Lisadh Lensography

What's New or Updated 

What I've been writing about lately

Star Wars Potato Head Toys

Check out the new Star Wars Potato Head characters for 2009! Mr. Potato Head has been around since the 1950s but this spud has gone galactic. Darth Tater, the first Star Wars Potato Head toy, was released in 2005 and proved so popular that others hav...

Grinch Face Shirt, Grinch Boxer Shorts and Other Grinch Gear

Two characters are synonymous with Christmas grouches - Scrooge and Grinch. And both of them have become popular in our culture, particularly the Grinch. If you're a fan of the classic Dr. Seuss story, celebrate the tale of the grumpy green guy w...

The Grinch and Max the Dog

In "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the green, grouchy Grinch starts out hating everything and everyone. But his sweet dog Max is just the opposite - cheerful, fun-loving and ready to try anything. Who wouldn't adore this lovable mutt?...

Christmas Letter Paper

There's more to choosing Christmas letter paper than selecting a pretty background design. This page gives tips on choosing the right holiday stationery for your needs, using downloadable MS Word Christmas letter templates for easy set-...

Have a Disney/Pixar CARS Christmas

Put some reindeer antlers on Mater and a bright green lightning bolt on Lightning McQueen, and you've got the Christmas versions of the popular Disney/Pixar CARS movie characters. If your kids love CARS, they'll love the new diecast cars for...

The Lens I'm Most Passionate About 

A serious topic near and dear to my heart

What is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?

Dissociative identity disorder is a condition in which two or more "personalities" take control of a person's behavior. A number of DID cases have been documented in medical literature and have been dramatized in award-winning movies and TV shows suc...

My "Other" Best Lenses 

They're not necessarily the most popular, but I love 'em

Save the World with Peanut Butter and Jelly!

Ok, maybe you can't really save the entire world with PB&J, but opting for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of a burger at least once a week does have positive consequences for our planet. Find out why.

Help End World Hunger

More than one billion people - approximately 1/6 of the world's population are hungry. And every day nearly 16,000 children die from hunger and related causes. We have the resources to feed the world. We just need the will. Learn about global hunger...

Is Santa Real? How Do You Answer the Question?

He flies through the air with magic reindeer, slides down chimneys to deliver toys to children who have been good, and somehow knows if you've been naughty or nice. Santa is the magical, benevolent, ubiquitous symbol of Christmas. He's everyw...

Women Presidents and Prime Ministers

Who was the world's first woman president? Isabel Peron of Argentina earned that title more than three decades ago, but she can't claim the title of the world's first elected female head of state. That position was filled in 1960, and since then doze...

Toward a Better World 

Help End World Hunger

More than one billion people - approximately 1/6 of the world's population are hungry. And every day nearly 16,000 children die from hunger and related causes. We have the resources to feed the world. We just need the will. Learn about global hunger...

Save the World with Peanut Butter and Jelly!

Ok, maybe you can't really save the entire world with PB&J, but opting for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of a burger at least once a week does have positive consequences for our planet. Find out why.

Free Donations

We don't all have the resources to donate money to good causes, but with a few clicks of your mouse, you can do a world of good.

If The World Were A Village of 1000 People...

In 1990 a professor at Dartmouth College wrote an article that began with the words: "If the world were a village of 1000 people..." Professor Donella Meadows then proceeded to list statistics about the make-up of the world's population...

Green Living 

I'm trying to be greener!

Textbook Rentals Save Money and Trees

Why pay outrageous prices for a college textbook you'll only use for one quarter or semester? You can save money (typically 50 - 75% off the new price) and trees by opting to rent textbooks. It's easy, fast, and sure to save you money!

Green Web Hosting Services

Using a green web hosting provider is a great way for webmasters to help the planet. Wind and solar web hosts offer affordable hosting with green benefits and competitive prices.

Intro to Wind Power & Wind Turbines

Solar seems to be the sexy energy source for folks wanting to reduce their carbon footprint or just save money on their energy bills. But wind power can often be just as - or even more - effective and cost efficient.

Save the World with Peanut Butter and Jelly!

Ok, maybe you can't really save the entire world with PB&J, but opting for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of a burger at least once a week does have positive consequences for our planet. Find out why.

The Amazing Compressed Air Car

They emit zero pollution, get over 100 mpg, and have a range of more than 800 miles. Could cars that run on compressed air be the future of clean transportation? (Photo credit: Zero Pollution Motors)

Great Gift Ideas 

Unusual and fun gift ideas for everyone on your list

20 Unique and Alternative Gift Ideas

If you've been looking for a unique gift for a special someone and are frustrated because you can't find anything at your local super mall, here are some ideas to get you going. From fair trade to far out fun, these gifts are sure to be tops...

Romantic Valentines Chocolate Gift ideas

Looking for a Valentine's gift? If your special someone is a chocoholic, surprise him or her with a romantic Valentine's chocolate gift. From chocolate dipped wine and strawberries, to chocolate roses and games, these tasty gifts are sure to...

Personalized Books for Kids, Teens and Adults

Personalized children's picture books have been around for a long time, but toddlers aren't the only ones who can enjoy starring in their own book these days. Now older children, teens and even adults can star in their own novels, from classi...

Over the hill? 40th Birthday Gift Ideas

Is someone you know turning 40? Have they gone over the hill or are they still climbing? Whether you're helping them celebrate or joining in the commiseration, here are some ideas that will help you give them a gift they'll remember.

Personalized Chocolate Candy Gifts

Tired of giving the same old gifts? Try personalized candy for a sweet treat your gift recipients will love! From personalized M&Ms to personalized candy bars, there's something here for every chocoholic.

Just for Fun 

Lenses that aim to entertain

Elf Yourself, Become an M&M or Turn Into a Simpsons Character

Elf yourself! Become an M&M. Turn yourself into a Simpsons character or South Park character. Or star in your own animated e-card. There are plenty of ways to have fun (and waste time!) online. Find out about popular sites and then create your ow...

Free Summer Movies for Kids

Looking for something to do with the kids this summer? Many movie theater chains offer free (or pretty darn cheap!) summer movies for families. Here is a list of some movie theater summer programs and what to expect.

Who Invented Chocolate? The Sweet History of Chocolate

Who was the inventor of chocolate? Well, you could give credit to many people, from the Olmec, Maya and Aztec civilizations that discovered the cacao bean, to the Dutch inventor who created a press to make cocoa powder, to the Englishman who inv...

Send Free Photo ECards

Why settle for a generic electronic card? Get creative and have fun with these sites that offer free photo greeting cards that you can personalize with your own digital photos, text and music.

Fun for Kids 

Karma Wilson, Author of Bear Snores On

Karma Wilson's debut book for children was "Bear Snores On." Since its publication in 2002, it has become wildly popular and Wilson had written several other books starring Bear and his friends, as well as a number of other children'...

Choo Choo Soul

Choo Choo Soul is a children's music act featuring singer Genevieve Goings as a singing, dancing train conductor and her partner D.C. as a train engineer. My daughter absolutely loves their short music videos on Playhouse Disney, so this lens is...

Free Summer Movies for Kids

Looking for something to do with the kids this summer? Many movie theater chains offer free (or pretty darn cheap!) summer movies for families. Here is a list of some movie theater summer programs and what to expect.

All About LEGO Batman Video Game

First there was LEGO Star Wars, and then LEGO Indiana Jones and now, coming soon, the Caped Crusader joins the list of popular characters that have been turned into building sets and video games. Now Gotham City and all its famed characters have also...

How to Make Reindeer Poop

Candy reindeer poop is a fun and incredibly easy Christmas project for elementary school kids. Adults may not be wild about the idea of making reindeer poop, but kids love it!

Shopping Lenses 

Ideas for shopping online

How To Save Money Buying Refurbished Products

What looks like an iPod, works like an iPod, but costs less than a regular iPod? A refurbished one! Buying refurbished products, whether it's an iPod, a cell phone, a computer, or any other item, is a great way to save money without compromising on q...

Try a Helmet Cam for a Hands Free Video Camera

Helmet cams make it easy to capture hands free video of your favorite sports and activities. Whether you're skateboarding, dirt biking, car racing, skydiving, or just hanging out at home, a helmet cam is a fun way to record the moment. Just strap it...

Fun USB Gadgets and Toys

Forget about basketball hoops for your wastebasket and Dilbert stuffed dolls for your desk. Those are desk toys for the last generation. Today's desk toys are cooler, more interactive, and a lot more fun. Welcome to the world of USB toys and gadgets,...

Be a Frugal Shopper Online!

Shopping online is as easy as clicking a mouse, but do you know where the best buys are? If you want tips on saving money online, read below for helpful hints on getting new and used goods for less.

Mother Child Pendant

I got a silver mother-child pendant when my son was born that I wore every day until my daughter was born, and then I replaced it with a new pendant featuring two kids instead of one (shown here). I saved the original one to give to my son. This and...

Wild, Wild Web 

Green Web Hosting Services

Using a green web hosting provider is a great way for webmasters to help the planet. Wind and solar web hosts offer affordable hosting with green benefits and competitive prices.

AdSense Ready WordPress Themes

So you're starting a blog and need a theme? Consider using an AdSense-ready theme to maximize your earnings. These are a few that will start you on your way to profitable blogging.

97 Social Bookmarking Sites with Google PageRank

Social bookmarking is a great way to save pages you like and help others find articles, blog posts, lenses and sites you create. But what sites should you use? This list of bookmarking services can help you decide.

Real Estate Lenses 

Sites to Help You Sell Your House Online

Whether you've decided to sell your house yourself or are working with a Realtor, you can increase the chances of selling your house by making sure it gets as much exposure as possible. These sites will help. And they're (almost) all free. (Psst! Rea...

Down Payment Assistance Grants

It sounds too good to be true, but it's not. You can get free down payment assistance grants to help you buy a house with no money down, and now's the perfect time to buy. Better yet, these programs aren't just for low income individuals. Intrigued?...

My Most Controversial Lens 

Sure to inspire a reaction!

Arguments Against California Proposition 8

For a short time in 2008, California law gave same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities of marriage as straight couples. Prop 8, a November 2008 ballot measure, amended the state constitution to revoke that right. Gay rights activists app...

Animal Lenses 

The Mongoose - Fast and Furious

Rikki Tikki Tavi was one of my favorite cartoons when I was little, and today I am still fascinated by these furry little creatures who can take on a cobra.

Citronella Bark Collars for Dogs

If you're looking for a humane way to stop dog barking, try a citronella bark collar. These devices work without inflicting a painful shock. Instead, when your dog barks, they emit a harmless spray of citronella, a scent which most dogs don't like. S...

Music Lenses 

Dixie Chicks

The Dixie Chicks are the highest selling female group in history. In 2007, they swept the Grammys, winning five awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year, as well as Best Country Album and Best Country Performance b...

Melissa Lawson

Melissa Lawson is the Texas mother of five with an incredible voice who defeated fellow contestant Gabe Garcia to win the 2008 season of Nashville Star, the NBC reality TV series that seeks to find new country stars. Her first single, "What If It All...

Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge is many things - an accomplished singer-songwriter, a Grammy and Oscar winner, a gay activist, a lesbian mom, and a breast cancer survivor. Her music is a reflection of her life and our times. Life, love and politics...

Mercedes Sosa

Mercedes Sosa, affectionately known as "La Negra," was one of the driving forces behind the nueva cancion movement of protest music in Argentina and Chile in the 1960s. During her lifetime, she performed with many legends, from Ray Charles...

Some Miscellaneous Interests 

How to Write a Love Letter

In the age of email, instant messages, text messages and voice mail, the time-honored tradition of handwritten love letters could easily be forgotten. But if you're seeking a way to profess your love to someone special, there's no better way...

Free Pumpkin Carving Patterns

Is your Jack-o-lantern a simple grinning pumpkinhead? Turn him into something wild and creative with free pumpkin stencils you can find on the web. See the list of sites offering free stencils below, and learn some more about the history of jack-o-la...

Kokopelli

I love Kokopelli. The happy hunch-backed flute player has been a symbol of fertility and life for centuries, appearing in petroglyphs as early as AD 750. And he's still popular today! (Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)  

Squidoo Groups 

Fun for All Ages Group Headquarters

Fun for All Ages Group What do you do for fun? Read? Play sports? Go to the movies? How about doing needlepoint or scrapbooking? How about cooking or wasting time on the web? This group is for everything and anything that's fun. The definition is wi...

The Shopping Center at Squidoo Headquarters

The Shopping Center at Squidoo   If you can buy it, rent it, lease it, download it or get it for free, this group's for you. Add all your shopping and freebie lenses here!

Fascinating Folks Headquarters

Fascinating Folks Who do you admire? Who do you detest? What singers, authors, athletes, politicians and everyday people do you enjoy? If you could change places with someone in history, who would it be? People are fascinating, and the world is ful...

'Tis the Season for Christmas Lenses Headquarters

'Tis the Season for Christmas Lenses 'Tis the season for sharing your best and brightest holiday lenses, from gift giving ideas to tips on cooking the perfect turkey. If it's about the Christmas holidays or gift giving, you're in!

Peacemaker Lenses 

Steve Biko

Steve Biko was a South African anti-aprtheid leader who died in prison of brain injury after being beaten by Pretoria police.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was held in prison for 27 years for his anti-apartheid activities before being released and getting elected president of South Africa. He has become a symbol of peace and nonviolence and is a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. A humble m...

Biography of Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas K. Gandhi, who is best known to the world as Mahatma Gandhi, led the movement to free India from British rule, and was one of the world's greatest advocates of nonviolent resistance. He was was nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize...

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States and the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Since leaving office, he has become a bestselling author and continued to work for peace and justice.

Places Near and Far 

Where is Timbuktu?

Many people believe that Timbuktu is a mythical place, slang for the end of the earth. However, Timbuktu (also spelled Tombouctou) is a real city in Mali. It was the legendary center of trade in West Africa for at least two centuries and is now...

Pleasanton CA

Drive east from San Francisco and over the Hayward Hills, and as you descend into the valley below, you will find Pleasanton. What was once a small town has grown into a thriving, affluent community. Its modern business park houses big buildings...

City of Sacramento, California

The city of Sacramento, CA is the capital of California. Originally founded by John Sutter in 1839, it was a major commercial and agricultural center, as well as a terminus for wagon trains, stagecoaches, riverboats, and the Pony Express du...

Rocklin, CA (California)

For many people, Rocklin is a place to gas up as they head up Highway 80 to Tahoe or Reno for the weekend. But for others, it's a place to call home. Welcome to our little part of the world!

Iguazu National Park

Located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu falls (or Iguacu Falls) is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. UNESCO has designated Iguazu National Park where the falls are located as a World Heritage Site.

Women in Sports Lenses 

Wilma Rudolph, Olympic Athlete

Wilma Rudolph, the "Tennessee Tornado," was the first American woman to win three gold medals in Track and Field at the Olympics when she competed in Rome in 1960. I was only four when she accomplished this amazing feat, so I didn't know wh...

Arlene Blum

Arlene Blum is a mountain climber who led the first women teams to successfully climb Mt. McKinley and Annapurna, and she was the first American woman to attempt Mt. Everest.

Susan Butcher

Neither cold, nor snow, nor miles of empty space could stop Susan Butcher and her dog sled team. She sled to fame by becoming only the second woman to win the Iditarod and the first person to win in four out of five sequential years. She was also the...

Female Presidents and Prime Ministers in the Americas 

Isabel Peron

In 1974, Isabel Person of Argentina became not only the youngest Latin American head of state, but the first woman ever to be elected president anywhere in the world.

Portia Simpson Miller

Portia Simpson Miller stepped into the history books in 2006 when she became Jamaica's first woman prime minister, serving from March 2006 to September 2007. In 2006, Forbes Magazine ranked her #89 on their list of the world's 100 most powerful women...

Michelle Bachelet

In 2006, Michelle Bachelet beat billionaire and former senator Sebastian Pinera in a runoff to become Chile's first female president.

Female Presidents and Prime Ministers in Europe 

Angela Merkel

Forbes Magazine named her the most powerful woman in the world. Indeed, as the first female chancellor of Germany and only the third woman to serve on the G8, she's a lady with a lot of power.

Mary McAleese

Former law professor Mary McAleese is the first woman to succeed another as president, and is Ireland's current head of state. She took over leadership of the country from Mary Robinson. In 2008, she was ranked #74 on the Forbes list of most powerful...

Gro Harlem Brundtland

Gro Harlem Brundtland was the first woman prime minister of Norway and the former director general of the World Health Organization.

Female Presidents and Prime Ministers in the Middle East 

Benazir Bhutto

When Benazir Bhutto was first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan at 35, she became the youngest chief executive in the world and the first woman elected ruler of a Muslim country in modern history. She served two non-consecutive terms, but later was...

Golda Meir

Golda Meir was the first (and, so far, only) woman prime minister to lead Israel and only the third woman in the world to hold the post in any country. She became PM in 1969, but resigned from the office in 1974 over discontent over her handling of t...

Female Presidents and Prime Ministers in Asia 

Sirimavo Bandaranaike, First Woman Prime Minister in the World

Long before Margaret Thatcher became one of the most powerful women in the world, before Angela Merkel became a household name and even before Indira Gandhi and Golda Meir took the helm of their countries, Sirimavo Bandaranaike made history in 1960 b...

Corazon Aquino

Corazon Aquino was the first woman president of the Philippines and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee. She served as the president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 after her bloodless "People Power" revolution led to the ouster of former rule...

Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was India's first female prime minister and part of a family political dynasty that included her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, her son, Rajiv Gandhi and her daugher-in-law, Sonia Gandhi. She served four terms before being assassinated.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

In 2001, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became the second woman to be swept into the Philippine Presidency by a peaceful People Power revolution. She was re-elected in 2004, winning with one million votes over her closest opponent.

More Female Presidents and Prime MInisters 

Women Presidents and Prime Ministers

Who was the world's first woman president? Isabel Peron of Argentina earned that title more than three decades ago, but she can't claim the title of the world's first elected female head of state. That position was filled in 1960, and since then doze...

Helen Clark

Helen Clark was the popular prime minister of New Zealand who served three terms, from 1999 to 2008. Clark's Labour Party lost the general election to the National Party and was was replaced by Philip Goff.

Jenny Shipley

Before Helen Clark became PM of New Zealand, Jenny Shipley blazed the trail as the first woman prime minister of that country, serving as the National Party PM from 1997 - 1999.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil

Pratibha Devisingh Patil stepped into the history books on July 25, 2007 when she was sworn in as the first woman president of India.

Toys and Collectibles 

Star Wars Potato Head Toys

Check out the new Star Wars Potato Head characters for 2009! Mr. Potato Head has been around since the 1950s but this spud has gone galactic. Darth Tater, the first Star Wars Potato Head toy, was released in 2005 and proved so popular that others hav...

Fun USB Gadgets and Toys

Forget about basketball hoops for your wastebasket and Dilbert stuffed dolls for your desk. Those are desk toys for the last generation. Today's desk toys are cooler, more interactive, and a lot more fun. Welcome to the world of USB toys and gadgets,...

Matryoshka: Russian Nesting Dolls

Matryoshka nesting dolls are known by many names - matryoshka dolls, Russian nesting dolls, babushka dolls, matrioshka, matroshka, matreshka, matryushka and stacking dolls are just a few. The wooden nesting dolls first became popular at the end of th...

All About LEGO Batman Video Game

First there was LEGO Star Wars, and then LEGO Indiana Jones and now, coming soon, the Caped Crusader joins the list of popular characters that have been turned into building sets and video games. Now Gotham City and all its famed characters have also...

Robotic Toys for Kids

Robot toys are hot, thanks to the success of movies such as Disney's Wall-e and to innovative products such as Wow-Wee Robosapien and others. Here are some of the top RC robots and related products.

Santa Lenses 

Is Santa Real? How Do You Answer the Question?

He flies through the air with magic reindeer, slides down chimneys to deliver toys to children who have been good, and somehow knows if you've been naughty or nice. Santa is the magical, benevolent, ubiquitous symbol of Christmas. He's everyw...

Santa's Reindeer, Reindeer, Reindeer!

How many reindeer does Santa have? What are their names? And how do you make reindeer food? Read this lens to learn more about those famous flying Christmas reindeer! You'll find trivia, jokes, crafts, gift ideas and even a few videos. Have fun! ...

How to Create Free Printable Santa Letters

Even Santa needs a little help! Here's some advice on how to help the Jolly Old Elf send a Santa letter to your little one, complete with a postmark from the North Pole. Read on to learn how to create your own free printable Santa letters.

How to Write a Letter to Santa Claus

Christmas is a very busy time of year for Santa Claus. He has to get the sleigh ready, make sure the elves have finished all the toys, and check his list twice to be sure he hasn't forgotten any good girls and boys. But in the midst of all this c...

Santa History: From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus

Santa Claus is now a very familiar figure during the holidays, but the roly-poly, bearded man in a red suit we know today evolved over many years. The legend of Santa can be traced all the way back to a Christian bishop, Saint Nicholas, who lived in...

And Still More About Old St. Nick 

Of course I believe!

Santa Sample Letters

Sometimes the simplest things seem the hardest to write. So if you're having trouble with a Christmas letter from Santa, here are some Santa sample letters to help you get past your writer's block. You can use these examples to create your ow...

How to Santa Yourself

It all started with Elf Yourself. Office Depot started the now-wildly-popular site that allows you to add your face to a dancing elf, and now animated holiday cards that let you to add your face to dancing characters are all the rage. But if you'...

How to Get a Santa Postmark from Santa Claus, Indiana

If you're looking for a way to make your holiday mail a little cheerier this year, think about getting a Santa postmark from Santa Claus, Indiana. The postmark itself is free, and you can send all your mail - from Christmas cards and letters to S...

Santa's Nice List

How many times have you told your children they better watch out, they better not cry and they better be on their best behavior because Santa is watching? The fear of not making Santa's Nice List has undoubtedly kept untold numbers of kids from m...

Santa Letter Software

Are you looking for Santa letters to print at home? Instaletter is a great new way to create unlimited printable Santa letters and Santa's Nice List certificates (as well as letters from the Easter Bunny and others) for an annual subscription fee...

More Christmas 

Did I mention I love Christmas?

The Little Drummer Boy Music, Lyrics and DVD

The Little Drummer Boy is a popular Christmas song that was also the inspiration for a 1968 animated TV special by the same name. The song, written by Katherine K. Davis and later arranged by Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone, was originally written in...

Christmas Stocking Holders

If you'll be hanging Christmas stockings out for Santa Claus to fill on Christmas Eve, you'll need a good hanger to make sure they stay in place until Old St. Nick arrives. These stocking holders are both fun and functional and will add some...

Christmas Candy Canes

It wouldn't be Christmas without candy canes, those ubiquitous red-and-white striped, hooked sticks of peppermint candy. Find out when and why they were invented, find books and DVDs about their legend, and find some tasty candy cane recipes.

Free Christmas Card Templates

The web has made it easy for do-it-yourselfers to find great templates for almost everything, including printable Christmas cards. So why not save some money and make your cards a bit more personal by creating your own this year? If you don't kno...

Spode Christmas Tree China

Spode is well-known for fine china, and their Christmas tree dinnerware is a favorite every holiday season. This year, the company marks the 70th anniversary of the popular Christmas china with a Christmas design featuring roses and mistletoe. If you...

Eco-Friendly Christmas 

And still MORE Christmas...

100% Recycled Christmas Paper for Your Holiday Letters

Finding recycled Christmas paper at your local stationery or office supply store can be challenging. They don't always carry recycled stationery, or, if they do, they might not have a good selection of designs, or the paper may only have a small...

Where to Buy Recycled Christmas Cards...

If you're looking for ways to reduce your environmental impact this holiday season, here are some places to buy eco-friendly recycled Christmas cards and some ideas for recycling and reusing the cards you receive. Have a green Christmas!

Green Your Holidays with a Christmas Letter Template

If you're looking for ways to have a greener Christmas, consider using a downloadable Christmas letter template to help you with your holiday letter writing. Templates are environmentally friendly for a variety of reasons, including the fact that...

Solar Christmas Lights and Decorations

If you want to go green for Christmas, consider using solar Christmas lights in place of traditional lights. Solar lights can be used for outdoor decorations and don't require any electricity. Simply let the sun charge them up and then enjoy the...

Christmas Cards 

Beach Christmas Cards

Not everyone is dreaming of a white Christmas. Some people live year-round in sunny locations, while others abandon their frosty homes for a warm-weather vacation over the holidays. If you fall into either group and need some sunny holiday cards, her...

Western Christmas Cards

Santa may prefer riding on reindeer, but most people prefer horses. Here's a selection of western Christmas cards geared toward folks who appreciate horses, cowboy hats, the Wild West, country music and all things western. You won't find any...

Christmas Kitty: Cards and Gifts for Cat Lovers

Are you a cat lover or do you know one? Then celebrate the holidays with Christmas kitty designs on mugs, shirts, Christmas cards and other gifts, or curl up with a good Christmas cat book. Sure to please all the cat lovers on your Christmas list!

Unusual Christmas Cards

Each year, Americans send millions of cards during the holiday season, and most of them are traditional folded greetings or flat photo cards with faces of smiling families. Want to break out of the mold this year? Here are some unusual Christmas card...

Christmas Card Greetings

Sometimes it's hard to come up with the just the right phrase for your Christmas cards and Christmas letters. If you need some help getting started, here's a list of Christmas card greetings you can use for your greeting cards or annual holid...

Christmas Letters 

The First Christmas Stamp

The first Christmas stamp issued by the United States Postal Service wasn't released until 1962, and it was so popular that the initial print run sold out quickly. As a result, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had to work round-the-clock to...

Christmas Stamps 2009

The United States Postal Service has been issuing special holiday postage stamps every year since it issued its first Christmas stamp in 1962. People love to decorate their holiday mail with these special stamps, and the post office has fueled the fu...

How to Write Business Christmas Letters & Cards

At the end of the year, it's customary for businesses to send holiday greetings or letters to clients, vendors, and other business associates. But what should you write that will sound professional and sincere without offending anyone's relig...

Christmas Letter Paper

There's more to choosing Christmas letter paper than selecting a pretty background design. This page gives tips on choosing the right holiday stationery for your needs, using downloadable MS Word Christmas letter templates for easy set-...

How to Write Family Christmas Letters

Love 'em or hate 'em, family Christmas letters have become a part of our culture. Here are some tips on how to write Christmas letters your readers will enjoy, as well as some links for Christmas letter paper you can order online and Christma...

Funny Christmas 

Free Funny Christmas Cards

During the holidays, people tend to get sentimental, and most Christmas cards reflect this reality. They show peaceful scenes of winter snow and peaceful scenes of people gathered around warm fires drinking egg nog. Is it all a little too "Kumba...

How to Make Reindeer Poop

Candy reindeer poop is a fun and incredibly easy Christmas project for elementary school kids. Adults may not be wild about the idea of making reindeer poop, but kids love it!

Funny Christmas Songs

Christmas carols are great, but sometimes "Silent Night" just doesn't fit the mood. If you want something funny and upbeat for your Christmas party, or just for listening to around the house, here are some funny Christmas songs sure to make...

Free Christmas Stuff 

Who doesn't love free stuff?

Free Christmas Downloads

They say the best things in life are free, and that's certainly true during the holidays when most people are spending extra money on gifts. These free Christmas downloads may not save you any money, but they can add some holiday spirit at no cos...

Free Animated Christmas Cards

Many sites used to offer free e-cards, but it's getting harder to find them. Even Amazon stopped offering free electronic cards. But you can still find high-quality free animated Christmas cards online at the sites below. Some of them offer all-f...

Free Funny Christmas Cards

During the holidays, people tend to get sentimental, and most Christmas cards reflect this reality. They show peaceful scenes of winter snow and peaceful scenes of people gathered around warm fires drinking egg nog. Is it all a little too "Kumba...

Local Lenses 

Rocklin, CA (California)

For many people, Rocklin is a place to gas up as they head up Highway 80 to Tahoe or Reno for the weekend. But for others, it's a place to call home. Welcome to our little part of the world!

City of Sacramento, California

The city of Sacramento, CA is the capital of California. Originally founded by John Sutter in 1839, it was a major commercial and agricultural center, as well as a terminus for wagon trains, stagecoaches, riverboats, and the Pony Express du...

Pleasanton CA

Drive east from San Francisco and over the Hayward Hills, and as you descend into the valley below, you will find Pleasanton. What was once a small town has grown into a thriving, affluent community. Its modern business park houses big buildings...

Scientists & Explorers Lenses 

Jacques Cousteau

He may have been the most famous undersea explorer of our time. At the time of his death, CNN remembered Jacques Cousteau by saying, "For millions of people who see the ocean only through the porthole of television, the voice of the sea had a so...

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century. He is best known for his theory of relativity, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics. His warning to FDR about the potential for Germany to create an atomic weapon led to the...

Dian Fossey

Dian Fossey devoted her life to studying the mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park in Rwanda. She was an outspoken advocate of the gorillas, a value that may have cost her life. She was murdered in 1985, but the movie "Gorillas in the Mist&...

Sylvia Earle

Sylvia Earle, often known as "Her Deepness," is a marine scientist, author, and former chief of the NOAA who holds the record for walking untethered on the sea floor at a lower depth than any other person. She has also been recognized by th...

Space Explorers 

Valentina Tereshkova

Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, but Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova claims the distinction of being the first woman in space nearly 20 years before her American counterpart left earth's atmosphere.

Shannon Lucid, Astronaut

Shannon Lucid isn't a household name, but the NASA astronaut holds the women's record for the most flight hours in orbit, claims the title of the non-Russian with the most flight hours in orbit, and used to hold the women's record for the longest sta...

Sally Ride

In 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. She was a mission specialist on the Challenger, the seventh space shuttle flight. She embarked on this career in 1977 and was one of the six women selected for a group of 35 new astronauts...

Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-American woman in space and the first Indian-American to fly the space shuttle. She was one of seven astronauts killed in 2003 when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere.

Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin is a former NASA astronaut who was the pilot of Apollo 11, the first lunar module to land on the moon, and he was the second man to ever set foot on the moon. Prior to joining NASA, he was an Air Force pilot who flew combat missions in th...

Female Aviators 

Jackie (Jacqueline) Cochran

During her aviation career, Jackie Cochran set more speed and altitude records than any of her contemporaries, male or female. In 1953, she flew past Mach 1 in an F-86 Sabre, becoming the first woman to break the sound barrier.

Harriet Quimby

In 1911, Harriet Quimby was the first woman to get a pilot's license in the United States, and a year later she became the first woman to fly across the English  Channel.

Author Lenses 

Charles Schulz

He brought us characters like a dog who thought his doghouse was a Sopwith Camel, a boy who played Beethoven on a toy piano, and a kid who could never remember not to let Lucy hold the football while he was kicking. He was Charles Schulz, creator of...

Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors. His novels are part horror, part suspense and even part humor. His characters always have witty dialogue. And he ALWAYS has a clever canine in the book. How many other horror/suspense novelists can say that?...

Matt Groening

Sure, you're heard of Bart, Homer, Lisa, Marge and Maggie Simpson, but how about Matt Groening? Doh! He's the guy who brought them to life.

Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini is the masterful writer of "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns." Born in Afghanistan, the physician-turned-author made it to the New York Times bestseller list with his first novel, "The Kite Runne...

L. Frank Baum

L. Frank Baum was an American writer best known for the book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," which was turned into a movie starring Judy Garland that went on to become one of the most loved and most viewed films of all time.

Women in Politics 

Hattie Caraway

"Silent Hattie" was the first woman senator in the United States and the first woman to preside over the Senate as acting president pro tempore. She was also the first woman legislator to cosponsor the Equal Rights Amendment. And she did it all back...

Dianne Feinstein

She became San Francisco's mayor after the deadly shootings of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk,  but it was Dianne Feinstein's  own skill and hard work that carried her to the Senate.

Geraldine Ferraro

She and Democratic running mate Walter Mondale were trounced in the 1984 elections by Ronald Reagan and George Bush, but Geraldine Ferraro still made history as the first woman to run as a vice presidential candidate on a major party ticket.

Elizabeth Dole

Elizabeth Dole is currently a U.S. Senator who also holds the distinction of being the first female Secretary of Transportation. She was also the first woman to run the American Red Cross since its founder, Clara Barton, held that post in 1881. In 20...

Uncategorized Lenses 

Stay in a Yurt!

Yurts were invented thousands of years ago by nomadic Mongols, but the circular homes are seeing a modern resurgence with campers. You can now live like a Mongol and stay in a yurt at private and state parks throughout the country.

Miss Piggy

She's pink, she's opinionated and she's in love with a frog. Who could it be but Miss Piggy? This is one tough little Muppet.

Intro to Wind Power & Wind Turbines

Solar seems to be the sexy energy source for folks wanting to reduce their carbon footprint or just save money on their energy bills. But wind power can often be just as - or even more - effective and cost efficient.

More Uncategorized Lenses 

Easter Bunny

He's got big ears, big feet, and big baskets of candy. Who wouldn't love the Easter Bunny?

Who Invented Chocolate? The Sweet History of Chocolate

Who was the inventor of chocolate? Well, you could give credit to many people, from the Olmec, Maya and Aztec civilizations that discovered the cacao bean, to the Dutch inventor who created a press to make cocoa powder, to the Englishman who inv...

Gay Parents and LGBT Families

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, approximately 600,000 same-sex couples live in the United States and more than a third of these have at least one child. Of those LGBT parents, about half have two or more children. That means there are approximatel...

Still Christmas... 

Silver Christmas Bells

During the holiday season, images of gold and silver bells are common - Salvation Army volunteers ring bells to collect money for charities, radio stations and shopping malls play songs like "Silver Bells" and "Jingle Bells," Chri...

Grinch Face Shirt, Grinch Boxer Shorts and Other Grinch Gear

Two characters are synonymous with Christmas grouches - Scrooge and Grinch. And both of them have become popular in our culture, particularly the Grinch. If you're a fan of the classic Dr. Seuss story, celebrate the tale of the grumpy green guy w...

Elf on the Shelf Gift Set and Other Elf Toys and Books

The Elf on the Shelf Gift Set is a cute rhyming storybook with an accompanying Santa's elf. The elf is a scout for Santa Claus, and every night he returns to the North Pole to report on who's been naughty and who's been nice. When the kid...

The Grinch and Max the Dog

In "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the green, grouchy Grinch starts out hating everything and everyone. But his sweet dog Max is just the opposite - cheerful, fun-loving and ready to try anything. Who wouldn't adore this lovable mutt?...