July 13, 2007
Reading is one of the most important things you will do with your baby or toddler. Make reading to your baby or toddler a part of your daily routine whether it be in the afternoon before naptime or during late evening before bedtime.
I have two children and reading is a very important part of our daily routine. Reading builds and helps develop your baby and toddler’s brain. Each day we choose a couple books and settle down to read them. There are three must have books for your baby or toddler’s mini library or bookshelf.
1.) The first book I recommend for your baby or toddler’s bookshelf is GoodNight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. You can buy this book new almost anywhere for fewer than eight dollars and it comes in hardback or a board book. GoodNight Moon is a bedtime story sure to get your child to sleep easier. It features a cuddly little rabbit who wants to name everything in his room to avoid going to sleep. The pages are colorful and the words are delightful!
2.) The second book I recommend for your baby or toddler’s bookshelf is My First Words Book. You can buy any variation of this book as a board book. You can buy this book for fewer than six dollars. The My First Words Book is filled with everyday objects including cute animals, food, and shapes! It will greatly increase your child’s vocabulary. All babies and toddlers that I know enjoy this book!
3.) The third book I recommend for your baby or toddler’s bookshelf is Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss. I recommend the board book and you can get one for fewer than five dollars. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? is a fun book for babies and toddlers. Babies and toddlers will want to hear the wonderful rhythmic sounds over and over! Your child will learn all sorts of sounds from horse’s feet to thunder to a whisper!
Copyright 2005 –All Rights Reserved Feel free to re-print this article provided that all hyperlinks and author biography are kept as-is
About the Author: Amanda Compton is a work at home mom to 2 little boys. She owns and publishes a fun site for Babies and Moms, http://www.ContestForMoms.com featuring a free baby photo contest, mom forums, and lots of baby & mom information.
Comments Off
The Supreme Court of Canada recently ruled that the emotional devastation brought on by a cheating husband can be factored into a wronged spouse’s ability to earn a livelihood and her need for ongoing spousal support.
When a couple marries they make a deal about the way they will live. The marriage vows they say create promises. As long as they keep their individual part of the commitment their relationship will continue in a functional way. When one spouse believes the other will provide for them financially while they take on the responsibility to create their home and perhaps raise their children, the homemaker relinquishes their ability to construct their own career and build financial security for themselves. By entering into this partnership the belief is that it will sustain them throughout their lives. Even if the homemaker chooses to return to the workforce, they can never rebuild what was left behind in the relationships and experience as the workforce changes and the skill sets that are required evolve. They are at a disadvantage.
When the one believed to be a life partner has an intimate emotional and/or physical relationship with someone who posed as a friend, the double betrayal can be immobilizing. Self doubt clouds logical thinking. How could I have trusted them? Anger and sadness replace trust and confidence. It can also be financially very frightening. Security is shattered and doubts surface about one’s ability to survive.
When a marriage ends some people cope, creating new ways to live, forming new relationships and are able to become financially self-sufficient. Others do not have the support, guidance, life skills and fortitude to recreate their lives.
Personal growth is a challenging process that many resist. Clinging to the known feels better than risking something new. Letting go of the old expectations can be difficult.
Dreaming new dreams and setting new goals is frightening when the basis of life had seemed so certain.
It is important to:
1. find hope that life will go on,
2. discover a new sense of Self,
3. learn new ways to communicate,
4. let go of old expectations,
5. work through to forgiveness,
6. understand what happened, and
7. accept personal responsibility for being part of the breakdown.
There is no such thing in my opinion, as no fault divorce. Both parties fail in some way to keep their marriage healthy. Both parties fail their children. There can be personal growth but there will always be memories. If the new life is better the past can be left behind as a learning experience. If the new life is disadvantaged, at a lower standard of living or a struggle to survive financially, triggers to old pain and a reopening of the thoughts and feelings that life once was very different, can keep the resentment alive.
Too often one partner is at a significant financial disadvantage due to the deal they made. It takes two to create a marriage but one person can break the deal rather than work to repair the relationship. When they choose to cheat on their vows their financial promises need to be kept.
Hurray for the Canadian Supreme Court in seeing some sense of accountability and responsibility placed on the husband who strayed. Let’s hope the wife is able to move forward through the process of healing.
Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem M.Ed., is a registered marriage and family therapist, clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and author of books on personal growth through travel. Questing Marilyn: In Search of My Holy Grail (Quest Publishing Canada 2003) takes the reader through sacred and historic sites in England and Ireland and involves the search for the authentic adult Self. It explores: “Who am I when I am free to be my Self?” Questing France: Deepening the Search for My Holy Grail (2005) follows the process of holding onto the Self when in a marriage relationship. It explores flirtations, infidelity, qualities of a functional marriage as well as parenting children through marital conflict. Questing France explores: “Can I be me when I am with you?” and “Why do people stay in a marriage after an affair?” Read sample chapters, reviews and for ordering information visit http://www.questpublishing.ca
|
|
Comments Off
There are literally hundreds of web browsers in use around the
world. All of them implement the W3C document standards a little
differently. Web designers must wrestle with these differences
to make a web site work. This article discusses the effect those
different implementations has on design.
What is Cross Browser Compatibility?
If a web page is completely cross-browser compatible, it will
look more or less the same in all of the existing web browsers.
The most commonly used browsers are Internet Explorer, Netscape
Navigator, Firefox and Opera.
Each one of these browser implements HTML, JavaScript and
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) a little differently. Some
difference only create cosmetic difference others can break the
webpage. The situation gets worse because each browser is free
to implement “enhancements” to the W3C standard version of each
of these formats.
Then to compound matters even more the underlying operating
systems also creates difference in how the computer displays
graphical elements and text differently. When you add the fact
that people are also using multiple versions of each of the
browsers, no wonder web designers get headaches.
So what is a web designer to do?
Obviously, 100% compatibility with all potential browsers is
impossible. But it is possible to design your web page so it
will work in the most popularly used browsers.
To accomplish that, a web designer must write squeaky-clean code
that conforms to the W3C standards to get consistent results
across all browser platforms. The whole idea behind the
standards is that if each browser adheres to the same set of
rules, you will get more or less consistent results in all of
the existing browsers.
Conforming can be a real challenge. It will limit some of the
neater effects available in specific browsers. There are online
code validators available. You can validate HTML code at
http://validator.w3.org , the validator can also validate your
CSS and links. The service is free.
The validator checks your code based on the DOCTYPE you specify
on the webpage. The DOCTYPE tells the browser which version of
HTML or CSS the web page is using.
HTML Editors
There are some compatibility issues associated with anything
other than hand coding for HTML (and for that matter, even with
hand coding.)
Best Choice - The best choice for compatibility is Dreamweaver
but you cannot use layers. Layers must be converted to tables to
be used.
Worst Choice - The worst choice is FrontPage. FrontPage is
loaded with problems because it uses Microsoft and therefore
internet explored specific code. Items that will not work in
other browsers include:
* Marquees - you can use a JavaScript scroller to create a
similar effect that will work in the most common browsers. *
bgsound tag - this is IE specific. * Page Transitions - this is
IE specific. * Front Page generated Style sheets - this is IE
specific and can have unexpected results or crash other
browsers. * Front Page generated DHTML - it is better to use
JavaScript to create the effects you want since it is more
likely to be cross browser compatible. * Hover Buttons - this is
IE specific and has been know to crash browsers including older
versions of IE. You can use JavaScript, flash or CSS to get
similar effects.
Other HTML Editors - the rest of the HTML editors will fall
somewhere between Dreamweaver and FrontPage in cross browser
compatibility. You just have to test the code your HTML editor
generates.
CSS Style Sheets
Not all of your style sheets will work correctly in all of the
browsers. However, style sheets rarely crash a web browser, but
sometimes the pages will be downright ugly if not completely
unreadable. One of the major CSS problems is absolute
positioning since most browsers do not support it and it will
cause different block to overlap others and create a jumbled
mess.
Flash
Flash is great for adding style to a webpage and Macromedia
provides flash plug-ins for all of the major web browsers. But
don’t build the entire site with flash. Browser for the blind,
most handheld devices do not support flash.
A small but significant number of users don’t like it and don’t
install the plug-in so they won’t be able to access a flash
site. Also, search engines spyders can’t follow the links on a
flash site and won’t index it.
Graphic Links
While these are attractive, they have the same problems as flash
with browsers for the blind and hand-held devices. Always use
the alt tag with graphics.
Bottom Line - even code that is validated may not work correctly
in all the major browsers. The best way a web designer can
create cross browser compatibility is to test all of their web
pages in the most popular browsers to see what happens.
Personally, I find that a combination of style sheets and tables
works best to ensure my pages look good in all of the browsers.
Comments Off
I can’t say enough good things about the wonders of microchipping pets. Recently, there was a stray dog in our neighborhood for several days. Rather than have him brought to the shelter and euthanized, or the poor thing hit by a car or abused by children, I brought him home. I called our local newspaper and placed an ad, then called my veterinarian and the shelter to see if anyone had reported her missing.
Although no had, the staff at my veterinarian’s office recommended that I bring her in so they could scan her to see if she had a microchip. Fortunately, she did have one, and in a matter of minutes I found out her owner’s name and phone number.
It turns out that she lived in the next county, approximately 20 miles from my house. I contacted her owner and was able to return her that day! What could have been a very sad situation turned into a very happy ending.
Although she did have a collar with her license and ID tags on, she had slipped out of it like so many dogs do.
Please encourage people that if they have cherished pets that do not have a microchip, to go to their veterinarians and have it done today. Microchips are a good investment for everyone! See my website: http://www.happypettips.com
About the Author
Avid pet lover and owner of many pets of different species. Formerly, bred lovebirds, zebra finches and parakeets. Visit my website: www.happypettips.com
Comments Off
I’m a missionary spreading the gospel of strength exercise
for older adults.
This article is a part of that gospel. You may think that only
body builders do squats, but they are the first exercise
anyone of any age should do as he or she begins an
exercise program. When you do a squat, you are
strengthening the thigh muscles (quadriceps) that you use
to get up out of a chair–I call them the muscles of
independence. Just doing a couple of sets of 8 repetitions
daily will increase your leg strength. Getting up off the couch
will be easier and you’ll be less likely to fall.
Here are your in-depth instructions for doing squats.
Stand with your feet hip width apart. If you are afraid of
falling, stand behind a heavy chair and hold on to the back
of
the chair. If there is a chance you may tip the chair over,
place some heavy weights on the seat. If you don’t need to
hold on, make sure you pull your stomach muscles in to
keep your back straight so it is not arched. If you don’t need
to hold on, hold your hands in a prayer position in front of
you.
In the strength classes I teach I say, “Stick your bottom out
behind. Pretend you are Donald Duck and waggle your tail.”
Then slowly lower your bottom as if you are going to sit.
Keep most of your weight back on your heels. Your upper
body should remain upright–do not bend at the waist. As
you lower your body, extend your hands out in front of you
until your arms are parallel with the floor. This will help keep
you from bending over.
Keep your knees over your toes. You can injure your knees if
you don’t. When you look down as you’re doing a squat, you
should always be able to see your toes. If you cannot, you’re
not doing the squat properly. If your knees hurt, try making
your bottom stick out further. This will keep your knees over
your feet. If they still hurt, don’t go down so far. If that doesn’t
work, do not do this exercise. If you can’t get the hang of it,
actually sit down slowly in a straight chair and watch to see
how you do it.
Lower your bottom very slowly down as far as you are
comfortable. Inhale as you go down Do not go beyond the
point at which your thighs are parallel with the floor. If your
leg muscles are very weak or if your knees begin to
complain, lower your body only a few inches. Check to be
sure your bottom is protruding out behind. The further you
stick out your bottom, the less your knees are likely to hurt.
You should take approximately four seconds for the
lowering phase.
Stand back up while you concentrate on tightening your
thigh muscles and making them do the work. Push up with
your thighs. Do not stand back up quickly; slower is better.
Exhale as you stand back up. Take about two seconds to lift
your body back up to its original position.
This is not a glamorous exercise. I tell class members that
they leave “lady-like” at the door. We are athletes while we
are working out.
Do eight repetitions of this exercise very slowly. It should
take about six seconds for each repetition and your legs
should feel tired when you finish. If they do not, you have
probably not been tightening the thigh muscles as you
stand back up; you’ve been letting your knees do much of
the work. As you begin to straighten your legs, tighten the
thighs and push. I find it often takes new exercisers several
weeks to really get the hang of this.
If your thighs are burning when you finish the set, you’re
getting the maximum benefit from the exercise. You may
want to shake out your legs if they feel very tired.
You will be amazed how doing this simple exercise
regularly will make it easier to climb stairs, arise from a
chair and get in and out of the car.
It will also improve your balance because your legs will
become strong enough to hold and support you securely as
you stand.
Tip: Make sure you do not bend at the waist so you are
looking at the floor. If you are not sure you are doing this
exercise correctly, get someone to watch you or exercise in
front of a mirror.
See your doctor before beginning an exercise program. If
any exercise causes pain, stop immediately. Modify the
exercise so it does not cause pain or find another exercise
to work the same body part. Any exercise program carries
risks of injury. Phyllis Rogers and/or Senior Fitness, Inc. are
not responsible for any injuries incurred during or after
doing the exercises described in this article.
Phyllis Rogers is certified as a Certified Fitness Trainer,
Specialist in Fitness for Older Adults and Longevity
Wellness Specialist. She is available for speeches and
workshops. Her e-mail address is
fitness9@mindspring.com or learn more at
http://www.StrongOver40.com
Her book “Over 40 & Gettin’ Stronger contains instructions
for a complete workout, including squats. She has just
released an audio CD which guides you through the
workout. To obtain the book/CD combination, send a check
for $25.95 plus $4 for shipping to Fitness Press, P O Box
4912, Marietta, GA 30061. Or visit http://www.StrongOver40.com
Comments Off
Asbestos testing is a very important process, since people know the dangers of this mineral (asbestos is a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals of the hydrous magnesium silicate variety). Most asbestos fibers are invisible to the human eye because their size.
Asbestos testing is necessary, because you can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional. A professional should take samples for analysis, a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released.
Asbestos testing should always be done by an expert.
For asbestos testing the requirement of EPA is the polarized light microscopy (PLM asbestos test method) analysis with specialized microscopes. The results of asbestos testing establish the percentage and type of asbestos present in the sample material.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and with safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. The EPA began operation on December 2, 1970. The current Administrator (as of 2006) is Stephen L. Johnson.
If you would like to know, where you can find EPA regional offices and the list of EPA administrators you need to check the following URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPA.
Asbestos Fiber Analysis (PLM Test Method)
The purpose of the Bulk Asbestos Program is to accredit testing laboratories to assure that they are competent to analyze bulk samples for asbestos testing, using polarized light microscopy (PLM).
National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards) develop an accreditation program for laboratories conducting analyses of bulk samples of asbestos-containing material.
You can find the accredit asbestos testing laboratories list here: http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/214/scopes/plmtm.htm
Asbestos Lawyers are the lawyers that specialize in the cases dealing specifically with the hazardous effects induced by Asbestos exposure. If you are or someone in your family is an asbestos victim, you will need an asbestos lawyer. More info you can check the following site:
http://asbestos-lawyer-info.blogspot.com
Nikoletta Bocz owns and operates asbestos-testing.blogspot.com and asbestos-lawyer-info.blogspot.com .You can find more articles and resources about asbestos testing.
Comments Off
Tottenham-Liverpool
This match could show which of these two clubs is the most
likely to break into the dominance of the big three. While Spurs
started promisingly with two victories and then failed to score
in two, the Merseysiders have been preoccupied with the CL and
therefore have only played two League games, keeping clean
sheets in both.
Spurs include new signings Grzegorz Rasiak, Jermaine Jenas and
Lee Young-Pyo in their squad.
My feeling that Liverpool is not yet in the momentum of last
season, furthermore, last season in the Premiership was victim
of Champions League.
Ecobika’s bet: home win
West Bromwich-Wigan
Two relegation candidates, bottomderby. West Brom have injury
doubts over strikers Kanu and Kamara after midweek World Cup
qualifiers. The four previous League fixtures between this pair
have all been home wins. But Brom is in a little crisis, after
two defeats, which last time happened only in last December.
Ecobika’bet: DRAW.
Birmingham-Charlton
The home team wants the first home point of the season in their
third fixture at home. Charlton, who’ve made their best ever
start to a Premiership campaign, could hand debuts to the new
trio.
Ecobika’s bet: home win.
Manchester United-Manchester City
MCity has one more point than United! But Sir Alex Ferguson’s
side have won all five League and Champions League matches this
season without conceding a single goal.
Ecobika’s bet: home win.
back to main page ecobika
Comments Off
There is an old principle: You reap what you sow. In fact, it is about as natural of a principle as you can get. When you put an apple seed into the ground, you always get an apple tree. You reap what you sow.
Even as this principle works in nature, it also works in our businesses, schools and organizations. Everything that we do is what we are sowing. And while we may not see immediate gains or gratification from our actions, it is true that eventually we will. Some time in the future, the totality of our actions and words will amount to something.
I want to give us a few ideas to chew on in regard to what we sow and how we can reap the benefit or reap from it in the future.
People. Ultimately, our enterprises involve people, whether it is those who sell to us, our employees, or our clients. What are you sowing in regard to those people? Are you sowing good will? Are you sowing a caring attitude? Are you sowing to their interests over your own? As you do these things, I believe you will reap a tremendous harvest. People will genuinely like and appreciate you, and people do business with people they genuinely like and appreciate. When you fail, and you will from time to time, people will be much more forgiving if you have sown properly.
Product.
Whether we have something tangible or not, we all have some product that others purchase or use. Are you sowing excellence in your product? Are you sowing longevity? Are you sowing reliability and dependability? As you sow these things people will come back for more of the same, as well as other products you offer. You will reap their loyalty and their return. You will also reap a good reputation as word gets out on what you have sown into other’s lives.
Charity.
I believe that every enterprise ought to have as a foundational value that it will be charitable. That in some way, be it large or small, they will give back. Are you sowing to your community? Are you sowing of your time, money or energy? As you do, you will reap three primary things.
First, a better community.
Second, you will reap a deep sense of satisfaction that your community is better because you gave something back to it.
Third, people will want to do business with you because they know that part of their business will in turn benefit their community.
Sow some good stuff this week. And you’ll reap the benefit later!
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.
To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
Comments Off
A tanning bed is a cosmetic device that emits ultraviolet
radiation such as UVA and also UVB to generate artificial
tanning. Historically, medical devices that emit UVA were
developed and adopted for modern indoor tanning. Since UVA
(Ultraviolet A of the sun) has less biological effects such as
reddening of the skin than UVB (Shortwave Ultraviolet rays),
these early tanning beds were considered to be “safe”. However,
it was soon realized that continued use of these devices could
also cause sunburns, wrinkles, skin cancer, and were not very
effective at inducing tans, so they were eventually phased out.
Today, devices that emit a combination of UVA and UVB are
predominantly used.
One of the strongest criticisms to the use of indoor tanning
beds occurred in December, 1994, when the American Medical
Association (AMA) adopted a resolution calling for a ban on the
sale and use of tanning equipment, except for medical purposes.
However, this resolution was rejected by the United States
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), an organization that regulates
the sale and marketing of indoor tanning equipment.
It has now been established that modern tanning beds and sun
lamps typically emit about 93% to 99% UVA radiation - three
times the UVA radiation given off by the sun. Tanning occurs
when the skin produces additional pigment (coloring) to protect
itself against burn from these ultraviolet rays. Continued
exposure to UV rays can result in a number of unwanted
complications such as eye injury, premature skin aging,
light-induced skin rashes, and chances of developing skin
cancer. UVB can even cause actual skin burning.
There are three types of common skin cancers - basal cell
carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma - and they are
all linked to UV radiation. The first cause, according to
medical research, is mutations caused the damage inflicted to
DNA. Secondly, UV also activates oxygen molecules that damage
DNA and other cellular structures; and lastly, localized
immunosuppression, that blocks the body’s natural ability to
protect itself from cancer. The first two types - basal cell and
squamous cell - are treatable if detected early but malignant
melanoma is often fatal.
A study conducted in Sweden concluded that people who used
tanning beds more than 10 times a year were seven times more
likely to develop malignant melanoma than those who did not use
tanning beds as often, establishing the fact that tanning beds
are a major factor that contributes to the development of
malignant melanoma.
Other studies have shown that over exposure to ultraviolet rays
can also burn or damage the retina, and alter the structure of
the lens forming a cataract, which if left untreated may result
in complete blindness. Ultraviolet rays can also cause premature
skin aging since a tan is damaged skin that is more likely to
wrinkle and sag, and when in combination with certain cosmetics
and medicines, may cause adverse skin reactions such as rashes
and cold sores.
In spite of all the health risks associated with indoor tanning
beds, it is estimated that 28 million Americans are tanning
indoors annually at about 25,000 tanning salons around the
country. The indoor tanning industry in the United States also
continues to thrive, raking in as much as $2 billion a year.
Comments Off
