(shout out to Matthew in Glasgow, and his mate Dougie)

News

TARGET RECALLS BICYCLE HELMETS

NEW YORK, US retailer Target Corp Wednesday announced that it is recalling 494,000 youth bicycle helmets, since some of them do not meet the set safety standards.
The helmets manufactured by UNA International Limited of China and distributed by Dynacraft BSC of San Rafael, California, failed to meet the safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Target said that it has asked consumers to stop using the helmets immediately and return them to the stores and a get a gift card in the amount of a full refund. According to ConsumerAffairs.com, the helmets were sold at Target stores nationwide from April 2004 through July 2005 for about $13.

Study: Milk may help prevent tooth decay

LOS ANGELES, Ca. Sept. 2 -- Milk has the ingredients to build strong teeth and may prevent tooth decay, according to researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry. Early childhood tooth decay is a common chronic childhood disease. Researchers reported that milk contains multiple proteins critical for oral health, including casein -which prevents cavity causing bacteria from sticking to the tooth surface- and antibacterials that promote good oral health. Experts also recommend that children visit the dentist regularly.

Education Could Be Key to Stop Bedwetting

By LAURAN NEERGAARD
AP Medical Writer

To help a 7-year-old overcome bedwetting, Dr. Howard Bennett reaches for red water balloons and a superhero named Bladderman.

The goal: To demystify bedwetting so that children understand accidents aren't their fault _ it's not a matter of willpower but of biology _ and to outline research-backed steps they can take to help stay dry.

Bedwetting 'is common. You can ask for help,' says Bennett, author of 'Waking Up Dry' and a Washington pediatrician who specializes in treating what doctors call nocturnal enuresis.

Bedwetting is hard on youngsters' self-esteem. They may decline sleepovers or dread camp, or devise elaborate schemes, such as doing their own laundry, to hide the problem. Bennett even had a 9-year-old patient whose younger brother discovered his bedwetting and used it as blackmail.

Children usually get nighttime bladder control between ages 3 and 5. The brain and bladder must learn to work together: First, the bladder signals the brain that it's filling. The brain then either signals back for the bladder to relax and hold more urine overnight, or signals the child to awaken.

Occasionally, medical problems such as diabetes or anatomical abnormalities, cause bedwetting. But 85 percent of the time, it happens simply because the brain-bladder maturation isn't finished. Three main reasons:

_While people's bladders are all about the same size, some sense that it's full sooner than it really is. Bennett calls this a 'small functional bladder.'

_Some kids don't produce enough of a hormone called vasopressin that signals the kidneys to make less urine at night.

_Some children are difficult to arouse at night, and sleep through the tickle sensations of a full bladder.

Boys are twice as likely as girls to experience delays in nighttime bladder control, and bedwetting tends to run in families; whatever age mom or dad became dry usually is the age their own children will.

Expert: Talk with kids about hurricane trauma

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Aug 31 (AScribe) If parents have had conversations with their children about the tragedies surrounding Hurricane Katrina, they need to remember once is not enough, according to a child development specialist at Purdue University. "Parents have expressed difficulty in explaining what happened in this and other large-scale public tragedies to their children, but it's important that they realize parents don't need to have all the answers," said Myers-Walls, associate professor of child development and family studies. "This is a great opportunity to teach kids coping mechanisms. By being honest, parents can show their kids how to cope with being afraid." Myers-Walls recommends the following actions for parents, teachers and other caring adults when children have questions about the hurricane's effects: -Don't assume that the kids don't know about it. -Be available and 'askable.' -Share your own feelings. -Help children use creative outlets, such as art and music, to express their feelings. -Reassure young people, and help them feel safe. -Support children's concern for people they don't know. -Look for feelings beyond fear. -Help children and youth find a way to think about the event and move forward. -Take action and get involved in positive action to help alleviate others' suffering. Some of these principles apply to talking with children about any major crisis situation, including the anniversary of 9/11.

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Commentary – In light of all the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, I thought I’d share a story, which I’m sure is not uncommon. When we think about New Orleans, or the south, we often think about clichés; jazz music, mardi gras, gone with the wind, and so on.

But a very close friend, who I’ve known and worked with for over 20 years, retired in July, and I remember him talking to me with a lot of energy and excitement about his favorite place in the world where he was building his dream home with his fiancé. That home was almost complete before Katrina. Now it sits under 30 feet of water. I haven’t heard from my friend, although I know he wasn’t in the hurricane’s path. He was attending family functions in California and was safe. But his fiancé did not make the trip. Her home is New Orleans, along with millions of others who make their home in the area devastated by Katrina’s wrath.

Ralph, Fedilia, you’re in our hopes and prayers. We’re still trying to contact you. If you hear this, we just want you to know we’ll help however we can.

These people have lives, families, jobs, dreams. Real ones, not the cliché, stereotyped ones we may have in the back of our minds. So when you watch the news, read the paper, and look at this horrible catastrophe and think about it a bit, picture your wife, your kids, your co-workers, your family, living through that tragedy.

You’d want to DO something, wouldn’t you? I know if my son were in that mess, I’d be working as hard as I could to make things better. I’ve placed a link to the American Red Cross on my feedburner page. You can get there via my blog, 101usesforbabywipes.com. Please, do what you can to help. Send money if you can. Help out however you can. Many charities in your community have sent people to help the rescue and cleanup operations, so even if you’re not able to help directly, volunteering or donating to your local charities will help in the long run.

Americans are at their best when circumstances are at their worst. We’re always first on the scene with help when disaster strikes around the globe. Now its time to help our own. Please help, however you can. Please.

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{cue Katrina clip}

Intro to ‘Nea’ (GB) – who recently signed a record deal in Europe, with any luck we’ll hear more of this band.

{cue Nea}

{cue Toontown commercial}

Toontown will be opening “goofy’s speedway real soon – looking forward to that. Say Hi to Cheezypoof in the toon-iverse.

Wee-mote plug. Weemote DV. Empower your child to fully realize the potential of interactive content.

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Intro Peter Matthews (GB)

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Now for the weekly use tip

{cue synth voice Use#17}

I have too many hobbies I suppose. I collect watches, I have computers in every room, and I have always had aquariums since – probably – age 5. My current aquarium is a modest 40-gallon monster in the living room, which manages to get lots of oohs and ahhs from guests when they visit. And groans of agony from me whenever maintenance time comes around.

These things require lots of work to keep running. There are pumps and filters to work on, light bulbs to clean, that sort of thing. NO – baby wipes are NOT for cleaning filters – are you crazy? That would kill the fishies. What wipes ARE good for is cleaning the salt spray off your wife’s antique cocktail table and favorite rocking chair that sit too close to the fish tank and get the dried-on spotty salty residue whenever I work on the tanks. She never found out (oops) and they don’t scratch the fine patina!

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Intro Adrina Thorpe – podsafe music network

{cue Did you think}

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{cue radio o’connel Katrina clip}

{cue Rich Hall}

thanks to Nea, Peter Matthews, Adrina Thorpe, Rich Hall experience, Cagey House, radio announcer Jeff, and thanks to all of you for listening, subscribing, and helping out where you can with hurricane relief.

Peter Matthews – wipe off the dirt (Garage Band)

Nea (Sweden) – Out of Grace (Garage Band)

Adrina Thorpe – Did You Think (Podshow)