April Fool's Day - The History

April Fool's Day is a day  on which people play practical jokes on each other. It became popular in Britain in the 18th century, although its exact origin have not been established. It may have originated in the Roman festival in  Hilaria or in the Celtic celebration of their God Lud.

Some date the festival back to Noah's mistake of sending out a dove from the ark before the flood water had gone down - it was a fool's errand to try to find land when the earth was still covered in water and fish. In fact in France children stick fish on each other's back, though the French 'poison' (fish) may originally have been 'passion' in memory of Christ's passion and how people mocked him on the cross.

Possibly the most likely explanation dates back to 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII ordered the calendar to be changed, so that the new year would begin on March 25 instead of January 1. Anyone who forgot that the date of the new year had changed would be the victim of a practical joke on April 1 - the day when the old new year festivities ended. Since then in England people have been playing incredible practical jokes on each other, including the media. But don't forget, April Fool's tricks are only valid till 12.00 in Britain.

April 1 is celebrated in many countries, including Russia where they call it Yomorina (as in 'humour'), Turkey Bir Nisan, and in India the festival of Holi, where children play tricks such as putting salt in tea and firing water pistols at each other. In parts of South and Central America they celebrate Innocent's Day (December 28) which commemorates when King Herod killed the children. Nowadays children play jokes on adults.

10 Facts About The Heart

Do you exercise for at least 30 minutes a day? Do you manage your stress and get enough sleep? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America and a major health concern around the world. It is up to you to keep your heart healthy. Read these 10 surprising facts about the heart.

Bullying

Bullies don’t know when to stop. They repeatedly torment their victims physically or mentally. Victims are targeted for various reasons, such as social class, race, gender, health, or religious beliefs. Bullying includes name calling, pushing, hitting, and humiliating. Are social exclusion and gossiping forms of bullying? Experts say, yes. Some people think bullying is just a part of growing up.

School administrations work hard to prevent bullying in some countries. They hold special anti-bullying days, such as Canada’s Pink Shirt Day. This annual demonstration was organized by high school students in Nova Scotia. Students were raising awareness about a victim who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. On Pink Shirt Day, also known as “Anti-Bullying Day,” Canadian boys and girls wear pink to show that they don’t support this type of harassment.

Nine Tips For Quitting Smoking

Do you smoke? Do you have a loved one who smokes? Are you or your loved ones trying to quit smoking? Read these 9 tips for quitting smoking. Do you think these tips would help someone become a nonsmoker? 

9 TIPS FOR QUITTING SMOKING


1. Sign a contract Set your own deadline. Choose a realistic date. Sign the contract and post it somewhere you will see it daily. 

2. Make a list of reasons to quit
Write down the top five reasons you want to quit, and put the most important one at the top. Are you quitting for yourself or for your loved ones? 

3. Put cigarettes out of sight
Store your cigarettes in hard-to-reach places, such as upstairs, downstairs, or in your vehicle. 

4. Track your savings
As you cut down, track how much money you are saving. Make plans for how you will spend your cigarette money when you are a nonsmoker. 

5. Find alternative stress relievers
Many smokers say that the hardest part of quitting is battling stress. Instead of lighting up after a stressful day, try exercising, phoning a friend, or watching a movie. 

6. Learn about secondhand smoke
Many smokers deny the seriousness of secondhand smoke. Take time to learn about the real dangers that smokers pose to their loved ones. 

7. Manage the cravings
Learn about why your body has cravings for nicotine. Don’t worry too much about weight gain if you crave sugar. Most successful quitters only gain 3–5 pounds (about 1.4–2.3 kg). You can lose it later! 

8. Keep your hands busy
Pencils, puzzles, and squeeze toys can keep your hands busy while you’re quitting. Teach your fingers that they will no longer be holding stinky cigarettes. 

9. Have a smoke-free policy
Don’t blame your smoking on your social circle. Have a smoke-free policy in your home and your car. Enjoy coffee breaks or lunches with nonsmokers until you are a nonsmoker. Resist the urge to smoke at social get-togethers. 

DEEP THOUGHTS
Smoking is the cause of drugs. From his cigarettes , someone can try to smoke other dangerous things like weed, phutaw, etc. He even can get addicted to it.
Some smokers argue that smoking is actually good for you because it helps you maintain close social ties with people. How do you feel about this argument? Is there anything “healthy” about smoking? The answer is obvious. None!

Six Myths About Chocolate

Hello Guys,
Everyone wants to know the truth about chocolate. Is it good for you or not? Dark chocolate does have health benefits. But guess what? Most people don’t eat dark chocolate! The majority of chocolate products are full of sugar and fat. 

Read Six Myths about Chocolate and learn the truth once and for all. Sorry, chocoholics. Some myths will never die.

Six Myths about Chocolate 

1. Chocolate is a healthy food.

This depends on the chocolate. Dark chocolate contains *antioxidants. These may provide health benefits when eaten in moderation. Milk chocolate is high in sugar and low in antioxidants. White chocolate has no antioxidants. Choose wisely! *substances that protect human cells


2. Chocolate keeps you thin.

Sorry, chocolate lovers. Too much chocolate can cause obesity. Most chocolate is high in sugar and fat. Chocolate bars are high in calories. Grab chocolate for an occasional treat, not a regular snack.


3. Chocolate causes pimples.
Food is not directly linked to acne. Pimples occur when there is oil on the skin. This is often due to hormone changes. Skin blemishes can also be genetic.


4. Chocolate is high in caffeine.

A piece of chocolate contains a small amount of caffeine. There is a similar amount in a cup of decaf coffee. This is not why chocolate is dangerous for dogs. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine. Like caffeine, theobromine is toxic to many dogs.


5. Chocolate is addictive.
Chocolate is not physically addictive. This is hard for chocoholics to believe. Many people crave chocolate. Doctors say this craving is emotional, not physical.


6. Chocolate prevents disease.

Candy companies want you to believe this. The same is sometimes said of red wine. Unfortunately, the sugar and fat in most chocolate cancel out the nutrients. If chocolate makes you happy, that’s a different story. 

So Guys,

I wonder if you have your own opinions about chocolate. Be my guest, just tell me about it. 

Happiness

"Happiness is an inside job"

The quote above is a well-known saying. Being happy is also “easier said than done”. In other words, it takes effort to live a happy life. You have to plan your own happiness.

 Read A Prescription for Happiness. Do you need to “up your dosage”?

A PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS

1. Understand the statistics.

Genetics determine about 50% of your happiness level. 10% comes from external factors like health and income. The rest is up to you. If you weren’t born happy, work harder at it.


2. Don’t think about your age.

Worrying about how old you are getting will make you miserable. Happy people don’t care about age appropriateness. If you want to wear pigtails, go for it. Most people get happier after the age of 50.


3. Smile even if you’re faking.

Health experts say that smiling releases natural pain-killers. These may help you fight off colds and flus. A fake smile is better than no smile.


4. Surround yourself with beauty.

Happiness is mainly an inside job. However, a beautifully decorated room or office can improve your mood. Beautify the room you spend most of your time in. Stay organized.


5. Hug for at least 6 seconds.

A hug with a close friend or family member should last at least 6 seconds. Studies show that children who are hugged a lot become happier adults.


6. Keep a daily to-do list.

Meeting goals and deadlines increases a sense of well-being. Make a new list each day, and always plan something to look forward to.


7. Count your blessings.

Even on bad days, you have to be grateful. Experts recommend keeping a gratitude journal. For best results, count your blessings before you go to sleep.

 Always end your day or activity on a happy note.

 This is the part you will remember and share with the world. 

High IQ, Is It a Guarantee for Success?

  

  Have you ever met a successful old friend who was not so bright in school? Or have you ever met one of your bright school mates who in fact is jobless now and still depends on his parents support? Well, I believe that you have met one.. or even many of them. 

  High IQ (intelligence quotient) is not a guarantee of a successful life in whole. This point of view is not 100% wrong, but we shouldn't put this IQ into the main requirement for the successful people life. A successful life is determined by many factors, not by a conventional intelligence measure which focuses more on standardized intelligence of linguistics and mathematics.

   The process of teaching and learning in Indonesian schools tends to be based only on the use of mathematics-logic and linguistics competence, and therefore kills the other competence. 

There are nine competences that lead to a successful life. They are linguistics, mathematics-logic, visual formation, kinaesthetic movement, music, interpersonal cooperation, interpersonal environment and existence.

   The bad and dangerous thing, though it still goes on, is the concept of senior high  students who always believe that IPA or Science Stream is the most preferable, the best and prospective stream among the  other two streams, IPS (Social) and Bahasa (Linguistic). This is not true. High IQ cannot fully guarantee your success in life.

    The successful of your life is actually determined by your hard work, your good effort, your consistence and prayer to win your dream. Lazy people, even though they have high IQ, will gain nothing in future as they are lazy to do anything.  On the other hand, those who are diligent and hard workers will achieve more in their life. 

Here is a good motto to be success : keep studying, keep working, and keep praying.

Bikini Party, Whose Fault?

A recent news about a bikini party for high school students in Jakarta has shocked me. The information about the party was announced on a social media, called as "Splash After Class". The dress code was described as "bikini summer dress". It would be held on april 25 and was open for all senior high school students who had just finished their national final exams.

Fortunately, many parents disagreed with it and some of them reported the event to police. The indonesian Child protection conmmisision (KPAI) secretary general Erlina said that several students might have confirmed their attendance.

Refreshing after exams at a bikini party? It reminds me of a western movie. In the movie, after exam students made party to relax their mind. Boys and girls swam together in sexy swim suit , drank beer and danced and even had sex. This "slash after class" controversial bikini party was probably inspired by the one like in the movie. Like Erlina said, the danger with this kind of event is that not only might there be drugs and pornography involved but there might be some people who take the students pictures for the wrong purposes. And this kind of party is obviously against our eastern values. The party is not suitable for indonesian citizen who uphold religious cultures and values.
In my opinion, schools must provide students with more lessons about moral values. So far, many schools just focus mostly on students skills but less concern on their moral and behaviour. Minister of Education together with school organization must set up better curriculum so students will learn more about good morality and practice it in their real life.
The parents also give much contribution to the development of their children. Growing up children means growing up problems as well. Teenagers usually want to be free, they are searching for their own identity. It is the duty of their parents to guide them to the right path. However, many parents do not have much time for their children nowadays since they get very busy working. They dont have time to teach them manners and good behaviour. It would be a very good choice if they take their children to a school, a good and qualified school which provides students with both technology and theology, with both skill and attitudes.

And for the students who attended the bikini party, come on guys..there still many other good ways to relax your mind after the final exams. Bikini parties will not give you any benefits but lead you to miserable life in the future for sure.

Punishing Children

Yuki   : What are you doing?

Al      : I'm getting ready to give Charlie a spanking for beating up his classmates. He has to learn that there are serious consequences for his actions.

Yuki   : You're punishing him for beating someone by giving him a beating? That doesn't make sense. Our response should be for an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Al     : I'm not going to beat him. This isn't going to be a flogging. I'm going to give him a simple spanking.

Yuki  : Physical punishment isn't the answer. For children spanking is spanking, beating is beating. However, we can give him a severe punishment without resorting to violence.

Al     : What kind of punishment? Taking away his toys? Or locking him in a bedroom? 

Yuki  : We could lock him home for a month, only allowing him to go to school.

Al     : That doesn't seem to be enough...

(Scrift by Dr. Lucy Tse)

The dialog above is very interesting. Children who make mistake must be punished somehow, but how to punish them? What kind of punishment suitable for children? Is there any educative punishment? If you were their parent or teacher, what would you do?

Reading English for Pleasure

Reading English for pleasure is not the same as studying English. You do not have to remember anything because there is no test on books you read for pleasure. Furthermore, it is more interesting because you can choose your own book. Beside the enjoyment you get, reading for pleasure contributes a lot in learning English. It will help you to read faster, find examples of good writing, learn new words, learn how speakers of English use the language and learn about the cultures of different people in the world.

The first step to learn English for pleasure is to find a good book-one that is interesting and not too difficult to read. You can go to the library and ask the librarian for books that may interest you. Also, you can browse around in a bookstore or on internet, as e-books. There are lots of interesting books to read there.

If you plan to check out books from a library, there are some tips to help you select books and find them more easily. Firstly, read the front and back covers of the book and find out whether you think it is interesting or not. Secondly, check the number of pages of the book. If you are a beginner, it is better to begin with a short book. Read one or two pages, find out if you can understand it.

The next step is you should read your book everyday. Also, try to read it quickly, which is another way to learn more English. In the beginning, you may find it difficult to read in English, but do not give up. Keep on reading, and after some time you will realize that it is not so difficult after all. They you will enjoy reading English. You will be reading English for pleasure.

Remember, practice makes perfect. So let's read more ...!!