Get Your Toddler's Meltdowns Under Control(BLOG)

Be Consistent

Toddlers often throw fits when you've told them they're not allowed to do or have something, or when you want them to do something they don't want to (like leave the playground!). One solution is to create ground rules up front. Tell your child that if you say it's time to leave the playground, they must leave the playground. Make it known that resistance isn't going to change that. Then, when it's time to go, don't let them convince you to stay -- even if it's only five minutes longer.

"You shouldn't say it's not okay to throw food one day and then let the child do it the next, for example," says Alanna Levine, MD, a pediatrician in New York City and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Over time, your toddler will start to learn what behavior is expected of them, and they'll likely learn to cooperate better.

Call for Backup

Simply can't keep your cool? Make sure your toddler is in a safe place, like his crib or a playpen, then take a step back and call for help. "Tell your husband you're about to lose it, and let him step in so you can leave," says Levine. It will probably be easier for him to approach the situation without stressing, if he wasn't part of its escalation. (And remember to help him out in the same way in the future, when he's part of an explosive situation.)

Communicate Right

Teach your child the skills she needs to ask you -- nicely -- for the things she wants. Your kid should know that if she wants a cookie while you're in the grocery aisle, instead of creating a scene, she should ask you without whining. That means plenty of prep work. Explain all this stuff at a time when she's calm, in simple terms she can understand. Then when you're in the thick of it, remind her of how she's supposed to ask for things.

"In the moment a toddler's screaming, even if you talk rationally, she's not going to hear it," says Levine. "Explain -- out of the moment -- that mommy wants her to smile when she asks for something and that you won't do what she wants if she's screaming and crying for it. Then when the time comes, remind her: ‘What kind of face does mommy want?'"

Resist a Quick Fix

Okay, we know the title of this article is "Get Your Toddler's Meltdowns Under Control," but sometimes you actually shouldn't stop the blowup while it's happening -- especially if it means breaking the rules to make a quick fix. For example, if your toddler isn't allowed to have cookies until after dinner but she wants one while you're at the supermarket, resist the urge to give her a cookie right then and there to stop the shouting. Know that sticking to those rules you've created won't stop this flare-up, but it will help prevent future ones. Have faith that your consistency will work.

Distract, Distract, Distract

"There are some parents who can distract their children out of their tantrums," says Levine. "So if they see their child getting hysterical, they tell them a joke or ask them if they want a piece of candy or do something silly to distract them. That works for some kids, but for some kids it won't." Do a few experiments to see what works for yours.

Walk Out the Door

Stuck in the grocery aisle with a toddler who just won't stop screaming, no matter what you do? "Sometimes you just need to ditch the shopping cart and leave the store," says Levine. The change of scenery will likely change the behavior. And, let's face it, your home is a much more safe-feeling place for your toddler -- so go there.

Know Your Child's Limits

The more uncomfortable your toddler is, the higher the odds of a tantrum. So make every effort to stick closely to her comfort zone. "If bedtime is 7:30, don't go out to dinner at 8 p.m. and expect her to behave," says Levine. "Keep your child's moods and schedule in mind. They need to eat and sleep."

Ignore the Outburst

Sometimes toddlers just want attention. It doesn't matter to them if it's positive or negative attention, and a tantrum is a great way to get it. So maybe instead of punishing or yelling at your child, let him work it out himself. We're not saying ignore him -- just comfort him and wait until he calms down. And most important, don't give in. "Toddlers are at a tough age -- they don't have the mental capacity to problem-solve and reason," says Levine. "Consistently show them that a tantrum isn't an effective way to get what they want." Over time, the fits will likely occur less frequently.







Keep Your Cool






When your child starts freaking out, it's really easy to have your own little eruption -- but know that if you yell, cry or get mad, it could just make the episode worse. So remind yourself that this is what toddlers do sometimes, and try not to take it personally. Even if you feel like screaming, don't let him know it. "Take a deep breath and start acting," says Levine. "You don't want two people upset and hysterical." Hey, if you model calm behavior, maybe your toddler will take a hint and learn to be calmer when he's angry, too. (That might take some extra time though.)

Get Everyone In on It

"You and other caregivers, like your babysitter and partner, should be on the same page with how to handle it when the rules are broken," says Levine. That way, your toddler's less likely to try to push the boundaries around different people.

Forbes: 15 Dumbest Warning Labels!! (Blog, Pics)

Only a moron would try to wash her daughter in a washing machine; or shake hands with the business end of a chainsaw; or light a match to check the contents of a gas tank. And yet manufacturers continue to go to laughable lengths to protect their customers, bombarding them with ridiculous warning labels or stunningly obvious explanations of how their products work. Here are 25 of the best--er, worst--we found over the last four years.

Label: Never operate your speakerphone while driving. Product: Jabra Drive 'N' Talk.

The 2010 winner of the

annual Wacky Warning

Label contest, which challenges Americ

ans to find the most ridiculou

s warning labels in the country. The Jabra Drive 'N' Talk is a Bluetooth

speakerphone accessory for cellphones to be used in the car. So should it just be called

the "Talk"?

Label: This product may contain nuts. Product: Peanuts & Peanut M&Ms.

Often found on bags of peanuts, including those made by Sainbury, as well as on those yellow bags of Peanut M&Ms. All

of which makes you wonder what some conspiracy theorists think they're buying.

Label: Do not hold the wrong end of a chainsaw. Product: Chainsaw.

Many chainsaws bear this digit-saver, in sticker form, right on their sides.

Label: Do not use while sleeping. Product: Hair dryer.

Several manufacturers of hair dryers thought it necessary to warn users of the dangers of sleep-drying, an affliction that, apparently, befell somebody.

Label: Contents may catch fire. Product: Blow torch gas bottle.

Just let 'em go up in flames.

Label: Do not drive with sun shield in place. Product: Reflective cardboard sun shades for car dashboards.

OK, so what is the sun shield for? Presumably, hanging out in your car, alone, sipping a 44-ounce fountain cup of Mountain Dew, air conditionin

g on, sun shade firmly in place, contemplating where you'll drive when the sun finally goes down. Or you could just take the sunshade out of the window and drive in the blistering sun without it.

Label: This product may contain eggs. Product: A carton of eggs.

So that's what those are!

Label: May cause drowsiness. Product: Nytol sleeping pills.

Let's hope, for GlaxoSmithKline's sake, the warning rings true.

Label: Safety goggles recommended. Product: Staples's letter opener.

Sadly, this was a misprint. According to Amy Sandler, a public relations rep at Staples, "The label is meant for our retractab

le box cutter, where the blades might slide off. Package redesigns are currently being shipped to Staples and Staples.com with the correct 'Keep out of reach of children' warn

ing." Fair enough.

Label: The Vanishing Fabric Marker should not be used as a writing instrument for signing checks or any legal documents. Product: W.H. Collins' Vanishing Fabric Markers.
Well, that sure takes the fun of out it: After all, who doesn't like being handed a blank check?

Label: Never use a lit match or open flame to check fuel level. Product: Jet Ski.

This little ditty can be found on gas caps for personal recreational vehicles such as jet skis and ATVs. Should be followed by: "And if this was news to you, you are not legally permitted to operate this vehicle or, for that matter, leave the house."

Label: Do not put any person in this washer. Product: Huebsch Washing Machine.
First load: towels. Next load: the youngest daughter.

Label: This product is not intended for use as a dental drill. Product: Dremel Multipro rotary tools.

You can't be too careful in this day and age

Label (on website): Do not eat. Product: Apple's iPod shuffle.
When Apple introduced its digital music player in 2005, the company added this warning on its website. Parody or paranoia? The company wouldn't comment.

Label: Keep pet birds out of the kitchen when using this product. Product: Bialetti Casa Italiana's nonstick pans.
Polly may not have a thing for fancy cookware, and she might not like the fumes potentially given off by hot Teflon, either. "Many animal owners call us inquiring about it," says Richard Duran, a Bialetti consumer relations representative.

10 Ways to Sleep Like A Baby! (Blog)

So what are the causes of nightmares, teeth-grinding, restlessness and early waking? There are 89 different sleep disorders.
And here, with the help of experts, we examine ten of the most common and explain how to tackle them.

#1 Tossing and turning
Likely cause: You’re probably too hot.
‘Our bodies follow a strong natural rhythm, rising in temperature through the day and falling overnight,’ explains Dr Neil Stanley, a sleep expert.
‘At around 3am we have the biggest dip and anything that makes it difficult for us to lose heat at that point will cause disturbed sleep.’
One problem is central heating. ‘Although people set their central heating to 21 degrees because that’s comfortably warm, our bedroom feels very hot and we become restless, moving around to try and cool down.’
Women also tend to be more restless at night during menopause and their menstrual cycle because their body temperature rises.

What you can do:
‘The temperature under the covers should be around 29 degrees,’ says Dr Stanley.
‘Given enough time you will heat your bed up to the right temperature because you are always burning calories, which generates heat. On a cold night your body has to work harder, so people use electric blankets or hot-water bottles — but you can overheat your bed.
‘Make sure the bedroom is about 16 degrees because you need to lose temperature out of your head.’ So let your room cool by turning the heating off in the evening or opening a window.

#2 Grogginess on waking
Likely cause: A change of routine or oversleeping.
‘The body craves regularity and wants to get up at the same time every day. It prepares for waking an hour beforehand,’ says Dr Stanley. ‘But it can only prepare if it knows when you’re going to get up.
‘So if you usually wake up at 7am during the week, then at 6am your body sets the wheels in motion so you can leap out of bed.’
Our natural body clock ensures hormone production is timed for waking. For example, an anti-diuretic hormone rises during the night to control urine production so your sleep isn’t disturbed by needing to go to the loo.
Your gastric juices kick-start your appetite in the morning, adds Professor Kevin Morgan, of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University. But if your routine is disturbed, for instance because you lie in at the weekend, your body has to catch up on all this when you wake.
The same happens on a Monday morning after a sleep-heavy weekend as the early start isn’t expected.

What you can do:
The solution is as simple as sticking to a pattern and not sleeping in at weekends. ‘This will help synchronise with your body’s natural rhythms and also prevent the feeling of “sleep drunkenness”, where you over sleep and don’t feel good afterwards,’ says Prof Morgan.

#3 Walking/talking in your sleep
Likely cause: Alcohol, medication, genetics or having something on your mind can all trigger these night time activities, known as parasomnia.
‘Everyone is capable of sleepwalking or talking,’ explains Dr Stanley. ‘The conscious part of your brain can be deeply asleep while other bits, such as the area controlling movement and navigation, are still awake.’
The problem can run in families, but it can also be triggered in anyone when sleep is partially disturbed, meaning part of their brain is awake.
One trigger is alcohol, which lightens sleep. Parasomnia is also common in children as their nervous system is still developing. It can also be brought on by medications, such as some antidepressants, or by different drugs interacting.

What you can do:
Some parasomnias, such as talking, are often harmless. Others, such as having sex while asleep (most prevalent in young men) may be more problematic. Sleep- walking can be especially dangerous.
The advice is to try to work out the triggers which disturb full sleep (such as alcohol), check side-effects of medication with your GP and check if the problem runs in your family.

#4 Daytime tiredness
Likely cause: If you’ve had sufficient sleep, tiredness may be a result of weight gain (leading to sleep apnoea) or anxiety, which disrupt sleep without you realising it.
‘Sleep apnoea is a prevalent condition which affects 2 to 4 per cent of the population,’ says sleep nurse Rebecca Mullins. ‘It is common in the overweight, particularly men with large collar sizes.’
As they sleep, sufferers’ airways start to collapse and they can stop breathing for anything from ten to 60 seconds. Their oxygen levels drop so low the brain wakes them and they start breathing again with a snore.
‘Sufferers are not usually aware of the problem, but they don’t get refreshing sleep,’ says Mullins.
Another cause is anxiety. Dr Stanley says: ‘This makes sleep lighter and reduces the amount of deep sleep, the most restful part.
‘Some people accept feeling sleepy during the day as being their natural state, but nothing could be further from the truth — sleepiness isn’t natural.
‘If you’ve had a good night’s sleep you should feel brilliant. Unexplained tiredness during the day is always indicative of something.’ Other causes are chronic disease and teeth grinding.

What you can do:
‘If week after week you feel sleepy, then something is going on you need to look at,’ says Dr Stanley, who suggests speaking to your doctor.

#5 Waking in the night
Likely cause: Intermittent waking without obvious cause is probably due to changes in your environment, stress or age.
‘From an evolutionary point of view, you could only sleep well if you felt safe and secure,’ says Dr Stanley. ‘So anything that stops this will disturb your sleep.’
We sleep in cycles and wake very briefly at the end of each cycle, but usually only vaguely recollect this. However, if you have something on your mind or are attentive to the environment, you will become more awake at that point.
Also, as we get older we wake up more easily. ‘Throughout adulthood your sleep becomes progressively lighter and more fragmented,’ says Prof Morgan. ‘This is because of changes in the nervous system and hormones.’

What can you do: Rebecca Mullins says: ‘Avoid drinks as these fill the bladder. Don’t eat late as your body will still be digesting.’

#6 Waking too early
Likely cause: Depression-induced insomnia or your environment are the usual triggers.
‘Everyone thinks insomnia is not being able to fall asleep, but there are three types — not being able to fall asleep, waking up and waking too early,’ says Dr Stanley. ‘The latter is one of the classic signs of depression, though no one knows why.’ Changes in your environment can also wake you too early, as we wake easily in the morning anyway as sleep becomes lighter.
‘You almost certainly won’t wake up for the first three hours of night as you are deeply asleep,’ says Dr Stanley. ‘But later sleep is much lighter and more prone to be disturbed by noises.’

What you can do:
‘The big caveat is that if you feel fine during the day then whatever’s happening isn’t a problem,’ says Dr Stanley. If you think the issue is insomnia, speak to your doctor.

#7 Teeth-grinding
Likely cause: Known as bruxism, teeth-grinding varies from jaw clenching to ferocious grinding that wears teeth down to stumps. It is usually due to genetics or stress.
‘There’s nothing serious underlying teeth grinding,’ says Dr Stanley. ‘Though it can be caused by stress, it is often just due to genetics.’

What you can do:
‘Treatment is important, as people who grind their teeth have dental problems but also tension headaches,’ says Dr Stanley.
Usual treatment is a gum shield, though some people grind through these. If teeth-grinding is caused by stress, then the cause should be addressed.

#8 Nightmares
Likely cause: Stress may be a factor, but otherwise they are a random occurrence.
‘Nightmares are luck of the draw,’ says Dr Stanley. ‘We all dream four or five times a night, but only remember them if we wake up during or just after them. So we are all probably having disturbing dreams and just not remembering them.’

What you can do:
People often associate nightmares with stress, which then makes them more anxious.
‘If you’re stressed and have a scary dream, you put them together and everything seems worse,’ says Dr Stanley.
Although stress can cause you to wake up more, remember we all have bad dreams all the time. Try to improve your sleep so you wake up less often.

#9 Sleeping too much
Likely cause: A common cause of hypersomnia is disease.
‘Lots of people with long-term conditions tend to sleep longer,’ says Professor Francesco Cappuccio, a sleep expert at the University of Warwick. ‘It is a marker of ill health.’
This also occurs in the chronic stage of long-term depression (while the early stages are characterised by insomnia).

What you can do:
Tell your doctor. ‘Long sleep could be a marker for your GP,’ says Prof Cappuccio. ‘Unfortunately, doctors never ask how many hours you sleep — but problems can be picked up from that.
‘If someone sleeps too much, they may have a health problem.’ Though we all have our own sleep need, you should take notice if you’re sleeping significantly more over a prolonged period, napping during the day or have trouble waking up.

#10 Can’t sleep until late
Likely cause: If you find you don’t want to go to bed until very late at night and you then struggle to get up in the morning, this could be due to a late natural body clock.
‘Everyone has an internal biological clock,’ says Prof Cappuccio. ‘But this clock is not exactly 24 hours — it is between 23 and 25, which can make us morning or night people.’
People with a late clock have the propensity to go to bed a bit later every day. However, this internal timing interacts with external cues, such as light, to synchronise with the day.
But left without these clues, for instance bright light at night, you would become mismatched with the day, says Prof Cappuccio.
‘There is also another sleep/wake cycle regulated by light,’ he adds. ‘Melatonin is a hormone that sends you to sleep and this increases when the brain perceives that it is night. When it’s daylight, melatonin is shut down and we wake up.’
However, for some people getting up late or early is simply learned behaviour that can be changed.

What you can do:
Turn down main lights before bed and use a lamp. If possible, let daylight wake you.

The Best Day to Buy A Cheap Flight! (Blog)

Shoppers looking for the cheapest airfare can learn something from stand-up comedians: It's all about timing.

Ticket prices are highest on weekends, on average, according to online travel agencies, fare trackers and airline pricing executives.

When's the best time to buy? Travel experts have long said Tuesday is when sales are most often in place, which is true. An analysis of domestic fares shows that Wednesday also has good -- and occasionally better -- ticket prices.

Though prices fluctuate frequently and the ups and downs of airline prices can frustrate and anger consumers, airline pricing actually does follow a cycle during the week. Many sales, in which some seats are discounted by 15% to 25% typically, are launched Monday night. That was true again this week when AirTran Airways launched a sale to all its destinations. Competitors typically match the lower prices Tuesday morning. By Thursday or Friday, many sales have already expired.

Two weeks ago, a Chicago-Atlanta round-trip ticket for April travel dates cost $209 on Tuesday and Wednesday on American and Delta, but then $301 for the next four days. When Tuesday rolled around last week, the fare dropped to $219 at both airlines for the April 8-15 itinerary. By Friday it was up to $307 at both American and Delta. Come Tuesday this week, the fare was down to $229.

[More from WSJ.com: Top U.S. Airlines of 2010]

"Like bread, fares get sort of stale toward the end of the week," said Bob Harrell, a fare consultant who has tracked airline pricing for years.

For this analysis, Mr. Harrell studied all fares filed by airlines over the past 90 days and found Monday was the busiest day for fare changes, followed by Thursday.

When airlines want to push through a fare increase, marking up their basic prices across the board usually by $5 or $10, they often do that on Thursday night, then watch to see if competitors match and if the higher rates stick over the weekend. If competitors balk, prices can be rolled back by Monday morning.

[More from WSJ.com: Flight Canceled? How to Get a Cot, Food and the Fastest Flight Out]

In addition, airlines don't manage their inventory as actively on weekends, so if cheap seats sell on some flights, prices automatically jump higher. Fare analysts may decide later to offer more seats at cheaper prices, but not until they come back to work on Monday, according to airline pricing executives.

So a ticket can be $199 certain days and $499 other days even months ahead of a flight. "There's a lot of method behind the madness, a lot of rationality behind the moves for airlines," said Ike Anand, Expedia's director of airline strategy. "But for consumers, it does seem crazy."

10 Ways to 'Trick' Yourself Into Working Out! (Blog)

It's true what they say: 80 percent of success is just showing up. Once you're there — you're there. Propelling yourself to the gym, pool, mat, or trail can feel like a hurdle in its own right, but it's always one worth jumping! Try these 10 tips to get you, and keep you, motivated:

1. Channel that glorious post workout feeling. Whenever you feel the instinct to skip a sweat session, imagine how accomplished and energized you feel after just 30 minutes or an hour of exercise. Just get there already.
2. Make a date with a friend or fitness trainer. If you set a time to meet someone, you'll feel obligated to go, even when your mind and body are telling you otherwise.
3. Create a healthy post workout routine and make time for it too. Reward yourself after a workout by scheduling extra moments to relax in the steam room, blow out your hair to perfection, get a hot coffee, or simply sit and enjoy an apple.
4. Schedule your workout early in the morning before the day's distractions detour you from lofty intentions.
5. Carry a motivational token or photo with you. Beyoncé says she keeps a painting of an Oscar at the gym, so she's literally running toward her next goal. Instead of commissioning a masterpiece, snap a shot of the dress you want to wear on your next date, a beautiful beach you hope to visit this year, or even yourself at your best, and make it the wallpaper on your phone. When you feel like caving, look at it.
6. Instead of going home to watch your favorite show on the couch, suit up and watch it on the treadmill. If your gym doesn't have TVs on each machine load up your iPod or iPhone.
7. Try something new. Sign up for an exercise class you've never taken before, take a hike to a lookout spot, ride your bike to a new trail or work out at a different time.
8. Throw on your favorite workout wear and some lip gloss. Kelly Osbourne admits to dolling up so she feels positive and pretty when she sees her reflection working out.
9. Avoid taking a physical dip by fueling your body with a healthy pre-workout snack. You'll have something to burn and a boost of protein to keep your eye on the prize.
10. Give yourself a gold star. Plot out a reward system and treat yourself when you hit your goal of workouts per week, weight loss, or the finish line.

Marriott Bans Porn At New Hotels?! (Blog)

Marriott International, one of the nation's leading hotel groups, tells Hotel Check-In that it's pulling access to adult movies from the new hotel rooms it will be opening the next several years.

Marriott says that its decision coincides with a pending shift to new, in-room entertainment technology.

Marriott's decision also comes after years of discussing whether the availability of adult entertainment in guest rooms - for years, a money maker for hotels - is appropriate and whether secure safeguards exist to keep it away from children. It also comes as business travelers, especially, check into hotels carrying their own entertainment, whether Netflix DVDs, an iPod Touch or a laptop.

Marriott's statement (below) came in response to Hotel Check-In's question this morning asking if Marriott was the unidentified hotel chain referenced in news reports yesterday about media provider LodgeNet. The reports said that one of LodgeNet's large hotel-chain customers in 2013 would begin to phase out "mature content." LodgeNet's two largest customers are Marriott and Hilton.

LodgeNet's revenue from all of its guest-entertainment programs - including Hollywood blockbusters, games, music and porn - had fallen during the recession mainly due to lower hotel occupancy levels, but also because travelers changed their viewing habits to save money.

Here is the rest of Marriott's statement to Hotel Check-In:

"It is our practice to keep adult content out of the reach of children and unavailable to any adult who chooses not to view it. We have strong controls in place that allow guests to block these materials. Changing technology and how guests access entertainment has reduced the revenue hotels and their owners derive from in-room movies, including adult content. We are working with in-room entertainment providers and technology vendors to transition to the next generation of in-room entertainment. This new platform of Internet-based video-on-demand will facilitate our exit from the traditional hotel video systems that included adult content in the menu selection, and will also provide guests greater choice and control over what they watch across our system.

As we transition to this new platform, adult content will be off the menu for virtually all of our newly built hotels. Over the next few years, this will be the policy across our system."

What are your thoughts on porn in hotel rooms?

6 Simple Solutions to High-Tech Problems! (Blog)

Can't work your iPhone with your winter gloves on? Got a scratched DVD that's skipping? Or how about a work PC that signs you out the moment you step away from your desk? The MacGyver-approved answer may be hiding in your junk drawer.

In this week's episode of Upgrade Your Life, Yahoo! News's Becky Worley delivers some simple, everyday solutions for what might appear to be daunting high-tech problems, starting with:

1. Touchscreen phones that won't work when you have gloves on
The capacitive touch displays on the latest and greatest Android and iOS handsets are tops when it comes to tapping out messages with a light touch. Winter gloves, however, will block the electrical charge from your fingertips that capacitive screens use to register a tap — bad news if you're trying to answer a call in a blizzard.

Becky's solution: Cut a tiny slit in your wool gloves (assuming you don't mind slicing up your winter wear) to allow a finger to pop out whenever you need to start tapping.

Don't want to cut holes in your gloves? Try the Pogo Stylus, a pencil-sized metallic stick with a specially made tip that works with capacitive displays.

Related:
Pogo Stylus

2. Dirty cell phone cases
That case you bought for your smartphone looked pretty spiffy when you first slipped it on. After a few months, though, you'll be in for a rude shock when you take the case off and look inside. Where did all that gunk come from? On second thought, don't tell us.

Becky's solution: If it's a one-piece silicone case, just toss it in the dishwasher — done. Beware, though: Plastic cases with multiple, glued-on parts will come apart if you give them the dishwasher treatment.

3. Wet gadgets
News flash: Gadgets and water rarely mix. If you do manage to leave your cell phone, camera, or other battery-powered gear out in the rain — or worse, drop them in a toilet — the prognosis is usually pretty grim.

Becky's solution: Before you give up hope, try dropping your soaked gear into a Tupperware container full of rice to draw out the moisture. (Check out more details on this method from Popular Mechanics.) Or, as a general preventative measure to keep moisture away, save some silica gel packs (you know, the ones you'll find in boxes of new shoes or beef-jerky packages) and stuff them in your cell phone or camera case.

Related:
How to Save Your Wet Cellphone: Tech Clinic [Popular Mechanics]
8 Clever Uses for Silica Gel [Popular Mechanics]

4. Scratched DVDs and CDs
There's nothing quite as annoying as a skipping music CD or a DVD that randomly jumps seconds or minutes ahead, without warning. In some cases, you might be dealing with a dirty laser in your CD or DVD deck; more often, however, the culprit is a scratched disc.

The good news is that it is possible to repair scratches in the polycarbonate plastic coating that protects the underlying layer of data on a DVD or CD, as long as the scratch isn't too deep.

Becky's solution: Polish the scratches with a little furniture cleaner, perhaps with a follow-up dose of car polish. Just be sure to start from the center of the disc and rub outward, in a straight line; whatever you do, don't rub in circles.

Related:
How to Recover Scratched DVDs [eHow]

5. Work PCs that sign you out too quickly
Code-clearance NSA operatives performing top-secret data entry at secure terminals should probably skip this tip. For the rest of us, however, here's an easy way to keep your paranoid PC from signing you out the moment you turn away from the screen.

Becky's solution: Take off your watch (assuming you still have a watch, of course) and lay your mouse on top of its face; the ticking hands will fool the optics in your mouse into thinking it's still in motion.

6. Not enough D batteries for your flashlight
The power's out, and you've got your flashlight — minus one more D battery. D'oh!

Becky's solution: If you've got a spare C battery floating around in your junk drawer, you're in luck; just drop it into the D-cell slot and fill the remaining space with a stack of quarters. Sounds crazy, but Becky promises it'll work. (Just make sure to pick up some more D batteries the next time you're in the hardware store.)