Otto of the Silver Hand By Howard Pyle

Otto of the Silver Hand was originally published in 1888 - and I am amazed that the content within this novel continues to be relevant in today's society. This story is set in medieval Germany when castles, feuds, barons, knights, kidnapping, soldiers, and rescues were common. Violence, revenge, hatred are all themes that continue to permeate within our society. Yet, in both the past and present we can also find humility, gentleness, love, sacrifice and forgiveness. The traits that little Otto possesses will encourage children to see the good and evil in their world and strive to have a positive outlook on life, even when experiencing turmoil within ourselves. Otto's gracious and forgiving nature will inspire the best in all who read this novel.

Otto of the Silver Hand
By Howard Pyle
Publisher: Yesterday's Classics
ISBN: 1599151979

City Dog by Alison Pace

Who wouldn’t love a novel that is centered on a cute and funny White Terrier? My neighbors have two and they have such wonderful personalities but, back to Alison’s wonderful novel, “City Dog.” This novel is very unique in that Alison uses various view points to relay her messages throughout the novel. Even Carlie (the main character, Amy’s Terrier) has her turn at telling the story. These individual and unique viewpoints pulled me through Amy and Carlie’s experiences as I was interested in what each individual character thought about the events in the novel.

Our main character Amy, works through many real-life situations as she struggles with independence and finding herself and her direction in life. Amy is a very relatable character in which a young woman would easily share the very same interpersonal struggles. It takes Amy quite a while with many different experiences to gain self esteem and realize that she is a strong independent woman. At the conclusion of the novel, Amy is a confident young woman who has finally found her life direction and acts on her self-discoveries.

I truly enjoyed experiencing and working through Amy and Carlie’s situations, but was especially happy that Amy had found inner peace at the end of this novel.

As a side note for Alison - I hope the “Carlie” children’s books are in the works because I know for a fact my kids would love to read the adventures of Carlie and Robert Maguire!

City Dog
By: Alison Pace
The Berkley Publishing Group
ISBN: 9780425221433

All children should be raised to respect those who look and think differently

Shouldn't all children be raised to respect those who look and think differently? That is what Kahani magazine strongly believes in and they are asking you to help get the word out.

In playgrounds and classrooms, children constantly barter and negotiate to see who wins or who's first in line. But what if their classmate doesn't look or think like them? What if he wears a turban? What if there's a red dot on her mom's forehead? Does communication break down?

Answers to questions like that can be found in Kahani - an award-winning children's magazine you've probably never heard of. Told from the unique perspective of a South Asian child living in America, Kahani (which means story in Hindi) uses contemporary storytelling and very vivid illustrations to spotlight these children and their cultures.

And when our readers (ages 6-11) are ready to express their creativity - after discovering the diversity and richness of South Asian cultures from Nepal and Bhutan to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka through the non-judgmental stories and features - children are invited them to take part In the exciting Annual Writing and Illustrating Contest running right now (deadline Nov 23). There's absolutely nothing more thrilling for a budding author or artist than seeing their work in actual glossy print!

Completely ad-free and dependent on subscriptions - an anomaly in the publishing world - Kahani has won several awards, including two from the Parents' Choice Foundation in the last two years. Of course, no ads means they make no money and pay no salaries - the writers and illustrators only receive modest honorariums - BUT the passion of their mission makes them feel truly rich.

Wouldn't the world be a better place if we could raise children with a deeper understanding of where "other" people come from? Please help and do your bit to educate future global citizens, spread the word on Kahani.

Visit Kahani

Sarah Palin's Debate Flow Chart

Obama or McCain- Why You Should Vote

Great video about making sure we all vote this election year...

Click on the following link:

Obama or McCain- Why You Should Vote

Science Center Wonders

We are ready for Pre-School

Elizabeth & Anthony's first day of pre-school... so cute and soooo excited :)

The Michalek Dancing Troupe

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

My cool kiddos

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Petfinder - 12 Million Adoptions since 1995

The temporary home of nearly 250,000 adoptable pets, from cats and dogs to sheep and potbellied pigs. When you're looking for a best friend, look no further than Petfinder.com.

Before heading to the pet store or breeder, head to Petfinder.com and discover hundreds of thousands of loving animals who need your help finding a good home. Why should you adopt? Well, for one, many Petfinder pets have no adoption fee, or one that costs much less than buying the animal from a breeder or store. Then there's always the lifetime of unconditional love and appreciation that can only come from a rescued pet (and who can resist that?). Not to mention the great feeling you get knowing you gave a caring dog/cat/bird/ferret/degu/snake/whomever a second chance at life. Aw.

But Petfinder.com isn't only for locating adoptable pets. You can also check out helpful cat and dog training videos, get animal care sheets, tips and tricks, post free pet classified ads, submit and view videos and talk with other animal lovers in the Petfinder forums.

Since the site was founded in 1995, Petfinder.com has facilitated over 12 million adoptions. But there are many more animals out there looking for a loving home - and they're looking to you!

Visit Petfinder

TerraPass - Everyone contributes to global warming

Everyone contributes to global warming. Find out how you can reduce and balance your impact.

If you drive a car, use a dishwasher or even just flick the lights on when you get home, you're building up a "carbon footprint" (a measure of your carbon dioxide effect on the environment), a pretty big factor in the cause of global warming. But most people aren't in a position to stop using these carbon-emitting items. And TerraPass.com says that's OK.

So what can you do to make a difference? Well, to start, there are a lot of small things that can reduce your impact. Check out the conservation tips on TerraPass and see how things like lowering the temperature on your dishwasher, following the speed limit and unplugging electronics when they're not turned on could lower your emissions. The site also has a section of recommended green products (and provides the links to buy them), from low-flow shower heads to solar-powered cell phone chargers to energy-saving power strips.

But to fully balance your impact, you can purchase "carbon offsets" through the site, as well, which support clean energy and other projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. First TerraPass will calculate your footprint based on your driving, flying and home energy use habits, determining the amount of carbon dioxide you contribute per year. Then, you can choose to purchase a TerraPass. Your money goes to help fund things like wind farms, landfill gas capture and farm power - of course, you can read all about the projects TerraPass sponsors on the site.

You don't have to sell all of your belongings and live off the land to reduce your carbon footprint - just check out TerraPass.com and get in balance. Visit TerraPass

Retail Me Not

An impressive database of coupon codes for more than 13,000 online stores. With discounts at sites from Amazon to Zappos, RetailMeNot will save you money.

Who doesn't like shopping with coupons?

On RetailMeNot.com, you'll find over 70,000 coupon codes redeemable for savings like free shipping, money off your order, and free products when you make a purchase (to name a few). To find codes, just enter the site you're looking to shop on or check out the most popular coupons on the main page. Each one lists the success rate other people have experienced using it, so you'll know what to expect when you enter the code at checkout.

You can also stop by the RetailMeNot Shopping Community for additional coupons and tips pointing you towards the best online offers and deals. The people on this site are serious about saving money!

When you're shopping online, you don't have to buy less to spend less - let RetailMeNot.com help you out with the savings.

Visit Retail Me Not

The Word of Mouth Manual Volume II by Dave Balter - Free Download

The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II is the ultimate illustration of how Word of Mouth actually works. Each element of the book (including the free distribution) was carefully crafted as an example of how you can make Word of Mouth work.

What do Falco and the Grateful Dead have in common? How did Joey Chesnut unseat "Tsunami" Kobayashi in the Coney Island hot dog eating contest? From Tickle-Me-Elmo and Casey Kasem to Crocs and those terribly annoying HeadOn commercials, the book is packed full of real-world examples of what makes people recommend products and services to each other.

The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II is a free download and the second book from BzzAgent founder and CEO, Dave Balter. His first book, Grapevine, was released in December 2005.

Click on the following link to download this free eBook: The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II

OurStage - music discovery stop for the best new emerging music (and film)

OurStage.com is the music discovery stop for the best new emerging music (and film). Our fan-powered, 100% fair voting takes your honest judgment to drive the best to the top. No more celebrity judges, meaningless 5-star ratings, or annoying popularity contests where the guy with the biggest extended family wins. You, the fan, decide and rank the artists based on the quality of their art.

No pressure, but a lot is riding on your vote. Each month, your judgment powers the OurStage Charts across over 40 genres giving the best artist their shot at being discovered.

So go on, be judgmental! Sign up with OurStage.com today and you'll get 30 free MP3s of the best new music from top-charting OurStage artists upon activating your account.

OurStage helps you be the guy or girl who is always on the cutting edge of music. You get VIP access to our Music and Video Charts covering every major genre: Like Alternative Country? It's there. Indie Pop: Check. Death Metal: You bet. Peruse our charts, meander through the archives of past winners, and discover fresh, ear-gasmic music to store on your profile, download, or share with others.

Visit OurStage.com

Personality Not Included by Rohit Bhargava

When was the last time you heard a business book described as fun? The author, Rohit Bhargava, works at one of the largest marketing agencies in the world, and is a frequent speaker on the topic of marketing with authenticity. He believes that personality is the key to building a successful business and career. His new book, Personality Not Included (PNI), is a guidebook and collection of stories every businessperson, entrepreneur or consumer should read, including...

• Why a small restaurant outside Barcelona is rated "Best in the World" despite being closed 6 months of the year


• How the Death of Superman comic book series led to the rise of authenticity in marketing


• Why a small cartoon from the back of a business card is changing the corporate culture at Microsoft


• The secret of where to get a $7 steak in Las Vegas and why you won't find it on any menu


• How a travelling salesman in 1872 changed the face of American retail forever


• And more than 100 other stories of personality from brands like Trader Joes, Timbuk2, Dyson, Bugaboo, Apple, Moleskine, Subway, Virgin America and lots more!

Here's what Jono has to say about the book:

"Rohit definitely nails it. He's right on when it comes to what brands need to do to connect with consumers and his hands-on tools and guides are a pretty sweet bonus that help bring his concepts home. Plus, he's witty, conversational and insightful - all things I can relate to!"

Personality Not Included has been taking the marketing world by storm since its release just last month, with more than 100 positive reviews on blogs and in media around the world. Get an exclusive inside look at Personality Not Included:

"Do not eat iPod": Read the first story of the book...
Download the full introduction

Exclusive Download: The Story of BzzAgent's Personality Download an exclusive excerpt from Chapter 1

Dave Balter Retells How the Bee Logo Was Created Read Dave's story on The Personality Project

Give The Book As The Ultimate Father's Day Gift! Buy the book for Dad

AVEENO® AGELESSTM Lifting & Firming NIGHT CREAM - Free Sample and Coupon

AVEENO^® POSITIVELY AGELESS^TM Lifting & Firming products are actually part of a proud lineage. Back in 1945, when AVEENO® launched its first product - Soothing Bath Treatment - in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, they used colloidal oatmeal as one of the product's key ingredients. Mother Nature certainly has a few tricks up her sleeve!

You can learn more about AVEENO^® POSITIVELY AGELESS^TM Lifting & Firming by visiting

AVEENO Sample and coupon offer

To receive a coupon for $1.50 off AVEENO® facial care products and a free sample of POSITIVELY AGELESS^TM Lifting & Firming NIGHT CREAM, simply complete the required information fields and check the boxes selecting your preference. And be sure to visit the site often, as AVEENO® will have even more information and offers for POSITIVELY AGELESS^TM soon!

I absolutely love the AVEENO product line - tell me what you think of their products :)

From the Top at Carnegie Hall

Experience the Emmy-nominated PBS series that gives you a backstage pass to meet the country's most talented and inspiring young classical musicians in performance at Carnegie Hall (most of whom aren't even old enough to drive).

At pbs.org/fromthetop you can stream and download full episodes of From the Top at Carnegie Hall, subscribe to video podcasts, access music education resources and learn more about these amazing young artists.

From the Top at Carnegie Hall offers an intimate, and often funny, glimpse at the lives of young people who pursue life with passion, dedication and joy. These kids deserve all the Buzz they can get.

Based on the wildly popular NPR radio program, From the Top at Carnegie Hall is hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley and is a co-production of WGBH, From the Top, and Don Mischer Productions in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Emmy Award-winning director Gary Halvorson directs the second season. With a combined list of credits including Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the venerable production team of Halvorson and Don Mischer Productions represents an unprecedented collaboration for public television, and a rare one for the entertainment world at large.

Visit From the Top at Carnegie Hall

Kids Can Earn a Free Book This Summer from Barnes and Noble

Here's How It Works:

1. Kids read any 8 books.

2. Kids use the Summer Reading Journal to tell us their favorite part of each book. A parent/guardian signs it when it's complete.

3. Children bring their completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 29th & September 2nd, 2008.

4. We'll give them a coupon for a FREE book! They choose from a list of exceptional paperback titles.*

* Eligible books will be listed on the coupon. Choices must be made from eligible stock. No special orders. Limit of 1 form per school-age child (grades 1-6), please. Incomplete forms will be ineligible for free books.

Transcript of Life Chat with Debbie Macomber, Author of "Twenty Wishes"

New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber will be on Gather discussing her new book, Twenty Wishes, in The Book Review Group on Thursday, May 29th at 9 pm ET.


She's written the 4th story in the Blossom Street Books about a female character who is thirty-eight, childless, a recent widow and alone. The story follows her life as it takes unexpected turns, she forms new, surprising bonds, her wishes come true.

Follow this link to leave a question or CHAT LIVE with Debbie Macomber

Elizabeth ... Looks Like ...

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family roots - Family history

Anthony .... Looks Like....

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Steve Winwood - Talented, Warm and Personable Musician

Steve Winwood has been an influential musician who has contributed greatly to the classic rock/blues genre over the past forty years. He is a renowned solo artist and a key member, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist for Traffic, the Spencer Davis Group, and Blind Faith. Now you can connect with Steve Winwood on Stevewinwood.com, order his new album, revisit his extensive discography, find local tour dates, and celebrate the art and life of a talented personality and treasured songwriter and musician.

Steve's new single "Dirty City" is a free download on his website. Download and listen to the song and tell us what you think.

Steve began his musical career in the 1960's at age nine, playing guitar in his father's band in Birmingham, England. Since then, he has evolved into one of classic rock's timeless guitarist and songwriters. His long and prosperous career has exposed him to millions of devoted music fans of different ages, backgrounds and genres. Now, those fans can log on to Stevewinwood.com and share thoughts and stories with each other on any Winwood related topic. Fans that visit Stevewinwood.com now can preview songs from Nine Lives, his newest and most progressive album to date. Nine Lives paints a musical portrait of spiritual transformation through the exploration of soul, rock, blues and world music.

When visiting Stevewinwood.com you will find the elegant and minimal design, streaming audio and video player, and extensive history section informative, intuitive and easy to use. In the full discography section you will be able to dive into Steve's memorable career by reading and viewing photos and lyrics from every single album he has released up to date (both as a solo artist and in his collaborative projects with others). Visit the tour section to check up on live dates and buy tickets to any of his upcoming shows and then share your live experience by posting your fan photos on the site.

You can also connect with Steve Winwood through other features on the site:

• Order his new album Nine Lives


• Purchase the first single "Dirty City" featuring Eric Clapton


• Participate in the Mozes mobile voice mail campaign - leave personal messages for Steve and comment or ask him any question you'd like.


• Visit the timeline section - a year by year timeline of Steve's musical career.


• Shop for any Steve Winwood merchandise in the fully integrated merchandise section.


• Browse through the discography section to read the liner notes, view the album art, and listen to clips from Steve's previous albums.

After visiting Stevewinwood.com you will discover the talented, warm and personable musician that millions have come to love. He has become an ageless musical treasure that continues to push beyond the artistic and creative boundaries of classic rock.

Visit Steve Winwood's Website Now

So, what are you eating?

Everything you ever wanted to know about the things you eat (and probably a few things you didn't want to know, too). Learn how foods affect your health and the simple changes you can make to maintain a healthier diet.

NutritionData.com has everything you need to help you watch what you eat - nutrition facts for over 1000 foods and meals (including information on protein quality, nutrient balance, glycemic load, and fullness factor), sensible diet advice, tips on supplements, healthy alternatives and an e-pantry where you can store, analyze and create recipes or meal plans and track your daily consumption.

Start by completing the Daily Needs Calculator to determine your Body Mass Index and recommended minimum consumption of calories, vitamins, minerals, carbs and proteins. Then find the foods that best suite your needs by searching for items sorted by their nutritional characteristics (like the ones highest in fat, lowest in carbs, or the best choices for weight loss). To get a little more in-depth knowledge, check out the Topics section, where you'll find info on fatty acids, dieting and weight loss, food additives and plenty of delicious, wholesome recipes.

Next, stop by the Pantry and save your favorite foods to study their nutritional value and compare them to some NutritionData.com-recommended alternatives. You can also check out a pre-loaded pantry, stocked with items great for special dietary needs such as low-carb, heart healthy, and super nutritious.

So, what are you eating? Visit Nutrition Data.com

Remote Disasters Videos

Check out these "Remote Disaster" videos from Logitech and help get them featured on YouTube - view before May 22^nd!

Looking for a fun way to kill a few minutes? Why not help Logitech earn a place on YouTube's "Daily Most Viewed List"? Just watch these videos about the amusingly disastrous consequences of managing too many remote controls and, if they get 50,000 views by 9am on Wednesday, May 22^nd, they'll make the main page!

If you like the videos, share them with friends, too and help save them from their own Remote Disasters.

Highlighted videos:

• Babysitter Gets Ambushed by Kids & Boyfriend
• Mom Flips Out
• Rube Goldberg Remote Control Contraption

Here are a few ways to spread the Logitech love:

• Use the link provided by YouTube to email the videos to friends
• Use the links provided by YouTube to post the videos to an Aggregating Service such as Del.icio.us, Digg, Reddit, StubmpleUpon, or furl
• Use the coding available on YouTube to embed the videos into comments on topic appropriate blogs or forums
• Rate the videos 5 Stars on YouTube!
  

Visit Logitech Remote Disasters Videos

checkMD - Share your healthcare story - make a difference

Share your healthcare story today, to make a difference tomorrow.

checkMD is a unique web site that unites a vast array of people and provides them with a voice. The answers to every healthcare problem are held within that collective voice. checkMD encourages the general public, patients, physicians, pharmacists, health plans, pharmaceutical companies, nurses and other healthcare professionals to participate together as People Healing Healthcare^TM.

Built on community participation, checkMD fosters the idea that when people are informed, they make wise choices. No matter who you are, or what you have to contribute, your participation on checkMD will provide new insight, a different perspective and perhaps a helping hand to someone in need. Someone who is searching for answers you may have already found.

By simply rating your doctor, participating in community discussions, sharing healthcare success stories or voicing your concerns about healthcare, you are contributing to the greater good. You are taking an active role in the healing process. And who better to do it, than you?

If you just think about it for a moment, you'll realize that you've had a healthcare experience that needs to be shared. checkMD gives you the opportunity to do just that. The more information sharing that occurs the more informed people will be. Visit checkMD

checkMD Services are intended to provide useful, transparent information about your health, medical issues, and the healthcare provider selection process. We are not, providing medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or advice about what providers or insurance services to use. The Services are not a substitute for the advice of your health care providers or for reading your insurance policy carefully. We do not warranty the reliability, accuracy completeness, quality, performance or the suitability of this site, the information or products found on the checkMD site.

Castles and Medieval Fun

My 13 year old and I read the book "Castle" by David Macaulay together. He absolutely loved reading about the history and building of the castle. He has another larger DK book on Castles and as we read told me about his previous knowledge on the topic we were reading about and expanded our discussion. The images (drawings) being b/w are a perfect match so that details of the castle stand out.

After reading this story, we watched the accompanying PBS special Castle by the same author. The movie is s a perfect tag-a-long going into further details and highlighting real castles and showing the details of the Castle that was discussed in the book.

To follow up on the book/movie, my son is now building his own brick castle. We ordered a kit and it includes everything to make little bricks from molds and then directions on exactly how to build the castle.
I highly recommend purchasing the book, movie and castle building kit together if you or your child is interested in castles and/or medieval studies. All three provide great discussion, for both visual and auditory learners as well as a hands-on learning experience.

TasteSpotting - photographed dishes - make them

Design blog, meet food blog. Find some of the most beautifully photographed dishes on the Web - then find out how to make them.

TasteSpotting.com is deliciously aesthetic (or is it aesthetically delicious?). Either way, it's a place for people to share the articles and products that inspire them the most when it comes to good eating. Each stunning photograph on the site is a link to a recipe, an article on a dish, a post about an ingredient, more delectable images or whatever on- or offline muse they have for great taste(s). Raspberry and chocolate dream bars, lamb with sage and rosemary in a red wine reduction, Pike Place Market in Seattle - you'll find these and more than 10,000 other things that motivate food-lovers around the world.

And when you're done drooling over your monitor, why not submit your own? Just register for free, upload your image and submit your link.

Go ahead - find and share some inspiration! Visit TasteSpotting

Visit OVGuide.com — the Online Video Guide

Founded in 2006, OVGuide.com is the Internet's most comprehensive guide to online video sites, including those containing TV shows, movies, user-generated content and video games. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the privately-held company delivers an innovative, user-friendly way to search and browse relevant, high-quality video content on the Web. OVGuide.com currently indexes more than 1,600 online destinations, offering both short- and long-form video integrated into an intuitive and categorized directory. The site offers a very relevant, powerful search engine, receiving more than 10 million visitors, 50 million page views and over 10 million searches per month. OVGuide.com's team of experienced editors review all video sites prior to listing them, ensuring all content listed is valuable and categorized appropriately.

OVGuide.com receives video site submissions from people throughout the world, and in their attempt to remain complete and comprehensive, they have launched a contest for users to be eligible to win $1000 if their site is placed on OVGuide. OVGuide encourages all users to submit new video sites for a chance to win $1,000! In addition to the cash monthly drawing, all users who submit sites are entered to win one of 25 FREE OVGuide.com t-shirts. Submit a great video site today @ www.ovguide.com/contest.

There is a human behind all editorial decisions at OVGuide.com, and they remain to be the only site on the web that truly sifts through the noise of the Internet to deliver the BEST sites in online video to our users.

OVGuide has a very powerful video search. Their video search is currently utilized over 400,000 times per day-delivering very relevant results-because we only index the best sites in online video.

Visit OVGuide.com — the Online Video Guide

King John and the Writing of the Magna Charta

My 13 year old and I have read “The Magna Charta” together and both learned an enormous amount of information concerning not only the Magna Charta but the history surrounding this document and the rulers who opposed or were forced into the signing of this Charta.

This book is written for the Middle School level and my son needed some help with pronunciation, definitions and discussion as we read. Many new concepts were introduced including how Kings ruled their lands during the Medieval time period, relationships between the Pope and King, the transfer of lands and dictatorship, relationships and fighting between rulers of different lands, the development of laws to protect the Kings people, and the progression and refinement of Charters which lead to the Magna Charta.

Although the focus of this book is primarily on King John’s life and his influence on the Magna Charta, this book is highly recommended for middle schoolers who would also like to learn about past rulers including King Henry, King Richard, King John, Stephen Langton, and other interesting subjects such as the Crusades, The Sheriff of Nottingham, Castles, Runnymede, the Siege of Rochester, the Pope, Hubert de Burgh, the Treaty of Lambeth, and very early American History related to the Magna Charta.

“The Magna Charta”
By James Daughery
Publisher: Beautiful Feet Books
ISBN: 0-9643803-5-8

Educate your children about safety and crime prevention

A fun and entertaining way to educate your children about safety and crime prevention.

Drugs, bullies, gangs, strangers - the potential dangers facing kids these days are numerous. You want them to be safe, but it's not always the easiest thing to sit them down and give them advice they're going to want to listen to (or remember). So why not try teaming up with McGruff the Crime Dog?

Parents and kids have been looking to McGruff for almost thirty years for facts and tips about safety and crime prevention - now you and your family can look to McGruff.org. The site is loaded with fun interactive games and stories, videos, downloads and advice, all featuring McGruff and his nephew Scruff, helping show your children how they can stay safe. There's even a section with information for parents and educators, so you can reinforce everything your kids are learning from the crime-fighting hound dog.

You don't have to teach your kids about safety alone - let McGruff give you a hand!

Visit McGruff.org

Sacrifice for "Freedom From Oil"

“I plan to deliver an address from the Oval Office one month from today. The topic will be oil dependence.”

I tend to steer clear and far away from any type of political book. My disinterest stems from the obvious bias and propaganda that these types of political figures tend to bring into their views and writing. The viewpoint and rambling on and on bores my racing mind. “Freedom From Oil” was written from a completely different perspective and point of view that it took me by surprise. I was fully engrossed throughout the entire book and often referenced previous views and opinions as I read through Sandalow’s ideas.

The format of this book was written as fairly short, but highly detailed documents written to the next President of the United States by the various Directors and Secretaries within the President’s office. Each perspective detailed the pros and cons of how to eliminate the United States’ addiction to oil. The forward thinking approach brings in thinking from all factors which would affect the people and corporations of the US.

These views facing the problem of oil addiction include memorandums from the President, his Counselor, the Secretary of Energy, the National Security Advisor, the Council on Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Economic Council, with several articles profiling American viewpoints.

Solutions to the oil addition problems are presented by the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Agriculture, the US Trade Representative, the Council of Economic Advisors, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of State. Additional viewpoints include profiles and ideas presented by American citizens. The range of solutions presented include Biofuels, Plug-in Cars, Fuel Efficiency, Coal, Hydrogen, Smart Growth, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and Diplomatic Strategy.

Finally, a compilation of all the problems, solutions and discussion is provided via a press release and “The President’s Speech to the Nation.” The format presented in this book not only held my attention but strengthened my belief that all Americans should work toward finding solutions to our current energy crisis and work toward using cleaner fuels and be willing to sacrifice convenience for what is best for not only the United States, but also the world.

"Freedom From Oil"
By: David Sandalow
Publisher: McGraw Hill
ISBN: 978-0-07-148906-5

SimpleTuition is a solution for comparing student loans

SimpleTuition is a revolutionary solution for comparing student loans. They have assembled a free comparison tool with dozens of loans from multiple competing lenders. SimpleTuition can help you find the right student loan, whether you are an undergraduate, a graduate student, a parent of a college student or private school (K-12) student, or even returning to school.

Like other online shopping sites, SimpleTuition allows you to enter a few pieces of information and see sortable lists of student loans, including federal loans — like Stafford, PLUS and Graduate PLUS — and private student loans. No credit checks are conducted and no personal information is collected. Comparing student loans has never been more simple.

SimpleTuition's lists of loans are dynamically updated based on your changes to the loan amount, loan features or borrower benefits. Filter lists by loan attributes, see extensive details about each loan, and apply directly with your chosen lender online or by phone.

For those of you who already have student loans, SimpleTuition even includes a comparison resource for student loan consolidation. Combining multiple student loans into one loan with one payment could help lower monthly payments and stay organized. Enter your current student loan amounts and see the impact of consolidating those loans on the monthly payment, the total cost of the loan, and the length of the repayment period.

Ensure you make the most of your resources to pay for your education at SimpleTuition.

Loans shown on SimpleTuition.com are for U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. The calculations on SimpleTuition.com are estimates and are intended for comparison purposes only. Lender information may change at any time. SimpleTuition assumes no responsibility errors or omissions in the information provided. SimpleTuition is not a lender and makes no representations or warranties about your eligibility for a particular loan. All credit decisions, including loan approval and the rates, terms and other costs of the loan you are offered, are the sole responsibility of the lenders and may vary based upon the lender you select. We urge you to review carefully each lender's loan application and promissory note for final loan terms, including incentives.

StudyJams! a new online learning experience

StudyJams! is a new online, subscription-based learning experience for kids in grades 3-6. Developed by Scholastic, StudyJams! is dedicated to helping kids learn math and science in ways that are fun, relevant and rewarding.

StudyJams! was designed to introduce and reinforce key math and science concepts. Whether your child needs help to better understand a challenging topic or simply wants to learn more about a subject they already enjoy, StudyJams! can help. StudyJams! was created in conjunction with leading educators nationwide and all of their content is based on state curriculum standards.

Every kid learns in a unique way. That's why we they multiple learning paths to match different learning styles. By using videos, interactive lessons, karaoke, music and more, StudyJams! empowers kids to learn the way that works best for them. All the while, the StudyJams! Crew — RJ, Mia, Zoe and Sam — are there to guide your kids through every topic.

Kids love StudyJams! because on top of being fun, with each Jam they complete they earn Jam points. Jam points are redeemed in the recording studio, where kids can create their own original music. When a song is finished, it can be downloaded as an mp3 file and shared with friends.

They make it easy to sign up and even easier to use. When you sign up for a "parent account", you get three "child accounts". Each child account has its own username and password (created by you), so each child has a unique and personalized learning experience. With the parent account, you can monitor how your kids are doing.

StudyJams.com is fully password-protected, ensuring that your kids will always be safe on StudyJams!

Visit STUDYJAMS!

Sick of Automated Recordings? Get a Human!

Stop pandering to automated recordings! When you call a company, you want to get right to a real person. Now you can.

Looking for customer support? Before gethuman.com, we'd probably have told you to enjoy the wait. These days, it seems most companies are set up to keep you from ever reaching a human when you call for assistance — instead, they've got you pressing every button on your phone. It was out of this phone call frustration that gethuman was created.

Just as its name suggests, this site provides callers with the best way to "get a human" when calling a company. Whether it's an insider's trick (like pressing *## for Western Union), just hitting 0, or doing nothing at all (they'll think you have a rotary phone), you'll be spending a lot more time getting your problem solved and a lot less time in automated purgatory. And with hundreds of companies listed — from AAA to Yahoo! — chances are you'll find the human you're looking for.

You'll also find Caller Tips and a Discussion Board on gethuman.com, so you can share your discoveries with (or ask for help from) other users and find the best way to locate the phone numbers you're looking for.

Next time you need to get in touch with a business, don't go through another button-pushing marathon — get a human. Visit gethuman

GameStop/Grand Theft Auto IV

If there's one thing gamers hate, it's being the last to know the scoop on their favorite game. They've analyzed and reanalyzed Grand Theft Auto IV trailers and leaked footage, hoping to discover a cool new feature they can brag about in gaming circles for at least the next 15 minutes. That is, until someone trumps them with a cooler, newer find.

How would you like to be that "someone?" GTA IV maker RockStar Games and exclusive partner GameStop are set to level the playing field all over again, making this the perfect time to jump in and impress everybody. With the highly anticipated release of GTA IV on April 28 still weeks away, they're throwing gamers a really meaty bone with GameStop's new feature-rich commercial, now on YouTube.com.

To sweeten the pot, GameStop is also sponsoring a sweepstakes with a $10,000 cash prize and a trip to "Liberty City" for the winner. And, naturally, everybody can preorder in-store and online now, too. If there's another thing gamers hate, it's standing in lines with the masses.

Visit GameStop/Grand Theft Auto IV

Warning: Mature Content. You must be 17 years of age or older to view the YouTube video.

Wherever you're headed, don't be a stranger.

With CitySearch.com, there's no reason you shouldn't live like an insider anywhere you go.

Whether you're new to the area, only visiting or just looking for the best of the best (or the hidden gems) around your home, CitySearch can help you get to the right places in over 130 cities. With categories ranging from restaurants, hotels, and shopping to pets, religion and alternative medicine, the local expertise on this site is bound to get you some positive results.

Many businesses on CitySearch have an editorial review followed by user reviews and ratings, so you can get a good idea of the place before you head out. They also show any awards and nominations the business has received, their hours, accepted payment types, maps and directions — as well as a list of other featured places nearby your search. And each one is linked to a Yellow Pages directory listing, so you know the information is correct and up-to-date.

So whatever it is you're looking for, check with the experts at CitySearch.com for 14.5 million business listings, more than 600,000 user reviews and ratings on over 2 million business locations nationwide. Wherever you're headed, don't be a stranger. Visit City Search

It's Tax Time!

Not that you need to be reminded or anything, but it's that time of year again! As April 15 rapidly approaches, the Internal Revenue Service has got you covered.

Contrary to popular belief, the IRS is not out to ruin your life. In fact, when it comes to tax time, they provide you with pretty much everything you need to file easily and accurately. Can't make it out to pick up your forms? Print them right from IRS.gov. Want to get your refund (lucky you!) more quickly? File electronically from links found right on their site. And they're way ahead of you with potential questions. Most likely anything you can come up with, they've already answered and listed on the site. They're pretty omniscient that way.

But this year's big, exciting tax news is the Economic Stimulus Payment. Check out the Payment Calculator on IRS.gov to see if you're eligible and how much you should expect to receive. And while we're talking about receiving money, stop by the "Where's My Refund" section of the site to see how far along your return is and when the IRS will be sending out your check. Hooray!

So whether you're a student, a farmer, self-employed, retired, active in the military, a parent or whatever, the IRS wants to help you out when you're looking to file your taxes (after all, neat and precise returns are in their best interest).

Before you try to go it alone, stop by IRS.gov and see what they have to offer. But hurry, it's crunch time!

Hundreds of completely humorous, interesting, random and just plain bizarre lists

The List Universe brings you the best of the best, from across the globe. The Top 10 Accidental Discoveries (penicillin and potato chips rank high), The Top 10 Bizarre Death-Related Things You Can Buy Online (human skulls and DIY embalming kits included), The Top 10 Action Movie Face-offs (Go Highlander!) — it's an addicting collection of some of the most interesting things you'll ever find. But they're not all weird. You can find some quite practical lists, as well. Like The Top 10 Steps to Making a Perfect Roast Chicken or The Top 10 Exercises to Build the Body of a Greek God (we printed a few copies of that one).

Of course, their Top Ten might not read quite the same as yours. So let them know! There are discussion threads under every list for you to voice your opinion and a separate section of the site with forums, where you can suggest a topic for a new list or just talk about anything with your fellow Listers.

Who knows, The List Universe may even turn out to be one of your Top Ten Most Visited Sites. Visit The List Universe

Boys Level 5 Junior Olympics Rochester Classic

My oldest son earned 2nd Place All-Around at the Rochester Classic Invitational on February 17th. He placed 1st on Pommel Horse, Rings, and Vault and 2nd place on Floor, Parallel Bars, and High Bar. He brought home a medal and 7 trophies. He even let his brother and sister check out and hold his trophies when he brought them home (see the end of the video). Enjoy!

http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.jsp?id=11821949021862740

Free Games - Win Prizes!!

Gamesville.com is the premiere purveyor of fine, free online games and is famous for its uncanny ability to waste people's time for hours on end.

What kind of games do they offer? Free games such as bingo, cards, puzzles, board games, and more. You can even create your own stylish Gamesville Avatar to capture your unique essence.

But what really sets them apart from other game sites is that they specialize in online game shows, not just online games.

What's the difference?

Most game sites focus on games you play by yourself or games you play against a couple other people. While Gamesville has those kinds of games too (they especially proud of their Spades game and Hot Streak Solitaire), they excel at massively multiplayer games where it's you versus hundreds—or even thousands—of people all competing, in real time, to get the highest score or win the cash jackpot.

Gamesville game shows, such as Three-Eyed Bingo and Magic 21, run on a continuous basis, 24 hours a day, and last for a specific amount of time. Between one game ending and the next game starting, there is a brief intermission (aka, the Gamesville Emercial®) which features commercials — that is, advertisements that the sponsors have paid to display to you. These commercials help pay for the games and prizes that they offer.

In a very real way, their games are online — and interactive — game shows, operating on a similar kind of model to our TV counterparts. Except, instead of you watching a handful of contestants vie for a prize, you actually get to compete and win!

It's a little unusual-but given that they are in their twelfth year of being in business they must be doing something right. So go play today! Visit Gamesville

Trade things you have for things you want

Classic quid pro quo — trade things you have for things you want. With swaptree's unique "multiple-way trade algorithms," as soon as you post an item for exchange, you'll see hundreds of things you could get for it.

Unlike other online trading communities, on swaptree you don't have to spend time searching for and negotiating trades or dealing with a points system. Join for free, list what you have (either by ISBN or UPC number or by clicking a "Have It" button if you see your item featured on the site) and add things to your "Items I Want" list (the same way). swaptree will instantly alert you when you have a valid trade with a "Get Now" button next to something you wanted. Click it and you're set. The only thing you pay for is shipping your item (usually under $2.50 via USPS).

So let's say you're ready to part ways with your Planet Earth DVDs. Add it to your "Items I Have" list and you'll immediately find there are about 25,000 items on swaptree you could get for it. Sweet! Choose an item you want and click the "Get Now" button. Ship your item and you're good to go: your trade is on its way. Visit swaptree

“Babyproofing Your Marriage”

The “Babyproofers” Stacie, Cathy, and Julia are a humorous bunch of moms (and wives) that not only give helpful tips, but they also share from their own experiences and experiences of others. Many stories and viewpoints from both the male and female perspective are given. The overall goal of this book is to unite husband and wives through the early childhood years while providing an understanding of what the other spouse needs and wants out of the marriage.

The authors go through lengthy descriptions of how children change marriage, and individuals. Examples of men not helping in the house and childrearing yet yearn for more physical contact with their wife predominate the better part of this book. For those that are experiencing this situation (and by the sound of it from this book – the majority of married couples) there are numerous tips to help both parties get what they need out of the other spouse.

While reading this book, I realized very early in my reading that my marriage is unique and not at all like the partners described in this book. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband who probably does more than his share around the house and has always helped with the children. Whether it is feeding, changing a diaper, washing clothes, cleaning up bodily excretions, reading a story, or sitting next to a toddler while he makes potty, my loving husband is always there for me and my children.

Although this book was not written for my particular situation, it would be extremely helpful for many. This book is well written with plenty of humor along the way. My advice would be to read this book while expecting your baby. Once your baby arrives, there is very little free time to read during the first few months. In addition, this book would be a wonderful shower gift for any expectant couple.

“Babyproofing Your Marriage”
By: Cockrell, O’Neill, and Stone
Publisher: Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-117355-4

Ready to Make a Purchase? Check out Its Review...

Before making a purchase, most people head to the Net to see what the reviews have to say. But besides being time-consuming, this can also be pretty unreliable. So who's reviewing the reviews?

When you're researching a product, what do you do when one website gives it five stars and another only gives it two? How do you know which sources are dependable? Have you read all the analyses? These are the questions the experts at ConsumerSearch.com keep in mind when putting together the ultimate review (so you don't have to).

But how is ConsumerSearch different from all the other sites out there? They review the reviews. They start by scouring the Web for the best, most trustworthy product reviews, analyze their selections and identify the best picks. And they give you four ways to help make the best decision possible. Check out the "Fast Answers" first to see a listing of the top-rated products in a category. Then head to the "Full Story," where you'll find a complete analysis of who the reviewers are and what they have to say. Finally, you can get a complete list of all the reviews reviewed, with ranking and descriptions of each one (and a link to where it originally appeared) as well as sites where you can buy each product. And with review categories ranging from Electronics to Lawn & Garden to Kitchen & Food, you're bound to find the information you're looking for.

Don't spend all your time searching the Web for reviews — just head straight to the site that reviews them all. Visit ConsumerSearch