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6 Tried & True Fun Ways to Educate and Entertain Your Preschooler 4-14-04
by Myranda Morgan
New Word of the Day
Introduce your preschooler to a new word each morning at breakfast and define it for him. Keep it simple by using synonyms for words he already knows. Example: vehicle can be another word for car, truck, van, etc. Make a game of using the word as many times as possible each day. This is a fun way to build your child's vocabulary.
Create a Reading Hide-Away
A large cardboard box can become anything your child wants it to be. Spend a fun-filled afternoon fashioning a reading hide-away with your child. A miniature house, a castle, or a cave are just a few possibilities. It need not be fancy to catch your preschoolers fancy! Large pieces of construction paper can be taped to the outside to represent stone or siding. Place a rug, some pillows or child-sized furniture and a few age-appropriate books inside. Be sure to design a skylight into the top of the box. Your child will spend many hours "reading" or playing in their special spot.
Her Very Own Scrapbook
Scrapbooking is a fun way for children to develop their fine motor and categorizing skills while creating neatly organized memories that parents can cherish for years to come. Scrapbooking supplies are readily available at specialty stores and craft shops. Let your child choose a topic for her scrapbook. If she needs ideas, suggest a birthday, a holiday or other special family event. Allow her to choose her own stickers, colors and accessories while explaining that certain symbols represent certain events. If she really insists upon using a cake with blazing candles in a Halloween scrapbook, let her! This is supposed to be fun, remember? Sort through your family photos together and help her choose ones that fit her theme.
Community Map
Show your child a map of your state or the U.S. Using a large piece of poster board, draw a map of your community and help your child mark your home, school, grocery store, and relative's and friend's houses. Children enjoy using colorful stickers to represent familiar landmarks. Help him create a simple key for your map. New landmarks can be added as your child further explores the community.
Personal Telephone Book
Buy or help your preschooler make a telephone book of her own. She can list emergency numbers, such as 911, and also the numbers of her friends and grandparents. Provide a toy telephone with realistic buttons so that she can practice dialing and proper phone etiquette. Her reading hide-away would make a nice quiet spot in which to do this.
Roleplay Bedtime Stories
Preschoolers feel secure with routines, and as a result parents often find themselves reading the same bedtime story night after night. Another result is that children often know the stories by heart, even if they can't yet read. Break up the monotony by having your child take over the speaking part of his favorite characters. This gives them early practice in dramatic interpretation and makes bedtime a little more fun!

The Hows and Whys of Vintage Clothes Shopping 4-14-04 by Myranda Morgan
Source:The Hows and Whys of Vintage Clothes Shopping Article City
Why Vintage?
Why would anyone want to wear vintage clothing? First of all, it's fun! When you wear vintage, you stand out from the crowd. The chances of someone else wearing the same exact outfit to that special event are slim to none. More and more high school girls are shopping vintage for dances and proms because it guarantees originality. Yasmine, a vintage clothing collector from Los Angeles, says, "I wear vintage so I can add a little something authentically retro to my clothing and not look the same as everyone else, which is difficult in style-conscious L.A.."
Vintage clothing is also nostalgic. Remember the good old days when there were party lines and soda shops? Me neither, but wearing vintage gives a girl the chance to experience a small part of history. In today's ambiguous world, it feels nice to pull on a crinoline and full feminine skirt once in a while. Let's face it: grown-up girls like to play dress up, too!
For the thrifty, the prices on vintage items should be incentive enough. Local thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales are excellent sources of old clothing at unbelievable prices. Broke? Go volunteer to help clean out grandma's attic! I've had several vintage pieces handed down to me since I began collecting about two years ago.
Online Shopping
The internet has made it easy for vintage clothing enthusiasts to comparison shop and buy items that may not be available in their area. Type "vintage clothing" into any search engine and you'll get hundreds of results. There are a few things you should know before purchasing vintage wear online, however.
Carol, owner of Dandelion Vintage, a fun and inexpensive online Vintage Clothing shop based in New Jersey, recommends that first-time buyers be aware of what it means to buy and wear vintage clothing. "It's not like something new and fresh from Macy's, it's going to feel different and smell differently (there is no "new" clothing smell) and the items do need to be treated a little more carefully," she said, adding that customers should always ask questions up front about the garments, especially if they are unsure of the size or condition. When shopping vintage online, she says, be sure to read the site's terms of sales, ordering procedure, and return policy before ordering.
There are many different styles and eras to choose from. Items from the late 19th century on up through the 1980's are available. Whatever your style, you're sure to find something to suit you. Carol suggests customers buy what they like and avoid following trends, which is excellent advice when it comes to collecting of any type.
Making it Work
Vintage clothing can be teamed up with modern apparel or mixed and matched with other vintage pieces. Back in L.A. Yasmine says, "I find that wearing head to toe vintage is just not practical in day to day life, but by adding a few pieces I can create a look that is uniquely my own. I often buy high-end designer shoes and team them with a $1.00 vintage dress and a Gap cardigan. The look is pulled together and definitely mine."
There you have it. Vintage clothes are fun, affordable, and enable the wearer to create and maintain an original look. So what are you waiting for? Go shopping!
Excellent vintage pieces at affordable prices can be found at Dandelion Vintage

Just The Facts Please by Raymond Collins 4-21-04
It must be really amazing knowing when to take advantage of a situation. You know, that moment when you see something and you just smile to yourself knowing you have a winning opportunity. What makes it a sure thing is when you don't care what is the truth or half-truth but what you can say that somebody would want to hear. Finding that proverbial soapbox and yelling out loudly views just to draw a crowd. It doesn't matter if what you saying is fact or fiction, just that it's dealing with a hot topic and you can sound convincing enough. It's an easy way to make a dollar I suppose.
This brings me to Bob Woodward. There was a point when I was a fan of his work but that ship has sailed regrettably. I will always support creativity and truth but you can't have creativity without truth when you state, "these are the facts". In his new book, "Plan of Attack", Mr. Woodward makes plenty of statements of he said this or she said that and he convinces the reader that this must be true. Why not, he did interview all those officials and isn't it easy to record what was said and just type it up? Maybe it's just me and I live in a fantasyland. It's as simple as this. If I interview people, write a book on what those people said, then those people say I was wrong in what I wrote, well, then I play the tape showing what I was wrote was in fact the truth! At least show a document I based a fact on. Simple enough, right?
Lets take the hot topic from his book that is in the news and we as everyday people understand. Gas prices are to high. Mr. Woodward stated that the Saudi Prince Bandar made a promise that they would lower the oil prices by Election Day. Well, where is the proof that was actually said? Where did Mr. Woodward get that amazing bit of news? The Saudi government has said it never made such a promise. The White House has stated no such pledge was made. And as far as I can tell, Mr. Woodward has offered no proof that such an event occurred other than words in a book. A book he wrote. I think I know where he pulled that bit of information out of but I'll be polite enough not to say so here.
John Kerry made the statement, "If, as Bob Woodward reports, it is true that gas supplies and prices in America are tied to the American election, then tied to a secret White House deal, that is outrageous and unacceptable to the American people". What does it say about Kerry when he has to use someone else's words to fall back on? I hope you noticed what the first word that came out of his mouth. I'll give you a hint, if. If, Mr. Woodward had something true to say, he'd have the means to back it up. Instead, when asked about the statements he wrote about the gas price fixing, he couldn't say exactly when Prince Bandar made his pledge, and wouldn't use the word "deal." But he stands by his story.
Anyway, the book is riddled with alleged statements and facts but not one shred of proof to back any of it up. I wouldn't say that all is wrong with Mr. Woodward's book. It's very well written and convincing in the material. It should be available at your local library in the fantasy section very soon.

Battle Buddies By Raymond L. Collins 4-26-04
Just a bit about myself before I get started. I graduated from Breathitt High in 1983 and followed that with a year in college. I moved to Virginia Beach where I started a family prior to joining the Air Force in 1986. While in the service, I've spent time in Japan, South Korea, and England as well as Maryland, Florida, Texas, and Ohio. I still live in Middletown, Ohio and work at Wright-Patterson AFB for the National Air & Space Intelligence Center. My wife Charlotte is from Jackson although I actually met her while I was stationed in Florida. It's truly a small world. I have been serving in the military proudly for 18 years and I just reenlisted for a couple more. While I know it's not something for everyone, it has been a personal choice to serve in the military. This leads me to one of my personal pet peeves. The celebrated "weekend warrior". The one weekend a month, two weeks a year, battle ready soldier. Don't get me wrong; I know that most of the men and women that serve in the guard or reserves are helping win the battle against terrorism. Like in most cases though, it's those few spoilers that seem to get all the media attention that ruin it for the rest of my dedicated brethren.
I have a few questions to those complaining about being deployed away from their families. Did you get paid? During all that time you were playing warrior on the weekends, did you get paid? Did you spend any of the weekend warrior money? Did you reenlist at any point? Did you receive any bonuses? Did you receive training? Did you get any benefits from the government for being a weekend warrior such as education or medical? Most important, did you lift you right hand and swear an oath? I believe that oath was a personal choice and a commitment. It took away your right to complain about doing a job you continued to get paid for.
So now it's a different story and you have to earn your benefits, use your training, and follow through on your oath. You are now my fellow full-time warrior buddy! Glad to have you aboard! I do feel for you my friends because I had to spend a whole year without seeing my family. Even now I could be sent to the Middle East for however long it takes, but that is why I get paid. So, stop the complaining, do yourself, your family, and you country proud and take the fight to those that need it!
Lastly, for the families that are doing without your spouses as they are fighting the terror groups and their misguided followers. Support your soldier without question and hope that they all return to your arms. Look at your children and know that battles are being fought today in hope that your children don't have to fight them tomorrow. There is evil in this world and it needs to be confronted no matter where it's practiced. The days of sanctioned rape, torture, and killings by dictators and religious fanatics has to come to an end. Perhaps I'm just to optimistic that everyone would want such debauchery to end; however, I just don't think just using the magic word please works on evil. I know a big stick upside the head helps.

The Right Reason By Raymond L. Collins 5-3-04
Well, it's been over a year since we invaded Iraq. What has that year brought us? In February, as reported by the Washington Post March 22nd 2004, the Oxford Research International released a poll for ABC News, the BBC, Japan's NHK and Germany's ARD that showed that the majority of Iraq's are upbeat. The poll showed that 70 percent to 29 percent described their lives as going well. There were 57 percent that believed their life was better than before the war compared to the 19 percent that believed it to be worse. I wonder of that 19 percent, how many belonged to the former Iraqi regime? The loss of unbridled power over your fellow man can be a letdown I suppose. A vast 72 percent polled wanted a democracy with 67 percent desiring a strong leader to go with it. I suppose it's much easier to report or dwell on the few things that go wrong instead of what's been good. You have to wonder what you being force-fed in the majority of the liberal news and why.
Let's look at the people that blame the U.S. for the death of civilians. What are they basing their ramblings on anyway? In the same Washington Post report, Sayyed Farqat al Qizwini, while in Washington, was asked by reporters if the Iraqi people had been better off before the war. 'No,' he reportedly responded with a wave of his hand. When pressed, his reply was as follows; 'You don't know how many he used to kill every day'. During the 1991 uprising in Babel, 'Saddam Hussein's tanks were unable to move on the streets due to the mass of flesh and bones of the people.'
I've seen tanks roll over cars without slowing down, so you can imagine the number of bodies that were strayed throughout the city. If you haven't seen pictures of those killed during that and other events, I suggest you get on the Internet. I don't have the words myself. Look at the history and path of Iraq over the last 30 years and the life those people were forced to live. Any loss of an innocent civilian is tragic. When you fight against an evil that doesn't care who gets hurt, puts weapons in and around civilian homes businesses, hospitals, temples, and schools, it's nearly impossible to ensure complete safety for everyone. You just have to hope and pray for the best and that it will end soon.
What type of weapons was used in Babel on those men, women, and children? Could it have been Weapons of Mass Destruction? So we know they had them, we know they wanted more, and we know they were after the ultimate weapon. Don't believe that WMDs have not been found. A treasure trove of chemicals in mass quantities has been located but that has not been reported widely. Saddam had many years to hide and move all that he had developed. Do you think that countries such as Syria would turn over any of Saddams' WMD's? It's very likely they have some if not most of what was produced. However, when our troops find tons of chemicals in bunkers that are covered and painted with camouflage or buried 6 feet deep, what do you think the purpose of those chemicals could have been? Why doesn't the mainstream news report it? Alone each chemical may be, for the most part, harmless, but when mixed become nerve agents, blister agents and toxic gases. Did you believe we'd find barrels labeled nerve agents nicely stacked in warehouses with signs proclaiming chemical factory? The weapons are there, you just have to read all the signs and pull your head out of the sand. It should not be made a political agenda and the truth that the chemicals are there and were available should be told.
Take, for example, the details of the plot to explode trucks in Jordan this past month. The trucks were to crash through the gates with special battering rams and rigged with approximately 20 tons of explosives. The explosion would have helped disperse a toxic cloud of chemicals to include nerve and blister agents. The targets were to be the U.S. Embassy, the Jordan Prime Minister's office, and the national intelligence headquarters. The number of possible dead was estimated to be about 80 thousand people. Most of which would have been innocent civilians comprised of men, women, and children. I wonder were those chemicals came from?
Aside from the obvious weapons, do you think its not our concern when mass graves are filled, rape rooms are operated, and mutilations, murders, and tortures are committed daily? If that's your belief, perhaps you need to go to church more than you have lately. It's all of our responsibility to protect our fellow beings whether it's in the U.S. or outside. I would go to Iraq for that reason alone. I'm not asking you to go, that's why it's a volunteer military.
So, where has the battle against terrorism taken place since 9/11? We've taken it to their front door and that's where we plan on keeping it. So, please go shopping, dancing, or just out for a walk and don't worry about the next possible attack here in the United States. We, as soldiers, know where the battle should be fought.
Find out what's really going on in Iraq and whom we are fighting there. Get in the know about the positives and not just the problems. Read it all and learn the truth. You have that freedom and now so do the Iraqi people. Isn't that amazing? PHOTOS HERE