The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child

Reminiscing about the good old days when we were growing up is a memory trip well worth taking, when trying to understand the issues facing the children of today. A mere 20 years ago, children used to play outside all day, riding bikes, playing sports and building forts. Masters of imaginary games, children of the past created their own form of play that didn’t require costly equipment or parental supervision. Children of the past moved… a lot, and their sensory world was nature based and simple. In the past, family time was often spent doing chores, and children had expectations to meet on a daily basis. The dining room table was a central place where families came together to eat and talk about their day, and after dinner became the center for baking, crafts and homework.

Today’s families are different. Technology’s impact on the 21st century family is fracturing its very foundation, and causing a disintegration of core values that long ago were what held families together. Juggling work, home and community lives, parents now rely heavily on communication, information and transportation technology to make their lives faster and more efficient. Entertainment technology (TV, internet, videogames, iPods) has advanced so rapidly, that families have scarcely noticed the significant impact and changes to their family structure and lifestyles. A 2010 Kaiser Foundation study showed that elementary aged children use on average 8 hours per day of entertainment technology, 75% of these children have TV’s in their bedrooms, and 50% of North … Read more

Five Time Saving Tips Using the Computer for Information Management

Everyone is looking for more time to do the things they want and need to do. One way o accomplish more time is to spend less time on tasks that could be done better and easier using another method. For instance, using a computer wisely can greatly reduce time spent looking for information or doing repetitive tasks. Almost everyone has access to a computer and most computers will have one or more time-saving applications available. Here are just a few ideas on how the computer can save time.

1. Use spreadsheets to make lists, build budgets, and track multiple items.

Spreadsheets have built-in functions to help make math easier without a calculator. If database functions are used too, the information stored in the spreadsheet can be viewed in multiple ways.

2. Use standardized forms and checklists for work and planning that is repetitive.

This saves time because some of the thinking is taken out of the process. Instead of trying to remember everything, the form or checklist acts as a prompt for the necessary information.

3. Use email instead of the phone to save time and increase accuracy.

Stating what is needed or giving the message in an email is faster than picking up the phone and playing phone tag or leaving an unplanned voice mail. It also provides an opportunity to spell check and review the text before it is sent to avoid possible confusion.

4. Use a contact management database for quick lookup of key information on people.Read more

The Myths of Investing in the Stocks

A lot of people have the wrong notion about investing in stocks. Therefore, the majority do not invest in the invest in stocks missing the chance of a lifetime to cash in on the greatest money-making machine man has ever invented. By the same token, they also miss the rare market opportunities when prices drop rock-bottom low which happen only once in 3 to 5 years.

Tales and legends about investing in stocks abound but I am only relating some of them which I believe are the most widespread. These are presented here in the order of the most popular first and the least popular, last.

1.) To invest in the stock market, you need a truckload of money.

Easily, this is the first and foremost turn-off for people wanting to invest in the stock market. They think that in stock market investing, one has to have a huge stockpile of cash. This is simply not true. Due to the availability of the internet, the cost of stock market brokerage transaction and other transactions have been greatly reduced. Even the minimum amount required for investment has gone down. When I started investing in stocks, I remember paying only P5,000.00. P3,000.00 went to the initial deposit for opening a savings settlement account, while P2,000.00 went to my trade account. You know how much my online broker asks to maintain in my stock market trading account? Only P500.00!

When buying stocks, the bigger the fund you have in your trade account, the … Read more

Resolve Application Error 17235

The “Application Error 17235” appears on the screen when using a DVD backup tool such as “InterVideo DVD Copy” and the program encounters a problem which asks for early closure. The error message is resulted by not rebooting the pc immediately after the tool is installed, or the DVD drive of your computer is not equipped with the latest driver.

To resolve this error,

1. Back to computer desktop and press the “Start” button from the lower left corner of the screen. Click the “Control Panel” and wait till a new window is displayed. Scroll Control Panel and double-click the icon called “Programs and Features”.

2. Click on the “Name” field below the “Organize” title to sort the list of all the programs installed on the hard disk of your computer. Find the name of the software that is reporting the “Application Error 17235” message. It shall be in the list of installed applications. Click on the item, and then click the “Uninstall” option at the top of the window.

3. Keep waiting until the program’s uninstalling finishes, and then turn off the Programs and Features window. Put in the installation CD for the program that has been removed from your PC. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the program. Once the installation wizard pops up and asks you to restart computer, do as it says.

4. Now, try to use the application again to see if the error message is still displayed. Close the program and click the “Start” … Read more

10 Top Tips to Use Propane Camping Equipment Safely in RVs

You feel like a walking icicle. Even with your camping gear on, your cheeks are flush, your toes are numb, and your breath seems to freeze like a science experiment–as soon as it hits the winter air. Wondering how much longer you can survive the brutal weather, you light your Coleman lantern, to guide you along the trail. Just when you feel as though you will be stranded in the wilderness forever…you spot the entrance to the campground. After using one of your Badge Holders to flash you ID to the guard, you head towards your RV, wishing that you had a Coleman propane heater inside.

Propane is a colorless gas that is located in both natural gas and petroleum. It has become a popular fuel for various types of camping gear, including camping lanterns, camping stoves, and camping heaters. But while petroleum products are instrumental in the modern world, they have actually been used for over 5,000 years. Ancient people in Mesopotamia first used petroleum compounds for products such as adhesives and caulking.

While propane is as practical as Clear Vinyl Badge Holders, it should be handled properly like other fuels. Here are some guidelines that will keep propane a safe, effective fuel for your camping gear:

1. Cylinder safety. Never use or move propane containers that have become damaged, are leaking, have corrosion, or have been in contact with fire. Also, never use or store liquid fuels or propane cylinders in your RV’s living or passenger sections.

2. … Read more

Short History of Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the premier cryptocurrency of the world. It is a peer-to-peer currency and transaction system based on a decentralized consensus-based public ledger called blockchain that records all transactions.

Now the bitcoin was envisaged in 2008 by Satoshi Nakamoto but it was a product of many decades of research into cryptography and blockchain and not just one guy’s work. It was the utopian dream of cryptographers and free trade advocates to have a borderless, decentralized currency based on the blockchain. Their dream is now a reality with the growing popularity of bitcoin and other altcoins around the world.

Now the cryptocurrency was first deployed over the consensus-based blockchain in 2009 and the same year it was traded for the very first time. In July 2010, the price of bitcoin was just 8 cents and the number of miners and nodes was quite less compared to tens of thousands in number right now.

Within the space of one year, the new alternative currency had risen to $1 and it was becoming an interesting prospect for the future. Mining was relatively easy and people were making good money making trades and even paying with it in some cases.

Within six months, the currency had doubled again to $2. While the price of bitcoin is not stable at a particular price point, it has been showing this pattern of insane growth for some time. In July 2011 at one point, the coin went bonkers and the record-high $31 price point was achieved but … Read more