Saturday, December 6, 2008

The Joy Of Parenting

Here is a website that gives some useful information on child development and education, with fun-filled activities for both children and parents

It is a common belief that one can never imagine the rollercoaster ride that is parenthood until one actually becomes a parent.

And through this rollercoaster ride numerous advices and cautions given to the parents by the elder generation of the family, especially to young, first-time parents. Interestingly, now with more nuclear family setups around, parents are now turning to the internet to read up on the different aspects of parenting and then try out whatever suits them best. Apparently, seeking the advice of elders and trying the methods of the older generation is no more in vogue.

And frankly speaking, with elaborate websites such as PBS Parents on the block, who can really blame these parents? PBS Parents is highly illustrative, rich in content and has all the nitty-grittiness of parenting which would make any website surfer want to visit it again and again. This is not surprising, considering that the wealth of information which is here can only be digested over a nice, long span of time.

PBS Parents has categories which ensure that you go directly into the section of your interest. There is Child Development, Education, Fun and Games, Advice and many other sections. It is actually quite difficult to decide where to start from — probably the best place to begin will be determined by the age range which your children fall in.

Within each section, there are loads of self-help and how-to articles detailing how you can deal with different issues related to your children. There are also many different tools in each section — for instance, the Child Development Section has a tracker.

You can select the age of your child from the tracker and read up to analyse whether s/he falls into the defined, specific characteristics which are normal for children of his/her age. Moreover, in the Education section, the Book Finder tool will help you to get hold of books according to your child’s age.

There are many different blogs here as well. These blogs are maintained by people who want to share the joys and pains pf being a parent. Interestingly, reading up on real-life cases is always more reassuring — of course, you may feel differently. In any case, it is good to know that this website has considered both ways of disseminating information.

On the layout side, the website is definitely very aesthetically designed. It will appeal to you and make you want to visit it repeatedly. However, the sheer amount of information can seem a bit overwhelming at first. Also, the website seems cluttered at times – you can be at a complete loss as to where to go. The first thing would be to take one section at a time and then move to the other.

The website offers interesting ways to break away the conventional role-playing of parents by providing loads of fun activities to download and play with children. Certainly some activities might have to be tailored to make them suitable to children in the local context. To find out all the different activities you can engage in with your children, log on to http://www.pbs.org/parents/ — H.A

Saturday, November 22, 2008

The Power Of Words

Words have the creative power to build up and to tear down... Here is a website that features beautiful quotes. Find out which one inspires you, writes Hafsa Ahsan

How often does it happen that you are totally down in the dumps because nothing seems to go right in life. Well, most of the time, the feeling is usually the result of a bad day. But sometimes, there does seem to be a genuine need for something to lift one’s spirits and give one a dose of motivation. At such times, people turn to different things, depending on their personality and inclination.

For at least some of those people, different quotations by others, some well-known and others not quite famous, are a way of finding that silver lining in the clouds of their life. World of Inspiration is one website which is designed to cater to these people.

As the title suggests, this website has a comprehensive collection of quotations mainly divided into 14 categories – ranging from business, character and enthusiasm to happiness, romance, leadership and success. Most of the quotations are indeed beautiful and would definitely serve to make you think and ponder over them.

The website is laid out beautifully and you will not find any unnecessary information. There is one menu of links on the homepage, along with a list of recently added quotations; and even though Google Ad Sense does have a presence here as well, it does not look quite as intrusive and out of place as it does on some of the other websites.

However, at times, it does feel as if this website is too empty. The simply, uncluttered look is definitely commendable, however, one does feel that some extra titbits could have been added to give more functionality to the website and motivate first-time visitors to log on it again.

As it should happen, once you have gone through the quotes, there is very little to do here. Some links to similar resources on the web or a blog detailing the updates to the website and inviting comments from visitors could have been added to make the website a more useful resource. Moreover, the latter would have added a much-needed element of interactivity to the website.

But one must not take credit from where it is due. The website is definitely a very motivating one and just the place to come when you need a dose of inspiration. To get your dose of quotable quotes, log onto
http://www.worldofinspiration.com/

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Fun With Words

Hafsa Ahsan takes you to a website where you can play interesting word games and enhance your vocabulary

Quite often when you are trying to write something, say an essay or a speech, suddenly you are stuck for words. Sure, you know what you want to say — and the Urdu equivalent might even be floating in your brain at that particular point — but that particular word eludes you.

This is only one of the signs that you need to improve your vocabulary. Interestingly, there are loads of websites out there which are designed to help you do just that. There is yet another category of websites which contain hints and tips towards the same end, for instance, use flash cards, read books, etc. The list is endless and so are the possible places where you can look for help and things you can do to add to your word bank.

Among some of the better websites is “Learning Vocabulary.” This website contains loads and loads of different word games which are specifically designed to help you improve your vocabulary. At the same time, these games also ensure that you do not just learn the meaning of a new word — you also learn how to use it. The latter part is way more productive and it would ensure that you actually make good use of the words which you add to your bank.

The games which you can choose from include crossword, hangman and word search. All these games require flash, so do make sure you have it installed on your PC. Once you are here, all you need to do is select the game, then select the word list and you are ready to go.

It is great to be able to choose the word list from which you want the words to be included in the game you are playing. This ensures that the games are relevant to all age groups. You can choose an easier word list if you are in the younger age group. And if you are applying to foreign universities and giving exams like SAT or IELTS, you can choose a difficult level and revise your vocabulary through these games.

While you are here, you might also want to check out the Vocabulary Blog which is updated with hints and tips as to how to improve your vocabulary. Apart from that, the blog will also guide you to similar resources around cyberspace, which you can avail according to your level.

What makes this site a bit unwelcoming is the colour scheme that can end up making you pine for a pair of sunglasses. The bright yellow and blue scheme might just put some of you off. Apart from the glitch with the colour scheme, the website is pretty much to-the-point – with instructions on the main page as to how you can effectively use word games for a higher purpose. Unfortunately, one cannot call this website uncluttered as Google Ads make an unceremonious presence right on top of the homepage.

At the end of the day, however, don’t let the minor faults deter you from playing the games themselves. These are quite interesting games and apart from relieving your boredom, will definitely help you increase your word bank

To improve your vocabulary the fun way, log onto http://www.vocabulary.co.il/

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Let’s Fix It

Troubled with sudden breaking down of appliances? Here are some simple ways to correct and amend things on your own, writes Hafsa Ahsan

Imagine the following scenarios: just when you start pressing your clothes for the party and your iron breaks down and when you are making toasts for the kids in the morning, your toaster gives up on you.

In scenarios like these and many others, the common sequence of events which follows is usually that you call up the respective company and ask them to send over a technician to check out your malfunctioning appliance, or take it to the repair shop yourself. At other times, you avail the service of your plumber or electrician. Either way, the process costs you both your precious time and a lot of money.

How would you feel when you know that you can actually amend anything that has broken down? Of course, unruffled! But for this, you need to log on to How to Mend It — a website that can actually make you good enough to repair your appliances whenever they start to act up. This is a comprehensive how-to website which will help you get most of your malfunctioning things working again — or so the website claims.

The site is pretty user friendly. To choose the correct category of appliances, you have a set of instructions on the homepage. Of course, you can easily use the search option if you are in a hurry. However, if you are here to browse, the list of categories is quite interesting, ranging from bathroom appliances, cameras and computers to kitchen and office appliances, to security systems and telephones. In a nutshell, even if something has not broken down, you can still come here and check out what can be done if it ever does.

Within different categories, there are various questions — where you just need to check if the information you are looking for has already been answered. If not, you can follow the steps to post your question and then wait for the answer.

However, the layout of the website is definitely a bit confusing. The categories have been set out vertically instead of horizontally which would have given it a neater look. Yet, the search box and instructions right at top of the homepage are two pros of the website.

At the end of the day, there would be no harm in trying out some of the steps mentioned here. If that works, you can actually save up on both time and cost. But remember, if you are not confident enough in these technical matters then do not try to take any risks for something that could result in a mishap.

To find out how to repair anything which has broken down in your house, log onto
http://www.howtomendit.com/

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Health Check

Do you consider your health as an important issue? It’s never too late to start doing so and there are many sites you can turn to for guidance, suggests Hafsa Ahsan

There are quite a few studies which have established that what women mostly search for on the internet, news and magazines, among other things, are ‘health issues’.

This should come as no surprise considering the fact that women are quite sensitive about this issue. The web offers anonymity as well as information from different sources. And, more often than not, individuals using their pseudonyms are usually willing to post their health concerns and experiences online and hence offer advice, relief and reassurance to other women who are going through a similar experience.

You may have come across websites dedicated to common daily life health-related issues and their remedies, as well as specific health concern like sinus, head and back aches. Women Health Questions is one such website that focuses on common health issues faced by women and carries many frequently asked questions.

The question of where to navigate first will be determined by what your chief health concern is. If you are concerned about weight, then you may find the section on exercising helpful, as there are loads of tummy exercises, along with their illustrations, to give people a clear picture of what is to be done and how.

Dieting is very much a part of almost every weight-related discussion or plan. And so is the case here. The section on diets will guide you through the different types of diets which are followed all over the world, along with a step-by-step guide as to how you can embark on a journey towards healthy eating without making yourself miserable.

Apart from weight concerns, most women are faced with some sort of skin problem — usually related to the face. There are different sections devoted to skin issues. Then two sections are dedicated to pregnancy-related issues. One section has detailed descriptions of the symptoms of pregnancy, while another section will guide you through the details and ‘how-to’ of the pregnancy week by week.

The layout of the website is quite uncluttered, as compared to other websites carrying a lot of information on their homepages. However, once you start digging on this website, you will see the layout does get a little monotonous, as only some sections are illustrated while others are mostly text-based.

However, even with all this information, the main precaution remains — never treat websites as an alternative to medical advice. The section on supplements must especially be treated with caution — never intake anything without consulting a doctor. Health-related websites such as this one are always helpful for advice — but your doctor is more credible at all levels.

To get an overview of some of the common health issues faced by women, log on to
http://www.womens-health-questions.com/

Saturday, October 18, 2008

What’s Your Extension?

Searching and downloading a file extension software may take your time but it can save you from a terrible headache over not knowing weird file extensions’ titles, advises Hafsa Ahsan

How often does it happen to you that you ask for a file to be sent to you via email? You must have made the request countless times and you might also have been struck with some weird file extensions that you may not be able to open.

For instance, you receive an email — you open it and try to download the simple MS Word document, but fail. Then you realise that the extension of the file is ‘name.docx’ instead of ‘name.doc’.

If you are an expert computer user, you will immediately realise that you have an older version of MS Word which will not let you open the file. However, if you are a novice, then you are mostly likely to be stumped than anything else. And this is where websites like ‘File Extensions’ come in. This website has a massive collection of various file extensions along with their definitions. You can look here for the name and description of any file extension which you want to use and know about.

There are three ways to hunt down a file extension. You can search for the extension, which, of course is the simplest; can browse through different file extensions alphabetically, or you can go through the different categories to locate your desired extension. All these file extensions are divided into different categories, e.g. audio files, binary files, database files, document files, system files, text files and many, many more.

This website not only tells you what the file extension stands for, it also lets you know what might be the best software to open any particular file. It also offers links to the homepage of the software which is needed to open that particular file extension, so you do not have to search for it separately.

If you are here mainly out of curiosity, then you should consider browsing the section on the most visited file extensions as well as the section detailing common file extensions.

The website also offers a free scan of your registry — once you do that, it can fix the file extension errors, if it finds any. However, you must remember that editing the registry has its own issues, so use this feature carefully, and it is better if you know how to make a backup of your registry, so that you can roll back any changes if they cause problems later.

As far as the layout of the website is concerned, the homepage can make your head spin. For instance, there is a main left hand menu pointing to the different types of the files extensions, the presence of search boxes, links to the top 10 file extensions and all their title names will add to your headache. However, the good part is, once you locate the search box, you can directly search for your desired extension the next time you visit the website.

Overall, this website definitely comes in very handy when you try to open a file and you get that ever-annoying dialogue box, asking you to specify the software needed to open the file. In that case, go onto this website, search for the file extension, download the required software and that is all. To find out more about different file extensions, log on to http://www.file-extensions.org

Saturday, October 11, 2008

No More Dieting

W eight loss is something many people are concerned about. For others, it is an absolute obsession. Whether or not these people actually need to lose weight is another story altogether.

But the fact of the matter is that attaining an hourglass figure is the dream of many a young woman, with few actually stopping to think about the health factor. However, one cannot deny that weight loss isn’t something to be taken lightly. Not taking meals on time or denying oneself the intake of the essential nutrients can easily lead to eating disorders.

There are now scores of different websites which can help you on your quest to lose weight — and ensure that you don’t harm yourself in any way while at it. Weight Watchers is one of those websites and is definitely worth a visit if you are concerned about your health in general and weight in particular.

The best thing about Weight Watchers is that it’s not a passive website at all. If you are just going through to read through it at leisure, it will do nothing to help you. On the other hand, if you are willing to jot down whatever you feel can be implemented in your daily routine and actually attempt to enforce some lifestyle changes, then this website will do wonders for you.

Also, it would be pertinent to remember that Weight Watchers is actually an “offline” group – you will have to pay to access most of the stuff on this website. But fortunately, there are many tips and resources here which are for free. For instance, the Health and Fitness section is a treat for anyone who wants to get into an exercise routine but is stuck for ideas. You can watch sample exercise videos here, read through articles on how to walk regularly and, most importantly, how to make exercise a daily habit.

The Food and Recipes section is also one of the most promising, and here, you can find out why you are not losing weight even if you have been “dieting” for ages. Also, you can get some ideas on how to avoid buying certain types of food at grocery stores, what healthy dishes to cook and more importantly, how to lose weight while eating out.

There is also a whole Community Section here where you can sign up and then login to interact with like-minded people from across the world. You can share your frustration, talk about your health goals, share with others what works for you and of course, get more tips and advice.

At the end of the day, it is all about healthy living. Your figure may not be as perfect as you want, but if your weight is within the normal range for your height, you have a lot to be thankful for. If it isn’t so, and you need to lose it, adopt a sensible approach which is conducive to your health. Starving yourself is definitely not the option.

And to find out how to stop yourself from dieting and STILL lose weight and much more, log onto http://www.weightwatchers.com.