June 19, 2011

Wood texture Iphone 6 Cases from Zazzle are eco-friendly and sustainable!

pattern with cute cats and birds carved® maple iPhone 6 bumper case


Hello!


People like to cover technology in wood. Most of us are too young to remember old radios and first televisions and their wooden boxes. My parents oldest TV had no wood on the outside but the box imitated wood. My grandmother old radio was covered in beautiful wood. One thing I am certain is that we still like gadgets covered in wood. That's a classic. One chic way to protect your Iphone is to get a cover made of wood. It’s pretty and irresistible. It’s an organic material, it’s a really awesome choice.

But not all the wood cases on the market are sustainable and we care for the planet, don’t we? It’s not a pretty thought thinking we’re chopping trees just to get Iphone’s nicely covered! That’s why I found these Zazzle creators idea a good one – they are offering Iphone cases that imitate wood. There are several species of wood to choose from and if I don’t think too much they look almost like a craftsman's hands work. These Iphone skins are made of 100% real Zazzle imagination, which is both sustainable and eco-friendly.

And now I have a curiosity to share. Sure you’re familiar with the expression "knock on wood". In Portugal we also have the same expression – bater na madeira – but as we say it we utter “lagarto, lagarto, lagarto” that means “lizard, lizard, lizard”! Well, don’t ask me why we say “lizard” three times because it’s a mystery to me too.


Now, check some great wood texture Iphone6 Cases I found on Zazzle! That is no mystery!


This post was refreshed in 2015
Wood Node Texture iPhone 3G 3GS Case speckcase
Retro Funk Carved® Maple iPhone 6 Bumper
Retro Funk Carved® Maple iPhone 6 Bumper by theunusual
Browse more Template Wood Cases at Zazzle



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June 15, 2011

Fotolia stock image marketplace review



You may wonder why I am hosting a Fotolia Coupon Code giveaway on my blog. Usually, I promote Portuguese products. Fotolia offered me the possibility to try it for free and this is my review on it.

I really enjoyed my experience at the site. One thing I discovered is that Fotolia accepts photos from professionals and amateurs. That’s positive as it adds variety and makes photos prices more accessible. If you live in Europe, know that the Euro is accepted the currency. Paypal can be used. It has photographers and designers contributing and I got excited about it and thought of sending some vector files too and earn some cash. They even provide training that you must follow before uploading any work. As they state somewhere in the site, "detailed attention is given to the quality, copyright, and editing of files." I found great photos. I can say that I found what I needed.

I did an accurate search for photos so I can say the searching mechanism worked for me perfectly. I searched with a lot of different keywords and got relevant results. I also used orientation filter as I was interested in landscape photos only but Fotolia offers other filters. We can get 100 images per page and examine it well with zoom possibility. This all happens fast enough. All over the site information is clear and navigation is easy.

I think Fotolia is a real social marketplace for photographers and designers. I got the notion that a community is being built around it. It has a blog and a Forum but I did not try it. If you are familiar with Forums you know how useful it can be. If you have doubts or questions you have support in lots of different languages from the traditional English to Portuguese, maybe more than a dozen languages available. The extensive FAQ is available.

What are the purchasing images options? There are two: credit or subscription. If you buy a large number of credits the price per credit is smaller. It works smoothly. You get your credits, pick your photos and move it to a gallery called Lightbox and then download the files. Subscription has two possibilities, standard, and premium. These require a number of images download per day or 24 hours. Fotolia offers 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and annual subscriptions.

There is an interesting software you can download at Fotolia - Flixtime. I haven’t tried it but I want to. FlixTime turns your photos into unique videos and you can pick a tune to it. It sounds great fun. There is also a Fotolia Desktop Widget and a Fotolia Plug-In. And for last, and because everybody loves Freebies if you become a fan of Fotolia on Facebook you receive access to a free image area.

I also become an affiliate for Fotolia as I have no reasons but to recommend it.

So, why don’t you join it too?


Click here for free membership now!
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June 14, 2011

Win FOTOLIA coupon code and try the power of stock images!

First, let’s learn about FOTOLIA and what it can do for you.

1. What’s Fotolia?

It’s the first worldwide social marketplace for royalty free stock images, allowing individuals and professionals to legally buy and share stock images and illustrations. In fact, it’s the largest image bank of free and most affordable royalty free photos and illustrations perfect for any medium, web or print.

2. What are Fotolia’s advantages?

- Time is money! Fotolia’s services will save you time, as you are much more likely to find what you need quickly. Plus you don’t get poor search functionality on Fotolia. If you look for baby photos you can be sure you’ll get baby photos and not puppy photos. When you look for a photo and can’t get it fast enough you’ll be stressed. Fotolia will help eliminate this kind of stress so you can dedicate your strength to create just brilliant work!

- Many times I used free photo sites. I had to read about every photo I used! Sometimes I had to contact the photo’s owner and wait a long time for an answer. Some photos had no restrictions, some were for non-commercial use and some required the name of the photographer attached to the work I created. Fotolia has a clear licensing agreement – a standard royalty-free license for every photo you want. And more: what if you want to use a photo of a person? You must have a signed release and that’s guaranteed with a paid service. So, choose Fotolia, it's much easier this way.

- You can buy vector art on Fotolia. If you know about vectors you know that it takes some time to create a good one. Illustrated graphics can give a unique look and feel to a work but sometimes you don’t have the time to create one. Or maybe you aren’t too comfortable on how to use Illustrator or Corel or Freehand. Fotolia is here for you with a wide variety of vector art.

- Fotolia's site is so well organized and easy to use you’ll be amazed. Preview works fast has a good size so you can fully appreciate the art or photo you want and make a good choice.

- Forget the idea that Art is easy to create and glamorous and fun activity. Artists do work very hard to obtain good results and should be paid for their effort. So when you choose Fotolia’s you’re helping photographers and illustrators to live a decent life. They deserve it, don’t they?!

- Many people don’t know enough about intellectual property rights. I had my vectors stolen a couple of times myself. They were available on the internet and people used it. I contacted the person and she thought it was ok to do that because they were available on the internet. But some other times people also grab images because they refuse to pay exaggerated prices for it. To fight the illegal use of protected images can be done if they are offered at a good price. Fotolia offers you a good price. Thanks to a collaborative online model, Fotolia is able to offer individuals and professionals (advertising agencies, press, small business, graphic artists, designers) the greatest image collection in the world for as little as $0.75.

3. What can Fotolia do for you?

All images offered on Fotolia are royalty-free, they can be used for all kinds of professional documents with no limit on time or copies: creation of advertising media, creation of professional documents, illustration of press articles, illustration of websites, blogs, newsletters, web banners, illustration multimedia documents, illustration / decorations on TV shows or movies and creation of derivative products (just for Extended license purchases.) Try Fotolia, explore it and learn all the advantages first hand. For everything you want to know about Fotolia, please go to Fotolia's FAQ.

I am sure you would like to try FOTOLIA and there’s a chance you can. How? Entering A Portuguese Love giveaway sponsored by FOTOLIA, my favorite social marketplace for royalty free stock images. Follow these steps and you might!

1. The Coupon: win a FOTOLIA subscription for two weeks allowing you 3 downloads per day. Please read: you don’t have the right to resell the images in print on demand products as (posters, t-shirt, mugs, templates and so) but the images can be used in blog posts when are writing articles and need to color them up with images, or if you’re are creating marketing materials for your company like brochures or newsletters as long as you are not selling these. Read in detail here.

2. What you must do:

a. Like A Portuguese Love Facebook page here

b. or Subscribe to this blog via email (use Feedburner window on your right to enter your email address)

c. If you already Liked my Page or Subscribed to my blog you can Tweet this giveaway and you're in!

d. Leave a comment on this blog post indicating what you did + your email contact.

A random draw between those who entered will be made on the 4th of July to determine the winner. The winner will be announced on this blog and A Portuguese Love Facebook Page.


To your attention, please!

New date for the random draw! As I'll be away from tomorrow Saturday 3rd July till next Friday, the draw will take place next Sunday 10th. Thank you for your patience!

( New entries in this period will be accepted also.)
Published by em 4 comments:

June 11, 2011

What are your Zazzle store best sellers?


It's party time invitation! invitation

Today I sold more Birthday Party invitations for kids. These invitations are fully customizable so you can use it for any kind of party, not only the Birthday Party. Invitations for boys and girls are my best sellers at Zazzle. What's yours?
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June 10, 2011

Conte Connosco - Leia, e se gostar, vote e divulgue a história do ovo!


Sorry, folks. Today I am writing in Portuguese only. It's a contest and I am trying to get some votes for a story I wrote. I have a lot of Portuguese people following this blog too. So forgive me if I do not translate this post. If you can't read Portuguese you can't read the story and vote for me. Just wish me luck!

O Concurso “Conte Connosco ” começou a 9 de Maio de 2011 e vigorará até 31 de Julho de 2011 realizando-se três (3) sorteios mensais. Estou a participar na modalidade ESCRITA. Preciso do seu voto e do dos seus amigos!

Veja o Regulamento e prémios que pode ganhar apenas por votar:

http://www.conteconnosco.com/regulamento.php

Como faz para votar na minha participação Pode um ovo fora da validade devolver a paz a um homem perdido?

http://www.conteconnosco.com/trabalho-detalhe.php?id=592

A votação deverá ser realizada directamente no site do passatempo depois de se registar:

www.conteconnosco.com

Também pode votar através da página do Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/SantanderTotta2011

Só se pode votar uma vez por dia!

Vão ser selecionados os 20 textos mais votados e para isso preciso, até 31 de Julho, de uma montanha de votos. Se gosta do meu texto, vote várias vezes e divulgue usando o Facebook e o seu blogue.


Obrigada!
Published by em 1 comment:

June 3, 2011

Portuguese legislative election is next Sunday


Sunday Portugal will have a legislative election. José Sócrates the ex-Prime Minister was forced to resign after six years of mismanagement. President called for elections. For the last months, people have been coping with unfair social measures and austerity budgets one after the other. We saw the biggest political demonstration of displeasing ever happening on the streets this year. A few are richer and powerful, a few are holding privileges, keeping the best jobs, pulling the strings. The middle class is ruined. The number of poor people is rising. All those who are responsible for this situation should be held accountable. And this includes the ex-Prime Minister. Can’t understand how he was re-elected for Secretary-General of his party, the PS, after resigning his job at Government. For me, he’s discredited beyond recovery. 

Not all the situation we’re in is his responsibility. Europe construction as it was dreamed is trembling. The market shaped by capitalism is trembling and many say that a new economic era is already in the making. But he should have taken measures a long time ago. The Portuguese economy is ruined, we lost social rights, justice isn’t working and corruption grew. Our health system that was better than the USA’s has suffered cuts, unemployment is growing. People will have less money to spend. Portuguese are known to save the day in the last minute. It’s called “desenrascar”. This time I don’t think the new Government will do it whatever it might be. We’re in deep trouble. I can say that I am with serious difficulties. Each day I get fewer solicitations for graphics work. When I answer jobs ads I know that I’m competing against 500 people or more and I am not picky. I have superior education and several other skills because I like to learn so I never stopped improving my knowledge. I have also experience in several different professional areas. It’s not enough. I’m not getting younger. Employers prefer young people especially if they are fresh from university. Young people can do internships for practice. These are for free in the first three months. This is new regulation out this month. Before this measure companies could get free workers for 6 months or more. Companies can also hire these professional newcomers and getting financial help from the Government for a year. This facilitates untrained professionals to get experience. If they are lucky they stay in the company where they trained after that period. This is cool for young people. Not for me. There are no jobs for everyone.

So on Sunday, I must fulfill my civic obligation and vote. What are the options? The PSD (Social Democrats) and PS(Socialist Party), CDS-PP(Christian Democrats – Conservatives). All these are center-right, even PS these days. Then we have left parties – The Left Block and CDU, the Communist party, and some smaller parties with a little expression like the ecologist party – The Green Party or PAN – a new party interested in animals and nature and sustainability. I really don’t believe my vote will make any difference. The country is in such a bad shape that it will need at least 10-20 years to recover. It has been 37 years since the 1974 Carnation Revolution. Portuguese democracy is still young and has become more imperfect. And we are stupid because we should have demanded proper management from the Government a long time ago. Instead, we let it roll.

 Portugal never rose to the change the country needed to face the demands of the European Community in 1986. EU membership meant a lot of money poured but it was badly managed by Governments. Since that time we lost our industry. Portugal has plenty of arable lands and a big coast with one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones. Orders were to stop the plow of the land and to destroy fishing boats. Now a huge effort is being imposed on the population and all those who had the power to do things right but messed up are out here enjoying the precious sun, accommodated in some luxurious hotel and playing golf. Life is not fair.
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In less than 1 hour it will be Drawing Day!


June 4, 2011. Drawing Day will be held on the first Saturday of June each year. Due to the various time zone differences across the world, many events start friday and are open all weekend.

To join in on this event is simple - as simple as picking up a pencil (or mouse) and drawing. However, the most important part is sharing your art with the world. You do not need to be at a physical event to participate. Draw wherever you like on paper, or on your computer. We just ask that you then scan or take your digital drawing and share it with the world.


Using one or all of these options:

- Upload digital or scaned images of your drawings to the Drawing Day website

- Upload to any of our participating online art communities

- Upload to our Facebook page (this is where all artists are encouraged to post drawings on Facebook)

- Draw online using our free online drawing tool to submit drawings

Whether you're a professional illustrator or you just enjoy the occasional scribble, you can give back to the illustration community by drawing on this day. By injecting more and more illustration and art into our community, we are not only showing our appreciation to our fellow artists, but we are spreading awareness of the joy of drawing. It is important that you contribute - Drawing Day will only be a success if we all participate and make some noise. So, please tell your friends and spread the word.

All about Drawing Day here
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May 31, 2011

Teen shoots 3 girls fight and uploads video to Facebook network


We live the oddest days. For a normal person that lives by the rules, it’s difficult to make sense of some behaviors. When I was young and attending high school boys had fist fights in the space outside. Some would watch and do nothing; the old ones may try to put an end to the fight. I remember broken noses and bleeding on the cement floor. Boys will always engage in fights. Girls also had their share of grievances and acts of vengeance. But it was another game. Violence has a number of complex factors that contribute to it. Violence at an early age is chocking. What kind of human beings are we raising? The education of children and young people is demanding. Many face hard living conditions. But my grandmother lived through the War times and she and the community where she lived endured hardship, yet, she never told me about significant tales of violence in her neighborhood. Parents delegate their responsibility in school but a school cannot substitute for the role of parents. Teacher’s authority is gone. Many teachers are often disrespected and even assaulted. The society itself hasn’t a culture of nonviolence in its root. Since the event took place the television showed that video many times, a video that can be translated into half a dozen words. But the spectacle is what our society enjoys. Words are not enough. To young people is no longer enough to tell the story. They share the images on mobile phones and the internet. Audiences also want to consume the images as if they were addicted to them. Without a change in education, there is no change in society. 

This month of May a young man of 18 years filmed and posted on Facebook a video of a 13-year-old being beaten by two other girls of 15 and 16 years of age before the passivity of other youngsters. They were slapping, kicking the victim's head on the floor and pulling his hair. This happened on the outskirts of Lisbon. Authorities raided the house of the alleged author of the video and seized the suspect's phone and computer. The older girl and the young man who has a criminal record are now preventively detained. Others that watched with hands down were made defendants in the process.
The Criminal Court of Lisbon decided to detain the 16-year-old girl accused of assaulting. This measure was equally applied to the boy of 18 who filmed the episode. The other girl just turned 16 two days after that episode, so it’s a case to the Court of Children and Family.

It is not common to order preventive arrest to someone with 16 years for grievous bodily assault. Up to 18 years it is rare to go to jail. Youngsters must have done some serious stuff to go to jail. This measure just applies to crimes that are punished with at least five years of imprisonment. 

The Head of the Lawyers (Barristers) has already questioned this measure. But others do agree with the judge that took it. There’s a big discussion going on. Some say that sometimes the arrest is used to protect the aggressor himself. The attitude of the girl during interrogatory may have led to this, just imagine that she was not sorry for what she did. 

The special perversity of the aggression that included the dissemination of violent aggression over the Internet, causing social unrest and an intense alarm was important for the judge to rule that way. This decision is also a warning to youth and to those who like to attack, shoot and publish videos of the deed on social networks. 

In Portugal, there is a law for young people between 16 and 21 years. These are subject to a Special Criminal Regime and must stay in detention centers not prisons, but these centers do not exist.
How would this situation be dealt with by authorities in your country? Do you have knowledge of similar cases? (For some facts I based my post on a news article published on Público Portuguese newspaper)
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May 30, 2011

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY parents and kids activity



I know that you already have a calendar for this year. But if you have been reading my posts on Secondhand smoke and enjoyed the little Smoke Monters I have a freebie for you. Each month page of this calendar has one cute and colorful Smoke Monster. Your kids will love it.

It will be an easy and fun WORLD NO TOBACO DAY activity for you and your kid!

Here's how to do it!

1º Go to my SCRIBD page to download the 7 pages PDF file.


2º Print the file in your office printer using a good size A4 paper.


3º Cut it with X acto knife and ruler using the printed guides.


4º Use a CD jewel box as a stand-flip.


5º Keep all the sheets inside the CD box.

6º Avoid secondhand smoke exposure all year!


Freebie Calendar 2011



This activity was included in The Crafty Crow blog and on One Pretty Thing blog too. But I can't link to this one now, don't know what's the problem with it, both are interesting blogs for you to follow too if you enjoy DIY projects. The first is DIY for kids 3-5 years old.
Published by em 1 comment:

May 29, 2011

Protect pets from secondhand smoke!

Secondhand smoke catching machine! mousepad

Look for more here!

Just two more days till World No Tobacco Day! Are you going to participate in any activity next May 31? Are you planning to quit smoking next Tuesday?

If you smoke, has your veterinary ever told you that when you light up a cigarette you can be putting your pet’s health at risk? Well, it’s true. Whether your pet is a cat, a dog, a rabbit or a bird your loved animal will be affected too. Pets will suffer the distress of life-threatening cancer or chronic breathing difficulties just as persons do. Surprised? I was. But I wrote the story after watching Davis reaction to secondhand smoke. Davis is my sister's shar-pei dog. It seemed very uncomfortable with it.

So here's the story on pets and secondhand smoke. Not a pretty one. Dogs can develop nasal and lung cancer and experience breathing and cardiac problems. Dogs are especially prone to secondhand smoke’s respiratory effects. Dogs can experience allergic reactions to secondhand smoke. How can you tell? They will scratch, bit and chew off their skin. Cigarette butts are also a danger if ingested. If eaten by a puppy can cause death. The same goes for nicotine replacement gum and patches. Cigarettes will kill a pet too if eaten. Sometimes pets may drink water that contains cigarette butts in it. This water is like poison to a pet. So keep ashtrays clean.

Cats may get oral cancer. Cats constantly lick themselves. As they groom themselves they eat toxic particles and poisons from secondhand smoke that have settled on their fur. They can also develop respiratory problems, lung inflammation, and asthma.

A bird’s respiratory system is hypersensitive to any type of pollutant in the air. Birds may develop eye problems and respiratory problems like coughing and wheezing. And heart and fertility problems too. Some birds may pull out their feathers if they get dermatitis from nicotine. I had budgeted for a long time. These birds are likely to fly to our shoulder or hand. Nicotine can remain in the smokers hand for a long time and thus affecting the bird. So, if you’re a smoker do not play with your birds unless you wash your hands very well. ( Do it also before petting other animals)

There are no safe levels of exposure to secondhand smoke for humans - and that goes for animals as well. If you like four-legged furry ones, well, they are just another reason for considering not to smoke or quitting. Or adopt a fish instead.
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May 28, 2011

Against secondhand smoke!

Quit smoking please dry erase whiteboard
Quit smoking please dry erase whiteboard by noboringwhite
Check out other Quit Dry Erase Boards at zazzle.com
Secondhand smoke is very bad company! doodle

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY, MAY 31
Are you celebrating it?


Smoke inhaled by smokers contains many dangerous chemicals. Secondhand smoke contains many of that same chemicals. It contains higher concentrations of many of the toxins found in cigarette smoke! The USA National Toxicology Program estimates that at least 250 chemicals in secondhand smoke are known to be toxic or carcinogenic! Secondhand smoke has been designated as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and an occupational carcinogen by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Why? It contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals! When nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, they inhale many of the same cancer-causing chemicals that smokers inhale. So, there are monsters in secondhand smoke. They will harm your health in many ways. Maybe you were not aware of it! You cant’ see it! I confess, I never imagine that secondhand smoke was this dangerous until I started my research on the theme!


Get to know the monsters! Check this quick list!

Poisonous gases and chemicals:

Hydrogen cyanide - it is used in chemical weapons

Carbon monoxide - it is found in car exhaust

Butane - it is used in lighter fluid

Ammonia - it is used in household cleaners

Toluene - you can found it paint thinners. 

Some of the toxic metals contained in secondhand smoke:


Arsenic - it is used in pesticides

Lead - it was formerly found in paint

Chromium - it's used to make steel

Cadmium - it's used to make batteries. 

There are more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals in secondhand smoke that fall into different chemical classes, including:

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (such as Benzo[a]pyrene)

N-Nitrosamines (such as tobacco-specific nitrosamines)

Aromatic amines (such as 4-aminobiphenyl)

Aldehydes (such as formaldehyde)

Miscellaneous organic chemicals (such as benzene and vinyl chloride) and

Inorganic compounds (such as those containing metals like arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel and radioactive polonium-210).

Eleven compounds in tobacco smoke have been identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as Group 1 (known human carcinogen) carcinogens:

2-naphthylamine

4-aminobiphenyl

Benzene

Vinyl chloride

Ethylene oxide

Arsenic

Beryllium

Nickel compounds

Chromium

Cadmium and polonium-210.
Published by em No comments:

May 27, 2011

How to protect yourself and your loved ones from secondhand smoke?


Look for more here!


The answer is simple: just avoid exposure whenever possible. The only way to fully protect yourself and your family from the dangers of secondhand smoke is through 100% smoke-free environments. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot completely eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.

Here's a couple of rules to protect yourself and your loved ones:
- make your home and vehicles smoke-free;
- do not allow family, friends, visitors to smoke inside your house or car;
- ask people not to smoke around you and your children;
- make sure that your children’s day care center or school is smoke-free;
- choose restaurants and other businesses that are smoke-free;
- share your knowledge on secondhand smoke;
If you smoke, ok, you have the right to do it. But keep in mind that it may endanger other persons health. Try to think of it when you are smoking. What if you live with a smoker who is not interested in quitting? Always ask the smoker to go outside the house to smoke. This will reduce secondhand smoking exposure. Smoke-free home rules also help smokers to quit and reduce the risk of adolescents becoming smokers.


Celebrate World No Tobacco Day, May 31
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May 26, 2011

Secondhand smoke: why so dangerous?

Happy cars are smoke free! postcard
The smoke released from the burning end of a cigarette pipe, cigar, bidi, or kretek or that seeps from the mouthpiece of one of these products is called mainstream smoke. Sidestream smoke is the one exhaled by the smoker. Secondhand smoke it’s a mixture of both. And it’s dangerous for several reasons.
It contains many of the same chemicals that are present in the smoke inhaled by smokers. At least 250 chemicals in secondhand smoke are known to be toxic or carcinogenic (cancer causing). People’s exposure to secondhand smoke happens in homes, workplaces, vehicles, and in public areas such as restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, and casinos. In many countries, to smoke in public areas it’s prohibited.

Smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles substantially reduce secondhand smoke exposure among children and nonsmoking adults but do not totally eliminate their exposure. Harmful residues from secondhand smoke may be present in areas where no one is currently smoking. Now, this was something new to me. Never thought that secondhand smoke could presence could be so persistent. It may enter the house in the air, on dust particles, or on the smoker’s breath or clothing. Moreover heating, ventilating and air conditioning system can distribute secondhand smoke throughout a building. As today many persons live in buildings or apartments sometimes the air is shared amongst people. And so does passive smoking for households of nonsmokers. Ventilation systems cannot remove secondhand smoke from indoor environments. Conventional air cleaning systems can remove large particles in secondhand smoke, but they cannot effectively eliminate smaller particles and gases.
And as you might already know exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer and heart disease in nonsmoking adults, and it increases the risk for sudden infant death syndrome, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other serious respiratory conditions in children. So we should not underestimate secondhand smoke presence.
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May 24, 2011

Who loves the beach more than I do?



Today's afternoon.

Splendid weather.

Fantastic sea. Lot's of surfers. No fishermen.

Top less girls. Lazy couples. Happy children. Seagulls standing.

= Lovely beach!
Published by em 2 comments:

May 23, 2011

Secondhand smoke is bad to everybody

Secondhand smoke catching machine! mousepad


All my life I was aware that many of the poisons in the cigarette smoke are absorbed into the bloodstream. After birth, the baby can still get the poisons through the mother’s breast milk. I was sensitive to that maybe because I am a woman and also because I have seen lots of campaigns carrying this message. So when my smoker female friends got pregnant I always tried to convince them to stop smoking as many seemed not to care that these chemicals pass from the mother into the baby’s blood. It’s too risky as the baby may be born underweight, premature or dead. It increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS or 'cot death') and the mother also faces a higher risk of having a miscarriage or complications during birth. It makes her feel more breathless and have less energy. Babies of mothers who smoke are more likely to die in the first year of life. If they survive, they have a greater risk of lung infections as well as poor physical and mental development. 

But I must confess that I never cared about the fact that the smoke that a pregnant woman breathes in from her companion or husband’s cigarettes can affect their unborn child! I never thought of it! This really strikes only when I started my research for the little book. I consider myself more or less informed but that was a surprise. Of course, I was aware that passive smokers that breathe in smoke from another person’s cigarette suffer the same health risks as smokers - irritation to the eyes, runny nose, sore throat, and headache. I had that experience myself. I always worked with smokers. They did not care a bit about my health. Fortunately, I did not suffer from asthma, bronchitis, allergies or anything. Passive smoke can bring severe attacks on people who suffer from these diseases or even heart disease. I did not seem to care about my health either as I never questioned their right to smoke in work reunions. Today I would be pretty upset if they smoked in the same room for hours and hours. I know now that if I continue to breathe in other people’s smoke, I will have a higher chance of developing lung cancer, heart attack or a lung infection. But strangely I never thought that both parents need to give up smoking early in pregnancy if they want to reduce the risk of their baby being affected. Most health campaigns that I have seen all my life focused only on the mother to be, not the father. And it was only very recently that I saw a campaign on secondhand smoke harmful effects for children, I think maybe four years ago. So I learned that passive smoking is dangerous to unborn children, babies, and children in general, women, men, everybody. As I read more and more I was more surprised with what I found.






Celebrate World No Tobacco Day, 31 May

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What's your opinion about Portuguese music in English language?


Video  Gomo , Feeling Alive

Some like it, others don't. If we have a mother tongue, why should we go and sing in a language that is not ours? So that our songs have more acceptance abroad? It's just a market strategy? But if we think about it for a second we'll see the most successful Portuguese singers abroad - like Mariza - sing in Portuguese, not in English. I have no CDs of Portuguese artists singing in English. I do not think they are better or worse than their foreign counterparts. I don't like it that much. I am also very picky when buying songs in Portuguese. But I have my favorites. The Portuguese are so used to consume songs in English that no one seemed surprised when the Portuguese Football Federation chose a song by Black Eyed Peas - I gotta feeling - for the anthem National Football Team in the World Cup in South Africa...!!
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May 21, 2011

Smoking prevention strategies and children

Secondhand smoke's bad company! postcard



Less than 10 days to World No Tobacco Day, May 31! So bear with me, here's another post on smoking & kids. There are persons, professionals, who are in a special position that grants them the privilege to act and to speak and be heard because they have authority. This is true for parents whether smokers or non-smokers and siblings, for teachers, doctors, and medical personnel, especially pediatricians and obstetricians, social and youth workers and caregivers. But anyone can try to prevent children from smoking. Let’s see how prevention strategies work.


A prevention program, an action you promote in school or anywhere, or whatever you do, a mere friendly conversation, a letter or email that you write to a child, must be able to influence the attitude, the belief of that child. You can begin by emphasizing the benefits of not smoking and the disadvantages of smoking. Provide information on short-term smoking effects because children do not consider the long-term consequences. Think that if the child has friends that smoke they will try to minimize the risk of it. So build your case! They will try to point out the advantages of that behavior very strongly when confronted. The child must be made aware that those benefits are false.


Most people think that cigarettes will harm their health only in a far future. But this is not entirely correct and you must be aware of it. When smoking a cigarette the nicotine will speed up the child’s heart rate, raise her blood pressure and disturb the flow of blood and air into the lungs. This will happen within a few minutes of smoking just one cigarette. As a result, a child who smokes will feel more tired than one that does not smoke.
Nicotine will also paralyze the tiny hairs in the lung passages. These hairs help to clean dirt and germs out. If they are down then the child will start to cough, will develop a sore throat and runny nose. Probably she will get colds more often as the protection against germs will be less. The carbon monoxide in the smoke lowers the amount of oxygen carried in the blood to the rest of the child’s body, including the heart and the brain. A child who smokes has less endurance when running and playing sports and won’t be as fit as another one who doesn’t smoke. Finally, tar and cancer-causing substances are deposited in child airways and lungs.


Cigarettes smoke have plenty of toxic and poisonous chemicals. In a word or two: the child will feel and be sick. One day she will spend time going to a doctor instead of going out to play football. Then she will have to take medicines. Eventually, she will miss school, she will stay indoors so she can be treated. She will not be able to go out with her healthy friends to a party. This will be an unpleasant routine for the child and will be happening in the present, not in the future.

Smoking cigarettes deadens the nerve-endings for smell and taste. It’s not good if one who smokes cannot smell or taste as well as a non-smoker. Smoking stains teeth within yellowish color and gives bad breath. Also leaves an unpleasant smell in clothes. So there goes the child’s allowance in mint chewing gum and spray. Smoking is expensive and if a child gets hooked on nicotine she will have to spend more money on it and less on Mp3 download or movie or football tickets or cool t-shirts or whatever she likes and saves money for.

As far as developing a subjective norm unfavorable to smoking point out that most people in the building where you live, neighborhood, village, city, world… do not smoke. Movies, TV and tobacco industry advertising created a false notion that smoking is cool and OK and quite common. Not necessarily so. Many persons find smoking an unpleasant, expensive, filthy and unhealthy habit. Many disapprove it. Many of these people are famous people from the world of sports, movies, music, and politics. Probably you have dear friends that don’t smoke. Many people are trying to give up smoking every day. Why? They realized it's dangerous. Smokers influence non-smokers and it’s easy for these to feel that saying no to smoke can be awkward as it may be seen as implicit criticism. Smokers tend to minimize smoking risks and often talk with great conviction about their capacity of breaking free the minute they want to. Truth is very different.

Some challenging situations that a child might endure must be discussed before taking place. The child must be taught to say no when confronted with a cigarette trial offer that comes from a friend she looks up to. She must have the notion that if she’s facing any sort of difficulty at school a cigar will not help. It will not solve it and it certainly not relaxes her better than a swim in the pool or a movie or a long walk in the park or a football match. A cigar is not a fashion accessory. It simply does not add anything that so ever to one's image.

Law prohibits the sale of tobacco to underage. It’s illegal. For some children the possibility of being fined as they try to buy tobacco is real. What will they do then? Steal? At last, cigarette smoke pollutes the air people breath and chemicals in it are toxic and poisonous to everybody, babies, children, women, men, even pets. It isn’t good for the planet either because the paper is needed to make the cigars and cigar boxes. Smoking is not a green thing to do. 

Finally, you can use techniques of commitment. It can be done just in the family circle. Let the child explain why she considers that smoking is a bad choice. As a consequence, she commits herself not to smoke in front of an audience. Another idea is to put in writing a sort of a contract between you and the child you’re addressing. That will reinforce her behavior.


Source for main facts: Bases científicas para a prevenção do consumo de tabaco na escola, José Precioso and Manuel Macedo, Instituto de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
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May 20, 2011

New customizable Doodle speakers from Zazzle




It has been a while since my last product showcase. This one is special. Zazzle has a new product: MUSIC SPEAKERS! The world's first customizable speaker is now on Zazzle! Perfect for travel, parties, or just a day at the beach, ultra-portable and ultra-fun for everyone.This is an awesome gadget that makes your music look as good as it sounds!
These are some of my favorite designs! Take a look!
Trumpet music instrument custom speaker doodle

Pink Orange Floral Custom Photo Doodle Speakers doodle

Mount Rockmore Doodle Speakers doodle

Personalized Retro Radio Doodle doodle

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The trip, a short Portuguese movie at Cannes Festival 2011



Anthony (Orlando Costa) spends the day in the tavern. Mary (Margarida Carpinteiro) spends the hours knitting and watching television. But one day Anthony suffers a sudden heart attack which he survives. That will make him question his life around and return the love for the woman with whom he lived for years but scarcely know. Without thinking twice he gets both savings to rent a convertible to go on holiday with his wife. Only Antonio forgets the map. And from there, things start to go wrong to the point where the couple finds himself lost in the woods at night not knowing where to go ...

Section Cinéfondation is known for discovering and disseminating new talents of international cinema from schools and universities around the world. The Cinéfondation jury, headed by Michel Gondry, will announce the three Cinéfondation prizes on May 20.

Of nearly 1,600 submitted entries originating from 360 film schools, the short film A Viagem - The trip wrote and directed by Simão Cayatte 26-year-old Portuguese director was chosen to be among the 16 in competition. It will be screened today at the Cannes Festival. A Viagem was inspired by a short story by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen. The 64th Festival de Cannes runs from May 11 – May 22. 
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How do children start smoking?




Science has studied and provided several models to understand children smoking behavior. If we want to do something to prevent kids from smoking we must have some idea on how it works. Explaining human behavior isn’t easy as it depends on many factors. One model has identified four to five stages until the child becomes a dependent smoker. There are social and psychological risks that are critical to the child’s smoking behavior.

The first stage is called Preparation. In this stage, a child forms positive attitudes and beliefs about smoking. When a child grows up she will look up to what the mother and father, sister or brother do at home. They are her closest model. We learn by example from others. If they smoke it’s easier for the child to assume that's a natural habit. But some kids whose parents do not smoke will start smoking just the same. Maybe they're curious. Or because the idea of doing something grownups don't want them to do is appealing to them. Other kids will just be imitating adults behavior because they want to act or look like an adult. Other such as peers, actors and pop stars can lead the child to emulate their behavior and try smoking.

At the second stage, the child will make the first try. So this stage is called Trial. In the story, I wrote - yes, I created a little book about smoking prevention - the curious boy, is desperate to try a cigar. He will not give up until he does it although parents told him that cigar smoking is dangerous. I created a lot of drama around this episode because, in my opinion, it is very important that a child does not make this one try. The nicotine has an immediate effect on the brain so the child can keep smoking to get that reward. But can be a terrible experience. In fact, the first cigarette I smoked wasn’t a good experience. Probably a child will cough a lot and feel pain or burning in the throat and lungs. Some will feel sick to their stomachs or even throw up. But organisms respond differently to an individual’s motivations and evaluations are a mystery. One will never know if that experience will determine the abandon of cigarettes or if it will fuel the child’s will to go on trying. I must say I did not give cigarettes up after that first one. I gave it some more tries. 

So, after the first trial, the child will start to smoke sporadic cigarettes. This stage is called Experimentation. Now and then the child will smoke a cigar or two. At this stage the influence of the group of friends is determinant. Smoking can play an important role in friendships. It can create a bond between smokers. If the child has friends who smoke probably they will not discourage the child to quit and she will feel a pressure to keep the habit as to break free might be considered criticism. The kind of environment surrounding the child is also important. Television shows and films have built up positive images about smoking for many years. Advertising promoted smoking and made positive associations between cigarettes and brands. Or if there are no rules against smoking in the private or public space the child circulates or if the information on smoking dangers is sparse or inexistent in school or other institutions. At last, if the child has access to cigarettes easily. These are the risk factors. If a child smokes a cigarette per week she has reached the fourth stage. This stage is called Habituation. Generally, if a child is on regular consumption one must expect that she has friends that smoke too. That group of friends approves smoking behavior. On the other hand, this child has a low ability to refuse a cigar. She perceives that smoking is good to her somehow. It gives her social status, it relaxes her, helps her dealing with stress, fears, it goes along with her image whatever. If she lives in an environment where smoking is not restricted or if in school there is tolerance to smoking behavior and lack of information and campaigns on smoking dangers, these are risk factors.

When this child enters the fifth stage she is dependent on consumption. This stage is called Maintenance. The child is hooked to tobacco because it has nicotine. This substance causes addiction, both of body and mind. She stops and she'll get withdrawal symptoms like irritability, snappiness, lack of concentration. So the child smokes another cigarette. But nicotine also causes tolerance and that’s why she will need to increase the number of cigarettes to get the same effect. It’s easy for one to be addicted and it’s hard to give it up as it causes on giving up smoking. It also causes a social dependence as the child or youngster will create a bond to the group of smokers. By this stage, smoking will be associated with other activities like going out. The child is conditioned so when she thinks of going out she needs to have a cigarette. If you try to quit you'll be punished

Another model is called The theory of rational action. The child’s intention to smoke is determined both by attitude and subjective norm. Attitude: it represents the sentiment (positive or negative) for behavior, for example, smoking is bad. The attitude is influenced by the child's beliefs about the consequences of this behavior: favorable or unfavorable. The subjective norm: is the child’s perception of whether most people who are important to her think that she should or should not smoke. This norm measures the degree of social pressure to perform or not this behavior.

The conclusion is that children are more likely to smoke when they have a favorable attitude towards their achievement. And when there is support for their achievement by people children consider important. A child smoker has a positive attitude about the act of smoking. A child that does not smoke doesn’t. She has also had a more negative subjective norm regarding smoking regularly due to parents, siblings, doctors, teachers that are non-smokers. According to this model promoting positive attitudes towards non-smoking and the development of a subjective norm unfavorable to smoking has a preventive effect on tobacco consumption.

Source for scientific facts: Bases científicas para a prevenção do consumo de tabaco na escola, José Precioso and Manuel Macedo, Instituto de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY, MAY 31
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