Archive for October 18th, 2009

Is there a way of making a counter-surveillance detector out of household items?

Author: admin

Oct 18

StardustMemrees asked:


I have reason to believe that someone has planted some type of a spy-cam, nanny-cam or other surveillance type of device in my house and I would like to know if there is a MacGuyver way of building something to detect it out of household items.

I don’t have any electronics experience whatsoever, can’t afford to buy any sort of an expensive device from a website or spend much on parts for this project, nor can I afford to hire someone to search for this.

I am not just being paranoid because I have some very valid personal reasons as to my suspicions. I have dogs and a security alarm system and there are a number of reasons as to why I won’t have a gun in the house.

If someone could share instructions on how I could make this myself in a step by step simple way or give me a website where I could get this information I could follow, I’d sure appreciate it.

Thanks.

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Planning a New Year’s Party – Should You Invite the Kids?

Author: admin

Oct 18



While the ball drops and fireworks begin decorating the wee hours of the new year, people around the world will cheer the arrival of 2009. Following all the hubbub of the holidays, New Year’s Eve can be a perfect opportunity to bring your friends together for one last ’08-style hurrah before you have to buckle down and work on those pesky resolutions. Although many such celebrations are decidedly adult-only, with a little careful planning, your New Year’s Eve party will thrill guests of all ages, ensuring fun for the whole family.

Few parents would be shocked by a New Year’s party invitation that excludes their young children %u23AF after all, many adults like to ring in January 1st with plenty of champagne and midnight kisses. Just because you want the adults to play, however, doesn’t mean that you should automatically ask parents to track down a babysitter. On the contrary, deciding to make your celebration family-friendly often means that more of your invitees will choose to attend. To eliminate any confusion, make sure that your invitations clearly state that children are welcome to celebrate, too.

Choosing an appropriate theme for your NYE party will help guide your planning efforts to entertain parents and kids alike. The key word here is appropriate, but don’t let that discourage you: Even if, say, you want to offer casino-style games for your adult guests, there are plenty of kid-friendly games available to keep the under-18 crowd playing all night, too. Don’t forget that everyone loves to dance on New Year’s Eve, too, especially the kids. A great party band or DJ should be able to get all your guests up on the dance floor %u23AF and keep them there! 

Depending on the size of your guest list and the number of children expected to attend, you may want to design a kids’ entertainment area to give your young guests a chance to burn off energy while their parents relax. Even though it’s going to be a late night, don’t hesitate to include kids in the toasting festivities. One way to involve those with early bedtimes is to count down the arrival of the New Year in Great Britain (five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time), and show off London’s spectacular fireworks display on a big-screen LCD display. If the youngsters will still be awake when midnight hits Times Square, think about following the fun Spanish tradition: Give each child a glass or champagne flute filled with 12 grapes to be eaten on each chime of the clock for year-long good luck. And kids %2B noisemakers? Enough said.

Including children in your New Year’s Eve celebration does more than just give parents a night on the town. Even guests without kids usually enjoy themselves more when they see the magic of New Year’s Eve reflected in the eyes of an enchanted child. When the confetti has settled and the bubbly has lost its fizz, you’ll have given every one of your guests a New Year’s to remember for years to come.

By: Emily Lawless

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Babysitter Basics For Parents

Author: admin

Oct 18



All parents, at some point or the other, will need to hire the services of a babysitter. However, for many parents, this is easier said than done.

Finding the Right Babysitter

A babysitter essentially fills in for you, the parent, during your absence. To ensure that your child is in safe hands, it is essential that you get the right person for the job. To do so:

• Find out about potential babysitters by asking relatives, friends, colleagues, or community organizations.

• Choose a babysitter based on the needs of your child and their age. It’s easier to baby sit a nine-year old than a baby.

• Do not hire the first candidate who responds. Take time to screen candidates until you are sure that you have found one who is best for your child.

• Look for someone who has the required credentials. A candidate with a certificate in babysitting, for instance, is likely to be more professional and competent. At the same time, don’t rely on classroom training alone to judge a babysitter or nanny. Sometimes, babysitting skills are more natural than learned.

• Crosscheck references provided by a candidate.

• A very good test is to introduce the candidate to your child. This will allow you to evaluate how the prospective babysitter interacts with your child.

Preparing the Babysitter

Before leaving your child in the care of the babysitter you have appointed, it is important that you take some time to prepare the babysitter for the job. To do this:

• Discuss your expectations clearly.

• Tell the babysitter about any special requirements that your child might have.

• Explain how to read the behavioral cues given by your child.

• Inform the babysitter about any special tricks such as ‘trigger words’ to which your child responds.

After the Babysitting

• Check in with the babysitter and ask if there is anything to report.

• Ask what food was eaten, what specifically they did during the time.

• Take any concerns you have about the care very seriously, and discuss these with the babysitter. If you are still not satisfied, it may be better to look for a new babysitter.

By: P. Banas

About the Author:

Provide recommendations on child development, baby sleep, baby products like babysitter, baby bouncer, and baby bedding for dads and new dads.



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Choosing Safe Toys for a Child

Author: admin

Oct 18



Millions of adults love and enjoy buying toys for children. However, many of these adults are not aware of the dangers of some toys. They are not even aware that toys regardless of being well-made can cause certain injuries to children, especially to toddlers. Because of this, child safety is not totally exercised in every home.

So to strengthen child safety, it is important to select toys that are safe for a child. But the problem now is how to find safe toys for a child knowing that a number of toys are already available in the market, each claiming as safe. Well, that’s not a big problem. The most important is to always bear in mind that there really is no perfect, safe toys for a child. You cannot even teach a young child how to play safely. So the truth is, child safety depends on you.

So what can you do to ensure that your child is playing with a safe toy?

There are actually a lot of answers to that question. In this article, I will only discuss a few of the most recommended tips for choosing safe toys for a child. Just note what will be mentioned here as these will help you prevent the risk for injuries to the highest level.

Here are the safety tips:

* When buying a new toy for your child, don’t forget to read the labels. This is by far one of the most recommendable tips when choosing safe toys for a child as it will help you make sure that the toy you are considering is appropriate for your child’s age.

* The safe toys for a child are those that appear to be well-constructed and that clearly include age recommendations on its labels. Speaking of labels, it is worth noting that the toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant. Also, they must be painted with lead-free paint, and if art materials are included on the package, it should be nontoxic. If in case, you will consider stuffed toys, make sure that it is washable.

* When buying a new toy, look for a good wrap. But, if you found that the wrapper has shrunk, discard the wrapping immediately after opening the toy for the first use. This is important for the reason most of the small children find the wrapper fun to play with. The problem occurs when they place it on their mouth, causing them to choke. That’s dangerous for them, right? So throw away the wrappers or keep them away from your child.

* When choosing safe toys for a child, check the toys carefully. Look for possible dangers, such as small parts, sharp edges, long strings or ribbons, or small end on the toys. These items could reach back into your child’s mouth.

By: Milos Pesic

About the Author:
Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Child Safety information site. For more articles and resources on Child Safety related topics, visit his site at:

=>http://child-safety.need-to-know.net/



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