So… I was in charge of coming up with an end of the year program for the Home Instructors of Mebane which is the name of my homeschool co-op.  In the past, slide shows had been a big hit.  Well, I am technologically challenged when it comes to things like this.  I searched on the internet for ideas and found various choices.  The best one for me because it was the easiest to use and made your photos look incredible and would allow me to seem creative was Smile Box.

I created about a 12 min. presentation and chose three upbeat songs to accompany my photos.  It was awesome!  I was able to burn it to a DVD and now I will have it to treasure forever.

There are lots of different formats to choose from and I loved that you could put music with it.  It was very easy to use and with a free trial, you have nothing to lose!

You would have to be living under a rock not to have heard or read about the latest way to earn a college degree. Online university courses are proving to be an effective method for reaching your academic potential. These online education courses are designed to give the non-traditional, adult student a chance to thrive and further their financial success. Many people have already taken advantage of online education courses and are amazed at the difference having a college level education has had on their lives.

There are many benefits to choosing this method of higher learning and Western Governor’s University has everything you are looking for when comparing online degree programs.  For adult students, the flexibility allowed by their online study programs has made it possible to continue to work in their current position and remain a vital presence in their family and friends lives. Another benefit is the financial affordability. You pay a flat fee every six months instead of per credit hour.  When compared to other online universities you will find that it is about half the price.

Western Governor’s University is also a fully accredited regionally as well as nationally.  This is beneficial because your credits will have a better chance of transferring to another university should you desire to do so.  It is also looked more favorably upon by future employers.

You can’t go wrong with Western Governor’s University.

Now, I barely know the difference between the spoiler and the spark plug, but I found this article eye opening.

With a little research on your vehicle, you can avoid future repair problems. Whether you are mechanically savvy or not, you can detect many common vehicle problems simply by using your senses of smell and sight.

TAKE A GOOD LOOK!

Are there any stains or drops of fluid under your vehicle? There may be no problem whatsoever, however you do want to check for wet spots, as this could be a symptom of a serious problem.

What color is the liquid under the car? Yellowish green, blue or orange colors can show an overheated engine or an antifreeze leak. You could have a leaky radiator or a water pump in need of repair. If this is the problem, you need to get to a repair shop immediately.

A dark brown or black oily fluid can show that the engine is leaking oil. A bad seal or gasket could be the cause of the leak. The repair for this problem can be exorbitant, so you will want to seek out a reputable mechanic right away.

A red oily looking spot shows a transmission or power steering fluid leak. Another reason to see your car doctor!

Sometimes the liquid is clear, and this is usually normal condensation from your vehicle’s air conditioner. There is no need for concern.

If you see light smoke coming from a wheel - it could be a stuck brake. Call a tow truck.

Smoke coming from any part of the vehicle shows a need for repair.

TAKE A WHIFF!

Sniff around, and you may detect your vehicles problem.

The smell of burned toast can signal an electrical short and burning insulation. Have a mechanic come to look at your car. Do not risk driving it anywhere.

A rotten egg smell usually shows a problem in the catalytic converter. You will need to take the vehicle in for repair as soon as possible.

A thick sharp odor usually shows burning oil. Look under the car to see if there is a leak. There could be a bluish smoke coming from your vehicle, too. This problem needs to be addressed immediately!

The smell of gas after a failed start may mean the engine is flooded. Just wait a couple of minutes and try again. If you keep noticing the gas odor, this could be a sign of a leak in the fuel system - a potentially dangerous problem that needs immediate attention.

Do you notice a sweet odor? This may show a coolant leak. Watch your temperature gauge, warning light and drive to a repair shop. Now, if you see steam emerging from under the hood, stop and pull over. You definitely do not want to keep driving an overheated vehicle. Your engine will most likely be seriously damaged. Call a tow truck.

The basic rule of smell is that if you do notice an unusual odor - get to a mechanic or get one to come to you.

Follow these simple guidelines, keep your eyes and nose open, and you could end saving hundreds of dollars in repair!

There are some fundamental rules to the game of golf. Serious golfers often disagree on what the basics consist of, but if you are among the millions who desperately want to improve their golf swing, these basic tips will help you tremendously and save you a lot of frustration as well as money on golf training aids.

The three most important steps you should keep in mind are to keep your head perfectly still, relax your muscles, and keep your club head traveling in a straight line while making contact with the ball. The simple act of keeping your head still throughout your shot can improve your swing immediately. By keeping your club head in a straight line while making contact with the ball, you will avoid slicing and several other undesirable results.

Relaxing your muscles will aid you tremendously in keeping the proper balance. Balance is imperative to a good golf swing. Stand comfortably so you can reach the ball easily and remember that the muscles that propel the ball are the same muscles that twist the body and are the most powerful. No matter what stroke you are making or what club you are playing with, balance is the foundation to a good golf swing, and you must keep your muscles relaxed to achieve perfect balance. Balance really is the cure-all for many faults of golf. Think about keeping your head still and maintaining your balance at all times and you will have a foundation for an excellent golf game.

In the game of golf, no two people ever swing at the ball in the same way. Because of your individual body build, you develop your own individual set of muscles. A method of swinging a golf club used by one person who is of a different build and has developed a different set of muscles may not be of value to you. Golf will always be an individual sport. Find the method of playing that will produce results for you, and then go with it. When you are ready to play a game, and you are faced with a shot, make your decision on how you are going to do things. Do not be persuaded to change your methods every time you have a bad game.

Make sure you keep your eye on the ball and that any stance you take will allow you to see the ball from every point of the stroke. If your golf swing is off, go back to these fundamental rules and plan each shot in advance. Take your time and develop your own methods that work best for you, but keep in mind these basic principles and you will notice a definite improvement in your golf game.

If you have chosen to homeschool your child you may be curious as to the possible benefits of incorporating educational software or some custom software into your child’s curriculum. Is it really beneficial? How do you know which programs to use? Do educational software programs replace teaching?

If you are homeschooling, you are obviously very concerned with your child’s progress. You may ask “will using this software help or hinder my child’s learning?”

HOW EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE CAN HELP HOME SCHOOLERS

Taking on the responsibility of educating your children without the support of a staff of teachers is admirable but home schoolers can find the burden to engage children and provide stimulating lessons difficult at times.

New educational software programs help parents with their efforts to provide quality education while also offering children a rich and entertaining medium to learn skills and acquire knowledge related to their curriculum.

Children find learning easier when they can be drawn into the experience. Good teachers know how to bring a subject to life for their students which helps children retain the information. Games, stories and other educational software provide the excitement and interaction children are attracted to while improving skills such as reading and math and building on their knowledge of history, science or geography.

Many programs also give feedback to the child, helping him or her build on previous experience or knowledge while also developing a sense of pride in accomplishment.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE

Not all educational software is created equal. Cute animations and popular characters will not build your child’s skills or even hold their attention if they do not teach or challenge your child.

Most software for children will give an age or grade reference that can be used as a guide for finding suitable topics and are appropriately challenging for your child. Review the contents to determine if the curriculum is too basic for your child since every child learns at a different speed.

Games often have different levels to customize your child’s experience to their level of play. Games may adapt themselves based on your child’s performance or levels can be selected by the child for each game. Some programs offer an overview of the progress your child has made; showing which steps have been completed and which are still to be done.

EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE HAS ITS PLACE

Educational software is a great compliment to the home schooling curriculum. It is especially helpful in providing an engaging format for practicing skills such as reading and math or building knowledge of science or geography. It does not, however, substitute for the attention and teaching of basic skills by an interested teacher.

Once basic skills are learned, games and interactive books can offer your child a forum to build their skill levels or delve deeper into a topic of interest. For younger children, these programs can introduce shapes, letters, numbers and teach useful computer skills. Playing these games with their parents compliments a balanced learning environment.