Hasbro and The Autism Project Collaborate to Help Children with Disabilities

For a child with developmental disabilities, playing with certain toys may not come naturally, but Hasbro feels that this is no reason for them not to experience the joy that these toys can bring them. Hasbro Inc. has recently teamed up with The Autism Project to help create resources for children to learn and understand how to use their toys. The series titled Toybox Tools helps to encourage children with disabilities to still play with toys and enjoy playtime. The Autism Project is a group of parents and professionals that create instructional videos and tools for people with autism. The outcome of this partnership will be these same resources but specifically for children and with a focus on enjoying toys and playtime. 

Extended Warranties: The Smart Invesment

This is a Guest Posting by: Adam Davies from Warrick Ford

Extended Warranties:  the thing your DIY Dad said you don’t need, the salesman says is essential and you’ve never heard of. So what are they? Do you need one? And what does it do?

To get you started, an extended warranty is a service that you pay for which will cover some to all of your repairs down the line when your car needs fixing. There are usually two schools of thought when it comes to an extended warranty, there’s the side that think they aren’t worth thinking twice about, and then there’s those who wouldn’t buy a car without one. Those in the former group are entitled to their opinion, but in today’s world of holding onto vehicles longer and getting the most out of what you own, an extended warranty is a safe and smart investment.

An extended warranty kicks in after the factory bumper to bumper warranty expires on your vehicle and comes in different tiers of coverage depending on what you want to be covered. Complete packages are obviously pricier than basic coverage but also give you much more peace of mind knowing your whole car is covered, not just a major component. There will always be arguments against extended warranties and while cars have gotten more and more reliable over the years, your best bet is still to get some coverage. Here’s why, as I just mentioned, cars by in large have been getting more reliable in recent years and while that is a great thing, they have also been getting much more advanced in terms of parts, components and how they all work together, which works against you when it comes time to get something fixed.

A mere 10-12 years ago let’s say your side view mirror was clipped and broke off, while still a pain, these mirrors only cost you $20 and an hour in the garage to replace. Now jump to today, in the same situation, not only can a side view mirror be hundreds of dollars, but there may be no way you can replace it by yourself, which means taking it to a garage and paying even more money just to fix your mirror. The truth of the matter is that most of us today don’t have the time or expertise to fix our vehicles ourselves but also don’t want to pay thousands of dollars every time it’s in the shop. An extended warranty can greatly ease this pain we feel in our wallets and get us back on the road safely.

Another important thing to remember is that your extended warranty does NOT need to be purchased the same day you buy your new car, but it may be most negotiable then. Here’s what you do, before buying your vehicle, do your research, call around, get quotes and find out what plan is best for you, go into the dealership knowing what coverage and price you need and want and don’t budge. One caveat to this is that while you can still purchase an extended warranty after your factory coverage runs out, the cost increases dramatically, so it’s best to do it before hand.

In the end the choice is truly up to you, the consumer, and it’s great you’re doing your homework. The best way to think of an extended warranty is just like you would any other “insurance” type of purchase, and many people don’t think about purchasing it, or getting enough coverage until it’s too late. Prices are usually competitive and easy for you to budget for. It’s an investment you’ll be happy you made when the day comes you take your car in for a problem and don’t get stuck paying a few thousand dollars in repairs.

The All-Around Benefits of Geocaching

Looking for some real-world adventure? Or do you just want a goal while taking long walks? Try geocaching, a recreational activity of searching for hidden objects using GPS coordinates posted on a website. Once you find the cache or box, write your name in the log book and put it back to where you found it. Some participants even leave behind a gift to fellow geocachers!

How to Choose the Right Font Size for Print Projects

Font or typeface is a crucial part in creating a unique and creative print design, but the size of the font can make or break your print project’s overall success. You may have created the most spectacular layout, but if your font size is inaccurate it can ruin hours and hours of work. Problems with font size can range from getting part of the layout cut off in print to not being able to read the text. Here are some simple hints to choosing the right font size for print projects.

A Brief History Of Magazines

TIME Magazine; Person of the Year, Greg's Art and My Photo Online (Photo credit: Tony Fischer Photography)

Today's post courtesy of our friends at Modern Litho.

It's easy to take magazines for granted. In this day and age you can get a subscription for next to nothing, newstands are full of all of the recognizable names and any number of niche titles that seem to come and go ad infinitum. The word magazine actually was derived from the Arab world, as the word meant "warehouse", and as a magazine was basically a location for depositing a number of pieces of useful information, it stuck. While that's all well and good, where did the magazine come from, and how did it get to the point where it is today?

Germany
The first published magazine ever was titled  Erbauliche Monaths-Unterredungen (translation: Edifying Monthly Discussions). Thematically this publication centered on philosophy and was mainly written by one author. Several similar magazines followed shortly, all following similar lines of one main writer and a limited scope of subject matter, typically targeting an intellectual audience.

France
In 1672 the French Publication Le Mercure Galant was the first magazine that followed a more modern format with a large number of contributors and a variety of themes including theater, litereature and politics. This format was a hit and was copied quickly across Europe. The first publication targeting women was launched in London in 1693 and was titled Ladie's Mercury.

Limitations
Early magazines struggled largely due to the inability to produce enough copies. Moreso than singular books, writing, designing, printing and distributing magazines was an ongoing, laborious, and expensive operation. Most early periodicals were limited to 100,000 copies and were largely geographically limited. Another limitation was the quality of the publications themselves. These weren't the glossy, colorful editions we're used to seeing today. As such, advertising wasn't prominent (along with a tax that existed on advertising up to 1853).

Eventually towards the turn of the century, printing technology and the repealed ad tax started the revolution in magazine advertising that made it a leading form of marketing that it has remained for over a hundred years.

For an excellent detailed timeline of magazine history, check out the one put together by magforum.comhttp://www.magforum.com/time.htm.

“Son of God” and Similar Movies

We already know the main characters, the ruthless traitors, the sickening torture, and how it all ends, yet Hollywood still keeps on making films about Jesus Christ. But these film producers are sure of one thing—there will always be a loyal following for these movies about the life of Jesus. So what makes Son of God different from the rest of the pack?