Archive for January, 2009
January 25th, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Teaching our kids to love science can help them become clearer thinkers and better persons. A sustained interest in science will not only help them as children (in school or in play), but will also aid in their development as adults, allowing them to function well in any field of work and to be happy and successful in their lives. The best way to engage our kids in the wonders of science is through educational toys.
Science in our midst
Science is important; we were always taught that in school. But as adults, with all the preoccupations we have to deal with in real life from our jobs to our domestic obligations and our personal affairs and financial concerns, we tend to forget just how important science is. Because of the everyday problems and mundane tasks we have to deal with, we may find that science has little relevance in our lives. What we fail to see is that a sustained fascination with the workings of the world and a constant love for science and technology can actually lead to a more satisfying and fulfilling life.
Being a role model
We need to rediscover the joys of science to truly teach our kids to love science. Kids learn the most by imitation and what they see in the actions and words of adults (especially their parents) they tend to file in their little heads as a matter of importance. Buying them children’s educational toys is one way to make them value learning; showing them how interested we are in the world and are fascinated with science is another way of affecting their minds for the better.
Seeing science in a new light
Each day, wonderful and amazing things elude our thoughts: how the world wide web connects the entire planet and how the way we work has changed (and is changing) because of the gadgets and technologies we use; the structure and composition of the engineered food we eat, grown in a remote farm built for mass production and located millions of miles away; how the shoes we are wearing, constructed with ergonomic rubber soles, are able to correct our gait; or how our office chair was conceptualized by an industrial designer to mix style with functionality. Everywhere, in every corner or space, in the air and in our midst, in our house, in our neighborhood, and in our workplace, are interesting facts and opportunities for discovering more about the world. We have to look at things in this light again-in the eyes of a child where everything is an opportunity for discovery and exploration, everyday can be an adventure. Toddler educational toys can help our kids learn the wonderful world of science, and at the same time, help rekindle our curiosity and sense of discovery. Together with our kids, we can make learning fun and make playtime a great opportunity for bonding.
Science for kids and adults
Science is not just for kids or scientists; they are for adults too. Kids’ toys do not need to be silly or boring for adults. Today’s science toys are sophisticated and complex that any adult will be amazed and perplexed. Simple chemistry lab sets, microscopes, DNA testing kits, robotics, telescopes, and other fascinating gadgets and science kits are available in the market. There are also baby toys that teach basic scientific concepts such as gravity and the law of motion. Together with our children, we can learn a wide field of sciences including geology, geography, astronomy, anatomy, physics, chemistry, and a whole lot more!
Munoz is an online marketer and entrepreneur that enjoys writing about a variety of topics. Specializing in outdoor products, kids educational toys, and other family friendly topics.
January 24th, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
The high gas prices in the present scenario bring into focus this precious commodity. Gasoline is in great demand in the US. There are various alternative types of fuel experimented at the moment but they hardly give you the benefits one could attain from traditional fuels such as gasoline and diesel. However, we might need to look out desperately for alternative fuel sources as there is a marked depletion in the petroleum reserves worldwide. It won’t be long before the world runs out of gas as the demand is too strong for the existing petroleum reserves. We need to find petroleum in new areas. Offshore drilling, as recommended by McCain, the presidential nominee, could be a viable solution.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices on Nymex have gone up by a considerable extent within a period of just a few years. The price was $147.02 per barrel, after adjusting inflation, on July 11, 2008 although it has been under $25 per barrel till September 2003. So, what has been the reason for this sharp hike in oil prices? The strong demand, the reports on meager reserves, as well as the greed of oil companies have contributed to this rise. While the people all over the world are struggling to make ends meet due to the high oil and gas prices, the big oil companies have walked away with hundreds of Billions of Dollars in profits alone. Is this fair?
There are a number of ways you could create awareness about the rising gas prices and the dwindling supply of oil reserves. You could wear gas T-shirts to express your views to your friends and strangers. Let them know what you feel about the policies of the Bush administration on this problem.
Cafepress has got a large variety of t-shirts with political & social messages on them in a funny way. You can find t-shirts creating awareness about gas and gas prices with some funny quotes such as “Please Pass, I am Saving Gas” and “Nobody Listen to me Until I Fart”.
January 23rd, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Marriage is an interesting topic that sparks a lot of opinion and debate. For many years, people have respected the institution and it is still growing strong. Marriage has been analyzed by many people and they have come up with different views and philosophies that best describe it. Some of the best remembered pieces are marriage quotations. They are interesting conclusive lines that inform us on the thoughts of a particular person. They are characterized by memorable phrases which often shed a lot of wisdom and sometimes evoke laughter. What you think about marriage, summed up in one line can qualify to be a marriage quotation. Marriage quotations that manage to get the attention of many are considered popular and, the following are examples of marriage quotations that are considered some of the best ever written. Let me start with a rather funny quote that got me in stitches. It is by Rodney Dangerfield. It goes like this ‘My wife and I were happy for twenty years, then we met’. Some of the most popular quotations are those that tend to joke around the marriage institution. For a comic twist or a light angle to marriage, you need to check out quotes like the one above.
Some quotes will leave you with a very strong and often radical view on marriage. For example, a quote by Madame de Rieux. She states that ‘Marriage is a lottery in which men stake their liberty while women stake their happiness’. Many quotes are well thought of and, they simply state the thoughts of the individual. Reading many of these quotations, you will be in a position to judge the kind of attitudes that people have to marriage. The truth is, many think that the idea of wedlock is awesome, however, when it comes to marital problems, no couple is spared and couples have to fight to keep what they have. The complexity of marriage is best described by King Vidor, whose quote states that, ‘Marriage is not a word, it is a sentence’. When it comes to difficulties in marriage, everyone agrees. It is vital to look at the in depth meaning of a quotation in regard to marriage. This way, you will get a chance to learn and understand what the writer was trying to communicate.
There are quotations for marriage that will leave you quite stricken. For example, take the quote from Balzac which states that ‘No man should marry a woman before he has studied anatomy and dissected the body of a woman’. I came across another quote that just left me baffled. In actual fact I thought it made a lot of sense. It is by Robert Louis Stevenson and it goes as follows. ‘If people married when they fell in love, many would die unwed’. This quote is a show stopper in my view and, it makes you think of the reasons why people get married. It has been found that love is just a tiny fraction for the motivation of marriage. Others say that when you are married, you will learn to love that person; at some point. It really does not matter what other people think; it is all about what you think. The bottom line is to keep a positive attitude and know that marriage is a part of life that has potential to shine with success.
Francis K. Githinji Is An Online Dating Expert. His Latest Project Marriage Quotations Shows How The Power Of Online Dating Can Be Harnessed Internationally and With Great Success, Or You Could Post Your Valued Comments On His Blog At Marriage Quotations
January 21st, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
As a serious amateur or aspiring professional photographer, you’re probably aware of the many ways you can make money with your photos. You can sell your photos to magazines, newspapers, and other publications. You can market your fine art photography through a gallery, or even through local coffee shops, libraries, and other spaces. You can offer your photography services for hire, covering weddings, bar mitzvahs, company parties, and other events. And that’s just the beginning.
You also know that the biggest key to success with any of these ventures is creating publicity, name recognition, and demand for your work.
The web is a great place to do that. Here’s your basic guide for creating publicity and marketing your work online.
1. Set up a website.
You need a well-organized, visually attractive website where you can host your best photos, share your story, and establish a presence. Your website should be easy to navigate and easy on the eyes, with a professional approach. It should contain pieces from your portfolio, a short biography that highlights your experience and past work, and easily-found contact information.
Of course, now that you have a website, you’ll want to send traffic there! The next two steps will help you achieve this goal.
2. Write articles on the subject of photography.
Position yourself as an expert on the subject by writing interesting, informative, and engaging articles for others to learn from and enjoy. There are a number of sites on the web where you can publish your articles, both more general sites and photography-specific sites. Most will be happy to publish your article with a short byline and link leading back to your site.
3. Share & publicize your work through stock photography sites.
As a photographer, the most effective way for you to communicate with your audience is through the language of images. With photos, you can directly demonstrate your interests, talents, and abilities as a photographer.
There are many sites online which allow you to share and publicize your work. Some royalty-free sites allow you to sell copies of your photos directly to designers and publishers, making a small commission each time your photo is downloaded. Other sites provide the means for you to market your work to the public, using your photography as an advertisement. To find out more, explore sites such as Shutterstock.com, Fotolia.com, iStockPhoto.com, PhotoBox.co.uk, and Plinkme.com.
Salim Jordan is an entrepreneur and web content developer. His newest project is Plinkme.com, a new type of stock photography site that helps photographers attract attention for their work. Photographers come discover how you can share photos and gain dozens of free links back to your website.
January 20th, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Receivers: Ball Security Drill
When a receiver catches the ball they need to immediately put it into a secure ball carrying position. A great catch can be broken down into three steps: First, keep your arms extended out in front of your body with your hands out forming an imaginary triangle with your fingers and thumbs. Second, keep your eyes on the ball through the entire catch. Third, roll the ball into a secure ball position before you take your eyes off the ball. Bad habits can form easily as many receivers look away mid catch to scan the field for defenders. Taking your eye off the ball increases incomplete passes, fumbles, and turnovers. To overcome this habit set up a simple drill where two players pass the ball to each other stopping at each critical step: the catch, the follow through, and the tuck.
Points on tackling safely and effectively
Learning how to perform a proper tackle is fundamental to the game of football. If you, or your players don’t take tackling seriously you will not stop the offense and could also cause injuries. Here are three important steps to practice:
First, plant yourself in front of your opponent. An excellent technique is to plant your foot in the middle of your opponents. Also, at this time thrust your arms backward to prepare for the next step.
Second, push your other foot keeping your knees low and bent, and in sync with your feet throw your hands up hard around the offensive player. At this point you are well planted in front and your head should be in direct contact. Never, ever, ever tackle with the top of your head down, keep it up and square against your opponent. You need to literally imagine that the football is a big hamburger and you want to bite it and not slam your forehead against it.
Third, at this point you have successfully grabbed your opponent and all that’s left is to lunge your hips forward and bear all of your momentum against your opponent. The squarer you are in the first step the easier it will be to perform the third step.
Angle tackling
The reason for angle tackles is simple, cover the shortest area to get to the tackle, but there is still a great need to practice this technique. This can be done by having a player run with the ball on a straight line with the defender at any angle. As the defender he will need to adjust his body to cover the shortest distance towards the ball carrier, and make the stop by placing his foot squarely in front, and remembers for safety to put his head in front of the ball carrier. The tackle is completed as the defender wraps his hands tightly around the opponent, straightens his hips and pushes the opponent to the ground or off sides.
The High Toss Football Catch
As a receiver, or any player that is going to catch a pass, you know that not all passes are going to go right to the chest. As such you need to practice the high passes so that you know to react, here are some basics: The first and most important is that you extend your arms and keep your hands together in a diamond type shape to catch that football. When you have your hands extended you are performing a proper catch, remember, and don’t ever catch it with your body. Once you have your hands around the ball, don’t take your eyes off the ball but follow it right into your tuck. Some receivers fear an oncoming tackle and want to check out the field as soon as possible, those receivers that follow the catch with their eyes are going to catch more and receive more playing time.
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January 19th, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
It all starts with your coach or coaches giving you an honest evaluation of your ability and what your chances are of playing at the next level. Are you a “Blue Chip” athlete or a D1 prospect? There are 119 D1 college football programs in the country. There are a limit of 25 scholarship athletes per year at the D1 level for a total of 2,975. There is about a 1% chance that you fit into that category. As far as playing in the NFL, out of 1 million high school football athletes only 250 make it to the big time. I am suggesting you need to be realistic. I meet with so many parents and athletes that are just not realistic. If you love the game and you say to yourself I just want to play football, then you have many options.
D11 may be the place for you where there are 143 colleges that offer football. How about D111 where there are 224 football programs and the focus is more on academics. If you are a scholar-athlete and are more concerned about the education but love to play football then that option may be a good fit for you. Then there is 101 NAIA football programs, the big fish in the small pond kind of a thing. Last but not least in many cases is the NJCAA level or your local Community College. At your local community college it will give you a chance to get your grades up if that is a problem. Maybe you need to get bigger, faster, stronger, or maybe you just want to check things out as far as football at another level.
Bottom line is you should start with an athletic assessment or you could be wasting a lot time, money, and energy when you start the getting exposure phase, as a prospective college student athlete.
Authored by: Sports Recruiting Coach - Tony Passarella
http://www.govarsitysports.com
tjpassarella@yahoo.com
January 18th, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
We have all heard or told an urban legend or two, maybe even contributed to their spread. What fascinates us the most about these legends is that, despite the grandiose tall tale aspects, these stories are most often based in fact. This is especially true of narratives that pertain to science.
Now, if a person wanted to separate truth from fiction from such tales, they would first have to know how to set up controlled experiments. These experiments would then have to be performed safely, so testers could provide a definitive ‘yah’ or ‘nah’ as to the myth’s authenticity.
This basic premise is what fuels the extremely popular Discovery Channel cable television series, MythBusters.
MythBusters Show Format:
In every informative episode, the stars of the show would take a popular notion, like the idea that Coca-Cola can clean the rust off a chrome bumper and test this to see if this idea is valid. Upon creating several control situations, they work several angles to prove or disprove the particular belief.
Although the main stars of the show, namely Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, are experts in visual and special effects, they often ask experts in the field to help them with the shows various investigations.
For example, if they wanted to prove whether or not an individual can be harmed by lightening while talking on a land line based telephone, they would consult with energy experts. Some of these experts may even oversee trial runs to authenticate the results.
This doesn’t keep viewers from challenging the duos findings, which is all a part of the shows allure. More often than not however, many well known myths, old wives tales and science fallacies are, as Jamie and Adam would say, “Busted”.
MythBusters Stars and Interns:
The show’s primary stars, Jamie and Adam, are the main headliners of MythBusters. This twosome is often responsible for developing the subject matter for the show. Even so, the special effects duo will often ask avid fans of the Discovery Channel show to contribute to show ideas as well.
When Jamie and Adam were later joined by young interns Scottie Chapman, Tory Belleci and Kari Byron, they were able to expand the series a bit, bringing in new concepts as well as broader viewer demographic.
The newcomers were young but brilliant which made MythBusters more appealing to a youthful fan base. For instance, the lovely Kari was an amazing visual artist, Scottie was a metal worker and Tory a carpenter craftsman. This team’s background and unique and interesting personalities lent an even more fun and playful air to the weekly, somewhat educational broadcast.
Scottie was later replaced by Grant Imahara after he had to leave the show during the third season.
Imahara was a welcome addition, as he brought to a show not only a winsome and charming personality, but knowledge in electronics and robotics.
Where is MythBusters shot?
The show is filmed in San Francisco California and the ’soundstage’ can be at the MythBusters workshop or on location in various ares around town.
A UK version airs on the BBC as well, and to date, the show itself plays on numerous cable stations internationally.
MythBusters continues to grow in popularity because it is a fun and interesting way to challenge popular misconceptions about science and long held erroneous beliefs. Fans also feel as if they are a part of the fun as they can suggest show ideas or even offer their own commentary about shows.
In this way, MythBusters combines educational properties with entertainment principles, so that people of all ages can get something from the show and have fun in the process. It is a rare cable TV show that can make this claim and is perhaps why MythBusters will continue enjoying cable TV success for years to come.
The popular Mythbusters show focuses on exploring scientific experiments that are popular in movies and films. Watch Mythbusters as they set out to debunk these famous myths.
January 16th, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Cancer hits many families and many people at all ages of life. It is a devastating diagnosis for the patient and friends and family. Leukemia is a form of cancer where immune cells proliferate without normal regression after disease has been terminated. It is named for the “milky” coloration of blood from the high count of white blood cells. Leukemia often hits children and symptoms can be disregarded and not properly diagnosed if not treated immediately.
Leukemia is actually a broad medical term. Leukemia cancer is separated into two, more defined forms named chronic leukemia and acute leukemia. Acute leukemia cancer tends to afflict children and young adults. Its proliferation of bone marrow cells inhibits bone marrow to make properly healthy cells. It is an extremely dangerous form of cancer since malignant cells are readily available to the blood stream to transport to other organs.
Chronic leukemia cancer is better known for the abnormal proliferation of mature white blood cells. When your body is faced with disease, white blood cells divide rapidly to quickly eliminate intruding microbes. A normal immune system will later destroy the excess white blood cells, however with leukemia they continue to proliferate. Chronic leukemia mostly afflicts older adults, and therapy is monitored through typical, regular doctor appointments.
The abnormal response from immune cells in cancer patients of leukemia will eventually suppress the immune system giving rise to symptoms of the disease. One life threatening side effect of abnormally high white blood cells is the lowered amount of red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body. The low red blood cell count causes anemia in leukemia patients. Other typical reactions include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and sweats. Fatigue and lethargy are often acquired. For acute symptoms, bone pain, joint pain, and severe paleness are shown in patients.
Some leukemia patients do not even show signs of high white blood cells in diagnosis tests. A rare form called aleukemia exists where test results can return as normal, however the patient still possesses abnormal growths of bone marrow tissue.
Theories as to the causes of leukemia cancer are thought to arise from mutated DNA in somatic cells. The DNA mutations inhibit natural cell death, division, and proliferation. These mutations are thought to be the result of exposure to radiation or other carcinogens.
Viruses can also account for certain samples of leukemia in patients. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or human T-lymphotropic virus are thought to carry with them a form of leukemia.
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with leukemia, there are some common treatments to expect. Chemotherapy is probably the most common form of anti-cancerous treatment. Chemotherapy is used in most forms of cancer as an efficient way to kill cancer cells. Interferon treatment is a new, less traumatic form of therapy. It stimulates the immune system to fight off the disease. Other forms of treatments are marrow transplants and radiation treatment. Transplants will replenish bone marrow with healthy cells while radiation will target harmful cancer cells for elimination.
For more information, visit http://www.oncancer.tv.
January 15th, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Custom elearning development programming is an excellent way to educate people from all demographics and locations. Because so much of this education is visual, representing races, ages, genders, and all areas of humanity is extremely important. Each group needs fair representation throughout the entire program. This can include using a specific group as the one making the mistake, using one group at a different social status as the other, or having one group consistently portray the dominate role in the script. Simply by using a few different techniques, you can use your educational program with confidence.
Eliminate The Human Element
Instead of using human characters to act out the script for the custom elearning development program, use something else altogether. This could be animals or inanimate objects created to speak and relay the information. These characters aren’t always associated with adult learning programs, but they have the same effect.
In many cases, this can even be a corporate brand or logo. It depends more on the attitude and speech used to deliver the messages rather than the actual character. This also gives you the opportunity to add a bit of lighthearted humor to make the program more engaging and entertaining. You might even be surprised to discover how the amount of information retained by the learner increases.
Another great idea for eliminating the possibility of discrimination is to eliminate characters all together. Charts, graphs, and moving text can be used to express the ideas. This is a great way to add in a more interesting audio track with effects and use a wide mix of images and animations. This technique is particularly effective in industries such as the financial and health care sector where you are dealing with a series of processes. This is also a good idea for organizations that already have had custom elearning development programs and are looking for a change.
Anonymous Characters
Instead of using realistic characters to play out the scripts in your custom elearning development course, consider using anonymous figures, particularly for roles that play a negative role in the program. Colored silhouettes work well, particularly with neutral tones such as blue and green rather than pink and brown. These characters have the added advantage of drawing attention away from the figures and move the program toward text and audio used to point out important information or key points to remember. If the program could use a little more visual interest, consider using dense patterns and color styles.
Illustrated figures work well for eliminating race or gender profiling. These characters can still resemble human figures, but aim for styles that are more cartoon-like than realistic. You need to be cautious here however. Be sure to ‘dress’ the characters in similar clothing or be sure to use a good variation of characters to eliminate the possibility of misrepresenting a particular group. One tip that does help is removing facial features from the figures to eliminate part of the problem associated with gender and race.
While discrimination in educational programs is often not intentional, it can be a disturbing and distracting trait for the groups being ‘pointed out’ and for all those using the course. These techniques open the doors to incorporate new creative ideas into the medium that often are far more effective than the traditional methods of expressing ideas. The ability to change any element of the presentation is the single biggest benefit of using custom elearning development for education in any situation.
About the Author: Christine O’Kelly writes for the custom elearning development specialists at Noggin Labs. They are industry leaders in providing performance-based and personalized custom elearning programs. Noggin Labs has worked with a variety of clients, including non-profit organizations and Fortune 100 companies.
January 14th, 2009 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Writing articles is an easy way to make money online if you’re just starting out on the Web. It can also boost any marketing strategy, bringing you more customers and sales. You can even base an entire business on articles.
I love writing articles and what it does for my business. If you’re not getting the success you want with your articles, these three tips will help.
1. Set goals for your articles - what do you want your articles to do?
Writing articles needs to be part of your strategy, so that you have a definite measurable goal for each article you write.
Let’s see how setting goals works in practice. Bill has a “cooking for kids” Web site. He set it up as a hobby, but it’s getting good traffic, and he’s making a small income. He wants to increase his income, and is writing articles as part of a marketing strategy.
He wants his articles to bring traffic to a new section of his site, focused on food allergies. He’s written the content, and a small report, which he offers site visitors as a free download.
He’s writing some 30 articles, over the course of several weeks, aimed at getting traffic to this new section of his site. This is his goal for the articles. It’s a measurable goal - he’ll review the traffic he gets in his Web statistics, as he writes and posts his articles to article directories.
2. Remember keywords, so your readers will find your article
Bill knows that the people who are interested in food allergies will find his articles via the search engines. Therefore, before he starts writing, he does some keyword research, to discover exactly which terms people use.
He then includes those keywords in his articles, with the primary keyword as part of an article’s title.
3. Create an overall strategy for your article writing
If you’ve tried writing articles before and are convinced that it doesn’t work, the reason it didn’t work for you is because you didn’t have an overall strategy for your article writing.
Staying with Bill’s situation, article writing is part of his overall marketing strategy. He sets goals for all articles he writes, and follows up on all his articles.
He checks his Web statistics once a week, and he knows exactly where his traffic is coming from, and how much traffic a particular article sends him. If an article sends lots of traffic because people are searching using a keyword, he adds more content to his site supporting that traffic. And he writes additional articles on that term too.
Writing articles is a wonderful way to make money online. Follow the above tips, and you’ll be thrilled with the results you get.
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