text:
Grain, livestock markets decidedly mixed on Tuesday
Corn traders are keeping a close eye upon weather developments over the corn and soy growing areas of South America, since corn in that region is probably pollinating at this point. Thus, prospects of persistent dryness are rather obviously supporting prices. However, these weather situations do not play out quickly, which sometimes seems to leave traders twiddling their thumbs while awaiting fresh developments. That certainly appeared to be the case Tuesday, when corn futures hardly seemed to move. This lack of movement may persist until the weekly Export Sales reports are released Thursday morning. March corn had edged 1/4 cent higher, to $7.29 1/2, at the CBOT close, while December had slipped 3 1/2 cents to $5.86 1/2 per bushel.
Reports of rising soybean basis levels across the Corn Belt apparently boosted the CBOT market Tuesday, since traders interpreted the shift as indicating comparative supply tightness at recent price levels. That is, elevators are having to boost bids in order to get farmers to draw down their inventories. Talk of potential problems transporting the huge South American crop to the coasts and to customers may also have supported prices, but we do not put a great deal of faith in such arguments. Ultimately, the potential for renewed Argentine dryness in the wake of anticipated weekend rains probably set the stage for the latest futures advance. March beans closed 4 1/2 cents higher, at $14.51 3/4 Tuesday afternoon, while March soyoil fell 0.18 cents to 51.71 cents/pound and March meal gained $3.4 to $423.7/ton.
While the persistent drought over winter wheat fields across the U.S. Southern Plains remains a supportive factor, the Tuesday morning wheat advance seemed to be powered by talk of the export situation. For example, Algeria reportedly bought 500,000-600,000 tonnes of durum wheat from Canada and the U.S. over the past week. Moreover, instead of exporting excess production in the coming weeks and months, Russia is rumored to be preparing to buy grain from the EU. Nevertheless, the markets apparently ran out of steam as noon approached and accelerated downward as the ringing of the closing bell loomed. Wire service reports cited profit-taking for the late drop. March CBOT wheat futures settled 2 1/4 cents lower, at $7.77/bushel, while March KCBT wheat slipped 1 1/2 cents to $8.30 3/4 and March MGE futures dropped 4 1/2 cents to $8.61/bushel.
On Monday cattle futures spiked upward in response to bullish news on the January 25 Cattle on Feed report and on weekend reports that Japan will soon ease restrictions on its beef imports from the U.S. Bullish traders are almost surely expecting much more of the same from this point, since cattle slaughter and beef production routinely decline to annual lows in March, whereas retail industry demand for the grilling season starts accelerating in late winter and/or early spring. However, the wholesale market has persistently proven unsupportive of bullish ideas. For example, after rising quite modestly on Monday, cutout values gave back those gains and more Tuesday. Indeed, one has to look back to last August to find lower quotes for choice cutout. Thus, the weakness suffered by CME futures was not terribly surprising. February cattle fell 0.68 cents to 128.27 cents/pound at the Tuesday close, while April was down 0.43 cents to 132.97.
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Author: Thomas-J-DiLorenzo: 9 records
About Thomas J. DiLorenzo
Thomas DiLorenzo is professor of economics at Loyola University Maryland and a member of the senior faculty of the Mises Institute. He is the author of The Real Lincoln; Lincoln Unmasked; How Capitalism Saved America; and Hamilton's Curse: How Jefferson's Archenemy Betrayed the American Revolution — And What It Means for Americans Today. Send him mail.Sort by Title
Organized Crime: The Unvarnished Truth About Government
Thomas J. DiLorenzo Updated 8/3/2012Politics and thieves, coercion and regulation, fascism and the Fed, centralization and liberty, workers and unions, trade and freedom, free-market achievements and government disasters in American history—this book covers it all!...
"Subjectivist Roots of James Buchanan's Economics, The"
Thomas J. DiLorenzo Updated 1/15/2007William Barnett II Subjective Cost Revisited Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Paper Capture Plug-in...
"Competition and Political Entrepreneurship: Austrian Insights into Public-Choice Theory"
Thomas J. DiLorenzo Updated 1/15/2007Thomas J. DiLorenzo Competition and Political Entrepreneurship: Austrian Insights into Public-Choice Theory Acrobat PDFWriter 3.02 for Windows...
"Myth of Natural Monopoly, The"
Thomas J. DiLorenzo Updated 1/15/2007Thomas J. DiLorenzo Competition and Political Entrepreneurship: Austrian Insights into Public-Choice Theory Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Paper Capture Plug-in...
"Monopolistic Competition and Macroeconomic Theory by Robert Solow"
Thomas J. DiLorenzo Updated 1/15/2007Hoppe VENTURA Acrobat PDFWriter 4.0 for Windows...
"Constitutional Economics and The Calculus of Consent"
Walter Block Updated 1/15/2007skjar Dilorenzo.PDF Acrobat PDFWriter 4.05 for Windows...
"The Consolidation of State Power via Reconstruction: 1865-1890"
Thomas J. DiLorenzo Updated 1/15/2007skjar Microsoft Word - dilorenzo.doc...
"George Stigler and the Myth of Efficient Government"
Thomas J. DiLorenzo Updated 1/15/2007skjar Microsoft Word - 055-073 DiLorenzo on Stigler 16-4 post Judy.doc...
"Book Review of Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War by Robert B. Ekelund, Jr. and Mark Thornton"
Thomas J. DiLorenzo Updated 1/15/2007Reviewed by Thomas J. DiLorenzo Tariffs, Blockades, and Inflation: The Economics of the Civil War by Robert B. Ekelund, Jr. and Mark Thornton Acrobat Distiller 3.01 for Power Macintosh Libertarian Legalism...

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You can enhance your already cutting-edge PLN by harnessing the power of the hashtag, chats, and other Twitter lists.
Twitter is more than a simple messaging platform. It's a conversation about your passions and it's easy to get completed addicted. That's a good thing.
Google Docs is a powerful word processing tool that many schools have adopted. As it's similar to Microsoft Word and other word processing tools, most of its features are...
Many teachers are making the foray into using social media with their students. I am at the point of 'dipping' my toe in. There's a number of things I've...
How To Use Social Media As A Learning Tool For Homeschoolers
At long last, online learning is maturing to the point of being a viable option for many. Let's uncover the truth about cheap online colleges and if they're right...
Although Evernote already is a fairly well-known app, very few educators realize its potential building and sharing student portfolios. Having a well-organized e-portfolio is important: It can follow students...
How to Find Curated Content in Google Play for Classroom Use
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Trendy Buzzword or Transformative Concept: How Legit is Grit?
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For animal lovers who want to bring their pets to Europe, travelling with your pet abroad is possible but requires some forethought.
Each country has its own specific guidelines for bringing in pets; it is essential that you research the regulations for each country that you will be visiting well in advance of your departure date.
Things to consider when travelling abroad with your pet are:
Making a reservation for the flight to Europe (in cargo or carry-on?);
Having the right carrying cage for your pet and where to put it as you travel;
Is your breed of pet allowed in the country?
Vaccinations required for entry, including rabies;
Sufficient planning time, sometimes up to six months, to allow for blood or other tests required by some countries;
Travel documents, such as an international pet passport
Find out if your pet is required to have an electronic identification chip implanted under the skin, as required in some countries;
Take copies of health records/prescriptions in case of illness or accident;
Know the leash laws and clean-up customs for each country;
Check with all accommodation to make sure pets are allowed;
Find out where animals are and are not welcome in each country you visit, for instance in parks and restaurants.
All animals must have certain vaccinations, including a recent rabies shot, and the animal must be in overall good health. Specific certification and documentation for your pet is necessary to bring it into European countries. For more specific information, check with the tourist offices of the countries you wish to visit and with your airline. Book well in advance, and be prepared to pay a fee for your animal's transport even if taken on board in the cabin.
Take just a few extra precautions to protect your valuables and travel documents.
Any electrical device you wish to bring on your trip can be used with the aid of an electrical travel kit.
Check your health insurance policy to be sure you are covered while travelling abroad.


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The NFL and JumpStart have partnered up to start bringing kids a new way of viewing the NFL! In speaking of the NFL's new commitment to children and how JumpStart plays an important role, Mark Waller, Executive Vice President at the NFL said:
"With JumpStart, what we've really focused on is how can we build digital platforms that speak to the youngest generation of fans in their language, on their terms, and in their environment — whether that's laptop, tablet, or mobile — with content that is fun and educational at the same time."
To learn more about how the NFL is partnering with JumpStart, read more on the Wall Street Journal site here.
12/19/2013: School of Dragons has officially gone mobile and is now available for your iPad 2, 3, 4, Mini, and Air! This highly anticipated app allows you and all of your dragon training friends to connect to our Viking themed world direct from your online account without interruption. For any top tier trainer, this app has finally arrived to revolutionize your efforts and learning for all of our high flying adventures at School of Dragons.
From managing your progress in farming and harvesting crops to continuing through competition against rival clans and riders in Thunder Run Racing, there is no stopping your potential for earning new achievements and reaching new ranks. Download the School of Dragons app for FREE from the iTunes App Store to start connecting to your SoD account from almost anywhere at anytime!
Coming soon for the Android market, this game will prove to be the perfect tool to take your training to the next level!
JumpStart is made up of a number of amazing lands, where learning is the top priority! With educational content around almost every corner, Frankie and friends can help your kids learn to master a number of fundamental skills in activities that put an emphasis, not only on learning, but also on FUN! Join the JumpStart friends today in StoryLand, AdventureLand, MarineLand, FutureLand, and ScienceLand for challenging missions that will keep your kids engaged in their education!
Designed for early learners as young as 3, StoryLand's many adventures can help give your littlest learners the foundation they need to master the ability to identify numbers, letters, animals, colors, and so much more. After completing theses story book based missions, Jumpeez are invited to grab their pals to earn their explorer's badge in AdventureLand, where reading and math are practiced through a series of tasks, including a ride on Hop's JetPack! From there, there's even more exciting adventures to be had underwater when Jumpeez take to MarineLand to earn their very own swim tails by completing challenging missions with our friends from the sea like Jean-Claude, JumpStart's very own the sea monster!
Everyday adventures through JumpStart allow your kids to get in regular practice in subjects like math, reading, and critical thinking. By completing all of our education based missions, your kids will have what it takes to jump into Dr. Brain's Time Machine and put their knowledge to the test in FutureLand. And JumpStart's action packed adventure in learning does not stop there. There is even a ton of amazing activities for players of all ages in our Amazing ScienceLand, where they can explore topics from plant life to the systems of the human body. Other areas like JumpStart New York, Adventure Canyon, and much more. Encourage exploration in JumpStart to find your child's seemingly endless potential for learning! Learning has never been so fun, in our JumpStart Stadium, your kids are put to the ultimate test, when they are tried with their favorite sport and a fast-paced math or english test that will make them break a sweat.
JumpStart helps develop the minds of young children by focusing on the key areas of every school; math, language arts, science, and basic preschool and kindergarten learning skills. When your kids don't realize they are learning, is where we make the most impact. JumpStart's leading technology engages kids in a meaningful and fun way. Watch your child succeed as they raise their knowledge to the next level.
12/04/2013: The winter season has arrived to JumpStart, and Frankie and the JumpStart friends have been busy, pulling a number of festive features out from their stockings this year. Be sure to tell your Jumpee to visit Central Park and MainStreet for access to the popular snow globe FunZones that open the door to our famed Winter Wonderland, a wondrous attraction with numerous frosty fun activities. Also, now is the perfect time to invite your Jumpee to check out the Downtown FunZone and earn a few extra coins by helping us grow a larger than life seasonal snowman!
You will also want to encourage your Jumpee to check out our fun and festive Elf-o-Matic, a machine that transforms Jumpeez into elf sized versions of themselves to spread some seasonal cheer around the game.
And the wintertime merriment continues with JumpStart's limited-time scavenger hunt in Central Park and Coney Island that leads your Jumpee in a search for precious seasonal gifts, such as candy canes, ornamented trees, teddy bears, and more!
11/13/2013: Frankie and the Jumpstart friends have just given your Jumpeez even more reason to be thankful, this season! A number of fun and festive features have arrived to our online world just in time for Thanksgiving. Start your Jumpee's adventure with a visit to our very own Mayflower ship, which has anchored in DownTown for our annual turkey chase challenge. Take some time to encourage your kids to tag as many turkeys as possible before season's end. Those festively feathered friends are faster than they might look!
And the fun doesn't stop there! Jumpeez can also get some first hand experience navigating the seas by racing through our limited time Shipwreck Lagoon FunZone in MainStreet or by taking to Central Park to help ZuZu tend to her fall garden!
Invite your child to start exploring our FunZones in Downtown, MainStreet, and Central Park to get into the spirit of the season! There have even been updates to our ongoing seasonal scavenger hunt and the selection of items in our DownTown Stores.
9/26/2013: Fall is finally here, and back by popular demand are some of our famed fall FunZones, Petz, Ridez, and Threadz! Invite your kids to start exploring under JumpStart's twilight lit skies and Jack-O-lantern filled hills because Frankie and friends have just started JumpStart's official Halloween extravaganza.
If your Jumpee is ready for a few spooky surprises, encourage them to start their adventure off with a visit to the Haunted House in JumpStart's Downtown area. There, they are sure to have a ghoulishly good time as soon as they step through the door! And the fun won't stop there. This season, Frankie's made it even easier for Jumpeez to work their way through the terrifyingly tricky Mummy Maze. With locations in Central Park and MainStreet, there's no excuse for missing out on this fan favorite FunZone!
There are so many frighteningly fun features and festive tricks and treats hidden around the game like the all-new scavenger hunt, so start exploring today! After all, this season will only be around JumpStart for a limited time.
8/29/2013: Ahoy there, Mateys! It is time to prepare your
kids to walk the plank, because JumpStart has officially kicked off Pirate Month.
Encourage your Jumpeez to get their best swashbuckling Threadz together to join
Frankie and the JumpStart friends as they take to the seas with a number of fun
and festive activities for the new season.
Are your kids ready to learn about some of the terrific treasures that have washed
ashore in JumpStart? Challenge them to put their navigation skills to the test by
finding the missing pieces of treasure. In the end, each Jumpee that finds all of
the hidden pirate themed items will be taking home a small treasure of their very
8/7/2013: JumpStart is in danger and Frankie need your
kids help! For a limited time, Jumpeez are invited to join a special in-world quest
to keep JumpStart safe from Tangorra, an evil sorcerer with plans of draining all
of the energy from JumpStart! By working with S.P.L.A.T., JumpStart's Secret Protection
League Against Troublemakers, your kids will be putting their critical thinking
skills to the test as they are tasked with collecting map pieces that have been
hidden around the JumpStart World!
With S.P.L.A.T. providing regular intel on the location of the Voltage dragon nest,
your kids will have a few challenging riddles to solve to complete this quest. How
well do they know the JumpStart World? As they jump from place to place, collecting
map pieces they will need to make sure that they can get to the nest before Tangorra
7/12/2013: 7- 17 We hope your pencils are sharpened, boots
are tied tight, and eager to learn because School of Dragons is officially open! Head there to start
a new journey of epic proportions, as you choose and train your very own dragon
while exploring the Isle of Berk. Talk to Hiccup, Gobber, Fishlegs, and more of
your favorite characters as they guide you through your adventure.
Join your fellow aspiring Vikings and enter into this wonderful world filled with
science, excitement, friendship and more! Don't miss this opportunity to venture
into the unexplored world of School of Dragons. Inside, you will have the chance
to perform experiments, fish, farm, fly on your dragon, and enjoy everything the
Isle of Berk has to offer.
This summer is a great time for a new adventure, so start classes today and find
out if you have what it takes to become an elite dragon trainer!
7/1/2013: Summer is in full swing and Frankie has a number
of seasonal surprises planned for your Jumpeez this July! Invite your kids to visit
the recently updated MainStreet FunZone, where they will be able to participate
in a larger than life picnic with a unique JumpStart twist. From cola slides to
festive foods that are made for bouncing, this picnic will be like no picnic your
kids have ever attended! This season, have them test their jumping skills to see
how long they can last on the rocking record player, or swim through some giggling
gelatin to stay cool.
There's even a 4th of July themed scavenger hunt occurring in DownTown, MainStreet,
and Adventure Canyon, in honor of Independence Day. For a chance to earn a few extra
coins this season, your kids will need to search high and low for all of the festive
red white and blue items that Frankie has hidden around the game. But, the summer
extravaganza doesn't stop there! They'll even be able to catch JumpStart's popular
4th of July fireworks spectacular. Just have them listen for the sounds of the celebratory
horns that signal each sparkling show!
To top off all of our summer specials, Frankie has also made a few updates to the
DownTown shops and even kept the School of Dragons FunZones in DownTown and Central
Park. Join us in JumpStart, today, to help us celebrate the arrival of the new season!
5/31/2013: JumpStart and DreamWorks Animation have come
together to bring you one of the greatest games yet, School of Dragons! Now in JumpStart,
we have brought you a sneak preview into the School of Dragons, based off the original
DreamWorks Animations' hit film, "How to Train Your Dragon"? Head over to Central
Park or DownTown where we have just released a never before seen FunZone that allows
you to begin training for School of Dragons with a few challenging games of strategy.
Rise up with your fellow Vikings-in-waiting to start exploring! Start off by entering
the challenging maze, which could get you a secret surprise for your first day at
School of Dragons. Or dive straight into training a dragon's shot accuracy by playing
a round of Fireball Frenzy, The School of Dragons FunZone at JumpStart.com is the
perfect tool to get you ready for what this summer will bring.
Start training today and let us know what you're most excited about seeing when
we fly into the School of Dragons this summer!
5/3/2013: Celebrate history with Jumpstart's recently
added Cinco de Mayo festivities. From the new Piñata themed Funzone to the exciting
seasonal scavenger hunt taking place around the MainStreet and DownTown areas, there
are so many exciting additions for Jumpeez to enjoy to get into the spirit of this
May holiday.
In Downtown, kids are invited to test their luck for a chance to earn some extra
JumpStart coins for the season. Serenaded by the sounds of traditional Mexican music,
Jumpeez can now take a swing at anyone of our 5 brilliantly colored piñatas. Each
day they have the chance to more earn coins and join in all the fiesta fun!
While they continue on their journey through our online world, remind them to be
on the lookout for a few seasonal items that Frankie has hidden around the game.
Those who complete the Cinco de Mayo themed hunt in time will be rewarded for their
4/11/2013: Today, we are welcoming
JumpStart® Pet Rescue into our growing collection of mobile games for kids.
This interactive app helps make learning even more exciting for preschoolers and
other early learners. Adventure filled and action packed, Pet Rescue invites Jumpeez
to embark on exciting missions while exploring 5 expansive lands.
Tasked with rescuing a few of JumpStart's lost pets, kids are challenged to put
essential developmental skills to the test. With over 30 games and more than 50
lessons covered in this one mobile game, there is no telling where this adventure
might lead. Join Frankie and the JumpStart friends by downloading the app direct
to your mobile device, today!
JumpStart Pet Rescue is available now at the
iTunes App Store,
Google Play,
Amazon App Market, and
3/28/2013: As JumpStart gears up for a new season, Frankie
and his team have updated the game to include a number of fun and festive features,
including a spectacular spring inspired theme. With flowers blooming in the air,
encourage your kids to join their friends in JumpStart as we celebrate the start
of a new season with updates to a few of the interactive FunZones.
Have your kids start exploring the MainStreet and DownTown areas in search of all
the brilliantly colored eggs that were hidden in time for this season's scavenger
hunt. Along the way, they might even want to stop and help their Jumpee friends
grow the giant DownTown Sunflower. Or, over in MainStreet, players are invited to
take a trip down Hop and Flop's magical Rabbit Hole to discover an exciting world
of fun activities. This spring, there is nothing quite like this Eggcellent Adventure!
And finally, do not forget to tell your kids about all the new Petz, Ridez, Threadz,
and custom cool neighborhood items that Frankie has added our in-game stores. Check
them out, today!
3/5/2013: As JumpStart gears up for the upcoming spring
season, Frankie and his team have updated the game to include a number of fun and
festive new features. Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, we have kicked off the
season with an all new scavenger hunt and made updates to a few of our famed interactive
FunZone areas.
One step through this season's Luck-O-Matic machine and Jumpeez like your kids will
have the luck of the Irish on their side as they adventure through Jumpstart in
search of little leprechaun hats, clover covered balloons, and a few festive pots
of gold. Send your kids into the Downtown FunZone to help us grow the giant four-leaf
clover. The more Jumpeez that we have working together, the faster the clover will
grow. Next, we invite them to take journey over to MainStreet in pursuit of the
famed Blarney Stone. Legend has it that those who locate the stone within Blarney
castle will be kindly rewarded.
And the fun will not stop there, this season! Frankie has even taken the time to
restock the DownTown stores with lots of green themed goodies, including a few new
Petz, Ridez, and Threadz. Head into JumpStart, today, to check it out!
2/12/2013: Are your kids ready to master the ABCs? With
JumpStart's latest mobile app, Madagascar: My ABCs, kids are taken on an all new
learning adventure with the Zoosters! Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, and a few other
familiar faces from DreamWorks' Madagascar have returned to guide your preschoolers
and early learners through this engaging digital alphabet book. With interactive
tracing games, catchy sing-a-long songs and a fun sticker safari search, kids are
taught the basics of reading and writing. Madagascar: My ABCs' seemingly endless
amount of game-play invites your early learners to embark on all kinds of fun new
learning adventures.
And, if that were not enough, this amazing mobile game even allows users to sync
to online accounts to help kids earn coins, here, at JumpStart.com. For educators
in early development and families on-the-go, Madagascar: My ABCs is the perfect
way to give your early learners the jumpstart they need to succeed in school.
To download the game, stop by your app store, today! Madagascar: My ABCs is now
available through the
iTunes app store,
Google Play, the
NOOK Market, and
Click here for more
1/31/2013: The snow has finally melted around JumpStart,
making way for the arrival of our festive February FunZones and some new holiday
decor. With these exciting additions, your kids will have even more to LOVE this
time of year. Join them in all of the festivities by logging into JumpStart, today!
Starting over in the MainStreet area, Jumpeez are now able to embark on a journey
through the popular Box of Chocolates Maze, but don't let this deliciously deceiving
FunZone fool you. It may prove more challenging to your kids than they might think.
Any Jumpeez that manage to make it to the center of this box will be greeted by
flurry of sweet surprises. Then, over in DownTown, we are celebrating the return
of Hearts Lane. Jump aboard one of the silly swan rides to explore a whole new world
of fun just in time for Valentine's Day.
JumpStart will be topping the season off with a few updates, to our DownTown shops,
which will be stocked with a few new Ridez and Threadz for you kids to enjoy. Be
sure they have a chance to stop by while supplies last!
1/2/2013: Join Skipper on some highly classified missions
and head over to the Penguins' Headquarters today and help the Penguins with their
top secret missions! Our sneaky and sly Penguin friends are recruiting Jumpeez to
solve some exciting and adventurous missions throughout the JumpStart World. The
Penguins will take Jumpeez step by step through different missions that need to
be accomplished. All of the missions are highly classified and very top secret,
and all of your Jumpeez can take part in it! There are a variety of tasks that the
Penguins need done, and it is every Jumpeez job to follow orders.
Some missions might have your Jumpee unscrambling riddles or mastering secret codes
using the handy toolkit that the Penguins provided, while other missions might have
you collecting clues by talking with confidential contacts or searching high and
low for your next target. The Penguins will give clues and instructions along the
way to help solve all the challenges your Jumpee is faced with. These trying missions
will take your Jumpee to every corner of the JumpStart World and having them work
incognito with the Penguins. Is your Jumpee ready to take on the challenge?
12/17/2012: As if the arrival of the Central Park Zoo
and the animal's European Habitat were not enough to quench your kids thirst for
all things Madagascar. Now, they can help us welcome Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman
back to New York. With exciting new areas and games, there are so many more adventures
for your kids to enjoy while in the JumpStart World. From the city skyscrapers and
iconic yellow cabs to the arrival of Central Park, all the sights and sound of the
city are just waiting to be discovered.
Encourage your kids start exploring this new locale to take in some of New York's
most famed sites. This winter, they can head to Times Square to walk through the
bright lights of the city, fly through the skies in the new the Air Penguin Glider
or even ice skate with the Zoosters. But that's not all, for Jumpeez looking for
more ocean side fun, we have even added the beautiful boardwalk of Coney Island,
where your kids can drive bumper cars or enjoy a visit to our new JumpStart Movie
Make sure that your kids don't miss out on these new adventures as we celebrate
the arrival of JumpStart, New York!
11/29/2012: Parents, your little Jumpeez have much to
look forward to for this coming winter season! As the climate transitions from the
brisk chill of fall to the much colder temperatures of winter, the JumpStart World
is welcoming its Winter FunZone.
Explore JumpStart's Winter Wonderland in the DownTown area. It might look like your
average, gigantic snow globe, but it is actually a holiday-themed area for your
Jumpeez to ice skate, race penguins, and glide down slippery slopes. You can even
ride a train through the Winter Wonderland area.
Also, the Elf-O-Matic is back! Your Jumpeez can see what life is like from a holiday
elf's point of view. All they have to do is walk through a simple portal to be shrunken
down in size and clothed in a festive elf costume.
Your Jumpeez will not want to miss the holiday-themed scavenger hunt. Help them
use their bright imaginations and ideas to think of where the various holiday items
could be hidden. The holiday scavenger hunt is bound to be challenging, and it will
be just one more thing to get your kids excited about the season. Click here to Play Now!
11/13/2012: Looking for a way to make learning fun and
rewarding for your child? JumpStart®, the leader in online education and games for
children aged 4 to 12, announces that it has launched a large collection of free
worksheets and printables at
www.jumpstart.com to complement the exciting fun and learning games on the
site. Free worksheets include grade based worksheets starting with preschool worksheets and kindergarten worksheets all the way
up to
fifth grade worksheets.
Along with the collection of grade based worksheets, a vast number of subjects including
math worksheets, science worksheets and reading worksheets are available for
free. Parents can choose from a variety of subjects, grades and learning styles
to create the perfect learning companion for kids aged 4 to 12 and help their child
excel in reading, math and other important skills and subjects.
In addition to the free worksheets and printables JumpStart also has a variety of
resources and activities for parents and kids including great holiday craft ideas, Thanksgiving decoration
ideas for kids and plenty of Madagascar themed
activities as well.
All worksheets and activities are available for free at www.jumpstart.com and are updated
daily with new worksheets, activities and crafts for parents and kids.
Check out all our
free worksheets now!
10/4/2012: JumpStart® announced that it is developing
online and mobile learning adventures for kids featuring well known animation franchises
for the first time. Today marks the launch of new online and mobile games inspired
by DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: DWA) marquee film franchise Madagascar.
Formerly known as Knowledge Adventure®, Inc., the company also announced it is changing
its name to JumpStart.
JumpStart offers kids a safe and secure environment to play in, have fun, make new
friends, and learn new skills. Our exhaustive array of fun virtual games will educate
children on various topics and give them something new to look forward to every
day. You can monitor your child's progress and watch as he/she practices and gets
better at math, reading, science, geography, general knowledge, and more!
JumpStart is also working on developing a new gaming franchise inspired by How to
Train Your Dragon.
Click here for the full announcement.
10/4/2012: From DreamWorks Animation and JumpStart® comes
Madagascar Preschool Surf n' Slide where players join young Alex, Marty, Gloria,
and Melman, and the entire Madagascar gang for a slip-sliding adventure in learning!
Players will surf down amazing slides as they learn multitudes of preschool skills
on their mobile device.
Click here for more information.
Explore the exciting world of JumpStart – a fun, educational 3D virtual world for kids! From creating fancy avatars to flying brooms, playing fun science games to solving challenging math problems, and raising dragons to creating charms – we have a wide variety of exciting 3D games for kids.
JumpStart offers kids a safe and secure environment to play in, have fun, make new
friends, and learn new skills. Our exhaustive array of fun games for kids
will educate children on various topics and give them something new to look forward
to every day. You can monitor your child's progress and watch as he/she practices
and gets better at math, reading, science, geography, general knowledge, and more!
With vast areas to explore, exciting games to play, many missions to accomplish,
and, of course, Frankie, JumpStart is the perfect virtual world for kids!


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For those of you lovelies who may have missed my guest post last week: When Jessica and Linz generously invited me to share something on their blog Sweet Athena on the theme of celebrations, I got to thinking not just about the grand fanfare celebrations, but the little ways one feels celebrated in a day. You know what I mean? Like that hug that you get out of nowhere from a friend. Or that tilt of the hat {read more…}
The Art of the Surprise Note
February 5, 2013 ~ 51 Comments


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My father drove a new Chevrolet every year, and they were always immaculate. Everyone could see that he was a practical family man with upward aspirations. While constrained by economics, he believed in the latest models in his vehicles.
When I think of my own auto history, the pattern is fairly obvious. I have almost always owned a two-door car, and most of them — before I started to get skin cancers — were convertibles. But I have long known that, with the right income, I would have a specific car.
My perfect car would mimic my powerful, aggressive personality. It would not be a shy and unassuming vehicle. It would be manly. Perhaps a Ferrari Testarossa in red would fit the bill. (I don't think so.)
My father-in-law was a conservative certified public account and drove pastel Ramblers and Plymouths most of his life. One can see the correlation. You wouldn't want your accountant to drive a Corvette or a Mini Cooper.
My perfect car would need to stand for my family values, while at the same time testifying to my penchant for risk. Someone might suggest a yellow Lamborgini. (That's not right either.)
A friend and mentor who was the pastor of a large Protestant church in Southern California purchased a bright red Mazda but never drove it to work. Instead, he drove a ratty green Volkswagen, as he felt that it was more modest and in keeping with ministerial humility.
My perfect car, despite what it might say about my moral character, would need to have pizzazz and panache. It would need to reflect my flair for the unconventional. It brings to mind a silver Porsche Targa. (That would not be the best choice.)
A friend of mine has two rare classic cars that he never drives. They sit in his garage because they are too expensive to insure. While he never even takes them around the block, he gets pleasure out of looking at them and knowing that they are there.
My perfect car, while exciting and cool, must also be everyday transportation. As an extension of my personality, it also must be an extension of my need to get from place to place. It must be a trusted means of getting me where I need to go. My vehicle must have the temperament of a Toyota Camry with the dominance of a Hummer. (But neither of them would work.)
A favorite uncle always drove a top-of-the-line Cadillac. He did loads of research, and when he went into the dealer he knew what they had paid for the automobile, what color he wanted and every option that he needed. He walked in with his list and drove out with his new car. One had to appreciate his certainty.
This theory has been long thought-out. Ever since I bought my last car I have been thinking of the next one I would buy.
My perfect car must also reflect my decisiveness, so when I finally buy it — whenever I buy it — I will let you know what it is. Until then you will see me in my 17-year-old Subaru.
• Mike McLellan can be contacted by calling and leaving a message at 830-4231 or emailing him at firstname.lastname@example.com.