12 Ways of Christmas Toy Reuses
(ContentDesk) December 6, 2005 -- Science writer Cy Tymony reveals simple methods to reuse damaged or discarded Christmas toys.After Christmas tons of damaged toys and packaging materials inevitably find their way into our already overflowing waste dumps. It's tempting to discard seemingly useless items but if you do, you'll miss out on some great adaptation opportunities, as well as a chance to help the environment. How? Convert them into other useful items in a "sneaky" way. Cy Tymony, author of "Sneakier Uses for Everyday Things" (Andrews McMeel Publishing), explains how to recycle old toys and household items into practical devices. "With a little knowledge, simple and high-tech toys - even damaged ones - can be used for amazing and educational purposes," Tymony says.
"It costs next to nothing to do, so it's almost a crime to send reusable items to landfills."Tymony gives his 12 sneaky reuses for common toys and household items in keeping with the "end-of-year list" season:Boomerangs fashioned from gift boxesTurning a screw in an AM/FM radio to receive aircraft signalsMaking racing cars, a PA system and a sneaky listening device all from tape recorders CDs or plastic plates and party balloons are turned into a hovercraft toy Radio Control car parts adapted to control other household devices. Micro-RC cars remade into wireless airplanesVerifying counterfeit currency and activating devices using toy magnetsMotorized toy cars turned into robots and door openers Toy car motors become robots, door openers, a personal fan or a speaker radio and calculator (or handheld video game) acts as a metal detector Walkie-talkies become secret listening devices or an intercom A radio and paperclips remade as a room-entry or flood alarm.Tymony's website, Sneakyuses.com has a free expanded "Sneaky Toy Reuses" article with details on additional toy adaptations. He suggests readers not overlook reusing other holiday staples around the house. "Milk can be turned into plastic or glue, a penny can be turned into a radio, coins and fruits can become batteries and walkie-talkies and other devices can be placed in clothing to make a 'gadget jacket.' Even gift-wrapping paper can substitute for air for 'inflating' a flat bicycle tire in a pinch," Tymony says.A Minneapolis school has recently developed resourcefulness courses based on Cy's first book "Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things." "There are lots of items in a home that can be used to teach youngsters how things work and resourcefulness, " the author explains.Tymony continues to research real-life stories of resourcefulness which he then posts at his website. There one can read about the boats made from milk cartons, about the window washer who used his squeegee to save himself and five other men from World Trade Center Tower One on September 11, 2001, as well as the story of the Colditz glider, an 18-foot airplane built
out of materials from beds and sleeping bags by prisoners in a German war camp.
Additional information is available at the authors web site:
www.sneakyuses.com About Cy Tymony:Cy Tymony has been creating useful high-and low-tech inventions all his life. By reading comic books as a kid and studying scientific techniques, he bridged science and fiction to amaze his friends.He's authored four books and more than a dozen articles on science and computer science. Cy has been interviewed on over 100 radio shows and his technical wizardry has landed him on CNN Headline News, CBS's Morning News Chicago,???? KTLA Morning News Los Angeles, FOX 5 Las Vegas and featured in U.S. News & World Report, the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers. He lives in Los Angeles.Contact: Cy TymonyPhone:
(310) 542-1547.
Experience the History and Traditions of Medieval Christmas in Riga Latvia - Anno 1510
(ContentDesk) May 17, 2006 -- It's never too early to start Christmas Holiday plans.Built around the legend of the First Christmas Tree story which took place in medieval Riga, Latvia in the year 1510; Patricia Tourist Office invites young and old to visit Riga this Christmas to experience and re-live the medieval holiday celebration. (http://www.firstchristmastree.com)Based on detailed recorded activities and events in the House of Blackheads Fraternity chronicles of the year 1510 now housed in the Latvian State Archives; a series of activities and tours are being planned to give the visitor a realistic feeling of what it was like in medieval Riga so many years ago.Of course this will be a combination of folklore, pagan and Christian traditions and most likely a visit of modern day Santa Claus as well. Patricia Tourist Office has been in contact with Santa's workshop in Finland to check his busy holiday schedule.In addition,...
Experience the History and Traditions of Medieval Christmas in Riga Latvia - Anno 1510
Christmas > Experience the History and Traditions of Medieval Christmas in Riga Latvia - Anno 1510
Personalized Music CD With Your Child Name In the Lyrics & Hand Drawn Pencil Sketch From Your Kids? Photographs
Mychildmusic.com is a distributor of personalized music CDs for children, with the child's name in the music. Original compositions featuring your child's name will dazzle and delight your child. You will be amazed how much your child will enjoy singing and dancing to these fun songs containing their name. Professional vocalists have sung every single name.The quality of the music is what makes mychildmusic.com different. The music on each CD is a mix of tempos teaching your child rhyme and verse.
They are a fun way to teach children speech and music. The CDs build your child's self esteem through the affirming lyrics. Mychildmusic.com has currently 3 CD titles available: (1) You are my friend (2) You're an angel (3) Jesus loves you. Each CD is personalized with your child's name throughout the lyrics. To further personalize the CD, your child's name is printed on the CD label, together with a three-line message of your choosing.
You can create a birthday message, Christmas...
Personalized Music CD With Your Child Name In the Lyrics & Hand Drawn Pencil Sketch From Your Kids? Photographs
Christmas > Personalized Music CD With Your Child Name In the Lyrics & Hand Drawn Pencil Sketch From Your Kids? Photographs
How to Store Enough Water to Live Through an Emergency
Copyright 2006 Candy Arnold
Emergency preparedness is a fact of life. Natural and man-made disasters occur frequently, especially during the winter months.
The three basic necessities for survival are food, shelter and water. And it's water that creates the biggest problem. We cannot live without it. And water weighs over eight pounds a gallon!
The rule of thumb for clean water is one gallon per person per day for drinking and cooking.
And don't forget the pets. Water is also needed for personal hygiene.
For emergencies lasting only a few days an adequate supply of water should be kept on hand at all times. Bottled water can easily be obtained from your local grocery store and stored in small places like closets and under the bed.
Collapsible plastic water containers in one, three and five-gallon capacities are available from stores that sell camping supplies.
A three-day supply of clean water also needs...
Christmas > How to Store Enough Water to Live Through an Emergency
Personal Space Announces Season Four
NEW YORK, NY (ContentDesk) July 9, 2005 -- Returning to the stage fresh from their artistically acclaimed
third season, Personal Space Theatrics (PST) announced today the lineup for their 2005-2006 season, which includes Murder by Hanoch Levin, the fourth annual presentation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and BecauseHeCan by Pulitzer-nominated playwright Arthur Kopit.
Artistic Director Stephen Wargo commented, "This season promises to take our audiences into new and exciting theatrical territories.
The landscapes of this season's plays are brave new worlds where many audience members have never traveled.
We are thrilled to bring these stories, their worlds and our audiences into the same space."The season opens in October 2005 with the New York City Premiere of Murder, by Hanoch Levin and adapted & directed by Michael Weiselberg.
From Israel's most renowned playwright comes an unflinching, provocative, and universal examination of...
Christmas > Personal Space Announces Season Four