Cleaning Toys Guide: When and How

We tend to underestimate the importance of cleaning toys. 

Bath toys are subject to mold and mildew growth in any crack or crevice. Even though the toy spends time in the soapy water, germs still attack once the toys are removed. Check out some interesting suggestions using vinegar.

Cleaning Baby Toys:
Teethers, plastic and wood toys. Most all "hard" toys fall in this category. When your baby is in the "putting everything in the mouth" stage you'll want to wipe down her toys more often. The recipe is 1 cup of water + 1 cup of distilled white vinegar.
Mix together equal parts distilled white vinegar and water for a cheap toy cleaning solution. Put it in a spray bottle and just spray a little on a cloth and then wipe down the toys. The vinegar smell goes away completely after it dries and it doesn't leave any residue on the toys. 

Cleaning Stuffed Toys:
Stuffed animals, fabric mats and fabric toys. Follow the washing directions on the tag for how to clean baby toys. However, if there are no directions or the tag is long gone there are still some gentle cleaning methods you can try.  Washing Machine with Vinegar and Baking Soda - Yes, you can throw most fabric toys and stuffed animals into the washing machine and they'll be fine ifthe material and content is cotton or polyester blends. For heavily stained or soiled stuffed animals sprinkle them with baking soda and wash, adding 3 capfuls of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Most fabric and stuffed toys can also be tumble dried on low.

Cleaning Wool Toys:
If your wool toy is "felted" you can simply wash it in the machine in a pillow case or net bag. If not, you need to take special care when washing. Spot cleaning is ideal, especially for things like Waldorf dolls or knitted wool stuffed animals. To spot clean, use a mild wool soap and a damp wash cloth and let air dry. For very heavily soiled wool toys you can also hand wash using a wool soap and then lay in a sunny window to dry. Do NOT tumble dry wool toys unless they have already been felted.

Cleaning Bath Toys:

Bath toys are subject to mold and mildew growth in any crack or crevice. Even though the toy spends time in the soapy water, germs still attack once the toys are removed. Using vinegar and water to clean the bath toys eliminates the bacteria that causes the mold and mildew to grow. The toys are ready for use by little hands and the spread of germs is decreased. 

Remove soap residue from the bath toys by soaking in a mixture of 1 cup distilled white vinegar and 1 gallon of clean water. The alkalies in soaps are broken down and removed by the acid in the vinegar. Rinse the toys completely and place them on a clean surface to air dry. 

Sources: eHow and howtostuffanimals

Recap HBDA, no shows

What happened? The lowest recorded attendance in HBDA dance at the Palladium. Or am I wrong? There was another very prominent occasion at the Pacific Beach Hotel, that was also a charity affair.

"In order to have great happiness you have to have great pain and unhappiness - otherwise how would you know when you're happy?"

One of the things I try to communicate is not to have conflicting dances with each other. In this case perhaps it could not be helped. It does nothing for the dancers to give them the choice, either this or that on the same day and time.

So we roll around with time and try to help each other instead of hinder. I had some photos left over from Kapolei Chapter. I could put one late one in here of
the Palladium crew on the fatal day.

"Runaround Sue" By Dion and the Belmonts

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" By Procul Harum

Typo? Spell Checkers and Proof Readers are not perfect.

From a caption under a picture of a play rehearsal, in a newspaper:

"Leslie Upton plays the role of Winnie the Pooh and Matt Osborn is Christopher Robin. in the Summer Drama Workshop production of Winnie the Pooh, which will be presented at two PM Saturday. In the scene above, Pooh shits on Christopher Robin's lap."

Pub's Note: There are some people out there that actually feel some sense of superiority when they discover a typo in our blogs or actually anywhere.

Chilled Wild Blueberry Soup

When I was younger, we used to pick wild huckleberries while anchored in the Georgian Bay area of Canada. We'd all return with purple mouths, hands and tongues, but with enough berries left in our containers so my mother could make the world's most heavenly huckleberry pie.

I've heard many an argument about wild blueberries versus wild huckleberries. Do you know the difference?

They come from the same family but are a very different berry. Wild Huckleberries only grow in the wild but wild blueberries often are harvested commercially on farms. (You can even buy them frozen in your market.) The wild blueberry is smaller than a regular blueberry and has many soft, tiny almost unnoticeable seeds, while the huckleberry has larger seeds so they are slightly grittier when eaten. Blueberries are also more blue, while huckleberries are blackish blue or reddish black. Huckleberries have a much more vibrant and robust flavor than blueberries. They're sweeter too. Also, wild blueberries are have a slightly more earthy taste than you might expect.

Now that I live in Florida, my days of fresh-picked huckleberries are just a memory. But because of those memories, I should have guessed how much I'd like this nearly savory soup made from wild blueberries. It's a thicker fruit soup than I'm used to, but you could add more cream to thin it out if you prefer. A beautiful summery first course, you could also pass it around in little glass mugs.

Chilled Wild Blueberry Soup
By Rowan Jacobsen from Fine Cooking Magazine

Ingredients:
8 cups frozen wild blueberries (from one 3-lb. bag), or fresh if available 
1/2 cup dry white wine 
1/2 cup heavy cream 
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves; more for garnish 
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest (from 1/2 medium lemon)  
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom 
Kosher salt 
Sour cream or crème fraîche

Method:
Heat the blueberries and wine in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries are thawed, about 5 minutes (if using fresh blueberries, bring the mixture to a simmer). Stir in the heavy cream, mint, lemon zest, cardamom, and 3/4 tsp. salt.
Working in batches, purée the blueberry mixture in a blender or food processor until smooth. Strain through a medium-mesh sieve into a storage container. Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator, about 4 hours.

To serve, whisk vigorously to loosen the soup (chilling thickens it and you can add more cream at this point if you wish.). Season to taste with more salt. Ladle the soup into serving bowls and garnish with a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche and a single mint leaf.  Makes about 5 cups.

                                               *********************************

After glancing through my drafts folder, I noticed lots of odds and ends I've never gotten around to posting. Rather than deleting them I thought I'd start a little side blog and get them posted as there are several good ideas and recipes among the discarded drafts. You'll notice some wooden cooking utensils on the sidebar. That's the new blog, if you have time to take a look.

                                                                                   **************************

Have a wonderful 4th of July!
Happy Birthday, America!

Jello Cups!

Check out these edible vegan cups made of agar agar, a seeweed. They can be tossed without guilt when your drink or cocktail is gone. The cups are available in different flavors, such as lemon-basil, ginger-mint, or rosemary-beet, each specifically designed to compliment a corresponding drink. They can be nibbled on while drinking and any leftover remnants can be composted immediately. Great idea! I wonder how easy it might be to make them ourselves with jello....


By The Way We See The World

RECALL: More Tylenol

Johnson & Johnson is recalling one product lot of Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets made in February 2009 and distributed in the U.S. The recall totals 60,912 bottles, each of which has 225 caplets.

McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson, said it has received a small number of reports about the pills' odor, which has been linked in past J&J recalls to the presence of trace amounts of "2,4,6-tribromoanisole",  a byproduct of a chemical preservative sometimes used on shipping pallets.

Besides causing an unpleasant odor, it has been associated with temporary and non-serious gastrointestinal symptom.

Source: msnbc.com

Google, target of worldwide surveillance and takedown requests

Google continued to demonstrate its commitment to transparency on Monday by releasing fresh statistics on the number of times it has disclosed private user data to a government, or removed content at government request. The country-by-country report covers the second half of 2010.

During that period, the United States was the top requester of user information (4,601 requests), while Brazil was the leader in takedowns, with 263 requests leading to the removal of 12,363 items.

Google has committed to releasing such data at six-month intervals, and the data now goes back 18 months. US data requests were up about 30 percent in the second half of 2010 compared with the same period in 2009. Brazil, which requested the most data in the second half of 2009, actually saw its data requests fall since then.

For the first time, Google is also disclosing the fraction of user data requests it has complied with in addition to the total number of requests (it has always provided compliance statistics on takedowns). It complied with the highest fraction—94 percent—of American requests. It also complied with more than 80 percent of requests in Japan, Singapore, and Australia. At the opposite extreme, Google refused to comply with any of Turkey and Hungary's information requests, and it complied with fewer than half of the requests in South Korea, Portugal, Argentina, and Poland.

The section on takedown requests provides an interesting window into the different types of censorship that occur around the world. For example, Google complied with a request from the Thai government to remove 43 items "mocking or criticizing the king," which is illegal in that country. It removed an Italian video that depicted the assassination of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, but refused to remove videos criticizing politicians in India.

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How to trim your baby's nails

Should I trim my baby's nails?

Yes. Your baby's nails may be softer and more pliable than yours, but make no mistake — they're sharp! A newborn has little control over his flailing limbs and can easily end up scratching his own face or yours.

Little fingernails grow so fast you may have to cut them several times a week. Toenails require less frequent trimming.

How do I trim my baby's nails without cutting his fingertips?

The best time to do this is while he's sleeping. (You may want to leave nail utensils in the car so you can do the job while your baby's asleep in his car seat.) Another good time is right after a bath, when your baby's nails are at their softest.

Make sure you have enough light to see what you're doing. Use a pair of baby scissors or clippers made especially for the purpose. Press the finger pad away from the nail to avoid nicking the skin, and keep a firm hold on your baby's hand as you clip.

Cut fingernails along the curve of the finger. Cut toenails straight across. Then use an emery board to smooth out any rough edges. In fact, if you're patient and your baby's nails aren't too long, you can skip clipping them altogether and simply file them to the right length with an emery board.

If you decide to give your baby a manicure while he's awake, get someone to help you hold him and keep him from wiggling too much while you work. Or have someone distract him so he'll let you hold his hand still for the clipping and filing.

Some parents bite their baby's nails into shape, but if you do, you run the risk of introducing germs from your mouth into any little cut your baby may have on his finger. You also won't be able to see what you're doing, and you'll find that your baby's finger is minute compared to your teeth! Still, some parents rely on this method.

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Granola Clusters or Bars (Oat, Quinoa and Flaxseed)

My kids love granola bars and clusters. Unfortunately most commercial bars in the market are loaded with sugar and other undesirable ingredients. Check out this great recipe using quinoa flakes, oats and flaxseed. It is loaded with proteins, minerals and vitamins. They taste great, and make a perfect snack or dessert!

Granola Clusters or Bars

Servings: about 50 bars, or a pound of granola cereal or clusters

• Canola cooking Spray
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup quinoa flakes
• 1/2 cup flaxseed meal or wheat germ
• 1/2 cup chopped raw, unsalted walnuts
• 1/2 cup chopped unsalted almonds
• 1/2 cup chopped unsalted pecans
• 1/2 cup organic agave
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 4 oz (113 grs.) of organic apple sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup raisins

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spray a large baking sheet with canola cooking spray. In a medium bowl combine the all ingredients. Mix really well, using a spoon or your hands. Spread the mixture onto the baking sheet and bake until golden brown. If you want granola, stir it occasionally, about 50 minutes. If you want cluster of bars, do not stir, but keep an eye to avoid burned edges and soft center. Transfer the sheet to a cooling rack and let cool completely. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Google head urges more broadband investment

IRELAND NEEDS to do better at broadband, and getting businesses online, Google’s Eric Schmidt said yesterday.

Speaking yesterday in Dublin, the company's executive chairman said Ireland was behind some of our competitors – France, Germany and the UK getting a specific mention – in providing high-speed internet access to homes and businesses, through both traditional access and wireless networks such as 4G.

“Which is not to say that you can’t catch up quickly, but you need to do it,” he said. “It’s not a tragedy but it’s an issue.

“The thing the Government can actually do that’s hard is [to] work with the telecommunications providers to get more broadband. It’s very difficult for small businesses to do,” he added.

“There are very few things that are better use of your money than long-term infrastructure in information technology that serves the interests of the citizens of the country.”

It’s a situation that has been negatively affected by the financial crisis, he noted.

“It may be that the Government has had a tough time, choosing between 10 different legitimate groups. I’m lobbying for mine,” he said. “The benefit of lobbying for mine is I think that the economic benefit of getting Irish businesses to be global, the flow through is so phenomenal. It creates new jobs, they pay taxes; it’s a market. But it is aided by such investment.”

This will help Irish businesses to become more global, get online and utilise the internet, he said, describing it as a global opportunity for Irish businesses.

“If I can sound critical, my observation is that Irish businesses are somewhat behind, especially the small and medium business, getting online compared to where they should be,” he said. “And Google and other companies working with people here should work very hard to get those companies on the internet.”

About 40 per cent of Irish companies do not have a website or other form of online presence, a situation that has led Google to get involved in an initiative with Blacknight Internet Solutions, An Post and the county and city enterprise boards aimed at helping to get smaller enterprises online.

He quoted a recent McKinsey study which claimed that, for every job lost through internet competition, 2.6 are created.

The good news is that Google, for the moment at least, has no plans to go anywhere. In fact, the company is expanding here all the time. It currently employs about 2,200 people in Ireland and is one of the fastest growing employers in the State.
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Salsa in Town

I had planned on getting home early Saturday night from Aliamanu, but things got screwed up with the buses. There is advantage to having a car. Anyway I ended up going all the way into town and while there, I thought about Salsa. Two places, I knew of and both were closed. No more Salsa.

"The greatest happiness you can have is knowing that

you do not necessarily require happiness."

So I decided to take a nice bike ride to Dream To Dance studio. Not too many people but DJ Rod playing some good solid, Latin music with "the beat." Something our regular DJs in the Ballroom scene, seem to be losing.

Our DJs version, "You can dance Rumba to it." Yes, but it is far different than when the music just asks, and you "gotta" dance Rumba to it. Big, Big Difference. Same thing happens in Cha Cha Cha. Often in country dances. Da reel teeng is just missing somewhere and no one realizes where.

Anyway I had to get a photo even if only a part of the dancers.

Nao, Debby, Lucy, Kevin, DJ Rod, Stacy, John, Becky, Jeff and Jessica

Quote: "Dance and Enjoy" by Debby.

So I had to catch the Next E bus which would go on the Freeway all the way to Waipahu Transit Center. Picked me up in ten minutes and room for one bike on the bike rack. But this is Saturday.

They don't don't have the filler 40 bus and I had to wait until almost 1l:00 pm. The bus was jammed to the hilt and it still surprises me that young that do not care that the instructions are to leave the front seats for the elderly. Auwe.

The only thing good about the rail, is that some will ride it if there is place to sit down.  And the bus company is going to force you to ride the rail. Now you know how. Something the buses of today could have and still do not realize. "General Motors" thinking of the last century.

Got home at midnight had a snack and good night.

10 Secrets for Instant Self-Confidence

1. Smile
The one-second tip for when you’re feeling nervous and unconfident is simply to smile! You don’t just smile because you are happy and confident – you can smile to make yourself feel better. The act of smiling is so strongly associated with positive feelings that it’s almost impossible to feel bad while smiling.

2. Make eye contact

As well as smiling, meet the eyes of other people in the room. Give them your smile; you’ll almost certainly get one back, and being smiled at is a great self-confidence boost. Like smiling, eye contact shows people that you’re confident. Staring at your shoes or at the table reinforces your feelings of self-doubt and shyness.
3. Change your inner voice

Most of us have a critical inner voice that tells us we’re stupid, not good enough, that we’re too fat, thin, loud, quiet… Being able to change that inner voice is key to feeling self-confident on the inside, which will help you project your confidence to the world. Make your inner voice a supportive friend who knows you fully but also recognizes your talents and gifts, and wants you to make the best of yourself.

4. Forget other people’s standards

Whatever the situation that’s causing you a crisis of self-confidence, you can help yourself immeasurably by holding yourself to your own standards alone. Other people have different values from you, and however hard you try, you’ll never please everyone all of the time. Don’t worry that people will think you’re too overweight, underweight, too feckless, too boring, too frugal, too frivolous … hold yourself to your standards, not some imagined standards belonging to others. And remember that commonly-held values and standards vary from society to society: you don’t have to accept them just because the people around you do.

5. Make the most of your appearance

Even if you’ve only got a minute or two, duck into the bathroom to make sure you’re looking your best. Brushing your hair, giving your face a good wash, retouching your makeup, straightening your collar, checking you’ve not got a bit of parsley stuck between your teeth … all of these can make the difference between feeling confident in your physical appearance and feeling anxious about an imagined flaw.

6. Pray or meditate briefly

If you believe in a higher power, whether God, or another spiritual force, it can be a real boost to self-confidence to say a silent prayer. (You could also meditate instead of praying.) This helps you to take a step back from your immediate situation, to see the wider picture and to seek help from something or someone greater than yourself. This is a Christian prayer, but you could write something similar that fits your own religious beliefs or spiritual tradition:

7. Reframe

If something unexpected happens, it’s easy to let it knock your fledgling self-confidence. Perhaps you spill your drink on someone, you arrive late for the big meeting because of traffic problems, or someone who you wanted to speak to gives you a cold brush-off. Try to “reframe” the situation; put it in the best possible light: often, events are only negative because of the meaning we attach to them.

8. Find the next step

Keep your self-confidence up by taking gradual steps forwards, rather than freezing when faced with what seems like a giant leap. If you’re not sure what to do, look for one simple step that you can take to make progress. That might mean making eye contact at a party, introducing yourself to a stranger, breaking the ice in a meeting, or asking a question of your interviewers that shows your knowledge of their industry and company.
9. Speak slowly

An easy tip for both seeming and being more self-confidence is to speak slowly. If you gabble, you’ll end up feeling worse as you know you’re being unclear to your audience or to the person you’re in a conversation with. Speaking slowly gives you the chance to think about what you’re going to say next. If you’re giving a talk or presentation, pause at the end of phrases and sentences to help your audience take in what you’ve said.

10. Contribute something

Have you ever sat through an entire class at college or meeting at work without saying a word? Have you had an evening out where friends chatted happily while you sat and stared silently at your drink? Chances are, you weren’t feeling very self-confident at the time – and you probably felt even worse afterwards. Whatever the situation you’re in, make an effort to contribute. Even if you don’t think you have much to say, your thoughts and perspective are valuable to those around you.

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Glass containers: very practical, no harmful chemicals (and so cheap!!)

Transporting foods for lunches and picnics and storing leftovers for reheating is a lot safer when using glass or stainless steel containers. The benefit of glass is that you can use it in the microwave! Check out this set from Pyrex, including two 2-cup rounds, one 3 1/2-cup rectangular, one 4-cup round, and one 6-cup rectangular storage piece, all glass, with plastic covers. Pyrex glass doesn't warp, stain, or absorb odors, and can be used in the oven, microwave, oven, refrigerator, or freezer. Sold at Amazon for under US$27 (free shipping). What a bargain!

By Pyrex

If not Android, then Windows 8?

As Google's Android continues to experience birthing pains in tablets, Windows 8 has emerged as an attractive, albeit still distant, alternative.

By the time Windows 8 tablets hit the market in 2012, Microsoft will have had ample time to analyze the initial missteps of the Android platform, not to mention its own unimpressive attempts at "slate" operating systems over the years. Generally speaking, Microsoft may miss with the first few whacks at something new but they're usually good at eventually nailing an operating environment. If only because of their tenacity. They will persevere for years, even decades, until they get it right.

And, in fact, it's been about a decade since Microsoft announced the tablet concept. At that time, Bill Gates infamously predicated at the Comdex trade show in Las Vegas that "the tablet would become the most popular form of PC within five years...The size of a legal notepad and half the weight of most of today's laptop PCs."

Tack on a few years and that prediction may be getting close to the truth. Not at Microsoft or Motorola or Dell, but Apple.

Windows 8 may be a watershed, however. Thanks to Apple, Microsoft now has a much better idea of what a tablet should be. And tablets are large-screen (relative to smartphones) devices, an operating environment Microsoft is comfortable with. Better still, Windows 8 can tap into plenty of horsepower--another thing Microsoft is good at. By next year, chip suppliers like Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments will have improved dual-core--and, in some cases, quad-core--chips replete with improved graphics. Not to mention Intel's plans to beef up its next-generation Atom processor by next year.

And since Windows 8 will run on both Intel and the ARM design-based chips cited above, Win 8 tablets will appear quickly, possibly in the form of a Microsoft-branded slate.

Did I mention apps? Microsoft has a few universally used applications--some might say pre-baked killer apps--that may work well in a Windows 8 tablet format. In short, never underestimate the demand for Microsoft Office. Microsoft could also move the tablet interface forward in a big way with a technology like Kinect.

All of this, I think, lays the groundwork for a successful platform. My only fear is that Microsoft and its partners fall prey to PC-itis and design clunky, thick, heavy tablets laden with ports in an effort to shoehorn a laptop into a tablet format. That would be a big mistake. (And, yes, Android 4.0 will have arrived by then, so the competition in non-Apple devices will not go away.)


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Giving your baby a bath

Time it right: Don't give your baby a real bath until the umbilical cord stump falls off. Sponge baths are okay until then.

Gather supplies: A baby tub (or just the sink), a washcloth or two, cotton balls (optional), baby soap, a towel, and a fresh diaper.

Get ready: Heat the room if it's chilly, and run an inch or two of warm water (about 90 degrees Fahrenheit) into the tub or sink

Take the plunge: Undress your baby and gradually place her in the tub on her back. Support her head and neck with one hand.

Keep her comfy: Gently pour cupfuls of water over your baby's body throughout the bath so she doesn't get cold.

Clean all over: Use a washcloth, cotton balls, or your hand to gently wash your baby's face and body. No need to scrub or use much soap.

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The Picnic Game: Cherry Bars in a Jar

Did you ever play the picnic game as a child? Well, Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations is hosting a virtual Picnic. In order to participate in the Picnic Game, each blogger chooses a letter and brings a dish that begins with that letter.  Join in the fun!

I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing.....

A: Apricot Cobbler from Mae at Mae's Food Blog
 

                    

B:  Banana Cream Pie from Marjie at Modern Day Ozzie and Harriet

And my letter is C: Cherry Bars in a Jar

Be sure to visit Louise for all the other letters and their matching dishes!

Back in the 60's, I made these gems all the time. Such a simple dessert when you're in a hurry and I've always made the recipe in bar form. But recently I remembered the little Ball jars I made my mother's rhubarb pie in. Why not make Cherry Bars in those? I love individual servings like this. So you have a choice...make this as a bar, using a rectangular pan, or make it in oven proof individual dishes like these. This is an easy dessert to serve on a picnic as you can use canned pie filling on top, screw the jar tops back on and pop them in your basket. I know it's called "cherry", but I've also made it with rhubarb curd (if you have any rhubarb in your garden) and roasted fruit. So use any fruit you want; take the fast and easy road with canned pie fillings or make it more elegant with homemade fresh fruit toppings. For Louise's 4th of July virtual picnic, I thought the bright red cherries were very appropriate.
The filling may look like cheesecake, but it's not nearly as dense.

Cherry Bars in a Jar

Ingredients:
16 graham crackers, crushed
1/3 cup  butter, soft
1/2 cup  sugar
1 8 oz  pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup  sugar
2 eggs  
1 can  cherry pie filling

Method:
Mix grahams, sugar and butter. Press into the little Ball jars or press into a 9 by 13 pan.  Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and add eggs. Pour over crumbs. Bake 325 for 25 minutes or until very lightly browned. You'll see cracks in some of the tops. That's OK. When slightly cool, pour cherry pie filling over top. Refrigerate.

You'll find the individual jars need to come to room temperature as the graham cracker crust gets quite firm. But they're still delicious no matter if you serve them cold or at room temperature.

Google’s “Me On The Web” A Vital Addition To Personal Online Reputation Management Efforts

Building up a good, solid reputation takes years, if not a lifetime, of hard work and dedication, yet one wrong move on today’s social media channels can spell disaster for aspiring individuals. Google, in response to the growing need for online reputation management, has set up a tool that will help individuals monitor their own identity on the web – an excellent starting point on the way to carefully managing one’s online presence, believes CEO of http://www.ReputationManagementAuthority.com, James Schramko.

“As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure” Schramko eagerly explains “people taking the initiative to control what is being published about them are the most likely beneficiaries of this tool.”

Individuals conscious about what they post online realize that sometimes being careful just doesn’t cut it. The tagging of photos, videos and blog posts by other people, for example, are some of the factors one has little control over.

Me On The Web, which is based on the existing “Google Alerts” technology, allows individuals to receive alerts about themselves on a daily or weekly basis. It shows where the user has been tagged, whether in blog posts, photos, or on videos.

“Aside from carefully choosing what you post online, you can always talk to your friends if you believe you have been tagged in an inappropriate photo, video or blog post. If the person that has tagged you is not your friend, you may advise them to take down the material. The tool is very handy when comes to informing you of the source, that way you can take legal action when necessary.” – James Schramko.

James further explains that proper reputation management always starts with the individual because cleaning up the aftermath of a media disaster is always more complicated than preventing it from happening. Me On The Web can greatly help in monitoring a person’s online identity, and when things go wrong, firms like James Schramko’s Repuation Management Authority can help.

For additional information visit http://www.ReputationManagementAuthority.com.

About Reputation Management Authority
Reputation Management Services that specializes in putting forward the other side of the story which takes advantage of a highly advanced system developed and tested by online business expert, James Schramko. RMA was not available to the public until recently.

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Causes of Coughs

The list of possible causes of cough is long and highly varied. Doctors classify coughs into 2 categories, acute and chronic. Many doctors define an acute cough as one that been present for less than 3 weeks. Chronic coughs are those present for more than 3 weeks.

Acute coughs can be divided into infectious (caused by an infection) and noninfectious causes.

Infectious causes of acute cough include viral upper respiratory infections (the common cold), sinus infections, pneumonia, and whooping cough.

Noninfectious causes of cough include flare-ups of the following chronic conditions: chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and environmental allergies.

The easiest way to simplify the causes of chronic cough is to divide them into their locations with respect to the lungs. The categories are environmental irritants, conditions within the lungs, conditions along the passages that transmit air from the lungs to the environment, conditions within the chest cavity but outside of the lungs, and digestive causes.

Any environmental substance that irritates the air passages or the lungs is capable of producing a chronic cough with continued exposure. Cigarette smoke is the most common cause of chronic cough. Other cough-producing irritants include dusts, pollens, pet dander, particulate matter, industrial chemicals and pollution, cigar and pipe smoke, and low environmental humidity.

Within the lungs both common and uncommon conditions cause chronic cough. Common causes include asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Less common causes of lung-induced chronic cough include cancer, sarcoidosis, diseases of the lung tissue, and congestive heart failure with chronic fluid build-up in the lungs.

The passages that connect the lungs to the external environment are known as the upper respiratory tract. Chronic sinus infections, chronic postnasal drip, diseases of the external ear, infections of the throat, and use of ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure have all been implicated in chronic cough.

In addition to disease processes within the lung and air passages, diseases elsewhere within the chest cavity may also be responsible for chronic cough. Conditions within the chest known to cause chronic cough include cancer, unusual growth of a lymph node, and an abnormal enlargement of the aorta, which is the main blood vessel leaving the heart.

An often-overlooked cause of the chronic cough is gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). GERD occurs when acid from the stomach travels up the esophagus. This abnormal condition can cause irritation of the esophagus and larynx resulting in the reflex production of a cough.

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Mom Fan of the Week: Chrissy Racho

Meet Chrissy Racho, a knowledgeable mom of two beautiful girls under 3 years of age. Chrissy is also a blogger, professional photographer and a real state marketing consultant (and is training for a half marathon!). Busy mom!! 
She raises her kids in a gluten-free, vegetarian lifestyle in New England, USA.

1. Best advice to make your kids eat healthy:
From the very beginning, we knew we wanted our little girls to have a taste for various and interesting healthy foods. I am incredibly passionate about creating delicious recipes that are healthy and very nutritious. That is one of the reasons I started Sassy Little Cabbages, a lifestyle blog.  We do not eat a lot of "typical" meals based on the average American diet, I am gluten free and we do not eat meat. We focus on a mostly plant based diet, which means we substitute a lot of things like tofu or flax seed for eggs, almond milk for cows milk, etc. We try very hard not to eat any processed foods. Standard snacks for my little ones are fresh fruits and vegetables, hummus, fresh cooked fish, miso soup and so on. Basically, we just do not buy food we do not want them to eat and ask friends and family to stick to our rules. Of course, naughty snacks do sneak in and we do not want to deprive them. I feel that if you start young, they are most likely able to adapt to the food choices you teach them. Frankly, I could talk all day about healthy eating!


2. Kid Gear you couldn't live without:

We really love our pack and play. It allows us to get things done while baby is safe and playing with all of her goodies. When our first daughter was born, we bought all of the essential things most parents buy, but we are pretty minimal, so the basics seemed to suit us just fine! 

3. Mantra to keep calm in chaotic moments:

There will come a time where they are all grown up and as trying as the chaos is, we will miss it.

4. Tricks to keep in shape:

I am committed to working out six days per week and am training for a half marathon and am going to start training for a sprint triathlon. Fitness and overall health are at the top of my priority list and it means really sticking to my goals. My tip to busy moms is set small, realistic goals and even when you are not in the mood to exercise, do it! Once you put on your workout clothes and sneakers and start warming up, you will forget that you didn't want to start in the first place. Also, really be aware of your diet and nutrition. From the way you feel inside to the way you look outside, it all starts with how we nourish our bodies.
 

5. Best busy mom beauty trick:

Always wear blush and mascara. Always. You will feel brighter, happier and prettier no matter what you are doing! And pearl studs...I do not leave the house without them!
 

6. One green guilt:

When running out shopping with two little ones in tow, I know I can be much better about using my reusable grocery bags.

You can access Chrissy's blog at www.sassylittlecabbages.com, and her photography business at www.lilycamelia.com.
 

If you'd like to be featured as a Mom Fan of the Week, please e-mail us at EcoLogicalMom@ymail.com

Knicks and Knats

The Dance by Merce Cunningham

An art process in not essentially a natural process; it is an invented one. It can take actions of organization from the way nature functions, but essentially people invent the process.

"If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little,

give of your heart."

And from or for that process they derive a discipline to make and keep the process functioning. That discipline too is not a natural process. The daily discipline, the continued keeping of the elasticity of the muscles, the continued control of the mind over the body's actions, the constant hoped-for flow of the spirit into physical movement, both new and renewed, is not a natural way.

It is unnatural in its demands on all the sources of energy. But the final synthesis can be a natural one, natural in the sense that the mind, body and spirit function as one. *****

"Where Did Our Love Go" By the Supremes

 “To be nobody but myself, in a world which is doing its best, night

and day, to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest

battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.”
e.e. cummings

Marie.C.Laderta Reporting:

Divino Ritmo Celebrates SUMMER IN PARADISE!

We BLINKED, and suddenly it's summer - from Memorial Day celebration to summer fun at the Cupola!

Coming up next Tuesday, June 28th, 7-10pm is once again Divino Ritmo's social dance, AND celebration of SUMMER IN PARADISE at the Cupola!  Cupola is on the 2nd floor of the Honolulu Design Center, corner of Piikoi & Kapiolani, at 1250 Kapiolani Blvd.

Admission is FREE and it's open to the public, with pupus and drinks available for purchase all evening!

Where did the time go? It seems like just last week we were packing up our Spring and Mardi Gras decorations.  Now suddenly it's Summer in Paradise!  Ah summer, what does summer in Hawaii hold for us? We cannot believe how fast this year went by.  It was so much fun dancing, learning new steps, meeting new friends, attending showcases,  & for some, competing and strutting their stuff, whatever it was, we had a blast every single day.

Lucas once said, his vision is to have lights strung across the beach, with people in their sundresses and dancing barefoot.  He wanted a place where he & Yanna, his students, & the whole community could come out and dance under the stars. Thus began the tradition of last Tuesday dancing at the Cupola!

All we want to do is invite our students & friends to dance with us.  "We want our social dance to be a place people like coming to, and we love them, and we try to provide music people would continuously dance to, from the first song to the last, and where we have the hardest time getting them to leave..." - this is Lucas' & Yanna's "summer dream," and they invite you to come and make their dream come true at Cupola's Summer dance next Tuesday!

For more information, contact:
Lucas: divinoritmo@aol.com, ph: (917) 568-3173;
Yanna: Yannajs@gmail.com, ph: (732) 499-0407

"Heatwave" By Martha and the Vandellas

Debby and Carlos have been vacationing in California. Could've been a great write up and the readers would eat that right up. Specially the Dream To Dance Studio fans. But it all takes time.

Don't miss Kapolei Chapter HBDA in the latest Platinum Horseshoe blog. Their social really comes across with a good write up from Tim Cubero and plenty of photos to go with good writing.

One of the reasons, Kapolei Chapter is number one in HBDA.  There will be others that will be picking up on this action. Dance Hawaii, you're next. And the Platinum Horseshoe blog? Just click the name in the side bar.