Scandinavian Sparks Blog

It seems that for the last 12 months, every time I turned on the news there was something negative reported. Now I realize that is nothing new, but it seemed to me that 2008 was worse than previous years. That got me to thinking: “What can I do to make 2009 better for myself and those around me?”

Here are three simple resolutions (or paradigm shifts) that will fit into any budget, lifestyle or way of thinking and make your world a better place for the new year.

“A leader is someone who instills within the heart of the follower, a desire to follow.”

You’ll need to read that quote a couple of times to get the full meaning, but it basically sets a tone for your life. Truth be told, everyone is leading someone. Did you get that?

If you are a father, you are leading your kids. If you are a boss, you are leading your employees. Everyone has followers.
But you can impact the number of followers you have, and the quality of those followers by leading them to success.
It boils down to this: do the people following you do it because they have to, or because they want to? Are your followers aiming to be what you are?

On the flip side, as the leader, imagine the positive impact you can have on those around you. The possibilities are endless, explore them in ‘09.

“People are not bad, only broken.”

Since we are now poised to show kindness to everyone, let’s go a step further and look at their hearts instead of their heads. It is important to realize that most people who seem angry or upset or even mean are really just covering for some unseen problem in their lives. They aren’t truly bad people, they are really just hurting, or broken inside.

Those same leadership principles we plan to use in the first example will go a long way to breaking down barriers and helping people along the road to better, happier existences.

In addition to that, if you have people in your life that you are in charge of, whether at work or at home, don’t be so quick to judge them when they make mistakes. Remember, broken people can be fixed if you are willing to hone your skills and work with them and support them. Success comes in helping others, which brings us to our final resolution or change in thinking:

“Invest in people, rather than business”

This one really caps off the first two thoughts. If you sink your time, evergy and, yes, money into developing people, you’ll reap the rewards 10-fold over any other method. Each and every one of us has what I term “hot buttons.” Hot buttons are those things that will motivate us to excel. The biggest (and least expensive) button (besides free morning coffee)that every leader should push as often as possible is the ‘recognition’ button.

If you notice that one of your new employees has been doing an outstanding job completing work tasks, why not recognize him or her and reward them with their favorite gourmet coffee wrapped up in a gift basket. In addition, make the presentation in front of the group. Can you see how this could not only brighten someone’s day, but re-enforce their desire to continue their top performance?

These three resolutions may seem a little hokey, but in reality, they are simple and should act as a guide for your daily life in 2009. The world will be a better place if we work together.

Now that you know you and your pet have a relocation ahead of you, it’s time for the planning. Whether you have a long relocation and will need a long distance moving companies or a shorter local relocation and will need a Florida moving company, you still have plenty of preparation you can do to make sure your relocation goes smoothly. Before you do anything else, call your veterinarian and request a copy of your pet’s records. Keep these in a secure place, preferably carrying them on your person, so you’ll have the information you need at any time during the relocation. Once you settle into your new house, you’ll have your pet’s records with you to hand to your new vet.

The next thing to do is to make your moving checklist for your pet. On this checklist, you need to include all of the contact info for your moving company at the header of the page. The easiest thing to do is make a checklist and cross items off as you accomplish them. It’s a good idea to make your pet’s own checklist and attach it together with your personal checklist. On the checklist, you’ll need to jot down those items which are required to have at hand while traveling. These items will include: any medication your pet requires, pet food, plastic containers to portion the food into (it’s easiest to put a couple days of food into pre-measured portions for the trip), a bag or container of treats, a collapsible water bowl, a cozy blanket , your pet’s bed, and your pet’s most loved toy.

Now that you have all of your necessary items gathered, you might want to follow a few tips on the actual day or days of the relocation. It’s best to feed your pet several hours before traveling. While traveling, it’s best tomake stops often, about every 2-3 hours, to allow your pet to have bathroom breaks. Always give your pet water from the collapsible water dish during these stops, since your pet may be nervous and might get dehydrated with all that’s going on. It’s best to use spring water for your pet, as tap water in different places can vary quite a bit, and you want to avoid any stomach upset while on the road.

When you get to your new house, it’s best to keep your pet to a small palce with the use of boxes or a baby gate. Make sure your pet can still view you so he can feel safe. It’s best to put your pet’s bed and food bowls in a known place. If you had his bed by the fireplace in your old house, then do your best do duplicate that placement in your new house. It will help him to get used to the new house and make him feel more secure.

As you settle into your new house, remember your pet might be confused and a bit lost in the first few days. Try to follow the same schedule for feeding, walks, and play time as you did before you moved. Pets are very adaptable animals, and you might be surprised at how fast your furry friend adapts to the new environment! If you have a short relocation, or a long one, by following these tips moving with your pet will be simple and easy!

In a world of custom shoes, custom frames and custom homes, there’s certainly a need for custom web site design. It’s no secret that technology has made this a small world. And while we all may live in a common iVillage, we do not all act alike and we do not all look alike. So, if a company is going to succeed in, well, business, they have to appeal to their audiences. Relating generically to billions of Internet-users is no recipe for success. No, it’s actually a recipe for disaster and failure and all the other bad things you don’t want to happen to your business.

At Effect Web Media, we are aware of your needs. We are aware of your need to succeed. When it comes down to it, we are aware of your need to make money. And having access to respected website development is one sure ticket to finding the money. Those generic web site builders are worthless. The ridiculous attempt at building a generic site with generic software sounds like it could come from an episode of The Office. The fact is your business is different. Your business is unique. That’s why you started it – because you had a dream that you could do something better than anyone else.

If you are going to stand out, then we say, “Stand out.” In today’s state of business there is no room for blending in. Zebras try to blend in. Giraffes try to blend in. But not your business. It needs to charge forward. It needs to customize. It needs to be fresh. It needs to connect with your audience. Custom web site design is something that can make people talk. It can transform your image. It can do all the things a generic web site builder can’t do for you. And here at Effect Web Media, we try to distinguish ourselves from other search engine optimization companies. You’re not trying to blend into the jungle. We realize you are taking a risk.

Some people have been burned with custom orders. You know, the people who order custom wedding napkins and then open the package a week before the wedding and find they have a horrible error and unusable napkins. But at Effect Web, we take custom orders very seriously. There’s no other way to do business as we see it. If we are going to be your web development company, then we have to be on the same page. We’re not telling you what to do or what you should get for your money. No, we’re in this together. That’s how we do business: one person at a time, and one web site at a time. Because everybody is different out there, we aim to look everyone in the eye. And we promise to prove it to you first, so give us a call and let us get started on that custom web site design.

Kids or children love to play the top team/ball games in summer anywhere they can, including in their backyards. This can be less than ideal for the horticultural enthusiasts plants, and at times may raise objections from near neighbors if the ball strays or noise levels rise with the excitement!

Here are 5 very special favorite summer games for kids of any age:

1. Cricket

The archetypal summer game can be enjoyed by kids in the back yard, with a tennis ball and a cheap ‘toy’ bat, once they understand the basics of the game. They can play with as few as three players if they mark the stumps on a wall behind the batting position.

The rules are simple for children’s cricket and essentially the same as for the adult game except that all will agree the position of the boundary for a six, which will be at a fence or a flower border edge.

Adult cricket is played on an oval patch of grass in the center of which is a flat strip of ground called a cricket pitch. A wooden wicket is placed at each end of the pitch, but you can scale this down to suit circumstances at any time for a children’s game.

Cricket is the game of passion, thrill and excitement. Many have said that the game is a brotherhood, with all that fraternity entails, including mutual obligation. Cricket is the most popular sport in India, and one of the most popular sports played over the Australian summer.

Watch this Children’s Summer Games Video from YouTube Now!

Although cricket is not a contact sport, injuries can and do occur, often due to overuse. Children must never use a hard cricket ball for their games, or spend too long at any one playing role.

2. Rounders

Rounders is believed to have been the game from which baseball is derived. Baseball is clearly the most popular in the US, but rounders is also played, and is good for children in largish back yards and on playgrounds. Rounders is now played on all levels from school-level to internationals.

Rounders is more straightforward and sober-minded than baseball. However, it is is a bat and ball game and is not that dis-similar to baseball. Rounders can and is played throughout the summer by all age groups, from school children all the way up to and including senior level. It is, in fact,an English version of baseball and is normally played between two teams of nine, but fewer can play in the kids version of this game. The history of rounders is amazing long and is the sixteenth century British version of a bat and ball game that dates back to “the dawn of time”. In theory, it is a descendant of the bat and ball games played by our “cavemen” ancestors.

Playing rounders will give you a feel for what baseball is like. Baseball is an ever forgiving game. Baseball is also a great game, even known as the American pastime. It seems that everyone loves baseball at least sometime in their lives, so give your children a first step into that world by playing rounders with them in the summer.

Baseball is played on a field with three bases and a home plate. The team on offense has a player at home plate (called the “hitter” or “batter”) trying to hit the ball with a baseball bat.

3. Tennis

Tennis is a sport that is unpopular in the U.S. Its not a sport for the wealthy but its viewed as such. Tennis is a game for all . It is a game for everyone to enjoy. Tennis is the best individual sport in the world. It brings together every aspect of the mind, body, heart and soul of a player.

Tennis is nowadays once again an Olympic sport. It has become very popular and is played at all levels of society, by all ages, and in almost all countries worldwide.

4. Pitch and Putt

Pitch and putt is played with just a wedge and putter. The game is played on a 9 or 18 hole course where the maximum distance from tee to green is 70 metres; an 18-hole course cannot exceed 1,000 metres. These courses are ideal for children to play on and get their first taste of a game like golf where the aim is to position the ball precisely, at put it into the hole at the end of each pitch.

Pitch and Putt is a sport for all ages from seven to seventy, so why not give it a try? You may be pleasantly surprised.

5. Handball

Handball is almost perfectly suited for children’s play, and is great to play outside in summer. With almost no necessary equipment, the game can provide hours of fun and exercise at little or no cost. It is a hugely successful sport in Sweden and is one of the free sport games where you have to shoot and dodge the ball. You can only score if it was your serve.

The team with the most goals wins the game,which is played on a court which is 40 m long by 20 wide, with goals at each end. Each team has 6 players and 1 goal keeper on the court.

Handball is the parent sport of Racquetball. If you know Racquetball, handball has much of the same rules. The origin is gaelic, but it is like squash with no raquettes.

General game rules and the goal of the game are similar to football. Handball is an enjoyable sporting activity for everyone. Those children who may shy away from traditional team sports or athletics because of a lack of confidence or self-judged lack of skill, often relish the opportunity to play a game such as handball.

The Kids to Teens Blog is where you will find many more articles like this one. For example we have recently posted a great article about computer games for kids.

These are just a few of the games kids might enjoy playing in the summer. Here is a list of some of our ideas:-

• soccer
• racquetball
• frisby throwing
• cricket

* Value and form - are two 2 of the four elements of drawing. The other two are line and texture.

In this article we will talk about the concept of plasticity or tone and how it relates to the concepts of value and form.

* Plasticity or tone - is the visual push and pull of lights and darks which, when presented in a unified and harmonious whole, defines the 3-dimensional forms of a portrait.

The human eye can differentiate between many more values than the twelve we usually employ in a drawing. That means that the artist must “deceive” the eye into believing that it is seeing more than is actually on the drawing paper. To this end we must understand how light behaves and values are perceived.

The trick is to manipulate the eye’s natural tendency towards closure, i.e., towards finishing a drawing even if parts are absent. But the eye only does that without objection if the plasticity is harmonious. Only then will the viewer emotionally engage.

The subject of creating harmonious plasticity is extensive. In this article we limit ourselves to realistic portraiture.

* Values - are just degrees of darkness and lightness. We usually restrict ourselves to 12 discrete values.

To understand how a form is rendered we need to understand how light behaves and how values enter into this. There are 2 characteristics of light relevant to drawing:

(1) Light travels in a straight line and bounces off surfaces.

(2) The strength of light diminishes quickly with distance.

From these characteristics it follows that:

* As a shape turns away from the light source it darkens.

* When two planes face the light they will have dissimilar values if their distances from the light source are different. For example, the eye closest to the light source will have a lighter value than the one further away.

* The lightest value on a form is the “highlight”. The highlight is always on a plane that is directly facing the light source.

* The bulk of a portrait’s value is so-called half-tone. That is, anything in-between pure white and pure black. Halftone rendering is simultaneously the most enjoyable and the most annoying aspect of drawing.

* As a form turns fully away from the light source it gradually descends into shadow, towards totally black (i.e., the absence of light). However, there is more to it.

* There is also reflected light from one surface onto another. Remember that light bounces off surfaces but with reduced intensity. So be careful not to overstate your reflected light.

* There is also the top of the shadow which is the darkest value on the form. This band of darkness lies between the darkest half-tones and the reflected light. This band of darkness is called the Line of Appelle. It is important to capture its shape correctly because it determines the form’s volume.

* As a form turns away from the light, the half-tone plane changes have a soft edge. The quality of this edge is determined by several factors the most important of which are the degree of plane change, the strength of the light source, and the structure of the surface.

* In portrait drawing there are also cast shadows which are hard-edged and very dark and are shed by one shape onto another. An example is the shadow that is cast by the nose onto the cheek.

An excellent exercise for understanding the concept of plasticity is to draw a white egg. For a more controlled situation you can build yourself a black box with one side open that fully controls the light of one source and blocks out the light of other sources that could contaminate the situation.

In closing, the use of the 12-value scale together with the above guidelines allows you to produce the necessary plasticity or tone for your subject.

Do you want to learn the secrets of pencil portrait drawing? Download my brand new free pencil portrait drawing course here: Free Pencil Portrait Drawing Course.

Remi Engels is a pencil portrait artist and oil painter and expert drawing teacher. See his work at Remi’s Pencil Portrait Web Site.

For the artistic creativity in video games and how to get the machine to see it - please go to PlayStation 3 pre order blog post.

Because styles constantly change and we simply wear out our clothing over time, the search for new pants, shirts and other clothes seems never ending.

But if you’re looking for a little more unusual attire, American flag hats are such a great way to display your unwavering patriotism to the world. If you’re looking for good places to find quality hats, keep reading for an overview of some of the best flag apparel retailers out there.

Cafe Press

Cafe Press is a website that lets the customer purchase any piece of blank apparel, including hats, and print or embroider it with any image or text they want (provided it fits). In addition to being able to make you a custom flag hat, they also produce their own brand of American flag hats.

Their pre-made hats typically retail for $14 to $17 while their printed caps usually cost between $10 and $30, depending on how the hat is printed (embroidery versus ink), the quality of the hat and how much needs actually to be printed on the hat.

Flag Pro Retailer

Flag Pro is a company that specializes in flag sales along with a wide range of flag clothing and apparel. Alongside hats, they sell neckties, T-shirts-shirts, jackets and more - all emblazoned with a patriotic image of the American flag.

Wal-Mart Stores

Every Wal-Mart in the United States stocks and carries flag hats. It’s a constantly stocked item that’s kept with and next to American flags and other U.S. apparel items. Patriotic hats at Wal-Mart typically retail for between $5 and $15, with most hats falling under the $10 mark. You can find great deals just after Independence Day.

BuyCostumes Online

If you’re looking for a costume-style or novelty flag hat for that really over-the-top patriotic style, then try BuyCostumes.com. This major online costume retailer sells several U.S. flag hats that are perfect for any Uncle Sam or Miss All America Halloween or Fourth of July costume.

Web Hats Website

Web Hats is an online store that focuses on hard-to-find, rare and novelty hats. Whether you want a Statue of Liberty crown or a sparkling top adorned with flying flags and sparklers, they have it or can custom-order it. Remember though, this is a hats-only store, so accessories and other items are limited.

The prices are a bit high here, but it’s a great online merchant to track down novelty hats that are hard to find.

Finally, remember to consider the appropriateness of certain American flag hats before you wear them. For example, though it may seem patriotic, wearing a flapping and sequined flag top hat to a Veteran’s Day service would be inappropriate, when wearing that same hat to a Fourth of July bar-b-que would be fine. Just never forget that the flag is a symbol of this nation and while it can be worn, it should never be disrespected.

Most often when we think of animal care, we’re looking for traditional pet supplies, like food or medication. How many of us, then, consider what it takes to care for birds that visit our back yard feeders?

There are hundreds of squirrel proof bird feeders, but do any of them actually work? Squirrels are intelligent, acrobatic, capable of leaping distances of almost 12 feet and intent on eating your lovingly placed bird seed - making them a challenging nemesis to keep out of your backyard bird feeder.

Squirrels don’t simply eat the seed at a feeder, they also dissuade birds from perching there and can cause major damage to the feeder because of their weight and aggressive feeding. So, if you’re tired of watching squirrels take over your backyard bird oasis, keep reading for an overview of some of the best squirrel proof bird feeders available today.

The Squirrel Buster Plus

The Squirrel Buster Plus is a basic, tubular feeder with a circular bird perch at its base. When a squirrel jumps on it, the squirrel’s weight causes the perch to sink down, therefore closing access to the feeding holes. For a day or two, the squirrels will sit there and try to figure out the device, but eventually leave for better feeding grounds.

Suet Sandwich Woodpecker Feeder

If you love listening to and watching woodpeckers, then the Suet Sandwich is the perfect solution to keep your winged friends well fed and the squirrels out. The feeder works by encasing two slices of suet beef fat between two pieces of fake bark. Because the woodpecker is long-tongued, they’re able to access the tasty treat, but the squirrels are kept out. It retails for around $35.

Bird Feeders by Droll Yankees

The Droll Yankees line of bird feeders first came out in 2000. Basically, the perch is motorized and starts to spin when a squirrel sits on it. The idea is that the squirrel will go flying. The battery requires recharging every eight to twelve weeks. For the past two years, the company’s line of squirrel-tipping feeders has been extended to also include models with weight-activated, collapsible perches or trays. These models start at $79 and go up to $119.

Buy a Squirrel Feeder

Probably your best defense against squirrel invaders is to simply give in and feed them too. Try buying block bird seed, which is heavily condensed into a compressed block, and placing it on the ground. Instead of putting in all that work too conquer your feeder, your squirrels will likely be content to nibble away at ground level.

Build it Yourself

Instructables, a popular how-to website, has step-by-step instructions, including pictures, on how to put together your very own squirrel proof bird feeders for less than $10. By relying on lightweight cable ties as perches, this ingenious design makes it impossible for squirrels to steal your bird seed.

You can find the project, along with pictures, right here - instructables.com/id/How-to-build-a-Flexi-Perch-Squirrel-proof-birdfe/?ALLSTEPS.

Traveling can be one of the most exhilarating experiences as long as you know the right tips and techniques to s\remain\ comfortable. It is important to master the different modes of travel so you can get the best of deals and seats. I learned a lot by traveling both short and long distances and occupying almost every space availablein any type of vehicle. Here are some guidelines on how to stay safe and happy regardless of the current rush or situation.

Plane Guidelines

You may now get airline tickets via the internet. Gazing at my travel alarm clocks, I contacted a few of my friends online then set the date, time and exact seat I wanted on the plane. Scheduling early is one vital thing, but you also have to report to the airport on time or else they might give it to another. I find that the seats facing the lavatory as well as those near the emergency exits are the best since you acquiremore leg room. Always aim for these when making reservations.

Bring the necessary items that will keep your mind off air pockets and airsickness such as a book, mp3 player or your laptop. Doing work on the plane can actually cut time in half, so sometimes I’d just choose to pay more getting larger seats and a big working space in first-class. You may also selectto get two seats instead to get the space you want. If you’re prone to airsickness, prepare medications, eye shutters and a paper bag.

Car Guidelines

Being in the road for long periods can be very boring and sickening. I was transporting my mantel clocks from one city to the next during Christmas with my kids, so I decided to set up quick rules and laws to keep the trip as safe and fun as possible. Assign roles to your kids and give them small responsibilities over their other siblings. Make the necessary stopovers and give them all they need like food, crayons and diapers.

The secret in traveling with kids is to enjoythe journey and not rush to the destination as quickly as possible. Play games, go sightseeing and sing songs along the way. Make sure you child-proof the vehicle to prevent any damage.

Traveling by Boat

travel alarm clocks are very useful when you’re traveling on water since there are actually people who get disoriented by staying out at sea for more than a couple of hours. Try to find land and set your eyes on it whenever you can to prevent seasickness. If you feel sick by staying in the cabin, stay out on the deck with other people and enjoy the breeze. Bring medications as needed and avoid reading or working on your computer for the meantime. You’ll most likely acclimatize in a few hours or days.

Also choose the foods you eat while traveling at sea. I personally find eating meat to be upsetting for my stomach when I’m traveling so I stick to lighter meals like chewing on carrots and drinking water only. I try to avoid alcohol and smoking altogether when going by boat. Taking a shower also helps get rid of impending headaches and dizziness.

For those of you who don’t know what a riad is, then hang on to your hats for the most exciting experience of your lifetime. Morocco riads will amaze, delight, thrill and entice you to come back for more. It’s guaranteed.

Living in a Morocco riad is one of the best ways to really get into the local flavor of the area and soak up the ambiance. Live like nobility during your stay and take home some of the most indelible memories you will ever have.

Most of the Morocco riads are situated in historical city centers, as in the medinas – the shopping areas of the cities. Think social bookmarking here and you have the right idea. The centers of commerce and all the hustle and bustle of the local day-to-day activities is the only place to be when in Morocco.

Riads, also spelled ryads were once ancient palaces and private homes that belonged to noble families, aristocrats and Sultans. How’s that for an exciting experience? Hidden away in the winding streets of the medinas you will see some superb architecture enhanced with colorful hangings, intricately carved furniture, spectacular courtyards and a richness of culture hard to find on any other holiday junket.

Many of these riads are now luxury bed and breakfasts or have been turned into boutique hotels. What an experience for the curious traveler. This is a whole new way to experience Morocco in style and in sync with the culture.

Just imagine what you could do when you arrived – explore the local medina, check out the stalls of brightly colored fabrics on display, inhale the rich odor of spices, test exotic perfumes and maybe even succumb to buying souvenirs. Oh, it’s tempting to buy the first thing you see, but hang on and make it sure you get into the spirit of marketplace haggling with the vendors.

What fun to participate in the daily lives of those living in Morocco. For the period of time you are there you may dream of being here permanently, of being able to run daily errands in the marketplace and return to your riad for respite and entertaining. How delightful, how delicious, how invigorating! What are you waiting for? Morocco is calling your name.

For further information about this wonderful place including additional travel accommodation, please visit: Morocco Holiday, Marrakech Medina, Camps Bay Villas and experience a holiday like you’ve never seen before.

When starting to organize a relocation there are multitudes of things to remember, especially when children are involved. Depending on how in-depth or how lengthy the trip is, there are many services at one’s disposal to make the relocation a good experience as opposed to a hassle. Kids might either find the relocation to be something exciting or heartbreaking; however, by making it as comfortable as possible it will make everyone involved much, much happier.

During the preparation stages of the relocation, look into moving services. These can be total service where a company actually comes into the home and packs all the things or can be used to simply load the pre-boxed belongings into a truck and take them to the new place. Although this route might be a tad more expensive than doing it by one’s self, the moving companies can reduce stress and provide a quick and efficient relocation. If deciding to use a moving service, it is important to get several moving quotes.

Prices can change greatly between different companies. Some service providers might be larger and have more services making it more affordable; however, these businesses might require a lot of advanced warning. Conversely, a smaller company may be able to fulfill the needs of the person relocating on shorter notice, but may be a bit more expensive. Whether using a local moving company or hiring interstate movers, a service provider can be found with ease and within budget.

Utilizing a moving company can really help ease the stress of a relocation, especially when children are involved. Often times, children can be very curious or just plain cranky when big events such as a relocation are transpiring. During such a stressful time, the children may need more attention than usual. If the parent is constantly going back and forth between packing and coming to the aide of their child, they could possibly be losing precious time and causing more strain than is required. To alleviate the problem, a moving company should be seriously thought about.

When planning the next big relocation, remember it is simply easier to multi-task during the relocation by entertaining the children and directing the moving company at the same time. Having the added time to tend to the children will also comfort them as they move into a new environment. By lowering the all the family member’s stress it will make the relocation enjoyable and the experience as a whole much better.