Footprints on the sands of time

These are the famous lines of an American poet who wrote about the hopes and tragedies of life in a simplistic style with technical expertise.

Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime,And, departing, leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time....

Born on February 27, the Poet is none other than Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Here is the Profile in Literature Pages. However, here's an interesting site for all Teachers as the Poet's Life is still offering lessons in the Classroom and the Teacher has an innovative way to teach History as well as make the students learn English Literature.

You can also find an interesting Picture Gallery of the House where Longfellow lived. Enjoy!

Btw, Let me guide you to the newly re-done page. I had noticed a shabby download on my iphone and so maybe here's a small change for quick access of this Ed Desk-main.htm page. Sometimes, too many cooks spoil the broth but it also happens that a single person with a simple brain can be Jack of all trades but master of none - That's exactly what I have experienced as I write, design, upload, manage, maintain, host and market Kidsfreesouls. Do send me your feedback or any columns you'd like to see more. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

- ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with resources for parents and teachers

Ban Plastics, Save Environment

Some time back, Kidsfreesouls had focused on the Ban of Plastics in Manali. Invention of Plastic dates back to 1860. A British scientist named Alexander Parks who called his invention ‘Parkesine’ discovered the Plastic in about 1860 when he was looking for a substitute for horns that were obtained from animals. He made it from cellulose and camphor which are natural materials obtained from plants. John Hyatt, an inventor from United States also discovered the same Plastic in 1868 when he was looking for substitute for ivory. Bakelite was the first plastic that was made from chemicals. It was invented by a Belgian chemist named Leo Backeland in the year 1907. This was the first artificial Plastic. Since years, Plastic has thus, become a major use.

You can find more on this topic Here on the Kidsfreesouls Search.

Well, we have a very concerned Question in our Earth Talk Q & A column.

Everybody says stop using plastic bags, but what about all the plastic, cellophane, cardboard and other materials used for packaging the food itself? What can we do to reduce how much of this unnecessary stuff comes wrapped around our food?
- Sunil Sreedharan, Mumbai, India

Read the answer in English and Spanish here on the Environment Pages. Yes, as Ed Doug Moss says, "Individuals have the power of their voices to pressure food makers to cut back on packaging. You can also try to persuade your elected officials to look into the feasibility of enacting “producer pays” laws in your community, city or state. And you can talk to co-workers, friends, relatives and others about the importance of buying in bulk and reducing waste." This reminds us of our social responsibilities and Citizen rights. It's time we adopt the Manali Hill Station Attitute to be eco-friendly, all states should go for a 'fine' for using or throwing Plastics. What's your say? Email us and email your concerned Questions too.

ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Toys go Digital, Toys go Green

Toys go Digital, Toys go Green but Do Kids go along? I read the headline and wondered, "Do our Kids play toys these days?" And even if they do play, what are the games? I asked a bunch of children and they all replied 'Computer games' with a mention of some indoor games like scrabble, chess or watching cartoon. For most of the Outdoor games, it's joining Coaching classes to play Badminton, Tennis or TT. It's a relief that 'LoL' or 'Rofl" is yet not known to many young students here!

However, one thing is sure. We are losing kids and the kids are missing their childhood! Well, check the Kids Page on Kidsfreesouls for Kids Games and More. Enjoy.

Well, Cyber Predators are luring the web esp. the Social Networking websites and places like Face Book, My Space, etc. The recent initiative is welcoming as teenagers who use the Internet could find themselves safer from sexual predators if the New York State Assembly approves legislation to ban sexual predators from social networking Web sites. With a more than 2-5 email ids, how this could be controlled remains to be seen.

I think, India needs to look more deep into the Safety rules surfing on the web. Not only children, even adults need to know the rules on the web and follow the safety online. Well, here's i-safe for Internet Safety Education.

Btw, Computers to match Human brains by 2020 - Check this link on Google News.

- ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Popeye Cuisine

Love to eat Spinach? Hmm...the Indian food lovers would go for the Spinach Soup or the Palak-paneer veg dish! But if you are fond of the lovely variety dishes of Spinach, here's Popeye's Cuisine - Enjoy.

Popeye, the Sailor man has ever been my favorite and I do have the Desktop screensaver featuring Popeye. When my son was a kid, he never use to eat Spinach and the comic Book Sailor-man inspired a lot. Fondly, he was nicknamed as 'Popeye!'

Popeye, the Sailor with a journey since 1929 featured by King Features first in their daily 'Thimble Theatre' and since then, you can find the best ever Popeye comic strips in newspapers, television, radio, merchandise, comic books and a lot more. Popeye's 75th Anniversary was celebrated in 2004 as he remains the widely recognized and most lovable character. The U.S. Postal Service featured Popeye in its "American Comic Classics" collection of postage stamps issued to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the comic strip. The one-eyed sailor's home town, Chestor, Illinois helds picnic during the weekend after Labor day where all Popeye fans have a great get-to-gether fun.

Popeye has been the perfect Role Model. His motto 'Eat Spinach & beat the Evil' is cherished and liven up through the Popeye series and even today, I am sure, many parents would be saying to their kids, 'Eat your Spinach or Bluto will come....' Here's the wiki on Popeye and here's Cartoon Kids Page with all 5 Stars to the one eyed Sailor man best pick site on web - popeye.com. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Literature Profile

W.H. Auden, an English born poet was born in York, England, in 1907 on 20th Feb. He made a remarkable contribution and best known for variety of his works W.H. Auden has written the best ballads, blues, limericks, sonnets, nonsense verse, oratorios, free verse, librettos (words) for operas and dramas.

Here's the Profile for adding to the Literature Scrap Book. Also find, selected poems of W H Auden on Google Search above. And find Quotes of Auden in Quotes Pages.

Well, the last year batch of my Students made a Literature Project. They selected their Literature Characters as John Keats, Robert Browning, William Wordsworth, Lord Alfred Tennyson and Percy B Shelley. It was a difficult Project for them, nevertheless, they collected all the information from the Library Books and added to their Project file. They got to know all the terms used in Poetry - the kinds of Poetry and How to make a Poem too. Here's the Poetry Learning Page and you can Bookmark to find more here in the Kidsfreesouls Poetry Section.

Btw, if you want to make Students to do a Literature Project online, here's My Hero where you can Participate. Guide the children to gather contents and add to My Hero. Well, Find My Hero - Robert Burns here and you can take a Printer Friendly Version to add to your Literature Profiles Scrap Book.

Freak in more to find more poetry and stories on Kidsfreesouls - coming soon! Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Ed, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Sidney Sheldon

Born on 17th February 1917, Sidney Sheldon left this world last year on 30th January, leaving a huge fan flow behind him. A crazy fan of Sid books, I have a collection of all his Books and even re-read when I am in a pensive mood.

Sidney Sheldon's first Book, The Naked Face was turned down by five different Publishers but finally, sold to William Morrow Company and it became a critical success which earned him Edgar Allan Poe Award! However, it was The Other Side of Midnight that made him a Best Selling Author. Sidney Sheldon's Novels are published in 51 languages in 180 countries. He always referred, "I try to write my books in such a way so the reader can't put them down" He use to dictate 50 pages a day, corrected next day and continued till he churned out a story with 1200-1500 pages with several re-writes.

Sands of Time is ever my fav read. However, here's some reviews on the Author Profile page.
Btw, you can find Guardian of Angels articles Translated to Romanian Language on the World of Parents 'scoalaparintilor.ro - Romanian site. The links on kidsfreesouls main. For the English versions, you can find the same there. Enjoy.

- ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Android & Apple's iphone

Google recently provided internal data to New York Times mentioning that Traffic poured in to Google more through Apple's iphone. Google shares a lot of love for the new age phone as even Google Founder Sergey Brin mentioned of using iphone for his personal use. The Google Maps on the iphone and the You Tube are the two best features with the mobi domains coming up to cash in more to Google adsense mobile ads. But than, the Google's own Android is much awaited to offer more features I hear and even Microsoft acquires Danger Inc. which offer handsets and best mobile experience.

Well, when I got to use the iphone, it's been a happy surfing Google which provide great search as well as checking on websites at leisure. I guess, this can be a best gift for a Valentine if your partner is a tech user and of coz, the iphone codes can now be cracked over here with the Apple's exclusive store offering all it's products including even the savvy mobile covers. But, ask me and I would look forward to get an Android - ahead to be with times as you can watch the video on You Tube on Kidsfreesouls.

Btw, here's MSN Contribute where you can log in to write and even blog the posts. You can find my article 'Emotional Switchboard which I posted last year.

- ilaxi patel

Ed, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents & Teachers

Jules Verne

Five weeks in a Balloon - A rejected essay and finally, written several times! This became success for Jules Verne as his first Novel written with Imagination. And born on February 28, he goes down in Literature History with the famous 'Around the World in Eighty Days' and 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." Probably, a supplement read in all Classrooms.
Here's the Profile of Jules Verne in Literature Pages.

Btw, a video added on You Tube on Kidsfreesouls. Steven Cravis is one of the best musician, so grab a copy of his CDs and music and you'll thank me for the recommendation! Here's Steven Cravis Website and find on My Space list too.

ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents & Teachers

Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffham Dickens, the famous Novelist was born on 7 February. It might surprise some that he was a Journalist. Charles became a reporter on the Parliamentary newspaper 'True Sun', where his natural talent for reporting and keen observation was first recognized. He taught himself shorthand and, on the Mirror of Parliament, and then the Morning Chronicle, he was soon acknowledged as the best Parliamentary Reporter of the age. Later, he started a daily Newspaper, the 'Daily News' and a weekly Magazine, Household Words. Charles Dickens strove to bring people together and build Interactive understanding of each other.

David Copperfield has ever remained a Best Read and it reflects his own Life. It's a simply great story, romantic but also realistic and believable. It excites all emotions, from rib tickling laughter to tears of pity. Most of the qualities like modesty, frankness, trustworthiness, honesty, goodwill are the ones we admire and his frailties are understandable and endearing. Oliver Twist too, has remained my Best Read and is a widely read Literature Pick. If Charles Dickens was alive, he would be pleased to know that a story which shows, "the principle of Good surviving through adverse circumstance" has remained so popular.

Pick up Charles Dickens and sure, this is the Best Literature Read. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author of : Guardian of Angels

Quotes

As you explore Kidsfreesouls, here's a Quote that says a lot:

"Parents must be both slow and quick - slow to get angry and quick to love and forgive."

Think and Ponder. Let me have your thoughts on this as you go through the old Quotes Page here.

Btw, once I had a discussion with a friend on success and failures. I guess we learn less from success than we do from failure. Failures teach us wisdom and humility and these are the two treasures well worth obtaining.

And believe me, Believe in Yourself and the things you do! We have the power to control our lives and our family do mean a lot than anything above else in the world. And when I speak on family, it's more of closeness, trust and understanding. Many parents do have stress but it's child stress that needs to be focused too. Here's on Parental Stress-Kids Stress. And here's my updated Health Blog on Statesman.com on Sugary Sweet Dizziness.

- ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author of : Guardian of Angels

Sally Anthony's 'So Long' & Kids on Social Networks Safer?

A video every American should see on You Tube below. A song by Sally Anthony and it portrays a Reality of the living condition under President Bush Government since last 8 years! After years, Bin Laden is not captured, Gas prices rising, House values going down, Insurance premiums going up, Health and public school system in shambles - a lot of things put into perspective.

Well, why go in debt for a war? The video gives chills and it's sad to see people victimized. Here's an article on Kidsfreesouls on War Terror. We need to follow the Action Call and spread for peace!

Btw, do your kids chat on Yahoo Messengers or the like? A recent study by Michele Ybarra, founder of Internet Solutions for Kids, a company that helps design safe Web sites for children finds, Social networking sites like My Space and Facebook are better than IM and chatrooms. Ybarra's team collected data on 1,588 children aged 10 to 15 years old. In a survey, the children were asked about their online experiences over the past year. Among these children, 15 percent said they had an unwanted sexual solicitation. Only one-fourth of these occurred on a social networking site.In addition, 33 percent said they were harassed online. About one-fourth of the incidents occurred on a social networking site.

Read more here on Washington Post. Parents and teachers need to guide the kids to adopt Technology gracefully and keep an open eye to their activities on the web. They need to follow the safety rules themselves and help the kids to follow safe surfing rules on the web. Communication with children is always interactive learning and finding better ways to make children follow safety tips. Here's Safe Teens website I thought you may find useful apart from the links you find in my earlier notes. And here's Email and Chat etiquettes tips on kidsfreesouls.

- ilaxi patel
Ed, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author of Guardian of Angels