Archive for July, 2011

• Smiley Central ® Says Konnichiwa

  Date: 2011.07.27 | Category: Smiley Graphic | Response: 0

  When the temperature outside is so oppressive, it’s time to take your workout indoors. One of the best ways to strengthen and tone your body is the ancient art of karate. Martial arts have been around since the 1300s, but karate as we know it today didn’t fully emerge in Japan until the 1900s. After World War II, American soldiers studied the art of karate in Japan and brought it over to the United States. The first dojo opened in the U.S. in Phoenix, Arizona in 1945. How much do you know about karate? Below are some often-confused terms associated with the sport.

  Dojo – The name for a karate school. Dojo is translated literally to mean “place of the way” or “place of enlightenment.”
  Shomen – The front of a Dojo. Karate etiquette requires that one bow in the direction of the shomen when entering and exiting the school.
  Hanshi – A name given to a karate master or an honorary title given to the highest Black Belt.
  Gi -The uniform worn during karate and other martial arts; white pants and a jacket secured with a cloth belt denoting skill level.
  Kata -A sequence of movements, both defensive and offensive, performed alone against imaginary opponents.

  Whether you’re a karate black belt or just a fan of old Jackie Chan movies, visit Smiley Central to download the latest karate smiley!

   

  

• Wearing Sunscreen Will Keep You Smiling All Summer

  Date: 2011.07.15 | Category: Smiley Graphic | Response: 0

  A lot of people have been complaining about the heat in our town this summer and some have even started wishing for fall. You won’t hear anyone at Smiley Central complaining though, we love summer and spending as much time as possible outside. Did you know that 20 minutes of time outside gives you a healthy dose of Vitamin D? One thing that a lot of people forget to do when spending time outside is to apply sunscreen — and a lot of people that do remember to wear sunscreen aren’t doing it correctly!

  If you know you’re going to be spending time in the sun, you should apply sunscreen to 15 – 30 minutes before going outside. Make sure to cover all areas that will be exposed to the sun – and don’t forget places like your ears, hands and tops of your feet! And apply liberally; most people only apply 25 – 50 percent of the recommended amount. Doctors recommend that you use one ounce of sunscreen to adequately cover all areas exposed to the sun – that’s about the size of a shot glass. Once you’re outside, you should reapply your sunscreen every two hours. You should also reapply after you go swimming or if you’ve been sweating a lot.

  Summer time is so much fun, but you’ll definitely be smiling more if you’re not sunburned. We sure hope this snoozing smiley remembered to slather on the SPF before napping in the sun!

  

• Just Hanging Out with Smiley Central®

  Date: 2011.07.05 | Category: iPhone App, Smiley Graphic | Response: 0

  Happy Tuesday, everyone! Doesn’t it feel great to have a short work week? Only four days and then we’re on to the next weekend – awesome! The reason for the shortened week, of course, was the big holiday. Yesterday, the ol’ U. S. of A. celebrated its 235th birthday! A favorite holiday for a lot of us at Smiley Central, the 4th combines all of our favorite things about summer: cookouts, vacations, fireworks and America. What’s your favorite part about the holiday? Honestly, sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and relax, like this cool smiley in a hammock. Spending the afternoon swinging in a hammock may be one of the best things in life. All you need is a good book, a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and a spot of shade. Better yet, take your iPhone along to keep you company and you can send this and other summer smileys from the Smiley Central app to all your friends!!