Here are some interesting statistics about grilling [compiled by the Underwriter's Laboratories]

• In 2002, gas and charcoal grills caused 900 structure fires and 3,500 outdoor fires in or on home properties, resulting in a combined direct property loss of $30 million.
• The popularity of gas-fueled grills nearly tripled between 1982 and 1993 (up 193 percent from 9.4 million to 27.5 million).
• Gas grills have a higher fire risk than charcoal grills; leaks and breaks are the leading cause, accounting for nearly half of gas grill fires.
• Gas-fueled grills caused an estimated 600 home structure fires and 3,200 home outdoor fires in 2002.
• Charcoal grills have a higher risk than gas grills of death due to fire or unvented carbon monoxide; most of these deaths do not involve fire.
• Charcoal-fueled or other solid-fueled grills caused an estimated 300 home structure fires and 300 home outdoor fires in 2002.
• Placing combustibles too close to heat, and leaving cooking unattended, are the two leading causes for charcoal grill home structure fires.
• Half of all gas grill and charcoal grill home structure fires begin on an exterior balcony or unenclosed porch.
• Gas fuel is the leading item first ignited for home outdoor gas grill fires.
• Structural member or framing, wall coverings, exterior trim, and plants are the leading items first ignited in home structure or outdoor charcoal grill fires.

These grill safety tips come from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Propane Education & Research Council and Underwriters Laboratories Inc.: (more…)

   

It’s a compact, folding barbecue that’s designed to be taken anywhere. Here’s how it works: 1. Fold it out. 2. Fill it up. 3. Light it up. And that’s it.

No complex gas bottles, no heavy lifting and no rummaging around for those ‘instant’ types that you can use once and once only. Now the spirit of summer can join you wherever you are, or even sit permanently in the boot of your car, ready for action whenever the mood takes you.

(Via GadgetShop)

   

(Via Noddy @ BrickShelf.Com)

   

Managing my time efficiently as a dad is always a challenge. Sometimes it all seems just beyond reach. All those errands and to-do lists, clothes sitting at the dry cleaners, getting a tune-up or oil change and running to the store to get diapers (again). Yeah, I’m talking about the day-to-day drudgery of managing a family. You know, the thankless stuff that fills up your day.

When it comes to common purchases or stuff I know I’m going to need on a regular basis I am starting to turn to the web. If I know what I need and I know the going price and more importantly I can get a good deal to offset the cost of shipping, I go online. It simply saves me time.

Getting prescription refills is a great example. Considering the traffic to get there, to find parking, the time it takes to wait in line to make a purchase and so forth - the idea of getting online prescriptions or office supplies during my lunch-break sounds pretty good to me. Granted you can’t buy every prescription online but if you need common stuff, it is pretty easy these days.

I tend to get back spasms and get whacked by the occasional tension headache so I have Butalbital (generic Fioricet) in my medicine cabinet. This is pretty common stuff that I can get online. This way when my toddler sneaks up on me and jumps on my back which is many times a day, I’m ready for him.

   

Come on dads, let’s see what you’ve got. Think you know a thing or two about science? Take our short quiz to determine if you’d pass an 8th grade science test.

It’s harder than you think.

(Via JustSayHi.Com)

   

DIRECT DEPOSIT
Based on the last two digit of your Social Security Number, Payments will be transmitted no later than:
00 through 20 - May 2nd, 2008
21 through 75 - May 9th, 2008
76 through 99 - May 16th, 2008

Paper checks will also go out based on Social Security number. For Social Security numbers ending in 00 through 09, the paper checks will be mailed starting May 9 and will continue through May 16. A similar process will be repeated in the following weeks.

PAPER CHECK
Based on the last two digit of your Social Security Number,  Payments will be mailed no later than:
00 through 09 - May 16th, 2008
10 through 18 - May 23rd, 2008
19 through 25 - May 30th, 2008
26 through 38 - June 6th, 2008
39 through 51 - June 13th, 2008
52 through 63 - June 20th, 2008
64 through 75 - June 27th, 2008
76 through 87 - July 4th, 2008
88 through 99 - July 11th, 2008

Please follow the link below for more information regarding the conditions and terms of the Federally approved Stimulus Package. Call their toll free number (1-800-829-1040) for questions not answered on their website.

Sited Links;
IRS | Stimulus Payment Schedule for Tax Returns Processed by 04/15

   

When talking about parenting I think it is important to point out that the idea of the conventional nuclear family is pretty blurry in this day and age, so for the sake of argument I would like to expand it’s classic definition of father to include either biological father, step-father, uncle, grandfather or any close and/or active male family member that provides constant and compassionate care to the child. This child is less likely to have behavioral or psychological problems and is more likely to thrive academically according to a review that looked at 24 papers published between 1987 and 2007, covering 22,300 individual sets of data from 16 studies.

…we found various studies that showed that children who had positively involved father figures were less likely to smoke and get into trouble with the police, achieved better levels of education and developed good friendships with children of both sexes.” ~ Dr Anna Sarkadi, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health at Uppsala University, Sweden

The overriding message being sent by these studies is that positive fathering has a profound impact on society as a whole. Things like state sponsored paternal leaves and other influential legislation will only help promote active fathering in society which in turn has the potential of helping us all in producing more well-adjusted children and reducing major problems like crime and antisocial behavior. Not to say this is a golden bullet by any means, but with our national prisons bursting at the seams it may be prudent for us to consider all options. Interestingly enough, there are also studies that have concluded active fathering is a big influence on a child’s risk of becoming obese and less likely to smoke.

Another interesting point is that the studies determined it is not possible to tell whether this positive outcome is because the father figure is more involved or whether the mother is able to be a better parent if she has more support at home. The flip-side to this study is there is no conclusive framework or road map to follow or what type of engagement the father figure needs to provide to produce positive effects.

Sited Links:
Science Daily | Children Who Have An Active Father…
Science Daily | Fathers Have Great Impact On Their Children’s Lives…

   

Recently, I have been included in a Beta-testing group of SocialSpark (SS) which is the new child of IZEA who seem to be in the process of letting go of PayPerPost (PPP), which is their first child. SocialSpark is a different format then PPP system. Sure you can get paid for posting articles about different products or services, but SocialSpark promotes healthy blogger networking and an intriguing cross-pollination between advertisers and bloggers. There are many “carrots” to be won on both sides of the fence.

Carrots meaning, props, positive or constructive comments and of course the ability to build endless “friends” (think MySpace or MyBlogLog). Like eBay and Amazon, it promotes a positive feedback system from the rest of the SocialSpark community to maintain a sense of equilibrium and integrity amongst its members. Sure there will some “bad seeds” but they will probably rise to the top of the pile and get plucked (banned/benched), but I sense this system will work. It’s clear this is their focus, based on their Code of Ethics;

• 100% Audit-able In-Post Disclosure
• 100% Transparency
• 100% Real Opinions
• 100% Search Engine Friendly

And like all massive social networking sites everybody is in it for different reasons. If I can do that and earn a few pennies at the end of the day, I will put them in a piggy bank to help my boys when it’s time for them to go to college. Case in point, this post is earning me five and half bucks, just enough for my son to buy himself a Coke when he’s in college (which will be around 2021). And, if I’m still around to see him drink it, I will consider myself blessed. And if I make a few friends along the way, two thumbs up.