Before Getting a Pet.

Before Getting a Pet.

   Many people love having pets in their homes since pets can be a good company for humans. Having a pet can be very rewarding. it gives loyalty, friendship, and can even help to calm the stress after a hard day's work. Many people adopt pets irresponsibly. As a result, every day there are more abandoned pets on the streets. Adopting an animal is a great decision.

   Before choosing a pet, it is important to consider some aspects that help to know if there are possibilities of acquiring a pet. First, the economic cost of keeping a pet. Some pets live more than ten years. Consequently, maintaining their food, health and hygiene care, and the purchase of items for pets are a waste of money in a long time. Second, the problems that a pet can cause as flea infestations, scratched furniture, accidents of animals that are not educated to be in house, and unexpected medical emergencies that are unfortunate but are common aspects to the possession of an animal. And finally, who will take care of the pet when the owner is not at home. Some options are to have friends, trusted neighbors, or money to pay a shelter or a hostel to take care of the pet while is alone.

   There are a lot of pets in the shelters that were welcomed by people who did not think about the responsibilities of having an animal at home. Sharing life with an animal companion can bring incredible compensations, but only if you are willing to dedicate the necessary time and money, responsibility and love for the rest of the animal's life. A responsible adopter should think about the welfare of his pet.

Readings for Children.

Readings for Children. 

     Acquiring the habit of reading in childhood means that the child will be a future reader. In addition, children's books are a fantastic vehicle for their training. As a result, books develop the imagination and provide a cultural value in the education of children. Reading is the prodigious key to information, culture, the world of fiction, and fantasy. The importance of reading in children is based on its benefits when it comes to studying and acquiring knowledge. The collaboration of the parents is necessary to promote the learning process. 

     Reading and sharing books with children is a task that can become not only fun, but also educational for parents and children. Although it is incredible, it is recommended to put children in contact with reading from about one year of age, with storybooks with large pictures and little text. Spending time with children reading and telling them stories is worth a lot, because the effects can be very positive. 

     In the short term, reading allows enriching the adult-child relationship, familiarizing the child with texts; as a result, showing that the small black signs have a meaning. Both the images and the texts will help to expand and organize the universe of the child: dominating the real environment, knowing the world, and knowing himself. In addition, the texts teach future experiences. 

   Reading helps the development of the child's mental abilities. Thus, developing memory, imagination, and language: expanding the vocabulary and learning new phrases that are increasingly complicated. As a consequence, being continually in contact with words and phrases will help the child to start formulating his first sentences. Children can learn all kinds of lessons thanks to stories. 

     Let the child choose the readings. If he does not finish a story, perhaps it is not due to laziness or inconstancy, he has simply made a mistake in the choice. If a child is fascinated by a topic, he will voluntarily decide to stop to understand the text, helped by the images. Being in contact with books from an early age increases the chances that children will love reading in the future.

Old Lighthouses.

Old Lighthouses. 

   The origin of maritime signals goes back to the first attempts at navigation, the first attempts to explore new routes for trade. As the trade increased, it became necessary to venture to greater distances, thus began to use bonfires in points of easy nighttime location. In order to gain elevation and preserve them from storms, artificial structures were built, which improved as navigation did. Later reflective surfaces will be placed to amplify the light and make it visible at a greater distance. 

     The name of lighthouse could come from the Greek word "light" or "brightness". But there are indications that the Libyans and Kutites had already built towers of fire throughout Lower Egypt. Another explanation of the origin of the term "lighthouse" is the name of the island of "Pharos" in Alexandria, where the most representative lighthouse of all times was built. Another theory points to the Hellenic word "Pharah", Egyptian name of the Sun.The oldest lighthouse from which written evidence is preserved is that of Sigea (650 BC). 

   According to the ancient authors, the lighthouse of Alexandria was far from the coast, however, modern commentators place it at the mouth of the Nile. Its origin is also related to the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great. It was built under the reign of Ptolemy II by the engineer and architect Sóstrato de Cnido, who engraved his name in stone and on it he applied a layer of cement with the name of the king. Over time the layer of cement fell and his name appeared on the stone. 

   The Colossus of Rhodes was a Greek statue that is qualified as another of the seven wonders of the world, but it is not known exactly if it was used as a lighthouse. The legend says that the ships had to pass close to him when they entered the port. It was visible all over the horizon. The author of the sculpture was Cares de Lindos, who committed suicide for exhausting the budget when half of the work was missing to finish. And Lachus finished it. The legend tells of a naked bronze figure. Its right arm raised a cup, where the bonfire was placed, which was accessed through stairs inside. 

      The lighthouses are an ancient invention that even in our days continues to be important for seafarers. Over time, the headlights have been evolving and now there are modern headlights that are automatic. Although, there are very old lighthouses with dozens of years, there are also very modern maritime lighthouses, equipped with the latest technology. The distance from where the light of a lighthouse can be seen depends on several factors as the power of the lamp, the transparency of the air, and by the height of the lighthouse.

Effects of Social Media.

Effects of Social Media. 

 Social media are applications, websites and computer-based technologies that allow for the sharing of information, networking for careers, ideas. It involves the use of internet-based applications, user generated content such as videos, digital photos, post and comments, social networks and virtual communities. But how it affects people and the society. 

   Some of the positive effects of social media include the opening up of communication barriers seeing as people all over the world can interact over these platforms without having to incur the heavy charges of telephone calls like before. Families get to communicate and people get to make new friends and learn about different cultures. Students can use the platforms for research and discussion on curriculum topics. Social media has changed the way business takes place in recent times with traditional methods of marketing. Relationships are built by using social media both business wise and on individual levels while communication is speeded up. 

   Social media also has its share of negative effects that affect the society and individuals differently. There is the evidence of cyberbullying that takes place where people are bullied by their online friends and terrorized in front of others. These kinds of attacks can leave mental scars and sometimes lowers the self-esteem of those bullied sometimes even driving them to suicide. The anonymity that is offered by social media serves to inhabit dark impulses of people who enjoy bullying others while hiding their true identity. 

   Social media used in businesses as a means of communicating with customers and marketing services and products can also lead to low productivity of employees. The social media sites provide a great distraction to employees who find themselves interacting with friends instead of carrying out the tasks required of them. Researches done show that companies sometimes lose millions when productivity reduces due to these social sites. 

     Actions that can be taken to prevent these negative effects include the use of new technology that blocks the use of social media during work hours to increase the productivity of employees. Parents should be urged to make routine checks of their children’s use of social media to avoid any cases of them being targets of cyber bullying. 

    People need to be aware of the positive and negative effects of social media and encouraged not to spend too much time on it to avoid the occurrence of these negative effects. Instead, they should be encouraged to concentrate on their physical surroundings instead of technology since it poses harm to the human mind, relationships between people and even behavior of individuals.

Memories of Heidi.

Memories of Heidi.

    When I was a child, I used to read books and watch movies with fantasy and magic. Suddenly, I grew up and I forgot all these stories. Last month, I found a video of the story of Heidi. Now, I am 22 and I started to remember the feeling of getting home after school and watching the story of Heidi. 

     My two sisters and my little brother wanted to know this story. So we started to watch it. At the beginning, all the story was very exciting: Heidi knew her grandfather, she played with Pedro who was a child of the town, and they went to the mountains to care for the sheep and goats of Heidi's grandfather. I liked all their adventures in the mountains. 

     In the middle of the story something unexpected happens, after a while the aunt of Heidi returns with the intention of taking the little girl to Frankfurt, because the aunt had known a rich family called Sesemman who needed a person to accompany her invalid daughter. After a strong argument, the grandfather gave up and Heidi had to face a new life away from the mountains that she loved so much. 

     When Heidi arrived in Germany, she met Clara, who for many years had been lying in a wheelchair. Although Heidi and Clara were good friends, Heidi was very sad and sick because she missed her grandfather. 

     I stopped watching that episode and I looked at the faces of my sisters. I noticed that my older sister was crying. My little brother started to laugh at her, but she did not stop crying. since then my sister always remembers that episode as the saddest of all the story. 

     After watching all the episodes, I felt nostalgic because I remembered when I was a little girl and I enjoyed Heidi's adventures because that story was a good part of my childhood.

Fast Food and Its Effects on Health.

Fast Food and Its Effects on Health.

     Fast food forms an economical and convenient way to eat, which has become very popular for children and young people. On the one hand consuming fast food from time to time does not pose any danger. On the other hand, consuming it regularly or having it as a habit can seriously damage health. Due to its low nutritional contribution and the high content of fat, calories and sodium, the usual consumption of fast food, can lead to a variety of health problems. for example: weight gain, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. 

   Eating fast food daily contributes to weight gain and obesity. Since fast food is very high in fat and calories, weight gain can occur due to the consumption of more calories than those that are spent. Those calories are empty calories which do not provide any nutrients for the health of the body. Eating this type of food every day can lead to weight gain as well as high-grade obesity. 

   Fast food also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart failure and atherosclerosis. The consumption of fast food, which are foods that contain saturated fats and trans fats, increase the blood levels of total cholesterol and bad cholesterol, thus lowering the levels of good cholesterol, which increases the risk of coronary heart disease. 

    People can feel fatigue and weakness, by replacing healthy food with fast food. fast food lacks essential nutrients such as proteins or vitamins that the body requires to stay healthy and functional. When eating fast food is the feeling of being full and satisfied, in contrast this food does not provide energy, so in a short time it is normal to feel weak and tired. 

     There are many other negative effects of junk food for health. For example, it can cause digestive problems, cause kidney diseases, damage the liver, or increase the risk of cancer. In spite of all these negative effects, these foods are consumed more and more and for many people fast food has become a way of life.

Endangered Animals.

Endangered Animals. 

     Unfortunately, there are many species that today are at risk of extinction. Many of them, due to the action of man and global climate change, which is also an indirect effect of the activities of the human being. Some species of animals are already condemned to disappear in a few years. although there are many organizations that work to preserve them, every day these animals are suffering hunger and resisting changes in their habitat environment. 

     The polar bear or white bear is one of the main species in danger of extinction. This type of mammal is one of the most threatened species on Earth, and some bears could not live more than a century. Currently there are 5 of the 19 species of polar bears in a state of vulnerability due to the decrease in numbers of its population. the melting of the Arctic, which is the natural habitat of polar bears, is the main reason for the danger of polar bears. It is estimated that there are only slightly more than 20,000 bear specimens. prohibiting the hunting of bears, restricting hunting in protected areas, and fining irresponsible hunters are some conservation efforts by governments. 

     The situation in which the Java rhinoceros is found is very dramatic, not only because there are few specimens, but also for the main reason that drives them to disappear. Currently, the species is in critical danger, since only two wild populations are known and none of them in captivity. It is possibly the rarest big mammal on the planet. poaching is the main factor responsible for its extinction, since its horns have a great value. As a result of wars such as the Vietnam War, rhinos have lost their habitat in Southeast Asia. 

    The tiger is a wild animal and is the largest cat in the world. there are less than 4,000 tigers in the world that live in their natural habitat and their survival is increasingly threatened, suffering an acceleration in recent years. forest deforestation and overhunting are also the main causes that threaten this species. Tigers are hunted for their fur, which is paid at high prices in the market. Denouncing the sales of tiger skins is a way to help reduce tiger hunting. 

   There are many things to do to prevent endangered animals disappear. However, not all of these processes are entirely the fault of human actions. Some actions to do to protect animals that are in danger of extinction are the following: be ecological avoiding consuming certain products, reducing the consumption of others, reusing objects, and recycling some materials. In addition, helping the different associations, organizations and governments to fight against the illegal trafficking of animals and poaching is another way to help protect all species of animals that are in danger of extinction.

Children Watching Less Television.

Children Watching Less Television. 

     In the past when there was no television or it was an expensive device that not all families could buy it, children used to help their parents in household chores or playing with friends outdoors. Nowadays children spend many hours in front of television. Parents who work long hours and cannot be with their children, use television in order to keep their children distracted or entertained. By spending too much time watching television every day, it can cause problems in children's physical and mental health. 

     Spending several hours watching television can lead to depression problems because people are kept in a state of isolation and loneliness. As well as television programs with complicated themes and emotionally unstable characters influence the mood and emotions of people. if a child starts watching a television program every day at the same time, he cannot do the school's tasks by watching TV. 

     To reduce the time children spend watching television is advisable to set a maximum time. In this way, children will gradually learn to select what they like best, without acquiring the habit of sitting in front of the television and watching everything that appears on TV. It is necessary to create a plan to set the time to watch TV as well as the type of program appropriate for children. 

     Reduce the number of televisions at home. If children do not have television in front of them all the time, they will not be tempted to watch it. TVs in the room is not a good idea if we want children not to watch too much TV. Also, parents cannot have control of the type of programs that children watch when they have TV in the room. Having only one television at home for the whole family is a good way to avoid spending too much time in front of a screen. 

     By taking hours off to watch TV for children, it is important to fill the children's free time with other activities that are interesting for them, such as doing sports, outdoor activities, crafts or music courses. Moreover, children act on what they see, so if they see adults spend all day in front of the TV, the children will do the same. It is important to mention that the best teaching for children is to give the best example of how to do things well and obey the rules at home.