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(PRWEB) December 9, 2005 — After decades of research, author Joe Kahler has put together the most critical life skills and “real worldâ€? information into one easy-to-read book, “Out On My Own…Now What?! Tips and Insights So You’re Not Left Hanging in the Real World!â€?

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With personal anecdotes and the humorous antics of Oomo, a young bird who has recently left the nest, Kahler teaches necessary life skills like how to rent an apartment, saving and investing money, basic car maintenance, and social skills.

“As a young man growing up in California, I had no real concept of what finance was, how insurance really worked, or what actually made cars run. The horrors of performing domestic duties on my own could only be dwarfed by my complete lack of confidence dealing with social etiquette. Like your children today, I was a young person with zero training in personal life skills and looking for answers,� said Kahler. “‘Out on My Own…Now What?’ was written to teach our kids the life skills necessary to help them avoid making all the same mistakes we made. This book will empower today’s youth with the knowledge, know-how, and confidence to conquer the world, or at least teach the importance of baking soda!�

With Oomo’s help, Kahler’s book covers important life skills such as:

• Automotive insights to keep young adults from going “auto their minds�, from a basic understanding of what’s “down in the hood� to how to buy their first vehicle.
• Home maintenance tips from getting stains out of carpets to renting their first place.
• Financial insights from budgeting to learning “Multiple Methods of Making Money�.
• Social skills from goal setting to tipping and knowing what all those forks are for at a formal dinner.

“Out on My Own…Now What?� is the perfect gift for any young adult on the verge of leaving their parents’ nest. It’s a valuable step-by-step life skills guide to avoiding costly, painful, or embarrassing mistakes once out on their own. To order a copy of “Out on My Own…Now What? Tips and Insights So You’re Not Left Hanging in the Real World!�, visit www.amazon.com.

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SCRANTON, PA (PRWEB) December 9, 2005 — “Choosing a gift can be a headache but it can also be an opportunity,â€? say Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans. They are co-authors of the bestseller on employee retention, LOVE ’EM OR LOSE ’EM: GETTING GOOD PEOPLE TO STAY and of the popular book on achieving personal satisfaction at work, LOVE IT, DON’T LEAVE IT: 26 WAYS TO GET WHAT YOU WANT AT WORK, both published by Berrett-Koehler.

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Our Gift Ideas area has something for everyone
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Based on their books the authors have created some unique “gift lists� for managers and workers aimed at enhancing workplace satisfaction in any organization, no matter how large or small.

“Many annual bonuses — and even perks such as cell phones and company cafeterias — are no longer seen as special,â€? say Kaye and Jordan-Evans. “They might even be expected. If that’s the case, you’ll have to get creative to find other tokens of appreciation that work!â€?

Here are some unique gift ideas from the authors, to help engage and retain your talent, year-round, taken from their lists “Gifts that Keep On Giving…and require very little money or shopping,â€? and “Job Satisfaction? Take Actionâ€?:

· Private time with the manager—-schedule a lunch date, at a place selected by employees, to get to know them better, to learn how they feel about their work and what you can do to make them more satisfied.

· Offer an opportunity to lead a project — even one you might have wanted to lead yourself.

· Ask employees for ideas on how they would like to be rewarded — the only rule is that half the ideas need to be low cost or no cost.

· Consider some gift coupons — for lunch and a coaching session with a mentor, taking an afternoon off to see a movie, or for 20 minute listening sessions each month.

· Offer tickets to a play, game, or a concert — some type of event that you know your employee truly appreciates and enjoys, rather than “one size fits allâ€? tickets for an activity.

· Ask your employee for the name of someone in the organization that he or she would like to meet. Then create that link and provide that introduction.

· Have an honest talk about the future. Offer to hold a Career Conversation. Talk about career goals, talents, and future opportunities.

· Offer a free one-year subscription to your employees’ favorite business magazines and have them sent to their homes.

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(PRWEB) December 9, 2005 — For Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwaanza, kids and their families will enjoy “Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow,â€? a new picture book for children ages 4-8, written by Los Angeles author Lisa Dunn-Dern. The story: When her mommy goes to the beauty salon, a little girl wants to give her daddy a new hairdo, too. Problem is, he has very little hair! How she gives him a new ‘do is a story that will delight young and old.

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Author Lisa Dunn-Dern was a staff writer for the HBO-Fox TV series “ROC,� and directs and produces large-scale children’s theater productions in Los Angeles. “I wanted to walk into the children’s section of a bookstore and find a book with a family that looks like mine,� says Dunn-Dern, who is African American and happily married to a prominent Hollywood entertainment attorney who happens to be Caucasian. They have one daughter, now 13, and make their home in Los Angeles, Calif., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. “I didn’t find any, so I wrote one,� she says cheerfully.

“…a sweet little slice of love from a special day in the life of a little girl…even the smallest pleasures can be treasures in the wide-eyed world of a child,â€? said singer-songwriter Mac Davis. “…a necessary example for every child and every adult.â€? –legendary singer-actress Diahann Carroll. “…adorable,â€? said Oscar winner Diane Keaton. “A great, fun book. It’s refreshing to see an interracial family doing a normal routine.â€? 5 “kids,â€? highest rating. –www.BookReviewCafe.com/. “A true delight.â€? 5 stars, highest rating. www.Bookpleasures.com/.

“Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow” is a large, durable soft cover book, 8½â€? x 11â€?, fully illustrated throughout with four-color pictures by artist Virgo Evans. Published by Llumina Press, Inc., it is available at www.amazon.com

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(PRWEB) December 9, 2005 — Many Christmas pet gifts are found under trees. Usually the pets need some help opening them though, although puppies have been known to do a good job at opening wrapped items.

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Did you know that you can shop, search and socialize with other pet lovers by visiting ionpets.com?

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Tim Phelan, of http://www.for-my-pet.com says he understands why people buy gifts. “I have seen people spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a Christmas dog gift or a cat Christmas gift. Some people can’t understand why.”

He then chuckles “I can definitely understand the bond between owner and pet. I had a dog that died over 8 years ago. A Visla. That was a great dog!”

Big sellers are:

1. A dog treat gift basket. People aren’t the only ones who eat better during the holidays. Inside the dog gift basket you may find real bones, rawhide chews, balls, rubber toys that squeak and leashes.

2. An aquarium fish tank. The fish bowls and tanks are more popular than ever since you can have your aquarium always in good order with a service that comes out to your home or office and maintains it.

3. The cat gift basket. Cats are now the most popular pet in the USA. 37.7 million U.S. households own a cat with a total number of 90.5 million cats! Products include scratching posts, collars with bells, cat nip toys, toy mice and books about other cats.

4. Horse grooming supplies are very popular items. There are about 7 million horses in the USA. 1.9 million Americans own horses and the median income for horse owning households is $60,000. Many horse owners have more money to spend on horse Christmas gifts.

5. Christmas gifts for birds. There are 16.6 million pet birds with 6.4 million owners. They buy toys to hang from the cages, different shaped feed toys, bird cages and bird perches. Many gifts are bought for the larger exotic birds, some of which live up to 70 years so there is usually a strong bond.

“These people consider their pets a big part of their family. They don’t really use the word owner much.” says Tim.

Americans are spending more on pets than ever before. Individuals rank companionship, love, company, and affection as the number one benefit of owning a pet. 74 percent of dog owners, 60 percent of cat owners, and 45 percent of bird owners considered their pet as a child or family member.

So when Americans are planning their Christmas shopping, more Rovers, Spots, Pollys, Felixes and Bob The Cats are on the list.

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PARIS (PRWEB) December 8, 2005 — African American author, Priscilla Lalisse announced today the release of STOCKDALE, her first novel.

During the 1980s in the small southern town of Stockdale, Alabama, where almost every remnant of segregation has been erased, the barrier that matters most, freedom to love regardless of color, still remains. For a forward-thinking young woman named Cassie Taylor, Stockdale has one barrier too many, and she would like nothing more than to leave town for good.

Taught early that she’s not free to love whomever she pleases in Stockdale due to the color of her skin, Cassie embarks on a search for love that first will take her into and out of the arms of Blake, a biracial boy from a broken home, and then into the arms of white military serviceman John, who may be her ticket out of Stockdale. In this tale of self-discovery, adventure, forbidden love and courage, a young woman finds out what happens in a place where being black or white can mean absolutely nothing…or everything.

“When we think about segregation, we instantly think about the 1950s or 1960s,â€? says Priscilla Lalisse, a native of Heflin, Alabama who now writes from Paris, France. “Although I do write about “modern day” segregation, STOCKDALE is also an uplifting story. I hope readers, especially young women, will come away with a sense of encouragement in knowing that they can do anything if they so desire.â€?

Stockdale is a fictitious place, although it used to exist, Lalisse reveals. It is now part of the city of Talladega, Alabama. The area holds great significance for Lalisse because it is the birthplace of her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Beatrice Stockdale Heard. Lalisse can trace her family roots back to the Stockdale plantation, founded around 1843, where many of her slave ancestors are still buried.

“Priscilla Lalisse is a new voice from the South, says Lewis Tatham, Ph.D., Language Professor Emeritus at Austin Peay State University. “Hers is not the usual story of prejudice and discrimination, but rather one of inter-racial love and of the difficulties such love encounters in a society not yet ready to accept it.�

(PRWEB) December 6, 2005 — Science writer Cy Tymony reveals simple methods to reuse damaged or discarded Christmas toys.

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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 boxes
Turning a screw in an AM/FM radio to receive aircraft signals
Making 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 airplanes
Verifying counterfeit currency and activating devices using toy magnets
Motorized 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 author’s web site: www.sneakyuses.com

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FAIRPORT, NY (PRWEB) December 5, 2005 — Tired of spending so much time searching the aisles of Home Depot for the perfect gift for your husband that you’ve started to think a tool belt would look really good with your new jeans? Does the man in your life already own enough consumer electronics to monitor the next space shuttle mission? What if – just what if – you could find exactly what you wanted him to have?

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Did you know that you can shop, search and socialize with others looking for the perfect gift by visiting iongifts.com?

Our Gift Ideas area has something for everyone
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The staff of The Do(o)little Report, the e-newsletter that takes a lighthearted look at male behavior, understands. “It’s often hard to shop for men because they either buy what they want when they see it or because that fuzzy embroidered light blue sweater that caught your eye is the last thing he’d want to receive,� says Sandra Beckwith, editor of the newsletter and a frequent speaker on the lighter side of gender differences. “That’s why we’ve helped out in our holiday issue by publishing our wish list of gifts for men. They’re practical – yet special.�

Here’s the newsletter’s forward-thinking “Gifts We’d Like to Buy for Men� list. (Don’t look for them in stores just yet.)

• Riding vacuum cleaner: Vroom, vroom.
• Gas stove disguised as portable grill: Flares up randomly and comes with ornamental briquettes and a “Kiss the cook!� apron.
• Homing pacemaker: Custom program it to find car keys, glasses, wallet and TV remote control.
• Pre-wash sock deballer and t-shirt reverser: Install on bedroom floor.
• Self-closing drawers and closet doors (slam feature optional): Requires professional installation.
• Fake TV remote control: Generates hours of fun for you.
• Catapulting couch: Mechanical cure for Couch Potato Syndrome.
• ESPN blocker: Packaged in box labeled “ESPN Enhancer.�
• “Oh! Now I see it!� glasses: Detects spills on floors, crumbs on counter, three inches or more of dog fur on carpet, drops around toilet.
• Flatulence filter: Plugs in you-know-where.

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(PRWEB) December 3, 2005 — If you think the Apple iPod is a major hit - then take a look at the phenomenal “secondaryâ€? market in accessories and add-on toys that the iPod’s popularity has spawned: sound systems and speakers for home and auto to play your tunes wherever you are, wireless remotes, voice recorders, skins and cases to cover every conceivable fashion moment…one Japanese company even offers coolers and purses with iPod speakers, so you can “share” your music on picnics or shopping!

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According to Bob Schroeder, owner of Licensed to Sell, an EBay store that specializes in NCAA licensed college and sports logoed gifts, one of the hottest Christmas gifts is a new leather iPod case, emblazoned with college logos.

“Not being an iPod owner myself, I had no idea how popular these would be,� says Schroeder, a 25 year veteran of the gift industry. “But we seem to have a “triple play� going on with college logoed “techie toys� - we carry optical mice, Flash memory sticks and the iPod cases, all with licensed school logos - and a large percentage of iPod case buyers are getting all 3 items!�

iPod cases are black leather with an embossed logo, while the optical computer mice and Flash memory sticks show the collegiate logos in the official school colors. All products are officially licensed NCAA approved products, and are available for Christmas delivery if ordered by the 15th. And yes, if you just can’t make it to your computer by then - Overnight Delivery is available after the 15th for an additional fee.

Visit their store at http://stores.ebay.com/Licensed-To-Sell today.

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(PRWEB) December 3, 2005 — “It’s hard to give your heart to Jesus, when your butt belongs to MasterCard.â€? writes Jon Hanson, in Good Debt, Bad Debt. Lost in the frenetic marketing is what Christmas is really about, to give with meaning—and to give within your means. Should you buy Christmas gifts for others, when you are broke? The answer could depend on who you ask. The merchants of debt have created a culture of spend, spend, SPEND, promoting “givingâ€? as the laudable and altruistic thing to do; and usually it is. However, accruing debt just so you can pass out trinkets and baubles for Christmas is like intentionally ingesting bad cholesterol. Perhaps it won’t have an immediate effect, but the long term health (or financial) consequences can be disastrous.

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“Ultimately, we can give more when we take care of ourselves and our families first. If we don’t, we may not be around financially to help others.� says Hanson.

Example: the flight attendant announces, “In case of a loss of cabin pressure, a mask like this will drop down. Place it over your head like this, (as he/she demonstrates). Be sure to place the mask over your face and breath normally first, before assisting others.�

Implicit in the flight attendant’s directions are: “You may not be conscious to help others if you do not take care of yourself first.� The flight attendant is giving directions you should be hearing from your financial planner. If you are in a Debtabetic Coma what good are you to yourself or loved ones?

Are you still paying for anything from any Christmas’ past? Recall Lexus’ December to Remember? Many have 49 more months to remember. Should we take joy in receiving a gift that we know the giver will be paying payments to MasterCard or another merchant of debt for months or years to come?

Black Friday last year consumers engaged in a 29 day (November 26th to December 25th) spending orgy leaving many gasping for financial breath. For a sarcastic look at the 12 Daze of Debtmas (flash presentation) go to www.debtmas.com you may also download the 12 Days of Debtmas audio free of charge from this link.

The 12 Daze of Debtmas, is taped royalty free content, offered free of charge as a PSA. It may be downloaded from the audio link above.

2004 29 Day Frenzy:

$108 billion dollars
$3.7 billion per day
$155 million per hour
$2.5 million per minute
$43,000 per second

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(PRWEB) December 2, 2005 — Do you know someone who’s always moaning about how their hair is out-of-control, too curly or damaged from over-processing? The perfect gift for anyone who dreams of looser curls or silky, relaxed hair is now available from Xenna Corporation. The breakthrough relaxer is called Curlawayâ„¢ Gel, which relaxes hair naturally, without harsh chemicals or the damage that high-pH ingredients can cause.

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Curlaway Gel is a gentle, patented, one-step hair relaxing formula that removes curl as well as frizz, and is effective on all hair types, whether Caucasian, Hispanic or African-American. C. J. Buck, CEO of Xenna, says, “The beauty of Curlaway Gel is that it leaves your hair silky-soft and smooth by gradually removing curl and frizz without the need of a neutralizing step. Just apply and wash out. With Curlaway you control just how much curl to remove for just the look you want. Curlaway hair can be styled into ringlets, sexy, full waves, or with continued use, become ‘Asian’ straight. Even African-American hair responds beautifully with regular applications.�

To Xenna’s knowledge, Curlaway is the only product for home use that contains no harsh alkaline chemicals and won’t cause breakage. It relaxes hair using very gentle, natural ingredients processed from corn and wheat that are low in pH, as opposed to the high pH ingredients in traditional relaxers. All hair types – even children’s hair and previously-permed hair and color-treated hair - can be relaxed with Curlaway safely and gradually, making Curlaway a truly innovative addition to the hair care market. One 6 oz. jar contains 6 to 8 applications.

“The Curlaway Concept is simple,â€? says Pamela Bissell, Director of Sales for Xenna. “The more you use Curlaway Relaxer, the straighter your hair becomes.â€? According to the directions and the brand’s website, two to five applications (depending on hair type) turns tight curls into looser ones and makes hair highly responsive to a ceramic flatiron - “Only 5-10 minutes to soft, straight hair”, reports one happy user. With continued treatments or daily use as a leave-in conditioner, loose curls relax to waves and, eventually silky-straight tresses. For fastest results, the gel is applied to dry or wet hair as a leave-in overnight treatment, rinsed out and then applied again very lightly to damp hair before drying. Since the process is gradual and the ingredients are not alkaline, hair is never damaged.

One user reported, “”I want to encourage anyone thinking about trying this product to DO IT! It really, really works. I am of African-American and Japanese descent and my hair is tightly curled. I have chemically straightened my hair since the age of 13 years (I am now 46 years old). I got into trouble by applying double chemicals because I started highlighting as well as straightening my hair and boy did it fry! I really cannot tell you the difference Curlaway made. I no longer have to apply straightener and my hair is healthy looking again. What a life saver! Love this stuff!!!”

Unlike most products, Curlaway Gel is safe to use over chemically-treated hair, including relaxed and permed, color-treated and bleached hair. Since it is non-irritating to the skin, men and those with short hair, as well as children, can use the product as well. Relaxation lasts 3 to 8 weeks, depending on hair type, and is 100% money-back guaranteed by Xenna.

Curlaway Relaxing Gel will be entering a retail test market in December and Xenna hopes to have the product on retail shelves in the Spring-Summer of 2006. It has been sold in Japan for the past year and is available for world-wide shipment at www.outletnutrition.com.

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