Dangers of Tongue Piercing

Tongue piercing is a form of body piercing that is generally done directly through the midpoint of the tongue. Today, it is probably the most admired form of body piercing in the western world immediately after nostril and ear piercing. Many teenagers and youngsters are, nowadays, very much fond of tongue piercing and this trend of fashion has grown up vastly especially over the last several years. But, whatever the trend may be, people should think properly before having their tongue pierced because it is very probably the most dangerous form of body piercing. Tongue piercing may cause several fatal diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, oral cancer, blood poisoning and even HIV. Besides, it may also causes diseases like nerve damage, gun damage, infections, chipped teeth, drooling, taste loss and teeth loss.

Fatal diseases: The fatal diseases that can be caused by tongue piercing are usually as follows -

• If the jewelry that you are using in your tongue is not sterilized one, you may become the victim of serious infections like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or even HIV.
• In some extreme cases, it may causes blood poisoning that ultimately drags one down to death.
• It may also become the reason of oral cancer, which too can lead you to death.
• Neuromas (overgrowth of nerve tissue) can be happened from tongue piercing as well.
• Endocarditis may also be caused from tongue piercing- in this disease, bacteria enters into the bloodstream and badly damages the heart valves.
• Another Dangerous disease is Brain Abscess that can be happened due to tongue piercing- though it occurred rarely, but it is definitely another serious disease.

Besides these fatal diseases, you may also face some other severe issues like - the barbell of your jewelry can become loose and it can go down a wrong way such as it can wrap up in your lungs, it is not necessary to explain how dangerous it could be if it happens. Yet, as the mouth is full of bacteria as well as it includes major blood vessels, deadly infection can be easily spread to the brain, which can also lead you to the ultimate disaster, I.e. death.

Common problems: Following are the briefs about the problems that may commonly be occurred after tongue piercing -

• The most common problems, what are suffered by people after tongue piercing, are generally teeth related. You may be the victim of damaged teeth- you may have your front tooth broken, fractured or cracked. Statistics shows it that almost half of the barbell users, who use it for around four years or more, enjoy at least one chipped tooth. It happens because the jewelry, what is used as an ornament, continuously hits or rubs up your tongue while eating, talking or even sleeping. These jewelries thus decompose the enamel of your teeth which also causes teeth sensitivity.
• Besides, people can suffer gum diseases - the jewelry may have contact with gum tissue, which can cause injury or recession of gum tissue that can ultimately lead to loose teeth or even tooth loss.
• Yet, difficulties in regular oral activities like speaking or swallowing problem can also be happened - you may feel difficulty in swallowing or chewing food while some find it difficult to speak clearly. The reason behind these problems is the excess production of saliva due to the jewelry. Permanent or temporary drooling, changes in taste can also be occurred from excessive saliva production.
• In susceptible people, allergic reaction to the metal of the jewelry can be occurred. It is a kind of hypersensitivity reaction that is called as allergic contact dermatitis.
• Bad breath is another problem that may be happened due to tongue piercing. Bacteria may grow and spread in your mouth because of the jewelry and may endure bad breath as a result of that.

These are the common diseases that an individual commonly experience because of tongue piercing. So, you should be more sincere in making the decision whether to have your tongue pierced or not.

The purpose of this article is not to frighten you, rather it is written to aware you so that you become more careful during tongue piercing. It is not definite that you must be a victim of any disease if you get pierced in your tongue, you can avoid any kind of disease, severe or common, by being careful about the entire process. You need to take several necessary steps both before and after the piercing process in order to prevent any disease that may be occurred due to it.

• First of all, after making the decision that you want to have your tongue pierced anyway, you have to find out the best piercing shop in your city that are reputed for their good service, do not bother about their charges because money is nothing in the issue of your fitness.

• Be certain about the sterilization process- make sure that the performer is skilled as well as they are using fresh tools and obviously the superior items that are accessible in the market- using used apparatus or substandard stuff is probably the main reason that resultant severe infections.

Before the piercing is done, the performer is the person who is responsible for all - you can just be careful about the issue, but it is the performer who does the main job. On the contrary, after the piercing has been done, the ball is on your court - then you have to be very careful to take proper care of it. You have to learn properly about how you can prevent any danger that may occur from the piercing and have to take those steps properly. You should ask the performer or any physician or dentist about the aftercare.

Some common practices that you need to follow after piercing are as follows:

• On the first few days, before the tongue is completely healed, have only liquid foods - this period is hardly ten days. Besides, do not touch your tongue with fingers in this period because your fingers can contain bacteria.
• Rinse with a good mouthwash several times daily as well as brush your teeth along with tongue stub to get rid of plaque.
• Always take the stub away while sleeping or eating in order to avoid damaging gum tissues and teeth enamel.
• Never use substandard jewelry. Only use those that are safe and sterilized like stainless steel or gold.
• Last, but not the least, visit your dentist regularly to be certain that your teeth and tongue remain in the pink.

At the end, I want to stop my pen by saying you that as tongue piercing is a very sensitive issue because of various dangers, learn ins and outs about it and then take your time to have a final decision. By Munim Munna.

Not All Body Jewelry Is Created Equal

Body jewelry comes in all sorts of shapes and forms. There is quite the variety out there. Guaranteed, you can find a new piece of jewelry for your piercing that you never saw before every day if you looked hard enough.

Unfortunately, this variety doesn't always offer quality. In fact, you can find some downright awful body jewelry. They can be made from less then desirable materials. They can be made poorly. They can even get to the point of just being bad for you.

Running an online retailer for piercing jewelry has forced me to find some bad pieces of body jewelry out there. Some of these findings is from research while others are just first hand experience. This is what I have learned thus far.

One of the most common types of materials used for piercings is acrylic. There are many reasons for this. Some pretty cool designs can be made out of acrylic. Acrylic is cheap so not only production costs can be kept small but retail prices can be can be very appealing. It is also very lightweight. However, it is one of those materials that you should try and avoid. The first thing that makes acrylic undesirable is that it can not be autoclave sterilized, one of the best ways to sterilize. Also, alcohol can cause it to degrade. If it can't be sterilized than there are bound to always be germs or dirt or really anything on it. Also, acrylic isn't meant for long term use. Anyone that tells you it is should immediately cause red flags to go up.

Another popular material for use in piercing jewelry is what is considered "organic" body jewelry. However, it isn't that great for use in piercings. Nearly all materials used in organic piercing jewelry are extremely porous. This means they can never be completely cleaned as it is impossible to get every little pore clean. This also means that they can harbor bacterial and other bad things. Why would you want to risk it? Most organics cannot be autoclave sterilized either.

Non surgical steel one of the most popular metals to use in body jewelry. It is one of the cheapest metals to use. It is durable. Overall it is a desirable material to be worn in a piercing. It can even be autoclave sterilized. However, it may not be the best material for you. Most people won't have a problem with it. However, these "regular" steel piercing jewelry can contain a fair amount of nickel which can cause allergic reactions among some people. Overall, it is recommended to not use these steel pieces for you piercings if possible.

Now, you could have piercing jewelry that is made of an acceptable material. That is the first step in the right direction. However, there are other things that may make them undesirable. First off, they just could be plainly poorly made. Some manufacturers only care about the quick buck. They could have sharp edges that aren't supposed to be there. They could use a cheap glue to hold pieces in place, like gems. Poor glass makers will make body jewelry that can break under normal circumstances. You need to make sure what you are buying is quality.

So, there are all these bad things out there in the body jewelry world. What should you look for? Well Surgical Steel, a high grade stainless steel, is a great place to start. The recommendation is that this should be the bare minimum you go for. Niobium is next up on the scale. Titanium is probably the best metal you can buy for your piercings. There is absolutely no nickel in it and so it is one of the most hypoallergenic metals out there. Glass is a great material for use in piercings as well. Just be sure that what you are buying is quality. Silicone is an okay material. The only problem with it is that it creates a seal between it and your piercing which can cause complications. It is great for short term use.

All of the recommended materials above can be autoclave sterilized. This is the method hospitals use to sterilize their equipment. If at all possible, it is highly recommended that you buy sterilized body jewelry. This guarantees a number of things. Poor quality piercing jewelry can not stand the pressure created in an autoclave. An autoclave guarantees everything that can cause infections is killed on the body jewelry. If you get a new piercing, you should be getting sterilized body jewelry for the initial piercing no matter what. Otherwise, you are asking for trouble.

There you have it. It should be clear now that all body jewelry is not created equal and hopefully now you can shop smarter so you can prevent any sort of undesirable circumstance from happening. After all, it is better safe than sorry.

The author of this piece is Jonathan Rudzitis. Jonathan runs Pierced Edge which buys and sterilizes its body jewelry for the general public.

All of this information was gained thanks to Pierced Edge. Pierced Edge is an online retailer of strictly sterilized body jewelry. Sterilized body jewelry guarantees high quality, safe, and clean body jewelry.

Want sterilized body jewelry? Shop at Pierced Edge NOW! - http://piercededge.com

Laser Is Your Perfect Tattoo Removal Option

Tattoos have been around for thousands of years and to this day, they continue to be the body art of choice of millions globally. With newer techniques allowing more intricate and complex designs, tattoo parlors are thriving big time.

Along with those seeking tattoos, there is a large number of people who wish to remove their existing ones. There can be many motivations for this, much like motivations for getting one in the first place. Removal process can be a bit handful and can cause pain.

There are numerous options in this regard which offer a varying degree of success. Laser tattoo removal seems to be the most useful of all options. We shall take a look into the traditional tattoo removal options as well as the laser tattoo removal to better understand the whole process and why you should opt for laser.

Traditional Tattoo Removal Options

There are a number of options when it comes to tattoo removal. These include surgical removal or excision. The skin where the tattoo is made is cut out to remove the tattoo. It does work well for the most part though it is highly invasive and can cause infections and leave scarring. The recovery period is quite long as well.

Cryosurgeryworks by freezing the skin where the tattoo is made in order destroy the skin tissue and remove it. Different agents may be used for this purpose though liquid nitrogen seems to be the more commonly used option. The treatment offers decent results but the risk of scarring is too real and this is the major drawback with cryosurgery.

Salabrasion is yet another option for tattoo removal and it is painful. It works with salt water applied to the tattoo and an abrasive tool, generally a wooden block wrapped in a gauze is used to rub it until the skin gets very very red. Antibiotic ointment is applied and dressing is done. Three days later, salt water is again applied followed by more dressing. The procedure may be less painful with anesthetics but overall it is highly invasive and the results may not be the very best.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser is a relatively new treatment for tattoo removal though it has been around for a couple of decades as well. It is highly effective and gives the best results of all the available options. How it works and all the allied matters are surely worth discussing.

How does it Work?

The treatment works with the help of a laser that uses small pulses of high intensity laser in order to break down the pigmentation in the tattoos into smaller bits. The laser is set at specific frequencies to ensure that only the tattoo absorbs them and the skin in the surrounding areas remains largely unaffected.

Once the pigmentation is broken down into smaller bits, the immune system in the body can easily remove it. Since the tattoo ink is a foreign object, the immune system as soon as a tattoo is made, starts working on removing the ink. The tattoo is too large to be fully removed by immune system on its own and all it can do is dull it down over a period of time. With help from laser, the job gets easier.

How Painful Is the Treatment?

There is some pain involved in the procedure and to numb it down, topical anesthetics are applied to the area to be treated prior to the start of the procedure. The anesthetics more or less remove the pain. Cool air with the help of a handheld device may also be blown during the treatment to make it even more comfortable for the patient.

How Many Sessions Are Needed?

The number of sessions in each case varies and your treatment provider can best judge your individual needs. There are numerous factors that determine the exact number of sessions that will be needed for the purpose of removing the tattoo with laser. The size and shape of the tattoo need to be taken into account first and foremost. Smaller and less complicated tattoos require lesser effort than large and complicated tattoos.

The colors in the tattoo also are important. Darker colors like blue and black are the easiest to remove. On the other hand, lighter colors require greater effort. The age of the tattoo can also make some difference. The tattoo that is older loses its edge and some of the color sharpness which makes it easier to get rid of when compared with a fresh one. Last but certainly not the least, how well the tattoo is made has its effect as well. A professionally done job is a lot easier to remove in comparison with a lousy one.

What Are the Side Effects?

The side effects are generally mild in nature and do not last for a very long time. Swelling, redness and itching are very common and usually last day or two. If you want to avoid discomfort, use an icepack to sooth the treated area. In some rare cases, skin discoloration can also take place. The problem should subside on its own but you still should discuss it with your doctor immediately.

Photosensitivity is to be expected to develop after the treatment. This can last from a few days to a few weeks, varying in individuals. It is imperative to protect the skin against the harmful UV rays. Avoid exposure to the sun during peak hours. When you go out during day time, wear a broad spectrum sunscreen. A large floppy hat also helps. If the tattoo removal is taking place on a part other than the face of the neck, be sure that you cover it with clothing to protect against the sun.

What Kind of Downtime Is Expected?

For most people, there is no downtime after the treatment. Doctors recommend rest after the treatment to allow quicker recovery of the skin. Some of the common chores like working out and application of makeup may be restricted after the treatment for a couple of days. When getting the treatment for the first time, it is ideal to take some time off from the work in order to understand the post-treatment effects.

Why Choose Laser?

There are some very compelling reasons as to why the laser treatment is chosen. It is highly effective and takes little time to bring the desired results, better than the rest of the treatments. It is also minimally invasive and side effects are next to nothing. It is surely the one that takes the least toll on the body with the best of results.

In order for you to get rid of unwanted tattoos, action is required. See your dermatologist and discuss the Laser Tattoo Removal in Dubai. Getting the tattoo removed with laser is the easiest and most effective option of all.
By Usman Shah

This Is Why You Need a Selfie Stick

The selfie stick is a relatively new gadget getting introduced in the market, yet many people would claim having seen somebody using one, though they might not have realized what exactly it is used for, or how it operates and helps its users. If you come across someone using it, you are very likely to find it a superfluous item, as one could easily use their arm for performing the act that a selfie stick does. But in fact, it is more helpful than many people can guess. If you have not used one so far, here are some good reasons to prompt you starting using one.

Fits in more people

Just think of the action you need to perform for taking photos of large groups. Yes, you'll need to extend your arm to its maximum limit to include every member of the group in your photo. Now, think of the results of this action. Often, the result would be a tasteless photo wherein everybody gets squeezed, much to the discomfort of everybody forming the group. Unless the photographer is abnormally tall, the result would not be satisfactory. The use of selfie stick allows you to easily and comfortably fill in all members of a large group in your frame. Moreover, you won't need to stretch your arm to an uncomfortable level, or displace your shoulder.

Traveling

Everybody loves taking pictures while traveling and holidaying. One finds too many funny incidents or beautiful places that need to be capture in camera. Often, you would prefer to get photographed with some beautiful monument or natural surroundings forming a background. So, you would need help from a third person. A selfie stick on the other hand allows you to take such beautiful, memorable photos without seeking help from anyone. Well, you may draw puzzled looks from onlookers, as they can't make out what you are doing really. Soon, they will be using a stick of their own. Traveling with a selfie stick is no problem, as it can be folded to the size of a writing pen and stored in a handbag.

No need to seek favors from strangers

The use of selfie stick dispenses the requirement of requesting any unknown person to take your photos. So, you don't have to wait till a stranger comes your way and looks decent to talk to, and does you the favor of taking your photograph. It saves you plenty of time. Moreover, you need not worry about people unintentionally walking past the shot that you had focused.

Splendid angles and points of viewing

A selfie stick really comes handy when you want to take snaps from an angle which is almost impossible otherwise. You can rotate the stick to any desired angle and capture your unique shot, much to the envy of your friends and relatives. Same holds true for making videos - the use of these sticks offers endless possibilities.

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Short Guide to Taking the Best Selfies

Taking selfies with your phone is a very easy and convenient way to express your various moods. Selfies enable you to express yourself in any manner you find preferable.

It is fun taking selfies where you can illustrate your confidence, personality and sense of fashion. These days it is quite a norm to take selfies. Though the process is simple, it doesn't imply that you just aim your camera to your face and click. It takes practice to take striking selfies that will be admired by your friends when they see them on the social networking sites. Here are a few tips to help you improve your skills of taking selfies:

Get the correct angle

You can try different angles to highlight some of your personal features, or cover up those that you don't want to be noticed. That is one of the important advantages of taking your own snaps. When you like your face to look thinner or the eyes to appear larger, you can shoot from a slightly raised level. When you don't want to highlight a small bulge beneath the chin, slightly pull your neck out. In case the upper part of your body is coming in the frame, try turning your shoulder a bit in the direction of the camera. That should make you look slimmer.

Change the position of the camera, take a shot, have a look and take another shot. You may need to spend some time for finding the most appropriate angle. Once you are able to locate it, you would have improved not only your photos, but also your skills.

Be considerate of lighting

Having the right amount of light is a vital part of photography, and thus selfies. Make use of natural light. When taking indoor photos, position yourself close to a window. If light is not adequate, the photo will reflect the imperfections of the skin.

Keep the source of light opposite to the object to be photographed. It is light that can soften or brighten your features. As far as possible, the use of flash should be avoided while taking selfies. Selfies taken using cameras which include flash are rarely good. Use flash only with more professional cameras having the feature of color correction.

Do not ignore the background

Selfie obviously means that you should be dominating in that photo, but don't overlook the background altogether. Just make a mental note of your surroundings, and arrange the setting of your camera accordingly. If you are not positioned properly, a tree in the background could appear to be jetting out of your head. Avoid looking at something that could hinder a cheerful smile.

If you take care of these simple aspects of photography, you can surely take unique, loving selfies and post them on Facebook or Twitter.

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Tongue Rings and Some of Their Best Advantages

Fashion of tongue piercing and wearing some kind of adornment in the pierce part could be sourced back to the Aztec and Mayan cultures; however, their purpose behind getting their taste gland pierced was mainly to please their respective Gods. At the turn of the twentieth century, it was adopted as a fashion trend by the west, and they started adorning their pierced tongue with a specifically designed piece of jewelry, namely tongue rings or barbells. There are accessible broad varieties of tongue rings in the market, which the fashionistas pick as per their unique preferences. They state diverse motives and advantages of piercing and wearing oral jewelry. Some of the best benefits of going with this trend are -

Increased appeal - Sporting this fashion brings an added appeal to your persona. Most people claim that with a pierced tongue they look more attractive than those without it. The look of a simple piercing could be transformed radically by using a stylish tongue ring. With so many options available, the fashion buffs can get a new makeover every occasion they pay a visit to.

Look different - One of the best parts of wearing these body jewelries is you start looking completely different from how you looked earlier. And you know, being different is being more attractive. So, if you have been willing to catch attention of your crush or the group of dudes, you always wanted to hang out with, tongue rings could be your ideal choice. After this, you will notice that people have started taking an interest in you, because of your different looks. With a shiny ring, you will be reflecting your very new shiny image.

Less painful than other piercing practices - Some people do not go for piercing declaring it to be very painful. However, people with a pierced tongue assert that it is not as painful as they had thought it would be. With employment of anesthetic drugs and injections, whichever amount of pain resides there could be eliminated.

Improved sex drive and pleasure - Another top reason why the youth of today is more interested going with tongue piercing is plenty of oral pleasures in the bedroom. Most of them emphasize that they get an increased stimulation during their impassioned act.

Come whatever may be the advantages, there are certain points that the people with pierced tongues should take care of. You should wear the ring when the wound has been healed completely. Moreover, after taking this, you need to be extra careful while eating, especially when the piercing is fresh. Further, the size of the barbells should be chosen considering the size of your tongue and piercing. Furthermore, you should never compromise on the material quality over design.

Tongue rings are a kind of body jewelry that promises to transform your look and appeal.

How to Support Bilingual Literacy at School?

Families and communities should advocate for bilingual education as a source of personal and social empowerment.

For those families living within communities where a different language than the one being spoken at home is prevalent, the power to enrich the lives of our children with the mother tongue provides a valuable addition to the diversity of the schools and community as a whole.

A new bilingual mindset opens the following opportunities:

Parents as Teacher Aids:

• An opportunity for mom and dad to participate in the education of their child and support the family's cultural heritage and diversity.
• An opportunity for that parent to learn and strengthen her or his own language and communication skills.
• An opportunity for that parent to add value to the community.

Schools as Community Enhancers:

• An opportunity to host a variety of cultural activities.
• An opportunity to connect to other members of the community and gain from the value they bring.
• An opportunity to strengthen the diversity of the school staff and cultural awareness of its faculty.
• An opportunity to provide communities with a variety of programs that support the transition to a new environment and a new language.

What's needed?

Schools must approach parents and develop mutually beneficial connections with them. To accomplish this task, schools should rely on its own bilingual staff, and look online and offline for services that provide advisory support and free resources to these experienced teachers on how to handle situations particular to immigrant families from South and Central America.

What are some of the major hurdles?

• Parents lacking the language skills and their own cultural and social insecurities.
• Resistance to change from parents and teachers alike. Based on the mistaken belief that what's currently been done is actually working.
• School budgeting and prioritizing which doesn't necessarily include the right investments in favor of greater resources to Hispanic students' academic success.

What are the main goals to target?

• Language skills development. Becoming fully bilingual.
• Living cultures. Developing cultural awareness and conscious participation in the acculturation process; a new physical and social environment.
• Mentors and advisers that speak your language and share your experience. Understanding there's a path to follow; listening and sharing success stories.

The type of social engagement and open conversation between school, teachers and parents is essential for the present and future success of our Hispanic children and their families, and that should be enough to consider possible proactive solutions.

How are you addressing the issue of bilingual education in your classroom?

I highly recommend educators to find free resources and guidance to engage Hispanic children and their families. I encourage all educators and professionals working in an educational setting to be proactive and engage children in both English and Spanish. Bilingualism is an asset and a great way to offer scaffolding support to students, as well as a wider range of reading and writing materials and opportunities to express their identity and their heritage, while informing and expanding the knowledge of their fellow students. By Gabriela Gotay

International Phone Cards Makes Calling Easier

If your local telephone operator charges you the moon for making international calls, don't sweat! Help is at hand and international calling cards are the way to go. Not only can you make calls to various countries across the world, you also have to pay less for talking more!

International calling cards, as the name suggests, are telephone cards that allow you to call over long distances as well as dial your friends and family residing abroad from the comfort of your home or office. No longer do you have to pay huge bills for speaking to your loved ones abroad, or your client in some other country. With international calling cards you can enjoy complete freedom and low rates.

Types of International Calling Cards

Typically, calling cards are available as disposable or refillable cards. Some of these calling cards also come with a PIN printed on them. Whenever you make an international call, the charge is applied to your land line telephone billing account. Payment can be made using a prepaid credit system or by credit card. While different calling cards have different payment methods, you can use these cards in many different ways to make the necessary calls, but this would depend on the company that's offering you the calling cards.

Currently, the market has two types of international calling cards. One is the stored value calling card, while other is the remote memory calling card. Now, stored value cards already have a pre-fed amount of money that can be used for making international calls. For ex: if you buy an international stored value calling card worth $10, you'll be able to make calls until that amount runs out. The pay-phones read the balance available on your card every time you make a new call and inform you of the available balance once you have completed your call.

On the other hand, remote memory calling cards work on a toll-free number access. Every time you need to dial the toll-free number, follow the instructions to call the number of your choice. The toll-free number also informs you on the available balance and duration of the call.

Why Use International Calling Cards

If you are traveling aboard for studies, business, or just fun chances are you will get homesick. Calling back home can be an expensive deal especially if you want to talk for more than just a quick hello. Using international calling cards, you can call home or call from home to anyone, any where in the world. Opt for pre-paid calling cards or post-paid calling card plans, but either way you'll be able to fulfill your desire to talk to your loved ones whenever you want without having to worry about the clock ticking away!

There are several companies that offer international, travel, and other such calling cards. Each of these has different plans, different rates, and different denominations of calling cards for places across the world. Choose the one you like the best and that suits your requirements and pocket.

• Master Cent Phone Card 
• Continental Phone Card
• AT&T Phone Card
• Lucky Minutes Phone Card

The Problem With College and Career Readiness Education

Preparing our children to be successful in college and once they step out into the workplace is certainly an educational goal worth striving for, but should college and career readiness by the ultimate goal of the traditional education system?

I am proof that focusing on college and career readiness can actually work. I graduated with high honors from both college and graduate school. I have a job and time to blog and come up with other fun ideas and projects. I have good communication skills, interpersonal skills, work with people and take on leadership roles.

However, when I think back and reflect about my years in primary and secondary school, I know there is so much information that is missing. For me, those first years of school seem to be a blur. I know I did receive some information, I know I was there at school, in a room with a teacher and other 20 or 30 students, I know I had the books and I also know, I was a very distracted girl, I know I did not like all they taught and felt no inspiration to learn. Nevertheless, I did the work, I got passing grades, and moved up from one grace to the next until I was "ready".

Yes, many students reach a level of "college and career readiness". But what does that really mean? Even more worrisome, could that be the only goal that is worth it?

New schools and new teaching and learning models have been sprung up for years in different countries around the world. In the US these "avant-garde" schools are implementing many different approaches to teaching and learning. These schools are mostly private schools or public charter schools. Unfortunately, many of the students that need these schools the most, as they provide greater literacy reinforcement and a new source of inspiration to learn beyond the expected bottom line, are missing out.

What happens when we forgo true mastery of skills, abilities and understanding for the quick and ready-made? When we don't allow the teaching and learning process enough flexibility and resources to provide individual attention to students and support to teachers? What happens when the aim of traditional schools continuous to be the mass production of "workers", giving just enough time, tools and strategies to grasp the very basic concepts and understanding to move on? The answer is simple and worrisome, where the original goal was to produce "useful and moral citizens" the reality is that we are producing nothing more than mediocre children.

Of course many students in traditional educational systems succeed. But shouldn't the aim be the success of ALL?

And what about this insistence on "college and career" as the next obvious steps, or rather THE steps to take after graduating from high school?

I did follow the very traditional path of college, marriage and career. As I look back and forward into the evolution of our human civilization, that traditional path is still very much ingrained in the way western culture has structured itself. Within society, many of us think we are doing what we want to do with our lives, but in reality, immersed in the traditional education systems, we have been programmed for years. Of course, at the time schools as we know them formally began, its main purpose was to develop rational and discipline citizens, men and women willing and able to follow society's rules and limitations that make everyday life possible. The school became a civilizing institution.

But, when the standards teachers work with emphasize "college and career readiness" we are telling young students that these are the only acceptable options on the table for their future. I believe, that in a never ending quest to produce children that get into college and find jobs, schools have created massive mediocrity.

College: before our modern times, going to a higher institution of learning was not designed for everyone. Nowadays we have more than enough physical evidence that people that don't go to college can still be greatly successful. This success doesn't happen by accident, but by action and self-disciple. If students grow up and get educated in creative and innovative environments, who can tell how many useful technologies they may be able to come up with or what new ideas they may develop that change the way we live our lives in the coming future. At one time in our human history colleges may have been great places to share ideas and learn about a variety of topics not available to everybody else. Now, that is not necessarily true anymore. People around the world connect and share ideas by the second. The internet is all about information, connectivity and learning that takes place instantly. Many free courses are available online, all the books you could imagine to download and the forums for discussion of new ideas.

Career: this word doesn't mean a Job, not anymore. Now a career may be thought of as the path one entrepreneur takes along a line of innovative ideas, products and services. Now a career is not a life spent working for a company, performing exactly the skill, it says in your resume, you acquired in your college degree. The workplace has changed, and the role of a professional within it has also change. Social skills are needed in the workplace, yes, ability to follow rules and procedures, to work in teams, to manage time... but more and more offices and companies are revamping their organizational structure and what they expect employees to do. It's no longer a follow the leader, static environment. It is an ever changing and challenging place, where cultural awareness and diversity is the new norm, where each individual is expected to take on a leadership role, where working standing up is ergonomic and we are even having "walking" meetings.

Innovative educational models have come and go, the stronger ones have endured. But to get access to those, most parents still need to pay. While the public education systems of some states have taken positive steps forward, other are lingering behind, within the security of the states' educational standards and the CCS. Don't get me wrong, having a set of standards is useful in many ways. But the limiting expectation of college and career readiness may be doing more harm than good.

As valuable as is it to prepare children with the skills they will need to be useful and productive once they get out of school, it is also valuable to make the time they spend in school one of self-discovery, reflection, creativity and problem solving outside the box. Because, if children don't see themselves represented in other individual or self-made boxes outside the box of "college" and the box of "career", they will default to mediocrity. Supporting and building of the confidence of children is what opens up the path they will choose to travel no just toward college and career, but through life.

Let's prepare our children to be ready to face life's challenges and opportunities. Let's refrain from forcing "college" and "career" as the only two options and the only to reason that school is worth their time for. School, as a time and place, is so much more than that.

Let's continue the conversation! Leave me all your comments below or send me a tweet @southcentraledu
 Gabriela Gotay

The Shame of College Sports

College sports are a great American institution; celebrated in prose and song; where in legend hearty student athletes strode across the sporting fields bringing honor and joy to the ivied halls of higher learning. But the reality of college sports is not so romantic.

Consider the players. Once student athletes, many are now athletes who often cannot find the classrooms. There are quality programs such as the military academies and premier schools like Stanford, Duke, Notre Dame and Wake Forest with high graduation rates. There are exceptional individuals as well, for example Myron Rolle strong safety for the University of Florida and a Rhodes Scholar. And analysis shows that graduation rates for student athletes are now the same as for the general population.

But these statistics hide the snake in the grass. Included in the overall athletic statistics are the minor sports, where graduation rates are high. Also added to the mix are the Ivy League schools and other schools that do not offer athletic scholarships. When only major sports at major sports schools are considered, the picture is far less rosy.

Graduation rates for football and basketball players are generally lower and in some cases dismal. The Connecticut men's basketball team has a graduation rate of 25%. Some entire schools are little better. Alabama graduates 44% of its athletes, Minnesota 44%, Georgia 41%, Texas 40% and Arizona 39%.

The question is why school administrations tolerate this. The answer, of course, is money. In 2009 Penn State's football program generated profits of $50 million on revenues of $70 million or a profit of $568,235 per football scholarship after factoring in the cost of the athlete's room and board and 'education'. The PAC-10 has a 12 year TV contract worth $3 billion. This monsoon of money has created a casual relationship with ethics.

Recent well publized scandals have led to the firing of coaches and executives at some of college's preeminent sports programs. The shame is that no action was taken until either media exposure or criminal proceedings had exposed the sordid details.

Thankfully high profile scandals like these, while a bitter condemnation of the ethics of college sports, are rare. What is not so rare is the professionalism of amateur sports. Colleges recruit blue ribbon basketball players they cynically know have no interest in the classroom. They are only playing out their mandatory college year before entering the NBA.

Top rank football players cannot enter the NFL draft for three years after graduation from high-school; which is beneficially for both the NFL and major colleges. The NFL gets three years of minor league instruction for its players at no cost and colleges make money off the players without having to pay them. College athletics has provided free or subsidized education for many athletes who have used it to embark on successful careers.

But consider the 32 athletes selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. Only 12 of them had at least four years at college (and that includes years at junior colleges). Athletes in minor sports live in the general population. In the majors they live in athletic dormitories. In the minor sports they take courses in career building disciplines, in the majors they take courses to maintain eligibility. In the minors the coaching staff holds little sway in academic decisions. In the majors it takes a strong willed academic to derail the gravy train.

At its top level college sports is played by mercenaries who pick the schools that will best launch a professional career not for any academic benefit. Coaches will pay lip service to graduation, but no coach in the history of the major programs has ever been fired for a substandard graduation rate. It is a cynical exercise.

The author, Pitt Griffin, is fascinated by why people make the choices they do, some as common as the food they buy, others as important as the religion (if any) they chose or the politicians they elect.
Arrayed against the individual are businesses, politicians and religious leaders eager to take his money, her vote or his fealty. The author explores their tactics and strategies.
If you have an opinion you wish to share or a comment you want to make on any of my articles or would like to read more please visit me at my website: http://www.thecriticalmind.com/

Silver Italian Charms

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Large Flower Sterling Silver Charm

While creating this beautiful piece, we didn't cut any corners. Our skilled master, ensuring a piece to be loved by all, precisely details this marvelous Flower charm. It is a great piece that is set onto stainless steel, giving it a luxurious shine.

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Sun Sterling Silver Italian Charm

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Heart Sterling Silver Italian Charm

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Heart Flower Sterling Silver Italian Charm

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View more Sterling Silver Charms at Italian Charms shop.

Coach Bags - Are They Really Worth the Cost?

Everyone knows that Coach on your bag is not only a status symbol but also a sign of great craftsmanship and durability. The Coach Company started from a baseball glove in 1941. The founder was so impressed by the the durability of the leather glove even after continuous rough handling. Why couldn't bags for men and women be that durable, he thought. Voila! A new company is born. Initially there were only six artisans working for the company. As the needs of the company began to grow they began to pass their skills and techniques to newest members of the Coach workforce.Even though the company was growing they did not change their techniques for selecting and processing their leather. Only the top ten percent of leather goods are used by Coach.

Once they receive the goods they place them in large drums allowing them to tumble over a period of several days. This allows the leather to soften naturally instead of being hurried by a chemical process. The leather goods are then treated with plant extracts to increase the softness and dried. Once the pieces are ready they are cut and shaped into what will be beautiful Coach bags. They are all hand sewn. Using double stitching on areas of the product that may need a little extra reinforcement. Neither glue nor plastic is ever used in the manufacturing process. Once the bag is complete it is put through a rigorous quality check process before it is allowed to go on the store shelf.

Because of the long process that goes into making each and every new Coach bag you are sure to have a beautiful product that will last a very long time.

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How We Can Prepare Ourselves to See Beyond Recession?

Present day glut in world's economy is reminiscent of recession which took the center stage in 1930s. World today is struggling to come to terms with this recession monster. The job losses have been unprecedented. All developed and developing economies are reeling under the onslaught of this monster. Panic has spread to India and China as well. The fallout of this recession has even hit the emerging economies of India and China very hard. India's services in form of IT and IT-ES have been hit as US and Europe accounts for nearly 60% of the IT sector revenues. China's manufacturing has stuck the panic button as the inventories are piling up and their exports have been hit.

China has announced a rescue package of around $586 Billion Dollars close on the heels on America's $700 Billion Dollars package. India's has also tried to infuse lots of liquidity in to its financial system, through lowering of Rep rates and boosting government spending but the enormity of situation demands some radical approaches. The great fall will stabilize and journey back to the upward slope of the curve may take about 18-24 months. There is lots of potential in economies of China and India. They will continue to grow at 8-10% range. World economies have to knit themselves in to one single mesh and synergize their operations. The great US economy cannot just stand and watch India and China to take the center stage. US would like to be very much involved in to the action.

More importantly since world economy is integrated today, it will be better if everybody joins hand and work towards getting economy back on rails.

• America should ask its banks and mortgage companies to renegotiate deals.
• America should find ways to re-plan the loans of house owners who are defaulting.
• Government should enhance its spending in China and more specifically in India.
• Real growth can take place only in India as lot of infrastructural deficit is discernible.
• American and European companies can come to India and be part of its growth.
• To cut costs western world should continue to outsource their operations to India and south pacific countries.

 World economy will bounce back but this time around India and China has be in centrality of any rescue plans which G20 or G8 may knit together. Any country specific plan will not work this time around.
Virtual Web Symphony - A blog by a management and software consultant, SEO and SEM expert, E-learning evangelist and all weather Guru.

A Glimpse into the Bush White House

Scott McClellan was part of the Bush White House from day one, and was the president's Press Secretary between 2003 and 2006. In this book he reveals much of the deception practiced there, focusing on two issues, the "sale" of the war in Iraq on false premises and the deliberate outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

But McClellan is a Texas Republican and believes in George W Bush, so you have to take much of what he says with a pitch of salt. Even if he is more critical than any previous Bush insider, he still plays down the faults. In the background there is a sense of "the Democrats did this stuff too, we just failed in our attempt to be better than them".

Not everyone would agree with that opinion.

On the war, McClellan claims Bush had a dream from the beginning of overthrowing Saddam to create a domino wave of democracy spreading through the Middle East. But instead of presenting that vision to the American people Bush and his people chose instead to use Weapons of Mass Destruction as an excuse for war. Since there were no WMD, the later change to the democracy issue looked like a bait and switch, which McClellan claims, could have been avoided had Bush been more honest about his motives from the beginning.

While McClellan claims Bush wanted to work through the United Nations, there isn't a single mention in this book of the UN arms inspectors under Hans Blix, who wanted to keep working, but were stopped by the American invasion of Iraq. Obviously had they been given that chance, the proven lack of WMD would have made going to war much harder.

McClellan goes into great detail on the Plame affair, in which he twice told the Washington press corps that specific top officials had assured him they not leaked the name of the CIA agent. He describes how both the Vice President's chief of staff Scooter Libby and Bush's top aid Karl Rove out and out lied to him. McClellan is at his strongest here, and his story is very credible. What he leaves unclear is how much Dick Cheney or George Bush were behind the illegal exposure of an agent. But there are slight hints (very slight) that both, especially Cheney, were somehow involved.

What isn't in this book is any description of the Bush administration's war on civil liberties. Abu Ghraib is mentioned (and deplored) only once in passing, and the word "Guantanamo" is conspicuous by its absence. It's hard to believe the White House Press Secretary didn't have to deal with these issues during a five year tenure, and while McClellan comes across as a decent person with strong ethics, this omission is curious.

But this is probably as critical an insider's view of the Bush White House and its abuses as we are ever going to get.

Democratic candidate Jerry Brady

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brady is so proud of his latest campaign finance report that he put out a press release, complete with a photo showing a happy Brady bringing his report in to the Secretary of State’s office.

The reason: He raised $145,155 in the filing period, which ran only from May 8 through June 2. His largest donations were from the Democratic Governors Association, which gave $10,000 each for the primary and general elections; and from Richard Hackborn of Meridian, who gave $5,000 for each contest (his first $5,000 contribution came before the current filing period). But the vast majority of the contributions were from individual Idahoans who gave less than $1,000 each; the finance report stretches for 26 pages. Brady said he raised money at twice the pace this period that his leading opponent, Republican Congressman Butch Otter, hit during the previous filing period. Of course, Otter’s raised far more money in total – more than $1 million. Brady has raised $318,000 so far this year, and has $380,000 in the bank for his campaign for governor.

Otter’s latest report isn’t in yet, but as of his pre-primary report, he’d raised $348,000 this year and had $419,000 in the bank.

Brady said his fundraising spurt shows the battle for governor is on. “I’m proud of the momentum our campaign has built,” he said, “and with this influx of money from middle class Idahoans, we will be able to deliver our message that Idaho is not for sale.” Brady is a former newspaper publisher from Idaho Falls who took 41.7 percent of the vote in 2002 to then-incumbent Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s 56.3 percent.

Wal-Mart

So long story short, I had to go out to Wal-Mart this morning to purchase a new garbage can for my bathroom. I guess I didn't have to go to Wal-Mart, but I did. And amazingly enough I ran into the last person on earth I ever thought would shop at Wal-Mart. I can't tell you who it was...we made an oath in the store to never reveal our identities, though in telling this story I realize I am revealing the fact that I was in fact in Wal-Mart.

For the record, I hate Wal-Mart. I've only been to the place maybe a half-dozen times by myself, I hate shopping and I especially hate shopping alone. One of my many trips out to Wal-Mart left me accused of purchasing questionable items, items that my Wal-Mart shopping partner had put in the basket and was surely across the store looking for more...come to think of it, she's a questionable friend. Needless to say, I avoid Wal-Mart.

This person I ran into happens to be one of the most die-hard Democrats I know. So, as I was pulling out of the parking lot, which if possible, I hate more than the store itself, I was thinking -- what if all the Democrats in the United States stopped shopping at Wal-Mart? Couldn't we put them out of business?

As soon as I find another store in P-Town that sells Diet IBC Root Beer, I'm breaking loose of the Wal-Mart bond.

Canada phone cards India phone cards France phone cards Russia phone cards UK phone cards USA phone cards Bizon phone card Jupiter calling card Mozart calling card Continental calling card

Local Happenings - An Abolition Campaign and Progressive Advocacy Training

I've still been slacking bad! Only three posts in all of January! I have, however, a plan to reinvigorate this little blog (just for personal satisfaction, and to be prepared if I ever do gather an audience). I am going to write a weekly piece commenting on current events, to be published every Friday. This week I'll have a piece about the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, so check back in two days for that. I'm also going to have plenty to write about as this semester of activism kicks into gear. There are Amnesty International meetings every Thursday (at 5:00 pm at The Flying M) and Idaho Progressive Student Alliance meetings almost every Sunday (at 5:00 pm in the Alexander Room, upstairs in the Student Union Building). Not this weekend, but the next, I'll be attending the United Students Against Sweatshops conference in San Francisco, so I'll have that to write about also. I'm also volunteering more- regularly at Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade imports store, and this Saturday night at the Snake River Alliance dinner. Some more major events for this spring:

• Progressive Advocacy Training. The IPSA organizes this event every February. Progressive students from around the state will come together for workshops and actions on progressive issues. Some workshops this year: fair trade, amnesty international, coca-cola boycott, running for local office, understanding right to work, grant writing, and Idaho nuclear issues. The training will take place from February 17th through 20th. Email IPSA at idahoprogressives@mail.com for more information.
• A Campaign for Death Penalty Abolition:

  In early December of last year the United States carried out the execution of Kenneth Boyd in North Carolina. But this was not just another execution. Boyd's execution marked the thousandth since the United States reinstated the use of the death penalty in 1976. Enough is enough. The United States is alone in the developed world as a nation that still practices this blatant abuse of human rights. Capital punishment is not a deterrent; is inherently racist; is the ultimate and irreversible denial of human rights; is not a reasonable administration of justice; has the very real possibility of killing innocent people; and is essentially murder by the state. Now is the time to speak out against this ongoing abuse of human rights. We cannot wait for another thousand executions to speak out. Amnesty International of Boise State University and Amnesty International of Boise High School are planning a campaign for abolition here in the Treasure Valley. We hope to spur debate of the issue in the community and reframe that debate in a manner which would reveal the practice as legitimized murder. Anyone is invited to join this crucial campaign for abolition. Come to Amnesty meetings to take part.

• National Week of Student Action:

  Amnesty International of BSU is preparing for the National Week of Student Action to take place in early April. This year, we are putting our energy into saving women's lives by supporting the Treaty for the Rights of Women. This treaty seeks to end violence against women, ensure access to education and health care, provide equal protection under the law, and prevent other abuses of human rights. Basic human rights, right? Sadly, the United States still has not ratified this important treaty, even though more than 180 other countries around the globe already have. We will receive an NWSA action kit from Amnesty International USA in mid-February at which time the real organizing will begin. The week of action will consist of advocacy in the community to raise awareness and action aimed at urging the United States to ratify the treaty. Anyone is invited to assist us in participating in this week of action. We hope you can. Again, just come to the meetings to take part.

My New Class

Unfortunately, I can only be a part-time student. Hampshire College, as part of my deferral agreement, only permits me to attend Boise State University as a non-degree seeking student. So, the classes I enroll in now are purely for fun. Last semester I failed by picking an excruciatingly boring philosophy course. This semester, however, looks brighter. I attended the second session of an American government and politics course, taught by a Proffessor Shaw (who is writing a book about Reed v. Reed, which will have a forward by Ruth Bader Ginsburg... way cool). Even though this is simply an introductory course (probably covering much material I've already covered more than once), I'm excited. There is no textbook but rather five books that range in subject from the genocide in Rwanda to Bush's war cabinet to Brown v. Board (the one we are reading now). I overheard students behind me today during a break commenting on the Professor's teaching style. Rather than shoving a heaping of neatly organized facts down our reluctant throats, he is discussing real, momentous events to relate to us the essential concepts and ideas of American government. At least that seems to be the gist so far. These students were worried about exams and not gathering the correct true or false, multiple choice answers. If only they knew that education concerns the questions, and not simply the black and white answers...

Local Happenings - New AI Locale, MLK, and Ten Thousand Villages

First of all, sorry for such infrequent posts. I've been insanely busy lately. But it's good. As campus activism swings into action for this semester, blog posts will naturally become more frequent. That is what this blog is about, after all. Also, as I work on being less jaded about our country going to hell in a handbasket, I'll comment more on current events.

Amnesty International meetings have changed locations. We now meet every Thursday at the Flying M (corner of 5th and Idaho) at 5:00 pm. Join us please! We have exciting plans for 2006.

Don't forget about the MLK human rights celebrations. Visit mlk.boisestate.edu for more information. If you want to learn more about Amnesty International, attend the workshop I'm teaching in the SUB's Farnsworth Room, Friday the 20th at 3:40 pm.

In other news, I finally volunteered for my first time at Ten Thousand Villages in Hyde Park. Ten Thousand Villages is an incredible fair trade organization. After some more experience working there I'll write a larger piece about my experience and the organization.

That's all for now.

Local Happenings - New Semester of Activism

I've been slacking lately. This is my first post since December 23rd. Without campus activism to write about and with all the holiday shenanigans, I just haven't had much time or much subject matter to write about (even though bad news never seems to stop; I just don't always have the energy to tackle those problems). Second semester at BSU begins next week, though, so blog posts will become regular once again. First of all, Amnesty International meetings resume next Thursday at 5:00 pm in the Foote Room of the Student Union Building. That is January 12th for those who, like me, haven't purchased an '06 calendar yet. We'll be discussing where our energy for this semester will be directed and formulating plans to visit Portland for the 2006 Amnesty International Annual General Meeting. On Monday, January 9th the Idaho Progressive Student Alliance will be meeting at 10:00 am in the lounge across from Moxie Java in the SUB. The Progressive Advocacy Training event will be discussed. Finally, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Celebration will begin on January 16th, a Monday, with a march to the Capitol Building. The human rights week continues until January 21st. On Friday, January 20th journalist and author Charlayne Hunter-Gault will give the keynote address for the week. She is known for being one of the first two African-American students to be admitted to the University of Georgia. You can access an entire schedule of events at mlk.boisestate.edu.