2015年5月31日星期日

Words Whose Meaning Changed Over Time

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Evolution is for real, people! Lest we ruffle quite a few conservative feathers, we're referring to the English language here. Take a look at this incredible list of words that have changed meaning over time.
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Example of word whose meaning changed over time
"If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers."
― Doug Larson
The less said, the better it is for the English language and all its idiosyncrasies. As with all other aspects of human life, our languages have also undergone tremendous metamorphosis. And it's perfectly natural, isn't it? After all, human culture has always thrived on change―be it by means of travel, communication, or just plain influence and inspiration.
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List of Words With Changed Meanings

BULLY
Back in the 16th century, the word bully was used to describe a beloved person. Over time, it gained notoriety to be used for someone who was a show off, until today, when it refers to someone who takes pleasure in intimidating and harassing the weak.

AWFUL
The word 'awful' lived a simpler existence in the older times when it actually meant "full of awe". It was used in a reverential manner, just as the language gods meant things to be. Cut to this day, when it has become an adjective used to portray negative feelings. On a slightly different note, hilarity ensues when people tend to confuse 'awful' with 'awesome', which happens to be its antonym.

GAY
This one's fairly recent, until a few years ago, 'gay' used to mean 'happy' and 'carefree'. In fact, we still tend to spend a day at the beach with 'gay abandon', know what we're saying? The younger lot, however, only seem to be acquainted with its recent association with male homosexuality.

EGREGIOUS
There was a time when 'egregious' used to be a compliment, referring to distinguished or outstanding individuals or things. But this was the 16th century, and things have changed for worse, especially in the case of 'egregious'. We now use it to describe something that is outstandingly bad or blatantly offensive.

GARBLE
'Garble' actually used to mean the exact opposite of what it's understood as today. We know of the word to mean 'confused or incoherent language', while its erstwhile meaning was 'to sort out', indicating a sense of clarity.

CUTE
'Cute' was derived from the word 'acute', which originally meant shrewd or sly. But this was the 18th century. Over a hundred years later, American slang shortened and transformed 'acute' to 'cute', even changing its meaning to 'pretty' or 'dainty'.

NICE
Just as with 'cute', the word 'nice' had a completely different meaning back during the 13th century, when it meant 'foolish, stupid, or senseless. From then on, its negative associations only grew to include extravagance and ostentation. However, it was the 18th century society's fondness for these qualities that brought it to its current usage.

MYRIAD
Myriad was a word coined by the Greeks to denote 10,000 units. Although we still use it to indicate volume or abundance, its mathematical usage has more or less been phased out.

MATRIX
No, it's not the movie. The word 'matrix' reminds us of puzzles or grids that may need some solving. In the actual, 'matrix' has its roots in the Latin word "matr"- or mater, meaning a pregnant being, and went on to be understood as womb.

BUXOM
'Buxom' has indeed come a long way from when it used to mean humble and obedient back in the 12th century. Over time, it progressed to mean 'compliant' (think 'bendy'), to healthy, plump, and down to the way we recognize it today―well-endowed.
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This was just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. The English language, or any other language, will continue to evolve alongside the humans who use it. But long words or short, remember to have fun while you learn this amazing language.

2015年5月28日星期四

9 Recipes to Make a Mimosa Cocktail

Invented in the Hôtel Ritz Paris, this drink, till date, reeks opulence, perfect for fancy brunches, bridal showers and so on. Here are some unique mimosa drink recipes fit to delight even the choosiest, handpicked by us just for you!
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Mimosa cocktail recipe
Named for the Color!
This drink was named after the plant mimosa as the color of the drink resembles the color of the flowers of this plant.
Decades after this drink was invented, a mimosa, somehow, still echoes luxury. A sip of its citrusy bubbly goodness cuddles your senses like a soft cashmere robe. Be it on a day of pampering in the spa or a lavish brunch, the mimosa goes best. Don't get us started on the number of times we've gotten hammered on a few too many mimosas at weddings! Surprisingly, we just don't seem to outgrow them (we say, it has something to do with the Champagne).

Traditionally, an opulent concoction of Champagne and citrus fruits, a combination hard to beat, this drink has a good number of ardent lovers. If you're planning for a fancy get-together, serving your guests this drink would definitely add some class to your soirée.

We have given a few Mimosa cocktail recipes with our twist, just to make sure we have got something to everyone! These recipes are for one serving only, you could adjust the quantities according your guest list.

Mimosa Drink Recipes

Classic Mimosa Cocktail

Classic Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 2 oz.
Triple sec (or any orange liqueur), ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Orange wedge, 1 (for garnish)

Method
Pour the orange juice into a chilled flute glass, add the triple sec and top it up with the Champagne. Garnish and serve.
Festive Pomegranate Mimosa

Festive Pomegranate Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 1 oz.
Pomegranate juice, 2 oz.
Champagne, to top up
Pomegranate seeds, few (for garnish)

Method
Pour the orange juice and pomegranate juice into a pre-chilled flute glass and top it up with the Champagne. Bejewel your drink with a few pomegranate seeds if you wish.

Blushing Raspberry Mimosa

Blushing Raspberry Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 1oz.
Chambord liqueur (or any raspberry liqueur), ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Fresh raspberries, a handful
Lime leaf, 1 (optional)


Method
Tear the lime leaf and put it in a mixing glass, add the fresh raspberries to it, and muddle the mixture. Add the orange juice to it and strain into a chilled flute glass. Add the raspberry liqueur and top it up with the Champagne. You could garnish with a raspberry, and may be, add a few slivers of lime leaf.
Hawaiian Party Mimosa

Hawaiian Party Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 1 oz.
Pineapple juice, 2 oz.
Triple sec (or any orange liqueur), ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Fresh pineapple or mint (for garnish)


Method
Pour the pineapple and the orange juice in a flute glass that has been sitting in a freezer for a while. Add the orange liqueur and top it up with some Champagne. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple or mint.

Holiday Cranberry Mimosa

Holiday Cranberry Mimosa

Ingredients

Cranberry juice, 2 oz.
Lime juice, ¼ oz.
Triple sec (or any orange liqueur), ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Peel of lime (optional)


Method
Rub the feel of the lime on the rim of a chilled flute glass. Pour in the cranberry and lime juice, add a splash of the triple sec, and top it up with champagne.
Sexy Sunrise Mimosa

Sexy Sunrise Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 2 oz.
Tequila, 1 oz.
Grenadine, ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up


Method
Pour the syrup into a chilled flute glass, add the orange juice and the tequila to it. Add the champagne till its filled to the brim. Do not stir, serve as it is.

Silly Strawberry Mimosa

Silly Strawberry Mimosa

Ingredients

Triple sec (or any orange liqueur), ¼ oz.
Strawberry syrup, ½ oz.
Lemon juice, ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Strawberries (for garnish)


Method
Mix the lemon juice and strawberry syrup and add it to a chilled flute glass. Add the orange liqueur and top it up with loads of Champagne. Garnish with a strawberry and serve.
Tropical Mango Mimosa

Tropical Mango Mimosa

Ingredients

Mango puree, ½ oz.
Lime juice, 1 tsp.
Champagne, to top up
Peel, stoned, and cut mangoes, a few pieces


Method
Combine the mango puree and lime juice and pour it in a chilled flute glass. Add a few pieces of cut mango to it and fill the glass with Champagne. You could also stick a piece on the rim of the glass as a garnish.

Virgin Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 2 oz.
Lemon juice, 1 tsp.
Ginger ale (or sprite), to top up
Orange wedge (for garnish)

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Method
Pour the lemon and orange juice in a chilled flute glass, top it up with the ginger ale, and serve. You could also garnish it with an orange wedge.

2015年5月27日星期三

Common Lies People Tell

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Evening Dresses
Lying, sometimes, becomes the very prerequisite for basic survival. Join us as this article takes you through a mix of some of the funniest and ridiculous lies that people tell.
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Common lies told by people
When They Lie
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Want to catch someone lying to you? Pay attention to their body language―they will generally blink more rapidly than usual and start talking faster or slower than normal.
We all lie. We do. There is a strange sense of comfort in lying, something that lets us off the hook (maybe temporarily, but nonetheless). Some, of course, lie more often and more frequently than others. Why does one even lie, though. To put it very simply, there are 3, seemingly common reasons for why people take to embellishing the truth a little (or a lot)―1. When the truth is too painful to hear, 2. To buy some time, and 3. To ease a tense situation.

Most of us have been in each of these situations and have had to lie our way out of them. While some of these settings are capable of inducing a cold, cold, sweat-soaked symphony down our temple, there are others that are plain hilarious, erm, when viewed in retrospect. In keeping with that spirit, this Buzzle article will highlight a few of the most obvious lies that people always tell and get away with (or so they'd like to believe).

10 Most Obvious Lies

1. I'll be there in 5...
... When all you're really thinking is, in 5 minutes I'll be 20 minutes away from being there. Saying which, pretty much amounts to signing your death warrant, so you conveniently roll off this excuse, push the accelerator hard, and drive over like a maniac. And when you finally get there, you go in all huffing and puffing, and blame the #$^#@ traffic. Classic lie, this one.

2. I'm Fine.
Yup. No matter if you're down in the dumps, going through a breakup, having a splitting headache and are generally having a pretty much meh day, you're still going to answer with a 'I'm fine'. Why? Because it's the polite thing to do, you think. Dragging people into the layered complications of your life is not really something that you're looking forward to, and neither are you looking forward to making yourself vulnerable to every onlooker. So, How are you? I'm fine. Also, I'm good.

3. I'm 29.
Because 29 is like 10 years younger than 30, right? That is the logic. We will pretty much stretch our '29 years old' title till the last second of our official birthday, heck, till the exact time till we were born 30 years ago. We will wear it like a medallion, showing it off proudly like we're better than 'those 30 year olds', just because we are not yet in our gasp! 30s. Until the time we do actually turn 30 and then, 'How are you? I'm fine' happens.

4. I'm sorry I didn't take your call. The phone was in the other room.
Or it was on silent, or the screen wasn't functioning or the this and the that. And what do you want to scream instead? *Rubbing hands together*... The phone was in my hand. I didn't take it. I was screening your call and I couldn't take another story about your life in shambles. About your dull routine and the ridiculous problems that are all in your head. Yup. Exactly that.

5. I'm only a little short of 6 feet and own a business.
Read, I'm about half a foot shorter than 6 feet and own a newspaper stand across the road. Even if we're exaggerating, you get the drift. Online dating profiles are some of the most difficult to fill out, considering that you're being judged on the basis of the smallest, most minute detail. So then, tweaking the profile a little is common. Wrong, but common.

6. Thank you. I loved it!
Did you? Really? Did you love the sweater with the 2 doves necking on its front? And did you also love the sapphire-hued bell bottoms that aunt Maria got for you? That's what we thought. But of course, we know, it's easier to get all excited and beam and bare the teeth a little more than usual, than to say otherwise, come off sounding like an insensitive jerk, and hurt their feelings. We get it. Yes, of course I loved the honey chicken with apples, aunt Rosa. Thumbs up.

7. I'll exercise from Monday...
... Is what you tell the world, and you tell yourself, but come Monday morning and the eyelids feel like lead and the blanket wrapped around you feels like second skin, and those dreams, oh those dreams pull you back. Tomorrow, tomorrow, for sure. Those funny, obvious lies, we tell you.

8. Sorry, I won't be able to make it. I have a work thing.
Translation. I will be sitting in my pajamas, hoarding on junk and comfort food and watching Netflix. Why interact with society like a 'normal human being' and get flooded with questions about 'When are you tying the knot, having a baby, etc., etc., when you can drown in nonfictional characters who don't judge you or your life choices? Why?

9. I have a year's experience as a landscape management consultant.
Yeah, right. Try a year's experience in coming up with stories. Mowing the lawn and watering the plants is not being a landscape management consultant. You know that, we know that, and the people looking to hire you, probably know that as well. Embellishing the truth on the resume is one of the most common lies that people take to in the professional world. Sometimes it pays, and sometimes it doesn't.

10. It wasn't me.
Because, hell no. No way are you going to take the blame for that one and have people turn batsh** crazy on your a**. It could be anything―recording over your dad's game, breaking your mum's favorite China plate, getting a dent on the boyfriend's car... just perfect the confused, mildly shocked face and a convincing tone to go with it before you try the 'It wasn't me'.
Evening Dresses
We all lie. A small fib, a tiny white lie, a little tweaking of the truth. And it's OK as long as no one gets hurt. But while we may think that we're quite the craftsmen in spinning these tales, the other person might be on to us and not like it. At all. Eeps, huh? But then again, it wasn't you, was it?

2015年5月26日星期二

14 Biggest Accounting Scandals of All Time

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Evening Dresses
Accounting scandals have served as stark reminders of the low points in corporate history. These scandals involved cheating investors, duping stakeholders, and rendering many people jobless.in this article, provides a list of some of the biggest scandals in corporate history.
Biggest accounting scandals
Did You Know?
Arthur Anderson LLP, one of the 'Big Five Audit Firms' collapsed after the infamous Enron and WorldCom accounting scandals. The scandals revealed the firm's failure to discharge its duties as auditors of the companies. These scandals also gave birth to the 'Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002'.
The basic purpose of preparing financial statements of any organization is to represent or portray its financial position and health. Accounting transactions are recorded as per the accepted accounting standards of that particular nation.
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The financial statements should reflect the accounting position of the company. Also, it is the auditor's duty to ensure that the books are maintained in a fair manner―the company does not intend to mislead its stakeholders.

A carefully planned accounting fraud looks out for loopholes in laws, or simply uses accounting gimmicks to present financial statements that are completely misleading. Fake and fabricated accounts, fake expenses, assets, or income to show that the company is in good financial condition is simply done to maintain the company's brand name in the financial market, and increase its stock prices. It is saddening to know that big giants with good reputation have been involved in such frauds.

While greed is a human tendency, an accounting fraud at such a high level can ruin the stakeholders of the company―with employees losing their jobs and investors losing their hard-earned money. Top management has been involved in such frauds for myriad of reasons: to give an optimistic outlook to the company, or the use the funds of the company for personal use, or simply to earn more revenue.

Of course, sometimes, a fraud can be so effectively laid out that even the auditors fail to detect it. In some cases, even the auditors have been deemed guilty, though unfortunately, some of them willingly were a part of the ploy, while some were negligent in discharging their duties. Let's go through some of the top accounting frauds that shook the world. The scandals in this list are mentioned according to the potential harm they caused to the investors, and the repercussions that followed.

Examples of Corporate Accounting Scandals

Enron Corporation (2001)
✦ Enron was born out of the merger of Houston Natural Gas and Omaha-based InterNorth. It was a major player in the energy market.

✦ This can be considered as the smartest accounting fraud in corporate history. In December 2001, the company came crashing down and filed for bankruptcy, which revealed that the energy and service providing giant was falsifying its account books to the tune of around USD 74 billion.

✦ The company used 'special purpose entities (SPE)' for the purpose of hedging risk. However, they also used SPEs to hide their losses from the company's account books, and compensated the SPE by issuing stocks of Enron. This would paint a healthy picture of Enron's accounts.

✦ Many employees were rendered jobless, and also lost their retirement savings. This fraud also led to the fall of the giant auditor firm Arthur Anderson LLP, one of the 'Big Five' Accounting firms of the world.

✦ It was the sudden resignation of Jeff Skilling, in August 2001, which sparked rumors that there may have been a possibility of fraudulent activity. Also, it closed down one of its SPE, which added to the suspicion held by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

✦ The Enron case accelerated the government's actions to make stringent regulations for corporate governance.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (2008)
✦ A classic example of how law can be twisted, and loopholes can be used to your own advantage, this is known as one of the biggest accounting scams in U.S. history. They filed for bankruptcy in 2008.

✦ Lehman Brothers, the bank that rose to the greatest heights at Wall Street, was hiding a dirty secret. They manipulated accounts to make the company's financial position appear healthy.

✦ They used "REPO 105", which is an accounting gimmick planned at converting the short-term loan into 'sales'. They managed to conceal a USD 50 billion loan, by simply classifying it as sales, which made the company's financial position appear good enough.

✦ Lawyers in U.S. are not legally allowed to make a true sale opinion. Hence, they approached a U.K firm to mark these transactions as sales, and carefully carried out this activity through their U.S. subsidiary.

✦ Due to Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy, many investors lost their money, considering their poor asset positioning to dispose off the liabilities.

Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (2009)
✦ 'Satya', which means truth, was what this Indian IT company was not about. A winner of many awards, in January 2009, B. Ramalingan Raju, its CEO, admitted that the company was running on fraudulent accounts for the past 7 years. To date, this is considered to be India's biggest accounting scam.

✦ The CEO admitted that he was solely responsible for the window dressing of the accounts to a much high level. He admitted to have falsified accounts and created hypothetical assets and pumped revenue up to the tune to USD 1.5 billion.

✦ There was a direct impact on the stock prices of the company, and also posed further questions on the credibility of Indian IT firms in the financial market.

✦ The company was acquired by Tech Mahindra, and is now known as 'Mahindra Satyam'. A legal case was filed against the CEO, and he is currently serving a jail sentence along with other member directors of the board.

✦ The shocking confession by the CEO, also raised doubts on the internal and statutory auditors of the company.

WorldCom (2002)
✦ One of the biggest telecommunications company fell immediately after the fall of Enron, in 2002. The company tried to conceal the losses that it was incurring. Instead of expensing out the 'line costs', they were capitalized in the account books, and revenues were also inflated.

✦ The internal auditor had detected an accounting entry of USD 500 million for computer expenses, without any supporting document.

✦ The hypothetical assets measured up to USD 11 billion, and this led to the loss of around USD 180 billion for the company, and many employees subsequently lost their jobs.

✦ Also, the SEC was suspicious of the good position, and whistle blowers confirmed their suspicion.

✦ CEO Bernie Ebbers was sentenced to 25 years in prison. This was again, one of the major reasons for the fall of the Arthur Anderson audit firm.

Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. (2008)
✦ This is one of the most curious cases of financial fraud that will be remembered for ages. Bernard Madoff was one the founders of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. He also had served as NASDAQ's chairman.

✦ A ponzi scheme is a scheme in which the investors are usually paid a high amount of returns on their investments, from the money acquired from new investors.

✦ In 2008, Bernard confessed to his sons that he was running an illegitimate business, a USD 65 billion ponzi scheme. He was exposed by his sons, who reported his misdoings to the SEC.

✦ Sadly, both his sons died, one succumbing to cancer, and the other committed suicide. The accused Bernard Madoff is currently serving a 150-year jail sentence.

HealthSouth Corporation (2003)
✦ In 2003, it was revealed that the company, belonging to the health-care industry, was not in the best of financial health. It was a huge sale of stock by the CEO just a day before the company reported a loss, that invited the attention of the SEC, who smelled something fishy.

✦ Apparently, the company's employees were asked to fake transactions that inflated the income of the company, depicting a good financial position.

✦ CEO Richard Scrushy still claims innocence, and pleads not guilty of the accusations of the bribery made against him. He was allegedly involved in overstating the earnings of the company by USD 1.4 billions, since 1999, and a corresponding increase in the assets of the company.

✦ Scrushy was ordered to pay nearly USD 2.9 billion to shareholders for defrauding them.

Tyco International (2002)
✦ In 2002, CEO Dennis Kozlowski and CFO Mark Swartz were accused of using company funds to support their own extravagant lifestyles.

✦ A grand birthday bash which Dennis threw for his wife, his lavish furnishings in the Tyco-owned apartment, all were indicators that he had been embezzling funds from the company.

✦ Kozlowski had resigned citing personal reasons. However, loans were issued to them, illegally, without the knowledge of the Board, under the 'Key Employee Loan' program of the company. He was also under the legal scanner for tax evasion. Also, there was an attempt to illegally sell the stocks of the company.

✦ The jury held that they two were guilty of looting the company to the tune of more than USD 150 billion in the form of unearned bonuses and loans.

✦ They were pronounced guilty and sentenced to 25 years in jail.

Waste Management, Inc. (2002)
✦ The company had increased its fake earnings to the tune of USD 1.7 billion by:

increasing the depreciation time length for their assets, property, and plant and equipment
capitalizing expenses
assigning arbitrary salvage values to assets
not recording the requisite liabilities.

✦ The company's top management was accused of financial fraud, by the SEC, in 2002. The fraudulent accounting took place between 1992 and 1997. The names involved were: Dean L. Buntrock, Phillip B. Rooney, James E. Koenig, Thomas C. Hau, Herbert Getz, and Bruce D. Tobecksen.

✦ The auditors Arthur Andersen, were charged with a penalty of about USD 7 million.

Cendant Corporation (1997-98)
✦ The company was formed in 1997 following a merger of two companies: Hospitality Franchise Systems, Inc. (HFS) and CUC International Inc.

✦ Barely three months after the merger, there were reports of accounting anomalies. It was observed that around USD 640 billions in profits recorded over the last three years were nothing but fictional profits.

✦ The company had apparently been involved in inflating the stock of CUC International up to almost USD 500 million.

✦ Walter Forbes, the former chairman of Cendant was charged in 2007, to pay USD 3.275 billion, and sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison.

MF Global Holdings, Ltd. (2011)
✦ MF Global, a major commodities brokerage firm filed for bankruptcy in October 2011, much to the shock of its customers. The company was led by Jon Corzine, the former New Jersey governor and senator.

✦ However, following some bad investments, the company decided to use consumer money to repay its liabilities. There have been reports that the firm had heavily invested in the European sovereign debts. Almost USD 1.6 billion of consumer assets were reported missing.

✦ The curious case surfaced as to where the money had evaporated from the account books. Those hit were farmers, small investors, etc.

✦ The customers had to wait for almost two-and-a-half years until the final payout was made in April 2014.

Qwest Communications International Inc. (2004)
✦ The company's top management allegedly fabricated the accounts of the company by overstating their income through fraudulent transactions recorded in the account books: increasing the revenue from its phone directory business, and also understating the expenses of the company.

✦ It was also alleged that the company failed to disclose information about buying equipment, which proved costly.

✦ The rosy picture painted was simply to float the notion that the company was in good financial condition. In 2004, the SEC filed a complaint against the company.

✦ Qwest agreed to pay a penalty of almost USD 250 millions, following an action take by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

American International Group, Inc. (2005)
✦ In 2005, the insurance company was caught in an accounting fraud that estimated around USD 3.9 billion, along with bid-rigging and stock manipulation.

✦ Following this, the company had to pay heavily in the form of penalties to the SEC. The CEO Hank Greenburg was one of the major players in the fraud that made the financial statements appear optimistic, thus misleading investors.

✦ He had booked loans as revenue, and also conspired to induce traders to inflate the prices of the stocks.

✦ Note: Bid-rigging is when the bidders decide beforehand to eliminate competition among them, and the process is carried out only for namesake.

Parmalat S.p.A. (2004)
✦ This is one of the biggest controversies surrounding the Italian big player: Parmalat, which was started by the Tanzi family. Parmalat was a global name for milk and dairy products.

✦ In 2004, a default in payment by the company prompted investigations which revealed that the company had created non-existent assets, to conceal its liabilities.

✦ The founder family, which owned 51% stake in the company, was held on account of falsification of accounts, embezzlement of funds, etc.

✦ The Bank of America had denied the existence of any account of the company with them, stating that the company had forged documents to show a fictitious account. Further investigations revealed that the funds were diverted to family-owned firms.

✦ Their debts amounted to almost €14 billion. This is one of the biggest frauds in Italian corporate history that involved banks, auditors, and other players. However, they all pleaded guilty or were unaware of the fraudulent activities.

Recent Accounting Scandal

Tesco PLC. (2014)
Britain's grocery and retail store came under the scanner recently (2014), when reports revealed that the company has been allegedly overstating its profits by over 25%. (£250 million).
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While fraudulent accounting practices are still a part of the corporate world, more stringent laws and monitoring might ensure that there are fewer instances. While corporate social responsibility might be on the rise, as long as 'money make the mare go', it is difficult that the corporate world will be devoid of such unethical practices. Other than stringent laws, whistle-blowers might help improve the situation. However, even employees should hold themselves accountable and report to appropriate authorities if they come across falsification of accounts. Needless to say, again, the internal and statutory auditors both play a pivotal role in detection of such frauds.

2015年5月25日星期一

10 Cute Songs about Brother and Sister Relationship

Evening Dresses
Take a look at Ross and Monica's relationship in Friends; they are a perfect example of a brother and sister relationship. Although you can't share your clothes or makeup with your brother, you can certainly share some good time with them. This article has compiled a list of 10 songs about brother and sister love.
Songs about brother and sister relationship
"Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet."
― Vietnamese Proverb
Evening Dresses
Agreed you hate it when he steals your food and embarrasses you in front of your friends. But hey you get your own personal bodyguard, without spending even a penny. A brother and sister relationship is like Tom and Jerry, always ready to fight with each other. But if a third person threatens to hurt one of them, they will surely gang up together and bring out the worst sides of each other.

There are many songs that depict the relationship shared by a brother and sister. They belong to different genres; some can be played at weddings, and some are suitable for a brother sister dance. Some are in the form of dedications from a brother to his sister or the other way round, while others are woven around the beautiful brother-sister relationship, and its varied shades. Given here are 10 cute brother and sister songs. You might find some good ones among these family songs too.

#1: Brothers & Sisters by Coldplay
Lyrics

Brothers and sisters unite
It's the time of your lives it's the time of your lives
Break down, break down
Got to spread love around, got to spread it around.
Perfect for every brother and sister relationship, this song talks about what happens when brothers and sisters come together. When they unite, they have all the power in the world to overcome obstacles. Sometimes they do feel low, but they keep each other strong.

#2: When We Grow Up by Diana Ross
Lyrics

When we grow up, will I be pretty?
Will you be big and strong?
Will I wear dresses that show off my knees?
Will you wear trousers twice as long?
This song talks about a sister conversing with her brother who is also her friend. She talks about all the changes that they would be going through as they grow up. But the singer also suggests that they don't need to change, and they will remain friends throughout their lives.

#3: I Learned From You by Miley Cyrus
Lyrics

Sometimes I couldn't hear what you're trying to tell me
I thought that I knew all I need to know
I didn't understand that the doors you would open
Could take me somewhere I wanted to go.
A very beautiful song which talks about how a sister learned a great deal about herself and the world around her from her brother. She is grateful to her brother for teaching her how to be strong for herself and for him.

#4: Dance Little Sister by Terence Trent D'Arby
Lyrics

Get up 'outta' your rockin' chair grandma!
Or rather would you care to dance grandmother?
Hey you! give up the ghost
That's haunting you now
Shout it out.
Well, if your sister is feeling low and is heartbroken, then this is the perfect song to dedicate to her. This song talks about how a brother is telling his sister to stop being low and start enjoying her life. He is asking her not to give up no matter how hard life becomes.

#5: You've Got A Friend by James Taylor
Lyrics

When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand
and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.
This song talks about how a brother is trying to console his sister and says that she has a friend and is not alone. She can always count on him whenever she is sad.

#6: Little Brothers by Phineas and Ferb
Lyrics

Little Brother,
I remember when you first came home,
Then came another, little brother of our own.
Even when you break my toys,
You will always be my,
Little brothers.
This is a perfect song that rightly explains the relationship shared by a brother and a sister. When they are young they fight a lot over everything and break each other's toys. But that does not mean they stop loving each other and no matter how much they fight, they will always be her brothers.

#7: Brother Mine by Suzanne Vega
Lyrics

Sonny boy, you need new sneakers
Better go into town and get then friday night
Come to think of it, kid, you need just about everything
But I think things are gonna be all right.
In this song, a sister preaches her brother on how to be a good boy. She calls him a troublemaker but she knows not to yell at him because he is just a kid. She assures him that he will be fine and that things will be fine very soon.

#8: He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by The Hollies
Lyrics

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where?
Who knows where?
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
The song has a very simple yet powerful meaning, if you consider others as your brothers then you don't mind helping them out when they need it. This song teaches us to share our burdens with each other to make our life easier. The bond between a brother and a sister is strong and they are there for each other always. Once you call someone your brother, he does not remain to be a burden for you.

#9: It Don't Have To Change by John Legend
Lyrics

Oh do you remember (ooh)
When the family was everything? (ooh)
Oh do you remember? (ooh)
It was so long ago and so much has changed (ooh).
This song talks about how everything has changed between the two siblings and how he longs to go back to the time when things were nice. He is praying to god to not make things worse between the two and to let love exist between them.

#10: Lean On Me by Bill Withers
Lyrics

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow.
A touching song which all brothers can relate to. We all have ups and downs in our lives and want somebody to share our pain with. And that somebody can be our sister. In this song, a sister comforts her brother and assures him that he can share his burden with her.
Evening Dresses
The relationship between a brother and a sister is amazing. Though they are always ready to pull pranks on each other, they are equally protective about one another. Cheers to this beautiful bond.

2015年5月24日星期日

How to Get Rid of Booklice

Also called barklice and paperlice, booklice thrive in papers, books, walls, tree barks, and moist places. They do not harm humans or property. The main issue posed by booklice is the nuisance they cause when they are in large numbers. Here is some information on how to get rid of booklice infestation.
Tip to get rid of booklice
Words of Advice
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Evening Dresses
Using insecticides is a great way to get rid of booklice. But avoid spraying them near uncovered food. And keep such chemical products away from the reach of children and animals.
Booklice are insects that belong to the Phylum Arthropoda, Order Psocoptera and Class Insecta. The name Psocoptera originates from the Greek words psokos, which means gnawed or rubbed and ptera, which means wings. Booklice have a prominent head with thread-like antennae. The head is connected to the thorax by the neck. The abdomen is broad while the thorax is narrow. They vary in size from about 1 to 6 millimeters in length. They are colorless, gray, or cream in color. Booklice that stay indoors are wingless or sometimes have wings, while the outdoor booklice, usually called barklice, have wings and they live under the barks of trees.

Booklice grow fast in damp and humid conditions. They feed on algae, fungi, lichen, stored flours, oats and cereals, mold, pollen, dead insects, and other animals. Outdoor booklice usually live on bird and mammal nests, foliage, under leaf litter, and on barks and crevices of trees. Indoor booklice live in dark, warm, and damp rooms, duct work, storerooms, libraries or other favorable habitats that provide them with food and shelter. They do not live on or bite other animals like true lice. They do not spread diseases or destroy clothes or furniture. They are harmless when in small numbers, but cause nuisance when in large numbers, as they tend to damage books and wallpapers by eating the mold on the glue of book bindings, coated papers or cardboard and wallpaper. They also contaminate food by feeding on stored or damp grains or cereals, making them unfit for consumption. Hence, their very presence can cause distress. Here are some ways to get rid of booklice.

Ways to Eliminate Booklice

Know the Extent of Infestation
Look for the places of booklice infestation. Look for books, photographs, a dark basement or storeroom, household stuff, food stored in pantries or cupboards, damp corners or crevices, moist areas created by leaking pipes, roof leaks or air conditioning systems.

Remove Infested Foodstuffs
◆ Discard likely sources of infested food. Empty the cupboard or pantry and inspect every item. Also, check for the labels and look in areas around the lids of jars and tins as booklice may thrive there.

◆ Next, wipe the food spills. Thoroughly clean the contaminated food area with an antibacterial cleaner. If you choose to wash down the place, then make sure it is thoroughly dried.

◆ Now apply an insecticide and spray the infested place. Any cracks and corners should not be left out. Let the spray dry completely and do not place any food in it for a few days.

Increasing the Temperature of the Room
The infested room or place can be heated to a higher temperature. This will kill the booklice, as they cannot survive high heat.

Good Ventilation
Ensure that the room is well-ventilated so that moisture is pulled out of the room. A dehumidifier can be used for lowering the humidity levels below 50% so as to hinder the growth of booklice. The windows and doors should be left open as long as possible. Periodic airing and drying of things will prevent mold development on which these insects feed.

Treating Molds
Clean or treat mold, and dry the area thoroughly where booklice are found.

Using a Microwave
Place infested books and other small items in a microwave for 40 seconds (high heat setting) to kill booklice and their eggs.

Placing Items in the Freezer
Place infested items in the freezer and allow them to remain there for a few days. This will kill the booklice and their eggs. The lice will die but the eggs may thrive.

Spraying an Insecticide
Spray an insecticide which contains pyrethrin or cyfluthrin, into cracks or crevices, or any moist area where booklice may be found.

Vacuuming of Infested Places
Vacuuming infested areas is also an effective way. A vacuum cleaner having proper attachments and a narrow vacuum tip can remove the bugs from their dwellings.

Exposing to Light
Try to leave as much open space as possible and allow more light to enter the infested areas. This will suppress the booklice activity.

Inform a Pest Control Company
In case of severe infestation, it is recommended to call a professional pest control company as they will have the technical knowledge and access to commercial products and equipment that are unavailable to the public.


Prevention

◆ Practice proper hygiene like daily dusting and vacuuming to remove debris from cracks and corners of storage areas.

◆ Try to keep the house well-ventilated and dry. Always keep your dry foodstuffs such as cereals in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. Cleaning out your cupboards regularly, ensuring that they are completely dry before putting your food back will help.

◆ The hiding areas like cracks in the foundation walls or areas around windows or cabinets should be sealed with a waterproof filler and sealants. Prior to this, make sure that you treat fungi or mold, if any. Mend and seal leaking pipework, rain gutters, roof vents, and air conditioning units.

◆ Remove leaf litter, vines, and other debris from the house or the surrounding buildings, to reduce the chances of an outside attack by booklice.

◆ Throw corrugated cardboard boxes and items away, or store them in dry places or in the sun.

◆ Things should be kept away from the walls and ceiling and neatly placed above the floor level by using pallets. Spaces should be provided as much as possible between stacks for proper ventilation.

◆ Check and clean all stored items regularly and clean the place of storage.

◆ Store foodstuffs, especially grain and cereal products in air-tight containers.

◆ A drainage tile system can be installed to prevent rainwater from entering the problem areas.

◆ Avoid storing foods for more than five months.
Evening Dresses
◆ Use the older items first, as booklice tend to grow as the items age.

◆ Before disposal, place the infested products inside plastic bags to minimize the spread of booklice.

2015年5月21日星期四

The Benjamin Franklin Effect Explained

Evening Dresses
Request someone to do you a favor, and they will begin to like you more. Sounds contradictory? This is what is dubbed as the Benjamin Franklin effect in social psychology. Buzzle explains the story behind this naming, and how it is tested to be true.
Maxim in Benjamin Franklin's autobiography
Benjamin Franklin
One of the founding fathers of the U.S., a political theorist, politician, diplomat, and scientist who is known to have invented the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove.
Evening Dresses
"Throw kindness around like confetti."
As the saying goes, we often engage in acts of kindness. What goes on in our minds when we decide to go for such benevolence? What is the prize that we expect for ourselves? Or do we simply intend to impress someone? That would be a sure 'Yes', in some delicate affairs!

But how about someone else being impressed by you while YOU just ask that person to do you a favor, and sit back. This might seem unbelievable, or no less than a deceptive trick in the beginning. But it has been an exceptional behavioral marvel, proven and experienced by many, including the polymath Benjamin Franklin himself.

Why is it Called the Ben Franklin Effect?

The reason behind the naming of this effect goes back to one of the incidents in the life of Benjamin Franklin, as mentioned in his autobiography. There, he has written about how he dealt with one of his rival legislators during the 1730s. This wealthy and influential legislator was strongly arguing for a different candidate. Franklin wanted this powerful advocacy to be on his side. He found out that this person had a collection of some quite scarce and rare books. He thus wrote to this person, requesting him a favor to lend one of those rare books for a few days. The person sent the book immediately to him, which Franklin read and returned within a week, along with a note expressing and acknowledging the favor.

This is what Franklin wrote about the next meeting between the two,

"When we next met in the House, he spoke to me (which he had never done before), and with great civility; and he ever after manifested a readiness to serve me on all occasions, so that we became great friends, and our friendship continued to his death."

While accounting this experience in his memoirs, Franklin has given the following as an 'old maxim' he found to be true,

"He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged."

The Benjamin Franklin Effect

It is a psychological phenomenon, where a person having done someone a favor is more likely to do another favor for him/her, than they would be if they had received a favor from that person.

In simple words, the meaning of this effect is understood as - Ask someone to do you a favor, and they will like you more. So, if we do a favor for someone, it makes us like that person more, and not the other way round. As described in Franklin's autobiography, he used this phenomenon to turn his hater into a friend.

In Love

SoulPancake, a media company, tried to study the validity of this psychological effect on couples. Couples were tested for the attraction they had for each other. Then, one person from every couple was made to stand outside. The people left inside were asked to carry out different tasks to prove how they felt about their partners (standing outside). This, they did, by carrying signs of appreciation, praising them with the best compliments, and most remarkably by getting a beverage for their sweethearts.

After this activity, the levels of attraction between these couples were tested again. And it was observed that the partners who were engaged in all the graceful acts found themselves to be more attracted towards their partners than when they were originally tested.

Don't think that you can always expect more affection by stealing every chance of being helpful and considerate. Let your beloved do you some favors too. Because, it's seen to be working that way!

In the Service Industry

The Ben Franklin effect is known to help sales professionals build a connect or rapport with their customers. In cases where the usual approach of service or help is not working out, the clients themselves can be asked to give in some suggestions. Their opinions about the future trends in the market, their assessment of upcoming range of products, etc., help in the client developing an inclination towards the sales professional and his firm. This favor done to the client results in ensuring that he/she turns into a prospective investor for the firm.

The Reverse Ben Franklin Effect

However, the reverse of this effect is also believed to be true. If the Ben Franklin effect is understood to be a favor done to someone because we like the person, the reverse of harming the person because we hate him/her is considered to be a similar logical inference. The likelihood of willingness to harm someone is more than the chances of the victim initiating a counterattack. This causation helps explain atrocities taking place during wars.
Evening Dresses
Asking a favor usually seems to be a simple and routine act. We are not really aware of how it can impact a mutual relation in such a slender manner. Foot-in-the-door technique, a theory in social psychology about compliance and persuasion, can be another such surprisingly true psychological process that occurs in our everyday life, without us noticing it at all.

2015年5月20日星期三

How to Make a Pink Squirrel Drink

Pink Squirrel is a cocktail that is sweet and rich in flavor, and is a mix of alcohol and ice cream. Ever tried this combination? Well, you can now. We, in this post, bring you some recipes to make the Pink Squirrel drink at home.
Pink squirrel drink recipe
Evening Dresses
Evening Dresses
Crème or Cream?
The term "crème" in Crème de Noyaux does not mean that we use cream. In fact, it is a highly sugared liqueur that can be used in making cocktails.
Have you tried the combination of alcohol with ice cream before? Okay, some of you may not even want to try it, but let us tell you that Pink Squirrel is one of the most popular cocktails served everywhere. No, don't get your heads running yet; it has nothing to do with squirrels that are pink! The name comes from the use of crème de noyaux (pronounced as 'noy-yew'), also called crème de almond, which gives the drink its beautiful pink hue. It is an almond-flavored reddish-pink liqueur, that is made from apricot kernels. It is said to have been invented in a bar in Wisconsin in 1941, but became popular only in the '60s. It was popular as one of the 'girl drinks,' as the housewives there were looking for a stronger drink than lemonade. But for now, you won't need to go to a bar to taste this drink. Here are some recipes, so that you can make and enjoy this drink at home itself.

Making Pink Squirrel at Home

Recipe #1

Ingredients

Crème de noyaux, 2 oz.
White crème de cacao, 1 oz.
Vanilla ice cream, 2 scoops
Chocolate shavings, to garnish (optional)
Maraschino cherries, to garnish (optional)

Preparation

Blend all the three ingredients until it becomes smooth.
Pour into martini glasses, garnish with chocolate shavings or cherries, and serve chilled.


Recipe #2

Ingredients

Crème de noyaux, 2 oz.
Vodka, 1 oz.
Vanilla ice cream, 2 scoops

Preparation

Blend all the ingredients well and pour the mixture into martini glasses. Garnish with cherries or chocolate shavings if you desire. Your Pink Squirrel drink is ready to be enjoyed!


Recipe #3

Ingredients

Grenadine syrup, 2 oz.
White crème de cacao, 1 oz.
Milk, 2 oz.

Preparation

Blend all the above ingredients well and pour the mixture into glasses filled with ice. Garnish cocktail glasses with cherries or chocolate shavings if you desire, and strain the mixture in it. Your Pink Squirrel drink is all ready!

Tips

You can also use two ounces of heavy cream, or a combination of heavy cream and milk (1 oz. each) instead of vanilla ice cream.
You can substitute crème de noyaux with amaretto, since it is another almond-flavored liqueur. However, if you want your drink to be pink in color, it is better to stick with classic ingredients.
Evening Dresses

So, these were a few recipes for making Pink Squirrel at home. Easy, wasn't it? You can experiment with the drink as you like. You never know, you just might end up inventing another wacky drink! Also, you can share your recipes with us as well, so that we all can get more variations to the recipe. Please feel free to add them in the comments section below.

2015年5月19日星期二

What is a Flame War and How to Avoid It?

The Internet is prone to disagreements, but a flame war actually sows hate and discord. This article explains about flame wars on the Internet, and the ways to avoid them.
Evening Dresses

Flame war meaning
Did You Know?
Neil deGrasse Tyson, a renowned physicist, started a flame war after posting a controversial tweet on December 25 about Christianity.
Wars are pretty much distasteful, with the losses piling on both sides. But verbal wars are not far behind, since what's said once can't be taken back. A few disagreements here and there, and it erupts from some misunderstanding into an intense 'yo mama' battle. The same can be said for the Internet.
Evening Dresses
The Internet is a vast sea of information, with each channel having murkier visitors than the last. Some people come online for information, some for fun, while others come for getting their jollies by seeing a verbal dispute erupt on their computer screen. Since the Internet provides a sense of anonymity, some users take advantage of this fact to create disruption.

Online forums are filled with haters, griefers, and trolls, lurking around every chat room, waiting for a new user to fall for the bait, goad him into it, and thus make t he matter escalate into a full-blown flame war.

What are Internet Flame Wars?
A flame war is a heated exchange of words between users on online forums that are off-topic or controversial. Flame wars are started by trolls, who lurk the Internet to start a disagreement or war, by posting inflammatory posts (or flames) on websites, YouTube comment sections, chat rooms, and blogs.

Flame wars can be started with the most mundane topics, varying from your favorite colors to your favorite character in Game of Thrones. In recent years, these have been linked to cyber terrorism as well as online harassment. Flame wars have even fought by the US government against jihadists to dissuade to-be-terrorists.

Godwin's law is applicable in this case, which states that, the longer an Internet discussion takes place, the probability of a comparison to Hitler or the Nazis increases. The most famous flame wars include Mac Vs. PC, PlayStation 4 Vs. Xbox One, Windows Vs. Linux, to name a few.

Trolling

The origins of trolling claim to have come from Usenet chat forums, where veteran users would post already discussed questions. This would help identify novice users, who would immediately respond to the post, while the experienced users would stay away from it since they knew it was already discussed earlier, and the post would be prone to spam and spiteful taunts by trolls.
Since trolls can disrupt these forums and discourage new users from asking any naive questions, websites ask users to register their names and e-mail addresses.
Novice users are always admonished with a 'Don't feed the trolls' meme to stop them from indulging in trolling, and thus, flame wars in general.

How to Avoid Flame Wars

Avoid commenting on any message that goads you to speak out, and respond to all questions politely.
Before responding to any comment, make sure to get a knack of the situation by asking trusted members of your online forum.
State your case thoroughly, with facts and evidence to back it up, and avoid any sort of sarcasm.
If after all that the troll still doesn't stop with the profanities and trash talk, the final call would be to send a message to the moderators complaining about the behavior. This can end up getting his IP (Internet Protocol) address blocked, or getting kicked out of the online forum completely.
Evening Dresses
Although flame wars have long been associated with online harassment, some sites encourage it to get a different perspective on an already exhausted-to-the-bones topic. Plus, they add hilarity and fun to the subject, as evident by the memes floating around the Internet.

Putting a price on suffering

Putting a price on suffering

FORMAL DRESSES


Recent events in Japan have thrown into sharp relief the way in which the media and the power brokers in the world today view things. The trials and tribulations of the Japanese people has for the time at least held the world's media enthralled with the deadly trinity of earthquake, tsunami and the threat of nuclear calamity. For the nations that are members of the First World Club (FWC) the events in the world's third largest economy hold a particular ghoulish fascination precisely because they are happening to a fellow FWC nation. Endless analysis and speculation has filled the media and countries have fallen over themselves in the rush to proffer assistance. This interest stands in stark contrast to the indifference that has met the devastating drought in East Africa and plight of the Somali peoples.



There would appear to be a number of reasons for the disparity of coverage that takes place. In the case of much of Africa one pivotal factor is the distinct lack of foreign correspondents spread throughout the continent. Ever watchful of costs, television and radio stations rely on a small number of newsgathering organisations such as Reuters.  Foreign correspondents tend to be clustered in such cities as Accra, Cairo, Cape Town or Nairobi where there are frequent flights to Europe and beyond. A direct result of these concentrations of correspondents is that there is often duplication and a disproportionate coverage of certain countries. In the eyes of much of the world, Africa is still viewed in nineteenth century terms as the Dark Continent and as such seems to elicit predictable headlines: AIDS, atrocities, famine and the psychotic doings of the self-anointed.  Whilst a shooting at a high school in America or the death of a minor member of the Kennedy clan in the US will warrant blanket media coverage, a ferry disaster off Mozambique might only be given a line or so in newsprint and will go unreported by television stations outside the region. August broadcasting bodies such as the BBC have cut back dramatically on foreign news coverage and according to the seminal report Shrinking World: The decline of international reporting in the British press (Media Standards Trust, November 2010) "In parts of the British press foreign coverage has fallen by almost 40% since 1979 ..." This dramatic decline has been all the more acute when it comes to the coverage of certain regions in the developing world. A proliferation of competing terrestrial and satellite channels has also resulted in the need to reduce costs and thus the services of many foreign correspondents in more out of the way locations have been dispensed with as out-sourcing has become the order of the day. Editors invariably justify their actions by claiming that if readers, viewers and listeners want international news stories they can always make use of the internet – a fatuous argument that sadly is rarely challenged by journalists, commissioning editors and programme makers.

FORMAL DRESSES



So alarming has this problem become that events in the Horn of Africa have been largely shelved by media outlets, the region only makes the headlines if a Westerner is taken hostage or killed by ‘pirates'. Minimal effort has been made to understand the causes of regional ‘piracy' or why the international community has been so indifferent to the chaotic situation in Mogadishu. The current drought and famine in Somaliland, much of Somalia, the Ogaden and parts of Kenya is resulting in starvation and death, yet barely registers.  Japan's tragedy has not only seen wall to wall coverage, but a co-ordinated response to assist one of the wealthiest nations on the planet. Such inequality in media attention only makes matters worse, ensuring that in media coverage terms certain nations remain perpetually in the Third World Club (TWC) Positive news stories from Africa have the same difficulty seeing the light of day and if they do get aired are invariably treated in a patronising manner, as of novelty value. Such a mindset in mainstream journalism is at its most extreme when it comes to Africa, but is just as valid when it comes to parts of Central and South America, or Asia.

There are of course journals and periodicals that make a concerted effort to give reasoned and well-balanced coverage, but as specialist publications these are rarely read by laymen and women. Certain television stations such as Channel 4 do remarkable work with the likes of Unreported World, but sadly this is the exception rather than the rule. Those networks that rely on advertising revenue will always endeavour to push the blame for the paucity of coverage elsewhere, claiming that it is all a matter of what advertisers' want; customer choice or the pressure on budgets. Strangely though when it comes to stories hailing from Japan, the USA or a royal wedding in the United Kingdom budgetary pressures appear to evaporate.



Human joy and human tragedy are universal. Branches of the media endeavour to report and explain such aspects of human existence. If we are to judge the effectiveness of such coverage it is essential to see where reporting is patchy or at times near non-existent. If a case study were needed to highlight the inequalities of such reporting it has to be what is unfolding in the Horn of Africa. The geo-political dimensions of the region are in many ways far easier to explain than the workings of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. In overlooking or ignoring certain issues or parts of the world the media devalues them, and causes such issues or regions to be moved even further down the international agenda. The likes of the UN, the IMF and other such bodies are skewed enough without staff, funders and other interested parties having an ever more myopic view of the world. By ignoring the tragedy that is taking place in the Horn of Africa the media is indirectly helping to fuel future regional instability. Such instability, conflict over water and mass migrations that will result will eventuality elbow their way into the media whether editors or advertisers like it or not.

Writing the Psychopath

Writing the Psychopath

FORMAL DRESSES


If you want to create a story that chills and thrills, there is no better way than having a psychopath as a character. Unpredictable, impulsive, self-serving and vicious, using the psychopath in fiction will engage your readers and leave them with a memorable impression of your work. Many of the plot kernels in this story generator involve exploitation and misery, so a psychopathic character can easily be worked into a tale. This article looks at the considerations involved in writing the psychopath.



What is a psychopath?

A psychopath is someone who suffers from a severe mental illness known as Antisocial Personality Disorder. The major characteristics of this illness are: an inability to form normal human attachments, making the psychopath someone who cannot be a true friend or a lover; and an abnormal lack of empathy. What makes the psychopath a terrifying character is that they are often able to mask these flaws so as to appear normal and even charming, until, of course, their true nature is revealed in horrifying fashion. Psychopaths derive pleasure from antisocial behaviour and are usually unable to feel guilt, shame or remorse.

What causes a psychopath?

Psychopathy is likely caused by a combination of social and genetic forces. It is possible that psychopathy is mostly genetic in origin but that its expression depends on social factors. For example, a psychopath raised in a loving home might become an exploitative businessman, a womaniser or a politician. A childhood history characterised by abuse and neglect is more likely to lead to the violent psychopath found in most popular culture. It is also possible that psychopathy is entirely social, and this possibility makes for more interesting fiction. If a child is frequently abused, they can draw the conclusion that the world is a nasty and cruel place and that one must be callous in order to survive in it. This allows the writer of the psychopath to delve deep into their character's past and create a rounded and believable person.

 
How to portray a psychopath in fiction

Depiction of a psychopath in fiction depends on whether you are trying to write realistically or not. Most psychopaths do not roam the neighbourhood hacking up people with an axe, because most psychopaths are intelligent enough to know what's to their benefit and what isn't (in fact, they're excellent at this because it's all they care about). True psychological horror can be evoked from the degree to which a psychopath will subtly manipulate their victims to their own ends.

FORMAL DRESSES


The first person is probably best avoided when writing about such a character, unless you're writing from the perspective of one of their victims, but even then you run the risk of sounding like a true-life story in a women's magazine. Third person is better, as this affords you opportunity to slowly drip-feed a victim's awareness of their situation to the reader through a limited point of view. Using the third person allows you to portray how a person might be sucked into the psychopath's web of glib lies and superficial charm, and then slowly realise that they're trapped in a game where the psychopath wins by making them suffer.



As conflict is the heart of dramatic fiction, having a psychopathic character is an easy way to create a compelling tale. Whether you want to write mindless splatterpunk or a darkly psychological story, the psychopath affords you plenty of opportunity to write a page-turner.

2015年5月18日星期一

Fun Barbie Dress Up Games Online

Fun Barbie Dress Up Games Online

Formal Dresses


All girls know how fun it is to play with Barbie dolls. Remember how exciting and fulfilling it is to show off your doll, which you have dressed up and styled from head to toe. Yes, those were the good ol' days. Now, you can have more fun and excitement with these online Barbie games. Online Barbie games let you express your creativity in fashion, style and cosmetics with more variation in a Barbie character.



These online Barbie dress up games mixed technology with the all-time favorite pastime of young girls. All images are in 2D high resolution colored flash display, with background sound, and drag-click control. Compared to the classic Barbie doll games, you have hundreds of options to play with in online Barbie games. From dress up to haircutting and make-up, you can practically unleash your imagination.

Online Barbie games vary from fashion, pet care, fairy and princess themed game, music and dance, puzzle, and other fun easy games. You can also get to play with other Barbie characters like Kelly and Ken. Kids of all ages will surely enjoy these Barbie games as well as the kids-at-heart.

The most popular is the dress up game. Be a stylist and dress up Barbie for the night. Dress her up in long gown for a formal dinner. Put her in casual jeans and hang out with friends in a lazy afternoon. Make her a sports player and dress her up in the chicest sports uniform.

Formal Dresses


You can literally go as subtle or as extreme as you desire. Her virtual closet's filled with the latest and most fashionable outfits. Just mix and match all apparels according to your taste. Choose the best accessories to go with her style. Finish your Barbie's look with the right shoes, stilettos or boots.

Be a hairstylist as well and decide on how Barbie should wear her hair. Cut it as short as you want or keep it long. Choose between curl and straight. Color Barbie's hair with a different color. Make her as brunette or as blonde as you want. Give her an extreme makeover and turn her hair blue or jet black. You could also do her makeup to complete her look.

Other variety of Barbie games let you play with your character in other activities. Take care of a pet animal with Barbie and do exciting activities with them like a real life pet. Make your pet dog or cat dance, sing, or play games. Walk around the virtual neighborhood and compete with other pets.

You could also play the classics like connect the dots, solving jigsaw or slide puzzles or word search. Test your memory and play some Barbie memory games. Be like a detective and solve mysteries.



Have fun with Barbie on the road and see her race against other characters. Design and upgrade your character's car and race off with Barbie's friends in these car themed online Barbie games. Make music with Barbie and see her perform. Beat the top scores in Barbie karaoke or in dance competition. And that's not all. There are more options to play with. Definitely, you'll have the best fun with these online Barbie games.

Favourite Children's Fancy Dress Ideas

Favourite Children's Fancy Dress Ideas

If you have a small budget, you don't need to purchase a complete fancy dress costume online for your children. You can easily recreate many diverse costumes using items found around your home, complete with some costume accessories which can be ordered for a fraction of the price of a complete outfit.

Formal Dresses


For example, you can create a robot costume using boxes that are that have been stored in your garage or attic, wrapped in foil film. Cut each box to size to fit your child's arms, legs, body and head. Complete with marker pens to define the costume to be more realistic.



Or using old fabric or curtains, you can easily design a robe for a prince's costume, and make a crown out of coloured foil and cardboard. Or you can use the material to design a cape and use a plain tee shirt with water based washable colour paints to create an unique and custom made superhero costume.

Creating fairy costumes can be more difficult, but there are many affordable fairy wings available to purchase online, which will enhance any homemade costume to your child's delight.

Fancy dress costumes, halloween costumes, mascot costumes


Fancy dress costumes, halloween costumes, mascot costumes

Formal Dresses


They have more variety and options than that of men. Women take great pleasure in dressing and looking beautiful. They spend a lot of time in choosing and selecting their dresses and make up. Fancy dress costumes take this passion of theirs to a totally different level. It gives them more opportunities to express their creativity and love for clothes. Its takes their beauty and passion to a totally different level helping them look more gorgeous. The beautiful princess and fairies that we talk about in tales come alive when women wear all those fancy dresses. Kids know how to have fun in every situation of life. Childhood is one of the best parts of life where you have no worries or tensions and all that occupies one's mind is fun and games. Be it in school or at home, there are various means and ways for kids to enjoy their childhood to the fullest. They are also a huge fan of cartoons and fairy tales. Every child has their favourite cartoon or fairy tale character which he or she imitates and dreams to be like.



When there is fancy dress competition in schools or the neighbourhood, they promptly take advantage of the situation to fulfil their dream of dressing like their favourite character. To help them realize their dreams there are different kinds of kid's fancy dress costumes available in the market. These costumes bring a lot of joy and happiness to the kids and they thoroughly enjoy wearing them. It's like a dream come true for them when they dress like their favourite character and act like them.

Formal Dresses


Everybody has different desires and fantasies. No matter how old you are, there is always a child in you that wants to explore the unknown. You will always have that role model or a superhero that you always wanted to imitate. You wanted to dress like them, act like them and look like them. It would be quite awkward to dress like some superheroes or cartoon characters otherwise in normal conditions. For special occasions like birthday parties, get togethers, etc there are special themed costumes. There are different themes to choose from like fairy tale, superheroes, certain time periods in history or certain events, a movie etc. These themes can be for adults, for kids or for any other age group. It can be for personal parties, birthday parties, corporate parties etc



Fear of the Number 4

In China, Japan, and many other Southeast Asian countries, the number 4 is considered as unlucky, and associated with death. Know why people fear the number 4.
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Creepy Coincidence?

According to a study of 25 years, by the British Medical Journal on Chinese and Japanese people, they were 13% more likely to die due to heart attack on the 4th of any month.

We humans are a fascinating lot! There is no limit to what may fascinate or spook us. Probably, that's the reason there are so many phobias and superstitions. Some of them may sound absolutely ridiculous, but people who actually have them, know how serious these can be.

Arithmophobia or numerophobia is the fear of numbers. Numbers are used for counting, then why fear them? Well, reasons are many, the most important one being associating numbers with various attributes like good or bad luck, prosperity, death, devil, etc. Tetraphobia is the fear of number four. Tetra means four and phobia means fear. What? Why would someone be afraid of an innocent number like 4? Know the answer in the upcoming sections of this Buzzle article.

Why are people afraid of the number 4?

▶ Just as the West is wary of number 13, the East fears the number of death - 4! In many Southeast Asian and East Asian regions, people are literally sacred of this number, because in Chinese, the pronunciation sounds very similar to death. Even in Sino-Japanese, Sino-Korean, and Sino-Vietnamese, the resemblance is eerie.

▶ In Japanese, both four and death are pronounced as shi, in Korean as sa, in Mandarin Chinese as si, and in Cantonese as sei. Thus, four is feared in countries like China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.

▶ In Japanese, 24 is called nishi, which is like double death, 42 is shini or to die, 45 is shigo or after death.

Interesting Facts

▶ The fear is so deeply rooted in the minds of people of these countries that many buildings don't have 4th, 14th, 24th, and such other floors. Some high-rise towers skip 40th to 49th floors, and directly have the 50th floor. So don't be surprised if you find some missing numbers in elevators when you go to China or Hong Kong! In fact, property prices tend to drop considerably if there's any connection to four.

▶ Even hospitals don't have rooms with the number 4. Sometimes they replace 4 with F. The number is not mentioned in front of sick relatives.

▶ Many shopping centers and malls have the floor 3A instead of 4.

▶ Even when gifting someone or buying something, a set of 3 or 5 objects is given, not 4. Gifting someone a set of 4 things is considered as purposely inviting doom and bad luck.

▶ In Taiwan, license plates cannot have the number 4.

▶ 4 is not used in phone numbers, addresses, or security numbers in many countries.

▶ No Nokia models ever start with the number 4. Even Canon Cameras don't have product numbers with 4 in them.

▶ 4th of April is considered as a very unlucky day.
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As you can see, this fear has affected the business world as well the people in some Southeast Asian countries. In fact, the superstitions are much more than those associated with Triskaidekaphobia or the fear of number 13. Some people even experience physical effects like anxiety, panic attacks, or severe stress due to this phobia.

2015年5月17日星期日

60 Catchy Names for an Italian Restaurant

A unique restaurant name is bound to give your food business the extra kick to lure potential customers. Like delicious pizza toppings, your restaurant name needs to be attractive too. This article provides you with 60 catchy names for an Italian restaurant.
Italian restaurant names
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Evening Dresses
Pasta Bonanza!!!
The average person in Italy eats more than 51 pounds of pasta every year. The average person in North America eats about 15½ pounds per year.
The beautiful country of Italy has made an immense contribution to the world cuisine―pizza. Yes ... the all-time-favorite, inexpensive, cheesy, delicious pizza. Italians are known to be connoisseurs of food and art, and the cuisine of Italy is renowned for its simplicity. Italians believe in food quality rather than post-preparation embellishments.

Apart from pizza, Italian cuisine is characterized by varieties of cheese, pasta, and wine. If you plan to open an Italian restaurant, you need to be well-versed about their cuisine. While food lovers will flock to your restaurant either way, you must make sure to have a classic restaurant name so that you can entice other customers into visiting your joint. The list below provides some unique Italian restaurant name ideas.

Creative Italian Restaurant Name Ideas

Tap the Cuisine

What's more unique than using the names of different Italian dishes? Combine your menu and come up with some classic names like the ones below!

121 Pizzzzas
Mozzarella Meals
Pizza Mania
Bocca Felice
Hot Tomatoes
Mac and Cheese
Penne With A Twist
Rigatoni Flavors
Basil and Olives
Mike's Pizzeria
Mini Pasta Rolls
Pipin Hot Pizza
Wood Fire Oven
Spaghetti Corner
Meet the Sauces
The Cheese Factory
Garlic Pesto & More
Spaghetti & Meatballs
The Lasagna Pot
Brown Burnt Pizzas

Use the Lingo

Using Italian words for restaurant names is an interesting suggestion. People are instantly attracted to such names; most of them may or may not know the meanings of the Italian words, and they will possibly presume that your place specializes in some unique dishes. The list below has some best Italian restaurant names.

La Pasta Burrosa
Pizze Fritte
Sale e Pepe
Vino e Pizza di Mike
Amo Pasta
Caldo dal Forno
Pollo del Cacciatore
Il Piatto Caldo
La Pizza Croccante
Macaroni Parmesan
Formaggio e Vino
Benvenuto a Nick
Uova e Gli Spaghetti
Cibo e Vino
Cacio e Pepe
Specialità di Pollo
La Casa di Porchetta
Fresco dal Forno
Spaghetti alla carbonara
Pollo alla Diavola

Combine Languages

Using two languages will add a zesty flavor to the name, and perhaps make it seem hilarious too. You can combine Italian with English or any other language and come up with some cool and funny names.

Rosa's Pizza Casa
Prima Colazione
The Caprese Salad
The Linguini Corner
Garlic Bread Varietà
Salami Bonanza
Romano's Pasta
Coal-fire Pizza
Seaside Omelet Bake
Special Polenta
Pan Pizza Omelet
Bossa Pasta
The Miracle Oven
Bon Appetite
Hot 'n Fresh Pizzas
Vino con Ravioli
La Magica Olive Oil
My Supremo Italiano
Pasta con Bagna Cauda
The Devilish Pesto
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A fancy restaurant name can attract crowds instantly. Remember some ground rules while thinking about a name―keep it simple and keep the puns classy. Let your restaurant name be as delicious as the wonderful Italian meals so that people flock in pronto! Buoni amici fortuna!!