Cigarettes

One of the most common problems today that are killing people, all over the world, is smoking. Many people start this horrible habit because of stress, personal issues and high blood pressure. Some people began showing off or some people wanted to enjoy it . One cigarette can result in smoking others, which can lead to major addiction. When someone smokes a cigarette they are not only hurting themselves, but others around them. Smoking does many horrible things to the human body that most people are not aware of. Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 10 years or more; and that the habit can cost a smoker thousands of dirham’s a year. So, why people are still smoking? The answer is obviously, addiction. Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. There are several effects and causes of smoking; 
First of all, teenagers smoke because they want to be fit,. Teens see their friends smoke and they think it makes them look cool or independent plus them. Feel no tension plus worries. The first cause of smoking which is Nicotine is an addictive and harmful substance contained in cigarettes. It reduces tension and it is also believed that it can have a calming effect on people who are anxious and worried. Although, people smoke when they are depressed, lonely or bored and it helps them to reduce the stress. Second main cause of smoking is “psychological” (MENTAL) which seems to be a very important factor for people to get the habit. In many cases, smoking is started at a young age due to high blood pressure, tobacco. 

Many people who start smoking have a family member or close friend who smokes. Smoking is like a slow death. There are various examples of smoking. Smoking leads to lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, asthma and wide variety of other diseases. Smokers experience more coughs and colds as compared to non- smokers. Besides affecting oneself, it also has a negative impact on others around smokers which is also known as second hand smoking. Also any pregnant women who are exposed to cigarettes smoke will have an increased risk of having abnormal baby. Did you ever wonder what's in the cigarette that millions of people love to smoke every day? Well, there are over 4000 toxic substances in a cigarette. Some of these are: Arsenic (found in rat poisons), Acetic acid (found in hair dye developer), Ammonia (found in household cleaners), Benzene (found in rubber cement), Butane (found in lighter fluid), Carbon Monoxide (found in car fumes), Hydrazine and Methanol (both found in rocket fuel), Tar (found in roads).

Independence Day

The Independence Day is an annual celebration by the whole world but Malaysian names it as a Merdeka Day. All countries honour their respective independence day, celebrating it as a national holiday. Thus, on the 31 August every year, it is marked as the Malaysian Independence Day. However, there are lot differences of celebrating the Independence Day on 31 August and today in terms of spirit and technology.

On 31st of August every year, we as Malaysians celebrate the National Day. A lot of people enjoy celebrating the National Day. We enjoy singing the National Songs, decorating our classroom, watching the countdown concert, counting down the time to midnight and watching the parade on National Day. But when we do all those things, do we feel anything or we just celebrate National Day without understanding or feeling anything?? Don’t you at least feel proud being a Malaysian?? At least, we should appreciate  living here in Malaysia. There are a lot of reasons why we should.

We have to remember that everything we have is given to us by God. We should appreciate even the smallest thing that God gave us. Having good health, a happy family, and a peaceful environment. All this things we have to appreciate because God can take it back from us anytime. We should never take for granted of anything that God has given to us. When we learn to appreciate things, we will live happier because we realize that the world is not a bad place after all.

There are varieties of food in Malaysia. The Malay traditional food are very sweet. For example, the layer cake is made of sugar, flour and other ingredients. The Chinese like to eat herbal soup, mixed vegetables, steamed fish with extra ginger and soy sauce. The Indians like spicy food such as tandoori chicken and the vegetable dalca, which blends well with briyani rice and lentil soup.I love my country so much. I am proud to be a Malaysian.

Endangered animals in Malaysia

Tapir

Tapir is a pig-like animal with a short snout. They inhabit the forest regions of South America, Central America and South East Asia. Their closest relatives are the horses and rhinoceroses, and all 4 species have been classified as endangered. In Malaysia, only 1 of the 4 species of tapir exists – the Malayan Tapir. Tapir mainly survive on the forest’s resources such as berries, leaves and fruits. They have not many natural predators in the forest thanks to their thick skin and ability to run fast. As for Malayan Tapir, its strange body colour is often misunderstood as a large rock when lying down. This serves as a good camourflage for the creature. However, their numbers are fast declining due to their habitat loss (establishment of plantations, forest burning and logging), and the hunt for their meat and hide.

Estimated number left in Malaysia (Malayan Tapir) = about 369

Mouse Deer

Mouse Deer or better known as Sang Kancil in one of Malaysia’s folklores, is a small creature about 70 centimeters long, 30-35 centimeters tall (shoulder), and around 5-8 kilograms in weight. That’s the estimated size of the Greater Mouse Deer while the Lesser Mouse Deer species is estimated to weight around 2 kilograms. Mouse deers can only be found in Malaysia, Borneo and parts of Indonesia. They survive mostly on fruits and leaves. They are also believed to be nocturnal creatures.

Estimated number left in the world = No population estimate has been made, but has been classified as Endangered

Orangutan

There are basically 2 species of Orangutan – the critically endangered Sumatran species and also the endangered Bornean species. Both these species could only be found in the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The name Orangutan is actually derived from the Malay language Orang Hutan which means “forest man”, due to the similarity between the Orangutans’ behavior and those of the human beings.

Orangutans are very intelligent creatures, said to be the smartest creature on Earth after human. However, their numbers have been on a decline in the past few decades due to active logging activities and forest fires.

Estimated number left in the world (Sumatran species) = about 7000

Estimated number left in the world (Bornean species) = about 45000 – 69000

There are few other unique looking shrews which have already been classified as extinct due to their habitats being destroyed by human beings. I think it’s time for us to take up a more active role in helping these defenceless animals before more of them become extinct. 

Gold

Money does not grow on trees. But gold does, at least according to a group of scientists who have confirmed the presence of the mineral in the leaves of some plants.

Australia based researchers found the gold particles hidden within eucalyptus tree foliage, indicating that gold deposits may also be buried many metres below.

The grains growing within the leaves are approximately one fifth the diameter of a human hair, making the discovery unlikely to start a gold rush. However,  it can provide a unique opportunity for mineral exploration.

Geochemists from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRPO) said eucalyptus trees in western Australia are drawing up gold particles from the earth via their root system and depositing it their leaves and branches.

Although the amounts found were tiny, their presence could indicate gold ore deposits buried up to tens of metres underground and under sediments that are up to 60 million years old.

Lead author of the study, Dr Mel Lintern, said the team used CSIRO's Maia detector, a machine that uses x-rays to probe matter in great detail, to search for gold deposits. They were able to produce images of gold found in the leaves, bark and twigs of some of the trees.

Their research, published in the journal Nature Communications,suggested plants were absorbing gold particles found around the soils of eucalyptus trees, Dr Lintern explained. 

Poverty

Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not being able to go to school, not knowing how to read, not being able to speak properly. Poverty is not having a job, fear for the future and living one day at a time. Poverty is loosing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of freedom

Poverty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways. Most often poverty is a situation people want to escape. So poverty is a call to action - for the poor and the wealthy alike - a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and protection from violence. 

Unfortunately, poverty is often an invisible problem. The voices of the poor are seldom heard. And what makes me feel like writing about poverty is the unwillingness of our society to deal with this preventable problem and how politicians who rule the country pretend that poverty is simply a given human existence - a force of nature - unstoppable and eternal.

In fact what makes a good life? Material and physical well-being, security, freedom of choice and action - the very things that bring joy to human existence, all make a good life. It is living healthy and peaceful lives in love with no hunger; no worrying about the future of children that brings the principal pleasures of everyday life.

Tragedy of the golden daugther

For a while, Jennifer Pan’s parents regarded her as their “golden” child.

The young Canadian woman, who lived in the city of Markham just north of Toronto, was a straight A student at a Catholic school who won scholarships and early acceptance to college. True to her father’s wishes, she graduated from the University of Toronto’s prestigious pharmacology program

Pan’s accomplishments used to make her mother and father, Bich Ha and Huei Hann Pan, brim with pride. After all, they had arrived in Toronto as refugees from Vietnam, working as laborers for an auto parts manufacturer so their two kids could have the bright future that they couldn’t attain for themselves.

But in Pan’s case, that perfect fate was all an elaborate lie. She failed to graduate from high school, let alone the University of Toronto, as she had told her parents. Her trial, for plotting with hit men to kill her parents, ended in January, and she’s serving a long sentence. But the full story of this troubled young woman is just now being told as a complete and powerful narrative by someone who knew her and indeed, it’s searing. She pretended to be transferring to the University of Toronto and indeed, to be graduating from it, telling her parents when it came time for the graduation ceremony that there weren’t enough tickets to go around and they would not be able to attend. Ultimately, Ho wrote, Pan’s parents finally got suspicious, began tailing her and learned the truth. After they found out the truth, they became more strict towards her and she couldn't handle it. So she hired Hitman to kill her parents. Her father was badly injured but unfortunately her mother passed away.

Comparing two characters

                    I chose the novel Step By Wicked Step authored by Anne Fine. I am going to compare and contrrast two characters from the novel namely Richard and Collin. There are similarities and differences between them which can be showed throughout the story.


                   First of all, Richard and Collin share similar fate where both of them missed their fathers dearly. Richard's father passed away due to a sickness. Where as, Collin and his mother moved out from their home with his father's knowledge. Richard said somtimes he sits beside his father's graveand run his fingers over the letters of his father's name cut deep in stone. While Richard had no way to contact his father anymore, Collin is still in the search for his father. Collin frequently asks his mother 'When's dad coming ?' 'When will he be here ?' 'Will he be here for my birthday ?'


                Secondly, Richard and Collin were ignored by their mothers. They did not get enough tender loving care from their mothers. Richard felt that his mother, Lilith, ignored him when she married Mr. Coldstone despite his obvious dissatisfaction for Mr Coldstone. His mother turned a blind eye when Mr. Coldstone's treated him badly and brushed it off saying everything he does is for your own good. All his mother did was to lower her eyes. As for Collin, his mother was not aware of how much he missed his stepfather because she is too occupied working at the canteen and doing household chores. I think Mum thinks that I've forgotten him.

               Thirdly, Richard and Collin wanted to run away to make things work. They could only think of running away as the best option to solve all their problems. Richard ran away from home with the hope that he could make life more pleasant for everyone. Without me, the three of them would get on well enough. Collin however, was planning to run away to find his stepfather. Both of them have their differences as Richard realized that running away does not solve any problems. Collin, on the other hand, was still bent on the idea to search for his stepfather. He even does three paper rounds in an effort to accumulate more money for the search.

           

              In the nutshell, it is shown that both of the characters namely Richard and Collin had suffered much pain and sorrow. No one cared how they felt and running away is not the best solution in fact, it can affect the people around. Therefore, we need to think wisely before making a serious decision in life, 

How a character has changed due to certain events that have taken place in his/her life.

                              Based on the novel Step by Wicked step authored by Anne fine, the character that i feel has changed due to certain events that have taken place in the character's life and that character is Colin. Colin loved his stepfather deeply and he cherished his love very much that when he had to move out with his mother, he started to change.
   
                             First and foremost, Colin changed into a very unhappy and lonely boy because he had to join a new school when his mother moved out of their home with him. He had to go through unpleasant experiences because it is very hard for him to make new friends. the children in that school had friends of their own. Thus, he got ignored by his schoolmates. Besides that, his mother had no time to listen to his problems because she's busy with her new job at the canteen and with her household chores. This causes him to miss his stepfather terribly.

                            Secondly, Colin becomes a dreamy boy which causes him to have less focus in class and he did badly in school. the main reason for this was simply because he missed his stepfather very much. Every night, he would take the tobacco tin out of the toe of his boot and put it under his pillow and pretend like his stepfather was there to listen to his problems. He would then hum their favourite song and stay awake for hours talking to his dad.

                           Thirdly, Colin becomes resourceful. Even though it has been 5 years, 8 months & 7 days since he was separated from his dad but Colin secretly writes his stepfather's name his old address on the forms at school. Furthermore,  he tries to save money to search for his dad when he is older.

                           In conclusion, Colin couldn't adapt well to the changes in his life. He became a sad, sensitve and moody person. This caused him to make a bold decision to search for his stepfather. His love andlonging for his dad motivated him to become optimistic in his search for his dad.

Love is important in a family

Based on the novel step by wicked step by Anne Fine that i have studied, I have learnt that Love is important in a family. Love is needed to bring a family together in a few stories. For example, Claudia, unable to stand the treatment Stella was getting, made a grand appearance at the party and thanked Stella for the beautiful pyjamas she had brought for her. Finally, everyone started noticing Stella. As for Claudia and Stella, this was the starting point.Stella would teach Claudia how to quilt, read maps, change electric plugs and how to skate. This shows that love was important to bring Claudia and her stepmother together despite their differences.
In Robbo’s story, Robbo’s parents broke off when he was six. Whenever his dad visits them, the adults end up in arguments. Finally, his dad stopped his visits. Robbo and Callie had to visit his house which was cold and horrible. Callie hated her stepfather Roy whom she called the Beard. He started to interfere with a lot of things. However, unlike Richard who ran away from his family, Callie tried something different in order to make things work at home. Ralph also mentioned that everyone in their group had tried their best to solve their family problems. Out of love for her family, she did not want anymore family problems and decided to work things out.

Lastly, Pixie’s Dad promised her that she would have a own room but Hetty and Sophie had a terrible quarrel and was decided that Hetty moves out of her sister’s room into Pixie’s room.  Pixie hated Hetty and her habbits. Often, Pixie would tell Hetty Ghost stories so thtat Hetty would get out of her room.  Next, Pixie tried the silent treatment to get Hetty out of her room. Pixie had expected Hetty to go back to Sophie’s room but Hetty went to her mother and told her what was going on. Lucy, her stepmother came to her room and talked to her. They argued  but in the end , each one of them poured their hearts out.  They let their feelings out and hugged each other. Love indeed brought pixie, her stepsisters and her stepmother together.

National Service

It is generally agreed today that national service is compulsory for each SPM leaver. National service was first started around the year of 2004 and ended in the year of 2015. SPM leavers are randomly selected to enter the national service. As directed by the Ministry of Education of Malaysia,it is compulsory for each selected youth to participate in this program. Actions will be taken if they do not participate in it. I personally agreed that compulsory national service is good for the youth. One must admit that national service can bring so much benefits for them.

Firstly, one of the advantage of national service is helps in character building. The module that used implemented to build the effective characters for trainees that include self, family, community and country. The activities encourage trainees to work together this will actualize team spirit for trainees. The module involve in challenging activities such as shooting, extreme activities like abseiling, jungle trekking and etc. At the same time, the activities will instills a spirit of determination. Beside that, National Service involves students in community project like ‘gotong-royong’, visit old folks and so much more. So, activities which involve a good value like cooperation, determination, love, and strength will led trainee to build a good character.

Secondly,  National Service helps to develop leadership skills. Developing leadership skills means being exposed to the concept and principles of leadership along with learning effective leadership strategies or how to convert leadership resources into productive assets. The motivational speakers that highlight the development of leadership skills. The module which involve group activities will train them to be leaders. National Service encourage them into group competition. This can instills value and skils necessary for leadership.

   

      

Charleston

Few days ago, Dylann Roof shot and killed nine people inside the historical church in Charleston, South Carolina during a weekly Bible study meeting and opened fire around 9 p.m. Eight people were found shot to death at the scene, police said. Two others were transported to a hospital, where one later died. Roof was captured Thursday morning in Shelby, North Carolina. Dylann Roof was charged with nine counts of murder and one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. All felony charges. Furthermore, The South Carolina and American flags fly at half-staff June 18, 2015 atop the statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina, in honor of the nine people killed in Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, as the Confederate flag flies at full-staff at the Confederate Monument. At the behest of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, the statehouse flags will remain at half staff for nine days to honor the nine killed.
I feel that Dylann Roof is a dangerous man and action should be taken by the authorities to make sure these people don't go around killing other people. Imagine he killed family member of others and hours before the shooting, he sat together with them for a bible study meeting. Instead of shooing him away, they welcomed him with open arms. Furthermore, they forgave him after taking away lives of their loved ones. My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

Malaysia

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy located in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three federal territories. Malaysia is unique because of its diversity of races, religions and cultures. Malaysia has the 'Open House' concept where during the various cultural and religious festival like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Gawai Day and others, friends and families and even strangers would visit the homes of those who are celebrating the festival, to wish them well and enjoy the feast prepared by the hosts. Although the visitors may be from different races, they still can tolerate with each other and live under the same roof where they celebrate the festival together. This will help to strengthen the ties among themselves. Moreover, Malaysians live harmoniously in a country where there are no wars and conflicts among the citizens because war is dreadful and it may deteriorate humans' lives. We are fortunate that our country is safe and runs off the war. So, people can live safely here. On top of that, there are many interesting places to visit in Malaysia such as beaches, islands and rain forests. Malaysia's rainforest is considered as one of the oldest rain forests in the world. It has different species of flora and fauna living the rainforest waiting for you to discover. Furthermore, there are many islands in our country such as Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Redang, Pulau Ketam and many others. Pulau Langkawi has a lot of historitical informations. Those who are in favour of history can go there to explore the history of that place. All the beaches in those islands are beautiful. The sand is soft and white. The accommodation is well-established and that makes those islands ideal places to visit.

Discipline

Discipline is the assertion of over more base desires, and is usually understood to be synonymous with self control. Self-discipline is to some extent a substitute for motivation. When one uses reason to determine the best course of action that opposes one's desires, which is the opposite of fun. Virtuous behavior can be described as when one's are aligned with one's aims: to do what one knows is best and to do it gladly. Continent behavior, on the other hand, is when one does what one knows is best, but must do it by opposing one's motivations. Moving from continent to virtuous behavior requires training and some self-discipline.

Discipline in school has changed greatly over the years. It has gone from a simple in school suspension to 10 day suspension to as measures extreme as disciplining a child physically. The way in which teachers and administration choose to monitor students has also changed as well as the reason for student discipline. Many years ago, students who were disruptive in class were sent to a mere in school suspension class, if that. There were no ridiculous punishments as is today. Later on, there was out of school suspension for more serious behavioral problems such as fighting. Other punishments, at the time, included writing an essay, sentences or rules, a number of times, after school detention, and conferences with parents.

But over the years, children's behavior has gotten worse and there are far more problems that have to be dealt with by the teacher as well as the students. For example, nowadays, parents just don't care anymore. They aren't interested in their children's school work or about what they're doing out of school. But this can't all be blamed on the parents. The children/students, in my opinion are also to blame. They make bad choices which result in problems for themselves. Usually problems that they don't know how to handle. This causes bad attitudes towards parents when the parents try to discipline their children, which, in turn, the children get mad, and argue with parents to the point where they don't want to deal with it anymore. So they set them free and let their kids do what they want. This, I think, is the source of all the problems. The parents aren't setting the boundaries for the kids to stay in or the guidelines in which they must follow.

Interview

Do you have a job interview on your schedule? Review this advice on how to prepare for an interview beforehand. That way, you can ace it and make a terrific impression on the interviewer. Here are tips on analyzing the job and making sure the hiring manager knows why you're a good match. 

How do I make a good impression at a job interview?

Stand out for all the right reasons by ensuring you:

• arrive on time or better still early;
• are organised. Take your application letter, CV and examples of work (if appropriate) with you;
• listen carefully to questions and answer them concisely;
• highlight your best attributes in the interview. Before you go, think about what you want the interviewer to know about you (in relation to the job) during the interviewing process;
• pay attention to the way you communicate. There's evidence to suggest that non-verbal communication overpowers verbal communication so if you describe yourself as confident and outgoing but speak inaudibly and avoid eye contact, the interviewer will read the latter as indicating a lack of confidence and disregard what you said about being confident;
• practice anything you're concerned about. This could be saying your answers aloud, which builds confidence in hearing yourself speak, or having a trial run of the journey to the interview.

Where can I practice my interview skills?

Your university careers are likely to provide practice interview sessions.

Alternatively, you could:

• practice your answers (to anticipated questions) with someone you trust and seek feedback but don't be overly self-critical;
• use non-job interviews as opportunities to practice and monitor your interview skills, e.g. discussions with your tutor, doctor etc.;
• ask for feedback and advice after unsuccessful interviews and take it as an opportunity to learn and improve;
• pay a private company to provide interview practice.

Road Bullies

Road rage is an aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other road vehicle. Such behavior might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions that result in injuries and even deaths. It can be thought of as an extreme case of aggressive and reckless driving.Road rage is a relatively serious act: It may be seen as an endangerment of public safety. It is, however, not always possible to judge intent by external observation, so "road ragers" who are stopped by police may be charged with other offences such as careless or reckless driving, and may resolve in fines.
A first offence that would be given to a driver for causing road rage would be a written warning. This warning can be issued to anyone who is putting other drivers in danger while driving. If someone witnesses someone recklessly driving they should contact authorities to report a description of the driver, the car’s license plate number, and what they were doing wrong. Once this report has been made the reckless driver will receive the written warning in the mail explaining to them what they did wrong and warning them of what will happen if they do it again.
The second offence would be giving the wrongful driver a ticket costing anywhere from $25 to $100, depending on the degree of the road rage. For instance, if the driver were to vengefully intend to cut off a fellow driver because they had gotten to a parking spot before the driver had, this driver could be cited with a first offence and ticketed $25 for victimizing his fellow driver. On the other hand, if the driver (in the same situation) had made harmful threats directed to them he would be served with a ticket for $100, due to how dangerous he is to other drivers.
The third offence would be an appearance in court before the judge. If one person repeatedly commits acts of road rage the courts will now take legal action into making sure it will not happen again. This includes deciding whether they should serve time in jail or have their license suspended.

Freedom Writers

I wasn't there when my English teacher brought my class to the library to watch a movie called Freedom Writers, so i was instructed to watch it on my own. Unfortunately, time isn't my best friend and i'm so sorry Puan Monica for not watching this movie, so i googled what was the movie about.

The movie, Freedom writers is about a dedicated teacher in a racially divided Los Angeles school has a class of at-risk teenagers deemed incapable of learning. Instead of giving up, she inspires her students to take an interest in their education and planning their future. She assigns reading material that relates to their lives and encourages them all to keep journals.

Since i haven't watch this movie but i will in the future so i am going to talk about discrimination and stereotypes. Malaysia is made up of different race, culture and religion. I'm proud to say that I'm a Malaysian. But there are a handful of people in Malaysia that can't get along with each other. Why? Maybe because they think that you're different so they want to mix with 'their kind'. Well, i think that's not a right way to make friends. I think we should embrace our differences and ignore the stereotypes and learn how to live as one nation because that's what makes Malaysia so unique. As the saying goes united we stand, divided we fall.

Internet

The internet, or world wide web, has completely shaped the way we communicate, do business, learn, entertain, shop, and do just about anything in today’s world. Information, pictures, and data can all be shared at an amazingly fast rate. Today, technology has taken the internet to the next level. Hand held phones can access the entire internet with the same speed and power of most computers, which is absolutely amazing. While there is no arguing the positive impact that the internet has had on society, there are certainly some drawbacks as well.

1. Communication
One of the main goals of the internet is to connect people. With social media, emails, chats, and other avenues you can instantly communicate and get to know people from all over the world. This has aided the world in beginning to bridge the culture gap that exists.

2. Information
Anything you could ever want to know can be found on the internet, and comically simply. Search engines such as Google and Yahoo have given people the access to all of the information in the world. This is greatly beneficial for students, researchers, and anybody seeking to gain knowledge on a subject.

3. Entertainment
Entertainment is becoming a growing focus for internet users. You can use the internet to play games, stream videos, listen to music, and even read books. This may be why everyone is so glued to the screens.

4. Comfort
The internet makes everything convenient. You can purchase just about anything, and communicate with people without having to leave your bedroom.

5. New economic methods are made
Another big thing the internet has changed is business. It has become the biggest marketing tool, ever. People can also make purchases on the internet, meaning that anyone can be a business owner.

Nothing is perfect, here are a few disadvantages of the Internet.

1. Personal Information Compromised
People often put a wealth of their personal information on the internet, without thinking of the consequences. Identity theft has dramatically risen since the internet made it’s appearance in a mainstream setting.

2. Pornography
There are no limits of what can be put on the internet, it is a tool that is open to anybody and everybody. Very violent, sexually explicit, and other illegal things can be easily accessed for viewing using the internet.

3. Addiction
Social media, online games, and other time consuming things are beginning to take over the youth. They spend more time in their virtual life than they do in their real ones.

Friend zone

The friend zone, in popular culture, refers to a platonic relationship. Let me give you a scenario: You meet a nice lady-person in whom you have interest. She is great in every way and you have what you think is good chemistry. But you are confused about whether or not she likes you likes you. You finally get up the courage to make a move and BAM… she says, “Oh, but I’ve always considered you just a friend.” The painful words echo in your ears… just a friend… just a friend… just a friend. If only there was a way to prevent such humiliation. Of course, these will vary person to person, but here are some indicators and what to do about them before you make a move.

She talks to you about other guys she’s seeing. In another way, she might be gauging your reaction to see if you show signs of jealousy so it’s important to look for subtlety. Is she talking about how other guys she’s dating are jerks or is she talking to you about how she really likes one particular guy? If it’s the former, you might not be in the friend zone. If it’s the latter, it’s best to be a good friend and be happy for her.

When you invite her out, she invites other people along. You ask her to a movie, thinking it will be a one-on-one thing, but she invites several other friends. That’s a classic friend zone move. If she likes you, she will make time to be alone with you. Unless she likes you so much and is so shy that she’s afraid to be alone with you, in which case, see where she sits when you’re in a group. Does she share the couch with you, sit next to you at the bar/in the movie/at the diner? See if she’s really interested in what you’re doing when you’re out in a group.

She doesn’t make any attempt with her psychical appearance when you see her. When you like someone, you try to look your best for them. When you are just friends with someone, you can let them see you at your most relaxed or least done up. Even people who are very low maintenance will make some kind of effort if they like you. No effort = no attraction.

There is absolutely no physical contact. When you like someone, your brain makes you touch them. It’s just how it is. If you touch her arm when you’re talking to her and she pulls away, you are in the friend zone. If she doesn’t quite pull away but never ever touches you in return, you’re also in the friend zone. If she’s a really animated sort who touches everyone’s arm when she talks, you’ll have to follow your gut on this one and understand what kind of touch it was. Watch how she touches someone she’s not attracted to and see if she touches you the same way.

Even if you're in the friend zone, you shouldn't be ashamed, you are a great person and don't change that for anyone. 

Stress

Physiological or biological stress is an organism's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition or a stimulus. Stress is a body's method of reacting to a challenge. According to the stressful event, the body's way to respond to stress is by sympathetic nervous system activation which results in the fight-or-flight response. Because the body cannot keep this state for long periods of time, the parasympathetic system returns the body's physiological conditions to normal (homeostasis). In humans, stress typically describes a negative condition or a positive condition that can have an impact on a person's mental and physical well-being. It may seem that there’s nothing you can do about stress. There will never be more hours in the day, family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realisation that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management. Managing stress is all about taking charge: of your thoughts, emotions, schedule, and the way you deal with problems.

If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four As: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.
Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.

• Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.
• Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
• Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.
• Keep your sense of humour. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act of laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.

Grateful

This week has been one of the greatest weeks of my life because from Monday to Friday I had softball competition. Although we lost but my teammates and I did bonded. I am really proud of the team because we did not give up even though we had no coach to train and guide us. On Friday night, my family and I went out to grab dinner to celebrate my birthday. After eating dinner, we went home and i was exhausted so i went to bed early. At the same time, my friends were walking with a box of cupcakes and gift all the way from Centrepoint to my house just to surprise me. For that I'm truly grateful, I would like to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart. On Sunday which was today, my softball team planned a surprise for me and tricked me that there's a friendly match. Instead they bought a cake and they made a huge card for me.
I just want to say thank you guys so much for this amazing week I'm sorry that I'm not an expressive person but i'm very touched by your sweet gestures. You guys made my 17th birthday a memorable one. Thank you

Coachella

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly referred to as Coachella or the Coachella Festival) is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, located in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. It was founded by Paul Tollett in 1999 and is organized by Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Live. The event features many genres of music, including rock, indie, hip hop, and electronic dance music, as well as art installations and sculptures. Across the grounds, several stages continuously host live music. The main stages are: Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre, Gobi Tent, Mojave Tent, and the Sahara Tent; a smaller Oasis Dome was used in 2006 and 2011, while a new Yuma stage was introduced in 2013.

The success of Coachella in its early years proved that American music festivals could work and succeed in a destination form, as opposed to a traveling festival. The year of Coachella's debut was also the year of Woodstock '99, which was marred by riots, fires, and rapes, turning many people off music festivals. In the years following Coachella's success, many  other festivals have followed in its footsteps, copying its format as a destination festival with multiple stages, attractions, art, and camping.