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Low-slung back, thigh-high slits and cleavage galore. Seductive prom dresses are all the rage so what’s a parent to do?Zip it or trash it — the herd mentality will rule and so too peer pressure and celebrity culture, says expert Susan Shapiro Barash.Choruses of “but everyone else is wearing that!” can be heard loud and clear in households; dress deadlocks abound as the party of all parties draws near.It’s a highly charged balancing act — sexy enough for her, safe enough for the parent. Barash says a compromise is best: Somewhat fitted and somewhat low cut, but nothing outrageous.It’s important to support a child’s choice while guiding and keeping her safe.

“There is a fine line between saying yes to our daughters and also keeping them protected,” says Barash, mother of two teenage daughters and author of You’re Grounded Forever but First Let’s Go Shopping: The Challenges Mothers Face with Their Daughters and Ten Timely Solutions.”Mothers today worry a great deal about winning their daughter’s affection, which gives the daughter too much power and that actually makes them feel unsafe,” says Barash.A mother is her daughter’s protector, not her daughter’s peer or friend. “Therefore it is okay for the mother to put her foot down and to say, ‘This dress works and is safe enough for me to buy it and allow you to wear it,’” says the professor at Marymount Manhattan College in New York.

Naturally mothers don’t want to disappoint their daughter.”The dilemma is that if she pushes a more sedate style - if she can find one - her daughter will be disenfranchised and not part of the crowd. She doesn’t want her daughter to suffer because she is insisting on a prissy prom dress.”A compromise may require many trips to the mall, adds Barash, of Susanshapirobarash.Prom dress differences can be a nightmare.”Children need to learn that how they dress has a huge effect on how they are accepted by others “Parents must step up to the plate and be parents,” says therapist Mary Jo Rapini.

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Voting ends tonight on American Airlines’ “last best offer” to its mechanics and the local union is urging its members to cast their ballots.”We are at a critical juncture in the bankruptcy process and this vote is extremely important,” says John Hewitt, chairman of maintenance for Transport Workers Union Local 514. “The decision of our members will have a direct impact on the American Airlines workforce as well as Tulsa area communities. Our members will have to do a lot of soul searching before casting this difficult ballot. Every ballot cast represents what is best not only for that individual, but for their families as well.”

The comments were made during a meeting of the Transport Workers Union last week, before the vote began.Union officials say a no vote gives the bankruptcy court the authority to terminate the current labor contract, at which point American would impose new terms, which officials say includes scrapping very important parts of the contract, such as retiree medical, vacation and a significant pay cut for several mechanics.Also, American’s maintenance base in Fort Worth would be closed and 26-hundred mechanics in Tulsa would lose their jobs.

The union says voting yes to the “last best offer” would result in members taking concessions regarding retiree medical, vacation and pay cuts, but would save some of the 757 work in Tulsa and would lessen job reductions by about 50-percent.”This is a difficult situation for all of American Airlines employees and their families, but at least this vote gives them the opportunity to determine the future of their careers,” Hewitt said.American Airlines’ parent company, AMR, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late November and said it was seeking to cut 13-thousand jobs worldwide.

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Given the negative rap plastic has increasingly received over the years and our effort to aid in reduction of its usage, the home garden shouldn’t be ignored as a place to purge plastic.”It seems like everyone wants to go plastic-free’” said Leah Zerbe, 30, online editor at Rodale.com, a division of Rodale Inc., Maxatawny Township. “The garden is a good place to start.”Zerbe said the major concern is the leaching of some chemicals from the plastic, which in turn end up in the food we grow and have an impact on our health. From the garden hose to seed starter trays to tomato cages, plastics are lurking everywhere in the garden.

“When you are talking about gardening, you are growing food and there are these chemicals you don’t want in your food source,” said Zerbe. “A lot of things you use are plastic.”The main concern lies in the plastics being exposed to high heat, in turn harming more than just the environment.”Different types of plastics have all sorts of chemical components and additives,” Zerbe said. “(Their release) is greatly accelerated when there is heat. Studies have shown how some of these chemicals affect your hormonal systems and even promote diabetes and obesity.”

She cited a study published in the American Diabetes Association’s April edition of Diabetes Care as well as a June 2007 study in Environmental Health Perspectives and one published in December in “Toxicology Letters” on ScienceDirect.com.According to Zerbe, it all starts with the plastic trays, containers and pots used for starting seeds indoors. Instead, she suggests using the compostable peat moss variety or clay pots.”Compostable pots are not always effective, due to cost, to do on the farm scale, but for a home garden they are great and they really are not that expensive if you have a backyard garden,” Zerbe said.
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Dinosaur Park has been a Rapid City landmark for 75 years.  But the largest iconic dinosaur statue is showing its age and is getting a facelift.”It’s an impressive place, but does look like they are in need of some repairs,” Chris Sumpter, who is visiting from Kansas, said.”Rain and snow and freeze and thaw is very hard on the concrete,” Rapid City Parks Division Manager Lon Van Deusen said.Summer storms have also taken a toll.”Who knows how many times this critter has been struck by lightning, too,” Van Deusen said.So the city hired a contractor to give the largest of the statues some much needed TLC.

“Basically, what we’re going to be doing here is giving this a new life.  Half the face is missing so we’re going to be reconstructing the face, kind of a facelift, if you will,” DJ Painting owner David Jasper said.”The dinosaur is the centerpiece of Rapid City, almost like its mascot,” Van Deusen said.That’s why Jasper says this is more than just a normal job.”I grew up between Sioux Falls and Rapid City all my life and played up here when I was a child.  And then my children played up here and now my grandchildren, so I have a personal attachment to this as well as just another job,” Jasper said.Jasper and his crew will spend two weeks fixing up the 80-foot sculpture so it’s ready to welcome visitors long into the future.

“This is a landmark for this city.  This is the first thing you see when you’re coming either direction on the interstate.  So yeah, we need to get it fixed up and get it looking good,” Jasper said.”I’d like to come back another time after all the repairs are done and we can get another look at what the park is supposed to look like in all of its glory,” Sumpter said.Right now, only one of the statues is being restored.  The city anticipates that the rest of the dinosaurs will be restored next year.It also is wrong to suggest the study blames dinosaur flatulence for their extinction, Holtz said. He noted that the sauropods started showing up, and getting gassy, around 200 million years ago and did not die off until 65 million years ago.

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The language in Gov. Nathan Deal’s order is crystal clear on how the state bureaucracy is supposed to handle lobbyists. But it’s less so on whom it covers.Along with banning gifts, the order instructs state workers that it is not “required or preferred” that they work directly with lobbyists and orders them to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.”State employees … should not accept benefits of any sort under circumstances in which it could be inferred by a reasonable observer that the benefit was intended to influence a pending or future decision or to reward a past decision,” the order says.

After The Atlanta Journal-Constitution provided the governor’s office with several examples of executive branch officials accepting gifts from lobbyists, Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said the governor is serious about the order and has made sure his department heads know it.”The governor has reiterated to agency heads the importance and the meaning of the executive order,” he said. “He expects everyone to comply with the order. We’ve had, for the most part, strict adherence to the rules.”Yet, there are a lot of important people in state government exempt from the order.

Ryan Teague, Deal’s executive counsel, took a look at the order and determined that most boards do not fall under the ban, but employees of the executive departments do. That reading means that the gift ban applies to a ranger in a state park, while the Department of Natural Resources board members can accept all the gifts, travel and free meals they want.Teague said the governor’s office is reviewing the order. William Perry, executive director of Common Cause Georgia, said boards should be included.”It would seem a best practice them for them to not be getting a free lunch from companies which have a direct interest in the decisions they make,” he said.

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Thankfully, the dynamic apparel industry is no longer cornered by the people responsible for equalizer T-shirts. Rainbow Winters has released the A/W 12-13 ‘Structural Colour’ line of clothing, which employs some pretty cool tech to change appearance when exposed to different conditions.We featured Rainbow Winters’ designer, Amy Konstanze Mercedes Rainbow Winters, a while back, talking about the visual light show her pieces of clothing offer. This new line has a very undersea feel to it, which Rainbow Winters says is inspired by the “liquid iridescence & the depths of the aquatic underworld.”

The line uses “structural color,”which relies on color by diffraction, rather than absorption. It’s what gives tropical fish their unique colors, and what gives Rainbow Winters’ clothing the metallic sheen you see, even though the clothing is actually made from low-cost polymer materials. Those colors will change when exposed to sunlight, but they also respond to movement – the clothing will glisten, shine, and transform as the wearer walks down the street.The new fashion line also features matching accessories, in the form of jewelry and headpieces.

These employ lenticular lenses that cause the items to change in color and appearance as the observer changes their viewing angle.One thing is for sure – if you want to get noticed, wearing Rainbow Winters’ A/W 12-13 ‘Structural Colour’ line will do that. There’s not much out there that looks anything remotely like this, or has this kind of science working in the background. Credit to Rainbow Winters for being bold with this line, and for helping to pioneer the fusion of tech and fashion. I will admit that the headpiece looks like it could double as a deadly weapon, but hey, maybe that’s just the material playing tricks on my eyes.

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Spring signals the time to take a fresh look at the home and assess what needs to stay and what needs to go. And what better place to start than with a brand new floorcovering.Cormar Carpets marketing director, David Cormack takes to the floor to reveal the tell-tale signs of what to look for when you think your carpet is past its ’sell-by-date’. “There are several factors that can affect how long your carpet lasts; where you live, who you live with, what you do in your home. And it’s probably no surprise that children and pets take more of a toll on a carpet than adults”David says: “If two or more of the above apply to your carpet, it’s time to think about replacing it.  A new carpet breathes life into a tired room and is probably one of the least expensive methods of refreshing a room, as well as being among the least expensive flooring options.

“Most home owners change their sofas quite frequently and at around $1000 for a modern three piece suite, the cost is significantly more than a new carpet. A new room full of carpet is available at between $350-500 for an average 4 x 5m room, for a good quality carpet retailing between $17-25 per sq m”And in today’s web-world, carpet isn’t difficult to choose or buy. Do initial research online and get free samples sent direct, without even stepping out of the house. When selecting a carpet it is important not to skimp on quality.  If possible, buy the best carpet you can afford. As with everything else, you only get what you pay for and carpet is no exception. The more you pay the longer you can expect your carpet to last. Shop around for a good deal but always buy from a reputable retailer.

David continues: “Carpet can last many years, under the most trying of conditions, if it is given the care it needs” To prolong the life cycle, buy the best possible underlay. When time has been spent on choosing the right carpet, don’t be afraid to invest in good quality underlay, such as heavy weight crumb rubber, rubber, foam or felt. A good high street retailer will always give sound advice about choosing a good quality new underlay.Carpet manufacturers test carpets prior to launch, simulating foot traffic, using a machine which measures the recovery after a series of impacts. However the underlay is there for a reason - to help the carpet recover from the actual impact of foot traffic in the home. It cushions and supports the carpet, ultimately softening the blow of heavy feet.

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. said Wednesday that its first-quarter profit increased nearly 42 percent as the hardwood flooring retailer’s revenue rose and margins increased.The Toano, Va., company said Wednesday its net income rose to $8.2 million, or 29 cents per share, for the period ended March 31, up from $5.8 million, or 20 cents per share, a year ago when costs related to the implementation of a new point-of-sale and inventory management system drove its results down.

Revenue rose nearly 18 percent to $188 million, and revenue at stores open at least a year increased 7.5 percent. That comparison is a key gauge of a retailer’s health because it excludes stores that recently opened or closed. Lumber Liquidators opened four stores during the quarter and has more than 265 stores in North America.Analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of 25 cents per share on revenue of $177 million.The company’s value proposition resonates with consumers and has increased traffic and sales, CEO Robert M. Lynch said in a news release.

“We entered the important spring remodeling season well-positioned to serve customer demand,” Lynch said.Lumber Liquidators saw its gross margin increase to 37.3 percent from 36.2 percent last year as relationships with wood mills lowered costs. It also experienced lower transportation expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses fell to 30.2 percent of net sales.The company on Wednesday also raised its full-year 2012 earnings forecast to a range of between $1.10 and $1.25 per share. It expects net sales for the full year in the range of $720 million to $750 million on higher same-store sales. It also plans to open a total of 20 to 25 new stores during the year, including two to four in Canada.

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CharityChoice Gift Cards, the nonprofit pioneer and a leader in recipient-designated charity gifts, has partnered with United with Israel to offer donation gifts for Yom Ha’atzmaut - Israel Independence Day this week. The unique ecards help support charitable causes in the Land of Israel. Holy Land gifts can be purchased for donations of $2 each and up. CharityChoice gift cards are 100% tax deductible.United with Israel, with over one million Facebook likes, is the leading website focusing on social networking to encourage the support of Israel.Charity gift cards can be sent as ecards (’send now’ or ’send later’), printed from a computer or be delivered via the user’s Facebook account at checkout, to be posted upon a friend’s wall.

This enables participation in the celebration of the wonderful modern-day miracle of Israel to the broadest possible audience, through social networking.The unique Holy Land gift offers many spiritually inspiring ecard graphics of holy sites and symbols of Israel to send to friends and relatives. The gift-recipient designates the donated funds towards the charities providing social welfare in Eretz Yisrael, that are most meaningful to them. The redemption offers 10 carefully selected, most worthwhile charities to choose from; helping the hungry, orphans, victims of terrorism and their families, disabled, injured soldiers and emergency services.Many lend their unique expertise and provide emergency teams to assist disaster relief worldwide, providing care to all in need, regardless of race, nationality and religion.

These charities do good deeds in Israel and throughout the world.The posting of these charity gifts, commemorating Yom Ha’atzmaut, on Facebook and social networks, gives the potential for this campaign to go viral; showing that many are standing with Israel in these difficult times.”We think that those ‘United with Israel’ will find our Holy Land Gift Card to be the perfect way to commemorate Israel Independence Day this Thursday, April 26,” said Daniel Goodman, President of CharityChoice. “We are pleased to offer this channel to support Israel by benefiting outstanding charities, providing social welfare and doing acts of loving-kindness for all inhabitants of the Holy Land and worldwide.”

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It all starts with the dress. From fluffy and feathery to bold and bright, this year’s prom fashions are giving the girls more choices than ever.”It’s so different this year,” said Deanna Paulson, manager of Ideal Fashions on Glassboro-Cross Keys road. “We’ve seen a lot of bridal looks, with ivory and lace but at the same time I’ve seen people buy neon green dresses.”And Ideal has all of them, but with the Washington Township High School prom coming up in just a few weeks, Paulson said girls still shopping around should hurry up and say yes to the dress.

“At this point, it’s luck,” said Paulson. Since it’s too late to specially order a dress in a different size or color, what’s on the rack is what you get.”It’s later in the season,” Paulson explained, adding that they’ve already sold more than 1,000 dresses at both Ideal locations. The original Ideal, in Hammonton, has been around since 1936, but they opened up the Washington Township location last year.Paulson said prom dress shoppers started coming out in December, but everyday they still get girls coming in trying to find the right one.”It’s been crazy in here,” she said.

She said many of the girls have been drawn to the bright, bold designs that are becoming increasingly popular in prom fashion lately. They’re selling a lot of bright neon orange, pink and green dresses, as well as dresses featuring feathers—a trend that’s popping up in hairstyles and bouquets as well.Bright print designs were a solid trend last year, Paulson said, but they’ve only gotten more popular this year. Many of Ideal’s dresses feature cascading and bold peacock feather motifs.”The peacock trend started last year, and it’s still in,” Paulson said. “All the trends that started to pop last year are strong now. I couldn’t put my finger on just one.”
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