Before computers, Mark Twain first publisher to use new technology.

“I was the first person in the world that ever had a telephone in his house,” Mark Twain once claimed, adding that he was also “the first person in the world to apply the typemachine to literature.” The author born Samuel Clemens was indeed the first to publish a book written on a typewriter, though he may have misremembered which one it was. Twain recalled it being The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but it was more likely 1883’s Life on the Mississippi, according to typewriter historian Darryl Rehr.

When winter’s chill sets in, many families look not to the slopes but to the sun. The lure of warmer climates offers a welcome retreat from icy winds and snow-covered streets, replacing them with golden beaches, tropical breezes, and endless opportunities for adventure. A winter vacation south becomes more than just a getaway, it’s a chance to recharge, reconnect, and rediscover the joy of outdoor living.

Travelers heading south find themselves spoiled for choice. Resorts across the tropics offer accommodations ranging from luxurious beachfront villas to family-friendly hotels with pools and entertainment for all ages. Days begin with sunrises over the ocean and end with evenings filled with local music, cultural events, and cuisine that celebrates the flavors of the region. For families, these destinations provide the perfect balance of relaxation and activity, ensuring that every member finds their own slice of paradise.

Adventure seekers discover that the tropics are not just about lounging on the sand. Hiking trails wind through lush jungles and volcanic landscapes, offering breathtaking views and encounters with exotic wildlife. Scuba diving and snorkeling open up a world beneath the waves, where coral reefs teem with color and life. For those who prefer land-based thrills, motorcycle or scooter rentals provide the freedom to explore coastal roads, hidden villages, and scenic overlooks at their own pace. Walking tours, guided excursions, and cultural festivals round out the experience, making every day a new chapter in the journey.

Recording these adventures has become an essential part of the modern vacation. Families capture their memories with cameras, GoPros, and smartphones, turning moments into stories that can be shared for years to come. From underwater footage of a scuba dive to panoramic shots of a mountain hike, technology allows travelers to relive their experiences long after the trip ends. Video diaries and social media posts transform vacations into living narratives, connecting friends and communities back home to the joy of discovery abroad.

Ultimately, a winter escape south is about more than sunshine, it’s about creating lasting memories. Whether it’s a child’s first snorkeling adventure, a family hike through tropical forests, or a sunset ride along the coast, these experiences become treasured stories. The warmth of the sun is matched only by the warmth of shared laughter and connection, reminding us that winter can be a season of joy even far from home. End.

The Newspaper Angle

From an editorial perspective, this type of feature offers rich storytelling potential for newspapers. But beyond the narrative, advertisers would find strong value in aligning with such content. Camera companies, action video brands like GoPro, travel agencies, airlines, resorts, outdoor gear suppliers, and even scooter rental services could all benefit from sponsorship opportunities tied to a “Winter Escapes” editorial series. By blending lifestyle storytelling with advertiser integration, newspapers can deliver both inspiration for readers and measurable impact for sponsors.

As the crisp air settles in and snow blankets the countryside, winter transforms into a season of adventure and togetherness. Families and thrill-seekers alike find themselves drawn to the slopes, where skiing and snowboarding offer both exhilaration and escape. Resorts across the region become havens of activity, welcoming guests with trails that cater to every skill level, from gentle beginner runs to challenging black diamonds. For many, the joy of winter sports is not just in the adrenaline rush but in the shared laughter and memories created along the way.

Beyond the slopes, lodging plays a central role in the winter experience. Cozy cabins, mountain lodges, and resort hotels provide the perfect retreat after a day of outdoor excitement. Crackling fireplaces, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, and hearty meals bring warmth to the season, turning each evening into a celebration of comfort. Families gather around to recount their day’s adventures, while couples steal quiet moments overlooking snow-covered landscapes. The lodging experience becomes more than accommodation, it is an extension of the winter adventure itself.

Winter getaways also offer a chance to disconnect from the everyday routine and reconnect with loved ones. Whether it’s a weekend escape or a longer holiday, the rhythm of resort life encourages relaxation and bonding. Parents delight in watching their children master new skills on the slopes, while friends challenge each other to daring runs or playful snowball fights. Off the trails, activities like ice skating, sleigh rides, and spa retreats ensure that every member of the family finds joy in the season.

Ultimately, winter adventures are about more than skiing or lodging; they are about creating lasting memories. The slopes become a stage for laughter, challenge, and triumph, while the lodges provide the backdrop for warmth and connection. As families and travelers seek out winter pleasure, the story of the season is one of joy, discovery, and togetherness — a reminder that the coldest months can bring the warmest experiences. End.

The Newspaper Angle:
For newspapers, telling the story of winter adventures is more than reporting on recreation, it’s about capturing the spirit of community and the allure of seasonal traditions. Editorial features can spotlight local resorts, highlight family-friendly packages, and showcase the latest in ski equipment and winter apparel. Advertisers ranging from ski shops and outdoor gear retailers to resorts and travel companies can align their brands with the excitement of winter, offering readers both inspiration and practical opportunities to embrace the season.

Today’s window covering products, which include horizontal blinds, pleated and cellular shades, vertical blinds and draperies, need just a few, simple adjustments to make them safer for young children.

Two-Corded Horizontal Blinds

• Cut the cord above the end tassel (the item that looks like a small wooden, or plastic “thimble”).

• Remove the equalizer buckle.

• Add new tassels for the two cords that have been created. Slip a tassel onto each cord and tie knots to hold them in place. You may use a breakaway tassel available in some stores, instead of the separate tassels. A breakaway tassel will separate if a child becomes entangled in the loop.

Two-Corded Pleated Or Cellular Shades

• Leave the cord stop in place as close as possible to the headrail when the blind is completely closed.

• Cut the cords above the end tassel.

• Knot a separate tassel at the end of each cord. Warning: When the shades are raised, a loop will appear above the cord stop. Always keep the cord out of the reach of children.

Vertical Blinds, Continuous Loop Systems and Drapery Cords

• These window coverings require looped cords to function. Do not cut the loops. Instead, install a permanent tie-down device to the floor, wall or window jamb so the cord or chain is pulled tight.

Furniture Placement Safety Tips

• Never put a crib or a young child’s bed near a window. Even if you have child guards on the windows, the temptation to investigate cords from hanging window coverings is strong for a young child.

• Because young children climb, never put a chair, sofa, bench or even a bookcase near a window with a dangling cord. Children climb on furniture, play with cords or chains and can become entangled.

Be safe and protect your children. Regularly do an inspection of your home environment to make sure you reduce risk to the best of your ability.

Renovating is an exciting experience as you set out to realize your ideas and plans for your home. The Canadian Renovators’ Council of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association offers a number of golden rules to help homeowners achieve their goals.

Know what you want. Taking the necessary time to explore the possibilities for your home and developing a firm plan paves the road for a smooth process from beginning to end.

Professional renovation specialists will assist you in working out a solid approach to your project. The process begins with the fundamentals-discuss your needs and desires with your renovator and how you want your “new” home to look, feel and work for you and your family. Once you have a clear idea of the “big picture,” your renovator will help you work out all the details.

Establish a realistic budget. Knowing early on how much money you have to spend allows you to focus on the work that is possible. Experienced renovators will provide sound cost advice and recommendations.

Sit down with your lender and discuss the amount you can reasonably afford and the most suitable financing options. Remember that your budget should cover everything that may arise from the renovation, including such items as new drapery, blinds, furniture and appliances.

Plan for the long term. Thinking ahead avoids short-term renovations that may need to be redone in the future. Discuss your short- and long-term goals openly with your renovator. Professional renovators will conduct a thorough inspection of your home and offer suggestions for the most effective use of your budget.

Make sure references are for work similar to yours. Most homeowners check with a renovator’s past clients to find out if they were satisfied with the process and the results. But there is more to a reference check than that, according to experienced renovators. You want to assure yourself that the renovator is the right person for your job. For instance, if you are upgrading your kitchen, make sure that the renovator has relevant experience and satisfied clients for that type of work.

Likewise, if you are planning a major overhaul of your home, you will want to know that the renovator has the required managerial experience along with the technical expertise.

Don’t choose on price alone. While it is always tempting to go for the lowest price, you need to consider the implications of doing so. Will the low-bid renovator agree to a binding contract? Carry insurance to protect workers on your job? Complete the job to your satisfaction? Warranty the work? Or still be in business if you need to call back? Likewise, don’t jeopardize the quality of the overall renovation by compromising on the quality of products or materials.

Protect yourself. Dealing with a professional renovator is your greatest protection against an incompetent or unfinished job. A written contract spells out the arrangements between you and your renovator and describes your renovation in detail. Professional renovators also carry Workers’ Compensation, insurance and any licenses required by your province.

And don’t buy from a door-to-door salesperson without carefully checking out the company. Discuss the company with friends and family. Contact your local Home Builders’ Association to see if the company is a member, and check with the Better Business Bureau.

Information courtesy of Canadian Home Builders Association. For further information on new and remodeling homes, contact them on their Web site at www.chba.ca.

Our love affair with decks is very understandable. Decks allow us to maximize our outdoor life. Decks expand our house size at a lower cost. Decks can help us take advantage of views, or protect our privacy. Decks reduce the amount of grass we have to cut. Decks are a great place for the barbecue, the hot tub, flower pots, pets, kids and construction problems.

Wood rot, water leaks and slippery surfaces are but a few of the more common deck problems. Poor choice of materials and poor construction practices tend to make decks a source of constant repair and problems. But new materials and techniques allow the construction of decks which can be regarded as permanent structures with minimal maintenance.

Wooden decks have become more popular than ever with the introduction of pressure-treated lumber. Pressure-treated lumber is impregnated with various types of salts which prevent wood decay. This type of lumber is available in various grades, from lumber that can be in contact with the ground to appearance-trade lumber which can be used for the most visible portion of the structure.

The use of pressure-treated lumber by itself is not enough to guarantee the quality of the deck. Well-built decks are characterized by the following:

A deck may not need a foundation as hefty as that of a house, but it does need a good foundation. The best foundations for decks tend to be poured concrete footings with metal post saddles. Small decks or those low to the ground can be built on concrete pier blocks.

If the deck is fastened to the house, it must be flashed in a way that will prevent water entry to the house. Nails and other fasteners, as well as flashing, joist hangers and hardware must be resistant to water and weather. Under normal conditions, hot-dipped galvanized material is a good choice. If your deck is near saltwater, you may want to use stainless steel.

Some pressure-treated lumber has the capacity of withstanding soil contact for 40 years and more, but it will most likely last longer if it is kept out of the soil.

Pressure-treated lumber will tend to crack if not coated with a water sealer. The water sealer should be applied at the time of construction, and subsequently, every three years.

Decks built with non-pressure-treated lumber, including decks built with cedar, require periodic treatment with a wood preservative. Old-growth cedar, “heartwood” lumber, has a relatively high resistance to rot. But most of the cedar we find in the lumberyard is relatively young “sapwood” and will start to rot in a few years unless it is treated at construction time and every three to five years afterwards. Even if you find and can afford top-quality cedar, the application of a wood preservative will help protect your investment, and a quickly disappearing wood product.

Can you name a small, inexpensive device in your home that protects against electric shock? If you answered a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), you’re absolutely right. If you didn’t, read on.

GFCIs provide protection against electric shock from ground faults, or contact with live electrical parts by a grounded individual. Ground faults are often the result of damaged cords or appliances, poorly insulated wires or mishandled products. They occur when the electrical current strays outside of the path where it should flow. If your body provides a path for the current to the ground, you may be injured.

Homeowners can have a qualified electrician install GFCIs in outlets that are outdoors, or in bathrooms, kitchens or wherever products may come in contact with water. By doing so, more than two-thirds of all residential electrocutions could be prevented.

GFCIs function very simply. They constantly monitor electricity flowing into a circuit to detect a loss of current. If it does detect any, it will quickly shut off the current flowing through that circuit, even if it’s too small for a fuse or circuit breaker to detect.

There are three types of GFCIs for homes:

1. o Wall receptacle GFCIs which are used in place of standard receptacles.

2. o Circuit breaker GFCIs, installed in a panel box.

3. o Portable GFCIs which can be plugged into receptacles or are part of extension cords.

Once a GFCI is installed, it must be checked monthly to make sure it’s working properly.

No one can fully protect their children and family members. All that one can do as a parent is to provide the tools and training that will enable a child to best handle any situation that confronts them.

The following are some important tips to begin with:

Children should be taught to call attention to themselves when they think they are in danger. Teach them to yell something specific, such as “Help, this is not my father!”

Meet and know your child’s friends and parents.

A child should not only know their full name, but should also know their parents’ full names. “Mummy and Daddy” are not in the phone book.

Do not allow your child to wear their names on their T-shirts, lunch boxes, jackets, jewellery, etc., in public. Even the most aware child will likely respond to someone addressing them by name.

Older children should not be allowed to wear a key on a string. The obvious connotation is that the child will be unattended at home.

Keep dental records or finger-prints and current photos of your child handy.

Unless a family friend detects a dangerous situation, no friends should be allowed to give your child a ride in their car.

No one should be allowed to pick your child up from day care or school unless the circumstances are known to the child and school in advance. It is a good idea to use a password system in the case of emergencies.

Before going shopping for a Christmas tree determine where you will place it. Then choose a tree that is the right height and diameter for your location. Choosing a tree that is the right size is important, cutting large sections from the top or bottom may change the natural cone shape of the tree.

Keeping a cut tree in tip-top shape throughout the holidays in your home will depend on how long it was on the lot. The longer on the lot, the quicker the decline. So look for a tree with an appealing color, agreeable fragrance and freshness.

There are several ways to check for freshness. One way is to gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull. A few needles may come off. If a lot of needles come off, the tree is not fresh. Another way is to bend a needle. The needle should bend and not break. If the needle breaks, the tree is not fresh.

Another freshness test is to look around the base of the tree and see if there is an excessive amount of needles on the ground.

The last test for freshness is to shake or bounce the tree on the ground to see if needles are firmly attached. It is best to do all the tests to be sure you are buying a fresh tree.

If the tree lot offers to bale or net your tree (a system where you use nylon net to hold all the branches in), it will make the tree easier to transport. It you have to pay a little extra, it is well worth it. The netting makes it much easier to get the tree through the doors and halls.

If you are not going to put your tree up immediately when you get it home, put the tree in an unheated area such as a porch or garage to protect it from the wind and sun until you are ready. If the tree is to remain in this sheltered place for a couple of days, put the tree in a bucket of water (unless there is a chance the water will freeze and your tree becomes frozen in a giant ice cube).

Before you set up the tree, make a fresh 45 percent cut across the base of the trunk (just above the original cut) and place the tree in a tree stand that holds at least two or three litres of water.

Real trees need water daily. Never let your tree go dry. A seal of dried sap will form over the cut stump if the water drops below the base of the tree cut, preventing the tree from absorbing water when the tree stand is refilled. If the seal does form, another fresh cut will need to be made.

A tree will absorb over four litres of water in the first 24 hours and one or more litres a day thereafter. Water is important because it will prevent the needles from drying and the boughs from drooping.

Place your tree out of a high traffic area and away from any heat source such as fireplaces, heater vents, space heaters, television sets, etc. If your tree is leaning, secure it with some twine or strong string.

One final thought, the longer the tree is in your home, the drier it will become, and the greater the fire threat.

Do you eat bread or cheese or use antibiotics? Then you have been enjoying the fruits of biotechnology. Biotechnology is the use of living organisms, or their parts, to produce new products.

Many traditional food making processes depend on living organisms. Yeast is used to make bread rise. Bacteria is used to “age” cheese and make sour cream. Some medicines, such as antibiotics, are manufactured from substances produced from other organisms, such as bacteria and fungi. In fact, the scientist who discovered penicillin started out with a piece of moldy bread. Today scientists are refining these biotechnology methods so that the results are controlled and specific.

Do you know what long-stemmed roses and low fat pork have in common? Both are the result of very old agricultural practices of biotechnology that improve the characteristics of plants or animals through selective breeding. For hundreds of years farmers and scientists have created new and better products for consumers by breeding the plants or animals with the most desirable characteristics.

The New Wave of Biotechnology

Since the 1970s, researchers have learned how to take these traditional techniques one step further. They have shortened the plant breeding process and increased its precision by working directly with the genes of organisms. Genes are the hereditary units that form the “blueprint” of an organism. Scientists can remove or change specific genes that determine the particular characteristics of one organism and move those genes into another organism’s genetic makeup.

The movement of genes into other organisms, more commonly known as “genetic engineering” or “recombinant DNA technology,” is the newest technique of biotechnology.

Combining genetic engineering with conventional breeding methods can be a quicker, more accurate way of producing new foods and new plant and animal varieties. For example, a crop breeder can now introduce a new characteristic into a crop variety in five or six years, rather than the 12 to 15 years it previously took using conventional methods. It is now possible to breed crops with new characteristics, like resistance to insects, frost or disease, using genetic engineering. And some of these new crops will reduce the need for chemicals in agriculture.

How Will Biotechnology Affect You?

Biotechnology could become as much a part of our everyday lives as the computer has. It will change the way many common goods and materials are produced.

It will also generate many new products, from foods to fertilizers to fuel. Better quality and greater selection are the future of agriculture.

Biotechnology will also have major payoffs for Canada’s economy. It is creating opportunities for farmers, food processors and distributors to sell new or improved goods in Canada and around the world. It is enabling farmers to achieve greater yields, assuring higher levels of food production to meet increasing world demand for food.

Biotechnology Working for You

Improved crops. Working with plant genes, scientists are developing new disease- and pest- resistant crop varieties. They are also developing new crop varieties able to withstand cold temperatures, drought and other environmental stresses.

Enhanced food and feed products. Fast-rising dough, new processes to clarify fruit juices and wine, low-calorie sweeteners, cereals with higher nutritional quality, leaner meat-these are among the new products biotechnology will impact. New processes are being developed to add nutritional value to many human foods and animal feeds.

Better, healthier animals. Biotechnology can be used to improve animal health and nutrition. Using biotechnology, scientists can produce more effective, less expensive vaccines to combat animal diseases like foot and mouth disease and rabies.

Chemical substitutes. In addition to traditional chemicals, farmers will be able to choose from a wider range of “environmentally compatible” biological pest control products and fertilizers. Specially bred plants will have more effective defenses against pests.

New disease diagnostic kits. Disease diagnostic kits, using cell products such as enzymes and antibodies, will allow quicker and more exact identification of disease organisms in crops and animals.

What is the Canadian Federal Government Doing?

As new technologies emerge, the federal government responds to protect the Canadian public and to keep pace with new developments. The lead agency responsible for the regulation of agricultural products, including those developed through the application of biotechnology, is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), although it is not the only federal agency involved.

By law, researchers and manufacturers must meet specific safety requirements before testing potential agricultural products outside the laboratory, and before selling or importing these products. The federal government evaluates these products to assess possible risks to the environment and human and animal health before the commercial use of products is allowed.

The legal responsibilities of researchers and manufacturers of agricultural products, including those produced by biotechnology, are contained in the following federal acts and regulations: Food and Drugs, Health of Animals, Canada Agricultural Products, Feeds, Fertilizers, Seeds, Meat Inspection, Pest Control Products and Plant Protection.

The CFIA evaluates and conducts safety assessments of fertilizers, seeds, plants or plant products, animals, animal vaccines and feeds. Health Canada conducts safety and efficacy assessments of novel food products, veterinary drugs, and through the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, pest control products.

In the development of its regulations and guidelines, the CFIA confers with many Canadians with differing interests including scientists, industry representatives, public-interest groups and expert advisers from other federal departments, including Health, Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries and Oceans.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is involved in the advancement of agricultural products, both domestically and internationally. AAFC researchers also apply the techniques of biotechnology for the improvement of agricultural and agri-food products and processes. As a developer of agricultural products of biotechnology, AAFC must meet the same legal responsibilities as all other researchers and manufacturers.

True tales of floral fiascoes, ruinous receptions, honeymoon horrors and other bridal calamities! Wedding nightmares, as told to the editors of Brides Magazine: A bride’s veil catches fire. A $5,000 diamond ring accidentally disappears into the plumbing. Instead of the “Wedding March,” a muddled organist delivers a rousing rendition of “You’re A Grand Old Flag” as the amazed bride walks down the aisle.

Every wedding offers almost unlimited potential for disaster, and here’s the proof: a delightful collection of outrageous but true tales drawn from the files of America’s most popular bridal magazine. From collapsed wedding cakes to wedding day hurricanes and seasoned with anecdotes on the nuptials of famous personages, this is a delightful compendium of bridal disasters, the natural conclusion to “Dates From Hell” and a riotous reminder to newlyweds that things could have been much, much worse!

Wedding Readings, Centuries of Writing and Rituals on Love and Marriage, selected by Eleanor Munro. Finally available in paperback, Wedding Readings is a must for every engaged couple. Culled from both sacred and secular texts, with passages suitable for either traditional or informal ceremonies of all denominations, the selections include pieces from Plato and Sappho, Shakespeare and Donne, Pascal and Montaigne, as well an Aztec love song, a Buddhist homily, an Irish blessing and some surprising passages from the Old and New Testaments. With a myriad of choices, Wedding Readings will help couples add a special, personal touch to their ceremony.

Weddiquette, the answers to all your wedding etiquette questions by Yetta Gruen. There’s no doubt that weddings are events fraught with all the best and worst of emotions. The decision of whose names to put on a wedding announcement for a bride with divorced parents can cause not only confusion, but embarrassment and hurt feelings as well. This indispensable and friendly guide from a former Washington Post bridal editor will help you plan every stage of your wedding with ease. With hundreds of Q&A style anecdotes, this is a witty and informative resource for anyone embarking on the road to marital bliss.

Creative Weddings, an up-to-date guide to making your wedding as unique as you are. By the authors of You Can’t Hurry Love: An intimate look at first marriage after 40. Finally, a wedding planner to help couples who want to forge their own traditions. Authors Laurie Levin and Laura Golden Bellotti provide an upbeat, inspirational approach for older couples, couples who have experienced divorce, couples with step families, couples with children, interfaith couples and all newlyweds to be who want to have a unique wedding. This book will be an indispensable planner for couples who want their weddings to be memorable, beautiful and completely personal.

Men’s wedding attire is dictated by the formality of the wedding and by the style and colour of the bride’s gown. The groom, groomsmen and bride’s father should be dressed in similar suits, although the groom may want to add a few touches that make him stand out from the others; perhaps a colourful waistcoat or tie. He may also wear a boutonniere that’s a different colour from those worn by the ushers.

Formal weddings give men a rare opportunity to dress like the lord of the manor they may secretly aspire to be. The traditional evening outfit includes a full-dress tailcoat with matching trousers, white waistcoat, white bow tie and wing-collared shirt. A black top hat and white gloves can be worn by the dedicated clotheshorse. A daytime formal wedding might call for a cutaway coat, grey-striped trousers, grey waistcoat, wing-collared shirt and ascot or striped tie. A top hat, spats and grey gloves finish off the ensemble for those inclined to finery.

Not every would-be manor lord has a cutaway coat and waistcoat hanging in the closet, but not to worry. In most weddings the groom, best man and even fathers rent their formalwear. There is a wide selection of tuxedos and suits available for rental, so shop around for the store that offers the best quality at a reasonable price. If possible, rent everything from the same shop, and if you can’t, at least get the same type of suit for the groom and attendants. Consider having the groom’s father dress in the same attire as the attendants, since it will make for a more consistent look in the wedding photos. The bride’s father always dresses in the prescribed wedding suit.

At a less formal wedding, the male attendants can wear suits as opposed to tuxedos, but they must be similar to one another in style and colour. For evening or winter weddings, navy, black or dark grey is generally worn. A white or ivory suit can be worn for summer afternoons. If the groom’s suit is white or ivory, it should match the bride’s dress; if she wears ivory, he should not wear stark white.

Informal weddings and theme weddings free the groom to be as fanciful as he likes. I’ve seen men stride down the aisle in Edwardian suits, Scottish kilts, and jeans and cowboy boots. Mountain-bike designer Charlie Cunningham and his bride, bike racer Jacquie Phelan, were wed outdoors in customized cycle gear: black bicycle shorts and tuxedo shirt for him, white bicycle shorts and a frilly lace shirt for her.

Passion and a sense of fun are what make your wedding unique.

Go to as many galleries as possible and over a reasonable period of time before deciding to buy any work of art. Don’t rush the process.

Many art buyers, especially newcomers to the art scene, find something they like-but a year or so later discover it no longer has the same appeal to them.

What often happens is that the individual’s eye usually evolves since they purchased the painting. That’s because art has a visual language that evokes a certain emotional response. It has its own magic that we unlock over time.

By taking the time and visiting a number of galleries, we begin to develop that visual language. Children have that gift but lose it as they grow up.

So do the research and get an overview of what’s out there before making a commitment. Second, get the advice of an expert, especially if you’re buying art for your home or office for the first time.

There are many good consultants out there who can help you make your initial purchase-art that reflects your particular taste. A good consultant should also serve as an educator. If you are fairly knowledgeable about art and you’ve done your homework, find a reputable art gallery or use a consultant. A trusted expert can make a considerable difference, especially when it comes to historical art.

There are two types of art, contemporary works by living artists; and historical works by dead artists. In contemporary art, you don’t get the same kind of problems that can reduce the value of an historical painting-forgeries and damaged art.

This is not such a problem with contemporary art because, in most cases, the dealer works directly with the artist. An art dealer is also important if you’re collecting contemporary paintings. You want someone who shows the works of a number of artists, who has the reputation for selling quality art and who knows the artist and can resell the painting should you need to at a later date.

This is important, because there is not a very active secondary market for contemporary art at the moment. Otherwise, when you buy contemporary art, be prepared to live with it or donate it and get a tax write-off.

Be forewarned, however, that not all paintings are recognized for donations by revnue and taxation services. Each painting must be assessed by the Critical Properties Expert Review Board, which provides an appraisal certificate of the painting’s value. That’s the other thing. Buy through a dealer who can tell you whether the artist is likely to be acceptable to this board. It will not, for example, accept donations from weekend painters. A good dealer will carry artists who are acceptable to the board.

If you’ve made up your mind to invest in art, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Price is not necessarily a criterion of value. Some people believe the higher the price, the better the painting. That’s simply not true. Contemporary art is more affordable. Prices for young contemporary artists range from $1,500 to $15,000, even as high as $25,000.

Keep in mind that critics have their views. One may regard a certain artist as brilliant but others may see him or her as run of the mill.

The only thing that will resolve this is time. In 100 years, we’ll know who the great artists of our time were. That’s why contemporary art is a bigger risk. Historical art has already gone through this process.

Normally, historical art is purchased at auctions, from an art gallery or a private collector. In the case of historical art, knowing something about the dealer is crucial. Prices for historical art are significantly higher, especially those pieces where we have some knowledge of their provenance. It also offers the best returns for investors.

Think of historical art as blue-chip stocks. Unlike contemporary art, the more it costs, the safer your investment. Some senior contemporary artists might also be classed as blue chip-but only a few. Historical artists are dead and have an established record in the marketplace, where the majority of sales are resales.

Be extra careful about paintings showing up at auctions. Take the time to have the painting examined by an art consultant. Put it under a blue light to find out whether it’s been overpainted or restored. Restoration is not in itself a problem-unless it’s been done badly. All the same, it does affect value.

What about returns? That depends on the market. In a good market-and with the right artist, you can double your money in a year, even 10 times your original investment within three or four years. These are rare occasions. But it does happen.

Best strategy? Buy for a 10-year hold. There are exceptions, but no one can really predict which artists will take off-much like the stock market. We can only make educated guesses.

In the past, art has tended to follow the real estate market, but with one notable difference. In the 1990s, real estate prices dropped by as much as 30 percent following the big run-up in the late 1980s. Contemporary art did not. It just didn’t go anywhere and drifted until 1997. In the historical market, quality maintained its value.

Ninety-five percent of homes have at least one smoke alarm. That explains why far fewer people die in home fires now than back in the 1970s. Smoke alarms save lives.

Smoke alarms detect smoke in the early stages of a fire and sound an alarm, giving you precious time to escape.

Investigations into home fire deaths very often find that a smoke alarm did not sound. It may have been disconnected or not in working order. The batteries may have been dead, or someone may have taken them out.

Most fatal fires start at night. Smoke alone won’t necessarily wake you up. In fact, the fumes could put you into an even deeper sleep. Often, victims never wake up. Only a working smoke alarm can save your life!

Make sure your smoke alarms are working. A dead unit is worse than none at all-it can give you a false sense of security.

Smoke Alarm Basics

When you buy a smoke alarm, look for the ULC label. This label ensures the product meet regulated standards. Read the manufacturer’s instructions so you know how to install, maintain and test it.

You need a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Single-level homes and apartments should have smoke alarms near the kitchen and all sleeping areas.

Test your alarm monthly by pushing the test button. Once a year, use a smouldering cotton string, cigarette or incense until the smoke makes the alarm sound. If the alarm is battery-powered and doesn’t sound, replace the battery and try again. If it’s electrically connected to household circuits and doesn’t sound, check the fuse and try again. In either case, if the alarm still isn’t working, replace the entire unit.

Replace the batteries every year or when you hear intermittent beeping. Don’t use rechargeable batteries. Unlike regular batteries, they lose their charge without emitting any warning signal.

Smoke alarms can be electrically powered, battery powered or a combination of both. Whatever kind you have, remember-they don’t last forever. Err on the side of safety-replace them every five years with new ones.

When smoke alarms become plugged up they may not work, even if the batteries are still good. Every six month, clean the inside of battery-powered units with the soft brush attachment on your vacuum. For electric units, shut off the power and vacuum the outside vents; when you turn the power back on, test the unit. Clean smoke alarms more often if there’s a smoker in the house.

Make sure everyone in your home recognizes the sound of the alarm and knows what to do in case of a fire. Know two ways out of every room and have a prearranged meeting place outside. Practice your home escape plan regularly.

Once out, stay out, and call the fire department from the nearest phone. Never go back into your home until the fire department says it is safe.

Types Of Smoke Alarms

A flaming fire burns combustibles quickly, spreads rapidly and generates a lot of heat but only a little smoke. Cooking fat or grease, flammable liquids, newspapers, paint and cleaning solutions all burn quickly and create more flames than smoke. Ionization-type smoke alarms typically respond first to fast-flaming fires. They are best suited for rooms which contain highly combustible materials.

A smouldering fire produces a lot of smoke but little heat. It may smoulder for hours before bursting into flame. Large pieces of furniture, such as sofas, chairs, mattresses and countertops burn slowly and create more smoke than flames. Photoelectric-type smoke alarms typically respond first to slow-mouldering fires and are less prone to be nuisance alarms near the kitchen area. These models are best-suited for living rooms, bedrooms and near kitchens.

For maximum protection, install at least one ionization- and one photoelectric-type smoke alarm on each level of your home.

Young drivers have always been involved in a disproportionate number of accidents. In fact, people under age 20 make up five percent of drivers, but account for 10 percent of traffic fatalities. Without running through all the rules of safe driving, here are a few tips new drivers should keep in mind when they hit the road, regardless of their age.

Investigate driving schools thoroughly before choosing one. Check out exactly what and how you’ll be taught, and switch schools if you’re not satisfied. Don’t look for shortcuts. Passing a driving test doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a competent driver. It’s the skills you learn in driving school, not the license in your pocket, that will determine your abilities behind the wheel.

If your driving experience has been mostly under ideal conditions, be ready to adjust when the road conditions change, such as in snow and rain. That means decreasing your speed and increasing the distance between you and other vehicles.

Like weather conditions, nightfall affects how you should drive. At night, you can see only one-sixth the distance as during the day. Your forward view is limited by the range of your headlights, and in rain, snow or fog, that range is limited even more. Reduce your speed accordingly.

Do you have night myopia? You may not realize this until you start driving at night, but if you have trouble focusing and seeing in the dark, make an appointment with your eye doctor.

As a passenger you may not pay much attention to the route. When you’re driving, however, you must be ready to make all your moves. Plan your route before you head off, and anticipate things like exits. Making hesitant or sudden lane changes or turns puts everyone on the road at risk.

“Don’t drink and drive” is one of the most important safety rules for all ages. This is even more important for people who are inexperienced with the effects of alcohol or who don’t drink often. If you’re out with friends where alcohol is served, appoint a designated driver. If you’re a passenger, never get into the car with a driver who has been drinking. Keep some extra money on hand for a cab, or get a ride with someone else.

Just because you have your license doesn’t mean your driving education has to end. Other defensive driving programs can increase your safety skills. It’s a lot cheaper investment than paying for accident repairs or higher insurance rates.

Today more and more parents are looking for ways to help prepare their children for school. When you go out to shop for educational toys, where do you begin?

No matter how promising, if a toy is not fun, it will gather dust. Play for young children is important for their social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. When children play, they are learning how to get along with others, to use their imagination, to deal with their emotions and feelings, to act out adult behaviour, to develop their fine and gross motor skills, to concentrate, to problem solve and much more. Children are born with a natural curiosity and a desire to learn.

Children learn best with activities that are geared at their own level. There needs to be a balance between a child’s abilities and their desire to learn a new skill. You can’t expect toddlers to print their names. They have neither the physical ability, that is the fine motor skills, nor the desire or interest to learn how to print.

An educational toy is any toy that actively involves a child physically, mentally or socially. A toy that is open-ended allows a child to play with it in many different ways. If a child sits and passively watches a toy perform, there is little educational value in the toy. Children must be able to control the outcome of toys for them to be considered educational.

Activities need to be appropriate to the age of the child. Children learn when activities are interesting and challenging without being too difficult. Remember that when a child experiences success with a new task, they will want to learn more.

Children have individual learning styles. A method of learning that works for one child may not work for another. Even within a family one child may master a skill quickly while another finds it difficult. Some children seem to learn easily and naturally, others need a lot of repetition and review, and for others rote learning is best. Parents must recognize these differences and avoid comparing children.

Children learn from concrete, active experiences. There are many abstract concepts that are learned best through hands-on activities. Concepts such as hard, soft, thick, thin, furry, fast and slow are just a few. “Round” takes on new meaning when a child learns that you can’t get a square peg into a round hole. Many children are able to grasp new concepts more easily when they use manipulatives-things that they actually touch, feel and hold in their hands.

Basic Skills

Infancy is a time for learning about the environment by developing the senses of sight, touch, sound, taste and smell. Visually appealing and pleasant-sounding mobiles and activity gyms will attract an infant’s attention and encourage eye-focusing. Clutch balls and rattles develop the basic skills of reaching and grasping.

Increasing mobility and greater co-ordination demand different types of toys to stimulate healthy development. Fill-and-dump play and toys for stacking, nesting and sorting are helpful in the development of these skills.

Splashing in water is a lot of fun for children. Any water toy that allows children to learn about water’s properties, such as volume and capacity, empty and full, or floating and sinking, are educational.

Children need to act out their environment to help them understand the world around them and to prepare themselves for adult roles. Toys which enhance imaginative play are very important to children’s healthy development, as they help them to play out and to resolve daily occurrences in both their own and the adult world. Playing house, pirates or trains is role-playing, and through this mode of play they develop skills in values, attitudes, language and patience. In a child’s imagination, a doll lives, cries, laughs, eats and shares life’s experiences. What better way to teach a child about life where anything is possible than to encourage imaginative play.

Toys That Teach

Building sets come in all shapes and sizes and for all ages. For the younger child, building sets consist of simple blocks, stacking toys and put-together and take-apart toys such as Duplo and Mega Bloks. An older child can manipulate smaller pieces and build more complex structures. Gear systems, motors and electrical components can be added to a set to extend play value. Building a structure includes following a set of instructions step by step, then working with words and/or 3-D pictures to understand the building process. This teaches patience, dexterity, motor skills, creativity, eye-hand coordination, problem-solving, proportion and dimension.

There are a number of arts and crafts kits available today that encourage experimenting with different materials (sand, clay, felt) and different hobbies (corking, weaving, tapestry, stained glass). These teach experimentation, eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, patience and creativity. Science kits introduce and demonstrate specific scientific principles and phenomena. Whether they introduce your child to magnets or the human skeleton, these experiences will hopefully encourage and foster a further interest in the subject.

Games and puzzles can also be educational. Games teach cooperation, competition, strategy and sportsmanship. They also help children understand that rules are necessary and allow children to experience winning and losing. There are games for everyone and every mood-silly games, thinking games, games of chance, games of skill, word games, memory games, matching games, trivia games, group games and solitary games. Puzzles teach concentration, manual dexterity and the perception of shape, colour, size and form. Assembling a puzzle requires logical thinking and learning through trial and error. They are an excellent preparation for learning to read.

There should be a special name for the dizzying journey that begins when you realize you must start making arrangements for your wedding now, and ends only when you close the door to your honeymoon suite. Never again will your attention be focused so passionately on a single day.

Couples who have experienced the turmoil and delight of a wedding may assail you with advice, but in the end your wedding belongs to you and your groom alone; it will be an expression of your personalities, hopes and beliefs.

The wedding ceremony is a joyous rite of passage, revered as much by modern folk as it was by our distant ancestors. But unlike couples in earlier times, today’s engaged couples are free to create weddings that celebrate their individuality. Whether it takes place in a wooded glade or a glittering ballroom, your wedding will give you and your groom the rare chance to share, with your families and friends, your vision of the ultimate romantic fantasy.

No matter how well you think you know yourself and your fiancé, preparing for your wedding will reveal new facets of both of you. A free spirit may suddenly decide that only a traditional church wedding will do. A woman who always assumed her wedding would be a small family affair will discover that her fiancé longs for an event worthy of Cecil B. DeMille. Religion, family and childhood dreams all play a part in the creation of a wedding, and each helps set the tone for your wedding style. Such pragmatic concerns as your budget, location and season need to be considered, as well; there’s a direct ratio between how lavish your wedding can be and how many people can attend.

A wedding is a monumental occasion, and it’s the rare couple who agree on every aspect of the festivities. But if you allow yourselves time enough to think things through and plan carefully, you can create the wedding of your dreams.

Can you name a small, inexpensive device in your home that protects against electric shock? If you answered a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), you’re absolutely right. If you didn’t, read on.

GFCIs provide protection against electric shock from ground faults, or contact with live electrical parts by a grounded individual. Ground faults are often the result of damaged cords or appliances, poorly insulated wires or mishandled products. They occur when the electrical current strays outside of the path where it should flow. If your body provides a path for the current to the ground, you may be injured.

Homeowners can have a qualified electrician install GFCIs in outlets that are outdoors, or in bathrooms, kitchens or wherever products may come in contact with water. By doing so, more than two-thirds of all residential electrocutions could be prevented.

GFCIs function very simply. They constantly monitor electricity flowing into a circuit to detect a loss of current. If it does detect any, it will quickly shut off the current flowing through that circuit, even if it’s too small for a fuse or circuit breaker to detect.

There are three types of GFCIs for homes:

• o Wall receptacle GFCIs which are used in place of standard receptacles.

• o Circuit breaker GFCIs, installed in a panel box.

• o Portable GFCIs which can be plugged into receptacles .

Once a GFCI is installed, it must be checked monthly to make sure it’s working properly.

Stay in touch with family and friends this holiday season and all year.

Make video phone calls, send video postcards or build home pages personalized by video clips, snapshots and sounds they’ve captured and reproduced.

Tip One:

Add sight and sound to your Holiday letters. Make this year’s letter come alive with real video and sound. Add video clips from a family reunion or vacation, or a few snapshots from birthday parties, anniversaries, graduations or piano recitals. Let your family hear junior’s first word or see his first steps and bring every one up-to-speed on this year’s memorable milestones.

Tip Two:

Build a Holiday web-based photo album or movie and then easily create your own Internet family page, and fill it with images and information you’d like to share, import clips of previous holidays, or pop in a few of your favourite holiday songs, traditions or recipes and make your family page a fun and exciting place to go for interesting tidbits. You can easily make a movie by combining video clips, still images and sound clips, then add title cards and special effects to create a family treasure you’ll want to share long after the holidays have ended.

Tip Three:

Follow up with a video “Thank You” note. Let everyone know how much you appreciate their thoughtful gifts by sending your video thanks. Wouldn’t grandma be tickled pink to see you model that sweater she spent months knitting? And you can be sure mom and dad would love to see where you hung that new painting or how you spent that gift certificate.

Doing things like this will add to the love and appreciation you have for each other. Keeping in touch speaks volumes especially during Holidays.

The Nutcracker is based on a the story The Nutcracker And The Mouse King written by E.T.A. Hoffman. What is seen on the stage today has changed much from the original story of a little girl named Marie in a loveless household fighting bloody battles against a mouse king with seven heads.

When Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a play, it was actually based on the book that had been revised by Alexander Dunas. His version reflects more of what we have come to love as the Nutcracker Ballet.

The Party Scene

It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house-a large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable. The Stahlbaums are having their annual Christmas party and everyone is arriving. The children, Fritz and Clara, are so excited and welcome their friends to come join in play and dancing.

As the party begins to get going, Fritz and Clara’s godfather Herr Drosselmeyer arrives. He is always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer presents two life-size dancing dolls to the delight of the party, adults included.

The children begin to open gifts and Drosselmeyer presents his to Fritz and Clara. Although his gift to Fritz is quite nice, his gift to Clara, a beautiful Nutcracker is the hit of the party. Fritz, being a bit jealous and with a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken and Drosselmeyer knows it. He attempts to repair the Nutcracker and hands it back to Clara. Soon the guests depart and the family goes to bed. But Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, where strange things begin to happen.

The Fight Scene

As the tree grows, the room fills with mice, lead by the mighty Mouse King. The Nutcracker comes to life and engages the mice in battle. Although he summons his soldiers, he cannot stop the mighty Mouse King.

The Mouse King captures Clara as the soldiers seem helplessly outnumbered. The Nutcracker can go on no longer and is also captured. Clara makes a final daring blow to the Mouse King and the Mouse King goes down. The mice all swarm off as they mourn their leader.

The Land Of Snow

The Nutcracker turns into a prince and sets Clara out on a journey to a land of snow and enchanted forests where she is welcomed by dancing Snowflakes.

The Land Of Sweets

In the land of sweets, Clara receives a celebration of dances:
The Spanish Dance
The Arabian Dance
The Chinese Dance
The Mirliton Dance
The Waltz Of Flowers
As a finale the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a Pas De Deux.

The Dream Ends

Clara awakes from her dream and finds herself by the tree with her beloved Nutcracker.

For more information go to the Web site at www.nutcrackerballet.net.