Looking after a child with disability sure is challenging both physically, mentally and socially. Because of the extra care required, extra expenses and extra medical and educational attention required by the differently abled child, they face discrimination by the society. Just because of the little ‘extra’ needs of theirs, they are abandoned and left on streets. They are robbed of all their human rights and treated as some infectious disease.
Wax coating on an Apple
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” I am sure we all have heard about this saying many times by now. A shiny, red, oh-so-good quality apple is a good treat both to the eyes and the health.
Do you know the apples that are imported, are at first stored in a cold storage facility and they can be stored almost for one year? Then how come they still have this shiny and fresh look? They are able to maintain their looks because of the wax coating they have! Let us look into this topic to know more about it.
Why coating fruits with WAX?
Coating fruits and certain vegetables with wax is done to increase their shelf life. Wax is used to create a very thin layer on the fruit like apples so that it can remain fresh. Well, there are many types of wax such as animal wax, vegetable wax, petroleum wax, etc. The difference between them is some are edible while others are not.

Natural Wax
As Apples have high content of water, they produce a layer of natural wax on them to prevent moisture loss. This whitish colour layer appears a little rough but on rubbing, it can give the shiny look to the apple. This shine and gloss is the desired trait of a healthy apple. This natural wax is produced so as to protect the apple from easily drying up through the process of transpiration. It also helps in protection against dust and other agents that might harm the texture and tartness of apples.
Artificial fruit wax
Artificial fruit wax is obtained from naturally produced wax from vegetables, animals, etc. These are used for coating apples because the natural wax coating gets destroyed while cleaning and storage of apples after being harvested. They provide a consistent layer that stays put on the apple peel surface. It protects it from spoilage, moisture loss, etc. It is used to give the apples the shiny, lustrous appearance that makes the apples look fresh. Although we cannot say if the apple is really fresh or not because this wax coating has some negative effects on the apple too.

History of the fruit waxing process
This fruit waxing process was used to cause fermentation in the early 12th and 13th century. This process was used so as to reduce the shrinkage and spoilage of fruits. Fruit shrinks due to moisture loss and thus becomes hard by losing its tenderness. Wax is used as a protective layer which could protect the fruit from moisture loss by acting as an oxygen barrier. This coating also helps in slowing down the ripening of apples. Thus, increasing their shelf life in cold storage facilities.
Future of the fruit waxing process
There is a high possibility that the apples will keep getting wax-coated. Because of the increased shelf life of almost a year, the nations are able to make a profit in the import/export business. The apple’s outer appearance is expected to be shiny red and clean, and wax coating helps in giving that appearance to it. So, we can expect that this process of coating an apple with wax will continue.
Why coat the apples?
Apples produce a natural coat of wax to protect it during growth from moisture loss and maintains its firmness. This natural coat withers when apples are picked and cleaned. If not coated, the apples will lose its quality, crustiness and taste, which would lead to early spoilage. An apple contains lots of water and is able to maintain itself for a longer period. A fully coated apple stores better than a partial or not coated apple. Thus it is very important to provide apples with a coating so as it would not lose its firmness and quality. This also acts as a protective layer and gives the apples a nice glossy shine. Sometimes apples are imported and exported which takes a long period of time, thus it is important for apples to get wax-coated which slows down the ripening process.
Common additional waxes used on apples
From all the available option of additional waxes to be applied on apples, Shellac and Carnauba are the most common ones.
Shellac comes from a secretion of the lac bug a beetle that is found in Thailand and India. Shellac is not actually part of beetle itself, it’s a secretion of that beetle that the female use to protect its eggs. Don’t worry thinking that you are eating beetle when you eat shellac as now you know you are not. Food grade shellac produces a shiny finish on apples. 85 per cent of the apple waxes used in Australia is shellac based.
(image source: https://www.afsuter.com/product/shellac-wax/)
Carnauba wax is extracted from the palm tree Copernicia prunifera that is only grown in Brazil. It is derived from the dried leaves and is more stable in a wider variety of humidity and temperature conditions. This wax does not provide much shine to the apples. But it provides a wider range of export business by helping the apples remain fresh in countries with varying temperature conditions.

These two waxes are approved as food additives all over the world including USA, Europe and the UK. They can be recognized on labels by the name of glazing agents 903.
So is wax-coated apple bad or not?
Wax coating on the apple is actually edible. Even the food grade waxes used for artificially coating the apples are edible. But generally our body cannot digest wax and so these wax just move down the stomach untouched. But sometimes it becomes harmful for the colon and small intestine of our body. So it is always advised to wash the apples before consuming.
But sometimes, these wax coats lead to spoilage of apples. As wax acts as an oxygen barrier, it leads to anaerobic respiration inside the apple. This makes the apple lose its crustiness and gradually those apples come to spoil from the inside. Though this wax coating provides the outer desired appearance to an apple, it does not guarantee that the apple is good from the inside. The apples may look shiny and glossy on the outside but be all soggy from inside. Thus, waxes are also used sometimes to disguise the quality of apples.
If you want to buy naturally coated apples, you should buy them from the local markets where apples are harvested in the nearby area. There is a high chance that the farmers will not artificially wax coat their fresh produce.
How apples are waxed?
After the apples are harvested, they are moved to the shed for cleaning purpose. During cleaning, the natural coat of apple withers. Then Food grade waxes are either sprayed or brushed on the apples through sprinklers and similar machinery, or the apples themselves are dipped into waxes. This artificial layer is almost not visible to the naked human eye and gives an apple its glossy appearance.
How to remove the wax coating from apples?
A wax coat can be removed if the apples are washed in lukewarm water or with vinegar. Another method of consuming an apple without wax is by peeling off apple’s cover. But the peel of the apple contains most of the Fiber component which is healthy for the body. An apple’s peel is also proven to have nutrients that prevent cancer and tumours. Thus it is advised to wash it with lukewarm water.

Government’s role
The government is responsible to see into the artificial wax used for the coating of apples. Some manufacturers use petroleum-based waxes which are not approved by the food industry. They are not suitable for the human digestive system and can create havoc inside the small intestine and colon of the human body. So, the government’s role is to check the variety of waxes used for artificial coating of apples and restrict the use of non-edible and not approved wax variety.
Thus, we can say wax coating is essential to increase the life of apples, but we would also like to suggest you wash your fruit before eating!
Best Self-Defense Techniques For Women
Let us face the harsh truth- no woman in India is ever 100% safe. Every Indian female from age 2 to 82, has encountered something that wasn’t really pleasant. This is sad but true. As more and more women are getting out of their houses to work, their safety is also being compromised. Mischievous souls lurk in all kinds of dark corners. And although woman empowerment is a great thing, it also means that the lurkers now have more targets.
The crimes against women in the country are increasing at a horrifying rate. According to RTI, the number of crimes against women from March 2018 to June 2018 was 76416, while the total number of crimes in the entire year of 2016 was 49262. This gives us an estimate of how quickly things are escalating.
Now, this does not mean that women should stay inside their houses at all times. Women have all the right to do what they want in life. They are, in no way, less competent than men, and every field of work is filled with women pioneers in it. We are a progressive society and we want our women to be shoulder-to-shoulder with men in every walk of life. However, women still are more vulnerable to lechery, because of our genetic differences.

Self-defense is an important survival skill everyone should know. The world isn’t as safe as it seems. One needs to be on high alert at all times because miscreants come when they are least expected. You don’t have to be a ninja to know self-defense. However, there are some basic self-defense techniques that anyone can learn, and use when the time comes.
But before we talk about the real action moves, here are a few basic self-defense tips for women to make use of in dangerous situations:
1. Trust your instincts
Its a miracle of evolution that living beings know instinctively when they are in danger. Humans too have this sixth sense, and it never lies. So if your instinct is trying to tell you something, listen to it. If your instincts tell you that a person isn’t who he seems to be, then STAY AWAY. Unexplained goosebumps in an outwardly normal situation are a signal for you to get out of there.
Sometimes, your instincts may make you feel like you’re being paranoid. But many a time this paranoia is what saves lives. And honestly, what others think about you is nowhere near as important as your safety is. So trust your instincts at all times.
2. Invest in a personal weapon

Having a little weapon concealed on your bodice will always make you feel safe. Your weapon doesn’t necessarily have to be a gun or something equally lethal. You could carry a small pocket knife, a chili or pepper spray, or even a whistle. This weapon will be something that will delay and scare your attacker, giving you enough time to get out of the situation.
If you cannot buy a weapon, turn the things you have into a weapon. Sometimes car keys, your stilettos, and deodorants can be amazing weapons. Also, there are a lot of safety apps both on iTunes and Google Play store that you can download. Most of these apps are sirens or whistles that you can use when adrenaline takes away your scream. Many of these apps also alert your friends about your whereabouts and send them S.O.S. messages.
3. Keep a close one informed about your location
It is always important to have someone in the know when you are going out. This is especially for if you have to travel alone at odd hours. It doesn’t have to be someone from your family (if it is a discreet night out after curfew). But make sure to inform someone of your whereabouts, someone you trust and who can help you get out of a bad situation.
It will also be helpful if you tell them who you are going with and what time you will be back. A pro tip- when going by cab, make your trusted person book the cab for you. This way they will know exactly where you are and when you will reach.
There are many apps that allow you to share your location with your loved ones and help them track your movements. Install apps like these and have some people in the know, all the time.
4. Walk confidently and on high alert
Miscreants often look for targets that are easy to subdue. If you are distracted, scared or look vulnerable, you are the perfect target. Learn how to stay on high alert outside your house. Maintain the facade of a R.A.W. agent even if you don’t know how to throw a simple punch. Walk confidently, do not slouch, and keep your eyes and ears open. If someone is bothering you, let them know in a clear and confident voice. Your courageousness will make you an impossible target.
The most important thing is, keep your distance from strangers, even friendly ones when you are in a deserted place. Crimes happen in places with the least witnesses. So make sure that all your senses are working double-time in remote places, which brings me to my next point.
5. Do not stay for too long in deserted places

Isolated and remote places are the best crime spots. Parking lots after dark, stairwells (because people don’t believe in fitness), basements and empty buildings; all these places are red flags to your safety. So try to not stick around in such places for more time than necessary.
Do not take the stairs if you don’t see anyone taking them. If there is no one in your office building during overnight hours, make sure that an old trustworthy guard is in your vicinity and tell him to drop you till your vehicle/cab afterward. Whenever you are alone in a deserted parking lot, make sure you are not being followed. If you are, go back and tell a guard or an officer nearby to see you off. Better paranoid than dead!
Another important thing: always check your car before you sit in it. Check the back seat and under the seats, and sit only if it is the way you left it. Once buckled in, leave ASAP. Do not loiter around.
Now that we have covered the theory, let’s come to the practical part of self-defense. Here are a few basic defense moves that every girl/woman can learn and keep herself safe with:
6. Hit the bulls-eye

One’s eyes are the most vulnerable part of their body. So when you are attacked, try to do as much damage as you can to the attacker’s eyes. You can use your fingers, knuckles or anything sharp (car keys, bobby pins, etc.) to gouge, poke or scratch their eyes out.
You can also use your pepper spray to spray on the attacker’s eyes. If you don’t have one, a deodorant will have the same effect. Or if you can, just throw some dust towards his eyes.
7. Strike the groin
The groin is another sensitive and vulnerable part of the body. So if you are being grabbed or attacked, use all your strength and land a kick to the attacker’s groin. You can use your foot or your knee for this, whichever you can. But trust me, a power-packed kick to the groin will make him wish he had never gone after you, especially if you are wearing heels.
(Note: You can also land a kick on his knees. This will momentarily incapacitate the attacker and give you some advantage).
8. Use your elbow
Your elbow is one of the hardest and strongest parts of your body, so use it to your advantage. Use your elbow with all your strength to hit your attacker’s stomach, face, eye or neck. This will surely make the attacker cringe away from you and you can run.
Make sure to engage your core and put all your power behind the elbow to cause maximum damage.
9. Smash his nose
If your attacker approaches you from the front, always go for his face first, especially the eyes and nose.
All self-defense instructors swear by this nose-smashing technique: when the attacker approaches you, lock your wrist and bend your palm backward so that the heel protrudes out. Now use all your power to smash the heel upward to his nose. If you are doing it right, 9 times out of 10 you will break their nose or make it bleed.
10. Pinching Power

If you are not in a position to kick or punch someone, pinch them. Pinching can be a big annoyance, and painful if you pinch the right places. The best places to pinch your attacker are the groin, near the armpit, the area below the nose and above the upper lip, the nipple (gross) and behind the knee. These places are highly sensitive to pain and pinching these places can cause them real discomfort.
Pro tip- do not pinch like you generally do. Pinch your attacker by holding their skin between your finger and a finger knuckle. Skin being pinched against a hard surface (the knuckle) will cause them extra discomfort.
11. Use your weapon
If you have anything that you can swing or strike with use it. Pencils, umbrellas, car-keys, bobby pins, heels, long purses, spiked shoes- all these can be used as self-defense weapons. Make the best use of whatever you have. Show your attacker that you won’t go down without a fight.
Whenever using your weapon, make sure you strike the right places. Like I explained above- face, groin, armpits, genital areas and the back of the knees are the most vulnerable parts of the body, so hit these.
12. Scream
If all else fails, scream. Fill your lungs with as much air as you can and scream loud. Do not dismiss this self-defense tip away just because you are in a deserted place. Just keep screaming. There HAS to be someone in the vicinity who will come to see what is going on. Your scream will either call witnesses or make your attacker run for his life.
Self-defense is not martial arts. It is just a survival skill that everyone should have regardless of whether they will ever use it or not. Self-defense is a skill as basic as cooking or tying your shoelaces. So do give it some time. You can enroll in a self-defense class, or attend free workshops in your school or workplace. If not, you should at least learn a few basic moves off YouTube or articles like these. You may never have to use them (and really, we hope that you don’t have to), but it is always better being safe than sorry!
Top Vaastu Tips For Your Home and Well-being
Vaastu Shastra is an ancient piece of Indian Hindu literature that explains to us how physical things affect the energies around us. There are two kinds of energies- positive and negative. Positive energies influence us to make us happy, optimistic, healthy, competent; basically all the good things. On the other hand, negative energies are associated with misfortune, sadness, restlessness, instability; basically all the bad things. Some people may dismiss Vaastu Shastra to be a mere superstition, but some people swear by the positive effect it has on their lives. A few principles of Vaastu Shastra may seem to be superfluous and unnecessary, but many are backed by science. Vaastu Shastra, in fact, IS an ancient Indian science that was compiled by the most knowledgeable men of the Vedic era.
Vaastu Shastra comprises of a few basic components that the entire science is based on. These components are- elements of the world, directions of the world, orientations of physical objects in space and how they affect the worldly energies. The directions are- East, West, North, South, North-east, North-west, South-east and South-west. The elements are- Air, Water, Fire, Earth and the Sky. Every physical object in this world has a dominant element, and this element, when placed in a certain orientation in space, affects the energies around us in a certain way. This whys and hows of this are what Vaastu Shastra explains to us.
One may not believe in things like these, but there is no one in this world who doesn’t want health, wealth and happiness. So even if you are a skeptic, there is no harm in employing some of Vaastu Shastra’s principles to your own life. Here are a few tips right from the ancient books of Vaastu Shastra to bring happiness to your home and in your life-
1. BEDROOM

Your bedroom is the place you retreat to after a long, tiring day. It is your most personal space, where you relax and rest. So your bedroom should be calm, peaceful and help you relieve your day’s stress and rejuvenate yourself for the next day. Here a few tips to ensure the same-
1. Paint the walls of your bedroom with soft, soothing hues. Most preferable are lilac, soft shades of rose, blue and green. Do not paint the walls in bright, flashy colors like red as it may make you restless.
2. It is preferred by Vaastu that you don’t have any mirrors in the room at all. But if you do, place it on the North-Eastern wall of the bedroom.
3. Avoid placing your bed in the center of the room. Place your bed and any heavy objects (like cupboards) in the South, South-west or Western direction.
4. Keep the space beneath your bed absolutely clutter-free. Spaces like these attract restless and negative energies which may hinder with your sleep
5. Sleep with your head facing South or East. This ensures a peaceful and restful sleep.
6. Do not sleep in front of a mirror.
7. You should not have a window behind you when you are sleeping. If you do, change positions or the orientation of your bed.
2. BATHROOM

Bathrooms and toilets, according to Vaastu, are the places that tend to attract negative energy. Hence it is important to nullify the negative effects of these places of your homes since you cannot really do away completely with bathrooms and toilets.
1. Always take a bath in the western area of your bathroom.
2. Paint the walls of your bathroom in bright colors.
3. Always close the toilet lids when not in use. Open toilets tend to drain your wealth down.
4. Toilets should not be adjacent to the pooja room or dining room of your house.
5. Mirrors should always be put on the eastern wall of the bathroom. Showers and taps should be fixed on the Southern or South-eastern wall.
6. Make sure that the water always drains towards the northeastern side of the bathroom.
7. Place any dirty linens in the west side of the bathroom to kill the bacteria.
8. Your toilets should not be right above a bedroom or the dining room as it attracts illnesses.
3. KITCHEN

According to Vaastu, a kitchen is the most potent source of all kinds of energies in the house. So its location, orientation, and correct adornment are of extreme importance to ensure a happy home and a happy prosperous life.
1. Your kitchen should never be adjacent, above, or below a toilet/bathroom. The kitchen should also not be adjacent to the pooja room.
2. All electronics should be in the south or south-western part of the kitchen.
3. The space above the cabinets in the kitchen should not be cluttered, but not be empty either. Keep them clean and optionally you can put indoor plants to keep the spaces occupied.
4. The sink should be at the maximum possible distance from the stove.
5. Use warm colors like Yellow, Orange and red for the walls of your kitchen. Avoid coloring them black.
6. Your kitchen must never face the main entrance of the house.
7. The flooring should be ceramic, mosaic or marble. Avoid any other materials like cement or wood.
8. The stove should not be visible from outside the kitchen.
4. LIVING ROOM

This is the area of your house where the maximum activity occurs. The living room is the most welcoming, and the most attractive room in the house. It is the center of the house and the most tastefully decorated. Hence it is obvious that the most attention should be given to the living room so that it welcomes good luck and prosperity along with your guests.
1. Do not use dark shades to paint the walls of the living room. White, cream and light green are the most ideal colors for the living room walls.
2. All electronics should be placed in the south-east corner of the living room.
3. Keep the north-east corner of the room clean and clutter-free. This area will attract peace and positive energy. You can enhance this by placing a few indoor plants in this corner.
4. Do not put artificial plants or dried flowers in the living room. They attract dust and negative energy.
5. The living room should be brightly lit.
6. Hang beautiful pictures on the walls to bring in positive energy. Avoid pictures of violence or war. Use only pictures depicting tranquility. You can hang pictures of nature or the gods.
7. Your living room should not have a beam or girder on the ceiling above it, as it subdues your good luck.
5. DINING ROOM

The dining room is also an important part of your home. So you need to ensure that it attracts prosperity and good luck along with helping you digest your meals easily.
1. The dining table should always be rectangular or square. It should not oval or circular as it represents instability.
2. The kitchen and the dining hall should always be adjacent to each other. If not, they should at least be on the same floor.
3. Do not place your dining table below a beam (on the ceiling) or a loft. Shift it a little so you are not directly seated under it.
4. The lighting must be soft and easy on the eyes. Also, paint the walls in shades of orange, green and cream. Avoid colors like grey, white or black.
5. The dining room should not face the main entrance of the door. It causes loss of wealth.
6. Do not put the dining table against a wall. It should be a little away from the walls, preferably in the center of the floor.
7. You can hang pretty pictures of food to stimulate appetite and even a mirror as it circulates good energy and stimulates conversation.
6. POOJA ROOM

The pooja room is an auspicious place, a place where you connect with your inner spirituality. This place should attract health, wealth and happiness and Vaastu gives the following tips to help you ensure this-
1. Never build a pooja room adjacent to a toilet/bathroom or inside a bedroom.
2. Always enter the pooja room with your hands and feet washed.
3. Paint the walls of the pooja room in white, lemon or light shades of blue.
4. The doors and windows of the pooja room should be towards the west, and your pooja room should be situated in the north, northeastern or eastern part of your house.
5. Avoid the presence of any triangular patterns inside the pooja room.
6. Try to have a lot of white in the pooja room. White is a sacred color and helps you connect with your spirituality.
7. Nothing should be kept above the cabinet/slab where the idols of god or the mandir are placed.
7. FOR WEALTH

Everyone wants to be wealthy. I mean obviously, who doesn’t want a steady cash flow and lots of prosperity in their home and their lives? So here are a few Vaastu backed tips to ensure the same-
1. All the taps and faucets should be tightly closed. Dripping faucets symbolize drainage of money in your home.
2. Keep your cash and valuables in a cupboard facing south or south-east.
3. Keep indoor plants (a money plant is a great option) in the south-west corner of the house. This stabilizes your finances.
4. The entrance door should be ornate and decorated well, preferably with a nameplate on it. The door should be made of superior quality materials.
5. Keep the doors and the windows of the house very clean so as not to obstruct cash flow.
6. Purple is the color of wealth, so try having plants in purple colored pots and plants with purple flowers or purple leaves in the house.
8. FOR HEALTH

Health is your greatest wealth, and apart from eating healthy and having a good and active lifestyle, you can give your health a boost with the following Vaastu Shastra tips-
1. Staircases should always be built in some corner of the house and not the center, as this invites illnesses.
2. Light a red bulb or a red candle in the south-eastern corner of the house to promote wellness.
3. The center of the house should not have any heavy objects like big cupboards, tables, etc. and structures like beams or pillars. This area should be well-lit and clutter free. This will ensure good health of the family.
4. The main gate of the house should be high enough so that the road outside is not visible.
5. Always sleep with your head towards the south for general good health.
9. FOR HAPPINESS

One’s happiness is the most important aspect of their well-being. If you are not happy, then no amount of money or materialistic things will satisfy you. To make your life full of happiness and inner satisfaction, here are some tips Vaastu suggests you try-
1. The entrance of the house should be towards the north or east.
2. Do not keep a dustbin or a shoe rack outside the entrance, as it invites negativity.
3. The central area of your house should be clean, clutter-free and spacious. Avoid having any heavy furniture or construction in this part.
4. All the corners of the house should be brightly lit as these are the places which affect the energies of the house the most.
5. Keep the enclosed and small spaces in the house clutter-free. Spaces under beds, above cabinets, inside store-rooms, all these attract dust and negativity. So they should be clean and free from clutter.
6. Cover any exposed mirrors in the house.
7. The eastern side should have maximum windows while the western side should have the least windows. If there are too many windows on the west side, cover them with heavy curtains.
10. FOR CAREER

If you use these Vaastu tips along with working hard and steady, you will surely achieve great heights and have a bright career–
1. While studying or working you should face north.
2. Never sit with your back exposed to the entrance
3. The southern corner of your study/office should be well-lit.
4. Your table should be as far as possible from the main entrance of the room.
5. Always opt for a chair with a high back and armrests as they provide balance and support.
6. Wooden tables are the best and attract the most prosperity. You can also have a glass-topped table towards the west of the room.
7. You should keep quartz or other rock crystals in the room to invite opportunities and positive energy.
8. Keep your desk free from clutter and well-organized.
9. Keep a potted plant in the south-east corner of your room as it promotes financial growth.
11. FOR STUDENTS

Students are at that stage of development where they are still working towards building a prosperous future. Here are some Vaastu backed tips to give their studying efforts a boost:
1. Do not sit with your back facing the door while studying.
2. The study table should be clean and free from clutter.
3. Mirrors in the room should be covered at night.
4. The study room should be well-lit and have adequate natural lighting and fresh air coming in at all times.
5. The study table should not be directed against a wall, instead, it should be slightly away from it.
6. Place the study lamp to your left for increased concentration.
7. Paint the room in vibrant and cheerful colors, and avoid the usage of dark or dull colors for the walls.
8. The study-table should face the East or North for better performance. It should not face South at all.
These Vaastu Shastra tips, if not true or useful, are completely harmless. So if you are working hard enough towards a happy, healthy and prosperous life, do give Vaastu Shastra a chance. Who knows, they might give your life the boost it needs!
Christmas Gifts That Will Put a Smile on Your Son’s Face This Year
Isn’t funny how when kids are babies, you can get them the coolest toys that are out, and they would rather play with the cardboard inside to a paper towel roll. If you would have known that ahead of time, you wouldn’t have spent so much money on those other toys!
Luckily, as kids grow older, they find more appreciation in the gifts you give them. Little boys are especially verbal when receiving gifts they love. You’ll hear a big, “Whoa!” or an, “Awesome!” shouted at the top of their lungs.
The excitement on their face is priceless. To keep that excitement going, here are a few gifts to give your son that will give him a Christmas to remember.
Walkie Talkies
Walkie talkies are gifts that are timeless. These gifts have existed for many years, expanding imaginations of little boys everywhere. Your son will be able to have all kinds of adventures with his friends, and even his parents.
Take a trip down memory lane, reflecting back to sneaking around your house, asking your friend on the other end “do you read me?” You can now pass this wonderful childhood experience on to your son now.
Clothes
You can’t just get your son regular clothes that you found at the department store, just because they were on sale. They have to be cool clothes. Grandma’s knit sweater just won’t do anymore. Your son is at an age where he knows what’s hot and what’s not, so let’s keep it hot for him this year.
Jogger outfits are a hot Christmas item this year. They are stylish and comfortable for your cool kid. With boys being a bit more rowdy than girls, comfort and durability should be an ideal focus when shopping for him. He’ll need something he can play outside in, and lounge around the house in. Finding him clothes that showcase comfort and style is a direct pathway to his heart.
Bike
Learning how to ride a bike is a lifelong memory that almost everyone remembers. Some people had horrific bike riding experiences, but as a parent, you’re going to prevent that from happening with your son.
This will help your son expand on his balance and coordination skills, as well as just simply being something fun for him to do. Take him outside and ride bikes as a family at a local park, or even around your neighborhood.
GameStop Gift Card
If your son is anything like the other kids, then he is probably into video games. Lots of boys are really into sports video games, with Basketball and football being the most popular. These video games allow your son to set foot on the field or on the court as some of their all-time favorite basketball athletes and football stars.
You may know that your son enjoys these types of games, but you’re not sure which one to get. That’s the beauty of gift cards: they allow you to still give a gift, and they’d be getting exactly what they want. So there won’t be any pouting faces when they open a gift from you, but it’s the wrong gift.
They’re normally appreciative of the gift in general, but when you choose poorly, their disappointment will be quite visible. So to save yourself the trouble, and possible disappointment; go on and purchase a gift card. To make it fun, you can put the card in a big box, to make him think it’s something else. You really can’t go wrong with gift cards, but a gift card to the store that holds his favorite video games will make you ultimate gift-giver in his eyes.
Top 10 Cars on the Pavement around the globe!
When we talk about cars and their performance, the most important thing that picks our interest is the ‘Speed’. Some manufacturers make engine the shining star, while others focus on balancing to make the cars shine. Many car enthusiasts risk their lives for reaching faster speeds. One of the greatest figures in motor racing, and the famous American actor is known for his role in the “Fast and the Furious” franchise, Paul Walker will always be remembered for his love for cars and speed. So let’s talk about these finest representations of the human invention give your adrenaline a boost.
1. Hennessey Venom F5

A claimed top speed of 301 mph, the Venom F5 crushed the previous top speed figure. Hennessey with an all-new, 2,950-pound carbon fiber chassis, and bolted a 1,600-hp, 7, 4-liter, twin-turbo V8 to it. The results are absolutely surprising, as the car can reportedly go from 0 to 249 to 0 mph in less than 30 seconds total.
2. Koenigsegg Agera R

Koenigsegg Agera RS is authorized as the fastest car in the world with a top speed of over 273 mph, which is faster than any other supercar you will find on the market today. The car comes with a 5-Liter Turbocharged V8 DOHC and is capable of generating 1200 pound-feet of torque and horsepower of 1140, thus enabling the vehicle to reach speeds from 0 to 186 mph within 11.7 seconds which is a world record. Available for a price of £1.1 million.
3. Hennessey Venom GT

It recorded a 270.4-mph run in 2014. The car is modified based on Lotus Exige and has a maximum speed of 270 mph. Packed with a mighty 7.0 Liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 Engine, the Venom GT is capable of generating an outstanding horsepower of 1,244 and torque of 1,155 pound-feet, thus enabling the car to acquire a halt from fly at 62 mph within 2.8 seconds. There’s also some debate about whether the Venom GT qualifies as a production car, because of its handbuilt nature.
4. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

The Bugatti Veyron was the first ever production car to exceed the 250 mph mark. Subsequently, due to a few technical difficulties, its title was taken over by the Koenigsegg. As a result, Bugatti introduced its Super Sports model that has a maximum speed of 268 mph. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport comes equipped with an 8-Liter Quad-Turbo W16 Engine which is capable of generating an impressive torque of 1,106 lb-ft and horsepower of 1,200. Available for a price of €1.6 million.
5. Bugatti Chiron

The Veyron was a legendary feat of engineering, a supercar whose performance was so astounding. After years of production, the Volkswagen Group has launched the Veyron’s successor, the Bugatti Chiron. The Chiron is a king among supercars as only 500 were released for the first generation, and they cost a $2.6 million each.
6. SSC Ultimate Aero

Ultimate Aero, produced by SSC North America (formerly known as Shelby SuperCars, was the fastest production car in the world. It reached a top speed of 256 mph. The vehicle is provided with a 6.3-Liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 Engine that is competent of generating an intense horsepower of 1,287 and torque of 1,112 lb-ft. It is available for quite a reasonable price of €550,000. The only drawback of this beast is that there are no electronic driver aids to help control that power.
7. Tesla Roadster

The initial Tesla Roadster was a sports car which was based on the Lotus Elise. The second-generation Roadster highlights the most impressive spec sheet of any EV before it — 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds, 0 to 100 mph in 4.2 seconds, and a claimed top speed of 250 mph. Its impressive performance is known for establishing Tesla as a legal and authorized player in the automotive world.
8. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

Saleen S7 is iconic with its exotic styling, insane performance, and tuning potential to name a few. Manufactured from 2000 to 2009, the S7 was America’s first mid-engined supercar. Producing 750 hp, the vehicle could hit 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds before crushing the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds. Its most stunning statistic is its top speed of 248 mph, making it one of the fastest cars ever put on the road.
9. Koenigsegg CCR

The CCR model attained a top speed of 242 mph in 2005 at Italy’s Nardo Ring. Koenigsegg enters the top 10 list once again with its CCR model that is a mid-engine sports car, briefly held the ‘world’s fastest’ title. Koenigsegg was the preeminent ever production vehicle to strike McLaren’s 8-year streak as the agile production car. The car comes decked with a large and powerful 4.7-liter V8 Engine.
10. McLaren F1

The Mclaren F1 is more than just a previous worlds fastest car. The car has a distinctive interior design of being a three-seater with the driver’s seat at the center and two passenger seats on the sides. With its center driver’s seat, gold-line engage bay, and carbon-fiber body, it is also one of the excellent cars ever made. The overall design of the vehicle is also awesome and has exceptional aerodynamics to ensure maximum speed and performance. It is equipped with a 6.1-Liter BMW M V12 engine, the supercar produces 670 Horsepower and peak torque of 520 lb-ft.In 2013, it was sold for a record price of US $8.47 million.
10 Mistakes To Avoid When Preparing For IITJEE
IIT-JEE is one of the toughest examinations in not just India, but also the entire world. The education industry of our country is flourishing because of this exam. Hundreds of coaching centers make crores every year banking on the difficulty and popularity of this examination. Millions of students prepare for it but only a few thousand qualify and only a handful of the qualified actually get seats.
It is a bitter disappointment if a student has been working day and night for two years and still cannot secure a seat in his dream college. And more often than not, the problem doesn’t lie in the hard work or intelligence of the student. It is not just a stroke of good luck that you need to get into an IIT. There are some common mistakes that many IIT aspirants make, because of which they fail to get the seat they deserve. These mistakes seem small and insignificant, and initially, you may not even realize it. But small things pile up to make one big mountain of mistakes, which affects you in the long run.
So if you are an IIT aspirant, then here are a few mistakes you need to avoid making to get into your dream IIT:
1. Underestimating the course

This is probably the worst mistake you can make as an IIT aspirant. When you come to 11th grade after 10th grade, you do not expect the sudden transition. 11th grade is often thought of to be the “chill-out” year because there are no boards to study for, and all that. But the truth is far from reality. You enter into the year and you are shocked at how suddenly the curriculum and the course load changes. Having only 5 subjects to study should be easy, right? Wrong. The course doesn’t just become way bigger than you’re used to, but also a lot harder. So it’s important to not think of 11th grade as a year you can have fun in.
If you’re serious about getting into IIT, you need to be prepared for the sudden transition. Don’t ever underestimate the syllabus of IIT-JEE. If you do that and slack off in 11th grade, you’ll never be able to catch up with your peers.
2. Not starting to work hard early enough
This point is just a variation of the above. Like I said in the beginning, IIT-JEE is one of the toughest exams in the entire world. So it’s no surprise that one has to work for years to reach up to that level. You absolutely NEED to start preparing at least two years before you sit for the exam. Many students join coachings and tuitions four years prior to the exam. One doesn’t really need to do that, but you need at least two years of focused hard work to have a chance at getting into an IIT. So when you enter 11th grade, don’t slack off because you think you have 2 years ahead of you. Those two years are not enough for most people, so make the most of the time you have.
3. Joining multiple coaching centers

Students often try to put their fingers in multiple pots. They join two or three coaching centers and tuitions at the same time. Parents encourage this because they think the more resources the better. This is NOT true. The only thing this will do is demotivate and frustrate you. Every teacher is different and has a different teaching method. If you are studying the same thing from two different teachers, their teaching styles will definitely conflict and eventually confuse you. That’s why it is important that you stick to only one coaching institute, and focus on understanding their teaching methods. You can, however, solve worksheets and mock question papers set by alternative coaching centers. After all, practice makes a man perfect!
4. Lying to themselves
You should have a clear picture in your head about your current strengths and weaknesses. The fact that you have been a topper all your life doesn’t matter when you are preparing for JEE. This examination is an entirely different game. You cannot afford to overestimate yourself. The worst thing one can do as an IIT aspirant is dismissing their weaknesses and thinking, “Oh I’ll manage it, after all, I have always been a topper”. Do NOT overestimate yourself.
If you have weaknesses, admit to them and work on them, instead of being ashamed of them. One cannot get anywhere by being ashamed of his shortcomings. If you want to achieve something, stop being a narcissist. Do not lie to yourself. Be honest with yourself, because that is the only way you will achieve success in life.
5. Ignoring conceptual doubts

The JEE paper mainly comprises of numerical based questions and mostly multiple choice questions. These numericals are tough, and the MCQ paper has a negative marking scheme. Scary, right? The only way to ensure maximum success is to have a strong grasp of the concepts. Every numerical is based on a concept. If you can gain a full understanding of the concept, you can easily solve the most difficult numericals related to it.
So if you have any conceptual doubts, do not ignore them. These doubts are the reason why one isn’t able to crack a tricky question. Every IITian you will talk to will emphasize the importance of conceptual clarity. So if you have any conceptual doubts, get them clarified as soon as you can. Make sure you have a good understanding of the topic. To put it simply, you should be able to teach the topic to someone just like your teacher taught you.
6. Depending only on theory

Like I said above, the paper is mostly numerical-based. The paper does have theory questions, but you cannot solely depend on the theoretical part of the JEE curriculum. Rankings are not just marks-based, but also weightage-based. Generally, Math questions have the highest weightage, followed by Physics, and then Chemistry. So if you and your peer get the same marks but he scored more than you in math, then he will have a better rank.
The same goes for theory and numerical questions. Theory questions generally have smaller weightage than numerical questions. In fact, in most cases, the marks allotted to theory questions are way less than that allocated to numericals. So do not depend on theory to help you get through the exam. Face those scary numericals and practice them hard.
7. Ignoring their weaknesses

I am emphasizing this point in every point above because this is the worst mistake made by students who cannot crack the JEE. You should never ignore your weakest topics or your subjects. You cannot ever predict that which topic will have the maximum questions from it in the paper. So if you are weak in one topic, work on it enough so that you are at least 5% above average in it.
The JEE exam paper doesn’t just have a minimum general score requirement, but also have a minimum subject score requirement. Every subject section of the paper has a minimum score you need to achieve to clear the exam. So if you score above the minimum score in the entire paper, but fail to clear the subject score in even one subject, you will fail. So, make sure that your grasp in every topic of every subject is not below 70%. If it is, don’t think that your strengths can save you and slack off. Work on improving yourself, and work HARD.
8. Not maintaining a healthy balance

Preparing for the JEE can be mentally exhausting and draining. It is great that you are putting in so much effort, but too much of it can make you anxious and affect your performance. Hence, it is important to maintain a healthy balance in your lifestyle.
Set aside a good amount of time for studies, but make sure you spend some time with your friends and family too. They will provide you the emotional upliftment you need, and help you wind down and relax after a long day of hard work. Indulging in your favorite hobbies, engaging in physical activities, eating good wholesome food, spending time with your loved ones; all these are great ways to de-stress. They replenish your optimism levels and fill you with renewed energy to face the daunting JEE syllabus, and may even improve your performance.
9. Going into panic mode

Let’s face it, panicking is unhealthy. Panicking gets you nowhere, and makes you more careless. There is no use of panicking, it’s only a waste of time and energy. If you cannot solve a question, take deep breaths and try to recall what you’ve studied in the past. The solution is hidden somewhere in your mind. All you have to do is calm your brain down and help it find the solution. If you aren’t able to finish a chapter because it’s too long, take deep breaths and focus on going one step at a time. Do not think about how long the chapter is or how long it will take you to finish it. Focus on one topic at a time, and you won’t even realize when you got done with it.
Panicking only decreases your thinking skills and your efficiency. You make silly mistakes, and you forget simple things that you wouldn’t normally. So take deep breaths, and shoo away your Panic Monster.
10. Letting mock test results affect them

Mock tests are a great way to prepare yourself for the actual exam. You get an idea of how many questions you can solve in a give time crunch, and you also get a rough idea of the difficulty level. However, mock tests are not the actual JEE paper. Generally, they are a mix of past JEE questions and questions taught in your coachings. How well you can perform in a mock test is completely irrelevant to the actual JEE paper. So if you are not getting a good score in a mock test, do not let it make you sad. If you are getting a good score in your mock test, do not let it get to your head.
Mock tests are just for practice so that you know what to expect in the exam. They do not determine how good or bad your performance will be in the JEE paper. So do not make them the standard of your intelligence, treat them like essential practice, which they technically are.
Cracking the IIT-JEE is tough, but not impossible. And God has blessed everyone with a brain. It is up to YOU to recognize your strengths and your weaknesses and put your brain to work accordingly. Nothing in this world is impossible. If you have the will to achieve what you want, you will get it if you work for it. Work on improving yourself, learn from your mistakes, and you will surely become that overachiever everyone envies.
Top Careers in 2019 With the Highest Growth Rate
If you are an Indian, then you know the list of career options that will not create a ruckus in the society. You should only be an engineer, a doctor, an IAS or IPS officer, a lawyer or an MBA. Nothing else quite really gets you the approval and support you want. Even if your parents do not have a problem with your choices, society keeps taunting you till you want to scream your head off.
However, we are headed toward being a more progressive country. So it is important to note that the most popular careers may not be the fastest growing or the highest paying. In IITs and NITs, computer science and information technology are the most sought-after branches. The truth here is, though, that these fields do not have an upward moving growth-rate graph anymore. Being a software engineer is not very cool anymore. There are just so many people in the industry that it has lost all its charm. With the advent of technologies like Artificial intelligence and Internet of Things, software engineers may very well be redundant in a couple of decades. If you are thinking of the right career path for yourself, you need to make sure its stable enough so that you can last in it for life. It isn’t exactly reassuring that you may have a flourishing career initially but have to look for a different job in a different field later. And obviously, the world doesn’t just need lawyers and doctors in it. It needs other people too.
If you want to pursue a career in one of the above fields, it’s your choice and we respect you and appreciate you for it. But these are definitely not the fastest growing careers if you look at the big picture. Which is why, before you make a decision, go through this list of the world’s fastest-growing Careers in 2019 and the highest paying jobs in the world-
1. Analysts

Have you ever read McDonald’s food policies? One of them says that McDonald’s never serves their customers leftovers from the day before. Their patties and fries are always made the day they are sold. Now if you think about it, you may feel that it will cause a lot of wastage of food if customers are less one day. However, that’s not the case. Every company has people called “analysts”, whose job is to make predictions about the future using past data. They analyze past records of the same dates and give a near-accurate prediction for those days in the future. This way, the wastage of resources is prevented to a great extent. Cool, right? There are marketing analysts, computer analysts, data analysts; every kind of analyst you can imagine exists. And trust me, if you are far-sighted and have good logical reasoning skills, you can be a superb analyst. This career currently has the fastest growth rate in any field you pursue.
2. Financial advisor

Even during recessions, people make investments, and banks have the greatest power. This is one career that will never let you down. If you love maths and if you love solving problems, this career is for you. Financial advisors do exactly what the name says- give advice. They give advice to clients helping them manage their money, make good investments and with long-term financial planning. The best part is, you don’t have to really work under anyone to be a financial advisor. Many advisors work as a lone-wolf or as freelancers, as long as they have the right degrees and skills. If you are looking for something that is interesting, stable and well-paying, you should really give this a thought.
3. Environmental Engineering Technician

“Global warming” and “Go Green” are all the fire these days. With the growing number of environmental crises, a career in this industry is sure to be in high demand in the future. Environmental technicians use their scientific knowledge to help with technologies that rid the world of pollution. They collect data like weather records and soil or water samples, analyze them and find solutions to improve the environmental conditions. Environmental engineering may not sound very attractive right now, but a few years down the line this is going to be a highly sought-after engineering field.
4. Fitness Trainer

Are you a fitness freak? Do you love frequenting the gym, or working out? Is your Instagram feed filled with workout posts? Then take your interest, and turn it into a career. Yes, being a fitness trainer is a great career option, especially with the exponential growth in the number of gym rats and fitness freaks. Nowadays, everyone wants to have great, shredded bodies. You know, we live in a materialistic world after all. So if you are a fitness freak too, why not use it to your advantage?
If you’d rather go to the gym than sit in front of a computer all day, you can always become a fitness trainer. These trainers are professionals who train clients at the gym, lead fitness classes and educate people about fitness in general. Personal fitness trainers are even more in demand, especially by celebrities and rich businessmen. This field is also very stable because fitness is never going to go out of fashion or business. So go ahead, pull up your gym socks and live your dream.
5. Registered Nurse

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. People who can’t become doctors become nurses. But that’s not the truth. Not everyone can be a nurse. Being a registered nurse is not very easy. They have to be as efficient and knowledgeable as any doctor. Their job is to interact with the patients, keep records and give necessary information to doctors. A nurse is basically the right hand of a doctor. No doctor can be successful if he doesn’t have a trusted and competent nurse by his side. Registered nurses are in great demand in private and government hospitals alike. They are, indeed, the most active people in the medical industry. And you won’t believe it, but the median salary of a registered nurse in the US is approximately $70000 per annum. This translates to around 49 lakh INR, per annum. Who says being a nurse isn’t cool!
6. Graphic Designer

If you have good Photoshop skills or are an adept Abobe Illustrator user, this career is the one for you. The world loves visual excitation, and this is where graphic designers come in. Graphic designers work on projects like creating doodles, logos for companies or posters for advertisements. The best part is, you can be a freelancer and still earn as much (or even more) as any 9 to 5 out there. Every company needs a skilled graphic designer. Who designs the billboard advertisements? Graphic designers. Who designs travel brochures? Graphic designers. If you start counting the number of places these people are involved in, you will forget your own name. The work of a graphic designer is out there everywhere for the world to see. It’s not just the good pay or the relative freedom, this job brings to you a great deal of inner satisfaction too.
These Careers in 2019 options may be unorthodox, and may not sound very promising, especially if you belong to an orthodox family. But when it comes to far-sightedness, these careers show more promise than any other out there. And your job should be something personal to you, not a society-pleaser. It’s all about doing what you like, and enjoying what you do. Keep a broad mind, look at the world around you. Don’t restrict yourself to a small well when there’s an entire sea of opportunities out there for you to explore.






























