Facebook Could Become Adults Only

In Australia, there are ways to force Facebook to give parents access to their kids' profiles, and this has been discussed by state and federal attorneys-general in a meeting that will also examine an 18+ Facebook age limit.

The idea was first proposed by a South Australian Family First MP, Dennis Hood, and is being championed by South Australian Attorney-General John Rau. Rau argued that giving parents assistance to supervise their children on Facebook would help protect against online predators and limit access to unsuitable material.

Facebook's terms of use currently requires users to be aged at least 13 but there is no proof of age requirement and kids regularly lie to gain access.

At their meeting today, the country's top lawmakers will consider requiring proof of age checks and even raising the age limit to 18, federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland confirmed.

Source @

New rules to cut confusion on sunscreen claims

Starting next summer, sunscreens with less than an SPF of 15 or that aren't "broad spectrum" will have to carry a warning label: "This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging."

"For the first time, the FDA has clearly defined the testing required to make a broad-spectrum protection claim in a sunscreen and indicate which type of sunscreen can reduce skin cancer risk," said Dr. Ronald L. Moy, president of The American Academy of Dermatology Association.

Under the new rules:

• The FDA will prohibit sunscreen marketing claims like "waterproof" and "sweatproof," which the agency said "are exaggerations of performance."

• The FDA also proposes capping the highest SPF value at 50, unless companies can provide results of further testing that support a higher number.

• FDA says manufacturers must phase out a four-star system currently used by some companies to rate UVA protection.

In reviewing more than 3,000 comments submitted to the agency, the FDA decided the star system was too confusing. Instead, protection against UVA should be proportional to protection against UVB, which is already measured using SPF.

The SPF figure indicates the amount of sun exposure needed to cause sunburn on sunscreen-protected skin compared with unprotected skin. For example, an SPF rating of 30 means it would take the person 30 times longer to burn wearing sunscreen than with exposed skin.

Most dermatologists recommend a broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every two hours while outside.

Nintendo 3DS to revolutionize industry

The Nintendo 3DS, which may be months away from being released, will revolutionize the game industry, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said in a note to investors Monday.

"We view the 3DS as a revolutionary device, and expect its launch to spur hardware and software sales," Pachter said.

Pachter said games for the portable 3D-gaming device will go for a premium compared to other portable game machines. He believes that thanks to the 3DS' functionality and expected success, games for the device will retail for $29, rather than "a blended average of around $25 today."

Of course, Pachter is speculating. Nintendo has yet to reveal how much the device will cost, how games will be priced, and when it will launch. Regardless, it seems that the market might agree with Pachter's belief that the 3DS will be revolutionary.

2011 BMW 535i

The 2011 BMW 535i is easily one of the best sport sedans in its class for handling, fit and finish, and prestige, but it doesn't represent the highest value on the market.

The new-for-2011 BMW 5 Series is no mere visual refresh. This updated model is physically larger, yet visually smaller. It features updated drivetrain tech and an overhauled infotainment system, but has the 5 Series lost some of the fabled BMW driving dynamic with this revision?

Beneath the BMW's hood breathes a 300-horsepower, TwinPower turbocharged three-liter inline six-cylinder engine. Beneath the BMW's hood breathes a 300-horsepower, TwinPower turbocharged three-liter inline six-cylinder engine. However, this isn't exactly the same mill that can be found in the previous model year.

Power delivery is smooth, with a flat torque curve that makes the inline six-cylinder feel more like a small displacement V-8.

The 5 Series' cabin tech package checks all of the right boxes, but only if you make sure to check the those boxes when making your purchase, as nearly all of the Beemer's gee-whiz gadgets are optional.

Starting at the top of the center console, the BMW's wide-screen hard-drive-based navigation system features 3D terrain data and satellite imagery when zoomed far enough out and, in major metropolitan areas, 3D building data when zoomed far enough in. The wide screen allows users to split the screen to display secondary data (audio source, trip computers, and turn-by-turn directions) alongside the map, or fill the entire screen with the beautifully rendered maps. The navigation system also features traffic data.

Bluetooth connectivity with BMW Assist is standard on the 535i. BMW Assist is the automaker's connected-telematics system that integrates GPS positioning, cellular connectivity, and something of a concierge service to give you access to a live operator who will assist the driver with locating destinations (and cueing up the vehicle's turn-by-turn directions) or alerting first responder services in the event of an emergency.

The system also enables hands-free calling with voice activated dialing and supports Bluetooth PBAP, allowing it to automatically import contacts from a paired handset that also supports this profile. A2DP audio streaming is not supported, so smartphone users wanting to get their Internet streaming-radio fix will need to use the BMW's analog auxiliary input.

The Dark Side of Perfectionism Revealed

Perfectionists, by definition, strive for the best, trying to ace exams, be meticulous at their jobs, and raise perfect children. So one might assume this drive for the ideal translates over to their health as well, with perfectionist being models for physical and mental well-being.

But new research is revealing the trait can bring both profits and perils.

Though perfection is an impossible goal, striving for it can be a boon for one's health, causing one to stick to exercise programs to a tee, say, or follow a strict regimen for treating chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes. But the same lofty goals can mean added mental pressure when mistakes are made and the resistance to asking for help from others in fear of revealing one's true, imperfect self.

In fact studies show the personality trait of perfectionism is linked to poor physical health and an increased risk of death.

Anger management everyone can practice

One of the ways used to manage anger is a method of distraction. When the heart is controlled by anger, just do things that can confiscate your concentration, like writing letters or doing tasks that are not yet settled. You can also listen to music, washing cars, cleaning houses, visiting malls to shopping activity.

For those who are aggressive, they can get over the anger through sports, or something like boxing. Provide sandbags as a target and pretend it to be the object of your anger is one powerful alternative. Meanwhile, cleaning up your house will help your mind to organize things, and the side result is neatly place.

Perhaps at first, it will turn out to be a bit difficult, because your heart and mind are still controlled by anger. But, do keep exercise. Let your concentration torn between doing something and thinking about the anger. After quite some time, you will get used to it and be aware that anger is just something natural that does not need the act of yelling, screaming or punching.

But, if one day you're really angry, the first step to remember is to take a deep breath, and exhale slowly. Do it several times and always bear in mind that anger is always preceded by unconscious and ended with regret. So, if you want to be controlled by the consciousness, and do not want to experience regret, why should you angry?

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling is now available for pre-order

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a book of children's stories by British author J. K. Rowling. It purports to be the storybook of the same name mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last book of the Harry Potter series.

The book was originally produced in a limited edition of only seven copies, each handwritten and illustrated by J. K. Rowling. One of them, the moonstone edition, was offered for auction in late 2007 and was expected to sell for £50,000 ($103,000); ultimately it was bought for £1.95 million ($3.98 million) by Amazon, making the selling price the highest achieved at auction for a modern literary manuscript. The money earned at the auction of the book was donated to The Children's Voice charity campaign.

It was announced on July 31, 2008 that the book will be published for the general public on December 4, 2008 in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, with the proceeds going to charity.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

The Standard Edition features all five fairy tales from the original The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a new introduction by J.K. Rowling, illustrations reproduced from the original handcrafted book, and commentary on each of the tales by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Amazon’s exclusive Collector's Edition includes a reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, as well as 10 additional illustrations not found in the Standard Edition.

Standard Edition (Click to order)

Collector's Edition (Click to order)

Unbalanced Diets Can Harm Your Child

All of us with an interest in healthy eating can safely say that at the moment, we're facing a health information overload. Which is not necessarily a bad thing – on the contrary, especially since important information connected to various innovations and new research in the field of dieting and healthy eating can now become readily available to a large number of people in a very short time span.

However, there's a downside to this: sometimes, there's too much information to choose from, and we all run the risk of not knowing which sources to trust and which to regard with a certain amount of suspicion. When it comes to making dietary choices for our children, such an information overload can have serious consequences.

The fact is, when it comes to feeding young children, a high intake of fresh fruits and vegetables can actually prove harmful rather than beneficial. Doctors report a growing number of cases in which parents put their young children on unbalanced vegetarian, vegan or raw food diets and unknowingly deprived them of the healthy nutrients found in fish, meat and dairy products, which led to weakness, lack of appetite and energy as well as loss of bone and muscle mass.

A recent study that looked at various types of nursery foods concluded that many nurseries are actually feeding toddlers a diet that is extremely high in fruit and vegetables and too low in calories and fats, putting them at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies. Even more worryingly, some parents are also doing the same thing.

"There's so much health information that parents are confused," says Daily Mail nutritionist Jane Clarke. "They think it's best to take what they think are "bad things" out of their child's diet, but often denying children meat, milk or wheat can do more harm than good." We all need a constant supply of energy to fuel our lives and children in particular always need to be alert in order to learn new things every day and lead healthy lives, enjoy sports and running around outside with their friends.

Forcing a child to go on a dairy-free route early in his life, for example, also means parents must offer him an alternative source of calcium or risk everything from bad teeth to poor bone growth and osteoporosis. An excess of red meat may not be a good idea, but if parents decide to remove it from their children's diets, they must also replace the vital iron that children get from eating it. Iron is essential for physical growth and the development of our brains.

On the whole, placing too many restrictions on children's diets is not a very good option. "An American study found that restricting children's access to snacks leads to more snacking later in life. It's particularly true of young girls. By making sweets and crisps taboo, they become all the more attractive," one pediatric health and exercise specialist recommends. Be careful: don't treat children like adults and don't assume they need the same type of restrictive diets. If in doubt, consult a specialist and you'll be sure to get the right answer.

Living with Autism

By Carin Gorrell

One in 150 children will be diagnosed with this devastating disorder that locks them away in their own mind. Learn how you can help them.

From the moment our children are born, we worry. We lose sleep over how to keep them healthy and happy, whether they'll find true love, where they'll go to college (and how in the world we'll pay for it). But we don't tend to sweat the "givens," like whether our kids will attend kindergarten, say the words "I love you" — or even speak. Yet for more and more parents, those milestones aren't givens at all. And autism — a developmental disorder characterized by difficulty with language, emotions, and basic problem-solving — is the mysterious force that's taking them away.

Originally identified in 1943, autism used to be considered a rare disorder, but scientists are now warning of a rapid rise in its incidence: In 1994, one in 10,000 children were diagnosed; today, new findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the prevalence at one in 150 children — that's more than childhood cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. What's behind the huge jump? Some suspect that new vaccines, vaccine additives, and other environmental factors are to blame. Others say the increase can largely be attributed to improved diagnostic measures.

But most experts admit they simply don't know what's triggering the spike — or even what causes autism in the first place.

"Autism is a very complex disorder likely involving both environmental and genetic influences. But money for research hasn't been available until the last 10 or so years, so we simply don't know much about its biology," explains Andy Shih, Ph.D., chief science officer for Autism Speaks, a not-for-profit autism advocacy organization. Historically, autism has received less than 5 percent of U.S. federal funding devoted to childhood diseases. This lack of resources and information has prevented any one scientific discipline (whether psychology, psychiatry, neurology, or pediatrics) from claiming the condition as its own — and accepting the responsibility for finding a cause and a cure.

Fortunately, the tides are finally turning, thanks in part to the Combating Autism Act. Passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush in December 2006, this legislation authorizes $924 million in federal funds to be spent on research related to autism screening, prevention, and treatment over the next five years. Though that's small potatoes compared to the $2.9 billion spent annually on HIV/AIDS research, it's enough to lay the groundwork for the future research that could eventually bring an end to autism.

In the meantime, parents of boys and girls with autism must continue their struggle to raise children who require constant attention, surveillance, and treatment — a struggle that can leave even the most energetic and optimistic parents drained, depressed, and despairing.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

• Get walking: Each year, Autism Speaks (AS), a not-for-profit autism advocacy organization, hosts more than 60 fund-raising walks across the country. To register for a walk in your area, go to walknowforautism.org.
  
  
• Push for appropriations: The signing of the Combating Autism Act (CAA), which authorizes $924 million in federal funding to be spent on autism research over the next five years, is just step one in the process. Implementing the CAA requires that Congress appropriate funds to research agencies. To help speed these appropriations, ask your congressmen to support funding for the CAA. You can do so easily through the AS Website (go to autismspeaks.org to fill out a form letter; click on "To Get Involved," then "Support Legislation," then "Show Support").
  
  
• Call for insurance coverage: Autistic children need 30 to 40 hours a week of physical, speech, and/or occupational therapy, which can cost upward of $70,000 a year. Currently, only 17 states have legislation requiring at least some insurance coverage for treatment, which means most families must pay out of pocket. To find out if your state provides insurance coverage, or to learn how to send a call to action to your governor or state legislator, log on to autismspeaks.org.
  
  
• Show your support: Don an AS lapel pin ($10) or baseball cap ($15), or attach an AS car magnet to your bumper ($5); all are available at autismspeaks.org, and all net proceeds benefit AS. Buy one of the following at quixtar.com, and Artistry will donate $1 to Easter Seals programs for kids with autism: Artistry Essential Hand Treatment with SPF 15 ($27.25) or Artistry Perfect Moisture Lip Compact ($34.40 for a two-pack). Or buy an Artistry Beauty Begins With Heart sterling silver cuff bracelet ($55) or an Artistry Beauty Begins With Heart T-shirt ($19.99), and Artistry will donate 100 percent of proceeds to Easter Seals autism programs.



• Buy this book: Strange Son, written by Portia Iversen, is a memoir of two mothers who learn to teach their autistic sons to communicate. Available for $19.96; 8 percent of proceeds go to AS.

The adapted essays of mothers with autistic children that appeared in the May 2007 issue of REDBOOK can be found in the book The Elephant in the Playroom.

Source @ RedbookMag

NEWS - Variety Program for Disabled Kids in Brampton

Metroland - Brampton Division (Fri 25 Jan 2008, Byline: ROGER BELGRAVE) reports that the world renowned Toronto children's charity, Variety, is piloting its Adapted Physical Education Program in Brampton. The 11-week program will give local children and youth facing physical or developmental barriers a chance to take part in various sport and recreation activities without having to travel to the central Variety Village location in Toronto. Activities will include bocce ball or wheel chair basketball, volleyball and other sports.. Since the program is open to children and youth of all abilities, able body participants in the program would play in wheelchairs during wheelchair basketball. The program provides both the physical fitness opportunity plus a chance for able-bodied children and youth to understand the issues facing those with disabilities. Sometimes it provides the rare opportunity for able body and disabled siblings to play organized sports together.

Source @ LIN

Invasion Of The Nanny Snatchers

Watch out, working moms and dads.

With the weather getting warmer and kids flocking to jungle gyms and sandboxes, a nanny snatcher may be circling a playground near you.

What exactly is a nanny snatcher, you ask? It's a parent who will stop at nothing to provide the perfect caregiver for her child--even if it means stealing one from you. A nanny snatcher will march right up to your employee while she's playing with your kids in the park and offer everything from a doubled salary to souped-up health benefits.

One Manhattan mother remembers an incident on a Tribeca playground where another woman offered a nanny cash to make the switch immediately. That didn't go over too well; in response, the neighborhood moms shunned the poacher.

What gives?

Kathryn Webb, president of Sterling, Va.-based HomeWork Solutions, a leading payroll and tax service for employers of nannies and other domestic employers, says she has seen wage escalation within just the past 18 months, which she attributes to the intensifying competition for legal, English-speaking nannies.

As demand for this rare breed grows, so will the temptation to poach.

Stealing Away
Alexa, a Manhattan art gallery director, was a full-time nanny for three years in Washington, D.C., and then for one year in the Hamptons, while she worked toward her bachelor's and master's degrees from 2002 to 2006. She says that as a young, college-educated, Caucasian woman, she was hot property on the playground.

"I was highly sought-after," says Alexa, who asked to be identified by only her first name. "Parents saw how engaged I was with the children--most nannies sit on a bench and read; they don't really play with the kids."

One brazen mother went so far as to offer her twice her hourly pay if she would pack up and switch families that coming weekend. Although Alexa declined this offer, along with several others, she says sometimes she wishes her loyalty to the children hadn't trumped her frustrations with their parents.

That loyalty is typical, say those in the industry.

"This is a work relationship like any other," says Pat Cascio, president of the International Nannies Association and owner of Morningside Nannies placement agency in Houston. "Nannies are very, very loyal and cannot be stolen if they feel respected and cared about. If they feel overworked and underpaid, they're going to look elsewhere."

Cascio emphasizes that most nannies, by nature, are sensitive caregivers, which tends to make them loyal. Often, they are parents themselves, supporting a family on their own.

"Parents need to take that into consideration [when finalizing salary and required hours]," says Cascio. "They need to walk in her shoes for a little bit."

Webb, of HomeWork Solutions, says there really isn't much empirical evidence available regarding nanny retention and salary, because a lot of payments are made under the table. However, from her 14 years of managing the taxes of parents who employee nannies, mostly in metro areas like Washington, D.C., New York and San Francisco, Webb estimates that the average term for a private child-care worker is one to one-and-a-half years.

Watch Her Back
A nanny is most susceptible to being stolen during her first three months of employment, says Webb, a time she calls "a make-or-break period."

If a nanny feels like she isn't being treated properly, she's more likely to leave the job earlier than later, to avoid forming a strong attachment with her charge.

Emily Dills, head of the Seattle Nanny Network, which was voted the best Seattle nanny agency by CitySearch.com for both 2006 and 2007, says that she adheres to particular rules when it comes to her own nanny.

First and foremost, she treats the nanny as a member of the family, not as an employee.

"She is the glue that binds our household," says Dills. "I maintain professional boundaries, but my nanny knows the value she brings to our family, and although hers is a role of service, we go out of our way to not treat her like a servant."

Dills makes a concerted effort to include her nanny in all family celebrations and offers more than standard holidays and bonuses to show the family's appreciation. She's so confident in her nanny's loyalty that she recently offered to "loan her" part time to a friend who recently had a baby.

"It’s always in the back of my mind that one day she won't be here," says Dill, "and I proactively give her many reasons to stay."

Did Alexa's family make those same gestures? Not entirely.

"Sometimes I wish I had taken the rival offer!" she remarks. "I had a couple of situations where the parents did not keep an open line of communication," particularly regarding hours, salary and methods of discipline. "The very best thing [parents can do] is to be honest."

So forget those playground poachers if you can. Giving a nanny the respect she deserves is the easiest way to keep her under your roof.

Source @ Forbes