Different Types of Anger

Aggressive anger is marked by abusive and violent behavior towards the targeted recipient. Whereas, those who exhibit passive anger often convey their displeasure and sometimes prefer not to talk and completely avoid the person who has made them angry. This article tells you more about the different types of anger.
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Tame your Temper
Regularly practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises and yoga can certainly help in managing anger effectively.

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Anger is often described as a temporary response to events that hurt us physically, psychologically, or emotionally. Though an integral part of life, anger can be a tricky feeling that is sometimes difficult to handle. As it is often outwardly directed, if not controlled, it can hurt people we love the most. Depending upon its nature, anger can be classified into the following types:

Passive Anger
In this type of anger, people express their emotion in an indirect way. There is no direct communication, instead it is conveyed sarcastically. Passive anger is also described as a non-verbal form of aggression, since the person may communicate his feeling through negative responses such as through angry gestures. This type of anger is often accompanied by negative body language such as ignoring people, avoiding eye contact or looking away from the person, poor posture, procrastination, and sulking.

In passive anger, people tend to bottle up their negative feeling, rather than venting it out. As a result, there is a drastic change in their behavior such as isolating oneself from friends, which often makes people around uncomfortable. People with this type of anger, appear calm outwardly but they experience inner turmoil and anxiety. They will not talk to the person who made them angry, instead vent out their frustration through indirect channels such as by gossiping or spreading terrible, malicious rumors against him.




Aggressive Anger
Aggressive anger is expressed directly and is often marked by an outburst of negative emotions. This is an extreme form of anger that can spell trouble to whomsoever the anger is directed. This style of anger in individuals makes them shout at and event hit the targeted recipient.

It is an aggressive way of expressing your negative feelings wherein the recipient is threatened, verbally abused, and often manhandled. Road rage incidents are one of the most common examples of the aggressive type of anger. Gestures such as sharp jabbing of the index finger during confrontation are also interpreted as an aggressive form of anger.




Assertive Anger
Assertive style of anger is often considered as a healthy way to express anger. Assertive anger directed to an individual is conveyed in the most responsible manner through assertive communication. In this type of anger, aggression or uncontrolled bursts of emotions do not come into picture. As such, there is no damage to the relationship because the person communicates properly about the reason behind his anger and moreover, is ready to take full responsibility if he has made someone angry.

In this type of anger, the individual does not hold any grudge or show disrespect towards the recipient of his anger. People with an assertive style of anger expression do not overact or behave rudely in an anger-inducing situation. Also, unlike in other styles of anger, here there is no scope for misunderstandings due to proper communication.




Retaliatory Anger
As the name suggests, this type of anger arises due to perceived wrongdoings of the recipient of anger. This is a form of aggressive anger that fuels the fire of revenge against the perceived offender. Harassment in any form from the offender or not receiving payment from an organization despite working efficiently are some common causes of retaliatory anger.

Self-inflicted Anger
This form of anger may be described as a self-injury behavior because the individual is angry with himself. This self-directed anger often results in hurting oneself. In this type of anger, the individual tries to punish himself by inflicting wounds to one's own body or by other means such as starvation with the sole intention of self-harm. Having prolonged and excessive guilt feelings is the main reason behind self-inflicted anger. Failing to crack an interview or being unable to complete a given assignment resulting in missed opportunities, often leads to feelings of self-inflicted anger.

Constructive Anger
Anger, when channelized in the right direction can help to make positive changes socially. This is the main purpose of using anger constructively to resolve issues that are affecting day-to-day life. Constructive anger involves making anger your ally and often manifests in the form of protests, for instance against unlawful activities or racial discrimination. Here, one does not personalize the anger but rather focuses on issues that are affecting society as a whole.

Habitual Anger
When an individual starts getting angry over trivial issues, he is said to be habitually angry. These people exhibit a constant expression of anger over little things. No wonder, staying with a habitually angry person can be a headache. As a result, they seem to be in a state of constant anger, which can be unhealthy and can adversely affect their emotional well-being. Keep in mind, anger should be an occasional response but if it starts 'visiting' every now and then, it can become a source of annoyance or rather amusement for others.

Judgmental Anger
People exhibiting this type of anger often misjudge someone and then downgrade him by making insensitive remarks. Their habit of forming a wrong opinion about others makes them resent people. They misjudge people and be-little them.

Paranoid Anger
In this type of anger, the individual tends to show distrust in others or gets suspicious unnecessarily. He feels someone is trying to demean or intimidate him. Feelings of jealousy about others is a hallmark of paranoid anger because the person believes that someone is going to snatch something that truly belongs to him. So jealousy (due to unfounded beliefs) that starts in the mind is often responsible for paranoid anger.

Shame-based Anger
People exhibiting this type of anger simply cannot tolerate criticism. So the recipients of their anger are those who have shamed or embarrassed them through criticism and scathing remarks. Even a small criticism triggers their shame-based anger, which can be volatile and many times violent. For instance, say, you innocently give a nickname to your friend but if that nickname reminds him of a traumatic childhood incident of personal shame, then calling him with that name will set off his shame-based anger.
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Considering the different types of anger, one can say that anger can be destructive (which can cause self-harm or harm to others) or constructive, which is positively directed to highlight socially relevant issues. However, it is only through assertive communication that one can calm people who are angry or agitated. Remember, uncontrolled anger can hurt your near and dear ones, whereas controlled anger when expressed properly, can help develop and nurture relationships.

Reasons Why Camp Friends are the Best Friends

Camp life is unforgettable - the memories you create, the experiences you share, and the friends you make, stay with you all your life. Camp friends are the best friends for numerous reasons. Relive those days through this post.
Reason why camp friends are the best friends
"It's never long distance between friends."
― Sarah Dessen
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We meet numerous people everyday, some become acquaintances, some friends. And, there is a different category of people who truly become a part of our life. They are our true buddies, who love us for what we are. Like our camp friends, who came into our life before all the drama and complexities of adult life began.

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Remember the first day of camp? You were nervous, scared, and excited. Thrown into a room with strangers, you were apprehensive about things. But slowly, you got to know each other, and found friends who will be with you lifelong.

What makes them so special?

They Know You Inside Out (Literally!)

Privacy does not come on the list when camping. So basically they have seen you in old tees, tracks, with messy hair, without makeup, or maybe even naked. Basically, they just know you, truly for what you are! And yes, they love you for that as well. They don't care where you live, how rich you are, it's pure friendship without any pretensions.

You Grew Up Together

camp friends fun and pranks
Fun Forever


Right from awkward geeky kids to confident adults, you have traveled together, transformed together, and grown with each other. You have shared all those "growing up" milestones, asked each other silly questions, and pondered over life's many mysteries.

You Love Being With Them

Of course you love them. You chose your camp buddies, and always looked forward to meeting them year after year. Well, distance makes the heart grow fonder, and you just simply never could get enough of each other. Your camp friends are your best friends because you love being with them, for you know you won't be judged.

They Will Always Be There For You

camp friends being there for each other
Together forever


You used to live together for just a couple of months, and then say goodbye with a heavy heart, but you knew you will always be there for each other. Even after growing up, living in different countries, and getting stuck up in busy lives, you know your camp friend is just a call away. You may meet them after many days, but the bond you share is always gonna stay the same.

You Can Never Feel Awkward With Them

After all you have been through, all the stupid things you have done, there's no chance of feeling awkward around them. You can talk to them about anything and everything, right from relationships to work.

They Have Accepted Your Craziness

camp friends sharing secrets and trust
Crazy nights


You have sung horrible songs in the craziest way possible during campfire, and let's not even get to your dancing skills! Yet, they have stuck to you (probably because they are as crazy as you). Anyway, the point is they have accepted that you are a total weirdo, and they still love you. That indeed makes them the best.

You Can Always Trust Them

They are your true 3 a.m. buddies. You have shared all your little or big secrets with them, and they have never told anyone. You can always count on them, and that makes them truly special.

The Games And The Pranks

All those wonderful games, swimming sessions, team games like capture the flag or color war made camp life very exciting. The strategies you made, the intense discussions you had, brought you close to each other. You learned how to be in a group. You fought; you said sorry. Those silly pranks you played on your friends, that you can still laugh over, made those days memorable.

Those Long Chats At Night

camp friends campfire and memories
Unforgettable memories


Remember sitting around the bonfire and talking about your dreams and aspirations? Those were the most amazing days of your life! Nothing to worry about, no care in the world, just talking about those limitless possibilities, and sharing all you feel - about your latest crush, or family problems, or the girl you hate at school.

All The Amazing Memories

Camp life gave you a lifetime of memories, that will stay with you forever. More importantly, it taught you how to make memories together. It wasn't just about clicking selfies or pictures then, it was about living those moments, truly living them. Even today, when you think back, those memories and nostalgia floods the mind. Remember the last night of camp, those tearful goodbyes, and the promise to meet again.
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Reasons won't be enough, but you know nobody can occupy that special place your camp friends hold in your heart. They are your best friends, period.

Challenges of Raising Children in Nuclear Families

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For much of US history, nuclear families have been the norm for mainstream society. However, with the advent of the 21st century, people from across the nation are challenging this family structure. In this article, we look at one facet of this topic: The various problems that one faces in the upbringing of children in nuclear families.
Challenges of raising children in nuclear families
Quick Fact!
As of 2014, the prevalence of traditional nuclear families, which included a mother, a father, and their children, has drastically reduced. Today, nearly 30% of all American households are single-parent families, while families with same-sex parents are also on the rise.
Nuclear families have a structure consisting of two parents and their children, i.e., immediate family. This system is very different from a joint family, where non-immediate family members, such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc., may be included. It is a long-held belief that, a nuclear family is the ideal family structure. However, as with anything, this system has its own advantages as well as disadvantages.
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The advantages of living in a nuclear family include higher chances of financial stability, consistency in the standards of upbringing of children, and strong bonds between all members of the family. While all this can be beneficial to the child's growth, there is a chance that poor parenting can drastically affect the kids.

The Role of Parents in a Nuclear Family
Since the children of a nuclear family are completely dependent on their parents for emotional and material support, the role of the parents is very important, especially in their formative years. They must offer secure relationships with their children, and be good role models in regards to both, mental and physical health.

If the level of love and conflict between the parents is healthy, and the couple displays satisfaction and respect towards each other and their roles at home, the children grow up to become well-adjusted to handle their adult lives. However, consistently performing well at these roles has its own challenges for most nuclear family parents.

Problems Parents Face Raising Children

Autonomous Parental Styles: Parents may style their parental behavior on letting their children make the rules. In these cases, the kids might become rebellious and difficult to handle. Such children usually grow up to be sociable, but also assertive and aggressive. This is not a bad thing overall, but can lead to mental stress in the parents.
Rejective Parental Styles: Most nuclear home have both the parents working, which means that, they are often tired after returning home. Unable to provide their children with enough attention, the child may feel left out and resentful. Such parenting can lead to the child becoming hostile towards others.
Restrictive Parenting Styles: In their bid to make their children well-behaved, some parents may become overly strict. The smallest mistakes are punished, and children might feel afraid of their parents. In these cases, the children often do become well-behaved. However, they also become overly dependent on their parents to make any decisions for own their lives.
Financial Dependence: Apart from depending on the parents for emotional bonds, children might also feel stressed if financial troubles exist, because unlike a joint family, there is no one else to fall back on.
Isolation: Children get lesser chances of interacting with extended family members. This can result in poor communication skills, and a loss of traditions in the new generation, which is very important to keep the child grounded.
Less Resilience: If the parents are unable to handle themselves well in emergency situations, this can adversely affect the kids, and they too can acquire various fears due to a poor support structure.

Despite these problems, there are a few research-based tips to make sure that you raise happy, well-adjusted children.

Tips for Raising Children

Understanding the Child: Many parents simply look at different families around them, and assume that they know the best ways to raise their own kids. However, the fact is that, each child is different, and a parenting style which is suitable for one child may not be suitable for another. Therefore, tailoring the methods of parenting according to the child's personality can reduce anxiety in the family. For example, children who have trouble handling their emotions might need more attention, while well-adjusted kids might be adversely affected with excessive monitoring.
Joking Around: Research has shown that, when parents joke and play act with young children, it increases the child's creative skills. Such children are also able to manage relations and stress much better. So, lighten up and become the joker in your home; your kids will thank you after.
Stop Searching for Perfection: It is very important that parents stop looking for perfection in their child or in themselves. Such thinking only increases stress and decreases confidence. It is important to try to ignore the pressure, so that you and your child can live a happier and relaxed life.
Positive Attitudes: It is a well-known fact that, parents who express negativity constantly, or handle children roughly, end up with overly aggressive or reclusive kids, which increases as they grow up. So, if you seem to find too much anger in the house, break free of these habits. It will reduce the chances of major social problems in the long run.Evening Dresses
Maintaining Autonomy: Children who talk back to their parents can often get irritating. However, research suggests that, kids who are rebellious have a stronger resistance towards peer pressure outside their homes. So, instead of trying to stamp out this behavior completely by being strict, keep it under control by being rational and giving them your support. This will give the kids the confidence to stand up for themselves in the future.
Keep Away from Guilt: Parents might find that they are not giving enough their time to their kids. This can lead to guilt. However, it is important that you don't let these emotions control you. Being compassionate rather than guilty towards yourself will not only help in dealing with child raising problems, but will also help set a good example for the kids.
Relationship with Parents: A warm, caring relationship with the mother and father helps in reducing behavioral problems in children. By being a secure base for the children, parents become a good launch pad for the kids to go out into the world, and forge new but healthy relationships when they grow up.
Learn to Let Go: If your child is going to college, you must learn to let go. It is one of their major steps towards becoming independent, and constantly hovering around them can make them anxious and self-conscious. Be close, but not too close.
Work on Mental Health: Studies have shown that, depressed parents struggle to fulfill their duties towards their kids. The negative parenting style will increase the child's stress too, which affects their daily lives. Therefore, if you think that you are depressed, get help for you and your child's sake.
Work on Your Marriage: Do not let your parental responsibilities affect your marital relation with your better half. Studies show that, parents suffering from marital problems contribute to the stress in their children, resulting in sleeplessness and other mental issues. So keep yourself happy, to keep your child happy.
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In today's time, where everything is commercialized, and where children are exposed to adult subcultures from a very young age, nuclear families are becoming more unstable, negatively affecting the kids. Children form weak attachments, and have poor levels of empathy, respect, and civility. As children learn the most from their parents, the successful upbringing of a child requires active and sustained spiritual, physical, intellectual, and emotional presence of the parents in the kid's life. The more time one spends in effectively rearing a child, the better the chances of the outcome.

Fraudulent Misrepresentation: Elements, Remedies, and Examples

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In corporate law, the act an individual or party of intentionally tricking another individual or party is termed as fraudulent misrepresentation. This Buzzle post will explain the concept of fraudulent misrepresentation, including its elements, remedies, and examples.
Fraudulent misrepresentation meaning
Please Remember
The tort of deceit is a commonly-used remedy when you have been a victim of fraudulent misrepresentation. A claim under the tort of deceit needs to fulfill the elements of intention, false representation, and loss for the victim.
To understand any legal concept, you need to understand some basic terms. In this context, remember that a representation is a statement that is made by the parties in question. It is something that helps gain an insight into the contract, but it is not something that is defined as a term in the contract. On the contrary, the legal definition of misrepresentation states, "a false statement of facts that has the effect of inducing someone into a contract". It means that you have made a false statement about a fact in order to complete the transaction; it is a statement that is not consistent with what is true.
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In this Buzzle article, you will learn about fraudulent misrepresentation, which occurs when one party betrays the other on purpose. Similar to perjury, it may be difficult to prove whether a party has intentionally committed this offense.

What is Fraudulent Misrepresentation?

There are three types of misrepresentation―innocent, negligent, and fraudulent.
In case the false statement was made without any knowledge of the same or with no bad intent, it qualifies for innocent misrepresentation. If the statement was made without paying attention or in negligence/carelessness, it qualifies for negligent misrepresentation.
Fraudulent misrepresentation, on the other hand, is when the untrue statement is made intentionally, to trick the other party.
Thus, you will be accused of a fraudulent misrepresentation if you have, on purpose, and with full knowledge and consciousness, lied about a transaction for your own benefit by betraying the other party. It is most serious offense of all three, and qualifies for penalties.


Elements

The elements of fraudulent misrepresentation are given below.

False Representation

This is the essence of fraudulent misrepresentation. Someone has to make a false representation. That is to say, someone has to misrepresent the fact, and believe that it is false.

Involvement of the Other Party

The other party has to be involved in the fraud. That means, they have to rely on the lie, they have to be affected due to the lie. For example, if the seller lies about a product but you do not buy it, you cannot blame the seller for lying. It's none of your business to take any action against him, when you haven't been the affected party at all. You can take an action if and only if you have believed his lie and have purchased the item.

Damages to the Other Party

A case for fraudulent misrepresentation can be filed if and only if the other party has suffered damages. The final transaction must actually cause some harm to the other party.

Relation of the Misrepresentation to the Transaction

Whatever the misrepresentation, it must be related to the transaction only. If the fraudulent party lies about something that has no relation to the deal, it cannot qualify as fraudulent transaction.

Strong Intention

The intention of the betraying party should be clear, i.e., to trick the other party. The untruth should be told with an intention of affecting the transaction.

The Untruth that Led to the Fraud

The misrepresentation must be made with complete awareness that it is false, or at least, with a careless assumption that it is false, or with complete disregard as to whether it is true or not. This means that either you know that you are lying, in full consciousness, or you have no reason to believe that it is the truth.

Remedies

Rescission

In legal terms, a 'rescission' is defined as a cancellation of contract.
The contract is then considered as null and void, as if never existed.
This step is generally undertaken by insurance companies, that is to say, the company can terminate your policy if you have intentionally listed wrong information about yourself.
In case of a fraudulent misrepresentation, a rescission ensures that the contract is completely terminated, i.e., things are brought back to how they were in the beginning of the contract.
All the parties are in the situation they were prior to signing the contract, and any money or any benefit received by the fraudulent party must be returned to the other party.


Damages

Let's say, you have purchased an expensive dress for an event, wherein your boss requires you to make a good impression on his clients/guests.
After being assured by the store owner that the dress is made of expensive fabric and will last long, you have bought the same.
However, he has conveniently and intentionally lied about this so that you make your purchase. At the event, the dress gets stuck on a chair and gets ripped off completely, and the event manager fires you for embarrassing him.
In this case, the court will order that the store owner compensate you for the loss of your job, since he very well was aware that the dress you purchased was of a poor quality. Even if he didn't, he will still have to pay for the damages due to fraudulent misrepresentation.


Examples

Example I

Let us suppose you have been asked by the owner of a company to work for him, and that he would pay you a stipulated amount in return.
You go there to work trusting your boss that he will pay you the promised amount. However, you discover that he pays you lesser than the stated amount.
This is a case of fraudulent misrepresentation, and you can sue the owner for fraudulent inducement of employment. This example fulfills all the elements of the fraudulent misrepresentation tort.


Example II

Let's assume you have purchased a house through a real estate agent/owner after having seen several houses.
You have then asked him if the house has a leakage problem. Now, the owner probably knows that the house does have a leakage problem, yet, he does not inform you of the same, since he wants to close the deal as soon as possible.
After signing the contract and shifting to the house, you notice that it has a leakage issue. This is a case of fraudulent misrepresentation.
You can now void the contract and get back your money since the owner knew about the problem, yet, he did not inform you, with the intent of tricking you into buying a house with a problem.
The owner has made a fraudulent misrepresentation that you have relied on, and the court will void the contract.
Another scenario would be when you inquire about the leakage, and the owner genuinely does not know that the house has one. Therefore, he tells you that there is no problem.
After signing the contract, you discover the problem, and despite one of the elements of fraudulent misrepresentation not being satisfied, you can still void the contract.


Example III

Assume that you have purchased an electronic gadget with a 2-year warranty. Also, you are assured by the salesman that the components of the gadget are new.
However, in reality, the components are 2 years old and fall apart when you begin to use the gadget.
In this case, the salesman might have known about the defective components, but he has deliberately chosen to refrain from mentioning about them, because he wants you to purchase it. When you find that you have been a victim of fraudulent misrepresentation, you can sue the seller and recover damages.
Even if the seller was unaware of the defective piece, in this case, he would still have to pay for the loss (if any) sustained by you.
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Not every kind of fraud classifies as a fraudulent misrepresentation. It might very well be possible that your business has been wronged by another party, but it may not have been done with a purpose; it may not always qualify for a fraudulent misrepresentation. This is rather difficult to identify. It is essential that both parties complete all the formalities with the help of a good corporate attorney.

15 Things You Will Relate to if You are a Coffee Lover

Coffee is not just a beverage; it's much more for a person who loves coffee. It is a companion in good and bad times. It has become a part of our daily lives, and we just can't seem to get enough of it. So, while you are sipping on your cuppa coffee, take a look at the list of things that only a coffee lover can truly understand.
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Things coffee lovers relate to
"To me, the smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the greatest inventions."
―Hugh Jackman
Coffee Lover. Coffee Addict. Obsessed Coffee Lover. Connoisseur. I'm sure most of you coffee lovers out there would have been referred to by these names at least once in your life till now. Coffee for you is much more than just a normal drink or beverage. You kickstart your day with a hot cuppa, and there you are, all set to face the day's challenges. Sipping on coffee at odd times of the day or night, getting drawn to the intoxicating smell of coffee, thinking about coffee whether you are happy, sad, or depressed? If you identify with all of these, then you are definitely one big coffee fanatic. Don't worry, you're not alone in this! I too am sipping on a cup of coffee as I write this article! So of course, we understand your endless love for coffee, and the love that these little beans have provided us in return. You just can't thank God enough for creating this heavenly and magical drink. Therefore, to explain our love for coffee, we have come up with a list of things that no one else, but only coffee lovers will relate to.

Things that Only a Coffee Lover Can Understand

#1. You can't imagine kickstarting your day without coffee
Coffee lover in morning
You wake up everyday just because you'll get to have that amazing drink the first thing in the morning. Until then, you feel miserable, sleepy, tired, cranky, etc. The moment the dark roast touches your lips and the first sip goes down your system, you are all ready to go out. However, staying a little longer in bed with that hot cup of coffee in your hand seems like heaven to you. It goes without saying, that you can literally do anything for that first cup!

#2. You can't start working until you've had coffee again at work
Coffee lover at work
The only thing that can get you to work is coffee! You believe that coffee breaks are the best part of the day at work. And sometimes, although we hate it, but a LOT of work is welcomed because it works as an excuse for more coffee. It also comes to your rescue at the most important part of the day - the afternoon crash! You are probably three cups down by afternoon, when you start craving for the next one as soon as you start feeling sleepy.

#3. You know your coffee very well
Different types of coffee
You've probably had every type of java that exists on this planet, and also know the art of preparing that perfect cup. Non-coffee lovers just don't get the point, that making a GOOD cup of coffee is an ART and not an obsession. Your friends call you their Coffee Menu, and also turn to you when they want to have an amazing coffee.

#4. You have a love affair with coffee
Love affair with coffee
All coffee lovers do! You'd choose coffee over anything else in this world. You also start and end your day with it, and share a special relationship with it. You get possessive and angry when someone else touches your cup. You've also imagined that, if coffee was a person, you'd marry it! It means so much to you.

#5. You just can't get over the intoxicating aroma of coffee
Coffee aroma
You get attracted to the smell of coffee wherever you go, and can recognize the type of coffee just by smelling it. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans is one of the best in the world, and you simply love waking up to the smell of coffee.

#6. You bond well with other coffee lovers
Coffee lovers bond well
You believe that a friend of coffee is your friend, and those who don't like it, you don't like them too. How can people not have coffee after all? Those who love coffee do understand your love for it better than anyone else, and thus, won't ever judge you.

#7. There's coffee for every occasion and mood
Coffee every occasion and mood
Happy. Sad. Depressed. Excited. Morning. Night. Breakup. Coffee blends into all kinds of situations and occasions. It knows how to lift your mood and simply solves all your problems... for a while at least! It is also your savior when you are out on a date and you don't know what to do.

#8. Your favorite hangout is a coffee shop
Coffee shop
Whenever you are out and you can't decide on a place, you just settle on a coffee shop every single time. It's as if you sleepwalk to the aroma and love of coffee. You frequent most coffee joints in town, and the staff everywhere already know your order. Your regular coffee shop has become your second home. And if any of your friends wants you to accompany them anywhere, they know what to do!

#9. You like your coffee perfect
perfect coffee
You spend hours beating to make the best coffee in the world. You simply want your coffee to be the best every time. You believe that life is too short to have a bad cup of coffee, but you'll still settle for one if you can't get good coffee. And you also prefer bad coffee over good tea.

#10. Your favorite part of the day - coffee and a good book
"What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?" We agree with you Mr. Anthony Trollope! There's nothing better than cuddling under a blanket on a sofa or bed with a hot cup of coffee and a really good book. It is your faithful companion when you pull an all-nighter for an exam or to finish some pending work.

#11. You have different types of coffee mugs
You have a whole collection of coffee mugs of all shapes, sizes, and colors, at your place, with some wacky quotes on them too. And you even have some fixed mugs for fixed days. Actually, these also make good gifts for all coffee fanatics.

#12. There's coffee for every weather
Whether it's burning hot or snowing outside, you have coffee for every weather. There's hot coffee for cold weather, and cold coffee for hot weather. You'll find so many different types of coffees in the menu wherever you go. Cold tea in hot weather? Nah, never mind!

#13. Tea to coffee transition
You have also converted some tea lovers into coffee lovers. And they got converted because they had no other choice. You are simply that good with coffee! *Devilish smile*

#14. How much coffee is too much for you?
You can easily have at least 5 - 6 cups of coffee in a day. One cup a day is never enough for coffee lovers. Even I'm three cups down already by now, and half of the day is still left! And for those who say you have 9 - 10 cups of coffee a day, stop exaggerating people! We don't keep having coffee back-to-back the whole day. It's just our love for it, and nothing else.

#15. Tea vs. coffee debates?
You simply don't understand how people function without having coffee, and you hate getting into coffee vs. tea debates, because you know coffee wins every time hands down. You simply love it for the love of it.
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So, these were some signs which prove that you are a coffee lover, and probably understand them too. While I'm off to grab my next cup of Joe, do let us know how many of these things you identify yourself with, by mentioning them in the comments section below.

9 Signs That Prove You Love Yourself the Most

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What does one expect after all in life? A little appreciation and a few kind words. So why wait for the world to give it to you? You start appreciating yourself, and the world will follow. This article has put together nine signs that indicate you love yourself the most. Interested in knowing your score out of nine?
Sign that proves you love yourself
To love yourself,
Take yourself on a date.
Write and post a letter to yourself.
Find your passion, and act on it.
If someone asks you who is the love of your life, what would your answer be? It won't be wrong to guess that most of us would begin thinking of some person, probably someone very close to our heart.
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Now another question. What all would you do to make that person happy? (Oh, by the way, let's be practical, none of us is a superhuman here). So, maybe you would plan a surprise, buy that person a gift - an expensive something he/she always wanted, fulfill some old wish, and so on and so forth. But how many of us would want to do such exciting things for our own selves?

If you do, or at least wish to give it a try, you will experience a smile coming onto your face. There lies the answer to the question whether you love yourself or not. Help yourself with the following list of nine signs, to see whether you fall in the category of self-lovers.

Signs That You Love Yourself

Love is considered to be the highest of all positive emotions. Loving oneself directs our emotions to an optimistic way of life. It helps keep the mind, body, and soul happy and balanced. Many of us have understood this secret, and are happy to express our love for ourselves. Here's how such people do it. You are in love with yourself if...

#1 You Want to Hug Yourself Often
woman hugging herself
I am my favorite!

Here's to my favorite! Mwah! Now that's a toast to someone special, to YOU. If you feel it is simply mandatory to like your own personality, at all costs, you are in. Done with others. This time it's 'me' that I have fallen for. If you've hugged yourself at least once, you know how awesome it feels when you don't fit into your own arms, but like it to be that way. Of course, with your head tilted and a cute smile to go with it!

#2 You Look into the Mirror and are Happy
baby looking in mirror
Hello gorgeous!

Admiration for oneself is one of the primary rules for loving yourself. If you like looking into the mirror, and that image on the other end gives you a happy feeling, you can be sure of your love for your true self. An early morning, sleepy face, a tired face with no make-up, or a soft gaze at your own eyes; whatever be the expression and the time of the day.

#3 You Enjoy Your Own Company
woman sitting atop mountain
It's just perfect to have ME in my life.

There are some who love being all by themselves. Get a book to read, go for a trail, put on some music that suits and soothes your mood, paint your imagination, pen down every small feeling into words, cook yourself an awesome delicacy for a change; the list can go on forever. If you do one or many of these things, it seems you enjoy your own company, and there is nothing wrong with it, AT ALL.

#4 You Honor Yourself
happy old couple swimming
Who cares how old?

'If you love him/her, you first need to have some respect for that person'. This is a common advice we either tend to give or receive when trying to help others with issues in relationships and marriages. And it appears to be true too. So, if you think you really do love yourself, in this case too, respecting oneself comes first. Honoring your feelings, your life, and your personality is the same as being able to love the person in you. Things like age, gender, color, race, success in life, financial status, or such meager aspects matter the least. As it is said, regard yourselves well, so that the world too regards you well in return.

#5 You Take Good Care of Yourself
woman at a spa
Treating the YOU within.

Button up your overcoat, when the wind is free,
Oh, Take good care of yourself, you belong to me!

You must have heard this song. You should know when and how you need to be treated. Do anything that helps you relax; take a long, deep breath, and forget everyday worries. If you feel you know when it's time for some pampering, you sure know yourself better than the world! Do some kind of regular exercise, practicing yoga, meditation, or a visit to the spa, and several other ways to treat yourself once in a while.

#6 You Think You Know Yourself
woman holding slr camera
I found me. I wanna be ME.

Happy at work, happy with what you're doing? That means you know what you like doing, and you know who you are. When you feel that sense of satisfaction with life, you know that you know yourself. Or at least, you have started in that direction. Have you ever looked at your hands, feet, nails, and body? Just like that, for the sake of looking at it! Try it once, and you will begin to love your body, because you would realize that you are much more than just that. Because it is you, the body is yours, it serves you. You feel grateful for it. Appreciate it. This way, you know you are beautiful.

#7 You Accept Yourself, as You Are
woman running from wave of laundry
Need to buy me some new clothes. Oh wait! Laundry.

Meet me! This is who I am. You know what you are great at, and... well, there are a lot of things you can be bad at. But, if you still manage to praise yourself after cooking yourself a meal, without any resultant accidental preparation, OR, after finding some tiny thing in your bag when you needed it the most, OR, after being able to find the perfect pair of earrings to go with a dress, right in your closet, OR, after any such huge accomplishment, then,
you surely are a deep admirer of the self. On a serious note, acceptance of the self is a basic feat achieved when you learn to love yourself, with all flaws (inherited, right?)

#8 You Make Your Own Choices
woman wearing different pair of shoes
For me, I come first.

Have you ever tried wearing a different, non-matching pair of shoes? Only because you wanted to? If yes, you get a point added to your score. You don't take decisions to make others feel good, but do things for your own sake. You can refuse to go to a party, because you needed to get some good sleep over the weekend, and you are completely fine with it. People like these are just different. They listen to their heart. They do only what they want to. And, there is no good or bad about it; that's just a way for them to express their love for a real SOULmate.

#9 You Gift Yourself a Vacation
woman traveler atop a car
Bon voyage!

Last, but not at all the least, this in fact testifies as the best way to prove that one really loves oneself. It is often a wish of many to plan a vacation, where... still only some can actually make those wishes come true. If you have visited a country, state, gone for an adventure sport outing, or simply gone out into nature, to do justice to what you sensed within you, you would top the list of people who are in love with themselves. Because, if you've been there and done that, only you know how you have changed YOUR perception about YOU.

Just to sum it up all, we know that guilt doesn't do any good to anyone, but love might. Don't be under the impression that it's always helping others that makes us happy. Not that it doesn't, but if what matters is making someone happy, then why not yourself for once?
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So, what was your score on nine? Feel free to share your secret ways to care for yourself. We hope you feel even better now, for having loved yourself the most. Keep it going!

The Strange Mauritanian Tradition of Force-feeding Girls to Find a Husband

Agreeing to the fact about different perceptions of beauty around the world, there are some far-flung places where obesity is a sign of beauty. It is also seen as a symbol of wealth. We are talking about the tradition in Mauritania. The world may be obsessed with getting slimmer, Mauritanians have a story of their own. Read this post to know its history and its underlying effects.

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Mauritanian tradition of force-feeding girls
In 2013, the HBO documentary series, Vice highlighted the plight of Mauritanian women. They sent Thomas Morton, an American journalist, to investigate and experience the tradition of Leblouh, which resulted in him gaining 10 pounds in two days!
She's gonna go to a magical place on vacation to the desert. She'll get to eat sweets all day and meet and befriend other girls of her age. The holidays will be spent relishing the stay and savoring mouths. She'll return home turning into a beautiful woman.

This is the story narrated by every mother in Mauritania to her girl child. The girls get all excited for their "summer camp" and takes a leave to the desert, only to return by becoming "beautiful." Let's resume the story.

The girl is having breakfast in an incommodious hut cramped in the Sahara desert, accompanied with five other girls. She's just done with sopping up a pint of camel milk, but the meal ain't over yet. Her stomach is bloating with oily couscous and the next course is waiting ready to enter her tummy. She's expected to finish a huge quantity of thick gruel prepared with pounded millet. And if she refuses to have it, she'll be caned. Worse, if she pukes, she'll be forced to eat her puke.

This is what they call "magical"? This is what happens in their camp? The girl is getting beautiful by feeding on every possible fat given to her, and sometimes, even steroids to boost her weight, making her more attractive and eligible to get married.

The Tradition

➤ For Mauritanians, big is beautiful. They consider an obese wife to be a sign of wealth and prestige. The tradition holds that, the size of a woman will suggest the space she'll take in her husband's heart; the flapping layers of fat in her body will define the degree of eroticism. So, the bigger the girl, the wealthier and more mature she looks. The heavier and wealthier the girl, the more desirable she becomes, and so the earlier she'll get married. Thus, slimmer women are viewed as inferior and poor.

➤ Leblouh or force-feeding is a practice to groom young girls for potential suitors. Girls as young as five are sent to 'fattening farms' in their holidays to undergo hours of feeding during the day. To attain this physical state, the girls are fed with breadcrumbs soaked in olive oil, around 12 pints of camel milk, oily couscous, and goat meat―consumption of elephantine amounts of food. This practice is known as gavage.

➤ If a girl refuses, the woman or matron who runs the camp is likely to punish her physically. She may be caned on her toes until she screams. If she throws up, she'll be forced to feed on that vomit. Furthermore, sticks are squeezed under her thighs for her muscle tissues to erupt, speeding up the fattening process.

The Adverse Effects

➤ On an average, a girl is fed with 12 pints of goat milk and copious amount of gruel, resulting in an intake of about 14,000 to 16,000 calories per day, which is like 4 times a male bodybuilder's intake. If successful, this process will make the child look double her age. It causes a 12-year-old to weigh 180 ponds (approx. 80 kg).

➤ They have also found a new form of leblouh, 'chemical gavage'. Girls who refuse to feed on the diet, are forcefully injected with animal-growth hormones, those that are used to fatten camels and chickens. They are also dumped with steroids and pills made for birds that causes bloating of abdomen and breasts, but thin legs and arms.

➤ Owing to this feeding of gavage, the girls develop a disproportionate body shape, and more importantly, become obese, leading to life-threatening issues! The bigger threats involve regular heart attacks, heart failures, malformations, reproductive health complications, renal failures and joint pain.

Concluding Remarks
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Young women are fighting against this practice. They idealize models, watch television, are aware of the world that is trying to get skinnier. They refuse to bulk up. Although there is a fall in the number of women practicing force-feeding, this nescient notion needs to be dozed with awareness about its hazardous consequences. Campaigns, reaching out, making a provision for education, are some of the factors that can stave off this wrongdoing. There is a sheer need of not just health awareness, but the downsides of child marriage and abuse!

Allusions to Greek Mythology in the Modern World

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Many things in the modern world trace their roots to ancient cultures and mythology. Take the names of companies, products, and even movie and book characters, for example. Many interesting ones have been derived from mythology. This article enlists some allusions to Greek mythology. It covers names of products, companies, characters, sports teams, cities, etc.
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Allusion to Greek mythology in 'The Little Mermaid'
Elmer is believed to be the Greek God of glue. Interestingly, Elmer's Products Inc. is a private company that manufactures adhesives, as also stationery, craft, and hardware.
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To honor a particular Greek God, as a symbol of a certain Greek mythical character, or simply because the name sounds different, many companies, products, and even cities have been given names that are directly linked to Greek mythology. Due to books, movies, and other sources telling us about the ancient Greeks and the interesting traits and unusual powers that Greek mythical figures had, many are tempted to allude to Greek mythology in naming products or characters in the modern world.

Greek mythology had plethora of gods and goddess and their names have been adapted for many things. They are held in high regard for the powers they had. But they are also remembered because their names are still in use. They have been given to popular brands, and other things like cities and teams have also been given their names. This makes people of the modern world, associate these companies or their products with those Greek figures. Here, we look at references that the modern world has made to Greek mythology.

Company Names

Ares
This car name is derived from the Greek god of war with the same name.
Buick Electra
Buick Electra is a full-size premium automobile made by the Buick division of General Motors. The name is derived from Electra, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and princess of Argos.

Odyssey
This minivan produced by Honda derives its name from Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca. Homer's poem Odyssey portrays him to be a hero.
Starbucks
The logo of Starbucks is a Siren. In Greek mythology, Sirens were considered to be dangerous yet beautiful creatures who would enchant the sailors with their voices, thereby causing a shipwreck.

Midas
He was a king with a golden touch, meaning whatever he touched turned into gold. In the modern world, Midas is an automotive company that specializes in producing brakes and mufflers.
Nike
In Greek mythology, Nike was a winged goddess of victory who could run and fly at a great speed. Nike is a popular sports brand, famous for selling sports shoes.

Amazon
It is one of the largest online stores in the world. In Greek mythology, a group of strong women warriors who were trained in combat and archery were known as the Amazons.
Pandora
She was the first woman in Greek mythology, her name meant all-gifted. Pandora, in the modern world, is a jewelry company founded in Denmark. Pandora Media Inc. is an Internet radio service.

Ajax
Ajax was a Greek warrior in the Trojan war who was a man of great valor. In the modern world, AJAX may refer to a group of web development techniques. There is a brand of cleaning products by the same name.
Versace
The logo for Versace actually represented Medusa in Greek mythology.

Olympus
It is where the Greek gods resided. It is a popular camera company. The company Olympic airlines also derives its name from Olympus.
Argos
Argus Panoptes was an all-seeing giant with hundred eyes. In the modern world, Argos Data Collection System looks after global satellite coverage.

Trident
Trident was one of the symbols of Poseidon, it was a three-pronged spear. Trident in the modern world, is a famous gum brand and its name translates to three-toothed.
Volkswagen Phaeton
Volkswagen Phaeton is a luxury sedan by Volkswagen. In Greek mythology, Phaeton was the son of Oceanid Clymene and the solar deity Apollo.

Asus
The company derives its name from Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology. The company has incorporated only the last four letters of Pegasus in its name.
Oracle
In classical antiquity, Oracle refers to a person who could predict the future and give wise advice. In the modern world, Oracle refers to a famous computer hardware company.

Hermès
He was the messenger of Greek gods. In the modern world, Hermès is the name of a company that specializes in luxury goods, lifestyle accessories, perfumes, etc.
Dove
In Greek mythology, Dove was a symbol of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. Unilever owns a personal care brand by the same name.

Titan
In Greek mythology, Titans were the elderly gods who ruled the earth before they were overthrown by the Olympians. Titan, a famous Indian watch company and the football team Tennessee Titans are modern-day allusions to Greek mythology.
Eos
Eos was the Greek goddess of Dawn. In the modern world, Eos is a line of cameras produced by Canon. Additionally, Eos is a company that specializes in personal care products.


Characters

Fluffy, the dog
Fluffy was the three-headed dog in Harry Potter. The character was derived from the Greek mythological creature Cerberus who was also a three-headed dog that guarded the underworld.
Hermione
Hermione in Greek mythology was the daughter of Menelaus and Helen.

Pan
Among many other references to this name in literature, a famous allusion is that of Peter Pan. The name of this character is derived from the Greek deity Pan.
King Triton
The character King Triton from 'The Little Mermaid' is derived from the Greek sea god Poseidon.

Ares
A strip in Planet Comics, called Mars God of War featured a character based on Ares. He was shown to be taking over people's bodies to cause war.
Pluto
Pluto, the dog from Mickey Mouse, derives its name from Pluto, the ruler of the underworld in Greek mythology.


Sports Teams

Toronto Argonauts
It is the name of a Canadian football team. In Greek mythology, Argonauts refer to a band of heroes who joined Jason in finding Golden Fleece.
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix refers to a bird that was reborn from the ashes. This basketball team derives its name from this mythical creature.


Places

Athens
The capital city of Greece is named after the goddess Athena. Athena and Poseidon competed with each other to give their name to the city. Poseidon with his trident created a spring, which was salty water. Athena, on the other hand produced an olive tree, which the population felt was useful to them. Hence the city got the name Athens.
Apollo
He was an Olympian, god of music, light, art, and beauty. Places like Apollo Pennsylvania and Apollo Beach Florida have been named after him.

Daphne
She was the daughter of the river god Peneus. Greek god Apollo was behind her. To escape from him, she turned herself into a Laurel tree. Daphne is the name of a city in Alabama.
Marathon
The name Marathon is derived from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. Marathon is a city in Florida. It is also the term used for a long-distance running event.

Cassandra
She was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. It is also the name of a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Phoenix
It is the state capital and the largest city in Arizona. Lord Darrell Duppa is said to be behind the name of this city. According to him, before this city was developed, ancient Americans' ruins were discovered here. Just like the mythical bird Phoenix rose from the ashes, Phoenix was also reborn from the ruins.
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This was our list of allusions to Greek mythology. You might also like to go through this list of movies based on Greek mythology. Also, many constellations derive their names from it. Due to the contribution of Greeks to various fields and because of the interesting stories that surround Greek mythical figures, their names have been alluded to, in the modern-world business and popular culture. Does one of these or any other Greek name inspire you?

History and Significance of Juneteenth Day

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Juneteenth refers to the freedom day or emancipation day celebrated by African-Americans in the U.S., originally in Texas. It commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery and emancipation of slaves on June 19, 1865. This article tells you about the history and significance of this day and date.
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Significance of Juneteenth day
Lift Every Voice and Sing
This song, also known as the Black American National Anthem, is one of the many songs sung during Juneteenth celebrations.
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Juneteenth is a portmanteau, combining the words 'June' and the date 'nineteenth'. This day commemorates the announcement of the 'abolition of slavery' in Texas on June 19, 1865. It has been observed annually since the year 1866, more so as a large celebration almost till the early decades of the 20th century. It was declared a state holiday by the U.S. state of Texas in 1980.

Juneteenth Day Celebrations

Under the guidance from Freedmen's Bureau, Juneteenth was first celebrated in the state capital in 1867. It symbolizes the emancipation of African-American slaves living in the Confederacy, or the southern slave states. This festivity was, in the beginning, banished to the outskirts of the cities. Therefore, black groups arranged for collective funds and purchased vast spaces to celebrate their occasions, as segregation was nearly state sponsored then. 'Emancipation Park' was what these tracts of land were called. The Booker T. Washington Park or Comanche Crossing in Limestone County is a popular emancipation park. Also, the annual promenade held in Brenham is a memorable Juneteenth celebration.

Celebrations earlier meant a prayer service, inviting different speakers who would give inspirational messages, reading of the emancipation proclamation, listening to stories from erstwhile slaves, rodeos, street fairs, dramatic readings, pageants, family reunions, cookouts, parades, barbecues, and ball games. Singing of songs like 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' and 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' was a part of the tradition too. All these events were definitely accompanied with barbecue and a variety of delicacies, including 'strawberry soda-pop' that became popular due to Juneteenth celebrations. Much of this is also carried forward to this date.

History of Juneteenth Day

It was during the American Civil War that President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation Order in 1862. It was effected from January 1, 1963. This important document had declared for all slaves to be freed in all the regions of the Confederate States of America. The Union had also begun to recruit former slaves for the military, in 1863.

Nonetheless, the proclamation itself did not assure freedom for the bonded, as it applied to the states that were rebelling against the Union, and also because many states simply ignored it. Besides, the state of Texas was not aggressively invaded by the Union, and few such attempts were thwarted by the Confederate troops. So, the news about the emancipation proclamation had not reached the state. It was two and a half years later that the emancipation of slaves was realized by the masses.

On June 18, in the year 1865, Union Major-General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. On June 19, from the balcony of Galveston's Ashton Villa, he issued General Order Number 3, which partly read,

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

Slaves, who were now to become 'former slaves', could express themselves―the ultimate happiness they felt―by coming out and rejoicing on the streets. It was quite some time though before the emancipation could actually come into reality for them, as they had to struggle against their masters. The news of freedom to slaves spread very slowly. Many plantation owners thought of not informing the slaves of this order, and thus waited until they could reap benefits from the ongoing harvest. Although at a slow pace, the message of emancipation reached the approximate 250,000 slaves in Texas a few months after the end of the war.

Juneteenth celebrations saw a decline during the 1960s, which was the period of the civil rights movement. However, its popularity was restored in the next decade, leading to Democratic Representative Al Edwards from Houston introducing a bill for declaring this day to be a state holiday. The formal Act was passed by the legislature in 1979, making the first state-sponsored Juneteenth celebration possible in 1980.

Significance of Juneteenth Day

◆ African-Americans take Juneteenth to be like the 4th of July. It is celebrated by everyone just like the national independence day.

◆ Juneteenth turned out to be a crucial way for the former slaves and African-Americans, largely, to utilize the celebrations to inculcate the later generations with some fundamental ideas about racial uplift and self-improvement. Intellectual readings that spread more awareness, celebrating traditions through spiritual songs, and typical food preparations aided this process.

◆ House Bill No.1016, passed in the Regular Session of the 66th Legislature, declared the date 'June 19' to be 'Emancipation Day' in Texas, a legal state holiday. This became effective from January 1, 1980.

◆ The day was observed as a holiday by almost half of the states in the United States, until 2008. More recently, over forty states have either declared Juneteenth to be a state holiday or a ceremonial holiday.
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◆ In 1996, the U.S. House of Representatives, for the first time, discussed a legislation to recognize 'Juneteenth Independence Day'. It was approved a year later in 1997 by Congress.

20 Strange Last Wills and Testaments You Should Read

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For most people, making a will or testament is all about sharing all the accumulated wealth with loved ones or giving back to the society. But some people make testaments that will make you literally question their sanity. These totally strange last wishes make for a rather interesting read. Have fun!
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Strange last wills and testament
Much Too Much!
You can't just make a funny testament for the sake of some laughs or to get back at someone. There are certain things that cannot be forced on any individual just for the sake of your will. Your will can be challenged in the court and canceled as well!
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Death is just a part of life, or should I say end of life. We may have collected immense wealth and property but you just gotta leave all that behind. Most choose to distribute everything amongst their children or donate to a charity.

Well, that is what normal people declare in their will or testament. But there are people who will be remembered because of their crazy last wills! After going through the list you might question the sanity of some of these.

The list is definitely an entertaining one, and if you are looking for quirky ways to make your own will, you'll get lots of inspiration! Read on.

Trouble has no trouble!

Leona Helmsley, who died at the age of 87, left a $12 million trust for her dog Trouble. The trust, which will be managed by her husband, will provide for a luxurious life for her Maltese. She wanted her husband to ensure that Trouble got the best and everything was very well taken care of. After all, why should the pampered pet suffer after his owner's death. We don't know how much the "caretaker" husband got!


My Funeral

Imagine attending your own funeral, creepy right? But that is exactly what 24-year-old Angel Pantoja wanted, and got too! With special embalming his body was preserved for 3 days, and was made to stand with some support. With the Yankees cap and sunglasses, it appeared as if Angel was happily welcoming guests at his own funeral. Imagine the very person, whose funeral you are attending, welcoming you. Preferable to give this one a miss, isn't it?


What a Revenge!

People can go to any extent to take revenge, Samuel Bratt's will just proves that. He left 330,000 pounds for his wife, but with the condition that she should smoke at least 5 cigars everyday! What? Yeah, apparently Bratt's wife did not allow him to smoke, so, to get back at her he included this clause in his will. Brutal, we say!


What a Misogynist!

T M Zink, an attorney who died in 1930, made a will that all his savings should be used to build a library. So far so good. But, he had one condition, it should be a "womanless library". He had such a strong dislike for womankind that he mentioned in his will, that the library will not have works by any woman, nor will any woman be allowed inside it. Every entrance was specifically supposed to have a sign that said "no women allowed". Fortunately, his daughter challenged the will, and this horrible library was never built.


Sweet Revenge

Heinrich Heine, a poet who died in 1856, left all his wealth to his wife Eugene. But he had one condition, she should remarry. You must be thinking what a noble man he was! But the reason was anything but noble! According to him the reason he put this clause in his will was, "Because then there will be at least one man, who will regret my death." Apparently his wife was uneducated and boring. And yes, she did get married and got all his estate. We don't know if her husband regretted Heine's death, he must have loved the money though!


Space Passion

Why be confined to earth when you can go beyond. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek wanted "to boldly go where no man has gone before". His ashes were scattered into space by a Spanish satellite in 1997, fulfilling his last wish. Even his wife joined him in space after her death.


Rocking Friend

All of you will want a friend like Janis Joplin after reading this. In her testament she declared that $2,500 should be given to her friends to splurge on a rocking party at her favorite bar. The reason was fairly simple, "so my friends can get blasted after I'm gone." What a thoughtful friend!


True Love

Now this is a truly touching and romantic last wish. Jack Benny, who died in 1974, paid a florist to send a single long-stemmed rose everyday to his wife. Although their marriage was far from perfect, his wife was lucky enough to get a reminder of his love for the next 9 years that she lived. Awww!


Noble Soul

Dorothea Edwards, who died at the age of 80, had just one last wish. She wanted her pacemaker to be donated to an animal. A person cannot donate his/her pacemaker to another person, but there are no restrictions about animals. Thus, a German Shepherd got a new lease of life. The poor dog had a congenital heart defect, and after the pacemaker was successfully implanted, she lived out a healthy life.


Waste of Dinner

This one tops the list of strange wishes by a huge margin. John Bowman, who died in 1891, believed that his wife and two daughters, who had already died, would reincarnate with him. So, basically the entire family will come back together to the house. He kept a trust fund of $50,000 to ensure that fresh meals were cooked in his mansion everyday, in case the Bowman's are hungry when they get back. A total waste of money and food. What a pity!


Extreme Love

It is good to love your pet or animals for that matter. But imagine building an entire house for cats, with amenities like dining hall, auditorium, special roof for playing, and even an exercise room! All this for cats! Looks like being a cat is not that bad after all! Jonathan Jackson, who died in 1880, believed that "It is man's duty as lord of animals to watch over and protect the lesser and feebler." Thus, this luxurious house. I hope the cats had a good time in this special palace.


Population Explosion

Imagine being paid to make babies. Yup, that is exactly what Charles Vance Miller did. This Toronto attorney stated in his will that the Toronto woman who will give birth to most children, in the 10 years after his death, will get $500,000. Yup, that much for procreating! The contest ended up in a tie as four ladies birthed nine children each. They were rewarded with $125,000 for their, umm...efforts!


Mustache Problem

Henry Budd died in 1862 and left £200,000 in his testament to his sons. But, he had one condition, his sons will get the money only if they don't grow a mustache. We don't know why the guy had such intense hatred for facial hair.


Hairy Affair

Napoleon Bonaparte wanted his head to be shaved and hair distributed to his friends as his last wish. I doubt if his friends were very happy to receive this special token.


Thoughtful Gesture

This lady deserves a lot of respect. Eleanor Ritchey left $14 million for 150 stray dogs in her testament. The dogs were very well taken care of, and after their death, the remaining money went to an institute which carried research on canine diseases.


Pringle Love

Fred Baur the founder and owner of Pringles wished that he should be cremated, and his ashes buried in a Pringles tube. His will was honored by his children.


Lucky Draw

Luis Carlos brought happiness in the lives of 70 random strangers by distributing all his wealth amongst total strangers. He just chose them randomly from a phone directory. We seriously need more people like this!


Second Best

William Shakespeare's last will stated that his "second best bed" should be given to his wife, Anne Hathaway. We don't know what he did with his best bed though! He even had a inscription on his grave that said, "Blessed be the man that spares these stones, / And cursed be he that moves my bones."


Dead or Undead?

Escape artist Harry Houdini wished to check if it was possible to contact the dead, so he asked his wife to hold spiritual sessions every Halloween after his death. She did respect his testament and held such seances for 10 years. Houdini had even given her a secret code to connect, but alas his wife never heard from him.


Comic Connect

Mark Gruenwald was the executive editor of the Iron Man and Captain America comics. He stated in his will that his ashes should be mixed with the ink used to print comic books. And yes, his last wish was fulfilled. He will always be connected to what he loved, even after death.
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So, what do you think? These sound better than the normal boring testaments, right? If you have any such strange ideas or have heard about more such bizarre wills, do let us know!

All You Need to Know About the Mesolithic Era

The end of the Ice Age and Paleolithic Age brought along with it the rise of a new age called the Mesolithic era. In this era, man was compelled to adapt to his new surroundings by changing his lifestyle and the tools and weapons he used. This post has some more information about the Mesolithic era.

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Fact about mesolithic era cave painting
Did You Know?
The Mesolithic era is also known as the transition time between the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras.
The Mesolithic era was a relatively short period which began after the recession of continental glaciers, at the end of the Ice Age. Most Mesolithic artifacts have perished over time, therefore making it relatively more difficult to understand the era.

In this era, Earth experienced rapid climatic changes that included earthquakes and abrupt cold and dry weather patterns. It also witnessed growth of forests, redistribution of animals, and extinctions of megafauna or large-bodied animals.

A couple of thousand years later, man found himself adapting to the new world around him. Here, he needed to learn new skills such as, fishing, hunting, food gathering, and domestication of animals and plants. Following are some facts about the Mesolithic Age.

Mesolithic Life
Mesolithic man mostly survived on hunting and gatherings. His hunting skills and tools had evolved to the point that it is believed that the man of that period had driven most of the world's megafauna to extinction. Their tools and weapons had evolved, and they had begun making weapons with microliths. It is believed that man had intentionally begun planting seeds in fertile soil.

Mesolithic Houses
Archeologists also believe that the Mesolithic man had started to stay in one place for a longer time. Archeological evidence found in Scotland prove that the Mesolithic man lived in hut-like houses. These houses had sunken floors and were built of wooden posts around the hearth.

Mesolithic Rituals

Mesolithic man took part in rituals and ceremonies. Evidence found at Star Carr in England, is the best known archaeological site for this era. Artifacts like elk antler mattocks, bone scrapers, masks, skull caps, and headdress made from red deer antlers were excavated here.

The Mesolithic man also left behind evidence of burying the dead in small cemeteries. Burials varied from inhumation to cremation and skull nests―this also indicates to large-scale violence. Some graves also had shells, jewelry, animal and human figurines, goods, and tools, which hinted towards social stratification.

Art
Mesolithic art work was dominated by red ochre. Following are some famous Mesolithic paintings found all over the world.

➤ Bhimbetka rock paintings (9,000 BCE) India.
➤ Pachmarhi Hills paintings (9,000 BCE), India.
➤ Pre-Estuarine X-Ray paintings (c.9,000 BCE) Ubirr, Arnhem Land, Australia.
➤ Tadrart Acacus paintings/petroglyphs (c.9,000 BCE), Libya.
➤ Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin (8,000 BCE).
➤ San or Bushmen rock paintings (c. 8,000 BCE) Waterberg area, South Africa.
➤ Tassili n'Ajjer rock art (c.8,000 BCE), Algerian Sahara.

Most of these artworks and engravings depicted animals and humans. Human portraits were depicted to be hunting, dancing, and performing everyday activities and other rituals. This also indicates that man had adopted painting tools like reeds and feathers.

Cave Paintings

The Argentinian Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands)

Mesolithic cave and rock paintings, petroglyphs have been dated back to 2 million years. Stenciled hand paintings in Kalimantan Caves and Gua Ham Masri II Caves in Indonesia date back to around 8,000 BCE. The Argentinian Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands) is the most famous example of Mesolithic rock shelter painting. This hand stencil painting has been carbon-dated to around 7,300 BCE. Cueva de las Manos also contains a wide variety of parietal art, which features hunting scenes containing humans, rheas, felines, other animals, abstract signs, geometric shapes, etc. Petroglyphs were also found on several sites. Rock engravings at Wonderwerk Caves South Africa date back to 8,200 BCE.

Sculptures and Carvings

Animal Reliefs found at Göbekli Tepe, Turkey

The Mesolithic man had a particular liking for Venus figurines, many such figurines were found in different parts of the world. Relief sculpture of animals were found in Göbekli Tepe, Turkey dating back to the eighth and ninth millennia BCE.

Evidence have also shown ivory and wood carvings. Once such famous wood carving is the Shigir Idol. It is known to be the world's oldest wood carving, which dates back to 7,500 BCE.

Architecture
Göbekli Tepe of Turkey is dated to be of the Mesolithic era. It is believed to have been a sanctuary or a religious center. A large number of megaliths were used to build this shrine around 9,500 BCE. Göbekli Tepe has the oldest stone structure that is filled with pictographs and petrograms numerous animal reliefs depicting animals like foxes, lions, bulls, wild boars, gazelles, reptiles, etc.

Another such stone sculpture is the Nevali Cori, which has a life-size human head carved in stone, along with a carved statue of a bird, and numerous other stone sculptures.
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Warfare
As the Mesolithic era came to an end and man started settling down and domesticating animals and plants, wars began to flare up. Skeletons were recovered from Mesolithic burial grounds proving the incidence of violence and war. It is believed that social pressure, competition, and rights of land fueled wars.
The onset of farming led to the Mesolithic era to end at around 5,000 BCE, and a new period called the Neolithic era began.

Print Is there any Correlation Between Brain Size and Intelligence?

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In a battle of wits, we find ourselves superior to animals. Also among humans, some demonstrate higher intelligence quotient test scores than others. It is said that intelligence is correlated with brain size. How far is this true? The following article explores this relationship between mental abilities and brain size.
Correlation between brain size and intelligence
Did You Know?
Our ancestors that include early primates, Hominids, Homo sapiens and finally the Neanderthals had a larger brain than what we have today.
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Is a larger brain an indication of more intelligence? Is the difference in cognitive abilities between humans, and between humans and animals, associated with brain size? Does the brain size that can be measured by volume or weight have anything to do with mental processing? Let us find the answers.

Brain Size in Humans and Animals
It is a fact that humans are far superior to animals, when it comes to intelligence. Our cognitive competence is way ahead of animals. However, is our advanced cognitive ability related to brain size?

When compared to the human brain, it is obvious that birds have smaller brains, whereas elephants and whales have larger brains. However, when body size is taken into consideration, it is observed that the human brain is 3 times larger relative to the body size. So if we take into account the brain/body size ratio we humans (1/40) are way ahead of elephants (1/560), lions (1/550), horses (1/600) and even sharks (1/2496).

Does that mean our brain size is the largest in proportion to body size, which is making us more intelligent than animals? Well, this reason falls flat when we compare brain-to-body ratio of humans with that of mice (1/40) and small birds (1/14).

Encephalization Quotient (EQ)
Considering that the brain-body size relationship has drawbacks, researchers have come up with another factor known as encephalization quotient (EQ) to measure intelligence. EQ is the ratio of the actual brain mass of an animal to the predicted brain mass of an animal of the same body weight. In such a case, the EQ score of humans is higher (7.5) than any other animal. The EQ score indicates that our brain is more than 7 times bigger than that of animals of the same body size.

However, the EQ measure assumes that larger the brain size, higher will be the neuron count. However, this assumption is incorrect since it does not consider neuron density, which if higher, reflects more neurons in the same area than others. To put it simply, if the neurons are tightly packed together, even a smaller brain can contain a greater number of neurons than a larger brain.

Neuron Density and Intelligence
Studies suggest that intelligence probably depends upon the number of neurons lying in a specific part of the brain. The study was carried out by a team of researchers headed by Suzana Herculano-Houzel, an associate neuroscientist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In the study, it was observed that the brain of African elephants has 257 billion neurons, which is almost thrice the number of neurons found in the human brain (86 billion). Now, the cerebral cortex (part of the brain) is involved in advanced-level functions such as cognition, language, sensory perception, decision-making, language, and memory. Researchers observed that the cerebral cortex of humans has three times as many neurons as observed in the cerebral cortex of African elephants. This higher neuron density in the cerebral cortex is probably giving humans an edge over African elephants in cognitive skills.

The study also observed that even the brain of small birds like parrots had densely packed neural cell bodies, making the total neural count more or less the same as observed in the brain of large animals such as apes. So it is the neuron density that might be playing a role in influencing intelligence.

Brain Size and Human Intelligence
Is a genius' brain larger in size as compared to the brain of an individual showing average intellectual capacity? The answer to this question can be best addressed by studying the brain structure of famous scientists like Albert Einstein. The scientist who is regarded as the 'embodiment of pure intellect', surprisingly had an average brain size. There was nothing extraordinary about his overall brain size.

However, Einstein's brain showed a significantly larger prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain linked to execution of complex cognitive functions. Moreover, glial cells that ensure proper nutrient supply to the neurons, were also found to be significantly higher. His brain also showed unusually shaped inferior parietal lobes. All these neurological attributes (and not the overall brain size) might have been responsible for his extraordinary intellectual capacity.

Brain Size in Men and Women
After taking into account the body size, it is observed that brain size of men is larger than women. A study published in the journal Intelligence and conducted by a team of psychologists at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, observed that men tend to be more intelligent than women. In the study, scholastic aptitude test (SAT) scores of around 100,000 17- and 18-year old girls and boys, were taken into consideration. Each individual's SAT score was then used to calculate the general intelligence factor, commonly referred to as g factor. It was observed that the average IQ score of boys was greater than girls by 3.63 points.

However, Bruce Bracken, a psychologist at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, argues that there were 10,000 more girls than boys in the study, which may have impacted the score. He suggests that boys who knew that they could not score good marks in SAT, did not even attempt the test. This factor has not been taken into consideration while evaluating the results of the study.

Research
According to a 2005 study reported in the journal Intelligence, it has been concluded that people with a large-sized brain are more intelligent and have the ability to learn things faster than those with a smaller-sized brain. The study was conducted by Michael McDaniel, a psychologist at the Virginia Commonwealth University. The research has taken into account the results of over two dozen previous studies that used MRI scan to find a correlation between brain volume and intelligence.

The professor after extensively evaluating the results of the studies observed that as the brain volume increases, so does intelligence. In simple words, intelligence is directly proportional to the brain volume. In the study, individuals gave standardized individual tests and the results were compared to their brain volume.

According to McDaniel, these tests are an accurate way (critics don't agree) to evaluate an individual's capacity for reasoning, which can be the most crucial factor to assess his suitability for a designated job. McDaniel said that these intelligence tests are immensely helpful in predicting his performance at work.

The psychologist concluded that intelligence is related to brain volume and that it can be measured with these tests that reflect the individual's mental makeup. He said that evaluating job applicants by using these intelligence tests can be of use in hiring employees who will be faster at learning information, making significantly less number of errors and will be performance-oriented.

Critics argue that although the IQ score is helpful in giving a general idea about one's intelligence level, it certainly cannot define the cognitive processing ability of the person. This is because there have been many instances of people who had succeeded in professional life despite scoring low on IQ tests. On the other hand, some people with high IQs were surprisingly found to be underperformers.
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Some researchers suggest that a greater brain size may indicate more brain tissue, which might result in improved intellectual capacity. On the whole, the brain has a very complicated structure, hence one singe factor such as its size cannot be the only predictor of intelligence. Other factors such as neuron density, the extent of neural connections between different parts of the brain and of course nutritional support for brain development, also affect the brain function and subsequently the cognitive abilities.