The study has found evidence of a link between the reading abilities of 5- and 6-year-old children, and the orderliness of their homes. The study appears in the October 2008 edition of Merrill-Palmer Quarterly.

Researchers at Teachers College, Columbia University and the Ohio State University found that household order, characterized by routines and cleanliness, was positively associated with a range of early reading abilities in a sample of 455 kindergarten and first-grade twins. However, this association only held for mothers whose own reading abilities were above the national average.

When the sample was split by mother’s reading level, household order explained reading growth among children of mothers with above average reading skills, while the child’s interest in and enjoyment of reading explained reading growth among children of mothers with average reading ability.

The current study examines whether associations exist between household chaos and children’s early reading skills, after controlling for a comprehensive battery of home literacy environment characteristics. Our sample included 455 kindergarten and first-grade children who are enrolled in the Western Reserve Reading Project. We go on to test whether these associations are moderated by maternal reading ability. Results suggest that the degree of household order is significantly and positively associated with the expressive vocabulary, Woodcock Reading Mastery, and phonological awareness skills of children whose mothers are above-average readers. By contrast, the number of books a child owns or brings home and how often a child amuses self alone with books are significantly associated with the expressive vocabulary, Woodcock Reading Mastery, and phonological awareness skills of children whose mothers are average-ability readers. These results suggest the potential for new approaches to encouraging literacy development in the home beyond those that depend solely on parental literacy.

Dr. Anne Martin, one of the researchers, noted that perhaps the same mothers who are above average readers are also those who are more likely to keep a tidy home and to implement daily household routines. So, mothers looking to enhance their child’s early reading skills should be encouraged to grab their organizers and even their brooms, as keeping an orderly home may have an even greater impact on our children than we previously thought.

Experts have long advised parents that the best way to encourage children to read is to read to them. But, Martin says, “Encouraging child-directed activities such as making books available in the home and allowing children to amuse themselves with books may be equally important and effective approaches to improving early reading.”

“Furthermore,” Martin adds, “for mothers who are above-average readers but may not have the time or inclination to read aloud, there may be a new strategy that has been overlooked until now: keeping an orderly home.”

For information about the study and the National Center for Children and Families, please go to: http://www.policyforchildren.org/orderinthehouse.html.

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iCloseBy.com has released the iBobble-3D, a new App for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch.  iBobble-3D is designed to make you laugh.

With iBobble-3D, if you own an iPhone or an iPod Touch, you can create custom ‘bobblehead dolls’ from photos of your friends or political figures. You can then make them shake and shoulder tap them into nodding, spinning wobblers or bobbing ‘Yes’ heads.

iBobble-3D lets you choose the best body for each virtual doll, just about anything from clowns to convicts or sexy mamas. In addition, iBobble-3D lets you change the background image and put your bobblehead where he or she belongs: from the frozen tundra to vacation wonderlands.

iBobble-3D also lets you convert anyone’s digital photo into a virtual ‘bobblehead doll,’ turning friends or political figures into smiling and nodding ‘Yes’ Heads or goofy lipstick wearing bulldogs. iBobble-3D then uses the accelerometer, built into the iPhone and iPod touch, to transfer finger taps, pinches and shakes to spin the virtual bobblehead. The more you shakes your iPhone or iPod touch, the more iBobble-3D will nod and bobble.

iBobble-3D is the newest member of the http://www.icloseby.com/ family of iPhone and iPod touch products, which includes iBobble-3D, iDialUDrive, iMarkMySpot, and iCloseBy-iFob. Located in Missoula, Montana, iCloseBy.com makes software to bring people together, including the iCloseBy-iFob “Real Space, Real networking software package which now has hundreds of thousands of users world-wide: “Do you iFob?”

Check out www.icloseby.com for more information, or purchase iBobble-3D from the App Store on Apple iTunes.

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LAS VEGAS, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ — ENVY The Steakhouse, located in the acclaimed Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, has recently begun an online Facebook contest with a sinfully delicious grand prize.

The rules are simple: become a fan of the ENVY The Steakhouse Facebook Page, then submit your name and contact information (email address and phone number) for the chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate to the Las Vegas top rated restaurant.

The winner will be chosen at random after 30 days. The Las Vegas steakhouse will then contact the lucky winner via email and then acquire their mailing address in order to send them their decadent grand prize.

Contest rules and details will be posted under the ‘discussion board’ and ‘notes’ sections of the Facebook page. It’s that easy. Don’t delay, and enter for your chance to win a meal so delicious, it’s sinful.

About ENVY The Steakhouse

While the term “steakhouse” conjures images of a staid and dimly lit men’s club, ENVY’s sleek, open design boldly announces a new paradigm. Pat Murphy’s design for the Las Vegas steak restaurant is a study in balance: expansive windows and high ceilings create a lofty sense of space, while elements such as a candle-lit, walk-in wine cellar and a 1,500-bottle wine wall, impart warmth and structure. Guests can choose from an extensive hand-selected Las Vegas restaurant wine list as they nestle in one of ENVY’s spacious, welcoming booths. VIP guests can enjoy a chef’s table in a private booth with a front row view of the open kitchen. In its fourth year of operation, ENVY has received a plethora of Las Vegas restaurant reviews. A two-time recipient of the prestigious Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its outstanding wine list, this steakhouse in Las Vegas has been named to Las Vegas Life’s coveted Dining Guide ‘A’ List and was also named “Best New Restaurant Off the Strip” in the February 2006 issue. ENVY the Steakhouse was also a key participant in the 2007 Food Network South Beach Food & Wine Festival, a national, star-studded, four-day weekend event. For more information on ENVY Steakhouse, visit www.envysteakhouse.com.

Source: ENVY The Steakhouse

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Consumer awareness of the digital television transition is at an all time high, but many over-the-air households are slow to take the steps necessary to continue to view television when analog signals cease, according to the latest digital transition awareness survey from the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS).

“Many consumers are unaware that there are immediate benefits to making the transition, such as enjoying the digital services Public Television stations are providing now,” said APTS Acting President and CEO Mark Erstling.

As of May 2008, 62 percent of over-the-air households said they would opt to buy a converter box or digital television, compared to 28 percent in November 2006.

But, the APTS study found that the majority of the 8.8 million over-the-air households who said they would buy a set-top converter box to continue to receive free over-the-air television have not done so.

Among all television households surveyed, only 9.2 percent–10.3 million households–said they requested a coupon. Of those that have requested a coupon, 64.4 percent said they received the coupon, and 54.2 percent had redeemed the coupon. Roughly 38 percent of those who redeemed the coupon reported installing the converter box.

About 70 percent of over-the-air households said they know what they need to do to continue to view television after the transition.

The APTS study also found that as the transition date nears, fewer over-the-air consumers said they would sign up for cable, satellite or telecommunications service to receive digital television, while more are inclined to buy a converter box or digital TV set. Those that said they would sign up for a paid service had dropped from 29 percent in November 2006 to 12 percent in May 2008.

The study results are based on a May-June 2008 survey of 1,439 households conducted by research firm CENTRIS in Fort Washington, Pa.

Source: Association of Public Television Stations

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The media controlled by the Kremlin quotes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as saying, “Russia will punish those guilty of killing Russian nationals. Georgian troops in fact staged an act of aggression.”

The Russia News Service, one of the oldest and most prominent independent English language Internet sites providing breaking news about Russia, closely follows these developments. See:

  -- Breaking News on Russia - http://www.einnews.com/russia/

  -- Breaking News on Georgia - http://www.einnews.com/georgia/

– Breaking News on South Ossetia – http://www.einnews.com/georgia/newsfeed-south-ossetia

About the Russia News Service, http://www.einnews.com/russia/

Edited by an experienced Russia expert, Dr. Tracy Dove, the Russia News Service provides daily news coverage of Russia’s politics, business & economy, Chechnya as well as the developments in the former Soviet republics. In addition, the website monitors over 200 news topics from areas such as agriculture, energy, industry, health, etc.

Scanning more than 25,000 unique URLs and indexing nearly 80,000 new articles every 24 hours, the news is updated every half hour and delivered to readers via the website or in the form of email daily briefs.

The Russia News Service is published by the IPD Group which specializes in media monitoring services.

About the IPD Group, Inc., http://www.ipdgroup.com/

The Washington, DC-based IPD Group, Inc. provides niche-focused Internet data mining and searching tools to corporations, institutions, and professional individuals. The company makes online research more convenient, rapid and affordable.

The IPD Group’s media monitoring and newsletter services are designed as alternatives to high cost services such as Lexis-Nexis.

  The IPD Group's publications include:

  -- EIN News - http://www.einnews.com/
  -- U.S. Politics Today - http://uspolitics.einnews.com/
  -- Healthcare Industry Today - http://health.einnews.com/
  -- Music Industry Today - http://music.einnews.com/
  -- The Inbox Robot - http://www.inboxrobot.com/
  -- Energy Industry Today - http://energy.einnews.com/
  -- Agriculture Industry Today - http://agriculture.einnews.com/

  For a FREE TRIAL to any IPD Group, Inc. product please visit:
  http://www.ipdgroup.com/products.php

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I decided that it might be helpful to show the current weather conditions in Mexico from a few different sources. If you like this page, and have the ability, please link to it. In this case, I had to choose one particular location to show the current weather in Mexico. So, I chose Cancun, Mexico.

Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast

El Paso Weather Forecast:

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