderMan collectibles sculpture figures from HamiltonAction.com.

The Amazing Spider-Man collection is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for fans of Spiderman and Marvel Comics. SpiderMan, the alter-ego of mild mannered Peter Parker, has entertained fans with his comic book adventures since the original Spider-Man comics debuted in the comic Amazing Fantasy in 1962 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Now, Spider-Man is captured in vivid hand painted, handcrafted detail, and gleaming, glass-like resin. Perched high above the city and clinging to a skyscraper, this Spider-Man figure captures all the action of the Marvel comic books.

Available for the issue price of $39.95, the new "Amazing Spider-Man" collector statue from HamiltonAction.com features revolutionary design. This hand-painted sculpture is combined with dazzling crystalline to create the first-ever Spider-Man sculpture of its kind. Sculptures are limited to 95 casting days, are hand numbered and include a matching numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

This exclusive, limited-edition SpiderMan collectible is available only through HamiltonAction.com and only while supplies last. According to Steve Milo, Director of E-Commerce Business Development for HamiltonAction.com, “SpiderMan Collectors shouldn’t wait, as this SpiderMan limited statue will be gone before you can blink!”

About HamiltonAction.com

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, HamiltonAction.com develops an innovative array of products that will satisfy the increasing demand for collectibles inspired by some of today’s hottest television and big screen entertainment including Family Guy, Marvel Comics, The Simpsons, and more. HamiltonAction.com is a subsidiary of The Hamilton Collection, an established direct mail company that has proudly provided sought after collectibles to millions of collectors for more than 30 years.

To learn more about the new "The Amazing Spider-Man" statue and other products offered by HamiltonAction.com, check out the company's web site at www.hamiltonactionfigures.com/spiderman/spiderman_44892.asp

Press Release Searching for the Toy of the Year by the Pool

2008-03-02T04:17:00.001-08:00

Searching for the Toy of the Year by the Pool
eLearningToys.com has a big job during the summer months. Finding and stocking the potential "must have" for the Christmas season. Choosing from thousands of toys takes time out of the pool.

Manchester, NH June 7, 2004 -- eLearningToys.com, based in Manchester, New Hampshire, is taking time this summer to search high and low for the toy that will be on every child's Christmas list this year. Employees are encouraged to sit and play with every toy that is found on the shelves. Parents depend on first hand knowledge when purchasing the perfect educational toy or game. Although no clear winners were found at Toy Fair 2004, there are a few solid entries. Parents are focusing on pretend play, food, and role play for girls. Boys are building, bug collecting, and searching for anything with marbles.

Several new remote controlled race tracks are making strides this year with the ability to change lanes and control movement with ease. Robotics are making a greater presences as prices come down, technology increases, and easy to follow directions.

The 10 year old girl is a big mystery for eLearningToys. Many parents are looking for something other than crafts. Their pre-teen girls get flooded with arts and crafts in pink boxes and bead kits with millions of bags and boxes. Girls want something to DO. Many of the products that are activity based are focused on boys, blue coloring, and marketing with male models. Nevertheless, eLearningToys will find the perfect item to be under every child's Christmas tree.

European toys increasingly popular with parents, but, more expensive. The higher quality and attention to detail is being appreciated by toddlers and preschoolers.

Summer will be hot and full of activity at eLearningToys. The perfect suggestion for each age group, price range, and "big gift" will be fully in place by October.

Press Release Parents' Choice Announces “Best 25 of 25 Years” to Mark a Quarter Century as the Nation's Premier, Independent Reviewer of Children's M

2008-03-02T04:16:00.002-08:00

Parents' Choice Announces “Best 25 of 25 Years” to Mark a Quarter Century as the Nation's Premier, Independent Reviewer of Children's Media, Best Books and Toys Culled from Thousands of Award Winners
Parents' Choice Foundation announced today five lists, each 25 strong, of the best books, toys, audio products, and software created during its quarter century as the nation’s premier nonprofit guide to quality children’s media.

BALTIMORE, MD December 12, 2003 -- Parents' Choice Foundation announced today five lists, each 25 strong, of the best books, toys, audio products, and software created during its quarter century as the nation’s premier nonprofit guide to quality children’s media. The stellar products on these lists—Best 25 of 25 Years—were chosen by a select committee of parents, librarians, critics and educators from the organization’s extensive archives of past Parents’ Choice Award winners. These are, indeed, the very finest contributions to the education and entertainment of children since Parents’ Choice was founded in 1978.

Parents’ Choice Award winners must challenge, inspire, and entertain, igniting imagination, stimulating creativity, and imparting a body of knowledge, all the while being fun. The Best 25 of 25 Years do that and more. According to Parents’ Choice President Claire Green, “You won’t find the items on these lists at the back of the closet, or collecting dust in the basement. They captivate today just as they did when we first reviewed them. The appeal of these products has endured changing fads and passing fancies. They strike a wonderful balance between learning and play.”

There are two Best 25 Books lists: an infants-through-9-years list and a 10-years-and-above list. My Very First Mother Goose, by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells, a treasure of classic nursery rhymes, as well as many unfamiliar to American ears; The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales, illustrated by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon and retold by Virginia Hamilton, animal tales, tall tales, supernatural tales, and “slave tales of freedom”; William Steig’s Doctor DeSoto, the story of wit and pluck winning out over knavery; and Ian Falconer’s charming account of a charismatic little pig named Olivia, all appear on the Best 25 book list for the youngest readers/listeners. Francesca Block’s Weetzie Bat, the story of a high school girl with a bleached-white flattop and pink Harlequin sunglasses; Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman, the diary entries of a willful and winning young girl in 1290 England; The Kestrel by Lloyd Alexander, about Mickle, Queen August of Westmark, and her love, Theo, and the brutalizing aspects of war; and The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay are among the standouts on the 10-and-over list.

The Best 25 Toys roster includes such favorites as Rubik’s Cube; Hugg-a-Planet, a colorful stuffed globe; and Storybook Village, chunky wood blocks with cutouts that can be configured into a village or an entire fantasy world; Boomwhackers, eight perfectly-tuned plastic percussion tubes; Can You Dig It Sand Tools, the ultimate toolkit for the sand sculptor in your life; and SET, a game of logic, perception, concentration and speed.

The foundation’s Best 25 Audio category includes Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince, a book-on-tape that teaches that the important things in life can only be seen with the heart; In My Hometown, a delightful collection of songs by folk artist Tom Chapin; and Latin Lullaby, a collection of hear-melting, spirit-soothing cradle songs.

The Best 25 Software list includes Nancy Drew: Stayed Tuned for Danger, an interactive literary-mystery series; Bumble Games, games that introduce basic numbering and graph-plotting skills as the player is guided by an imaginary creature; and Mindrover: The Europa Project, a problem-solving game in which the player builds a robot.

For a complete roster of every 25 Best of 25 Years product, visit the foundation’s Web site: www.parentschoice.org. Everything on these lists is currently available.

Parents' Choice Foundation is the nation’s oldest nonprofit service organization devoted to advancing parents' informed participation in their children's learning. Parents’ Choice offers consumers the information they need to help ensure that learning doesn’t stop when schools and daycare are over for the day. Employing a national network of educators, librarians, pediatricians, journalists, critics, musicians, celebrities, and children, Parents' Choice evaluates the entire scope of children's media, and every year recognizes the very best with its coveted Parents' Choice Awards.

Press ReleaseL. Robert Lance Blevins’ "Titles of the Wrong Kind" Makes its Début

2008-03-02T04:16:00.001-08:00

L. Robert Lance Blevins’ Titles of the Wrong Kind seeks the answer to a striking question: How does a child feel when practically raised by his grandparents, blessed with the trait of slow learning and branded a retard? This new and inspirational work based on a true story is guaranteed to captivate readers of all genres.

July 26, 2004 -- With the release of a truly inspirational work based on a true story, readers of all genres will be able to find a common connection amongst themselves as they become even more captivated while turning the pages of a truly moving and inspirational story which offers readers everything; love, deception, greed, teasing, frustration and success.

L. Robert Lance Blevins' "Titles of the Wrong Kind" is getting lots of attention as it allows parents and school administrators alike to gain a valuable insight into how some of the children in the special education system actually feel about their parents; as well as the "system" that encompasses their lives.

Made possible by telling the story of the "system" from the child's own vantage point and not that of the PhD or Administrator, a most valuable new insight into the "system," as well as the feelings and thoughts of a child are able to be realized.

Whether you are connected to the special education system or not, this book is truly a must have for any serious reader. Written by a person who spent a good portion of his life in the special education system and then went on to realize success as well as an induction into the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, this book promises to be a absolute success!

"Titles of the Wrong Kind" is now available for purchase through all major online book stores including http://www.amazon.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com and others.

This new release can also be ordered through your local book store, or at http://www.blevinsbooks.com.

Title: Titles of the Wrong Kind
ISBN: 1-4137-2406-X

Media Information:

Who's Who Verification:
631-422-1400

Press Release Learning Isn't All Fun and Games - But It's Close

2008-03-02T04:15:00.003-08:00

Learning Isn't All Fun and Games - But It's Close
Parents' Choice Foundation suggests toys and games to keep the learning alive this summer. From matching and memory games for the youngest to games that test strategy and critical thinking skills, arithmetic and visual acumen, Parents' Choice offers toys and games that families can play and learn together.

TIMONIUM, MD June 23, 2004 -- Parents' Choice Foundation announced its newest Parents’ Choice Award winners – toys and games that will keep kids learning all summer long. Parents should not be timid about providing toys and games that reinforce concepts children have learned throughout the school year. From matching and memory games for the youngest to games that test strategy and critical thinking skills, arithmetic and visual acumen, Parents' Choice offers toys and games that families can play and learn together.

Gamewright's Ricochet (ages 10 and up $5.99) challenges math and visual skills and Ravensburger's Haunted Castle (ages 5 and up $6.99). Wordigo (Ages 8 and up, RiverEdge Game Co., LLC. $24.95) an inventive variation on the crossword theme, utilizes four game boards simultaneously –and levels the playing field for children and adults.

The Parents' Choice Awards have, for over twenty-five years, recognized products that help children grow – imaginatively, physically, morally and mentally—fairly priced products that are fun, safe and socially sound.

According to Parents' Choice Foundation president Claire Green, "Parents' Choice Award winners give kids a chance to practice what they've been learning – in new ways, with new perspective. Word and math games are anything but dull. Discovering the science behind soap bubbles, or learning about the aerodynamics of flying paper airplanes makes for great summer fun."

Established in 1978, Parents' Choice Foundation is the nation's oldest nonprofit guide to quality children's media products and toys. Products recognized by the Parents' Choice Awards program must meet and exceed standards set by panels of educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents, and yes, kids themselves. Green states, "Parents' Choice Award winners challenge, inspire and stimulate creative thinking. They strike a wonderful balance between learning and play."

For a complete roster of the recent Parents' Choice Awards, visit the foundation's Web site: www.parentschoice.org.

Press Release Kids Start Off on the Right Foot with Shoe Clues™ !

2008-03-02T04:15:00.001-08:00

Kids Start Off on the Right Foot with Shoe Clues™ !
Mom Inventors, Inc. launches innovative new product that helps kids put the Right Shoe on the Right Foot!

WALNUT CREEK, CA April 26, 2004--Mom Inventors, Inc., a Walnut Creek, CA based company announces that it will unveil its newest, “Mom Invented” product at The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) Tradeshow in Dallas, Texas on May 2, 2004. The international JPMA show is the world’s largest juvenile products tradeshow.

Shoe Clues™ are fun and durable stickers that teach children to put the right shoe on the right foot! Shoe Clues™ feature three pairs of stickers in a colorful package. On each pair of stickers is a lovable animal that, when properly placed in the heel of a child’s shoes, will be looking at the other. Children quickly see that if the animals are looking in opposite directions, their shoes will be on the wrong feet.

The Shoe Clues™ packaging boasts the tagline ‘I Can Do It Myself!’ because children are trying to master new skills daily. A simple task like putting on shoes can be frustrating when a proud child gets dressed all by herself only to be told, ‘your shoes are on the wrong feet,’ says Tamara Monosoff, CEO of Mom Inventors, Inc. “Shoe Clues™ is a fun tool that helps children put their shoes on successfully and builds confidence!”

“We are looking forward to showing Shoe Clues™ to buyers from the nation’s most respected children’s products retailers,” says Monosoff. “There is nothing like it on the market today and we have received enthusiastic responses from retailers and consumers who have previewed the product.”

“We love Shoe Clues! We think this will be one of the hottest new products on the market” says, Adena Surabian, President, www.safeandsecurebaby.com. “With Shoe Clues, not only does my three-year-old proudly put her shoes on the right feet but she eagerly shows her friends the fun stickers in her shoes!”

Shoe Clues™ will be sold where kid’s toys, games, clothing, and shoes are sold. Shoe Clues are patent pending and trademarked.

Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) - The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JPMA) is a national trade organization representing 95% of the $6.02 billion industry. JPMA has grown to include more than 400 companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. These companies manufacture and/or import infant products (856-638-0420).

Safe & Secure Baby - At www.safeandsecurebaby.com, we are passionate about providing parents, grandparents, and other care providers with the knowledge, products, and services needed to improve the safety of children everywhere (888-801-BABY.).

Mom Inventors, Inc. Established by a mother and inventor in early 2003, Mom Inventors, Inc. is founded on the principle that many of the best and most unique ideas come directly from their target market – Moms. In addition to developing its own brand of Mom Invented™ products, Mom Inventors, Inc., licenses products, as well as assists and supports other mom inventors in taking their product ideas to market (866-376-1122).

Tamara Monosoff holds a doctorate of education and is a former member of the Clinton White House staff.

ORDER DESK: 866-376-1122
IDEAL FOR: Children 2+ years old and Up

PRESS CONTACT:
Tamara Monosoff, CEO
Mom Inventors, Inc.
125 Grover Lane
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-932-6674 Office
925-457-8998 Cell
925-280-8224 FAX
tmonosoff@mominventors.com
www.mominventors.com

Press ReleaseHellboy™ HingeHead™ Now Appearing on Hinges Everywhere

2008-03-02T04:14:00.003-08:00

Collectible figure stands atop your door hinge and easily becomes "unhinged" to stand on its own base or roam room to room!

Santa Barbara, CA July 21, 2004 -- HingeHeads Hardware today announced their licensing relationship with Dark Horse Comics, Inc. and Mike Mignola, author & creator of the Hellboy comic hero. HingeHeads is proud to release a limited collector’s edition of the Hellboy™ HingeHead™; an artistic handcrafted, made in the USA, decorative hardware finial. This exclusive finial fits on the top of your door hinge pins to personalize your interior doors or use as a freestanding item alone or in "communities" throughout your living spaces!

Custom crafted by the artisans at HingeHeads™, this new concept for home decor is inspired by Mike Mignola's original Comic Book series "Hellboy." Made of high quality "lead-free" pewter, the Hellboy HingeHead stands 2” tall and comes in an OxFire finish. A two-sided adapter and putty are included to fit the common U.S. Industry Standard hinge sizes. For display only, a clear vial tube and graphic insert is provided as part of the packaging for use as a display stand.

Distributed through Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. and Things From Another World, HingeHeads now offers this limited edition in the ever-popular Hellboy lineage.

HingeHeads Product Line
In addition to the Hellboy HingeHead, the company offers customers the ability to select from over 150 individual designs or order custom designs for personal, business or special events including (non-profit) organization activities.

About Us
HH Hardware/HingeHeads™ design and sell expressive home, garden and lifestyle décor. Our goal is to enhance and lend expression to our spaces, places and faces. HingeHeads currently holds 3 Design and Utility patents with 4 more pending.

Copyright Information
HingeHeads is a trademark of HH Hardware, LLC. Mike Mignola’s Hellboy™ ©2004 Michael Mignola. Dark Horse Deluxe is a trademark of Dark Horse Comics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective holders.

Contact Information
For Retailers interested in carrying the custom Hellboy HingeHead, HotHeads, original HingeHeads or our official Red Hat Society™ products, please contact us by calling: 800.783.3013 (Toll Free) or visit our website: www.hingeheads.com

For business development or press inquiries, contact:
Cynthia Johnston
800.783.3013 (Toll Free)

Press Release eLearningToys.com Crosses the Specialty Toy Lines

2008-03-02T04:14:00.001-08:00

eLearningToys.com Crosses the Specialty Toy Lines
eLearningToys.com has quickly become a major player in the specialty toy market online. The educational toy store is one of the first to offer specialty items as well as mass market toys.

Manchester, NH March 25, 2004 -- eLearningToys.com has quickly become a major player in the specialty toy market online. The educational toy store is one of the first to offer specialty items as well as mass market toys.

eLearningToys.com is only a year old, but has found a nitch among online toy stores. The Manchester, New Hampshire based company sold $250,000.00 in their first 6 months of operation.

Anne Yates, President, has a solid understanding of child development and a keen sense of fun toys. Very few online stores carry a full array of toys from wooden to large ride on toys.

eLearningToys maintains a full inventory of toys that are shipped out within 24 hours of the order being placed. The colorful and pain free navigation solution e-store has Montessori toys, infant plush, preschool learning toys, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, and Elmo hand puppets. Parents have responded with joy because they have the specialty store perks such as free gift wrapping and the convenience of not having to travel to the store for character name brands.

eLearningToys.com printed a full color catalog for the 2003 holiday season with a distribution of 10,000 qualified households. They will distribute 50,000 after October 2004.

eLearningToys.com plans to show growth of 200% during 2004.

eLearningToys.com
300 Bedford St
Manchester, NH 03101
Phone: 603-627-7338
Fax: 603-949-5619
Email: pr@elearningtoys.com

http://www.eLearningToys.com

Press Release A TOY for PEACE is SELECTED as ONE of the BEST 25 TOYS OF THE PAST 25 YEARS.

2008-03-02T04:13:00.003-08:00

A TOY for PEACE is SELECTED as ONE of the BEST 25 TOYS OF THE PAST 25 YEARS.
What will be the next must have toy? The world should hopes it is this, one of the few products that everyone can relate to- our Planet and hugging. The Hugg-A-Planet, Earth does everything a great toy should and more. Developed to be truly hands on, informative, and emotionally positive to just hold. "Good toys have staying power; they engage. They help build attention spans, not fragment them", says the Parents' Choice Foundation. This toy does just that.. BEST 25 TOYS OF 25 YEARS Award confirms that a Hugg-A-Planet Earth just may be the must have toy of the Twenty First Century.

January 5--Essex Jct. Vermont. Hugg-A-Planet, Earth selected as one of Parents' Choice Foundation. BEST 25 TOYS OF 25 YEARS. Robert Forenza, President "What a great honor be awarded as one of the Best 25 Toys of the Past 25 Years, especially in a market that sees over ten thousand new toys introduced every year."

Fantastic toys don’t just captivate, they help shape lifelong interests, lead to careers, and focus passions. Have you ever wondered what early mechanical experiences led to Wilbur and Orville Wright’s accomplishments? What hours of play and observation honed Thomas Edison? This spark of imagination, knowledge and that loving hug is what we hope for by placing this world in a child's arms.

Children are our future. "If we are to reach real peace in this world... we shall have to start with the children." Mahatma Gandhi. Growing up with this product will help impart generations to come with a healthy, wholesome, and peaceful attitude on our world.

It’s the magic, that’s the key. All toys worth their salt have it. Hugg-A-Planet Earth by its very nature has a very special magic. It lets you dream about exotic adventures in far away places (over 600 labeled). Easy to throw and catch, memorable to hug. "Special toys like (Hugg-A-Planet Earth...) strike the flint in the child’s mind; they ignite imagination, stimulate creativity, elicit striving, and provoke the desire to make order. They wet and saturate appetites. They push, pull, and comfort. They help a child build a sense of self, a sense of ability to accomplish," says the Parents' Choice Foundation.

Good toys are not instant gratification. They have staying power; they engage. They help build attention spans, not fragment them. Good toys do not glamorize or reflect the destructive aspects of society. A good toy does not offer answers; it stimulates questions and presents problems for solving- all in good humor.

It is true our planet earth is in need more hugs and love. On the Practical side, Hugg-A-Planet Earth is used to learn, explore and share knowledge with others. On the emotional side, we love what we hug, is a very powerful human trait. Offering the best of both worlds. Put a Hugg-A-Planet, Earth in anyone's arms and watch the magic begin.

Hugg-A-Planet manufactures a line of soft huggable globes, maps and environmental toys. Products include the Classic Hugg-A-Planet® Earth in 3 sizes, available in English, French, and Spanish. A special edition of the toy has a secret pocket. Also avaliable is a geophysical globe, Hugg America®, Hugg-A-Star® and line of organic cotton soft animals. These products and others are found online at www.peacetoys.com. The company offers businesses and non-profits the ability to promote their business with customized products, placing their name on this award winning huggable world.

Press Release A TOY for PEACE is SELECTED as ONE of the BEST 25 TOYS OF THE PAST 25 YEARS.

2008-03-02T04:13:00.001-08:00

Press ReleaseA New Tool for Back to School

2008-03-02T04:12:00.002-08:00

Sacramento, CA August 4, 2004 -- As the back-to-school season nears, Engrade, an innovative provider of online tools for teachers, announced today the launch of its website http://www.engrade.com. Engrade’s new website is a free service that allows teachers to post students’ grades online and allows parents and students to view those grades online in real-time by logging in to their Engrade account.

With this new service, Engrade seeks to give teachers a tool to keep parents and students continually informed of their grades, attendance, and upcoming assignments.

Thanks to educational sponsors, Engrade is a free service. And because Engrade’s technology is “web-based” it does not require any installations – all of Engrade’s service are available through their website.

In the past, teachers’ only method of grade reporting was to periodically print paper reports. Both teachers and students found this to be problematic because those paper reports became out of date as soon as a new assignment was graded – so students and their parents never knew exactly how they were performing in class and experienced long delays before seeing their corrected assignment scores.

Now, Engrade’s new online reporting tools will solve those problems by continually updating students online grade reports as soon as teachers enter new assignments into Engrade’s website – allowing students and parents to be constantly aware of their class grade and assignment scores.

“We feel that Engrade will really help students - and their parents - get a better idea of how they are performing in their classes and increase student-parent participation,” said Brian Holt, President and Founder of Engrade.

In addition to online grades, Engrade provides teachers with the option of posting attendance records and upcoming assignment due dates online.

Using Engrade’s online attendance reports, parents can see their students’ real-time attendance reports from work or from home and teachers can notify the parents of absent students instantly via e-mail.

With Engrade’s assignment calendar, teachers can post a list of upcoming assignments for students and parents to see when they log in, making the old excuse of “I forgot that was due today,” obsolete.

Engrade’s new website seeks to reshape the way grades, attendance, and assignments are reported, increasing students’ and parents’ participation and improving student performance.

For more information about using Engrade in your classroom, visit their website at: http://www.engrade.com/

Preparing for your Prom Night

2008-03-02T04:12:00.001-08:00

Preparing for Prom Night

Preparing for prom night should begin months ahead of time.

Getting a date comes first. Girls without steady boyfriends spend more time finding a date than do the boys. The best strategies involve becoming a part of a particular group and building a particular friendship with prom night in mind.

Boys and girls each have their respective areas to prepare. Sometimes it's difficult just to get the boys to rent their tuxedo, but they also need to arrange for the limousine rental, cover all costs, and make the arrangements for the night-such as a group activity or a romantic dinner before.

For girls, preparing for prom night is more intense. Make a to do list for the prom. Make another just for your hair. Select dress, jewelry, and hairstyle in that order, coordinating everything. If you need a hair stylist, begin asking for recommendations in advance. If you have one already, make a special appointment three months ahead to discuss your prom hairstyle.

Six weeks ahead, book an appointment with your stylist no less than four hours before the limo arrives. Try a complete dress rehearsal with hair, dress, and jewelry a month before your prom. Finally, on the day before collect all your essentials in one place. Does your hairdryer work? Do you need more gel?

These are the essential steps when preparing for prom night. Finally, don't forget that you and your date will exchange corsage and boutonnière. Buy it the day before, keep it refrigerated, and please try not be nervous when you pin it on.

About the author:
Ian Partridge lauched a website called http://www.promhair.uswhich includes more resources and links relating to prom night

Popping Pimples – Is it worth it?

2008-03-02T04:11:00.002-08:00

Everyone, it seems, has a different opinion on popping pimples, and for every magazine article you find that urges you to keep your hands away, you’ll find another that says it’s no big deal. And when you have a huge quivering mass on your nose that seems as though it’s threatening to take over your whole face, popping that pimple can seem like the best way to get rid of the thing. Anyone who has ever suffered with acne can tell you that popping pimples is one of the perverse pleasures associated with the condition, and can become almost addictive. But beware – popping is not always the best way to get rid of pimples overnight, and can in fact make the whole thing a lot uglier.

How to get rid of pimples has been an issue that has plagued acne sufferers since time immemorial, but there is unfortunately very little that will successfully get rid of pimples overnight. While pimple popping might seem like the answer, it is something that should only be used on a zit-by-zit basis. There is little doubt that releasing the goo from a protruding white head can be extremely satisfying – but pimple popping should be reserved for this type of zit alone. Though the red cyst-like pimples that linger just beneath your skin can hurt like anything and can induce you to prod them with a needle or other pointed instrument in some attempt to get rid of the thing, trying to pop this type of pimple simply won’t work, and – the last thing that any acne sufferer wants – might actually prolong the life of the pimple.

You can take the edge off those big white-headed guys and get rid of that kind of pimple overnight if you pop with care. Always wash your hands thoroughly before you begin. Puncture the head lightly with a sanitized needle (you should clean it by wiping it with alcohol, or by passing it through a flame) and wipe away the pus that comes out. Never, ever, force the issue – squeezing will only send the goo you can’t see further into your skin, which will leave you with one of those painful zits that takes forever to go away. And while popping pimples is fun, it’s not worth that, is it?

About the author:
Find out more about Acne at Peter’s website http://www.acne-all-gone.com/as well as Acne cures and adult acne, acne skin care products, the best acne treatments and more.

Planning a Disney Princess Birthday Party!

2008-03-02T04:11:00.001-08:00

Kids' birthday parties seem to have gotten a little
"out of hand" these days. The only parties some
children have ever attended have been at places
like McDonald's or Burger King!

However, with a little planning, you can throw a
great party in your own home, for a lot less money!

A princess theme might be just the thing for your
little girl--what little girl doesn't dream of being
a princess?

Here are some ideas to help you plan a princess party
on a budget!

First of all, remember that more is not always merrier
when it comes to children! A good rule of thumb is to
invite 4 friends to a 4 year old's party, 5 to a 5 year
old's party, etc.

Start watching for invitations ahead of time at the
Dollar Store, garage sales, discount centers. If you
don't find a bargain, think about letting the birthday
girl, help make some. Fold half a sheet of typing paper
in half, write the pertinent info inside and the guest's
name on the outside. Decorate with glitter, stickers,
etc. Staple closed and hand deliver or slip into an
envelope and mail.

The girls will love to make "treasure boxes". Cover a
box (shoe boxes work fine) with tissue paper or spray
paint gold ahead of time. Then the girls can decorate
their own box with stickers, glitter, buttons, silk
flowers, beads, markers, crayons; anything you can think of!
Any prizes from games (such as a pinata or grab bag)
or favors can go in their boxes for taking home.

Necklaces are fun and easy to make. Use colored twine
or narrow ribbon (whatever you have on hand)and let the
guests string with Cheerios, Froot Loops, Lifesavers,
uncooked pasta or anything else you can find.

A neat game to play is a beanbag toss. Make beanbags
out of clean old socks. Find a large box and cut holes
in the shape of crowns. Let the girls take turns tossing
the beanbags into the holes.

Younger children will enjoy this grab bag game. Wrap little
toys (things you have gotten on sale or at the $ store, of
course)and put them in a box. Hold the box up high and
let the girs grab, using tongs. This is fun, also, because
they get to open little gifts, just like the birthday
girl.

For girls a little older who love to play dress up, take
an old sheet and cut out an "apron" shape, one that fits
over the head. Use pinking shears for a decorative edge
and there's no need to hem. The girls can decorate these
"dresses" with glitter pens, markers, buttons, etc. Slip
them over their heads and tie a ribbon around the waist.

Instead of baking a big birthday cake, you might want to
consider making cupcakes instead. Just frost and decorate
with candies, then put a candle in the top of each cupcake.
Each child gets to blow one out!

The day before the party, dip ice cream into paper-lined
muffin tins and keep in the freezer till time to serve.
You'll have much less hassle at refreshment time!

Of course, these ideas can be modified to fit any theme,
for boys or girls. Just use your imagination and have fun!

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory
banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindoll

About the author:
Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another"
bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name.
Tomilyn Lane, her daughter, holds a degree in Fashion Merchandising and is now a happily married SAHM to 1 "little princess" and 1 "little cowboy"!
Visit http://www.cynroberts.comto find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".

Personal tracking devices in cell phones?

2008-03-02T04:10:00.002-08:00

Cell phones have come a long way – regardless of whether you’re a business person or stay-at-home mom, having a cell phone with you is no longer a privilege – it’s a NECESSITY. In this modern technology age, the cell phone has progressed from being just your average communication device. The cell phone is now also a personal organizer, diary, calculator, timer, alarm clock, emailing device, faxing equipment, news reporter, etc.

In times of emergency, a cell phone can and will definitely prove to be a life-saver and 14-year-old Kelly Emerson can attest to that. Getting lost in a jungle is no fun for the teen. But thanks to her careful and wary mom, Kelly took a cell phone with her and when she got lost in the jungle, the cell phone she had with her saved her life. Within 3 hours, they found her hanging to her cell phone and praying. Wet, crying, hungry – but safe!

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently suggested that communication companies work harder to incorporate a location pinpointing device and technology on cell phones so that call receivers can check the location of the caller in times of emergency. For people like Kelly Emerson, the cell phone saved her life – but with an advancement of technology, the caller or owner of the cell phone may not even need to be awake or conscious in order for others to detect their location. Well, there are pros and cons to that kind of technology, and currently, this recommendation has come under fire and is under a lot of debate today. People are not keen on turning their cell phones into personal tracking devices because of very obvious reasons – it’s a form of intrusion into their personal lives. And instead of saving lives, cell phones with this ability may even become a threat. Let’s say, a murderous husband is trying to track down a runaway wife and is able to detect her location via her cell phone.

While individuals are quite confused about this new cell phone technology, large corporations are more than happy to welcome this new cell phone technological advancement. Imagine…with this personal tracking device installed into their customers’ cell phones, companies can locate the customers via their cell phones. If the customer is within the vicinity of their outlet, they can instantly send messages or make calls to that customer!

However, telecommunication companies are stumped on whether this new cell phone feature should be incorporated into future cell phones. Like the Internet, privacy is a huge problem. Personal information is big in the data-mining business, but so is privacy.

We’ll just have to see how far cell phone companies are willing to go to make their bucks!

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.cellphone-source.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

About the author:
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.cellphone-source.comon which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Performing Magic For Kids

2008-03-02T04:10:00.001-08:00

You have just discovered the wonderful world of magic. Trip after trip
to the magic shop has added to your ever growing arsenal of magic
tricks. Thirty-three days later the credit card bills arrive to remind
your wife that this IS an expensive hobby.

No problem! You will make back all of the money you've spent and more by becoming a part-time professional magician. Looking around for places to hone your craft, you suddenly remember that you niece has a seventh birthday coming up. You call you sister and offer your services in lieu of a gift.

Two weeks later the performance time arrives. You pack all of your “A”
material into two large cardboard boxes. You start the show for sixteen
first graders and all of your relatives. The show goes well. Everybody
is laughing and having a good time. You take some theatrical pauses to build suspense as you search your boxes for the next great trick.
Finally, your fifteen minute show concludes after fifty-three minutes.
You never realized you had that much great magic. The kids cheer and
applaud for your debut magic show. Even your sister, wiping the tears
from her eyes, says, “I have never had more fun than I did watching your magic show. It was great. John got it all on tape.”

This is how many part-time professional magicians attempt to begin their career. They look around and decided that doing kid shows is the best way to start. Performing magic for kids is one of the most difficult
areas of magic to do well. This article explores some of the challenges
of performing children's magic.

YOU ARE TRAINING CHILDREN

Children don't understand many of the common cues in a live performance. Most children are raised in the age of television. Not a bad thing, except the laugh tracks prompt the children when to laugh. No laugh tracks and the children are left out in the cold. They are quick and will get up to speed in no time. But they need your help.

The same issue is even more problematic with applause. Children are not used to clapping. They don't understand applause cues. Those wonderfully timed applause cues will leave you and your audience with a lot of uncomfortable silence.

What can be done? Everything. One of your most important tasks as a
children's magician is your opening. The beginning of your show must do four things:

* Establish audience control
* Teach the children to react to applause cues
* Set the tone for the show
* Introduce your performing personality

The audience needs to be warmed up prior to your magic show. It seems hokey and a waste of time, but it can make the difference between a great magic show and a horrible one.

Children love to have fun. Even in school children are taught to obey
those in authority. For some reason, many magicians forget to establish authority early in the show. The result resembles a saloon brawl in the wild west.

When you step out for the start of your show, you have the perfect
opportunity to establish the ground rules for the show. I don't mean
that you should bring out a list of house rules for the show. Instead
come out with confidence and warm up your audience.

After you welcome everyone to the show, look out over the audience and say, ”This looks like a really great crowd. Let's see how loud you can clap. On the count of three ONE. . . TWO . . THREE . .Not bad! Let's try it again. On three . . .” After some byplay conclude by saying, ”What do we do when we like the magic? (pause) What do we do when we LOVE the magic?” (pause and react strongly to the crowd)

Four things are being done by that warm up. You have taught the children to clap when they like the magic. It also trains them to react to the applause cues in the rest of the show. The warm up establishes that you are in control for this show. Finally, it sets a fun tone for the show. This is the first time your audience gets a sense of your performing personality.

YOU ARE NOT PERFORMING FOR THE KIDS

You will learn quickly that the most difficult task facing the
children's performer is to design the show to appeal to children and
adults at the same time and at different levels. No I don't mean filling
your performance with phrases that have sexual double meanings. Nothing is more pathetic and unprofessional than the performer that gets a child on stage and slyly eyes the adults in the crowd and says “Do I have a big magic wand or what? “

Children's cartoons provide the best examples of the point I am trying
to make. Take Loony Toons or Spongebob Squarepants for example. These cartoons work for children and adults on different levels at the same time. This is what you must achieve to be a successful children's magician

This is very difficult thing to pull off. This is one of the main
reasons that doing children's magic is so difficult. You must DESIGN
your show for both audiences. One key to the show design is your
performing personality.

YOU ARE NOT YOURSELF TODAY

When you perform magic for children, you must have a distinctive and
appealing performing personality. Long gone are the days when the
children's magician can come out on stage in a second hand tux and wow his audience with a formal magic show. Look at Silly Billy, one of the most successful children's magicians. His performing personality is fun and engaging. His show tone is fast paced and humorous.

Even beyond children's magic, examine the performing personalities of
children's television. Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Rodgers, and Peewee Herman are examples of compelling performing personalities. Each one was successful, yet, had very different performing personalities. The common factor was that each performer engaged children through fun.

Your performing personality must engage you audience, children and
adults, with fun and wonderment. You must draw your audience into the show by your performing personality, but you must wow them with a well designed show that delivers great magic. This is why doing children's magic is so tough.

If you want to start your career in magic as a children's magician,
think again. Kids are brutally honest. There is nothing tougher or more
satisfying than have a great children's magic show. Being a children's
magician is not the best way to become a part-time professional magician.

Copyright (c) 2005 J.L. Siefers, All rights reserved.

About the author:
Want to learn to do magic? Click now to get your FREE magic tricks! http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com

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Parents Need a Back-to-School Checklist for Educational Technology

2008-03-02T04:09:00.004-08:00

(ARA) - New clothes that strike a balance between appropriate and cool? Check. New school supplies that include the latest backpack style? Check. New ulcer caused by your teen’s impending first day of high school? Check mate. You may not be ready for it, but you’re pretty sure they are. You’ve raised them to appreciate an education, you’ve taught them everything you know and you’ve given them all the trappings of the 21st century teen. But have you given them an edge?

Technology has dramatically altered the classroom in the last decade, allowing students to achieve a deeper level of understanding of their schoolwork. The “calculator” you used, which probably offered a one line screen and had only basic math functionality, is now as antiquated as the abacus. There is a new breed of educational handheld devices more akin to handheld computers. They make the word “calculator” woefully inadequate to describe what is possible for your teen. This new technology is not a calculator at all, but closer to a portable and personal handheld computer. It leverages software algorithms and micro-technology and offers functions beyond mere mathematical calculation to enrich the learning experience across a spectrum of subjects. It gives a child the edge that the hippest clothes, the coolest school supplies and even a parent’s best intentions can’t provide.

But your VCR still flashes 12:00 a.m. You know as much about the latest technology as you do about the newest boy band. So how do you know you’ve given your child the best tool to succeed? What should you look for in an educational handheld? There are three elements to consider in the checklist for this back-to-school purchase: educational value, lifecycle and price.

Educational Value

Perhaps the most important factor in choosing an educational handheld device is the company that makes it. Are they focused on education? Some companies are marketing their business handhelds, or personal digital assistant (PDAs) as educational handhelds. However, these are often not created with the student, or learning, as the priority. The best devices are developed after rigorous research and testing with educators. Teachers should be involved in developing the products as they offer significant input on what capabilities are necessary to heighten the impact of the coursework. Teens are also often asked what they would like to see integrated into the handheld. The devices themselves are even tested in the school environment, having to survive a “crunch test” in a book bag that simulates the wear and tear the average teen can inflict. The best way to research a company to make sure it meets this educational criterion is by asking your child’s teacher or looking on the company’s Web site.

Another way to evaluate the educational value of these products is to look at the additional software applications that are offered. These applications extend the capabilities of a handheld device into different subject areas. Some companies, like Texas Instruments, have developed educational “apps” that are easily downloadable via computer from their Web site. Again, ask your student’s teacher what applications will be used in class, but also know that many apps can be used as student-driven study aids. They add functionality, flexibility and fun to the learning process, and top-of-the-line devices allow you to choose from an array of subjects.

Obviously, students still need the traditional math and science functions that allow them to explore equations for algebra, plot graphs, determine coefficients and perform the higher arithmetic functions, but many educational devices leave off there. There are, however, devices on the market, like the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, that also enable students to graphically analyze data for biology, offer spreadsheet capabilities, and timelines for history, social studies, and other classes. It can even be used as a personal organizer to keep class schedules and important contact information. Educational handhelds like this can connect with computers for software app downloads as well as operating system upgrades that can further extend its usability through the school years.

Some devices even have capabilities to review electronic flash cards for any subject, including foreign languages. The best devices for learning are allowed for use on standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, and even required for some state exams. This gives your child a decided edge in the testing environment, as these are often the same tools they use in class.

Lifecyle

A handheld’s “lifecycle,” or how long its technology is up to date, is another important factor when deciding on an educational device. Always check the applications. Do they cover a variety of educational subjects? Do they actually offer anything new that will help your child succeed? Beware of superficial changes and your child’s desire to simply have the coolest looking model, regardless of its value in the classroom.

The second thing to understand is that we live in an age of software. Downloads should be readily available at a company’s Web site and should offer a wide range of options that extend the use of the product through multiple subject areas and different educational levels.

Price

Obviously this “lifecycle” is an important distinction when pricing handhelds, as is the educational value. This is an investment that you are making for your child’s future. A good handheld should take a student through three or four years of learning, with the average device costing between $100 and $150. When one thinks of the school supplies bought every year (remember those designer tennis shoes?), an educational handheld’s cost is negligible when spread out over its entire lifecycle.

Make sure you’re getting what you paid for. Does the device add value by delivering more apps across a wide spectrum of subjects? Was it developed with input from educators? Will it withstand the pressure between a chemistry and English book? Can they use it for standardized testing? Can the lifecycle be extended through downloads saving you multiple purchases?

As your teen begins his or her high school years, you can be confident that their learning experience will be enriched with the right educational handheld device. It is one more tool and one more edge you can give them as they enter that brave new world. As you look for the right device to fit your needs, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you now know more about educational handhelds than you ever thought you would. Boy bands and the clock on the VCR are still a mystery.

Information on TI products can be found at www.education.ti.com/bts.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

Novelty Contact Lenses Are Fun If Used Safely

2008-03-02T04:09:00.003-08:00

It must be Halloween or you are in a play if you are thinking about buying novelty contact lenses. Quite a few of the special effects that are shown in the movies are done with these special costume contact lenses. They can be really enticing to wear because they certainly are different, but they must be used safely and with caution. Some of the styles and ways you can wear them are:
• Put on a black cat suit and one of the different styles and colors of cat eyes
• Dress in red with a fork and wear devil lenses
• Put on a tuxedo and wear vampire lenses
• Make your eyes appear red or black with total coverage
• If you want to support your favorite NFL team, you can get contacts that display your team name
• You can look like a reptile with a green lens and a black vertical slit going through it
• A whimsical lens would be a smiley face, flower, or dollar signs
• Contact lenses that feature flames would be fun for a devil costume
• Lenses can change color if when exposed to a black light so they would be even more noticeable at a club
• Show your patriotism with an American flag, or the Union Jack.
• There are eye drops that you can put in your eye to make them appear dead
• What kind of animal do you want to look like? How about a cat, jaguar, zebra, wolf or reptile?
• A novelty contact lens used in one eye only would look really scary or funky.
• These are only a few of the wild choices that you can find online from a reputable dealer or from your eye care professional.

There is a down side to the use of novelty lenses. All of the costume lenses on the market are seen by the FDA as medical devices so you must have a prescription to buy them. They do not carry any kind of corrective prescription; it is just as though they were a plain pair of glasses with fake lenses in them. Black market contacts have been more places than ever before. You might find the novelty lenses in a gas station, flea market, or salon. If you get them from somewhere other than a reputable distributor, you could be inviting serious permanent eye injury. Definitely stay away from those lenses because you just can’t put your eyes at such risk. They can also present a danger because many of the styles limit the amount of light that enters the eye. Your peripheral vision may also be restricted, causing problems while driving or even walking.

Novelty contact lenses can be safe to wear as long as you follow the guidelines from your eye care professional. Never swap lenses with your friends. If they aren’t fitted specifically for you, they can cause eye injury and will be very uncomfortable to wear. You wouldn’t do that with corrective contacts and you shouldn’t do that with these. Clean them just as you would other lenses, and don’t sleep or swim in them. If you get a proper prescription from your eye doctor and get them from a reputable dealer, you should be able to have fun with the lenses and create the theatrical or scary look you are trying to achieve.

About the author:
Beverly Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying reading glasses, contact lenses, LASIK, safety glasses and more. She gives information and tips to help you save money and make informed buying decisions. Her many articles can be found at http://www.contact-lenses-4u.net

No time for messes this holiday season? Don't worry; Help is on the way…

2008-03-02T04:09:00.001-08:00

Don't worry; Help is on the way… (NC)—Holidays are fun but they can also be pretty messy. After a long day of baking – and eating -- holiday cookies with the kids, the kitchen floor can get covered with flour, chocolate chips, and leftover cookie crumbs. Sound familiar?

An ideal gift for the parent who enjoys baking cookies with the kids, but agonizes over the mess is the new Dirt Devil® Vac 'n' Mop™. Now, you no longer need a broom and dustpan or a mop and bucket to clean your floors. Dirt Devil® has evolved these traditional types of cleaning equipment by combining them into one easy-to-use cleaning tool – the Dirt Devil Vac 'n' Mop. It goes from vacuuming to mopping without stopping.

Vacuum

Before mopping your floors you want to make sure that they are free of dirt and debris, like dust, crumbs and pet hair. Instead of reaching for that old straw broom and dustpan or stick vacuum, the Dirt Devil Vac 'n' Mop has a powerful 11 amp/9.6 volt cordless vacuum built in to pick up all types of dry messes.

Spray

After vacuuming, you're ready to mop. There's no need to waste time and energy putting away a broom and dustpan or filling up a bucket with soap and water any more. Simply depress the trigger on the underside of the handle and the powered sprayer applies an even layer of cleaning solution onto your floor to help loosen up dirt and grime. It's that easy!

Mop

With an absorbent cleaning pad you can easily mop up dirt and grime, like muddy footprints or spilled fruit punch, from your floors with no mess or hassle. It's great for quick clean-ups in the bathroom and kitchen. You won't have to worry about unexpected holiday guests arriving and seeing a messy house because the Dirt Devil Vac 'n' Mop is ideal for cleaning all types of hard floor surfaces including: hardwood, tile, marble and linoleum because it won't scratch or mar.

Toss

After mopping, just remove and toss the absorbent pad and empty the dirt cup into the trash and you are done!

For quick holiday clean-ups or as a gift for a family member or friend, the Dirt Devil Vac 'n' Mop is under $80 and offers an easy solution to some of life's little messes!

- News Canada

About the author:
News Canada

New Toy Industry Portal www.PlushCollectible.com Features I Sea Horses, Winner in “Dr. Toy's” 2004 Best Children's Products.

2008-03-02T04:08:00.003-08:00

New Toy Industry Portal www.PlushCollectible.com Features I Sea Horses, Winner in “Dr. Toy's” 2004 Best Children's Products.

POINT ROBERTS, WA, Delta, B.C. October 07, 2004 - PlushCollectible.com, a toy industry portal is pleased to feature the Wild Heart Ranch line of plush toys, I Sea Horses, which were featured in Dr. Toy's 2004 Best Children's Products Winners List (www.drtoy.com/main/index.html). The seahorses mini plush characters with twinkling lights are based on the I Sea Horses Children’s Book.

The "100 Best Children's Products 2004" award program was developed by Dr. Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy), as a service to parents and teachers who desire to purchase safe, affordable, educationally oriented and stimulating toys and products for children. The annual holiday guide, available at www.DrToy.com, features the best current products for children, chosen from among hundreds reviewed at toy fairs, catalogs, and through many other sources. It includes only products that meet Dr. Toy's high standards (for safety, design, durability, diversity, price, social responsibility, uniqueness and other features) - products that offer the child something "extra" for optimal learning, play and fun.

The PlushCollectible.com portal also features toy industry news, toy industry links and collectible toy links. The site also features a current list of publicly traded toys stocks at:
www.plushcollectible.com/Companies/WildHeart/ToyStocks.asp

About Dr. Toy: www.drtoy.com
Dr. Toy's 2004 Best Children's Products Winners List http://www.drtoy.com/main/index.html
Dr. Toy, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. is the Director of the Institute for Childhood Resources, San Francisco, and produces the annual holiday guide, "100 Best Children 's Products." She is an expert in child development, author of "Dr. Toy 's Smart Play/Smart Toys" and "Toys for a Lifetime", a frequent writer of articles, consultant, and speaker about toys, children's products, play and parenting.

I Sea Horses Children’s Picture Book

Kids and adults will be entertained and educated by this magical marine adventure book about a herd of wild horses that transforms into seahorses in order to maintain the life of freedom and adventure that is quickly disappearing from their open plains.

I Sea Horses Toys:

These brightly colored seahorses have bendable tails that wrap around anything - especially your heart! Squeeze their belly and the magical starfish will light up your imagination.

Each seahorse comes with a comb for their long, colorful hair. "Life's a beach" at the fun and games section of the interactive website: www.ISeaHorses.com.

Wild Heart Ranch, Inc: (www.WildHeartRanch.com) is a toy and publishing company that believes a “simple idea from the heart is best.” The company creates original children’s products based on story telling that reminds us of the magic that exists in the hearts and minds of all children. The plush characters come to life in the children’s books and an interactive website that incite children to play, learn, and imagine.

About Wild Heart Ranch www.WildHeartRanch.com, www.ISeaHorses.com, www.CollectiblePlush.com, www.PlushCollectible.com
Wild Heart Ranch, Inc. is a publishing, entertainment and toy company that creates and licenses non-violent toys and products based on original ideas, stories, and characters. The 'Lucky Stars Collection', 'No More Night Mares’,' Armadillo Cowboy Club’ & 'I Sea Horses' brands are all properties of Wild Heart Ranch.

For more information contact Toll Free: 1.888.889.9213

Courtney Billinkoff cbillinkoff@wildheartranch.com or
Allen Gibson starmedia@shaw.ca

About the author:
www.WildHeartRanch.com,www.ISeaHorses.com,www.CollectiblePlush.com,www.PlushCollectible.com
Wild Heart Ranch, Inc. is a publishing, entertainment and toy company that creates and licenses non-violent toys and products based on original ideas, stories, and characters. The 'Lucky Stars Collection', 'No More Night Mares’,' Armadillo Cowboy Club’ & 'I Sea Horses' brands are all properties of Wild Heart Ranch.

New Toy Industry Portal www.PlushCollectible.com Features I Sea Horses and Lucky Stars Collection Plush Toys

2008-03-02T04:08:00.001-08:00

New Toy Industry Portal www.PlushCollectible.com Features I Sea Horses and Lucky Stars Collection Plush Toys

POINT ROBERTS, WA, Delta, B.C. Sept 30, 2004 - PlushCollectible.com, a toy industry portal is pleased to feature the Wild Heart Ranch line of plush toys, I Sea Horses and Lucky Stars Collection. The plush seahorses and horses are mini plush characters, with magical lights and are based on original stories created by the company.

The portal also features toy industry news, toy industry links and collectible toy links.
The site also features a current list of publicly traded toys stocks at:
http://www.plushcollectible.com/Companies/WildHeart/ToyStocks.asp

Featured Company:

Wild Heart Ranch, Inc: (www.WildHeartRanch.com) is a toy and publishing company that believes a “simple idea from the heart is best.” The company creates original children’s products based on story telling that reminds us of the magic that exists in the hearts and minds of all children. The plush characters come to life in the children’s books and an interactive website that incite children to play, learn, and imagine.

Wild Heart brands are not high tech, but incorporate twinkling blue LED lights that are designed to look like stars, moons and comets.

I Sea Horses Children’s Picture Book

Kids and adults will be entertained and educated by this magical marine adventure book about a herd of wild horses that transforms into seahorses in order to maintain the life of freedom and adventure that is quickly disappearing from their open plains.

I Sea Horses Toys:

These brightly colored seahorses have bendable tails that wrap around anything - especially your heart! Squeeze their belly and the magical starfish will light up your imagination.

Each seahorse comes with a comb for their long, colorful hair. "Life's a beach" at the fun and games section of the interactive website: www.ISeaHorses.com.

The I Sea Horses and Lucky Stars Collection product line have won the "Seal of Excellence 2004" from Creative Child Magazine. The I Sea Horses was also awarded "Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products of 2004."

About the Lucky Stars Collection 2004

The original characters come to life in a brand new design, lighting up imaginations of both young and old.

Magical mini plush horses light up with celestial windows of a moon, comet and stars! These 12 mini horses come in realistic colors, with long manes and tails to comb.

Each horse comes with a nametag & poem based on the original story of mystical wild horses - "No More Night Mares…A Dream of Freedom”. Squeeze them and their blazes will twinkle like the stars in the sky.

About Wild Heart Ranch www.WildHeartRanch.com, www.ISeaHorses.com, www.CollectiblePlush.com, www.PlushCollectible.com
Wild Heart Ranch, Inc. is a publishing, entertainment and toy company that creates and licenses non-violent toys and products based on original ideas, stories, and characters. The 'Lucky Stars Collection', 'No More Night Mares’,' Armadillo Cowboy Club’ & 'I Sea Horses' brands are all properties of Wild Heart Ranch.

For more information contact Toll Free: 1.888.889.9213

Jennifer Randle jenny@wildheartranch.com
Courtney Billinkoff cbillinkoff@wildheartranch.com

New baby gifts and new baby gift baskets

2008-03-02T04:07:00.003-08:00

There is nothing like a beautiful and unique new baby gift to show how much you care. New baby gifts can be given when the little one is born, when he or she first comes home, for birthdays, for Christmas or for other religious occasions where new baby gifts are appropriate. Or for no reason at all except that you feel like buying a new baby gift.

New baby gifts can be personalized so they become mementos that will be treasured for years, or even generations. There are also uniquely packaged new baby gift baskets that are great fun to both give and receive, and are sure to stand out in a crowd. New mums are always reading and singing to their new babies so why not pick one of the popular books or tapes that are certain to be a welcome addition to the household.

New baby gift baskets come with an endless variety of contents including bath and skin massage lotions and oils, meal items such as theme oriented plates, bowls, cups, spoons, bottle brushes and teething rings, and clothing selections with T-shirts, diapers, booties, diaper pants and sweaters. There is a bewildering array of new baby gifts available to you at the click of your mouse.

About the author:
Marilyn Willoughby is a successful author and publisher of http://www.great-baby-products.com An online resource for buying great baby products and a provider of important baby safety tips.
www.great-baby-products.com

Money Making – Money Saving Tips for College Students

2008-03-02T04:07:00.001-08:00

Money is something that is difficult to get, but easy to get rid of. However, if you are smart about handling your money, you can get through college or university paying less and making more.

While studying, the main source of income for you is your scholarship and some sum of money from your parents for your minor expenses. However, we all know that this is not enough to survive. The most realistic and easy way to earn some extra money is to get a grant or find a part time job.

Your college or university can you grants based on your academic performance. To get good grades is an easy way to get tidy sum of money at the end of the semester. However, to earn money in such a way takes time, persistence and a lot of efforts. Grants range from $1,200 for an A+ to 300 for a C-. Not bad really.

Besides, this way of getting money has a lot of pros. You not only get money, but heaps of knowledge in addition. Bear in mind rather hackneyed saying “Knowledge is power”. Knowledge will never be a heavy burden to you and probably some day you’ll take lots of benefits from it.

Another efficient, commonly utilized way of earning money is finding a part-time job. Many students took an advantage of earning money this way. Really, it has a lot of merits.

- You gain financial independence, so you can command your finances in the way you like and relieve your parents from the financial burdens.
- It helps you apply your knowledge in practice, realize yourself and feel more confident and mature.
- It is a great experience for your future job. It helps you understand the real value of money and gives you the insight into what the work is about.
- You penetrate into the adults’ world and foster a sense of competition.
- It makes your life more colorful and is good for your personal development.
- You get acquainted with new interesting people and study from them.
- You get a roll of hard-earned money and can be proud of yourself.

Be prepared that you won’t find a job immediately. The employers aren’t waiting specially for you with arms wide open. Remember that the market is full of people searching for a job. And one more point is that you shouldn’t expect to get high salary at once. Though it is just a temporary place to work where you get some extra money.

For a start, the below listed jobs is the thing you might start with, as you don’t have to possess any special skills and they can become a good beginning for your upcoming job.

- Wash car
- Pet sitting
- Recycle soft drink cans
- Baby sitting
- Mow lawn
- Weed garden
- Garage sale

Here is the list of more sophisticated jobs which can be of interest to you:

- Barista
- Bartender
- Cafeteria Worker
- Tutor
- Personal Trainer

Treat your job seriously, but don’t let it absorb all your time and strengths, as your studying is prior to your job at the moment. Make it well that in future you won’t get worthy, high-paid job without profound higher education.

The tip I can give you is to estimate realistically your strengths and time. If it comes out that something is odd, quit your job easily and don’t regret about it. However, if you are already working and making your living, not just pocket money, here are some useful tips and hints to help you save your hard-earned bucks:

• Always look for sales and shop only at discount stores. Discipline yourself to buy everything, even small drib – drabs there. Remember to clip coupons and shop on double – coupon days.
• Get rid of the habit to eat out too often. It will not only save you money, but also your health, as snack bars mainly serve junk food. So, cook for yourself as much as possible.
• Go to matinees instead of evening shows and patronize movie theaters that offer students discounts.
• Share an apartment or a house with your friends. After all it is just more fun to share your flat with someone else. The “cheapest” decision is to choose living in the dorm.
• Try to live without a car if you can. Start leading the healthy way of life. Ride a bike. Anyway it is an excellent way to get your body exercised.
• Buy monthly passes for whatever public transit you ride.
• Join a credit union. Credit unions frequently offer low – interest loans.
• When you want to buy something expensive, always ask yourself: “DO I REALLY NEED IT”?
• Learn a saving experience from other people.
• Repeat to yourself every morning: “I love money”. Maybe they’ll hear it and come to your hands. Be careful with it. Don’t be too zealous. Beware of mass attacks :-)

Hope that these tips will help you make and save some money while you are in college. Good luck!

About the author:
About author: Linda Correli is a staff writer of www.CustomResearchPapers.usShe students write college research papers, term books, admission essays, book report and many other types of writing assignments: from personal statements to professional case studies. For more information and help, please, go to: http://www.customresearchpapers.us

Making Summer Friendships Last

2008-03-02T04:06:00.003-08:00

Summertime isn’t just about getting dirty, staying up all night, playing in the rain, and going off to camp--It’s about meeting new people. Follow these tips to turn your vacation acquaintances into lifelong friends.

1. Summer Memory Book

Make the summer last forever by preserving memories in a special book. Fill the plastic sleeves of a photo album with photos, ticket stubs, sections of road maps from summer trips, and other mementos. When you’re finished, exchange memory books with your closest summer buddy.

2. Picture Postcards

Keep in touch with vacation friends by sending picture postcards. Scan summer photos and print them on cardstock paper, 4 per page. Use scissors to cut individual cards. On the blank side, include your friend’s address, your return address, and a postage stamp. Don’t forget to write a cool message!

3. Pen Pal Club

Start your own pen pal club! Swap addresses with your new friends and make a commitment to keep in touch. Be creative— don’t limit yourself to writing letters. Send an inexpensive gag gift every so often, or an audiotape letter. Send lists of your favorite things. For instance, one month send your pen pals a list of your 20 favorite movies, and then compare your lists.

No matter how you decide to keep in touch, don’t let summer friendships end when summer ends.

About the author:
Deborah Shelton edits The Five Minute Parent email newsletter. For your free subscription, send a blank email to mailto:Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://www.fiveminuteparent.com
www.fiveminuteparent.com
deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

Making Homemade Gizmos For Fun - Inexpensive And Rewarding Projects

2008-03-02T04:06:00.001-08:00

Inexpensive And Rewarding Projects Making simple, homemade devices is fun for any young person who likes to tinker and build. The build-it-yourself enthusiast will get a great sense of accomplishment from creating self-designed items.

Someone looking for a hobby or anyone interested in hands-on building and creating, can use common materials and items from around the house. You may need to purchase some inexpensive items such as glue or a small styrofoam ball. Many simple devices can be made with tools that most people already have such as scissors, hammer and pliers. Simple devices can be built in between 15 minutes and 1 hour. Particularly involved projects may take many hours to complete.

Some projects could be useful items, artistic, or clever devices and gadgets. A variety of projects can be made: toys and playthings, curiosities and novelties, useful and practical items. Some projects require well written instructions to adequately explain how to complete them.

There are books written particularly for the adolescent or young adult who enjoys making interesting mechanical devices and gadgets. Some books are written to make constructing the described items easy. Projects are described using clear wording. Diagrams are included to assist in ease of understanding.

Choose a book that has these features. Most casual do-it-yourselfers will have the needed items around the house and/or garage. Only low cost and no cost materials are needed. Most items are made from small pieces of wooden boards, coat hanger wire, paper, used containers, and discarded household items or low cost items found in hardware stores. There are no kits to buy. The projects require common tools such as a scissors, hacksaw, screwdriver, pliers, knife, file or drill.

Books are available on a wide variety of projects. Books can be choosen that deal mostly with items that are mechanically interesting, clever or useful. The items may be toys or playthings. They may be simple mechanical curiosities, appealing because of their shape or structure.

Amazon.com has a great search utility for locating books. Go to Amazon.com. Select the book section. Then go to Advanced search. Then to Power search. You can search by author, title, subject, or keyword. Once you find the book, it can be purchased conveniently online.

Building homemade items is fun for the tinkerer who enjoys improvised devices. It is rewarding for anyone who wants to have the ingenuity to use the tools and materials that happen to be available. Building homemade items lets you enjoy mechanical devices and the 'things' around you.

About the author:
Alan Detwiler is the author of the ebook "Clever Construction: Use What You Have To Make Cool And Useful Gadgets And Fun Gizmos" available at www.amazon.com He has a web site about homemade items at www.MakeGizmos.com

Making a family time capsule

2008-03-02T04:05:00.002-08:00

can be a great activity to involve all the family. Time capsules can include all sorts of things… so fill it up with photos, trinkets and treasures and store it for years or even save it for a future generation!

Making a family time capsule is quite simple. You need a container to be your capsule – choose one that is water proof, air tight and preferably fire proof as well.

Decide where you want to put your family time capsule and for how long you want to hide it away. Make sure you store it somewhere you won’t lose or forget it if you move house.

The next step is to ask every member of your family to put something into the family time capsule. This can be anything – money, photographs, toys – as long as it fits into the container.

One nice idea is to have each family member write a letter to place in the family time capsule – either to their future selves or someone in a future generation.

Don’t forget – it’s very important to protect the contents of your family time capsule from decay. Make sure you seal each individual item in airtight plastic bags and store the time capsule in a cool, dry place. If you’re unsure how to store photographs talk to your local photography store.

There are some things that can cause decay to other contents and should be left out of your family time capsule – these include any food or other perishables, wood, wool, rubber and pvc. Also, if you plan to seal your family time capsule for more than a generation make sure that you include instructions on how to use anything you include – DVD’s, video tapes and cds well may be a thing of the past in 100 years or so!

About the author:
Phil Wiley is the author of the best selling book Mini Site Profits www.minisiteprofits.comand writes the free weekly Letter from Phil at www.ozemedia.com

Looking to Find a Cheap Yu Gi Oh Card?

2008-03-02T04:05:00.001-08:00

We all know about the Yu Gi Oh rage, but if you are looking for a cheap Yu Gi Oh card, you will want to use the Internet as your guide. The Internet has a lot to offer to Yu Gi Oh lovers, including many of the hard to find cards. While you can find these hard to find Yu Gi Oh cards at random in collectors shops, or maybe you are lucky enough to pick up a pack at another store and it happens to contain this rare card, but chances are that you will not find just the right card. And, it can get expensive trying to buy many packs in order to find the right card. So, a better way to find a cheap Yu Gi Oh card is to use the Internet!

A cheap Yu Gi Oh card doesn't have to an ordinary card. You can find rare or hard to find Yu Gi Oh cards cheaply on the Internet. First, in order to not get cheated, you should know a little about Yu Gi Oh and the powers each card holds. No sense in wasting your time trying to decide between cards and then come to find out that its not a worthy card. So, take the time to buy a book and learn the game and the rules. Or, you can check out one of the many websites that gives instruction. Then, you will be ready to find a cheap Yu Gi Oh card.

Okay, got the information and your on a mission to find a cheap Yu Gi Oh card that is usable. Your first step is to browse through the dozens of websites available on the Internet that offer Yu Gi Oh cards. And there are many. Check them out; see what they have to offer. Most of them will list their price right there and you can quickly move from site to site to locate the right card. Obviously, it isn't hard to imagine that the rarer the card the more expensive it will be. But, if you find one you want, but think it may be too high, you can also try to bargain some with the owner. You may be able to get them to lower their price. Therefore, finding a cheap Yu Gi Oh card isn't all that hard.

A cheap Yu Gi Oh card doesn't have to be worthless. If you know your game, and know what you are looking for, it will be easy to find many discounted Yu Gi Oh cards. Shop around, haggle a little if you dare, but make sure to choose a good card by using the knowledge of the game to help you and all of the Internet resources at your fingertips. Then, you will find the best cheap Yu Gi Oh card.

About the author:
Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.my-yugioh-4me.com/

Living a Healthy Way of Life is No Mystery

2008-03-02T04:04:00.002-08:00

ARA) – We’ve heard over and over again that a well balanced diet and good exercise program are the building blocks of good health. So why don’t more people strive to achieve both?

Life Time Fitness, a national Healthy Way of Life company, is seeking to help people take charge of their health and wellness in the face of a national obesity epidemic. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 50-percent of U.S. adults -- or approximately 100 million people -- are overweight, and more than 33% are trying to lose weight.

“Over the years, I’ve heard more excuses than you can possibly imagine,” says Jeff Zweifel, vice president of the nutritional products division for Life Time Fitness. “People tell me they’re too busy or that it’s too difficult to take the time to eat right and exercise. Others have tried and faced disappointing or ineffectual results. We aim to help folks change their habits and attitudes toward achieving better health.”

Numerous studies have shown that getting enough exercise and receiving adequate nutrition are critical if you want to live a healthy lifestyle. The 1996 Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity recommends the average American get 30 minutes of physical activity per day.

“New science shows you don’t have to go for high intensity physical activity to improve your lifestyle. Regularly walking the dog around the block, raking leaves, folding the laundry or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can all help. The key is to be consistent about it,” says Philip Haberstro, president of the National Association for Health and Fitness. Since the Surgeon General’s Report came out, his agency has been working on ways to encourage people to engineer physical activity back into their lives. “Personally, I park a little further away from the places I’m going so I can get a little exercise in on my way to appointments,” adds Haberstro.

Staying active isn’t the only thing you need to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “All the exercise in the world isn’t going to help you in the long run if you don’t eat right too,” says Zweifel.

In a guidebook provided to its members, Life Time Fitness nutritionists recommend that instead of a big breakfast, lunch and dinner, people eat several small balanced meals (optimally four) and a couple of small snacks throughout the day. “By balanced we mean meals that contain protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables,” adds Zweifel.

Good sources of protein include lean meats, fish, egg whites, dairy products, beans and rice. Complex carbohydrates include whole-wheat bread, wild rice, whole-wheat pasta, multigrain cereal and potatoes. You should also aim to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Keep in mind that they also make great snacks.

For the 9 out of 10 adults who do not get the essential daily vitamins and nutrients from the food they eat, nutritional supplements should be considered. Life Time Fitness offers a full line of nutritional products, including men’s and women’s multivitamins, energy bars and shakes and weight-loss supplements.

The reason diet and exercise are so important has a lot to do with metabolism -- how your body breaks down food and regulates energy. If you have a fast metabolism, your body stores less fat and you have more energy. The exact opposite is true for people with slow metabolism.

“Many people think the reason we exercise is simply to burn calories, but it goes way beyond that,” says Zweifel. “What people really need to realize is that the true purpose of exercise is to send a message to our bodies, asking for improvement in metabolism, strength, aerobic capacity and overall health and fitness.”

Life Time Fitness trainers recommend that people who are serious about shedding the pounds and keeping them off participate in aerobic training exercise regimens a minimum of three times per week for at least 30 minutes at a time. Aerobic exercises include walking, biking, jogging, swimming, aerobic classes and dancing. Dieters are also urged to take part in resistance training exercises, such as weight lifting, at least twice a week for a minimum of 30 minutes per session.

To learn more about the healthy living programs at Life Time Fitness, log onto www.lifetimefitness.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

Life Fitness Equipment for The Fitness Enthusiast

2008-03-02T04:04:00.001-08:00

Life Fitness equipment is among the best in the world. Life Fitness is a global company specializing in superior fitness equipment that is designed to provide you with a complete body workout and give you quality construction that is unsurpassed in the fitness industry. Professional athletes, military personnel, health clubs, and Olympic medalists can all attest to the superb design and effectiveness of Life Fitness equipment.

Life Fitness offers equipment for every type of workout you can possibly imagine. Life Fitness equipment is in the higher price range as fitness equipment goes, but the quality and sleek design are superior to most other brands. If you are searching for fitness equipment for your home or business, Life Fitness can provide you with every imaginable type of exercise equipment and you will receive the most durable, rugged machines in existence today.

Life Fitness manufactures equipment for the casual user at home to serious professional that require vigorous workouts on professional equipment. Life Fitness is a world renowned manufacturer of top quality fitness equipment and you can be assured that in purchasing from Life Fitness you will be receiving the most durable, effective fitness equipment available today.

The Life Fitness company started in 1968 with a modest line of equipment and products. Since that time Life Fitness has grown into a global force in fitness and exercise equipment. The Life Fitness company is dedicated to helping people achieve their fitness goals and providing the public with top quality equipment that is made to last. Life Fitness can be purchased online, through various retailers, and there are great deals available on used Life Fitness equipment.

About the author:
Ken Austin is the webmaster at Online Home Gyms and Fitness and Exercise Equipment

Let the kids play this holiday season – they really are learning!

2008-03-02T04:03:00.001-08:00

(NC)—Children learn through play from the first few months of life. Children interact with objects around them to discover how the world works. As they grow up, the role of play becomes more complex and stimulates imagination, creativity, logic, social skills and more. Sylvan Learning Centre encourages parents to understand the important role that play has in the process of continuous learning. Play time really is learning time, so why not make more time for play with children this holiday season.

Sylvan Learning Centre provides the following advice to parents about the value of play for their children:

Pre-schoolers:

• For children two years and under, play is about trial and error. Don't be afraid to let children repeat actions – they really are learning.

• Three to four year olds will begin "symbolic play" – an empty box becomes a house or car.

• Parents should play with pre-schoolers to help stimulate interests in different toys and games. Leave time for children to play on their own, too – they want to discover things for themselves, too.

• Create a designated play area that's safe, comfortable and just for them.

Elementary students:

• As children enter elementary school, play and games are even more important in a child's development as they learn about rules and rudimentary strategy.

• Group play becomes part of their regular routine - at school and play dates. Children develop social skills and learn how to interact with different personalities. Group play also teaches children to compromise and compete – they'll start to understand that winning really isn't everything.

• Playing with children is a great way to encourage quality family time together. Bring out some family board games – parents will have a great time with the kids, and children learn about counting, managing money, spelling and strategy.

• Play is a great way to introduce children to new routines – new classrooms, friends and teachers.

• Let children be children. Don't spend too much time organizing playtime; it's ok to just let it happen. Leave some unplanned time in a child's day for him to decide what activities he wants to do.

High school students:

• As children get older, play is still a part of their regular routine, just don't tell them that! Most teenagers wouldn't consider their activities play time, but sports, games and art play a key role in development and self-esteem.

• Ideally, young people should participate in a mix of group and independent play or games.

Sylvan Learning Centre is the largest organization of its kind in the industry. Sylvan's trained and certified teachers provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep. For tips on helping your child develop stronger skills, visit Sylvan Learning Centre's "Tips for Parents and Students" page on the web at www.educate.com/tips. For more information about Sylvan Learning Centre, phone 1-800-31-SUCCESS.

- News Canada

About the author:
News Canada

KidzWorxx Craft Kit

2008-03-02T04:02:00.002-08:00

KidzWorxx Foam Craft Kit

My son is 4 and loves crafts. When I received the KidzWorxx frame and craft kit in the mail I thought he would really enjoy it.

The selection we were sent was a Ladybug design (which I loved). When he first opened the package, he had to sort all the pieces, and count them, just like his daddy does when putting something together. Too Funny!

Once everything was inventoried, he started pulling the pieces apart, and couldn’t glue them on the frame fast enough. Granted, it doesn’t look exactly like the picture J but it’s pretty close.

Our new frame is now on the refrigerator showcasing a picture of him and his brother. He’s very proud of his work.

It only took a few minutes to complete, so the craft itself was easy to do, and just long enough to keep his attention. The eyes for the ladybugs are a bit small though, and he had a hard time holding onto them. All in all, I’d say definitely worth the price! A fun time was had by all!

Check out Louella’s store out at: http://www.kidzworxx.com/louella I’m certain she’ll have something for you too!

About the author:
Reviewer: My name is Michele Murray. I and the owner and designer for Latham Web Solutions. We cater to the Small Business by offering big name site options, at affordable prices. You can see my work at:
http://www.lathamwebsolutions.com

Kids Pro Wrestling Was A Dream That Came True

2008-03-02T04:02:00.001-08:00

In 1984 when I was 14 years old, I had a dream to run my very own professional wrestling league. Starting out with nothing but four bed mattresses, by 1986 we were promoting live venues all across the Twin Cities metro area and were also producing a weekly cable wrestling show all across the nation, I was 16 years old.

For five years during my teenage life, I was involved in a pro wrestling league for kids between the ages of 10 ï¿½ 16. The league was known as the NWF (National Wrestling Federation). It was a dream come true for me, as I was doing what I loved as a kid, running my very own wrestling league. And in doing so, I learned a lot of valuable lessons in life, both personally and business wise. It was quite an experience to say the least, and it was a time I will never forget.

Sometime in 1989 when I was 19 years old, I hooked up with local promoter Eddie Sharkey and thought I was ready to go big time in the world of professional wrestling. I still had the dream in me, and the love for the sport. I thought that perhaps I really could make it to the big time. But in 1990, after a falling out with Eddie over the politics behind the scenes of professional wrestling, my career in wrestling came to a sudden halt.

For several years, I wanted nothing to do with professional wrestling. The incident I had with Eddie took the dreams I had for my future in wrestling and destroyed them. Seeing how the real world of professional wrestling operated made me realize that it was not what my dreams were all about as a kid. And watching wrestling on TV reminded me of this, so I just distanced myself from the whole thing.

But over time, I would think back to the days of the league that I used to run as a kid and watch some of the shows we produced back in the 1980ï¿½s, and the memories of what I did as a kid started to come back to me. Looking back, I realized that we had something special in those days that has never been duplicated since, and perhaps never will be.

In the mid 1990s, a new type of wrestling started to surface as well, and they called it ï¿½backyard wrestlingï¿½. But unlike the shows we did, this stuff was completely different. These kids werenï¿½t trying to work together like we did to put on a good show, they were trying to hurt one another. It was about pain and how much one kid could inflict onto the other. It was nothing close to what professional wrestling was really all about.

Watching that stuff made me think back to what we did in the 1980ï¿½s, and made me once again realize that we did something that was very unique at the time. And so the idea of writing a book about our story soon hit me. But where do I begin? I had no clue as to how to do this. So several years went by with me just me having this story in my head.

Then in recent years, self-publishing had become very popular and reasonable to do. And last year I did some Internet searching and found that writing a book and publishing it is something that can be done quite easily. So after figuring that out, I went to work on writing my story. I spent about six months writing my story that explained how I ran my very own professional wrestling league as a kid, and had great success in doing so. My main objective with the story was that I wanted kids to learn that they really can accomplish anything if they want it bad enough.

And finally in January of 2005, ï¿½Pro Wrestling Kidsï¿½ Style ï¿½ The Most Amazing Untold Story In Professional Wrestling Historyï¿½ was a published book. It was a life long accomplishment that took me years to get to, but it was finally a finished product. In addition to the book, I also released four special DVD titles that showcase some of our big events we held in 1986 and 1987 that drew hundreds and hundreds of fans. The purpose of this was to show the wrestling world how a group of kids performed professional wrestling in a safe and fun environment, unlike the ï¿½backyard wrestlingï¿½ as it exists today.

Today, I run my own business in a architectural design service. But in my spare time, I manage my website at http://www.nwfwrestling.net, which showcases our ï¿½NWF Kids Pro Wrestlingï¿½ league that we had back in the 1980ï¿½s. Itï¿½s basically a historical site that explains our past. With the release of my book and DVDS, I have done several radio interviews all across the country, including ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Net.

Since I put the NWF website up about a year ago, I have received hundreds of emails from kids of all ages all around the country wanting to know more about the NWF. They ask questions like: ï¿½How can I start my own league?ï¿½, ï¿½How did you produce your own cable show?ï¿½ , ï¿½How did you make your title belts?ï¿½ But the most popular question I get is ï¿½Can you start the NWF back up again for kids?ï¿½ And that is always a tough one to answer.

Will I ever start the NWF up again for kids? Who knows for sure? Who would have ever thought I would have done what I did back in 1984? But we have talked about doing a ï¿½NWF Kids Pro Wrestlingï¿½ reunion show back at the Anoka Armory this fall in Minnesota. And if that happens, besides some of us old timers getting back in the ring, it would only be fitting to have a few ï¿½kidï¿½ matches again as well. As for the kids that would take part, the most important thing is to keep it safe and fun, because once you cross that line, it just isnï¿½t worth it.

About the author:

For nearly 20 years, Shawn Crossen has waited to share his kidsï¿½ wrestling league experiences with the rest of the world. In 1984 at the age of 14, Shawn created his very own ï¿½Kids Pro Wrestlingï¿½ league. And for the next five years, he would continue to grow this league into a huge national success getting bigger then any of them could have possibly imagined. At a very early age, Shawn showed true leadership skills with a remarkable business savvy that has since never been duplicated. Now, for the first time, he has come forth with a true story about his youthful dreams and accomplishments so incredible, you may find it hard to believe that it really actually happened. http://www.nwfwrestling.net

KIDS NEED GOALS project arrives in Slovakia

2008-03-02T04:01:00.002-08:00

Saturday 11th of June was “Kids Need Goals” day, sponsored by Time4sharing.org, the timeshare charity that creates ‘fun days’ for underprivileged kids.

They invited 40 children from Bernolákovo to spend a day with a star members from the Slovak Football Association.

In December 2004, members of Slovak National Football team were awarded the title Goodwill ambassadors for less fortunate children from Slovak orphanages. This way Time4sharing.org and Slovak Football players became partners in making children´s dreams come true and started with a program created by World Class Vacation Club, entitled: Kids Need Goals.

Sporting Saturday started early in the morning with an authentic football training and continued with a football match, whereby each team had its own „professional“ coach. Mr. Tittel, Tomaschek and Jancula – the fantastic ex-slovak footbal players showed children how to play and gave them football advices how to become a good player.

After a time spent on the football grass a bus of good will took children to the swimming pool in Aquathermal Senec, where everybody enjoyed a lot of water games and fun. Volunteers from Platinum International were on hand to share their time and joy.Project Coordinator Petra Reisova said that organizations should take their example from the Slovak national team, who are first class sponsors and real role models for the country and the children. Organizers also benifited from volunteers who have timeshare jobs with Platinum International.

Time4sharing.org is the brainchild of a formally childless couple, Mike and Vivian Tolan who, after eight years of exhaustive attempts to become parents, finally after considering adoption, suddenly had twins, and in celebration and gratitude, began this work.

The charity that gives “Fun to less fortunate Kids that Matter” has created magical fun days for over 10,000 children in 100 events over the past four and half years through their main sponsor, Platinum International in Malta, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lebanon, and the Arabian Gulf.

Time4sharing will be happy to direct concerned parties who wish to make a difference by contacting by email : info@time4sharing.org

About the author:
Saturday 11th of June was “Kids Need Goals” day, sponsored by Time4sharing.org, the timeshare charity that creates ‘fun days’ for underprivileged kids.

Kids & Cell Phones

2008-03-02T04:01:00.001-08:00

Find out more of what it's all about: www.robertlett.com/whatisit5.htm

Is it safety? Is it security? Or is it just cool?

Have you ever noticed how many kiosks have popped up in you favorite mall? And just about all of them are selling cell phones. Teens can actually design their own graphics and have the graphic airbrushed on the face of the phone itself. They face plates and antennas that light up on each ring. Just drop by a kiosk next time your at the mall, you'll see what I mean.

In a resent Los Angeles Times article, they stated that teens with cell phones were at around 16% on average. I think by 2005, it will more of an average of 50% or even more.

Cell phones seem to be a great security feature for the parents. They can now be 'connected' to their children 24 hours a day, 7 days week, and 365 days a year. And of course, it allows the child to dial 911 if an emergency arises. And now with the GPS Location Sensitivity feature, your child will be located during that emergency with ten feet of the phones location.

Of course, with all this technology and added security, there are a few problems. The school systems are being cluttered with phone calls in the middle of class. And there is always the problem with calls in the hallways and bathrooms going on continuously. Most schools are adopting the "use it during school - you loose it" policy. This has become a real burden on school administrators. Their parents as far as carrying the phones themselves back the children. So this isn't something they can take away and keep until the end of the year. They must give the phones back at the end of the day. This is usually enough of a deterrent to keep them off during school hours.

If children and most adults new to cell phones could just remember to put their phones on silent or vibrate alert, these problems would never occur. These are the same issues with many other public places including movie theaters. Of course, it's easier for some wearing a belt to put their phone on vibrate, then you still know if the phone rings or not, regardless if you answer it or not. But for most women, they usually don't wear belts, this creates a problem. If the phone is in any mode other than "ring", they never know, (without checking from time to time), if they have missed a call or not. So usually, the phones are left in the "ring" mode and probably on load, sitting somewhere in the bottom of a purse. Even with the purses with the little pocket on the outside for the phone, the phones are still left in the "ring" mode.

How do you keep your child from talking you out of house-n-home? If you think about how your child may get on the home phone and talk for hours if you let them. What if they did that on their cell phone? There is one answer. But this might limit your ability to get in contact with them when you want to.

Some ideas:

1. Using a prepaid phone instead of using a shared plan, (it costs anywhere from $0.30 to $1.00 per minute talk time). You give them a certain amount of minutes per month. After that, it's up to them to use their allowance money to up the phone time. These phones are usually cheap and not as fancy as some of the newer models.

Using this technique is also useful on determining how responsible they may be with a checking account in the future. If they are out of the allotted minutes within the first week of the month, this might reflect in bounced checks in the future. And can also help to ingrain the use of saving up for that rainy day: If the child doesn't use all their minutes this month, they will have that many more minutes to use the following month and so on. Just like saving money in the bank. If you spend all your allowance in one week, you won't have anything for the next three, but if you save now, you have twice as much to spend next month. And so on, three times as much as the following month. (Hmmm, so what could you buy if you were holding three months worth of allowance)? Think about it.

Parents can recharge the phone each month as part of their allowance. This gives children a feel for having a checking account! Because, when it's gone, it's gone! This will hopefully build a level of responsibility. Or this could possibly make them want to go out and get a job to buy more minutes. Either way, it has the potential to help them coup with the world ahead of them.

2. Shared plans from your current provider. This is the cheapest way to go. But, if your child is not yet responsible enough not to over use, then your in for an interesting surprise at the end of the billing cycle. With most of these plans, you can get anywhere from $0.07 to $0.12 per minute. And with most carriers, the plans include either 1000 mobile-to-mobile minutes, which means if your child calls someone else on the same cell provider as you, the call comes off the 1000 minutes. Some even have plans that mobile to mobile are unlimited. And many of the plans have free night and weekend plans. Which would mean, you might never get the child off the phone over the weekend! Remember one thing: It's hard to keep up with what minutes where used when and how, so you would have to check with your cell provider from time to time to see where you are on the minutes you have available. Most services have a number you can dial, and a computer voice will read off the time you have used for the current billing cycle. And most of these plans will require a one to two year contract which might cost as much as $100 to $200 to break. So if you decide that the family plan isn't working out like you thought, it might cost you up to $200 to end that contract. Most of these plans will also have an activation fee, they usually charge anywhere from $30 to $50 per phone being activated. And of course, don't forget one really important thing: You have to buy the phone! This always helps to you the service. And this is probably going to be something the child will want to pick out.

One note about cell phone time-sharing. If you have a family of three using a shared plan of 300 minutes per month, and your child decides to use 300 minutes of talk time within the first 3 days, for the rest of that month you will be paying anywhere from $0.35 to $0.60 per minute for every call! This might not even be a responsibility factor: What if your child calls a friend that he thought was on the same cell carrier. Which, if you have the 1000 minute mobile to mobile or unlimited, this call wouldn't count against your plan. But if his friend was wrong about the carrier, you get bill.

(I've actually done this)! And I never checked my time because I use a program that does that for me. I just enter in the numbers I think are unlimited, and the program never counts those numbers. Well, if you get that wrong, it can bite pretty hard at the end of the billing cycle when you see that pretty bill.

A note about roaming fees. If you aren't in your "area" as defined by your cell service provider, you will be charge a roaming fee for incoming and outgoing calls. If your plan doesn't include a national calling plan, you will be charged anywhere from $0.45 to $0.80 per minute for those calls. So be careful.

3. Prepaid phones.

Simple, you buy a phone and then buy minutes as you need them. Most will include roaming and nationwide coverage, ("Roaming" no additional fees for your current location, where ever that might be and "Nationwide Coverage" just means no long distance charges). These phones don't require any contracts, so this means you can cancel at any time without paying any cancellation fees, which can be anywhere from $140 to $190, depending on the contract length you signed up for originally.

These phones don't require a credit card or even a checking account. If you have the cash in hand, you walk away with a cell phone and a certain amount of usage time. It's just that simple.

3. Disposable phones. Yes, disposable! They're going to have many up sides. Just to name a few: They are setup the same as the prepaid phones, no possibility to get a LARGE phone bill at the end of the billing cycle. No roaming or long distance charges, some won't even work if you leave the activation area, (be careful on this one, mainly if you are getting one for emergency use). No contracts to deal with and no activation fees, or credit checks.

The bad side, no call waiting, voice mail, or SMS (Small Message Service) capabilities. And you'll pay a higher per minute charge, just like the prepaid phones. In a way, these are prepaid phones, just cheaper. And you probably won't be able to sale an old phone on eBay, even if it's in good condition.

They are soon to be introduced at a price of around $40, which gives you the cell phone and about 10 minutes of talk time. This also includes the charger and a headset.

These little phones can be recharged with time by either buying a scratch-off card that resembles a lottery ticket. After scratching the card, there is a PIN number, you enter it into the phone, and your minutes are updated. Parents will also have the ability to call in and update the minutes if need be. The minutes expire just like the prepaid phones, but they are saying it's set to every six months. If you update your minute balance, the phones won't expire. The current price per minute, $0.25 to $0.35, depending on the phone your purchased. And of course, the downside is with a regular cell plan, you would probably pay around $0.15 per minute or less.

These little phones are soon to be sold in department stores to convenient stores. No check or credit cards are need. If you have the cash, you can have a cell phone.

And when your done with the phone, you either throw it away, or recycle it. (You might want to recycle the battery at least! Depending on the type of battery, most States have laws that describe how to properly dispose of rechargeable batteries.

Things to keep in mind when buying a cell phone for a child: With most all of the newer phones, you can send and receive SMS (Small Message Service), which means the phone is also capable of sending and receiving email from the web. Some of the phones allow Internet access just like your home computer. Some phones will display graphics; this means "all" types of graphics. Some phones will take low-resolution pictures. These pictures can be sent to anyone that can receive a picture via SMS or the Internet. What if a picture was taken in the Physical Education dressing room at school and sent across campus and off through the Internet. Do you get picture?

There have been many complaints in school about this type of Hi-Tech bullying. You have to make your children understand the do's and don'ts of the new technology. Make sure your child isn't being bullied and make sure your child is being the bully. All this new technology needs to be monitored when children are at play. Just like your home computer, you must be careful where your children are going. One simple way of tracking who your children are calling, even on the prepaid phone models is to check the call history. Some phones allow you to set the call history at to save up to the last 999 phone calls made. Other phones may only go up to 100 or even less. You can check that history and see who they called, when, and for how long. You can see if it might have been late at night when they should be sleeping or if the call was made in the middle of a class at school, which could denote skipping classes, hey, you never know. But there are many ways to find out what your child is up to just by looking at the phone history. It tells you much more than just a bunch of numbers!

Just remember, most of these camera phones can send and receive pictures, inappropriate material can also be sent and received. Just be aware of this.

Most phones will access the web just like your home computer. This means graphics of all kinds can be viewed.

If the phone will send & receive text messages, SMS, it will have the ability to send & receive Email.

Many plans have free night and weekend minutes, but make sure your child understands the company definition of "night and weekend," Most start around 9 p.m. and end around 6 a.m. the next morning. And your weekend minutes begin around 9 p.m. on Friday and end around 6 a.m. on Monday. Incoming and outgoing text messages, incoming and outgoing calls, Web access, and special features such as downloading games, screen savers, and ring tones all costs money or costs part your cell minutes. Just make sure your child understands that before it becomes a co$tly argument. Most of the horror stories I've heard about where a child ran up $1000 or more in cell phone bills within one month is usually a case where the child thought they were on free minutes of some kind, but were not.

Cell companies have confusing plans for a reason, to get you to spend more and make it difficult to keep up with peak minutes used. Most services have free mobile-to-mobile calls. If you are on Verizon and you call someone else on Verizon, it costs you nothing off your peak cell minutes. This is free for peak and non-peak calls. (Check with your own carry to see if they offer this feature). Soon we'll be able to keep our cell numbers as we bounce from carrier to carrier. Let's say your on Verizon, your friend used to be on Verizon, she switched to Sprint and she was able to take her old cell phone number with her. You still call the same number and think she is on Verizon, so it's a free call, right? No, since she moved to Sprint. It becomes a costly mistake at the end of the month when you get your bill. What I'm trying to say is this; we adults get caught in the cell company’s confusion trap too. It might not completely be your child’s fault for bringing home a cell bill with high scores on it, instead of their report card.

Find out more of what it's all about: www.robertlett.com/whatisit5.htm

This document is under Copyright through Infinite Data. You have permission to copy this document in its' entirety and make duplicates. You may not change, add, or edit anything within the document. Thank you for your help.

Keno game 101- what you absolutely need to know

2008-03-02T04:00:00.002-08:00

‘Keno’ is a well known game nowadays. It is frequently played and appreciated by people in America. However, the game was not born in America. It is a gift of China. The game has a long history, which also reveals the benefits that people of China accrued of this game. Keno is an invention of a Chinese named Cheung Leung. Through the revenue of this game he wanted to help the soldiers of his town with arms and other material to ward off an attack. He succeeded in his motive and the game started to spread and develop. For some time the game was also known as the ‘White Pigeon Game’ when a white pigeon acted as a postman carrying the list of results of the game from village to village. But the game was not of numbers at that time as it is today. It was in fact based on a traditional Chinese poem called- “The Thousand Character Classic”. Later the game traveled to the land of America with the Chinese immigrants. There it was widely known as ‘Chinese Lottery’ and then ‘Horse Race Keno’. The term ‘horse’ was coined as a code word to numbers in the game. The language of the betting was in term of horses and not numbers. This was done to keep aside any legal action for playing an illicit game.

The Present Scenario-
Keno is a game of chance. It is one of the most simple and easy game to play. The game is played with numbers. It can be played with a ticket or on board when you are online. There are eighty squares on the card that are marked one to eighty in a sequence. A player has to mark any number of spots not exceeding fifteen. Players most often are contended to mark sixty percent spots i.e. ten spots. The cards are then given for a copy along with punching the marked spots.
In many casinos the betting is done after marking the numbers while in others the amount you bet should be decided prior to the marking of spots or numbers.

The result of the game is then determined through eighty ping pong balls in a blower. These balls too are numbered one to eighty. The balls are shuffled via compressed air followed by the removal of twenty balls consecutively. The numbers are these balls are displayed on a large electronic Keno board. The players match their numbers and see how much have they won. The more the amount of numbers that match, greater are the winnings.

Unlike other games, Keno actually has no winning strategies. Yet some people formulate their own criterions. Like many players deem that the Keno machines display a regular set of numbers every morning. They are under the myth since these machines are shut down every night, they start off the day with the same sequence of numbers. A vigilant eye on this repeated set can lead a player to a big victory.
Setting apart these legendary stories what should be acknowledged is the fact that the amount a player wins varies from casino to casino and is different in different Keno software. Not just this but the number of spots a player is allowed to mark is also at the discretion of the casino.

About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about keno game topics. Learn more at http://www.kenogamers.com.

Innovative Therapies for ADD, ADHD, LD:

2008-03-02T04:00:00.001-08:00

New Computer-Based Technology to Treat Attention Deficit Disorders

Background

It is estimated that over 5% of all children in North America are experiencing at least one form of attention deficit disorder. Both ADD and ADHD are characterized by one or more of the following: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Learning disabilities are characterized by one or more difficulties associated with attention, reading, writing, oral language, reasoning, memorizing, and problem solving. Further difficulties may include compromised organizational skills and social interaction.

The question of whether or not attention deficit disorders can be remedied has received significant attention from many researchers. Treating children and adolescents with stimulants (for instance Ritalin), has proven to be helpful but is limited by side effects and tolerance. The introduction of Neurofeedback (also known as EEG Biofeedback), has offered new hope for parents wanting to help resolve the attention related problems of their children without the use of medication. Neurofeedback research has shown that training brain wave patterns can remedy cognitive impairment associated with attention deficit related to ADD, ADHD, LD.

Brain wave activity and Attentional Shifting

The brain produces different frequencies for different levels of attention. They include the following:

Delta – sleep state

Theta – between sleep and awake, also a meditative state

Alpha – relaxed state

Beta1 – focused concentration

Beta2 – alert state

Beta3 – very alert, vigilant

Beta4 – Hyper vigilant

The ability to produce the right states, especially those associated with focus and attention is paramount to be able to perform a variety of cognitive tasks such as listening, learning and processing information, in general. In addition, the ability to shift from one state to another when required, offers tremendous mental flexibility, which results in enhanced mental performance in every area of life.

The Use of Neurofeedback in Treating Attentional Difficulties

Neurofeedback, which is a form of biofeedback, has been used for over 20 years to treat concentration related difficulties associated with ADD/ADHD and LD. In general, Neurofeedback is a modality which uses an EEG recording system along with training software to enhance brain wave activity that is instrumental for improving concentration.

The premise behind Neurofeedback is related to earlier findings which established that individuals with poor concentration lack sufficient levels of Beta1 (This band is also called SMR - short for sensory motor rhythms) brain waves to sustain attention. The findings also showed that individuals with attention deficits exhibit excessive amounts of slow brain wave activity, especially Theta waves. Joel Lubar, a pioneer in this field, demonstrated that treatment modalities focusing on enhancing the Beta1/Theta ratio have been very effective in treating children with attention deficits and learning disabilities, which usually resulted in improved school performance and better behavior control. During Neurofeedback sessions, the person wishing to enhance concentration and improve attention and focus, uses feedback coming through an EEG machine to enhance Beta1 and decrease Theta. After a certain amount of training, typically between 40 and 60 sessions, the individual is able to produce more Beta1 at will. Lubar also proved that all children experiencing any form of learning disabilities demonstrated low amounts of Beta1 waves and that many of the symptoms diminished after a process of brain wave training.

Neurofeedback treatment can also result in significant improvement of intellectual functioning, as measured by increases in IQ scores (Linden, Habib & Radojevic, 1996). Such improvement is most likely the result of the treatment's positive impact on the person's ability to concentrate. More recently, Monastra (2002) found that Neurofeedback has proven to be successful in long term improvement of ADD/ADHD symptoms. In this study, 100 children, aged six to nineteen years, diagnosed with ADD/ADHD were monitored for one year. All children received parental counseling, academic support, and Ritalin. Half of the children also received Neurofeedback training. After 12 months, all children showed improvement in their attention. However, children who stopped taking Ritalin and did not train with Neurofeedback, lost the gains they had achieved, whereas those who also received brain wave training kept their gains even after they stopped using Ritalin.

Computer Assisted Programs

The use of computer-assisted programs in the treatment of cognitive deficits is not new.

Previous studies have shown the benefits of such cognitive training for treating attention deficits and learning disabilities. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Conference Statement confirmed that "Computer-assisted strategies have been used to improve specific neuro-psychological processes, predominantly attention, memory, and executive skills. Both randomized controlled studies and case reports have documented the success of these interventions using intermediate outcome measures."

New Generation Software

Lately, a new generation of programs makes it much easier and faster to treat attention deficits. The most notable innovation related to these programs is that they can provide effective training without clinical supervision. One such program: SharperBrain has gain substantial recognition in the area of improving cognitive performance for individuals with cognitive deficits. This is a language independent program, which makes it easier for the brain to generalize the results. SharperBrain directly trains the brain to enhance all levels of attention in addition to a long list of cognitive skills. SharperBrain was developed based on research done with EEG based technology. The goal was to develop a program that can avoid the costly aspect of EEG instrumentation and to make it easy to use and more economical.

The program works in two ways. First, improve brain wave activity by enhancing the following three attentional levels:

1. Calm: Allows the mind to relax and get ready for different mental tasks. It is also a state important for contemplation and planning. In terms of brain activity, this is equivalent to Alpha state.

2. Focused: Allows paying attention to a specific task, while offsetting distractions. This is equivalent to Beta1 state.

3. Alert: Allows fast response when the need to react quickly is required. This is equivalent to Beta2 state.

In addition, SharperBrain trains the brain to develop a variety of cognitive abilities such as divided attention, multitasking, speed of processing, working memory, visual/auditory processing and coordination as well as higher executive skills such as decision making, organizing and prioritizing. It also trains the brain to offset distractions. Such skills are not part of the traditional Neurofeedback protocols. Another advantage of such program is that unlike Neurofeedback, which can be only administered by a clinician, it can be practiced at home after a very brief training. In addition, it does not require specialized equipment such as EEG, making it a very cost effective alternative.

With the latest research and news about side effects of attention deficit-related medication, the interest in this innovative technology has significantly risen in the past year and is expected to continue to draw individuals interested in utilizing a drug free approach to attention deficit disorders. Dr. Frank H. Duffy a Professor and Pediatric Neurologist at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Editor for Neurology, Clinical EEG Journal noted recently the following:

"In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used. It is a field to be taken seriously by all."

A lot has been written on the connection between nutrition and ADHD. The fact remains that ADHD is a neurological deficiency. Proper nutrition and supplementation may be helpful in better controlling this and many other health related problems, but it cannot fix the neurological aspect of the problem. Supplements and herbal remedies can have some calming effect on hyperactive kids, but they cannot teach a child with attention deficit disorder how to neutralized distractions around them and how to consistently pay full attention to the teacher while learning material that is not so exciting for the student.

With the new technology, Sharper Brain is offering children and adults an effective option to be able to make the necessary neurological changes so that they can, perhaps for the first time in their lives, focus and concentrate when they need it and for as long as it's needed.

About the author:
Bob Gottfried PhD specializes in is a Neuro-cognitive therapy. He is the clinical director of Advanced Cognitive Enhancement clinics in Toronto, Canada. More information about SharperBrain can be found on the official website: http://www.SharperPrograms.com

Indoor Winter Fun

2008-03-02T03:59:00.002-08:00

Tell the cold weather to take a hike, and get ready to have some fun!

* Winter Beach Party

Bring that fun-in-the-sun feeling into your home with a winter beach bash. Spread beach towels on the living room floor; wear your swimsuit and a pair of flippers (why not?); feast on hot dogs; make castles out of clay and play- dough; and don’t forget to take pictures!

* Winter Word Race

Challenge your friends and family to a race of the minds. Set a kitchen timer for one minute. When the time starts, write down as many winter-related words as you can think of. The winner gets a cup of hot cocoa and the chance to choose the next word race topic.

* Balloon Drop

Who doesn’t love a good balloon game? Arrange players in a circle and have them number off. The player with the highest number is “It”. “It” stands in the center of the circle, and calls out a number while dropping an inflated balloon. The player with that number must catch the balloon before it reaches the floor. If the player catches the balloon, “It” calls another number. But if the balloon touches the floor, then that player is “It” and the game continues.

About the author:
Deborah Shelton edits The Five Minute Parent email newsletter. For your free subscription, send a blank email to Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit FiveMinuteParent.com for more family-friendly ideas.
deborah@fiveminuteparent.com
www.FiveMinuteParent.com
deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

I Can't Find My Homework, Mom! "Ask My Dear, and It Shall be Given to You!"

2008-03-02T03:59:00.001-08:00

Do you believe in asking God, or whatever higher power you choose to believe in, for the answers you need, when you need them? Read below for an enlightening story about my 11 year old daughter's missing homework papers.

The problem started when my daughter took a break from her homework to eat dinner. She asked me if she could take it in her room and work on it while watching TV.

(Not a good idea, BTW). Even the best of us moms have our weak moments. :o)

Anyhow, by the time dinner was over, there was no homework to be found.

As with all lost items, I suggested the usual mom replies. "Retrace your steps." "Think, where was the last place you wrote an answer down on it."

She spent 15 minutes of looking, another 10 minutes of tears for fear of getting detention, during her first week of middle school, (for not turning in homework.) All the tears and whining in frustration were followed with another 10 minutes of both of us looking, and still no homework.

Can you relate?

I bet as a mom, you have probably, been there, done that, if not with homework, with a child's shoes, your car keys. etc.....

I had recently been reading and studying up on manifesting your life, and creating the life you want by projecting a positive attitude, following your intuition. I had been real motivated and psyched with what I was learning.

"Okay mom, I thought to myself," "now you can put all this philosophy to the test."

I said,

"Let's kneel down on the floor right now, and ask God to help us find your homework." She started to giggle as if to say, but she knew not to dare say it out loud, "Yeah right, Mom!"

We knelt down and I lead her in a short but to the point prayer. Although small in time, it was still filled with gratitude but we did request immediate help to find her homework.

I can see some of you laughing at me, as this story unfolds.

As soon as we were done, I stood up. I told her to take a deep breath and relax. I did the same. Then I went to the kitchen. I thought to myself, "maybe she was still hungry and brought the homework out here while looking for something else to eat."

I started to walk to the refrigerator. :o) Well who knows, it could have been in there. But before I even got that far, I glanced over to the counter, and there sat her homework packet, on top of the toaster.

I picked it up and took it back to the living room. Now remember, I told her to take a deep breath and relax. She wasn't even through relaxing and I had already found her homework.

Needless to say, my daughter had a hard time believing that I hadn't known it was there all along.

She did know that though, because she had heard my anguish and frustration just minutes earlier with her misplacing it.

Was it just coincidence? Did I just get lucky?

I believe we create our own luck. I have been studying hard lately to eliminate negative thoughts and replace them with power affirming thoughts instead.

I believe God did just what I asked him too. It was my intuition that led me to the kitchen with the thought about her maybe being hungry. The fact that she might have been looking for food when she set down her homework led me straight to the toaster.

In my humble opinion, it was God who planted those thoughts into my mind, because we asked him for some help. When He answers us so quickly, it is really almost impossible not to believe and have faith.

If it was only that easy to have the same type of faith if we were to ask to win the lottery, (which I don't feel is really an appropriate prayer,however). To believe that he could remove all thought, or doubt in our minds that we wouldn't, it might just happen too.

How many of you can honestly say, when you buy a lottery ticket, it is an absolute winner, that you have not one flickering of a doubt that you will have the winning numbers? You would have to have miraculous faith to do this.

You can't really, because it is next to impossible for the human mind, knowing the odds of actually winning, to eliminate all traces of doubt in that particular scenerio. Some of those thoughts are buried so deep in your subconscious that you are not even aware of them.

In contrast though, it was fairly easy for me to have faith that God could help me find my daughter's homework, because I knew it hadn’t grown feet and walked out the door. :o)

About the author:
Laurie Meade is a WAHM,webmaster, writer, reviewer an online internet marketing researcher. Be one of the first to post and read articles at her new article database when it goes live by sending an email to this link: http://Articles411.comor visit her website at Visit http://lauriemeade.com

How To Tell A Test Quiz Before It Bites You On The Nose

2008-03-02T03:58:00.002-08:00

Q. My teacher says that we are going to have a test quiz next week. Isn't that term a bit redundant? What in the world is a test quiz?

A. Ah, the wiley test quiz. It's an odd creature indeed and it is very rarely encountered in the wild. In fact, you are a very lucky student to have a teacher that even knows what a test quiz is much less is wiling to administer one.

A test quiz is a preparatory quiz that is given in advance of a major test. Its purpose is to familiarize you with the type of questions that are going to be asked on the major test without revealing the actual questions that will be asked.

For example, if you've ever taken the PSAT test, then you've taken a test quiz. The PSAT test is designed to prepare you to take the actual SAT tests that many colleges require high school students to take before applying for admission.

The fact that your teacher is willing to give you a test quiz means that he or she truly cares about you and wants you to do well on the actual test that will soon follow. If you read between the lines, you might also see where your teacher is saying words to the effect of "the actual test is going to be tough folks so I'm going to give you a test quiz, in advance, so you'll have a better idea what you'll need to study."

There aren't many teachers who are willing to take the time to write a test quiz and that's the reason why most students will never see one in the "wild".

Take advantage of you teacher's generosity and study well for your test quiz. The chances are you'll see the same concepts in the actual test that you saw in the test quiz. If you do well on the test quiz then you'll probably do well on the test itself. If you fail the test quiz, however, you'd better hits the books harder and leave the partying until after the test.

About the author:

Brian Fong

http://www.QuizFaq.com

Quiz Faq - Your solutions for the quiz.

How To Select The Right Baby Gate.

2008-03-02T03:58:00.001-08:00

Three Steps to Selecting The Right Baby Gate:

There is no perfect baby safety gate for all situations; There are several factors to take into account when purchasing a baby gate:

1) Where is it going? If it is going at the top of a stairway, you will want to look for a hardware mounted (screwed into the wall) gate, never use a pressure mounted gate at the top of the stairs*. If the gate will be used to block off a room, or prevent a child from climbing up the stairs, you may be able to choose from hardware mounted and pressure mounted gates.

2) What size is the opening where the gate will go? You will need to measure the opening where your gate will go, both width of the opening, and height of the opening. Child safety gates all have specific dimensions that they will fit. You need to find a gate that will securely fit in your space. An extension kit may be necessary with some gates to fit larger areas.

3) Are there any special circumstances in the space that you need the baby gate to go? If you have a banister, molding, hollow wall, or wrought iron railing, you may need the use of a gate installation kit to create a proper mounting surface. Kits are also available to mount a baby gate to banisters without creating holes.

Using these three factors can help you make an informed decision on proper baby gates for your space. Please remember that most gates are appropriate for ages between 6 months and 3 years of age. This may be more or less for certain gates and manufacturers. As a rule of thumb, if the top of the baby gate is at or below a child's shoulder height, it is time to discontinue use of the gate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mounting a baby gate to spaces with hollow walls, wrought iron railings, banisters & moldings/baseboards:

Gate installation kits are needed in almost all gate installations where the gate is not being mounted in a wood framed door opening. They help create a mountable surface for gates in spaces that have moldings, banisters, hollow walls, and wrought iron railings. Most gate installation kits are appropriate for hardware mounted and pressure mounted safety gates. Kits are also available to create a solid mounting surface on banisters, with no holes!

About the author:
Kelly Smith is the owner and professional babyproofer for Totsafe, http://www.totsafe.comwhich provides parents and caregivers with childproofing products and baby safety information.

Q. How can I design an interesting map quiz?

2008-03-02T03:56:00.000-08:00

1. Submit your blog to all of the directories listed on
http://pingomatic.com/. Pingomatic will ping 15
services all at once.

2. Ping your blog after every post at
http://pingomatic.com/

3. Here's a real gem: Submit your blog to
http://www.pingoat.com/ Pingoat will ping over fifty
blog ping services all at once. So you don't have to
hunt for ping services and manually ping them.
Pingoat pings over fifty blog ping servers (growing)
with just one click.

4. Ping your blog after every post at Pingoat at
http://www.pingoat.com/

5. Sign up for a free account at BlogExplosion.com and
register your blog there: http://www.blogexplosion.com/

6. Submit your blog to all of the directores listed at
http://www.rss-feeds-directory.com/blog_lists.html

7. Sign up for a "My Yahoo" at http://my.yahoo.com/ and
attach your blog to your own "My Yahoo" account. This
will get your blog included in Yahoo very quickly.
This is worth the effort to stop what you're doing
right and do it, since Yahoo has a PR 9.

8. Use this code: "http://add.my.yahoo.com/content?url=
http://www.yourblog.com/urblog.xml" in your blog to
allow others to put your feed on their own "My Yahoo"
account.

9. Sign up for a "My MSN" at http://www.my.msn.com/, and
attach your blog to your own "My MSN" account. This will
get your blog included in MSN very quickly. This is also
invaluable because MSN has a PR 8.

10. Use this code: "http://my.msn.com/addtomymsn.armx?id=
rss&ut=http://www.urblogfeedaddress.com/urblog.xml" in
your blog to allow others to put your feed on their
own "My MSN" account.

11. Place the link and description of your blog in your
signature, so that any posts to Forums, Outgoing
Emails, Autoresponder Courses, etc, will promote your
blog.

12. Post a link and description of your blog on each of
your sites.

13. Place your blog on all the major search engines.
AddMe.com will submit your blog free to the top 14
Search engines here:
http://www.addme.com/submission.htm

SubmitExpress.com will submit your blog free to the
top 20 Search engines here:
http://www.submitexpress.com/

14. Use Article Directories as a resource for articles
to post on your blog. Here are a few:
http://ezinearticles.com/
http://goarticles.com/
http://www.knowledge-finder.com/
http://www.informit.com/articles/

15. Locate blogs with a lot of traffic and place useful
comments in their comment box. Be sure the blog and
your comments are relavent to both your blog and
theirs. Senseless posts won't help you, they'll
hurt you.

16. Once you get around 5 to 10 posts on your blog, start
a PR campaign and announce it to all relevant
channels.

17. Make a blog post as often as possible. More than once
a day is not really necessary. Remember, if you can't
write that much, go to step # 14.

About the author:
Greg White, Internet Marketer, Author, Consultant and
Project Manager has been running successful web projects
since 2001. His sites and blogs cover Blog Marketing
Tactics, Internet Marketing Tactics and a variety of
'Niche' topics, in addition to starting and marketing
profitable web project.
http://www.blogmarketingtactics.blogspot.com/
http://internetmarketingtactics.blogspot.com/

How To Design A Map Quiz That Even A Cartographer Would Love

2008-03-02T03:55:00.000-08:00

Q. How can I design an interesting map quiz?

A. You can't. At least you can't if you intend to design a map quiz where you draw some geographical areas and then ask "Where is South America?". While that would definitely qualify as a map quiz, it wouldn't make the grade of an "interesting" map quiz.

There is a thin line between geography quiz and map quiz. Once you cross that line, and get away from the simple geography, you can make a map quiz downright interesting.

For example, you might design a map quiz that asks questions about how maps are actually made. A lot of people don't realize the magic that is needed to represent a round world on a flat piece of paper. Questions along this line could be very enlightening.

Another great set of map quiz questions could deal with how to navigate a ship using charts and a pair of dividers. You could ask them to determine how many nautical miles it is between two points.

Maybe you'd like to combine a map quiz with a scavenger or treasure hunt. Bury something valuable somewhere and then create treasure maps. The map quiz could ask questions that can only be answered by reading the map. As each question gets answered the person gets closer to finding the prize.

Another great idea would be to present a complex problem that has to be solved by being able to read and understand a map thoroughly. Here's an example:

You have 10 days vacation and decide to take a car trip around the United States.

You can drive no more than 10 hours per day and you can drive no faster than 55 miles per hour.

Your trip must start and end in the same State. Other than that, you may not visit any state more than once.

You must exit a state at the opposite border that you entered it from. For example, if you entered a state from the North, you must exit from the South. if you entered from the Northeast, you must exit from the Southwest.

At the end of each 10 hour period you must spend the night (14 hours) in a town or city whose name contains the letter "e".

Using the map, mark your daily route, including the number of miles driven, and circle the name of the town or city that you spent the night in. Be sure to write the day as well.

The person who visits the most states in the 10 day period wins.

That ought to be a map quiz that will be remembered for some time to come.

Remember, a map quiz doesn't have to be dull and boring; use your imagination to develop a map quiz that challenges and stimulates.

About the author:

Brian Fong

How party poker helped me kick an addiction to the perscription painkiller oxycontin.

2008-03-02T03:54:00.000-08:00

For most people painkillers are a miracle that allows them to carry out their everyday activities, and minimize their suffering. They are not thought of as "bad" because a doctor prescribes them, and they are not illegal.

According to an April 9, 2001 Newsweek article (playing with painkillers), the sale and prescription of painkillers have tripled since 1996. Doctors have started paying more attention to pain, and using painkillers more often to make the patient comfortable.

But along with all of this, there has been an increase in the abuse of painkillers. It is estimated that four million Americans use prescription painkillers for "non-medical " purposes. One of the most dangerous and fastest growing prescription drugs is oxycontin.

Oxycontin was first introduced in 1996, and is made from oxycodone, which is a main ingredient in drugs such as percocet and percodan. People abuse this drug by crushing it and snorting it, which sends a massive rush to the brain. Oxycontin locks into a cell receptor called mu, which is found mostly in the brain, spinal cord, and gut. Once this happens, it blocks pain signals from nerves and gives the person a feeling 0f well being. I started out with 20mg and eventually increased to 400mg a day. This can be an expensive habit since the drug can cost up to $1 per milligram. My waist dropped from 42 inches to 36 inches in two months, I also faked back pains and got a local doctor to write me prescriptions for the oxy. I have since given up the drug thanks to online poker. Just as oxy is on the rise so is online poker. I have learned that I enjoy playing online poker just as much as I used to enjoy getting "high" off of oxycontin, I never thought I would be able to find a substitute for the drug, but I truly have found something in poker that keeps my mind occupied. I hope the readers of this article can find something to occupy their mind as I have, it really has changed my life. Give it a try (www.partypoker.com/index.htm?wm=2570637)

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How Children Respond to Parents' Anger: Understanding the Brain and Behavior

2008-02-28T07:15:00.001-08:00

Brain research has given us a new understanding of why children behave the way they do. This article looks at how the brain affects children's behaviors when they think their parents are angry and upset with them. It then offers suggestions to parents on how to strengthen parenting skills so you can get your kids to listen to you.

In a nutshell, the brain has three main parts:

1. The brain stem, which is connected to the spinal column, deals with survival. It's responsible for our heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, etc.

2. You find the midbrain in the central part of your brain. It governs our emotions; how we feel. Although people call it the limbic system, I call this the lizard part of the brain for reasons I will explain later.

3. The third part of the brain is located behind the forehead. I refer to this as the thinking part of the brain. This is where you think rationally, solve problems, find solutions, etc.

Under normal circumstances, when a person sees something that doesn't look threatening, the image bypasses both the brainstem and the limbic system, moving quickly to the front of the brain. Here, it has the ability to make decisions about what to do next.

When people find themselves feeling afraid for their safety or their life, the message goes directly to the lizard part of the brain. There is no time to have a discussion about what's going on. No, the brain says, "danger," and they need to react immediately! There is no thinking taking place. People, like you and me, react one of three ways:

* Fight; we attack what ever it is that's scaring us

* Flight, we try to avoid the situation by walking away, looking away, or changing the subject

* Freeze, we are immobilized by fear and can't move; like a deer on the road watching the headlights of a car coming closer and closer.

Children respond the same way when they become frightened by a parent's angry voice or response to their behavior. Because they are in the emotional part of their brain, children are unable to think-they're in pure reaction mode. That's why I call this part, the "lizard" part of the brain.

When a child hears or sees an angry parent or adult looking at him and/or talking to him, an immediate, unconscious thought occurs in the brain. The child feels a sense of shame, "I've done something bad", or "I'm bad". The lizard part of the brain becomes engaged and the unconscious thought of losing the parents' love (and fears of abandonment), make the child feel unsafe. When a child doesn't feel safe, you will see the same three behavior patterns.

* Fight: The child becomes angry and oppositional, arguing with you. He or she may show aggressiveness and defensiveness, not listening to you. The more a parent scolds and raises his or her voice, the angrier and more oppositional the child becomes. Does this sound familiar? This is not a winning situation for either parent or child.

* Flight: Because of the feeling of shame, the child becomes uncomfortable and doesn't know how to react to the parent. You might see behaviors such as, not looking at you, walking away, and ignoring you while doing something else. Sometimes, the child breaks down and cries or whimpers, as a means of escape from what he or she perceives are a very uncomfortable situation. The child does not feel safe. This is important for parents to understand. If your child's reaction to your tone of voice or response is flight, the child not only does not feel safe and will probably not tell you the truth, the child is NOT in the thinking part of the brain; talking about whatever happened will go no where.

* Freeze: The child looks at you with blank eyes. The body is there, and no one is home. It's like looking at a dear in your headlights while driving. The deer sees you coming and yet is paralyzed by fear to move. The same is true when a child shuts down emotionally because he or she does not feel safe and doesn't know what else to do. The child cannot discuss what happened or process it with you because he or she is not using the thinking part of the brain.

REMEMBER:

When you become angry and/or upset at your child:

- The child feels a sense of shame

- Shame brings on fear

- Fear makes the child feel unsafe

- Fear shuts down the thinking part of the brain

- Nothing can be solved

- No one wins!

The next time you find yourself angry at your child; watch his or her reaction and you'll know immediately which part of the brain is being used. If your child is in the lizard part of the brain, you will need to help him or her shift into the thinking part before you can have a meaningful conversation. Some suggestions to help you do this are:

* Ask your child, "What part of your brain are you in right now?" If the child responds by telling you the lizard part, then ask, "What do you need to do to get to the thinking part?" If the response is, "I don't know," Your child has already shifted and is thinking about what you're saying. "Would you like some suggestions?" usually helps. If the answer is "yes", give a couple of ideas such as sitting down and thinking about how he created this situation or what he could have done differently so you wouldn't get angry.

* Remember your child is experiencing fear, even though you don't think there is a reason for it. Consequently, your child will calm down faster if your tone of voice is soft and gentle. Look at your child directly in the eyes and say something like, "I can see you're upset right now and so am I. Let's take a time-out from each other and talk about this later when we're feeling better."

Respectful, responsible and fun to be around children hang out in the thinking part of their brains. When your child doesn't act this way, remember the lizard part of the brain. Then, you can help shift your child to the thinking part where you can both talk and work out problems together. It's a win-win for both of you.

About the author:
MaryLynne White
Can a Game Really Compel Any Child to Behave?
"How to Become a Super Nanny in Your Own Home!
Free Consumer Awareness Guide Shows You How..."
http://www.ParentSurvival911.com
949.939.3176

How Can My Baby Have Baby Acne, He’s Not That Old?

2008-02-28T07:14:00.002-08:00

Acne is a condition only affecting teenagers, true? False. Acne is a condition which can affect people of any age, hence baby acne and adult acne are common. However acne is more common in teens. Acne is the number one skin problem in the world and affects huge numbers of people worldwide. And baby acne, although not common, can be a cause of some angst amongst parents.

What is baby acne? Acne is not totally understood, including baby acne. The cause of acne is not agreed on amongst the scientists. However the general consensus is that acne, including baby acne, is a condition caused by changes in the body’s hormones.

And when are the body’s hormones changing? Well certainly in the teenage years. But also at some other times in life. Like birth. When a baby has been separated from it’s mothers body by birth and it is living on it’s own for the very first time. And when it is also getting some supplies of hormones from it’s mothers milk at the same time.

Baby acne can occur in very young babies of 2 or 3 weeks, more commonly boys, up until around 6 months or so. It appears on various parts of the baby’s body such as the forehead, cheeks and chin, or more rarely the bottom or back, and appears as small white spots on the skin. Or it could look like a red rash with raised bumps.

The good news is that baby acne is not serious and very rarely requires any treatment, so refrain from rushing out looking to buy baby acne remedies. In fact you should refrain from any baby acne remedies until you have seen your doctor and usually your doctor will not prescribe any medication at all.

Baby acne usually goes away by itself. It is sufficient in most cases to do some gentle facial cleansing once or at most twice a day using a mild baby cleanser and clean water. Do not scrub baby’s face, this will not help and may be counterproductive. Don’t apply lotions or potions or oils. Don’t look for fancy baby acne remedies, don’t try applying vinegar solution for baby acne as some do.

It will all go away in time. When attending one of your regular baby check ups ask them about it. Chances they will tell you it’s just baby acne, don’t worry about it.

About the author:
Find out more about Acne at Peter’s website http://www.acne-all-gone.com/as well as Acne cures and adult acne, acne skin care products, the best acne treatments and more.

Hoodia Gordonii… Weight Loss Miracle or Diet Deception

2008-02-28T07:14:00.001-08:00

Hoodia Gordonii is a weight loss supplement that promises to eliminate your desire to eat. This claim was backed up by a 60 minuets reporter who did a story about Hoodia and made the statement that after trying the diet pill his appetite was gone.

With millions of overweight people jumping from one diet fad to the next the thought of taking a pill to curb cravings might sound like a dream come true, but is there any truth to this Hoodia hype?

While pure Hoodia has been proven to stop you from wanting to eat there are literally hundreds of products claiming to contain this latest magic bullet in the battle against obesity. This might not mean much until you realize just how scarce Hoodia is. Consider that Hoodia Gordonii is only grown in certain parts of the desert, and after the recent media exposure there is no way for the supply to meet the demand.

What does this say for all those diet pills claiming to contain Hoodia? Well in means most of them are lying! In fact pure Hoodia is very expensive and hard to get so when you see the newest latest and greatest weight loss pill claiming to contain Hoodia odds are that there are only trace amounts that will have little or no effect.

What can you do to make sure your getting the highest quality Hoodia in your weight loss supplements?

Look at the list of ingredients and make sure Hoodia is the only one listed, and that there is at least 400mg.

If it’s $8.00 for a 2 month supply it’s not real Hoodia. Any diet pill made from 100% pure Hoodia is going to cost about $30-$45 for a month’s supply.

Go to the companies website and see where they’re getting there Hoodia from, look at any research they’ve conducted, and see if they have any certificates to back up their claims.

There are only a small handful of companies putting out quality Hoodia products, and hundreds trying to defraud consumers. Honest reviews of Hoodia products are hard to come by but one website that gives it to you straight is http://www.hoodia-gordonii-diet.com Where you’ll find honest reviews and no hidden agendas.

About the author:
The author has been making it known to the public all the dirty deeds of the diet pill industry
and operates the most controversial Hoodia site on the internet Hoodia Gordonii Diet Review

Help, my child has autism

2008-02-28T07:13:00.003-08:00

Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate and relate to others. It is a type of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) that is lifelong and can result in some social isolation.

The cause of Autism is not known, although research has shown differences in brain structure between children with autism and non-autistic children. Some early research has also indicated that Autism could be genetic, with parents who have an autistic child more likely to have another child with autism.

It has also being shown that autism is more prevalent in those who have certain conditions including untreated Phenylketonuria (PKU), Fragile X Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis and Congenital Rubella Syndrome.

The symptoms of autism typically develop within the first three years of life. All people with Autism experience difficulty with social interaction, and children might prefer to play alone and make little eye contact with other people. Babies with autism may not babble talk and may also seem to have hearing difficulties. Language development is almost always delayed in children with autism.

Sufferers may have difficulties in both verbal and non-verbal communication, have limited, patterned or over-used behaviour patterns, play and interests. These include repetitive body rocking, forming unusual attachments to objects and resisting change (holding to routines and rituals, for example).

The world-wide incidence of autism is consistent around the globe, but it has been shown that it is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. The development of autism is not affected in any way by race, ethnicity, social boundaries, family income, lifestyle or educational levels.

Article by health writer Kate Wiley of http://www.healthy-shopper.com Health in 1 http://www.health-in-1.com and Advice on Health http://www.advice-on-health.com
You may use this article on your website providing you include the above author bio and active link to our health sites.

About the author:
Kate and Phil Wiley run the popular health sites http://www.healthy-shopper.com Health in 1 http://www.health-in-1.comand Advice on Health

"Have You Seen My Independence Day"

2008-02-28T07:13:00.001-08:00

"Have You Seen My Independence Day ?" 4th of July, 2005

By, Steven Montes

Have you seen my Independence Day? I don’t know that I did with it. The last time I had it was in my sock drawer. Maybe someone took it. I don’t know. Can you help me find it. I need to build a web site, so that if someone finds it they can return it to me for the reward I am offering.

You may not know of me, nor have I published any of my works, but what I have to say is very important.

I am aware of several Anti-Tobacco movements across the United States and their politics. What I do not understand, is why no one has addressed the high nicotine levels that are still being placed into the tobacco products being sold today.

Since nicotine is the single greatest factor for people being addicted to cigarets, why are tobacco companies still being allowed to place this highly addictive chemical in cigarets. Why, after all of this, is there still not any moment or legislation to ban nicotine from cigarets.

It is well known, that during the early 1900, that a professor at a prominent local University locate in the eastern part of the US, conducted experiments on the devastating affects of nicotine on fish.

This same experiment you can try at home. Place some fish in a medium size fish bowl, fill about half way full of water. Take a puff from a cigaret, then blow the smoke into the bowl, then quickly cover the bowl with a book or a piece of plastic rap. Immediately the fish become disoriented and then begin to die.

It is also well known how that nicotine was once used as an insecticide on tobacco plants during the time of our forefathers, to kill insects that were eating the tobacco plant. Once the tobacco companies found that nicotine was addictive to people they started engineering nicotine with super concentrated levels to be added to their products to addict the consumer.

Although there have been many lawsuits filed across the United States for the harmful affects presented against the tobacco companies in these suits, why has nothing being done in the form of effective legislation or any other form of control that we as a people have at our control.

It also common knowledge that during the mid "1900" that, Coca-Cola company was making their product with the highly addictive drug found in the coca leafs from the very plant that highly addictive drug cocain is made from today, and federal legislation was adopted to discontinue the use of this ingredient from their coke recipe. This is where Coke-Cola gots its name.

Don’t just take my word for it, just enter the phrase coca plant in the search engine box, and read for yourself.

Dare to be informed," how’s that for truth ! Ask your self, Don’t we as a people have the right to not be medicated by consumer products in an attempt to addict us to their products, without our knowledge or our consent ! As I look back, I still wonder what the independence in Independence Day really stands for.

I know now that independence is just an illusion in this country, a reason to party, a chance to shop for sales, and I am sad to say that Independence Day, is just another holiday to take a day off from work, a chance to blow up firecrackers, and the right to, just raise Hell.

What's In Your Independence Day ? Send me an e-mail to Smontes@scientist.com So you can claim your reward money, if your tip leads me to the recovery of my Independence Day.

About the author:
Chief bottle washer for Montes Orthopedic.

Have you been looking for the latest opinion in relation to face painting ideas.

2008-02-28T07:12:00.001-08:00

When you are trying to find top-quality advice about face painting ideas, you'll find it hard unscrambling quality advice from foolish face painting ideas submissions or guidance so it is wise to know how to judge the advice that is offered.

Find face painting ideas
Your relevant result is a click away!

Here's a few guidelines that we believe you should consider using when you are searching for information about face painting ideas. You need to realize the advice we tender is only pertinent to internet help on face painting ideas. We are unable to offer any assistance or guidance for researching in 'real world' situations.

Look for face painting ideas
Find face painting ideas at one of the best sites the Internet has to offer!

A good pointer to follow when you are presented with information and suggestions on a face painting ideas article is to find out who owns the site. This could reveal the people behind the website face painting ideas authorizations The easiest way to find out who is behind the face painting ideas web site is to look on the 'about' page or the sites 'contact' page.

Any reputable site providing information about face painting ideas, will almost certainly provide an 'about' or 'contact' page that will list the owner's details. The particulars should reveal major points about the site owner's capability. This means you can conduct an appraisal about the webmaster's depth of experience, to advise people on the subject of face painting ideas.

Have you been looking for the best sourced assistance in relation to fundraising ideas.

2008-02-28T07:11:00.004-08:00

When you are in search of top-quality advice about fundraising ideas, you'll find it's complex separating quality information from foolish fundraising ideas submissions or guidance so it is wise to recognize ways of moderating the information presented to you.

Find fundraising ideas
Your relevant result is a click away!

Here's a few pieces of advice which we advise you to use when you are searching for information concerning fundraising ideas. Understand that the advice we are giving you is only relevant to web based information about fundraising ideas. We cannot offer any direction or assistance for researching in 'real world' situations.

Look for fundraising ideas
Find fundraising ideas at one of the best sites the Internet has to offer!

A great tip to follow when you're presented with information or advice on a fundraising ideas website is to research who is behind the website. This may reveal the operators fundraising ideas authorizations The easiest way to work out who is at the back of the fundraising ideas web site is to find the sites 'about' page.

Any reputable website providing information regarding fundraising ideas, will always have contact information which will list the owner's details. The particulars should reveal a number of indications regarding the owner's proficency and credentials. You can then arrive at a decision about the webmaster's familiarity and qualifications, to offer recommendations concerning fundraising ideas.

About the author:

Tony Randall is the webmaster for http://www.fundraising-ideas-review.info

Hair Care for Children

2008-02-28T07:11:00.003-08:00

What’s your experience of kids’ hair care – tears and tantrums in a busy salon, or cosy mother-daughter hair-brushing sessions? Well, here is some great advice to help you navigate around some of those emotional flashpoints that often occur when you combine kids and hair care.

HAIR STYLING TIPS FOR KIDS

Salon visits can be scary experiences for small children: They are boring, full of strangers and strange smelling products, you are being ordered to sit still for ages, whilst some idiot is doing terrible things to your hair which you didn’t want to happen in the first place. Life is sooo unfair!

So how do you as a parent, avoid, annoying the stylist, upsetting your child and getting yourself stressed? Well this is where your best child psychology skills come into play! Sometimes your child will have unwarranted fears and you have to help to overcome them. Creating trust by taking their concerns seriously is the first and most important step. Promising a treat can also help. Best of all is to check in your local area to see if there is one of the growing number of new specialized children’s salons available. Salon chains like Cartoon Cuts are designed to make the hair cut experience more positive and entertaining for small children: toys, video games, specially shaped chairs and specially-trained stylists, all help to ensue the experience is more like going to a theme park rather than a visit to the doctor.

Home Sweet Home

However, if your child is afraid of the hairdresser’s, then try to cut their hair at home. They will feel safe and comfortable and you will save time and money. You can do it yourself if you have the skills – or the bravery. Cutting hair for a child is basically the same for an adult, except that a child's hair is usually thin and baby soft. Keep the bangs approx. 1/2" from the eyebrows. If the child's hair is thin, avoid short cuts for now until their hair comes in thicker. Shape around the face if you're trying to grow it long. If you don’t have any haircutting experience, you might want to seek out a step by step guide on children’s hair cutting, or get someone to do it for you.

Putting on the Style

Whatever you do, remember that today’s media-savvy, celebrity-crazy kids want to look good. Children start to take an interest in their own hair style from an early age; even the kindergarten set want to be in-style. They want their hair to be like their best friend or even a television character. Boys that used to be seen only in ball caps are now having their hair bleached and highlighted. Finding the right hair style for a child is usually about finding a cool, fun, and easy-to-manage child hair style that suits your youngster’s active lifestyle. But you may experience resistance - as children get older they start to have very definite opinions of how they want to wear their hair. This hairstyle preference will surface in early childhood and continue throughout the teen years and into adulthood. Many a growing child will argue with their parents over how they want to wear their hair to school. At this stage of development the hair becomes a major identity factor.

Hair Care 101

The key is to be encouraging; as children start to take an interest in their own hair and how they style it, this is the time to encourage them to follow an entire regime of good hair hygiene practices. It is important to show a child (when they are willing), how to properly shampoo and rinse their own hair. You can also teach them about towel blotting, detangling, combing and brushing their hair. Help them build a good hair hygiene schedule so that they learn the importance of keeping their hair clean and neat. Try also to get them to develop good eating habits because healthy hair is very dependent on high quality carbohydrates and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Good nutrition will promote shine and condition at any age.

Tips for Tip-Top Hair

Washing - use a mild shampoo, preferably in the child’s favorite color or scent. Sometimes children are more willing to wash their hair with a fun shampoo, especially if it doesn’t sting their eyes.

Combing/brushing - try to create trust and reassurance by allowing them to comb and brush their own hair on their own terms. Do not brush your child's hair 100 strokes before bedtime in the traditional manner – this will over stimulate the sebaceous glands and make the hair greasy and heavy. Doing a quick brush to get the tangles out should be sufficient. Combing the hair will promote shine and condition. Remember to use a comb on wet hair rather than a brush or you risk creating static electricity, which leads to breakage.

Accessories - give your child high quality combs and brushes and teach them the proper way to care for their hair to instill good grooming habits that will last a lifetime. Purchase some "hair friendly" clips and hair ties to help a child keep their hair off their face, and reduce the chance of tangling or matting. Stay away from any hairclips with sharp teeth, because they can cut into the hair and cause potential hair damage.

Tangles - all parents know that dealing with tangles is a nightmare for both parent and child. Here’s how to reduce the trauma of removing tangles:

1. Hold the section of hair you're trying to comb out.

2. Hold it taut so the child won't feel you ripping through the ends.
3. Spray a good leave-in detangler on the knot.

4. You can also comb conditioner in while the child's hair is still wet. Children need conditioner too (avoid heavy types and stick with conditioners that are specifically called "light" conditioners).

References:
1. Children’s Hair, www.Styles101.com
2. Child Hair Style and Hair Care Tips, Short-hair-styles.com
3. Lets Talk Kids Hair, Lynne Chapman, http://www.BellaOnline.com

About the author:
Michael Barrows is an internet publisher specialising in niche markets. Get a free copy of his ebook "(Nearly) Everything You Should Know About Hairstyles and Hair Care, from his website www.great-hairstyles.ocm

Green Day: punk rock masters taming mainstream radio their way

2008-02-28T07:11:00.001-08:00

Before they got together as Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool were merely three extraordinary hopefuls hoping and looking for their big break. The trio has no formal training and got their ‘practice’ from playing for free at punk clubs on Gilman Street in Berkeley, California. Out on the streets is where the 3 talented individuals got their big break – they turned from punk rock’s most unlikely success story to a remarkable band with a series of chart-topping hits. Together, they sold more than 10 million albums and won a Grammy Award in the process. It’s been a long journey for the trio who started out singing out in the streets.

Both Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt were born in Rodeo, California in 1972 and have been fabulous childhood friends since the age of 10. At the age of 14, they carefully put together their first band, Sweet Children.

They recorded their first EP as Green Day, 1,000 hours, in 2 days flat and in the meantime, Dirnt graduated and Armstrong dropped out of high school. A local indie label “Lookout!” released Green Day’s debut album – at this time, Green Day recorded the album with their first drummer, Al Sobrante. Al Sobrante soon quit the band. Dirnt and Armstrong found a friend in Tre Cool (Frank Edwin Wright III) who as been a drummer with “Lookout!” since the age of 12. Together, Armstrong, Dirnt and Cool released the group’s second album, Kerplunk.

Green Day didn’t burst into the entertainment scene without followers and fans. That’s because Green Day, before the release of their albums, EARNED their following by driving their renovated bookmobile from coast to coast, crashing in their friends’ places and organizing mini-concerts for their fans. When they reprised their debut, Dookie, Green Day already have a throng of fans and followers. To say the very least, Green Day made immaturity and malcontent cool all over again. Their songs on picking scabs, pyromania….won the hearts of followers and fans who can tune in to the content and felt the pain and stress in the songs. The re-release of ‘Dookie’ took the world by storm because they sold more than 10 million copies in the U.S. alone and they won a Grammy in 1994 for “Best Alternative Music Performance”.

Green Day proves to critics that they are here to stay and refuse to be a one-hit (or even one-album wonders). With their next album, Insomniac, and in their latest album, Nimrod, they stayed steadfast to the punk philosophy. They maintain that being naughty is sometimes nice – even when you’re married and have kids.

What makes the songs from Green Day so wildly popular is the fact it’s easy for anyone to identify with the lyrics. They reintroduced anger and exuberance in a very offbeat and un-rhythmic sort of way. They have, what people will call, the finger-in-your-face attitudes. The sort of staying power Green Day has shown through their songs, it’s not hard to imagine why we say that Green Day won’t be making its way out of the scene any day soon – not today, not Green Day.

About the author:
By Dakota Caudilla. Journalist, and web site builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.all-green-day.infoon which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Glow Stick Party Ideas

2008-02-28T07:10:00.003-08:00

Glow sticks are a great way to light up any party and are fun to enjoy by individuals of all ages. Glow sticks come in many colors, shapes and designs and are great for parties and other events or gatherings. If you have purchased or are thinking of purchasing glow sticks for an upcoming event, you may want to consider some of the following party ideas which include these items:

• Glow sticks work great as hand-outs for guests at parties or bars. People go crazy for these products!

• They are a great way to raise a few extra bucks when hosting an event, especially charity events. You can sell these products for up to 2-dollars a piece.

• Glow Bracelets and necklaces are great for you and your guests to wear. They are more convenient than glow sticks since you do not have to carry them around with you.

• Glow sticks can be taped or glued to posters or signs in order to grab the attention of your guests.

• Glow necklaces and bracelets are great for putting around table centerpieces and illuminating the table’s features.

Glow sticks serve many purposes and are great accessories to any events. They are relatively inexpensive (especially if you purchase them in bulk and wholesale) and are sure to brighten up any event. Glow sticks have become the main focus of many great holidays and events. If you are interested in glow sticks for either yourself or your children, here are some events and holidays which are great opportunities to use these colorful products:

1. Fourth of July – These are great accessories to wear in the dark while watching fireworks on the Fourth of July.

2. Halloween – Glow sticks, necklaces and bracelets are great additions to Halloween outfits and light the way for kids in the dark on Halloween night.

3. Weddings – Glow sticks and other glow accessories are great as wedding favors and add creativity and uniqueness to your wedding.

4. Camping – Fantastic items for the kids to play with and keep them safe.

Glow sticks, bracelets and necklaces are not only affective in providing fun and excitement for individuals, but they are also a great safety feature for children on dark nights. You can keep a close eye on them and drivers can also see them.

About the author:
Jill Nelson is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her children when she isn’t working as a contributing editor for sites writing safety articles on topics such as Glow Necklaces for sites like Glow Sticks Direct.

Geography Comes to Life in a Big Way

2008-02-28T07:10:00.001-08:00

(ARA) – Remember the frustration you felt when you had to squint to see the tiny world map on the wall at school? That problem will soon be a thing of the past for both teachers and students at schools around the country. There is a new trend towards doing things big.

“We sell a lot of world map wall murals to schools at this time of year,” says Todd Imholte, president of Environmental Graphics, a Hopkins, Minn., company that specializes in decorative products for the home. “Our map mural measures 13 feet by 8 feet. That’s big enough for kids in the back of the classroom to make out the countries.”

Yolanda Johnston, a history teacher from Cal Exico, Calif., a small town near the Mexican border, knew she had to have one when she saw the giant mural in a magazine. “I feel it’s important to have the best tools possible to help kids learn, and the world map I had was so small, it didn’t make much of an impression on the kids,” says Johnston.

“We’re moving into a new building this fall and the map is going to be the focal point of my classroom. I know the kids are excited about having a big map everyone can see.”

World Maps aren’t only being used for educational purposes in schools. The Fairhaven Baptist Church in Mesquite, Texas recently put one up in the back of the church auditorium.

“Our church supports 20 missionaries world wide and the map helps us keep track of where they are,” says Sharon Johnson. “It also shows us how small America is compared to the rest of the world, and helps us to see the size of the job we have.”

Environmental Graphics’ map murals sell for around $150 and can be ordered by calling 800-HAMMACHER or visiting the company’s website at www.executiveworldmap.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

Fun & Fruity Recipes

2008-02-28T07:09:00.003-08:00

Sometimes the easiest way to get children to eat healthy is to let them have a hand in making their own snacks…and add whipped cream on top. Here are two fruity recipes that are fun and easy to make, and even more fun to eat.

Miniature Fruit Pizzas

1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Assorted fresh fruit, cut into bite size pieces, such as bananas, kiwis, oranges, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, pineapple, etc.
Directions: Cut sugar cookie dough into 1-inch slices and place on ungreased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Bake as directed, or until lightly browned around the edges. Allow the cookies to cool.

Combine cream cheese and confectioners' sugar; mix well. Spread over cooled cookies. Decorate with assorted fruit. Yummy!

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Strawberry Angels

1 angel food cake
6 large strawberries
1 carton whipped topping
Directions: First, cut the cake into serving-size pieces. Slice the strawberries and layer on top of the cake. Then spoon whipped topping on top of the strawberries. Serve and enjoy!

About the author:
Deborah Shelton edits The Five Minute Parent email newsletter. For your free subscription, send a blank email to mailto:Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://www.fiveminuteparent.com
www.fiveminuteparent.com
deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

Fun Dates at Low Cost!

2008-02-28T07:09:00.001-08:00

Yippee! She said yes! The girl you’ve been trying to ask out for the past couple of months just agreed to go out with you. However, you have one small problem. Fresh out of college and just starting out on your new job, you don’t have much left in your pocket to pay for a fancy dinner. But you really want to impress her and have a good time together. What can you do on a date that would actually cost less but FEEL expensive?

Well, read on, and you will find plenty of cost-saving dating activities which are equally romantic and fun!

1.Go for a Hike

Unless she’s completely not an outdoor person, going for a walk in a natural environment gives the both of you private time to talk. Plus, the beautiful and fresh surroundings will definitely put your hearts at ease. In fact, if you know much about flora and fauna, you can actually impress her with your version of a nature tour guide.

2.Day at the Beach

Beaches have always been fun, warm and perfect for dates. It won’t cost you much, but it’s a great place to talk and picnic, relax or sun-bathe. Walks along the beach are hopelessly romantic especially when combined with the soothing effects of the waves and the breeze. Lakes are good substitutes if you don’t live near the sea, as the water brings the same calming effect as the sea.

3.Dinner at home

Eating out will cost you, but alternatively setting up a candlelight dinner in the comfort of your own home which will cost you much less. If you are a good cook, you can definitely impress her with your culinary skills in a romantic setting. After that, you can top the evening by setting up the patio for coffee or wine and star gazing.

4.Movie at the drive-in

This is a classic hang-out for our parents. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s too old-fashioned for us. At a drive-in you get to watch movies with others, while maintaining privacy in your own car. And you can share you snacks and sodas between the both of you, have your conversations and not worry about being too noisy to your neighbor. Best of all, you only need to pay for your tickets for this great date.

5.Ice-Skating

Ice-skating is not just for teenagers or little kids, but is a great way to bring couples together. It’s a great opportunity for you to hold hands, fall down and laugh! And if you are an expert, you can teach her one or two of your ice-skating tricks. She’ll have so much fun she’ll be asking you for the next ice-skating date!

6.Surprise! Surprise!

All girls love surprises. You’ll just have to creative with your surprise ideas and catch her off guard. For example, leave little gifts like key-chains, bookmarks, or even roses accompanied with sweet and short messages. Girls love these small gifts, and although they don’t cost much, they will go a long way.

Planning a romantic date does not always necessarily have to cost you a lot of money. Using your creativity to the best effect can actually gain you more points to her heart.

If you are looking for your perfect match, you can find the top 8 dating sites on Adult Match Maker Adult Match Maker

About the author:
Author Bio
Celina Richards is a counselor and dating coach in private practice since 1995. She offers dating-relationship coaching, singles group coaching and ongoing coaching for singles & unmarried couples. She started writing articles to help singles with the knowledge and tools they need to find and sustain lasting relationships.

Forex Training Follow Your Gut or Your Broker

2008-02-28T07:08:00.001-08:00

Which way will the forex market move? Do you just follow your gut feeling? Or do you have Neo’s sixth sense that would let you be one with the market and feel the underlying currents.

Trading forex is a non stop action movie but a good one, where you really don’t know who will win at the end. Every forex trader is trying to predict the winner of his own movie.

The forex markets move fast. Can we understand why they move? Yes, we can but only by having a feeling for the market, the instinct to know in which direction to move. Will our intuition enable us to predict the forex markets every move? Of course not. But understanding what makes the markets move will give the edge in making better trades.

What do we need to know!

- Who trades forex?

Traders, investment funds, corporations, banks and governments.

- Why do they trade?

Traders go for a quick speculative profit. Investment funds avoid risk and follow the long term trends. Corporations are trying to hedge on currency fluctuations. Banks are short term traders, market makers and hedgers. Governments trade currencies to keep there countries markets stable.

Now that we know who the players are we must understand ourselves. As the other players trades will impact greatly on our own. We need to decide on our trading strategy. There are just too many strategies to be covered in this article so please visit Forex Value Guides to for more information. http://www.forex.value-guides.com

But no matter our strategy, we must be disciplined and not let our emotions take over. That is not an easy thing to do when the markets go wild. We need to keep calm to analyze the other players to reach our profit goal.

Don’t believe anyone who says trading is easy. You need a lot of will power not to keep changing your mind every minute and sharp analytical skill. Not only to understand the other players but to comprehend world events that have an impact on the markets.

What strategy should you choose? Each trader needs to develop his or her personal approach to the FOREX. Some traders rely solely on technical analysis while others prefer fundamental analysis, but many successful FOREX traders use a blend of both to get a broad overview of the market and for plotting entry and exit points.

There are many valid tools available to recognize market movements. The novice FOREX trader is well advised to study each one individually for getting a working knowledge of their concepts and use. Once one has been understood, keep on using it while studying others. Each method tends to reinforce the others.

About the author:
David Jones is a freelance writer and world traveler who writes on subjects in which he has a personal interest. Forex Trading

FLORIDA GHOST HUNTERS JOINED BY OHIO STATE TESTED MEDIUM, TINIA ROSS

2008-02-28T07:07:00.002-08:00

FLORIDA GHOST HUNTERS JOINED BY OHIO STATE TESTED MEDIUM, TINIA ROSS

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.—Today, Tinia (Ty-knee-ah) Ross joined the Florida Ghost Hunters, Investigation Team. “She brings a lot to the table.” says, Jay Shoemaker, Lead Investigator from the Florida Ghost Hunters.

Tinia Ross, who has appeared on “Larry King Live” has joined the Florida Ghost Hunters in an effort to assist in Paranormal Investigations on businesses, homes, and wherever paranormal activity is reported in Florida.

Tinia has been clairvoyant since a small child and uses her clairvoyance together with terot cards when performing her readings. “I’ve been reading most all of my adult life.” says Tinia, whose regular clients range from professionals in all fields to people in everyday life.

Originally from Michigan, Tinia graduated from the University of Michigan, with honors. She has read for John Edwards (of “Crossing Over” fame), and performed at numerous psychic fairs in the upper Midwest. As her Psychic reputation grew in Central Ohio, Tinia was tested by the University of Ohio, Department of Psychology, for her Clairvoyant abilities and scored extremely high, surprising testers, but not Tinia.

Recently Tinia moved from Columbus, Ohio to the beautiful Treasure Coast to be with her soul mate Gary, who she came to know while giving him a reading – which surprised the both of them.

Tinia is looking forward to living in Florida, providing her psychic abilities to the area and working with the Florida Ghost Hunters.

Tinia will assist in the paranormal investigative process, by using her gifts as a medium. Her feelings will be compared to any scientific evidence collected during an investigation conducted by the Florida Ghost Hunters Team.

For more information on Florida Ghost Hunters visit FloridaGhostHunters.com

[ Submitted with ArticleSubmitter Pro - http://www.articlesubmitterpro.com]

About the author:
Jay Shoemaker CPI
Jay Shoemaker, CPI, Lead Paranormal Investigator, is a Certified Paranormal Investigator, speaker, author, and copywriter. With over 5 years experience in investating paranormal cases. Jay and his Team conduct investigations on homes, businesses and wherever significant paranormal activity is reported in Florida. Jay Shoemaker and his partner Jason Hayes also teach paranormal investigation principle. They offer a Certified Paranormal Investigation Workshop where others interested in paranormal investigation can attend. They can expect to receive equipment, forms, manuals, equipment training, participate in an actual investigation, network with others interested in the field and obtain their certification.
http://www.floridaghosthunters.com

Finding a Yugioh Single Card.

2008-02-28T07:07:00.001-08:00

Finding Yugioh single cards and other rare Yugioh cards is not all that difficult. Yugioh has become a hit worldwide. This game of stratedgy and challenge has taken over in many households as the game of choice. Its not only for the young either. There are official rules and tournaments worldwide. And, the Yugioh market is huge. One such hot item is the Yugioh single card.

Yugioh single cards are only one of the many items that Yugioh fans seem to must have. There are lines of all types of items available in discount department stores like Walmart and collectors items available everywhere. Many stores have Yugioh cards available to purchase in all the available decks.

But, it doesn't stop at cards. There are Yugioh movies, action figures, tv shows, and more. So, what's so great about them? Ask your kid how he would feel about getting a rare Yugioh single card? Chance are good, he would be thrilled.

So, you know about the Yugioh fad and want to purchase a Yugioh single card. How do you go about that? Where are they available? There are many collector’s shops that carry a huge range of Yugioh cards. You can usually find many of the ones you want there. To find Yugioh single cards, though, you may want to look at the online market. There is a much larger selection and you can compare and contrast the asking price easier using the internet. There are many online websites which sell Yugioh single cards. If you don't know any, try searching for them. You will get many pages of website to check out. There is also a lot of information on Yugioh single cards and the Yugioh game available throughout the net. Virtually any card you want is available online, at your fingertips, Yugioh single cards included.

About the author:
Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.my-yugioh-4me.com/

Finding a Rare Yugioh Card!

2008-02-28T07:06:00.002-08:00

Are you looking for a rare yugioh card? Abandon the search for Truth; settle for a good fantasy – exhorts a sensible, Anonymous quote. Apocryphal, maybe but definitely not untrue! For, if one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities. Especially if your name is Kazuki Takahashi. As the creator of the Yu-Gi-Oh! comic series, Takahashi has sparked a craze that is echoing around the world! Yu-Gi-Oh! began as a comic strip in Japan in 1996.

Today, having a rare yugioh card is can be very beneficial. Yugio is a wildly popular card game, television show, website, series of video games, collectible action figures, playsets and board games. Already a giant hit in Japan, its popularity now rivals even Pokemon. In America Yu-Gi-Oh! is already the most-watched program on the Kids' WB Saturday morning lineup. And the Yu-Gi-Oh! website logs an amazing 1.2 million hits per day!

A rare yugioh card can be very important to the game. So you start with the main character, Yugi, a weak and childish boy who becomes a hero when he plays games. Weave a story around a game with unique creatures, each with their own set of strengths and weaknesses and you have attracted instant universal interest. Add to it the thrill of battling against a human being while looking them in the eye rather than playing with a machine, as with video games. And since you can't play a card game by yourself, you get friends to play with. That's how it spreads especially since it appeals to ones eternal wish of being able to turn into something, or someone, else. The icing on the cake is provided by the mystery surrounding the games and the characters on the cards. And you have a fiercely addicting experience on your hands!

Reality is merely an illusion

The object of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game is to win a Match against your opponent, and if you have a rare yugioh card you’re even further ahead. One starts off with a deck of cards. There are four Starter Decks containing 50 game cards. Each card has a character with individual powers and attributes. A single Match consists of 3 Duels. Each card battle against an opponent in which a win, loss, or draw is referred to as a Duel. The first player to win 2 Duels in a Match or one who has 1 win and 2 draws, is declared the winner. Simple? Not really. Because the unlimited characters and their unlimited attributes spawn a whole generation of card-sets! And then there are the rare cards from the original Takahashi set besides others that are made specifically to be sold with a magazine or video game and are not available in the normal packs of Yu-Gi-Oh. Mind-boggling? And to think - all this just to create an illusion and escape from mundane, earthly realities. But then, Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one, don’t you think? Look around our web-site and you’ll find some great deals on a rare yugioh card.

About the author:
Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.my-yugioh-4me.com/

Filmmaker Visits Classroom

2008-02-28T07:06:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, July 26th was a special day for the youngsters at the Los Angeles pre-school when they found out that Shervin Youssefian (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1352346/) would come and speak to the whole class about the making of the motion picture Machiavelli Hangman (http://www.hangmanmovie.com).

While most of them did not know anything about the film that was about to be released to the nation and most of them probably had never heard of the filmmaker's name, they all sat there quietly, studying with soft eyes and listening as their teacher introduced the lecturer.

Youssefian began with a soft and soothing voice by introducing himself and why he had suddenly decided to drop by to visit his little friends. As soon as there was the mention of a Hollywood movie and how it would be in theatres soon, the eyes lit up and the children leaned over on their desks not to miss a single word.

One of them asked if Youssefian knew Hillary Duff, another asked if Britney Spears was in the film and how come she had not come instead of him. Youssefian laughed like a good uncle and he patiently explained that he had not had the pleasure of working with either stars yet.

Waiting for his cues from the teacher, Stacey Norwood, he began taking the whole classroom into an inspired discussion about movies and actors and actresses and what was the children's favorite movie and if they would want to work in the industry one day.

The atmosphere started out as pleasant and within 20 minutes it had turned passionate as Youssefian laughed whole-heartedly at the children's remarks such as "Was your mom mad when you told her you wanted to make movies?" Norwood observed. His response to that was to always be straight-forward with parents and everything would find a way to work out.

"He spoke to them as if they were equal and that's what I really appreciated. You could see that the children loved him and respected him and immediately welcomed into the class."

Before leaving, Youssefian passed out some memorabilia from the movie to the children who gave him a big round of applause.

"You can't imagine how great this gesture was. These children are sponges and they will probably remember this day for the rest of their lives. Most of them are already giving up their plans to become a doctor to get behind the camera!" added Norwood.

About the author:
Angela Wang is a movie reviewer.
Machiavelli Hangman
http://www.hangmanmovie.com

Fashion Doll Collecting

2008-02-28T07:05:00.003-08:00

So many fashion dolls to choose from
For doll collectors who have a liking for fashion, collecting fashion dolls seem like a logical option as a hobby. And there are so many different types of fashion dolls out there in the market that it’s easy to get confused. There are large toddler-sized fashion dolls, there are teddy bear sized fashion dolls and…let’s not forget those tiny little miniature fashion dolls that you can place over dressing tables, closets or on the bedside table itself!

Although fashion doll collecting is deemed to be a favorite hobby or interest that people of the fairer sex likes to indulge in, some men actually like collecting fashion dolls too! So, doll collecting is not a hobby exclusive to girls…men can and some do collect fashion dolls.

Contemporary fashion dolls, vintage or modern fashion dolls? Your choice
Fashion dolls have very contemporary designs today with a fusion of modern fashion clothes mixed and infused with traditional and conventional elements. Fashion dolls like Robert Tonner dolls are truly made for the hard core doll collector. Their dolls have a whole range of modern fashion dolls, vintage fashion dolls and also fashion dolls based on characters. Fashion dolls with characters, names and a personality profiles written out are often a hit with doll collectors. Barbie dolls sell like crazy – not only a hit with youngsters, but a hit with adults as well. In fact, the Barbie doll is, without a doubt, the leader in fashion dolls. Barbie dolls have been selling like hot cakes for ages and we don’t think it will stop anytime soon, either. As long as clothes designers keep coming up with new clothes and fashionable accessories for their Barbie fashion dolls, people will keep on buying.

Knowing where to find your fashion dolls
Knowing where to find affordable fashion dolls will make a huge difference to your budget, especially if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on this fashion doll collecting hobby of yours. Most of us don’t. You don’t have to have all the fashion dolls in the market today – it’s not urgent! Although a point to note is that new fashion dolls are often grabbed up in minutes after they hit the stalls. Keep some spare money and budget the money you want to spend on fashion dolls every month – and don’t overspend. It’ll make you feel resentful and you’ll soon lose interest in fashion dolls.

Buying fashion dolls online
For sure, you can find a wide range of fashion dolls in supermarkets, hypermarkets, and in children’s toy stores. But the best way to find cheap fashion dolls is online. Yes, online. Be warned that you have to be careful about whom you buy the fashion dolls from if you buy it online. Get to know the seller first before you part with your money….even if you’re desperate to have the fashion doll! Online auction websites like eBay, Amazon and Box Lot have tons of fashion dolls listed for sale at ridiculous prices. But as mentioned, be wary of the seller.

One last point to make about buying and collecting fashion dolls is this; it’s not the number of fashion dolls in your collection that counts. It’s the quality of those fashion dolls that makes a difference!
• Bisque. Many old, foreign dolls have heads and/or bodies made of bisque, which is an unglazed porcelain material.
• Composition. Composition is a (surprise!) composition of wood pulp, sawdust, and glue. The mixture was used to make heads and/or bodies of dolls before plastic came along and took over the industry.
• Celluloid. Before hard plastic came out, dolls were made of celluloid, a thin, highly flammable type of plastic. Don't smoke near your celluloid doll!
• China. Many dolls that came out in the mid-1800s were constructed from glazed porcelain called "china."
• Hard Plastic. A very durable plastic that was popular in constructing dolls in during the mid-1900s.
• Vinyl. Vinyl was often used in dolls of the 1960s. It can be hard or soft, and it sometimes has that that yummy plastic smell.

About the author:
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.doll-headquarters.comon which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Family Meetings 101

2008-02-28T07:05:00.001-08:00

Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and validated. They also allow younger children to feel they are an important part of the decision-making process when it comes to family vacations and other major and minor family functions.

Before the first meeting commences, set a few ground rules such as:

Speak in a calm tone.
Avoid name-calling, finger-pointing, and sarcasm.
Turn off the TV, radio and telephones.
Allow each person to voice his or her concerns and ideas.
Listen to all opinions before making a decision.
If a person voices a complaint, they must also bring to the table at least one possible remedy to the situation.
Locations for future family meetings may also be brainstormed at the first meeting. Here are a few examples:

Circle Time
Very simply, sit on the floor together, in a circle. Designate an object as a "talking token". This can be a small stuffed animal, a necklace to be worn, a hat, or any other item that will be passed around. Whoever holds the talking token may speak. Once they are finished, they must pass the token to the next person.

Restaurant Rendezvous
Take turns choosing a favorite restaurant to host your family meetings. For this option, choose an afternoon or evening in the middle of the week, or at off-peak times, to avoid heavy crowds. End the meeting before dessert arrives, so everyone can indulge their sweet tooth happily.

Hobby Haven
I know of several families who hold their meetings at places that cater to their favorite hobbies. For instance, one family conducts their meeting at a bowling alley. Once the meeting is over, they enjoy bowling together. Another family combines their gathering with their love of books, by meeting at a café in their favorite bookstore. And yet another family I know holds their weekly meeting after a joyful round of put-put golf. This option combines family communication and fun.

However, and wherever, your family decides to host the meetings, remember this all-important point: Always end each meeting with a hug!

About the author:
Deborah Shelton edits The Five Minute Parent email newsletter. For your free subscription, send a blank email to mailto:Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://www.fiveminuteparent.com

Educational toys to make both parents and children happy this holiday season

2008-02-28T07:04:00.003-08:00

children happy this holiday season (NC)—Choosing the right toy for your child will give her the opportunity to think, practice a particular skill or learn something new, as well as engage her in hours of play. To strike a balance between learning and fun, parents should look for toys that fit their child's age, abilities and interests, and give her the opportunity to learn and grow. Take the time to be sure the toy is suitable for your child. You'll help your child learn and have fun at the same time!

To help parents identify toys that nurture learning behaviours in key areas of development, Sylvan Learning Centre offer these tips to help parents find toys that make learning fun:

Math

• Board games take math beyond the classroom. Take turns playing banker in Monopoly™ or play a game of Yahtzee™ and calculate the odds of rolling specific combinations.

• A toy cash register helps children understand math when making change with money.

• Building blocks teach children about geometry and shapes.

Reading/Writing

• Books help children enhance their vocabulary and appreciate literature. Find out who your child's favourite author is and be sure to bring home a couple of those books. Go to www.bookadventure.org for guidance on age-specific books in your child's favourite subject areas.

• The LeapPad™ Learning System lets children use their personal console to run a variety of learning software that teaches reading, phonics and vocabulary.

• Subscribe to a magazine for your child (e.g., Ladybug, Ranger Rick, Spider, Chirp, etc.) to learn about topics of interest to him.

Imagination/Creativity

• Dress up costumes, dollhouses and other pretend props encourage children to tell stories and play make-believe. Young children love to pretend with child-size versions of everyday adult objects like telephones, cars and computers. Find activities and toys that are pretend versions of items you use on a regular basis.

• The Easy Bake™ Oven introduces children to basic food preparation skills, such as measurements, reading recipes and following cooking directions.

• Art materials, such as paint sets or craft kits, foster creativity and help improve reading and writing skills.

Reasoning Skills

• For young children, toys like building blocks, LEGO's™, and Tinkertoys™ actually help children acquire the reasoning necessary to learn math more quickly.

• Look into games like Connect Four™ or Yahtzee™ to teach your child strategy and problem solving skills.

• Science kits, chemistry sets and ant farms offer great insights into the world of science and help enhance reading comprehension and critical thinking.

• Video games help build reasoning skills and logic as children navigate different levels of each game. It's a great way to develop hand-eye coordination, too.

Sylvan Learning Centre is the largest organization of its kind in the industry. Sylvan's trained and certified teachers provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep. For tips on helping your child develop stronger skills, visit Sylvan Learning Centre's "Tips for Parents and Students" page on the web at www.educate.com/tips. For more information about Sylvan Learning Centre, phone 1-800-31-SUCCESS.

Easy Trail Mixes

2008-02-28T07:04:00.001-08:00

Before you set off on your next family walk or outing, try making one of these super easy trail mixes to keep your energy up.

* Quick Fix Mix

2 cups mini pretzels
1 cup cheese snack crackers
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup raisins
Place all ingredients into a plastic baggie, seal, and then shake. Enjoy!

* Chocolate Popcorn Mix

2 cups spoon size shredded wheat cereal
2 cups popped popcorn
1 cup dried cranberries
3 Tbsp. milk chocolate chunks
Toss cereal and popcorn into a large bowl. Place the cranberries into a small bowl. Melt the chocolate as directed on the package, and stir. Pour the chocolate over the cranberries and mix lightly. Add the chocolate cranberries to the cereal mixture, and toss lightly. Spread the mix into a single layer on a large piece of wax paper. Let it cool completely before serving.

* Fruity Nut Mix

1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup dried banana chips
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 cup unsalted peanuts
1 cup dried fruit bits
Place all of the ingredients into a plastic baggie, seal, and then shake. Fast, easy and yummy!

About the author:
Deborah Shelton edits The Five Minute Parent email newsletter. For your free subscription, send a blank email to mailto:Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://www.fiveminuteparent.com
www.fiveminuteparent.com
deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

Dont Get Mad - Write It Down

2008-02-28T07:03:00.002-08:00

"Have you just had an arguement with a friend, mum, dad, brother, sister? Got a bad report from school? or just feeling down in the dumps?"

If you are feeling any of the above then this article can help you :D

Whenever someone has upset me or im left feeling stressed from anything, i dont let it wind me up and let it make me mad because that just ends up causing more problems in the long run!

Instead i take a piece of pen and paper and write it all down, i pretend i am writing a letter to someone (it dont matter who), i normally try and pick someone i know i can trust and have a good conversation with without getting frustrated at them cos they wont listen.(this person could also be imaginary and not real)

I write down every single thing that im feeling and write it down as if they was next to me listening, within this letter i would pretend i was having a discussion with them about whatever it was that was bothering me, whether its mum & dad constantly moaning about homework, brothers and sisters trying to satrt a fight, people at school, friends you`ve had an arguement with by the time you`ve finished writing the letter to this person that you really trust (or have made up) you yourself have calmed down and now that your calm again, read back through the letter and read what you wrote.

When reading the letter think to yourself was the arguement really their fault or was i partly to blame?, if i did a bit more homework would mum & dad give me a break? etc and use this to better yourself.

This is also good practise for helping you control your temper and instead of getting mad at someone write it down.

This also helps kids & teens that feel lonely and feel like they have no-one to talk to since they are still sorting out their problems but not having to actually confront anyone.

About the author:

I am a 18yr youth worker (as of 2005) who not only works with teenagers as a living, but still has a brain of a young teen, so i can use my ups and downs in life to help guide other teens into the right path.

© 2005 http://just-4-teens.com

discount Clothing Stores - TheMall123 Apparel Advantage

2008-02-28T07:03:00.001-08:00

How many times have you dreamt of the perfect wardrobe? How many times have you wished that you had the money to create that oh-so-perfect wardrobe? Guess what? Your dreams can really come true! It's no longer impossible or even difficult to acquire a rocking and wicked set of threads. So if you're game for a fabulous fashion fiesta and maybe the most exhilarating shopping expedition of your life, read on!

If you crave for clothes, then TheMall123 Online Store is the place to be. The ultimate destination for dressing divas and dudes, TheMall123 gives you access to the very best web stores and the hottest in haute couture. From Ebay and EssentialApparel.com to Deal.com, WalMart and Coldwater Creek, we're a virtual gateway to shopping, and the choice of store is entirely yours.

Sign up and register with TheMall123 and open your gateway to the world of fashionable clothes and accessories like never before. Be it classic or trendy, designer or casual, denims or dresses, gloves or gowns, Ralph Laurens or Roxys, Bennettons or Burberrys, we'll give you whatever you desire - name it and we're sure to supply it! Whether you're into chic and cute, sporty and smart, or understated and official, members of TheMall123 are connected to the widest range of apparel and accessories.

What's more, we believe that the customer is key, and we pay special attention to our patrons. You can always freely access our affiliate web stores, but we at TheMall123 like to give our customers that something extra. So we came up with a better idea - sign up with us and you can gain while you gear up! Sign up.........shop………get paid… That's the motto at TheMall123, the shopping experience with the added edge. All you have to do is sign up and shop as a registered member, and wait - for your most wanted products as well as the rebate rewards that come your way! Unlimited cash-back offers, unlimited fun, unlimited choice - a happy shopper couldn't ask for more! So what are you waiting for? Connect to TheMall123, spend your dough on guaranteed, top-quality clothes and accessories of your choice, and earn as you buy -and you can do all this from the comfort of your own homes!

About the author:
Chaim Ringer is a well known author who writes for www.themall123.com

Designer Clothing Discount- Discounted Designer wear

2008-02-28T07:02:00.003-08:00

Haven't you always wanted to own a Versace gown, a Gucci bag, or a Louis Vuitton ensemble? At least one in four consumers would give an arm and a leg for a dream designer wardrobe. Well, you can keep your limbs intact, and instead, simply log on to TheMall123 and register with us for the most mind-blowing shopping rendezvous of your life!

You can now purchase that Versace gown you always wanted without stressing too much. How, you ask? It's really simple. TheMall123 gives you the golden opportunity to shop at their wide range of web stores and buy designer-wear at mind bogglingly low prices. Only at TheMall123 do you get huge discounts on prêt-a-porter haute couture. Prada, Chanel, Lacroix, Gucci, Versace - the list is endless and the choices, almost too many!

Branded clothing is available everywhere - both offline and online. So what's so special about TheMall123, you wonder? Well, we've got news for you. Our prices are so low that they're almost unbelievable! This is the only place where you get the most sought-after fashion labels at crazy costs - price tags that suit your pockets just perfectly.

With our innovative deals and offers, we give our customers the chance to go and indulge in high-class shopping quite easily. What you will probably never find at a boutique or showroom at affordable prices, you will discover it on TheMall123. So your designer dream doesn't have to be one at all - live your dream as a reality in this lifetime itself!

About the author:
Chaim Ringer is a well known author who writes for www.themall123.com

Crazy Colors Fun Kid Experiment as a Party Activity

2008-02-28T07:02:00.001-08:00

Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for your next kid birthday party.

This activity, which is strictly speaking a kid science experiment, can be used in any party as entertainment. Even better: have a "Mad Chemist" theme and use this idea as one of the kid experiments.

Fill a plate or saucer with milk and put in a few drops of food coloring on top of the milk in different spots. The smaller the drops the better.

Use a spoon to pour a small amount of dishwashing liquid into the milk. Pouring it into the center works best.

Now watch the colors dance and explode.

This might sound very simple to you, but I've done this a few times with kids aged 6 - 10 and was amazed at how much pleasure this gave them! Let them each do their own - provide different colors and encourage them to try out different things. You will be amazed at the beautiful patterns they manage to create. Allow them to repeat the process a few times. They'll get the hang of it after one or two tries. If the kids are too small to do it themselves, you can do it as a demonstration. Or, why not just let them bring old clothes with, put down lots of old newspapers and allow them to make a big mess. They will love you for it!

Explanation:
Water has a "skin" called surface tension. This is a force on the surface of water which pulls it inwards. Soap or dishwashing liquid breaks down the surface tension and stops the skin from forming. This stops water sticking together in drops and so it flows more easily into all the places where dirt collects.

About the author:
Anne-Marie Killer is a mother of two teenagers and a toddler. She is the webmaster and owner of Perfect Party Ideas
Read her blog where she documents the process of setting up Perfect Party Ideas

Cool Snacks for a Hot Summer

2008-02-28T07:01:00.004-08:00

Beat the heat with these cool summer treats!

Mouse Popsicles

It’s not what you’re thinking! The name refers to the size of the popsicle—not the contents. Wash a bowl of seedless grapes, and then set the grapes in the freezer for about an hour. Poke colored toothpicks into the grapes to serve.

Juice Pops

Summer isn’t complete without homemade juice popsicles. Simply fill a popsicle mold or an ice tray with your favorite fruit juice. Cover the ice tray with clear plastic wrap and poke a toothpick through the plastic into each square. Place the tray into the freezer until the popsicles are frozen solid.

Frozen Monkey Treats

Here is a healthy snack that your kids will go bananas for! Peel a banana and cut it in half. Insert popsicle sticks into the cut ends. Dip the bananas into yogurt or melted chocolate, and then roll the bananas in chopped nuts, crushed cereal, or coconut shavings. Place the bananas on a small waxed paper-lined baking sheet and set the sheet into the freezer for an hour or so. Fun to make and even more fun to eat!

Fruit Fizzy

Don’t plan your summer party without this refreshing drink. Pour one can of Sprite (it doesn’t have caffeine) into a blender, along with small ice cubes. Add several large strawberries, a handful of blueberries, or other favorite fruit to the mix. Blend the mixture until it has the texture of a slush. Pour into a glass and garnish with a cherry on top.

About the author:
Deborah Shelton edits The Five Minute Parent email newsletter. For your free subscription, send a blank email to mailto:Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://www.fiveminuteparent.com
www.fiveminuteparent.com
deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

Contact Lens Makeup Safety Tips

2008-02-28T07:01:00.003-08:00

If your teenage daughter wants to wear contact lenses, you may have some reservations, so get as much information as you can for her when it comes to applying makeup. Contacts are nice because eyeglasses may get in the way if your teen plays sports and girls like their pretty eyes to show instead of being hidden by eyeglasses. Your teen needs to be responsible so that she will take care of them and put on her makeup with eye care in mind. If you misuse cosmetics when wearing contact lenses, you may develop allergies, dry eye, injury, infection, or deposits on the lenses. There are a lot of things you can do to safely put on makeup if you wear contacts. Check out http://www.contact-lenses-4u.net for ideas and here are some tips and product information when it comes to applying makeup safely around the eyes:
• Wash your hands prior to putting in each contact, then apply makeup
• Don’t expose your eyes to water while wearing contacts
• Take out the lenses before you remove your makeup. Avoid greasy or oily makeup removers as they may build up on the contact lenses
• Avoid getting too close to the eye with any type of makeup
• Use makeup that is hypoallergenic to avoid sensitivity. Use only well known trusted brand names
• Use water soluble makeup
• Don’t use waterproof mascara as it may permanently adhere to the lens. Also avoid mascara that contains volume building fibers
• Avoid eye shadow that is powder. Use only gel, liquid or cream. Never use eye shadow that is frosted or iridescent. These may contain oyster shells or mica.
• Do not use eyeliner that is directly drawn on the rim of the eye. Keep all eyeliner pencils sharp enough so the wood doesn’t scratch the surface of the eye
• Use pressed powders
• Don’t use hairspray or other aerosols if you have already put in your lenses. Allow all hairspray to settle before walking into a room that has just been sprayed. Many times hair products can irritate the eyes and they are more susceptible now to problems because you wear contacts.
• Keep all nail polish remover and perfumes away from your contacts.
• Never swap makeup application sponges or brushes with your friends and wash your application brushes frequently
• Don’t put on make up if your eyes are already red or swollen, this will only irritate them more
• Beware of flaking mascara because pieces of nylon can reach the eye and never purchase mascara refills
• Never use saliva or water to thin cosmetics
• Never swap your contacts with your friends
• Never wear the contacts if they become cracked, chipped or torn
• You may want to use an eye wash to remove any excess oils from makeup residual
• Replace your cosmetics every six months to avoid bacterial growth
• Never apply eye makeup while in a car or worse yet while driving

If your teenager follows a few common sense ways of putting on makeup properly and purchasing the right products, there should be no problems with the contacts, or maintaining eye health and safety.

About the author:
Beverly Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying reading glasses, contact lenses, LASIK, safety glasses and more. She gives information and tips to help you save money and make informed buying decisions. Her many articles can be found at http://www.contact-lenses-4u.net

Collectible Porcelain Dolls.

2008-02-28T07:01:00.001-08:00

Artists of collectible porcelain dolls are best known for their ability to depict aspects of childhood. Different artists have different styles they use in the creation of their collectible porcelain dolls, but the result is often the same: to show a side of children that is dear to the heart. Children can be so many things. They can be mischievous and naughty, they can be curious and intent, and they can be sweet and soulful. Above all else, children are innocent. What makes collectible porcelain dolls so popular is the artists’ ability to capture these qualities that we cherish. Looking at the doll one sees not so much the doll itself as the emotional characteristics it portrays. These dolls represent much of what is dear in life.

Another form of collectible porcelain dolls are the ones depicting well
known characters. Dorothy dolls from ‘The Wizard of Oz’, and Scarlett O’Hara dolls from ‘Gone with the Wind’ are both examples of collectible porcelain dolls whose claim to fame is tied to a popular film. These dolls are keepsakes for those who loved the personalities in the film.

More and more current celebrities now have their own dolls. Always a favorite among collectible porcelain dolls are those that depict favorite children’s stories, such as Cinderella and Snow White. Serious
collectors keep these dolls in their boxes to keep them pristine.

About the author:

http://www.a1-porcelain-dolls-4u.info/collectibleporcelaindoll.html

Coaching Youth Sports

2008-02-28T07:00:00.003-08:00

is a challenge. Most of our kids are really happy to have us step up to the plate and coach and, despite the time we give up, most parents find the experience equally rewarding. However, there are some major things that every coach needs to do and understand before they start the season: 1) coach with the proper attitude; 2) coach with the proper fundamentals; and, 3) learn and teach the difference between the “Dad Hat” and the “Coach Hat”.

Coaching the Right Attitude:

We all love our kids and, let’s face it; we also love playing sports with our kids. For me, it’s the way that I spend most of my free time and it is right up there as one of my favorite things to do. That being said, I also need to realize that statistically, none of the kids that I coach will ever play professional sports, nearly all of them will not play sports in college, and many of them will not even play varsity sports in high school. So, what does this mean for us as a coach? We need to emphasize all the other aspects of sports and the life lessons that make us love playing the game. Mostly, we need to make the experience fun!

In 1988, Robert Fulghum wrote the book “All I Really Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten”. I’ve often told people that you can learn everything you need to know by playing sports – especially youth sports. Many of the same lessons apply, but on an even bigger scale where kids learn success and failure, wining and losing, sportsmanship and teamwork, and how to respond in many pressure situations. None of these are easy lessons. Winning with grace is just as hard to teach as losing with dignity. How can you do this and make sure that everybody has a great season? That’s the trick.

Every team you ever coach, especially teams with younger kids, will be split between kids that are talented and kids that are not. The goal that you have as a coach is to make sure that every one of those kids has a great experience and wants to play again next year. I take the most pride in the job I did as a coach when the worst kid on the team loves the sport and keeps playing year after year. The way that I do this is to emphasize things other than on field performance – I try to stress effort, trying your best and hustle.

There are several practical things that you can do to emphasize these “other” characteristics. In basketball, for example, instead of emphasizing and keeping stats for scoring, keep stats on hustle, picks set, good defense, rebounds, filling a lane, or just being in the right position. After every game, point out something positive that every kid did during the game. Award a point for each time a kid does something you emphasize and give stars or sew on patches when points are accumulated. You’ll see that these kids will do anything to get a star on their uniform, even pay attention in practice!

Coaching the Right Fundamentals:

Kids of any age can learn to do things properly. They may not have the motor skills developed yet, but they can at least try to do it right. One of my favorite misconceptions is that “practice makes perfect”. That’s totally wrong; practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes PERMANENT. What I try to teach is: “Perfect Practice Makes Permanently Perfect”. That’s a pretty big difference!

Of course, this really changes things for a youth coach because we need to teach the correct fundamentals or we’ll simply be reinforcing the bad habits kids develop. The hardest thing to do as a coach is to try and correct a flaw that a kid has developed over years of “practice”. This is even harder when the kid is good, because correcting the fundamental flaw generally means that getting worse before getting better. That means the kid is going to be reluctant to try this “new” way and may not stick it out. In the long run, the difference could be huge. While we’ve already acknowledged that that we’re not developing professional athletes, there is no reason to limit the ceiling on how well each child may develop. Coach’s Corner, Continued

The solution is simple: we need to learn the right fundamentals before we start coaching. It’s a responsibility that we accept when we volunteer to coach. Now, up front, I want to make sure to state that most of us think we know much more about sports than we really do. We think that because we played and we were pretty good that we clearly know how to teach a kid to play baseball or basketball. That’s simply not true. Much of what we learned was wrong. We may also not know the right way to communicate what we know to kids. Or, we may not know anything about the sport if we’re stepping in and coaching soccer or another sport that wasn’t “big” when we were young.

Fortunately, there is help. Many leagues do a good job teaching their coaches the fundamentals of the game. Some leagues even offer mandatory coaching clinics for their coaches. These are really good starts, but generally not enough – especially as the kids you coach get older and better. Before every season that I coach, I’ll watch several instructional tapes to review the fundamentals and also learn new material. I re-watch tapes, often with my kids that we’ve seen before and buy a couple of new ones to add some wrinkles. Of course, at SportsKids.com, we do offer 1,000’s of instructional books and videos, but the point of this section is to simply say to use whatever method you choose to make sure that you teach correct fundamentals. Every kid, even young kids, can learn with good coaching and remember: “Practice makes Permanent”.

The “Dad Hat” and the “Coach Hat”:

There is a huge difference between being a “Dad” and being a “Coach”. Each has different responsibilities and relationships with the kids. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of overlap between the two roles. I literally have two hats: one says “Dad” and the other says “Coach”. Over the years, my kids and I have learned to separate the two so I don’t wear the hats too often, but it does make the distinction more literal. Coaching your own children is one of the real challenges of youth sports because sometimes, you child wants or expects to have a dad when you’re the team’s coach. If you can separate these roles, and both of your expectations, you and your child will have a much better youth sports experience.

About the author:
Ken Kaiserman is the president of SportsKids.com, a leading youth sports website featuring games,sports news,sports camp and league directories,community features, and with over 150,000 products.

Ken coaches youth football,basketball and baseball.He also serves on the local little league board of directors as well as the Park Advisory Board.

Choose toys to encourage learning this holiday season

2008-02-28T07:00:00.001-08:00

(NC)—During the holiday season, stores are packed with a variety of toys and games, making it hard for parents to know which types are appropriate matches for their children. By selecting toys that offer a combination of fun and education, parents can do more than just stimulate a child's enjoyment – they can enhance reading and math skills while nurturing problem solving and imagination.

Sylvan Learning Centre suggests parents give the gift of learning this holiday season, and offers the following top learning toy selections:

Top learning toy selections for Holiday 2003

All items are available at Zellers stores across Canada

1. Imagination – LEGO Bionicles™ let children ages seven and up play with collectible biomechancial characters in an evolving story of life in the fictional land of Mata Nui. Bionicles encourages storytelling and role-playing and stimulates imagination, logic and verbal skills. ($9.88)

2. Family fun – Classic board games Monopoly™, Scrabble JuniorTM, Life™ and Clue™ are back and so is family game night. Playing games together is a great way to encourage family time and learn about counting, managing money, spelling and strategy. For various ages. ($18.95-$35.45)

3. Measurements – The Easy Bake Oven™ is an ever-popular classic and still making the sweetest memories! Children ages eight and up learn how to measure ingredients and use addition and multiplication if baking for more people. ($24.86)

4. Shapes, colours and imagination – The Playdoh™ Creation Station gives children three and up the ultimate playdoh set with tools and molds to create all kinds of fun shapes. Children can use their imaginations to create almost anything! ($44.98)

5. Reading – The LeapPad™ Learning System marries learning with laptop technology. Children ages four and up can use their personal LeapPad console to run a variety of learning software that teaches reading, phonics and vocabulary. ($54.97)

6. Letters and sounds – Alphabet Pal™ features several ways to play and learn, teaching children three and up the alphabet song, colours, letters and letter sounds. ($34.88)

7. Math – The forever favourite Yahtzee™ lets children take turns rolling the dice to fill their scorecards with different combinations. While having fun, children improve math skills including addition, multiplication and probability. For children ages eight and up. ($9.98)

8. Motor skills – Little Tikes Goofy Giggles™ encourages little ones to follow him around as he helps them learn to crawl. Children will be moving around just in time for the holidays! For infants. ($29.97)

9. Hand-eye coordination – Sims Double Deluxe™ lets players create neighbourhoods of simulated people known as "Sims" and control their lives. Sims and other video games help children with hand-eye coordination, memory stimulation and complex problem solving. ($39.96 – $59.96)

10. Organization – Children learn how to stay organized, track homework assignments and activities and follow schedules just like mom and dad with personal organizers like the Palm Tungsten E™. For various ages, Palm organizers help children manage their workload and personal life. ($299.97)

Sylvan Learning Centre is the largest organization of its kind in the industry. Sylvan's trained and certified teachers provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep. For tips on helping your child develop stronger skills, visit Sylvan Learning Centre's "Tips for Parents and Students" page on the web at www.educate.com/tips. For more information about Sylvan Learning Centre, phone 1-800-31-SUCCESS.

- News Canada

About the author:
News Canada

Buying Foreclosed Properties

2008-02-28T06:59:00.001-08:00

Buying foreclosed properties is a great way to save your pennies on your real estate endeavors. While most properties that have been foreclosed upon sell for five to ten percent below normal selling price, there are some out there who may be selling for as much as twenty to thirty percent below market value.

While purchasing foreclosed homes is a great way to buy, sell, and make a profit, there is a process to the purchasing of these properties that must be followed by everyone. When a home is being foreclosed upon it means that the home owner was unable to make their mortgage payments on time and fell more behind than their bank or lender allowed. Usually the mortgage loan is taken against the house, there by granting the lender or bank the right to seize the property as fulfillment of their loan.

As far as purchasing foreclosed properties go, there are some advantages to buying properties this way that buying properties the normal traditional way do not offer. Appraisal fees can range anywhere from $300 to $600. During an appraisal, a professional appraiser inspects the property, measuring the square footage, inspecting the yard, fencing, garage, and other appurtenant structures. They will also do an inspection of the property itself; things like pools, decks, number of bathrooms, number of bedrooms, and such are all taken into consideration when evaluating the value of a particular property or home. The appraisal process can be rather tiresome, as an appraisal is simply the appraiser's professional opinion. If the lender, bank, or purchaser does not agree with the figure the appraiser comes up with the appraisal is disputed and the process begins again. When you buy a property that is being foreclosed upon, the appraisal process can usually be skipped because the lender already has some idea of what the property is worth. This saves both of you money, and can make the buying and selling process a lot easier and smoother on everyone's behalf.

Buying properties that are being foreclosed upon is a great way to locate a fixer upper that is worth the work. Usually foreclosed homes need repairs because the owner was, obviously, having some financial troubles that caused them to get so behind in the payments. This is an indicator that there may be problems with the roof, plumbing, or even the yard that need fixing. These are all things that can add to or take away from the market value of a home, and if you can purchase a home with these problems and you have the ability or monetary reserves to correct these problems, you have found yourself a nice little cash bucket.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known simply as HUD, also holds auctions periodically to unload homes that were funded through their federal mortgage program. Sometimes these houses can be bought at rock bottom prices and are not in as bad condition as one might think, although the auction environment can drive prices up in others' determination to secure a particular property for their own needs, personal or business related.

William Thatcher

http://a1financialnews.com

Bring Out The Wizard In Kids With A Harry Potter Quiz

2008-02-28T06:58:00.002-08:00

Q. I think that Harry Potter provides an excellent learning opportunity for my kids. How can I take advantage of his popularity to teach my children something?

A. You're on the right track here I think. A Harry Potter quiz would be an outstanding vehicle to teach your children logic. You don't necessarily have to focus on particular scenes from any of the books or movies, you can use a Harry Potter quiz as a foothold into a wider learning experience.

For example, you could devise a Harry Potter quiz that sets up a scenario where Harry Potter is faced with a problem that needs to be solved. He can use 1/3 magic, 1/3 math, and 1/3 logic to solve the problem.

For example: You could create a Harry Potter quiz question that says:

"Harry Potter is lost in the Forbidden Forrest. He has forgotten his magic wand and his spell book. All he has is his watch, a telescope, and one spell that lets him understand what animals are saying but doesn't let them understand him. Help Harry Potter get back to Hogwarts."

Let me just say that I'm not sure that this particular Harry potter quiz question can even be answered. It's your job to write the quiz, I'm only here to give you ideas.

What you want to make sure is that you don't just go for the easy answer and create a Harry Potter trivia quiz. That won't do anything for your goal of creating a Harry Potter quiz that will teach your children something. Be creative and imaginative. The results of a well-crafted Harry Potter quiz will be magical if you do it right.

About the author:

Brian Fong

http://www.QuizFaq.com

Quiz Faq - Your solutions for the quiz.

Basketball, Swimming and PowerPoint: The New Boys and Girls Clubs

2008-02-28T06:58:00.001-08:00

(ARA) – “They’re really useful and really cool,” enthuses Allysa Halvorson, age 11. She’s not talking about the latest Groovy Girl doll or her Nail Jazz. She’s talking about computers.

Everyday after school, Halvorson learns about graphic design, Internet searches and how to use PowerPoint and Photoshop through the Club Tech program. Club Tech is an innovative technology program being implemented at more than 3,300 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide. A partnership with Microsoft has provided a $100 million, five-year grant to outfit the Clubs with the latest software, a comprehensive technology-oriented curriculum and technical training for Club staff.

Historically, Boys & Girls Clubs have been known as safe, after-school havens where parents could send their kids to play sports, swim and get help with their homework. But now they are much more than that. The Club Tech program allows the organization to help prepare young people for a world in which technology has become increasingly important.

“When I started coming to the club, I had never seen so many computers,” says 16-year-old Joel Bueno, a regular participant in the Club Tech program in Mesa, Ariz. “I was impressed -- we don’t even have that many at school.”

Club Tech programs help kids learn how to use PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and the Internet for everything from book reports to research papers to career exploration. The Digital Arts Suite, a component of the Club Tech program, explores Web page design, desktop publishing, digital photography, digital movie making and electronic music making. The programs are all age-appropriate, interactive and most importantly, fun.

“We recognize the technology changes going on in the world, and we want to ensure that our Clubs and the young people they serve are a part of it,” says Charisma Cannon, a spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The array of Club Tech programs are designed to equip young people with the basic and advanced technological skills needed to excel in school and the job market. They introduce kids to a full range of digital skills and possibilities, and demonstrate to them the power of technology and how it can be used to foster the imagination and explore the world around them.

“These kids are intrinsically motivated to learn,” says Mesa, Ariz., Club Tech instructor Josh Buffy. “Given the choice to continue working or have free time, they choose to continue working on their PowerPoint presentations. They find it more gratifying than a computer game.”

Even the smaller children get a lot from the program. “These kids have no fear,” says Buffy. “They do fine.”

Club Tech integrates technology into every aspect of the Boys & Girls Clubs’ organization, from the overall management to core programs, including educational enhancement, character and leadership development, and the arts.

Boys & Girls Clubs have evolved as more than just a place for recreation; they are taking an active role in preparing young people for success in the future, whatever their career choice may be.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

Baseball Cap Turns Fifty

2008-02-28T06:57:00.002-08:00

Golfers wear them and so do Brownies. Every Hollywood director since Steven Spielberg did ‘Jaws’ considers it part of their work wardrobe. It’s a US import which has become an integral part of British society. And this year it has a special birthday. The baseball cap is fifty.

Up until 1954, it was up to individual baseball players to choose a hat to keep the sun out their eyes. Some went for straw boaters, others preferred jockey caps. There was no consistency amongst players, let alone teams. So, in 1954, a hat company called New Era came up with the standard issue cap known as the ‘59Fifty’. This brought uniformity to the game and fifty years on, it’s still the official cap of Major League Baseball.

In the late 70s and early 80s the American public became interested in wearing the caps worn by their favourite team and the big names in the game. The trend took hold and the baseball cap eventually made its way into every part of American society, including Hollywood and most importantly, the music scene.

In 1994, New York film maker Spike Lee asked the cap manufacturers to make him a fitted Yankees cap in 'unofficial' colours. At first they thought it was a strange request – who’d want a cap that's not identical to the Pros? But Spike got what he wanted, people noticed, and demand for hats like his took off making Spike Lee the founder of the fitted fashion cap.

Ian Spencer of UK based cap specialists, Capitate.co.uk said “The baseball cap made its way to the UK a while ago, but the last 4 years has seen extraordinary growth, largely due to the increasing number of homes with satellite TV. Through MTV, artists like Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst helped introduce the UK to the New York Yankees cap. This was around the time when the British public were keen to show their solidarity with New York after the 9/11 tragedy.”

Baseball caps continue to grow in popularity and the music industry retains its influence over what’s hot. Usher is currently doing his bit for the Atlanta Braves while Britney fly’s the flag for the Birmingham Barons. Hats off to the baseball cap.

About the author:
Ian Spencer is the Managing Director of Capitate.co.uk and is the UK specialist in authentic baseball caps and trucker hats. Ian grew up in Canada, spent a number of years in the US, and now lives and works in Scotland.

Baby names and how to pick one

2008-02-28T06:57:00.001-08:00

Researchers claim that there are over one million baby names in everyday use worldwide. How are you going to pick from among all of the baby names in existence?

Is the meaning of baby names important to you? Here are a few common baby names with meanings that might surprise you:
· Harvey is a variant of a word from Old German word meaning ‘Soldier’
· Janie is from Old English meaning ‘God has been gracious’
· Donald comes from Latin and means ‘Brown Stranger’
· Dougal originates from Old Anglo-Saxon and means ‘Dweller by the dark stream’
· Rachel is another variant of an Old German word meaning ‘Lamb’

One of the most meaningful things you will ever do for your little one is select a name, as it will endure for his or her whole life.

Once you have browsed through the vast collection of baby names why not check out our great baby product selection, or bookmark this site and return later. We have the best selection on the web of baby cribs, baby strollers, baby car seats, and much, much more.

For more information on Baby Names, or to choose from a variety of related products and services, choose from the following:

About the author:
Marilyn Willoughby is a successful author and publisher of http://www.great-baby-products.com An online resource for buying great baby products and a provider of important baby safety tips.
www.great-baby-products.com

Baby gift ideas

2008-02-28T06:49:00.001-08:00

A new arrival in the family ushers in immeasurable joy and happiness. It is a special occasion not only for the respective mother and father, but also for the entire family and their friends. Celebrate this joyous occasion with style. Go in for classy yet useful baby gifts for the newborn. A few tips are listed below that my help you choose the ideal baby gifts for some one you love and care about.

# Baby beds with a number of tiny pillows in different shapes. A baby bed is very useful because babies soil the bed frequently and to have a spare one always helps.

# Soft toys. Cuddly teddy bears and dolls keep the infant company. They also create a cozy atmosphere, making the baby feel very comfortable.

# Baby wraps and blankets. Baby skin is very soft. Keeping this in mind always buy soft wraparounds for the baby. The wraps should not have any kind of buckles or buttons as this may hurt the baby.

# Baby clothes. Again keep in mind the sensitive skin of the newborn. Loose and soft clothes are always the best. Remember to avoid buttoned or buckled apparel.

# Woolens. Sweaters woven from the finest wool only should be considered for gifting purposes. This also applies to caps, hoods and socks.

# Body suits are considered ideal as they cover the baby from head to toe without the help of drawstrings and buttons. Also they are easy to handle when in a body suit.

# Baby Gifts can also include diaper sets. Though some may consider it a bit impolite, the fact is that they are very useful to the parents who never seem to have enough of them.

# Beautiful baby baskets are one way of gifting more than one item at a time. You can put in various articles that will come in handy for the baby as well as the mother.

# Baby milk bottles. If the mother is breast-feeding the newborn, these will be useful only after six to seven months.

# Pacifiers, rattlers, piggy banks and chimes are among other items that are appropriate for the occasion.

# Shower items form a very important part of baby gifts. Shower tubs, shower toys, soaps and oils come under this category. Moms can be gifted shower aprons as well as baby shower invitation cards.

# For babies in the crawling stage, ideal gifts include rocking chairs and horses.

# Even at this stage it is advisable to gift soft toys as there is a chance toddlers may hurt themselves with hard toys.

# Such toys may include soft stacking rings, clutch cubes and balls.

# Items like play sets, figure books, alphabet blocks and fitting blocks and puzzle name stools can be gifted to babies over one year.

# It is better if chocolates and other goodies accompany gifts. This gives twice the joy to the baby.

A wide range of baby gifts awaits you online. So what are you waiting for? Happy clicking.

About the author:
For further details visit India gifts

Baby Gift Basket

2008-02-28T06:48:00.002-08:00

Baby showers are one of the most delightful events to attend with the fun and often silly games as well as a wide assortment of adorable baby items given as gifts. Many times a mother-to-be will have registered at a few stores so that guests at her baby shower or well-wishers can present the new parents with a gift that is needed or desired. Other times expecting moms might not request any gifts but most everyone will buy her something that will come in handy with a new baby.

Most of us have waited until the last minute to buy a baby gift and find that the list of items requested by the new mom are either already purchased by another person or far too expensive to consider. Sometimes we just want to be the one to give a unique gift that will be put to use with a new baby but isn’t quite expected. Another possibility is that some people don’t have a great deal of money to spend on a shower gift and don’t want to look as if they are simply cheap. Even if a person is just looking for a unique baby shower gift that no one else is probably giving the new mom, one of the best gifts to give is a baby gift basket.

If a person wishes to put together their own baby gift basket, the best way to begin is to find a useful container in which to put the gifts and present to the new mom. Although the gift will be referred to as a baby gift basket, the container does not literally have to be a basket. Many people have gotten creative by filling a baby diaper pail or a baby bath tub with baby items and then presented it as a baby gift basket. For a smaller yet equally effective baby gift basket to fill, bathroom caddies or small containers that can hold cotton balls or q-tips work very well.

Some individuals like to stay with a theme when giving a baby gift basket like bath items, safety kits or bedtime items. Other times a selection of a variety of items that don’t really have any kind of connection other than the fact that they can be used with a new baby make a great presentation in a baby gift basket. Some items that can be considered for a baby gift basket can include soap, wash cloths, an infant thermometer, baby finger nail clippers, diaper rash lotion, bottles, bibs, body lotion, Onsies, baby books and much more.

Another option when deciding to give a baby gift basket for a baby shower or even after a baby is born is to have a professional baby gift basket prepared. Just like a home-prepared baby gift basket, a profession baby gift basket can be prepared according to a particular theme or with an assortment of specially selected baby items. Gift basket creation stores are popping up all around large cities and small towns where a person can simply walk in off the street and select a pre-made baby gift basket.

A person can also order a baby gift basket by shopping online. The benefits of shopping for a baby gift basket online include being able to view the kinds of gift baskets that are available as well as having the option to select specific items that should be included in a gift basket. When ordering a baby gift basket, the basket can be delivered to the giver or the recipient depending on the situation. However a baby gift basket is presented to a new mom, she is sure to be delighted as she discovers each item in the basket.

About The Author
anthony is the webmaster and owner of " Discount-Baby-Gift-Baskets.com" and has been researching and reporting on acne solutions for years. Click Here ==> http://www.discount-baby-gift-baskets.com/

About the author:
Baby Gift Basket

Baby showers are one of the most delightful events to attend with the fun and often silly games as well as a wide assortment of adorable baby items given as gifts. Many times a mother-to-be will have registered at a few stores so that guests at her baby shower or well-wishers can present the new parents with a gift that is needed or desired. Other times expecting moms might not request any gifts but most everyone will buy her something that will come in handy with a new baby.

Most of us have waited until the last minute to buy a baby gift and find that the list of items requested by the new mom are either already purchased by another person or far too expensive to consider. Sometimes we just want to be the one to give a unique gift that will be put to use with a new baby but isn’t quite expected. Another possibility is that some people don’t have a great deal of money to spend on a shower gift and don’t want to look as if they are simply cheap. Even if a person is just looking for a unique baby shower gift that no one else is probably giving the new mom, one of the best gifts to give is a baby gift basket.

If a person wishes to put together their own baby gift basket, the best way to begin is to find a useful container in which to put the gifts and present to the new mom. Although the gift will be referred to as a baby gift basket, the container does not literally have to be a basket. Many people have gotten creative by filling a baby diaper pail or a baby bath tub with baby items and then presented it as a baby gift basket. For a smaller yet equally effective baby gift basket to fill, bathroom caddies or small containers that can hold cotton balls or q-tips work very well.

Some individuals like to stay with a theme when giving a baby gift basket like bath items, safety kits or bedtime items. Other times a selection of a variety of items that don’t really have any kind of connection other than the fact that they can be used with a new baby make a great presentation in a baby gift basket. Some items that can be considered for a baby gift basket can include soap, wash cloths, an infant thermometer, baby finger nail clippers, diaper rash lotion, bottles, bibs, body lotion, Onsies, baby books and much more.

Another option when deciding to give a baby gift basket for a baby shower or even after a baby is born is to have a professional baby gift basket prepared. Just like a home-prepared baby gift basket, a profession baby gift basket can be prepared according to a particular theme or with an assortment of specially selected baby items. Gift basket creation stores are popping up all around large cities and small towns where a person can simply walk in off the street and select a pre-made baby gift basket.

A person can also order a baby gift basket by shopping online. The benefits of shopping for a baby gift basket online include being able to view the kinds of gift baskets that are available as well as having the option to select specific items that should be included in a gift basket. When ordering a baby gift basket, the basket can be delivered to the giver or the recipient depending on the situation. However a baby gift basket is presented to a new mom, she is sure to be delighted as she discovers each item in the basket.

About The Author
anthony is the webmaster and owner of " Discount-Baby-Gift-Baskets.com" and has been researching and reporting on acne solutions for years. Click Here ==> http://www.discount-baby-gift-baskets.com/

Baby crib sets - safety tips for baby crib sets

2008-02-28T06:48:00.001-08:00

Baby crib sets are the fun part of the nursery. The crib has been purchased and assembled (don’t you just love the directions!) and the mattress installed. Whether you wish to design your own custom baby crib sets or select ready-made styles, the choice of fabrics and colors seems endless.

Safety Tips: When you are selecting from among baby crib sets there are a few things to remember: Most materials used in baby products are non-allergenic. Check with your pediatrician if your child has exhibited any responses that could be indicative of allergies. Pick fabrics suited to the seasonal climatic conditions in the area where you live. Light cotton is great for hot summer nights while the new synthetic fleeces and wool are warm and snuggly in the winter.

Your newborn baby doesn’t care about the color or style of his crib set. This is one thing that is all about pleasing the mother and making her happy. Indulge yourself, mom! Disney or other cartoon character themes are popular and abundant. Make your child’s nursery a showpiece with attractive and functional baby crib sets.

About the author:
Marilyn Willoughby is a successful author and publisher of http://www.great-baby-products.com An online resource for buying great baby products and a provider of important baby safety tips.
www.great-baby-products.com

Baby crib bedding and accessories

2008-02-28T06:17:00.001-08:00

A must for every nursery is fun and functional baby crib bedding. We have selections for every taste and designs that will create a pleasant and interesting environment for both infant and parents. Baby crib bedding comes in a variety of fabrics and with prices that will suit every budget.

Most newborns start their life sleeping in one of the many varieties of bassinet or cot before graduating to a baby crib. You will want him or her to be warm and comfortable and surrounded by an attractive and contemporary baby crib bedding design. Keep your baby warm in fleece in the winter and cool as a breeze in cotton in the summer.

There are as many different themes as there are color schemes and fabrics. Select from cartoon and Disney characters or pick nature, pastoral or seasonal designs. We have baby crib bedding designs for everyone.

Baby crib bedding sets the tone for the whole nursery.

About the author:
Marilyn Willoughby is a successful author and publisher of http://www.great-baby-products.com An online resource for buying great baby products and a provider of important baby safety tips.
www.great-baby-products.com

Baby car seat safety tips

2008-02-28T06:16:00.001-08:00

Whether you are driving to the end of the block or across the country; correct installation of a baby car seat suitable for the age and size of your child is essential for baby car seat safety. If yours is one of the new designs, correctly installed and the appropriate size for your child’s age, height and weight, baby car seat safety levels are increased even more.

Some features that will provide the greatest measure of baby car seat safety combined with maximum comfort and convenience follow. To provide the highest level of baby car seat safety, the seat should be installed in the center of the rear seat facing the back of the vehicle for as long as possible but at least until your child’s first birthday. A five-point harness will provide a greater margin of safety than a three-point harness. More padding, particularly in the head area, will provide greater protection.

Browse and select your baby car seat from all of the major manufacturers like Graco, Century and Peg Perego and obtain further baby car seat safety tips.

About the author:
Marilyn Willoughby is a successful author and publisher of http://www.great-baby-products.com An online resource for buying great baby products and a provider of important baby safety tips.
www.great-baby-products.com

A SIMPLE HISTORY OF SKATEBOARDING FOR GIRLS

2008-02-28T06:15:00.002-08:00

When you think of skateboarding you think boys clad in helmets and knee pads doing impressive acrobatic-like moves with a board. Skateboarding may seem like a boys sport, but, according to Barb Odanaka, author of Skateboarding Mom, back in the 1970s both girls and boys did skateboarding and it was no big deal. When in the 1980s skateboarding went "urban" or "hard-core", she says, girls seemed to stop riding.

Today, most parents still think that skateboarding is for boys, but girls are getting back on the boards with a vengeance. Girls can have as much fun on a board as guys can and they can be just as technically skilled. Take Elissa Steamer, for example, she started skateboarding at age twelve and turned professional in 1998. She's a skateboarding star.

A quick Internet search for "girls" or "women" and "skateboarding" will bring up lots of information targeted specifically towards girls interested in skateboarding. There are plenty of competitions to challenge girls, such as the All Girl Skate Jam, the Ride Like A Girl skate contest and the World Cup Skateboarding, amongst others.

Skateboarding bizarrely has its roots in surfboarding. Back in the 1950s, Californian surfers came up with the quirky idea of "surfing the streets", so they took their boards to the streets of California and, well, skateboarding was born!

The very first skateboards were curious inventions. A wooden board or box with roller skates strapped to it comprised of the very first, albeit primitive, skateboard, equipment for a sport in its infancy!

In 1975 the very first skateboarding contest was held at the Ocean Festival in Del Mar, California. In 1978, Alan Gelfand invented a maneuver, called the "Ollie Pop". The ollie involves slamming the foot on the tail end of the skateboard in order to life the board and the skateboarder into the air. Today, most tricks are based on the ollie. Tony Hawk is another famous name in skateboarding; at age 16 he became the world's best skateboarder.

The sport is still evolving and companies are now manufacturing high technology boards. Online shops like Skateboard.com and Skatewarehouse.com sell skateboards for girls, boards that are lighter and more flexible. In fact, Girl, is the name of a company that manufactures skateboards. Skateboard decks for girls are works of art.

Skateboarding is a great sport and a great way to keep fit. It is technically challenging and involves all sort of tricks, such as varials, jumps, flips, grabs, slides, grinds and degrees. Some tricks require a ramp (transition tricks) others are performed on flat ground or off curbs (street tricks). Typing "skateboard tricks" into your favorite Internet search engine will bring up lots of websites with definitions, descriptions, tips and even videos to help you learn and perform skateboarding tricks.

About the author:
By Dakota Caudilla. Journalist, and web site builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.all-green-day.infoon which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Art for your Health

2008-02-28T06:15:00.001-08:00

1. Art is a healthy form of expression

Whether you are angry, sad, depressed, cheerful - there really is no better way to express yourself than through art. Because art is permanent, it allows you to fixate your current emotional state into the physical. It allows you to translate your current emotional state into an outlet of expression. For one's mental health, this is a fantastic method of realizing your internal struggles and emotions and confronting and relieving them in an external method. This does not mean, though, that you have to create the art yourself. It is possible that you can find another artist's works, delve through his or her imagination on canvas, and discover solutions in the same way!

2. Art for stress relief

At the end of a hard day, hard week, or hard year, there really isn't anything much more soothing than to take a pen and write, take a paintbrush and paint, or simply sit down in front of your favorite book of art or stare into a master's canvas to relieve stress. Whether it is taking a walk through the new museum exhibit, or purchasing a new poster or print that relaxes you, art can help relieve stress. In fact, picking particular pieces of art which you find soothing and placing them in your most stressful environments, whether that be the work or home office, or even at home, you can find that it helps relieve stress daily!

3. Art for exercise

Whether you believe it or not, you can do Art for Exercise! One of the best ways to get exercise is through walking, which is highly recommended by doctors because it is low impact. Perusing your local art store, going to the new museum exhibit, or even simply walking the streets or parks gazing at both man's and nature's artistic expressions can be a fabulous way to burn those extra calories and begin to feel healthy again.

As you can see, it is possible to improve both your mental and physical health while engaging art. Whether you are creating it, viewing it, or bringing it into your life, art can be a wonderful addition to your health.

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About the author:
Art can be very healthy. Russ Jones with http://www.posters-prints.orgtakes the time to look into exactly how health and art interact. Whether it is through viewing or creating art, you can find emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being!

Are your children bored? Here are some great ideas!

2008-02-28T06:14:00.003-08:00

So your children are bored? They want something to do? “No! Not that mum, something fun!”
Sound familiar?

If you’re lost for ideas then you’ve definitely come to the right place. There are plenty of things you can do with your children that are both educational and will keep them occupied for hours.

If your children are old enough why not take a camping trip? This not only provides them with an excellent opportunity to run around in fresh air and sunshine, but gives them an invaluable knowledge of survival skills. Have the children help around the campsite, collecting the firewood and preparing meals. Experiment with meals that you can prepare while out camping, for example cooking vegetables in the hot coals of a fire. If you’d prefer something a little closer to home you could help your children set up a tent in the back yard and camp there for a night. Play pretend games about being away from home on a camping trip.

An activity that will keep your children occupied for hours on end is gardening. Help your children to build a garden bed and choose seeds or seedlings to plant in it. Help them decide where to put their garden bed and what they would like to grow. Take them to buy their plants or seeds and show them how to plant them. Creating a garden bed is something that will also teach your children to take responsibility for a certain task. When they have their garden bed they will have to water it each day and pull out any weeds that might grow. Through gardening they are able to see the fruits of their labour, either by watching their flowers grow and being able to pick them if they choose to, or by watching their vegetables grow then harvesting and eating them. Creating a veggie garden is also a great way to get kids into the habit of healthy eating!

Other ideas for children are cooking, games, making gifts and doing other crafts.

About the author:
Phil Wiley is the author of the best selling book Mini Site Profits www.minisiteprofits.comand writes the free weekly Letter from Phil at www.ozemedia.com

Antique Porcelain Doll

2008-02-28T06:14:00.001-08:00

There’s a special place in the world of antiques for antique porcelain
dolls. Works of art in miniature, antique porcelain dolls are a
portrayal of fashion and self-concept for the age they were created in.
Antique porcelain dolls are both delicate and surprisingly durable. It
is a wonder that any of these dolls survived the ages at all,
considering that they were created as a plaything for children! No
doubt many of them were played with a great deal by the little girls
they belonged to, our great-great grandmothers, in years long past. It
is just as certain that many antique porcelain dolls were acquired just
for their beauty, to be put on display in a protective case and not for
playing with! These dolls hold their place as an art form.

As with most antiques, the value of antique porcelain dolls is tied
closely to the condition they are in. Porcelain, while being resistant
to decay, does chip easily. Paint can be rubbed off with excessive
handling. These mishaps are not unusual in antique porcelain dolls, and
finding a doll without them is rare. Antique porcelain dolls command a
high price even with a few faults. The doll needs to be in good
condition generally, and any repairs slight and unnoticeable. Whether
the doll has its original hair and original clothing, and if the body is
original to the head and not a replacement, are all factors to be
considered in determining the value of an antique porcelain doll.

About the author:

http://www.a1-porcelain-dolls-4u.info/antiqueporcelaindoll.html

An Important Lesson for America’s Future Business Leaders

2008-02-28T06:13:00.002-08:00

An Important Lesson for America’s Future Business Leaders

By ARA

(ARA) – As one financial crisis after another has gripped our nation, a serious social issue has become all too clear -- there is a critical need for early ethics education in the United States of America.

According to a new Junior Achievement/Harris Interactive poll of teens, 33 percent would act unethically to get ahead or make more money if there was no chance of getting caught. “These results confirm our belief that ethics education must begin in elementary school,” says Barry Salzberg, U.S. Managing Partner of Deloitte, one of the nation’s leading professional services firms. “We have teamed up with Junior Achievement to help communicate a clear message to our nation’s youth; ‘it’s never okay to act unethically.’”

Deloitte has committed $1 million to Junior Achievement (JA) -- the national leader in economics and business education -- to develop and implement “Excellence through Ethics,” a series of lessons that teach kids why it’s so important to make decisions that are ethical.

“Excellence through Ethics” activities have been designed to teach kids in grades 4 through 12 the concept of intellectual property rights, the importance of presenting themselves truthfully and accurately during a job search, why insider trading is illegal, and why ethical standards are important for business people. The curriculum is available nationwide through JA offices and online through the JA/Deloitte Business Ethics Center.

Elementary school students will get their first introduction to the curriculum in the fourth grade. They will be taught the role business plays in environmental stewardship. The lesson delves into a scenario with a pencil company that cuts down too many trees without replanting new ones.

Middle school students will be taught more complex concepts. They will learn about the importance of presenting themselves truthfully during a job interview, and examine the pros and cons of moving production operations to foreign countries.

High school students will learn concepts they can take out into the working world with them when they graduate, such as why businesses are obliged to ensure worker safety, what insider trading is and why it’s illegal, and the importance of good corporate citizenship.

“Ethical behavior is the cornerstone of the American free enterprise system and the key to success in business. The message we’re sending to America’s future CEOs, analysts, marketing directors, purchasing managers, and accountants is that honesty is always the best policy,” says David S. Chernow, president and CEO of Junior Achievement Inc.

For more information about the “Excellence through Ethics” program, visit www.ja.org/ethics.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

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America’s best – Graco baby products

2008-02-28T06:13:00.001-08:00

If you have a new baby at your house you will acquire a bewildering array of baby products over the next few years. Graco baby products is one of the best known manufacturers of a wide variety of merchandise including Graco strollers, car seats, high chairs, play yards, safety gates in addition to the original product they started with in 1955, the baby swing from Graco baby products.

As a parent you will need to find quality manufacturers you can trust on a continual basis and Graco baby products, an American company, have been proven to be among the best over a time period spanning two generations. You can find a full line of Graco baby products featured on our product pages, including high chairs, safety gates, car seats, strollers, and much more.

No matter what your baby needs you can count on Graco baby products and our ability to provide them online with the least hassle and maximum peace of mind.

About the author:
Marilyn Willoughby is a successful author and publisher of http://www.great-baby-products.com An online resource for buying great baby products and a provider of important baby safety tips.
www.great-baby-products.com