When a child reaches the age of three or four, they are usually ready to graduate from car seat use. Many parents are unaware that simply placing them in a seat belt is not enough. In order to ensure safety and avoid possible internal injury or even death, many experts agree that booster car seats are necessary for children up to the age of nine!

Our daughter uses a booster car seat. It’s not nearly as troublesome as a traditional car seat. It has a regular booster sit with an arm that goes across her lap. The seat belt then wraps around the front of this arm, securing her into the seat. My daughter loves her booster seat. She feels much safer and she is able to see out the window. We find that this serves the secondary purpose of helping to avoid carsickness, since not being able to see out the windows often creates this malady.

Other booster car seat styles include molded plastic support for the entire back, along with comfortable cushioning. These seats have the advantage of supporting the entire spine and neck, and this is also a good option for parents out looking for a new booster car seat. Booster car seats are especially good for older children and is the option we will likely go with as our daughter grows.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing a booster car seat for your child is not to pick out a particularly babyish print or style. If your child is supposed to use this seat for much of their childhood, they are not going to want to cooperate if the booster car seat looks like a baby seat. Try to think long term and opt for a seat with neutral colors and go for a sleek, stylish design that your child won’t be as likely to grow to become embarrassed of. Also, keep in mind that you could have other children down the road, so it’s best to choose coloring and design that is suitable for either gender.

We have found the transition from toddler car seat to booster car seat to be an easy one to make. One of the added bonuses is that when our daughter falls asleep in the car from time to time, being secured in the child seat provides added support and a place for her to rest her head, that might not be available if she was only secured in a lap belt.

Back in the 1980s, I was just a little kid, the oldest of three girls. We always had a lot of toys, many of which my grandmother would pick up second hand at yard sales in the city. I remember a couple of toys that we didn’t get though - toys that occupied my mind and fantasy world, and that I would have given my right arm to possess. The most coveted toys of all, for just about any kid at that time, would have to be the Cabbage Patch Kids.

How these toys managed to capture the attention of millions of children the world over, I’ll never know. They weren’t even particularly cute, with their molded plastic heads, unmoving eyes and hair of yarn. And yet, somehow these dolls held the key to the hearts of kids around the globe.  I think part of the appeal of Cabbage Patch Kids had to be the adoption papers. Getting a doll that had already been pre-named was a pretty novel approach. It must have been more than mere dolly names that caused the hysteria surrounding Cabbage Patch Kids, especially at Christmastime. The crowds of shoppers went absolutely wild! There were even news reports of masses of people stampeding, trampling other shoppers, in the frenzy to get one of these dolls for an eager boy or girl waiting at home.

The marketing behind Cabbage Patch Kids was sheer genius. The world was held captive, enthralled, becoming willing pawns of marketing like never before. To this very day, I even remember the price of one of these dolls, an elusive $34.95, just out-of-grasp for our family to enjoy, as it would have been over $100 to send the three of us to cloud nine, out of sheer joy. This was simply money our family didn’t have.

I think our other grandmother took pity on us. She wanted to buy us the dolls, but between us and countless cousins, she would have ended up spending thousands of dollars buying Cabbage Patch Dolls. So instead, she invested hours on end, painstakingly making dolls for us by hand. These dolls had hand painted faces, were anatomically correct, thanks to a few drinks we suspected.  Each clothed in beautiful handmade clothing.  Sadly, we were all pretty disappointed with this make due attempt by our grandmother. Although we smiled bravely and put on a happy face, we were dying inside. These were not Cabbage Patch Kids at all! The other kids would laugh and know we were poor. This simply wouldn’t do!

In the end though, we came to love our dolls. As we grew older and reflected on our childhoods, we came to understand the real love that our grandmother put in to all of those dolls. Real thought and an exorbitant investment of time and effort. Many of my toys are long gone, but to this day my special doll sits on a shelf in my bedroom, as a testament to our grandmother’s love and a memory of the hysteria of the Cabbage Patch Kids era.

If you go to any department store today, you may well find Cabbage Patch Kids stocking the shelves. This comeback attempt has not even scraped the surface of the success of the original batch of Kids. I don’t know if the marketing is no longer as effective, or maybe the magic has simply been lost, but the Cabbage Patch Kids will always stir up fond memories in my family.

We recently purchased, installed and began using Adobe Creative Suite at work. Although I am a diehard Quark fan, the cost of purchasing the software, was too cost prohibitive for our office. We opted for Adobe Creative Suite because it includes two of the industry standard tools for design - PhotoShop and Illustrator - and a contender for the title of number three: InDesign. So, like it or not, I have been forced to learn how to use Adobe’s layout tool and I must admit, I’ve come to like it.

At first, I balked at the differences between Quark and InDesign. Using Quark had come to be second nature for me. It’s so intuitive, I felt like it was an extension of my own body. So, it’s not surprising that making the switch to InDesign was somewhat painful for me. I can now use this tool quite adeptly, accomplishing pretty much anything I could previously do with Quark, much to Adobe’s credit.

Another bonus that is included in Adobe Creative Suite that I like is the image bank. I’ve installed it on my computer at work and it’s a great asset in my daily job. Part of my day’s work includes updating our Intranet home page with stories and imagery that relates to our region and workforce. The image bank included on the Adobe Creative Suite CDs is quite vast and a welcome resource when other image sources have become overused and exhausted.

We have recently installed Adobe Creative Suite at home. Although my husband is yet to be convinced about InDesign being a close contender to QuarkXpress, I’m quite confident that if he gives InDesign a run for it’s money, he will be pleased with the outcome and quickly become skilled in it’s use. I’ve even heard that you can have cloak InDesign to mimic Quark, if you really just can’t get the usability out of it with it’s current functionality.

In my opinion, releasing Adobe Creative Suite as a package deal was a marvelous move on the part of Adobe. They have revolutionized the tools used by designers across the industry, getting a stranglehold on the market. There will always be those who swear that Quark is better than InDesign, however, the purchase of InDesign is much more economical, especially when obtained as part of Adobe Creative Suite. The cost factor alone is likely enough to end this debate once and for all.

I am a very avid reader. I have a voracious appetite for books. There are currently several thousand dollars worth of books waiting to be purchased and read, on my current reading list. I don’t always have enough spare cash to stock up on copious amounts of books to my heart’s content. So, I’ve had to find alternative ways to feed my addiction - ways that don’t require as much money or any, if I work it right!

First, I tried joining book clubs. I was a sucker for every offer out there, luring me to join and receive as many as six books for 99 cents each! Of course, I never bothered to read the small print explaining my end of the bargain and quickly found myself the receiver of piles of mail and bills for hundreds of dollars of unpurchased books. It was a disaster!

Right around that time, I discovered a used book store right next door to my work. I was in heaven! This book store stocked many of the latest titles and they were well priced and in very decent condition. And from time to time, I would find a box of books at the front door that were being offered to a good home at no cost! This was great. But as with anything, you eventually find the downside, I found that the owner of the book store was pretty unfair when it came to trading in your own gently read books. Even books I’d bought at that very story and read only once, would then be rejected when I tried to use them as trade ins. It got to the point where the proprietor would turn up his nose at pretty much any book that wasn’t in absolutely mint condition, regardless of the title or author. I became disgruntled and stopped going to that store altogether.

Recently I’ve discovered a wonderful online resource called Title Trader. It’s simply fantastic and there is no cost involved in becoming a member or in receiving books from other members. Title Trader allows you to post an inventory of your own collection of books, videos, movies and games for other members to browse and choose from. You can create a wish list to allow other members know what items you’re looking for, and when their added you will be notified of their availability. The beauty of the service is that you can request and receive countless books and other items at absolutely no cost. You will only have to pay for postage when you send a request to another member from  your inventory.

Out of all the resources I’ve found to help build my book collection and to keep up with my voracious appetite, Title Trader has definitely been the best ever! Copious amounts of books, many new titles and best of all - there’s no cost involved!

A ball point pen is a great writing implements. They were not invented until shortly before World War II, in 1938 by Laszlo Biro. The creator got the idea from newspapers. He noticed that the ink in newspapers dried quickly and did not leave smudges, so he thought it would be a great idea to make a pen that used the same ink. To do that, he could not do a standard fountain pen, since the ink was too thick and dried to quickly for that. Instead, he put a tiny ball bearing at the very tip of the pen which would roll around, dispersing the ink as the pen moved on the page.

Ball point pens are still, to this day one of the best types of pens. They leak less than fountain pens, although the down side is that they dry out quickly sometimes. As a writer, finding just the perfect pen is really important to me. I don’t use a standard ball point pen, but instead use a pressurized pen modeled after the astronaut pens that can write in zero gravity. These pens have a pressurized capsule inside. Normal ballpoint pens depend on capillary action, combined with gravity, to keep the ink flowing. As the ink supply gets lower, they begin to work sporadically, stopping and starting, and it is very frustrating to write with one of these.  Trying to figure out exactly when it has become too unreliable and should be thrown out. My pressurized pen writes smoothly and continuously until it is completely out of ink. It only takes it a few letters to go from writing well to not writing at all and there is no need to fight with it.  It only stops writing when the ink supply is out.

There are other considerations that go into finding a pen then ink flow, believe it or not. One of these is the feel of the pen. A plastic ball point pen are alright, but there is nothing more pleasurable to write with than a nice heavy metal pen with an elegant design. It is soothing and comforting in your hand, it has weight, it has substance. It can be a fountain pen or a ball point, it doesn’t matter, it will be a joy to write with.

Another consideration is what kind of writing you are doing. If you are an artist or a calligrapher, you will require a much different kind of pen then a writer would use. If you press down hard when you write with your ball point pen, you will want much less ink flow than if you barely press down at all. The best thing to do is to experiment and see what works for you.

The energetic entrepreneur is alive and kicking in the US.  Countless individuals are drawing on their knowledge and passion, and dipping their hands into their savings, as they venture into the world of small business.  In 2004, it has been estimated that there were around 24.7 million small businesses in the United States.  These small businesses have provided an estimated 60-80 percent of the new jobs in this country over the last ten years.

When opening a retail business, after leasing a space, drawing up a business plan and purchasing inventory, you might want to spend some time doing a bit of research on the benefits of a point of sale system.  There are several versions these days, though the most user friendly one may very well be from Microsoft.  This particular point of sales system utilizes the Windows set up that so many of us are not only familiar with, but have grown up on.

A retail point of sale system, more commonly referred to as a POS system, will help both small and large business owners streamline their day to day activities, as well as make large projects many times more manageable.  Such a system allows the business owner to set up extensive databases in multiple ways in order to serve the business in the best possible way.  Long past are the days of 10-digit registers, plug-in calculators and carbon copy credit card receipts.

The point of sale system of today looks no different than a desktop computer, with every function of said computer and so much more.  These updated and integrated systems allow the user to ring up transactions, process payments, manage inventory and print reports.  Sales can be viewed throughout the day, by product, by cashier and by the hour.  Price tags for products can be made, labels for shelves can be printed and purchases can be tracked.  There are customer databases, department databases, item databases and supplier databases.  Systems can be networked, messages can be forwarded on and ideas can be shared.  Employees can clock themselves in and out, sales tax can be set and product prices can be adjusted.  Receipts, labels and calendars can be designed.  Summary sales reports, detailed sales reports and regional sales reports can be printed.  Connect your point of sale system to your fax line and purchase orders and invoices can be processed with just a few keystrokes.

With all that a point of sale system can do for a business, it is hard to imagine not only the days when they did not exist, but running an operation in this day and age without one.  There is no doubt that many of us despise paperwork, have a habit of letting the pile in the in-box grow ever taller.  Work takes time, and time is money.  Whether you own one store, ten stores, or one hundred, you cannot afford to not have a point of sale system.

One of the first things you have to let go of when watching Blade Runner is the temptation to compare the movie with the book, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”? By the number one SF writer of all time, Philip K. Dick.  Yes, the mechanical pets are absent, but a monologue discussing the absence of real animals in the future does appear in the film.  Yes, the ending is different, but the medium of printed word and published work is very different than the film medium, so time lapses, character development, etc., will be necessarily altered in the latter.  But Blade Runner also features some fine casting, decent special effects, and a complex storyline and premise that does justice to Dick’s writing style and genius mind.

The Hollywood shunned Sean Young fits perfectly in her stoic human role as Rachael - hmmm, interesting biblical allusion?.  Harrison Ford is convincing, just smoky voiced enough and of course dynamic enough as the bounty hunter seeking out the hiding replicants.  Daryll Hannah as Pris is quite interesting, as is her makeup and costuming.  A replicant ballerina, now that’s a first.

The sound track is absolutely stunning, utterly scintillating.  Vangelis matches the opening drama by the wailing wet woozy sounds of the sax.  It brings in the drums and consistently expresses in Blues and Jazz ensembles that are romantic and surreal at once the epic, daunting, and depressing bleakness of the reality of the future as Dick has depicted it.  Blade Runner is often categorized in the cyberpunk genre set as it is in 2019 Los Angeles.  Featuring the futuristic cyber-technology of cloning, hyped up surveillance tools and hyper advanced investigative strategies, carried out by the Harrison Ford character, blade Runner Deckard.

The film is visually dark and metaphysically, psychically dreary.   And the premise is true to the novel, with it’s emphasis on the preciousness of human and other life versus the futuristic and technological displacement we face.  While I am reticent about suggesting this, as I typically insist you read the book that precedes the film.  If the comparison thing is going to interfere with your experience of one of the best SF films of all time, don’t read “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”? First.  But DO read it.  You will be amazed, after watching Blade Runner, at the depth of detail of the future mindset, mentality and morality.

If you love movies or modern electronics, you’ve probably set foot in a Best Buy store.  These rewarding superstores, containing everything from plasma televisions to quality refrigerators, are packed with a wide selection.  I recall getting hooked on Best Buy after I purchased my first DVD player.  Suddenly I needed that ideal movie supplier that could offer me a great variety of DVDs.  Well, it didn’t take long to realize that my local Best Buy was the place.

A key benefit to Best Buy is the location.  It is not difficult find a Best Buy in your immediate area.  Unless you reside out in the boon-docks, Best Buy is likely just around the corner.  Once you survey their selection of music and home entertainment, you will have a relationship for life.  I always enjoy their plethora of televisions, which offer such amazing quality pictures these days.  It’s fun to stand in front of that spectrum of widescreens and pretend that it will one day grace the wall of your living room.  Wow, that would be every man’s dream come true.  Best Buy offers a price range suitable for most families when it comes to purchasing a new home theater or stereo system.  These are products that really have to be tested and analyzed in person, so that we can be certain of what we’re dropping a chunk of money on.

Best Buy has incomparable prices from what I’ve experienced.  Have you ever spent some time browsing through the music store down at the mall?  A CD runs for 20 bucks these days.  Pop into your local Best Buy and you’re sure to find a better deal.  Why should we spend more than we have to?  DVDs offer the same kind of savings.  You’ll save considerable in comparison to those big movie chains, that typically offer a poor selection.

While Best Buy can provide you with great deals and savings, a prime benefit to their company is the service.  I’ve never entered a Best Buy without being greeted at the door.  In addition, employees always offer their assistance when they spot me browsing for a certain DVD.  This is refreshing in a world that has virtually forgotten about the customer.  No matter what your electronic or entertainment need, Best Buy is a good place to have a look when you consider the savings and numerous possibilities.

For some people, the perfect vacation is to find a five star hotel or beach where you can every whim catered to and every indulgence fulfilled. Others may seek a more family style excursion with amusement parks and theme parks. And yet others may opt for a cruise or other entertainment vacation. There are those who desire to go “where no man has gone before”. There are those who enjoy walking on the wild side. For these people, there exists adventure travel.

Adventure travel may take you kayaking in Glacier Bay, Alaska. You may choose to go canoeing and camping in the boundary waters of Northern Minnesota. You may choose to travel the world always seeking the path less traveled. You may travel to the rainforests of the Amazon or the Sahara Desert. You may go on an African Safari or mountain climbing in Tibet.

Beginners can get started in adventure travel easily. Many places offer guided and equipped tours into adventure areas. Experienced outfitters can provide you with all the equipment and the guide you need to start in adventure travel. More experienced adventures may plan their own trips and use their own equipment.  Adventure travel may also include eco-travel or travel with a purpose. Perhaps your adventure travel vacation could include a visit to an African refugee camp or helping to feed the hungry in a third world nation.  Perhaps your adventure travel will take to you to South America visiting ruins of the ancient Aztec civilization. Maybe your adventure travel will take you to the pyramids of Egypt.

Adventure travel is about discovering something new. Perhaps the adventure is the sport and the activity such as kayaking, canoeing, camping, mountain climbing, hiking and more. But adventure travel is not limited to sport. Adventure travel includes adventures in science visiting the Antarctic or the Amazon rainforest. Adventure travel includes discovering history in the Middle East or South America. Adventure travel can take you into the depths of winter or into the heat of summer.

No matter where you go or what you do, adventure travel is all about traveling on the road less traveled, learning about the world, learning about other people and other cultures. Adventure travel can take you to the extremes. You can go to the most extreme and remote parts of the world. You can engage in extreme sports. You can visit extreme history.  There are many travel agents available to help you plan your next adventure travel vacation.

We do almost everything online.  We can check email, order gifts and even do our banking online.  With a bank account online you never  again have to wait in line to have a teller assist you with your financial transactions.  Most major financial institutions now offer their customers the ability to have a bank account online.  This gives the customers the convenience of being able to check their bank account balance, pay bills and even transfer money between accounts.  You simply visit the website of your bank and use the links provided to sign-up so you have access to your bank account online.

For someone who has traditionally used the services of a bank teller it might seem a bit overwhelming to think about having a bank account online.  They enjoy the person-to-person interaction and feel confident when they walk out of the bank with a deposit slip in hand.  You can feel just as secure and confident when you have a bank account online.  Each of your transactions is documented and you receive an authorization number for each bill payment you make.

When you have a bank account online you may even be able to have direct deposit.  Direct deposit is when your pay check is directly deposited into your bank account online on each payday.  This means you no longer have to visit the bank after work when you get paid.  You simply log in to your bank account online and you’ll find the money already there for you.  Your employer will still supply with a record of your pay and deductions but it saves a time consuming step for you.

Another nice feature of having a bank account online is that you can easily set up post dated payments.  If you are going on vacation but don’t want to miss your credit card bill payment, you can set it up so it is deducted from your account and electronically send to the credit card company on the date you specify.  You can do this with almost all of your payments which means that you will never again overlook a payment’s due date.  This saves the trouble of having to write a post dated check, put it in an envelope, find a stamp and mail it before you depart on your vacation.  It’s simply a much easier method.

Having a bank account online is the next step in banking.  With all of the security features available you can do your everyday banking in confidence from the convenience of your own home.