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One predictor of a child's future well-being (such as self-esteem, anxiety and depression levels, and family cohesiveness) is how well the child knows his/her family history. The more family stories, the better.

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If you have the leeway to schedule your next job or school interview, the best time to interview may be as early as possible in the day, according to one study.

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If you've ever had to measure honey, molasses, or corn syrup for a recipe, you know it kind of sucks. You never get as much out as you put in, and the measuring cup is hard to clean afterward. Well, Alton Brown has a simple fix: Spray it with some non-stick cooking spray first. Sticky stuff slides right out.

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I’m on countdown mode. It’s been almost a year without my mom. In my head, this breaks down into hundreds of phone calls, cups of tea, and hugs and kisses that haven’t been exchanged, and a landmark birthday of mine–all missing from my 2013 memory log.

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A good go bag is an essential tool in your productivity arsenal, but the good ones can cost a lot of money—and many of them sacrifice options for looks. When you want a bag you can count on and don't want to spend a lot of money, check out your local (or online) army surplus store.

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One of the dangers of boiling water in the microwave is the chance of that water becoming "super-heated" and possibly explode in your face. Here's Alton Brown's solution to prevent this from happening.

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Go on enough job interviews and you'll quickly learn most interviewers ask the same things. But what are employers really looking for when they ask things like "Where do you see yourself five years from now?" This graphic spells out the reasoning behind typical questions like that.

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There are those who don’t use the Internet, and then there are the people who can’t tear themselves away from it long enough to realize they’re driving onto an airport runway. You can’t blame everything on the checkered past of Apple’s map app for iPhones, after all.

Drivers from out of town relying on the map app’s directions in Alaska to get to Fairbanks International Airport were successful in that they reached their destination, reports the Alaska Dispatch, but once they got there they happened to cross a runway.

The paper says that at least twice in the past three weeks, drivers following those directions ended up driving to the airport ramp side of the passenger terminal. And no, if you drive your car fast enough on the runway it will not take off, points out my astute colleague Laura Northrup.

“These folks drove past several signs. They even drove past a gate. None of that cued them that they did something inappropriate,” said the chief of operations at the Fairbanks airport.

The turn-by-turn directions had drivers using an access route that pilots use to get to another ramp on the other side of the runway. Once drivers get to a certain taxiway, the directions don’t say to actually cross the main runway. But hey, there it is in the distance, why not drive to it? Because that’s a bad idea.

When all the signs are pointing out that you’re about to enter a place filled with huge machines and dangerous engines, you need to take your head out of your iPhone and pay attention to the real world.

Apple’s legal department reportedly said the problem would be fixed promptly, but airport officials say it hasn’t happened yet.

“We asked them to disable the map for Fairbanks until they could correct it, thinking it would be better to have nothing show up than to take the chance that one more person would do this,” the chief of operations said.

In the meantime, there are new barricades in place and air crews have been warned to stay alert.

“As always, please remain vigilant when on the east ramp, watch for drivers who appear unfamiliar and report them to the airport,” users of the east ramp were advised.

Previously in misguided Apple maps drivers: Aussie Police Warn Against Using Apple Maps Lest You End Up Lost In The Wilderness

iPhone map app directs Fairbanks drivers onto airport taxiway [Alaska Dispatch]

year-old boy known as Birdie Africa when Philadelphia police, trying to dislodge MOVE from its fortified inner-city compound, dropped explosives on the roof. The bombing killed five children and six adult members of the group, including Ward's mother, and ignited a fire that destroyed 61 row homes.

ZALDIVAR Associated Press

Unidentified student's e-mail proposes an "exclusive" chapter of Delta Gamma for "straight girls."

A patient injured in a car wreck gets a new organ made from his rib cartilage and skin.

U. of Wisconsin finished second and U. of Colorado is third on the annual list

A USA TODAY investigation finds that consumers buying Reumofan dietary supplements are trusting their lives to a company that uses fake addresses, lies about ingredients and may not even exist.

That would raise the price of a first-class stamp to 49 cents.

Most parents and guardians experience a time when they're torn between wanting their children to remain a baby forever but also wondering when they will be independent enough to do things on their own. In particular, mothers tend to take on a greater role of responsibility for children, one that can often fail to shift from doing everything to expecting more of the children. Continuing to do everything for a child stunts emotional growth and slows independence.

In reality, at every age children are both trying to gain their own independence, and will at the same time, be somewhat to even greatly afraid of the separation such independence presents. It is important for parents and guardians to encourage the transitions to greater independence, gradually but genuinely, as the children grow. Your role is one of easing fear, showing what is possible and providing a sense of security that, no matter what your children try, you're right there alongside them.

Edit Steps

Modeling Independence

1. Model independence. In teaching your children independence, first remember to be independent yourself. There is a healthy balance that is needed in all of your relationships that helps you to maintain your own independence and individuality. If you are able to withstand being separate, your children will learn this from you.
   • Problems will arise if you are an overly intense parent or guardian. For example, the so-called helicopter parent is one who cannot abide to be apart from the child but hovers over his or her every action, to "be there" and to "ensure safety". This is often borne of one's own anxiety or worries, and will often require personal soul searching to overcome. Children subjected to such parenting can grow up to be anxious and afraid of independence. Do your best to manage your own fears and not pass them on to your children.
   • Look at what you're modeling to your children in your chief relationship with your spouse or partner. Co-dependent, enmeshed or subservient behaviors with the other caregiver can send helpless signals to children, which can in turn teach them to be afraid of being separate too. For the sake of yourself and the children, such behaviors need to be overcome.
2. Teach your children that it is okay to be separate. Help your children to see that it's both acceptable and occasionally desirable to sometimes be alone, to peacefully disagree with another’s opinion, or to want personal time.
   
   
   
   • Aim to model healthy conflict in front of your children. While yelling and blame have no part in child raising, arguing for something that matters in a calm and moderated manner is something every human being needs to learn as a useful skill. And there will be times when you slip up––rather than pretending it never happened, always apologize. If a child is old enough, also explain yourself.
3. Search for opportunities to show examples of your own individual small accomplishments. An example could be something as simple as struggling to open a jar, but not giving up, and striving to get it open without any help. Draw attention to the experience by saying such words as: “Look, mommy tried really hard, didn't give up and I did it!" Your children will then see that you try to accomplish things alone––and very often succeed.
   • Some children have a tendency to give up quickly. It is even more important to model perseverance with such children, and to provide them with encouragement to keep trying. Do not criticize their efforts; instead encourage their growth through repeated attempts. Eventually success at a task will prevail, with repeated learning and your support.
   • When you do not succeed at something, model coping behavior––this is as important as the self-praise for success. Teach them through your actions that failure is not only survivable, but a spur to doing something else or giving it yet another go based on the lessons learned.
   • Remind your children that if they ever feel they cannot do things alone, you are there and will assist them. Remember though, this assistance can range from physical help to only offering verbal encouragement because you know that their particular task at hand is achievable and they will benefit greatly if they do it alone.

Helping Independence Grow

1. Observe your children at play and in everyday life. Pay close attention to their likes and dislikes. Look for opportunities to talk with them about what they are doing or playing with. Spot the ways that they can improve their play by simple changes that they can make themselves. These changes can be as easy as adding a book for a toy car ramp or where to place their feet as they learn how to pedal their bikes.
   
   
   
2. Request your child's input and advice on small tasks. Your child will learn that his or her opinion is important to you. Following through with his or her suggestions helps the child's healthy internally nourished self-esteem to grow (rather than the ineffective externally imposed boosterism). It is then your job to encourage your child's suggestions and to make him or her a very valuable asset to the task at hand.
   
   
   
   • Say things like: “I’m so glad that you thought of putting the bread in this basket. This will make dinner so much easier.“
3. Include your children in everyday household chores that involve their own stuff. It is much easier for children and for that matter, anyone to identify and want to help with things that they care about and are familiar with. Even if it sometimes means that you may have to go back and “really clean” the areas that you have asked them to be in charge of, passing on the expectations of responsibility for one's own things is worth the extra effort.
   
   
   
   • When they are finished with their meal, be sure to encourage them to put their dishes in an appropriate place––the sink or the dishwasher depending on your family.
   • If you want them to clean their rooms, begin with reachable goals, like asking them where the books go and then let them follow by putting them away. The goal is to show them that you entrust them with small independent decision making when it comes to their own belongings. This tip can extend into personal hygiene also.
   • Help in the house can begin from as young as 3. Small tasks at first, then increase the challenges as the child grows older.

Providing and Loosening Boundaries

1. Set up both structured and unstructured alone time. Let your children pick where they want to be within the already set boundaries and what they want to do. This could include a variety of structured and safe choices. This is a time when they don’t have to share anything, or talk with anyone but merely learn how to independently entertain themselves. If presented with enthusiasm on your behalf, this can be viewed as exciting to a young child.
   
   
   
   • An example could be: “It's me-time and you can sit on the couch or at the table and read a book, draw or play with puzzles.” Being alone tends to be seen as a negative thing because it is so often used as “time-out” or “go to your room by yourself”. Sadly, this simply confuses the growing child who equates solitude with badness. If you encourage alone time as good time, you can quickly buy yourself space when you really need a break, and it won't have negative repercussions.

   This is an opportunity for you to present the idea of being alone as a positive aspect in learning self-reliance skills and in life generally and not as a punishment.

2. Help your children to see boredom as a healthy reaction, one which teaches them to reach within and find solutions. It is not your priority to alleviate a child's boredom––your priority is to provide a safe home environment in which a child explores his or her imagination and unlocks ways to personally resolve boredom. If you constantly remove that chance, it can be harder for such a child to self-soothe and find internal outlets to relieve boredom, possibly leaving the door open to risky behaviors. Give yourself a break and allow time for boredom too.
3. Extend the unstructured boundaries gradually. As your children grow older, expect more independence from them and give them more unstructured time. Your trust in your children will go a long way to helping them mature healthily, and they will view their independence as a privilege, not something to be afraid of.

Edit Tips

• Remember that in teaching independence, you are not teaching selfishness. We are all in need of love, respect, trust, and security and these things can be achieved through social contact with their family members and friends.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Build Children's Confidence
• How to Encourage Good Study Habits in a Child
• How to Stimulate Children's Self Confidence
• How to Make a Child Feel Valued

• Read on wikiHow
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PROFESSIONAL BLENDERS About 14,000 Frigidaire Professional blenders sold at Best Buy, Target, and other stores nationwide and online at amazon.com, bedbath.com and other online retailers from March 2012 through July 2013 for about $130. The blender’s blade shaft assembly can break during use, posing a laceration hazard to consumers. Frigidaire has received eight reports of the blender’s blade shaft assembly breaking. No injuries have been reported.
IF YOU OWN ONE Contact Frigidaire for instructions on returning the blenders for a free replacement blender. Call 888-747-7637 for more information.

WATER COOLERS About 48,000 Waterlogic chiller-based water dispensers sold at distributors and dealers, including AquaPure Water Systems, Culligan, CWC, Farmer Brothers, Filterfresh, First Choice Services and others selling water and coffee systems nationwide from January 2005 to December 2008 for approximately $500 to $1500.  The units are sold to dealers and leased to consumers. The hot water tank can stop functioning and cause the machine to overheat, posing a fire hazard. Waterlogic received 16 reports of fire and smoke within the water dispensers. No injuries or property damage have been reported.
IF YOU OWN ONE Waterlogic is contacting its distributors and providing a list of affected units and all technical instructions and necessary parts for repairing the units. Consumers who have not been contacted by their distributer for a free repair should contact Waterlogic. Call 855-905-2002 for more information.

BED FRAMES About 1,500 iron sleigh, petal and picket bed frames sold at Land of Nod retail stores or online from May 2008 to June 2012 for between $450 and $550 for the twin size or between $550 and $650 for the full size.   The openings in the headboard and footboard pose an entrapment hazard to young children.
IF YOU OWN ONE Contact Land of Nod to arrange for the bed to be returned for a full merchandise credit for the purchase price.  Consumers with models that do not have a label with the SKU number printed on it should contact the firm for assistance with identifying whether or not their bed is part of the recall. The Land of Nod is contacting its customers directly. Call 855-341-4325 for more information.  

BICYCLE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS About 6,600 (U.S.) and 704 (Canada) Shimano disc brake calipers sold at bicycle specialty stores and dealers nationwide from February 2012 through May 2013 for about $75 for the BR-CX75 model disc brake calipers and the BR-R515 model disc brake calipers price was included in the cost of the bicycles where installed. The calipers on the disc brakes can fail, posing a collision hazard.
IF YOU OWN A PAIR Contact a Shimano authorized dealer to receive a free installation and replacement of the calipers. Call 800-353-4719 for more information.

For the latest information on all recalls, go to Recalls.gov. There you'll find recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, among others.

Prince William County community calendar, Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, 2013 Washington Post Manassas farmers market, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays, Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St. 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Parking Lot B, West Street (next to the train station visitors center). 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Parking Lot F, Prince William and Main ... and more »

Mother Arrested After 7-year-old Son Found Wandering Streets Alone Patch.com The child was found to be living in a home with no running water or electricity. Posted by Jamie M. Rogers (Editor) , September 24, 2013 at 06:32 PM. 1 Comment Recommend. Flag as Inappropriate. A 7-year-old was found wandering the streets of Manassas ...

Manassas Restaurant Week: Deals on Grub Patch.com From the same group that brought you, "Taste of Manassas," the Historic Manassas Restaurant Alliance is at it again. Posted by Jamie M. Rogers (Editor) , September 24, 2013 at 05:57 PM. Comment Recommend. Flag as Inappropriate. Malones of Manassas ...

- Sotheby's is showing off a pink diamond that is expected to fetch more than $60 million at auction.

- The United States has joined more than 90 other nations in signing a treaty that regulates global arms trading. But there's strong resistance in the U.S. Senate, which must ratify the accord.

- William Boyd has left James Bond stirred, if not shaken.

- Romania's constitutional court has ruled that a bill on euthanizing stray dogs is legal, weeks after a 4-year-old boy's fatal mauling in Bucharest prompted the government to draft legislation allowing the killing of strays.

- A Beijing court on Wednesday convicted a man of intentional homicide and sentenced him to death for hurling a toddler to the ground in a case that horrified the Chinese public.

- The financially struggling Postal Service is concluding a two-day meeting to consider whether to ask for an emergency increase in postal rates.

- The NCAA's decision to dial back one of the penalties against Penn State for its handling of the Jerry Sandusky molestation scandal has drawn positive reaction from students and others associated with the university, who got some good news after two years of scandal.

- A dispute over the 911 recordings from the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School is shaping up as a test of a new Connecticut law -- adopted in response to the massacre -- that prevents public release of certain records in homicide cases.

It apparently tried to swallow a bat.

Spores of dangerous mold in a family apartment send a 9-month-old baby and her mother to the hospital, but it may still be impossible to get the landlord to clean up his act.