Articles written by Matt Bender

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About me - Matt Bender

I'm Matt, a college student at a small public school (around 4,000 undergraduates) in Colorado Springs. I've moved about 15 times over the past 20 years or so, and I've been fortunate enough to spend around 3 years in Europe. I've been to about 46 states in

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Sports & Recreation > Recreational & Youth Safest sports for children: 1 of 14
When it comes to safety in sports, there is no fail-proof option. Every sport from boxing to swimming has its own inherent risk, particularly if the safety regulations are ignored. However, the following three sports can be considered among the safest for children: 1) Swimming has leapt to the forefront of the sporting world ... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending Save on groceries: 10 of 107
With a troubled economy and limited money, families are trying to save money wherever they can. These few approaches can provide more bang for the buck in low-cost quality food for the family. Creating a list before shopping greatly reduces the likelihood of spontaneously grabbing random items off the shelf. Additionally, cus... More..
Sports & Recreation > Snowboarding Snowboarding safety tips: 1 of 6
Although snowboarding is not a particularly safe sport, following these tips will allow you to have a far safer snowboarding outing. Check to make sure your bindings are securely fastened to the board, and don't use the board if the fasteners are missing and/or damaged. Constant snowboard use can lead to loosened bindings; bi... More..
Jobs & Careers > Employers Is the military a good choice for your son or daughter: 2 of 11
Without question, joining United States military is an excellent choice for young men and women nationwide. The military has amazing people, and the military takes care of those people and their families. The quality of people in the military is the highest you'll encounter anywhere in the country. Each and every individual a... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Methods What is parenting?: 3 of 11
Parenting leads to a child's personal development, develops how they react to different situations, and how they view life. It means watching a child being born, taking its first breath, and crying for its parents for the first time. Parenting means feeding the child, teaching the child how to walk, talk, use the bathroom, an... More..
Travel > Travel Diaries & Adventures (Other) Travel diaries: Lost luggage and other travel misadventures: 2 of 7
With Thanksgiving only a little over three weeks away, I recall my family's 2006 Thanksgiving vacation fiasco. This misadventure of a lifetime started the year before upon receiving the message that my family would be moving to Stuttgart, Germany as part of my dad's job. We had been to Europe before, and one of the big decisi... More..
Sports & Recreation > Running What you need to know to run: 2 of 6
Before tying your shoelaces and sprinting out the door, you can best prepare by keeping these few things in mind. Make sure the shoes you're going to wear provide good support. Many runners don't realize that comfortable shoes aren't necessarily good for running. Shoes should be replaced about every one thousand miles. Not al... More..
Sports & Recreation > Recreational & Youth Leadership requirements: 8 of 16
Leadership, although a vague concept, has important ramifications on any organization, both when properly and improperly applied. Opinions of the ideal leader vary from organization to organization, with aggressive, demanding individuals considered successful in one organization, and reserved, soft-spoken leaders considered ... More..
Travel > United Kingdom Travel destinations: Edinburgh, Scotland: 3 of 6
Edinburgh (pronounced Ed-In-Burr-A), the capital of Scotland, is located on the southern bank of the Firth of Forth, a large bay that opens up to the North Sea. One of Scotland's largest cities, Edinburgh offers a unique perspective of Scottish history, as well as easy transportation, a wide variety of shopping centers and re... More..
Arts & Humanities > European History Facts about the national flag of France: 1 of 1
The tricolor, as the French national flag is often called, was created in 1790 by the Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat and military leader. Known for his service to the United States during the American Revolution, Lafayette created the basic layout of the current French flag. Originally, the flag was made up three e... More..