Teddy Bears - Why Not Make Your Own?
A really great present to get for your own child or a relative’s is a teddy bear that you’ve made yourself. Basic teddies are actually surprisingly easy to make, but you’re free to put as little or as much effort in as you want. If you spend a long time on it, you can make a teddy to rival anything put out by the big teddy manufacturers.
Although there are many fabrics and methods you can use to make a teddy, probably the best is knitting with yarn. It is easy to find yarn in a very good teddy-like shade of brown, and teddy knitting patterns are readily available all over the Internet – search for ‘teddy knitting’ to find whole sites devoted to knitting teddies and other soft animal toys.
Once you have the pattern, you need to find a good stuffing for the teddy. Cotton wool is an easy to find, cheap and soft material, but you can stuff a teddy with almost anything you want. Avoid man-made materials and stick to the natural stuff and you shouldn’t go far wrong.
When it comes to making the eyes and the nose, plastic buttons will do, but the best material to use is glass beads. Two black glass beads will give your teddy beautiful, friendly eyes, and they don’t even cost all that much from most craft stores.
To finish the teddy off, you can tie a silk bow around its body or its hair, to make it look like a really pretty present. Fix it in place with a few threads so it can’t come untied, and it can become a permanent feature of the teddy.
One warning, though: making teddies can be very addictive! Once you’ve made your first one, it’s tempting to just keep on going. But then, there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?
By :John Gibb
John Gibb is the owner of TeddyBear information For more information on Teddy Bears check out http://www.TeddyBear-information.info
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Success And Survival Tips From Alaska
Success And Survival Tips From Alaska - Do Not Surprise The Teddy Bears
The survival expert Bear Grylls has recently starred in an amazing series of TV survival programs which are full of both survival and success tips. He introduced this episode as follows:
"I am Bear Grylls. I have survived some of the world's toughest environments. Now, I'm in Alaska, one of the world's last great wildernesses and one mistake here can be fatal. My mission - to show you the skills you need to survive here."
Alaska's landscape is made up of endless coastline, deep forest and huge glaciers. Seventeen of the highest mountains in the USA are in Alaska.
Mountaineers, skiers and hikers visit every year to enjoy the wilderness but with the thrills comes danger. Over 20 people die every year.
Bear was placed by helicopter on top of a mountain in the role of a lost skier. All he had was a knife, a water bottle, skis, a flint, an intrepid camera crew and a woolly hat! He would have to find his own way back to safety.
He described what happened next:
"I am 9000 feet up and there is nothing but snow and rock for miles and miles. My best chance of survival is to head downwards.
"The biggest threat to skiers is avalanche. They kill around forty people every year in North America. One wrong turn and the whole mountain side could come crashing down on you. You need to know how to avoid them.
"The key with avalanches is to read the snow and you can use the ski pole in front of you just to test the snow to see whether it is compacted or whether it is in layers .
"What you want is when you push it in, it is nice and consistent but if you push it down and it like suddenly drops a little bit, it’s a sign it's in layers and that's the dangerous stuff.
"Avalanches are often triggered by inexperienced skiers and snow boarders who come to enjoy the forty feet of virgin snow which can often fall here."
In early 2006 a snow boarder from Anchorage triggered a 200ft wide avalanche on a slope just like the one Bear was on. His body was eventually recovered three months later. He had fallen 1600 feet.
"Where there is a risk of avalanche, always carry a beacon. They transmit a signal which a rescue service can follow.
"I've descended at least 5000 feet now and at last I'm leaving the high snow faces behind There is so much rock that it is becoming impossible to ski any further. All these skis are going to do is slow me down. I'm better off without them."
Bear dumped the skis but kept one of the poles.
"Below me is a glacier, literally a river of ice, and like a river this glacier flows downhill. If I can get to it, it should lead me out of the mountains.
"To get to the glacier I need to follow this ridge and it's not easy and the temperature is dropping fast. Temperatures here in Alaska can reach as low as minus 60 degrees and frostbite is always a danger in the mountains.
"The bits to watch out for are your extremities - your hands, your feet and your face. The signs you are getting frostbite is that your skin goes this waxy red colour and eventually black. Frostbite is a really horrible and painful thing.
"This ridge has led me to a north facing slope. This gets less sunlight so it is still covered in snow. The weather is not looking so good. Getting caught out in bad weather can be fatal.
"I need to get down fast but the slope below me is nearly 300 feet. I am going to use a technique called 'glissade'."
To perform the glissade, you dig in your ice axe to control the speed of your descent. If you don't dig in the axe enough you will go too fast. If you dig it in too deep, it can get ripped out of your hand.
Bear used half a ski stick as he had no axe and descended at about 50 miles per hour clinging desperately to the stick. He continued his account:
"I've reached a glacier. There are over 100 thousand of these in Alaska. They form the largest fresh water reservoir on earth but they are full of crevasses often covered by layers of snow. You need to be roped to a partner to cross them safely.
"My luck is in. There is solid ground running alongside the glacier. But at the bottom of the glacier there is a forty foot waterfall.
"There is an ice tunnel into the glacier which could lead me out. Check the ice is solid before you go in. There could be over 200 feet of ice above me and it could crash down at any moment. Only go through such a tunnel as a last resort. The further you go in the harder it is to go back."
I'm not sure what the camera crew had to say about this little adventure!
Then, Bear saw daylight ahead. It showed his way out:
"I have never been so relieved. Finally, I am off the glacier!"
He took his ski boots off but kept the inner shoes on. He drank some water which looked dirty but the brown colour was glacial silt or pulverised rock. Bear commented: "This water should be good to drink."
He continued to move downwards: "Now I am off the mountain, I need to keep heading down to find food and shelter."
He was dive bombed by seagulls who were protecting their eggs which are packed with protein, vitamins and minerals but he was out of luck and only found stones which looked like eggs. However, he was far from discouraged:
"The landscape is beginning to open up and I can see the tree line ahead and I am almost in the forest. I can see a thick forest and deep gorge and there might be a river at the bottom of that. Most Alaskan villages are along rivers."
He was now in bear country.
Brown bears can grow up to nine feet tall, weigh up to 1100 pounds and can tear a man apart. When rangers found the remains of a hiker's body, who was recently killed, there were two empty shells on the ground but the bullets had not been enough to stop the bear.
Big groups rarely get attacked because they make lots of noise. Hunters are more likely to be attacked because they are sneaking round quietly on their own.
Bears are at their most dangerous when they are surprised so make a lot of noise by shouting things. Bear started to shout: "YO BEAR! YO BEAR!"
But he felt uncomfortable however much noise he made!
He found some berry seeds in bear crap. The good news - there are edible berries around. The bad news - there are bears around!
I was once chased by a mountain bear cub in Tehran. I ran much faster than usual (I was eight at the time) and escaped. I would not have liked to race an adult bear.
Bear climbed down a huge 200 foot waterfall: "Let your legs take the pressure. They are much stronger than your arms."
It is crucial to take your time in such situations - you can only make one mistake.
He next found some Eskimo potato which is full of starch and carbohydrates and is said to be the most valuable food source in Alaska.
He built a bed with branches to keep his body above the cold ground and then found some alder saplings to build a half dome shelter. To waterproof, you add layers of spruce from the bottom upwards.
He lit a fire which would put off the bears. In this part of Alaska, the black bears are more dangerous than the grizzlies.
Grizzlies are territorial so if you meet them be submissive and back off. However, if you meet a black bear it will probably be after you. They kill less humans than Grizzlies but, in 90% of their attacks, they stalk humans.
If you are cornered by a black bear you will have to fight for your life. Most locals carry a gun but, if you are without a gun, grab a stick and jab it in the bear's eyes.
In the night, Bear heard something moving around. It might have been a moose or a bear:
"I hope, whatever it is, it will leave this 'bear' alone!"
He awoke at 5 a.m. exhausted on his second day in Alaska:
"I'm a bit cheesed off but that's OK. When you've been wet all night, it's OK to be a bit cheesed off."
He followed a stream to a river and then down to the sea coast where most people would be. But he could still go 500 miles in each direction and find no one:
"My best chance of rescue is to be spotted by one of the many small fishing boats that fish this area."
He saw some bald eagles who were after salmon. The river is packed with king and pink salmon. Bear did not have a fishing line but, undeterred he made a fishing spear. He always looks for an alternative instead of giving up.
Bear spooked the salmon into about six inches of water by shouting and hitting the water with his spear. He, eventually, speared a large salmon and tucked in immediately:
"They are packed full of protein and you can eat the scales as well as they are small. I've always liked sushi!
"I may be out of the forest but I am still surrounded by bears who come down here to fish."
He now looked for shelter. Caves are ready made shelters but they are often occupied by wild life including bears. He found a shallow cave with high walls where nothing could sneak up on him from behind.
He next found mussels. Shell fish should always be cooked properly first. He surrounded the mussels with two layers of seaweed which would steam cook them in ten minutes. I am suprised that Bear did not suggest eating the seaweed as well:
"When you collect the mussels tap them. If they don't close, they are already dead so leave them."
He created a signal fire with white smoke to contrast with the dark trees behind him but he did not see any boats so he had to keep moving.
Suddenly Bear spotted some wooden buildings but they were deserted. Alaska has a history of boom and bust.
He saw some glaciers which are often tourist hotspots. He would have a better chance of contacting other humans there but it would be a long walk.
Bear decided to use an old boat which he found near the buildings. He used a spade as a paddle. One of the core lessons of survival is to be open to every opportunity. It is the same with success.
An old boat in a sea full of ice is a risk but it was his best option. He slowly worked his way round the coastline. As he continued, he came across a bay full of sea ice. As he went into the bay the ice thickened and ice blocks were all around him.
He moved in among little icebergs. These can suddenly overturn as the water melts the ice underneath. Freezing water was beginning to seep into the boat. He quickly packed his heavier clothes into his back pack to avoid being weighed down.
His boat sank and he was in the icy water. The danger was that he might suck up a huge gulp of water and air but he made it to dry land.
Once on shore, he removed the rest of his clothes quickly. You survive longer naked than you do in wet clothes. He did push ups to get the blood flowing.
His jacket had stayed dry in his back pack. This would help. He stayed put for a while and then moved on but:
"Just when I've given up hope, I hear the distant sound of an engine."
He waved his arms and back pack in the air:
"They've seen me! I'm on my way home! Alaska is a place where you can truly come close to nature and that for me is its real magic."
What success lessons can be learned?
You need to know how to avoid the disasters of life whether they are to do with avalanches, personal relationships, finance, health or life itself. Learn the skills and knowledge you need or employ an expert.
Don't hang about. Moving fast on any project will keep your enthusiasm alive. It will keep you warm enough to survive a mountain descent.
Get rid of whatever slows you down whether they are ski's or heavy boots or bad habits.
Don't wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the ***** thing yourself! (Quote from Sara Henderson)
Go slow and take your time when facing dangerous obstacles where each step matters - sign any contracts with care!
It's OK to feel depressed at times. If you spend the night soaking wet it is OK to feel 'cheesed off' but at least appreciate being able to sleep most nights in a warm, dry bed!
Seize any opportunity that comes your way.
Learn which foods and drinks are most valuable.
If you go down into the woods today, don't surprise the teddy bears or you will become their picnic!
By :John Watson
John Watson is an award winning teacher and 5th degree blackbelt martial arts instructor. He has written several ebooks on motivation and success topics. One of these can be found at http://www.motivationtoday.com/how_to_win_the_game_of_life.php
You can also find motivational ebooks by authors like Stuart Goldsmith. Check out http://www.motivationtoday.com/the_midas_method.php
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site but please include the resource box above.
The survival expert Bear Grylls has recently starred in an amazing series of TV survival programs which are full of both survival and success tips. He introduced this episode as follows:
"I am Bear Grylls. I have survived some of the world's toughest environments. Now, I'm in Alaska, one of the world's last great wildernesses and one mistake here can be fatal. My mission - to show you the skills you need to survive here."
Alaska's landscape is made up of endless coastline, deep forest and huge glaciers. Seventeen of the highest mountains in the USA are in Alaska.
Mountaineers, skiers and hikers visit every year to enjoy the wilderness but with the thrills comes danger. Over 20 people die every year.
Bear was placed by helicopter on top of a mountain in the role of a lost skier. All he had was a knife, a water bottle, skis, a flint, an intrepid camera crew and a woolly hat! He would have to find his own way back to safety.
He described what happened next:
"I am 9000 feet up and there is nothing but snow and rock for miles and miles. My best chance of survival is to head downwards.
"The biggest threat to skiers is avalanche. They kill around forty people every year in North America. One wrong turn and the whole mountain side could come crashing down on you. You need to know how to avoid them.
"The key with avalanches is to read the snow and you can use the ski pole in front of you just to test the snow to see whether it is compacted or whether it is in layers .
"What you want is when you push it in, it is nice and consistent but if you push it down and it like suddenly drops a little bit, it’s a sign it's in layers and that's the dangerous stuff.
"Avalanches are often triggered by inexperienced skiers and snow boarders who come to enjoy the forty feet of virgin snow which can often fall here."
In early 2006 a snow boarder from Anchorage triggered a 200ft wide avalanche on a slope just like the one Bear was on. His body was eventually recovered three months later. He had fallen 1600 feet.
"Where there is a risk of avalanche, always carry a beacon. They transmit a signal which a rescue service can follow.
"I've descended at least 5000 feet now and at last I'm leaving the high snow faces behind There is so much rock that it is becoming impossible to ski any further. All these skis are going to do is slow me down. I'm better off without them."
Bear dumped the skis but kept one of the poles.
"Below me is a glacier, literally a river of ice, and like a river this glacier flows downhill. If I can get to it, it should lead me out of the mountains.
"To get to the glacier I need to follow this ridge and it's not easy and the temperature is dropping fast. Temperatures here in Alaska can reach as low as minus 60 degrees and frostbite is always a danger in the mountains.
"The bits to watch out for are your extremities - your hands, your feet and your face. The signs you are getting frostbite is that your skin goes this waxy red colour and eventually black. Frostbite is a really horrible and painful thing.
"This ridge has led me to a north facing slope. This gets less sunlight so it is still covered in snow. The weather is not looking so good. Getting caught out in bad weather can be fatal.
"I need to get down fast but the slope below me is nearly 300 feet. I am going to use a technique called 'glissade'."
To perform the glissade, you dig in your ice axe to control the speed of your descent. If you don't dig in the axe enough you will go too fast. If you dig it in too deep, it can get ripped out of your hand.
Bear used half a ski stick as he had no axe and descended at about 50 miles per hour clinging desperately to the stick. He continued his account:
"I've reached a glacier. There are over 100 thousand of these in Alaska. They form the largest fresh water reservoir on earth but they are full of crevasses often covered by layers of snow. You need to be roped to a partner to cross them safely.
"My luck is in. There is solid ground running alongside the glacier. But at the bottom of the glacier there is a forty foot waterfall.
"There is an ice tunnel into the glacier which could lead me out. Check the ice is solid before you go in. There could be over 200 feet of ice above me and it could crash down at any moment. Only go through such a tunnel as a last resort. The further you go in the harder it is to go back."
I'm not sure what the camera crew had to say about this little adventure!
Then, Bear saw daylight ahead. It showed his way out:
"I have never been so relieved. Finally, I am off the glacier!"
He took his ski boots off but kept the inner shoes on. He drank some water which looked dirty but the brown colour was glacial silt or pulverised rock. Bear commented: "This water should be good to drink."
He continued to move downwards: "Now I am off the mountain, I need to keep heading down to find food and shelter."
He was dive bombed by seagulls who were protecting their eggs which are packed with protein, vitamins and minerals but he was out of luck and only found stones which looked like eggs. However, he was far from discouraged:
"The landscape is beginning to open up and I can see the tree line ahead and I am almost in the forest. I can see a thick forest and deep gorge and there might be a river at the bottom of that. Most Alaskan villages are along rivers."
He was now in bear country.
Brown bears can grow up to nine feet tall, weigh up to 1100 pounds and can tear a man apart. When rangers found the remains of a hiker's body, who was recently killed, there were two empty shells on the ground but the bullets had not been enough to stop the bear.
Big groups rarely get attacked because they make lots of noise. Hunters are more likely to be attacked because they are sneaking round quietly on their own.
Bears are at their most dangerous when they are surprised so make a lot of noise by shouting things. Bear started to shout: "YO BEAR! YO BEAR!"
But he felt uncomfortable however much noise he made!
He found some berry seeds in bear crap. The good news - there are edible berries around. The bad news - there are bears around!
I was once chased by a mountain bear cub in Tehran. I ran much faster than usual (I was eight at the time) and escaped. I would not have liked to race an adult bear.
Bear climbed down a huge 200 foot waterfall: "Let your legs take the pressure. They are much stronger than your arms."
It is crucial to take your time in such situations - you can only make one mistake.
He next found some Eskimo potato which is full of starch and carbohydrates and is said to be the most valuable food source in Alaska.
He built a bed with branches to keep his body above the cold ground and then found some alder saplings to build a half dome shelter. To waterproof, you add layers of spruce from the bottom upwards.
He lit a fire which would put off the bears. In this part of Alaska, the black bears are more dangerous than the grizzlies.
Grizzlies are territorial so if you meet them be submissive and back off. However, if you meet a black bear it will probably be after you. They kill less humans than Grizzlies but, in 90% of their attacks, they stalk humans.
If you are cornered by a black bear you will have to fight for your life. Most locals carry a gun but, if you are without a gun, grab a stick and jab it in the bear's eyes.
In the night, Bear heard something moving around. It might have been a moose or a bear:
"I hope, whatever it is, it will leave this 'bear' alone!"
He awoke at 5 a.m. exhausted on his second day in Alaska:
"I'm a bit cheesed off but that's OK. When you've been wet all night, it's OK to be a bit cheesed off."
He followed a stream to a river and then down to the sea coast where most people would be. But he could still go 500 miles in each direction and find no one:
"My best chance of rescue is to be spotted by one of the many small fishing boats that fish this area."
He saw some bald eagles who were after salmon. The river is packed with king and pink salmon. Bear did not have a fishing line but, undeterred he made a fishing spear. He always looks for an alternative instead of giving up.
Bear spooked the salmon into about six inches of water by shouting and hitting the water with his spear. He, eventually, speared a large salmon and tucked in immediately:
"They are packed full of protein and you can eat the scales as well as they are small. I've always liked sushi!
"I may be out of the forest but I am still surrounded by bears who come down here to fish."
He now looked for shelter. Caves are ready made shelters but they are often occupied by wild life including bears. He found a shallow cave with high walls where nothing could sneak up on him from behind.
He next found mussels. Shell fish should always be cooked properly first. He surrounded the mussels with two layers of seaweed which would steam cook them in ten minutes. I am suprised that Bear did not suggest eating the seaweed as well:
"When you collect the mussels tap them. If they don't close, they are already dead so leave them."
He created a signal fire with white smoke to contrast with the dark trees behind him but he did not see any boats so he had to keep moving.
Suddenly Bear spotted some wooden buildings but they were deserted. Alaska has a history of boom and bust.
He saw some glaciers which are often tourist hotspots. He would have a better chance of contacting other humans there but it would be a long walk.
Bear decided to use an old boat which he found near the buildings. He used a spade as a paddle. One of the core lessons of survival is to be open to every opportunity. It is the same with success.
An old boat in a sea full of ice is a risk but it was his best option. He slowly worked his way round the coastline. As he continued, he came across a bay full of sea ice. As he went into the bay the ice thickened and ice blocks were all around him.
He moved in among little icebergs. These can suddenly overturn as the water melts the ice underneath. Freezing water was beginning to seep into the boat. He quickly packed his heavier clothes into his back pack to avoid being weighed down.
His boat sank and he was in the icy water. The danger was that he might suck up a huge gulp of water and air but he made it to dry land.
Once on shore, he removed the rest of his clothes quickly. You survive longer naked than you do in wet clothes. He did push ups to get the blood flowing.
His jacket had stayed dry in his back pack. This would help. He stayed put for a while and then moved on but:
"Just when I've given up hope, I hear the distant sound of an engine."
He waved his arms and back pack in the air:
"They've seen me! I'm on my way home! Alaska is a place where you can truly come close to nature and that for me is its real magic."
What success lessons can be learned?
You need to know how to avoid the disasters of life whether they are to do with avalanches, personal relationships, finance, health or life itself. Learn the skills and knowledge you need or employ an expert.
Don't hang about. Moving fast on any project will keep your enthusiasm alive. It will keep you warm enough to survive a mountain descent.
Get rid of whatever slows you down whether they are ski's or heavy boots or bad habits.
Don't wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the ***** thing yourself! (Quote from Sara Henderson)
Go slow and take your time when facing dangerous obstacles where each step matters - sign any contracts with care!
It's OK to feel depressed at times. If you spend the night soaking wet it is OK to feel 'cheesed off' but at least appreciate being able to sleep most nights in a warm, dry bed!
Seize any opportunity that comes your way.
Learn which foods and drinks are most valuable.
If you go down into the woods today, don't surprise the teddy bears or you will become their picnic!
By :John Watson
John Watson is an award winning teacher and 5th degree blackbelt martial arts instructor. He has written several ebooks on motivation and success topics. One of these can be found at http://www.motivationtoday.com/how_to_win_the_game_of_life.php
You can also find motivational ebooks by authors like Stuart Goldsmith. Check out http://www.motivationtoday.com/the_midas_method.php
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site but please include the resource box above.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
A Teddy Bear For Everyone
A Teddy Bear For Everyone
Every child deserves a teddy bear to hug when the world gets too painful, lonely or sad. Teddy bears are there to watch over them when the dark is too spooky, they need a best friend or their lives become unstable. There are many charitable organizations out there and they are all working toward the same goal, to put a teddy bear into the arms of a deserving child.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company started the Big Hero, Little Hero Program in September of 2002, to give children across the country a teddy bear to hug when they need one the most. More than 11 million children are transported by emergency services each year. The Vermont Teddy bear company and outside donations, provide specially designed, 13" teddy bears to provided to emergency service professionals around the country free of charge. Interested parties can participate in this charity by purchasing one of the specially made bears. For every bear bought, The Vermont Teddy Bear Company will donate two bears to an emergency service station in need. These bears are also given to lonely seniors.
The Inland Hospital in Maine, was donated 600 teddy bears to give to children who come in for tests, illness, trauma or with other patients. Thorndike press, located just down the road from Inland Hospital, was able to buy the bears with money earned from a silent auction, bake sales and other activities. The decision for Thorndike to donate the bears was reached after a younger sister of one of the employees was given a bear when she had to attend the hospital.
You may want to start a charitable teddy bear drive in your community, to help put a teddy bear into the arms of every child.
The first step is to recruit others, of like mind, to help you. Let's face it, this a big undertaking for one person. You may also want to get area schools and churches involved. Elementary school students make great recruits, as the entire class (or school) can work together to make money to purchase the teddy bears. Churches like to get involved in charity, especially when it is for children.
Get together with friends and plan some money making activities. A Bowl-a-thon, walk-a-thon, spaghetti dinner, Pancake Breakfast, Bake Sale, auction, rummage sale, or street carnival are all excellent ways to raise money for your teddy bears. You and your group, will need to set a time limit on donations and money collected. For instance, you may want to have enough money to buy the teddy bears by Christmas. You must also decide before you begin, where you will distribute the bears.
By :Gail Faulkner
While you are raising the money, you should look around to find the best place to purchase the teddy bears when the money is collected. It is a very rewarding experience to give a teddy bear to a child. The look on their face when they see the soft, cuddly teddy, is worth ten times the effort it takes to get the bear. The first time you see a child grab the toy and hug it tight, will be one of the happiest of your life.
For Lots more Teddy Bear Information go to
http://teddybears.freehostia.com
Every child deserves a teddy bear to hug when the world gets too painful, lonely or sad. Teddy bears are there to watch over them when the dark is too spooky, they need a best friend or their lives become unstable. There are many charitable organizations out there and they are all working toward the same goal, to put a teddy bear into the arms of a deserving child.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company started the Big Hero, Little Hero Program in September of 2002, to give children across the country a teddy bear to hug when they need one the most. More than 11 million children are transported by emergency services each year. The Vermont Teddy bear company and outside donations, provide specially designed, 13" teddy bears to provided to emergency service professionals around the country free of charge. Interested parties can participate in this charity by purchasing one of the specially made bears. For every bear bought, The Vermont Teddy Bear Company will donate two bears to an emergency service station in need. These bears are also given to lonely seniors.
The Inland Hospital in Maine, was donated 600 teddy bears to give to children who come in for tests, illness, trauma or with other patients. Thorndike press, located just down the road from Inland Hospital, was able to buy the bears with money earned from a silent auction, bake sales and other activities. The decision for Thorndike to donate the bears was reached after a younger sister of one of the employees was given a bear when she had to attend the hospital.
You may want to start a charitable teddy bear drive in your community, to help put a teddy bear into the arms of every child.
The first step is to recruit others, of like mind, to help you. Let's face it, this a big undertaking for one person. You may also want to get area schools and churches involved. Elementary school students make great recruits, as the entire class (or school) can work together to make money to purchase the teddy bears. Churches like to get involved in charity, especially when it is for children.
Get together with friends and plan some money making activities. A Bowl-a-thon, walk-a-thon, spaghetti dinner, Pancake Breakfast, Bake Sale, auction, rummage sale, or street carnival are all excellent ways to raise money for your teddy bears. You and your group, will need to set a time limit on donations and money collected. For instance, you may want to have enough money to buy the teddy bears by Christmas. You must also decide before you begin, where you will distribute the bears.
By :Gail Faulkner
While you are raising the money, you should look around to find the best place to purchase the teddy bears when the money is collected. It is a very rewarding experience to give a teddy bear to a child. The look on their face when they see the soft, cuddly teddy, is worth ten times the effort it takes to get the bear. The first time you see a child grab the toy and hug it tight, will be one of the happiest of your life.
For Lots more Teddy Bear Information go to
http://teddybears.freehostia.com
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Are Maternity Clothes Necessary in Order to Look Good During Pregnancy?
Are Maternity Clothes Necessary in Order to Look Good During Pregnancy?
I remember my mother telling me about the times when she was pregnant. She was wearing nothing more than my father’s jeans and his working shirts throughout her pregnancy. No maternity clothes for her because she was too poor to buy them at that time. Remember, in her time, which was about 30 years back, maternity clothes used to cost a bomb.
And yet, if you walk along any shopping center these days, you’ll notice at least three or four maternity clothes fashion houses catering to the specifically ‘large’ needs of a pregnant mother. And since the web and the Internet is such a magnanimous thing these days, what about online maternity stores? I’d safely say there are just about half a million legitimate maternity stores right now flailing around the Internet wires for business.
And the amazing thing is that…YES, they make money! And why, I was wondering.
Because of one simple thing….even though my mother (like your mother) and my grandmother (and your grandmother) didn’t need maternity clothes when they were pregnant, the modern generation of pregnant women really, truly DO need maternity clothes. We’re living in an era that is completely different from their time and we cannot compare our pregnancy needs with their needs. The same rules no longer apply.
If you’re pregnant right now and am sitting around here wondering if you should get yourself a whole new wardrobe of maternity clothes, you’re in luck. I have some tips about buying maternity clothes for you.
Buy good-looking maternity clothes that can last at least 3 pregnancies
Like I said, maternity clothes are not cheap these days and maternity clothes are only wearable for the nine months that you’re pregnant and maybe another month or two after that. And when you get back in shape, you’re going to have to shelve those expensive maternity clothes or put the maternity clothes in sad boxes with the edges stuck together with cellophane tape.
So, buy only maternity clothes that are classy and of exceptional quality. You wear maternity clothes only when you plan to go out. For casual outings and at home, stick to your extra large clothes or perhaps, you can buy some large sweaters, t-shirts, overalls, or raglan to wear when you’re not required to look all-that-presentable. It works!
You won’t need CASUAL maternity clothes. In my books, that’s an oxymoron.
Maternity clothes that can double up as breastfeeding clothes later on would be good too
If you intend to breastfeed your baby after the whole pregnancy is over, you would have to think about buying MORE clothes…breastfeeding/nursing clothes. Now, as with maternity clothes, nursing clothes don’t come cheap either. And do we NEED nursing clothes as much as we need maternity clothes? Yes, sometimes we do. I have quite a few fashionable looking nursing clothes that I wear whenever I go out shopping or meeting up with friends. Other times, I wear my t-shirts with holes cut out for easy access to the breast! Yeah, it’s funny, but at home, who’s going to care?
And if you can get your hands on some good maternity clothes that can double up as nursing clothes later on, GO FOR IT! You will get your money’s worth that way.
Style of maternity clothes
Many maternity clothes designers are asleep when they’re designing maternity clothes – the selection is bad. Most of them are nothing but flower after flower, spiral after spiral, safety pins or perhaps some form of teddy bear or another. Forget about them! If you were to buy maternity clothes, invest one that makes you look good. If the maternity clothes are plain, that’s fine, it’s better than making you look like Bozo – most of them do, by the way.
The point is that you want to look CLASSY and DIGNIFIED even though you’re sort of….BIG. and wearing maternity clothes with large orange and yellow flower prints is NOT going to help you do that!
That’s just my opinion, of course, and you’re entitled to have your own opinion about maternity clothes that looks good.
Good luck!
Reprint NoticeCopyright 2005 Marsha MaungPlease feel free to reprint this article in your newsletter, website, magazine or other forms of publication freely. The only requirement is that the following biodata is included and the links remains intact. Apart from editorial or grammatical editing, other form of editing that may impair, change, or alter the context of the article is NOT permitted. If so, please contact the writer for written consent.
By:Marsha Maung
Marsha Maung is a freelance writer and designer. She designs apparel, household and premium items for http://www.allmomstuff.com Marsha Maung’s personal website is http://www.marshamaung.com
I remember my mother telling me about the times when she was pregnant. She was wearing nothing more than my father’s jeans and his working shirts throughout her pregnancy. No maternity clothes for her because she was too poor to buy them at that time. Remember, in her time, which was about 30 years back, maternity clothes used to cost a bomb.
And yet, if you walk along any shopping center these days, you’ll notice at least three or four maternity clothes fashion houses catering to the specifically ‘large’ needs of a pregnant mother. And since the web and the Internet is such a magnanimous thing these days, what about online maternity stores? I’d safely say there are just about half a million legitimate maternity stores right now flailing around the Internet wires for business.
And the amazing thing is that…YES, they make money! And why, I was wondering.
Because of one simple thing….even though my mother (like your mother) and my grandmother (and your grandmother) didn’t need maternity clothes when they were pregnant, the modern generation of pregnant women really, truly DO need maternity clothes. We’re living in an era that is completely different from their time and we cannot compare our pregnancy needs with their needs. The same rules no longer apply.
If you’re pregnant right now and am sitting around here wondering if you should get yourself a whole new wardrobe of maternity clothes, you’re in luck. I have some tips about buying maternity clothes for you.
Buy good-looking maternity clothes that can last at least 3 pregnancies
Like I said, maternity clothes are not cheap these days and maternity clothes are only wearable for the nine months that you’re pregnant and maybe another month or two after that. And when you get back in shape, you’re going to have to shelve those expensive maternity clothes or put the maternity clothes in sad boxes with the edges stuck together with cellophane tape.
So, buy only maternity clothes that are classy and of exceptional quality. You wear maternity clothes only when you plan to go out. For casual outings and at home, stick to your extra large clothes or perhaps, you can buy some large sweaters, t-shirts, overalls, or raglan to wear when you’re not required to look all-that-presentable. It works!
You won’t need CASUAL maternity clothes. In my books, that’s an oxymoron.
Maternity clothes that can double up as breastfeeding clothes later on would be good too
If you intend to breastfeed your baby after the whole pregnancy is over, you would have to think about buying MORE clothes…breastfeeding/nursing clothes. Now, as with maternity clothes, nursing clothes don’t come cheap either. And do we NEED nursing clothes as much as we need maternity clothes? Yes, sometimes we do. I have quite a few fashionable looking nursing clothes that I wear whenever I go out shopping or meeting up with friends. Other times, I wear my t-shirts with holes cut out for easy access to the breast! Yeah, it’s funny, but at home, who’s going to care?
And if you can get your hands on some good maternity clothes that can double up as nursing clothes later on, GO FOR IT! You will get your money’s worth that way.
Style of maternity clothes
Many maternity clothes designers are asleep when they’re designing maternity clothes – the selection is bad. Most of them are nothing but flower after flower, spiral after spiral, safety pins or perhaps some form of teddy bear or another. Forget about them! If you were to buy maternity clothes, invest one that makes you look good. If the maternity clothes are plain, that’s fine, it’s better than making you look like Bozo – most of them do, by the way.
The point is that you want to look CLASSY and DIGNIFIED even though you’re sort of….BIG. and wearing maternity clothes with large orange and yellow flower prints is NOT going to help you do that!
That’s just my opinion, of course, and you’re entitled to have your own opinion about maternity clothes that looks good.
Good luck!
Reprint NoticeCopyright 2005 Marsha MaungPlease feel free to reprint this article in your newsletter, website, magazine or other forms of publication freely. The only requirement is that the following biodata is included and the links remains intact. Apart from editorial or grammatical editing, other form of editing that may impair, change, or alter the context of the article is NOT permitted. If so, please contact the writer for written consent.
By:Marsha Maung
Marsha Maung is a freelance writer and designer. She designs apparel, household and premium items for http://www.allmomstuff.com Marsha Maung’s personal website is http://www.marshamaung.com
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Romantic Valentine Gifts
Romantic Valentine Gifts
Selecting a Valentine's Day gift can be a very tough job as it is not always easy to find a gift that is romantic and unique, and really conveys the depth of your love. There are a variety of romantic Valentine gifts available in the market but in order to be different you have to give a unique gift. Romantic Valentine gifts can be great fun to shop for but you should start looking for ideas well before Valentine's Day or you will have to rush. The only gift you might want to leave until just before Valentine's Day might be a bunch of roses, considered to be the traditional gift of lovers throughout the centuries. A spectacular crystal rose is a romantic Valentine's gift as well as a luxury gift.
Another one-of-its-kind gift could be a lovely painting signifying some moment that you both had shared and want to cherish. Or, you can select a romantic snap of the two of you and put it in a heart shaped photo frame or put on a coffee mug and gift it to your sweetheart. An exclusive selection of gold, diamond and pearl jewelry which includes bracelets, necklaces, earrings and pendants are favored romantic Valentine gifts. A cute white teddy bear wearing a white t-shirt imprinted with a heart-felt romantic love poem can be a singular romantic Valentine gift.
Romantic getaways, romantic books and personalized champagne bottles are popular Valentine gifts. In case you are in doubt as to what romantic Valentine gift to offer, a gift certificate can be an ideal choice. Many online stores also offer Valentine gift certificates that are convenient and easy to redeem. By presenting a gift certificate, the receiver has the option to choose something that is useful and can be enjoyed.
By:Seth Miller
Romantic Gifts provides detailed information on Romantic Gifts, Romantic Gift Ideas, Unusual Romantic Gifts, Romantic Gifts For Her and more. Romantic Gifts is affiliated with First Wedding Anniversary Gifts.
Selecting a Valentine's Day gift can be a very tough job as it is not always easy to find a gift that is romantic and unique, and really conveys the depth of your love. There are a variety of romantic Valentine gifts available in the market but in order to be different you have to give a unique gift. Romantic Valentine gifts can be great fun to shop for but you should start looking for ideas well before Valentine's Day or you will have to rush. The only gift you might want to leave until just before Valentine's Day might be a bunch of roses, considered to be the traditional gift of lovers throughout the centuries. A spectacular crystal rose is a romantic Valentine's gift as well as a luxury gift.
Another one-of-its-kind gift could be a lovely painting signifying some moment that you both had shared and want to cherish. Or, you can select a romantic snap of the two of you and put it in a heart shaped photo frame or put on a coffee mug and gift it to your sweetheart. An exclusive selection of gold, diamond and pearl jewelry which includes bracelets, necklaces, earrings and pendants are favored romantic Valentine gifts. A cute white teddy bear wearing a white t-shirt imprinted with a heart-felt romantic love poem can be a singular romantic Valentine gift.
Romantic getaways, romantic books and personalized champagne bottles are popular Valentine gifts. In case you are in doubt as to what romantic Valentine gift to offer, a gift certificate can be an ideal choice. Many online stores also offer Valentine gift certificates that are convenient and easy to redeem. By presenting a gift certificate, the receiver has the option to choose something that is useful and can be enjoyed.
By:Seth Miller
Romantic Gifts provides detailed information on Romantic Gifts, Romantic Gift Ideas, Unusual Romantic Gifts, Romantic Gifts For Her and more. Romantic Gifts is affiliated with First Wedding Anniversary Gifts.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Play Therapy Tools and Techniques
Play Therapy Tools and Techniques
I am not saying therapy does not work as I am a trained therapist, but sometimes I think there has to be a better method than traditional psychotherapy for gathering information fast, and helping our patients get rapid results. It occurred to me that perhaps teddy bears might help. After all, teddy bears are one of the first objects we attach to. They are such a natural method of sharing information between people, that I find it hard to believe they aren't applied more frequently with adults and with children in our practice. Children and adults love them. Yes even adult men like teddy bears even though the macho image prevents them from admitting that publicly. To me, a licensed clinical social worker, teddy bears are just one of the tools of my trade. It's like the doctor with the stethoscope. They are just part of my practice.
They are a great technique and for the past 7 years I have applied them in my clinical practice. They are such a natural method of sharing information and promote great storytelling. They bypass the awkwardness of some of the traditional models. They are easy to talk to. It is far easier to open up and speak with your teddy bear, then sometimes it is with a counselor. I have watched grown men and women apply teddy bears and get rapid results in treatment. The information flows like a river of information rushing forth, far quicker than with traditional methods. The words and stories become the clients stories and people see through the eyes of a teddy bear faster than they do with traditional counseling methods. If you are a health care provider, I invite you to try applying teddy bears in your practice. You will find that you get assessment and intervention results much faster than any traditional methods. They are a great tool to work through problems related to grief and loss, or substance abuse or domestic violence.
By:Tammy Stoner
Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker. She has developed a powerful psychosocial assessment tool for social workers, marriage and family therapists and counselors to get information fast. She provides online coaching and counseling services and classes for health care providers. More information can be found at her website at http://www.interactiveteddybears.com
I am not saying therapy does not work as I am a trained therapist, but sometimes I think there has to be a better method than traditional psychotherapy for gathering information fast, and helping our patients get rapid results. It occurred to me that perhaps teddy bears might help. After all, teddy bears are one of the first objects we attach to. They are such a natural method of sharing information between people, that I find it hard to believe they aren't applied more frequently with adults and with children in our practice. Children and adults love them. Yes even adult men like teddy bears even though the macho image prevents them from admitting that publicly. To me, a licensed clinical social worker, teddy bears are just one of the tools of my trade. It's like the doctor with the stethoscope. They are just part of my practice.
They are a great technique and for the past 7 years I have applied them in my clinical practice. They are such a natural method of sharing information and promote great storytelling. They bypass the awkwardness of some of the traditional models. They are easy to talk to. It is far easier to open up and speak with your teddy bear, then sometimes it is with a counselor. I have watched grown men and women apply teddy bears and get rapid results in treatment. The information flows like a river of information rushing forth, far quicker than with traditional methods. The words and stories become the clients stories and people see through the eyes of a teddy bear faster than they do with traditional counseling methods. If you are a health care provider, I invite you to try applying teddy bears in your practice. You will find that you get assessment and intervention results much faster than any traditional methods. They are a great tool to work through problems related to grief and loss, or substance abuse or domestic violence.
By:Tammy Stoner
Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker. She has developed a powerful psychosocial assessment tool for social workers, marriage and family therapists and counselors to get information fast. She provides online coaching and counseling services and classes for health care providers. More information can be found at her website at http://www.interactiveteddybears.com
Monday, April 23, 2007
Comfort Comes From Unexpected Places
Comfort Comes From Unexpected Places
Autumn of ’89 began like any other. Summer was quickly coming to a close as winter crept in. Like most years, the family was anxiously anticipating sharing the holidays together.
Although each year became a bit more difficult due to the miles that kept us physically apart, in our hearts we remained close. What I have always cherished most about time with my family is the laughter and the enjoyment of simple things.
Amazingly, even that which we appreciate we often take for granted. Without realizing it, I took for granted that my mother and father, in their early sixties in ‘89, would be around for years to come. Years that in a moment seemed to be ripped from my reality.
It was late on a Monday night in September of that year when I got the dreaded call. “If you want to see your father alive, you must come quickly.” Those words rang in my head as I carelessly tossed cloths into a bag. My reasoning was such that a tattered grocery bag would suffice as my luggage.
My reasoning was also such that rather than immediately get on the road, I felt compelled to bake my father his favorite cookies. Although I had been told he was in a coma as a result of a massive cardiac arrest, I was convinced my cookies would be the magic formula to bring him around.
As I drove late into the night, memories of long ago danced in my head. Memories of times shared with my father who, although a pillar in my life, now lay lifeless in a hospital bed. Glancing frequently at the plate of cookies that were placed carefully on the seat behind me, I tearfully wondered if I would ever see my father alive again.
The shock of seeing my father hooked up to countless monitors and machines was almost beyond belief. And yet, what my sisters and I quickly realized was the devastation my mother was experiencing. The three of us wondered if our parents would have the opportunity to celebrate their 40th anniversary together.
With no obvious change over the next few days, my sisters, mother and I found comfort in each others arms. Strangely, we also found comfort by bringing each other cuddly stuffed animals. Within days, my mother’s collection of teddy bears grew and grew.
It was as if each bear held a special meaning to her and brought what little comfort could be experienced as she diligently watched her husband lay in his own world of a coma.
After weeks of praying for the near impossible, my father slowly began to regain consciousness. Knowing a miracle had taken place, for the next few months we were thrilled at each baby step my father took in his recovery.
Having to undergo massive heart surgery to repair some of the damage, my father kept a few close companions near his bedside as he recouped from his wounds. The very teddy bears my mother found comfort in while my father was on his “vacation” were the bears he now found comfort in.
As I prepare for the holiday season this year, I wonder how much of an impact my father’s heart attack and all the experiences that went with it had on my decision to fulfill a lifelong dream.
For years, I had a secret desire to open a teddy bear store so I could share the feelings teddy bears had given me when I went through a very painful divorce. A feeling of comfort that somehow only the “right” bear can bring. The same type of comfort teddy bears brought to my mother, my father, my sisters and me in the autumn of ’89. The same type of comfort I now have the opportunity to share with others on a daily basis.
With my father’s experience now years behind, I am once again anticipating sharing a holiday season with my mother and father who are soon going to be celebrating 57 years of marriage. Often my folks come to visit me during the holidays, as it is a very busy time of year. What with all the gift wrapping for the many people who come from all over the country to experience the unique teddy bear store that was once only a dream.
I have learned life is about having the courage to live our dreams. It is in the willingness to do what we are destined to do we have the opportunity to bring comfort, joy, laughter and love to the lives of others.
If the only lesson I learned during the autumn of ’89 is how precious life is, I will forever be grateful. It is because of that lesson I am gifted with the opportunity to often help select just the right teddy bear for someone who is in need of comfort. Other times, it is to select a bear that is meant to bring joy, or express love, or gratitude, or just because…. because teddy bears make the world a little better one bear at a time.
By :Patricia Twitchell
About The AuthorPatricia Twitchell is the proprietor of Just Bears and Stuff, a unique gift shop located in Myrtle Creek, Oregan. Nestled in the scenic mountains is a favorite place to visit from people all over the country. Receive “Beary Special Moments” a free online teddy bear facts and tips e-zine by visiting http://www.justbearsandstuff.com.
Autumn of ’89 began like any other. Summer was quickly coming to a close as winter crept in. Like most years, the family was anxiously anticipating sharing the holidays together.
Although each year became a bit more difficult due to the miles that kept us physically apart, in our hearts we remained close. What I have always cherished most about time with my family is the laughter and the enjoyment of simple things.
Amazingly, even that which we appreciate we often take for granted. Without realizing it, I took for granted that my mother and father, in their early sixties in ‘89, would be around for years to come. Years that in a moment seemed to be ripped from my reality.
It was late on a Monday night in September of that year when I got the dreaded call. “If you want to see your father alive, you must come quickly.” Those words rang in my head as I carelessly tossed cloths into a bag. My reasoning was such that a tattered grocery bag would suffice as my luggage.
My reasoning was also such that rather than immediately get on the road, I felt compelled to bake my father his favorite cookies. Although I had been told he was in a coma as a result of a massive cardiac arrest, I was convinced my cookies would be the magic formula to bring him around.
As I drove late into the night, memories of long ago danced in my head. Memories of times shared with my father who, although a pillar in my life, now lay lifeless in a hospital bed. Glancing frequently at the plate of cookies that were placed carefully on the seat behind me, I tearfully wondered if I would ever see my father alive again.
The shock of seeing my father hooked up to countless monitors and machines was almost beyond belief. And yet, what my sisters and I quickly realized was the devastation my mother was experiencing. The three of us wondered if our parents would have the opportunity to celebrate their 40th anniversary together.
With no obvious change over the next few days, my sisters, mother and I found comfort in each others arms. Strangely, we also found comfort by bringing each other cuddly stuffed animals. Within days, my mother’s collection of teddy bears grew and grew.
It was as if each bear held a special meaning to her and brought what little comfort could be experienced as she diligently watched her husband lay in his own world of a coma.
After weeks of praying for the near impossible, my father slowly began to regain consciousness. Knowing a miracle had taken place, for the next few months we were thrilled at each baby step my father took in his recovery.
Having to undergo massive heart surgery to repair some of the damage, my father kept a few close companions near his bedside as he recouped from his wounds. The very teddy bears my mother found comfort in while my father was on his “vacation” were the bears he now found comfort in.
As I prepare for the holiday season this year, I wonder how much of an impact my father’s heart attack and all the experiences that went with it had on my decision to fulfill a lifelong dream.
For years, I had a secret desire to open a teddy bear store so I could share the feelings teddy bears had given me when I went through a very painful divorce. A feeling of comfort that somehow only the “right” bear can bring. The same type of comfort teddy bears brought to my mother, my father, my sisters and me in the autumn of ’89. The same type of comfort I now have the opportunity to share with others on a daily basis.
With my father’s experience now years behind, I am once again anticipating sharing a holiday season with my mother and father who are soon going to be celebrating 57 years of marriage. Often my folks come to visit me during the holidays, as it is a very busy time of year. What with all the gift wrapping for the many people who come from all over the country to experience the unique teddy bear store that was once only a dream.
I have learned life is about having the courage to live our dreams. It is in the willingness to do what we are destined to do we have the opportunity to bring comfort, joy, laughter and love to the lives of others.
If the only lesson I learned during the autumn of ’89 is how precious life is, I will forever be grateful. It is because of that lesson I am gifted with the opportunity to often help select just the right teddy bear for someone who is in need of comfort. Other times, it is to select a bear that is meant to bring joy, or express love, or gratitude, or just because…. because teddy bears make the world a little better one bear at a time.
By :Patricia Twitchell
About The AuthorPatricia Twitchell is the proprietor of Just Bears and Stuff, a unique gift shop located in Myrtle Creek, Oregan. Nestled in the scenic mountains is a favorite place to visit from people all over the country. Receive “Beary Special Moments” a free online teddy bear facts and tips e-zine by visiting http://www.justbearsandstuff.com.
Top Ten Tips Birthday Party
Top Ten Tips Tools and Techniques for Delivering a Senior's Birthday Party
Would you like to have a birthday party for a senior and you don’t know what to do? Are you struggling with how to create an event that touches, moves and inspires? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this article is for you. I was like you. I wanted to have a birthday party for my 70 year old father and I had no idea what to do. I suppose I could have organized the group to go out to a simple dinner with Dad and his children( he is divorced) as my brother Mark suggested, but I wanted to do something spectacular and that didn’t cost much money. It had to be simple in price, luxurious in delivery! I created a phenomenal party and here are Tammy’s Top Ten Tips, Tools and Techniques for creating a birthday party for a senior.
1. Organize around a theme. Family was the most important part of my fathers life and so I organized a family reunion around his birthday. I invited all of the relatives including nieces and nephews and cousins who were still living. It had been a hundred years since his family had entered the United States and the town in which he was born and now lived. This became a key theme.
2. Create a candle lighting ceremony. Candles are put on top of a birthday cake, while the guest of honor makes a wish and blows them out. So ho hum…. I wanted to move beyond this so I asked my brother Allen to create the candleabra with seven places to put a candle. We then created a ceremony celebrating different decades and different people with candles. We called it the gift of life candle lighting celebration. We acknowleged the relatives who made it to 70 and remembered those like his mother, brother and sister who did not.
3. Create a skit around the birthday. We didn’t have much money for this event so the entertainment had to come from his children. Nobody had any talent to sing and we didn’t have the money to hire expensive entertainment, so I wrote a skit. We recreated his mother pregnant with him in 1935, and integrated this with the culture of 1935. All of us acted out the skit with costumes. We were poor actors and that added to the entertainment and fun.
4. Decorate in themes. We didn’t have much money so we created the room to represent different decades of Dads life. We had a table for the 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s etc…
5. Give a million dollar bill and print the guest of honors face on the bill. I took an old picture of Dad and reproduced it to be printed in a million dollar bill. Then we wrapped candy bars in this bill and gave them to the guests
6. Create a personalized birthday cake. I collected pictures of three generations. The family Dad originated from, Dad, and the family he created. We then placed each picture on the birthday cake.
7. Give everybody a teddy bear. Teddy bears are symbols of attachment for people. So everybody was given a teddy bear to recognize and remember our attachments to others.
8. Create a personalized placemat. I organized all of the pictures I could find and copied the pictures and then placed them in a collage that I then laminated. I then created the created the placemat into a story, and so the placemat became a take home gift for the guests. Dad framed his after the party.
9. Create copies of the pictures and give them to the guests. Many pictures were old. They were copied and made available for members of the family who wanted to have them.
10. Create a proclamation from the Mayor. People don’t know this, but its pretty easy to honor somebody as a citizen. Just write the mayor and write a list of accomplishments and the Mayors office will create a proclamation, perfect for framing. That’s it in a nutshell. Oh there’s lots more, but I have to leave some secrets.
By :Tammy Stoner
Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker and life coach. She provides coaching and consulting services to families seeking to create family activiities, designed to touch, move and inspire. It's not only about the food, or the photographer, or the place. It's about the people. It's about creating a life changing event, regardless of budget. It's about expanding the passion and the love unique to your family. She helps you find the miracles. Imagine the abiltiy to transform your family from the ordinary into the extraordinary, and to do it in a day. Imagine creating an event that touches, moves and inspires greatness. Whether it's a birthday party, anniversary, family reunion or a made up event, she can help you. Write her at uniqueidea@aol.com today.
Would you like to have a birthday party for a senior and you don’t know what to do? Are you struggling with how to create an event that touches, moves and inspires? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this article is for you. I was like you. I wanted to have a birthday party for my 70 year old father and I had no idea what to do. I suppose I could have organized the group to go out to a simple dinner with Dad and his children( he is divorced) as my brother Mark suggested, but I wanted to do something spectacular and that didn’t cost much money. It had to be simple in price, luxurious in delivery! I created a phenomenal party and here are Tammy’s Top Ten Tips, Tools and Techniques for creating a birthday party for a senior.
1. Organize around a theme. Family was the most important part of my fathers life and so I organized a family reunion around his birthday. I invited all of the relatives including nieces and nephews and cousins who were still living. It had been a hundred years since his family had entered the United States and the town in which he was born and now lived. This became a key theme.
2. Create a candle lighting ceremony. Candles are put on top of a birthday cake, while the guest of honor makes a wish and blows them out. So ho hum…. I wanted to move beyond this so I asked my brother Allen to create the candleabra with seven places to put a candle. We then created a ceremony celebrating different decades and different people with candles. We called it the gift of life candle lighting celebration. We acknowleged the relatives who made it to 70 and remembered those like his mother, brother and sister who did not.
3. Create a skit around the birthday. We didn’t have much money for this event so the entertainment had to come from his children. Nobody had any talent to sing and we didn’t have the money to hire expensive entertainment, so I wrote a skit. We recreated his mother pregnant with him in 1935, and integrated this with the culture of 1935. All of us acted out the skit with costumes. We were poor actors and that added to the entertainment and fun.
4. Decorate in themes. We didn’t have much money so we created the room to represent different decades of Dads life. We had a table for the 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s etc…
5. Give a million dollar bill and print the guest of honors face on the bill. I took an old picture of Dad and reproduced it to be printed in a million dollar bill. Then we wrapped candy bars in this bill and gave them to the guests
6. Create a personalized birthday cake. I collected pictures of three generations. The family Dad originated from, Dad, and the family he created. We then placed each picture on the birthday cake.
7. Give everybody a teddy bear. Teddy bears are symbols of attachment for people. So everybody was given a teddy bear to recognize and remember our attachments to others.
8. Create a personalized placemat. I organized all of the pictures I could find and copied the pictures and then placed them in a collage that I then laminated. I then created the created the placemat into a story, and so the placemat became a take home gift for the guests. Dad framed his after the party.
9. Create copies of the pictures and give them to the guests. Many pictures were old. They were copied and made available for members of the family who wanted to have them.
10. Create a proclamation from the Mayor. People don’t know this, but its pretty easy to honor somebody as a citizen. Just write the mayor and write a list of accomplishments and the Mayors office will create a proclamation, perfect for framing. That’s it in a nutshell. Oh there’s lots more, but I have to leave some secrets.
By :Tammy Stoner
Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker and life coach. She provides coaching and consulting services to families seeking to create family activiities, designed to touch, move and inspire. It's not only about the food, or the photographer, or the place. It's about the people. It's about creating a life changing event, regardless of budget. It's about expanding the passion and the love unique to your family. She helps you find the miracles. Imagine the abiltiy to transform your family from the ordinary into the extraordinary, and to do it in a day. Imagine creating an event that touches, moves and inspires greatness. Whether it's a birthday party, anniversary, family reunion or a made up event, she can help you. Write her at uniqueidea@aol.com today.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
17 Ways To Determine If A Beanie Baby Is Counterfeit
17 Ways To Determine If A Beanie Baby Is Counterfeit
You should always buy Ty Beanie Babies from reputable dealers or from sellers who you know how to contact. These dealers and sellers should also have many references and/or feedback from other people they have done business with.
Most counterfeit Beanie Babies are easy to spot if you know what to look for. If you don't know what to look for then you will probably have a hard time telling most counterfeit Beanie Babies from authentic Ty Beanie Babies.
Beanie Baby shows are a good place to check out expensive Beanie Babies. Try to handle them if you can. Get to know the feel of the fabric and their overall appearance.
Some counterfeits are excellent reproductions, but regardless of how good the counterfeits look, they usually have many mistakes. It is never just one mistake.
If you are buying expensive Beanie Babies, then you should educate yourself on the counterfeits or at least know where to find the information when you need it.
Here are two websites that have information on counterfeit Beanie Babies along with photographs of many of them:
About Beanies Counterfeit Information
http://www.aboutbeanies.com/fakes/index.html
Ms. Janie's Beanies Counterfeit
Page http://www.msjanie.com/fakes/fake_page.html
Your other option is to have the Beanie Baby authenticated which is inexpensive to do. You can get your Beanie Babies authenticated at these websites:
http://www.pbbags.com/
http://www.peggyg.com/
Most of the mistakes on the counterfeits can be found on the tags. Become familiar with the different generation hang tags and tush tags or know where to look to find this information.
You can find information and photographs of all the different generation hang tags Ty has produced here:
http://www.aboutbeanies.com/tags.html
Below are 17 ways to determine if a Beanie Baby is counterfeit:
1. Many of the counterfeits have spelling errors on the tags, but keep in mind that so do some of the authentic Ty Beanie Babies. So you usually have to look for other mistakes beside just this.
2. Check the tag dates and the addresses to make sure they are correct. Many of the counterfeits have the wrong date on the tush tag.
3. Compare the tags of the suspect Beanie Baby with the tags of another Ty Beanie Baby that you know to be authentic.
4. Is the type on the tags too light or too dark? Is it the right typeface?
5. Compare the tags to an authentic Ty Beanie Baby's tags and determine if the tags are smaller or larger than the authentic tags.
6. Compare the stock color inside the hang tag to another hang tag. Is it too white? Authentic tags have an off-white color.
7. Are the color of the hang tags identical? Or does the red and yellow on the hang tag look muted or too light or too dark? The hang tag should be blue red and not orange red.
8. The yellow star on the hang tag should be a bright sunshine yellow, not a mustard color.
9. Some of the counterfeit Beanie Babies have a yellow star on their hang tag that have points that are too "pointy." The points of authentic hang tag stars are slightly rounded.
10. Check the gold edge on the hang tag. It should have a nice clean line and be a light bright gold color. It shouldn't be brassy.
11. Check the overall size and shape of the Beanie. Some of the counterfeit Ty teddy bears have ears that are either too small or too large or perhaps the legs or arms are too short or are shaped strangely.
12. Is the teddy bear's head too large or overstuffed?
13. Check the eyes to see if they are too close together or too big or too small.
14. Are the eyes a solid color? Some Beanie Baby eyes are a solid color and some are not. Humphrey the camel has solid black eyes but most of the counterfeit Humphrey have eyes that are two-tone.
15. Check the fabric and see if it is rough or if the color is too dark or too light.
16. Does the fabric nap look right? Is the fabric rough, stiff or the wrong color?
17. Most authentic Beanies have nice plush fabric that "flows" in all directions and doesn't get "wrinkly."
One place you should avoid buying expensive Beanie Babies that are not authenticated is online auctions like eBay. Odds are that if you buy enough of these expensive Beanie Babies that are not authenticated, that you will eventually end up buying some that are counterfeit.
Reference: Mary Beth's Counterfeit Update
Barry Stein has been a Beanie Baby dealer since 1997. You can visit his website at http://BarrysBeanies.com where he sells Beanie Babies retail and wholesale.
By :Barry Stein
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your e-book or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author bylines are included with an active hyperlink to the BarrysBeanies.com website.
You should always buy Ty Beanie Babies from reputable dealers or from sellers who you know how to contact. These dealers and sellers should also have many references and/or feedback from other people they have done business with.
Most counterfeit Beanie Babies are easy to spot if you know what to look for. If you don't know what to look for then you will probably have a hard time telling most counterfeit Beanie Babies from authentic Ty Beanie Babies.
Beanie Baby shows are a good place to check out expensive Beanie Babies. Try to handle them if you can. Get to know the feel of the fabric and their overall appearance.
Some counterfeits are excellent reproductions, but regardless of how good the counterfeits look, they usually have many mistakes. It is never just one mistake.
If you are buying expensive Beanie Babies, then you should educate yourself on the counterfeits or at least know where to find the information when you need it.
Here are two websites that have information on counterfeit Beanie Babies along with photographs of many of them:
About Beanies Counterfeit Information
http://www.aboutbeanies.com/fakes/index.html
Ms. Janie's Beanies Counterfeit
Page http://www.msjanie.com/fakes/fake_page.html
Your other option is to have the Beanie Baby authenticated which is inexpensive to do. You can get your Beanie Babies authenticated at these websites:
http://www.pbbags.com/
http://www.peggyg.com/
Most of the mistakes on the counterfeits can be found on the tags. Become familiar with the different generation hang tags and tush tags or know where to look to find this information.
You can find information and photographs of all the different generation hang tags Ty has produced here:
http://www.aboutbeanies.com/tags.html
Below are 17 ways to determine if a Beanie Baby is counterfeit:
1. Many of the counterfeits have spelling errors on the tags, but keep in mind that so do some of the authentic Ty Beanie Babies. So you usually have to look for other mistakes beside just this.
2. Check the tag dates and the addresses to make sure they are correct. Many of the counterfeits have the wrong date on the tush tag.
3. Compare the tags of the suspect Beanie Baby with the tags of another Ty Beanie Baby that you know to be authentic.
4. Is the type on the tags too light or too dark? Is it the right typeface?
5. Compare the tags to an authentic Ty Beanie Baby's tags and determine if the tags are smaller or larger than the authentic tags.
6. Compare the stock color inside the hang tag to another hang tag. Is it too white? Authentic tags have an off-white color.
7. Are the color of the hang tags identical? Or does the red and yellow on the hang tag look muted or too light or too dark? The hang tag should be blue red and not orange red.
8. The yellow star on the hang tag should be a bright sunshine yellow, not a mustard color.
9. Some of the counterfeit Beanie Babies have a yellow star on their hang tag that have points that are too "pointy." The points of authentic hang tag stars are slightly rounded.
10. Check the gold edge on the hang tag. It should have a nice clean line and be a light bright gold color. It shouldn't be brassy.
11. Check the overall size and shape of the Beanie. Some of the counterfeit Ty teddy bears have ears that are either too small or too large or perhaps the legs or arms are too short or are shaped strangely.
12. Is the teddy bear's head too large or overstuffed?
13. Check the eyes to see if they are too close together or too big or too small.
14. Are the eyes a solid color? Some Beanie Baby eyes are a solid color and some are not. Humphrey the camel has solid black eyes but most of the counterfeit Humphrey have eyes that are two-tone.
15. Check the fabric and see if it is rough or if the color is too dark or too light.
16. Does the fabric nap look right? Is the fabric rough, stiff or the wrong color?
17. Most authentic Beanies have nice plush fabric that "flows" in all directions and doesn't get "wrinkly."
One place you should avoid buying expensive Beanie Babies that are not authenticated is online auctions like eBay. Odds are that if you buy enough of these expensive Beanie Babies that are not authenticated, that you will eventually end up buying some that are counterfeit.
Reference: Mary Beth's Counterfeit Update
Barry Stein has been a Beanie Baby dealer since 1997. You can visit his website at http://BarrysBeanies.com where he sells Beanie Babies retail and wholesale.
By :Barry Stein
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your e-book or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author bylines are included with an active hyperlink to the BarrysBeanies.com website.
Play Therapy Tools and Techniques
Play Therapy Tools and Techniques
I am not saying therapy does not work as I am a trained therapist, but sometimes I think there has to be a better method than traditional psychotherapy for gathering information fast, and helping our patients get rapid results. It occurred to me that perhaps teddy bears might help. After all, teddy bears are one of the first objects we attach to. They are such a natural method of sharing information between people, that I find it hard to believe they aren't applied more frequently with adults and with children in our practice. Children and adults love them. Yes even adult men like teddy bears even though the macho image prevents them from admitting that publicly. To me, a licensed clinical social worker, teddy bears are just one of the tools of my trade. It's like the doctor with the stethoscope. They are just part of my practice.
They are a great technique and for the past 7 years I have applied them in my clinical practice. They are such a natural method of sharing information and promote great storytelling. They bypass the awkwardness of some of the traditional models. They are easy to talk to. It is far easier to open up and speak with your teddy bear, then sometimes it is with a counselor. I have watched grown men and women apply teddy bears and get rapid results in treatment. The information flows like a river of information rushing forth, far quicker than with traditional methods. The words and stories become the clients stories and people see through the eyes of a teddy bear faster than they do with traditional counseling methods. If you are a health care provider, I invite you to try applying teddy bears in your practice. You will find that you get assessment and intervention results much faster than any traditional methods. They are a great tool to work through problems related to grief and loss, or substance abuse or domestic violence.
By Tammy Stoner
Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker. She has developed a powerful psychosocial assessment tool for social workers, marriage and family therapists and counselors to get information fast. She provides online coaching and counseling services and classes for health care providers. More information can be found at her website at http://www.interactiveteddybears.com/
I am not saying therapy does not work as I am a trained therapist, but sometimes I think there has to be a better method than traditional psychotherapy for gathering information fast, and helping our patients get rapid results. It occurred to me that perhaps teddy bears might help. After all, teddy bears are one of the first objects we attach to. They are such a natural method of sharing information between people, that I find it hard to believe they aren't applied more frequently with adults and with children in our practice. Children and adults love them. Yes even adult men like teddy bears even though the macho image prevents them from admitting that publicly. To me, a licensed clinical social worker, teddy bears are just one of the tools of my trade. It's like the doctor with the stethoscope. They are just part of my practice.
They are a great technique and for the past 7 years I have applied them in my clinical practice. They are such a natural method of sharing information and promote great storytelling. They bypass the awkwardness of some of the traditional models. They are easy to talk to. It is far easier to open up and speak with your teddy bear, then sometimes it is with a counselor. I have watched grown men and women apply teddy bears and get rapid results in treatment. The information flows like a river of information rushing forth, far quicker than with traditional methods. The words and stories become the clients stories and people see through the eyes of a teddy bear faster than they do with traditional counseling methods. If you are a health care provider, I invite you to try applying teddy bears in your practice. You will find that you get assessment and intervention results much faster than any traditional methods. They are a great tool to work through problems related to grief and loss, or substance abuse or domestic violence.
By Tammy Stoner
Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker. She has developed a powerful psychosocial assessment tool for social workers, marriage and family therapists and counselors to get information fast. She provides online coaching and counseling services and classes for health care providers. More information can be found at her website at http://www.interactiveteddybears.com/
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
How to Respond to the Bereaved
How to Respond to the Bereaved
Last week, I visited my 81 year old widowed Aunt following the death of her boyfriend, also age 81. She was expectedly quite distressed following his sudden death from heart failure. In spite of having been widowed for over 20 years, and having three children and grandchildren and lots of friends, she felt very alone. She reminded me that even at age 81, she still needed to be held and loved and neither her children nor grandchildren could fill that role in quite the same way.
She was distressed about the way people responded to her following his death. I remembered my own experience as a young widow, at age 31, and the insensitive things people said to me, intending to help subside the pain, yet unaware of their own insensitivity. I suggested that perhaps people didn't know how to repond to the bereaved, they didn't know what to say, or what not to say, and maybe we should create a list that might help people as they try to comfort friends and family following the death of someone close. Together we composed the list.
What not to say to someone who is grieving
You have to get on with your life
We put this statement at the very top of the list. When a loved one dies, the survivor does get on with their life from the moment of death. Just surviving is getting on with life. This statement is usually a reflection of the listeners discomfort with grief, and the grief process. When someone close dies, we get on with life from moment to moment. The task is not getting on with life, the task is learning to live with the life they got.
You have to get out and stay busy. What are you waiting for?
My Aunt heard this comment only days following the funeral. This is an example of the rush to health. Grief takes time. A major bruise has just occurred to the body, and like any bruise it takes time and care nursing it back to health. If one breaks a leg, staying off of the leg and going a bit slower makes sense. Most people would tell a friend or family member following a broken leg to slow down and take it easy. A broken leg is visible. Emotional wounds can't be seen in the same way, and yet they are very much there. While there is a place for staying busy, the time to be s low and take one day at a time is the days immediately following the loss. The body needs time to heal.
Are you going to move?
It really doesn't help t o have to try to figure out whether or not a person plans on moving immediately following the death. It's a decision that usually doesn't have to be made immediately. Staying in the same place, or deciding to change residences shouldn't occur until the person has some time to think clearly. Death is a source of instability for the bereaved. It's an unintended upset. The home is a safe haven, a place of stability. It's not a helpful question becuase it just adds another layer of confusion to a grieving person's shaken world.
Showing pictures of family members
If you have been a couple and are suddenly uncoupled, listening and watching other couples participate in family activities and events, adds to the lonliness one already feels. People who have experienced a major loss, have increased sensitivity to family activities.
If he had lived, you would have had to take care of him, and it would have been very difficult for you.
This may or may not be an accurate statement, but I know few people who find this helpful to hear following a sudden death. The focus of the comment becomes on hat might have happened, rather than what did happen.
Helpful comments following the death
What can I do to help you get through this?
This comment demonstrates sensitivity to the grieving person's pain. It shows you care about them and what happens to them. It gives them an opportunity to define what it is they need from you, to get through this trauma. It helps them focus on what they can do to survive.
It's terrible now, but it will get better.
This comment gives a sense of hope. Hope is what keeps people alive. It keeps people looking forward to a brighter day. The comment empathizes with the current pain, and lets the grieving person know that the desperate feelings one has now, will not last forever, to the same degree of intensity. It really does get better. Time does help heal wounds.
It's normal to feel the way you do.
A grieving person frequently feels that they are going crazy, because of th intensity of feelings and the depth of them that occurs with the loss. Telling the person the feelings of sadness and confusion and memory loss may all be normal for loss. As a social worker, I thought I had all of the knowlege about coping with loss, and in spite of this knowlege when my husband died suddenly and unexpectedly, I felt like I was going crazy, when it was just a normal part of grieving. When I paid the same bills twice in the same month, I was convinced I had gone nuts.
I am here for you.
This lets the grieving person know that you care about them, and what happens to them. There is comfort in letting somebody know that they are not alone.
The gift of listening
The greatest contribution you can give a person grieving is to listen to them. Listening is truly a present for the bereaved. Sometimes not having any words to offer is comforting. Frequently there just aren't any words. Sometimes the greatest ability you have to show genuine care and concern is to listen. It's such a simple gift, the gift of listening.
After listening to my Aunt, and compiling the list, I had to wonder how does an 81 year old lady find a boyfriend again? I think the best thing to do is to tell a little white lie about her age, and find a younger man, which brings me to one of the greatest gifts one can give oneself to do the best to keep a sense of humor.
By :Tammy Stoner
Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker and developer of a treatment model applying teddy bears called the Teddy Bear Technique® to help process grief and loss. More information can be found about the TeddyBear Technique® at http://www.interactiveteddybears.com.
Last week, I visited my 81 year old widowed Aunt following the death of her boyfriend, also age 81. She was expectedly quite distressed following his sudden death from heart failure. In spite of having been widowed for over 20 years, and having three children and grandchildren and lots of friends, she felt very alone. She reminded me that even at age 81, she still needed to be held and loved and neither her children nor grandchildren could fill that role in quite the same way.
She was distressed about the way people responded to her following his death. I remembered my own experience as a young widow, at age 31, and the insensitive things people said to me, intending to help subside the pain, yet unaware of their own insensitivity. I suggested that perhaps people didn't know how to repond to the bereaved, they didn't know what to say, or what not to say, and maybe we should create a list that might help people as they try to comfort friends and family following the death of someone close. Together we composed the list.
What not to say to someone who is grieving
You have to get on with your life
We put this statement at the very top of the list. When a loved one dies, the survivor does get on with their life from the moment of death. Just surviving is getting on with life. This statement is usually a reflection of the listeners discomfort with grief, and the grief process. When someone close dies, we get on with life from moment to moment. The task is not getting on with life, the task is learning to live with the life they got.
You have to get out and stay busy. What are you waiting for?
My Aunt heard this comment only days following the funeral. This is an example of the rush to health. Grief takes time. A major bruise has just occurred to the body, and like any bruise it takes time and care nursing it back to health. If one breaks a leg, staying off of the leg and going a bit slower makes sense. Most people would tell a friend or family member following a broken leg to slow down and take it easy. A broken leg is visible. Emotional wounds can't be seen in the same way, and yet they are very much there. While there is a place for staying busy, the time to be s low and take one day at a time is the days immediately following the loss. The body needs time to heal.
Are you going to move?
It really doesn't help t o have to try to figure out whether or not a person plans on moving immediately following the death. It's a decision that usually doesn't have to be made immediately. Staying in the same place, or deciding to change residences shouldn't occur until the person has some time to think clearly. Death is a source of instability for the bereaved. It's an unintended upset. The home is a safe haven, a place of stability. It's not a helpful question becuase it just adds another layer of confusion to a grieving person's shaken world.
Showing pictures of family members
If you have been a couple and are suddenly uncoupled, listening and watching other couples participate in family activities and events, adds to the lonliness one already feels. People who have experienced a major loss, have increased sensitivity to family activities.
If he had lived, you would have had to take care of him, and it would have been very difficult for you.
This may or may not be an accurate statement, but I know few people who find this helpful to hear following a sudden death. The focus of the comment becomes on hat might have happened, rather than what did happen.
Helpful comments following the death
What can I do to help you get through this?
This comment demonstrates sensitivity to the grieving person's pain. It shows you care about them and what happens to them. It gives them an opportunity to define what it is they need from you, to get through this trauma. It helps them focus on what they can do to survive.
It's terrible now, but it will get better.
This comment gives a sense of hope. Hope is what keeps people alive. It keeps people looking forward to a brighter day. The comment empathizes with the current pain, and lets the grieving person know that the desperate feelings one has now, will not last forever, to the same degree of intensity. It really does get better. Time does help heal wounds.
It's normal to feel the way you do.
A grieving person frequently feels that they are going crazy, because of th intensity of feelings and the depth of them that occurs with the loss. Telling the person the feelings of sadness and confusion and memory loss may all be normal for loss. As a social worker, I thought I had all of the knowlege about coping with loss, and in spite of this knowlege when my husband died suddenly and unexpectedly, I felt like I was going crazy, when it was just a normal part of grieving. When I paid the same bills twice in the same month, I was convinced I had gone nuts.
I am here for you.
This lets the grieving person know that you care about them, and what happens to them. There is comfort in letting somebody know that they are not alone.
The gift of listening
The greatest contribution you can give a person grieving is to listen to them. Listening is truly a present for the bereaved. Sometimes not having any words to offer is comforting. Frequently there just aren't any words. Sometimes the greatest ability you have to show genuine care and concern is to listen. It's such a simple gift, the gift of listening.
After listening to my Aunt, and compiling the list, I had to wonder how does an 81 year old lady find a boyfriend again? I think the best thing to do is to tell a little white lie about her age, and find a younger man, which brings me to one of the greatest gifts one can give oneself to do the best to keep a sense of humor.
By :Tammy Stoner
Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker and developer of a treatment model applying teddy bears called the Teddy Bear Technique® to help process grief and loss. More information can be found about the TeddyBear Technique® at http://www.interactiveteddybears.com.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
All You Would Ever Want To Know About Bears
All You Would Ever Want To Know About Bears
Bears can be found throughout the world. They are generally large animals, and are characterized by a plantigrade walk (on their heels, like humans), a large body, short legs, a stub of a tail, small, round ears, and forward facing eyes.
All bears are classified as carnivores, with each species having a variable degree of herbivorous tendency. The panda, for example, is almost exclusively a plant eater. The polar bear is almost entirely a carnivore.
The black bear has managed to be quite prolific and successful as bears go. The eighteen known subspecies can be found throughout the United States and Canada. Estimates of the number of black bears in North America vary, with 750,000 being the most often suggested. In the state of Pennsylvania there are believed to be more than 7000 of the animals scattered across the state.
Despite their name, black bears can actually appear in a variety of colors. There are brown black bears, white black bears, and even the blue glacier bear.
Expert estimates of the weights of the bears also seem to vary widely. Conservative measurements put the average weight of the animals is around 300 pounds. However, the degree of sexual dimorphism exhibited by the species makes accurate accounts difficult. The largest black bear recorded was a male shot in Wisconsin in 1885. The bear was 802 pounds, far heavier than would be expected.
They have a wide an varied diet. They can and will eat nearly anything. Typical of bears, they are fond of honey, and are responsible for thousands of dollars worth of damage to aphiaries each year.
The black bear has claws which are shorter and more curved than those of the grizzly bear. This allows it to have a great agility in climbing trees. Often, a sow will encourage her cubs to tree themselves while there is danger. Black bears have a characteristic way of climbing and descending trees. They mostly use their front claws for climbing and keeping a hold.
The Brown Bear has captured the human consciousness like nearly no other animal can. It presents an image so like ourselves that we often get caught up in the "cuteness" and forget that it is a wild animal that we are dealing with. The brown bear is often seen as the cuddly buffoon of animation, and the "Teddy" bear of children and collectors alike. In reality, the brown bear is a complex and fascinating animal deserving of great respect.
The brown bear distinguishes itself from the other ursines by virtue of its shoulder hump, which is caused by muscles which are used for digging. The color of the animal varies from a light creamy color through to black. It has a dished facial profile and very long claws on the front paws. In addition, has a wider distribution than any of the other bears, and can be found throuhout the world. The animal has been found in such diverse places as Europe, Japan, North Asia, the western Canadian provinces, and the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. This diversity does not limit itself to purely geographical happenings, as the bear is also found in a great number of different habitats as well. Brown bears can be found on the plains, in the forests, the tundra, and in subalpine mountain areas. At one time, the brown bear could be found throughout the North American continent. However, excessive hunting and destruction of the animal's habitat have all but wiped out this majestic creature.
This animal's weight varies widely throughout the course of the year. Some can even double their weigh between emerging from their dens in the Spring and returning in the Fall. The males can weigh anywhere from 300 to 860 pounds, with the females coming in somewhere between 205 and 455 pounds. The average size of these bears is difficult to pinpoint, because it seems to depend greatly on the food sources available. The island grizzlies of Alaska (Kodiak and Admiralty) are considered the largest land carnivores in the world, and live on a diet of fish and other rich food. The inland animals are smaller by some 30%.
Of the browns, people tend to be more familiar with the grizzly bear. This animal is well known for it's agressive nature, and it is for this reason that many folks believe it gets its name. Not so! The name "grizzly" comes from the "grizzling" of its fur, which gives it a lighter color at the tips of hairs.
Brown bears reach sexual maturity somewhere between their 4 1/2 to 7th years. Females and males mature at approximately the same time, but males often do not become successful breeders until they are 8-10 years old due to competition with older, stronger males. Mating between browns takes place from early May to mid-July Implantation of the egg in the uterus, however, does not occur until sometime in Oct.-Nov. 1-4 cubs are born during winter hibernation of the female, with 2 being most common, sometime between January and March. The cubs will stay with the sow up to 2 1/2 years, meaning that the female may only breed about once every 3 years or so. Given that bears generally live only until they are 20-25 years of age, this does not give very many opportunities to reproduce.
Like most other bears, the brown bears are longers; with the notable exception of females with cubs. During the mating season, males and females may pair up and mate frequently for up to two weeks. The females require the stimulation of frequent mating before they will ovulate. While fertile, she may mate with several males, leading to cubs in a litter which may not all have the same father. This is one of the factors that makes research into bears more difficult, since paternity is often hard to determine.
The home ranges of bears often overlap. The ranges of males will often intersect those of several females. Bears will not generally attack other bears which wander in to their territories. They will even congregate peacefully in places where food is plentiful such as garbage dumps and salmon streams. In such places, the big, dominant males will usually get the choice fishing areas.
Brown bears are technically carnivores, but in practice most of their diet consists of plant matter such as sedges, grasses, bulbs, seeds, berries, and roots. They will also eat insects, fish, and small mammals. Some of these bears have even developed predatory practices on large animals, including moose, caribou, and elk.
The polar bear is a mighty hunter of seals. The most carnivorous of the bears, it is also the most patient. They will sit near a seal blow-hole for hours, waiting, until the animal surfaces. When it does, it is all over for the seal. One powerful blow from a forepaw brings a swift meal for the bear and a swifter death for the seal.
The conditions of the polar north are harsh, with temperatures well below freezing almost constantly. In order to survive, the polar bear has to be an expert survivalist, able to cope with the grueling conditions of his environment. Like a giant solar panel, the skin of the bear is black to draw every bit of possible heat from the sunlight. The hairs if the pelt appear to be white, but are actually transluscent and transmit the light down to the skin. Below these hairs are "underhairs" of orange or yellow.
Like those of other bears, the ears of the polar bear are round. They are, however, smaller and closer to the head. This, along with the overall shape of the animal help to make it a formidable swimmer. The paws are large, and slightly webbed, which also contribute to the bear's abilities as a swimmer.
There is a great degree of sexual dimorphism among the bears as well. The males are huge, the heaviest of them weighing as much as 1300 pounds. The females are smaller, the largest of them being only about 600 pounds.
The boars do not generally hibernate, but remain active for most of the year. The pregnant females are the exception to this, however. They go through a denning and hibernation period, just like that of the black, brown, and other bears.
Polar bears are more agressive than other bears. Even in captivity.
The asiatic black bear has many similarities to its American cousin. Both are medium sized, and black. The ears of the asiatic bear are large and seem inappropriately sized to the rest of its head and those of other bears. These bears have a white patch of fur on their chest, which is often shaped like a V, with some varying amount of white on their chin as well. Occasionally, they can be found in a brown color phase.
The asiatic black bears are not as widely studied as the other bears, so very little information is available about their relative size and other statistics. Generally, they have been found to be 50-75 inches in length. The males usually weigh from 220-440 pounds, and the females from 110-275 pounds.
These bears can be found throughout Southern Asia. They are known in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sikkim, Northern India, Bhutan, and into Burma. They can also be found in Northeast China, and Southeast Russia, Taiwan, and the Japaneese islands of Honshu and Shikoku. Mostly, these bears live in forested areas, especially hilly and mountainous places. The preferred elevations change seasonally. In summer, asiatic black bears have been spotted at over 9,900 feet--moving to lower elevations as the cold of winter comes on. In the northern parts of their range, they den for winter. Current thinking is that the bears in the southern reaches do not hibernate.
The diet of the asiatic black bear is quite diverse. They eat carrion, bee's nests, insects, invertibrates, small vertibrates, and fruit. They have been known to kill domestic livestock, but to what degree they exhibit this predation is not known. They are also known to make daybeds and feeding platforms in nut-bearing trees.
The sloth bear is relatively small, with long hair and shaggy coat. The bear is often black, but reddish animals have been seen. The nostrils of the muzzle can be closed at will, possibly as an adaptation to the defenses of the termites which make up a large portion of their diet. Their dark fur is often interspersed with whitish or greyish strands, and they display a noticable whiteish or cream-colored U shaped patch on their chest. Behind their heads, they have a mane, a ruff of fur that covers their neck and part of their shoulders. Their belly and underlegs are nearly bare. The sloth bear's ears are large and floppy; they have very good hearing. The claws of the sloth bear are sickle-shaped, and deeply curved.
The sloth bear is unique among bears as it has only 40 adult teeth. The cubs have 42 while nursing. The two middle, upper incisors do not grow in with the rest of the permanent teeth. The dirt that the bears ingest with their food often leads to bad teeth, as it grinds away the enamel. When feeding, the bears make loud, sucking sounds which can be heard for many miles.
Sloth bear adults can weigh anywhere from 120-310 pounds and measure anywhere from 60-75 inches in length. The males are larger than the females.
Sloth bears are found in the forested areas and grasslands of India and Sri Lanka. However, the bears have also been witnessed in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
Reproduction for the sloth bears is a fairly standard affar. The animals breed in late Spring/early Summer, with the cubs being born six to seven months later. Like other bears, the litters are small, consisting of only a cub or two. Very rarely, sloth bears have been reported as having three. The cubs stay in their mother's earth den for the first two to three months, they will continue to stay with their mother through their adolescence, which lasts approximately 2 years.
The spectacled bear gets its name from the distinctive circular bands which ring its eyes. The markings vary slightly from bear to bear, but the general look is the same. The markings are a creamy-yellowish color while the rest of the fur on the animal could be anywhere from brown to black. The spectacled bear is a small animal as bears go, the males generally weighing from 220 to 340 pounds, and the females 140 to 180 pounds. The animals are generally from 60-72 inches in length, with the females being about 30% smaller, on average, than the males.
The females are generally mature somewhere between their 4th and 7th years. After maturity, the animals will mate between May and June, with the litters of up to 3 being born during the Nov-Feb period. The cubs weigh a mere 10-11 1/2 ounces at birth. During the mating months, the bears will pair up and stay together for up to two weeks, copulating frequently. Like most other bears, the female requires this stimulation to ovulate.
Apart from basic mating and other minor habits, we have no information on the social life of these animals in the wild. The bears that have been studied in captivity have shed some light on their society. Females and cubs communicate with vocalizations, of which somewhere between two and five calls have been identified (depending on which source you check with).
The sun bear is a rather small member of the bear family which makes its home in the lowland tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. It is covered with a black coat made of sleek, short hairs. It has a white or yellowish patch on its chest shaped like a half-moon. It has a muzzle which is both yellower and shorter than that of a black bear. Sometimes the light color extends up over the eyes. The long, pointed claws are curved with hairless soles, likely as an adaptive measure to help in climbing trees. The ears of the sun bear are smaller and rounder than those of other bears. The teeth of the sun bear are flatter than those of other bears and the canines are long enough to protrude between the lips.
The omnivorous sun bear lives on a diet consisting mostly of termites, birds, small mammals, and even bits of oil palms, and other commercial crops.
Sun bears are the smallest of all the bears. The adults only weigh up to 145 pounds, and measure at the longest 60 inches.
This bear can be found in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Bangledesh, and many other countries in the Southeastern portions of Asia. However, poaching and deforestration have been slowly eroding the available population and habitat.
As for reproductive habits, there is little available information. Captive breeding has produced such wildly different gestation periods that scientists are not even sure if the sun bear has a mechanism of delayed implantation.
The Giant Panda is one of the most misunderstood animals on the planet. For many years, it was believed to be a type of racoon, like the similarly named red panda. However, genetics testing and observation have revealed that the panda is in fact, a bear. It has several adaptations that make it unusual. First is the fact that it has six digits on the front paws, giving it an opposable thumb ideal for holding onto the stalks of bamboo which it consumes in great amounts. The genitalia of the male are rear-pointing and small which is also decidedly unbearish, and much more like those of the red panda. It has only been since 1995 that the Panda has been officially considered a bear.
Typical pandas have a large head, and distinct white and black coloration which contrasts sharply with the deep green of their natural habitat. Pandas can only be found in six tiny regions in southwest China. These places are along the Tibetan plateau in Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanzi provinces. Combined, these areas are less than 5,400 square miles of very high altitude (4,000-11,500 ft.) mountain forests grown thick with patches of more than 30 species of bamboo. The bears themselves have home ranges from 1.8 to 3.3 square miles. The territories of the males often overlap those of a number of females.
Newborn pandas weigh between 3 and 5 ounces. Males grow to 190-275 pounds and 64-76 inches in length, with females being slightly smaller and lighter at 155-220 pounds. They reach sexual maturity between ages 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 years and mate once during the spring months of March, April, and May. The females are in estrus for anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks, but are only really receptive for a few days of that time. During August and September, pregnant females give birth to anywhere from one to three cubs, with one being the more common. The cubs are weaned at nine months, but often stay with their mothers for more than two years.
Like most bears, pandas are solitary animals. Females with cubs being the only exception. They mark their territories by scratching trees and by rubbing a musky anogenital gland against rocks and trees. Additionally, they communicate with different vocalizations. Scientists have identified 11 distince calls, but cannot identify the exact function of all of them.
Pandas are quite vegitarian, making bamboo 99% of their diet. Adults can eat anywhere between 26 and 33 pounds of it in a day, and with soft new shoots up to 84 pounds! Incredibly, that's almost 40% of their body weight! Ocassionally they consume meat and some other plants.
By:Keith Londrie
Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://bears.about-animals.info A website that specializes in providing information on bears that you can research on the internet at your own pace. Please Visit http://bears.about-animals.info now!
Sloth bears live a solitary existance, except when raising young or mating. The bears have a number of vocalizations, but their purpose is not understood.
Bears can be found throughout the world. They are generally large animals, and are characterized by a plantigrade walk (on their heels, like humans), a large body, short legs, a stub of a tail, small, round ears, and forward facing eyes.
All bears are classified as carnivores, with each species having a variable degree of herbivorous tendency. The panda, for example, is almost exclusively a plant eater. The polar bear is almost entirely a carnivore.
The black bear has managed to be quite prolific and successful as bears go. The eighteen known subspecies can be found throughout the United States and Canada. Estimates of the number of black bears in North America vary, with 750,000 being the most often suggested. In the state of Pennsylvania there are believed to be more than 7000 of the animals scattered across the state.
Despite their name, black bears can actually appear in a variety of colors. There are brown black bears, white black bears, and even the blue glacier bear.
Expert estimates of the weights of the bears also seem to vary widely. Conservative measurements put the average weight of the animals is around 300 pounds. However, the degree of sexual dimorphism exhibited by the species makes accurate accounts difficult. The largest black bear recorded was a male shot in Wisconsin in 1885. The bear was 802 pounds, far heavier than would be expected.
They have a wide an varied diet. They can and will eat nearly anything. Typical of bears, they are fond of honey, and are responsible for thousands of dollars worth of damage to aphiaries each year.
The black bear has claws which are shorter and more curved than those of the grizzly bear. This allows it to have a great agility in climbing trees. Often, a sow will encourage her cubs to tree themselves while there is danger. Black bears have a characteristic way of climbing and descending trees. They mostly use their front claws for climbing and keeping a hold.
The Brown Bear has captured the human consciousness like nearly no other animal can. It presents an image so like ourselves that we often get caught up in the "cuteness" and forget that it is a wild animal that we are dealing with. The brown bear is often seen as the cuddly buffoon of animation, and the "Teddy" bear of children and collectors alike. In reality, the brown bear is a complex and fascinating animal deserving of great respect.
The brown bear distinguishes itself from the other ursines by virtue of its shoulder hump, which is caused by muscles which are used for digging. The color of the animal varies from a light creamy color through to black. It has a dished facial profile and very long claws on the front paws. In addition, has a wider distribution than any of the other bears, and can be found throuhout the world. The animal has been found in such diverse places as Europe, Japan, North Asia, the western Canadian provinces, and the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. This diversity does not limit itself to purely geographical happenings, as the bear is also found in a great number of different habitats as well. Brown bears can be found on the plains, in the forests, the tundra, and in subalpine mountain areas. At one time, the brown bear could be found throughout the North American continent. However, excessive hunting and destruction of the animal's habitat have all but wiped out this majestic creature.
This animal's weight varies widely throughout the course of the year. Some can even double their weigh between emerging from their dens in the Spring and returning in the Fall. The males can weigh anywhere from 300 to 860 pounds, with the females coming in somewhere between 205 and 455 pounds. The average size of these bears is difficult to pinpoint, because it seems to depend greatly on the food sources available. The island grizzlies of Alaska (Kodiak and Admiralty) are considered the largest land carnivores in the world, and live on a diet of fish and other rich food. The inland animals are smaller by some 30%.
Of the browns, people tend to be more familiar with the grizzly bear. This animal is well known for it's agressive nature, and it is for this reason that many folks believe it gets its name. Not so! The name "grizzly" comes from the "grizzling" of its fur, which gives it a lighter color at the tips of hairs.
Brown bears reach sexual maturity somewhere between their 4 1/2 to 7th years. Females and males mature at approximately the same time, but males often do not become successful breeders until they are 8-10 years old due to competition with older, stronger males. Mating between browns takes place from early May to mid-July Implantation of the egg in the uterus, however, does not occur until sometime in Oct.-Nov. 1-4 cubs are born during winter hibernation of the female, with 2 being most common, sometime between January and March. The cubs will stay with the sow up to 2 1/2 years, meaning that the female may only breed about once every 3 years or so. Given that bears generally live only until they are 20-25 years of age, this does not give very many opportunities to reproduce.
Like most other bears, the brown bears are longers; with the notable exception of females with cubs. During the mating season, males and females may pair up and mate frequently for up to two weeks. The females require the stimulation of frequent mating before they will ovulate. While fertile, she may mate with several males, leading to cubs in a litter which may not all have the same father. This is one of the factors that makes research into bears more difficult, since paternity is often hard to determine.
The home ranges of bears often overlap. The ranges of males will often intersect those of several females. Bears will not generally attack other bears which wander in to their territories. They will even congregate peacefully in places where food is plentiful such as garbage dumps and salmon streams. In such places, the big, dominant males will usually get the choice fishing areas.
Brown bears are technically carnivores, but in practice most of their diet consists of plant matter such as sedges, grasses, bulbs, seeds, berries, and roots. They will also eat insects, fish, and small mammals. Some of these bears have even developed predatory practices on large animals, including moose, caribou, and elk.
The polar bear is a mighty hunter of seals. The most carnivorous of the bears, it is also the most patient. They will sit near a seal blow-hole for hours, waiting, until the animal surfaces. When it does, it is all over for the seal. One powerful blow from a forepaw brings a swift meal for the bear and a swifter death for the seal.
The conditions of the polar north are harsh, with temperatures well below freezing almost constantly. In order to survive, the polar bear has to be an expert survivalist, able to cope with the grueling conditions of his environment. Like a giant solar panel, the skin of the bear is black to draw every bit of possible heat from the sunlight. The hairs if the pelt appear to be white, but are actually transluscent and transmit the light down to the skin. Below these hairs are "underhairs" of orange or yellow.
Like those of other bears, the ears of the polar bear are round. They are, however, smaller and closer to the head. This, along with the overall shape of the animal help to make it a formidable swimmer. The paws are large, and slightly webbed, which also contribute to the bear's abilities as a swimmer.
There is a great degree of sexual dimorphism among the bears as well. The males are huge, the heaviest of them weighing as much as 1300 pounds. The females are smaller, the largest of them being only about 600 pounds.
The boars do not generally hibernate, but remain active for most of the year. The pregnant females are the exception to this, however. They go through a denning and hibernation period, just like that of the black, brown, and other bears.
Polar bears are more agressive than other bears. Even in captivity.
The asiatic black bear has many similarities to its American cousin. Both are medium sized, and black. The ears of the asiatic bear are large and seem inappropriately sized to the rest of its head and those of other bears. These bears have a white patch of fur on their chest, which is often shaped like a V, with some varying amount of white on their chin as well. Occasionally, they can be found in a brown color phase.
The asiatic black bears are not as widely studied as the other bears, so very little information is available about their relative size and other statistics. Generally, they have been found to be 50-75 inches in length. The males usually weigh from 220-440 pounds, and the females from 110-275 pounds.
These bears can be found throughout Southern Asia. They are known in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sikkim, Northern India, Bhutan, and into Burma. They can also be found in Northeast China, and Southeast Russia, Taiwan, and the Japaneese islands of Honshu and Shikoku. Mostly, these bears live in forested areas, especially hilly and mountainous places. The preferred elevations change seasonally. In summer, asiatic black bears have been spotted at over 9,900 feet--moving to lower elevations as the cold of winter comes on. In the northern parts of their range, they den for winter. Current thinking is that the bears in the southern reaches do not hibernate.
The diet of the asiatic black bear is quite diverse. They eat carrion, bee's nests, insects, invertibrates, small vertibrates, and fruit. They have been known to kill domestic livestock, but to what degree they exhibit this predation is not known. They are also known to make daybeds and feeding platforms in nut-bearing trees.
The sloth bear is relatively small, with long hair and shaggy coat. The bear is often black, but reddish animals have been seen. The nostrils of the muzzle can be closed at will, possibly as an adaptation to the defenses of the termites which make up a large portion of their diet. Their dark fur is often interspersed with whitish or greyish strands, and they display a noticable whiteish or cream-colored U shaped patch on their chest. Behind their heads, they have a mane, a ruff of fur that covers their neck and part of their shoulders. Their belly and underlegs are nearly bare. The sloth bear's ears are large and floppy; they have very good hearing. The claws of the sloth bear are sickle-shaped, and deeply curved.
The sloth bear is unique among bears as it has only 40 adult teeth. The cubs have 42 while nursing. The two middle, upper incisors do not grow in with the rest of the permanent teeth. The dirt that the bears ingest with their food often leads to bad teeth, as it grinds away the enamel. When feeding, the bears make loud, sucking sounds which can be heard for many miles.
Sloth bear adults can weigh anywhere from 120-310 pounds and measure anywhere from 60-75 inches in length. The males are larger than the females.
Sloth bears are found in the forested areas and grasslands of India and Sri Lanka. However, the bears have also been witnessed in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
Reproduction for the sloth bears is a fairly standard affar. The animals breed in late Spring/early Summer, with the cubs being born six to seven months later. Like other bears, the litters are small, consisting of only a cub or two. Very rarely, sloth bears have been reported as having three. The cubs stay in their mother's earth den for the first two to three months, they will continue to stay with their mother through their adolescence, which lasts approximately 2 years.
The spectacled bear gets its name from the distinctive circular bands which ring its eyes. The markings vary slightly from bear to bear, but the general look is the same. The markings are a creamy-yellowish color while the rest of the fur on the animal could be anywhere from brown to black. The spectacled bear is a small animal as bears go, the males generally weighing from 220 to 340 pounds, and the females 140 to 180 pounds. The animals are generally from 60-72 inches in length, with the females being about 30% smaller, on average, than the males.
The females are generally mature somewhere between their 4th and 7th years. After maturity, the animals will mate between May and June, with the litters of up to 3 being born during the Nov-Feb period. The cubs weigh a mere 10-11 1/2 ounces at birth. During the mating months, the bears will pair up and stay together for up to two weeks, copulating frequently. Like most other bears, the female requires this stimulation to ovulate.
Apart from basic mating and other minor habits, we have no information on the social life of these animals in the wild. The bears that have been studied in captivity have shed some light on their society. Females and cubs communicate with vocalizations, of which somewhere between two and five calls have been identified (depending on which source you check with).
The sun bear is a rather small member of the bear family which makes its home in the lowland tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. It is covered with a black coat made of sleek, short hairs. It has a white or yellowish patch on its chest shaped like a half-moon. It has a muzzle which is both yellower and shorter than that of a black bear. Sometimes the light color extends up over the eyes. The long, pointed claws are curved with hairless soles, likely as an adaptive measure to help in climbing trees. The ears of the sun bear are smaller and rounder than those of other bears. The teeth of the sun bear are flatter than those of other bears and the canines are long enough to protrude between the lips.
The omnivorous sun bear lives on a diet consisting mostly of termites, birds, small mammals, and even bits of oil palms, and other commercial crops.
Sun bears are the smallest of all the bears. The adults only weigh up to 145 pounds, and measure at the longest 60 inches.
This bear can be found in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Bangledesh, and many other countries in the Southeastern portions of Asia. However, poaching and deforestration have been slowly eroding the available population and habitat.
As for reproductive habits, there is little available information. Captive breeding has produced such wildly different gestation periods that scientists are not even sure if the sun bear has a mechanism of delayed implantation.
The Giant Panda is one of the most misunderstood animals on the planet. For many years, it was believed to be a type of racoon, like the similarly named red panda. However, genetics testing and observation have revealed that the panda is in fact, a bear. It has several adaptations that make it unusual. First is the fact that it has six digits on the front paws, giving it an opposable thumb ideal for holding onto the stalks of bamboo which it consumes in great amounts. The genitalia of the male are rear-pointing and small which is also decidedly unbearish, and much more like those of the red panda. It has only been since 1995 that the Panda has been officially considered a bear.
Typical pandas have a large head, and distinct white and black coloration which contrasts sharply with the deep green of their natural habitat. Pandas can only be found in six tiny regions in southwest China. These places are along the Tibetan plateau in Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanzi provinces. Combined, these areas are less than 5,400 square miles of very high altitude (4,000-11,500 ft.) mountain forests grown thick with patches of more than 30 species of bamboo. The bears themselves have home ranges from 1.8 to 3.3 square miles. The territories of the males often overlap those of a number of females.
Newborn pandas weigh between 3 and 5 ounces. Males grow to 190-275 pounds and 64-76 inches in length, with females being slightly smaller and lighter at 155-220 pounds. They reach sexual maturity between ages 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 years and mate once during the spring months of March, April, and May. The females are in estrus for anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks, but are only really receptive for a few days of that time. During August and September, pregnant females give birth to anywhere from one to three cubs, with one being the more common. The cubs are weaned at nine months, but often stay with their mothers for more than two years.
Like most bears, pandas are solitary animals. Females with cubs being the only exception. They mark their territories by scratching trees and by rubbing a musky anogenital gland against rocks and trees. Additionally, they communicate with different vocalizations. Scientists have identified 11 distince calls, but cannot identify the exact function of all of them.
Pandas are quite vegitarian, making bamboo 99% of their diet. Adults can eat anywhere between 26 and 33 pounds of it in a day, and with soft new shoots up to 84 pounds! Incredibly, that's almost 40% of their body weight! Ocassionally they consume meat and some other plants.
By:Keith Londrie
Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://bears.about-animals.info A website that specializes in providing information on bears that you can research on the internet at your own pace. Please Visit http://bears.about-animals.info now!
Sloth bears live a solitary existance, except when raising young or mating. The bears have a number of vocalizations, but their purpose is not understood.
Care Bears
Care Bears: The Beginning
Following the success of the Strawberry Shortcake product line they had designed, in 1981 American Greetings Card Company released a new series that starred the Care Bears. The Care Bears began as a series of greeting cards that had been drawn by children’s illustrator Elena Kucharik. Two years later, after the greeting card series was in full swing, Kenner released the Care Bear Teddy Bear line.
Each Care Bear was a uniquely colored teddy bear with a white patch on their stomach that had a specialized insignia on its belly. For example, Good Luck Bear had a shamrock, Bed Time Bear had a crescent moon, and Grumpy Bear had a rain cloud. After the release, the Care Bears were seen in their own television series and had three full-length movies. In addition, they spawned a second set of stuffed animal toys, that were called Care Bear Cousins. Animals like lions, monkeys, elephants, penguins and raccoons were designed in the same style of the care bear teddy bears. The Bears live in a land called the Kingdom of Care-A-Lot where they fight negativity and sadness with a special super-hero like move they called the Care Bear Stare. The Care Bear Stare occurs when the Care Bears stand together and radiate light from their respective tummy symbols, combining to form a ray of love and cheer which is supposed to be strong enough to bring joy and care into even the darkest heart. Kid specific records, books, board games and video games soon followed.
Now, 25 years after their initial release, Care Bears are still being marketed and kids still love them all over the world. Now, beyond the plush teddy bear toys, the greeting card series that started it all, and the animated media, the Care Bears have a full line of other products with their pictures on it. Products that include: candy, clothing, stickers and a big selection of party goods and supplies, all of which would work together to melt even the hardest heart at your next party.
By:Gail Leino
Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.
Following the success of the Strawberry Shortcake product line they had designed, in 1981 American Greetings Card Company released a new series that starred the Care Bears. The Care Bears began as a series of greeting cards that had been drawn by children’s illustrator Elena Kucharik. Two years later, after the greeting card series was in full swing, Kenner released the Care Bear Teddy Bear line.
Each Care Bear was a uniquely colored teddy bear with a white patch on their stomach that had a specialized insignia on its belly. For example, Good Luck Bear had a shamrock, Bed Time Bear had a crescent moon, and Grumpy Bear had a rain cloud. After the release, the Care Bears were seen in their own television series and had three full-length movies. In addition, they spawned a second set of stuffed animal toys, that were called Care Bear Cousins. Animals like lions, monkeys, elephants, penguins and raccoons were designed in the same style of the care bear teddy bears. The Bears live in a land called the Kingdom of Care-A-Lot where they fight negativity and sadness with a special super-hero like move they called the Care Bear Stare. The Care Bear Stare occurs when the Care Bears stand together and radiate light from their respective tummy symbols, combining to form a ray of love and cheer which is supposed to be strong enough to bring joy and care into even the darkest heart. Kid specific records, books, board games and video games soon followed.
Now, 25 years after their initial release, Care Bears are still being marketed and kids still love them all over the world. Now, beyond the plush teddy bear toys, the greeting card series that started it all, and the animated media, the Care Bears have a full line of other products with their pictures on it. Products that include: candy, clothing, stickers and a big selection of party goods and supplies, all of which would work together to melt even the hardest heart at your next party.
By:Gail Leino
Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Teddy Bears History
Teddy Bears - a Brief History Lesson
It is difficult to trace the history of the teddy bear, because it appears to have been invented independently at around the same time in America and in Germany. There is no possibility of copying, as communications technology at the time certainly wasn’t good enough for people from opposite sides of the Atlantic to be talking to each other about toy bears – it seems that teddy bears were just an idea whose time had come. For this reason, it is best to trace the American and German stories separately.
In 1902 Germany, the Steiff toy company was trying to come up with new products. The owner’s nephew, Richard Steiff, often visited Stuttgart Zoo to get inspiration for new toys, and on one visit was particularly taken with a cute bear cub. He did lots of drawings of it, and had produced a prototype of the toy, the Steiff Bear, that year.
Teddy bears got their start in America because of a widely-reported event involving President Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt going hunting in that same year, 1902. According to the story, Mississippi officials, keen to please the president, took him bear hunting, but the hunt was a failure as there were no bears to be found. One of the officials then brought the president a baby bear that he had caught and invited him to make the kill, but the president refused. Two toy-makers in New York quickly made a cute-looking toy baby bear, calling it ‘Teddy’s Bear’ – and it was a runaway hit, with a huge factory built just to fulfil the demand.
It is here that the two stories meet. When Steiff launched its bear at a 1903 toy fair, the American toy buyers realised that they could import this bear and capitalise on teddy bear fever. They ordered 3,000 Steiff Bears, and the bears quickly became some of the most popular teddies both in Germany and America – and from there, the craze spread worldwide.
By : John Gibb
John Gibb is the owner of TeddyBear resources, For more information on Teddy Bears check out http://www.TeddyBear-information.info
It is difficult to trace the history of the teddy bear, because it appears to have been invented independently at around the same time in America and in Germany. There is no possibility of copying, as communications technology at the time certainly wasn’t good enough for people from opposite sides of the Atlantic to be talking to each other about toy bears – it seems that teddy bears were just an idea whose time had come. For this reason, it is best to trace the American and German stories separately.
In 1902 Germany, the Steiff toy company was trying to come up with new products. The owner’s nephew, Richard Steiff, often visited Stuttgart Zoo to get inspiration for new toys, and on one visit was particularly taken with a cute bear cub. He did lots of drawings of it, and had produced a prototype of the toy, the Steiff Bear, that year.
Teddy bears got their start in America because of a widely-reported event involving President Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt going hunting in that same year, 1902. According to the story, Mississippi officials, keen to please the president, took him bear hunting, but the hunt was a failure as there were no bears to be found. One of the officials then brought the president a baby bear that he had caught and invited him to make the kill, but the president refused. Two toy-makers in New York quickly made a cute-looking toy baby bear, calling it ‘Teddy’s Bear’ – and it was a runaway hit, with a huge factory built just to fulfil the demand.
It is here that the two stories meet. When Steiff launched its bear at a 1903 toy fair, the American toy buyers realised that they could import this bear and capitalise on teddy bear fever. They ordered 3,000 Steiff Bears, and the bears quickly became some of the most popular teddies both in Germany and America – and from there, the craze spread worldwide.
By : John Gibb
John Gibb is the owner of TeddyBear resources, For more information on Teddy Bears check out http://www.TeddyBear-information.info
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