3 Tips to Becoming a Successful Step Parent

Being a step parent can be more difficult than being a biological parent. When you are a child's biological parent, there is no doubt the level of authority you have over your child. You know it, and your child knows it. But a step parent's role is often more of a gray area. There is a delicate balance between authority and friendship that will ultimately be different in every home, but if you keep these step parenting tips in mind, the road to your new parent-child relationship will be a lot smoother.

1. You are a friend, not a parent. You have heard the saying time and time again from biological parents: "I'm your parent, not your friend." For biological parents, this is fine. However, unless you become a child's stepparent when he/she is very young, this mentality will only be met with hostility and rebellion. This goes double for teenagers. If you try to become the "new dad" or "new mom," a teenager will go out of his/her way to show you how very NOT a real parent you are. Unless you want to enter a power struggle, it's best to start out as friends first.

2. Offer small gifts of friendship. Yes, these should be tangible at first, but do not get carried away; your stepchild will see right through you. This does not mean you must buy your step daughter a pony if she wants one. Think "small but meaningful." Is your stepchild stressed out about an upcoming test? Give him your lucky rabbit's foot from when you were a kid, or take your teenage daughter to Starbucks to celebrate when the test is over.

3. Be available, but not overbearing. This is probably the most important tip, but it can be hard to find the delicate balance between building a relationship with your stepchild and crowding him/her. Ask how her day was, but accept "fine" as a response. Again, this is especially important with teenagers. At this age, kids are much more interested in talking to friends than parents, and you should not take it personally. Show an interest, and then give your stepchild space to open up to you when he/she is ready. Ask your stepchild to tell you about the concert or slumber party last week. Offer to teach your stepchild something: sports, cooking, homework help, etc. If he doesn't accept your help right away, that's ok. Let him know that the offer still stands whenever he changes his mind. He will come around eventually, and he will appreciate that you gave him his space.

Follow these tips in your daily interactions with your stepchildren, and they will likely respect you and begin opening up to you soon. If you force yourself into your stepchild's life and try to take over as the "new dad" or "new mom," you will have the double duty of first repairing the relationship, then building a positive one.

What Can A Herbal Wonder Drug Do For Your Heart

All of us know garlic which is most often used as a seasoning or a condiment. You either like it or hate it when you see it on or smell it from your food. Garlic, whether raw or cooked, is famous for its strong characteristic odor. But, are you aware that garlic can be used medically besides its culinary purposes. In fact, garlic has long been considered as a herbal "Wonder Drug".

When crushed or finely chopped, garlic yields allicin, a powerful antibiotic and anti-fungal compound (phytoncide). It also contains ajoene, allicin, enzymes, vitamin B, minerals, and flavonoids.

Ajoene, an unsaturated disulfide, is formed from the bonding of three allicin molecules. The strong odor and flavor of garlic comes from Allicin. After a garlic clove is crushed or finely chopped, the release of allicin occurs. When allicin is dissolved in various solvents including edible oils, ajoene is formed. Ajoene can also be found in garlic extract. Ajoene is most stable and most abundant in macerate of garlic (chopped garlic in edible oil).

Scientists have recently found ajoene has antithrombotic (anti-clotting) properties, which helps prevent platelets in the blood from forming blood clots. These properties can potentially reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in humans.

There are at least 12 well designed studies published around the world that confirm that garlic in several forms can reduce cholesterol. The largest study so far was conducted in Germany where 261 patients from 30 general practices were given either garlic powder tablets or a placebo. After a 12 week treatment period, mean serum cholesterol levels dropped by 12% and triglycerides dropped by 17% in the garlic treated group compared to the placebo group.

Scientists found that allicin blocks the enzymes by reacting with one of their important components known as sulfhydryl (SH) groups, or thiols, which are also crucial components of some enzymes that participate in the synthesis of cholesterol. By reacting with and modifying the sulfhydryl groups in those enzymes, allicin may prevent the production of artery clogging cholesterol. This could provide a possible explanation for how garlic lowers the levels of harmful cholesterol.

Nevertheless, it is believed that garlic does have side effects. Due to its strong nature, raw garlic should not be eaten in large quantity as it could produce problems, for example irritation of or even damage to the digestive tract. Also, there are a few people who are allergic to garlic. Symptoms of garlic allergy include skin rash, temperature and headaches. Also, garlic could potentially disrupt anti-coagulants, so it is best avoided before surgery.

Collecting Antique Dolls - A Beginner's Guide

Antique dolls are officially classed as those that were created before 1930. There are a huge range of vintage dolls available to collectors, created from bisque, china, papier mache, wood and wax. Some collectors prefer to focus on just one type of material whereas others like to collect dolls from a particular period of time or just collect them all!

For collectors just starting out, or on a budget, specimens in poorer condition can be a great way to start your collection and restoring them can be rewarding. Antique dolls that come with their original clothes are rare and can reach high prices. Unclothed dolls will be cheaper and if you're handy with a sewing machine you can easily make new clothes that are sympathetic to the original time period. Restoring vintage dolls is a hobby in itself and replacing body parts or purchasing original clothing can be expensive.

If you're buying dolls as a collectible item for their value, try to find examples in good condition without surface cracks and imperfections and with their original clothes if possible. Less rare dolls can be found in good condition for a reasonable price.

Antique dolls can be bought from specialty doll dealers, auctions and on the internet. eBay is a very common way to buy dolls and antiques of all kinds these days, however be sure to buy from a reputable seller and be aware that imperfections can easily be disguised in photos and are not always described fully by less-reputable sellers.

A great way to display your collection is placed in a doll's pram. Antique prams for dolls are also available for sale and are a great collector's item in their own right.

Winter Olympics Only Days Away

Now that SuperBowl 44 is history, the hype and enthusiasm of the sports world turns it's attention to the Olympic winter games which will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia starting this Friday. Hosting country Canada, looks like they will be making a strong showing and will be competing under the catch phrase, "own the podium". No doubt with contenders such as Clara Hughes competing in long track speed skating, Steve Podborski in the downhill and Jessie Vetter who was named Sportswoman of the Year for her successes in hockey, they stand a good chance of being on the medal stand.

While we are considering potential winners, we can not forget about the perennial powerhouses of the winter games, Germany, Norway and Russia. These three countries will be certain to make a statement of their own through the efforts of such gifted athletes as Kati Wilhelm, Magdalena Neuner, Emil Hegle Svendsen, Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin is considered by many to be one of the very best in the hockey world.

Team USA will not be content to simmer on the back burner. They have 31 returning former medalists and another 84 participants who have already had the experience of competing in at least one Olympic. The U.S. team finished 2nd in the last winter Olympics which was held in Torino, Italy in 2006 and 3rd in the winter Olympics of 2002 held in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are hoping to do at least as well in these Olympics by riding on the talents of such athletes as Lindsey Vonn, Shari Davis, Shaun White and Apolo Ohno.

Is a T1 Dedicated Line Right For Your Business?

Is your business considering an upgrade to a T1 line? If so, there are a couple of factors to consider before replacing your DSL connection.

Most businesses consider reliability as the single most important factor when deciding what kind of network connection to purchase. If this applies to your business as well, then definitely replace your DSL connection with a T1 line. While DSL is easy to install and affordable for businesses, it isn't set up to handle commercial applications or large numbers of users. However, a T1 line is geared for larger applications and users.

Reliability of a business's network is key to quickly responding to customer's and employee's needs. Customers utilizing your connection to access your company's databases, server or internet depend on it to be reliable. Employees using the company's e-mail and internet server also depend on a reliable network to get their work done. Reliability and timeliness are key factors in driving your business to success. A business cannot afford to risk employees' productivity levels or the loss of customers due to sub-par network connections. A company needs to think beyond "saving money" on their network connection if it can't support it's staff and customers. If a DSL connection isn't making the grade, then a business needs to seriously consider upgrading to a T1 line.

The second factor when considering an upgrade from a DSL connection to a T1 line is cost. Because the monthly cost of a T1 line can be several times more than a DSL connection, residential customers shouldn't consider a T1 line unless they can write off the expensive on their taxes. What most people don't understand is a DSL connection, when not oversubscribed, can be as fast as a T1 at 1.5Mbps. SDSL (Synchronous DSL) is a business class DSL connection, therefore ranked higher in priority than residential DSL. SDSL isn't oversubscribed to the extent that residential DSL is, resulting in fewer bandwidth restrictions.

In summary, if price is your guiding factor then sign up for DSL, but if reliability is crucial to your business, then purchase a dedicated T1 line.

Your Family Tree - What to Do When You Hit an Ancestor Brick Wall

You will definitely hit one - that brick wall in an ancestor line. We all do, and they are sometimes extremely frustrating. For the beginner in genealogy searches, it can be very disheartening to be stopped at the greatgrandparent level and not be able to get further. Here are several tips to help you have more success and find your way around that brick wall.

Hopefully you have your pedigree chart in front of you - remember this is your guide in your research. Go to the LAST person BEFORE this brick wall ancestor, and taking a piece of paper, start to write out everything you know about this person, all life events, residences, experiences, military, religious affiliation, everything you can possibly find.

On another paper, write out the details of any brothers and sisters of this last person as well, with their life events and residences, as well. Siblings have information on their documents about their parents, and one of them may have the detail(s) you need to fill in your brick wall ancestor.

Keep those papers in front of you and start to speculate about your unknown or poorly-detailed brick wall ancestor. You are going to ask yourself as many questions as you possibly can about this person.

Can you see if children were born in different places? Were some in England, others in Upper Canada? When did that possible immigration take place? What's your best guess? If the eldest child seems to have been born in 1849, perhaps they got married from 1845-1849. Can you find any records about that marriage? Did a widowed ancestor live with a married child? When that widowed ancestor died, the adult child likely filled out their death registration, and MAY have heard details of their parents and/or birth place. Check it out. Did your ancestor own land? - can you find the land records? Did they make a will? Were they members of the local church? How can you find out what records that church may have? What information might organizations or societies of the times have about your missing ancestor? Is there a city/town directory?

Women tend to have few documents or records about them as individuals aside from the basics of birth, marriage, death. They may have been baptised - check those records if they are available. Burials, cemetery listings, and obituaries may have further information to check out. But remember, that as wives, they may also be mentioned in church records, histories of early settlements, pension applications, on land records and more. You are looking for any clue that will help you find a more detailed record.

Always remember to check with any first or second cousins and other extended family members. One cousin may have a story about his father's greatgrandfather which will help you. A grand-uncle may have his grandmother's diary and letters to the old country, to a relative. You may find wonderful treasure if you just ask.

Go back to the siblings of the last person before your brick wall ancestor. Now start looking for any life event documents where the name of the common parent may be on it. Marriage and death documents may list parents' names, including maiden names of mothers (a gold mine!), as well as parents' place of birth. The place of birth may only be a country, or may be a specific place or village. By going back down your chart one step to the last person known, then sideways to siblings, then back up through siblings' documents looking for your ancestor, you may finally be able to find the missing names or information. Roll up your sleeves, and start digging for any clues you can find. Remember to take note of names and naming patterns, as that may also help you speculate about your missing ancestor's possible name.

It is very rewarding to finally find the missing information on your ancestor and break through that brick wall! It may take tedious digging as you go through page after page, document after document, but the reward - priceless! Celebrate your wins!

Enjoy your searches for your ancestors, and remember to ask others for help. By joining your local genealogical society, you will find others who will be pleased to point you in another direction, or make suggestions which may help you search more effectively.