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These days, a worrisome growing number of children clearly states that they hate school. While it is natural for a child to complain about this, statistics indicate that approximately 10% of the students go to great lengths just to avoid going to school. In fact, some of them dislike the idea of attending classes so much that they become depressed and anxious when they are forced to go, while a small percentage even fake illnesses just to skip classes. Following is a top 10 list of the reasons why your child may detest school and what you can do about it.

1. They perceive it as doing jail time

The number one reason most children can’t bear going to school consist of the fact that they perceive it as very restrictive, both physically (they need to be seated during class) and mentally (they have to concentrate on the lessons and follow the teachers’ instructions). Changing the child’s point of view on this one is going to be tough, especially since the rebellious attitude is specific for kids who enjoy the freedom to do whatever they like at home. Nonetheless, you can do it by constantly reminding him that school is the place where he can make new friends and learn more about the world he lives in.

2. It’s all about the teachers

The way teachers perceive their job and the method they use to relate to their students is another possible explanation for why your child detests school. Some teachers’ attitude towards your child can be rude, abusive and threatening. However, it can also imply the teacher is putting too much pressure on the students or he manifests an openly favoritism towards certain ones. Even though helping your child develop more self-confidence is necessary in this case, it is also recommended that you have a talk with that teacher or the principal.

3. Your own attitude

Your own attitude about how the child should perceive learning is another factor that can explain why he hates school so much. Constant criticism about getting good grades, taking on harder tasks, being more involved in extracurricular activities and performing better in general is commonly perceived as unnecessary pressure. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to help your child build a better future for himself, put yourself in his shoes: how would you like it if your boss would come in every five minutes to ask if you finished your task because he has several other waiting to be completed on that very day?

4. Family issues

According to psychologists, the verbal and physical behaviors children see in their families can trigger repulsion towards school. When parents are frequently fighting in front of their child (or the child has to hear his parents quarrelling), he will instinctively feel the need to stay home in order to support his mother. In other words, because the child feels he is more needed at home, having to go to school becomes an unbearable task he will subconsciously detest.

5. Separation anxiety

If a child is used to getting a lot of tenderness and affection at home, then it is very likely he will come to hate school due to the anxiety generated by having to leave the safety and love of his quarters. The good news is that separation anxiety is typical for children of younger ages and it will resolve itself in time.

The daily routine and the various problems you encounter at work and at home are no laughing matter, but rather stressful, frustrating and overwhelming. In fact, the statistics indicate that adults laugh 80 times lesser than children. Perhaps this is why most people associate childhood with a carefree and happy time when the world was yours to discover and conquer. Nonetheless, regardless of what life throws at you, you have plenty of reasons to laugh. Following is the top 10 reasons why people should be encouraged to laugh more.

1. Laughter is the best pain medication

It is said that there is no better medication than laughter: while you laugh, the brain releases a high amount of endorphins that induce an overall happy feeling. At the same time, laughing is the best distraction from pain and it leads to a pleasant muscle relaxation. Therefore, next time your head or belly aches, you should try laughing at it.

2. Laughter prevents cardiovascular diseases

A study at the University of Michigan shows that patients who suffer from various cardiovascular diseases are 40% less likely to laugh compared to perfectly healthy individuals. The research on the matter indicates that laughter not only lowers blood pressure, but it also affects the blood flow in a positive way. According to specialists who conducted the study, 15 minutes of laughter per day can compensate for a regular working out program.

3. Laughter improves inter-human relationships

Without a doubt, laughing is a very contagious gesture: if you smile at a person, you will immediately observe that he/she will smile back at you. At the same time, laughter is perceived as an universal phenomenon that happens in every culture with the same goals: connecting, bonding and establishing a rapport with somebody.

Besides, nobody feels comfortable or enjoys being around a person who is always sad, depressed and has an overall grim vision of the future. The best place to clearly observe this issue is at stores, where the vast majority of customers prefers to wait in line in order to interact with the happy, smiling shop assistant and will only work with the grumpy ones if they are forced to. In general, people prefer the company of happy individuals as the overall mood of is elevated and the relationships gain more quality and consistency.

4. Laughter is the best way to counter the harmful effects of stress

According to clinical research when you laugh, your body is more prone to releasing T cell antibodies that boost and protect the immune system. To put it simply, happy people are less likely to get sick compared to individuals who prefer to see the empty half of the glass. Furthermore, laughter is also proven to reduce the levels of four types of hormones that are currently being linked to stress. Even if laughter provides a short period of happiness, its long term effects against stress cannot be denied.

5. Laughter promotes losing weight

Have you ever laughed so much that your tummy ached? Well, this is because this activity is known to act like a 15 minute intense workout. Laughing means working out the diaphragm, contracting the abdominal muscles and exercising the shoulders, all at the same time! In addition, laughter is known to raise the heart rate and metabolism. As a consequence, if you engaged in a weight losing program, you will get faster results if you surround yourself with happy people and make a habit out of watching comedies and sitcoms daily.

There are still a lot of people on the fence when it comes to singing karaoke. There’s a good chance you have seen it live in person, and you might have a few friends who already love it. But getting up on stage might be a different matter. It’s not easy to muster up the courage to possibly be embarrassed in front of total strangers. And if you’ve never sung a note in your life, you might not see a lot of fun in trying it for the first time. But one thing is for sure – karaoke is definitely something you should experience at least once in your life. What do you have to lose anyways? And if it goes well, you might just discover a brand-new hobby that will keep you entertained for years. Here are some reasons why you should pick up the microphone and give karaoke a shot.

1. It’s a great skill to have

Imagine how impressed your friends will be if you actually get up on stage! You can bet you’ll be the envy of people who’ve always wanted to try it but never had the guts. Whether you’re trying to make new friends or be the life of the party, knowing what you’re doing on a karaoke stage is a great ability to possess. Of course it might take some practice before you become good, but you’ll be sure to have fun along the way.

2. It’s not really that scary

Most people cite fear has the number one reason of not getting up on stage. But it’s more anticipation than fear that you have to worry about. In fact, once you get over that initial anxious stage, singing really isn’t that bad. You’ll find that your adrenaline takes over and the song will be done before you know it. Is also a good chance you’ll be dying to experience it again when you realize that it wasn’t as bad as you thought.

3. You can get better

Don’t worry if your first song doesn’t go well. Most people have a shaky first performance anyways. But just like anything in life, karaoke is something that you can get better at with practice. And if you are starting off with a decent voice already, there’s no reason why you can’t make it better. Think of the possibilities that a great singing voice can lead to!

4. You might get discovered

While it is rare, there have been cases where karaoke singers have been discovered on stage. In major urban cities, talent agents have been known to scope out karaoke bars for undiscovered talent. You have to be in the right place at the right time, but it will all be worth it someone notices you.

5. A great way to spend time with friends

Even if you don’t want to sing, a karaoke bar can be a great place to hang out. After all, it’s likely to have everything you need for a fun night on the town. You’ve got drinks, good company, live entertainment, and great music. Simply hanging back and watching other people sing can be a great way to spend some time.

How many of us have been angry at our bosses? How many of us wanted to choke our bosses when they did something we hated? Murder is not the key and here are the reasons why.

1.

The boss pays for your salary. The salary is what puts food on your table and a roof over your head. Even if it is a little, it is better than nothing. It is similar to the saying: do not bite the hand that feeds.

2.

Repercussions: Do you really want to spend the rest of your life in jail? Premeditated murder is one crime that is scorned upon in Western cultures.

Penalties:

First Degree Murder carries up to 25 years jail

Second Degree Murder carries a sentence of life imprisonment. It carries a sentence between 10 to 25 years, based on the discretion of the judge.

Manslaughter: This does not carry an automatic sentence of life imprisonment. It carries usually up to 10 years.

3.

I believe that there is always a reason for everything in life. If the two of you were put on earth to work together, it was meant to be. If you kill the boss, you will never understand what that meaning was in the first place.

4.

Everyone is different; everyone has also a different character. You may not always agree on things, but that does not give you the right to kill your boss.

5.

You are not the judge, jury and the executioner. You can never take law into your own hands, unless you are given that authority by someone with the authority. The choice of life and death remains in the hands of the supreme power.

Apple is an American multinational corporation that specializes in consumer electronics, computer software and personal computers. It is best known for hardware products such as MacIntosh, iPod, iPhone and the iPad. In over 10 countries, the company has 357 stores. It also has one of the largest online stores worldwide.

Overall, the company has the largest IPO companies in the world. It has a capitalization of over $150 billion. It is also worth more than Google and Microsoft combined and includes 60, 4000 permanent full-time employees. The annual sales total $65 billion, which grew to $108 billion in 2011.

With every company, there is a rot or Achilles heel. Let’s take a look at what makes Apple Inc. a rotten apple.

1. Safari Updates:

There is nothing more rotten than a push that becomes a shove. In 2008, Apple did just that. It used auto-update service to distribute its Safari web browser to users. The users were prompted to make updates which included Safari. Digital Journal reports that this as a form of bad business; being sneaky and on the borderline of malware distribution tactics.

The software was not really an update for many users. In fact, it was newly installed software that was never on the computer before, adds John Lilly, Mozilla CEO. For him, a relationship must be built naturally and not by force.

Was Apple correct when it forced its users to download Safari? Vote now.

2. Sweatshops in China:

iPods are extremely expensive, especially when you compare it to other mp3 brands. You pay more than $200 to receive something that is an Apple product. One thing that many people are not aware of is that Apple has been manufacturing its iPod products in Chinese sweatshops for the last 6 years. In fact, they have failed to tackle the horrifying conditions at its supplier.

Workers continue to die and sustain injuries in accidents that could be easily prevented. Many of them are forced to work from morning to night for slave wages ($0.70/h) in dismaying conditions. New York Times was the first to report on this. It noted that Apple pledged to improve safety records and working practices. Things have yet to improve.

For the price we pay for Apple products, should we expect better conditions?

3. Suicide Rates:

Sweatshops are the least of their problems. In fact Apple has bigger fish to fry in China. During the launch of iPad in 2012, 150 Chinese Workers at Foxconn threatened to commit suicide by leaping off their factory roof. In 2010, 18 workers threw themselves from the top of the company building, which resulted in 14 deaths. Foxconn installed safety nets in the factory and hired counsellors to help its workers.

4. Child Labour:

Like other computer manufacturers this comes as no news. Still I expect much better from a company that charges more than $900 for computers and $600 for mobile devices. In February of 2012, it was reported that child workers were indeed working at Foxconn, the distributor for Apple. During inspections, child laborers were hidden and moved to other departments. The students who work there are not working voluntarily; Chinese government requires schools to send their children to work factory labour as part of their internship. This was featured in the SACOM report in 2012.

5. Dump Polluted Waste & Toxic Metals:

In 2011, a Beijing environmental group called Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs reported that the company dumps toxic metals and polluted waste into communities around its factories. This, they report, threatens the communities’ public health. The report was issued in August of 2011 in a 46 page paper.

Apple had already committed to being a green country. Ma Jun, the director of the group, stated that they now needed to fulfill their commitment and become responsible for their suppliers’ pollution.

When you have just a few kitchen tools, such as a steamer and a blender, the sky is the limit when it comes to making your own baby food. Armed with just a few simple kitchen utensils you can produce a medley of tasty, nutritious and cost effective baby food. Heck, even with a fork you can make a delicious concoction for your tiny tot. Why should you bother? Below is a list of points to consider that would make you a believer.

1. You control the ingredients

Yes, you are in control. When you know exactly what went into your baby’s food, it can give you that peace of mind about what your baby eats. As long as you plan out your menu and make sure your baby gets adequate nutrients and calories, you can let your imagination run wild. Just remember to consult your physician and baby food guides to make sure you are on the right track.

2. Fresh

When you use fresh ingredients, you end up with food that is higher in enzymes and vitamins. This means that your baby is going to have better digestion and that little tummy is going to thank you! A jar of yams and carrots just doesn’t taste or smell the same way home made does, as it has been processed to sit on that shelf. Have you ever speculated why some baby food has an expiration date of a year or more? When it comes to homemade, fresh is best!

3. Taste and smell

Doesn’t your baby deserve a great tasting meal? Some of the commercially available baby food just doesn’t taste or smell that great. Do your baby a favor, and try some tasty options. Those peas and carrots can be blended with organic milk, and those peaches can be creamed with a bit of yogurt and a dash of cinnamon. Variety is also good to make sure your baby develops those tiny taste buds. Try a taste test, and smell your home made food, to make sure it has the right consistency and texture.

4. Faster and easier

Well, you may think that driving to the store, packing your shopping cart and standing for hours in that endless checkout line may be the smarter and faster option. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated, and you can whip up something for your baby in minutes. It does require some shopping ahead, and careful menu planning; however with practice you will find this to be a fast and easy way to feed your little one.

5. No added chemicals of preservatives

Homemade is pure, wholesome nutrition which contains only what you have added. Some store bought food contains additives and fillers that aren’t needed for a baby’s nutrition. These chemicals could range from added sugar and salt to preservatives, as well as taste and color enhancers. Some of the nutrients and vitamins are also lost in the commercial process and are often added artificially at the end of the process. When you cook your own food at home from fresh ingredients you can maximize nutrition as well as great taste and color.

With the accidents at Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986), countries put the brakes to their nuclear programs. This past decade, Ernest Moniz hints a renaissance with countries’ willingness to renew their nuclear programs. The movement; however, suffered a blow when Japan was struck by an earthquake which almost led to a nuclear meltdown.

Here are 10 reasons why we still need nuclear power, despite the setback in Japan.

1. Carbon-Free:

High CO2 emissions are a major problem in today’s society. More than 6 and half million people burn fuel to keep warm, to provide electricity, to light their homes, move around using cars, buses, trains and airplanes. Burning of fuel emits CO2 that is then released into the air we breathe. Unlike fuel power, nuclear power is carbon-free and thus will have less of an effect on our environment.

2. Cheaper:

Our electricity is costly. We pay thousands of dollars for heating, driving, and lighting. Nuclear power, however, is cheaper. According to Ernest Moniz, it costs less than two cents per kilowatt-hour to operate, maintain and fuel.

3. Many countries utilizing it:

The news is not just a publicity stunt. China, India, Russia and South Korea still account for 40% of nuclear power construction and are not backing down.

4. Safe:

Most reactors have been safe and have not caused issues, with the exception of Fukushima plant. The plant was flooded and was pushed by a wave higher than the limit it could withhold when built. New technology, however, has made nuclear power more reliable (they break down less often) and safer.

5. Abundant Resources:

Scooping up Uranium and Plutonium (the source of nuclear power) is easy. There is also an abundancy of uranium and plutonium in countries like USA. Why go for something that is expensive and will cause environmental problems, when you can easily get supplies for a better alternative?

Practical experience provides students with hands-on experience. Textbooks, on the other hand, are outdated. Taking a stance on practical experience, the article examines 10 reasons why education comes from it and not textbooks.

1. Hands-On:

Textbooks hardly provide a multi-sensory approach to education. They usually are tailored to independent learners, and not to those who possess certain multiple intelligences such as kinesthetic, auditory etc.

2. Out-dated:

Textbooks are not always updated. Schools and Universities sometimes use textbooks which are 5+ years in age. Practical experience almost always keeps the students updated and knowledgeable about the contemporary world.

3. Complimentary:

Many teachers only use textbooks to complement their teaching methods. Textbooks are only one form or one step of the process of learning. In order for someone to be well informed they would need to combine their theory with practice.

4. Experience vs. Imagine:

In practice, individuals experience the real world and what it is like to do something. In textbooks, they only read about it and imagine.

5. Narrow vs. Broad Minded:

Textbooks are very narrow minded. They will not always provide its learners with the bigger picture. Practical experiences are more objective. It allows for its learners to set their own tone of learning.

Worldwide violence leads to question of urgency. Civil unrest around the globe has existed since the end of the Cold War, dashing hopes for an “End of History”. Western nations have imposed sanctions on countries like Syria (2001) to protect the liberties of the citizens and to deter a possible action that would affect various actors in the global arena. Economic sanctions have been used often, including in Syria, but rarely worked to achieve goals, for the following 10 reasons.

1. Will not work:

Robert Frisk doubts that sanctions will work. He argues that sanctions get the coercive and repressive government to do what US, EU and NATO want. In the case of Iraq in the early 1990s, economic sanctions hurt the people more than the government. It caused widespread famine and more reliance on Saddam Hussein.

2. International Trade:

Success is rare. Syria may be able to tap into international trade through globalization. They can easily find alternative suppliers goods andcapital.

3. Not everyone is sanctioning:

In order for a coercive state to be impacted, all countries who have direct ties with it, need to be part of the punishment. Alternatively, at least major suppliers of capital and goods need to be on the same page. Iran is one country that Syria may turn to, and who will not impose sanctions.

4. Deterrence has rarely been achieved:

US and NATO have utilized economic sanctions for deterrence. This has rarely worked, especially when the United States tried to deter India and Pakistan from testing nuclear bombs.

5. Costly to firms:

Many firms have business relations with Syria. By imposing a sanction, all business relations will cease. Given this, firms and workers pay an immediate price.

Many countries like Canada, USA and Australia have implemented the national do not call list. Residents who do not want to be bothered by telemarketers register their number on a national do not call list.

Many media outlets like Vancouver Sun have reported fewer calls and fewer complaints. They cite the chairman of CRTC comment on 1/3rd decrease in complaints between 2010 and 2011. Yet, how effective is this list? This article examines top 10 reasons why the idea should be scrapped and thus is NOT effective.

1. Phonebook:

As long as there is a phonebook circulating, telemarketing calls will not stop. The phonebook never specifies who is on the DO NOT CALL list. There is no alignment.

2. International Callers:

Many telemarketers are not local. I’ve received a number of calls from people located in India for example asking me if I want duct cleaning. Do Canadian and other laws apply to international companies?

3. *67:

Many companies block their numbers. They will never tell recipients their company name if a customer is asking.

4. Fake Names:

I once was stuck working for a company that was giving free life insurance reviews to all those who want them. When a customer asked me who I represent, I told them the insurance name and agent. I got fired for telling the truth. The insurance agent told me I should have told them another “fake” name.

5. Truth?

Companies who call never tell the truth. I get calls from the captain, credit card debt alleviators etc. When I ask for their company names to complain to the DO NOT CALL LIST, they hang up on me.