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Month: December 2022

Pennsylvania State Fair at the Hippodrome

Philadelphia Park Race Track in Bensalem hosts the Pennsylvania State Fair every year from late May to early June. This state fair is relatively new, and as of 2006, was only in its twenty-first year. Visitors to the fair each year can find many great deals and discounts designed to help take the pressure off their budget. There are discount coupons for trips and a special free entry for one chaperone for every 15 children in grades K through 8. In addition, the fair organizers try to include inexpensive dollar menus at each concession stand.

The Grandpa Cratchet puppet is available on the grounds to meet and entertain children and family members of all ages. It’s also fun to enjoy the Animal Specialties Petting Zoo. Children can pet and feed many domesticated farm animals, from goats to chickens. Another animal show that has come to the state fair on occasion is ‘Bwana Jim’ and his educational animals. It’s wild and crazy and you might learn something about animals.

Rides at the fair are provided by Reithoffer Shows Midway. It is the largest midway in the country and has many unique attractions. The Midway has been around in one form or another since 1896 and they are always looking to add new attractions. Some recent additions are Starship, Freak Out, and Avalanche. A fun ride for children is the Titanic. A bit of an ironic theme, but the ride is actually a giant sinking ship slide that kids slide down.

From time to time, he wanders around the fair Buffo, the Strongman Clown, whose many talents include juggling bowling balls, balancing extension ladders on his face, and being able to tear phone books in half. Go Plus, visitors can enjoy a stunt bike show, the groundhog chainsaw sculpture show, and a milking display on a dairy farm.

Avoid foreclosure

There are millions upon thousands of people today seeking information on who to avoid foreclosure.

In response to this need for information on avoiding foreclosure, numerous resources have been developed. So many, in fact, are the resources developed for people looking for information on avoiding foreclosure that many people looking for the same information are overwhelmed. It’s not a new phenomenon, this being overwhelmed by the information we need. Someone had seen it before and called it “information overload,” which becomes “information deluge” when pushed to the extreme. So people start to wonder: Couldn’t someone present us with information on how to avoid foreclosure that isn’t full of technical terms, and that it’s condensed, so we don’t have to get bogged down?

It is to address this need that these types of short and to the point resources on avoiding foreclosure have been developed.

The first step to avoiding foreclosure is, of course, keeping your finances organized. There are people who are at risk of foreclosure due to job loss. There are also those who get into the same situation due to drops in income, perhaps due to a slowdown in business or something like that. All this is quite understandable. What is not understandable, however, is the situation where one ends up in foreclosure due to a lack of self-organization: because unless you take control, the money tends to disappear. Hence the need to know exactly what you are doing and where you are really going.

But what if you’re reasonably well-organized, in terms of managing personal finances, but are at risk of foreclosure due to job loss or a drop in income? Can anything be done to save the situation?

Well the answer is yes. The first key is not to lose hope and simply ignore the warnings your mortgage lender is likely to send you: that your mortgage payments are falling and foreclosure is imminent. These warnings are not meant to discourage you. Rather, they are meant to encourage you to find ways to avoid foreclosure.

One way to avoid foreclosure is to talk to your mortgage lender about rescheduling your payments or otherwise modifying the loan. As long as you can do it convincingly and show the mortgage lender that it is to your mutual benefit as parties to the deal, they will most likely take you. After all, it’s not in their best interest to foreclose.

Another way through which you can get to avoid foreclosure is by taking advantage of one of the government loans foreclosure rescue loans.

However, when nothing seems to work, you can consider selling the house (if its value has appreciated), and the money from it will go toward paying off your debt to the mortgage lender, possibly leaving you something. It’s a painful step, but it’s better than foreclosure: where you still lose the house and have bad credit. You can also sign a deed, returning ownership of the home to the mortgage lender (such a deed is said to replace foreclosure), thus avoiding the need for foreclosure (and the damage it would cause to your credit). . You could also offer the house for a short sale, although this is only slightly better than going to foreclosure, in terms of the effects it will have on your credit score. However, it is a better option.

Video games and learning theories: focus on JP Gee and Howard Gardner

Many people at all stages of their lives are fascinated by video games. Playing the games can be long, difficult and challenging, but players find it fun and inspiring. It’s hard not to admit that playing games has social and cultural significance in our society. According to JP Gee (2003), there are learning principles (LP) that are built into good video games. But these principles do not necessarily drive learning. Several factors are necessary for learning to occur in games and perhaps for intelligence to develop in the semiotic domain of everyday life. Gee teaches that there are thirty-six learning principles that can be found and developed in games.

To explain this, Gee defines games as a semiotic domain (SD), which, in turn, is part of the broader SD of everyday life. So to speak, an SD is a certain division of the world (be it a location, practice, field of study, etc.) and can span sub-domains. For example, first- and third-person shooters are a well-defined subdomain of SD games. Introducing the concept of SD to game studios, Gee gives us examples of SD such as rap, modernist paintings, and first-person shooter games. Gee believes that learning from an SD requires three things: 1) learning to experience the world in different ways, 2) learning to form affiliations with SD members, and 3) learning how to obtain the resources necessary for future learning. and troubleshooting in the domain as well as related domains. As we can see, Gee seeks to approximate the games to a broader definition of literacy that involves different types of “visual literacy”. Following this notion of literacy, people are literate in a domain only if they are able to recognize and produce meaning in the field. Furthermore, Gee proposes that we think of literacy as inherently connected to social practices. In fact, in contemporary culture, articulated language (spoken, gestural or written) is not the only important communication system. Today, images, symbols, graphs, diagrams, equations, artifacts, and many other visual symbols play a particularly important role in our daily lives. For example, it is important to learn visual literacy to “read” the images in an ad. Also, words and images are juxtaposed or integrated in many ways: in magazines, newspapers, textbooks, software, etc. Images take up more space and have meanings that can be independent of the words in the texts. In this sense, games are multimodal texts. They combine moving images and music with language.

Given the diverse forms of human activity in the complex society in which we live, it is necessary to develop a new model of intelligence that allows us to adopt a pluralistic vision of intelligence. Howard Gardner’s (1983) influential definition of intelligence was developed using a model of seven basic intelligences known as the theory of multiple intelligences (MI). MI represents a broader and more pragmatic view of human nature. The eight intelligences are defined as the following abilities:

1) use language competently (linguistics),

2) use logical reasoning in mathematics and science (logical-mathematical),

3) perceiving details of the visual-spatial world and manipulating objects in the mind (spatial),

4) understand, create and enjoy music and musical (musical) concepts,

5) skillfully using the body (bodily-kinesthetic);

6) recognize subtle aspects of the behavior of others and respond appropriately to them (interpersonal),

7) understanding one’s own feelings (intrapersonal), and

8) recognize patterns and differences in nature (naturalist).

These categories or intelligences represent elements that can be found in all cultures, namely music, words, logic, paintings, social interaction, physical expression, inner reflection, and appreciation of nature. Thus, unlike a learning style, which is a general approach that the individual can equally apply to any imaginable content, intelligence, for Gardner, is a capacity with its own processes that adapt to specific content in the world ( for example, musical sounds or spatial patterns).

From this perspective, Gee (2003) and Gardner (1983) value the interaction between learning and the abilities present in the daily life (culture) of people. So, when we think about the SD approach, developed by Gee, we realize that the interaction between both theories, the SD of everyday life, the largest set that exists, where intelligences are located, encompasses the SD of games. . Note that Gardner points out that one of the goals of his effort is to examine the educational implications of a theory of multiple intelligences. Considering that, Gee listed thirty-six learning principles present in games, and considering the importance and popularity of games in contemporary culture, it seems interesting to start investigating how learning principles can be related to multiple intelligences. So we discuss here some possibilities of association between these theories. To achieve this, the question we want to ask ourselves is the following: What can the learning principles integrated into good games do for the development of multiple intelligences, which are so important for everyday life? In other words: What is the relationship between these semiotic domains? To answer this, we have used the following research methodology: literature review, website research, game observation, construction of the interaction model between the two learning proposals, and analysis of the model.

Gee describes thirty-six learning principles that can be found in games. It should be noted that not all of the learning principles listed by the author are necessarily found in a single game: there is a possibility that a game will convey one or more of these principles. The analysis shows that in order to develop one or more intelligences, the learner must be immersed in one or more semiotic domains that meet the necessary conditions and qualities to facilitate their development. For example: it is of no use to an apprentice of a sports modality to have access to a single modality for the full development of his Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence, he needs to have access to several sports, namely several subsemiotic domains that are part of the semiotic domain. broader than sports. In addition to that, there are other extrinsic and intrinsic factors (motivation, injuries, adequate training material, etc.) that are important to succeed in the entire domain, as a sport modality. Examples of various prominent athletes demonstrate this fact: Formula 1 drivers, MMA fighters, and Olympians. In this sense, our research shows the existence of an insurmountable pairing: without learning principles there are no good games, while without the valorization of a domain in the semiotic domain of everyday life there is no way to advance within that domain. Therefore, multiple intelligences cannot fully develop in certain cultural contexts, and learning principles are useless in these contexts.

Furthermore, interpersonal intelligence is very important in learning. We found that it is associated with thirty of the thirty-six principles of learning. Interpersonal Intelligence clearly arises from cooperative work, community involvement, large group simulations, dedication to social issues, etc. Precisely the importance of interpersonal intelligence, as Gardner points out, has diminished in the contemporary educational landscape: sensitivity towards other individuals as individuals and the ability to collaborate with others are less and less important now than in the past. Therefore, we believe that the results of the comparison between these theories question the ways in which we design and manage education in its various fields. For this reason, we believe that deepening the analysis of the intersection of the theories studied here can help us both in the use of games as a pedagogical proposal and in reflection on education.

The association between both theories seemed productive to us to reflect on games and learning in general. First of all, it should be noted that not all games can promote all learning principles. This is because there are many factors in the semiotic domain of everyday life that can hinder the learning and development of multiple intelligences. And this occurs even when the game transmits the principle of learning or the basic conditions to develop it, which demonstrates a close association between the principles and the intelligences.

Secondly, Interpersonal Intelligence is associated with thirty learning principles. This demonstrates the complexity of learning and, consequently, shows the challenges that contemporary education must face. In fact, studying the interaction between theories can help us think about new ways of teaching and learning inside and outside of school. It seems that Gee’s relevance is in highlighting the importance of games culturally and for learning, while Gardner’s learning theory emphasizes the need for favorable conditions (environment, mentors, cultural appreciation, etc.) for skill development. . We must remember that abilities or intelligences are valued differently between cultures.

We believe that good video games represent, in fact, opportunities for direct and indirect learning of content and skills in the semiotic domain of everyday life, given their close link with most intelligences.

Work Cited

Howard Garner. moods. The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (New York: Basic Books, 1983).

James P. Gee. What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy (New York: Palgrave, 2003).

breeders cup

Jack Schneider envisions only one way Bernardini can be beaten in next month’s $5 million Breeders Cup Classic: unless he trips on a stable rock, gets stuck in the gate or is abducted by aliens.

“The only way it could happen is if Bernardini and Lava Man get into a dogfight and are so interested in looking at each other and not looking behind them, someone else gets the better of them in the end,” said the manager of Sam’s Town Race Book. .

That kind of scenario would make voting for Horse of the Year nervous (no relation to two-time Classic winner Tiznow).

Most Thoroughbred aficionados would agree that the vote is currently a two-horse race, though bolters could include horses like David Junior, Invasor, and Strong Contender.

Dangerous Discreet Cat will not go if Bernardini works as planned, as both are owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rasid al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini, who was sired by AP Indy, has topped the 3-year-old class of racing since Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro was injured in the meet at Pimlico Race Course.

The eight-race Breeders’ Cup card will be held on Saturday, November 4 at Churchill Downs and will be highlighted by the rich Classic, which will mark Bernardini’s first, and perhaps last, trial against older horses.

The colt broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park and gradually moved up the ladder while skipping the Run for the Roses and, after his Preakness win, the Belmont Stakes.

He’s been undefeated ever since, winning the Jim Dandy, Withers, Travers and, last week, Belmont Park’s Jockey Gold Cup.

Five-year-old Lava Man, a son of Slew City Slew, is this year’s West Coast racing sensation and became the second horse to sweep the Santa Anita Derby, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic at the same season.

Bernardini’s Jockey Cup Beyer was 117, while Lava Man scored 109 in last weekend’s Santa Anita Grade I Goodwood Breeders Cup Handicap, knocking back 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo along with the previous vogue horse to the Triple Crown this year, brother Derek.

“How good is Bernardini?” echoed New Frontier betting shop manager Tony Nevill.

“I dont know.

“But I think we’ll see honest rhythm in the Classic and if he wins it, he’s a Superhorse.”

“You know if you beat him, you’ve beaten the best,” Schneider repeated.

Schneider has some good advice for players: Henny Hughes, also owned by Dubai’s royal family, if he enters the six furlong sprint.

“That horse has been incredible, an absolute monster!” Schneider exclaimed.

“He doesn’t like to stretch it, but in a race over six furlongs…

“If you see Henny Hughes running in the sprint, go around him.”

Wynn Las Vegas racing and sporting director John Avello gives Lava Man a chance to go to Churchill.

“But Bernardini is terribly good … like WOW,” said Avello, who watched the colt run in the Travers at Saratoga.

However, this is a horse race and anything can happen.

Daily Racing Form Las Vegas Match Dave Tuley, as usual, is waiting until the pole positions are drawn and the morning line is out before taking any chances.

“I don’t have any specific horses to bet on on Breeders’ Cup Day as we are still waiting to see exactly how the fields play out,” Tuley said.

“What I can tell you is that after seeing the favorites win four of the five Grade 1 races at Belmont Park last Saturday (October 7), the other being won by a 2-1 shot, I know those horses they will be wagered.” on BC day and should create great value on unlikely shots.

“Now, we have to find the right longshots.”

Uganda Tours Safaris: What to Do on Uganda Safari

Uganda is known as ‘The Pearl of Africa’ due to the fact that the third largest country in East Africa is endowed by nature. Safari in Uganda is synonymous with gorilla trekking tours. This is because mountain gorillas in the wild are only found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of the three countries, Uganda has almost half of the mountain gorilla population in the wild, the reason for the popularity of gorilla safaris in Uganda. It would be nice to know that from 2009 to 2011, there has been a growth of more than 30% in the great ape population. There is more to offer than gorilla safaris in Uganda and below are some activities that can go with your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda:

Big Game Safaris

Uganda has several national parks including Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and the rarely visited Kidepo Valley National Parks which are famous for big game safaris. These are the best places to see four of the ‘Big Five’ which include lions, elephants, the elusive leopard and buffalo. You may not be able to see the rhino as they were removed from the parks during the unsettled period. If you are interested in rhinos in Uganda, you will have to go to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. There are also zebras, Uganda kobs, hippos, cheetahs, among other herbivores and carnivores.

Primate Tracking Tours

Uganda boasts of having more than 13 species of primates in addition to the mountain gorillas. This includes chimpanzees, l’hoests, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, among others. This is one of the highest primate populations not only in Africa but in the world. Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo south of Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park are some of the best places to enjoy primate tracking safaris in Uganda. You can also track chimpanzees on Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria.

Birding Safaris in Uganda

With the remnant of the equatorial forest, Uganda is one of the top bird watching safari destinations in Africa. Some unique bird species that can be seen in Uganda include the archaic-looking shoebill. The turaco, ground hornbill, red-billed, black-wattled, black-billed and white-crested hornbill, African piculet, Zenkel’s honey guide, black-breasted cuckoo, red-rumped copperbird, reddish-sided broad-billed, Nkurengu’s rail , white belly, dwarf and pygmy. kingfishers, piping, white thighed, black and white helmeted and African pied hornbills, fire-crested alethe, blue-billed red-bellied malimbe, marsh palm bulbul, scrub robin, green-tailed bristle-billed, Leaf Lover, Red-breasted Hawk, Long-tailed Hawk, Pale-fronted and Chestnut-breasted Blackfinches, Black-winged Oriole are just a few examples of birds that can be seen in Uganda.

mountain climbing adventure

Uganda has two well-known mountains which are Mount Ruwenzori, also known as the ‘Moon Mountain’ and Mount Elgon on the Kenya-Uganda border. Mount Rwenzori is one of the most difficult mountains to climb despite being the fourth highest in Africa. One can climb Uganda’s highest peak in 7-12 days depending on one’s physical condition. Unlike Mount Kilimanjaro, you will need a certain level of fitness to climb Mount Rwenzori with several ups and downs as it is a boulder mountain. Mount Elgon is much easier to climb as it is a volcanic mountain.

fishing tours

Uganda shares the world’s second largest freshwater lake with its two other East African neighbours, Kenya and Uganda. Lake Victoria boasts some of the largest Nile perch species in the world and is a good place to go fishing. Other places to fish include the Albertine Nile in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park in the Kazinga Channel.

whitewater rafting

If you are looking for a great adventure activity, then Nile rafting is one thing to consider. This can be done in Jinja for a half day or a full day depending on what you are doing. Whitewater rafting can be combined with bungee jumping, which is also done in Jinja. The full day rafting will include lunch.

Cultural Tours

Uganda is home to several ethnic groups including the Bantu and Nilote. Each ethnic group has its own tradition and culture. From their clothing to daily activities, some of the cultures are quite attractive. You can try this at the Ndere cultural center or go to the region where the ethnicity is located. Some cultural places to visit include the Kabaka Kingdom, the Batoro Kingdom, among others. This will allow you to understand each ethnic group that interests you.

The next time you plan an Africa safari to Uganda, know that you have much more to spice up your Uganda safari experience than just settling for a Uganda gorilla trekking safari. Go and have fun in Uganda.

Latest trends in mobile video advertising

With a veritable flood of smartphones hitting the store next door and manufacturers responding by creating mobile-friendly web applications, mobile phones have become the ultimate platform for advertising. Games are one of the most popular ways to monetize mobile traffic and the iPhone has shown new avenues for monetization by opening its doors to third party apps.

Drawing more users into the GPRS space of mobile phones, the craze for social networking has led users to use their smartphones for more than just emailing, instant messaging or browsing. Facebook alone has 300 million users (as of December 9) and Twitter is constantly challenging them with similarly attractive numbers. Almost a quarter of all Facebook users connect via mobile phone. With such a large number, advertising options have multiplied and new ways to monetize mobile traffic have evolved.

To monetize mobile traffic

The different ways to monetize mobile traffic are:

* Mobile web banners and posters

* MMS Announcement

* Advertising within mobile games

* Full screen interstitials

* Audio announcements before voicemails, such as phone ticket reservations or directory assistance.

Still, games tend to be the most attractive app of all, and ads placed within games tend to have the best ROI. Interstitial ads that appear while users download or browse different apps also yield impressive ROI. By helping advertisers evaluate the best of these new options, the impact of an ad campaign can be measured by impressions (views) and click-through rates. Other matrices are also used, such as conversion rates and click-to-call rates.

Your best bet for monetizing mobile traffic

The best way to monetize mobile traffic is to offer interactive ads. Take for example; the videos have hot spots that can be used to launch the product page. In this way, advertisers not only give users control, but also generate more retention from their campaign. Other engagement tools, such as surveys or polls, can be integrated with the apps.

Basic Greetings in Filipino

Here I have the basic Filipino greetings that I have collected and simplified for everyone to understand easily. Along with the closest English equivalent, I have a few lines here to give you background for each word and phrase. I’ll use this as the basis for the other post I plan to do. Hopefully I’ll be able to follow the sequence here as I’ll be working on these expressions soon.

Mabuhay-Welcome or long life.

This is used here to greet everyone, including foreigners, a warm welcome, hoping that everyone will let their guard down (peace/friendship). This is derived from the root word buhay which means life. This is an auspicious thing to say and is usually heard during celebrations like at weddings, we always hear someone exclaim “Mabuhay ang bagong kasal” and everyone else will clap to congratulate the newly married couple.

Magandang umaga-Good morning.

The word magandang is derived from ganda which means beauty, hence magandang umaga is a beautiful morning.

Magandang Tanghali-Good afternoon.

The word tanghali means the time when the day is hottest (10am to 3pm, the time when sunscreen is a must). Unlike konnichiwa (good afternoon/good morning/hi/hello) of the Japanese which cover most of the day, magandang tanghali only covers what is not early in the day and what is not late in the day.

Magandang hapon-good afternoon (afternoon).

This is similar to the Spanish good afternoon (said when one socializes after the so-called siesta). Of course, Filipinos do this siesta too (after-noon nap/beauty break?). Tanghali is so hot that Filipinos sleep at this time instead of going out (socializing is down).

Magandang gabi-Good afternoon and good night.

There is no distinction between evening and night in Filipino. Gabi can mean anyone and that doesn’t matter or bother anyone.

Kumusta-how are you?

Let’s go back to the Spanish influence to the Filipino. This greeting is derived from the original in Spanish ¿Cómo está? Featured with Filipino spelling.

Salamat-Thank you.

This is a bit of a headache for me. One reference says that it is derived from the Arabic salam which means peace. When I came across Malaysian/Indonesian, I saw selamat in several of the greetings there, but not as a thank you. As for the thanks from Malaysia, it is terima kasih. I wonder if salamat is somehow related to selamat?

Walang anuma-You’re welcome.

Actually this means “It’s nothing” but understood as “You’re welcome”. Like the English counterpart, so does the one who is thanked in response.

Paumanhin-I’m sorry or excuse me.

This word varies in meaning depending on how the speaker pronounces it. There are usually clues to the meaning of this in the sentences before or after this word. This is like the Japanese sumimasen.

Patawad-I’m sorry

While paumanhin can also mean “excuse me,” this can mean “sorry” or “can I haggle?” It is derived from the root word tawad which means to haggle or apologize.

Makikiraan-May I come in?

This is to kindly ask if it can happen between two people or a group; in front of a group of people who are watching something; or when someone from a group of people is blocking your way (unintentionally). These and more are the example of when to use this word.

Makikisuyo – Can I ask you a favor?

This is derived from the root suyo which means an act of affection for loved ones. Use this when you ask her favor in a sweeter or more charming way. This is also helpful to everyone, whether you don’t know them personally, but this way now act like you’re asking them to do you a favor. Helping others is one of the values ​​of Filipinos.

Makikiusap-Can I ask you a favor?

This time, he is not affectionate and does not ask for courtesy. This is a simple and direct way of asking, please do such and such if you can. It’s also not rude, but more of a normal, informal way of dealing with others.

Mawalang galang na- Excuse me.

Excuse me is all I can think of as its English equivalent, but this expression is similar to the Japanese shitsurei shimasu. Literally, this means “if I may be rude to you”, as it is derived from the compound word walang galang or shitsurei, meaning “not polite”.

tao po

This is said by someone knocking on the door and can denote “It’s a man (person) around here.” If I can relate it to Japanese, the closest Japanese equivalent to this is gomen kudasai.

Tuloy-Enter

This is said by someone who is inside the house (in connection with the previous sentence) when opening the door, letting in the one who is outside. This is also the root of the word enter.

Pasok-Enter

This is the same as the previous word. Consider this a variation.

Ingat-Take care.

It is usually said before leaving with a friend in the hope that they will stay safe. There is a humorous variation of this. That is ingat sila sayo. This implies that no one should mess with you or they will get in trouble. This may sound sarcastic to those who are not close to you.

Paalam-Goodbye.

This is the most common way to say goodbye. It can also mean “to inform” and is derived from the word alam which means “to know”. This can be a way of saying that you want someone close to you to know that you are leaving.

Sige-Ok

This is used both when you ask for permission and when you approve of something. It is also heard when saying goodbye, which is usually linked to other farewell phrases.

Hanggang su muli-See you later.

This is another way to say goodbye. This is expressed in the sense that you are interested in meeting that person again.

Living Finish Definition – The Facts About Copper Sink Finishes

If you’re considering a metal faucet, sink, or countertop for your kitchen or bathroom, you may have heard the term “living finish” or perhaps “organic finish.” Any metal other than stainless steel that is not coated with a sealer or a metal finish like chrome will acquire a “patina” over time. This means that the finish will change and evolve through exposure to the environment. Some call this “oxidation” (exposure to oxygen), but this patina process is also caused by other environmental factors that the metal surface might come into contact with, as well as wear and tear resulting from regular use.

When applied to plumbing fixtures, the question most often comes up regarding copper sinks. Faucet and drain hardware manufacturers typically address this issue with certain coatings that protect the metal surface from the environment, thus preventing patina or changes in finish. However, these types of coatings (PVD or other types of clear protective finishes) are more difficult to apply to a larger surface area such as a sink and require a more “production” like manufacturing process. Therefore, many handcrafted copper and bronze sinks are not sealed and will have a true vivid finish.

Metal products with a chrome finish or stainless steel products are often called “non-living”. This is only partially true. In fact, the surfaces of these products can darken over time depending on the environment and the care given to them. We’ve also heard nickel referred to as a “dull finish”, but the fact is that nickel will also patinate or “tarnish”. However, this process is significantly slower than unprotected copper or bronze.

With unprotected brass, bronze or copper, the patina process occurs more quickly. What happens to the metal finish over time? The answer to this question depends on whether or not an artificial patina was applied when the sink was made, environmental factors present during use, how much the product is used (wear and tear), and the type of maintenance or care employed.

If you are purchasing a copper sink that is finished (i.e., not a “bright copper”), heat and/or chemicals have been applied to speed up the aging process. You’ll see terms like “oil rubbed bronze” or “weathered copper.” To create these finishes, the metal has been exposed to a chemical bath and possibly also to heat, which reacts with the metal and changes the color. The darker the finish, the less the metal will patinate or age after it is installed. In a way, you are “bogging down” the patina process. Regardless, you still have a vivid finish that will evolve, but in general, the darker the patina at first, the slower the change over time.

Environmental factors specific to your home and the chemicals your sink surface may be exposed to are the great unknowns. Every application and environment is different. Moisture, air salinity, pollutants and oxygen work together over time to coat metal surfaces with a characteristic patina. If you have a copper kitchen sink and you expose the metal surface to certain acids like those found in a lemon, it will actually dissolve some of the patina. The constant changes due to these myriad factors are appreciated by some and not welcomed by others. Personally, I like deep tones and earthy browns that appear over time. I see this as “character” and appreciate the uniqueness in color and tone between two identical products in different settings.

If you appreciate a lively finish, caring for and maintaining your sink will be fairly easy. If you want to avoid it, this is possible to a certain extent. There are several different ways to slow down the patina process. Applying a brass or furniture polish that does not contain polishes or cleaners can slow the change in patina in the same way that an auto polish protects your car’s finish. If you want, you can remove the patina from a sink with a metal polish or a mild acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar. Waxing the surface will preserve the shine, or the sink can be left untreated to develop a new patina.

We often feel that our clients fear a lively finish…or that this type of finish will require more maintenance. Our answer is always the same: if you don’t like the patina you finally get, you can always start over! Any copper or brass cleaner will reverse the patina to a shiny surface if desired. If left unprotected the aging process starts all over again and within a few weeks you will start to see the surface of the metal darken. Also, you can always buy a sink with a darker finish and keep the surface waxed. This will ensure the fewest changes over time. As far as maintenance goes, the occasional cleaning with soap and water is really all you need to do. If you choose to wax your sink, this is generally something you’ll need to do only every 3-6 months, depending on the amount of use. You can read more about the care and maintenance of copper sinks at Copper Sinks Online.

WordPress CMS – The Features and Benefits of Using a Customizable Platform

In this highly competitive world, everyone wants to design their website that looks different from others and is cost-effective and user-friendly. It should also be quick to download with simple instructions on how to use it. If you are looking for such a platform, WordPress is the right place to look. It is a free open source content management system web development software. It was developed by Matt Mullenweg on May 27, 2003. It is used to build blogs and websites using a plugin architecture and template system available in its core package. It is one of the best CMS software with over 60 million users using it to customize their website in their own way.

WordPress allows the user some basic features:

  1. Installation of themes– Themes allow the user to install themes from their directory and give a new look to their sites. The themes that are available are Coraline, Suffusion, etc.
  2. Plugin Installation– It is an important feature of WordPress, through the plugin architecture, a user can change the functionality of the basic structure provided in this open source software in a more sophisticated way and also allows customization of WordPress. Some of the available plugins are: Tumblr Importer, WP Super Cache, etc.
  3. widget– Widgets are typically used to add features to the site, such as slideshows, and can also be used as small on-screen blocks, such as clocks, event countdowns, daily weather, etc.
  4. Comments- your visitors like to connect with you and leave their comments on blogs and other services they liked or disliked. The site owner has control in their hand to enable or disable comment posting.
  5. Complete user registrationWordPress has a built-in user registration system that allows people to register on the particular site and also write posts and comments. The site owner can block this comment page for unregistered users.
  6. Multiple Authors – WordPress has a power user system that allows multiple users to edit and post content.
  7. Easy installation and updates– WordPress installation is extremely easy and hardly takes any time. Now even upgrading it to the next version is equally easy as well.

WordPress also has an effective eShop feature shown below:

  1. Instant automatic delivery of digital products.
  2. Encrypted product download link.
  3. Variation control for digital product.
  4. Automatic expiration of the link.
  5. Ability to offer multiple file downloads per product.
  6. Customers can use multiple payment gateways and can pay via PayPal, 2-Checkout, Authorize.net, or a manual process.
  7. Based on Mysql database.
  8. The WordPress eShop admin can view the customer database (when a customer purchases an item, their details are stored in the database).

Another benefit of going with WordPress is its online community and forums that can solve your queries and problems. WordPress is not complicated like other CMS. WordPress today is used by business houses, entrepreneurs, internet marketers, direct sales professionals, and others. It also helps to create an eCommerce site with shopping cart and payment gateways.

Today, WordPress is one of the fastest and most user-friendly development tools that can be easily installed and being an open source CMS, it is easily available to anyone. WordPress blogs and websites can be used as a business platform for internet marketing and can also be very valuable for the development of your company. This software is free to install and takes just a few minutes to install. As new versions of WordPress Open Source CMS are updated, the software has been designed keeping the scope for future updates. The latest version of WordPress is 3.3.1 released on January 3, 2012.

Is your child dry at night? Some Helpful Training Suggestions

It will probably take a while after your child is dry during the day, before he is dry at night. To begin with, the night is a long period. Your child may not be able to stay dry that long. Children have to learn to wake up to the urge, this takes time.

Also, is your child still in a crib or can he go to the bathroom on his own at night? How big and capable are they? Can you reach the light switch or do you have a night light? Some children don’t dry themselves at night until they are five or six years old; by then, if they don’t, talk to your doctor. Until then don’t worry. Make sure they drink plenty throughout the day, but I recommend reducing fluids to sips of water two hours before bed.

I also found it helpful to pick up a child around ten at night and take him to the bathroom; although they barely woke up, they were able to urinate and immediately went back to sleep, a well done whisper is enough at that time you don’t want to wake them up completely.

As they get older they can be embarrassed to be wet at night, pull-ups are obviously required or you’ll have a mountain of laundry to do. Don’t scold a child for treating accidents nicely. You can wrinkle your nose to show that it’s smelly and unpleasant as an encouragement to be dry, but be aware of their feelings, they’re probably upset too.

Signs that your child may stay dry through the night will be a dry diaper in the morning, as well as the fact that they can last for long periods of time and fully recognize being dry during the day. Try to get them up at ten at night if you think they are ready, it really helps.

It is possible to get plastic protectors for both the mattress and the pillows and you don’t want to have the problem of wet and smelly mattresses that can destroy soon, when it is easy to prevent it from happening.

Stress-Free Potty Training Reminders and Guidelines

  • Make sure he drinks 6 or more water-based drinks. No fizzy drinks; definitely not tea or coffee. Tea and coffee are not suitable for children due to caffeine.
  • Reduce the amount of drinking two hours before bedtime, but encourage drinking much earlier.
  • To make it easier, a child should wear clothes that are easy to remove and wash, especially in the first few days of training.
  • A brief “sit” is enough or they will get bored and resist. Praise works wonders, especially when the potty is initially introduced; also reading a story or playing with building bricks. make it fun An appropriate choice of two activities may be offered if potty training is met with resistance.
  • Young children should be encouraged to sit and not stand up initially, as they will be able to urinate and poop as they learn to interpret sensations or urges, and are learning control.
  • Be consistent. If other adults are involved, everyone works from the same song sheet, or the child will get confused.
  • Praise every step of the way; make his child feel good about his efforts and accomplishments. He will love to please you and receive your compliments. Never criticize or demoralize.
  • Be patient, you will have occasional accidents at first, be prepared and don’t scold. If after some time you find that it’s too soon and your child isn’t ready, let them try again for a few weeks before trying again. You will have been looking for signs of readiness, keep watching.
  • Be sure to use the potty or toilet before bed along with brushing your teeth.
  • I found it useful to get my children up at ten o’clock at night; although they are sleepy, they soon relieve themselves. Then immediately go back to sleep.
  • Never punish a child, tease or embarrass them, they are probably upset anyway.

I hope these suggestions are helpful if you are having difficulties.