The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love (Book Review) - by: Joy Cagil

The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love is an amusing book to read if you do not mind its risqué, even though inoffensive, phrases. The book is really about making choices when it comes to love, life, men, relationships, and marriage.

The queens, as the reader will know them, came into being during a 1982 St. Patrick’s Parade in Jackson, Mississippi, when they threw sweet potatoes to their fans. Later the queens held a meeting and decided to adapt stage names for themselves for the sake of anonymity.

The queens feel that “in any area of life, it is highly desirable to get other people–men–to do things for you whenever possible.” The queens have deciphered a lot about this world, in addition to what makes it go round, plus what a queen’s promise to a man is.

Some of their advice or ad-vices are: “Be particular,” that is, choose well. “Be prepared, on account of you-just-never-know.” “Educate your young, making sure you have the upper hand.”

The queens have quite a few guiding suggestions, some old, some new, like “the guy who said the best defense is a good offense was no dumbass,” and a queen must try to have five men in her life at all times in order to have the equivalent of one completely satisfactory man.

Fiancés and boyfriends, getting them or getting over them is another full chapter. Probably more than three quarters of the book is about men: men who love them; the man they are all looking for; men who signal danger; men who may need killing. Here the question is: “Is that a wedding ring in your pocket–or are you glad to see me?”

With all its kidding, naughtiness, and hilarity, “The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love” is a serious book, giving serious advice from the pulpit of southern womanhood, concerning relationships and life in general. “Life is too short–and too long–to spend it being miserable. Life may indeed be short, but it is, for a fact, wide. It is high time we started settling for more.”

“The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love” is in paperback with 240 pages and an ISBN of 0609804138.

The author, Jill Conner Browne, exercises and runs constantly and is a weightlifting instructor at the YMCA in Jackson, Mississippi. In addition, she writes for the Mississippi Business Journal using the pen name, Betty Fulton. She has several books in publication such as “The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love,” “Sweet Potato Queens’ Field Guide to Men: Every Man I love is Either Married, Gay, or Dead,” “God Save the Sweet Potato Queens,” The Sweet Potato Queens’ Big-Ass Cookbook (and Financial Planner), and “Sweet Potato Queens Wedding Planner and Divorce Guide.”

Hence, if you are a woman, before you venture into printing your wedding invitations and before the groom says I do, this book will give you an upper hand in making a better selection. Even if it doesn’t, it will at least make you giggle and forget about any frustration you might be experiencing.

About The Author This article has been submitted by Joy Cagil in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations. Joy Cagil is an author on http://www.Writing.Com. Her webpage is at: http://www.writing.com/main/handler/item_id/1084695

Personal Websites For Journalists - by: Madison Lockwood

Traditionally, journalists have more or less worked alone. Journalists in both the news business and feature writers for magazines typically will develop their stories, dig up their leads, conduct their interviews and draft the final product themselves. In the newspaper business, major stories will sometimes become collaborative efforts where several reporters are working on aspects of a story and their work is edited into a single piece, published under multiple bylines.

Communicating with a journalist was generally a haphazard affair, placing a call to a switchboard or desk and leaving a message. Today, major newspapers all have websites and provide email addresses for most of their journalists and nearly all of their columnists. People who write columns and opinion pieces are generally more open to communicating with the public because their work is often designed to generate controversy and feedback is important. Occasionally columnists will find ideas for new topics in the email traffic they receive, or will write about the heavy response they received on a particular piece.

A journalist with some initiative can take this communications process one step further by setting up a personal website. That site can serve several purposes: all of them require some work. The function of the site depends, to some degree, on the amount of time the journalist is willing to devote to it. A working reporter may also have to negotiate permission to engage in some online publishing of his own with the editorial staff of the paper or magazine that employs him.

Internet blogs have made some opinionated people in this country powerful and well known, just by virtue of their daily journaling. A working journalist could set up a blog for which he could provide occasional entries, relating to his work or to other news stories or totally unrelated subjects. The value of a blog is that it provides the opportunity for open dialogue among all who wish to log on and participate. Name recognition can be meaningful to some journalists and blogging is one way to develop “viral” recognition by inviting communication. Many people will be attracted to the opportunity to communicate with someone who gets paid to publish.

Blogs can develop story lines for topics for journalists, particularly columnists and feature writers. They can help a professional writer build a persona that doesn’t enter into the straight journalism he produces on the job. A personal blog is a way to build a public and well rounded profile that the constraints of a traditional journalism job don’t usually allow.

A personal website can also provide the journalist an opportunity to showcase a “profile” of work that is unrelated to the job, or at least has gone unpublished by the employer. Here again, there is a fine line between what the journalist can do online - which is essentially public exposure - and what the requirements of exclusivity on the job may be. But if a journalist has ventured into fiction, a personal website is a great way to put it out there for exposure.

If the goal is a publishing opportunity for fictional work, the website may be a way to short circuit the formal submission rules for fictional work that magazines and book publishers maintain. An established journalist is already a professional writer. Asking a book publishing editor or potential agent to look at product posted on a website is much easier than engaging in the formal process.

About The Author Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for http://www.apollohosting.com. She helps clients understand how a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, & VPS hosting to a wide range of customers.

Preschool Activities & Crafts For Kids - by: Marisa Robinson E.C.E

If you have preschoolers or young children, you are probably always on the lookout for NEW activities, games and ideas to help them learn, as well as keep them occupied.

There is so much mind numbing entertainment on the television today that sometimes we are best if we leave our and preschoolers & kids to entertain themselves! In order to do this, we need to have the activities, ideas, learning games & arts/crafts needed to stimulate their young minds.

To keep children entertained, you need to keep the ideas and activities fresh and exciting!

There are art activities, craft activities, science experiments, & physical activities as well. All of these are things that are essential for your child’s physical and mental development.

Preschoollearningonline.com offers a huge variety of games, activities science experiments, simple exercises and more for teachers & parents looking to entertain, as well as teach preschoolers and children. There are healthy recipes, playdoh recipes, coloring sheets, printables, books, activities, art supplies and a whole lot more!

One example of the kinds of preschool activities found at www.preschoollearningonline.com:

Flower Power Science
(*example from http://www.preschoollearningonline.com/preschoolfunactivitieskids.html )

You will need:
3 white carnations
3 vases or tall glasses
Red, blue, and green, food coloring

Fill each glass or vase half way with cool water. Color the water in each vase/glass a different color with food coloring. Place one carnation in each vase/glass.

You can document how many hours or days it takes for each carnation to start to change color. Which carnation changes color first, which carnation changes color last.

You can also use other colors like yellow, orange, or purple. Make a nice bouquet of “homemade” colorful carnations to display around the classroom.

For other great activities and science activities for kids-check us out online today!

About The Author Marisa Robinson E.C.E (Early Childhood Educator) http://www.preschoollearningonline.com. Graduating top in her Class, and finding herself on the Dean’s Honour List 2 years straight, Marisa is a Professional in the educating of children, preschoolers and toddlers. Children are drawn to Marisa and her friendly, warm & fun personality.

San Francisco Schools’ Small Schools Program - by: Stacy Andell

San Francisco Schools’ Small Schools are Effective

The Small Schools program in San Francisco Schools was established back in 2000. One successful example of a small school is the San Francisco Schools’ Leadership High School. This high school has a total of only 345 students, uses high standards and close relationship with teachers to help at risk students. Leadership High School was established about 5 years ago and now has some of the highest test scores in all of the San Francisco Schools. Mainly the idea is to take large schools, usually high schools, into several smaller schools that can focus on the students needs better.

San Francisco Schools have become a leader in a growing trend that has spread across Northern California. The idea behind breaking up large schools is an attempt to provide an alternative to the status quo. Students in a small school tend to have higher rates of graduation, higher attendance rates, and higher university attendance. The small school environment succeeds due to a more personalized learning environment. The small schools of the San Francisco Schools use a mentor system that gives guidance to that they are personally engaged in their work. Students are motivated while being connected to the school community. The National Longitudinal Study for Adolescent Health reports that students in a small school environment were less likely to use alcohol, illegal drugs, become pregnant, or experience emotional distress.

San Francisco Schools’ Small Schools for Equity

The Small Schools for Equity program is an innovative partnership between San Francisco Schools and a local university. This high school has one hundred students from all of the San Francisco Schools. This high school will be housed on the university’s campus and be supported by the College of Education while being managed and funded by San Francisco Schools. The students, teachers and administration will have a say in curriculum development. Students who attend the Small Schools for Equity program were chosen by San Francisco Schools’ officials. The high school students will study a rigid curriculum that will include high school level math, science, English, humanities, world language, art and Japanese. No college courses will be offered.

The Small Schools for Equity program provides the College of Education with a great opportunity in teacher education. San Francisco Schools has allowed university students seeking teaching credentials to teach and observe in schools throughout the San Francisco School district for years, now the College of Education will have a high school on campus that will benefit from modern educational theory and practices. The high school will be housed in Burk Hall and run a full school day from 8AM to 3PM, the rest of the day Burk Hall will be used by education students.

San Francisco Schools Board of Education Reviews Small Schools

The San Francisco Schools Board of Education is, this summer, reviewing a policy that would support the San Francisco Schools Small Schools By Design. The policy is being introduced by San Francisco Schools Acting Superintendent Gwen Chan and is supported by school board president Norman Yee and San Francisco Organizing Project, a community organization that supports the small schools initiative. San Francisco Organizing Project is a collection of religious congregations, schools and community centers. Those opposed to the program claim that the money spent does not equal the benefits but supporters say that the Small Schools offset the difficulties of declining student enrollment and the flight of families from San Francisco Schools. The current policy up for vote would create a task force to determine the locations and needs of San Francisco Schools which would benefit most from Small Schools.

About The Author Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more on San Francisco schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Francisco/index.html

Mark Victor Hansen to Keynote Success Summit - by: Peggy Cunningham

Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul,’ will keynote a meeting of entrepreneurs at San Diego’s Bahia Resort Hotel Sept. 10-12 as part of the ‘Wake Up Succeed Summit.’

Hansen, author of ‘The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth,’ will speak on finding one’s purpose and vision in life. His remarks will highlight a meeting designed to ‘jumpstart’ and ‘energize’ small businesses.

“Mark Victor’s expertise and energy will take the Succeed Summit in the right direction,” said author Steven E, the event coordinator. “There are only a few people in the world today with as much to offer a group of people who want to increase their businesses and enrich their careers.”

The ‘Wake Up Succeed Summit’ is the product of Steven E and Lee Beard, co-creators of the, ‘Wake Up, Live the Life You Love.’ The three-day event will feature motivational speakers such as Cynthia Kersey, author of ‘Unstoppable;’ John Assaraf, author of ‘The New York Times’ best seller, ‘The Street Kid’s Guide to Having It All,’ and Eric Lofholm, a leading trainer and motivational expert from California.

Hansen has appeared on Oprah, CNN and The Today Show. He has been the subject of articles in ‘TIME,’ ‘US News & World Report,’ ‘USA Today’ and ‘The New York Times’ and ‘Entrepreneur.’ He is the co-founder and chief visionary officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Inc. and president of One Minute Millionaire, LLC.

Several co-authors of the book, ‘Wake Up, Live the Life You Love: Living On Purpose,’ will attend for a special meeting, but the seminars and luncheons are open to the public. Interested persons can call 800-664-3610, or visit the website www.wakeuplive.com .

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You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated - send to: support@wakeuplive.com

About The Author Peggy Cunningham, support@wakeuplive.com, http://wakeuplive.com Contact Peggy Cunningham for more information about Wakeuplive.com, the Premier Success Provider for Speakers and Authors. Email her at: support@wakeuplive.com or call: (949 ) 481-1689.

Holiday Fashion - by: Kemi Ukadike

This holiday season textures are in. Specifically, lace, velvet, brocade, beads, sequins and furs.

According to December’s issue of Vogue magazine, “The new formal party dress drips with drop-dead lace — and looks best with big-time jewels.” This is very exciting news but at the same time can be quite confusing.

How does one mix all these textures and not look like a cheap motel room?

The key style tip to remember here is that your ultimate goal is to maintain your own personal GLAMOUR.

>From slim-fitting just below the knee to a length closer to empire, this season’s dresses borrow from victorian and vintage themes.

Jewelry is big here, and though your insticts are telling you to tone down the super fab lace dress with simple jewelry, the trend is the opposite. Instead, think of using jewelry to emphasize your outfit.

If wearing a dress is not your thing, and you’d rather be in a skirt or pants, consider velvet as your main texture. The fuzzy classic is easy to find at any clothing reatiler. Stick to simplicity with style because remember that your jewelry, combined with velvet’s galor,is enough to make you shine.

A lovely combination that can be customized is the velvet jacket, over a camisole or corset with a tiered skirt, slim brocade pants or fitting velvet trousers. In theory you already have your three basic outfits all in one!

Ruffled tuxedo shirts or pintucked shirts can be swapped out for the camisole.

Alternatively, if wearing those lovely velvet pants with a velvet jacket seems too much for your personal style, then consider swapping out the jacket and dressing up the camisole or tuxedo shirt with a crochet shrug or cashmere cardigan. Both are hot off the shelves this season.

It is perfectly okay to forego the above advise and just wear jeans. The jeans that will make an impact now are slim fitting jeans. Either way, you can still wear that velvet jacket or shrug over a camisole.

According to Issac Mizrahi on the Dec. 2, Good Morning America television show (ABC,) wearing a lot of jewelry over the top of a plain shirt is a good choice for gamorizing jeans to a cocktail party.

Mizrahi recommends a lot of necklaces and all different colored beads saying, “… Let the fun and nighttime be in the bead, in the jewelry.”

About The Author Kemi Ukadike is the Editor of KUKA-NY, a New York City-based Fashion Website. kuka-ny.com kemi@kuka-ny.com

StriVectin-SD Offers a Safe Alternative to Botox - by: Christine Lombardo

We all know that botox is fast becoming one of the most popular ways for people to get rid of those irritating fine lines and wrinkles that naturally go along with aging. It is also one of the leading reasons why so many people that you meet these days seems to look permanently surprised or unable to show any emotion in their faces. With that in mind; alternative methods for getting rid of those fine lines and wrinkles have been formulated that are safer and cheaper than botox as well. One of these alternatives is called StriVectin SD.

StriVectin-SD is a non invasive, safe, and effective means of doing the same thing as botox, but without all of the dangers. One of the biggest reasons why it is so safe is because it is not a solution that is compiled of poison like botox; but is based on Klein Becker’s striadril complex in which striadril is the main active ingredient. Striadril is composed of patented pentapeptides and phyllanthus emblica fruit extracts. The key component of StriVectin SD is a wrinkle reducing ogliopeptide, which is also called Pal KTTKS. In the most basic terms, StriVectin SD is not composed of toxins and poisons like botox is, which is why it is considered by many as the ‘safe alternative to botox’.

When you use StriVectin-SD, you can avoid the painful recuperation period that goes with face lifts and chemical peels, and you don’t have to inject it with painful needles like botox either. StriVectin D has already shown during clinical studies that it works faster than retinol creams and without the inflammation that retinol can cause for those who have sensitive skin. Basically, StriVectin SD is currently one of the safest and most effective ways for getting rid of those fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps you to reduce the appearance of stretch marks as well; which just proves that it is a great investment for two reasons instead of one. Can botox say the same?

Think about it; botox can cause droopy eyes, headaches, drooling (how attractive) flu, respiratory problems, and even temporary paralysis. Are you really willing to risk you health and appearance just for an expensive and temporary wrinkle solution? Why would you when there is a better solution that can give you a lifetime of wrinkle free days. StriVectin SD can take 10-15 years off of your appearance without surgery or paralysis. Knowing this; why would you ever consider causing yourself any personal harm, just so that you can get the same results as you do with StriVectin-SD?

If you want to find a safer treatment for getting rid of those fine lines and wrinkles that: has no dangerous side effects, works faster than retinol, gets rid of stretch marks, and is easy on the wallet as well, StriVectin-SD is the safest bet for you.

About The Author Christine Lombardo writes for Safe Alternatives. Visit http://www.safealternatives.net/strivectin.php to learn more.

Affordable Website Design - by: Neil MacLeod

How do we know if a web design is affordable? Affordable website design is when there will be an obvious return on investment, over a set term. But the costs do not just stop at the website build itself. One has to look at whole expected life cycle of the website. Here are some ways that you can have a more affordable web site design development at the initial purchase stage.

The initial meetings usually get drafted into the cost of the website. Traveling to a client takes time and money so preparation is the key here. Find someone local, and get a minimum of three quotes. It may take more than one meeting to decide who to choose so here is where your preparation pays off. Know what you want, know how it should be achieved and reduce the number of meetings needed.

The actual design of a website can be very costly or very affordable, if you know what you want then it is more affordable. There are plenty of templates out there and even more websites, so if you leave it to a designer to build from scratch it will cost. The current trend is for simplistic design and since you have your own logo it should not be too hard to sketch together a style of your liking, simplistic design should not cost a lot of money. The important part for us is the content of the website so make sure that the design does not crowd this content.

The website has to be hosted somewhere and web hosting comes in various forms. Make sure that it suits what you need. If you have a ten page website which you aim to grow to a hundred page website, and one page averages at 110KB, then you should be looking at a web space of around 11MB. Take into account additional or larger images so triple it to be safe to start with at around 35MB. ? Do not pay for a 500MB website hosting when you only need 35MB.

Are they building the site from scratch or are they using open source software. If they build it from scratch, it is highly likely that the costs will be very high due to testing and development. Also, the support costs will be high as it is bespoke. Open source software is developed by the community and supported by the community. More than one web Design Company can take over a website built from open source software and support it without problem. If you use open source then there will probably also be pre built training packages on how to use it. Again reducing the cost and making the website more affordable.

Open source software is free software which web design companies can use and manipulate to suit their needs. The web designers still put in a lot of effort to make it look and behave as you like it but the engine of the website is normally already been and can be adapted to various situations.

So, as a starting point to a more affordable website design, have a good idea of the design you want. Try and opt for open source software. Have a guess at your web hosting needs and question if you think it is too much.

About The Author Neil MacLeod runs http://www.web-studio.co.uk/ providing web site and web marketing services in Buckinghamshire. Neil has been building websites since 1999 and is a founding member of http://www.itwebnetwork.co.uk.

Los Angeles Classical Dance Academy - by: Deepa Rajput

A dance academy is composed of a group of artists who are dedicated to the art of dancing. They understand the deep corners of various dances. Dance schools assist people to learn dances like bollywood dances – new Indian movies dances. Bollywood dances are very famous in India and abroad like in Los Angeles , California .

People are joining Academy Dance Company to learn dance steps such as Kathak Dance. Learning dance is an art and it needs someone’s assistance if you are new to any dance. People in Los Angeles know modern dance well but to learn bollywood style dance they need assistance from a professional bollywood choreographers or any classical academy dance company.

Dancing academies provide dance classes in an approach that it becomes simple for you to understand the dance. They break down the step and beats for you to understand it faster. NDM Dance production studio in Los Angeles , California is the paramount bollywood dance school that provides dance lessons from award winning bollywood choreographers. These are energetic local Indian dancers who perform in various contests and private occasions.

You will find many dance schools providing dancing classes and home learning tuitions as well. Nakul Dev Mahajan is a well known dancer in India and Los Angeles , California as well. Recently, four of his students won a Beauty Pageant contest awards. They were skilled and choreographed by Nakul Dev in his studio in Artesia , California .

Finding a school according to your requirement is not a straightforward task. Several things need to be considered before choosing a dance academy. Things like where do you live, expertise and experience of choreographers, popularity and professionalism of the dancing academy and so on. You better do a research with your friends or find more information available online to find news to locate best dancing academy in your area. Gather top 5 academies and select one of them to take dancing classes from depending on your requirement and preferences. It will help you to discover the dancing school to your suits.

About The Author Deepak Rajput is the author & co-creator of e-commerce websites and information products. His involvement in developing, marketing and other online businesses for himself and clients is noticiable since 2002. You can also check his blog for SEO & SEM related articles at — http://www.semflicks.blogspot.com.

What’s Your Aging in American IQ? Take the Quiz and Find Out. - by: Susan Dunn, MA

Curious how long you may live? Use the Life Expectancy Calculator: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/interactivearea/living_100.shtml. (Be prepared to know your weight in stones!)

TRUE or FALSE

1. Older adults have more mental health problems than younger adults.

FALSE. Overall prevalence of mental disorder in older adults is less than in any other age group, and general life satisfaction is as good as, if not better than, any other age group. (APA)

2. People become more difficult and rigid with advancing years.

FALSE Personality remains relatively consistent throughout the lifespan. (APA)

3. Sight declines with age.

FALSE Although changes in vision become more common with age, any change in vision, regardless of age, is related to a specific disease. If you’re having problems with your vision, see your doctor. (National Institute on Aging, NIA)

4. More women survive to old age than men.

TRUE Women tend to outlive men by an average of 8 years. There are 150 women for every 100 men over age 65, and nearly 250 women for every 100 men over 85. (NIA) Among centenarians, 85% are women and 15% are men, but within that group, the men are doing better.

5. Senility is a meaningless term that should be discarded.

TRUE Everyone does not become “senile” sooner or later if they live long enough. Even among those who live to be 80 or older, only 20-25% develop Alzheimer’s disease or some other incurable form of brain disease. (NIA) 15% of centenarians are living on their own!

6. American families have largely abandoned their older members.

FALSE The American family is still the #1 caretaker of older Americans. Most older people live close to their children and see them often; many life with their spouses. In all, 8 out of 10 men and 6 out of 10 women live in family settings. (NIA)

7. Modern health, medicine sanitation and lifestyle have greatly extended the overall maximum lifespan of the human species.

FALSE It seems fairly fixed at an average of around 80 years, with a few people living to a maximum of 120 years.

However, more people are reaching the 80s. 200 years ago, more than 80% of the population would be dead by the age of 50, whereas now less than 10% have died by 50. (BBC)

8. Most people over the age of 65 will have lost interest or capacity for sexual relations.

FALSE The majority continue to have both interest and capacity. Masters and Johnson (1966) found that the capacity for satisfying sexual relations continues into the 70s and 80s for healthy couples. The Duke Longitudinal Studies resulted in similar findings. (Palmore 1974)

9. The number of older Americans has doubled since 1900.

FALSE It has increased more than 10-fold. In 1990 there were only 3,000,000 people 65 and older. Now an estimated 33.3 million people (12% of the population) are 65 and older. (Home Instead Senior Care)

10. There are currently about 10,000 people 100 years and older in the US, but the number is declining.

FALSE There are currently 65,000 people 100 years and older, and the number is projected to grow to 381,000 by 2030. (HISC) In fact, centenarians are the fastest growing segment of population in the US.

About The Author © Susan Dunn, MA, cEQc, The EQ Coach™, http://www.susandunn.cc. Bringing the power of Emotional Intelligence to YOUR life through coaching, eBooks, Special Reports, and distance learning. Midlife, retirement and transition coaching, career and relationships. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE eZine. Want to be a certified EQ Coach? Email me for information about this fast, affordable, comprehensive, no-residency program. Products available for licensing to build your practice.

How CEO’s Can Use Axiology To Improve The Bottom Line (Part 2) - by: Mitch Axelrod and John Beaton

In the first article (first in a three part series) we explained the little known science of Axiology, the Value Profile and how it is helping CEO’s obtain the greatest leverage from employee’s strengths.

We described how a CEO (we called him Richard) can accurately measure and compare candidates for a specific position or work on a specific project.

In this article we continue on to discover additional and deeper critical distinctions the Value Profile provides Richard to aid him in his decision to select the best candidate.

The insights revealed in the fourth section of the report provide Richard with an in depth understanding of a candidate’s abilities for planning and organizing. People can keep working on a project until they get it right, or they can plan and get organized before they start.

Not everyone has the ability to determine what is required to accomplish a project and have it completed on time. Some people have difficulty with directions they have been given or taking on responsibility for a project.

Richard does not have time to “wait and see” if a person will be able to complete the project. He wants to know in advance whether or not the candidate has the ability to logically plan and organize a strategy and carry it out. Using the Value Profile, Richard eliminates the gut-wrenching process of trying to determine who would be best to work on a crucial project. The Value Profile provides him with a roadmap.

A person’s ability to set realistic goals, implement plans and achieve them within a certain time frame can be determined and calculated. The results are plotted on a chart so Richard can see at a glance exactly which candidate excels in this area.

Richard has at his fingertips vital information about a person’s ability to keep focused on the planning details and activities needed to reach the desired outcome. It is one thing to plan and organize, it’s another to be self motivated to take action.

Right now, stop and think about your key people. Can they set realistic goals? Are they reaching those goals within a specified time frame? Is it important to you and the company for your key people to take action right away? Isn’t it crucial for you to know which people have these capabilities?

Wouldn’t you want to be certain your key people have a drive to stay on course despite obstacles and regardless of circumstances?

Let’s get back to Richard. Now he knows which candidates can plan. Then, he can check the report to find out the attitudes of the different candidates and their level of commitment to the company.

Companies are becoming more aggressive in attracting top talent. Richard wants to know how his key people feel about the company. He wants to reduce the risk of handing someone a project, then finding out after the fact that the person does not have the drive or desire for the project, loyalty or commitment company.

Richard has started to narrow down his list of candidates as he looks to the future of the company. Which of the candidates has the capacity to become a manager? Who could take a long-term role and excel at leadership?

A unique aspect of the Value Profile is that it provides Richard with accurate assessment of a person’s intuitive insight or “gut feeling” about issues. More and more, executives are admitting they use and rely on their “gut feelings” to make important decisions. Using intuitive insight, leaders are becoming more proficient at distinguishing which opportunities are best and which to avoid.

Top people are looking for challenging, meaningful and rewarding work. They seek positions where they use their talent and make a difference. They look forward to creating new opportunities for their company. These are the kind of candidates Richard searches for.

Other important considerations when considering candidates for a specific project are stress factors, sources of motivation and communicating with others.

We will share insights on these three areas in the third article of this series.

(c) 2004, Team Results Inc. and Axelrod & Associates All rights in all media reserved. Right to publish this article is granted provided the article and the by-line are reprinted intact.

About The Author Mitch Axelrod is the Author of the new book, “The NEW Game of Business” and consults with Fortune 500 companies. Contact win@thenewgame.com or call 800-7 AXELROD (800-729-3576). John Beaton has a driving passion to help Executives and business become of higher service to others and his favorite tool is the Value Profile. More information is available at http://www.ceocoachingsolutions.com or send your questions to questions@ceocoachingsolutions.com. john@ceocoachingsolutions.com

Menopause and Hair Loss - by: Cathy Taylor

The onset of menopause can often lead to hair loss and has long been a part of aging that many women fear the most. These days many more women are also experiencing thinning and bald spots as they mature, and both men and women are reaching out for new solutions. Even though there is no real ‘cure’, there are many things that can be done to help.

Both hormones and genes are to blame for menopause causing acute hair loss, as is the aging process. Confirming the causes of your loss with a competent and experienced dermatologist is the first step in determining your best treatment options.

It’s possible to have temporary loss of hair caused by physical stress, emotional stress, thyroid abnormalities, medications and hormonal changes (such as androgens and estrogens during menopause) normally associated with females. Tension on the hair by prolonged use of hair weaving or corn rows can also cause permanent loss.

There are autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia Areata that cause patchy loss of hair often in small circular areas in different areas of the scalp. Alopecia Totalis is a total loss of hair on the scalp and is considered an advanced form of Areata. Alopecia Universalis is total hair loss of the entire body. People with diseases such as diabetes and lupus have also reported losing hair as a result.

It’s normal to shed some hair each day as about 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time during a normal phase that lasts for 2 to 6 years at one time. Some women notice they are losing hair about 3 months after delivering a child. This is related to a hormone loss and is usually temporary.

Several medicines have been known to cause hair loss such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines used for gout and in chemotherapy to treat cancer. Also, the use of vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants has been known to cause hair loss.

Male pattern baldness is usually inherited from your genes. An over abundance of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is an active form of testosterone, within the hair follicle can create this type of hair loss. Current medications are aimed at slowing this common type of baldness including Minoxidil which is commonly called Rogaine and is available without a prescription. Both men and women can apply this product to the scalp. Another medicine, Finasteride, and called Propecia is available in pill form without prescription but is meant only for men. It can take up to 6 months in order to tell if these medications are helping.

Remember, the onset of menopause can often lead to hair loss and has long been a part of aging that many women and men fear the most. Even though there is no real cute, there are many things that can be done to help. Select the Hair Loss Doc Shop to locate a doctor near you.

About The Author Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting www.menopauseinfo.org or www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

A Basic Guide To PAS 78 - by: Léonie Watson

What is PAS 78?

PAS 78 is a best practice guide to commissioning accessible websites. Published by the British Standards Institute (BSI) in 2006, it offers advice and information on a number of key topics around the issue of web accessibility.

Aimed at people who are responsible for buying or managing websites, PAS 78 is useful for people involved in the web, from Web Developers to Communications Directors, who need to know more about web accessibility.

Written in a plain, no nonsense style, it is a non-technical document that assumes no prior knowledge and is freely available from the BSI in a number of formats.

What does it include?

PAS 78 covers all of the key topics of web accessibility. Beginning with simple explanations of common industry terms, it moves on to explain the general principles of web accessibility.

Among the general principles, there is information on:

* Upholding internationally recognised guidelines and specifications, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG);
* Typical content formats found on websites;
* Authoring tools, used to develop websites;
* Involving people with disabilities in the development process.

There is considerable information on the assistive devices and technologies used by people with disabilities to access computers and the Internet. This is followed by clear advice on developing an accessibility policy, or statement for a website.

Many key web technologies are also discussed, in terms of accessibility, including PDF, Flash, Style Sheets and multimedia.

Testing for web accessibility is discussed in detail, including practical guidance on:

* Developing a test plan;
* Determining technical and usable accessibility;
* Automated and manual testing;
* Expert review;
* The importance and practicalities of user testing;
* Maintaining accessibility.

The impact of PAS 78

Although the names of the BSI and Disability Rights Commission (DRC) give the PAS 78 some prestige, it is not compulsory, so the impact is yet to be seen.

Nevertheless, PAS 78 offers sensible advice on contracting external web design and accessibility agencies. A useful checklist of criteria for selecting a suitable agency is provided which advises people how to approach an agency and how to determine their skill, knowledge and experience.

About The Author As Head of Accessibility at Nomensa (http://www.nomensa.com), Léonie Watson is a major voice in the accessibility industry who frequently campaigns to ensure that the Internet accessible for all. Before being published, Léonie was invited to join the review panel with provided industry consensus on Publicly Available Specification 78 (PAS 78).

The Dating Crossroad - by: Gabby Love

As with everything change will happen even in dating. It is always necessary to take time and evaluate your dating experience before making any decisions. Gabby Love offers key tips and techniques to do this correctly.

A. Explore the compatibility aspect of the relationship.

1. Focus on how much time you really spend together. I mean is it really quality time or “booty” time?

2. Do you really enjoy being together or do you dread being around them all together?

3. Have you noticed the time spent together increasing or altogether shrinking?

4. Do you fight like “cats and dogs” or not at all ? Hey, this is really key. The whole point of dating is to find someone who really understands and accepts you and your ways without change.

B. Common tastes and interests.

1. How many of the same things do both parties like?

2. Do you have any friends in common? Remember the old saying “birds of a feather flock together”?

3. Do you get along with each others friends and family? Hey if the relationship gets deeper this is very key. Really give this thought before committing deeper in a relationship.

4. Are both parties adventurous and trusting to explore new things together?

Goal orientated observations.

1. Do you desire the same things in life? Give this some real thought because for example if you want kids and your mate doesn’t you need to know early enough before fully committing deeper in the relationship.

2. What direction in life are both of you headed?

3. Do both parties want the same thing in a relationship? If you don’t know then ask before committing deeper in the relationship.

4. How are both parties ideas on money and the balancing on time. Money can be a real make or break aspect of a relationship. All money and time issues should be discussed fully before moving deeper in a relationship.

The above are just a few points to consider when trying to decide to “bail out” or stay in a relationship. Always be fair with yourself and the other person when doing your own evaluation. Remember “it is always best to be safe then sorry” when dealing with a relationship.

About The Author Gabby Love offers in depth reviews and recommendations concerning relationships,sex,and entertainment. Visit some of the sites reviewed by Gabby Love at http://www.gabbylove.com, http://www.24hrsofdating.com, http://www.2lovesex.com, and http://www.gabbyluv.com.

Parents of Special Needs Children Deserve Special Work Opportunities - by: Susan Hill

I was a licensed nurse and had the map of my life routed out to specifics. I had a plan in mind that included goals, dreams, anticipations and expectations. No one knows how quickly those things change unless you have had the pleasure of experiencing the role of being a special parent. Like many special parents out there, I was struggling, looking, and wondering how I could continue to meet the demands of my career, all while caring for my child with special needs. While being a special parent is the most important role in your life, you also have to somehow manage a career and financial support. Your role is multipurpose and you want to be there for your child, but your career demands a huge percentage of your time and efforts. How can you be a special parent, cater to your career, provide for your family and maintain your sanity?

If you or someone you know is parenting a special needs child and trying to work outside the home, you know exactly what I am talking about. Sure, you can leave your child with a friend, a parent or other caregiver, but when it comes down to specifics and your child needs you, it’s much easier to stop what you are doing at home than it is to face your employer and deal with their scrutiny. You have to remember, unless you are the parent of a special needs child, this is a situation you just about have to experience in order to understand or comprehend the importance your role plays in that child’s life.

I always thought if anyone could do it, I could. I was a struggling single mom with a good head on my shoulders and a positive attitude. I was perfectly capable of maintaining a demanding career and taking care of my special needs son along with my other 2 children without having to change a thing. I was bound and determined to succeed one way or another without having to inconvenience my career or my everyday life in any shape, form, or fashion.

Guess what? Like many other parents of special needs children, I was wrong. I had to make decisions that I really didn’t want to make. In that process, I had to manage transitions that were mind-blowing and difficult to say the least. I used my own tactics and I compromised, I was literally at the end of my rope and finally, in 1998, I was able to eliminate a great deal of stress that was controlling my life, and began to experience the fulfillment of being a full-time parent to my special needs child and became enabled to work from home to help financially support my family.

During the past few years, I have also helped others become home-based income producing parents and here are some examples of questions people have asked:

• Was this transition easy? No. If you are looking for an easy way out, working from home is most likely is not something for you. If you don’t have the persistence, patience and are not goal-oriented, you can forget it.

• Did you struggle? Yes, in more ways than one.

• How did you finally begin creating an income from home? It wasn’t easy and began with many promising opportunities that turned out to be less than legitimate.

• Did you have skills? Well of course I had skills, I was a licensed nurse, but believe it or not, none of those skills were needed at any of the opportunities I ran across at the time.

To sum it all up, I was like many other parents, struggling in the 9-5 grind, looking for solutions to my situation, solutions that would allow me to earn an income from home, be my own boss and be there for my special son all while being the type of parent I felt he, and my other children deserve. I wanted a package deal, even if it meant changing my focus, rearranging my plans and struggling, I wanted to be there for my special child and my other children and focus on life with them. I wanted to minimize my absence from my family, gain some independence and make this transition as smooth as it could possibly be.

The entire process of going from working outside the home to working at home hasn’t been easy. It’s been a long road full of challenges and barriers. Being the parent of a special needs child has been the major motivating factor for me in my pursuit of working from home. You have to take those challenges and face them head on, move those barriers and leap over them; get down to business. Find something you love to do and turn it in to an income-producing opportunity of your very own.

For more information about Susan Hill and her insight on work from home, drop in and visit her at Break Time Virtual Services.

About The Author Susan Hill is the mother of 3 children, and her youngest son is a special needs child. She is the President and Founder of Break Time Virtual Services and is also known for writing inspirational poetry that once read, is never forgotten. For over 8 years, she has offered services to individuals, small businesses, home based businesses and an array of other clients. She is also in the beginning stages of launching an addition to her business which would offer home job coaching services to those who would like to work from home. You can contact Susan by visiting Susan’s website or by emailing info@susanhill.org. http://susanhill.org This article is free for reprint as long as author bio remains intact.

69% Of Class Of 2006 Pass Both Portions Of State-Mandated Exit Exam In Los Angeles Schools - by: Patricia Hawke

Los Angeles schools announced the results of the 2004-2005 school year, state-mandated California High School Exit Exam. Of the students slated to graduate in 2006, 69 percent (more than two thirds) of the class passed both the English language arts and the mathematics portions of the exam. Of the remaining 31 percent of the Class of 2006 students (12th graders):

• Fifteen percent (approximately 5,500 students) must pass both the English language arts and the mathematics portions,

• Ten percent (3,700) must pass the mathematics portion, and

• Six percent (2,000) must pass the English language arts portion.

State law now requires all students to pass both portions of the exit exam in order to graduate from high school and receive a diploma. Students begin taking the exam in the spring of their 10th grade year. If they do not pass one or both portions of the exam, they have the opportunity to retest in both 11th and 12th grades. Los Angeles schools’ Class of 2006 was the first graduating class required to pass both portions of the exam in order to graduate.

The excellent results of the 2004-5 testing is the direct result of focused instruction and successful intervention, and demonstrates that every student is capable of passing the exam. These intense efforts on the part of Los Angeles schools educators were specifically designed to assist students with coursework directly connected to the exit exams.

In the 2004-5 school year, Los Angeles schools developed intervention strategies for students having problems passing the exam. The strategies introduced small learning communities and supported the core curriculum. Personalized teaching and learning approaches were developed for each student, such as an outreach program and intervention on an individual basis. The Los Angeles schools further made attendance at exit exam preparation classes mandatory for students who had yet to pass one or both test portions. These classes met outside of the normal school day and were provided free of charge to the students through the district’s Beyond the Bell, a branch of Los Angeles schools that oversees all student extended day programs.

These combined efforts have had a direct and significant impact upon the graduation rate at Los Angeles schools, as proven not only by the Class of 2006 test results but those for the Class of 2007, as well. When the Class of 2006 was in 10th grade, the students had a first-time pass rate of 60 percent in English language arts and 58 percent in mathematics. The Class of 2007, when in 10th grade, surpassed these first-time pass results by 66 percent in English language arts and 59 percent in mathematics — a significant increase in scholastic achievement.

These results clearly demonstrate that the dropout rate can be turned around, which is just one of the many student achievement goals of Los Angeles schools. The district continues to aggressively focus upon the development of rigorous curriculum for its middle and senior high schools. Los Angeles schools recognize and the exit exam results underscore the importance of improved high school instruction, which can directly impact higher graduation rates and allow students to matriculate and move on to viable options in their adult lives.

About The Author Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on Los Angeles schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/Los-An

Menopause and Progesterone - by: Cathy Taylor

Do women going through menopause have lowered levels of progesterone?

Recent research tells us that women do suffer from decreased levels of progesterone and also experience other symptoms such as unexplained weight gain (particularly in the stomach area), depression, fatigue, hair loss, memory loss, mood swings, migraines and loss of libido. A natural cream can balance estrogens without side effects.

Progesterone and estrogen are the two main hormones made by women’s ovaries when they are menstruating. Smaller amounts of these hormones are also secreted by the adrenal glands. It’s necessary for the survival of the fertilized ovum, its embryo as well as the fetus during gestation.

Progesterone’s primary functions include: acting as a precursor to estrogen and testosterone; it maintains uterine lining and aids in gestation; protects against fibrocystic breasts, endometrial and breast cancer; acts as a natural diuretic, helps use fat for energy; can be a natural antidepressant; aids thyroid hormone action; normalizes blood clotting; restores sex drive; normalizes blood sugar, zinc and copper levels; restores proper cell oxygen levels, has a thermogenic effect; builds bone and helps to protects against osteoporosis.

Some doctors feel that menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and heart disease may not be due to a deficiency of estrogen, but to a relative estrogen excess due to progesterone deficiency.

Synthetic progestins, such as an HRT drug called Provera (a synthetic chemical), do not have the same biological effects as natural progesterone and have been known to cause side effects including: fluid retention, depression, breast tenderness, stroke, jaundice, blood clotting and cervical erosions.

On the other hand, natural progesterone has no known side effects and has been found to be helpful in alleviating symptoms such as PMS and hot flashes. It has also been credited with helping to prevent osteoporosis.

Many doctors now prescribe for women in menopause the use of a low-dose, natural progesterone cream during the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle. The cream is easily absorbed into thin-skin areas such as the breasts, inner arms, neck or belly by the subcutaneous fat and then released into the bloodstream. You should be careful of the dosage level in these products. Some may have none to very little and others provide 20-30 mg in an average application. It’s always best to first check with a doctor.

About The Author Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting www.menopauseinfo.org or www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

Website Design – 3 Questions You Need To Consider - by: David Benton

When someone visits your site, do they know what they are looking at?

Too often we distract the user from the primary purpose of visiting the site by all the clutter in design and secondary offers that are presented. Put your primary offering or service first and put the focus on that.

Great examples of such sites that do this are

http://www.google.com (search engine) When you visit google, they are a search engine. What to you see when you get there? A search box and not much more….

http://www.cm-recruiting.com (a recruiting site) When you visit CM, they present you with just 3 choices, info about them, the jobs they are offering, and a way to contact them.

http://www.4leafdesigns.com/templates/scabies/ (an info site) When you visit this information site, you find everything you are looking for immediately. The links to more information on the subject are clear and easily found.

Will it look the same to everyone?

Most website designers have a favorite browser they use to check the site design as they build it. There are subtle differences between the many browsers, but when built to W3C standards, website’s will look the same no matter what platform the user is using.

Check your work for CSS compliancy at http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/

Check your work for HTML compliancy at http://validator.w3.org/

SEO will be much easier if your site is built to these standards, a bonus for the extra effort. Typically those sites that rank high on the search engines are W3C compliant.

How Fast?

Strange question to those of us who design sites, but not to those who visit. More often than not, the designers of sites have high speed access, but not all of your visitors. While we feel we are the majority, we are not. How often have you visited a site just to wait, and wait, for the content to load? Consider the users experience. If you are offering a service to a sector that does not need high speed connections, they probably don’t have it.

If your web page does not load in 10 seconds you are going to loose 80% of those who visit. Speed is important.

Check your speed at http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/

When considering speed, web graphics play the largest role in increased webpage size. Try using small background images that will repeat whenever possible.

A good example of a website that uses background images and loads quickly is http://www.4leafdesigns.com

Follow their example of use of images and W3C compliancy and you should have a nice clean site that others will enjoy.

About The Author David Benton is a freelance website designer in Raleigh, NC. He maintains a site at http://www.4leafdesigns.com and is active in the local developers community. When looking for a website design Raleigh looks to 4Leaf Designs.

How Can I Motivate My Child? - by: Esther Andrews

How can I motivate my child to study and get good grades? To do his homework? To succeed in school, so that he can go to the best college? To go to college? To practice playing the piano? How can I motivate my child to put in the effort needed to achieve his own goals?

What parent does not want to see their child shine, succeed and achieve? What parent doesn’t want to see their child happy? We want to be proud of our child, enjoy his success.

I will never forget the day. My son participated in the science faire, and after winning the first place in the local science fair, was sent to participate in the California State Faire. In Los Angeles, thousands of children participated. Children and parents prepared for this events for a whole year, or even longer. Looking around me, I see teams bringing in their huge project boards. Excited parents accompanying their children, carrying their children’s projects. An atmosphere of excitement everywhere. I felt honored just to be there, observe my son participate.

After all the efforts that went into this event, now it was the time for the award ceremony. Many thousands of people - participants, parents and guests, sitting in a stadium, watching. Now it is time for “our” category. First the “honorable mention” winner was called to the stage. Then - the 3rd place, 2nd place… and first place. It’s my son’s name. Can you imagine how I felt? I think that I practically took off and floated in the air. I remember saying “It is a good feeling”. And people around me - congratulating me, participating in the joy, I heard one man say; “I bet it is”.

This is the culmination of what we want. This wonderful feeling is what we want for our children and for ourselves. But how do we achieve this? How do we get our children to apply themselves? How do we get our children to understand what actions they need to take now for their future success?

4 key thing contribute to our child’s motivation:

1. Importance and inspiration: The goal has to be an inspiring goal to your child, and has to feel that it is important for him to achieve the goal.

2. Possibility: The child has to know and feel that it is possible for him to achieve the goal. If the child has doubt that he can achieve the goal, or thinks that it is impossible, there is little chance that he will work towards the goal and apply himself.

3. Acknowledgment and appreciation, reward: It is easier to keep a child motivated when offering a tangible reward. Knowing that achieving the goal will meet with a tangible form of acknowledgment, appreciation and reward, will add this extra drive.

4. Persistence. The route towards any worthwhile goal includes some minor set-backs and disappointments. The child needs to learn to get up, brush himself off, and get right back on the horse.

When a child knows that a goal is important, feels that it is possible for him to achieve it, and is offered an incentive to work towards the goal, the chances are that he will be motivated to put in the effort needed to achieve the goal. Add to it persistence, and the results are as much as guaranteed.

Importance:

As parents, we always want our child to work towards a goad that inspires him. Help your child see the possibilities. Help your child dream big.

Don’t wait until your child is in high school to start thinking about ways to achieve that. Would you like your child to get a good education, to succeed in school? Start early on. Encourage your child to do well in school. Tell your child stories about students who succeeded in school and their achievements that came as a result of this success. Explain what the advantages are, of getting a good education. Why is it worth it to make great efforts to get a good education? The key is to get your child to see the opportunity for himself. If your child gets the idea that it is important for you that he gets a good education and succeeds in school, you have missed the mark. You want your child to understand why it is important for him to do all these things.

I always told my children: when you get education, when you study, you invest in yourself. In addition to the doors that will open to you as a result of getting education, you become more knowledgeable. More intelligent. You become wiser. YOU.

Make sure your child hangs out with friends who are successful in school. When your child is young, it is easy to choose his friends. Later your child will choose his own friends. In order to have some control over this, do your best to get your child into a good school, and in that good school, into the honors programs. Children have a tendency to adjust themselves to their environment, and sometimes a healthy competition develops, which encourages the children to put in more effort.

One tool that mothers have used throughout the ages, is repetition. It is not enough to have one conversation with your child, explaining the value of applying themselves. You have to put together a “plan of attack”. Prepare interesting reading material and movies about some role models. Provide biographies of people of great achievements. Research theater performances about role models, and take your child to watch them. Introduce successful people to your child. Do you have accomplished, educated people among your friends? Ask them to meet your child and talk about their success and how they achieved it. Have conversations with your child about his future, his goals, what does he want to be when he grows up? Repeat the idea you are trying to introduce to your child, in many different ways.

Possibility:

How do we bring our child to believe in himself? Affirmations are a very effective tool. Write down some affirmations that you think will best encourage and inspire your child. For example: “you are very smart and talented”. “You learn very fast”. “You have an excellent memory”. “You can do it”. It has been shown that affirmations are most effective when repeated 3 times. Choose one affirmation for a day and repeat it at least 3 times during the day. Can you get your partner to cooperate and do the same? The more people you can get to repeat the affirmation, the better the result. Have your child repeat the affirmation himself - at least 3 times.

Can you imagine how your child will feel, if he hears from everyone that day how smart and talented he is? Can you imagine the smile on his face? Do you think that there is any chance in the world, that he will not be encouraged?

Acknowledgment, appreciation, reward:

A close relative of the word “motivate” is “encourage”. What comes to your mind when you think of the word “encourage”? The thing that comes to my mind, is praise. All of us, adults as well as children, respond well to praise, and feel encouraged when we receive praise. If you want to encourage your child to succeed, praise him and celebrate every action that leads in the right direction. Every small achievement. Most of us (including our kids) tend to be self judgmental. We criticize ourselves, and any small set back often seems like a serious failure. Your child will feel encouraged if his efforts are appreciated, and achievements are acknowledged.

Praise on the way to achieving the goal is important. In addition, making sure the child knows the rewards for achieving the goals will be significant. Determining what the rewards is, depends on you. You are the only one who can determine what is affordable, realistic for you, and very desirable for your child. The reward has to be age appropriate. In his article: Incentive plans for gifted, but unmotivated kids, Wayne Fujita has a few good suggestions.

Persistence:

Persistence is to a great degree a learned trait. Our children need to learn persistence, they need to learn that if we suffer a set back, we don’t give up. Instead, we increase our efforts. Who can teach them that, if not us?

An effective tool to teach persistence, is story telling. Story telling can take the form of a book, a movie, a discussion. There are many inspiring books and movies available about people who persisted and achieved, against all odds. Keep your eyes open, and when you find an inspiring story, share it with your child.

Holding discussions with your child, is also very effective. When your child suffers a temporary set back, it will help him if you can put it in perspective for him. Knowing that a set back is minor, takes some judgment. Good Judgment is often a result of experience, and obviously children and young people need our help to develop good judgment. Explain to your child that this is just a minor, temporary set back. Help your child learn the lesson necessary to learn from this, and concentrate on preparing for the upcoming success. Encourage your child to concentrate on the goal, instead of any small set back on the way.

Just like parenting, inspiring and motivating our children is a life long job. If you start at an early age, put together a “plan of attack”, use the “tools of the trade” and add a healthy amount of love, the results will come. Satisfaction is guaranteed.

About The Author Esther Andrews http://www.all-gifted-children.com For the last 27 years, Esther Andrews has specialized in gifted education. In her “The Manual Your Child Should Have Come With - How to Develop Your Child’s Genius” she is revealing how she grew two profoundly gifted children and how you can do it to. Check it out at http://www.all-gifted-children.com/package.htm

San Francisco Schools Connect To China And Its Chinese Community - by: Stacy Andell

The Alice Fong Yu Alternative School

The Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, one San Francisco School, is the first Chinese immersion school in the United States. The school is designed as a two-way Chinese/English instructional environment. The school provides an outstanding educational experience for children of all backgrounds. All students at Alice Fong Yu develop competency in the Cantonese and English languages and use the two languages actively in the content curriculum. The school aims to have all students to be able to converse in and become literate in both English and Cantonese by 5th grade. The Mandarin language is added after the fifth grade. The Mandarin/English program is similar in scope and function to the Cantonese/English program. The program is intended to vigorously include the staff, parents, and students in cultural and language education. The Alice Fong Yu school uses parents and volunteers in a variety of enrichment programs such as, Performing Arts Workshop, Poets in the Schools, and science and library consultants.

The Alice Fong Yu Alternative School’s Chinese Exchange Program

Created in 2000, the exchange program sends the eighth grade class to Beijing to meet their Chinese pen pals. The program gives students the opportunity to use their knowledge of the Chinese language and culture in a real life experience. The students travel to Beijing and Hong Kong where they meet Chinese students their own age. This experience allows students to experience the culture first-hand and put their language skills to the ultimate test.

In January of 2005, the program came closer to being a true exchange program. San Francisco Schools through the Alice Fong Yu School hosted students and teachers from The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University. The selected students and two teachers from China stayed with host families and participated in classes and school functions including English, art and modern dance classes. The Chinese students were able to tour City College, the Chinese Consulate and many interesting tourist destinations in the San Francisco area. Both the local and Chinese students spent their time practicing English and Mandarin.

Dance and Art Students from San Francisco Schools Travel to China

Other programs in San Francisco Schools have allowed students to travel to China to participate in international exchanges and competitions. This summer five students from the San Francisco School of Arts will travel to ShenZhen, China as representatives of the United States at the ShenZhen International Culture and Arts Festival. As part of an Educational Exchange program facilitated by Dr. Marie Lee, Director of East/West Child Research and Development Center and former school administrator of the San Francisco Schools, all student expenses in China will be provided in full by the ShenZhen Nanshan Government. The five selected students will perform two dances, Chant of the Sirens and Basin Street Blues. The School of the Arts students were the only students from the United States invited to the Festival in 2006. The three hundred students at the Festival represented countries from around the world including: Australia/ New Zealand, Russia, Germany, Bulgaria, Canada, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and others. Along with performing at the Festival students will visit schools, attend art exhibitions, eat new foods, visit tourist locations, and learn about Chinese culture and language while staying with Chinese families and students.

About The Author Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on San Francisco schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Francisco/index.html