Fairtrade TraidCraft Toys Review | Baby Freebies, Shopping Deals ...

I'm sure we've all seen the Fairtrade symbol on coffee, chocolate and a few other bits and pieces, but did you know that there are also a whole range of toys and gifts? You can fulfil every gift-need you have from the Traidcraft catalogue and help fight poverty in some of the poorest parts of the world at the same time. Traidcraft was established in 1979 as a response to poverty. They are the UK's leading fair trade organisation and run development programmes to help transform lives and they campaign in the UK and internationally to bring about trade justice.

I was actually really surprised, browsing the catalogue, to see exactly how much, and what a variety, of products are available through Traidcraft. I've seen the chocolate and coffee stands at churches and fairs and so on, but didn't know that they did clothing, toys, home?d?cor, paper, and a whole lot more. We were sent a couple of toys - a doll and wooden puzzles - to review. These were the perfect gifts for my three year old and my six month old.

The Farmyard Jigsaw (?12) is a three-part, 9-piece puzzle, in otherwords it's three animal puzzles - a sheep, pig and cow - that each break into 3 pieces. It's perfect as a first puzzle for a little one, and is really good quality. These toys are made in Sri Lanka, providing employment opportunities for disadvantaged young people, often with no educational qualifications. The thing that struck me with this set is that it's perfectly usual. It's not unique and not spectacular. This is both a positive and a negative - negative because you wouldn't walk past ELC to get to it, but positive because by buying from Traidcraft you're getting similar quality and know you're supporting a good cause.

I couldn't find any information on things like paints used, and so on, but it does say that they conform with the?essential requirements of the applicable EC directives. I'd assume this includes non-toxic, child friendly paints, but it doesn't specifically say that. The pieces are a good size - my baby sticks them in her mouth, but there's not much chance at all of it going in too far, so I don't see it as a choking hazard. She can't really 'build' the puzzle yet, but she likes pulling it apart and playing with the individual pieces.

We really loved Mandy Monkey (?18) though. My toddler is really into dolls at the moment, and everything is named what it is - i.e. her teddy bear is 'Teddy', her Tigger toy is 'Tigger', her rabbit is called 'Bunny', so Mandy Monkey is called 'Monkey'. She is really lovely - a leggy forest friend at 40cm.

She's also from Sri Lanka, although a different project. Mandy has a hesian-like look, but is 100% cotton and stuffed with?natural kapok fibre. Her lovely dress is removable, which fortunately my toddler hasn't figured out yet as she likes her toys to be bare! There's also a spare skirt and blouse that she can be changed into. Mandy Monkey is really beautifully made and is one of my favourite toys among everything we have. Mandy has another absolutely beautiful friend: Gina Giraffe. I'd definitely like to add Gina to our family too - she's so colourful and cute.

Admittedly these toys are a little more expensive than you might pay for similar things elsewhere, but again, the money goes to such a good cause and helps families stay alive in conditions harder than most of us can imagine. I don't know... I just feel good?whenever I see my daughters playing with their Traidcraft toys.

The Good

• The toys are really well made. They are good quality and cute They are totally contemporary - there's a London Taxi and Bus toy I have my eye on too. There's so much variety to choose from

The Bad

• Well, there's no way to dress it up, really - these aren't budget toys. They're not the cheapest you'll ever find.

The Verdict

I love the Traidcraft range of toys, gifts and every day items. I love the range, the options and the feel good factor. I'm pretty sure I could find something for every person on my Christmas list.

Source: http://www.playpennies.com/fairtrade-traidcraft-toys-review-65580

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How To Choose An internet Stock Trading System | Find the Best ...

Both the productive traders and in many cases the long term people can be reaped the benefit by using the TD Stockroom Trading Program. This program allows stock trading online on various live worldwide markets, possessing cash and also shares in numerous major currencies. A trading as well as account in the TD Warehouse Exchanging gives you almost all advantages of a typical trading accounts, and includes the worldwide online discuss dealing program. You would be capable to trade online in ETFs, Bonds, Funds, and also International Shares, in Several Asia Pacific markets, Five North American market segments, and 6 major European markets. Exchanging in Court warrants and Securitized Types such as Covered warrants can be possible.

One of the UK?s primary CFD companies and scattering the better company, City catalog also permits you to spread gambling on the indices, the online discuss dealing, Forex and also using the commodities. You might have access to your whenever you want and also from anywhere. Along with City Directory, you gain use of 24-hour live prices to a large number of international market segments through multiple on-line stock trading websites. These integrate online, iphone 3gs and Portable trading. Fresh dealers may come to holds with the principles of technical trading, and also qualified dealers can get access to the racks of technical and investigation data.

Economic Spreads Exchanging Platform makes it possible for online stock trading in a very wide variety of market segments, also such as Forex, commodities, stock market indices; online discuss dealing and much more. They present some of the best methods to minimize the losses and also maximize your wins. They allow regarding tight spread trading for far better profit and possess automatic stop for deficits. The main difference between the purchase price and also selling price of a good becoming the spread, this kind of becomes the key cost on the financial distribute betting customer. Financial Advances give the finest value advances in the market, and provides you with all the current tools and also services needed. With Very b spreads you are able to trade around markets within Asia, America and The european union.

The Fx trader can get an online Forex trading program with Ava Forex. Their Forex online stock trading program AvaTrader is similarly useful for newbie and skilled traders, offering them with all the equipment they need. They feature a free demonstration with $100,000 practice accounts. Through AvaTrader, you are able to trade in numerous financial tools and significant commodities. You receive the benefits of the actual Ava Forex automobile online discuss dealing answer, oil investing web-site and Achieved trader trading on the internet platform. Other benefits offered are trading instantly with plastic card, several currency pairs and also metals, every day exclusive institutional investigation, 200:One particular leverage, zero commissions or perhaps fees, free of charge advanced online Forex trading equipment, 24-hours trading and also support, Dinar or US Dollar investing account.

Zoe Lee have been a seasoned agent for 9 yrs and has learning prolific innovations with how to invest in stocks in part of her involvement from New Industries Group ,a new creative team for creative persons. Find out about her website to read more about her invest in stock market advice over the years.

Source: http://www.thebestsavingsaccount.com/financialadvisor/finance-investing/how-to-choose-an-internet-stock-trading-system/

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Australia: MEO Updates on Heron South-1 Drilling>> LNG World News

MEO Australia provided the following update in relation to Heron South-1 being drilled in NT/P68, operated by Eni Australia.

At 07:00 Darwin time on Friday 12 th October, 216mm (8 ??) hole had been drilled from 4,186m to 4,328mMDRT (metres Measured Depth below Rotary Table) and is interpreted to be in the Elang-Plover objective. Gas shows and elevated resistivity readings from the LWD (Logging While Drilling) tools continue to be observed. There have been no reportable incidents.

The forward plan is to drill ahead to an appropriate core point and cut a core in the Elang-Plover section before drilling to the gas water contact. A comprehensive formation evaluation program will be conducted at Total Depth (TD). If warranted, a production test will be run to determine reservoir productivity.

The key objectives of the well are to determine the productivity of the Elang-Plover reservoir and the gas composition.

LNG World News Staff, October 12, 2012

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Source: http://www.lngworldnews.com/australia-meo-updates-on-heron-south-1-drilling-5/

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Canadians need to spend more time and energy finding financial ...

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Greg Pollock, president of the Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is shown in a handout photo. Experts say Canadians need to spend more time and energy finding financial advisers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

MONTREAL - Finding a love match takes chemistry, timing and often lots of hard work.

The same can be said for making a connection with a financial adviser, yet experts say far too many Canadians are unwilling to put in the time and energy required to find the perfect fit.

"We find that people put more time into thinking about purchasing a vehicle than they do about selecting a financial adviser and it needs to be exactly the opposite of that," says Greg Pollack, president of the Financial Advisors Association of Canada.

A recent study from the Montreal-based Centre for Interuniversity Research and Analysis on Organizations found that those who avail themselves of outside advice see their assets grow over time by 1.58 to 2.73 times more than those who act alone.

And contrary to common belief, the service isn't just suited to millionaires and the nearly retired.

An estimated 10 million Canadians use the help of professionals working at financial institutions, brokerage houses, independent operations and environments like insurance companies to plan for their retirements and financial security.

Interest grows with age. About 64 per cent of those 50 and older use a financial adviser, while 47 per cent of those under 50 do so.

Convincing younger Canadians, especially those with limited incomes, to plan for their futures remains challenging. But Pollack said Ottawa's decision to delay the age when people will receive Old Age Security and reduced availability of defined benefit pension plans will get people's attention.

"There seems to be a growing awareness that individual Canadians are going to be more dependent upon themselves than they have been on the government in the past," he said.

Sharing one's intimate financial situation can be very difficult, making finding the right person all the more important.

The great recession was tough on many investment portfolios and black clouds remain on the horizon. But those who worked with professionals to develop long-term plans were more likely to reject the panic instinct to sell when markets tumbled, Pollack said.

Walking into a bank branch and merely taking the recommendations of the person assigned to your file isn't the best strategy. Nor is waiting until RRSP season early in the year to hold a 15-minute conversation about your retirement planning, said Camille Beaudoin, a financial literacy specialist at Quebec's securities regulator, l'Autorite des marches financiers.

He said people need to do their homework, visit several candidates and ask lots of questions.

The goal isn't to find a friend "but to find a person that has time for you and has clientele with the same profile you may have," he said.

The Canadian Securities Administrators will release on Tuesday the results of their survey on retirement and investing. While he wouldn't provide details, Beaudoin said the results indicate "we still have a lot of work to do" to raise the financial literacy and action of Canadians.

The 2009 survey found that 38 per cent of Canadians didn't have any investments set aside for the future, with residents of Quebec and New Brunswick being the least prepared at 48 per cent.

Credit Counselling Canada president Pat White said financial issues are so complex that people are often too embarrassed to seek help or ask questions.

She said there's a need for general financial literacy to help improve the lives of people, including the thousands who use her agency's services each year because of mismanagement and misfortune.

"I think there's a correlation between increased financial literacy and better money management," she said.

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada recently launched Your Financial Toolkit ? www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/ft-of/home-accueil-eng.html. The web-based program of 11 modules educates Canadians on financial issues ranging from mortgages and taxes to how to find an adviser and avoid fraudulent practices.

The goal is to arm citizens with practical information they can use from an unbiased and reliable source, said agency spokeswoman Julie Hauser.

"It certainly gives people a good basis on which they can go and talk to someone at a bank or another financial institution," she said.

The toolkit, developed after two years of consultation with industry experts, will be promoted in November during financial literacy month.

The head of the Investor Education Fund ? one of the project's key partners ? said financial problems in Canada, ranging from high debt loads to lack of savings, demonstrate the need for improved financial education.

The challenge isn't new. Pressure has been building for 20 to 25 years, but investing has become more complicated, he said.

"It definitely is an issue of concern, partly because the financial world has gotten a lot more complicated, the demands on the household are much greater, yet we haven't added in more education," IEF president Tom Hamza said in an interview.

He said the toolkit is targeted at average Canadian households that don't have a background in financial planning and crave a neutral, independent source. It can be used as a complement to other sites, including IEF's own website getsmarteraboutmoney.ca whose use has grown by 70 per cent annually for the last six years.

High-profile fraud cases involving Bernie Madoff and Earl Jones has shattered some people's faith in the honesty of financial advisers. The toolkit has a lengthy section offering practical advice.

Experts have the following advice on finding an adviser ? know yourself, your financial objectives and risk tolerance; check professional credentials including licence; interview four to five candidates and follow up with references; feel comfortable with the adviser's investing philosophy; understand adviser fees; and establish hard expectations up front about portfolio performance review and benchmarking.

Red flags that may raise concerns include ? promises of specific percentage returns on investments; overly pushy about investments without considering investor's goals, objectives and risk tolerance; pressure to act quickly to get a special deal open only to a select few.

Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/finance/canadians-need-to-spend-more-time-and-energy-finding-financial-advisers-experts-173761501.html

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Reds replace injured ace Cueto on playoff roster

CINCINNATI (AP) ? The Reds dropped injured ace Johnny Cueto from their division series roster Wednesday, replacing him with right-hander Mike Leake a few hours before Game 4 against the San Francisco Giants.

Major League Baseball granted permission for the move at 11:30 a.m., less than five hours before the first pitch.

Cueto pulled muscles in his side during the first inning of the series opener Saturday night. The Reds had been hoping their 19-game winner would improve enough to be able to pitch again, but the injury was still bothering him.

Cincinnati was reluctant to make the move with Cueto because it also leaves him ineligible to pitch in the NL championship series, should Cincinnati make it that far. The Reds lead the best-of-five series 2-1.

"It's tough taking your potential Cy Young guy out of your rotation," general manager Walt Jocketty said.

Jocketty said the Reds filed the paperwork for the roster switch shortly before 10 a.m. on Wednesday and got MLB's permission at 11:30. Leake, their No. 5 starter, had been told that the move was possible, so he should be ready to start.

The Giants went with left-hander Barry Zito, who has been at his best late in the season. San Francisco had won the last 11 games he started.

The Reds' medical staff determined that Cueto's injury could bother him into the start of the NLCS, which was a major factor in the decision to remove him from the roster.

"It was a very, very tough decision to make, but our medical staff felt at best, Johnny would be able to pitch maybe one game in the next series if we get there, if he were available for that series," Jocketty said.

The Reds' other option was to keep Cueto on the roster and start Mat Latos on only three days of rest, putting the pitching staff in flux. Latos will pitch Game 5 if needed.

"It's quite a blow but at the same time, you hope Leake steps up and pitches well," manager Dusty Baker said.

Cueto pulled up after throwing a pitch in the first inning of Cincinnati's 5-2 win in San Francisco on Saturday night. The injury was initially diagnosed as muscle spasms in the back, but a strain in his side was later detected.

That's an especially troubling injury for Cueto, who turns his back to the batter before each delivery, putting a lot of stress on his side.

The Reds were concerned that if they sent him back to the mound before the injury was fully healed, he could cause worse damage.

"It's more of a muscle strain in the side that was very mild, but with his torque and the way he pitches and his twisting motion, we didn't want to take the risk of injuring him," Jocketty said.

___

Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/reds-replace-injured-ace-cueto-playoff-roster-155247003--mlb.html

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Heating costs to rise this winter as cold returns

FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2008, file photo, Wayne Holland of the Suburban Propane company delivers oil in Barre, Vt. Americans will pay more to heat their homes during the 2012-2013 winter season as they feel something they didn't feel much of last year: cold. Fuel prices will be relatively stable, but customers will have to use more energy to keep warm than they did a year ago, according to the annual Winter Fuels Outlook from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2008, file photo, Wayne Holland of the Suburban Propane company delivers oil in Barre, Vt. Americans will pay more to heat their homes during the 2012-2013 winter season as they feel something they didn't feel much of last year: cold. Fuel prices will be relatively stable, but customers will have to use more energy to keep warm than they did a year ago, according to the annual Winter Fuels Outlook from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Americans will pay more to heat their homes this winter as they feel something they didn't feel much of last year: cold.

Prices for natural gas, heating oil and other fuels will be relatively stable. But customers will have to use more energy to keep warm than they did a year ago, according to the annual Winter Fuels Outlook from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration.

Last winter was the warmest on record. This year temperatures are expected to be close to normal.

Heating bills will rise 20 percent for heating oil customers, 15 percent for natural gas customers, 13 percent for propane customers and 5 percent for electricity customers, the EIA announced Wednesday.

Heating oil customers are expected to pay an average of $3.80 per gallon, the highest price ever. That will result in record heating bills, at an average of $2,494. That's nearly $200 more than the previous high, set in the winter of 2010-2011.

Kathleen Ryan of Cohoes, in upstate New York, is on a payment plan in which she is billed for oil November through May to spread out the costs. But with oil prices high and a hint of winter chill in the air, she is concerned.

"You have no idea what Mother Nature is going to bring," she said. "They're already talking about frost this weekend. My costs could double."

She regrets not switching over to natural gas earlier this year when sewer line work in her neighborhood would have made it easier to run a gas line to her home. But she has a plan to keep a lid on her heating bills. "I'm going to buy a portable heater, an electric heater," she said.

That could help. Customers who use natural gas, electricity or propane will see lower bills than in a typical winter because of relatively low prices. For example, natural gas should average $10.32 per thousand cubic feet. That's 0.8 percent higher than last year but 13 percent lower than the five-year average.

"It's two different worlds. For most families this is still going to be an affordable year, except for those who use oil heat," says Mark Wolfe, the Executive Director of the National Energy Assistance Director's Association. "For them, it's going to be very difficult."

Rising heating oil costs come at a time when funding for low-income heating assistance is falling. Over the last two years, federal heating assistance funding has been cut to $3.5 billion from $5.1 billion. The number of households receiving assistance has dropped by 1.1 million over the period, according to Wolfe.

Just 6 percent of the nation's households use heating oil, but they tend to be in some of the coldest parts of the country where heating needs are high, mainly in the Northeast. About half use natural gas for heat and 38 percent use electricity. Five percent of households use propane and 2 percent use wood.

Electricity prices will fall 2.3 percent to 11.4 cents per kilowatt hour, the government estimates. Propane prices will fall 8 percent in the Midwest to $2.02 per gallon and 13 percent in the Northeast to $2.95 per gallon.

Natural gas, propane and electricity prices are relatively low because of a dramatic increase in domestic natural gas production over the last five years. Natural gas is used to generate about one-third of the nation's electricity and is instrumental in setting the price of electricity. Recently drillers have been increasing production of so-called natural gas liquids, including propane.

Heating oil will hit record prices because it is made from crude oil. Crude is priced globally, and has stayed high because of increasing world demand, worries about supply disruptions in the Middle East, and stimulus programs from central banks around the world that encourage investment in oil and other commodities. Oil has averaged $95.95 per barrel in the U.S. so far this year, up from an average of $94.86 in 2011.

Consumers in the Northeast already have an issue with oil: high gasoline prices. Drivers in New England are paying an average of $3.955 per gallon, up 44 cents from a year ago, according to the Energy Department.

But most of the increase in winter heating costs will be due to cooler weather this winter. East of the Rockies, the weather is expected to be about 2 percent warmer than normal but 20 percent to 27 percent colder than last year. In the West, temperatures were closer to normal last year, so the expected decline for this winter is just 1 percent.

AP Writer Michael Hill contributed to this story from Albany, N.Y. Follow Jonathan Fahey on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JonathanFahey .

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-10-10-Winter%20Heating%20Costs/id-c184ba994ba148129c06fe6b52900bf8

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Shrink To Grow: Citysearch And Urbanspoon Parent Company CityGrid Lays Off 15% Of Its Employees

Online media and advertising company?CityGrid, the parent company of properties like UrbanSpoon, CitySearch and Insider Pages, is announcing a round of layoffs today that will affect about 15% of its workforce.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/kJzqkqwt_bI/

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