Ode to a Package of Dial Soap

Ode to a Package of Dial Soap It was my freshman year, not long ago When I arrived at MIT, complete (it has been near three years, how fast time flows!) With happiness and excitement replete Looking back now, though it hasnt been long Its a marvel to see how much Ive grown In brainpower and stamina for sleepless nights Time kept a rhythm, while we scraped along Now we start to peer far, to time unknown To post-MIT start setting our sights I do digress, you must pardon me see I came here to talk not of life and dreams But of soap, and its importance to me Theres much more to soap than it really seems So theres a store called Target where they sell All kinds of things Scrabble, hula hoops, skirts, Brita water filters, Christmas bells Dial antibacterial soap, and shirts Like all froshies, I went dorm shopping there And when I was about to buy soap, I Reached for the three-bar package of Dial Gold My mother said, with the old Asian flair, Dont buy that one! There is no reason why. Here, take this, fourteen-bar pack of Dial Gold. So due to my mothers frugality, I bought a huge package of Dial Gold soap It fully upheld my vitality As I hiked up the Tutes dangerous slope Though psets, quizzes, exams, lab reports Sleepless nights, exhaustion-induced collapse Heartbreaks, triumph, giddiness and much more In all time here, Dial has not come up short Day by day bar by bar it slowly maps My journey here, and my stories galore And then Just yesterday, I opened the last bar The last bar The last bar of Dial Antibacterial Gold O! Faithful foamy friend, fallen art thou In all these frigid Bostonian nights Your familiar yellow visage, golden Keeps my balance yin and yang, tang and tao Driving me to higher heights, farther sights To bars of Dial Gold I am beholden Some say it is shocking, that fourteen-bars Of soap can last me for five semesters But I say, thats the magic of them bars Just $4.50 ninety cents per semester! So if I gave a farewell speech at grad I will thank my mom, for saving money Target, for stocking what your heart desires And, Dial Gold those bars that kept me so glad Which reminds me, to save more money Gotta get Dial Gold as my heart requires. After all, as any student should show Cleanliness is soap, soap cleanliness, that is all Ye know at college, and all ye need to know. * Pursuant to legal mumbo jumbo, I am not employed by Dial, in case you are curious ;) (as if they need advertisers for soap :P) Since this blog isnt going to be substantial, heres a really cool introduction to the city that I lived in for 15 years Kaohsiung, Taiwan before going to high school to a more northern part of the island. Should be something that will be quite interesting for most of you :D (and Ill be back home in 2 weeks! :D) Hopefully my life will be perfect, all because I came to Kaohsiung!

The Security Of Cybersecurity And Digital Spying - 1173 Words

Cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access (Rouse, 2010). Governments, military, corporations, hospitals, financial institutions, have their personal/ confidential information collected, processed, stored and data transmitted across networks to unauthorized computers. Due to the growing and sophistication of cyberattacks, real time shields are required to protect personal information. A Senate hearing in March 2013, the nation s top intelligence officials warned that cyberattacks and digital spying are the top threat to national security, eclipsing terrorism. Ensuring cybersecurity requires coordinated efforts throughout an information system (Rouse, 2010). Cybersecurity include: ïÆ'Ëœ Information security ïÆ'Ëœ Disaster recovery ïÆ'Ëœ Network security ïÆ'Ëœ Application security One of the biggest issues regarding cybersecurity, is how technology is rapidly and constantly evolving. The traditional approach has been to focus most resources on the most crucial system components and protect against the biggest known threats, which necessitated leaving some less important system components undefended and some less dangerous risks not protected against (Rouse, 2010). Adam Vincent, CTO-public sector at Layer 7 Technologies (a security services provider to federal agencies including Defense Department organizations), describes the problem (Rouse, 2010): The threat isShow MoreRelatedEssay On Cybersecurity Breaches1033 Words   |  5 Pagesresults in more vulnerability to cyber-attacks including cybersecurity breaches. Today, the world continues to experience inordinate cases of cybersecurity meltdowns. There is a rapid growth in complexity and volume of cyber-attacks, and this undermines the success of security measures put in place to make the cyberspace secure for users. Cyber-attacks on both private and public information systems are a major issue for information security as well as the legal system. While most states require governmentRead MoreThe Future For National Security1496 Words   |  6 Pagesand all the classified files were exposed to the public. As a result, cybersecurity has increased significantly in the countries that can afford it. The United States and China have recently increased spending and research on cybersecurity to protect their classified documents. Unfortunately, as technology evolves, there are new wa ys for both countries to get hacked once again. Cybersecurity is the future for national security and must be updated each day to prevent any future attack. China hasRead MoreThe United States Government s Primary Priority2056 Words   |  9 Pagesglobally interconnected society would be impossible to function. The Americans value and respect their security and privacy of their lives in all aspects and that, cyberspace is no less for them. All aspects of American society today depend on the internet and information networks, including communication, transportation, health and government e-services. How is this free flow of personal digital information from one system to another, with layers of networks in the middle, exchanging that informationRead MoreThe Government Should Not Be Limited By Laws Protect Citizens From Government Spying1805 Words   |  8 Pagesterrorism, but it goes overboard, abusing its power by invading our privacy and storing it. The government should be limited by laws that protect citizens from government spying, while still providing for National Security. In other words the government itself needs to be tran sparent and monitored. Privacy or National Security is one of the top issues today. People’s privacy can not be taken for granted. Issues of privacy should not be left exclusively to the government. It is a contradictionRead MoreIT Security: The Men Behind the Scenes1083 Words   |  5 Pageshappen? Who are the people who are supposed to protect this confidential information? The truth is that those in IT security are the ones on the forefront of the underground war on hackers and other threats to national security. Overall, IT security is one of the most precise and important jobs of the modern age. What is IT security? According to TheFreeDictionary.com, IT security is â€Å"The protection of information and information systems against unauthorized access or modification of informationRead MoreIs The Absolute Security On The Internet?1561 Words   |  7 Pages Do you believe that there is absolute security on the Internet? I would answer no because I never know if there is anybody spying on me somewhere through the internet and track what am I doing daily. I’m always concerned about this issue and I think almost everybody in the world who does social networking or goes online Nowadays, many people experience problems regarding privacy on technology, such as the Internet. With technology, people can do all sorts of things and socialize with people fromRead MoreCyber Security, Antivirus Programs, Preventing Cyberattacks1815 Words   |  8 Pagesmobile users, digital applications and data networks increase, so do the opportunities for exploitation. Through the course of this paper we will be covering: what is cyber security, antivirus programs, preventing cyberattacks, and how to strengthen passwords. .What Is Cyber Security Cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. In a computing context, the term security implies cybersecurityRead MoreAmerica And Its Homeland Security Online Essay1587 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica and Its Homeland Security Online Abstract: Everyday security is provided by the states and federal government. These tasks get more difficult as new technology introduces itself. Cybersecurity is one of the most popular security sectors in today’s world. There is not only cyberbullying going on in the world. Terrorism can be planned and sent from person to person over the internet. People’s identities are being stole to help carry out these terrorist acts and this is just the being of itRead MoreIs Information And The Cyber Vulnerable World? How Prepared Are We?3167 Words   |  13 Pagesimportant and must remain available, and its access should be maintained from unauthorized users. The use of information by unauthorized parties could be used for negative purposes which would be derail the organization. Therefore, information and cyber security must be implemented correctly in order to satisfy the elements of confidentiality, integrity and availability. INTRODUCTION: In the current global world the power to connect with people by using Telecommunications and Technology has immensely grownRead MoreCyber Security3559 Words   |  15 PagesCYBER SECURITY INTRODUCTION It is also known as â€Å"Computer Security or IT security†. It is applied to the security of computer, computer network and the data stored and transmitted over them. Today the computer system are used in wide variety of â€Å"smart devices, including Smartphone’s,   televisions  and tiny devices as part of the  Internet of Things, and networks include not only the  Internet  and private data networks, but also  Bluetooth,  Wi-Fi  and other  networks. Computer security covers all the

Advanced Clinical Practice Final Essay - 1532 Words

Advanced Clinical Practice Final This paper explores the scenario of a client and looks at the presenting problem from an ecological and strengths perspective. It will also explore advanced clinical skills, intervention strategies and ethical dilemmas encountered. Methods for evaluating progress will be discussed within the social context of the case. Termination and follow-up approaches, and any ethical dilemmas will be included. Any problems with oppressed populations will also be discussed. Finally, the limits of the chosen model and limits of the practitioner, evolution of client and practitioner identities, any ethical or social justice issues for the agency, and an evaluation of the practitioner’s effectiveness will conclude the paper. Scenario Erin is a White female in her late forties currently going through a divorce after 24 years of marriage. She and her husband, Sam, had three children together. Sam is an agent with the FBI and Erin was a stay at home mom during her marriage, at the insistence of her husband. Sam lives in the marital home with the youngest son, who attends high school and Erin’s widowed mother moved to the state to provide a place for Erin to live. Erin’s oldest daughter lives with her and the grandmother. The middle daughter is away at college, but stays with Erin when she comes home. Erin has been estranged from her only brother for years. Neither liked the other siblings spouse, and they have been at odds for years. Erin states her husband hasShow MoreRelatedAdvanced Clinical Practice : Final Paper Essay1176 Words   |  5 PagesAdvanced Clinical Practice ~ Final Paper Analysis The client for this paper is a twenty-seven-year-old single mother to a six-year-old son. The client was raised in a hardworking middle class family in which her father built a successful business. Her parents divorced when she was ten years old, and she reports she never heard them argue before they announced to the family they were separating. The client describes the divorce as â€Å"ugly.† She started smoking marijuana with her friends at theRead MoreThe Heart And Vascular Institute755 Words   |  4 PagesClinical Specialty Area The clinical area chosen was the Heart and Vascular Institute through one of the hospital systems I am employed with. I had been involved with a project that studied the readmissions experienced within the hospital system and established heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD) were our highest readmission problems. Our organization had found that millions of dollars had been left on the table since the Centers for Medicare Medicaid (CMS) handedRead MoreThe Advanced Practice Nurse Is A Qualified Professional Nurse Organized At The Masters Level / Or Doctoral Level1144 Words   |  5 Pages The advanced practice nurse is a qualified professional nurse organized at the master’s level/ or doctoral level to get leadership roles in relating the nursing progression and public wellbeing disciplines to reach particular health results for the public. A nurse practitioner is commonly a master’s prepared nurse who put on advanced practice nursi ng information with physical, psychosocial, and conservation evaluation abilities to answer to common wellbeing and disease difficulties. The NP’sRead MoreThe Role Of A Clinical Nurse Leader1229 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Role of a Clinical Nurse Leader For decades, something was missing in patient care. Crucial quality and safety-improvement professionals involved in healthcare delivery were formerly not located in the places where care was actually provided. This often resulted in a disconnect that fragmented healthcare quality, safety, and improvement. According to Reid and Dennison, in their article The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) ®: Point-of-Care Safety Clinician, â€Å"The role of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) ®Read MoreMajor Concepts And Definitions : Benners Stages Of Clinical Competence1488 Words   |  6 Pagesstages of clinical competence consist of five stages ranging from novice to expert. This model is the framework for not only understanding the needs of a nurse at various levels but also what the nurse at a particular stage has to offer to peers. In stage one the novice nurse is typically a nursing student or a nurse that has been moved to a new discipline. They are unable to predict status changes and are unaware of interventions without an experienced nurse as a guide to practice. Stage twoRead MoreEvidence Based Practice / Clinical Question1733 Words   |  7 PagesEvidence Based Practice/ Clinical Question Pain†¦fever†¦oozing pus. Who would want to experience that? The answer is no one. Yet, out of the sixty to seventy of women who undergo a cesarean section, twelve percent will experience these symptoms due to a surgical site infection (SSI) (Adjunctive Azithromycin Prophylaxis for Cesarean Delivery, 2017). SSI are the primary cause of mortality and morbidity amongst cesarean section women. SSI are linked to increased length of stay, hospitalization rateRead MoreThe Career Development Of Nurses Essay943 Words   |  4 Pageshealing, and more advanced care highlights the need of highly skilled nurses. From the time of graduation, nurses begin work in the clinical setting and continually attain insight and knowledge to become a more seasoned nurse. Patricia Benner focuses on the career development of nurses through her novice to expert theory. Patricia Benner, R.N., Ph.D., FAAN, FRCN, has been published many times and is most famous for her book From Novice to Expert: Excell ence and Power in Nursing Practice. 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Dynamics that have shaped my own current advanced nursing role will be discussed and to conclude some thoughts on the future of advanced nursing practice. Defining the role of an advanced nurse practitionerRead MorePatricia Benner ´s Novice to Expert theory using the Model of Skill Acquisition1503 Words   |  7 Pagesof Skill Acquisition through defining concepts within her conceptual framework, identifying assumptions within her theory, discussing the significance of her theory as it relates to advanced practice nursing, and addressing how applicable her theory is to actual nursing practice. Patricia Benner’s clinical practice was based on a wide array of specialties which included medical-surgical, critical care and home health care nursing. She started out her career working as a registered nurse and moved

US Immigrants’ Learning English and Mastering Content Goals Free Essays

Bilingual Education is the teaching of two languages. This would also be the ability to speak two languages. During the 1920’s testing among various groups of people began. We will write a custom essay sample on US Immigrants’ Learning English and Mastering Content Goals or any similar topic only for you Order Now These tests were conducted in poor testing conditions, overcrowded rooms, poor lighting, and large rooms with poor audibility. Many immigrants were categorized as â€Å"simpletons† for receiving zeros on the test because they were unable to speak English, could not read, and were unfamiliar with the American culture. The low-test scores confirmed white Anglo Saxon Protestant beliefs that immigrants were inferior. This gave the congressmen more reason to discriminate against the immigrants. In the 1950’s, federal and state laws ruled that discriminatory testing was unconstitutional (What To Do About Immigration? p 327). Bilingual education did not originally grow from the pressures of immigration. It was started as a small, federally funded program to help Mexican-American children (largely native-born) in the Southwest. The purpose was to try to make Mexican-American children fully literate in English. Today, our expectations of bilinguals are very high. We expect them to learn our language fast and accurately. However, we do not teach them well. Instead of running away from this problem by abolishing bilingual education, we should find a way to improve this practice in order to make it a part of our culture. People with a native language other than English have two goals in school: learning English and mastering content. A very big problem is that bilingual education is taught in many different ways in classrooms. Often, students with limited English skills would be taught for no more than a year in special English classes before being moved to mainstream. Some students are pulled out of English as a second language. Others are placed in transitional bilingual education, which is intensive English-instruction. A portion of this class is taught in the native language. Maintenance or developmental, bilingual education builds the native language while improving English as a second language (http://www. edweek. org/context/topics/biling. htm). One solution to this problem is finding a one way to teach that will cover all aspects of the English language. After English is effectively taught, the students should be mainstreamed. Some say the curriculum is not the problem, but the poor teaching instead. The teache’s want students to be proficient in a second language in one or two years. These days, there is also a shortage of well-qualified bilingual teachers. We can improve this by hiring teachers who are qualified and fully bilingual (http://www. edweek. org/context/topics/biling. htm). If we take a closer look at the educational system, we would notice that bilingual education is not the only guilty party in this stuation. There are many services available in different native languages; there is not much of an emphasis to learn English. There are newspapers, advertising, and even signs that will help immigrants of all cultures. Some people believe that in order to ensure that English is learned the government should make English its official language. I believe that people with another native language other than English should learn our language. This is not to say that they can not use their other language, but English should be used in offices and other work places. Today, the amount of bilingual immigrants entering our country is growing year by year. If solutions aren’t found to the bilingual education problem, I fear what the future may hold for those looking to find new opportunities on American soil. In America, everyone has the right to dream. How to cite US Immigrants’ Learning English and Mastering Content Goals, Papers

Slavery in Colonial America free essay sample

As the colonies of America developed, the slave trade also flourished. Unknown at the time, the colonist involvement in this trade would have monumental effects on America. First, slavery increased American participation in the triangular trade, but also stunted Southern industry. Second, slavery led to an ultimate feeling of white supremacy and plantations that defined life in the South. The slave trade had vast consequences on the economy and society of Colonial America.To begin with, the use of slaves greatly impacted the economy of the colonies. Southern colonies thrived from crops such as tobacco and rice that were physically demanding and tough to grow. However, African workers seemed to be able to handle the conditions and even had experience with the crops. This caused an increase in Southern production Of cash crops and ultimately led to a lack of industry. The triangular trade was also a worldwide phenomenon as a part of slavery. We will write a custom essay sample on Slavery in Colonial America or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As demand for slaves grew, Americans increased trade with the West Indies. This established more markets for colonial goods to be exported to as well as an increase in trading and merchants. The economic situation of the colonies resulted significantly from slavery. On the other hand, the society of Colonial America was also directly affected by slavery. At first, the status of Africans was not clear. By the eighteenth century, however, whites assumed blacks were to work for life, and they began passing slave codes to limit their rights.This allowed Europeans to define themselves as a superior race, not only to Africans, but also in issues involving Natives or other races of color. The organization of slave labor also resulted in the rise of plantations in the South. These plantations led to self- contained communities that often grew to include schools and chapels. This created a stratified society where the white plantation owners controlled the livelihood of slaves and even small farmers in their communities. For these seasons, slave labor shaped the social structure of the colonies. In conclusion, the consequences of slavery greatly impacted the society and economy of America. Slave labor increased the production of large scale crops and trade with other parts of the world. Whites claimed supremacy and came to rule over the plantations they created. During the seventeenth and eighteenth century, slavery was just a system of labor. However, it grew to be a way of life that shaped America for centuries to come.

I am a Naked Woman Professor Ramos Blog

I am a Naked Woman When I was about five years old I played my first video game, it was called Quake 2. This game was played on the PC and I sucked. I kept playing my little heart out as often as I could. I would play for hours in hope that one day I could beat the game, this determination led me to the life long hobby of playing video games. This hobby taught me that no matter how many times you fail, keep trying and never give up. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn. When I was young I remember watching my dad and older brother Dustin play video games on the computer all the time. The two most memorable games they played were named Quake 2 and Diablo. They were two totally different games in terms of objects, but both intrigued me. Quake 2 was what my dad called a â€Å"shoot em’ up game† and Diablo was a RPG game where you battled the forces of evil, eventually fighting the devil himself. I would always bug them to play, but to no avail. They would simply say â€Å"No, you are to young. You wouldn’t even understand how to play† Fortunately I knew how to get my way. I simply went to the one who wore the pants in the family, my mother. I would just have to say, â€Å"Mom!! I want to play, and they won’t let me!† My mom would go to yell at them and tell them I should be allowed to play to. After about a million times of snitching out my dad and brother. I was finally allowed to play. I sat my little butt do wn and instantly lost. Dustin was usually there watching me, and as soon as I lost he would say â€Å"See!!! You can’t even play† I tried harder and harder until I was eventually able to play the game without dying every 5 seconds. My favorite game to play at the time was called Quake 2, it is a First-Person Shooter game and the objective is to complete the level and beat the occasional boss (surprising right?) I quickly discovered that I could change the way my character looked. I decided to do what any normal six-year-old boy would do, I played as the naked woman! A few days later my dad sat down to play some quake and shortly after I heard â€Å"What the Fuck, Daniel were you playing as the naked lady!† I unfortunately was no longer allowed to play my favorite video game. By the time I could play video games again, I had a few new choices of games. We even had a new system. It was called the Super Nintendo. The Super Nintendo seemed like it was a god send, playing video games was no longer limited to only one person at a time! This console had two controllers which allowed me and my brother Dustin to play together. Instead of him always teasing me he helped me get better at video games, probably because it benefitted him. There were three games we frequently played. The first two were called Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Brothers. Those games were two player games, or at least we would take turns and work together. The third game we played often was called Mortal Combat, this game was not a team game and it was two players. This was a fighting game where the two players would have to fight against each other. My brother and I loved to play Mortal Combat. Yeah, you guessed it, most of the time he would win. Those few times I managed to beat my brother felt magical, but every loss I learned from. After sinking many hours of my young life into this I got good at it, I was able to play on single player and beat the entire game with no assistance. Dustin wasn’t even able to beat the game. I started to really like playing against him, because the tables were now turned in my favor. I was finally able to win most of the games we played. I was now the one saying â€Å"HA! You suck I win.† I got to be the one doing the finishing moves in Mortal Kombat. These were special moves you can do when you won the round. My two favorite moves were to violently rip off the head of the opposing character or to kick them into a spike pit below a bridge we fought on. I was able to get that sweet moment of taunting Dustin, rubbing it in his face that I was victorious. It felt great to be able to tease my brother who is five years older than me. This is when I learned I was able to get pretty good at video games. As I got older we acquired more systems and a very large variety of video games. I made it my personal goal to beat every video game I could, no matter the type or how difficult they are. By having this goal, I excelled at playing video games. Soon enough my gaming skills were leagues ahead of my brother and dad. My skill had grown so great I was basically able to play any video game with ease and had the ability to beat many on hard difficulties. When I was 11 years old, my dad bought me a computer. This was a huge game changer for me, because when I was younger most of my video game experience was on consoles. Consoles used controllers and the computer uses a mouse and keyboard. The play style was drastically different and suddenly, I was like a vacuum and sucked. When I first got my computer my brother Dustin already had a computer and a few games. He had the newer games in the series I used to watch him play as a child. Some of these games were Quake 3: Arena, Diablo 2 and even a new game called Starcraft. I watched him play a few times, but I never asked to play them. I decided to ask my brother if I could play his games. He loaned me two games, Diablo 2 and Starcraft. Diablo 2 was a revamped version of the Diablo game I used to watch him play and Starcraft was a strategy-based game. I instantly fell in love with these two games. I sunk most of my play time into Starcraft. Starcraft was an extremely hard game if you wanted to be good at it and you could play against other people online. You could play with just the mouse, but you don’t really play all that well. If you wanted to be truly great at a strategy game on the PC, you need to learn how to use the keyboard very well. These types of game are full of â€Å"hotkeys† which are keys on the keyboard that make something happen in game, its much faster then clicking. Starcraft has about 30 different â€Å"hotkeys† that were part of the game by default. It sounds easy to learn the â€Å"hotkeys† but it’s not like you just press a key and you’re done. To use them to their max potential you had to have precision timing, it’s almost like a repeated cycle of the correct pattern. After a lot of perseverance, I was skilled at using the keyboard and mouse simultaneously while still making split second decisions. I was like a well-oiled machine, constantly making precision movements. To this day I still play video games and I still think about all those experiences I had as a child from being a naked woman to online gaming. Every so often I still play some of the old school games, I love the nostalgia from it. I would be a different person than who I am today if it wasn’t for video games. They influenced my decision to get my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, because I love the way they enthrall the user. Video games give the player an endless challenge, constantly teaching them how to be better. It is extremely interesting to see how a game goes from the drawing board to a fully immersive experience.   I plan to develop video games when I am out of college. I want to work for Blizzard Entertainment, my favorite game studio. None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for my love of video games and the valuable lessons they thought me. I learned patience and perseverance from all those times I lost and had to wait for loading screens or repeated the same level, until finally winning. I also learned that no matter how impossible the level or objective seemed. You always need to keep trying, learn from your mistakes and never ever give up.

Plastics in Childrens Toys

Plastics in Children's Toys Neither you nor your child can escape the touch of plastics, and for the most part, you dont need to worry about it. Most plastics are perfectly safe for even very small children. Plastics in their pure form typically have low solubility in water and have a low level of toxicity. However, some plastics found in toys contain a variety of additives that have been found to be toxic. Although the relative risk of injury from plastic-based toxins is low, its prudent to select your childs toys carefully. Bisphenol-A Bisphenol-A usually called BPA was long used in toys, baby bottles, dental sealants, and even thermal receipt tape. More than 100 studies have linked BPA to problems including obesity, depression and breast cancer.   PVC Avoid plastics that are marked with a 3 or PVC because polyvinyl chloride plastics often contain additives that can make plastics more harmful than they need to be for children. The volume and type of those additives will vary by the object and may differ significantly from toy to toy. The manufacture of PVC creates dioxin, a serious carcinogen. Although the dioxin shouldnt be in the plastic, its a byproduct of the manufacturing process, so buying less PVC may be an environmentally smart decision. Polystyrene Polystyrene is a rigid, brittle, inexpensive plastic commonly used to make plastic model kits and other toys. The material is also a base of  EPS foam. In the late 1950s, high-impact polystyrene was introduced, which was not brittle; it is commonly used today to make toy figurines and similar novelties. Plasticizers Plasticizers such as adipates and phthalates had long been added to brittle plastics such as polyvinyl chloride to make them pliable enough for toys. Traces of these compounds can possibly leak out of the product. The European Union placed a permanent ban on the use of phthalates in toys. Furthermore, in 2009 the United States banned certain types of phthalates commonly used in plastics. Lead According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plastic toys may contain lead, which is added to the plastic to soften it. If the toy is exposed to high heat, the lead may leach out in the form of dust, which may then be inhaled or ingested by a child or pet. A Little Bit of Vigilance Almost all plastic childrens toys are safe. A vast majority of toys are now made with polybutylene terephthalate plastic: You can tell these toys apart by sight, as they are the brightly colored,  shiny, very impact-resistant objects littering toy boxes across the country. Regardless of the type of plastic you encounter, its always wise to discard or recycle any plastic object that shows obvious signs of wear or degradation.   So although theres no need to panic about toxic toys, a little bit of vigilance especially with antique toys, or very inexpensive mass-produced toys may protect your children from unnecessary exposure.