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The mother of missing Aisling Symes today described how she turned her back for a few seconds and the toddler was gone.

Angela Symes, married to Waterford man Alan, pleaded with the kidnapper to hand Aisling (2) back.

"I was just fiddling with the taps and looked behind me and she was there, watching what Caity and I were up to," Angela said.

"Then I turned off the cold tap, looked behind me and she was gone."

Police renewed their appeal for an Asian woman seen with a child like Aisling to come forward.

In an emotional interview on New Zealand TV, Angela -- clutching a Winnie the Pooh bear she had bought for Aisling -- described working at her parents' home at the time of the disappearance.

The two-year-old was standing behind her mum and her sister Caitlin (5) when she vanished.

Angela was working at her parents’ home at the time Aisling vanished. The two-year-old was standing behind her mum and her sister Caitlin (5) when she disappeared.

“I just erupted from the door, screaming out her name and that was just that, she was gone. I just can't believe that she moved so quickly, in the time it took just to turn off a tap, she was gone.”

A distraught Angela, clutching the teddy she bought hours before Aisling went missing, said that she always keeps her children within her sights.

“I was always watching her,” she added.

Alan Symes, originally from Waterford, then spoke directly to anyone who may have abducted his daughter.

“She belongs with us, she needs to be back with us, we miss her terribly. No matter what reason you took her, look what you are putting her through, look what you are putting us through,” he said.

Alan, his older sister Eithne and mother Olwyn emigrated to New Zealand from Stradbally, Co Laois over 18 years ago.

A neighbour, Cherie Tahitahi, said the creek behind the house was not fenced off.

Mrs Tahitahi raced next door when she heard Angela cry out, “Aisling, Aisling”.

“The mother was panicking, she was really hysterical,” Cherie said.

The parents have made an emotional plea for her abductor to return their daughter safely.

They described Aisling as a “very fast, quite fit young lassy”. New Zealand Police have stepped up precautions to ensure she had not been taken out of the country.

Customs staff have been given photographs of Aisling and are getting briefings at the start of each shift.

Inspector Gary Davey said: “It's now more likely that she has been abducted. We need to keep our minds open.

“We have searched and not found her, which makes it more likely we are looking at someone having picked up Aisling.”

A team of more than 40 officers are working on the criminal investigation, checking “people of concern” in the area and looking at any recent reports of suspicious behaviour.

Mr Davey said two sightings of Aisling around the time she disappeared on Monday, indicated the most likely possibility was an abduction.

Is your spouse missing out on valuable family time and a real bonding experience with your children ? In an article published earlier this year it was reported that only 1 in 30 men in the UK found time to read a bedtime story to their children. I suspect the situation wouldn't look that different in the USA or Australia either.

Reasons for the lack of bedtime reading were cited as long hours and work commitments and tiredness.

When women were interviewed the results were 9 out of 10 still found time to read to their children. I admit this is a subject I feel very strongly about. Mick and I read to our children from the time they were babies. I'm not talking about the odd book occasionally but myriads of books of all types. In fact I'm sure we were the libraries best customers.

Books are an important aspect in our house. Mick is an avid reader and so am I, so there are stacked bookshelves in several rooms. A present for each other will often be a book and it's a standing joke in our house that we dare not let Mick near a second hand book shop, or the bookshelves at home will end up suffering further overload.

But the thing I found sad with the story is how much fathers are missing out on. When we lived in Sydney Mick didn't get home till late because we lived a long way out in the suburbs and he worked in the city and had to rely on the vagaries of public transport, but he still managed to find time to read to the children. Each of us loved that special time of curling up together with a book. Reading to children is one of the things we are both passionate about.

Even though it is hard at times to make time for it, our son and his wife have been reading to their children since they were babies, because they see it as important.

So wives out there, do try and encourage your husbands in this vital aspect of parenting and bonding of children and parent. Maybe there is something you can do, a job you can take over to enable this to happen on a more regular basis.

It's not just about reading either but often those times becomes great times for the best conversations and drawing closer the bond between parent and child. Make sure your spouse doesn't miss out on this.

Missing People, the charity that helps both the disappeared and those left behind, told us that 250,000 missing persons reports each year ? more than 30,000 higher than any previous total ? is "probably an underestimate"; others put the total nearer 275,000. This, the equivalent of the entire population of Plymouth being spirited away, means that, across the country, one person goes missing every two minutes. The vast majority are swiftly found, or return of their own volition, but many don't. Some disappear for decades, and sources, including some inside the police, say the number of people in Britain who have been missing from family, friends and usual haunts for more than a year is at least 16,000 and could be as many as 20,000.

Among them are people like Melanie Hall, last seen in a Bathclub nightclub in 1996, whose parents had to endure 13 years of waiting and wondering before her remains were found, a week ago, beside the M5. She had been murdered. Nor does death always bring closure. At any one time, there are an estimated 1,000 unidentified bodies lying in the country's mortuaries and hospitals. Many have been there for years ? unknown, unclaimed citizens.

The long-term missing inhabit a looking-over-their-shoulder world of false names, cash-in-hand jobs, hostels and short lets. For their families, they leave behind not only trauma, grief, guilt, anger and despair, but also, if they are breadwinners, more practical problems. Missing people are deemed neither dead nor properly alive, so salaries are stopped, insurance companies won't pay out, bills can't be paid and corporate "helplines" won't discuss the disappeared's affairs because of the Data Protection Act. But, most of all, the long-term missing leave behind an aching sense of mystery: what has become of them, and why did they go?

This is the story of Britain's long-term disappeared ? of people such as Joyce Wells, Alan Hobbs and Janet Cowley; of those as young as seven-year-old Daniel Entwhistle, missing from his Great Yarmouth home since May 2003, or as elderly as 88-year-old Mary Ferns, missing from West Lothian for 16 months now. All an agonising riddle. Why did the Gloucester librarian Angela Bradley leave her spectacles in her car, the keys in the ignition, and walk away one January day in 1995? What happened last November to Quentin Adams, a 40-year-old father of three from Banchory, Aberdeenshire? He popped out to buy cigarettes and has not been seen since. And where on earth is the 14-year-old Doncaster schoolboy Andrew Gosden?

Some 93 per cent of the children who go missing do not live in a two-parent household, and single children are more likely to run away than those with brothers and sisters. Andrew fell into neither category, happily living, according to testimony from his caring family, with his mother, father and elder sister, Charlie. He was doing well at school, and no one had noticed him behaving in any way that would set alarm bells ringing. And yet, one day two Septembers ago, he left for school, waited for his parents to go to their work as speech therapists, returned to the house, changed his clothes, went to a cash machine, withdrew £200 of his savings, and boarded a train to London. We know this because he was seen on CCTV arriving at King's Cross, a slight figure dressed in black jeans and T-shirt. No one has seen him since. The despair, the not knowing, hit his father, Kevin, like a truck. He tried to commit suicide, hanging himself from the banisters, and his life was saved only because the vicar ? who had a key to the house ? arrived at that moment.

The Toronto Star did a fantastic article on women determined to have a baby boy are buying unmarked medication from strangers to affect the sex.

According to the article, Punjabi women face huge pressure to have baby boys – girls are considered burdens on the family. “Boys outnumber girls in Toronto’s South Asian community. In Brampton, for instance, the ratio is 864 girls for every 1,000 boys.”

For hundreds of years, women in many cultures have tried to control the sex of their unborn children, often to have sons which were/are considered more valuable. Recent technology like ultrasounds has made it easier for expectant mothers to simply abort female fetuses.

This sex selection is not an India specific problem.

China has 32 million more boys under the age of 20 than girls, thanks to a restrictive one child per family policy and the abuse of reproductive technology.

So what the hell happens when these children (those who are heterosexual) grow up and start looking for a mate? It would be nice if the shortage of women at least had the effect of increasing their power in domestic relationships.

But sadly, a society that devalues baby girls to that extent doesn’t always treasure adult women.

The recent article has sparked debate in the GTA about the hush-hush practice of trying to avoid having daughters. An honest discussion of the pressure these mothers are under to have sons is the first step towards trying to end this long cross-cultural tradition.

Many companies are turning to new methods to advertise their business. One method that has become very popular is to use wristbands for advertising. Wristbands have been used by charities and non profit organizations to promote their causes. Now businesses are using these wristbands as a marketing tool as well. This article will outline how to advertise your business using wristbands.

The third step to advertising your business using wristbands is to decide how to get your wristbands out to people so they can start wearing them. You can offer them free with a purchase from your store, or you can send them to existing customers as a thank you present, or you can do both. The more wristbands you can get people to wear, the more advertising your business will get, which will lead to more potential customers for your business.

The second step to advertise your business using wristbands is to come up with a design for your wristband. You want the wristband you design to be nice looking and something that people will want to wear, something that stands out from the crowd. You can have your wristband made of several colors, one solid color, or almost any design imaginable. Experiment with color of your wristbands, and how your company logo appears, until you have found a combination that you like. You will want some form of contact information for your business located on the wristband. Whether it is a phone number, website address, or street address make sure that someone who is looking at the wristband has a way to get in contact with you.

The first step to advertising your business using wristbands is to find a company to manufacture your wristbands. When having your wristbands manufactured you want to make sure that they are made of stretchable silicone and not rubber. Silicone wristbands are made of higher quality and will last longer than the rubber wristbands. You also want to shop around to determine a fair price for your wristbands. There are many companies that manufacture these silicone wristbands, so contact several companies and shop around to get a good price. Once you have verified that the wristbands will be made of silicone, and that you are paying a fair price, you are then ready to design your wristbands.

There is a lot of information about the various styles and materials of customized silicone bracelets. It would be a good exercise to take the time to understand the different types of basics of rubber bracelets that many online companies offer.

In general, there are basically four types of wristbands available for customers. There are embossed, debossed, screen printed, and laser-printed basics of rubber bracelets. They are explained as follows:
Embossed basics of rubber bracelets.

Even though they are not as possible as debossed or printed wristbands, they are definitely a good option for those whom want to put uniqueness and style onto their wristbands. As well as the embossed basics of rubber bracelets, embossed wristbands are able to incorporate any type of design and message. They require a mould to be manufactured, sometimes, basics of rubber bracelets manufacturers store these steel moulds for the regular clients.

Laser-Printed basics of rubber bracelets

These types of basics of rubber bracelets are becoming more and more popular in the younger population. Laser-engraved bracelets are closely alike to debossed bands in appearance and texture. However, many of these laser-printed wristbands manufacturers charge outrageous prices no matter if they are less expensive and quick to manufacture. These kind of wristbands are a fair option if they are ordered for very special purposes.

These laser-printed wristbands are not as popular as the silicone wristbands just by the fact that many manufacturers do not have the modern machinery to produce them. On the other hand, if you prefer the common LIVESTRONG debossed wristband, you should consider laser-engraved basics of rubber bracelets for small orders. The good part of these wristbands is that they can be customized with real images in full color. A modern design program allows a printing machine to engrave any fully customized message or image on the basics of rubber bracelets. They do not require a mold to be produced. Therefore, the high quality used in every laser-engraved bracelet makes them very exclusive and good looking.

Debossed basics of rubber bracelets

The LIVESTRONG is the most representative wristband of the debossed style. Here the term “debossed” refers to the message letters that are actually carved on the wristband. Manufacturers use a steel mould to create the personalized messages for every client. At the very beginning, these basics of rubber bracelets were more costly and took longer to manufacture than any other wristbands. However, expert manufacturers have simplified the production of these steel moulds as well as the basics of rubber bracelets themselves.

Silk-printed basics of rubber bracelets

They are the cheapest choice for customers. In this case, the message is silk-printed on a blank basics of rubber bracelets by using a template which is quite similar to the ones used for printing t-shirts. Although this is a very simple process, there has been an important improvement in screen-printing silicone wristbands since more elaborated dyes and effects penetrate the silicone basics of rubber bracelets. So, the messages printed on these basics of rubber bracelets never fade or lose their original color.

Cancer awareness wristbands are immensely well-liked among young people, principally the custom silicone wristbands with a trendy slogan imprinted on the rubber. cancer awareness wristbands come in every color that exists, with bright vibrant colors leading the pack, but black and white are also big hits. You’ll see a pink cancer awareness wristbands promoting breast cancer events such as Relay for Life at the same time as blue wristbands are hot with youth sports team like football or baseball teams.

Church groups prefer the white variety with slogans like ‘Got Faith’ or ‘WWJD?’ (What Would Jesus Do?) among the best sellers. With cancer awareness wristbands, you can choose your slogan, select a color, and have several hundred available to sell within days. It really is a fantastic way to fundraise, particularly in conjunction with a highly publicized event. Getting started You have three main decisions to make about your cancer awareness wristbands: what slogan to impress, color choice, and supplier. Make the first two decisions before you start looking for a distributor or wholesaler, because if not it’s hard to compare costs.

Catchy slogans work best as do vibrant colors. Get participation from your target market by putting together a quick focus group and showing them your three favorite colors and then your three favorite slogans. Then go with the best general fit. Remember that orders have to be prepaid and you can’t change your mind later! As far as pricing, look for the big companies that give considerable price discounts. Most get under the $1 price point with an order of 300 or more, but there are also quality variations, so look for a trustworthy company that uses the best materials.

Wristband quality tips If you have sufficient lead time, get samples from your top three supplier choices and compare them for thickness and general quality. There should be no vertical joint visible where the ring was connected and the beveled edges should feel smooth to the touch. The depth of the imprint (debossing is the technical term) is important as the slogan won’t be visibly noticeable if it’s not properly done. Also, the silicone should not have a lot of elasticity, i.e. it shouldn’t feel all stretchy like a rubber band. So, select the supplier with thick cancer awareness wristbands, smooth edges, no seams, and imprints that are crisp and clear. After all, you can’t do well with fundraiser wristbands that are despicable junk!

Silicone wristbands were one of the come-from-nowhere trends that seemed to spring up overnight. What was essentially a cheap way to produce branded identification bands turned into a way to fashionably express political, social, and cultural alignments.

Celebrities, activists and politicians caught on to the trend and began to attach their particular causes to wristbands of a certain color. Fund raisers started to buy the bands in bulk and pass them out at events as part of their campaigns. These specific bands became known as ‘awareness bracelets’.

The actual production of the wristbands is incredibly simple and cost effective. Considering they are nothing more than loops of silicone with no fasteners or moving parts, they can be manufactured in bulk for almost nothing.

Originally, production was limited to only different colors. A company could choose to make bands in their trademarked color, or a cause could choose a unique color that would not be commonly replicated. These bands were very popular, even for those not aware that there was any meaning behind their use.

It was not long before different processes like embossing and silk screening began to add a new depth to the seemingly small accessory. Instead of just a color; words, logos and images could be printed on the silicone.

Surprisingly, this did not increase the production costs much, and the wristbands remained very popular.

Today, you can find almost everyone wearing a silicone wristband at some point. Even television newscasters wear awareness bracelets while reporting the news from time to time. Young children wear them because they are brightly colored and durable.

The low production and customization costs are allowing the industry to enjoy success selling, what are usually wholesale quantities, to average consumers. They are being ordered and customized for events like weddings or birthdays. Small businesses are using them as promotional items. Large venues are providing them as identification tags that double as memorabilia.

Production of the bracelets is moving at a record pace. Sales are increasing steadily. What might have seemed like an innocent fad some years ago has really turned out to be a staple of the modern wardrobe. The silicone wristband is here to stay.

Sometimes no matter how hard you plan for every contingency, you still find there are things which can go wrong when you are planning for an event. Being able to control at least a small part of this can help you tremendously and help to relive your mind about various little details. And one of the best ways in which to do this is to use event wristbands.

You can use these silicone bracelets for various purposes, from unique methods of invitation, to showing people how much they mean to you by giving them as special passes. Many organisers are now choosing to use these wristbands as a way of identifying the event they are showing and as a hassle free way of identifying their guests. To this end you will find there are many different stores that can provide you with a wide array of wristbands for these events.

Since each event or cause is unique, it is best to choose a company which will be able to supply you with wristbands which can be designed to fulfil your particular requirements. You might also want to keep in mind that these custom-made event wristbands should feel comfortable on the wearers wrist and should also be long lasting. Also it is best for promotional objectives if the purpose of your event stands out clearly on your custom-designed wristband.

Besides being used to promote an event or a cause however, you will find that these wristbands are good to be used as crowd control devices. This might sound confusing when you first think about it, but the method is really quite simple.

The way it works is when you invite your guests to the event, make sure that in addition to the invitation they also receive one of these event wristbands with relevant details clearly inscribed on the band (such as a prominent 'VIP' tag on the wristbands). You will need to inform your guests about the need to wear the band when they arrive at the designated location of the event. Once your guests arrive at the event, security personnel will be able to identify them easily from others who may be gathered at the location, through means of the wristbands which are worn by them.

Of course security and crowd control is not the only reason why organisers of events provide their guests with these wristbands. The gift of one of these event wristbands to a participant of the event will allow the event to become more memorable in their minds as well. It can also help advertise the event to many people who may not have had the chance of attending or even hearing about the event.

Before you go ahead and order your customised batch of wristbands however, you might first want to do a little legwork on the subject as it can help you to choose the best design for your particular event.

People around the world have started wearing cancer awareness wristbands in the last couple of years. People wear them for a diversity of motivations; for instance, they can demonstrate support to a cause while giving funds for charity. cancer awareness wristbands are economical to make and are a great way to raise consciousness about a societal issue or medical problem.

Cancer awareness wristbands are a solid ring of rubber that can be stretched in order to be slid over a person’s hand and worn on the wrist. The wristbands are strong, durable, and waterproof; a lot of people leave their cancer awareness wristbands on at all times. The bracelets come in nearly any color imaginable, including yellow, black, green, blue, and translucent, among lots of others.

Specific colors of cancer awareness wristbands can represent special issues or charities. Possibly the most famous is the yellow “Livestrong” bracelet. Champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong first designed these bands in early 2004 to raise funds and consciousness of his cancer foundation. Now, similar wristbands come in an assortment of colors on behalf of different issues. Some of the most important are pink bands to represent breast cancer and red bands to stand for Tsunami Aid and the Red Cross. Other popular cancer awareness wristbands are green or camouflage bands showing support for the United States troops and solid black bands that work as a memorial to murdered heavy metal guitarist Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott.

Wristbands are normally relatively economical to create. Most producers offer discounts to organizations that order 500 or more bracelets. The bands are stamped with a slogan or organization name. The bands are usually sold to consumers for about a dollar each.

Cancer awareness wristbands are more popular than ever. People of all ages wear them to prove their awareness and support of several of worthy causes.

Late Friday afternoon, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office provided an update on the condition of a toddler who went missing at Grand Oaks Elementary School on Thursday before being found face-up in a nearby creek — and initially not breathing.

Following apparently successful efforts by both teachers and firefighters to rescue and revive the 2-year-old at the accident scene, the girl was initially transported to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge for treatment and then taken to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville for additional care.

Late Friday afternoon, Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the ACSO, provided the following update:

“First, I am happy to report we have been told 2-year-old Madison Zorn is slowly improving. Her condition is still critical as of (Friday) morning, but the family is hopeful.

“We are praying Madison will make a full recovery,” the chief deputy stated in a press release.

The Sheriff’s Office has provided The Oak Ridger with audio files from both 911 calls and fire and EMS radio traffic related to Thursday’s emergency call at Grand Oaks Elementary School.

“I believe I found them all,” Lucas said. “There were other 911 and non-emergency calls on other incidents coming in that are recorded, so I had to sort through all of them.”

Based upon what he referred to as preliminary interviews, Lucas offered the following summary of what occurred:

“On Thursday Oct. 22, Marlow volunteer firefighters Christopher Zorn and Daniel Adams were teaching a fire safety class at Grand Oaks Elementary School on Oliver Springs Highway in the Marlow community.

“Christopher Zorn was accompanied by his wife, Emily Nix, and their three children: Megan, 4; Madison, 2; and the youngest, a 4-month-old infant.

“The firefighters had brought a fire truck for the school children to see, as well as a Dalmatian ‘fire dog,’” Lucas continued. “The truck was parked at the rear of the school near the playground.

“Four-year-old Megan and 2-year-old Madison were playing at the playground, while their mother Emily sat nearby with the infant. At about 12:30 p.m., Emily noticed Madison was no longer at the playground with her sister.

“Upon not seeing her near the playground, Emily notified the school staff who began a search of both the building and grounds. Several of the staff were searching outside when one of the teachers saw Madison in the nearby creek.

"She yelled for help and both some of the school staff and Firefighter Adams ran to her.

“As (the teacher) was trying to get to Madison,” Lucas said, “Adams jumped into the creek, brought Madison out, and began CPR.

"Another teacher called 911.

“By this time, other school staff had called 911, as well. Other firefighters arrived and continued CPR.

“Upon receiving the 911 calls, our Communications Center dispatched an ambulance, EMS command staff personnel, and other fire and rescue units along with sheriff's deputies,” Lucas said.

“Madison was taken to Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge by Anderson County EMS. She was later transferred to Children's Hospital in Knoxville.

“Sheriff's investigators interviewed the family, school staff and others to determine what happened. A search of the creek bank was done by investigators, as well as a K-9 dog, but we could not see where Madison fell into the creek.

“She was found near a swinging bridge on the nature trail that is behind and to the right of the school.”

Lucas concluded that “it appears Madison wandered off from the playground and somehow walked to the creek without being noticed. She was found some five to 10 minutes after the search began.

“At this time, there is no additional information to pass along.” If there are any new developments, the chief deputy promised to provide The Oak Ridger with additional information.

“Let us all keep Madison and her family in our thoughts and prayers,” Lucas stated in the ACSO release.

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Chubby-cheeked Somer Thompson was last seen alive walking along the sidewalk in front of a vacant house, and authorities said Friday that they're searching for someone who saw what happened to the 7-year-old after that.

Her teary but resolute mother warned her daughter's killer: "We'll get you."

The day after the child's body was identified, authorities said they had ruled out all 161 registered sex offenders who lived within a 5-mile radius of Somer's home. Despite doggedly pursuing hundreds of leads, police have not made an arrest.

Investigators sifted through evidence from the vacant house and the Georgia landfill where her body was discovered Wednesday after investigators followed garbage trucks some 50 miles away from her neighborhood in suburban Jacksonville.

Somer vanished while walking home from her elementary school on Monday afternoon. The vacant house is on her route through a heavily populated, well-manicured neighborhood, and witnesses last saw the girl alive in front of it. She had become upset as she walked home with other children Monday and ran ahead of the group. Somer never came home.

However, no witnesses have come forward to say they saw Somer attacked or abducted, sheriff's spokeswoman Mary Justino said.

"What we've been trying to figure out is who frequents that area, because obviously it's more than just the people who live there," she said.

Neighbors said they were accustomed to watching out for each other's children as they walked to and from school.

"Everybody knows everybody here. If there was a stranger on the street, we'd be looking at watching where they were going, seeing what they were doing here," said Monica Loeb, a family friend of the Thompsons.

Somer's mother, Diena Thompson, had a friend greet her children as they came home from school Monday because she was working, according to a police report. When Somer didn't arrive with the other children around 4 p.m., the friend sent Diena Thompson a text message. She raced home, and flagged down a passing police officer while she, her other children and her boyfriend scoured the neighborhood.

An autopsy has been completed and investigators know how Somer died, but authorities won't disclose their findings or any details about the body.

Missing child posters featuring Somer's face, framed by her thick brown bangs, still plaster nearly every utility pole along the mile-long route from her elementary school to her home.

Diena Thompson declined to be interviewed Friday by The Associated Press. She spent part of the day making funeral arrangements, and a law enforcement officer was seen carrying a child's white dress from the family's home. A viewing will be held Monday night and a funeral will follow on Tuesday.

But Thompson appeared red-eyed on all three network television shows and said on ABC's Good Morning America that investigators will catch her daughter's killer.

"We're coming for you," she said. "We'll get you, and hopefully justice will be served."

October is officially National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All kinds of related events take place during October: The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure takes place in cities across the country, the American Cancer Society holds its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, and National Mammography Day takes place on Friday, October 16th.

A couple of years ago, when I was doing a lot of party planning and catering, specializing in theme menus, the more inventive the better, a friend asked me to cater a unique party. A childhood cancer survivor, she and her mother had decided to throw a big bash celebrating 20 years of being cancer-free. Having been to a few shindigs of mine before, she knew the kind of funky, funny food I loved to put together, and she wanted her own food to be very irreverent, sort of thumbing her nose and laughing in the face of cancer. An example she thought of was serving deviled eggs – with black olive “tumors” in them. I asked if she really, REALLY wanted me to run with that, and she insisted she did, as long as it was still good food, so off I went, creating a whole menu devoted to different kinds of cancer.

One of my favorite items I invented for that menu was the “Mammo-Graham”, which I share with you here today in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As you can see, it’s a fairly realistic edible depiction of the procedure, as anyone who has undergone one will attest:

This is actually very easy to put together, and, yes, inexpensive too. One option for the, er, fleshy part of the Mammo-Grahams was making them out of marzipan, but that could get very pricy very quickly. So I based them on a recipe for potato candy I found in Paula Deen’s dessert cookbook from The Lady and Sons; it’s normally used to make Easter Egg shapes. TO make about a dozen, depending on cup size:

Potato Candy:

2 medium potatoes
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, chopped
2 16 ounce boxes powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond, actually, if you really wanted faux-marzipan)
2-3 tablespoons peanut butter
1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Other Mammo-Graham materials:

6 regular graham cracker rectangles, each broken into 2 squares
6 chocolate graham cracker rectangles, each broken into 2 squares
about 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips
about a dozen pink M&Ms, preferably both plain and peanut

Boil the potatoes just until soft. Drain, mash, and measure 1/2 cup out into a mixing bowl. Make a small snack of the excess with some sour cream and chives, I say. Add butter into mixing bowl, mix in thoroughly, and let cool completely(very important). Add sugar and vanilla/almond extract, knead until smooth.

Roll some of the dough into various ball sizes. Then add the peanut butter and knead thoroughly again – you may want to make a few different ‘complexions’, so you can add it in in increments, make a couple more balls, and repeat. Follow the same process with the cocoa, adding incrementally to represent different complexions.

Now gently squeeze each ball between a pair of graham crackers. Melt the chocolate chips (either in a microwave in 30 second increments or in a double boiler). Transfer to a ziploc bag, cut off the corner (as small as you can manage) and pipe some nice zigzaggy flourishes on top of each sandwich. Finally, complete each mammary with its own M&M nipple, using shades of pink and tan and brown as you please.


We intentionally shared this a couple of days before National Mammography Day, in hopes that some of our readers might be able to take advantage of the opportunity to get a free test on Friday. So if you find yourself at a fundraising event this October or at any other time, or should you attend any cancer awareness events in the future, consider bringing these treats along – they were a huge hit at my friend’s party!

Churches usually make events for its members. Sometimes they also do stuff for the poor. They do fundraisers so that they can gather as much money as possible.

There have been a lot of fundraisers lately. Churches near the area where the hurricane Katrina hit made a lot of fundraisers so that they can help the people get back on their feet. There was so many people accepting donations where the funds go straight to the american red cross or any foundation they choose, and it becomes a win-win situation. But won’t people more appreciate it and more willing to donate if they got a little something in return that signifies a message?


But you are asking how they raised funds? It’s simple. They used rubber silicone wristbands of course. Rubber silicone wristbands are a simple yet effective way of calling people’s attention. No matter what social class, people still support these rubber silicone wristbands because they are not only cheap, but also fashionable. They are high quality and won’t just easily snap off one day and be thrown to the trash can. They can be rest assured the durability.


Church organizations also give out these rubber silicone wristbands to people during masses and other get-togethers. Once, I went to this church function and I saw everyone wearing rubber silicone wristbands. This was during after the hurricane Katrina incident. They used it to raise funds for the people who have been affected by the hurricane.


Let us say that you are a member of a church organization, and you were wondering how you can help someone raise money for a good cause. Of course you would look for materials that are cheap and effective in conveying your message. Wouldn’t you want to customize your own wristbands for this special event? I can say that rubber silicone wristbands are the best way to do all of those things.

An East Bank Demerara man is seeking the whereabouts of his 29-year-old wife, Joy France, who disappeared three days ago.

The husband, Seepaul Paul, told Kaieteur News that his wife of 15 years left their Lot 385 Craig, East Bank Demerara home last Thursday and has not been seen since.
Joy France

Joy France

The couple has six children, including a two-year-old son.

Paul said that he returned from “the bush” at around 05:30 hrs on Thursday and gave his wife all the money he had returned with.

He then went to sleep.

Paul said that his children awoke him at around 07:00 hrs to ask him for money for transportation to go to school.

When he informed the children that their mother had the money, they informed him that she was not there.

Paul said he learned that his wife had told her father-in-law that she was going to see a doctor at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

The distraught man said that she was not there when he checked and he has been unable to contact his wife on her mobile phone, which has been turned off.

The woman’s relatives have all said that they know nothing of her whereabouts.

According to Paul, his wife took the couple’s marriage certificate with her, but he is unsure whether she took any extra clothing.

The man insists that the two had no domestic problems.

Paul, who has made a report at the Grove Police Station, said that he is so upset that he has not eaten since Thursday, while his wife’s mother has taken ill.

He is urging persons with information about his wife’s whereabouts to contact him and other relatives on telephone numbers: 665-6060; 683-9553; 266-2723 and 678-1986.

Legislation that requires states to publish the names and photos of minors who have been convicted of sex-related offenses in a nationwide public registry is being discouraged by a Washington, D.C.-based group.

Some states already include minors as young as 14 in their own statewide sex-offender registries, but legislation known as the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 is calling for all states to take up the practice for a national registry.

States that don't comply with the act risk a decrease in federal criminal justice funding. Yet, only one state and one tribe have complied completely since Congress the act became law in 2006.

Local lawyers see a problem with lumping minors with adults in a public sex offender registry.

"We're still hoping that part of the act doesn't get passed," said Chris Gardner, chief deputy public defender in San Bernardino County's Human Services Division.

Research does not support the stance that a minor convicted as a sex offender is going to do the same thing as an adult, Gardner said. Studies show the opposite, and the vast majority of kids don't reoffend, he said.

"If a kid's crime is tried in Juvenile Court, where the idea is rehabilitation, it doesn't make sense for there to be any kind of long-standing history or sex registry," Gardner said.

Justice Policy Institute recently reissued a report that details the harm that public registries have on minors, a demographic where criminal justice usually aims for rehabilitation.

"It's extremely detrimental to the youth," said Nastassia Walsh, a research associate at JPI. "It isn't proven to improve community safety at all. It can really harm a kid's chances of having a `normal life."'

Being named on a registry can hinder a child's access to rehabilitative services. They would likely be shunned by peers and ostracized at church, said Walsh, who has no relation to the person for whom the legislation was named.

Adam Walsh, the 6-year-old son of John and Reve Walsh, was abducted in 1981 from a Florida department store and found murdered 16 days later. Adam's parents have since become advocates for missing children and have taken up the fight to end child exploitation.

John Walsh is the host of the long-running TV show "America's Most Wanted."

In addition to strengthening sex-offender registries, the sweeping Adam Walsh Act plugged loopholes in current federal laws and increased prison terms. So far, only one state - Ohio - and a tribe in Washington have completely complied.

Other states have cited numerous reasons for not complying, including the cost and the need for more equipment, resources and personnel. A Congressional Budget Office analysis from December 2005 reported the act to cost $1.5billion to enact between 2006 and 2011.

Besides cost, California cited other reasons for not complying with the act: statutory barriers, juvenile privacy issues and constitutional privacy protections, according to an April survey conducted by SEARCH, a national consortium for justice information and statistics.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which is behind the Adam Walsh Act, estimates there were about 670,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. But about 100,000 are lost in the system.

"In order to help protect our nation's children, we must improve our current registration system so that we know where all of the convicted sex offenders are," said NCMEC's president and CEO, Ernie Allen, in a March presentation to the House Judiciary Committee.

Allen was unavailable to be interviewed about adding minors to sex-offender registries.

Prosecutors say only a limited number of sex-related juvenile crimes in California even qualify for a stay in the Department of Juvenile Justice and publishing in a public registry.

Karen Bell, a deputy district attorney who handles juvenile offenses in San Bernardino County, said she didn't anticipate there would be much support in the state for the labeling of minors through a public registry.

Wristbands are worn on the wrist. These are available in many colors and materials. These are also called as awareness wristbands. It has become a fashion statement among youngsters. It is mostly used by organizations to raise money, pride and awareness for a cause. Some wristbands are used simply as accessory or jewelry. These are made up of different materials like paper, silicone, rubber and leather. Paper wristbands are imprinted with designs like colored stripes or American Flags. These bands are excellent for security, crowd control, drinking age verification, concerts and other purposes.

Most of the people love to wear Silicone wristbands. These come in various colors and designs. Most popular colors are pink, red, yellow and black. One of the most popular bands of this type is Yellow 'Livestrong' wristbands. These were designed by Lance Armstrong who is world renowned bicycle racer and cancer survivor. These bands are given to people who pay a dollar to his cancer charity and have become popular fashion accessories.

Whenever wristbands are distributed by organizations certain message is imprinted on it. Message is written on the band so that people can remember the cause, raise money and create awareness to other people. In pink wristbands 'Making strides Everyday' is printed. It means you should support those undergoing treatment, to honor those who have been lost and to celebrate those who have survived. When you distribute these wristbands to your friends and family they can get involved in the fight and remind women of 40 and older to get their annual mammogram.

As per your wish, you can create any message. Nowadays people remember the cause based on the message. Message imprinted on the band should be such that it can be remembered by anyone. On seeing the message you should be in a position to remember the cause. Apart from organizations, wristbands are also used in birthday parties, special events, reminder, reunion, advertisement, concerts etc. Many big concerns use wristbands to promote their product. Brand name, slogans etc are written on the band and distributed in malls, concerts and other crowded places. Wristbands are distributed by concern so that people can remember their product name and the slogan on it and buy the product. So message on the wristband do play an important role.

Certain people can't resist smoking and drinking. You can stop there drinking and smoking by distributing a wristband with the message 'stop drinking' or 'stop smoking'. You can stop global warming to a certain extent by wearing messages like 'plant a tree', 'reduce waste', 'switch to green power', reuse your shopping bag etc. Certain messages like plant a tree can help you plant more trees. A single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

Make sure that wristbands have a logo or at least the name of the organization. The message to be written on the wristbands should be sweet and simple like: I support child rights, Fight Child Abuse, Say No to Drugs, Support Animal Rights, Cancer Awareness, Stop pollution or save mother earth. Each color represents a cause.

There is often a lot of confusion regarding the various styles of custom silicone wristbands. Many people confuse embossed bracelets with debossed bracelets (even some silicone bracelet suppliers!) and are uncomfortable with printed wristbands. Throw in the option of laser-engraved wristbands and they throw up their arms in surrender.

Debossed Wristbands

Debossed wristbands are the most common and are the same style as Lance Armstrong's trendsetting LIVESTRONG bracelets. Debossed refers to the fact that the design is actually recessed down into the wristband itself. To accomplish this, a custom bracelet mold is manufactured that incorporates whatever customized design that is desired. Because they require a mold to be manufactured, custom debossed bracelets are more expensive and take longer to produce than printed bracelets or laser-engraved bracelets.

Embossed Wristbands

Embossed wristbands are not nearly as common, yet they are an excellent choice if you are looking for a custom silicone bracelet that is more stylish and unique. An embossed bracelet also incorporates any custom design and requires a mold to be manufactured. However, with embossed bracelets, the fully customized design is raised up off the wristband as opposed to recessed down into the wristband. Pricing and turnaround times for embossed bracelets are very similar to that of debossed bracelets.

Printed Wristbands

Printed wristbands are by far the most economical choice. Printed bracelets start with a blank wristband and are then silk-screen printed. The 'technology' for screen-printing wristbands has come a long way. The dyes used today actually penetrate the silicone rubber of the wristband. Many people are under the impression that the print which is used on printed bracelets is cheaply painted on and will crack or flake off. With a reputable custom silicone bracelet manufacturer, this simply is not the case. You can expect the printing to last the lifetime of the silicone wristband itself. Printed bracelets do not require a mold to be manufactured. Instead, a template is produced that is used to apply the custom design onto the bracelets. Because a template is used rather than a mold, printed wristbands are less expensive with quicker turnaround times than debossed and embossed wristbands.

Laser-Engraved Wristbands

Laser-Engraved wristbands are becoming more and more popular. Quite frankly, they are very inexpensive to produce, yet many silicone wristband suppliers still charge exorbitant prices. Laser-engraved bracelets duplicate Lance Armstrong's popular LIVESTRONG debossed style. For smaller orders of 5,000 custom silicone bracelets or less, laser-engraved wristbands are your best choice if you prefer this popular debossed bracelet style. Similar to printed bracelets, laser-engraved bracelets start with a blank wristband. A simple setup program allows a laser-engraving machine to engrave the custom silicone bracelets to the exact specifications of whatever fully customized design that is desired. Laser-engraved bracelets do not require a mold to be manufactured; therefore, they are less expensive and enjoy quicker turnaround times than debossed and embossed bracelets.

The Best Choice

So, what is the best choice when it comes to selecting between debossed, embossed, printed, and laser-engraved wristbands? The answer is that it is always a matter of personal preference. One style that is becoming more popular is the laser-engraved wristband that is then color-filled. This replicates the most popular LIVESTRONG debossed look while incorporating an appealing contrast of colors. The cost is a little more since the color-fill is actually an oil-based paint that must be applied by hand, but, by choosing laser-engraved bracelets over the more expensive molded debossed style, you end up getting the debossed look and color-fill together for about the same price as just a plain debossed bracelet. Regardless of your personal preference, it is imperative to select a custom silicone wristband manufacturer that does not hit you with hidden fees for setup, mold, and shipping expenses. Whomever you select, look for a pricing structure that offers one low price that includes everything - setup, design, mold, and, most importantly, shipping fees. This will prevent any unwanted surprises.

Clark A. Swihart is the CEO and founder of The Awristocrat, an on-line store specializing in the production of Custom Silicone Wristbands at phenomenally low prices. No Setup, Mold, or Shipping Fees! Get yours today at .

Mark, you Boon If fashion and very pleasant to see the summer and winter, you want to start wearing silicone bracelets. The great thing about this silicone bracelets is that you can customize in different ways.

Early silicone bracelets come in many different colors. It probably outdated when it comes to choice of silicone wristbands is the color you want, because there are so many possibilities.

If you really want the customized silicone bracelets, you simply create a custom color of your choice can do. Second, you also decide on the different types of textures that you enter your silicone bracelets. There are several silicone bracelets, which are stamped, embossed, printed and well connected. The nature of the imprint of silicone bracelets are divided essentially into different types.

There are those in one color and some are colored. To the delight of the younger generation, some silicone bracelets glow in the dark, there are spots of color and can be identified or covered. It is really a statement when you wear these silicone bracelets. The nature of the imprint of silicone bracelets is a message on the same subject, so he invented an indelible mark on the tape.

These bands are the type used for the marketing of silicone Live strong bracelets. Used for each new customer silicone bracelet, a new form. The forms used to burn the message that the client come specifically for silicone bracelets are expressed. You can use the form with your project and gave the right colored silicone mold. Since it is a silicone bracelet, you must then remove the tape over. The bracelets are engraved in marble the two different types of colors are mixed to create a marble effect. The camouflage is also used in three different colors than the minimum. These bracelets are very popular among members of the armed forces and those who support the many advertising campaigns. The nature of these silicone bracelets come in time, is certainly a kind of directed at you, or author another.

24hourwristbands is where you will find 100% silicone bracelets. 24 hour wrist bands each message can be adapted to the cassettes, deboosed relief or inkinjected, promotional products for schools and colleges, silicone bracelet empty. If you want to see fashion and very pleasant in summer and winter, you can start wearing silicone bracelets. The great thing about this silicone bracelets is that you can customize in different ways. Early silicone bracelets come in many different colors. It probably outdated when it comes to choice of silicone wristbands is the color you want, because there are so many possibilities.

If you really want the customized silicone bracelets, you simply create a custom color of your choice can do. Second, you also decide on the different types of textures that you enter your silicone bracelets. There are several silicone bracelets, which are stamped, embossed, printed and well connected. The nature of the imprint of silicone bracelets are divided essentially into different types. There are those in one color and some are colored. To the delight of the younger generation,tiffany earring, some silicone bracelets glow in the dark, there are spots of color and can be identified or covered. It is really a statement when you wear these silicone bracelets. The nature of the imprint of silicone bracelets is a message on the same subject, so he invented an indelible mark on the tape. These bands are the type used for the marketing of silicone Live strong bracelets. Used for each new customer silicone bracelet, a new form. The forms used to burn the message that the client come specifically for silicone bracelets are expressed. You can use the form with your project and gave the right colored silicone mold. Since it is a silicone bracelet, you must then remove the tape over. The only color, which is another form of sex bracelets silicone impression easiest and most popular of age. This kind of silicone bracelets are one hundred percent silicone material. The silicone bracelets of different colors are usually two or more solid colors, so that is very eye catching design. It is a visual means of identification is necessary to achieve such a task. Gloss of embossed bracelets are commonly used in events, many children festivals and ceremonies. This does not give you a very good means of identification but also as an important kind of memory. The bracelets are engraved in marble the two different types of colors are mixed to create a marble effect.

cancer awareness wristbands are mostly known today as Awareness wristbands. These wristbands were used by Lance Armstrong and today it allows millions of people to use them as a fashion and also to support their causes. Silicon is used to make these wristbands.

Larger companies make cancer awareness wristbands these days and they are turning increasingly famous. Breast cancer awareness wristbands are broadly used to create awareness among young women about this feared cancer. It’s a call to all young women to get their endometrial examination done at regular periods and also to donate money for this noble cause.

Cancer awareness wristbands are becoming a fashionable fad as well. We see young people wearing them to prom as well. Although they are mostly fundraising wristbands their fashionable aspect is not to be overlooked either. Cancer awareness wristbands are offered in multitudes of colors. These are made as custom silicon wristbands. Retail salespersons complain that the silicon wristbands market is slowing down but the large producers have chosen the newer trend of custom silicon wristbands.

Cancer awareness wristbands are not a boring fundraising thing anymore they are walking announcements. Cancer awareness wristbands are here to stay. The fact that they are progressively more used by large and small companies and organizations clearly illustrates the fact that these wristbands will serve for good. If you are a wristband fan then we suggest you to use custom silicon wristbands which will give you many more varieties in color and styles.

Cancer awareness wristbands are here to stay and their quantity is just going to grow from supermarkets to proms and from movies to churches all for varying causes. Everywhere a different purpose is served. Cancer awareness wristbands are a way to go.

Keywords:
silicone bracelets, polymer wristbands, laser-engraved bracelets, laser-engraved wristbands, printed wristbands, printed bracelets, debossed bracelets, decorated bracelets, debossed wristbands

Article Body:
Debossed, & Embossed, & Printed – Oh My!

There is ofttimes a aggregation of fault regarding the different styles of bespoken polymer wristbands. Many grouping tack decorated bracelets with debossed bracelets (even some polymer jewellery suppliers!) and are uneasy with printed wristbands.

Throw in the pick of laser-engraved wristbands and they intercommunicate up their blazonry in surrender.

Debossed Wristbands

Debossed wristbands are the most ordinary and are the aforementioned call as Lance Armstrong’s artefact environment LIVESTRONG bracelets. Debossed refers to the fact that the organisation is actually hollow downbound into the band itself. To fulfill this, a bespoken jewellery modeling is manufactured that incorporates some bespoken organisation that is desired.

Because they order a modeling to be manufactured, bespoken debossed bracelets are more pricey and verify individual to display than printed bracelets or laser-engraved bracelets.

Embossed Wristbands

Embossed wristbands are not nearly as common, ease they are an superior pick if you are hunting for a bespoken polymer jewellery that is more smart and unique. An decorated jewellery also incorporates some bespoken organisation and requires a modeling to be manufactured. However, with decorated bracelets, the full bespoken organisation is upraised up soured the band as anti to hollow downbound into the wristband. Pricing and readying nowadays for decorated bracelets are rattling kindred to that of debossed bracelets.

Printed Wristbands

Printed wristbands are by farther the most sparing choice. Printed bracelets move with a grapheme band and are then silk-screen printed. The “technology” for screen-printing wristbands has become a daylong way. The dyes utilised today actually understand the polymer foam of the wristband. Many grouping are baritone the notion that the indicant which is utilised on printed bracelets is chintzily varnished on and module fissure or anomaly off. With a honored bespoken polymer jewellery manufacturer, this only is not the case. You crapper wait the publication to terminal the period of the polymer band itself.

Printed bracelets do not order a modeling to be manufactured. Instead, a model is produced that is utilised to administer the bespoken organisation onto the bracelets. Because a model is utilised kinda than a mold, printed wristbands are inferior pricey with quicker readying nowadays than debossed and decorated wristbands.

Laser-Engraved Wristbands

Laser-Engraved wristbands are decent more and more popular. Quite frankly, they are rattling inexpensive to produce, ease some polymer band suppliers ease calculate steep prices. Laser-engraved bracelets replicate Lance Armstrong’s favourite LIVESTRONG debossed style. For small orders of 5,000 bespoken polymer bracelets or less, laser-engraved wristbands are your
prizewinning pick if you favour this favourite debossed jewellery style. Similar to printed bracelets, laser-engraved bracelets move with a grapheme wristband. A ultimate falsehood information allows a laser-engraving organisation to carve the bespoken polymer bracelets to the literal specifications of some full bespoken organisation that is desired. Laser-engraved bracelets do not order a modeling to be manufactured; therefore, they are inferior pricey and savor quicker readying nowadays than debossed and decorated bracelets.

The Best Choice

So, what is the prizewinning pick when it comes to selecting between debossed, embossed, printed, and laser-engraved wristbands? The respond is that it is ever a concern of individualized preference. One call that is decent more favourite is the laser-engraved band that is then color-filled. This replicates the most favourite LIVESTRONG debossed countenance patch incorporating an attractive oppositeness of colors. The outlay is a lowercase more since the color-fill is actually an oil-based makeup that staleness be practical by hand, but, by choosing laser-engraved bracelets over the more pricey formed debossed style, you modify up effort the debossed countenance and color-fill unitedly for most the aforementioned toll as meet a stark debossed bracelet.

Regardless of your individualized preference, it is clamant to superior a bespoken polymer band concern that does not impact you with unseeable fees for setup, mold, and transport expenses. Whomever you select, countenance for a pricing scheme that offers digit baritone toll that includes everything – setup, design, mold, and, most importantly, transport fees. This module
preclude some discarded surprises.

One of the best ways to market your company and its services to the public is through free stuff. People love to get free things. The best deals usually involve some sort of free incentive. Free is one word that can cause people to break down your doors. When you offer something for free, it is hard to say no to it, and the more you have to give, the more people will desire it. The ability to mass market your business rapidly through free stuff is amazing. Pens and key chains are the

ainstay if free stuff given out by companies, but these items get lost or disregarded easily. Providing people with something that will constantly remind them of your business is what you need, and with silicone bracelets, that is exactly what you get. For a very small amount of money you can get your company name and website imprinted on colorful rubber wristbands. Forever emblazoned on their accessories, your company name will always be there as a gentle reminder of who you are.

Does your company have a big event that they are sponsoring? Give out silicone wristbands to the people that helped make it possible, your customers. Is there a class reunion around the corner? Personalize a rubber bracelet with year for the entire class. Is it someone's 25th wedding anniversary? Wouldn't it be neat if your great grandchildren had that as a keepsake? Do you plan the annual group trip to Mexico and supply the party favors? Have some silicone bracelets printed up with some cheesy slogan and not only will they be a memento for the party goers, but they are great way to keep track of who is your party. Matching rubber wristbands make it easy to identify who is your group. Whatever the occasion silicone bracelets are an absolutely wonderful way to commemorate it without having to spend a ton of cash.

Keep in mind that silicone bracelets are great way to spread good feelings and powerful messages. Have them printed with words of encouragement such as health, happiness, hope, miracle, and love. Raffle them at fundraisers for schools, churches, and charities that benefit fallen heroes, research into diseases that need to be cured. Sell them at school fundraisers so students can help give back to the schools that guide them into adulthood. Silicone bracelets are fun, colorful, and inexpensive.

At Theawristocrat.com you have creative license. Pick one color, choose multiple colors, have them blank, printed, debossed, color filled debossed, or laser engraved, whatever you want, you can get it. Want 100 or 1000, or do you need less? They are as flexible at theawristocrat.com as their silicone bracelets. You can get silicone bracelets for as little as $0.15 cents, and free shipping on orders over $50.00. When you purchase your rubber wristbands from Theawristocrat.com you purchase with confidence. You have a guarantee that stands behind their service and prices that can't be beat.

Rescue workers called off the search Monday for life under the rubble left by a massive earthquake, focusing instead on bringing aid to survivors in the towns and hills of western Indonesia, despite being hampered by torrential rains.

"The chances of survival while trapped without water and food under the rubble for so long are impossible from now," said Gagah Prakoso, a spokesman for the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency. "So we will speed up our search to find bodies and clean up the ruins with bulldozers."

The death toll from Wednesday's 7.6-magnitude temblor in Sumatra island is expected to be in the thousands once the missing people are declared dead. The U.N. has said 1,100 people died, while the government puts the toll at 603.


Ignacio Leon, the head of the U.N.'s humanitarian agency in Indonesia, told the AP that the focus has now shifted away from finding survivors and "we are supporting the government now more in the relief side."

The undersea quake devastated 10 districts in the Western Sumatra province including the capital, Padang, a city of 900,000 people where scores of tall buildings, including hotels, a mall, mosques and schools came down crashing. In addition, the quake triggered huge landslides in the hills of Pariaman district where entire villages were wiped out.

Hiroaki Sano, head of the Japan Disaster Rescue Team, told the AP that international search and rescue teams were winding up operations and preparing to go back home.

"We got here quickly but we haven't found any survivors. The first 100 hours are crucial," he said.

Government minister Aburizal Bakrie told reporters that $600 million was needed to repair infrastructure. It had initially said $400 million was needed, but raised the estimate after the scale of the disaster became clear.

Little aid has reached the remote communities in Pariaman as many roads and bridges were destroyed. Landslides also blocked many of the roads leading to villages and an AP crew saw aid workers scrambling to clear the road of dirt, boulders and

trees.

One road ended at Kampung Dalam village. The rest of the way had caved in, forcing rescue teams from South Korea, France and Germany to camp there. Villages further up the road were now accessible only by foot.

Heavy rain since Sunday night triggered a landslide on Monday but no casualties were reported, according to Prakoso, the rescue agency spokesman. Still, most aid teams were forced to stay put in Padang because of the rain.

He said the downpour and thick wet mud is making it "difficult for us to reach areas in need of aid."

Authorities are using helicopters to airdrop aid and bring the wounded to hospitals, he said. Two helicopters have conducted six airdrops in isolated areas so far, delivering instant noodles, blankets, milk and dry food, he said.

The Meteorological and Geophysics Agency warned the region could see strong winds and storms for the next two days.

"People who live around the hills should remain alert for potential landslides, due to the high intensity of rain," said the agency's spokesman, Hari Tirto.

It was unclear precisely how many people were without shelter Monday, but more than 88,000 houses and 285 schools were flattened in 10 affected districts, according to the U.N. and Indonesia's Disaster Management Agency.

Another 100,000 public buildings and 20 miles (31 kilometers) of road were damaged.

In Padang, hundreds of children went back to class Monday in schools set up in tents as authorities tried to restore normalcy. UNICEF provided tents and basic supplies for schools in three of 10 affected districts.

The resumption of classes was largely symbolic, giving just a few hundred children an opportunity to meet with teachers and receive counseling to process the trauma of recent days, including the deaths of relatives and being made homeless.

"The government has called for classes to resume as soon as possible so they can create some normalcy," said Amson Simbolon, a UNICEF education officer, as math classes began for around 300 students at one badly damaged school in Padang.

SAN FRANCISCO — With a computer or cell phone and an electronic tracking device, you can locate a missing pet, follow the path of a stolen car, find a skier buried in an avalanche and rescue a hiker lost in the woods.

So what about a child snatched by a stranger?

About 800,000 children are reported missing in the U.S. each year. The vast majority are runaways, followed by parental abductions, said Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. About 58,000 children are kidnapped by strangers, and 99 percent of those come home fairly quickly, often victims of sexual abuse.

Then there are the approximately 115 children a year like Jaycee Dugard, who are snatched then murdered, ransomed or kept for several years.

Ever since Dugard's recovery in August after nearly two decades of allegedly being held in a Northern California backyard, parents and others have written on blogs and commented online to articles about ways to protect kids.

There are technological tools that give parents some peace of mind, from clip-on alarms to GPS locators that can be dropped in a backpack or stuffed in a teddy bear, but experts caution that the gadgets are not without their limitations and can even raise safety concerns of their own.

"Tracking devices can be useful to parents," said Allen. "Our concern is that they will be viewed as more than they are."

Myths about successful child-tracking items include implantable GPS-enabled microchips, but industry experts say they do not exist on the market. And there are concerns, such as whether electronically tethering children makes them anxious for their safety or makes parents lazy.

Companies that sell locators say they do not substitute keeping an eye on your kids and they do not prevent kidnappings or guarantee recovery after an abduction.

"This is not tag and release," said Todd Morris, CEO of BrickHouse Security, which makes the BrickHouse Child Locator and distributes many other brands. "But even the best parent, with the best intentions, can find it hard to keep track of their kids all the time."

The BrickHouse unit is among a number of gadgets that beep, vibrate or light up to help guide a parent toward a missing child. These gadgets are in two parts, with the main device held by the parent and a small alarm attached to the child, usually on a piece of clothing.

When a child is out of sight, the parent presses his device to activate the child's alarm. The gadgets usually work up to about 200 yards.

Some of these devices have monitors allowing parents to set parameters for how far their children can roam before an alarm goes off. Others have panic buttons the child can press if he feels in danger. Few have GPS technology.

On a recent vacation to SeaWorld, Joe Nesbitt, a computer technician in Las Vegas, turned around after tending to one of his children to find another gone.

"She was out in the open park. I was terrified," he said.

Nesbitt had clipped a BrickHouse Child Locator tag to his 2-year-old daughter's shoe, and when he activated it, arrows on his device led him to within inches of the girl, who disappeared after crawling through a tunnel in a children's play area.

Nesbitt said he went through the tunnel to find her, but she had climbed up some netting out of sight.

"If I hadn't had the tracker, I would've really, really freaked out," he said.

Nesbitt said he bought the locator for around $200 after seeing it on a TV commercial.

Other gadgets on the market use GPS technology, which rely on satellite signals, that allow parents using a Web browser to monitor the location of an enabled device, often a cell phone, within 50-100 yards. BrickHouse, AmberAlert GPS and Zoombak all sell GPS trackers that are smaller than a deck of cards. Wireless carriers also offer locator services that hook up family cell phones.

But even the manufacturers are quick to recognize the limitations of their devices. Batteries only last so long, prices can reach hundreds of dollars, weather can interfere with GPS signals and some devices may be tricky to use.

"What you see on the market is that there are various products at every level," said Barry Wallace, chief executive of Intelent Technologies, Inc., which makes the Giggle Bug, a $20 clip-on alarm that looks like a ladybug. "But what people don't understand is it is not one-size-fits-all."

A concern with some locators that are attached to a child or sewn into his clothing is danger to the child should an abductor try to pull it off.

"We also don't want children's first reaction to kidnapping situations be, 'How do I activate this thing?' That's valuable seconds not trying to get away," Allen said.

Though the trackers are not illegal, some parents are concerned about what effects these surveillance devices could have on a child's sense of independence or level of paranoia.

Psychologists identify some potential risks.

"I think my concern would be more the perceived lack of trust ... if you're telling them you can't regulate yourself to make safe decisions of where you're going," said Stuart Lustig, a professor of child psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco.

But he said some parents who take comfort in the tool could project an air of calm on the child.

Nesbitt said the device makes him feel like he is making an extra effort to keep his children safe.

"You hope that it never happens to you, but it could," he said. "I don't want to be that guy who says, 'If I only would've.'"

The much-anticipated release of this year’s Dancing With OUR Stars DVD has been scheduled, and the Turnage Theater is hosting a viewing party to mark the occasion.

The event has been set for Oct. 29, beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, and those proceeds go to the theater. DVD sales will benefit Eagle’s
Wings, a United Way agency that has sponsored the Dancing With OUR Stars fundraiser for two years.

This year’s event, held Aug. 29 in the Washington High School Performing Arts Center, raised a little more than $36,000 from ticket sales and donations for the ministry, according to Eagle’s Wings Executive Director Debbie Adams.

“That was mostly in ticket sales,” Adams said. “If we had not moved to a larger venue, we wouldn’t have made it. The economy affected donations this year.”

Eagle’s Wings decided to move the fundraising event to the high school after the 2008 show resulted in two sold-out performances at the Turnage, which seats far less than the performing arts center. Organizers were pleased when the grand finale sold out this year, and the afternoon dress rehearsal was then opened to the public for a price, Adams said.

The contestants, including local community “stars” and trained dancers, began preparing for this year’s event in June. Collectively, they put in “hundreds of hours of volunteer time,” Adams said.

The 2009 DWOS winner and two runners-up were determined by donations made in honor of the performers. Taking top honors were Dr. Marc Rucquoi and dance partner Kiki Hampton; second place went to Russell Smith and third place was awarded to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Department.

Other “stars” featured during this year’s show include members of the Washington Police Department, Neva Cashion, Gennia Wetherington, David McLawhorn, Pam Nuckols, Marcus Jones, Catherine Glover, Ray Moore, Debbie Ainsworth, Reggie Baker, Sean Nathan, Vinnie Cilluffo, Ed Moultrie, Daniel Bergevin, Michael Bilbro and Billy Weaver.

Dancers taking part were Shelley Gentner, Will Reising, Megan McLawhorn, Jeff Jakub, Jeremy Watson, Caroline Phillips, Gayle Watson-Roper, Will Mayo, Shannon Reising, Kiki Hampton, Melissa Smith, Galina Panova, Janet Cox, Susan Sizemore, Laurie Weston, Staci Hardison and McKenna Cox.

All 19 of this year’s acts will be featured on the DVD, Adams said.

DVDs may be preordered by sending a check payable to Eagle’s Wings (be sure to note “DVD” in the memo line), P.O. Box 426, Washington, N.C. 27889.

Copies of the DVD will be sold at the Turnage the night of the release party.

Eagle’s Wings, now in its 20th year, addresses the needs of the hungry and impoverished in Beaufort County. A celebratory concert marking the organization’s anniversary is planned for Oct. 11 at 2:30 p.m. at the Grand Ole Gospel & Classic Country Theater in Chocowinity. Tickets for that event are $5 and may be purchased at the theater by calling 252-975-2117.