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Jace Shoemaker-Galloway's BlogPosted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Can you believe it? Summer is over and the kids are heading back to school already. Labor Day is right around the corner. The days of "I'm so bored" are again behind us, until next year, and we gear up for back-to-school supplies, hectic mornings and homework. Here are a few articles that will get you and your family prepared for school days. Back to School Fun and Games is an article that highlights many online activities for kids. Many children have a difficult time transitioning between summer life and school. These fun projects will help prepare them and get them in the school spirit. Celebrate Labor Day Online includes many online and offline activities, games and printable projects that celebrate Labor Day. What is Labor Day and how did it begin? Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway CNN has officially responded to mass emails that are reportedly being sent out from CNN. The subject line in the emails read "CNN's TOP 10." These emails are not being sent out by CNN. Some users report receiving emails titled "CNN Alerts" are also being mailed en mass. Users are reporting they are receiving emails that appear to be from the news-site CNN, when in fact, they are not. It is reported that when some unsuspecting users click on any of the links in the fraudulent email, malware is installed onto the users computers. Often times, official looking emails from banks, credit card companies, businesses and auction companies are sent to unsuspecting recipients, hoping users will click on a link. Many times, these emails are not legitimate and may result in identity theft, installation of a virus, trojan or malware. Keep your antivirus software current and up-to-date. It is important to note, emails that look suspicious, are from someone you don't know or are from a source you did not register with, should be deleted. Do not click on a link or install an attachment unless you know the source. When in doubt, don't do it. Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway In case you haven't heard, a new search engine was released this week. Cuil, pronounced "cool", launched earlier in the week, giving Google a run for their money. Although there are numerous search engines available today, Cuil has an interesting history. Several of Cuil's team members actually helped develop the super-popular Google search engine! They know their search engines! Some of the features include:
The founder of the company happens to be Irish and the name Cuil is actually a Gaelic word that means knowledge and hazel. Why not check it out and see what you think? Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Parts of the world's oldest New Testament are expected to go online today and the rest of the book is expected to be published online later this year. Handwritten in Greek, the Codex Sinaiticus, will include photographs of each page and links to English and German translations. The book also contains portions of the Old Testament as well as numerous books that were not included in the Bible. The process has been quite difficult as the priceless Bible has been divided and resides in four different countries. Experts from all over the world have united in order to make this historical manuscript available for all to see. To see the manuscript, visit the Codex Sinaiticus website. As of this writing, the website is "temporarily unavailable" due to high demand. Keep trying! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Working with over 500 children a week can be more than challenging. Although the work is physically and emotionally draining, you never know what to expect when working with so many kids! My job is never boring, that's for sure. My work as an advocate for online safety is something I am more than passionate about. For four years, I have educated children, parents and teachers on issues and concerns regarding the Internet. The information is always serious and can sometimes be very difficult to deal with on an emotional level. As the economy struggles, gas prices go up and foreclosures worsen, it seems we are simply inundated with negative news on a constant basis. But every so often one hears an uplifting story that warms the heart, especially when it concerns children and animals. When I heard about 12-year-old Mimi Ausland, I knew she was extra special. Many people have ideas, visions and dreams but few carry them out to fruition. Mimi had an idea and made it happen in a big way. She is 12! Because of her vision, determination and unending compassion, this young girl is helping feed discarded, forgotten and abused cats and dogs across America. And with your help, all of us can help. Read Mimi's inspirational story here. Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway For our American and Canadian friends, I hope you had a wonderful and safe July holiday! For me, the Fourth of July normally means summer is about half over. I have the luxury of having the entire summer off. Before working for the school district, I was thrilled when I had two weeks vacation. But having two and a half months off in a row is fabulous and I feel very blessed! Here are a few articles for your summer time enjoyment that will also save you time and money: Save Cash on Gas - The cost of gasoline is skyrocketing! Save money by finding the cheapest gasoline prices in your neck of the woods. Free Text Messaging Services - If you have children of a certain age, chances are they have a cell phone. And if they have a cell phone, chances are they text. Now we can text message our children or friends and family by using our computer. For free! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway The Associated Press has been in the, well, news lately for cracking down on a popular blog. The AP recently filed seven take down requests against the Drudge Retort for copyright infringement. The letter asked the six blogs and one user comment entries be disable or removed "EXPEDITIOUSLY." The blogs in question reportedly contained short excerpts containing up to 79 words. The situation is now resolved. In order to cite text from the Associated Press, the following fees have been implemented, known as the Excerpt for Web Use Policy. Fees vary depending on use.
Sources: Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Father's Day is right around the corner. Here are a few family fun articles to help you celebrate this important day! Embrace him and treasure these special moments. My dad passed away almost a year ago, so this Father's Day will be quite different. It feels sad, reflective and empty. It is impossible to fathom, almost surreal, knowing a parent is no longer on this earth. It seems like only yesterday my father was this vibrant, full of energy and brilliant man. Knowing he is gone, I'll never hear his voice or see him smile is overwhelming. I will miss you, Dad. Free Father's Day Cards - Send dad a free electronic greeting or make one yourself. Father's Day Fun and Games - Although these are for dad, the entire family can get in on the action. Loads of fun online and offline games, free of course. Father's Day Printables for Kids - If you are looking for some activities for the kids, here ya go. These printables are not only fun, they are totally free. Happy Father's Day! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway The weather is finally getting warmer, and winter is yet a another memory. Now that the "battle of the Davids" and the winner of that elusive Disco Ball are concluded, summer is right around the corner. School is over for some, and winding down for others-me included. Those of us still in school are looking forward to the quiet that summer brings. May is filled with special days including Mother's Day, graduation, weddings and Memorial Day. In America, Memorial Day is often thought to officially "kick-off" summer. But the true spirit of Memorial Day needs to be remembered. Read Memorial Day Projects for Children for educational, informative and online activities for children. Planning a wedding can be exciting, nerve-wracking and stressful. Save time with this money-saving article, Affordable Wedding Flowers. Enjoy! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Juicy Campus is a popular website frequented by college students. The website, launched in 2007, allows students to post whatever they want, totally anonymously. Students post comments about other students, including their entire name, anonymously. Once a message is posted, people are able to "vote" on comments. Once published, postings can not be edited or deleted. To say the postings are disturbing is an understatement. The comments I have seen have been hateful, derogatory, inflammatory, and hurtful. While some name the most “promiscuous” college student, others publish untrue posts such as the biggest druggie or seller on campus. The JuicyCampus slogan states, "Always Anonymous. Always Juicy."
JuicyCampus users agree they will not post anything that is:
New Jersey’s e-commerce unit began investigating possible violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. While these types of websites can provide an outlet for students and provide a venue for freedom of expression, anonymous students are able to post cruel, malicious, hateful and inflammatory remarks about named people, anonymously. It deeply saddens me to see websites like this. As an advocate for children's safety, freedom of expression is important. But when people are encouraged to post anonymous messages that are cruel and hateful about a named person, that is concerning. ABC’s 20/20 will broadcast a segment on JuicyCampus Friday, May 16th. Please watch. Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Mother's Day is right around the corner. Celebrate mom with the many family fun activities, games, printables and other entertaining projects. Visit the websites listed below for child-friendly, kid-safe and just plain fun Mother's Day articles. Free Mother's Day Cards - This article provides a plethora of fantastic greeting cards for that special lady in your life. From free electronic eCards to unique printable cards, a wide array of greetings are listed. Mother's Day Brain Games - This fun article lists many brain games, silly games and teasers for mom and the entire family. Most are played online but several can be downloaded for offline fun. All are free, of course. Free Mother's Day Printables - Why not make something for mom from the comfort of your own home? There are plenty of free printable projects listed in this read. Enjoy! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway It's official. Spring is finally here! While many of us are outside raking leaves, trimming trees and mowing the weeds that are already two feet tall, some of us stay inside and leave those kinds of chores to someone else. The following articles provide a wide variety of topics. From special celebrations and holidays to informative how-to articles. Whether you, or someone you know, is planning a wedding, or whether you are wondering what spyware is and how on earth to get rid of it, you will find the information here at Suite101.
Happy reading! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway It's been nearly one week since our very successful 2nd annual Internet Safety Day took place. The entire day went without a hitch! The honorable Mayor kicked off Internet Safety Day by explaining to the second and third children what a "proclamation" was during our student assembly. There were 300 people, including the children, in attendance! After a very special presentation, the children finally found out who the six winners of the poster contest were! In the evening, the Macomb Online Safety Team (M.O.S.T.) sponsored our annual Internet Safety parental event. Miss Macomb 2007 emceed the event and the Mayor officially proclaimed the day "Macomb Internet Safety Day". Nearly 200 people showed up to hear our very special guest Sarah Migas, from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and our very special keynote speaker, Tina Meier. Both shared a wealth of information to parents, educators and law enforcement in the audience. As Chairperson of the M.O.S.T. committee and Regional Office of Education Internet Safety Coordinator, I wanted this year's focus to be solely on the growing issue of electronic bullying. The poster contest, video contest and the parental event dealt specifically with cyberbullying. Hopefully, those in attendance were educated as to the real risks involved with cyberbullying. Many dedicated and devoted individuals worked very long hours to bring this event to fruition. It was in the planning stages for one entire year. On a personal note, I was deeply honored to meet Tina Meier. She has remarkable courage and strength. Taking an incredibly painful and tragic event, and helping others avoid the same pain. For photographs of the day, please visit: Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway The Macomb Online Safety Team (M.O.S.T.) and the Regional Office of Education, are proud to announce the 2nd annual Macomb Internet Safety Day, April 1st, 2008. This year will focus solely on the rapidly growing problem of electronic bullying. For eight weeks, over 250 second and third grade children when through a personalized online safety curriculum. At the end of their lessons, the second and third grade students participated in a Internet Safety Poster Contest, which focused on the growing problem of cyberbullying. A group of "celebrity judges", which included local law and fire officials, chose the winning posters. On April 1st, 2008, there will be two important events that occur: Afternoon Event:
Evening Event:
For the past three years, I have dedicated my life to the issues of online safety education and awareness, teaching over 750 children personalized lessons and educating parents and educators. As Internet Safety Coordinator and M.O.S.T. Chairperson, it is an honor and privilege to provide such a powerful and informative event for the community. For further information, visit: Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Could it be that lingering snow is finally melting? Do I really see tiny flower buds peeking out of the cold ground from a long winter's nap? And unless I'm mistaken, I believe that big yellow thing I saw in the sky the other day, was actually the sun. Yes sir, I think spring has finally sprung! This has been the longest winter! I believe it was the pundits who swore we were in for a mild winter! So much for the experts! But no matter where you live, unless you own a ski resort, I would bet most people are more than ready to say goodbye to winter and hello spring! As I write this, I am on "Spring Break". Of course, I'm spending it working. But regardless, having a week off from "work" can't be beat. Plus, St. Patrick's Day is just a few days ago, and Easter follows quickly behind. We are on the home stretch and I, for one, am getting very antsy! The articles listed below include four St. Patrick's Day fun for the entire family. (I'm sensing a theme here)! :-) From free St. Paddy's Day greeting cards and simple printable projects to free online activities for children of ages. Free St. Patrick's Day Activities St. Patrick's Day Games for Kids Enjoy! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Happy Leap Year Day everyone! How would you like to have your birthday come around once every four years? Come to think of it, for those of us ancient folk, it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Working with over 500 youngsters every week, it is often a daunting task to find educational, child-safe and free online activities for children. I scour the Internet for many hours trying to locate interactive projects that will entertain and educate at the same time. The articles below cover a wide range of age-appropriate interactive projects. Leap Year Day for Kids is an article that provides some learning and fun activities for children. What is Leap Day? What are the origins? I bet you'd be surprised. Learn to Count Online is an article geared for children just learning how to count. Lots of fun games are included. Download Free Microsoft Software is an article for college students. Microsoft is offering free professional-level software for college students. A wonderful incentive and project. Be sure to check this out if you have a college student! Enjoy! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Today is President's Day here in the United States and is a holiday for many. Valentine's Day was a tragic day for those of us in Illinois and America. Although Valentine's Day is normally a day to celebrate love and friendship, this year it was filled with sadness and great loss for the students of the Northern Illinois University campus. As of this writing, five students plus the shooter, were shot and killed on campus with many others injured. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of yet another senseless tragedy. The following articles include a wide array of helpful safety information. CrimeReports is a highly recommended website that shows up-to-date criminal activity, online. For people considering moving to a new location or for those who just are curious about crime in their area, this article, Track Criminal Activity Online, is a must-read. As an advocate for keeping children safer online, last week marked the annual Safer Internet Day. Many countries are involved with this educational endeavor. Read Participate in Safer Internet Day for more information. Monitor Computer Use with Zoomzaa is an informative article for parents with children. Zoomzaa is a free parental control program and worth checking out. Deposit Checks From Home is an interesting article. New technology provides everyday consumers the flexibility of depositing checks from the comfort of home. Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Is it spring yet? I don't know about you, but this has been the strangest winter! From 60 degree days, to subzero temperatures, thunder snow and rain, this is a never-ending season! Besides the winter weather, February in a month that has many holidays. The articles listed below provide just a snippet of fun-filled activities, projects and entertainment for the entire family! Presidents Day Activities for Kids includes a listing of child-safe and educational online activities for children. Celebrate Black History Month provides a wide array of educational websites that inspires and teaches children about Black History Month. Free Valentine's Day Games provides child-safe and kid-friendly online and offline Valentine's games for children. Gourmet Valentines Day Chocolate is a scrumptious guide for those looking to buy the perfect Valentine treat. Mmmmm! Valentines Day Flowers Guide provides a listing of websites that provide beautiful Valentines Day flowers. Free Valentine's Day Cards is geared towards adults. Send loving, heartfelt sentiments to that special someone, for free. Valentine's Day Cards for Children provides a listing of fun Valentine's cards for kids. Free, of course. Groundhog Day Activities for Kids is all about the Groundhog. This article provides educational information and fun-filled activities for children. Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Did you hear about the new technology coming to a grocery store near you? When I first heard of this story, I immediately thought of the "classic" television cartoon, the Jetsons. Head over to the Microsoft's Digital Grocery Cart to find out more. For the past three years of my life, I have dedicated and devoted my life to Internet safety issues and concerns, educating children, parents and teachers. I am more than interested in the MySpace and AG's Unite for Kids information. For those who have children or are just plain interested, take a look. How many of you have 4 old cell phones stashed in the junk drawer? If you are like me, I have a large assortment of outdated electronics getting dustier by the minute. Now, you can recycle, or ecycle, those items. Help the environment and get cash for outdated gadgets. Read Recycle Old Gadgets for Money. Going on a trip? WeatherBonk Assists Travelers is a MUST have website. Instead of calling your sister to find out what the roads are like before your trip, just plug in your address and your destination, and WeatherBonk does the rest. Current, live weather reports, road conditions, traffic reports, and much more. Highly recommended. It's that time of year again. File Income Tax Returns for Free provides valuable information for U.S. taxpayersMany are unaware they can file tax returns electronically for no charge. Find out how. And finally, Groundhog Day Activites for Kids. Learn about Groundhog Day with these fun and of course, free, online activities for youngsters. Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Brrr. The last few days and have been extremely cold here in the Midwest. Winter is definitely here. As we spend more and more time inside in a warm and inviting atmosphere, curled up by the fireplace, reading a book, watching television, or online, here are a few more suggestions to add to your reading repertoire. A wide array of topics are included in my recent published articles: Top 10 Video's of 2007 includes a compilation of the most watched, most talked about or controversial viral video's of 2007. Microsoft's New Digital Grocery Cart discusses a brand new way to shop. Move over George Jetson! Grocery shopping 2.0 is here. New U.S. Passport Cards includes more high-tech news. The new passports are a wallet-sized alternative to traditional passports. Interactive Gaming Consoles discusses the benefits and risks of online and wireless gaming consoles. A must-read for parents and grandparents with high-tech kids. Celebrate Martin Luther King Day is recognized January 21, 2008. An American icon, this article lists educational activities for children. Enjoy! Posted by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway Happy 2008! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Now that the holidays are over, we must all hunker down and endure the long and often dreary winter months. The weather often dictates spending long periods indoors and the winter blues and blahs often set in. Children as well as adults, may resort to spending more time online. The following articles provide safe alternatives to online fun for free. All provide child-friendly, kid-safe and non-violent online activities for children of all ages. Educational Word Games for Kids includes a wide variety of word games for children. Learn how to spell, the alphabet or sentence structure with these free online games. Free Internet Activities for Kids includes printable projects for children, for free. From Bingo cards and bookmarks to lined paper, these websites are sure to be a big hit. Paint and Color Online provides a listing of virtual painting and online coloring activities for older children, including some of my own personal favorites. Free Coloring Activities for Kids is a listing of online coloring activities for younger children, many of which I personally use with my 550 elementary school children. Online Crossword Puzzles Guide includes a listing of many online crossword puzzles for children and adults. Several crossword puzzle makers are also included in the listing. Free Online Puzzles for Children provides a listing of 11 jigsaw and slider puzzles for children. Celebrate Martin Luther King Day includes a listing of fun and educational websites for children celebrating Martin Luther Kings life. Enjoy! |
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