Test Your Memory

Here are some questions to test your memory. Maximum time allotted is 10

minutes. Try this and test your memory status.

1. When did you go for hair dressing/cutting last time?
2. When did your immediate elder brother’s/sister’s marriage fall?
3. How many windows are there in your house?
4. When did you go for movie theatre last?
5. How much did you spend for petrol for your car last month?
6. How many visitors come to your home last week?
7. What was the amount for phone bill last month?
8. How many persons are dwelling in your street?
9. What was the menu you had the day before yesterday in your home?
10. How much did you spend for copying (Xerox) documents?
11. When did you have rain in your city previously?
12. What is the date of anniversary celebrated in your village school?
13. What was the last situation you lost your emotional control?
14. When did you have headache last?
15. How much did you pay for your new shoe last time?
16. What was the number of your car/bike you had previously?
17. How many lines does your National Anthem contain?
18. Can you list out the breakage of things caused by you in your house in the current year?
19. Can you repeat any multiplication table for 13 or 14?
20. What are the dates of birth of you kids if you are in parental stage?

Self evaluation/right answers: 16-20=> Excellent, 11-15=> Good,

6-10=> average, 1-5=> Poor .

Forgetting Is a Gift

In the words of N.L.Nunn, "Forgetting is the loss, permanent or temporary, of the ability to recall or recognize something learned earlier."

Whether fortunate or unfortunate one may think, forgetting follows with memory in many cases. It would be impossible and even foolish to attempt to retain in memory all the daily experiences. Forgetting is a part of our day to day experience. It is most rapid during the first four months of learning. In general, less than half of what is learned is retained at the end of two years. The factors of forgetting are as follows:

i) Lapse of time.

ii) Repression and not willing to recall.

iii) Psychological factors like stress, anxiety, lack of interest, aversion, & psychic problems.

iv) Biological factors like old age, diseases, mal-functioning of brain, and nervous system, accidents, consumption of liquor, using of intoxicating materials, etc.

PRIVACY POLICY

Here are a few lines of policy regarding the privacy of the visitors of this blog.
* Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on this site.
* Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to the users based on their visit to this site and other sites on the Internet.
* Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

What is a cookie?

A “cookie” is a small text file containing a string of alphanumeric characters. There are two types of cookies: a persistent cookie and a session cookie. A persistent cookie gets entered by your Web browser into the cookie folder on your computer’s hard drive. A persistent cookie remains in that cookie folder, which is maintained and governed by your Web browser, after you close your browser program. A session cookie is temporary and disappears after you close your browser. DoubleClick’s ad-serving and paid search listing (“DART Search”) products utilize the same cookie: the DART cookie. The DART cookie is a persistent cookie and consists of the name of the domain that set the cookie (“ad.doubleclick.net”), the lifetime of the cookie, and a “value.” DoubleClick’s DART technology generates a unique series of characters for the “value” portion of the cookie.

What is the DoubleClick DART cookie?

The DoubleClick DART cookie is used by Google in the ads served on publisher websites displaying AdSense for content ads. When users visit an AdSense publisher's website and either view or click on an ad, a cookie may be dropped on that end user's browser. The data gathered from these cookies will be used to help AdSense publishers better serve and manage the ads on their site(s) and across the web.

What is the DoubleClick cookie doing on my computer?

If you have a DoubleClick cookie in your Cookies folder, it is most likely a DART cookie. The DoubleClick DART cookie helps marketers learn how well their Internet advertising campaigns or paid search listings perform. Many marketers and Internet websites use DoubleClick’s DART technology to deliver and serve their advertisements or manage their paid search listings. DoubleClick’s DART products set or recognize a unique, persistent cookie when an ad is displayed or a paid listing is selected. The information that the DART cookie helps to give marketers includes the number of unique users their advertisements were displayed to, how many users clicked on their Internet ads or paid listings, and which ads or paid listings they clicked on.

Why does your cookie keep coming back after I delete it?

When you visit any website or search engine on which DoubleClick’s DART technology is used, our servers will check to see if you already have a DART cookie. If the servers do not receive a DART cookie, the servers will try to set a cookie in response to your browser’s “request” to view that Web page. If you do not want a DART cookie with a unique value, you can obtain a DoubleClick DART “opt out” cookie. Alternatively, you can adjust your Internet browser’s settings for handling cookies. This is explained in the next question.

How can I adjust my cookie settings to accept or decline cookies?

To eliminate cookies you may have currently accepted, and to deny or limit cookies in the future, please follow one of these procedures:

IMPORTANT: IF YOU DELETE YOUR OPT-OUT COOKIE, YOU WILL NEED TO OPT-OUT AGAIN. IF YOUR BROWSER BLOCKS ALL OR THIRD-PARTY COOKIES, YOU WILL BLOCK THE SETTING OF OPT-OUT COOKIES.

* If you are using Internet Explorer 6.0, go to the Tools menu, then to Internet Options, then to the Privacy tab. This version of Internet Explorer is the first to use P3P to distinguish between types of cookies. P3P uses standardized privacy statements made by the cookie issuer to manage your acceptance of cookies. Under the “Privacy” tab, click on the “Advanced” button. Select “Override automatic cookie handling” and choose whether you want to accept, block or be prompted for “First-party” and “Third-party Cookies.” If you want to block all cookies coming from DoubleClick’s doubleclick.net domain, go to the “Web Sites” section under the “Privacy” tab and click the “Edit” button. In the “Address of Web site” field, enter “doubleclick.net,” select “Block,” click OK (menu will disappear); click OK again and you will be back to the browser.

* If you are using Netscape 6.0+, go to “Edit” in the menu bar, click on “Preferences,” click on “Advanced,” and select the “Cookies” field. Now check either the box that says, “Warn me before accepting a cookie” or “Disable cookies.” Click on “OK.” Now go to your “Start” button, click on “Find,” click on “Files and Folders,” type “cookies.txt” into the search box that appears, and click “Find Now.” When the search results appear, drag all files listed, into the “Recycle Bin.” Now shut down and restart your Netscape. Depending on your earlier choice you will either be prompted by new cookie sets or no cookies will be set or received.

* If you are using Mozilla or Safari, please go to their websites to find out how to disable cookies in those programs.

PROBLEMS OF BACKWARD CHILDREN

Meaning of backwardness:
A state of being below the normally accepted level in learning of things is called backwardness. It is not abnormal which implies the worst level. On the other hand, it is a retrograde measure from the marked level of learning. Such backwardness in a child in most of the contexts make the child feel secluded. Whatever may be the reason for this, the teacher at school as well as the parents at home are expected to know much about children to pay more attention on the issues with the children children.

Causes for backwardness:
The reason for the backwardness with a child may be either within the individual or outside him in the environment. The entire cause cannot be attributed exclusively to heredity factor or to environmental factor. They are indeed interactive with mutual effect in the following cases.
Subnormal physical conditions: Some children are born with biologically inherited weak body lacking normal conditions in sensory organs. Bart’s research work says that almost 79% of the backwardness is due to such physiological gone back conditions.
Physical defects and diseases: The defects in speech, hearing, vision, left handedness, etc are some bodily defects due to improper functioning of the sense organs. Along with any one or two of the before said defects, problems like tonsils, malnutrition, migraine joining together may affect much. The child suffers a subnormal scholastic attainment in school and in study at home. Such physical defects may in some cases be due to a low measure of innate capacity.
Poverty and economic condition: Poverty in children is another factor which impairs the health of the children and limits the general knowledge. It narrows the mental range of reach to the subject. This is prevalent mostly with children dwelling in slum area. There are cases from other area also. Children belonging to crowded family with limited conditions of economic facilities and amenities also liable for backwardness in concentrating on their studies.
Emotional and moral conditions: Emotional and moral conditions of the home may be accounted as another factor for backwardness. The daily life at home is dependent of parental sympathy, adjustments, and flexible guidelines in family affairs. If the children lack at any level in these matters, they feel thrown in insecurity along with frequent quarrels.
Harsh attitude and dominance by parents: Harsh attitude and over dominance by the parents to the children result in neurotic problems which affect normal learning and confidence in attaining standard.
Influence of neighborhood: The influence of neighborhood is another factor which contributes to the problem of subnormal scholastic attainments. The unpleasing conditions of the quarters and streets may nit be encouraging the children to have good friends to support in his studies. Bad friends in gang are also responsible for turning delinquents in large number.
Specific factors: Backwardness in specific abilities such as reading, writing and arithmetic are also to be added as factors for general backwardness. Since the total outcome is dependent of such factors specifically, the duty of the teachers is to detect and help them in time properly by compensating with some other enlightening talents to keep the balance at equilibrium.

Discovering backwardness:
The teachers at school and the parents at home should play their effective role in discovering the backwardness and giving remedies. The tips for the same follows:
i) Diagnostic tests
ii) Standard tests of sensory perfections
iii) Assessing emotional characters and temperaments
iv) Scholastic tests in school subjects
v) Continuous observation

Conclusion:
After discovering the defects, proper medical treatment or friendly counseling by experts may be given. Home conditions and school conditions may be modified. Alternative curriculum and modified method of teaching may be suggested. Specially trained teachers in children education should handle backward children. Wrong parental care and over dominance at home should be totally stopped. Specific care should be taken for specific difficulties whether personal or academic in nature.

TACKLING OF LIFE PROBLEMS

Problem solving process:
Human mind is always occupied with anxieties about life and facing environmental problems. Darwin’s theory emphasizes that survival is a gift only for the fittest. Life is swimming against the stream flow where many global warming problems come across which should be boldly faced and solution sought. As such, you should know the strategies in tackling of life problems. Human philosophy is that life is with full of hurdles and deceptive experiences. The individual has the liberty for trial and error method to problem solving of any type in family life with wealth and poverty.

Types of Problems:
a) Daily problems: Minor in nature, arising and fading away daily which cannot be avoided
b) Temporary problems: Purely temporary but prolonging a few days to fade away.
c) Life long problem: Long durational and in some cases having no permanent solution.
d) Teenage problems: Connected with study, habits, alcohol abuse, sex and security.

Regarding type (a) problem, you need not fear and worry about the same. Type (b) problems can be borne and solved by using problem solving skills with some efforts. They are not long standing. But type (c) problems are tracking the individuals to pessimism. Some of these cannot be solved totally but the intensity be minimized to some level. As such, you should have knowledge in the techniques and strategies in tackling of life problems strategies. Here, you have the liberty to use the service of your friends, no harm. Type (d) problems may be any of the types (a), (b) and (c).

Problem solving steps:
Problems cannot be solved all of a sudden. Problem solving techniques should be followed with some physical baseline supporting for solution. There are five steps to problem solving and decision making.
1. Sensing the problem: The presence of the problem should be identified at its initial stage
2. Comprehension of the problem: The nature of the problem is defined with the facts gathered.
3. Formulation of hypothesis: It is the planning stage of draft plans as problem solving tools
4. Selection of the plan: One right plan is selected after a good evaluation of validity
5. Verification of the plan: The plan selected is verified by applying in solving problems.

Problem solving strategies:
An individual is expected to possess the basic skills like patience and decision making with an understanding about life. Care should be taken in drafting and selecting the plan for action. If the selected plan works successfully, you feel satisfied. If it is unfortunately otherwise, you should not become dejected but try an alternative plan at reserve and a good solution is achieved. Is it not surprising to think that the tackling of life problems and solving involves such a procedure with wise strategies?

TACKLING PROBLEM CHILDREN

Problems classified:
Psychologically, problems can be classified into two types. One type is the problems 'to the children' both physically and mentally. The other type is the problems 'by the children' in various matters affecting the whole atmosphere of the family.
Type.I problems are related to speech, handicapped, left handedness, bad dreams, nightmares, nails biting, thumb sucking, etc.
Type.II problems are related to delinquency, aggressiveness, bullying, obstinacy, temper tantrums, telling lies, sibling rivalry, etc.

Identifying the problems:
Type.I problems are normally physical problems while the others are mental based. The former can be identified and cured if proper medical care is taken. But the later can neither be easily identified nor be cured absolutely. The parents find it difficult when the second type problems are with their children. Only experts in psychology can analyze the problems by counseling and suggest remedy. The various ‘problems by the children’ are discussed as follows.

Delinquency:
We know stealing, gambling, cheating, violence, pick pocketing, raping and similar such antisocial acts are criminal natured. If any of one such is committed by an adult, he or she is punished with penalty or imprisonment or both. When such things are done by children upto twelve years, they are called delinquencies. Again they are of two types called potential delinquents and actual delinquents. When the criminal acts are at mind level, the children are called potential delinquents and when they actually indulge in action, they are called actual delinquents. Both are equally bad and harmful to the society.
The essential feature of delinquent character whether potential or actual is due to ‘momentary pleasure seeking’ impulses arising with the children now and on. It is noteworthy that the delinquents have no control over this character or give a check against the impulses. Consequently, they continue to indulge in antisocial activities until being detected and caught with red hand. The basic reason for delinquency is the home condition and friends circle.

Aggressiveness:
Aggressiveness is a show of temper. It is sometimes normal and usual. Such character is serious when it is persistent and unusual in certain cases. Aggressive children are problem children only in case of unusual and unnecessary behavior in one hand as well as regular and persistent on the other hand.
There are two types of aggressiveness. One type is to cause damage on other objects and people. They are called the ‘sadistic’ with externalized cause from the surrounding world. The other type is to express the anger on himself and are called the ‘masochistic’ with internalized reasons. The children are tyrants in school, feel frustrated, interfere in others’ affair, need love from others, adventurous and feel unsecured.

Obstinacy:
Obstinate children are always contradicting, rebellious with others, arguing for everything, not flexible but rigid in many things. Obstinacy is similar to aggressiveness. The behavior will be somewhat rude and rough. Disobedience is another nature with obstinate children. In many cases, it is due to sibling rivalry when the parents show unequal importance for different children of their own. Obstinate children try to get the things done by such indifferent behavior towards others particularly with the parents.

Shyness and hesitation:
Feeling shyness in everything is another problem with many children. If there is meaningless shyness and hesitation, the children cannot do anything with own effort. Such children are always in the mercy of their parents and friends in getting the things done. It is a hurdle against the progress for the child and there is less chance to achieve the goal.

Fear, anger and anxiety:
These qualities are undesirable since they give a set back for doing anything with confidence. For anything, confidence is mostly needed for achieving the goal. If there is meaningless fear and anger, the child will be loosing many things to own. Fear is a submissive character and anger is destructive character. Eagerness is a desirable character while undue anxiety causes personal disappointment in some cases.

Conclusion:
Problem children are to be tackled with utmost care by the parents at home and by the teachers in school. If not, everything will be becoming worst.
It is suggested i) To monitor the children in all activities
ii) To send them to special schools if necessary
iii) To give freedom at home to some extent
iv) To separate from bad friends
v) To provide good atmosphere at home
vi) To make them realize the moral values of life
vii) To teach them good habits
viii) To make them understand the pains given to others
ix) To provide medical treatment in some cases
x) To make them realize the values of ‘good habits’ and evils of ‘bad habits’.
By close and continuous observation in general, problem children can be treated and made good citizens.

OVERCOMING BAD HABITS

Good and Bad habits:

Bad habits are only literally sounding bad since they play the role of good habits with some individuals. This is because they are justified by their way of reasoning on the defensive side though the results are not desirable to the society. It is to be unanimously accepted that bad habits are easily susceptible to any person than their counter role. It is absolutely true that they are more harmful than any other devised weapon. Unless and otherwise the individual comes to realize the dangers to the social culture, they continue to be only as good things in his conceptual justification. As such, attempts should be made by others to make the individual realize his wrong choice along with giving tips to follow in doing away with the bad habits.

i) Realizing as black dots:
The individual must be made realizing that bad habits are ruining mind towards a peaceless life. This realization cannot be effected all of a sudden but only in gradual measures. If the individual himself realizes, doing away with the undesirable habits becomes easy going. For this, he needs proper education as well as good friends.

ii) Recognizing the root cause:
If an individual is possessed with bad habits in others view, they should be focused as evils within him spoiling his self esteem resulting loss of faith and respect in the society to which he is a part. He should helped by offering counseling to discover the root cause for the same. If it is done, then the next thing to drop it away may become quite easy and enlightening.

iii) Alternative choice of approved behaviors:
Once the root cause for the bad habits is identified, the individual may be suggested convincingly to choose alternative habits but with confirmation that they are not again harmful to others. Simultaneously, there should be no loss of confidence in him to feel that he is loosing something of his own right. For example, an individual all the time chewing pawns with tobacco may be advised to use chewing gums or some sweet nuts and dry fruits. This may effect a transformation from ‘bad’ to ‘good’.

iv) Self confinence with voluntary mind:
The individual should try to convince himself that he is paving his way of life with desirable behaviors. This confidence if created voluntarily, then the process of shifting or throwing away bad habits is definite and decided.

v) Determination of mind:
If a choice is made to do away with the bad habits aiming to acquire good habits in future, there should be no oscillation in his determination at mind level. For this, the individual should practice his will power to cultivate in him better things for desirable effects as to be admitted by others. Will power alone can make the individual to be firm in his choice of good habits leaving away the bad ones.

vi) Quick action:
Once the individual realizes his status as an undesirable one and comes forward voluntarily for adopting good habits, he should act quickly to beat enemy namely bad habits. He should not think back again to reconsider. Reconsideration may sometimes collapse his strong will and whim. If time is allowed after realizing, it may tilt his mind to step down in his efforts towards better corner. So, need for quick action is desirable in this matter of breaking of bad habits.

Conclusion:
Forming bad habits is easy at first thought. But it cannot be denied that forming of good habits too is easy for an individual extending cooperation to others advice. Self realization is rare. It is the duty of the parents and teachers to help the students in this affair. Elders have a major role in molding the youngsters as good citizens.