Teens, Think You’re Not A Distracted Driver? Think Again!

One of the leading causes of death among teenagers is traffic accidents. Unfortunately, the most likely individuals who head the list in distracted driving statistics are teenagers and many become swayed by texting or chatting on their cellphones.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Any activity that diverts an individual’s attention from the task of driving safely can be considered distracted driving. Distractions such as eating, drinking, texting, cellphone usage, grooming, chatting with other passengers and adjusting the radio can all be an endangerment to their safety. The driver, passengers and innocent bystanders can be affected by this growing trend, and the statistics can be staggering. Close to 4,000 individuals were killed in accidents involving a distracted driver last year and another 399,000 were injured.

The best way to lower these horrific statistics is through education and a no cell pledge. Fines should be enough to stop teens from texting or using their cellphone while driving, and the amounts can exceed $300 in some areas. Whether you listen to a Los Angeles police officer or an auto accident lawyer in West Palm Beach, you will hear that your insurance rates can also be affected by distracted driving accidents, even if the crash wasn’t serious. Because this is a national problem, high insurance rates will be a factor for everyone.

Taking A “No Cellphone” Pledge

A no cell pledge takes a stand to end distracted driving, and your teen can be an active participant by signing the form. Through this pledge, they agree to never text or chat on the phone when driving. They also agree to speak up if they see their friends, family and other individuals drive distracted. Your teen can also do their part to educate the public about distracted driving, and enlist ways that others can learn to drive phone-free.

Safety Tips To Avoid Distracted Driving

There are a number of reasons why teens head the list in distracted driving. Feelings of invincibility and immaturity lead them to believe that an accident won’t happen to them. To ensure that your teen understands the serious consequences of the situation, you can implement some important safety tips. Parents can begin by setting a good example by driving safe. Other ways your teen can practice safe driving includes turning off the cellphone and keeping it tucked away until you’ve reached your destination.

Cellphones also have options that notify your friends that you’re driving, and you’ll respond when you are able. If you know that you’re going to be driving, don’t text or call anyone before you leave. Music is an important part of your teen’s driving experience and you can try setting your playlist, radio and sound levels before heading out on the road. Finally, if you get lost, drop something on the floor of the car or need to look at your GPS, find a safe location to pull off to the side of the road.

A teen’s mind is filled with thoughts of school, relationships, after school activities and family, and it can be easy for them to get distracted. However, they need to be an active participant in not driving distracted. As a parent, ensuring your teen’s safety is at the forefront of your mind. If they choose not to follow your rules, you can take their car driving privileges away until they can prove they are responsible young adults and realize the seriousness of distracted driving.

Having a teen nephew rapidly approaching the driving age gives Nadine Swayne the motivation to offer this article to parents. At Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, you can speak with an auto accident lawyer in West Palm Beach if your teen is involved in a distracted driving accident. Since 1997, they have handled cases for client’s involved in collisions in south Florida.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/statefarm/7979444605/

Breastfeeding: 4 Reasons Why It’s Important For Your Baby

1. Book Bindings

One of the most surprisingly common historical practices regarding human skin has been the choice to bind books using human skin throughout human history. Dating back to at least the 17th century the procedure is so prevalent it even has its own term (and Wikipedia article!) “Anthropodermic Bibliopegy.” Some of the choices of these book bindings sometimes even seem to be done out irony such as the binding of many Anatomy texts in human skin, intact female nipples on tomes of erotica or the usage of the skin of an African-American man to bind Lincoln, the Unknown. However, sometimes the reasons were more sentimental, people would have the skins of close friends and family used to bind books, and some famous individuals offered to have their skin used to bind editions of their biographies. (Which can seem like a neat idea, actually having a “piece” of that person while reading the biography.) Many of these books still exist today and can be found in the collections at Harvard and Brown University.

2. Lampshades

It’s inarguable that the Nazis committed horrible atrocities and terrible acts upon innocent people during the Second World War. One of the products of their reign of terror is the production of a lampshade made of human skin. Located near Weimar, Germany the Buchenwald concentration camp was horrendous—even by Nazi concentration camp standards. The leader of the camp, Karl-Otto Koch was reportedly incredibly corrupt and terrible. His wife, Ilse Koch, has often had worse treatment nicknamed “The Witch of Buchenwald” among the most mild of her nicknames. Reportedly, Frau Koch would hand pick tattooed Jews for which the skin would be prepared as lampshades for her own personal use. Though many of these are unconfirmed, eyewitnesses have claimed she had done these things and human remains such as shrunken heads and human skins have since been found at the Buchenwald concentration camp.

3. Human Leather Clothing

You might assume that the practice of making clothing out of human leather is an entirely outdated and antiquated practice that no longer exists today. Well, if that’s the case, you’d be wrong. A recently formed United Kingdom based company, “[Hu]manLeather,” is promoting itself as producing the “finest leather known — human leather.” At this time, the company produces shoes, belts and wallets for purchase—all of which price above $14,000 USD. Apparently, there’s a waiting list too, which might be even creepier, because that means people want to wear the flesh of other human beings. But at least one thing is certain, unlike some people, [Hu]manLeather only gets their leather from consenting parties.

4. A War Drum

It seems strange enough to use the skin of a once living human being as the head of a drum. It’s even weirder when you ask for it to be your own skin. Bohemian (modern day Czech Republic) soldier Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha was a well-renowned military commander during the Battle of Grunwald and the Hussite Wars which occurred in the late 14th and early 15th centuries surrounding the Protestant Reformation in Europe at the time. Though on the winning side of both these wars, in 1423 the Hussites experienced inner conflict and erupted into a civil war. Jan, who had contracted the Plague, was dying and as his last wish requested his men flay and tan his body, then have it fitted upon a drum so that he could lead his men into battle even after death.

Dr. Scott Darling is a dermatologist and owner of the Kansas City Skin & Vein Center based in Kansas City, MO. A fan of the weird history of skin, and obviously skin care, Dr. Darling also sits on several boards and is board certified in vein care.

Photo Credit: Jo Andre Johansen (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most common reasons people visit the dentist. When your teeth become stained from poor eating habits or bad oral health, whitening is one of the ways to get them looking back to normal. Dentists will bleach the teeth with a chemical mix that will restore the natural color of the tooth.

Bonding

Dental bonding is a procedure where a dentist applies a tooth colored material to one of your teeth and bonds it together with a visible light.  It is meant to improve the appearance of your teeth.  Bondings are meant to replace crooked or cracked teeth, to close the gap between teeth,to repair decaying teeth, or just to improve the appearance of discolored teeth.

Dental Bridges

These are the most literal of any medical term you will find.  Dental bridges literally bridge a gap between two teeth if the one in between them is missing. They can help restore chewing, eating and smiling abilities, maintaining the shape of your mouth, and keeping your other teeth from moving out of position.

Veneers

Veneers are a small material that a dentist will place over your teeth to improve the aesthetics of your smile. They also can be used for medical purposes. Veneers can help protect your teeth from irreparable damage to it’s surface. They can be either permanent or nonpermanent and are usually given to those in their sixties or later.

Gum Lift

Gum lifts are a procedure that your dentist can provide that will give you a more aesthetically pleasing smile. It is essentially a facelift for your gums, much like the way people are unhappy about their wrinkles or saggy eyelids, having very prevalent gums in a smile can cause that person to become unhappy or self conscious.  A gum lift can also help with medical problems too.  One common problem dentists see regularly are cases of gingivitis.  Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums.  It can be cured with good oral hygiene, but sometimes that isn’t enough.  If the gums continue to hang over the teeth in places that could permanently damage them, a dentist might recommend a gum lift, to cut back some of that extra material in your mouth.

There are a lot of reasons to visit your dentist, and cosmetic dentistry has really taken that to the next level. No longer are dentists only in the health game, but they have entered the beauty game as well.  If cosmetic dentistry is something that you might be interested, chances are, your current dentist is already practicing these procedures.

Dr. Shahram Arzegar is the head dentist at Lifetime Smiles Pediatric and Cosmetic Dental Practice in Austin, Texas.

Photo Credit: MoToMo (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Hosting a Summer Party for Teens: What Parents Should Know

Parents of teenagers often want to be seen as the “cool” parent. They want their teen to be popular, and they want their kids to think they are great. With both of these desires in mind, these parents often suggest hosting a party for their friends and what better time to do so than the summer.

While this is a great way for your teenagers to socialize with parental supervision, parents need to be aware that they cannot be “too cool” during these events.

What is “too cool?” Too cool is allowing teens to openly consume alcohol during a party. Underage drinking is a crime, and in many states, such as Florida, parents who allow underage drinking on their premises can face up to 60 days in jail and be held financially liable for any injuries that occur due to drinking.

In Florida, the act of allowing underage drinking to occur at your home is known as “social hosting.” Social hosting is described as creating an atmosphere or designating a place where underage individuals can openly enjoy alcohol. Owners of the home are held liable for this action, even if they are not on the property when the event occurs. Every summer this scenario plays out repeatedly. Ignorance is no excuse and parents who are unknowledgeable regarding the social hosting law keeps legal professionals, such as Tampa DUI attorney firms and other law groups around the state, very busy.

Keep a Watchful Eye Out

• Underage smoking – In most states, you must be at least 18 years old to legally possess and smoke cigarettes. Even if your teen has friends that meet this age requirement, it is in your best interest as a parent not to allow any smoking on your property or at your teen’s party. This eliminates any risk you may have of someone below this age smoking. Parents can be held liable for this action by other parents if they allow underage smoking.

• Recreational drugs – While this is not always easy to spot, keep your eyes open for any unusual activity or someone who has brought their own drinks to the party. A very common and dangerous drug that is popular right now is known as “Lean.” This is a mixture of Sprite and codeine cough syrup. It is the color purple and has a very sweet smell.

• Sex – Teen hormones are always at peak performance. Make sure that you watch for couples taking off into dark areas or into rooms of your home. You don’t want the burden of knowing you contributed to the contraction of a sexually transmitted disease or untimely pregnancy.
Even if you have dedicated your evening to monitoring these teens, there is always a risk that something can happen. To possibly avoid any problems, make sure that you make an effort to see each adolescent before they leave. If you believe that they may be intoxicated, despite your best efforts, do not allow them to leave. If that teen is involved in a DUI arrest or accident, you may be held responsible.

While all of these warnings may seem like a reason never to allow your kids to have a party, they should be used as an informational tool. Parents who understand what to look for and what to avoid at a high school party can still throw a great bash and still appear “cool” in their teen’s eyes. The goal is to avoid any problems that could occur.

Jamica Bell is a freelance writer and the proud parent of three teenagers. She contributes this article to inform parents of ways to enjoy a safe summer with their teens. David S. Katz is a Tampa DUI attorney and partner of the law firm, Katz and Phillips, P.A. With years of experience and a wealth of knowledge regarding underage dui defense, he confidently defends alcohol arrest clients, regardless of their age.

Photo credit: brad_bechtel

Choosing to move from abstract, brightly coloured creations to delicate works featuring figures and subjects more recognisable and real, Darlington brings a variety of styles and subjects to her work.

1.      Four Seasons Suite – Summer

A number of Darlington’s paintings take on an otherworldly feeling and this one is no exception. Summer is a creation using resin on board, one of her preferred media, and depicts a fantastical tree growing from a vibrant orange and yellow earth and bringing forth a bounty of real and imaginary plenty from its dark, twisting boughs. Brightly coloured birds flutter between the branches, while leaves, buttons and cakes grow together in piece that has balance and symmetry across its area.

Summer

Image Source: http://www.galleryrouge.co.uk/media/pictures/705727_KDarlington_Summer.jpg

Depicting a glimpse into a strange and wonderful world, this and the others in the Four Seasons Suite have a childlike quality that harks back to her background in illustration.

2.      Ophelia

Described by Darlington herself as a combination of colour, energy and nature with an ephemeral feel, Ophelia is a flowing piece full of natural hues and depicts the character in the brook where she drowned in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Most like the Ophelia of John Everett Mills in its composition, Darlington’s Ophelia is shown becoming one with the water, as the ringlets of her hair become the ripples of the water and all becomes mottled to greys and blues by imagined trees and the depths of the water.

At once realistic, impressionistic and fantastical, Ophelia shows a very different side to Darlington’s skill.

3.      Golden Haze

Another different slant on Darlington’s style is shown in her Golden Haze, while also holding true to elements to the two previously mentioned pieces.

Image Source: http://www.galleryrouge.co.uk/media/pictures/676916_KDarlington_Golden%20Haze.jpg

Evoking the mellow sepia tones of autumn and the changing of the light, Golden Haze gives the feeling of looking down a tree-lined avenue once all the leaves have fallen. Using similar techniques to those she employs in both of her previously described paintings, Darlington lends a sense of unreality to the scene while still keeping it recognisable.

4.      A Happy Un-birthday To You

A whimsical follow-up to her Alice in Wonderland, this mixed media creation really brings to life the characters and universe of Alice using incredible colours and characters that everyone loves.

As part of the painting, Darlington has created a three dimensional relief by using small pieces of wood to create the characters and details around them, which are then hand-painted and incorporated into the work using resin. This is a strong hat-tip to her work creating sculptured clay murals during her time in the Middle East.

5.      Original Abstract 4

Titled to give no clue as to the inspiration behind this piece, the flowing and rounded lines of the painting and use of colour will still be familiar to fans of Darlington’s work.

Painted in deep red and orange hues that will be familiar from the works already mentioned, this piece brings to mind bubbles, skin, fruit and parts of the human form depending on how and when you look. With something different to see on every viewing, this piece is a gift that really does keep on giving.

Conclusion

Kerry Darlington has an accomplished career in working in a range of different art forms. We hope you have enjoyed this selection of Kerry Darlington’s work. Her background in illustration, sculpture and painting come through strongly in these selected works and give a rounded idea of the art she creates.

Image Credits: Gallery Rouge 1 & 2

You can still easily avoid waste however, by keeping the food you don’t use preserved in your fridge or freezer, or cooking more of a dish than you need and keeping some for another day.

How Long Is Food Safe For After You Store It In Your Refrigerator?

Many people do put leftovers in their refrigerators with the intention of eating them, but then after a couple of days have passed they are unsure if the food is still safe to eat, and they end up throwing it out anyway. In actual fact, the safe times for common foods to be refrigerated (specifically, kept at a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit) are quite easy to learn:

• Raw poultry, raw sausages and raw ground meats (for example hamburger or ground turkey) have the shortest period where they are safe in the fridge, and should be used within one or two days. If you aren’t likely to do this, freeze them instead or cook them – cooked forms of these meats are safe for three to four days in the fridge instead.
• Other raw meats including steaks, pork chops, lamb and veal, in any cut, are safe for three to five days in the fridge.
• Opened packages of cold cooked lunch meats are good for up to five days. Unopened packs can last for two weeks (with some preservatives they can last even longer so feel free to go by the use by date on the pack).
• Bacon is typically safe in the fridge for a week.
• Mayo based salads, including those containing cooked egg, chicken or ham, can be kept for three to five days.
• Cooked leftovers including cooked meat or chicken, pizza, vegetables and most side dishes can be kept for three to four days.

Further Advice About Refrigeration and Freezing

These are all conservative amounts of time that will guarantee the food will be safe (assuming it was fresh when you put it in the refrigerator). Some foods may keep longer, depending on their original freshness and other factors, so don’t panic if you have been eating things that have been kept in your fridge for longer than these recommended times. Whatever kind of fridge you have, whether it’s a huge commercial refrigerator or a small fridge-freezer, the same rules apply as long as the food is kept below 40 degrees at all times.

When it comes to freezing, food is technically safe to eat indefinitely, however there are recommendations in terms of when you should use the food for it to taste its best. These tend to range from just a month or two for pre-cooked leftovers, to around a year for a lot of fresh meats, though it will not usually be harmful to eat foods that have been frozen for periods well beyond these guidelines, as long as you know that it has never been thawed and refrozen.

Today’s guest post is contributed by Richard Maxwell. A complete food buff, he likes to cook up various dishes and fulfill his hunger. When he isn’t busy munching away at his favourite dishes, he blogs about recipes and other stuff.

Photo Credits: image 1 image 2

With all of the modern facilities and cultural similarities you need to feel at home, but the exotic intrigue of foreign lands with their own customs, languages and style, Southern Europe offers you a chance to take a yachting trip that takes in several completely different countries. Here are some of the best places to see by yacht, which don’t tend to come up on most bloggers’ lists:

Portugal – Lisbon and the Algarve

While many people extol the virtues of Spanish cities like Madrid and Barcelona, Lisbon in Portugal often gets overlooked in our travel plans. This is a shame because it is an absolutely stunning coastal city, perfectly suited to a yachting stop. Its Southerly location means that in the summer season beautiful weather is almost guaranteed, and its culture, architecture and great shopping and dining make it a classy, elegant place to spend a few days. If you don’t care for cities so much, then take a look at some of the lovely beach towns in the Algarve region, another area of Portugal that is perfect for a visit on your Mediterranean yacht vacation.

Sicily

Aside from the larger towns of Catania and Palermo, Sicily is a very traditional place with its own rustic charm. While it seems in many ways very classically Italian, it has a clear and unique identity all of its own that means no matter how much time you have spent in Italy, Sicily will offer you something different and new. With great beaches and world famous native food, Sicily is a beautiful place to add to any yachting itinerary in this part of Europe.

Gibraltar

Photo Credit

While you may not fancy putting Britain on your list of exotic, sunny places to visit in Europe (because of the unreliable weather and the fact that London doesn’t really work as a yachting destination); you can get a slice of British life by visiting the famous rock of Gibraltar. This British owned country had particular historic significance as a military post, because of its views and position, and as such is full of history. It is also known for its unique native wildlife – especially its monkeys! Culturally, the British influence is clear, with English style shops and restaurants to explore.

Corsica

Another place shrouded in historical importance is the French owned island of Corsica. It is also a place that sees a lot of tourism, including from yachts and ships, yet retains its mystique as one of Europe’s less well known island destinations. It can be a great place to venture out to if you are planning to start you vacation in France, or are getting a yacht rental from a French company.

Include some or all of these fantastic European coastal destinations in your plans for your next yachting cruise around the Med, and you are certain to have a vacation that is relaxing, inspiring and fun.

Today’s featured contributor, Robin Ding, is a cruise and water sports expert. Robin is a frequent blogger and likes to share his love for the boating lifestyle in his blog. He personally recommends his readers to rent Azimut yachts to make the most of their vacation.

Here we take a look at the SaaS phenomenon, including what it actually is, and how it can be of benefit.

About ‘On Premise’ Software Installation

Traditionally, when a customer, be they a person at home who wants to use a software product (for example PhotoShop or Microsoft Office) or a business with thousands of users, wants to buy some software they  choose a suitable licensing agreement, pay for the software outright, and then are given a copy they can install on their hardware.

The software may be delivered by downloading it, or it may be on disks. Some licenses allow for the product to be installed on numerous machines, and others are limited to just one machine, with the license being valid for as long as that computer is in use, meaning it is important for businesses especially to choose the right licensing models for their needs. Some companies, like Microsoft, offer a whole range of different licensing choices which can be quite difficult for consumers to understand! An extra monthly fee may be charged for support.

This model is known as ‘on premise’, because the software itself exists on the license holder’s premises – whether it is on individual machines or on a server the customer owns.

How SaaS is Different

SaaS is the most common alternative to this. The software and its supporting infrastructure are on servers owned and managed by the developer (although in some cases this may be outsourced to a hosting company), and users access it via the internet when they want to use it. The customer generally subscribes to the service monthly or annually, rather than buying a perpetual outright license. Any support and maintenance costs are included in the subscription.

Why is SaaS Such a Popular Choice?

SaaS is a popular means of delivering software for software manufacturers because it gives them a great degree of control over their infrastructure. It allows them to push out updates and security fixes very easily compared with having to distribute them to all of the individual users to install themselves, and it lets them analyze how their products are used to a more accurate degree – helping them plan for future versions and products. It also helps their financial planning because rather than having to predict monthly sales, they know they have a certain amount in monthly subscriptions coming in.

For consumers, SaaS is great because it doesn’t cause space to be taken up on their computer, or for businesses, require a whole server dedicated to running the software. All hosting and maintenance is taken care of by the software provider. It can also be more cost effective, as the subscription model lets a customer or business spread the cost over time.

Victor Brown is a part of the team at an established company offering server solutions to clients worldwide. He has a keen interest in blogging and often shares his expertise on the subject with readers through his articles.

Photo Credits: image 1 image 2 image 3

Most of the time, when people think of life insurance they think of something that is designed to give money to the family of the policy holder after they die. This can be a reassuring idea for those who are the main breadwinners or sole providers for their spouse and children, because they know that should anything happen to them there will be a replacement for that income to prevent them from getting into immediate financial difficulties.

But Nobody Depends On Me!

However, there are plenty of people who this doesn’t apply to. If you are single and don’t have children, are in a childless couple and your spouse has a perfectly good income of their own, or your children have grown up and don’t depend on you financially you may wonder if there is any benefit to life insurance for you at all – after all it does mean paying out money each month that you’ll literally never see again in your lifetime! If you have a lot of savings and assets you plan to pass on to your heirs when you die, you may also think that life insurance is unnecessary because they’ll be getting those instead (subject to taxes!).

There are a few reasons why a life insurance policy may still be worth having, even if there is nobody who stands to be put into significant financial hardship when you die:

Some Expenses You May Leave Behind

Like everything these days, death can be expensive. When you die, somebody will have to take care of your funeral costs and the admin that comes with dividing up your estate. In certain circumstances, you may die with outstanding medical bills that will need to be paid if they’re not covered by an existing health insurance policy, and you may also die leaving behind debts and financial commitments that don’t simply “go away” just because you’ve died.

How Much Do You Need?

While the costs associated with all of this will vary, in most cases it isn’t going to be a huge amount to cover your funeral and any legal costs. But, it is still best to arrange for it by getting a life insurance policy with an appropriate pay out allocated to whoever you think would take care of your death expenses – this could be your spouse, or even a parent or sibling depending on your age. If you have any debts to consider as well, then a life insurance plan that will leave behind enough to pay these off will mean you don’t inadvertently saddle your next of kin with a huge debt.

Consider Changing Circumstances

It may be worth considering that situations in your life may change during the duration of your life insurance policy. If you become seriously ill, you may find it hard to get an affordable policy at that time, and you may regret not having had one in place. Insurance is all about preparing for what might happen, so the best time to start thinking about something like a term life insurance policy can often be when you need it least!

Today’s guest post is contributed by Ivan Thomas. He is a life insurance agent by profession. In his opinion, having a policy cover for oneself is of paramount importance and does his bit to inform people about its importance via his articles.