Hot Tips About Cool Contact Lenses To Save You Money


Most contact lens wearers are usually surprised and happy with the level of comfort they find that lenses provide. It's easy to order the perfect low cost contact lenses online today. Once that you have your contact lens prescription it's easy to buy discount contact lenses online or from stores, over the phone, or by mail if you wish.
Make sure that you always buy from a reputable company. You can buy discount contact lenses without a prescription, but the company is selling you the lenses as if it were an over-the-counter device, is violating FTC regulations. If you've always wanted to change the color of your eyes then color contact lenses can provide baby blues, gorgeous greens, and heavenly hazels. You can even get some unusual colors and patterns and designs.
There are a few differences in the water content and shape of the lenses between different brands. The ability to hold water increases the oxygen permeability of soft lenses and increases their fragility also. In some lenses, one lens can correct for near and the other correct for distance vision.
The rigid gas-permeable contact lenses are much more durable, are resistant to deposit buildup, and generally do give you a clearer, crisper vision field. There are two general recognized categories of contact lenses. They are - soft and rigid gas permeable. So you don't get them mixed up you can mark the rigid lenses to show which lens is for which eye. They won't rip or tear, so they're very easy to handle and work with.
The length of your continuous lens wear depends on the type of lens and your doctor's evaluation of how you will be able to tolerate them for overnight wear. There are a few rigid gas-permeable lenses that are approved for overnight wear too. Rigid gas-permeable lenses are usually much less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses do.
The extended wear contact lenses are for overnight or continuous wear ranging from one to six nights or for up to 30 days or so. With planned-replacement lenses, the doctor usually works out a good replacement schedule that will meet the needs of the patient.
Before you buy any contact lenses online, do some research to see if there are any testimonials at the online supplier's website or if they are mentioned in any contact lens forums. If you have a health insurance policy or health plan, the insurance plan or policy's prices from the vendors they provide may or may not be better than what you can find online or elsewhere. Make sure to check to see if you have a health insurance plan that includes vision coverage and if it doesn't you may want to consider another health insurance company in the future that does include vision insurance.
Make sure to compare prices; don't just get the most convenient lenses. Get quotes from two or three different online suppliers and offline vendors. Ask about prices and any discount or senior discounts at your doctor's office when you have your eye examination, or during a follow-up visit after you get your prescription. Often discounts and newspaper coupons can be found but one needs to ask if there are any. When you get your contact lenses order, if you think you've received an incorrect lens, check with your eye doctor or eye care professional as soon as possible and don't accept any substitutions unless your doctor approves it.
If you like get a good feel for how the retailer handles their customer service calls in advance of ordering, in case you have a problem after your order arrives. There are many good contact lens retailers and vendors on the Internet now making the lenses available at low cost or a good discount for both prescription and non-prescription lenses.
Make sure not to wear your lenses any longer than they've been prescribed for, nor when sleeping unless you've been told it's okay. If you use disposable lenses always throw them away after the recommended wearing period or risk medical problems. The soft extended-wear lenses will bind down on a closed eye, but they're porous and allow some tears to get through during sleep. And because they have so little form to them, their binding has very little effect on the shape of the eye.
Heat disinfection is the only method that is truly effective against the microorganism Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is a common culprit for many contact lens wearers. It will also kill organisms on and in the lenses case. Acanthamoeba keratitis is caused by improper lens care and this difficult-to-treat parasitic infection's symptoms are similar to those of corneal ulcers so be careful. Make sure to getting a proper fit because contact lenses that are poorly fitted can lead to painful eyesores, eye inflammation, and serious eye abrasions.
LASIK and laser correction surgery and its risks can be frightening and too expensive for some people but many people do choose this type of vision correction. But contact lenses can provide a safe, cheap or low cost comfortable and time-tested alternative. If you haven't had a check-up in the last year or two, you may have issues or problems with your eyes that you're not aware of, or your contact lenses may not correct your vision as much as you'd like them to do. And if your first lens fitting is performed by an eyecare doctor, he/she can help minimize or eliminate the cause of any eye irritation or discomfort associated with your new lenses

Can Fish Oil Help With ADHD


When the Department for Education and Skills in Britain considered adding fish oil supplements to the curriculum at local schools in 2006, it caused quite a stir. All questions of legality aside, the idea that this would even be a step that was considered is somewhat bold. However, the idea that children aren't getting enough nutrition in their diet is a concern that still makes educators frustrated. With all of the studies linking good nutrition with higher scores on testing, perhaps fish oil needs to be considered once again.
What is Fish Oil
Fish oil is a naturally occurring compound that's, obviously, found in the fatty oils of fish. Composed of essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, these nutrients act differently than regular fats, helping to add healthful benefits to the body rather than causing harmful effects. These fats need to be taken into the body via nutritional choices or supplementation as the body can not produce these chemicals on its own.
The body uses essential fatty acids to help with cellular functions as well as in the control of inflammation in the body. But aside from these functions, essential fatty acids also help the body transmit signals from one nerve to the next as well helping in the role of DNA in the body. When DNA is activated, it creates the messages needed for body functions, so adding fish oil and essential fatty acids to the body is necessary to continue these processes.
How Does Fish Oil Affect the Brain
Before one can discuss the merits of using fish oil for the management of ADHD, it's important to learn how fish oil affects the brain in general. Since fish oil helps in the process of signalling in the brain and along the nervous system, the brain is better able to react to stimuli and things that are sent for processing. For example, if you were to burn your finger and the signalling process wasn't working, you might not realise it for a few seconds, seriously burning the skin on your finger. But when your nervous system is working correctly, it will let you know that your finger is burning and that you need to remove it from the hot surface.
Studies have already shown that fish oil can help with mood disorders like depression and compulsive disorders (according to studies done by the University of Sheffield), so it's not a gigantic leap to understand how these supplements might be advantageous to those with ADHD as well as ADD.
What is ADHD and ADD
These acronyms refer to the conditions of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder. In these conditions, children and adult have troubles maintaining their focus on the task at hand. For those suffering from hyperactivity as well, they can be restless and agitated in addition to not being able to focus. This can lead to troubles with learning as well as sitting still in a school setting. The typical way to manage this condition is through the use of Ritalin or other pharmaceutical treatments, but there can be an equal number of troubles with taking these drugs. Some children do not respond well to these drugs or they have troubles remembering to take the medication on a regular basis. In addition, the level of the drug can be hard to control in order to get the maximum benefit.
Ritalin has also been linked with dangerous side effects like heart disease, depression, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, and even strokes. However, fish oil does not have any side effects in most children, making it a better choice for those who have had troubles with ADHD drugs in the past.
What are Studies Saying about Fish Oil and ADHD
Some psychologists have read about the possible connection between fish oils and a decrease in symptoms of ADHD and ADD, so they have tried to use fish oil as a way to manage these conditions with dramatic results. Children who have been given 1000 mg of fish oil a day have seen increased concentration and decreased hyperactivity within four to six weeks. Most of these children can be taken off any other drugs they might have been taking.
Teachers that have seen these results have noted that the children do better on their examinations and are quieter and more cooperative in the class room. Children are also noting that they are happier in school and more excited about the learning process. Instead of fearing going to class, children are ready to learn and to work with their class mates.
Conclusion
The idea that a school system would consider adding fish oil supplements to their daily routine in order to curb the rise in ADHD behaviours is an indication of the troubles teachers face on a regular basis. But as fish oil seems to be living up to its promises, it might be something that should be considered a bit more seriously in the future.

Quick Weight Loss Through Juice Fasting


You can experience quick weight loss with juice fasting even though it is a method usually adopted to give your body a rest from too many digestive activities. Fasting offers your body the chance to remove waste and toxins that have been accumulating in your body. You lose weight because as nothing else is consumed for the period of juice fast, except for water. Many people report of a noticeable loss of fat. Celebrities have also let on they have gotten into juice fasting or a form of detoxification diet for help in getting into shape quickly.
Adopting juice fasting helps you lose weight and fat because many toxins are found in the fat cells. When you detoxify, waste and unhelpful toxins are released into the body. They are then eliminated through the normal channels of your body, such as urination or through the lungs.
Unlocking the pure nutrients from fruits and vegetables in juicing offers you the chance to obtain pure energy from the juice, and allowing your body to release toxins from various sources. For a quick weight loss, you may want to dilute fresh juices with some water. Juice fasting is preferred over water fasting, as it enables you to carry out a fast for a longer period of time, while still having sufficient energy to function. Depending on the amount of weight to be lost, the level of activity, and individual metabolism rate, people have reported about losing over one pound a day on this fasting regime.
Although you can expect to achieve quick weight loss with juice fasting, there are certain cases of which juice fasting is not advised. Pregnant and nursing mothers, diabetics or those with blood sugar issues, patients of liver or kidney disease, or other chronic conditions should discuss any fasting plans and dietary changes with their doctor before starting.
There are several side effects, such as headaches, fatigue, hypoglycemia, acne, body odor, constipation, and bad breath, that can occur during juice fasting. If you experience signs like dizziness, vomiting, changes in blood pressure levels, diarrhea, or worsening symptoms for long term issues, then stop your juice fast immediately and consult your health care provider. Most people do not have major problems with a juice fast, achieving quick weight loss but some people, having certain health conditions may not help.
Before starting on your fast, it is important that you eat healthily. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, sugar, nicotine, dairy, and meat from your diet. Making these changes help to prepare your body for the cleansing and to minimize any possible side effects that may be experienced.
For juice fasting, it is recommended that you consume between 32 and 64 ounces of juice a day. Juice can be made out of celery, carrots, kale, spinach, cabbage, apple, pineapple, cranberry, beets, and greens. Fruits added to vegetable juices can help to sweeten the combination, making the drink more palatable. Citrus juices can be difficult to process during a fast. Drink the juice and warm water. After the diet, ease yourself back into a solid diet gradually so as not to shock your system.
There are several ways for quick weight loss. Juice fasting is one way that is getting more popular nowadays, as people become more aware of its benefits.
If you use some common sense and gradually ease your body in and out of the fast, it is possible to achieve quick weight loss safely and effectively. You may want to consider getting the guidance of a naturopathic doctor to help chart your results. Be sure to set aside time to rest during the juice fast. Get rejuvenated as your juice fast puts you
on a more healthy weight!

Entice Your Family in to the Bathroom with a Luxury Whirlpool Bath


A luxury item found only in the best bathrooms across the United Kingdom, the whirlpool bath is one of the most pleasurable and most cherished bathroom appliances in the country. Also known in some places as a hot tub or Jacuzzi, the whirlpool bath is a regular bathtub fitted out with jets that circulate streams of hot water within the tub.
Many whirlpool baths are made specifically for therapeutic purposes and the health advantages are many. An increasing number of these playfully healthy therapeutic toys, however, are being installed in private homes simply for the sheer fun of the experience. And there is no denying that whirlpool baths are a world of swirling fun.
Depending on your budget, whirlpool baths can come as basic or as luxuriously intricate as you can afford. Whether you need that polished, futuristic look to your modern bathroom or the breezier, softer tones of a subdued comfort zone, whirlpool baths come made from many different materials including steel and extra durable acrylic. You may not mind taking your whirlpool bath apart every once in a while to scrupulously clean the embedded pipes and other hidden parts, or you may appreciate an integrated disinfection system that can take care of all that for you and allow you to never have to worry about it. In every case, there is a whirlpool bath for you.
Certain whirlpool baths offer combinations of the whirlpool technology with other therapeutic or just plain fun effects. There are air spa whirlpool baths that shoot out jets of air as well as water. There are Chroma therapy whirlpool baths that feature slowly changing underwater coloured lighting display effects. There are ozone generating whirlpool baths, hydro pools and hydro spas, which are two relatively evolved forms of the same thing, jetted hydrotherapy baths, and many more. Whether fun or remedial, what all of these baths have in common is that they all use special nozzles to pump streams of water through the tub to create a full body effect that is both soothing and massaging for the entire person.
The ancient Romans were famous for their use of baths that featured rapidly circulating water to both relax their stressed upper class citizens and revitalise their fatigued upper class citizens. The famous Roman baths relied on natural means to both heat and circulate their water systems and were some of the earliest ancestors of the modern whirlpool bath. These baths were are also an important feature of the Roman social structure as they allowed nobles and senators to associate with each other in their down time and develop strong bonds and alliances in a relaxed and comfortable setting. Today, many whirlpool baths are private and individual affairs enjoyed alone or with a friend from the comfort of one’s home. Even though the whirlpool bath has lost much of the original social spice given to it by the Romans, it has still managed to retain all of the original fun and therapeutic effects and has maybe even gotten better with time.
The idea of a domestic whirlpool bath was developed in California in the early 1900s by a group of Italian brothers who were known at the time for manufacturing aircraft and agricultural pumps. Due to the combination of the death of one of the brothers in an aircraft accident and the development of rheumatoid arthritis in one of the children of another brother, these innovative men turned their attention toward developing personal submersible bathtub pumps. Although the original idea was simply to attempt to sooth the suffering of the young boy’s chronic pain, these water-based therapeutic aids turned out to be a hit in the celebrity market and began receiving rave reviews from famous personalities across the United States.
Soon the brothers incorporated the submersible pump and the tub into a single unit and called it the Jacuzzi, after their own last name. These first Jacuzzi units quickly became icons of the luxurious Hollywood lifestyle and were soon being ordered and delivered around the country and then around the world.
The Jacuzzi brothers kept on steadily improving their design until, by the late 1970s, the Jacuzzi whirlpool bath featured an internal heating system to make sure the water stayed warm and an internal filtration system to make sure it stayed clean and fresh. They also began marketing what they called spa units — larger versions of the original Jacuzzi design, geared toward more commercial and public use. Soon other companies around the world began offering their own takes on the jet stream bath concept, which had originated in California with the Jacuzzi brothers, and the modern whirlpool bath was born

Craft Kits and Their Future with the Kids of Today


In the wake of the economic recession, schools are cutting funding for arts education. When forced to choose between the so-called hard subjects and the arts, administrators invariably snub the arts. The explanation is as simple as it is inexorable: testing. There are no state-mandated tests for art or music, but there are tests for math and science. And because salaries and careers are affected by the results of these tests, the fine arts are left to twist in the wind.
The irony of the situation is that these cuts have had little to no utility. In other words, the test numbers are not going up. In fact, they are on the decline. So, we may be cutting vital subjects and getting absolutely nothing in return. Worse yet, we are left with students who are less excited about learning and dread test taking.
There's a reason why art and music teachers are often the most popular educators in their schools. After hours of crunching numbers and going over their ABCs, kids need a break. That is not to say that art or music is easy. They're not. But they do stimulate different areas of the brain. Rather than memorizing and repeating, students can open up a bit and express themselves in creative ways.
You can't measure an open mind, which is one of the reasons why art programs are on the chopping block. But we do know that arts education has numerous benefits for young children. From an early age, kids are taught to express themselves verbally with words and terms that others can understand. The only problem is that this can lead to a kind of groupthink where everyone speaks and expresses themselves the same way. Art takes words out of the equation. It teaches kids that some things are simply ineffable. Rather than analyzing every little detail to death, they simply respond in a genuine and emotional way.
The arts have never been in a more precarious position than they are today. Even in affluent school districts, art and music programs are being cut left and right. Parents typically protest at the outset, but then they succumb to the inevitable.
The one silver lining in an otherwise overcast sky is that more and more parents are teaching their children about art at home. And this is as it should be. After all, art appreciation traditionally began in the home. The Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 19th century was based on the idea that rote work (industrial labor) was stultifying and that people of all ages needed some relief. Millions of Americans from earlier generations were amateur craftsmen at home. They used glass, metal, wood, ceramics and textiles to make unique handicrafts in their home workshops.
One thing the bean counters miss when they choose to cut arts and craft classes is that art is a process. In other words, there is a beginning, middle, and an end. It's easy as pie to criticise modern art and wonder what it all means. Heck, even some of the experts don't know. But art projects have utility. A child gains confidence, even pride when he completes an original work of art or a handicraft. There's a reason why mothers hang finger paintings on refrigerator doors. Kids are proud of them and they want everyone to see what they made on their own.
There are dozens of different craft kits for kids that teach and require certain skills to complete. Many of them revolve around a major holiday, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween or the 4th of July. Craft kits can be used to make model cars, airplanes, necklaces, bracelets, picture frames, ornaments, and more.
When shopping for a quality craft kit, it is important to consider the age and skill level of the child. If she has never completed a craft project before, it is probably best to start her out on something simple, no matter what her age. Completing a nice festive beaded necklace or bracelet might give her the confidence she needs to attempt more challenging projects.
When it comes to arts and crafts, models made of wood are probably the hardest kits to complete. Not only do these ligneous cars and planes need to be cut and shaped, but they must also be painted and put in working order. There's a reason why pinewood derby races are so hotly contested. People spend hours crafting these model cars. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to find a craft kit your child will enjoy and ultimately complete.

How to Choose the Right Home Health Agency


The use of home health care is becoming increasingly popular due to the number of individuals that are constantly in need of home health care and nurse aids. There are many nursing agencies that are available for you to choose from; however, not all home health agency is the same and in order for you to find the best company to do your business with, there are a number of things that you need to take into consideration but before we look at how to choose the right health agency, let us focus on what exactly is a home health agency and the services that they offer.
What is a home health agency and what do they do?
A home health agency is a company that provides individuals with a variety of social services and health care. The services that are offered by these companies are done in the home and they are provided to people who are terminally ill, disabled, or recovering from an accident or an illness that had them bed ridden for some time. The services that are offered are normally therapeutic, in the medical area, and they will also assist you or your loved ones with daily activities that are crucial to your daily life. Some of these nursing agencies will also offer some light home cleaning that is needed to keep their ward in the best of health. A home health agency provide the patients with the most suitable nurse for the job when they need ongoing health care but prefer to stay home instead of going into a nursing home.
However, who will you be letting into your home when you hire the services of a home health agency?
The services offered by a home health agency means that they will only send certified Medicare professionals into your home. These professionals must meet the minimum requirements of the law for a health care professional in order for them to provide home health services. The services that are offered by home health agency professionals are monitored on a regular basis and these health care providers are highly supervised in order for them to provide the best services possible.
When choosing a home health agency, consider the following:
Base on the fact that not all nursing agencies offer the same thing, you need to first think about the services that you need. There are some agencies that offer their health care by providing the patients with nurses, social workers, physicians, therapists, volunteers, homemakers, supply dealers, and HCA’s, while there are others who only offer the service of a nurse and one or two other specialists. In order for you to get the best treatment available to you, it is essential that you know beforehand all the services that are offered by the agencies that you are looking into.
If you or your loved ones need the service of more than one health care professional, a nursing agency will put a team together with all the specialists that are needed to provide the best home care possible.

Google, Wikipedia and others protest SOPA / PIPA

At this point, SOPA needs no introduction. But if you've been diligently ignoring it up until this point, good luck getting through January 18th as an uninformed citizen. Google, Wikipedia and a host of other websites are either going dark or making huge, unmistakable statements on their homepages in protest. Google's tagline? "End Piracy, Not Liberty." Pretty much says it all, really. If you've spotted another site rebelling today, shout it out in comments below -- and while you're in the shouting mood, give your local officials a holler and let 'em know just how much you disapprove.

CyanogenMod 9 Alpha 0 brings Ice Cream Sandwich to HP TouchPads


If you'd like to run Android 4.0 on your HP TouchPad in stead of watching videos of someone else doing it, your time is now, as an early Alpha 0 build of CyanogenMod 9 has just rolled out. Now, living on the bleeding edge will cause some discomfort when it comes to Market access, hardware accelerated video and using the slate's camera, but fixes are expected as the project continues on. Also fresh for this release is the full source code, if you'd like to truly roll your own edition of Ice Cream Sandwich -- if you're wondering, a triple boot webOS / CM7 / CM9 configuration is reportedly possible, but not recommended. Hit the source link and head over to the RootzWiki forum thread for all the information and software necessary to make it happen, or check out another video preview embedded after the break.

Alienware announces X51 small form factor gaming PC, starting at $699


Alienware may have just upgraded its Aurora gaming rig, but that's not to keep the company from giving more diminutive form factors some love. Just this evening, the subsidiary of Dell announced the X51, a slim gaming PC that's designed to orient itself either vertically or horizontally on the desktop -- complete with an Alienware logo that properly rotates depending on positioning. The system includes both Core i3 and i5 options, and features a slot-loading optical drive with an option for Blu-ray. While it's no shocker, the X51 can be upgraded to 8GB of RAM and a full 1TB of storage. Further, the case accommodates a single, full size NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 graphics card, (with the GTX 555 available as an upgrade), and features an external power supply that's available in 240W or 330W versions. Users can also expect HDMI 1.4, on-board WiFi, USB 3.0 and digital 7.1 surround sound. As a nifty trick, the computer's accent colors can be conveniently modified with the Alienware Command Center software. Touting immediate availability, customers can place orders for the X51 right away, with configurations starting as low as $699. For the complete set of specs that make up this Mini-ITX gamer, just follow the break.

Alienware X51 Product Specifications:
  • Intel Core i3 Dual Core (standard) and Intel Core i5 and i7 Quad Core Processor Options
  • Intel H61 Express Chipset Architecture
  • Mini-ITX Motherboard
  • Powerful NVIDIA Graphics Card Options
    • 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 (Standard)
    • 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 555
  • Configure with up to 8GB of DDR3 Memory (4GB Standard); 2x 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM Slots
  • Fast 7,200RPM 1TB Hard Drive
  • Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
  • Slot-Loading Dual Layer DVD Burner (Standard) or optional Blu-ray Disc Reader
  • Internal High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio with Waves MAXX Audio Software
  • Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC and Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi Wireless LAN (standard)
  • USB 2.0 (6x); USB 3.0 (2x); Microphone In; Headphone/Speaker Out; HDMI 1.4 Output; RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet; Front, Rear and Center Speaker Ports; SPDIF Digital Output (TOSLINK); SPDIF Digital Output (Coax)
  • Alienware 240 Watt Power Supply (Standard) or optional 330 Watt Power Supply
  • Dual-orientation tower system dimensions: h: 13.5" (343mm) x w: 3.74" (95mm) x d: 12.52" (318mm)
  • Starting Weight: 12.1 lbs. (5.49 Kg.)

BANNED BOOKS: PROTECTING OUR SOCIETY OR INFRINGING ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH?


HERE'S WHAT I THINK

Banned Books: Protecting Our Society or Infringing on Freedom of Speech?
Challenging or banning books is a practice as old as the history of writing books. Throughout time, governments, religious organizations, and other groups ban books determined as controversial or against societal norms. In the beginning, burning books was an effective means of destroying the controversial material because of limited printing. With larger publishing capability and the Internet's vast reach, burning books is a little less effective, but it is still done.

Challenging or banning books is not limited to a particular country or time period -- there are banned books in every country today. Every year in the U.S., hundreds of books are challenged to be removed from classrooms and libraries.

The debate is whether this is a good practice, not whether the practice exists. Pro banners cite authors' works are too immoral, deviant, and could cause aberrant behavior. Anti banners cite books should be protected for the authors' freedom of speech.

Is banning books a good idea for society? In my opinion, I don't think so. While I believe in the power of words and the need for social rules, I do not think banning books helps control society. I think banning books infringes on an author's freedom of speech and prevents people from experiencing new ideas.


Image courtesy of American Library Association - Banned Books Week

WHAT ARE BANNED BOOKS?

Banned books are books to which free access is not permitted. The practice of banning books is a form of censorship, and often has political, religious or moral motivations.
Bans on books can be enacted at the national or subnational level, and can carry legal penalties for their infraction. Books may also be challenged at a local, community level. As a result, books can be removed from schools or libraries, although these bans do not extend outside of that area. Similarly, religions may issue lists of banned books ? a historical example being the Roman Catholic Church's Index Librorum Prohibitorum ? which do not always carry legal force.

ALA LIST OF BANNED OR CHALLENGED BOOKS

100 Banned Books: How Many Have You Read?

Banned Books Read - Celebrate Your Freedom To Read
The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) records the most challenged or banned over the years. The OIF has only been recording this data since 1990, so frequently banned authors or books prior to that date aren't included. Most of these books are considered"classic literary" in today's world, and actually 42 of the books are on the Radcliffe Publishing Course list of the century's top 100 novels.

Can you IMAGINE your life if censoring these books had been effective? For a moment, imagine these books banned forever -- and banned from every classroom, library, and home in every country across the globe.

Posters have commented that some of these books are "challenged" at the school level from being required reading or included in the school libraries. Find out why: Reasons for Frequently Challenged Books.

How many of these challenged or banned books have you read?

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
6. Ulysses by James Joyce
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison
8. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
9. 1984 by George Orwell
10. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
11. Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov
12. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
13. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
14. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
15. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
16. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
17. Animal Farm by George Orwell
18. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
19. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
20. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
21. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
22. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
23. Their Eyes are Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
24. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
25. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
26. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
27. Native Son by Richard Wright
28. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
29. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
30. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
31. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
32. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
33. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
34. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
35. Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
36. Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin
37. The World According to Garp by John Irving
38. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
39. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
40. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
41. Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
42. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
43. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
44. Finnegans Wake by James Joyce
45. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
46. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
47. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
48. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence
49. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
50. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
51. My Antonia by Willa Cather
52. Howards End by E. M. Forster
53. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
54. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
55. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
56. Jazz by Toni Morrison
57. Sophie's Choice by William Styron
58. Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner
59. A Passage to India by E. M. Forster
60. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
61. A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor
62. Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
63. Orlando by Virginia Woolf
64. Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
65. Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
66. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
67. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
68. Light in August by William Faulkner
69. The Wings of the Dove by Henry James
70. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
71. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
72. A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
73. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
74. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
75. Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence
76. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
77. In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway
78. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein
79. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
80. The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer
81. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
82. White Noise by Don DeLillo
83. O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
84. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
85. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
86. Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
87. The Bostonians by Henry James
88. An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
89. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
90. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
91. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
92. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
93. The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles
94. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
95. Kim by Rudyard Kipling
96. The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
97. Rabbit, Run by John Updike
98. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster
99. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
100. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

September 30, 2012 - October 6, 2012

Countdown toALA Banned Books Week

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ALA Banned Books Week: September 30, 2012

BANNED BOOK WEEK

September 30, 2012 - October 6, 2012

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Thanks to librarians, teachers, and communities of concerned citizens, many books are not banned. One of the missions of Banned Books Week is to spread awareness of the dangers of limiting freedom of speech, while celebrating the power of words.

To learn more, please visit the ALA's site and information on Banned Books Week.
ALA | Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.

HOT NEWS ON TONI MORRISON

Author of the Banned Book, Beloved

Toni Morrison's novel, Beloved, has been on the banned books list. It hasn't stopped the author from writing more literature. Here's the latest news on the extraordinary author.

This news is updated once a day, so check back for updated stories!
Toni Morrison's 'Beloved' is simplistic pornography, say two Michigan parents ...
Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison's "Beloved" has been pulled from an AP English Literature class at Salem High School in Plymouth-Canton, Mich., according to Patch.com. So has "Waterland" by Graham Swift, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in ...
A Michigan school district considers banning two books
One of the books up for review is Toni Morrison's Beloved, a story about slavery, rape and the effects of trauma. Meredith Yancy, 16, is reading the book in her Advanced Placement English Literature class at Salem High School. ...
Broadway's Dazzling Diamond
Writing regionally produced plays for 20 years including The Bluest Eye, an adaptation of Nobel Prize winning Toni Morrison novel, Diamond is making her Broadway debut with Stick Fly. She teaches playwriting at Boston University and has taught at ...
Challenged Book 'Beloved' to Undergo Review Today
By John McKay Toni Morrison's 1987 novel, 'Beloved,' is part of Salem High's advanced-placement English program. But the book's use is being challenged by an unhappy parent. Plymouth-Canton Community Schools' officials are planning a hearing to allow ...

MORE NEWS ON BANNED BOOKS

Politics TUSD Banning Books? Well Yes, and No, and Yes
Are books being banned from Tucson Unified School District classrooms as part of the district's work to dismantle Mexican-American studies after the governing board voted Tuesday, Jan. 10 to end the classes? Well, it depends on your definition of "ban...
TUSD says reports that it is banning books are completely false
Rene says, "No books have been banned. The only books that have been taken from the classroom are the seven books that were part of the curriculum of the Mexican-American Studies classes, and those have been moved to storage. ...
Plymouth-Canton school district banning books
Last week they flooded a board meeting, flowing out into the halls. All but the Dames spoke against banningthe books. Laurie Golden, the mother of three Plymouth-Canton students, wrote a letter to the board sayingbanning these books was threatening ...
Banned Book List in Local Libaries
In our Facebook Story of the day you wanted to know what books are banned in local libaries. Every year the American Library Association Posts a list of banned books and many of the books listed are percieved as objectionable because of how they ...

YOUR TURN!

Banned Books: Protecting Our Society or Infringing on Freedom of Speech?

I say:
 

Yes, you're right!

Mamaboo says:
Books should never be banned. There are many I disagree with, but without the choice of reading them or not, I may be the one that loses out on just one small idea, that may change my life or others forever!
reasonablerobinson says:
I go along with age restricted material. However total banning of books for adults is a fearful reaction of an oppressive government. A ban begs the question 'what is the reason for the fear'.

Inciting harm to others is a challenge in this context though.
Tipi says:
Oh my!
Susie says:
banning books is not right! freedom of speech all the way!!!!!
JoanneOtt says:
Some of the books on that list are quite surprising.
jkvkdailey says:
I was happy to see our local library had a table full of banned books for Banned Book Week. There's is nothing that banning a book does to protect our society. Books open minds and a person can choose to read or not read a book. Banning books is one step further to ban people from having opinions.
fanfreluche says:
people have the right to read whatever they want. It's a personnal choice to read something or not to read it.
Marijoyce says:
Absolutely great lens. Thanks for your nice comment on my bio page today. You are also an excellent writer, I can't wait to have more time to read your work here since it is very well done, and congrats as well on your LOTD lens as well.
LoKackl says:
I have read all except Lolita, The French Lieutenant's woman, White Noise, Midnight's Children, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, and Naked Lunch. So now I have my reading list for the near future. Thanks this list is amazing.
VickiSims says:
Banning books definitely infringes on freedom of speech - if you don't like a book - don't read it, but no one should take someone else's right to write or read a book it away.
Punit says:
Off course, it's Infringing on Freedom of Speech! Didn't know that September 25?October 2 is ALA's Banned Books Week....have coincidently wrote a blogpost on Banned Indian Books...here it goes... http://dubeypunit.blogspot.com/2010/06/banned-indian-books.html
Gloriousconfusion says:
I've read about 25 of your listed books, but if you count seeing the film rather than reading the book, it's about 35.I also started a couple more which were completely indigestible.
I agree we should be able to choose our own reading matter

No way, Monkeybrain!

goldenecho says:
Many of the books on the banned and challenged list of the ALA are not really "banned" but just restricted to adult venues. Some of the parents challenging these books are not even asking that books be taken out of school libraries, but just that their children not be required to read them. And a book not being REQUIRED is not exactly limiting freedom of speech.

In other countries you can be killed or jailed just for having certain books the government disapproves of. When parents here in the US request that their children not be exposed to explicit or violent reading content until they are older...well, that's hardly comparable.
Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries says:
School Superintendents May Remove Explicit Books Immediately; Waterland by Graham Swift Removed from Salem High School, Canton, MI

http://safelibraries.blogspot.com/2011/12/school-superintendents-may-remove.html
 
 
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READ BANNED BOOKS

Buy Classic Books on Amazon

As a book reviewer, my goal is to read more books from the list of challenged or banned books -- books considered to be the century's top 100 novels. Here are some I may re-read this year. What about you? Will you choose to read (or re-read) these classics?
Beloved (Everyman's Library)

Beloved (Everyman's Library)

Amazon Price: $14.29 (as of 01/18/2012) Buy Now
Catch-22

Catch-22

Amazon Price: $9.88 (as of 01/18/2012) Buy Now
Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451

Amazon Price: $2.97 (as of 01/18/2012) Buy Now
The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

Amazon Price: $5.92 (as of 01/18/2012) Buy Now
To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

Amazon Price: $5.75 (as of 01/18/2012) Buy Now

TELL THE WORLD - BANNED BOOKS SPREAD KNOWLEDGE

Perfect shirts for banned books week - what have you learned from reading banned books? Share with the world!

Show others that banned books have had a profound and positive aspect on our society - say it on a tee, magnet, tote, or cap.
Banned Books Women's T-Shirt

Banned Books Women's T-Shirt

Everything I Needed to Know About Life
I Learned From Banned Books
Price: 21.99 Buy Now
Tote Bag

Tote Bag

I Read Banned Books
The Bible
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Hamlet - William Shakespeare
Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank

.... (click the link for more listed books on this tote)
Price: 13.99 Buy Now
Open Organic Kids T-Shirt

Open Organic Kids T-Shirt

Books & Minds
They Function Better When Open
Price: 25.00 Buy Now
Read a Banned Book! Stonewashed Cap

Read a Banned Book! Stonewashed Cap

Read a Banned Book!
Price: 20.00 Buy Now
Ban Ignorance Magnet

Ban Ignorance Magnet

Ban Ignorance
Not Books
Price: 5.00 Buy Now
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RELATED NEWS: FODDER FOR ARGUING MORE

Politics TUSD Banning Books? Well Yes, and No, and Yes
Are books being banned from Tucson Unified School District classrooms as part of the district's work to dismantle Mexican-American studies after the governing board voted Tuesday, Jan. 10 to end the classes? Well, it depends on your definition of "ban...
TUSD says reports that it is banning books are completely false
There are even reports that TUSD is banning William Shakespeare's "The Tempest." "What's been widely reported as a book ban at TUSD is completely false, completely misleading. There has been no book ban at TUSD," says TUSD Director of Communications ...
Banned Book List in Local Libaries
In our Facebook Story of the day you wanted to know what books are banned in local libaries. Every year the American Library Association Posts a list of banned books and many of the books listed are percieved as objectionable because of how they ...
Plymouth-Canton school district banning books
It has to do with banning books. And while it hasn't made headlines, the implications are ominous, and scary. This is a sizable district, with three high schools with more than six thousand students. Plymouth-Canton has many students and parents who ...

WHAT'S ON YOUR BOOKSHELF?

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  • Reply
    Mamaboo Jan 18, 2012 @ 1:45 am
    I think many of these books I'll be buying or re-buying so my children can have their minds expanded, rather than controlled by the government. Be blessed this day and continue the good, non biased work!
  • Reply
    reasonablerobinson Jan 18, 2012 @ 1:24 am
    Freedom of speech is priceless and should be defended within a society that has legislation to protect the vulnerable.
  • Reply
    goldenecho Jan 18, 2012 @ 1:06 am
    While there are things on that list that seems ridiculous to ban from anywhere...a lot of the OTHER books on the ALAs list (including ones you didn't mention from their literature) I understand parents being concerned about. I've read their list of "banned" books in 2012 and didn't find any that were actually, truely, banned. They were taken out of school libraries...but anyone could go buy one at their local bookstore. And most of the challenges and "banned" books they had on that list were books taken out of schools, not public libraries. I disagree with banning books from public libraries...but I have no problem with restricting books in schools if they are not appropriate for that age level (which was what a lot of the challenges listed were about).
  • Reply
    Tipi Jan 18, 2012 @ 12:16 am
    Congratulations on receiving LotD honors! I'm still shaking my head about that list. On the positive side, there's no better way to get people to want to read every book on the list when they learn its challenged or banned.
  • Reply
    Lisa-Marie-Mary Sep 13, 2010 @ 12:49 pm
    Wonderful lens on a very important issue! I love the way you are open to hear the other side, even if I'm on YOUR side!
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