Wanted: Elf

Have you ever created a toy or a game?

What if your career was in toy-making---without living at the North Pole?

Check out this video from Hasbro-it talks about the process of making toys:    

http://gizmodo.com/5995083/where-the-toys-come-from-inside-hasbros-model-workshop

Through mergers with other toy manufacturers,  Hasbro makes the following: Tonka Trucks, Playskool, Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Tinkertoys, Mr. Potato Head, GI Joe, Sesame Street, Lite Brite, Lincoln Logs, Pound Puppies, and games like Battleship, Candyland, Cranium, Jenga, Scrabble, Dungeons and Dragons, Ouija Board, and Pictionary.

The Lego Factory, which makes one of the most popular toys of all time: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=video+tour+of+toy+factory&&view=detail&mid=6953CE4B4E62E85B6E5D6953CE4B4E62E85B6E5D&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dvideo%2Btour%2Bof%2Btoy%2Bfactory%26qpvt%3Dvideo%2Btour%2Bof%2Btoy%2Bfactory%26FORM%3DVDRE%23view%3Ddetail%26mid%3DEB8FB78FDB511AAF8633EB8FB78FDB511AAF8633

What steps are involved in the process, and what types of careers might it involve?

• Design: does the toy do anything? Does it connect with a computer or phone or controller? Is it part of a series of related toys? Does it have accessories? Does it come in different sizes?
• Is it a building toy with many parts that fit together?
• Does it move?
• Manufacture--process and product-people need to design the machines that produce the toy
• Use of motors or mechanics within the toy-what kind of batteries will it need?
• Choice of materials used to make the toy (plastic, metal, fabric, etc.)
• Safety/Quality Control
• Materials to make it have to be nontoxic (not poisonous)
• Parts of the toy need to be too large for a child to choke on
• Small parts need to stay on the toy securely
• Fabric toys must be fire-resistant
• The toy shouldn't have anything sharp that might injure someone
• Toys shouldn't have anything like strings that can choke someone
• Toys with electronics shouldn't pose a fire hazard
• Toys that 'shoot' anything can be dangerous (an exception might be a 'Nerf' toy
• Design of outside paint and decals
• Design of packaging--involves artwork, information about the toy, making it attractive
• Planned changes for future models
• Testing: do the mechanics work, if any? Is it durable?
• Sales-how will you sell the toys? Online? In other stores, or in your own store? How do  you price them?
• Packaging
• Website design and maintenance for the toy specifically and/or the manufacturer of the toy(s)
• Accounting
• Law as it applies to patents, copyrights, and liability
• Marketing, including naming the toy, and tie-in products such as books or clothes featuring that toy
• Or, for example, Pixar makes a movie and want toys to sell that are related to it-how do you create them? Who gets how much of the profit?
• Management

Any number of degrees could tie in to this business: Business Administration, Art, Engineering, Computer Aided Design, Marketing, Law, or Accounting, are some examples.

Some toy manufacturers employ child life experts to see what toys are appropriate for which ages, so you may be able to use a degree in Child Development, Education, or Psychology to work for one of these companies.
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A video of how crayons are made: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=video+tour+of+toy+factory&ru=%2fvideos%2fsearch%3fq%3dvideo%2btour%2bof%2btoy%2bfactory%26qpvt%3dvideo%2btour%2bof%2btoy%2bfactory%26FORM%3dVDRE%23view%3ddetail%26mid%3dEB8FB78FDB511AAF8633EB8FB78FDB511AAF8633&qpvt=video+tour+of+toy+factory&view=detail&mid=A317D7ED2477610592E0A317D7ED2477610592E0&&FORM=VDRVRV

                                                Doesn't everybody have a container of old broken crayons?

Manufacturing toy trains: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=discovery+channel+how+it%27s+made+toy+trains&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=discovery+channel+how+it%27s+made+toy+trains&sc=0-36&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=4E324EB47081FDD464F14E324EB47081FDD464F1

Here is a great interview with a self-employed toy manufacturer:

http://www.vinylpulse.com/2008/04/interview-with.html

Some info about product research at Fisher-Price: http://www.fisher-price.com/uk/welcome/

Let's not forget Tickle-Me Elmo (Playskool): What made that toy so successful?

You might want to make a specific kind of toy, such as educational toys.

                                 

There is a market for 'green' manufacturing (making things with as little environmental damage as possible); simpler toys, wooden toys,

 dolls, stuffed toys,

building toys

or toys for a specific age group.

There are toys meant to be played with outside...Sleds, inflatables, shovels, sand castle or snow castle forms, climbing apparatus and swing sets, games......

As well as games and puzzles for inside; and toys for children to imitate grownups:

And don't forget science experiment toys:

What was your favorite toy when you were little?

It's good to have some fun every day---what if you could work with toys all the time?

Grammar Police

Do your eyes glaze over when you're trying to read something and the grammar, spelling, and punctuation are....

Wrong. Just Wrong... ?

Or does it not bother you in the least--you either think it's right, or you think it's probably wrong but also you do not care?

The written language has taken quite a beating in the last few years, especially with 'autocorrect,' which so often is completely wrong, but we are in a hurry and the right spelling and grammar just falls by the wayside. People have to read a text and almost translate what it means. While we've gotten used to it, and while sometimes it may not be a big deal, it's a big deal when writing letters (like a thank-you letter for an interview) or essays (like the one that counts for 50% of your grade) or replying to an email in a professional manner. With that in mind, here are some pet peeves of grammar police:

There, They're, Their...
You put something over there. There is a place. They're means they are. As in, They're going to Hal's house to play Go Fish. Their means they own whatever it is... Their car, their shoes, their grades, their bad grammar.

Your, You're
Your refers to something you own or have. It's possessive. You're is a contraction of You Are. And so, You're reading this with your eyes.

To, Too, Two
You send something to someone. You go to a play. You go to school. Think of it as kind of a direction, where is that going or where are you going? To somewhere. Too means an excess of something: Too much work, too much sugar (?), I was too busy.  Two, hopefully you know, is the number two. Two feet, two hands, two dollars. Oddly, that one is rarely misused.

Its or It's 
It's means It Is. or It Has. As in, it's going to snow. or it's got to stop.No other time do you need an apostrophe. 'Its' is the possessive form, just like his or hers or theirs, none of those needs an apostrophe, either.

Plurals and apostrophes
You never, never, never, never, never, never, use an apostrophe for two or more of things. It's bears, dogs, cats, clothes, papers, houses. No apostrophe. Period.

But what about names?  Same deal, no apostrophe: The Thompsons. The Andersons. If it's a name like Jones then it's the Joneses. It can be proper to put an apostrophe at the end of a name that ends in S. For example, Dennis in the possessive is Dennis'. As in, Dennis' tennis shoes.

"Alot" is not a word. It is two words. Separate them.

"I could care less," makes no sense whatsoever. That would mean I could be less concerned (but I'm not). The correct expression is "I couldn't care less."

It's never "Me and.." just like you'd never say "I and.."

"If you want someone to read that book, tell them about it." People use this all the time, but it's still just one person you're talking about, so it would be 'tell him or her' .

You borrow something from someone, and you lend or loan people something. You don't 'borrow them' a comb or money or your car, or say 'borrow me a pencil.'. You loan the person your comb or money or car or pencil.

Here's one that sounds the same, but it's not: Should have, not should of. Should have studied better, not should of. Should have taken the clothes out of the dryer, not should of.

Starting or ending a sentence with 'So.' That word is a connector such as, I didn't study so I got a D on that test. I wanted some popcorn, so I made some. The use of 'So I was talking to Jim and he said..' is one of those peeves of mine.. It makes me wonder where the first half of the sentence went. Similarly, if you're putting 'so' at the end of a sentence, then complete it: I saw they were on sale so.., is not a completed sentence. I saw they were on sale, so I bought them.

Now you can rest assured the grammar police will leave you alone. Hopefully, they will...

More misused phrases: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/commonly-misused-words_n_4652969

Careers in Pharmacy

Have you thought about becoming a pharmacist? Here are some facts you may or may not know:

There are different kinds of pharmacists, including....

Academic Pharmacists - These are instructors in the field of Pharmacy Science.

Armed Services - These are people serving in the military as pharmacists, who may work with injured or ill servicemen and women, or may work on research of biological terrorism.

Industry - These are pharmacists who are sales reps for drug manufacturers. They usually travel to clinics and hospitals to let them know of new products available to treat their patients. If your doctor has ever given you a sample of a drug to try, it most likely came from a pharmacy sales rep.

Science/Research Pharmacists - these are the people who develop new drugs, including finding drugs to target a specific condition and testing them to be sure they are safe, and what side effects they produce.

The most common kind of pharmacist, however, is called a Community Pharmacist, because he or she works right in your community at local drug stores and the pharmacy department of stores like Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Cub, etc. and may also work within a hospital.

Coursework to become a pharmacist will include biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, biochemistry, ethics, physics, natural science, math, and business administration, as well as social sciences and humanities.

All pharmacists (they are called 'chemists' in the United Kingdom) must complete a Pharm.D., or Doctor of Pharmacy, degree. This includes two years or more of undergraduate work plus another 4 years of professional pharmacy study. Before you can start work as a pharmacist, frequently you will complete an internship for 1 or 2 years, although it is not always required. You must pass the NAPLEX test, which certifies that you are capable to be a pharmacist and tests your scientific knowledge, and the MPJE, which certifies that you know the legal aspects of being a pharmacist.  You must pass these two exams before you become certified.

What kind of pharmacist do you want to be? Do you want to do research? Sales? Work in the Armed Forces? Do you want to work with pure science or with people?

You may want to find a career with the United States Food and Drug Administration, the FDA. The FDA regulates food safety and also medicine-related things like over the counter (sometimes called OTC) drugs for humans and animals; medical devices including pacemakers and insulin pumps; machines that use radiation; cosmetics; tobacco products, and dental treatments. As a pharmacist, the items you sell or dispense will have to meet FDA standards. Read more about the FDA here: https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-basics/what-does-fda-regulate


A successful pharmacist working in local drug stores has been entrusted with a highly responsible role. He or she will enjoy working with people, from doctors and nurses to patients who have come in to consult or have a prescription filled. A pharmacist must 'catch' a situation where a drug has been prescribed that won't work with, or may be harmful, when taken with a patient's other prescriptions, or when a patient is allergic to a particular medication.


Since new medications are being developed all the time, you need to stay updated constantly on these new drugs and how they work. You will likely have continuing education throughout your career.

You need to be comfortable with technology and business practices, and be aware that you may work any shift in a pharmacy that is open 24 hours a day. You will also be interacting with Pharmacy Technicians who assist you in running the pharmacy, as well as security (keeping all medications under lock and key-safeguarding against theft), awareness of drug abuse and fraud, planning your supplies so as to not run out of stocked medications as well as making sure they are being stored properly, and emergency situations.


Have you heard about drug companies (all of them together sometimes are called "Big Pharma") overpricing drugs we use? Read more about that here: https://www.investors.com/news/technology/drug-prices-what-we-know-about-rising-prescription-prices/

Since you will be more available than many doctors, patients will often ask you about a drug or a treatment; you have to retain a vast amount of information on many different drugs and how they work. On a given day, you may be asked questions about diabetes, wound care, depression medications, cold relief, acid reflux, vitamins, or high blood pressure.

Meds for pets are often filled at "people'" pharmacies 

If you are highly interested in chemistry and biology, how the body reacts to drug treatments, and the well-being of people as a whole, and if you take an interest in people who come to you for information about their prescriptions, you might make a great pharmacist.

Here is a website that answers lots of questions you might have: http://www.aacp.org/resources/studentaffairspersonnel/admissionsguidelines/Documents/studentbrochure2.pdf