The Internet has become the hot new place for smart, eligible
people to find romance, and those looking for love are swarming
into cyberspace. As a result, many individuals have begun
relationships online with people they have not met and know
little about.

With so many people communicating via the Net and deciding to
date virtual strangers, it is important to be safe and be smart.
Common sense can go a long way to keep you safe. Here are some
guidelines for playing it safe:

Watch out for someone who seems too good to be true. Begin by
first communicating solely by email or online chat. Be vigilant
in noticing odd behavior or inconsistencies. If someone is
evasive, this is a red flag. “Listen” to your correspondent’s
words. The person at the other end may not be who or what he/she
says. Trust your instincts. If anything makes you uncomfortable,
walk away for your own safety and protection.

Find out as much information as you can. Learn to ask many
questions. Find out where he grew up, where she works, and how
he is connected to his community. These are clues to finding out
who this person really is. Be suspicious, if someone is
unwilling to reveal any personal identifying information. Probe
any discrepancies in their stories. If your correspondent is
unwilling to answer your questions, this is another red flag.
Continue with a great deal of caution.

Honesty is the key to success. Talk on the telephone and
continue to learn more about your correspondent. A phone call
can reveal a lot about a person’s communication and social
skills. It is worth the cost of the call to protect your
security. But do not give out your phone number to a stranger.
Trust takes time to develop. Only when you feel completely
comfortable should you furnish your phone number.

Don’t rush into anything. Meeting someone online and then
arranging a date in a relatively short time can be dangerous.
Take time to find out who this person really is. If someone is
pressuring you to get together before you are ready, this is
another warning sign. If anything feels strange as you get to
know this person, then it is time to back away and look for
another match.

If you decide to meet for a date, proceed with caution. Arrange
the meeting on your terms. The following is a guide to ensure
that you have a safe encounter:

Before You Meet

Before you go out with someone new, it is important to get as
much information as you can about the person you will meet.
Always ask for a full name, address, and telephone number before
agreeing to go out with someone you have never met.

Never go out with someone who will only give you a pager or work
phone number. (There is a very good chance of a spouse in the
house.)

When someone gives his or her phone number, find a reason to
call unexpectedly. This may help you to find out if she is
married or he is living with someone.

Find out where the person works and if you can call him or her
at work

First Date Know-How

Be careful when agreeing to meet anyone in person. Set the
conditions for your date and do not let the other person change
them. Remember, you really do not know someone until you spend
time with them in person. Represent yourself accurately.
Exaggerating or deceiving is easy online. Areas to be
particularly cautious about are marital status and physical
appearance. Begin with a request for a picture and send them a
recent one of you. If someone is unwilling to send a recent
photo, this is warning sign. If he or she continuously comes up
with an excuse, it is because that person has something to hide.
Having a scanned photo is available at Kinko’s for less than ten
dollars, so there is no valid excuse for not doing it. After you
have exchanged photos, continue to fill in the gaps, so that the
other person does not create you in their image. Keep it honest.

Always tell someone where you are going with your date and when
you will return. Leave your date’s full name and telephone
numbers with that person and write it down. For a small fee, you
can leave information regarding where you are going and all the
pertinent details with a service called SmartDate at If your
date wants you to keep it secret, this is a very big red flag.
Protect yourself.

Always meet in a public place that you are familiar with on your
first date. Stay near other people in a lighted area. Getting
together for coffee is a pleasant, casual way to get to know
someone.

Never allow yourself to be picked up from your house. Giving
your address out to a stranger is not safe. Arrange your own
transportation so that you can leave if there is any sign of
trouble.

Pay attention to everything that this person has told you about
him or herself. If you find out that your date has lied about
anything, this is another red flag. Do not bring your date back
to your house after the first meeting. You do not know this
person. Use the same kind of common sense and rules that you
would use in any type of dating relationship.

Be smart and be safe. Take control of your future. Know what you
are getting into before you invest your heart, money, or your
life. Information is the key.

Word Count: 546 Character Width: 60 Resource box: 4 lines plus
web link to ebook “Living on a Shoe String”

=========================================================

Fun for the kids without spending a dime. - by Denise Lombardo
(c)Denise Lombardo - all rights reserved
http://www.moneysavingtips.biz

==========================================================

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why everything is so expensive?”.
Taking your child to the movies has turned into an event that
you must save for.

Even if you plan a day with great intentions of not spending a
fortune, it can easily backfire. For example, Chuckee Cheese.
I’ve personally taken my children there and said to myself,
“Okay, I am not going to spend more than $30.00 today”. When it
comes down to it, I’ve got two choices when the end is near.
Either I will go over my planned budget or two children will be
crying because they don’t want to leave. (Thirty dollars does
not go far at Chuckee Cheese). So in the end, I leave
frustrated, my kids are disappointed and they whole day is shot.

Quite honestly, it doesn’t need to be that way. For families
living on a budget, there are many ways to show your children a
good time without taking a second mortgage on the house to do so.

Here are some suggestions: * Go to the park - Kids love to play
at the park and it doesn’t cost a penny. Find a nice park near
your house, pack a picnic basket, bring a soccer ball and enjoy
the day. * Go to your local library - Most libraries offer
programs for the children. While you are there, take out books
and also videos. (The videos are free) * Family Fun Night - Find
a night during the week when everyone is available and spend
quality time together. Play board games, cards, watch a movie
(of course, one that you took out from the library), read, do
whatever you want. * Home Depot Workshop - The program is free
for children. Your child will get a Home Depot apron and will
build a project they will take home. The workshops are held on a
monthly basis. Call your local store for details and scheduling.
* Rainy day fun - Do something crazy. Do you remember being a
child and wanting to play in the rain. Well here’s your chance.
Put raincoats on, grab your umbrellas and have some fun. Bring
the camera because you are going to want a picture of this. * Go
hiking - take your child on a nature walk. Kids love the
outdoors and there’s something special about exploring nature
together. * Go for a walk - just taking your child for a walk
around the block can be special. It is a wonderful opportunity
to talk and enjoy the little things in life such as the changing
leaves, an animal behind a fence or even a car that drove by
real fast. * Turn the music on - When is the last time you
danced around the house with your children. What are you waiting
for? Turn the music on and have a great time. You may surprise
yourself at how much fun you’ll have.

All of these ideas are simple, fun and free. The special part
about doing the simple things in life is they create the best
memories for you and your children. Isn’t that what this is all
about? Creating memories for our children. The little things you
do now may end up being that one memory your child will take
with them forever. Fortunately, memories are free.

=========================================================== How
can you save hundreds of dollars a month? Denise Lombardo has
created the *ultimate* guide. “Living on a Shoe String - from
one mom to another” For more information on saving money log
onto www.moneysavingtips.biz.

============================================================

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long as you leave all lins in place, do not modify the content
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Colic is still a mystery to Doctors. They still do not know what cause colic in babies. They will tell you that
there is no known cure for colic. I have always heard of colic, and heard from mothers that have dealt with this problem. I have never had to deal with a colicky baby, until my fourth child Nicholas was born. Colic is hard not just for the mother, it is hard on the whole family.

There is no tried and true method to dealing with a baby who has colic. A crying baby is the hardest thing a parent has to deal with. The crying will stop eventually. There are some things that you can do to help with these crying spells your baby is going through. Here are some things you can try that I have found that works with my son Nicholas.

1) Try walking with your baby. This can be tiresome ,but it may be the only thing that works for your baby. Hold your baby with his/her tummy against your tummy. My son tends to have gas while he is screaming, and I have found that this helps with his gas, as well as his crying. Sometimes he even stops crying for a little while.

2) Push your baby in a stroller. Sometimes this helps with my son. Take a short walk and see if it helps your baby to stop crying. It may not work, but it’s worth a try anyway.

3) Rock your baby. I have a rocking chair my baby’s bedroom, and when I rock him he stops crying and most of the time falls asleep. I think it is the closeness he feels when I rock him.

4) Put your baby in his/her car seat and take a drive somewhere. I have done this many times. This option may not be an option if you do not have a car, or it could become a habit. Look at it this way; which would you rather do; hear a screaming baby, or drive for awhile?

5)I have not tried this and do not recommend this unless the baby is supervised by an adult. Many mothers I have talked to say this worked for them. Place your child in his/her car seat on top of the dishwasher or washing machine and turn it on for a cycle or two.

6) Try singing to your child, or turning a radio or a tv on to music. It may or may not stop your baby from crying, but it could calm him/her down a little bit. My son calms down when I put country music on.

7) Have your spouse take the baby for awhile. If you are the only person your baby will let hold him/her, try to away for a little while. Have a friend or relative help by watching your child for you.

Make sure you get some sleep whenever possible. I often have my sister come to my house and watch my kids while I take a nap. This way you won’t be so tired when dealing with a screaming baby all night. My husband also takes the baby when he does not have to go to work. It helps when you are not so tired.

Remember the crying will not last forever. Even if nothing works for you, there is an end insight . Before you know it all the crying that your baby has done will be replaced with smiling, gurgling, and he/she will be a happy baby. My son is now 3 months old and he is not crying as much as he did two weeks ago.

If you feel you could use some support in dealing with your colicky baby. here is an online support group for parents, family & friends of colicky babies.

COLICNET.COM

http://colicnet.com/

Tina Barraclough is a stay at home mom and owner of http://best-home-based-business-idea.com Visit her website for Business Opportunities, free e-books,Business Articles,etc.

You are a partner in your health care. This is a partnership between you, your doctor, and your pharmacist. You need to be assertive and knowledgeable about the medications you take.

The Food and Drug Administration is also working to make drugs safer for older adults, who consume a large share of the nation’s medications. Adults over age 65 buy 30 percent of all prescription drugs and 40 percent of all over-the-counter drugs.

“Almost every drug that comes through FDA [for approval] has been examined for effects in the elderly,” says Robert Temple, M.D., associate director for medical policy in FDA’s Office of Drug Evaluation and Research. “If the manufacturer hasn’t done a study in the elderly, we ask for it.”

More than 15 years ago, the agency established guidelines for drug manufacturers to include more elderly patients in their studies of new drugs. Upper age limits for drugs were eliminated, and even patients who had other health problems were given the green light to participate if they were able. Also, drugs known to pass primarily through the liver and kidneys must be studied in patients with malfunctions of those organs. This has a direct benefit for older adults, who are more likely to have these conditions.

In several surveys, FDA discovered that drug manufacturers had been using older adults in their drug studies; however, they weren’t examining that age group for different reactions to the drugs. Now, they do. Today, every new prescription drug has a section in the labeling about its use in the elderly.

Says Temple, “The FDA has done quite a bit and worked fully with academia and industry to change drug testing so that it does analyze the data from elderly patients. We’re quite serious about wanting these analyses.”

When More Isn’t Necessarily Better

Of all the problems older adults face in taking medication, drug interactions are probably the most dangerous. When two or more drugs are mixed in the body, they may interact with each other and produce uncomfortable or even dangerous side effects. This is especially a problem for older adults because they are much more likely to take more than one drug. Two-thirds of adults over age 65 use one or more drugs each day, and a quarter of them take three drugs each day.

Not all drug combinations are bad. High blood pressure is often treated with several different drugs in low doses. Unless supervised by a doctor, however, taking a mixture of drugs can be dangerous.

For example, a person who takes a blood-thinning medication for high blood pressure should not combine that with aspirin, which will thin the blood even more. And antacids can interfere with certain drugs for Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Before prescribing any new drug to an older patient, a doctor should be aware of all the other drugs the patient may be taking.

“Too often, older people get more drugs without a reassessment of their previous medications,” says Feinberg. “That can be disastrous.”

There is also evidence that older adults tend to be more sensitive to drugs than younger adults are, due to their generally slower metabolisms and organ functions. As people age, they lose muscle tissue and gain fat tissue, and their digestive systems, liver, and kidney functions slow down. All this affects how a drug will be absorbed into the bloodstream, react in the organs, and how quickly it will be eliminated. The old adage “Start low and go slow” applies especially to the elderly.

Older adults who experience dizziness, constipation, upset stomach, sleep changes, diarrhea, incontinence, blurred vision, mood changes, or a rash after taking a drug should call their doctors. The following suggestions may also help:

* Don’t take a drug unless absolutely necessary. Try a change in diet or exercise instead. Ask your doctor if there’s anything else you can do besides drug therapy for the condition.

* Tell your doctor about all the drugs you take. If you have several doctors, make sure they all know what the others are prescribing, and ask one doctor (such as an internist or general practitioner) to coordinate your drugs.

* Ask for drugs that treat more than one condition. Blood pressure medicine might also be good for heart disease, for example.

* Keep track of side effects. New symptoms may not be from old age but from the drug you’re taking. Try another medication if possible until you find one that works for you.

* Learn about your drugs. Find out as much as you can by asking questions and reading the package inserts. Both your doctor and pharmacist should alert you to possible interactions between drugs, how to take any drug properly, and whether there’s a less expensive generic drug available.

* Have your doctor review your drugs. If you take a number of drugs, take them all with you on a doctor’s visit.

* Ask the doctor, “When can I stop taking this drug?” and, “How do we know this drug is still working?”

* Watch your diet. Some drugs are better absorbed with certain foods, and some drugs shouldn’t be taken with certain foods. Ask a pharmacist what foods to take with each drug.

* Follow directions. Read the label every time you take the medication to prevent mistakes, and be sure you understand the timing and dosage prescribed.

* Don’t forget. Use a memory aid to help you–a calendar, pill box, or your own system. Whatever works for you is best.

Medicine and Special Needs

Arthritis, poor eyesight, and memory lapses can make it difficult for some older adults to take their medications correctly. Studies have shown that between 40 and 75 percent of older adults don’t take their medications at the right time or in the right amount. About a quarter of all nursing home admissions are due at least in part to the inability to take medication correctly.

A number of strategies can make taking medication easier. Patients with arthritis can ask the pharmacist for an oversized, easy-to-open bottle. For easier reading, ask for large-type labels. If those are not available, use a magnifying glass and read the label under bright light.

Invent a system to remember medication. Even younger adults have trouble remembering several medications two or three times a day, with and without food. Devise a plan that fits your daily schedule. Some people use meals or bedtime as cues for remembering drugs. Others use charts, calendars, and special weekly pill boxes.

Mary Sloane, 78, keeps track of five medications a day by sorting her pills each evening into separate dishes. One is for morning pills, the other for the next evening. Then she turns each medicine bottle upside down after taking the pill so she can tell at a glance if she has taken it that day.

“You have to have a system,” Sloane says. “Because just as soon as I get started taking my pills, the phone rings, and when I come back to it, I think, ‘Now have I taken that?’”

Drug-taking routines should take into account whether the pill works best on an empty or full stomach and whether the doses are spaced properly. To simplify drug-taking, always ask for the easiest dosing schedule possible–just once or twice a day, for example.

Serious memory impairments require assistance from family members or professionals. Adult day-care, supervised living facilities, and home health nurses can provide assistance with drugs.

Active Lives

Not all older adults are in danger of drug interactions and adverse effects. In fact, as more and more people live active lives well into their 80s or beyond, many take few medications at all. Among healthy older adults, medications may have the same physical effects as they do in younger adults. It is primarily when disease interferes that the problems begin.

To guard against potential problems with drugs, however, older adults must be knowledgeable about what they take and how it makes them feel. And they should not hesitate to talk to their doctors or pharmacists about questions and problems they have with a medication.

Says the University of Maryland’s Feinberg: “We need to have educated patients to tell us how the drugs are working.”

Rebecca D. Williams is a writer in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Cutting Costs

The cost of medications is a serious concern for older adults, most of whom must pay for drugs out of pocket. Even those who have insurance to supplement Medicare must often pay a percentage of the cost of their medicines.

For a new prescription, don’t buy a whole bottle but ask for just a few pills. You may have side effects to the medication and have to switch. If you buy just a few, you won’t be stuck with a costly bottle of medicine you can’t take.

For ongoing conditions, medications are often less expensive in quantities of 100. Only buy large quantities of drugs if you know your body tolerates them well. But be sure you can use all of the medication before it passes its expiration date.

Call around for the lowest price. Pharmacy prices can vary greatly. If you find a drug cheaper elsewhere, ask your regular pharmacist if he or she can match the price.

Other ways to make your prescription dollars go further include:

* Ask for a senior citizens discount.

* Ask for a generic equivalent.

* Get drug samples free. Pharmaceutical companies often give samples of drugs to physicians. Tell your doctor you’d be happy to have them. This is especially convenient for trying out a new prescription.

* Buy store-brand or discount brand over-the-counter products. Ask the pharmacist for recommendations.

* Call your local chapter of the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) and your local disease-related organizations (for diabetes, arthritis, etc.) They may have drugs available at discount prices.

* Try mail order. Mail-order pharmacies can provide bulk medications at discount prices. Use this service only for long-term drug therapy because it takes a few weeks to be delivered. Compare prices before ordering anything.

M. Sanders is a long term care insurance marketing specialist. She is appointed throughout the United States as a long term care insurance representative with several major insurance carriers. Her website, About Long Term Care and LTC Insurance, contains information and articles pertaining to long term care, insurance and other related senior topics. It is her goal to inform the public about these increasingly important topics.

1/2 c Prepared mustard 1/2 c Honey 1 ts Salt 1/2 ts Rosemary
leaves 1/4 ts Pepper Mix all ingredients. Baste meat during the
last half of cooking period. Just before serving, top meat with
remaining sauce.

How do you plan to lose weight?

Losing weight, gaining weight or maintaining a healthy weight can be a difficult task. However, if you learn to eat healthy and exercise regularly, and you train your body to accept that - instead of a daily task, it can become a “way of life.”

Here is a simple 5 step plan that can help you learn how to live a healthier life:

Get into a Healthy Eating Mindset:

If you are going to lose weight or gain weight you must believe that you can do it. If you are discouraged, you will not be able to do it. You must think, I CAN LOSE WEIGHT. I WILL LOSE WEIGHT. I WILL GET HEALTHY STARTING RIGHT NOW!

This may seem a little over the top - but it’s not. You need to get yourself into a healthy mindset. You need to give yourself positive reinforcement and pump yourself up.

You may need some help to get into a healthy mindset. It is not a weakness to admit that you need help. In order to be a healthy person, you have to admit that sometimes you just can’t do it by yourself. You may need the help of a trained professional (a doctor, a dietician, a personal trainer) or simply a support network of friendly people. If you have tried to do it on your own and have failed, then it is time to get the help that you need - start with your family physician.

Your support network can be composed of people that are available for you to talk to, they should be positive people and they should believe in YOU.

If you don’t want to count on your friends and family - you may need to go out and pay for a diet plan - Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, NutriSystem are a few of the programs that also provide a support network of actual people you can talk to and find encouragement from.

Find Motivation, Set Goals, and Reward Yourself:

Motivation to lose weight or get healthier is going to be completely up to you! Whether you are just trying to lose a few pounds to go to your high school class reunion or you are trying to lose fifty pounds so that you can be a healthy person and play with your children… You need to find a motivation.

Once you have a motivation, set attainable goals. Set goals that you know you can achieve. In other words, don’t try to lose five pounds in one week. One or two pounds per week is a small, attainable goal.

Also, plan to reward yourself when you’ve reached your goal. For instance, if your motivation is to shed ten pounds to go to your class reunion, then reward yourself with a new outfit to wear to the reunion. Or, if your motivation is to lose 50 pounds so that you will feel healthier, plan one fun day going to an amusement park when you’ve reached your goal weight.

Take little steps. Motivate yourself using rewards every step of the way. Set goals and rewards. For instance, “When I lose 5 lbs, I will reward myself with a new pair of shoes.”

Set your own rewards based on what you really, really want. Follow through - don’t just say you will reward yourself and then conveniently forget because there are more important things to buy or do - GO THROUGH WITH YOUR REWARD PLAN.

Plan to Eat Healthy Foods and Healthy Serving Sizes:

The US government has provided us with a healthy “food pyramid.” This plan works! So don’t be afraid to use it. It’s simple, too. If you are an adult, each day you should have the following allotment:

Fats, Oils and Sweets - use sparingly. Milk, Yogurt, Cheese - 2 to 3 servings. Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Nuts, Eggs - 2 to 3 servings. Vegetables - 3 to 5 servings. Fruits - 2 to 3 servings.
Grains, Bread, Cereal, Rice, Pasta - 6 to 11 servings.

6 to 11 servings is a wide range. The amount of servings you need per day will be based on your daily activity and special needs:

A breast-feeding mother will need the highest amounts - 3 servings of milk and cheese, 3 servings of meat.

A middle aged woman who has a desk job will probably need the lower servings suggested - 6 servings of the grain/bread group, 2 servings of meat.

6 servings of grains may seem like a lot of food - but - you must be careful on the serving size. A pasta meal at a restaurant may equal 6 servings of pasta. Watching the amount of food is as important as the kinds of food. Serving sizes follow:

milk group - - 1 cup 2%, 1 cup yogurt, 1 1/2 oz of cheese meat group — 2-3 oz. of meat, 1/2 cup cooked dry beans, vegetable group — 1/2 cup of cooked or raw cut up, 1 cup raw leafy fruit group — medium sized piece of fruit or 1/2 cup cut up, 3/4 cup of juice grain group — a serving is 1/2 cup of cooked pasta or rice, 1 slice of bread, 1 oz.
dry cereal.

Do not assume that the serving sizes on packaged products are the same as the above. Use common sense. Be honest with yourself about serving sizes.

Here is a cool visual chart that makes for great printing. Print it out and tack it up on your refrigerator! Another great motivator is tacking up a picture of
yourself on the fridge - as you are now or as you would like to be.

Plan to Exercise:

You don’t need to run a marathon every day in order to get exercise. There are little ways that you can get the exercise you need everyday. Here are some suggestions - choose at least one of these and do it everyday or at least once a week. I guarantee that after a couple months - if you don’t get your exercise, you will MISS it!

Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park the farthest away spot from the store every time you go. Take a 30 minute walk everyday. (This is the one that I do - I love my walk, if I don’t get my walk, I really feel at a loss - and I am definitely NOT an exercise fanatic, but I never miss my walking even on vacation - and I feel GREAT because of it.) Take an aerobics class or a dance class. (Do you have a partner? Take ballroom dancing! Not only will you get some exercise, you will also learn a useful, fun skill.) Get off the subway or bus stop one stop before where you normally get off and walk the rest of the way home. Decide to take up a sport like Tennis, Racquetball, or even join a Softball team. Check out your community athletic center or the YMCA for sports that you think you might like to participate in. Buy a work out video and commit to working out 20 minutes a day.
There are some awesome workout programs for free on the internet. Here’s one at Drop a Dress Size in Six Weeks. (I like the free ones you can do at home, because if you’re like me, you’re a clutz and are embarrassed to be seen doing any of those exercises in public!)

The Right Tools:

Support Network -

In the first part of the plan, we discussed a support network. This network may be made up of health professionals or simply a group of family or friends that you can talk to. They are positive people that will help you over the rough spots.

Healthy Eating Guide -

You need to know the right balance of foods to eat. Use this cool food pyramid. This pyramid is taken from the US Government Recommended Daily Allowances. If you join any type of Diet plan, they all have their individual ways of keeping track of your calories or nutritional intake, however, they are all similar to the Food Pyramid.

Nutritional Counting Device -

Make your healthy diet fun! The NutriCounter can help you keep track of your daily eating habits, it’s a wonderful way to get into a routine and stay healthy. Learn more about The NutriCounter.

Come and visit the NutriCounter web site for more information on how nutrition influences weight loss, diabetes, pregnancy, heart disease and more!
http://www.nutricounter.com

It is a good idea to keep in mind before you decide upon a tattoo that kanji as an art is based on a different form of language unlike english in its construction. Be should be sure to spend time researching the authenticity of each symbols’ meaning. It could be rather embarrassing to learn later on after you have been tattooed that the Kanji tattoo you thought meant one thing turned out to be something completely different.

It has to be said that Japanese kanji tattoos seem to be much more popular in the West than they are outside of Japan. I would be like an American going into a tattoo studio and asking to have “Wealth” or “Power” tattooed onto their chect or arm!

If you don’t speak Japanese it is very hard to find characters that say what you want and are not something that will turn heads with native japanese speakers for all the wrong reasons. Trusting a non native speaking tattoo artist is recommended either as the tattoo artist may be as much in the dark as you are. It is highly recommended that you do your reasearch before rushing off to get a kanji tattoo character done.

READ THIS before you get a Japanese Kanji Tattoo!
FREE Tattoo eZine

Although many high school age students tend to think and learn in nontraditional ways, American schools still base their instruction primarily on the verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences. As a result, many students who are not strong in these traditional intelligences develop poor attitudes toward school and their academic achievement suffers.

According to psychologist Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, intelligences change with age and with experience. Since our culture places so much importance on the traditional intelligences and since so many high school students have strengths in the nontraditional intelligences, it makes sense to incorporate the multiple intelligences into classroom instruction in order to provide experiences that will change students’ intelligences for the better.

This is not to say that the development of linguistic and analytical skills should be abandoned in favor of nontraditional approaches to education. Rather, traditional and nontraditional approaches should be combined to formulate a method of education that is best suited to the students who populate our classrooms. The multiple intelligences offer a balance which teaches students what they need to know in order to be successful in our society in a way that compliments the unique abilities that each individual possesses.

All students should have the opportunity to not only further develop their dominant intelligences, but should also have the opportunity to develop their weaker intelligences. Students who are weak in the verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences will certainly be at a disadvantage in a culture that places so much emphasis on the traditional intelligences. Despite their weaknesses, however, students who are given the opportunity to succeed using an intelligence in which they can excel demonstrate that they are capable of developing their verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences.

Because MI based instruction is designed to reach a combination of intelligences, the multiple intelligences classroom is perceived by students as a place where everyone can do something well, instead of as a place where some students are “smart” and others are not. MI focuses on students’ strengths and uses those strengths to build up weaker areas. According to Jie-Qi Chen & Gardner the multiple intelligences can bridge the gap from an area of success to an area of difficulty because “the sense of success in one area may make the student more likely to engage in areas where they feel less comfortable.” Since students are not made to feel as though they are stupid because they do not know something, a change in attitude takes place which effectively removes the “block” which once prevented learning.

Multiple intelligences based instruction is effective because it provides a comfort zone by allowing students to think in ways that are comfortable for them. It also helps them develop thought processes that they do not normally use by providing them with a positive environment in which they can experiment without feeling that they are not “intelligent.” Students who are strong in nontraditional intelligences often are made to feel that they don’t measure up to the rest of their classmates. Multiple intelligences based instruction provides all students with the opportunities they need to succeed, and students who have been successful are better equipped to attempt more challenging work.

In short, multiple intelligences based instruction has the potential to eliminate (or at least reduce) the number of American students who are currently stumbling blindly through our systems of education. These students can be provided with the opportunities that they need in order to succeed in school while they are improving the verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences that they will require in order to be successful in our society.

Look for multiple intelligences teaching ideas in The Writing Tutor’s lesson plans section.

References:

Chen, J. Q., & Gardner, H. (1997). Alternative assessment from a multiple intelligences perspective. In B. Torff (ed.), Multiple intelligences and assessment: A collection of articles, 27-54. Arlington Heights, IL: IRI/Skylight Training and Publications, Inc.

Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. New York: Basic Books.

Gardner, H. (1995a). Multiple intelligences as a catalyst. English Journal, 84 (8), 16-18.

Gardner, H. (1995b). Reflections on multiple intelligences: Myths and messages. Expanded Academic ASAP [on-line database]. Original Publication: Phi Delta Kappan, 77 (3).

Teele, A. (1996). Redesigning the educational system to enable all students to succeed. NASSP Bulletin, (80) 583, 65-75.
Michele R. Acosta is a freelance writer, a former English teacher, and the mother of three boys. She spends her time writing and teaching others to write. Visit articles.TheWritingTutor.biz for more articles, writingeditingservice.TheWritingTutor.biz for professional writing/editing services, or TheWritingTutor.biz for other writing and educational resources for young authors, teachers, and parents. Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Writing Tutor & Michele R. Acosta. All rights reserved.

There is little doubt that planning a wedding can be one of the most expensive times in your life, and the various costs can seem particularly draining as you struggle to find the funds to allow you set up home and begin your new life together. So for many couples, jewelry is not a priority at this time, but as even frugal lovers want to celebrate their love by purchasing an engagement ring, many couples are wondering whether there are any good alternatives to diamond rings available. Thankfully, the answer is yes, and you won’t have to compromise on quality to find a beautiful alternative to a diamond ring.

There is no law that says that an engagement ring must include a diamond, this is simply a tradition, and throughout the ages traditions have been constantly enhanced or modified to render familiar things more personal. These days, many brides-to-be are selecting other stones as alternatives to diamond rings, choosing perhaps their birthstone, or a gem that is available in a color they love. There are many alternatives to diamond rings available, and many of these at prices a fraction of the cost of a diamond.

But to many women, an engagement ring is not the same without that many faceted, brilliant white stone nestled at its centre. But for those who want the fire of diamonds without the price tag, there are real alternatives to diamond rings, the latest and most impressive of which is moissanite. This gem can be grown artificially, which reduces the cost to the consumer, while retaining – and some experts would even argue that it improves upon – the brilliance of the diamond.

But if you are proposing to your sweetheart, be sure to let her know the gem that you have chosen for her. While moissanite is undoubtedly a beautiful stone, the ring your offer your bride-to-be is symbolic of your future together, and honestly is an enormously important part of this. So let her know that you have chosen for her an alternative to a diamond ring, so that she can appreciate her moissanite stone it all its beauty.

Alternatives to diamond rings can be found, at a much reduced cost and looking just as good.

About the Author

Find out more about Man Made Diamonds as well as Alternatives to Diamond Rings and other types of Moissanite rings at Peter’s website, The Magic of Moissanite.

Carey Hart, co-owner of the Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company featured on A&E’s reality television show Inked, initially gained fame as a freestyle motocross star. Carey invented the “Hart Attack,” a motocross trick including a back flip on a 250cc motorcycle.

Carey Hart’s interest in the tattoo industry led him to start a tattoo company in Las Vegas with John Huntington called Hart & Huntington. When John Huntington decides to leave the business, Carey forms a partnership with Thomas Pendelton and they work together to make the Las Vegas tattoo parlor a successful business venture.

Carey Hart is currently dating pop music superstar Pink.

The other characters featured on Inked include Monica (the shop manager), Clark North (a tattoo artist), Quinn (a greeter), Dizzle (an apprentice), and Eric Pele (also known as Big E, another tattoo artist). The reality show Inked can be seen on A&E and is set in a shop inside of Las Vegas’s Palms Casino Resort. Television schedule times: 9PM Eastern/8PM Central.

Colby Anderson is a major fan and expert on television reality shows.