Red Barry

Red Barry
Birmingham 1 Manchester United 1: Scott Dann own goal rescues point for United as Darren Fletcher sees red
Manchester United needed a controversial own goal from Birmingham defender Scott Dann to salvage a point at St. Andrews as they missed out on the chance to replace Chelsea as Barclays Premier League leaders.
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There's just no way around it: The 16th birthday is the first of many rites of passage. It's a banner year. It's a real red-letter day. And woe to those who don't put the world on hold in anticipation and exuberant observance of this, the 16th birthday.

It's always best to get your game straight in preparation of this milestone, so pull out all the stops and use some keen strategy and festivity-savvy to get through the pomp and circumstance that comes along with the parade that is the 16th birthday.

Let's just face it: In our society, 16th birthday gift ideas are often over-commercialized, over-indulgent, over our budgets, and even saccharine. The birthday industry czars know they can make a lot of money out of this occasion in your life, and they aren't ashamed of it. So, avoid the marketing claws of the 16th birthday party event planners, hawking cruises, a brand-new sports car with a bow on top, or a grand soiree at the best country club in town.

How do you beat the overblown, financially strained hoopla of all this? Well, for starters, sometimes the most unusual ideas can produce the most extraordinary gifts, especially to those celebrating their 16th birthday - they may think they already know what to expect, so employing an element of surprise here is always a good angle to try when thinking of that perfect gift.

Today, nearly everything can be computerized or integrated into an electronic format, and you don't have to look very far to find companies that can customize certain features of high-performance electronic communications media, thereby turning your otherwise "generic" 16th birthday gifts into truly distinctive gifts. The key here is to move away from the tried-and-true (translate: outrageously expensive) to well-thought-out, strategic plans (translate: tricks) that will leave the lucky 16th birthday guy or gal just short of confused, but nonetheless enraptured. In other words, send your messages with meaning: exclaim, clasp your hands, smile broadly at everyone in on it, and say things like, 'We spent the whole year thinking this up!" "Oh, you don't KNOW what we went through to keep this a secret from you!" or "You know all those nights Daddy worked late over the last year? Guess what? He was in the basement the whole time, putting this together for you!"

Let your exuberance become contagious, but don't overdo it; otherwise, this 16th birthday party will fall flat on its face. Remember, you're now dealing with the shrewd minds of those who have made the wide turn into their 16th birthday year, so be believable. Don't let them see through your smokescreen. Practice in front of mirrors, rehearse with your co-conspirators, test your jumping-up-and-down skills - whatever you have to do to make this run as smoothly as possible.

You can create a new screensaver for their computer monitors, flashing their names in neon and sparkle, or generate huge "pop-ups" declaring "Happy 16th birthday!" on all their favorite websites. Or, hire a designer to turn that screensaver into the artist's rendering of their own face. (However, steer clear of caricaturists; self-deprecating humor doesn't quite develop until at least age 25. Or at all.)

The key is to show your appreciation and celebration on this, their 16th birthday, with as much aplomb as you can muster while also presenting them with a gift that expresses their best qualities. Showing them just how much they excel at simply who they are will really shine through - and keep you from jumping through financial and mentally unstrung hoops.

Barry Mcgee writes articles on birthday party and gift ideas and all things related to birthdays. You can read more of Barry's articles at HappiestBirthday.com [http://www.HappiestBirthday.com]

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