October Time To Focus On Protecting Children

Writen by Joe Hickman

No one wants to hurt a child. Yet each year since 1928 our nation's leaders have felt it's important to stress how we can unwittingly allow our children to be harmed in and around our own homes.

Children are vulnerable. Pound for pound, they breathe more air, drink more water and eat more food than adults. They play close to the ground and put their hands in their mouths, increasing their exposure to toxins in the environment.

Their small bodies are still developing, often making a child less able than adults to metabolize, detoxify and excrete toxins they consume from air pollution, drinking water, food, secondhand smoke, or peeling paint.

National Child Health Day, October 3

In 1928, President Calvin Coolidge established May 1 as Child Health Day. In 1959, Congress changed National Child Health Day to the first Monday in October, where it remains. The American Academy of Pediatrics established October as Child Health Month in 1992.

Sixteen federal agencies observe October as Children's Health Month.

In 1928, President Coolidge declared, "The protection and development of the health of the children of today are fundamental necessities to the future progress and welfare of the nation."

Focusing on children's health today is as important as ever, maybe more. Asthma is a growing threat to children. With new chemicals introduced into the environment each year, children face a widening array of environmental hazards that can have a significant impact on their health and well-being.

A Great Month to Learn

The Children's Health Month ( http://www.childrenshealth.gov/index.html ) website provides great ideas to help parents and teachers learn more about a variety of child health topics: childhood illness prevention, education and child care, limiting environmental hazards, reducing risky behaviors, and safety.

For October, you'll find a daily calendar of ideas to protect children, ranging from preventing mercury exposure at school to protecting children from secondhand smoke and mold. Other days will focus on the safe use of pesticides, how to prevent lead, radon and carbon monoxide poisoning, and how to help children breathe easier and reduce asthma attacks.

Walk and Bike to School Week

Children Health Month also includes International Walk and Bike to School Week October 3 - 7 ( http://www.walktoschool-usa.org/ ). Children walking and biking to school offers real benefits for both the children and the environment. The week enhances children's health, cuts down on auto carbon monoxide around schools, and with parents involved, helps to create safer routes for walking and cycling.

Everyone Can Help

Children's Health Month is a tool to impress on everyone – health care professionals, teachers and parents – the importance of protecting children's health. Maybe we can absorb enough helpful ideas to last year round.

Because, let's face it, children need our protection every day, every month.

Why not click on the Children's Health Month Calendar ( http://www.childrenshealth.gov/calendar.html ) and learn how to protect a child today? Or better yet, print out the calendar and check it all month long. Maybe give copies to friends.

After all, children are 100 percent of our future.

©2005 by Joe Hickman, a retired EPA web writer, currently editor at http://HaLife.com

Memory Foam Mattress Buying Guide

Writen by David Z

What is "Memory Foam"?

Memory Foam was created by the American Organization, NASA, during the 1970's. The invention was not used for space missions due to some reasons of the closed environment atmosphere. However, some companies like Tempur Pedic, saw that their could be a future in this foam for consumers.

Memory foam was engineered to spread pressure and release the pressure points from the weight of the person or thing. However there were some fundamental flaws in the initial memory foam concerning durability and therefore they began to research heavily on new methods to create this Memory Foam to have what we see today.

How Many Brands Are There?

By doing a simple search for memory foam mattress, you will come up with around 200,000 results. Most of them are trying to sell you on their products, which are a lot to choose from.

Through our basic research, we have seen that the average online price for a memory foam mattress is between $700-$3000 on average. The first factor, size, the second will depend on the name brand and warranties associated with the mattresses. Some offer free delivery, others offer free frames, pillows, etc.

Which Is Best For Me?

There is only one comment or discouragement that I have ever heard about buying a memory foam or tempur pedic mattress. That is that it gets very hot, the way your body is snuggled in the mattress and the material which is thickly condensed and not very open causes a pocket of warmth to create around you. So if you detest sleeping hot, either turn up the air conditioning unit or research a different system.

My first suggestions, buy a memory foam pillow and mattress. This will help you feel the difference in your current sleeping arrangement and it will provide you with an idea if the product is right for you. It really does provide support and comfort. If you sleep uncomfortably at night and need a new solution, try it. Most places like Tempur-Pedic offer warranties and 30 day refund periods if you are not satisfied.

My second suggestion, never listen to anyone online unless they are a certified physician. So consult your doctor and he will help you determine the best sleeping arrangement to help your ailing back pains.

Lastly, most memory foam systems are the same. The only differences are that certain firms find new designs or technologies to include with their product that set them apart. But never buy a mattress online without some type of warranty and 30 day refund policy, just to be on the safe side.

When shopping online, check other feedbacks or testimonials. People generally list reasons why their mattress would work best for them depending on their health and situation, you can certainly use their feedbacks as reference for your shopping decision.

For more memory foam mattress buying guides, please visit Memory Foam Mattress

Having a good night sleep is essential and helps you feel rested, energized and prepared. This article will provide you buying guides about memory foam mattress so you can make a good decision when looking for your next mattress. For more memory foam mattress buying guides, please visit Memory Foam Mattress

Santas Workshop ~ Diary Of An Elf ~ Day 34

Writen by Ashlee Williams

Hi everyone!

We had a great day. Our bake sale was a real success. We made almost $2,000. Well, we actually only made $1,000 but Santa donated another $1,000. So we now have enough money to buy new decorations to decorate our entire town. The Christmas tree in our common will have a bright shining star now, when we get the new decorations. Probably will go shopping later this week! I can't wait!

Everyone liked the Gingerbread house that Crystal and I made. It turned out beautiful and everyone raved about it. We raffled it off to the highest bidder for $55.00.

Mrs. Claus bought all kinds of goodies at the bake sale. My favorite was the Peanut Butter cookies. We all ate so many snacks today that nobody was hungry at suppertime.

The best part of the bake sale was when Santa, Rudolph and Blitzen arrived with the sleigh. Santa let the children (even some grownups!) climb into the sleigh and have their pictures taken with him. You should of seen Rudolph, he is such a show-off, he loves to have his picture taken.

After the bake sale Mrs. Claus took a group of us girls shopping for Christmas decorations. We bought a lot of cool things. You should see the sparkling star we bought for the big tree on the common.

We didn't have time to buy all our decorations today so we are going shopping again on Saturday.

Well I better say goodnight. Mrs. Claus is calling us for our hot chocolate. Then we have to go to bed.

Talk to you tomorrow

Ashlee Williams writes a daily report from the North Pole, through a diary of an elf who works in the Toyshop. Why not visit http://santasworkshop.blog.com You'll find it interesting as all those problems arise while Santa is making all the toys.

Immigration Woes Part Four

Writen by Rick Parrott

The National Visa Center (NVC) had sent our paper work to the US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez in June 2005. Our appointment was in March 2006!

Why so long? Well is appears the US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez is the busiest consulate in the world and they are extremely back logged. Maybe they ought to hire more people.

Up to this point my Congressman and Senator had been a great help moving my paperwork along. When the paperwork arrived at the consulate they hit a brick wall.

It seems that our State Department doesn't answer to the US Congress any more. Or so it seems.

We waited, not so patiently, for our appointment time to come. Then suddenly we received a package informing us that our appointment was in 30 days.

It was obvious that the package they send out is a standard one, -because it was asking us for forms we had already submitted. So to be safe we filled out all of the forms and took them with us to the appointment.

Before we went to our appointment my wife had to have a physical. This consisted of a blood test and vaccinations. All of which cost an additional fee. In total, it was about $250.00 more.

There are only two approved places you can take your physical. Luckily the one we went to was quick. It took us about an hour. We arrived there as early as possible. The other clinic was taking between three and four hours.

Included in the information packet is a warning to be careful around the clinics because there have been many robberies and assaults. Isn't the concern of your government touching, they do not however provide any security.

The day of our appointment we arrived early. The information packet said it didn't matter when you arrived and they were right. My wife didn't have her interview until almost 4:00 pm.

Meanwhile we had to stand in the rain on the street, because the sponsor wasn't allowed to accompany the applicant.

I decided to turn the wait into a research opportunity. I talked too many of the people waiting, asking about their story.

Many of them have been waiting as long as or longer than we had. Some of them had made multiple trips to the consulate. Many had the services of a lawyer, which really didn't seem to do them much good.

Here a partial list of the wisdom I gleaned for my observations:

- Don't talk to or trust the vendors offering to assist you with your paperwork! These establishments exist solely to separate money from confused and often desperate people.

- Get a hotel close to the consulate, they should cost between $40.00 and $60.00 dollars. There are also restaurants close by.

- Do not get to the consulate too early, because there isn't any security until just before they open.

- Ciudad Juarez is on Mountain Time so adjust your watch, if necessary.

- As is true in most third world nations, the people see Americans as potential targets to be fleeced. Watch out for pick pockets and con artists.

- If the price of the VISA application has gone up you will have to pay the difference. For us it was about $40.00 more.

- If you need a waiver, expect to wait an additional amount of time.

-- I know of one case where the family waited for three weeks in Ciudad Juarez then was told they would have to wait 10 years before the wife could come to the US.

-- In another case the consulate wouldn't grant the waiver unless the wife of the sponsor turned in her brother, who was wanted on warrants. Why that should be a condition for entry into the US is beyond me.

There were many stories like this among the people waiting. The biggest problem is the complete lack of information available. It almost seems like the consulate staff wants you to be in the dark. This process could be made much more user friendly.

Currently the process goes through the Immigration and Naturalization Service, then to the National Visa Center and finally to the US Consulate.

To speed up the system the Immigration and Naturalization Service could adopt a program like the National Visa Center has so you can check and verify the status of your paperwork.

The National Visa Center should send all of the required paperwork in one mailing. They could include a fee bill for the entire amount with the requirement that all fees must be paid for the paperwork to be processes. This action alone would have saved us over five months of waiting.

Finally, the State Department must do something about the processing times in their consulates. Especially the consulate in Ciudad Juarez, as it is the system puts an artificial cap on immigration. There are people who have been waiting for their appointments for over ten years!

It's no wonder so many enter this country illegally! If congress really wanted to get a handle on the immigration problem they would do two simple things.

1. Make it a felony to knowingly employ undocumented aliens and enforce the law!

2. Streamline the process to allow a reasonable work visa process.

If I have learned anything in this process it is to be persistent. When dealing with the US Government you must continuously engage them in discussion. If your paperwork isn't in the place it needs to be, question them as to why.

Don't be afraid to contact your political representatives. That's what they are there for, even though some seem to forget.

Good luck and I hope your quest goes smoother than ours.

Secure Publications, is a San Antonio Texas publishing company specializing in "How To" books and special reports designed to enhance our quality of life. Visit our site to get an immigration assistance kit designed to smooth your imigration journey http://www.securepublications.com/immigration Or contact Rick Parrott via email at rickparrott@sasecure.net

Helpful Tips When Burying Or Cremating The Remains Of Family Member

Writen by Harriet Goodrich

When an individual passes on, there are many decisions that must be made. One important decision concerns the remains. There are many different options for families of individuals who have died. The two most common ways to handle the remains of a loved one is to purchase a casket and bury them or have their remains cremated.

Generally the most traditional choice is a standard burial in a casket. Many families choose this option because they are able to visit a gravestone and know that their loved one is there. A standard burial is often preferred because the individual is being left alone and is at peace.

Cremation is another choice that many families make. Cremation is when the remains of a deceased individual is converted into ashes. This is a fairly common practice on individuals who may have been severely injured or disfigured in an accident or do not have any family members around to make decisions.

The decision to cremate a loved one is often difficult, but there is also an option that is a combination of the two. Once remains are cremated, there are placed in a urn. A urn is a container that stores the remains. Urns can come in various different styles, decorations, and sizes. There is a urn that is known as a burial urn. A burial urn is a specific urn meant for being buried underground, like traditional caskets. A burial urn is generally made out of specific material that will hold well underground.

Generally when compared to a casket, a urn is considerably cheaper. If a burial urn is used and the individual is buried, you can still have a traditional headstone. There are no set limitations or rules on cremating and burying an individual.

In addition to a burial urn there are other burial options or accessories for a cremation burial. Many funeral homes or casket companies sell a special burial urn vault. The materials used, sizes, and styles will depend on where you plan on purchasing a burial urn vault. These vaults come in different sizes, but they are typically just big enough to hold a standard urn. These burial urn vaults are a protective way for urns to be buried underground. Just like caskets, burial urn vaults are typically decorated with various religious designs or they can even be customized for a family.

The decision to bury a family member is a touch decision to make. There are many tips and resources available for assistance with making this difficult decision. Cremation is a common practice used all around the world. The majority of religions accept and believe in cremation; therefore, it will generally not upset an individualís belief system. Handing the remains of a deceased family member is often a family decision. If the family cannot agree on a specific procedure, a burial urn may be a great idea. A burial urn allows remains to be cremated and buried all at the same time, generally pleasing all remaining family members.

http://www.funeralmarket.com/cas_history.php = Harriet Goodrich is a writer for Funeral Market where you can find burial urns and funeral caskets of high quality at discount prices.

Bedwetting Diapers Disposable Products For Older Bedwetters

Writen by Peter Crump

Bedwetting diapers are not just for infants and babies. They come in sizes all the way up to adult so that any one with a bed wetting problem can feel secure that he/she will not wake up to wet sheets in the morning. Along with ensuring you or your child a dry night, wearing diapers at night means you also have less mess to clean up. These diapers are disposable, so they won't add to your mounds of laundry. Actually, disposable bedwetting diapers will cut down on the amount of laundry that you have to do because you will no longer have to wash bedclothes each day.

Even with having bedwetting diapers for your child, you still have to pursue other methods for treating the problem of bed wetting. These diapers can give the child or adult a false sense of relief and not really do anything to help the problem at all. If there is a medical reason for the bedwetting, you know that using bed wetting diapers will probably be only a temporary measure. If there is no medical reason, then you need to combine using an adult bed wetting diaper each night with a method of behavior modification such as using an enuresis alarm to wake the wearer at the first sign of moisture.

There are bedwetting diapers that look just like underpants. This makes it much easier for your child to sleep at a friend's house without anyone knowing about the bedwetting. These diapers have an absorbent liner that soaks up the urine and does not let it seep through to the pyjamas or the bedclothes. However, if the child is in bed for a long time, there is the possibility that some of the urine will seep out through the legs of the diapers causing an accident. The top layer of plastic on a bedwetting diaper helps to keep the moisture away from the skin.

You do have to be aware of the cost involved in using larger size disposable bedwetting diapers. This is why you do need to look for treatments that will not only reduce the number of bedwetting episodes, but will help cure the problem. There are child and adult bed wetting diapers that you can get that are reusable. This type of diaper is a cheaper alternative to the disposable bed wetting diaper. It also comes like a pair of underpants or a liner that fits on the underpants. With these adult bedwetting diapers, the person still feels wet, but the wetness does not seep through to the clothing. The wetness helps to wake the adult up so he/she can go to the bathroom.

You do have to choose the best bedwetting diapers for your child. Look at the liners, diapers and absorbent underpants to determine which one would best meet the needs of the child or adult. Liners are strips of absorbent material that have a sticky side that adheres to the underpants, thus keeping them in place. They are not noticeable and will not irritate the skin in the same way as some bedwetting diapers will.

Find out more about Bedwetting, visit Peter's Website Bedwetting Answers and find out about Bedwetting Diapers and more, including Adult Bedwetting and Bedwetting Alarms