Social Networking Sites: What's The Risky Behind Socialization?

Have you ever been on Social Networking Sites (SNS)? Or have you ever received an invitation mail to join SNS?
SNS have been the most popular sites in internet world these days. The idea behind SNS is sharing interests in online community. According to Google, social networks Bebo and MySpace were the most searched-for terms in 2006.
MySpace get 300000 people signing up everyday with 50 million mails per day (more than Yahoo, Hotmail and Google), while Facebook receive more than 14 photos uploaded everyday.
Have you asked yourself what's the impact of the information that you leave in the internet? The risk of identity theft is high due to leaving of the internet footprints. Internet fraudsters can join up your information and generate username and password of your other online accounts. According to internet security experts, three quarters of Facebook users leave their profiles open to all risking identity fraud. Last year, Sky News reported, in every ten seconds someone in Britain become a victim of cyber crime.

While some young teenagers use these sites to post pictures of them drinking and practically naked, the SNS does not have control over kid’s doings online, rather its parental responsibility. Here, the SNS probably invites sexual predators. What if teens can lie about their age and start dating adults?
October 2006, a teenager named Megan Meier from Missouri, USA committed suicide after being teased in her MySpace page by a fake member. The police arrested Aaron Clow, 21, for having sex with 13 year old girl. It is suspected that a man was contacting underage girls via MySpace.
It has been a common thing for people to lie their identities in these sites. What is the effect of contacting the person who lied to you about his name, age and residence? Can we term it selfishness? As you he can get to know the real you, but he does not want likewise? Or may be they value their personal information than you do. Or may be they value their personal information than you do. One such occurrence was reported by news.com that, Tom Anderson, the founder of MySpace having a fake profile on SNS.

Have you had a time to read on the privacy policy of these sites? Bear in mind that the information you entered can be used by the SNS without consulting you. For instance, one of the statements in a SNS’s privacy policy, Hi5.com states that”…Hi5 may analyze any collected information for its own internal purposes. In addition, Hi5 may remove personally identifying information from collected information to render it anonymous. Hi5 may use Anonymous Information for any purpose and disclose Anonymous Information in its discretion…”

There has been a rumour that, SNS’s data are used by the government for monitoring their citizens. Last year, MySpace agreed to give away to the states the names, addresses and online profiles of identified convicted sex offenders having account.

Source: www.oppapers.com

Some colors history

Isaac Newton made a study of color starting at the age of 23 in 1666 and developed the useful Newton color circle which gives insight about complementary colors and additive color mixing. He realized that some colors (magenta, purple) could not be produced as spectral colors. One of his contributions was the idea that white light is light containing all wavelengths of the visible spectrum. He demonstrated this fact with experiments on the dispersion of light in glass prisms.

Thomas Young is credited with suggesting that the eye has three different kinds of color receptors, corresponding roughly with the red, green, and blue primary colors which had been found useful in matching a wide range of visual colors by additive color mixing. This idea was put on a more quantitative basis by Hermann von Helmholtz and is sometimes called the Young-Helmholtz theory.

Detailed experiments carried out in the 1920s showed that the RGB primaries could indeed match all visual colors within a certain range called a gamut, but that they could not match all the spectral colors, particularly in the green range. It was found that if a certain amount of red light was added to the color being matched, then all colors could be matched. The quantitative results were expressed in terms of tristimulus values for the RGB primaries, but it was necessary to allow negative values for the red tristimulus values in order to match all colors.

In 1931 the Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) moved to define a standard system in which all the tristimulus values would be positive and in which all visible colors could be unambiguously represented by two chromaticity coordinates x,y. Mapping the visual colors led to the now familiar horseshoe curve in the x,y plane known as the CIE chromaticity diagram. It is the basis for most quantitative color measurement at present.

It was not until about 1965 that the detailed physiological experiments were performed to measure the absorption of the different types of cones in the eye. Those experiments verified the postulate of Young that there were indeed three types of cones.

It would seem that we could now use something similar to the response curves of the three types of cones as color matching functions, but the CIE curves are well established as the standard curves. There are some strange things about the 1931 CIE standard chromaticity diagram. As Fortner and Meyer point out, it "devotes an enormous amount of real estate to various green shades" and less space to colors like the reds and purples which are more differentiable to the eye. In 1976, a new CIE standard was released which corrected some of those problems and produced a diagram where the distance between two points on the diagram was proportional to the perceived color difference. However, this 1976 CIE standard has failed to gain acceptance, and the 1931 CIE is almost universally used.

Colors and their significance

The world of natural color around us is enhanced by the use of dyes. Color is an expression of "feeling" and can affect our emotions. The colors we surround ourselves with, create certain feelings in us and for others, especially their perception of us. But what they really mean? What's their history? Let's find out!

Violet/Purple


Historical Significance
Widows used to wear purple to mourn their husbands’ death in Thailand;
To obtain one ounce of Tyrian purple dye, the Egyptian queen Cleopatra asked her servants to soak 20,000 purpura snails for 10 days;
Richard Wagner composed his operas in room with violet shades; violet is his color of inspiration;
Leonardo Da Vinci believed the power of meditation increases when done in violet or purple light (light of stained glass);
Present Significance
Purple is the royal color and is symbolic to luxury and sophistication;
According to color theory the purple color in children’s room can help improve their imagination;
It is feminine and romantic;
A purple heart is a decoration for the soldiers killed or wounded in a battle by US Military.

Blue


Historical Significance
The Pharaohs of Egypt used to wear blue for protection against evil;
Blue is the color of mourning in Iran;
In ancient Rome public servants used to wear blue.
Present Significance
Blue relaxes the body, so it is often used in bed rooms;
It symbolizes loyalty, hence wearing blue is recommended by experts for interviews;
Studies show that weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms. This is because people are more productive in blue rooms.

Green


Historical Significance
Green is the national color of Ireland;
In Scotland, people used to wear green as a mark of honor;
People in ancient Egypt used to color the floors of their temples green;
In ancient Greece, green was symbolic to victory;
Brides in the Middle Ages used to wear green to symbolize fertility.
Present Significance
Green is the healing color and relaxes patients. Hence hospitals often use this color.
It is a refreshing color and can improve vision.

Yellow


Historical Significance
In Japan during the war of dynasty each warrior wore a yellow chrysanthemum as a pledge of courage;
In Egypt and Burma yellow is the color of mourning;
In India yellow is the divine color;
In ancient France the doors of criminals were painted yellow;
Actors of Middle Ages used to wear yellow to represent the dead in a play.
Present Significance
Yellow enhances concentration and speeds up metabolism;
People lose their tempers more often in yellow color rooms and it is the most difficult color for the eye to take in.

Red


Historical Significance
Red was the color of House of Lancester, which defeated the House of York (white color) in English war of the Roses;
The soldiers of the Italian leader Garibaldi, who unified modern Italy, were called as the Red shirts;
Red flag was the symbol for battle for ancient Romans;
In China, red is the wedding and holiday color and also a color of good luck;
Ancient Egyptians used to paint their body with red dye for emphasis;
The Bolsheviks used red flag as their symbol in 19th century when they overthrew the czar;
Red is the color of mourning in South Africa.
Present Significance
Red is the color of love;
It is the most emotionally intense color;
It stimulates faster heartbeat and breathing.

Black


Historical Significance
In ancient Egypt people used to believe that black cats had divine powers;
Black was the color of mourning for ancient Romans and Egyptians;
The security troops in Hitler’s German army were known as black shirts.
Present Significance
Black is the color of authority;
It implies submission; hence priests wear black to signify submission to God;
It makes people appear thinner for which it became popular color in fashion.

White

Historical Significance
White is the color of mourning in China and Japan;
The people of ancient Persia used to believe that all Gods wore white;
The Egyptian Pharaohs used to wear white crowns;
White flag is the universal symbol for truce;
The ancient Greeks used to wear white cloths to bed to get pleasant dreams.
Present Significance
White reflects light, so people wear white in summer;
Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity; it is considered as good luck to be married in white clothes;
White goes well with most colors, so became popular in fashion;
Doctors and nurses wear white to symbolize sterility.

Coffee benefits your health and protects against many diseases

Why is there resistance to the idea that coffee benefits your health?
Here's why.
Almost thirty years ago researchers at Harvard University announced a connection between coffee consumption and cancer. A few years later they retracted the study and recognized that the findings were flawed. However, since the first study and the frenzy media that followed, coffee has been labeled with the stigma of being unhealthy. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Coffee can help in the prevention and treatment of diseases and illnesses as varied as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, liver disease, skin cancer, Parkinsons's disease and more.

Consider this new item...


Coffee health risks: For the moderate drinker, coffee is safe says Harvard Women's Health Watch.
Despite 20 years of reassuring research, many people still avoid caffeinated coffee because they worry about its health effects. However, current research reveals that in moderation - a few cups a day - coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits. The September issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch weighs of pros and cons of this popular beverage and eases the concerns of moderate coffee drinkers. 
The latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption doesn't cause harm, it's also uncovered possible benefits. Coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve the cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease and reduce the risk of Parkinsons's disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance performance in a long-duration psychical activities. 


Source: Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School, 2006

And they say there are no coffee benefits when it comes to health?


There is a great deal of research that shows drinking a few cups of coffee a day can be good for you. It not only protect you against a variety of serious diseases, but also can bring a lot of pleasure into your life. Browse to the links below. You can find amazing informations about coffee benefits.

Find out how coffee can prevent Alzheimer's disease...
Find out how coffee can reduce muscle pain after working out...
Find out about coffee addiction...

What teens should know about sex (II)

Being sexually active


If you are sexually active there are some important things you should know about the sex act itself. There is so much more to think about than whether or not you are doing it right but this is the thing people tend to worry about the most. Rest assured that there really is not right or wrong way to have sex.
When it comes to see one thing that people should think about but rarely do is the law. There are age of consent laws surrounding how old you have to in order to have sex and what constitutes consensual sex. There are even laws about the kind of sex acts you can engage in.

Most known facts about sex


Unless you want to get pregnant, and you wouldn't want this if you are a teen, birth control is a must.
The only protection against STIs for sexually active people is a barrier method like a condom. This a safe sex must even if you are using something else for birth control. Oral sex is still sex and some STIs, including HIV and AIDS, can be transmitted orally. A barrier method, like a condom or a dental dam, must be used for this type of sex as well. If your partner is under the age of consent, intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, pressured or threatened in any way, or ask you to stop at any point, you can't legally engage in sex. Any or all of this scenario could result in your being charged with rape. You can get pregnant or catch a STI the very first time you have sex, even if you use protection. It is always a risk. Birth control and STI protection must be used properly to be effective. Missed pills and doubled up condoms are the most common misuse of birth control and can result in pregnancy or STI transmission. There is no right or wrong to have intercourse but if it hurts, or if it doesn't feel right emotionally, you should stop right awawy.

The sex checklist


If you are going to have sex you must have:
-a willing partner who is legally who is able to consent to sex;
-effective and properly used birth control;
-STI protection, a male or female condom;
-realistic expectations about what having sex will mean for you;
-a safe place to engage in sex;
-the maturity to understand that sex has emotional and psychical consequences;
-respect and trust between you and your partner.

Articles source: www.about.com

What teens should know about sex?

For teens, the mere thought of sex can be overwhelming. There is so much to think about, so much to worry about, and so much that can go wrong. Whether you are sexually active or not, knowing the facts about what sex is, and what it is not, is very important.
Sex is:
-both psychical and emotional in nature;
-risky; you can get pregnant, catch a sexually transmitted infection, have your heart broken or your ego bruised, or feel let down and disappointed when it's over;
-a milestone; you only get one chance to lose your virginity;
-sensitive; be sure that the timing is right for you and your partner;
-not to be taken lightly or treated as recreation;
-best when it is a personal expression of caring between two people;
-messy and full of strange, sometimes embarrassing noise.
Sex is not:
-a way to make somebody love you or make a commitment to you;
-a test of your love for your partner;
-a measure of how mature or grown up you are;
-a way to get at your parents or assert your independence;
-a leisure activity;
-always fun or enjoyable; sometimes you will wonder if it worth it.
Remember! When you have sex for the wrong reasons you hurt yourself!