So he decided he would try and raise around £500 (around $800) by riding his bike five miles around his local park, little did he know that it would be far more.  He started a JustGiving page with this simple message:

“My name is Charlie Simpson. I want to do a sponsored bike ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives.  I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti.”

It just exploded from there. Word spread and Charlie’s bike ride became a national event.  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown even spread the word through his “Downing Street” Twitter account.  The country rallied behind little Charlie and his simple act of kindness towards a country he has never been to.  When all was said and done, Charlie raised more than  £136,000 (around $220,000) for UNICEF’s relief efforts in Haiti.

All children should realize that a simple act of kindness can turn out to be a national event.  Charlie simply saw that people were in trouble and he acted.  He wasn’t looking for national notoriety or fame but he got it because he was a good person.  What is not to admire about that?

Accomplishments

• Personally raised more than $200,000 for Haiti relief
• Received thanks from British Prime Minister and David Bull, UNICEF’s UK executive director
• Got to hang with Simon Cowell
• Gained national attention with a simple act of kindness
• Rode his bike 5 miles around local park

Other role models for your kids:

• Child Role Model - Ashley Qualls, 20
• Child Role Models – Sage Karam, 15
• Child Role Models – Cameron Johnson, 24
• Child Role Models – Mirai Nagasu, 16
• Child Role Models – Akrit Jaswal, 17

When Alana realized that the baby was not going to wait until the paramedics got there, the 911 operator instructed Faith and Jabari to get towels and then the even had to tie off the umbilical cord when 9 pound, 4 ounce baby Joseph was born in the bathroom.  Paramedics soon arrived and took 36-year-old Alana Sanders and Joseph to the hospital where the boy received a clean bill of health.

Husband Geoffrey Sanders, 35, said he had left for work about 1:30 a.m. and was not around when the baby came March 9. “I’m a proud father … we are doing something right,” he said.

Alana, 36, said her children remained composed throughout the ordeal. “They didn’t freak out. They didn’t fight with each other,” she told The Oakland Tribune

Jabari said the birth was “cool and weird.”

Good job to Faith and Jabari for staying cool under pressure and turning an emergency into a joyous day that nobody in that family will ever (EVER) forget.

“I try to put the kids in the best educational system possible and I think there is something to be said for their father, who has been blessed to play in the NFL and do something he’s loved to do, going back and finishing what he started,” Warren said from the campus of Texas A&M. “In the big picture, I think it’s important for me to do what I’m doing. I can sacrifice that bonus for that.”

This will be the first time in eight years that Ty will not be attending any sort of voluntary workout sessions before the NFL season.  He has always done some training regime to keep his body in condition.  This time he will be focusing on conditioning his mind and showing his children, Brionna, Brielle and Bailey, how important their education is even if they are blessed with other abilities.  An education is important enough for him to not only pay for the opportunity to be in classes but to also give up easy money elsewhere.  That is an extremely admirable decision.

Kids should know who Ty Warren is and understand what he is doing and how they should take the same mindset when it comes to their schooling.  Ty has one of the coolest jobs in the world, he gets to play a game for money, but he still values his education.  Better yet, he is doing to because he knows his kids look up to him and he is being a positive role model for them.

The new additions to the recall are the following items:

• 240,000 “Innovations” and “At Home with Meijer” Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds -  Shades are made with fabric or bamboo and the Roll-up blinds with bamboo. A label reading “Innovation” or “At Home with Meijer” can be found under the head-rail.  For more information visit Meijer or call 800-927-8699
• 5,000 Lutron Shading Solutions Roman Shades – Motorized and manual Lutron Shading Solutions Roman shades. The shades were sold in a variety of colors, fabrics, and sizes. Nearly all shades were professionally installed. “Lutron Shading Solutions” or “Lutron Shading Solutions by VIMCO” is printed on the packaging.  For more information visit Lutron or call 866-793-4270

If you or someone you know has any of these products they should immediately stop using the item and remove if necessary.  Contact the manufacturer for more information about a replacement or refund.

Please see the links below for additional recalls that may affect you:

• RECALL – Martha Stewart Kettles May Cause Burns
• RECALL-3 Different Sweatshirts May Cause Strangulation
• RECALL – 500,000 Cribs May Cause Infant Deaths
• RECALL – ‘Princess and the Frog’ Walmart Neckalces May Be Toxic
• RECALL – Steamer Mops May Cause Scalding or Lacerations

“Brackets” are all anyone in the office will be talking about and if you’re involved in a pool the best thing you can do is just pick the highest ranked teams to go all the way.  It’s the safest bet otherwise you’re answering questions like why you picked teams with the best sounding names or best uniforms.  Picking a bracket can be fun and makes watching the game a lot more exciting so I would highly recommend picking one even if it is just for fun.

While the first couple rounds will feature power house teams against the lesser teams, there is still room for great drama. If one of those underdog teams suddenly gets hot, you never know what could happen and even the mightiest of teams have their off days.  Networks will switch to close games for the last few minutes so you’ll get to see all the drama unfold because the last two minutes of a close college basketball could mean anything.  A last minute prayer shot could be sunk or a lucky steal could mean heart ache for one team.  Watch and enjoy.

Top 3

1.  NCAA March Madness Tournament – 1st and 2nd Rounds – March 18 – 21

These games can produce major upsets if a small team can upset a top team looking to cruise past the first couple rounds.  But that’s exactly when the small schools are looking to pounce and make a name for themselves by knocking off a major school.  Who knows what can happen when one team simply plays harder than the other because they have nothing to lose.  The best part is watching the celebration of an underdog defeating the favorite team.  The joy they experience from that one moment could be more than they ever experience again.  You’ll want to be watching for the upsets.

2. NBA - Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks – March 17 @ 8:30 pm

As of right now, the Chicago Bulls are the last team in the Eastern Conference not to make the playoffs.  They are simply one game behind the Toronto Raptors for the 8th seed in the playoffs and that means every win means a lot.  But they will run into the hottest team in the NBA right now, the Dallas Mavericks.  They are proving their might in the powerful Western Conference and defeating teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers as a demonstration.  As we get towards the end of the regular season those teams that are close will begin to show what they are made of and if they are worthy to be in the post season.  See what the Bulls are made of as they go up against a giant with the Mavericks.

3. NASCAR – Food City 500 – Bristol Motor Speedway - March 21 @ 1 pm

Four time champion Jimmie Johnson has won 3 of the first 7 races this year and looks to continue his dominance at Bristol.  Kurt Busch took the last race in Atlanta but once again all of the other drivers will be gunning for Johnson.  He is simply the best at what he does currently.  Watching NASCAR is fun even if you aren’t into racing, they have so many camera angles and microphones that you get to see and hear everything that goes on.  From the pits to the driver’s seat, you get to see it all.  Watch just to experience a race like you haven’t before.

Quick Picks

• For a complete bracket of the NCAA Tournament, click here and for a printable one click here.
• A major shakeup happened in the world of soccer (football every where else); David Beckham has torn his achillies heel and he will not be able to play.  This could very well mean the end of David’s playing career.

She began creating MySpace layouts and themes for pages and created the website Whateverlife.com for others to come and download the code for the pages.  It was a HUGE success and Ashley became a very rich business owner in a very short while.  Ashley was receiving a quarter of a million hits everyday and she started attracting sponsors offering big money to put their ads on her page.  We’re talking millions of dollars in revenue off of something she likes to do in her own free time.

Soon Ashley was employing not only her close friends but even her mother.  She purchased her family a new home in a nice community and continues to evolve her business towards new and creative ideas.

Ashley is a great role model for your kids, even though she spent most of her time on the Internet, she was able to produce something positive for her and the people around her.  Anyone who can do what they want and evolve it into an idea that makes money is someone worth admiring.

Accomplishments

• Created highly popular website at age 14
• Website achieved more that 250,000 hits a day
• Appeared on ‘The View’ to highlight her achievement
• Purchased home for family
• Multimillionaire before age 20

Other role models for your kids:

• Child Role Models – Sage Karam, 15
• Child Role Models – Cameron Johnson, 24
• Child Role Models – Mirai Nagasu, 16
• Child Role Models – Akrit Jaswal, 17
• Child Role Models – Hannah Taylor, 13

The sets feature Scooby-Doo, Tweety and Batman on them and we sold in Dollar Tree stores around the country during January 2010.  The two-piece set is white plastic with cartoon images on the handle.  If you or someone you know purchased one of these sets, they are being instructed to immediately stop use and return the product to place of purchase for a complete refund.

For more information please contact Peachtree Playthings at 800-290-4831 or visit their website at www.PeachTreePlaythings.com

Please see the links below for additional recalls that may affect you:

• RECALL – Martha Stewart Kettles May Cause Burns
• RECALL-3 Different Sweatshirts May Cause Strangulation
• RECALL – 500,000 Cribs May Cause Infant Deaths
• RECALL – ‘Princess and the Frog’ Walmart Neckalces May Be Toxic
• RECALL – Steamer Mops May Cause Scalding or Lacerations
• 1.5 Million Graco Strollers Recalled Because of Amputations

Besides college basketball, there is the NBA which is getting very intense and wins go a lot further in the standings than before. Teams are jockeying for playoff position and home court advantage. The top teams will begin to break away from the pack and borderline teams will show what they are made of when they are really playing for their season.

The NHL is still in season (which may be surprising to some) and now players can focus on the Stanley Cup rather than gold medals. Look for fiercer competition and more intense games as the regular season ends and the playoffs loom. Baseball fans love this time of year because they can begin to see their favorite players playing during Spring Training. Young players try to make their big league dreams come true and veterans try to keep their dream alive. Great drama if you have the patience to watch it all.

So here are this weeks picks, hope you enjoy the memories.

Top Picks

1. NBA – Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers – March 14 @ 3:30

Cleveland is the top team in the NBA and Boston is one of the other top teams in the league. These two will meet in what could very well be foreshadowing the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers recently acquired Antoine Jamison to add to their already powerful offense featuring The King himself, Lebron James. But Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are hungry for another championship before their team may be split up. Each team needs a win to get one step closer to home court advantage and the NBA Finals. This game will feature fierce competition by some of the top players in the league with lots of physical play and high intensity. Buckle up.

2. College Basketball – Big East Conference Tournament – March 8-12

Madison Square Garden in New York is considered the Mecca of basketball and a place every player dreams of playing at. The Big East gives teams in that conference the opportunity to in do-or-die situation. We’ll get to see how they react to the pressure and win in the fabled arena. The Big East is home to the top team in the nation (Syracuse) and they are heavily favored to win but you never know what can happen in a tournament and the drama can be very intense when a close game comes down to the wire. The only thing better than these tournaments is the big NCAA Championship Tournament.

3. NHL – Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks – March 10 @ 8:30

The Kings are a surprise top team in the NHL and looking to take their winning ways into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  The Blackhawks are a veteran team used to winning and used to kicking the butts of all the West Coast teams.  Hockey in Los Angeles has been revitalized a little and winning against a powerhouse team like the Blackhawks will give a big boost to the Kings. With the regular season ending less than a month away, these cross country trips mean a lot more to pride than the standings.  The top teams have cemented their place in the playoffs and now just want to get all the wins they can against teams they may be facing down the line.  These games are basically for bragging rights but that is plenty motivation for hockey players.  Watch for the big hits and the rowdy fans.

Quick Picks

• Check out the rest of the NHL regular season schedule here and try and catch a game before it is all over.  Seeing a hockey game in person is much different than watching on TV.  The speed and big hits of the game look so much better in person.
• Get all of your Championship Week information here.
• Get your bracket here (you know you’re going to want one)

The Scouts have been bringing boys together and show them things to survive not only in the wilderness but in life.  They have many traditions on policies that go back to the beginning of the organization, but it is many of these traditions that have led to a steady decline in membership over the past decade. I feel they need to accept some changes that will attract more members but keep the foundations that have made the Boy Scouts a proud and noble group to help boys down the path towards manhood.

1. Religion – Part of the Scout Oath is “…to do my duty to God…”  The Scouts believe that a young man needs some sort of Supreme Being in his life to be right. This closed minded view leaves many families who do not practice a religion out of the Scouts. Don’t change the Oath or anything but don’t refuse advancement to boys who do not practice a specific faith.
2. Uniform – The uniform is an integral part of being a Boy Scout.  It is meant to make you part of a group like the any of the armed services.  But the Scout uniform is outdated.  They still don’t make shorts that go past mid-thigh and the neckerchiefs are a pain in the butt.  The Army and other services have had their uniforms evolve, why don’t the Scouts?  Make them more comfortable and wearable and boys may not be as embarrassed about wearing them.
3. Gender- Yes, I know it is the “Boy Scouts” but it’s been called that since before women had the right to vote let alone since they started being professional athletes and community leaders.  Girls want to camp and do things the Boy Scouts do but many times their local Girl Scout troop does not ofter these activities.  They are left to believe that girls just aren’t supposed to do them.  Opening the Boy Scouts up to girls would greatly increase the effectiveness of Scouting because it teaches that their are not specific boy activities and specific girl activities.  Anyone can do whatever they want and enjoy them in a group.

These suggestions would bring about major changes to the Boy Scouts of America but the changes would be for the better.  They could help bring better membership numbers along with teaching a bigger group of America’s youth how to be better citizens and a positive aspect to their communities.

Let me know what you think and if you have any changes of your own.  Or share a story about your days in the Scouts (Boys or Girls).

Not only has Sage become the best (at his age) for what he does, he is also making strides towards a future of doing what he loves.  He has spent years perfecting his driving skills and that means hours of practicing which is never fun. Sage started when he was four-years-old and just one year later was racing, and winning, competitive races.  Two years after that he won his first national championship and pretty much hasn’t stopped since.

Outside of racing, Sage is a normal kid who loves football, ‘Lil Wayne and video games.  He goes to school and hangs out with friends but when he gets on the track he becomes a speed demon.  His goal in life is to win the Indy 500 race and with the way he’s been driving so far, he’s well on his way.  When asked about the secret to his success, he simple responded “No secrets, just skills! (Big grin) Seriously, we work real hard and race all the time.”  How’s that for confidence?

Watch out for his name in the papers in the upcoming years because I assure you it will be there.  Make sure your kids see that anybody can be the best at something no matter what their age.  And parents, note that even activities like go-kart racing can bring out the best in your child.

Accomplishments

• First National Stars win in Charlotte 2004 at age 9
• Only American driver to compete full-time in a national karting championship and an open-wheel series in 2009
• Only driver to ever win the Indy Racing League Stars of Karting and the World Karting Association’s Triple Crown in the same year
• Holds record of 29 National Championships and 9 Consecutive National victories, considered to be untouchable
• Victorious on every major racing circuit in the United States of America

Other role models for your kids:

• Child Role Models – Cameron Johnson, 24
• Child Role Models – Mirai Nagasu, 16
• Child Role Models – Akrit Jaswal, 17
• Child Role Models – Hannah Taylor, 13
• Child Role Models – Joshua Johnson, 18

Spring Training brings about a lot of hope.  Teams will bring out rookies and new acquisitions and we get to see them for the first time.  It could be the 19 year-old kid trying to fight for a spot on a major league squad or a down and out veteran trying to get back to the big leagues.  Whoever it is, they have the opportunity to show what they are made of and be part of the best players.  If they are at Spring Training they have a chance to be a big leaguer and that hope will make them try the hardest they ever have.  The Yankees may be the current World Champions but will they be able to hold onto that title?  If you asked any other team, they would tell you there is no way the Yanks can.  That’s what makes Spring Training great, it’s anyone’s ballgame.

You can follow your team through their Web sites, numerous Facebook fan pages or at Major League Baseball’s official website and see what is going on.  You can see who is playing well, who is playing bad and who will have a shot at making the Opening Day roster.  There is nothing better than watching a young player do what nobody expected them to do and show off their talents well.  In Spring Training people’s dreams can be fulfilled or they can be crushed and every fan hopes that their team brings in the right people to win.

So let the preseason commence and bring on the regular season, it only gets better from here for baseball.

Now that the Olympics are over and March is here we can now turn our attention to college basketball and the fun that is March Madness.  This tournament is something that anyone, regardless of fanship, can enjoy from start to finish.  If you don’t know any of the teams playing just root for the under dog because there always is an upset sometime and seeing it yourself is something you’ll remember.  If you can’t stand watching college basketball (*hand raised*) just watch the last two minutes of the game and you will see the best part.  If it is close, DO NOT walk away.  Last second, game-winning shot are what March Madness is made for.

The NHL and NBA seasons are still on and going strong so this is actually a pretty cool time to be a sports fan. Check out which you should watch below.

Top 3

1. NBA – Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic, March 7 @ 2:30 pm

A rematch of last years Championship series and featuring two of the NBA’s greatest players with Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.  Each team reloaded during the off season and added star players to each of their rosters.  Orlando added one-time Slam Dunk Champion, Vince Carter and the Lakers added volatile Ron Artest.  Each has worked out so far but the real test will come in the playoffs.  For now they will just have to try and beat each other to prove dominance.  It may not be The Finals but it means a lot of pride and chest pounding to each team.  They will show up and be looking to show the other who the best actually is before the post season.

2. College Basketball – No. 5 Kansas St. Wildcats at No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks, March 3 @ 8 pm

This time of year, this close to the big tournament, many teams will not schedule big games to lose any momentum they may have going into their championship games.  But this year we are blessed with two Top 5 teams playing each other this late.  The Jayhawks have been at the top for the entire season and want to keep their heads up this time of year.  But an upset on their home-court against a conference (Big-12) and state rival would be a major blow to their team esteem and the exact opposite affect for the Wildcats.  In what will be the last big game of the regular season these teams will give it their all to beat the stuffing out of the other.  Something worth watching.

3. NHL – Colorado Avalanche at Phoenix Coyotes, March 4 @ 9 pm

With the Olympics out of the way, the NHL season can resume and teams can get back to competing for a Stanley Cup.  The Phoenix Coyotes were wrapped in turmoil over the off season, losing their head coach (Wayne Gretzky), possible bankruptcy and even the possibility of relocation.  Well they have gotten past all that stuff and this season they have been a surprising team dominating in the West.  The Avalanche are a veteran team who has dominated in the past and has begun to do so again this season.  The Coyotes will be looking to show that they were no fluke in the beginning and go all the way.  While the Avalanche will be looking to put the young upstart team in its place and prove that they are still among the elite in the NHL.

Quick Picks

• Check out the NCAA rankings and see how your favorite team is seeded going into the big March tournament.
• For a final medal count and Winter Olympic results, click here.

From the age of 7, Cameron Johnson was destined to become a salesman.  It was then that he started selling vegetables to his neighbors from his little red wagon he pulled around the block.  Two years later he received his first computer for Christmas and a couple months after that he started a greeting card business.  A couple years after that he used the few thousand dollars he had made and, with his parents, started investing in the stock market.  Within two years he had made more than seven times his initial investment.

In Japan, his life story 15-Year-Old CEO is a national bestseller and chronicles his life (so far) and how he became so successful at a young age.  Since then he has written his own book, You Call the Shots which has become a very popular book here in America.  Currently Cameron is speaking to major corporations about their business plans and hearing ideas they may have.  This 24 year-old kid is consulting to ‘Fortune 500′ companies, most of which are older than he is.  He’s gotta be doing something right.

He started managing his own finances at a very young age and took full control immediately.  He did this all on his own initiative and while his parents encouraged him they never pushed him to do something.  Cameron is a very driven and persistent person who any kid can look at and want to be like.

Accomplishments

• Advisory Board Member of FutureKids Inc.
• Runner-up on Oprah’s Big Give contest
• Biography was a national bestseller in Japan when he was only 15
• Wrote You Call the Shots - a book about being a successful business owner
• Consultant to ‘Fortune 500′ companies
• Named as one of the 2009 Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) by the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees)

Other role models for your kids:

• Child Role Models – Mirai Nagasu, 16
• Child Role Models – Akrit Jaswal, 17
• Child Role Models – Hannah Taylor, 13
• Child Role Models – Joshua Johnson, 18

DC Comics has once again reached into their comic book vault and produced an animated feature that anyone can like.  “Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths” features everyone’s favorite characters in an action packed adventure that kids and adults with both enjoy. Their previous features such as “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies” or “Green Lantern: First Flight” are better in my opinion but kids aren’t as critical.

This story was originally intended to be used as a bridge between the two previous Justice League animated series, “Justice League” and “Justice League: Unlimited,” but was never produced.  Well it has been now and I must say that it is pretty cool.  Fun superhero fights and alternate versions of all our favorite DC characters all about. It does have its faults but for the average kid (and viewer for that matter) it will be fun and entertaining.

Imagine an alternate Earth where Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and all the other Justice League members were bad guys and in a group called the Crime Syndicate.  To top it off, Lex Luthor is the leader of that Earth’s Justice League.  That Lex Luthor travels to our Earth to recruit the good Justice Leaguers to rid his Earth of the Crime Syndicate and restore order.  Of course they go and the ensuing battle royals are great to watch.  Basically it’s all the biggest superheros fighting alternate versions of themselves.  That is the gist of it, but the ultimate plot gets unfolded throughout the adventure.  Trust me, your kids will eat this up and enjoy every minute of it.  All the “alternate dimension” and “ultimate doom” stuff won’t go over their heads.

For the most part this is a fun and enjoyable feature that, despite its PG-13 rating, is great for kids of all ages.  The only language that I noticed was “ass” once or twice but, besides that, the only reason for the rating is its “Action Violence.”  But that sort of violence is what kids read comics for anyway.  They want to see Superman punch the bad-guy through a wall.  It does get kind of technical in parts, when it talks about all the parallel universes and throws in a lot of meaningless big words to make it a little convoluted.  The only real gripe I have with it is the voice cast. I will always hear Batman with Kevin Conroy’s voice and Superman’s with Tim Daly’s so anything other than that sounds off to me.  But they make up for it with James Woods as Owlman so I can deal with it.

An overall good movie that comic fans of any age and rank can enjoy.  Don’t worry about the rating too much.

There have been eight reports of the handles coming loose or deformed and one minor burn was reported as well. This recall involves Copco and Wild Leaf Tea Co. Bristol model and Martha Stewart Collection Enameled Steel Tea Kettles with enamel finishes in white, creme, blue, cobalt, sand, red and green.  They were available for purchase through online retailers as well as nationwide retailers such as Macy’s and Linens ‘n Things from October 2005 through January 2010 for around $35.

Consumers should stop use immediately and contact Copco at 866-255-9237 or online at Copco.com.

Please see the links below for additional recalls that may affect you:

• RECALL-3 Different Sweatshirts May Cause Strangulation
• RECALL – 500,000 Cribs May Cause Infant Deaths
• RECALL – ‘Princess and the Frog’ Walmart Neckalces May Be Toxic
• RECALL – Steamer Mops May Cause Scalding or Lacerations
• 1.5 Million Graco Strollers Recalled Because of Amputations
• RECALL – Dinosaur Cloth Books Contain High Levels of Lead

Here is a list of the recalled items with the link to find out more:

• Bobens Tradin Co. -’Old Skool’ Girls Hoodies – 3,900 affected, sizes S – XL and in a variety of colors and designs. The neck seam label reads “Old Skool” and includes the garment size. The recalled style numbers GC5810, GV105, GV104 and GF254, were printed on the hang tags along with the price.  Sold in Burlington Coat Factories.
• Weeplay – ‘Candy Queen and Akademiks’ Girls sweatshirts – 11,800 affected, sizes 2T through 16 with style numbers Q37519, A22090, A393343-3, A79405-226 and A79462-1.  Visit Weeplay for more information.
• Baycreek – ‘Attitude Gold’ Girls Hooded Sweatshirts – 1,900 affected, sizes small, medium, large and extra large. The sweatshirts were sold in beige, blue, charcoal gray and black and have a random distress designs. Style number ZZJ-2J, ZZJ-01J, ZZJ-04J or ZZJ-5J is printed on the hangtag.  Call Baycreek collect at (212) 279-2777

If you have one of these items (or know someone who does), stop using the item and return it to the place of purchase for a refund or store credit.  For more information about anyone of these recalls, please visit the CPSC website.

Please see the links below for additional recalls that may affect you:

• RECALL – 500,000 Cribs May Cause Infant Deaths
• RECALL – ‘Princess and the Frog’ Walmart Neckalces May Be Toxic



• RECALL – Steamer Mops May Cause Scalding or Lacerations
• 1.5 Million Graco Strollers Recalled Because of Amputations
• RECALL – Dinosaur Cloth Books Contain High Levels of Lead
• RECALL – Play Yard Bassinets May Cause Suffocation

Back here in America, the NBA season is slowly drawing to a close and these next 25 games are crucial for teams to build momentum into the playoffs and into the championship.  Players will give 100% in every game and every win is meaningful.  Unfortunately you will also see lots of teams basically giving up on this season and purposely not playing as well so they can so they can secure a high draft pick.  It happens in all sports but it is a slap to the face of the fans that pay hard earned money to support a team that doesn’t reciprocate the work.

So as we enter the final week of these Winter Olympic Games there is still plenty to see and records to be broken.  So keep watching and support Team U.S.A.  Enjoy.

Top 3

1. Winter Olympics – Men’s Hockey – All week (see schedule link below)

After winning a game of national pride against the Canadians, the U.S. team is looking to take that momentum into the medal round this week.  Follow them as they try to make their way through all of the rounds and reach the gold medal game to be the world champions.  Ever since The Miracle on Ice, the U.S. team can never be considered an unlikely underdog.  We are scrappy and will do what it takes to win.  Hopefully this year’s team can show that they can play right up there with the other dominating countries of the world.  Whatever happens, Olympic hockey is like the World Cup, it brings non-fans into the mix just so they can root for their national team and have a reason to cheer.  So watch the games because often times the NHL players take these more seriously than the NHL playoffs.

2. NBA – Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics – Feb. 25 @ 8 pm

Lebron James, Lebron James, Lebron James.  Now that I’ve got that out of the way I don’t need to keep pounding into your head that this guy is the real deal and anytime you get a chance to watch him play you should.  Especially when he is going up against the Boston Celtics and their dangerous lineup lead by Kevin Garnett.  While the Celtics have been suffering from injuries of late, they did manage to beat the Lakers in LA and gain some good momentum.  Each of these teams leads their respected division and while Cleveland is at the top of the entire league, the Celtics are not far behind.  This will be an intense game that will be a huge win for either team.  Expect sparks to fly and great things to happen when these teams get together.

3. Winter Olympics – Speed Skating – All Week (see schedule link below)

This is a great sport to watch because most of us have tried ice skating before and can realize how hard it is to go around the rink at high speeds trying to win a race.  I think the coolest part of this sport is the skates they use.  They are longer and seem to be shiney-er than other skates.  They even look sharper.  Either way, watching those athletes glide down the ice is a cool thing.  Watching them get low and only steady themselves by reaching down to the ice.  Check it out and show your kids, they may think it’s just as cool.

Quick Picks

• Click on this Medal Tracker to follow all the countries medal counts and see which will come out on top in this Olympics.
• For a Complete List of all Olympic events and their scheduled start times

While the 2010 Winter Olympics are being played in Vancouver, University of Alberta students decided to go for their own place in the record books. 1,200 students and faculty got together and organized the world’s largest game of dodgeball on February 5.  The previous record was 450 people (held by San Diego State University) so the bar has been raised significantly and anyone looking to break the record will have their hands full.

From the video it looks like it was a whole lot of fun too.  They simply split into two teams (green and gold) and just played the game until there was a winner.  Seemed to me that they were on the honor system so good sportsmanship must have been used by each side which makes the game all that much better.  When all was said and done the gold team proved victorious but everyone who participated enjoyed themselves, no one got hurt and a new record was set so you couldn’t ask for much more.

Check out this video to see the game edited down using time-lapse footage and participant interviews.  Perhaps your kids will be inspired to bring the championship back to the U.S.

Five years later Akrit turned all of his studies towards medicine and he claimed to be on the verge of discovering a cure for cancer.  Currently he is studying for his degree from Chandigarh College and is the youngest student ever accepted by an Indian University.  On top of being accepted to Punjab University, the famed Imperial College in London requested his presence to discuss advancements in the medical field.  In his local village he is considered a leader and villagers from neighboring villages come to him from miles around to seek advice on any ailments they may have.

Growing up, Akrit says he used to see cancer patients lying on the side of the road because they couldn’t afford treatment or hospitals had no space for them. Now, he wants to use his intellect to ease their suffering. “I’ve been going to hospitals since the age of 6, so I have seen firsthand people suffering from pain,” he says. “I get very sad, and so that’s the main motive of my passion about medicine, my passion about cancer.” Currently, Akrit is working toward a bachelor’s degree in zoology, botany and chemistry. Someday, he hopes to continue his studies at Harvard University.

When he is not saving people and literally trying to find a cure for cancer, Akrit enjoys local sports such as cricket and watching them on TV.  But when you’re on the verge of being one of the biggest medical personas in recent history, he can be allowed to watch TV when he has the time.

Accomplishments

• Been called “The World’s Smartest Boy”
• IQ of 146
• Performed his first medical procedure at age 7
• Youngest student ever accepted to Indian University
• Working on a cure for cancer
• Featured on Oprah

Other role models for your kids:

• Child Role Models – Hannah Taylor, 13
• Child Role Models – Joshua Johnson, 18

(Photo Via xbolly)

Sometimes the situation just calls for it: the “That’s what she said!” response, as seen above  Just maybe not in a junior high school classroom.  Dalton Duncan of Redmond Junior High School was suspended last May when he used this phrase after someone in the class said “You need to push it in further.”  His teacher thought the response was uncalled for and inappropriate.  Technically she’s right but with that kind of setup, how could you not throw it out there?

The teacher became upset and wrote him up a detention notice for lunch.  One hour of detention for a well played joke that certainly got some laughs and wasn’t really at anybodys expense except for some fictional girl.  This well timed joke has also gotten Dalton some Internet notoriety with a picture of his notice now circulating world wide.

This happened last May but the picture has resurfaced in recent days and is making the rounds of the Internet.  With the popularity of ‘The Office’ it was only a matter of time before someone used this phrase and got in trouble for it.  In the office I work at, the phrase is used constantly and while it may get groans a lot of the time, sometimes it really is too funny.  It’s just too easy sometimes.  But there is a time and a place for it and school isn’t one.

Dalton deserves to be punished, yes, but I doubt his trouble will extend much further than this detention.  In my opinion, it is a well played joke that will get a laugh out of everybody besides the teacher.  But as a parent, how would you feel if your son (let’s face it, this really is a guy type joke) came home with this kind of detention notice?

Who drives to practice?  Who feeds the team after practice?  Who hauls equipment around by the ton?  Who makes sure that uniforms are spotless for each and every game?  In most cases, one person does all of these things for each athlete from the beginning.

Mom.

If anyone deserves to be taken care of when an athlete reaches the top competition in the world, it is their mothers.  After years of sacrifice and toil, P&G will finally give mothers something they earned a long time ago.

“P&G is in the business of helping moms,” says P&G Chief Marketing Officer, Marc Pritchard. “We appreciate that moms make everyday sacrifices for their children, and sometimes they don’t get the opportunity to participate in once-in-a-lifetime events like the Games. At P&G, we believe in ‘touching lives and improving life,’ and this gift is our way to express our thanks for the hard work and dedication of the U.S. Olympic Team moms.”

This is truly an act of unselfishness by a major corporation and a big gift to all the mothers who wouldn’t normally be able to afford a trip to Vancouver during the games.  It costs a small fortune for the training and equipment to get an athlete to the Olympics and not being able to see their son or daughter in person would be a sad thing.  Thank you P&G for taking care of all the Olympic mothers out there.

Watching is easy too, when so much is on the line all you have to do is tune in and you will soon find yourself wrapped up in it and then suddenly the next day at work you’re an expert in whatever obscure sport you were watching.  They only come around every two years and the athletes may not ever get a chance to compete at this level again.  Watch and enjoy their pure joy when they win and feel for the athlete who just wasn’t quite there.  But remember their name because if they came so close, yet so far, they will do their best to get there again in another four years for redemption.  Great unscripted worldly drama.

Top 3

1. Winter Olympics – Snowboarding – Feb. 17 @ 7:15 pm

One person is the face of snowboarding for the entire world: Shaun ‘The Flying Tomato” White.  Not only did Red Bull build him his own private half-pipe to practice on, he has his own video game and is the highest non-salaried athlete at the games.  He won Gold last Olympics and hopes to repeat as the men’s champion.  But because he is considered the face of the sport all the other competitors are gunning for him.  Basically it’s everyone in the world versus Shaun.  It will be a fun competition to watch in a sport that most adults are not familiar with but don’t worry, your kids will explain everything.  Watch and see if Shaun can pull off the repeat and continue to dominate the world of snowboarding.

2. Winter Olympics – Skeleton – Feb. 19 – Women @ 4:55 pm, Men @ 7:50 pm

We have all seen and heard how dangerous the Luge is, but the Skeleton takes that sport to the next level.  In luge, the athlete lays on his back and fly down the ice track. In skeleton, the athlete lays on their stomach and is going down head first.  Watch just to see crazy people slide head first down an ice slide at speeds near 80 mph.  The tragic death that occurred earlier this week will be weighing heavily on all athletes who use the track and I think the skeleton riders will feel it even more.  From the anxiety while waiting for their start until the relief of finishing, the athletes will be nervous and we will get to see just how much that affects them.

3.  NBA - Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers – Feb. 18 @ 10:30 pm

The only reason this game isn’t number one is because the Olympics is going on.  This game features the two most successful and biggest rivalry in the NBA.  The Lakers and Celtics have been bitter rivals for decades now and they don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.  When Kobe Bryant and his Lakers go up against Kevin Garnett and his Celtics, the intensity and competition will never get higher.  The Lakers are still angry about their loss in the Finals two years ago to the Celtics and they will certainly use that as motivation.  The Celtics were unable to even make it to the Finals last year and will be looking to show that they are just as much the team (if not better) than they were last time they met the Lakers in the Finals.  Can’t miss NBA TV, plus it’s preceded by Lebron vs. Carmelo. Awesome.

Quick Picks

• Click on this Medal Tracker to follow all the countries medal counts and see which will come out on top in this Olympics.
• For a Complete List of all Olympic events and their scheduled start times

Mirai is 16 years-old and from Arcadia, CA who has been an ice skater since she was 5.  One day when she was forced indoors after a golf game was rained out, she started skating and hasn’t stopped since.  She worked hard enough to become the second youngest person to win the U.S. Championship when she was only 14.  She enjoys reading, drawing and when her figure skating career is over, she would like to enter the fashion industry.  For more information on Mirai you could check out her Web site.

She is a wonderful role model for you child because she is dedicated to something and is competing at the highest level at a very young age.  She is not only a world class athlete, she is multilingual and a good student on top of it all.  Mirai is someone that your kids can look at and know that at any age, if you work hard enough, you can get to the top.

Accomplishments

• 2008 U.S. Champion at 14
• First female skater since Joan Tozzer in 1937-38 to win U.S. junior and senior titles back to back
• 2007 World Junior Championships silver medalist
• Speaks Japanese and did commentating for a Japanese TV station at the 2009 World Championships
• 2007 U.S. Junior Champion
• Ranked No. 21 in the ISU World Standings as of May 2009

Other role models for your kids:

• Child Role Models – Hannah Taylor, 13
• Child Role Models – Joshua Johnson, 18

To further prove that moms do kick ass, Lorin Gorman, a 51 year-old single mother of 3 and flight attendant for U.S. Airways, had to put a choke-hold on a male passenger when he became unruly this week.  Before he boarded the flight, the passenger apparently ate a bunch of marijuana brownies and then during the flight he started yelling in the bathroom.  When he did come out of the bathroom he had his pants down.  Lorin got the passenger away from the bathroom and towards the seats but then the passenger threw an elbow at her.

Big mistake.

Lorin may be a flight attendant but she also happens to be a fourth-degree black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do who has studied the martial art for more than 15 years.  Before the passenger knew what happened, Lorin had sprung behind him and got him in a choke hold that eventually caused him to pass out.  The flight (which was supposed to be from Philadelphia to San Francisco) landed in Pittsburgh and when authorities came on to arrest the passenger, they congratulated her on a job well done.  Passengers gave her high-fives and thanked her too.

He should definitely learn his lesson with this one though.  Not only can he not handle his pot brownies, he got beat up by a female flight attendant and will probably face a laundry list of charges.  I don’t think the federal authorities like having suspect people on board cross country flights and I’m sure his new buddies in jail will remind him of how manly he was too.

Kudos to Gorman for not hesitating and putting all her years of practice to work.  I’m sure with all the national attention this is getting she will be promoted by U.S. Airways.  She could be an instructor to other attendants on how to take down problem passengers.  She’s just another example of how much mom’s do kick ass and we must respect them (and their Kung-Fu).

The crib’s plastic hardware can break which can cause the drop side of the crib to detach from a corner of the crib. When the drop side detaches, it creates a space that a baby could become wedged in and trapped.  This could put them in between the crib walls and the mattress which could cause suffocation.  The mattress itself may also become loose which can pose as another suffocation hazard as well as a strangulation hazard.

There have been three reports of infants who have suffocated to death so far.  These occurred between September 2002 and July 2007.  The CPSC has also received 20 other reports, 12 of which involve the drop side detaching in a corner of the crib.  Five of the incidents also involved the baby actually falling out of the crib, causing bruises.  An additional 8 reports have the mattress coming loose, creating a space where three children got trapped and another four reported them falling out of the crib.

Due to the fact that Generation 2 went out of business in 2005, CPSC has limited information about the cribs. Although CPSC does not know the total number of units distributed or the years of production, it is believed that there were more than 500,000 of these cribs sold to consumers. Some of the known model numbers are: 10-110X, 10-210X, 21-110X, 20-710X, 64-315X, 26-110X, 90-257X, 20-810X, 46-715X, 64-311X, 74-315X, 21-815X, 21-810X, 20815X, 308154 and 54915. (The “X”is where an additional number may appear.)

All Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” drop side cribs are included in this recall, including those with other model numbers.  The name “Generation 2 Worldwide” appears on a label affixed to the crib’s headboard or footboard. The name “ChildESIGNS” appears on the teething rail of some of the cribs.

If you or someone you know purchased one of these cribs, they should contact the store they purchased it at and depending on the store, they may receive a cash refund, store credit or replacement.

Please see the links below for additional recalls that may affect you:

• RECALL – ‘Princess and the Frog’ Walmart Neckalces May Be Toxic
• RECALL – Steamer Mops May Cause Scalding or Lacerations
• 1.5 Million Graco Strollers Recalled Because of Amputations
• RECALL – Dinosaur Cloth Books Contain High Levels of Lead
• RECALL – Play Yard Bassinets May Cause Suffocation
• RECALL – IKEA Highchairs May Cause Fall