Pittsburgh Better Times, the lifestyle publication for people who are divorced, widowed, and separated

Explore the Full Spectrum of a Child’s Strengths

December 13, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

A step-by-step parents’ guide that demystifies “creativity,” and helps children grow up to be 21st century thinkers

In a future that will require visual literacy and innovative thinking, today’s kids will be expected to think across disciplines, come up with imaginative solutions, and have the capacity to invent with many media. In order to succeed, they’ll need creative thinking skills. Yet, we’ve been trained to think that some kids are “born” creative, while others are not.

But as the experienced educators, researchers and co-authors of The Missing Alphabet: A Parents’ Guide to Developing Creative Thinking in Kids (Greenleaf Book Group, October 23, 2012, 288 pages, $17.95) have discovered, this simply isn’t true. Rather, every child is born with a rich creative capacity; parents can build on that by supplying the Sensory Alphabet — the building blocks for creative thinking — an alphabet that is missing in schools today.

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Master Your Mac—New from No Starch Press

December 10, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

Macs are great for beginners, because the basics are easy. The challenge comes when you want OS X to do things your way. For Mac users who want to travel beyond the basics,Master Your Mac (No Starch Press, November 2012, 424 pp., $29.95, ISBN 9781593274061) is here to help.

“The great thing about OS X is that a complete beginner can turn on a new Mac and start surfing the web in less than five minutes,” says author Matt Cone. “But things get tricky after that. How do you connect another monitor or create new trackpad gestures? I wrote Master Your Mac to teach people how to do things in OS X that they didn’t even know were possible.”

Master Your Mac takes users to the next level with tutorials on how to change hidden defaults, enable undocumented features, repair disk permissions to improve performance, monitor their systems, and even create a bootable USB drive for emergencies. Readers will also learn how to:

Automate tasks with AppleScript, triggers, and Automator macros
Handle massive amounts of email and media with synced accounts and spam filters
Turn their Macs into a file or Web server
Create Safari extensions and use site-specific browsers
Secure their Macs with firmware passwords, firewalls, FileVault full-disk encryption
Install the best apps to boost productivity and fix everyday annoyances

Sure, anyone can use a Mac fresh out of its pretty packaging, but that’s no fun. Master Your Mac promises to teach readers to customize their machines to make them work their way.

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10 Tips for Empowering Divorcing Men

December 6, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

By E.B.Gunn

Divorce can be terribly lonely – especially in the beginning, especially for men who often internalize personal stuff. Well, guys, you’re hardly alone. This year, over a million American men will face divorce – and then there’s the million guys from last year, and the millions more from the years before that.

So why does it feel so lonely? Well, we’re not really the kinds of guys who say to our golf buddies on the second tee, “Hey, can I vent about my divorce for a minute?” or, “Guys, I need a hug.” No. The problem’s a personal one, and so are the solutions. So what can you do to shore yourself up and know that you’re not alone, and that you’re going to be OK?

When a touring pro has trouble with his golf swing, when a major league hitter tries to work his way out of a slump, or when a business’s sales start to lag, what’s the first thing the pros do? They go back to the basics.

Here’s how for guys who are divorcing.

1. Find in yourself the person you were when you came into the marriage. If you used to like to go fishing, find your old fishing buddies (the ones she couldn’t stand because they ‘took you away from her’) and go fishing. If you used to like playing softball, do some stretches (!), pull out the mitt and find a team. If you liked to paint landscapes, find an art class and get yourself an easel. How about the dusty one that’s still up there in the garage rafters? You’ll gain strength because you’ll be with people with interests similar to yours, and you’re ‘becoming your old self’ again.

2. Get a tune up. Drag your tail into the gym or strap on the running shoes and kick-start the exercise regime. Eat better. It will help bring back the vigor you need to confront your new circumstances. Plus you’ll look and feel better – and that gives you confidence which inevitably draws others to you.

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2012 Holiday Gift Guide

November 17, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

We here at Pittsburgh Better Times would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving!

With the holidays just around the corner, to help prepare you buy the perfect gift for those on your list, we’ve assembled our annual Holiday Gift Guide.

Also, just a special thank you to those of who also sent in your holiday gift ideas and suggestions for 2012. If you’re looking for a gift idea, our annual holiday gift guide features a wide variety of gift ideas in a variety of categories including home, fashion, beauty, family, technology, and fitness.

If you have other suggestions, please let us know and we’ll add it to the list!

Bags, Luggage & Other Accessories
Beauty and Personal Care
Books
Fashion Accessories
Fitness
Home
Technology
Wine, Spirits & Other Drinks

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5 Reasons Why Powerful Men Cheat

November 16, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

By Terri Orbuch PhD

What motivates men like Gen. David Petraeus, who seemingly “has it all,” to throw away his marriage, prestige, and career with an affair? What drives his behavior, the consequences of which cause him to face public humiliation in the aftermath, and subject his family to the same?

Here are five ways to understand why powerful men risk it all to have an affair:

The illusion of invulnerability.
Often, powerful men have affairs because they think they won’t get caught. And even if they do, they believe they won’t get in trouble because they have the resources to cover it up. These men often don’t worry about the long-term effects of their actions on others, only the short-term gains for themselves.

Ample opportunities for temptation.
Wealth, fame, and power are attractive to many women, who make themselves available to powerful men, sometimes aggressively and without scruples. Also, as was the case for Gen. Petraeus, such men are often away from home for days and weeks at a time. Loneliness and the desire for female companionship can trigger infidelity.

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Bringing Hope to the Children of South Africa

November 14, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

The team worked with South Africans to capture the work that Open Schools Worldwide is doing in the nation. Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Mischelle McIntosh.

Cedarville Professor, Student Work with Open Schools Worldwide

Cedarville University sent two representatives to South Africa July 15-28, 2012, to create a promotional film for Open Schools Worldwide (OSWW).

Mischelle McIntosh, assistant professor of communications, led the trip and was accompanied by Luke Rowland, a sophomore majoring in digital film. They joined two staff members from OSWW in Johannesburg to create a promotional film for the organization’s “school-in-a-bag” program featuring children and volunteers who work with the organization.

“The children live in deplorable conditions, but this ministry seeks to provide education to them so that they will come to know Christ and also have a chance at a better future,” McIntosh said.

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Helping to Combat Local Hunger

November 12, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

Proceeds From Dining Out At Local Restaurants Help To Fight Hunger

As a creative way to help combat hunger and homelessness in surrounding areas, the Social Work Department at Cedarville University is sponsoring the week-long Dine Out for Hunger event on Nov. 12-16.

Dine Out for Hunger supports local businesses and gives them a way to give back to the community, said Julie Furj-Kuhn, assistant professor of social work. Throughout the week, local restaurants have agreed to donate a percentage of their sales to a nonprofit organization that serves the hungry. The nonprofit being supported this year is the Yellow Springs Food Pantry, located in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mary Ann Bebko opened the pantry at the Methodist Church five years ago and is now overseen by Patty McAllister.

Anyone can contribute by dining at one of the participating restaurants during the specific days and times.

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iMoms—Raising Children in Today’s Technological World

October 26, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

By Sharon Rechter

I’m sure we’ve all witnessed how young children navigate an iPad with miraculous ease or find their favorite app on mom’s smart phone in record time. The intuitiveness is astounding and it seems to be present in even the youngest of kids – babies and toddlers. What do all these devices and content mean for their little lives? And how do we as parents manage it all to make sure our children are well-rounded and happy?

As a mother of two young girls and founder of a children’s TV network, I am no stranger to kids and technology. That said, I can recall the first time my eldest daughter discovered a feature on my phone that I didn’t even know existed! I was shocked to say the least, yet filled with a mother’s pride. In today’s technological world, I believe there’s a way to embrace it all and maintain a healthy balance at the same time.

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Complimentary Webcast: You’ve Lost Your Spouse. Now What?

October 19, 2012 by The Pittsburgh Better Times Team Leave a Comment

There are so many daunting tasks that you are expected to handle once a loved one passes. Sometimes you wonder how you will cope. Finances usually top that list especially if you never had to handle them in the past. This Webcast will provide you with a list of financial problems you’ll face as well as provide solutions. Questions and issues that will be discussed include:

Immediate Concerns:
Where should I take cash from to pay for a funeral? Who should I notify?

Issues To Address In The First Month:
How do I collect on life insurance policies? What happens to Social Security and Pension payments? What is the probate process? Do I need an attorney? Where is cash going to come from?

Issues To Address In The Next Couple Of Months:
Do I need to retitle the assets? What about income taxes? What inheritance or estate tax issues are there? What will I do with an illiquid asset like a business or real estate?

Long Term Issues:
How will I manage your monies to stay ahead of inflation? Should I revise my estate documents?

If this topic does not pertain to you, please feel free to share this E-mail with anyone you know who is struggling with these issues.

Pittsburgh Better Times

Explore the Full Spectrum of a Child’s Strengths

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Master Your Mac—New from No Starch Press

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10 Tips for Empowering Divorcing Men

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2012 Holiday Gift Guide

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5 Reasons Why Powerful Men Cheat

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Bringing Hope to the Children of South Africa

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Helping to Combat Local Hunger

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iMoms—Raising Children in Today’s Technological World

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Complimentary Webcast: You’ve Lost Your Spouse. Now What?

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