3/06/2008

Choosing Gifts For Kids

By: Ron King

Getting gifts for kids can be a lot of fun, whether it's for Christmas, a birthday, or graduation. However, picking gifts for kids gets more difficult every year as the options multiply. So, before you start shopping, do a little investigation about what's offered on the market.

Here are a few suggestions of some of the higher-end toys that are on many kids' wish lists today:

Robosapien 2.0
When it was originally introduced, Robosapien 2.0 Robot made a hit as the first fully functional radio controlled robot. It dances, it walks, and it performs a variety of small movements on command. It even talks using prerecorded speech patterns that are started by specific spoken commands. A new modern version is being released this year, and it promises even greater capabilities.

(RC)Radio Controlled Cars
RC radio controlled automobiles are enjoying a renaissance lately with the introduction of world-renowned brands like Nikko, and line expansions from leading toy manufacturers like Mattel and Hasbro. For the more discerning child, Dub City also has some high-end radio controlled vehicles to pick from.

Console Unit
Some people pause at pause money in a gaming console for fear it might be obsolete a year from now. On the other hand, current gaming units are expected to decline in price, and there are still some good new games coming out for them, not to mention all the games in their game selections. It's a safe bet your youngster would have many hours of fun with one of these entertainment consoles.

The Sony Playstation 2 with its large collection of games is the leading manufacturer in this industry at this time. The Xbox 360 has just been launched and is expected to top the charts for at least 6 more years, making this a winner for any child.

Game Software
Does your child already have a video console? Then a great gift would be some new games for it. There is a wide variety of games to choose from. One important question is how kid-friendly the game is. Software usually come with ESRB rankings. If the rankings state that the game is suitable for kids, then you can rest assured that it is free from excessive amount of violence and sex. You can also review magazines and pertinent websites for reviews of particular software. In addition, reviews can tell you if the game has good play mechanics and presentation ability.

Action Figure Dolls
A little more less costly, action figures have achieved extra sophistication in recent years, and are no longer the simple dolls of 20 years ago. Today, they have a detailed similarity to the characters they portray.DC Direct and Toybiz are the leading producers of this type of toy, portraying cartoon characters including Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yugi-Oh, Teen Titans, and Justice League Unlimited. These toys are mass-produced lines from Mattel and Hasbro, and, as such, they cost less than their older cousins.

Handheld Electronic Games
This category covers a wide variety of games, from the traditional Gameboy Advance, to the more more sophisticated products of Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. Some are learning toys that foster verbal and memory skills. There are also virtual animals, and instant plug-in play video games. This category covers a wide variety and gives you a number of items to pick from, and the capability of some items that would actually add to your child's development.

For more holliday shopping advice, visit Gifts For Kids. Also check out Kids Gifts. Source: http://www.articleclick.com/

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How To Make Sure The Toys You Buy Are Safe

By: Susan Banks Sr

Despite very strict toy safety regulations in the United States and the United Kingdom, some unsafe toys still do slip through the net. It is essential that all consumers are familiar with regulations and remain vigilant when buying toys for kids.

For the most part, toy safety regulations have been very successful. Very few household accidents involve toys, and when accidents do involve toys it is very rare that the accident is caused by a defect in the toy itself. Accidents involving toys usually involve people tripping over them or using them inappropriately. In addition, where defective or dangerous toys have made it onto the market they have been recalled quickly and publicly. However, this is no reason for parents to leave their guard down when buying toys.

Safety labels: First of all you need to check that the toy you are buying bears the appropriate safety labels. In the United States the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mark and in Europe the CE marking signifies that the toy meets the minimum required safety standards.After these markings, probably the next most important labels for toy shoppers to watch out for are age labels. These are an essential part of toy safety and you should always follow their guidance.

The vast majority of toys bear age labels whether they are legally required or not. All toys that are not suitable for children under 36 months must bear a prominent label stating so.However, in general toys give guidance as to what age group they are intended for. These serve as a guide as to what age group will benefit from the toy the most, in terms of fun and development. Here is a brief guide of what kinds of toys suit different age groups:

Under three years - The biggest threat that toys pose to children of this age is choking hazard. Babies and toddlers tend to put almost everything they lay their hands on in their mouths. Because of this, very small toys or toys with small parts are particularly unsuitable. In addition, keep marbles and small balls out of their reach; be careful with inflatable toys and balloons; and avoid toys with sharp or pointy edges.

Three to five years - Children really come into their own at this age and are able for much more sophisticated toys. However, you should remain vigilant as certain toys could pose a risk to them. Avoid toys with thin plastic that might break and cause injury.

Ages six to twelve - By this age children will be able to safely play with almost any toy you give them. However, always read the instruction leaflets for maintenance guides and hazard warnings. For example, if you buy a skateboard or a bike for your child, you should also buy protective equipment. If you buy a trampoline, you will need to carry out maintenance on it regularly.

If you have children of different ages things can become a little complicated. When you have lots of different toys that are suitable for different ages you have to be super-vigilant. For a start, you should teach older children to keep their toys out of the reach of younger children.Also, do not simply put all of the toys into one box. Have a separate toy box for each child and make sure they do not swap toys. Age labels on toys will help you to keep organized in this way.

In general, it is a good idea to be neat and tidy with toys. Having toys laying around the house is a common cause of accidents. Also, remember that children are intended to play with toys. All maintenance such as the changing of batteries should be carried out by an adult.

While toy safety labels offer a very important safeguard against dangerous toys reaching our children, it is also very important to use your own common sense. Before you buy a toy examine it yourself to make sure that it is sturdy and well constructed. Also check to see if it has any sharp edges or pointy corners. Be extra careful when buying toys for very young children. For example, if you are buying a cuddly toy make sure that all the stitching is secure and that small items such as eyes or the nose are not loose.

If your child has an accident with a toy or you suspect that a toy is dangerous, you should take immediate action. The first step is to take the toy out of the reach of all children. You should then report the toy to the relevant authorities. You will need to keep the toy for examination and you should also try to provide details of when and where you bought the toy.The regulations go along way towards ensuring the toys in or shops are safe. However, consumer vigilance is also a vital part of the battle against dangerous toys.

Susan is a contributing writer to Fuzing.com. This article is proudly brought to you in conjunction with
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Before Da Vince had a Code There was an Antichrist Code

By: Dr. Maria vonAnderseck

Who isn’t familiar with Dan Brown’s provocative book, The Da Vinci Code that stepped on, what Christians consider, very sacred ground? His absorbing tale of Jesus’ earthly lineage through Mary Magdalene sparked passionate debates around the world. Was Jesus married? Were original documents destroyed to keep his secret safe? Is his claim to divinity a charade? Before Da Vince had a Code there was an Antichrist Code that blows the Da Vinci Code out of the water. The

Blueprint of Deception

The Antichrist is known by many names all related to the same goal of discrediting God, reducing Jesus Christ to an ignoble prophet or do-gooder; but behind the masks there is one central character who has been with mankind from the beginning—the Antichrist spirit, who is Satan himself, spinning his web of lies. Satan’s blueprint of deception and plot to destroy the human race can be traced to the ancient writings of Enoch and Adam. Adam had first hand knowledge of Satan’s intrusion into this dimension and quotes Satan as saying, “Inasmuch as we do not know the day agreed upon with you by your God, nor the hour in which thou shalt be delivered, for that reason will we multiply war and murder upon thee and thy seed after thee. This is our will and our good pleasure, that we may not leave one of the sons of men to inherit our orders in heaven” (1 Adam and Eve 57:8–9).

Breaking the Code

"Breaking the Antichrist Code: The Blueprint of Deception", authored by Drs. Eric and Maria vonAnderseck, delivers on its promise to uncover the truth that Satan has tried to hide. This Christian book uncovers the shocking depth of resentment Satan holds against God that directly spawned six thousand years of war upon Adam’s race. Satan’s wish to suppress the truth about himself and hide God’s original plan for Adam began the most strategic and successful disinformation campaign humanity has ever known.

Enthralled by the intrigue of mystery, many “holy grail” industries have arisen, seeking to unlock the secrets of life in many DNA codes. From the astrobiologists who examine microbes from Mars to unlock the mystery of “are we alone,” to alchemists who seek to escape the curse of death, everyone is looking for the “elixir of life.” Other such “holy grail” searches include the hunt for the chalice of the Last Supper, a variation of which hints at a blasphemous “royal” bloodline to Christ through Mary Magdalene. For centuries, humankind has been influenced by many Arthurian legends that enchant the mind with information that would lead to power over evil. Books like The Da Vinci Code demonstrate how the soul is fascinated with codes, mystery, intrigue, and the possibilities of unlocking a hidden power that can transcend mortal restrictions to experience the God-Code that intuitively rings true about our original creation and potential.

Uncovering the Truth

The authors conduct a complete step-by-step analysis of Satan’s code of deception that he has used for six thousand years to acculturate the world to his system. Central to their analysis is an examination of Satan’s psych history. The authors put Satan on the psychologist’s couch and picked his brain to uncover the truth about his expulsion from heaven and the cause of his madness. What made Satan step outside of the divine order that God had given to him? What prize did God seemingly withhold from him that drove Satan to countermand God and steal the prize for himself? Satan is said to have had his eye on the throne of God. If the throne of God was never promised to Satan, yet Satan aspired it, to whom did God make the promise to share His throne? The spirit of Antichrist dates back to that history. Uncovering the truth about that history also unlocks the mystery of good and evil, the fall of man from the grace of God, our changed reality, the human condition, and the motives of fallen angels’ intercourse, both spiritual and physical, with the human race.

With apostolic authority and precision apostle Eric vonAnderseck weaves together scriptures from the Bible, the books of Enoch, and 1 Adam and Eve to put together the most comprehensive study of human history ever written, answering deep spiritual questions that have plagued mankind since the dawn of time.

Dr. Maria vonAnderseck is Vice President of Second 8th Week® Ministries, Inc. and coauthored the book Breaking the Antichrist: The Blueprint of Deception.For more information visit
The Antichrist Code BookSubmitted by:

The Revival of the Audio Book.

By: Harry Rackers

After 70 years audio books are still going strong. Nowadays it is very easy to download audio books from the Internet, which makes them more popular then ever before.

A short history of the audio book

In 1920 the Royal National Institute for the Blind in England was already doing research on how to create audio books for the blind. At that time there were a lot of ex World War 1 soldiers who had gone blind as a result of the fighting. In 1926 the RNIB started to use LPs to record audio books which could be played on record players (the kind with the big horn, you had to swing a handle a couple of times before it would play).

In 1936 the Talking Book Service was launched. The first two books were: The murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie and Joseph Conrads Thyphoon. The records used at the time could hold 25 minutes of spoken text, so they needed about 10 records for an average audio book.

In 1940 the studio used by the RNIB was bombed, and one month later a replacement studio was bombed as well. The RNIB wanted to start publishing audio books again, but they needed certain materials which had been destroyed.

In America, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), had started producing audio books as well, and they did send the much needed parts to help their English counterparts. Unfortunately the shipment got lost during a bombing raid of the London harbor! A second shipment however did make it, and the RNIB was able to start again with the production of audio books.

In the sixties the audio books started to appear on cassettes, and later, after the invention of the compact disk player, on CDs.

Nowadays the audio books have become more are popular then ever before, in spite of their age. One of the main reasons for their ever growing popularity is the fact that audio books can be downloaded straight from the Internet. There are a good few audio book publishers who provide this service, and it looks like their on to a winner.Audio books, more then 70 years old and still going strong.

Here you can find more info on
Audio books H. Rackers is W.M of Download Music Movies Games
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