Great Games to Sneak in at Work

Everyone needs a work break now and then.
Between meetings, meetings to prepare for other meetings, and meetings to discuss what happened in those other meetings, even the most dedicated employee needs to shift his or her focus away from the grind, if only for a few minutes.

And games are a great way to clear your head.

Playing a round of Angry Birds on your iPhone is a little too obvious, though, and odds are your company's IT department (not to mention HR) frowns on your idea of installing World of Warcraft on your work PC.

Fortunately, the web is full of great time-wasters. There have been studies indicating that playing games for an hour or so per day improve both productivity and job satisfaction. You might want to have one of those handy in case you're caught playing one of the following — as the days of the "boss" key (which would quickly hide games) are long gone. (Also, remember to mute your computer before playing.)

Canabalt

If you like it simple, you'll love Canabalt. An instant web hit that has since made its way to the App Store, it's one-button game that requires you press the spacebar to jump over gaps and objects as you try to outrun a disaster. You won't make it, of course, but that's not really the point. Addictive, intense, and perfect for short bursts of fun.

Bomboozle 2
Like Bejeweled, this is one of the many "match three" games you can find scattered across the gaming universe. What's unique about this one is the way you align those like-colored blobs. Rather than simply swapping gems, you'll connect them by either selecting a large group or drawing a line through them, letting you form much longer chains and resulting in satisfying 'pops' as you clear the board.

Desktop Tower Defense
An oldie but goodie, this addictive strategy game game racked up over 15 million play sessions  in its first few months alone. That was years ago, but it's still pretty great. Protect your territory (in this case, an actual desktop) from invaders by placing and upgrading offensive units, in some cases building a kill-zone maze for them to follow.

Portal

It doesn't have the mellifluous tone and polish of Valve Software's stellar first-person puzzle game, but this flash version of the PC and console hit actually manages to capture the essence of the series. It's not made by Valve, either, but it's noteworthy that the developer hasn't sicced its lawyers on this tribute, letting the online game find a devoted audience over the years.

Goldminer
A game doesn't have to be especially complicated to be addictive. In Goldminer, a grizzled old prospector tries to fish chunks of gold and diamonds from the ground with the help of his trusty winch. The early levels are especially easy, which can lull you into a sense of false confidence. And by the time you lose after 5-10 minutes or so, you'll find yourself determined to do better next time — which usually starts as quickly as you can hit the replay button.

Four Second Fury
Nintendo's WarioWare series was chock full of goofy, fun games that took just seconds to play. This Flash-based equivalent is the perfect diversion for the mid-day blahs. It's fast-paced enough to let you shake off the 3pm drowsiness, but won't devour hours from your day.

Papa's Taco Mia!

Ever dream of running a taco stand? Us neither, though we've definitely dreamt of this well-made time-management game after hours spent playing it. Using a wealth of ingredients, you'll build tacos to order, cooking up meat, chopping up veggies and trying your best to deliver the deliciousness on time. Good luck with that.

Lemonade Stand
Economic simulators sound boring, but this game, which challenges you to make a profit selling lemonade over a 30-day period, is actually more engaging than you think. Who knew determining ad budgets and projecting demand could be such fun?

N
Another Flash classic; you'll control a gold-hoarding, stick-figure Ninja who has to collect cash and avoid everything from mines to lasers to heat-seeking missiles all within 90 seconds. It turned out to be quite a hit as a downloadable console game, but you can play it for free during your work break.

Tower of Doom
This is a twist on the tower defense genre, only this time, you're in the tower you're hoping to defend. As villagers and armies attack, you'll build new levels onto your tower, raising it higher in the air and making it more deadly.

Source: Click Here

Great Games to Sneak in at Work

Everyone needs a work break now and then.
Between meetings, meetings to prepare for other meetings, and meetings to discuss what happened in those other meetings, even the most dedicated employee needs to shift his or her focus away from the grind, if only for a few minutes.

And games are a great way to clear your head.

Playing a round of Angry Birds on your iPhone is a little too obvious, though, and odds are your company's IT department (not to mention HR) frowns on your idea of installing World of Warcraft on your work PC.

Fortunately, the web is full of great time-wasters. There have been studies indicating that playing games for an hour or so per day improve both productivity and job satisfaction. You might want to have one of those handy in case you're caught playing one of the following — as the days of the "boss" key (which would quickly hide games) are long gone. (Also, remember to mute your computer before playing.)

Canabalt

If you like it simple, you'll love Canabalt. An instant web hit that has since made its way to the App Store, it's one-button game that requires you press the spacebar to jump over gaps and objects as you try to outrun a disaster. You won't make it, of course, but that's not really the point. Addictive, intense, and perfect for short bursts of fun.

Bomboozle 2
Like Bejeweled, this is one of the many "match three" games you can find scattered across the gaming universe. What's unique about this one is the way you align those like-colored blobs. Rather than simply swapping gems, you'll connect them by either selecting a large group or drawing a line through them, letting you form much longer chains and resulting in satisfying 'pops' as you clear the board.

Desktop Tower Defense
An oldie but goodie, this addictive strategy game game racked up over 15 million play sessions  in its first few months alone. That was years ago, but it's still pretty great. Protect your territory (in this case, an actual desktop) from invaders by placing and upgrading offensive units, in some cases building a kill-zone maze for them to follow.

Portal

It doesn't have the mellifluous tone and polish of Valve Software's stellar first-person puzzle game, but this flash version of the PC and console hit actually manages to capture the essence of the series. It's not made by Valve, either, but it's noteworthy that the developer hasn't sicced its lawyers on this tribute, letting the online game find a devoted audience over the years.

Goldminer
A game doesn't have to be especially complicated to be addictive. In Goldminer, a grizzled old prospector tries to fish chunks of gold and diamonds from the ground with the help of his trusty winch. The early levels are especially easy, which can lull you into a sense of false confidence. And by the time you lose after 5-10 minutes or so, you'll find yourself determined to do better next time — which usually starts as quickly as you can hit the replay button.

Four Second Fury
Nintendo's WarioWare series was chock full of goofy, fun games that took just seconds to play. This Flash-based equivalent is the perfect diversion for the mid-day blahs. It's fast-paced enough to let you shake off the 3pm drowsiness, but won't devour hours from your day.

Papa's Taco Mia!

Ever dream of running a taco stand? Us neither, though we've definitely dreamt of this well-made time-management game after hours spent playing it. Using a wealth of ingredients, you'll build tacos to order, cooking up meat, chopping up veggies and trying your best to deliver the deliciousness on time. Good luck with that.

Lemonade Stand
Economic simulators sound boring, but this game, which challenges you to make a profit selling lemonade over a 30-day period, is actually more engaging than you think. Who knew determining ad budgets and projecting demand could be such fun?

N
Another Flash classic; you'll control a gold-hoarding, stick-figure Ninja who has to collect cash and avoid everything from mines to lasers to heat-seeking missiles all within 90 seconds. It turned out to be quite a hit as a downloadable console game, but you can play it for free during your work break.

Tower of Doom
This is a twist on the tower defense genre, only this time, you're in the tower you're hoping to defend. As villagers and armies attack, you'll build new levels onto your tower, raising it higher in the air and making it more deadly.

Source: Click Here

Fairytale Love?



Ask any girl what they want from love and the answer will always be simple; a fairytale.

In all the movies, no matter what genre, there seems to be a fairytale love. You know the type I mean, two people are brought together, fall head over heels in love with each other but neither will admit it. They argue and break apart, they assume its the end, but we know it never is. After a lot of chasing and romantic gestures, the girl finds herself in her very own fairytale right there in the middle of ordinary everyday life.

But is there such a thing as Prince Charming? Will every girl out there really find someone who can whisk them off their feet and take them away from reality into a world where dreams come true? For many, the idea of such love is unrealistic; its make believe. As much as we submerge ourselves into the escapism offered from romantic comedies and fictional novels, the ability to have such love ourselves just doesn't seem to exist.

Every girl just wants someone to love, and in turn be loved. They want someone to wipe the tears from their eyes when they are sad, to share the laughs with when they are happy and to hold them when they need to be held.

It seems nowadays girls will put themselves out, be used and abused, allow themselves to be walked all over, when really, deep down, all they truly desire is to be wanted; to be loved.

Is there such thing as fairytale love? Are there really guys out there who will do everything and anything they can to show a girl just how much they love them? Do people in real life get serenaded from outside their bedroom windows? Do they get flowers delivered to them everyday until they forgive? Does a guy really do everything in his power to win back the girl that they realise they love, or do they simply give up? Will a guy lay with you, just to be near you and hold you in their arms til morning? Will they tell you how they feel without the prompts? Do they really do the little things that every girl longs for just to know that someone cares?

Us girls just want to believe that fairy tales are real, that romance is alive, that there is such a thing at true love, that there really is a 'happy ever after.'

Although we may have to kiss our fair share of frogs on the way, here's hoping that one day, we might meet our very own Prince Charming and find that in fact, fairytales can come true...

Fairytale Love?



Ask any girl what they want from love and the answer will always be simple; a fairytale.

In all the movies, no matter what genre, there seems to be a fairytale love. You know the type I mean, two people are brought together, fall head over heels in love with each other but neither will admit it. They argue and break apart, they assume its the end, but we know it never is. After a lot of chasing and romantic gestures, the girl finds herself in her very own fairytale right there in the middle of ordinary everyday life.

But is there such a thing as Prince Charming? Will every girl out there really find someone who can whisk them off their feet and take them away from reality into a world where dreams come true? For many, the idea of such love is unrealistic; its make believe. As much as we submerge ourselves into the escapism offered from romantic comedies and fictional novels, the ability to have such love ourselves just doesn't seem to exist.

Every girl just wants someone to love, and in turn be loved. They want someone to wipe the tears from their eyes when they are sad, to share the laughs with when they are happy and to hold them when they need to be held.

It seems nowadays girls will put themselves out, be used and abused, allow themselves to be walked all over, when really, deep down, all they truly desire is to be wanted; to be loved.

Is there such thing as fairytale love? Are there really guys out there who will do everything and anything they can to show a girl just how much they love them? Do people in real life get serenaded from outside their bedroom windows? Do they get flowers delivered to them everyday until they forgive? Does a guy really do everything in his power to win back the girl that they realise they love, or do they simply give up? Will a guy lay with you, just to be near you and hold you in their arms til morning? Will they tell you how they feel without the prompts? Do they really do the little things that every girl longs for just to know that someone cares?

Us girls just want to believe that fairy tales are real, that romance is alive, that there is such a thing at true love, that there really is a 'happy ever after.'

Although we may have to kiss our fair share of frogs on the way, here's hoping that one day, we might meet our very own Prince Charming and find that in fact, fairytales can come true...

7 Ways to Increase Your Child's Success in School

Academic success impacts our children for the rest of their lives: it influences their self-esteem, college selections, job attainment, financial success, and even their choice of spouses. 

It’s no wonder we go great lengths to give our kids an academic edge. But the good news is that parents can give their kids the edge they need without the help of elite preschools, expensive tutors, or pricey evaluations.

Here are seven surprisingly simple solutions that every parent should have in their toolbox that are proven to boost children’s school success (and we often overlook).

1.  Make sure your kids are getting enough ZZZ’s. A lack of sleep can have a serious impact on children’s abilities to learn and perform at school. So set a bedtime routine and keep to it every single night. Flashing images affect REM, so be sure to turn off the computer and television at least thirty minutes prior to bedtime. Take away the cell phones during nighttime hours—62% of kids admit they use it after the lights go out and their parents are clueless. Watch out for caffeinated sleep stealers like cold medications, chocolate, or energy-drinks.

2.  Applaud their efforts the right way. Columbia University researchers found that how we praise our kids’ schoolwork can actually enhance or impede their achievement. So instead of encouraging your child to bring home straight A’s, put the emphasis on how hard she is working. This will encourage her to persist and it will help to sustain her motivation. The findings are that kids who are praised for their persistence are more likely to blame any failure they have on not trying hard enough, rather than on a lack of ability (a belief which can discourage kids very easily). Above all, keep in mind that the grade is not what motivates top students to succeed- it’s their drive for learning.

  3.  Respect their learning style. If your son insists on plugging into his iPod when he studies, or if your daughter swears that flash cards are the only way she can learn her spelling words- listen up! While you may prefer a quiet room with no distractions when it comes to getting work done, that doesn’t mean it’s the best way for your kids to concentrate and get down to business. Harvard researcher, Howard Gardner’s work shows there are eight kinds of intelligences-or ways kids learn best-which include: musical, spatial, logical-mathematical, linguistic, bodily, intrapersonal, interpersonal and naturalist. The trick is to pay attention to your kids so you can identify which type they are and tap into that to help them be more successful.

4. Pay attention to their peers. The truth of the matter is that peer pressure can have both positive and negative consequences on a child’s education. If your child chooses friends who believe that education is important, chances are she will adopt those attitudes and put more emphasis into hitting the books harder and focusing more in class. On the flip side, if your child is best buddies with a kid who stays distracted during class, doesn’t turn in homework assignments, and rarely studies before a big test, chances are she will fall in line with their bad habits. Need proof? An Ohio State University study found that kids are more likely to have friends with future college plans if they have a warm, positive relationship with their parents. So cultivate that kind of parenting style and you’ll help your child make the right friendship decisions!”

5. Make family meals a must. A recent study by Columbia University showed that kids whose families eat regular, relaxed meals together are not only less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol and develop eating disorders-they are also more likely to achieve higher grades. Family dinners do not have to consist of gourmet, five-course meals. Serve simple, healthy meals, turn off the television and unplug the phone, and enjoy each other’s company. And if everyone in your family is on a different schedule and can’t make it to dinner- don’t worry! Consider instating an evening family snack time where everyone can review their day with each other before bedtime. The trick is to find what works best for you family and turn it into a routine.

6. Squelch the stress…at home. Research shows that the conflict kids face at home spills over into their school life and impedes their learning. In fact, family-induced stress can affect kids’ learning and behavior for up to two days following an incident. Take a vow of ‘yellibacy.’ Make your home a stress-free zone. Find ways to de-stress with your kids. Take longs walks, read together, do yoga, or have a family movie night. Be a model to them on how to disagree without it ending in a screaming match- and never engage with a screamer. Teach your kids that it’s okay for them to walk away from an argument until they are calm enough to return. Once you learn how to tune into your child’s stress signs, you’ll be able to recognize when he’s on overload so that you can intervene and help him to decompress before something comes to blows.

7.  Tailor expectations to your child’s abilities. All parents want the very best for their kids. It’s only natural! As a parent, you should consider your learning aspirations for your child like a rubber band: gently stretch but don’t snap. Every child is different, and while it's okay to encourage them to try hard and achieve their best, it’s also important to remember that ‘the best’ is different for every child. Just because your kid isn’t composing his own symphonies or writing his memoirs by age 10, it doesn’t mean that he won’t still do great things with his life. Always remember this one commandment: ‘Tailor thy parenting only to thy child’. You and your children will be happier and healthier for it.

If you want to boost your kid’s academic performance and see lasting results, it will take a few things from you: consistency, dedication, and patience. Those things are always better parenting tools than anything money can buy. And remember that no two kids are the same, even if they come from the same household. If you pay attention to the individual needs of each child and do what’s right for your child and for you, you’ll see the payoff in their attitudes and their report cards in no time.

Source : Click Here

7 Ways to Increase Your Child's Success in School

Academic success impacts our children for the rest of their lives: it influences their self-esteem, college selections, job attainment, financial success, and even their choice of spouses. 

It’s no wonder we go great lengths to give our kids an academic edge. But the good news is that parents can give their kids the edge they need without the help of elite preschools, expensive tutors, or pricey evaluations.

Here are seven surprisingly simple solutions that every parent should have in their toolbox that are proven to boost children’s school success (and we often overlook).

1.  Make sure your kids are getting enough ZZZ’s. A lack of sleep can have a serious impact on children’s abilities to learn and perform at school. So set a bedtime routine and keep to it every single night. Flashing images affect REM, so be sure to turn off the computer and television at least thirty minutes prior to bedtime. Take away the cell phones during nighttime hours—62% of kids admit they use it after the lights go out and their parents are clueless. Watch out for caffeinated sleep stealers like cold medications, chocolate, or energy-drinks.

2.  Applaud their efforts the right way. Columbia University researchers found that how we praise our kids’ schoolwork can actually enhance or impede their achievement. So instead of encouraging your child to bring home straight A’s, put the emphasis on how hard she is working. This will encourage her to persist and it will help to sustain her motivation. The findings are that kids who are praised for their persistence are more likely to blame any failure they have on not trying hard enough, rather than on a lack of ability (a belief which can discourage kids very easily). Above all, keep in mind that the grade is not what motivates top students to succeed- it’s their drive for learning.

  3.  Respect their learning style. If your son insists on plugging into his iPod when he studies, or if your daughter swears that flash cards are the only way she can learn her spelling words- listen up! While you may prefer a quiet room with no distractions when it comes to getting work done, that doesn’t mean it’s the best way for your kids to concentrate and get down to business. Harvard researcher, Howard Gardner’s work shows there are eight kinds of intelligences-or ways kids learn best-which include: musical, spatial, logical-mathematical, linguistic, bodily, intrapersonal, interpersonal and naturalist. The trick is to pay attention to your kids so you can identify which type they are and tap into that to help them be more successful.

4. Pay attention to their peers. The truth of the matter is that peer pressure can have both positive and negative consequences on a child’s education. If your child chooses friends who believe that education is important, chances are she will adopt those attitudes and put more emphasis into hitting the books harder and focusing more in class. On the flip side, if your child is best buddies with a kid who stays distracted during class, doesn’t turn in homework assignments, and rarely studies before a big test, chances are she will fall in line with their bad habits. Need proof? An Ohio State University study found that kids are more likely to have friends with future college plans if they have a warm, positive relationship with their parents. So cultivate that kind of parenting style and you’ll help your child make the right friendship decisions!”

5. Make family meals a must. A recent study by Columbia University showed that kids whose families eat regular, relaxed meals together are not only less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol and develop eating disorders-they are also more likely to achieve higher grades. Family dinners do not have to consist of gourmet, five-course meals. Serve simple, healthy meals, turn off the television and unplug the phone, and enjoy each other’s company. And if everyone in your family is on a different schedule and can’t make it to dinner- don’t worry! Consider instating an evening family snack time where everyone can review their day with each other before bedtime. The trick is to find what works best for you family and turn it into a routine.

6. Squelch the stress…at home. Research shows that the conflict kids face at home spills over into their school life and impedes their learning. In fact, family-induced stress can affect kids’ learning and behavior for up to two days following an incident. Take a vow of ‘yellibacy.’ Make your home a stress-free zone. Find ways to de-stress with your kids. Take longs walks, read together, do yoga, or have a family movie night. Be a model to them on how to disagree without it ending in a screaming match- and never engage with a screamer. Teach your kids that it’s okay for them to walk away from an argument until they are calm enough to return. Once you learn how to tune into your child’s stress signs, you’ll be able to recognize when he’s on overload so that you can intervene and help him to decompress before something comes to blows.

7.  Tailor expectations to your child’s abilities. All parents want the very best for their kids. It’s only natural! As a parent, you should consider your learning aspirations for your child like a rubber band: gently stretch but don’t snap. Every child is different, and while it's okay to encourage them to try hard and achieve their best, it’s also important to remember that ‘the best’ is different for every child. Just because your kid isn’t composing his own symphonies or writing his memoirs by age 10, it doesn’t mean that he won’t still do great things with his life. Always remember this one commandment: ‘Tailor thy parenting only to thy child’. You and your children will be happier and healthier for it.

If you want to boost your kid’s academic performance and see lasting results, it will take a few things from you: consistency, dedication, and patience. Those things are always better parenting tools than anything money can buy. And remember that no two kids are the same, even if they come from the same household. If you pay attention to the individual needs of each child and do what’s right for your child and for you, you’ll see the payoff in their attitudes and their report cards in no time.

Source : Click Here

Lair of Ancient 'Kraken' Sea Monster Possibly Discovered

A giant sea monster, the likes of the mythological kraken, may have swum Earth's ancient oceans, snagging what was thought to be the sea's top predators — school bus-size ichthyosaurs with fearsome teeth.

The kraken, which would've been nearly 100 feet (30 meters) long, or twice the size of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis, likely drowned or broke the necks of the ichthyosaurs before dragging the corpses to its lair, akin to an octopus's midden, according to study researcher Mark McMenamin, a paleontologist at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.

There is no direct evidence for the beast, though McMenaminsuggests that's because it was soft-bodied and didn't stand the test of time; even so, to make a firm case for its existence one would want to find more direct evidence.

McMenamin presented his work Monday (Oct. 10) at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Minneapolis.

Cause of death

Evidence for the kraken and its gruesome attacks comes from markings on the bones of the remains of nine 45-foot (14 meter) ichthyosaurs of the species Shonisaurus popularis, which lived during the Triassic, a period that lasted from 248 million to 206 million years ago. The beasts were the Triassic version of today's predatory giant squid-eating sperm whales.

McMenamin was interested in solving a long-standing puzzle over the cause of death of the S. popularis individuals at the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in Nevada. An expert on the site, Charles Lewis Camp of U.C. Berkeley, suggested in the 1950s that the ichthyosaurs succumbed to an accidental stranding or a toxic plankton bloom. However, nobody has been able to prove the beasts died in shallow water, with more recent work on the rocks around the fossils by Jennifer Hogler, then at the University of California Museum of Paleontoloy, suggesting they died in a deepwater environment. [See image of kraken's lair]

"I was aware that anytime there is controversy about depth, there is probably something interesting going on," McMenamin said. And when he and his daughter arrived at the park, they were struck by the remains' strangeness, particularly "a very odd configuration of bones."

The etching on the bones suggested the shonisaurs were not all killed and buried at the same time, he said. It also looked like the bones had been purposefully rearranged, likely carried to the "kraken's lair" after they had been killed. A similar behavior has been seen in modern octopus.

The markings and rearrangement of the S. popularis bones suggests an octopus-like creature (like a kraken) either drowned the ichthyosaurs or broke their necks, according to McMenamin.

The arranged vertebrae also seemed to resemble the pattern of sucker disks on a cephalopod's tentacle, with each vertebra strongly resembling a sucker made by a member of the Coleoidea, which includes octopuses, squid, cuttlefish and their relatives. The researchers suggest this pattern reveals a self-portrait of the mysterious beast.

The perfect crime?

Next, McMenamin wondered if an octopus-like creature could realistically have taken out the huge swimming predatory reptiles. Evidence is in their favor, it seems. Video taken by staff at the Seattle Aquarium showed that a large octopus in one of their large tanks had been killing the sharks.

"We think that this cephalopod in the Triassic was doing the same thing," McMenamin said. More supporting evidence: There were many more broken ribs seen in the shonisaur fossils than would seem accidental, as well as evidence of twisted necks.

"It was either drowning them or breaking their necks," McMenamin said.

So where did this kraken go? Since octopuses are mostly soft-bodied they don't fossilize well and scientists wouldn't expect to find their remains from so long ago. Only their beaks, or mouthparts, are hard and the chances of those being preserved nearby are very low, according to the researchers.

With such circumstanial evidence of "the crime," McMenamin expects his interpretation will draw skeptics. And, in fact, it has. Brian Switek, a research associate at the New Jersey State Museum, writing for Wired.com, is extremely skeptical, writing, "The McMenamins' entire case is based on peculiar inferences about the site. It is a case of reading the scattered bones as if they were tea leaves able to tell someone’s fortune. Rather than being distributed through the bonebed by natural processes related to decay and preservation, the McMenamins argue that the Shonisaurus bones were intentionally arrayed in a 'midden' by a huge cephalopod nearly 100 feet long" (McMenamin worked with his wife, Dianna Schulte McMenamin on the study.)

As for how McMenamin would respond to critics: "We're ready for this. We have a very good case," he said.

Source: Click Here