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The History of Thanksgiving

September 30, 2011 by

Do you know the history of Thanksgiving? This holiday, celebrated the fourth Thursday in November, is a U.S. holiday that dates back to colonial times. It’s a celebration of gratefulness, a full harvest, and family. Take a look at some of the facts about this food-filled holiday.

The Beginnings

The first Thanksgiving was held in 1621. The Plymouth colony pilgrims celebrated a harvest with the Wampanoag Indians. It had been a long, cold winter the year before and many pilgrims and early settlers had died from starvation and other diseases related to settling a new land. The Wampanoag Indians shared their harvest feast with the settlers, who also shared their goods.

An Official Holiday

For more than 20 years, Thanksgiving was celebrated by individual states and colonies. In the midst of the turmoil of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving be held nationwide every November. Thanksgiving became an official holiday in 1863.

Modern Day Celebrations

Today, Americans gather for Thanksgiving Day with friends and family to celebrate the blessings they have received throughout the year. Turkey is the traditional food of choice, accompanied by potatoes, gravy, fresh rolls, pie, and of course, cupcakes. The feast is often followed by a game of football in many families.

If you are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, be sure to type in your favorite recipe finder cupcake recipes for some delicious treats to enjoy. While you’re at it, search for pumpkin pie too! Start searching through those recipe archives now to plan the perfect feast to celebrate this blessed occasion.

How will you celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

Filed Under: Internet Tagged With: , ,

Protecting Computers from Intruders

July 2, 2011 by

A new computer will often include anti-virus software that has already been installed. These programs are usually offered as a free trial, and will cost money per year to continue the service after the trial has ended. Some computer users may not even be aware that they will need to purchase a subscription to the software in order to continue protecting their files and hardware.

Anti-virus software is a must for every computer. Some programs provide a basic free edition of the software, which can usually be downloaded and stored on the hard drive. It will run frequent scans to check for any malicious files, and can protect against most threats. The programs that cost will typically include additional protection, such as against spyware, adware, and other dangerous files that can be accidentally downloaded while browsing the internet.

Keeping the software up-to-date and current at all times is the only way it can be effective. Most programs will require that updates are downloaded, and this can usually be done while working on other programs. Operating systems are designed to look for threats, so don’t ignore any warnings that the software is not working properly. These can be very useful when trying to make sure that every aspect of the computer is well guarded.

When working on a computer, keeping files and components protected is necessary to avoid crashes and other problems. The alerts are designed to keep users aware of what is needed in order to maintain the highest possible level of security and keep intruders and risky files away.

Filed Under: General, Internet Tagged With: , ,

Treat Yourself Without Breaking the Bank

May 5, 2011 by
Various Federal Reserve Notes, c.1995. Only th... 

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If you are a mom it can be hard to find the money to treat yourself when you are always buying new things for your children. It is important to remember that everyone deserves some downtime. It is possible to treat yourself to some fun and relaxation without breaking the bank.

Look for specials in your local area by using sites like Offers.com. Some bowling alleys will have ladies’ night where women bowl for free. You and your lady friends can all bowl without spending a dime on games. There are usually also food and drink specials. A group of you can even share a babysitter to save money.

Go to an early matinee movie and leave the kids with your signifigant other. Matinee prices can sometimes be four dollars lower than nighttime tickets.

Host a party at your house and make it a potluck. If each guest has to bring a dish, then you won’t have the burden of spending money to feed an entire group. Make fun cocktails or give your party a theme to add to the excitement.

If you can get a babysitter on a Tuesday or Thursday night, many bars and restaurants have specials on these days to attract college kids. Take advantage of these deals with your own friends. Fifty cent beers and two dollar tacos can be fun at any age and are easy on the wallet.

Organize something fun but free for women in your area. Start a walking group if you are a health fanatic. If you enjoy reading, be the host of a book club.

 

Filed Under: Finance, Internet Tagged With: , ,

Protecting Your Family While Surfing the Internet is a Priority, not an Option

February 23, 2011 by

Today’s children spend more time online in the first year of school than any previous generation managed in the first twelve years of school combined. While there are new possibilities for children on the World Wide Web and through the use of computers there are also new dangers and risks that you need to protect your children and family from as well.

You want your children to have the competitive edge and many advantages that computer literacy provides. It is up to you to start teaching your children the basics of proper computer usage and safety features from the very beginning. Young children will begin with simple computer interactions that essentially involve moving and clicking the mouse. Older children will move on to more advanced keyboard skills and then on to surfing the Internet and exploring the World Wide Web.

But there is something important you need to do before you introduce your children to the Internet. This will protect your computer and your family. What is it? It’s finding the right antivirus software to protect your computer from the many dangers it can be exposed to while children surf online.

You’ll find many great programs that you can pay for, but one of the most advanced is PC Tools Free Antivirus program. There is no cost to you and the service it offers rivals that of most paid products on the market today.

There is so much more than simply teaching computer safety ground rules, proper Internet etiquette, and safety procedures involved in keeping your family safe online. You have a lot to worry about. You can let someone else do the heavy hitting when you choose the right antivirus program for your computer. It’s one less thing that you’ll have to worry about as your children become more proficient at using the computer.

Filed Under: Internet, Parenting Tagged With: , ,