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Viktor Frankl: Why to believe in others
The highly regarded psychiatrist Viktor Frankl formulated many of his revolutionary ideas while incarcerated in a concentration camp. In this illuminating lecture, he adroitly summarizes his main points regarding humanity's never-ending quest for an overarching meaning of life. He argues that overestimation and idealism nurtures the best in people, likening the phenomenon to landing an aircraft. -MasterDegree.net Watch the TED Talk here
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Mom-to-Be’s Mental State May Affect Child’s Development
U.S. News & World Report: A fetus is sensitive to, and can be affected by, the expectant mother's mental state, a new study suggests. University of California, Irvine, researchers recruited pregnant women and tested them for depression before and after they gave birth. The women's babies were tested after birth to assess how well they were developing. Consistency in the mother's mental state appeared to be important to a baby's well-being. Development was best in babies with mothers who were either depression-free or had depression before and after giving birth. Read the full story: U.S. News & World Report
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Taming temper tantrums: Are you doing it wrong?
Today: Research shows that 70 percent of children throw temper tantrums, according to parenting expert Michele Borba. Wait, what? Who are these 30 percent of calm children, and where can I get one? Just kidding – like most parents I’ve accepted that the occasional tantrum is going to be a kicking, screaming, brain-jarring pothole on the road to maturity. But researchers from Yale University and Kings College in the U.K. have been hard at work studying tantrums, and they say taming them is possible. It's all about proper training – for the parents, not the children. "Hold those sticker charts, fancy point systems and our pleads and threats.
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Kid apps explode on smartphones and tablets. But are they good for your children?
The Washington Post: There has been no definitive study that shows whether apps on mobile devices are harmful for youths. And although lawmakers and regulators have been seeking to strengthen federal rules that protect the privacy of children online, few have examined the rapid growth of mobile content getting in front of very young eyes. Some educators are dubious of the educational promises espoused by app developers. Zimmerman co-authored a report in 2007 that debunked marketing by Disney’s “Baby Einstein” DVD series touting early developmental benefits. He said it is too early to say that apps are any more effective at getting children ahead.
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Sikh Teenager Raps Against Bullying
The Wall Street Journal: Michigan-based Gulshan Singh, 18, felt strongly about countering the widespread bullying of Sikh teenagers in the U.S. “I wanted to do something about it but never knew how to, or never had the means to do it,” said Mr. Singh. In the end, he chose to rhyme about it – and to make a three-minute music video to go with it. The video, titled “Let It Out,” sums up the emotions of a Sikh teenager who is harassed because he looks different. Mr. Singh said the video, which was recently showcased at the Sikh International Film Festival in New York, is not based on a specific person but on an experience shared by many Sikhs, including many of his friends.
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Schouders uit de kom
De Standaard: Het spant erom bij de regeringsonderhandelingen. Maar de uitkomst van zo'n nachtje - waarom beginnen die onderhandelingen eigenlijk altijd 's avonds? - kan wel een hele generatie in de puree helpen. In essentie draait het om hoeveel we besparen door de overheid efficiënter te organiseren, en hoeveel we extra uit de broekzakken van onze burgers halen door extra belastingen. Als ik lees dat ze in de Wetstraat van plan zijn het immense gat in onze begroting dicht te rijden met 70 procent nieuwe belastingen en 30 procent besparingen, draait mijn maag om. De sterkste schouders moeten de zwaarste lasten dragen, hoor je dan.
