The Anarcho Geek Info Center

Sugar gliders have sharp and long nails, and their nails help them to hang onto tree branches as they climb and jump. Their nails can be dangerous and can make punctures on your skin when you allow them to play. Their scratches can lead to bacteria into your skin that can, in turn, cause dermatitis. That’s why veterinarians recommend trimming the nails of sugar gliders on a regular basis.

Trimming nails of sugar gliders requires extra care and attention, because their nails are soft and a little misshap can cause bleeding and frighten the glider. Two people are required for the nail trimming of a sugar glider along with the following equipment:

• Some towels
• Nail cutters
• An additional person, if possible
• Corn starch or any other type of coagulant

It is recommended that you trim the nails of sugar gliders in the morning. At that time they are tired and want to sleep. During the first and second nail cutting attempts, the sugar gliders may cause problems during trimming, but a regular trimming schedule will help them grow accustomed to getting their nails clipped.

To hold the sugar glider, use a towel but do not grasp the gilder too tightly, because this will frighten him. If your sugar glider is causing problems during trimming, cover the head of the glider, because this will reduce stress. Once you hold the glider properly, then cut the nails from the very end with a clipper. But make sure that you do not cut the nails too much. This will cause the sugar glider to bleed. If this happens, then you must use something to stop the sugar glider from bleeding

There are many other ways to control the growth of your gliders nails. Products like Nail-o-Matic, and Pet-0-Cure can help to keep your sugar gliders’ nails down to size. a

It’s been said, time and again, that for a child to learn what is most important, he must be shown the lessons through example, not through words. And, if we are to nurture certain traits within our children, we must first develop those traits in ourselves.

I’ve been teaching martial arts to children for a decade and a half and I’ve discovered something amazing about children - they want to learn what is expected of them. For all of the ‘button-pushing,’ resistance to your wishes and what-not, children want to know the rules and have a deep-down, almost inherent, need to “do it right.”

Unfortunately, I’ve also discovered that many of the parents who bring their children to our programs live by two deep-seated desires. And even though they express their wishes for their child to develop more confidence, discipline, and respect - not to mention the ability to protect themselves from the dangers that they know exist in the world, they will almost always default to these desires, even though it means that their child may never develop these important traits and abilities.

What are these desires?

1) That their child is never angry at them, and,

2) that they never want to have to say “no.”

Is this true about all parents? No, of course not. But it is true about many.

Even without these words being spoken, the message is plain and clear when it comes in the following forms:

“She doesn’t want to come to class and I don’t want to force her.”

“Really,” I say. “And why not?”

‘Excuse me?”, comes the reply. “I don’t understand.”

“Well,” I add, “don’t you make her do other things that she doesn’t want to do?” “I’m sure you make her brush her teeth daily, go to school even when she says she doesn’t want to, and probably a dozen or so more things every day, don’t you?”

“Yes, but that’s different,” is often the reply.

“Different?” I ask, “how so?” “Don’t you think this is important?” “Isn’t it still as important today, as the day you brought her in and said she needed to be confident and learn to protect herself?”

Here’s another one that my staff and I hear regularly.

“I’m not going to commit my son to a year (or three year) program. That’s too long for someone his age. He doesn’t know what he wants”

Again, my response is that the parent is missing something in the logic, if it’s logic that’s driving at all.

“Is your child in school?”, I ask.

“Of course,” comes the reply.

“So you do think that an education is important and will take a considerable amount of time to prepare your son for the real world?”

“It has everything to do with karate classes, because this is an education too. One that your son won’t get in school or out of a text book. And, what he learns here in the way of confidence, discipline, pride, respect, and the ability to stand up for what is right, will affect every other part of his life, for the rest of his life.”

Again, I hear, “But this is different.”

“How?,” I ask. “He will be going to school for the next eleven to thirteen years, not counting college. And, I’m sure that you’ll make him go, even on those days when he doesn’t want to. You will have all the right reasons to explain to him why this is important, right? No sir, this is no different. It is exactly the same. And, if its important for your child to learn the lessons you brought him here to learn, it’s less important whether he likes it or not. And, as for him not knowing what he wants, that’s what we as parents and teachers are here for, isn’t it. To guide, provide opportunities and to give our children what they need, even if it’s not what they want.”

The actress Bette Davis was quoted as saying, “If you have never been hated by your child you have never been a parent.” I believe this because I believe that my job is not to be my child’s friend, but to be his guide, mentor, and teacher for handling the challenges of life. If I don’t, then who will? And besides, there’s plenty of time to be his or her friend after they have grown to adulthood, had the same experiences in the world, and can relate on an adult level. There is a huge difference between being ‘friendly’ and being ‘friends.’

To many, I’m sure that all of this seems harsh and many, I’m certain, have already stopped reading altogether. My point is simple. We, as parents and teachers are teaching your children regardless of whether we open our mouths and say the words in the lesson or not.

If we’re to teach our children to do what’s important, not just what feels good…

…if we’re to teach them to not be quitters in the game of life…

…we must instill the lessons whether they like us for it or not.

How else can we possibly teach, and have our children practice, things like commitment if we never provide the opportunities for them to commit or allow them to quit because something’s not fun? When was the last time our creditors allowed us to stop paying our bills because doing so wasn’t fun?

Edward, the English monarch once commented in a condescending way that we have the troubles we do because American parents obey their children instead of the other way around. After a decade and a half of watching and helping parents to help their children, I don’t know if he’s right but I do know that, the parents who are most committed to their child’s development, regardless of the daily whims of the child - this entity who is changing so rapidly that they don’t want the same things from moment-to-moment, let alone from year-to-year - usually have much more successful adults to be proud of when their children grow up. It is those who commit to teaching commitment, and a hundred other lessons, who are blessed with a child grown to adulthood who can commit to themselves and others and who can be counted on to ‘be there’ when the going gets tough.

Can you imagine? What a world we would live in if all those we met were such a person as this.

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Through their martial arts training, his students and clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help them create the life they’ve always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it. To learn more about child development and other subjects related to the martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

The method know as three dimensional ultrasound scanning is that can be used during early pregnancy, it provides 3d images of the unborn baby. Most times the ultrasound samples are collated and joined together and made into a movie to created a “4d ultrasound”.

Three dimensional scanning works in the same manner to the normal scanning methods except that the ultrasound scanning pulses are sent from many directions. The ultrasound waves can be reflected back then captured to provide info to construct a 3d picture in much the same way as 3d pictures. 3d ultrasound was started by stephen smith and olaf von ramm at duke university.

It’s important to understand that sonologists all over the world always pictured three-dimensional images of anatomy or pathology in their minds while doing their 2d scans. However, until recently it was almost impossibel to do this kind of reconstruction on on data using ultrasound. The advent of 4d baby scans for the first time allowed us a peek into the thinking of a sonologist and hence letting us see the images on the ultrasound machine.

4d ultrasound imaging should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. While there is no information of harm due to 3d ultrasound, its use in non-medical situations should be undertaken with the understanding that a risk may exist.

The method know as three dimensional ultrasound is used during early pregnancy, it provides 3d pictures of the unborn baby. Most times the ultrasound images are rapidly collected and combined and animated to created a 4d scan.

Three dimensional scans works similarly to the traditional ultrasound except that the ultrasound waves can be sent from multiple directions. The ultrasound pulses are reflected back then captured to provide info to construct a 3d picture in in a similar manner to 3d pictures. 3 dimesional ultrasound was started by stephen smith and olaf von ramm.

It is important to understand that sonologists all over the world always pictured three-dimensional images of the body in their minds while doing their 2d scans. However, until recently it was very difficult to do this kind of reconstruction on patient data acquired using ultrasound. The advent of 4d scans for the first time allowed us a view into the brain of a sonologist and hence letting us view the images on the ultrasound machine.

4d ultrasound imaging should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. There is no data to suggest harm due to 3d ultasound scanning, its use in non-medical situations should be undertaken with an understanding of the risks that exist.

I’m not sure how to explain this, and it is my feelings on the matter, so take or what it is worth, and file #13, it if you don’t’ like it. Children in both South and North America’s I’ve noticed lately, show very little respect for their parents, and explain it away as a generation gap. It has nothing to do with a gap; it has something to do with youperiod. Children or kids can show respect to dogs, fish, girlfriends, the boyfriends down the block, but when they come home and the parents are there, the lack the ability of show regard is gone, respect is regard for the other person: you may be sing “I know that,” well maybe you do, but a lot of you don’t. Later on they’ll say: “Gee, I was just growing up then, we all were like that.” Horse crap, it was not like that when I was growing up, and we had nothing, very little. I was brought up on a foster farm for four years, and never talked back to my mother. When I was 21-years old, I swore a few bad words in her house and she chanced me out, out of her house, like a man would chase a pig at the stockyards where she worked, and where I worked.

It’s funny; kids can give respect to everyone but the ones that gave them life. And I don’t care if your father swears or your mother is a whore; that is their business, they gave you life; and it is not your job to monitor them, although I do not go along with excessive abuse, but a good kick in the ass never hurt, and would put things a little straight or a lot of mouthy kids. Even Davy Crockett, our National Hero got a whipping from his father, and loved him all the more.

One of my twin boys said once to me, “I wish you and ma were not divorced.” And I said why, wasn’t I the hard father, the one that made you stick to the rules, and the one that whooped you when you needed it.” And he said, “Yes, and now we have no rules, and I can do as I please, and the law protects me, and I wish I was with you, because you took the time.” Yes indeed it takes time to put things straight, it takes a parent’s time, but now they have rules.

Half the problem is the law. It is not uncommon anymore for them to interfere into a family’s up bringing of their kids, and they do. The judges know nothing about raising their own kids, half the time, and they are making decisions for yours, and ungodly they may be in the process; nor does the social system care, rather pass simply pass judgments, and these are the kids that will raise kids, God help us now (we can see already the results, it only takes one or two decades, and the lack of decency is quite noticeable); most of the social workers are for the children, and let them call the shots. And if these are not issues, then what is. I’m glad my kids are raised, I’d hate to have them in our public school systems now with no god no this no that, and forced feed all the garbage they want to feed them, and you can’t say a word, can’t say anything, but everything is ok. Sure it is.

See Dennis’ web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

My grandson started kindergarten this week. It’s always tough when a distant dream becomes a frightening reality. The adjustment has been difficult. The first day was long and filled with anxiety. There was great apprehension, much fear and worrying, and a whole lot of sobbing . . . but I survived. The second day was a little easier for me; but my son, who is a stay-at-home dad, was a nervous wreck.

We hate to see our little sweetie grow up and go out into the big, bad world ALL ALONE. Why do kids begin school at such a tender age, anyway? Five is so young. They should wait until at least twelve. I see these little cherubs walking to school and I wonder, “How can their mothers let them outside alone?”

I’m a little overprotective, I guess. I don’t understand why grandma can’t ride the bus with him and sit next to him in school, for the first month at least. No one can protect my sweet potato like his she-bear grammie. Who will kiss his boo-boos if he falls down? Who will yell at the naughty kids who teach him bad words? Who will threaten the bullies who pick on him? Who will see that the teacher gives him the extra special attention that he deserves?

That first day, my imagination was enough to fuel my worries, but then I learned that Cobi had been beat up during recess! This is one of the worst things a grandmother can hear. (I had hoped that my biggest shock the first week of school would be hearing that he’d called the teacher a doo-doo head or a stinky face.) I should have had the foresight to pay off the playground monitor so she’d watch out for him.

It seems that my brave little man tried to rescue a first grade girl who was beingharassed by an older boy. When Cobi defended her, the bigger boy knocked him down and gave him a bloody nose. Of course, grandma wanted to go to school and give that bully what for, visit his parents, and call the principal; but my grandson assured me that it wasn’t a big deal. In fact, he seemed unbothered by the entire incident.

When I asked what happened after the boy punched him, Cobi casually explained that he hadn’t hit back because he “didn’t want to hurt the big kid.” Grandma couldn’t help but smile at that.

If you’re a parent or grandparent, you probably feel as I do . . . it’s harder to deal with adversities affecting our kids than it is facing things that hurt us personally. Don’t you wish we could just wrap them in bubble wrap to protect them when they’re away from us?

Cobi is speeding toward adulthood faster than a computer virus spreads across the web. He recently took the training wheels off his bike. He’s growing up! Before I know it, he’ll be driving the car, having children of his own, and visiting me in the old fogies’ home. (At least I hope he’ll visit.)

I hope that time won’t come too soon. There are too many fun things we need to do together before that happens. I plan to savor every one of them.

Marsha Jordan
Author of “Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter”
hugsandhope@gmail.com
www.hugsandhope.org

Being a parent is the hardest job you’ll never get a paycheck for. In fact, I think before you can become a parent you should take a Parenting Equivalency Test (P.E.T.). After all, parenting is the most important job on the planet, ironically anyone can be a parent, but everyone isn’t qualified to parent. Many parents can’t put together a cohesive thought let alone teach their kids how to succeed. I think its high-time the United States Government starts issuing parental licenses. If you can’t find your state on a map you shouldn’t be allowed to pro-create.

We should round up terrible parents and sterilize them immediately. The offspring of terrible parents should each be given a free college education, a get out of jail free card, voodoo dolls in the likeness of their parents and a bag of needles. It’s not these children’s fault they were born before the P.E.T. program was introduced. It’s our fault. We allowed dumb parents to bear children.

No savings account? No kids.
No diploma? No boom-boom.
Didn’t finish your GED? Don’t finish.

I think you get my point.

I’m only half-joking. I don’t want the government regulating parenting, but you must admit there are a lot of idiots raising kids. Take the parents of some of my daughters friends for instance:

“I wish you were like my friends parents….:”

“I guess I’ll never be cool because if I catch you using drugs or alcohol I’m grounding you for 3 months”

What is cool parent exactly? The words cool and parent should never appear in the same sentence. This brings me to Silvia Johnson. If you haven’t heard of Silvia Johnson let me bring you up to speed. Silvia Johnson is the so-called “cool mom” who held parties for teenage boys almost weekly between October 2003 and October 2004. This horrible mom and danger to society, provided drugs and alcohol to eight boys and had sex with five of them. On November 15th, according to CNN, this “cool mom” was sentenced to 30 years, to which she probably replied, “not cool dude”.

Let’s see how cool Ms. Johnson is when she steps out of prison in 2035 in an orange jumpsuit and flip-flops.

Good ole Silvia Johnson is a prime example of parenting gone wrong. Way wrong.

I’m a good dad. I provide food, shelter and structure for my children. My daughter is only 15; who cares if she thinks I’m cool? My daughter wants what all teenagers want: freedom. It’s my job not to give it to her. These are the rules of parenting.

I cannot allow my daughter to screw up her life on my watch. When she becomes 21 or I’m dead she can be free, until then I’m the sheriff and her freedom must be earned. If you ask me, my daughter’s friends could use some good parenting instead of this so called new age “cool parenting”. Cool parenting is just another word for child-neglect and child -endangerment.

Call me old-fashioned, but I still believe underage drinking and drug experimentation have no place in the home, it should be done where its always been done, at college.

Timothy Crawford is an inspirational association event speaker who tailors his programs specifically for his audiences. Find out more about this creative, engaging inspirational - motivational speaker at his official website..(http://www.timothycrawford.com)

Good things can come from sour lemons - at least sometimes. Today at our church a merry gaggle of children organized a “Lemon-Aid” stand - complete with splattery hand-lettered signs. The lemonade tasted great, the customer service was fabulous and dollar bills fell into the collection basket. All of the proceeds will go to relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims.

It was a bright spot in a bleak week. If you’re like our family - you’ve watched the images on the news showing horrific devastation, separated loved ones, people pushed to the brink of endurance, and communities on the threshold of despair. The human suffering oozing from our TV screens is overwhelming and painful.

If you’re not in the gulf states, it’s easy to turn away and nuzzle back into our daily routines - and push the human tragedy from our minds. But we shouldn’t. Each of us can do something. This is the time to teach our children about giving back to the community and helping neighbors in need. There are lots of ways for your family to make a difference. Here’s ten ideas:

(1) Donate money together. Money is what is most needed after a disaster. Decide as a family to take money that your family had planned to use for something else - a dinner out at a restaurant, a special purchase, movie tickets - and donate it to help hurricane victims. Downscale your other activities appropriately - and you’ll teach your children money management as well as charity. Donate through the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund at 1-800-HELP-NOW or www.redcross.org.

To help your children understand where their money goes, talk about the meals and services the Red Cross provides to victims and visit their website for updates on relief efforts. Often the story vignettes online sharing an affected family’s story can drive home how important your donation is. If you’d like to explore donating to another relief group, CNN has compiled a list with links to aid agencies.

(2) Talk about the storm’s impact on pets and donate funds to aid in animal recovery. If your children love animals, the ASPCA, has a Hurricane Katrina relief fund to help reunite families with their pets and rebuild shattered shelter programs. Additionally, the Noah’s Wish shelter in Slidell has a large effort underway to reunite stranded pets with their owners and is accepting donations to support their shelter housing hundreds of animals separated from their owners by Hurricane Katrina. You can see pictures of pets online and talk with your children about how a family might feel about getting a lost pet returned after a disaster of this magnitude.

(3) Send a health kit, blanket kit or school kit. Thousands of families need the most basic supplies. The United Methodist Committee on Relief has packing lists online for organizing these easy kits. Many families and congregations like packing these kits because the aid is tangible - and you know that people in need will use items you personally pack. The United Methodist Church has a disaster response effort underway in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Health kits and blankets are especially needed, and you can get packing instructions online.

(4) Pack a family food box. Louisiana Southern Baptists are accepting donations of “family food boxes” to help families get back on their feet. Each box contains dried food products to help families get back on their feet. It’s very important that packing instructions be followed exactly. This can be a fun family, neighborhood or church project and you can download packing instructions and photos of a properly packed box online.

(5) Organize a tool or blanket drive. Church World Service is encouraging congregations to collect blankets and tools. They can provide you with a video and other information to help you conduct a blanket and tool drive in your church.

(6) Help your children or teens hold a fundraiser. The “Lemon-Aid” stand is a great example of young people taking initiative to make a difference. Your children can probably come up with plenty of ways to secure donations to help hurricane relief. They can make “hurricane relief” bands, organize a bake sale, babysit and donate their proceeds, etc. If you want to multiply your efforts, invite your children’s sports team, club, or school to participate. Youth Service America has posted a website loaded with ideas.

(7) Adopt a school or club. Your child’s school or youth organization could “adopt a school” or “adopt a chapter” in Alabama, Louisiana or Mississippi that needs help recovering from the storm and develop a longer-term relationship. For example, the Louisiana 4-H Foundation has set up a relief fund to aid employees. Girls Scouts USA and Boy Scouts USA have issued suggestions for ways to involve local chapters.

(8) Plan a longer term service-learning project in partnership with young people. The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse has compiled a guide to help young people, college students and teachers planning service-learning projects to respond to Hurricane Katrina. Service learning projects typically involve assessing a need, designing a project to meet the need, and active reflection while the young person is implementing the project.

(9) Volunteer with your local chapter of the American Red Cross. Due to the ongoing disaster relief effort, more than 4,000 Red Cross volunteers have left their families and gone to the disaster zone. Local chapters will need even more volunteers to help with needs at home and answer increased calls from the public. Volunteering as a family or on your own can be a rewarding experience.

(10) Publicize relief efforts and invite others to help. Issue a press release about your relief project and invite others in your community to help. Place website banners for the American Red Cross on your organization, family or business website. Many religious groups have bulletin inserts or fliers for distribution at services - download these fliers online and distribute them.

Dawn Miller writes a column on life in blended families at http://www.thestepfamilylife.com