Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Making Homemade Gizmos For Fun - Inexpensive And Rewardin...

Making simple, homemade devices is fun for any young person who likes to tinker and build. The build-it-yourself enthusiast will get a great sense of accomplishment from creating self-designed items. Someone looking for a hobby or anyone interested in hands-on building and creating, can use common materials and items from around the house. You may need to purchase some inexpensive items such a. . .

Are You Frustrated You Have Not Been Able to Stop the Bul...

You are frustrated as a professional! You have given these bully victims all of your best techniques, and they are still being bullied. What should you do?You are out of ideas! You are have given this student your best shot. You know what you should do? Keep trying. Tell those bully victims to return to you every time they are bullied. Tell them to keep a list of what the bully says, when they . . .

Borderline Division 1? How To Make It

As a former NCAA Division 1 Athlete, I have parents ask me quite often what their son or daughter needs to do in order to make it to the highest level of college athletics. First, mom and dad need to know where they fit in the equation to success. Parents cannot be the primary motivator. If a kid is not self-motivated to be on the field or in the gym early and often, I would say he does not hav. . .

Must Manners be Taught?

PLEASE answer the following questions honestly. (Go ahead – you won’t be graded.)Does your child… Greet you with something other than a grunt in the morning? Use the word “PLEASE” when he asks you to purchase a $90 pair of designer jeans? Say “THANKS” when you take his forgotten homework assignment to school? Utter “EXCUSE ME” after he accidentally knocks you down on his way to the phone? Write. . .

Radical Education

Radical education – issue of emancipation The technique of educating a rock, and that of educating a moral soul is analogous – for it is never vital what all is taught, but it is subliminal, what all is primarily, comprehended and substantially, adapted to. Comprehension and rigorous adaptation, the ostensible and grandiose factors that consists education, also form it. Whenever education is de. . .

Decorating a Kid's Room

The most important thing to consider when decorating a child’s room is to make the child comfortable. You want to surround them with fun, playful items. The way this room is designed is going to have an effect on the psyche of the child, so allow room for imagination and freedom.It may be helpful to let the child help you decorate. Pick out the colors, or the wallpaper together. One trick is to. . .

Jump off the Stress Express--Bring Back the Holiday Spiri...

Twas the week before Christmas and all though the house everything was in shambles. Too much to do and not enough time. More shopping to be done, presents to wrap, cookies to bake and decorating await. Oh the hustle and bustle, the extra work and the stress. Is it any wonder you feel like the Kranks?If your holiday season rings in more stress than joy, you’re not alone. Consider these facts: I. . .

Music: Uniting Nations, Dividing Generations

Cultures around the world since the beginning of time have appreciated, enjoyed, and incorporated some form of music in their everyday lives. However, just as one man's trash is another man's treasure, one man's music can often be another man's noise, and vice versa. Still, certain universal aspects of music can serve as a means of communication between two people who have little else in common. . .

Money for College – Where Is It and How Do I Get It?

College is expensive – but money is available to help you pay the way! By doing a little research and filling out a few forms, you can find money through scholarships, grants, loans, and tuition assistance such as work study. Scholarships There are more than one million scholarships available each year to reward students who have distinguished themselves academically, athletically, musically, o. . .

College Debt – How To Avoid It, and How To Get Out Of It

Because most college students are using loans to finance their college education, the debt level of recent graduates is rising rapidly. On average, students graduate owing $12,000-$16,000 in student loans and another $2,000 in credit card debt. Is this the price you have to pay for higher education, or can you avoid college debt in the first place?The secret to avoiding college debt is to plan . . .

Crazy Colors Fun Kid Experiment as a Party Activity

Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for your next kid birthday party.This activity, which is strictly speaking a kid science experiment, can be used in any party as entertainment. Even better: have a "Mad Chemist" theme and use this idea as one of the kid experiments.Fill a plate or saucer with milk and put in a few drops of food coloring on top of the milk in different spots. T. . .

PLUS Loans – it's never too late to subsidize your child’...

PLUS Loans – it's never too late to subsidize your child’s education costRising. Soaring. Skyrocketing. These are the words that seem to begin every article about college tuition costs – and they are words guaranteed to make every parent cringe. According to the College Board, costs for the 2004-2005 school year at four-year private colleges are up 6%, while costs at four-year public colleges a. . .

Pre Algebra

Pre algebra is the subject you need to understand before moving on to learn algebra. In other terms, you can say that pre algebra is the perfect platform from where you can move on to algebra. However, we will talk about pre algebra as a separate entity here. Let us have a look at the key topics of pre algebra you must know:Negative numbers Learn basic facts of adding, subtracting or multiplyin. . .

Writing College Admissions Essays that Take First Place--...

Congratulations on your move toward a college degree. And congratulations on seeking support for writing your admissions essay/personal statement. The squeaky motor gets the oil, so you will be slick and running sleekly in a just a few days…in plenty of time to submit and relax before transferring from a community college or crossing over from high school to higher learning. While the applic. . .

See the Birthday of Britney Spears & Other 1980s Star Babies

The 1980s was a glorious decade to say the least. This decade initiated great cultural and technological advances which still are shaping the world in which we live today. Companies launched in this decade include CNN, MTV, USA Today, and technology unleashed in this decade were the video recorder, personal computer, compact discs, satellite dishes and the grandaddy of video games today - Pac-M. . .

Fun Kids' Party Balloon Games

Here are some kid party balloon game ideas your kid and his/her guests will love! Have lots of prizes for the winners.These games are best played outdoors!"Easy Teams" The kids have to line themselves up from shortest to tallest - BUT they are not aloud to talk! They may use gestures etc. but no talking. Once lined up, let alternate kids step forward. This is one team - the kids remaining in li. . .

A Blowing Bubble Activity that will Blow the Kids Away!

I bet you haven't given this blowing bubble activity any thought as a child party activity? I'm not talking about little kids blowing little bubbles from those little containers - no, I'm talking about blowing HUGE bubbles. I bet you didn't even know that it was possible? Yes, your bigger kids and their friends can have a lot of fun with this blowing bubble activity and what's more, it's inexpe. . .

Jay R Ell Brings Hope to Hip hop

New York, New York - Local teens launch website and CD to lift the spirit and heart in order to help families deal with pressure of youth, school and heartbreak. Jay R Ell, two brothers, is a musical duo whose music has been described as inspirational urban to some and positive hip hop to others. Jay R Ell's CD, I Got Everything, is an universal musical anthem that transcends race and culture. . . .

Reaching Your Potential

In today’s pressured world, many teens are afraid to fail—and even—afraid to succeed. They don’t want to stick out, whether for good or bad. They want to be accepted, and just ‘fit in.’ This type of mentality will lead you nowhere but the path to mediocrity—and that is nothing to be proud of. As Douglas Malloch so aptly wrote: If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,If you can't be the s. . .

Principalship: Leading Change in Schools

-The L.E.A.D.E.R. WayINTRODUCTIONIn June 1997,the Prime Minister of Singapore unveiled the Government’s vision of ‘Thinking Schools, Learning Nation’ (TSLN). This vision was forged to improve Singapore’s education system in the light of the rapid changes around the world. The Government foresees that Singapore, with its limited natural resources, can only continue to progress by nurturing a kno. . .

Trick or Treating Safety

Halloween is such a fun time of year for kids and adults alike, so its important that we take some precautions to keep it that way! Here's my list of trick or treating tips for your family. Wear comfortable shoes!! Carry a flashlight Wear something with a reflector on it (you can even find reflector tape and paint at your local home improvement store. Go out before dark-especially for little on. . .

Kick Start Your Mentor Program and Stop the Bullies!

Whining about bullying and how rotten the bullies were and the poor students that they bullied used to be one of my regular activities. "We have to do something to help these kids" both the bullies and their victims," I would whine. But for years, I just talked to these kids and sent them on their way. After I got sick and tired of being sick and tired of talking about this - I did do some. . .

Bully Victims Need a Healthy Relationship with an Adult

"Boys will be boys" and "Girls just do that" is what we hear from so many people. As a kid myself, I remember getting teased and no one came to help or told me what to do. And, you know what? It hurt me then as much as it hurts kids today. As a school counselor for 10 years, I have developed and tested various techniques for helping students in dealing with bullying. These programs will he. . .

I Just Love It!

You know the scenario. You're sitting at the family Christmas gathering and your ten-year-old opens one of Aunt Martha's itchy homemade sweaters. Or Uncle Bobby, who's been swearing to lose twenty pounds for years, opens an exercise cycle. Of course, if Uncle Bobby follows the politeness rule, he'll say, "Thank you, it's just what I wanted." (Then he'll conveniently "forget" about it in the bas. . .

Vision turned into Action

Dear Reader,I would like to personally introduce you to TeenQuack.com, the premiere online journal and community for teens! An old Chinese proverb reads, “A poor man is not he without a cent, it is he without a vision.” This website is the result of one man’s vision, turned into action. I wanted to create a place that would integrate teens from all over in a positive atmosphere—to interact, eng. . .

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

Q. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" A. "Something that hasn't been invented yet."Most of us were brought up to study hard, get good grades, choose a "practical" college major, and strive for a "good job." Talk to a stranded midlife career-changer and you realize the game has changed. Yesterday's rules prepared us to be passengers on a large ocean liner that promised a smooth voyage.. . .

The Elements of Creativity: What-ifs?

What if there is no toilet paper and I am halfway through doing the "do"?What if one of my team members decides to leave the project halfway and he happens to be the most knowledgeable guy there?What if I turn colour blind, how should I adapt to the environment?What-if, what-if and more what-ifs…The technique of asking What-ifs provokes an individual to think and to produce something new. At ti. . .

Parents Deciding Kids future

In countries like Pakistan ,my country,it is a moral value that what your elders decide goes no matter how big or personal the matter is that is even about their careers or even worse their weddings.Hey I am not saying that these decisions totally go wrong or something,they are quite experienced people and have seen high and lows of life and some of the decisions are really a master stroke a. . .

Real Friends

About a year ago, I was talking to a friend of mine on the telephone. He had just experienced a big success in his career and wanted to brag. We had a great time cheering and laughing over his big moment. Then as we were wrapping up our phone call, he apologized for gloating to me. I blew it off telling him, "Don't apologize! Real friends are people that you can cry with during the bad times an. . .

Obesity Isn’t The Only Problem With Today’s Youth Enterta...

Parents are desperately trying to lure their children away from video games and the TV for fear of obesity. Many children today are substituting good reads for TV remote and game controllers. Cindi Brown, a daycare owner expresses “Children who read at an early age seem more content with a good book and do not rely on TV and video games for entertainment as much as non-readers.” Evelyn Petersen. . .

REVIEW: TV Critic Reviews… “Higglytown Heroes”

As aunt of a preschooler and an aspiring voiceover actress (I knew all those hours of watching Bugs Bunny would come in handy), I know all the kids’ shows as well as every kids’ DVD out there. My TV Critic column will be a regular family-fare guide to Kids’ TV.In my opinion, there’s no better way celebrities can recoup their outrageous salaries than entertaining and sometimes educating kids. . . .

Pakistani Pop Music

Pakistan is blessed with talent and when we talk about Pakistani Music, you can never stop picking up one of the best Pakistani pop song uptill now because there are number of such hit songs nobody can judge the best one in past decades such as "Dil Dil Pakistan” , “Huwa Huwa”, “Mehndi ki Raat”, “Na Kaho”, “Dil Haray”, “Ankhain Milanay Walay”, “Wakt”, “Neeli Neeli Ankhain”, “Jaisay Chao Jeo”, “. . .

Brainstorm

Ever lost for ideas while working in a group? One of the most often-used technique for generating many ideas is Brainstorming. Alex Osborn, a partner in an advertising agency, developed brainstorming techniques years ago in 1941 to help his employees to come up with many, many ideas for their advertising business. To enable Brainstorming to be effective, there are certain rules to follow. One o. . .

Don't Go In- Free Short Story To Add To Your Fiction, Sci...

Don't Go In Have you watched a scary movie and then gone to bed right after? Your mind scrambles with ideas about different movie endings or parts of the movie you really liked? What happens when you go to bed and end up waking up in a world you've never been to? A world where you no longer exist and you have to find your way out by overcoming obstacles...would you be able to handle it? "Le. . .

Financial Aid - when should I apply for?

Many different types of financial aid are available to you in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans. With billions of dollars at stake, it is important to begin the search process early and to apply on time. Follow these guidelines for applying for financial aid: Three to four years before you plan to begin college… Review your high school coursework and activities. Colleges will look for. . .

Ending Child Labor

Your Nike shoes that cost you 150 dollar and your 70 dollar pair of Levi Strauss jeans were most likely made by a young person from the age of 5-14 living in Indonesia, Honduras, China or Haiti. They are forced to work with no benefits, low wages, long hours, and unsanitary conditions. They are basically slaves. Some factory management assault, rape, and abuse the workers.Children are the major. . .

8 Simple Tips To Help Your Child Read

Take away the skill of reading and not only books become a mysterious and foreign world, but reading train timetables, ordering from a menu, understanding bank statements, and any number of straightforward daily activities become virtually impossible.If your child is struggling to read, the effects of their problem can reach into adulthood, be humiliating, and extremely limiting.The world of a . . .

Body Piercing, Is There Anything Wrong With It?

When you spend a day at the mall, you see people with body piercings. Perhaps you see someone with a nose ring. Another may have a belly button ring. In fact, you may see people with some really crazy body piercing. Is there any reason that people should not have so many body piercings? When it all comes down to it, it is everyone's separate decision to be made, but we must ask, is there a. . .

Women, War, and Dating

I guess I should’ve figured something like this would happen one day. My son Will, who has just turned sixteen, is now dating, and was out on one this past Saturday night. I happened to be sitting in the den watching one of those high speed cop chase TV shows when he returned home from said date. He walked in, nodded, and then looked at me somewhat seriously and said,“Dad, I need to ask you som. . .

Dinnertime Chatter

One of the themes I see on the various internet boards I belong to is that children eat and run. First, whatever happened to manners. We were not allowed to leave the table without permission and unless it was an outright emergency we had to stay until everyone was done eating. Also, we used dinnertime to catch up on the day’s activities. When my dad wasn’t there, my mom would ask my sister, br. . .

Activity + Poor Food Choices = Non Healthy Lifestyle

One of the biggest misconceptions people have today is what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. Just because you exercise does not mean you are healthy. I hear much too often, oh, I can eat this because then I will work 30 or 40 minutes on the treadmill, jogging, walking, (fill in the blank with the exercise of choice). NO, NO, NO! Once in a while transgressions are one things, however, if you wan. . .

Fitness – It’s A Family Affair

OK, you are eating healthier meals and now you want to get your family to exercise together. First, sit down and talk about the different things you all like to do. Give everyone a turn to come up with a week’s worth of activities. Numerous studies have shown that if you exercise for 30 consecutive days it becomes a habit. So once you all get past the first month it will become routine and part. . .

Don’t Make Fast and Furious Food Changes

OK, moms and dads out there, we hear you when you say, my children won’t eat healthy foods. If we even say the word, they tune out and already decide they don’t like it. Well, my first response to this is “who is running the house, you or the kids”. If you say the kids, you have more problems than I can help you with. Put your foot down, you and your husband, spouse, significant other, (fill in. . .

Geomag Magnetic Toys

There are many different types of magnetic toys that can be purchased for children. Most of these toys are extremely fun for children as well as adults. Many of these toys are also educational in addition to being fun, which is great for parents who enjoy educating their children in entertaining ways. Magnetic toys can be purchased from toy stores, educational stores, and online.Educational mag. . .

Thalisha: A Star In The Making

Thalisha is on a mission. The ambitious 17-year-old Latin R&B singer has been successfully working towards one goal: to become a star. “My ultimate goal is to do for the Dominican community what Jennifer Lopez did for the Puerto Ricans,” she says. “For so long, Latin women have not been truly respected as vocalists in the music industry. I will change that perception.” It takes an enormous amo. . .

Stop Lying NOW

Do you have a consistent problem with your child lying to you, even though he or she is normally a “good” child? Sometimes the lies are even about things that don’t really matter or your child continues to lie in the face of overwhelming proof to the contrary?It is my firm belief that we will not end lying behavior in our children until we take away the consequences for telling the truth. This . . .

Rescue Your Children

How often have you thought about this "your time is your life and your life is your time, when one is gone so is the other "Time is infinite, not a renewable resource. The average person wastes two hours each day through disorganization and clutter in the home and workplace, causing pressure, stress and unhappiness. We sleep 8 hours a day, that leaves 16. If you waste 2 hours, that's one-eighth. . .

The Training Baby

My kid is only 6months old, yet he has taught me more than I have ever learnt in the last ten years of supposed life’s experience. It is amazing really, that one so young can teach so much, that a ball of squeaking immaturity can give and educate others who are theoretically so much wiser and more learned than an ‘incy’ bit of life that has just popped its head out for a look.I mean he has tau. . .

When your child dies

Children are the most special part of life. Losing a child is something that few really understand. Even a brief life offers so much that is special. My Daughter Katie Lindsey Rose, died July 1992. She was just five weeks old. I held Katie after she died and can never, would never, forget Katie as a person or my daughter. I also found out how hard it is for so many to talk about the death of t. . .

Boots! Boots! Boots!

Nothing feels the same as slipping into a pair of leather boots for a night on the town. The exact opposite is the feeling you get sliding on boots for the winter snow and slush mess outside. Boots come in many shapes and sizes. They are made for stylish events as well as a way to tame the outdoors. Are you thinking about purchasing a pair of boots? You could even check the online retailer. . .