How do you know Santa has to be a man?

No woman is going to wear the same outfit year after year!What do you call Santa's helpers?Subordinate Clauses.

Why are women's breasts like a train set a kid gets at Christmas?Because they were originally made for children but Dad wants to play with them.

Why does Santa wear red underwear?Because he's a man - he did all his laundry in one load.
What does Santa Claus like to do in his garden?Hoe, hoe, hoe!

Did you hear about the dyslexic devil worshipper?He sold his soul to Santa.
What do you call people who are afraid of Santa?Claustrophobic!

What do you call a teenager who doesn't believe in Santa?A rebel without a Claus!
Why is Christmas just like a day at the office?You do all the work and the fat guy in the suit gets all the credit!

Christamas tree

The Origin :

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce.The Christmas tree custom gradually became popular in other parts of Europe. In England Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria made Christmas trees fashionable by decorating the first English Christmas tree at Windsor castle with candles and a variety of sweets, fruits and gingerbread in 1841. Of course, soon other wealthy English families followed suit, using all kinds of extravagant items as decorations. Charles Dickens described such a tree as being covered with dolls, miniature furniture, tiny musical instruments, costume jewelry, toy guns and swords, fruit and candy, in the 1850s.Most of the 19th century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania. They put one on show to raise money for a local church. In 1851 a tree was set up outside of a church. The people of the parish thought it such an outrage and a return to paganism and asked the minister to take it down.By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas to reach from floor to ceiling.The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts.Electricity helped introduce Christmas lights making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country. All important buildings, private and public, signaled the beginning of the Christmas holiday with the tree ceremony.Early Christmas trees had, in place of angels, figures of fairies - the good spirits, though horns and bells were once used to frighten off evil spirits.In Poland, Christmas trees used to be decked with angels, peacocks and other birds as well as many, many stars. In Sweden, trees are decorated with brightly painted wooden ornaments and straw figures of animals and children. In Denmark, tiny Danish flags along with mobiles of bells stars, snowflakes and hearts are hung on Christmas trees. Japanese Christians prefer tiny fans and paper lanterns. Lithuanians cover their trees with straw bird cages, stars, and geometric shapes. The straw sends a wish for good crops in the coming year. Czechoslovakian trees display ornaments made from painted egg shells.A Ukrainian Christmas tree has a spider and web for good luck. Legend has it that a poor woman with nothing to put on her children's tree woke on Christmas morning to find the branches covered with spider webs turned to silver by the rising sun.

Legends of the Christmas Tree :

Many legends exist about the origin of the Christmas tree. One is the story of Saint Boniface, an English monk who organized the Christian Church in France and Germany. One day, as he traveled about, he came upon a group of pagans gathered around a great oak tree about to sacrifice a child to the god Thor. To stop the sacrifice and save the child's life Boniface felled the tree with one mighty blow of his fist. In its place grew a small fir tree. The saint told the pagan worshipers that the tiny fir was the Tree of Life and stood the eternal life of Christ.
Another legend holds that Martin Luther, a founder of the Protestant faith, was walking through the forest one Christmas Eve. As he walked he was awed by the beauty of millions of stars glimmering through the branches of the evergreen trees. So taken was he by this beautiful sight that he cut a small tree and took it home to his family. To recreate that same starlight beauty he saw in the wood, he placed candles on all its branches.Yet another legend tells of a poor woodsman who long ago met a lost and hungry child on Christmas Eve. Though very poor himself, the woodsman gave the child food and shelter for the night. The woodsman woke the next morning to find a beautiful glittering tree outside his door. The hungry child was really the Christ Child in disguise. He created the tree to reward the good man for his charity.Others feel the origin of the Christmas tree may be the "Paradise Play." In medieval times most people could not read and plays were used to teach the lessons of the bible all over Europe. The Paradise Play, which showed the creation of man and the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden was performed every year on December 24th. The play was performed in winter creating a slight problem. An apple tree was needed but apple trees do not bare fruit in winter so a substitution was made. Evergreens were hung with apples and used instead.Another story comes from Germany about spiders and Christmas trees. Long ago families allowed their animals to come inside and view the Christmas trees on Christmas Eve. Because the Christ Child was born in a stable, they felt that the animals should take part in the Christmas celebration. But spiders weren’t allowed because housewives didn't want cobwebs all over everything. of course the spiders were unhappy about this, so one year they complained to the Christ Child. He felt sorry for them and decided that late at night He would let them in to see the trees. The excited spiders loved the Christmas trees and all night long they crawled about in the branches, leaving them covered with webs. On Christmas morning the housewives saw what the spiders had done. But instead of being angry, they were delighted. For in the night the Christ Child had turned all of the cobwebs into sparkling tinsel. And even today, tinsel is often used to decorate Christmas trees to add that same sparkle the Christ Child gave the cobwebs long ago, in Germany.

Decorating the Christmas Tree: A Timeless Tradition:

Enter any department store from now until New Year's and aisles packed with plastic ornaments, glistening garland, and blinking lights will greet you at every turn. What was once a simple family tradition has become a multimillion-dollar industry with decorations becoming more elaborate and costly each year. Where did this tradition begin and how did it become such an integral part of the holiday festivities?ike the majority of practices associated with Christmas, the tradition arose from the intermingling of ancient Roman beliefs and the spreading Christian religion. Early Christians believed certain trees flowered unseasonably on Christmas Eve as homage to Jesus' birth. This belief combined with the Roman practice of decorating their homes with greenery for the New Year formed the basis of our modern fascination with icicles and fancy angel tree toppers.The decorating of various structures and trees has been recorded in Europe from the 17th century on, but the first written account of a "Christmas tree" did not appear until 1605. According to John Matthew's The Winter Solstice, an anonymous German citizen that year recorded trees being decorated with "roses cut out of many colored paper, apples, wafers, gold-foil, [and] sweets". What about chaser lights and oodles of wrapped gifts? It was more than 100 years later when Professor Karl Gottfried Kissling of the University of Wittenburg wrote of people adding candles for decorations and placing children's wrapped branches around the bottom of the small indoor trees.Even though the practice was initially condemned by religious leaders, it spread from Germany to Finland through Norway and Denmark. In 1840, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of England endorsed the tradition by displaying their own ornately decorated tree at their palace. By the early 1900s, decorating the tree was as much a part of Christmas as Santa Claus and opening presents.Of course, the early trees were decorated differently than today's evergreens. Early ornaments were usually hand-crafted or edible. Nuts, candies, fruits, and pieces of colored paper were the most common. The average modern tree is decorated with a combination of store-bought ornaments and family memorabilia with several strings of lights strewn over the branches instead of candles, but no matter how the tree is decorated it still symbolizes a timeless Christmas tradition of families gathered together exchanging presents and love.

PEACE

Peace is a state of harmony, the absence of hostility. This term is applied to describe a cessation of violent international conflict; in this international context, peace is the opposite of war. Peace can also describe a relationship between any parties characterized by respect, justice, and goodwill.
More generally, peace can pertain to an individual relative to her or his environment, as peaceful can describe calm, serenity, and silence. This latter understanding of peace can also pertain to an individual's sense of himself or herself, as to be "at peace" with one's self would indicate the same serenity, calm, and equilibrium within oneself.

Happiness

Albert Schweitzer:
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

Albert Schweitzer:
I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.

Albert Schweitzer:
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.


Algernon Black:
Why not let people differ about their answers to the great mysteries of the Universe? Let each seek one's own way to the highest, to one's own sense of supreme loyalty in life, one's ideal of life. Let each philosophy, each world-view bring forth its truth and beauty to a larger perspective, that people may grow in vision, stature and dedication.

Allan K. Chalmers:
The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

Amy Lowell:
Happiness: We rarely feel it.I would buy it, beg it, steal it,Pay in coins of dripping bloodFor this one transcendent good.

Anne Frank:
We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.

Anne Frank:
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.

Aristotle:
Happiness belongs to the self-sufficient

Benjamin Disraeli:
Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.

Bertrand Russel:
The happiness that is genuinely satisfying is accompanied by the fullest exercise of our faculties and the fullest realization of the world in which we live.

The Beauty Foods

What To Eat Each Day For Looks And Health
Apple Cider Vinegar Beside having amazing healing properties, apple cider vinegar keeps skin supple. It's heavy concentration of enzymes helps peel off dead skin cells. It breaks down fat and helps food digest properly.
Carrots Maintain the outer layer of the skin to prevent premature aging. What you'll find in is the same as you'll get in Retin A.
Cheese To ensure a happy smile, add a slice or two of hard cheeese into your diet. Choose Swiss, cheddar, or gouda to block bacteria in the mouth and prevent cavities.
Citrus Fruits Hold the skin cells together by forming collagen. Collagen cannot be added to the skin topically, which is why fruits and fruit juices are such an important part of the daily diet.
Cranberries Keep urinary tract lining healthy.
Garlic Helps combat wrinkles and restores tissue.
Nonfat Yogurt High in calcium, which keeps your smile white and your teeth cavity-free.
Sweet Potatoes Vitamin A is known to be a remarkable anti-wrinkling agent. Sweet potatoes are full of this important vitamin. The pleasing results is clearer, smoother skin.
Tomatoes These "love apples" will keep you loving your skin. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.
Wheat Germ If you want to get rid of pimples quickly and efficiently, make sure to include two or three tablespoons a day in your diet. Add it to cereal, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
You should choose foods that you enjoy, of course, but you need to include the following:
Vegetables Three to five servings daily. Try to include one serving of raw, leafy greens.
Meat Have no more than three three ounce servings a day. Cut off all fat. Try to make two servings of turkey or chicken. One serving of fish a day is ideal.
Fruits Two to three servings daily. A 1/2 cup of chopped or sliced fruit is a serving.
Dairy At least two servings daily. A serving would be eight ounces of milk or yogurt.
Fats Salad dressing, cooking oil, butter, and mayonnaise should be limited to two servings a day.

Concentrating when studying

Concentration: the ability to direct your thinking
The art or practice of concentration,no matter if studying biology or playing pool,is to focus on the task at hand and eliminate distraction
We all have the ability to concentrate -- sometimes. Think of the times when you were "lost" in something you enjoy: a sport, playing music, a good game, a movie. Total concentration.
But at other times,
Your mind wanders from one thing to another
Your worries distract you
Outside distractions take you away before you know it
The material is boring, difficult, and/or not interesting to you.

These tips may help:

They involve
What you can control in your studies
Best practices
What you can control in your studies:
"Here I study"Get a dedicated space, chair, table, lighting and environmentAvoid your cellphone or telephonePut up a sign to avoid being disturbed or interruptedIf you like music in the background, OK, but don't let it be a distraction. (Research on productivity with music versus without music is inconclusive)
Stick to a routine, efficient study scheduleAccommodate your day/nighttime energy levels See our Guide on Setting goals and making a scheduling
FocusBefore you begin studying, take a few minutes to summarize a few objectives, gather what you will need, and think of a general strategy of accomplishment
IncentivesCreate an incentive if necessary for successfully completing a task,such as calling a friend, a food treat, a walk, etc.For special projects such as term papers, design projects, long book reviews, set up a special incentive
Change topicsChanging the subject you study every one to two hours for variety
Vary your study activitiesAlternate reading with more active learning exercisesIf you have a lot of reading. Perhaps a group will be best? Creating study questions?Ask your teacher for alternative strategies for learning. The more active your learning, the better.
Take regular, scheduled breaks that fit youDo something different from what you've been doing (e.g., walk around if you've been sitting), and in a different area RewardsGive yourself a reward when you've completed a task

Best Practices:

You should notice improvement in a few daysBut like any practice, there will be ups, levels, and downs:
It will benefit other activities you do!
Be Here NowThis deceptively simple strategy is probably the most effective.
When you notice your thoughts wandering astray, say to yourself
"Be here now"
and gently bring your attention back to where you want it.
For example:You're studying and your attention strays to all the other homework you have, to a date, to the fact that you're hungry. Say to yourself
"Be here now"
Focus back on subject with questions, summarizing, outlining, mapping, etc. and maintain your attention there as long as possible.
When it wanders again, repeat
"Be here now"
and gently bring your attention back, and continue this practise, repeatedly. It will work!
Do not try to keep particular thoughts out of your mind. For example, as you sit there, close your eyes and think about anything you want to for the next three minutes except cookies. Try not to think about cookies...When you try not to think about something, it keeps coming back. ("I'm not going to think about cookies. I'm not going to think about cookies.")
You might do this hundreds of times a week. Gradually, you'll find that the period of time between your straying thoughts gets a little longer every few days. So be patient and keep at it. You'll see some improvement!
Do not constantly judge your progress. Take it easy on yourself. Good practice is enough to say that you did it, and that you are on the road. The mind is always different and the practice unfolds over time with many ups and downs.
Worry or Think TimeResearch has proven that people who use a worry time find themselves worrying 35 percent less of the time within four weeks.
Set aside a specific time each day to think aboutthe things that keep entering your mind and interfering with your concentration.
When you become aware of a distracting thought,remind yourself that you have a special time to think about them,
Let the thought go,perhaps with "Be here now,"
Keep your appointmentto worry or think about those distracting issues
For example, set 4:30 to 5 p.m. as your worry/think time. When your mind is side-tracked into worrying during the day, remind yourself that you have a special time for worrying. Then, let the thought go for the present, and return your focus to your immediate activity.
Tallying your mental wanderings.
Have a 3 x 5 inch card handy. Draw two lines dividing the card into three sections. Label them "morning," "afternoon," and "evening."
Each time your mind wanders, make a tally in the appropriate section. Keep a card for each day. As your skills build, you'll see the number of tallies decrease
Maximize your energy level
When is your energy level at its highest? When are your low energy times?Study your most difficult courses at your high energy times. Sharpest early in the evening? Study your most difficult course then. Later in the evening? Work on your easier courses or the ones you enjoy the most.
Most students put off the tough studies until later in the evening when they become tired, and it is more difficult to concentrate. Reverse that. Study hard subjects at peak energy times; easier ones later. This alone can help to improve your concentration
Visualize
As an exercise before you begin studying, think of those times when concentration is not a problem for you--no matter what situation. Now try to feel or image yourself in that situation. Recapture that experience immediately before your studies by placing yourself in that moment.. Repeat before each study session.

Preparing to Study:

A Good Study Place

You need a good study place to be prepared to study. You should be able to answer YES to all of the following questions:
1. Is my Study Place available to me whenever I need it?
Your Study Place does you little good if you cannot use it when you need it. If you are using a Study Place that you must share with others for any reason, work out a schedule so that you know when you can use it.
2. Is my Study Place free from interruptions?
It is important to have uninterrupted study time. You may have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door or take the phone off the hook.
3. Is my Study Place free from distractions?
Research shows that most students study best in a quiet environment. If you find that playing a stereo or TV improves your mood, keep the volume low.
4. Does my Study Place contain all the study materials I need?
Be sure your Study Place includes reference sources and supplies such as pens and pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, and whatever else you might need. If you use a computer for your schoolwork, it should be in your Study Place .

5. Does my Study Space contain a large enough desk or table?
While working on an assignment or studying for a test, use a desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need. Allow enough room for writing and try to avoid clutter.
6. Does my Study Place have enough storage space?
You need enough room to store your study materials. Be sure you have enough storage space to allow you to keep your desktop or other work surface clear of unnecessary materials that can get in the way.
7. Does my Study Place have a comfortable chair?
A chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain that will interfere with your studying. A chair that is too comfortable might make you sleepy. Select a chair in which you can sit for long periods while maintaining your attention.
8. Does my Study Place have enough light?
The amount of light you need depends on what you are doing. The important thing is that you can clearly see what you need to see without any strain or discomfort.
9. Does my Study Place have a comfortable temperature?
If your Study Place is too warm, you might become sleepy. If it is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become unclear. Select a temperature at which your mind and body function best.
Having a good Study Place is important for good studying.

Nurturing Teen Faith
By Heather SellsCBN News
January 26, 2007

CWNews.com

The latest research on teens shows that while many may "say" they believe, their faith is often shallow or misguided. It's a big concern for church leaders and parents, who are all too aware of the stakes involved.
A recent teen rally, may have appeared to be a typical razzle-dazzle youth event, but it was much more serious.
Ron Luce, founder of Teen Mania Ministries, said, "Most people come to Christ before they're 20--about 90 percent. We've got about 5 years before most of this generation is in their 20s. "Luce is a man on a mission. He is so concerned about today's kids not grabbing hold of their faith--that along with the National Association of Evangelicals, he's launching a campaign to double the size of youth groups at its 40,000-member churches.
"People always say 'Oh, we just care about quality, not quantity,'" Luce said. "Well why not both? Jesus didn't die for 10 quality people, he died for the world."
That's a high mark to reach for youth pastors like Nancy Stellabotta from southern Maryland. On some nights, her group consists of just a handful of kids.
But Stellabotta knows full well she's in a battle against a culture that lures today's teens away from a walk of faith.
It's apparent in the easy 24/7 access to more provocative media, peer pressure around drinking, drugs and sex -- and a politically correct world that says anything goes.
Youth group member Jeannette Wheeler said, "Sometime you fear that people won't think less of you, but 'different' of you."
Plus, like adults, many kids are so busy that it's easy to neglect their relationship with God. "Sometimes after work I'm so tired, I just want to go to sleep," said youth group member Carly Morasch. And then it's like, 'I'll just pray tomorrow.'"
Stellabotta's strategy is one that many youth pastors are adopting: focus more on substance and less on the fun and games.
Stellabotta said, "It needs to be a heart change. There needs to be some level of conviction that is going to carry somebody through the tough times when they get out on their own and they have to make decisions without mom and dad in their life."
Her instinct to dig deep is right on with the latest research that shows even so-called Christian kids are often clueless about the foundations of their faith.
In interviews with more than 200 adolescents, Christian Smith, an evangelical sociologist, found that many teens are content in the church of their parents.
In fact, half of all youth say their faith is "very or extremely important."
But even with so many teens saying their faith is important to them, many still have a hard time explaining what it is that they believe.
Smith said, "They didn't have a theological language to draw on. They didn't have canned answers. We would ask, 'Who's Jesus?' 'Uh.' They wouldn't know. They couldn't even say 'Son of God.' Most."
So if teens can't explain their faith -- what do they truly believe?
Smith says, in reality, many evangelical youth are practicing a New-Agey type philosophy, which is, "The purpose of life is to be happy, to be fulfilled. God does not need to be involved in our lives particularly, until we have a problem."
It's a belief system that teens may adopt without even realizing where they're headed. Some Maryland kids told us their thoughts about God.
Youth group member Carly Morasch said, "He's the only Way, and the only Person who can give you peace and fulfill you."
"I believe that He is a Comforter. He is like a Father figure," said youth group member Enoch Paku. Youth group member Jeannette Wheeler said, "To me, God is my Father. He's the one thing in my life that keeps it from falling apart."
Eighteen-year-old Wheeler lives in rural Maryland with her mom, whose faith she greatly admires. "I'm not half as strong as my mother," Wheeler said. "My mother's very strong."
Youth ministry has traditionally thought kids grow best spiritually with other kids -- but the thinking has changed.
Youth consultant Mark Devries said, "If you're going to learn to be a Christian adult, the best place to do that is around Christian adults."
Devries intentionally uses loads of adult volunteers in his youth group--and emphasizes the influence of parents.
It's an influence, says Smith, that has been greatly underestimated.
"A lot of parents tell me--'Now that my daughter's turned 13, she doesn't listen to me anymore.' And I can understand why that's their perception, but in most cases it's just not true. Their teenagers really are still listening to them," Smith said.
The ultimate purpose of parents and youth leaders: to nurture a faith that changes kids who then change the world around them.
And challenges like rappelling and obstacle courses are simply a metaphor for what Luce is trying to do with his Teen Mania Honor Academy in Texas.
Here it's all about spiritual warfare -- training Christian warriors to win their world to Christ. Luce says he's not concerned that the military symbolism may be politically incorrect.
He said, "I don't think we have a choice, because young people need a new paradigm of what it means to be a follower of Christ. It's not just saying a little prayer and living my life like everyone else. I've adopted a new lifestyle and I've got a new commander-in-chief."
And many youth pastors agree: Luce's urgency is essential, if we're to help a new generation define -- and live out -- a faith that's true to the Gospel of Christ.
For more information on winning and discipling teens visit the Teen Mania web site.

Acne Remedies
Cathy Wong
What is Acne?

Acne is a common skin condition. Acne lesions can appear as whiteheads, blackheads, small pink bumps called papules, or pimples (pus-filled red lesions). More severe forms can result in firm, painful nodules and cysts and may lead to scarring. Acne most often occurs on the face but can also develop on the shoulders, back, chest, legs, and buttocks.
Acne Remedies
Here are some home remedies and natural treatments for acne.
· Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a popular home remedy for acne.
· It is an essential oil that is diluted and applied topically to acne lesions.
How is tea tree oil believed to work? Tea tree oil contains a constituent called terpinen-4-ol that's thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's anti-bacterial activity. Because tea tree oil can kill bacteria, applying topical tea tree oil to acne lesions is believed to kill Propionibacterium acnes, the skin-dwelling bacteria involved in causing acne. Read more about tea tree oil and acne: Tea Tree Oil for Acne? and learn more about Tea Tree Oil
· Zinc
Zinc is another popular home remedy for acne. A couple of research studies have found that zinc is somewhat effective. While it was more effective than a placebo, antibiotic medication was still more effective. In light of this, it may not be the best option when scarring is a possibility.
Side effects of zinc include digestive upset and a metallic taste in the mouth. At high doses, zinc may lead to copper deficiency, weakened immune function, anemia, and heart problems. There is some concern that higher doses may reduce levels of HDL ("good") chholesterol.
Zinc may also interfere with the absorption of magnesium and iron from food and supplements. It can interfere with the absorption of tetracycline and fluoroquinolone antibiotics and penicillamine. There is also some concern that a particular diuretic, amiloride, can reduce zinc excretion and lead to a toxic build-up in the body.

ACNE

Contrary to what you may have heard, acne is not caused by dirty skin, eating chocolate, or drinking lots of soda. Acne is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin and an accumulation of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, which leads to inflammation in pores. Oil glands become stimulated when hormones become active during puberty, which is why people are likely to get acne in their teens. Because the tendency to develop acne is partly genetic, if other people in your family had (or have) acne, you may be more likely to develop it too.
Although there is no surefire way to prevent acne, there are several ways to help reduce the number and severity of your breakouts:
Washing your skin is essential (it helps remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells that can clog your pores), but washing too much can actually cause damage by overdrying your skin or irritating existing acne.

Remember to wash after exercising because sweat can clog your pores and make your acne worse. If you work around greasy food or oil or if you've been sweating from heat or because you've been working hard, wash your face and other acne-prone areas as soon as possible.
If you use skin products, such as lotions or makeup, look for ones that are noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic, which means that they don't clog pores.
If you can't live without your hair spray or styling gel, be sure to keep them away from your face as much as possible. Many hair products contain oils that can make acne worse.
If you get acne on areas such as your chest or back, avoid wearing tight clothes, which can rub and cause irritation.
Treatments
For some people, over-the-counter (OTC) products work to help clear up acne. It may take some time to find one that works best for you — some may not do the trick and others may cause irritation. OTC acne products come in different strengths. The most popular OTC acne-fighting ingredient is benzoyl peroxide. Another ingredient, salicylic acid, can help to dry up pimples.
If you find over-the-counter products aren't working for you, it's best to seek a doctor's advice. A doctor can prescribe special gels or creams, pills, or a combination of both. It may feel a bit awkward or embarrassing to talk about your acne with someone, especially a stranger, but your doctor is trained to help get your skin looking its best.
What about pimples you already have? It's tempting, but popping or squeezing a pimple usually won't get rid of the problem. Squeezing can actually push infected material and pus further into the skin, which can lead to more swelling and redness (not what you want before a big date!), and even scarring, which can be permanent.
If you are taking a prescription acne medication, finish your entire prescription even if your skin clears up, unless your dermatologist says you can stop. If you stop too early, there's a chance your skin could break out all over again.
Eating nutritious foods can help keep you healthy of course, and your skin will benefit from getting enough vitamins and minerals. But the bottom line is that you don't need to be obsessive about what you eat or how often you wash your face to control acne. If you don't find an OTC product that works for you, talk to your doctor or a dermatologist for some advice on living through the acne years.
Reviewed by: Patrice Hyde, MD


Date reviewed: September 2006


Originally reviewed by: Eliot N. Mostow, MD, MPH

TUNING THE BRAIN

by Yandamuri

1. The word meditation sounds big, when you do not understand the real meaning. Meditation means enjoying the current experience in depth, both mentally and physically. Concentrate on hair while combing, relish the taste of food while eating and enjoy the lesson while reading.
2. Anger, Laziness, Sensitiveness. Fear, Tension, Inferiority complex, Insecurity about future, Failure to speak public, Lack of Attention and Memory are the problems normally faced by students.
3. Look at the last again. Are they problems or weaknesses? Suppose a student meets with an accident before his exam. It's a problem. Loosing hall ticket one day before the theory test is a problem. Problems many not be solved, but weaknesses can be fought upon.




MOOD CONTROL


4. Be careful of what you do just before your studies. Don't get involved in gossip, arguments, phone conservations and long discussions prior to your studies. This may launch you on the course to daydreaming.
5. Ask your friends not to ring up after six in the evening. Request your parents not to invite guests during your study hours.
6. If your mind wanders, don't sit at your desk starting into a book and mumbling about your poor self-control. Stand up and go away from your books. Take a breath of fresh air. Never talk to friends on phone or with family members during these intervals. Don't even try to look in the direction of TV.. not even for a second.
7. Before you start your study, stand for a few moments before your study table ( or mat ) silently. Close your eyes and try to think of nothing. This is called CLEANING the SLATE. In the beginning, you may find it impracticable. It tests your patience. Many give up at this stage. After practicing for three to four weeks, you would begin to enjoy the results.



FOOD, LAZINESS AND SLEEP



8. Laziness is of two types, Physical and Mental. Tiredness of body called 'fatigue'. Mental laziness is 'boredom'. Don't confuse fatigue with boredom.
9. Do you eat to live or live to eat? Eat to live for six days and live to eat for one day. Normally you require 2500 calories per day. It is unpleasant to know that a hundred grams chips packet, butter cookies and a chocolate bar give you 450, 480, 300 calories respectively. Idly is good with 50 calories but a tea spoon of coconut or groundnut chutney adds up another 50 calories.
10. There are 22 amino acids of which body cannot produce nine and are to be supported from outside. Soya bean is a highly recommended food for students. Add it to your chapattis. You can mix Soya powder in water, fruit juices or buttermilk and drink twice a day.
11. Soon after eating a heavy meal you feel sleepy, as the intestines drains more blood and oxygen from the brain. Reduce the volume of your lunch and dinner to 25% and have large breakfast and evening snacks. Lunch, Evening snacks and Dinner in the ration of 30:25:20:25 keeps your alertness constant throughout the day.
12. Normally people eat rice for lunch and chapattis for dinner. It is advised the other way around. Chapattis keep you fit and light for the entire day and though easily digestible, rice is heavy on stomach.
13. Hypersomnia means early to bed and late to rise. It includes excessive daytime sleep and napping at inappropriate times. To fight hypersomnia, perform some sort of physical activity for ten minutes in the morning. Throw a Frisbee with your friends or just go for a jog. It eases your hypersomnia.
14. After dinner, walk 'alone' for ten minutes in the night and return to studies. Sandwich the uninteresting subject between two interesting subjects while studying in the nights.
15. Saturday Night Fever: Never watch late night movies on Saturday and compensate your sleep on Sunday afternoons. The effect continues on Monday also, disturbing the biological clock.
TIME MAPPING



16. The main reasons for unsuccessful time management are incapability of arranging the tasks in preferential order, getting attracted by more powerful unbeneficial deeds, irregular habits like excessive sleeping, and unnecessary gossiping and late night-outs.

Look at the right lower part of the table. A student in the month of June feels that there is a lot of time to begin his studies. He is unconscious about the urgency and importance of the exams. Slowly, as the half-yearly examinations approach, he feels the urgency, but he is not yet interested to start, as he thinks it is not that important. With that over-confidence, he ignores the subject and becomes lazy. Later as the examination date advances, he settles down to his studies. At this juncture, he finds certain subjects difficult and tough. He gets confused. He postpones studying those subjects. In March, suddenly, everything becomes important and urgent. In other words, as flood water from all small streams join to make a hell out of it, all works flow to the left upper block of he above table (Urgent and Important), creating tension to the student.
17. Maintain a fixed time for 'eat-intervals' in case you cannot hold your hunger for two or three hours. Don't visit the Kitchen in between. Keep some fruits or other eatables near your study table, but never eat there. Treat it as a holy place not be disgraced.
18. Developing speed with which you should read is also an art. It depends on whether you are reading a lesson or a non-detail. Again, first reading should be slow to underlining, revision should be fast. It is not important how fast you read and complete a lesson, but how you retain it is.
19. You should be able to say 'no' to any person who demands your time unnecessarily. You can learn to stop people, who are your time killers. They are the persons who pop into your study room for a chat. You have every right to politely postpone the conversation (unless you like it and nobody can help you then).
20. Next time when you talk to your friend on phone, ask one of your family members to record it without your knowledge. Note down how many urgent and important points that you have discussed in that one-hour conversation whom you are any way going to meet the next day. There will be none.
21. Arrange all necessary items like books, water, etc., before settling for studies. Don't waste your precious early morning time, searching for the above.
22. Start your study every day exactly at a given time and according to a timetable. If you examine your day carefully, you'll find that you tend to lunch and dine at predictable times. 'Time controlled behaviour' is fairly easy to start.



KEY NOTING



23. While studying (or listening to the lecture), note down the points in your own simple language. This is called keynoting. Suppose you are studying (or teacher is explaining) Ramayana. You should note that the key points like Ram - wife - kidnap - War.
24. You should be able to expand the entire Ramayana by holding these four words in your active neurons. All other incidents and names like Lakshmana, Vibhishana, Ravana etc., should be kept in passive neurons. At a later stage when you try to recollect the subject, the active neurons wake up the passive neurons.
25. Condense the entire subject to simple keywords. Use diagrams and colour pens, whenever necessary. Expand the subject in your words, with the help of the keywords.
26. Compare your script with the original notes. If the variation is more, try to write it again.
27. Original text books and notes contain much unnecessary matter. Your keynoting filters it. At the time of revision you need not choose between important and unimportant sentences. You are not straining the brain with unnecessary pulp matter.
28. You are not straining your eyes with the stereotyped letters of printing. You love your hand writing. Studying your own script reduces the strain of the eye.
29. The entire syllabus of ALL the subjects can be condensed into a 100-page notebook just by keynoting. Once you are thorough with this, then you will not.. be afraid of the dooms day i.e., examinations, spend sleepless nights in March and experience sweating while entering the examination hall.



DEVELOPING CONCENTRATION



30. A Student lacks concentration due to tow reasons: Having no interest in his studies or.. more interest in other things. Conquer your unwanted desires that take your time and come out of your magnetic fields.
31. Hunger, noise, visuals, sounds and odour are the five disturbances to our five sensory organs respectively. Ask your elders to watch TV with low volume.
32. Loud reading certainly helps you to concentrate better, but silent reading is advisable particularly when you are in a hostel or at a postgraduate level.
33. If you are in the habit of reading with some audio on, go for mono instrumental music. Never go for songs with lyrics.
34. Don't discuss your next day's interesting programs like going for a movie or sight seeing or picnic, just before starting your evening studies.
35. Set aside a fixed place for study and nothing but study. After a while, study becomes part of your behaviour and whenever you sit down in that particular place, you'll feel like going straight to work.
36. Some students have the habit of studying while resting on the bed or even in the kitchen. Never change your place of study. At times, when you feel for a change, you may go to an open place like upstairs, balcony or garden in front of your house, but never study in your bedroom or in kitchen.
37. Cultivate the habit of reading in libraries. Get habituated to reading alone. Combined study is normally not suggested, for it may promote unnecessary gossiping.
38. When you shift from one subject to another, allow yourself a five-minute interval. When you are bored with a dry subject, change to mathematics or any other favorite subject of yours.. or begin writing.
39. Desire control is the best mantra to develop concentration. Suppose your friends invited you to your most favourite hero's movie. Say 'no' to it or postpone it. Same way, control your urge to talk.
40. Place your most favourite sweet on your study table and read. Plan to eat it after completing your day's studies. After completing your studies, put it back in the jar without tasting it. Difficult, but when you practice it, an are able to win over 'you', the kind of confidence you gain gives you more satisfaction than yielding to your sensory organs.
41. Avoid falling in love at your age. Infatuations are common but a little effort, you can avoid. There is lot of life further for a better choice.



CONTROLLING THE SENSORY ORGANS



42. EYES: Face the wall to avoid distraction. Never sit facing the open window. Read under a table light and keep the other part of the room dark, to help create soft surrounding and elevate your mood. It is always advisable to keep the entire room dark, even in daytime, by closing the windows and reading before a table light.
43. Use tube light for your table light. This way you can avoid the unnoticeable flicker of a normal bulb and consequent damage to your eyes. Arrange the light in such a way that the rays don't fall directly on your eyes.
44. Use 'Yellow' coloured table cloth. If you are used to sitting on a mat and read, use yellow cloth on your mat. Your eyes are more comfortable with a yeallow backdrop.
45. Your attention deteriorates after an hour's study. Never read for more than one hour at a stretch. Take ten minutes rest in between. This concept is called Mind Holiday.
46. Keep a bowl of water and a cloth near your study table. In the first interval of ten minutes, sit erect and raise your head slightly upwards. Cover your eyes with the wet cloth. Close your left nostril and breathe through your right nostril and release it slowly from your left nostril. Continue the exercise in reverse for another five minutes. This exercise eliminates the residual carbon (dioxide) from your lungs and you notice the freshness, newly generated energy and the difference.
47. Between second and third hours of study, go to our balcony or an open space, or stand near your window, close your eyes and feel the fresh air. During the ten minutes interval, try to recollect what you have studied during the previous two hours.
48. If you feel sleepy and tired on a particular day, go to sleep. Don't force yourself to stick on the schedule. If you feel eyes getting strained, place cucumber (keera) or wet cotton.
49. MOUTH: It is your first enemy as far as your studies are concerned. To keep your mouth engaged, place a clove or cardamom (Elaichi) in your cheek. Whenever your concentration lapses bite it once.
50. Drink as much water as you can while studying. It constantly keeps you fresh. For 'every' one-hour have a glass of buttermilk or carrot or orange juice or water with Soya powder.
51. When you consume negative foods like chocolates and coke, simple carbohydrates are immediately being released into the bloodstream. Mirchi bujji, Pav-bhai and Pani poori have a chemical called Capsocysin. Burning them and conversion into glucose requires heavy amounts of oxygen and it leades sleapiness. Never eat the above items before or while studying. It is also better if you can reduce eating these products a month before exams.
52. If you are a non-vegetarian eat fish instead of mutton. The adrenaline released in the body of a dying animal is harmful to your body and mind.
53. NOSE: Sit in cool and fairly fragrant room and study, and you will find the difference in your concentration level.
54. Before preparing for study, smell 'mint' (Pudhina) for a few seconds. The aroma of mint increases your attentivenes.
55. Light an incense stick near your table while you study. Associate your studies with the smell of an incense stick.
56. If you are allergic to the smoke, apply any one of the following powder/paste near your neck: Kasturi, Punugu, Goroochanai, Javvadhi, Aragatha and Athar. Tehy are available in any grocery market. Their smell is differently pleasant being spicy, warm, slightly camphor based or sweet and penetrating. Choose one of them according to your taste. Apply them only when you study.
SKIN: Cultivate the habit of taking a mildly hot or cold-water bath before you start studying in the evening. It will make you feel fresh and new. For better results, steam your face for few minutes with turmeric water. It revitalises, refreshes and keeps you young.
58. EARS: Some students are habituated to read while the music is on. Try to get out of that habit. Classical music is supposed to aid learning in some cases, but music other than that tends to be distracting.
59. To avoid external disturbances consider using earplugs or cotton. If possible, record the lesson on a tape and listen to your own voice by keeping it by your bedside as you go to sleep.
60. Immediately on waking up from the bed, put on Surprabhata (or Bhoopala Raaga) and go ahead with your daily routine. In other snese, once you complete your dairy routine. In other sense, once you complete your studies in the night, try to minimise your talking till you take your bath. It enables you to be in the meditaion mood. This strengthens your neuron bonds and what you studied the previous night becomes permanent.
61. GENERAL: After completion of reading one subject, don't jump to another. Give a gap of 5 minutes.
62. After completion of your studies, move out of your house or go upstairs of your flat for five minutes to enjoy the quietness of the night. It refreshes you and ensures good sleep. The feeling that you are awake when the entire world is sleeping makes you feel 'on the top of the world'.
63. Never read during late nights. Never use drugs to stay awake. Before sleeping, try to recall the keynotes prepared by you.
64. Keep discussing your subject with your parents and friends. Get your doubts clarified immediately. When you don't understand a particular point, never hesitate to ask your teacher/parent.
65. Read daily. Even if you are on a holiday.. or at your grand pa's village.. or uncle's house.. read at least for half an hour.
66. Read the above once more. Before starting your studies.. bathing, lighting an incense stick, applying Javvadi and finally, the two minutes pray.. You have created a temple atmosphere in your study room. This preparation is the best to achieve concentration.



MEMORY



67. Memory is the link (bond) between various active and passive neurons. When more space is provided for unnecessary bonds, valuable neurons pertaining to education go to the passive part of the brain and that is called 'Mind Decay'. Total destruction of these neurons is called 'Forgetting'.
68. Lack of memory and Forgetting are different. Unless you are suffering with Alzheimer's disease, you cannot say that you have insufficient memory.
69. You can talk, chat or watch TV but complete everything before you start your studies. Never watch TV in between or after studies. It unsettles your neuron bonds. It is called 'Memory overload'.
70. After completion of your studies go to bed immediately, without talking or watching TV, not even for ten minutes.
71. If you plan to go to a movie or see a favourite programme on TV, you can never concentrate on your study, unconsciously looking forward to the forth-coming event.
72. While talking, the electro magnetic pathways vibrate ten times more than in 'silent mode' and during arguments they are up by fifty times, leading to loss of memory. When an issue is discussed, disputed and argued. (say.. whether a particular movie is good or bad) you recall some points to strengthen your argument and stimulate the unnecessary neuron bonds, thus asking the brain to provide much garbage space. Hence never argue.
73. After an exciting conversation with friends or a heated argument at home, when you begin to study again, those over-riding neurons, with the support of already released adrenaline, dominates the attentiveness. This disturbs the study. This is called 'lack of concentration'.
74. Never gossip either in person or on phone at bedtime. The electro-magnetic pathways are comparatively still and passive during your sleep and this would help the bonds grow stronger.



THE PRE-EXAMS REVISION



75. It is not the load that breaks you down, it is the way you carry it. During the preparatory holidays, sleep for half an hour in the afternoon, take a bath, close the doors and create an 'artificial dawn'. Read before a table light though it is the evening time. This is called 'one day-two dawn theory'.
76. As examinations approach, you spend twelve hours on reviewing and still feel that there is a lot to study. Don't get tensed up. No person in the world feels hundred percent prepared for his exams.
77. Never try to revise one subject for too long at any one time. One hour is just enough. But note that revision means not just reading a chapter and vaguely remembering a few sentences immediately afterwards.
78. During revision, you may surprisingly find some of the subject matter missed your attention completely. Don't panic. You might have some-how missed it. Glance through it and decide whether it is necessary to read it at the eleventh hour. More particularly don't try to do last minute cramming standing outside the exam room.
79. Some of your friends may be telling you that they stay awake till the crack of dawn. Don't be depressed. It may work out to them. Stick on to your healthy habit of sleeping before midnight and ensure that you are fit physically and mentally.
80. Avoid sweets, oily foods and cool drinks a month before exams. If you do not have a regular coffee/tea habit, don't make it a habit now to stay late hours.
81. After completion of your studies in the night, don't get tempted to call on your friend even for few minutes to know about his studies. Your intentions are good but the late night conversations won't stop there.



FIVE 'D' TECHNIQUES



82. Tranquility : After completing your studies go to bed, turn to a side and close your ears and eyes with a pillow. By sealing two important sensory organs, you are being engulfed into a stage of quietness. Feel that your mind is transforming into calmness. Watch your breath for a minute. It's like cleaning the slate before writing. Now adjust your pillow and settle in your habituated comfortable position. Slip into sleep while recollecting what you studied that day. This is called 'Recall'.
83. The early morning proceedings : As you wake up, stay on bed for another few minutes to continue the following exercises: Think of the mistakes that you have done during last twenty-four hours! Have you quarrelled with your brother or sister over a particular TV channel of your choice? Have you thrown the food plate accusing your mother? This daily evaluation and self - criticism helps you to develop better personality.
84. Scheduling : Before rising from the bed, divide your day into small compartments and plan your timetable, even though it is a holiday. How much time are you going to watch TV in the evening? Which Channel? It is called Time Management (TM). Once you are habituated to TM, the word 'busy' would wither away from your dictionary. Instead of chatting for one hour at lunch time, plan to cut it to half and take rest in library, to conserve your energy for the next lecture session. Choosing your friend for lunch also matters. Vagabonds sit with vagabonds.
85. Compare and Consume : As you are resting with a blanket, over ten million children of your age in this country are already on their work. A ten-year-old boy is serving tea to lorry drivers on the roadside dhabas, a small girl of tender age is sweeping your house, and a twelve-year boy is climbing the up-hill on his cycle to give you the morning newspaper. Think how fortunate you are compared to them. God has given you some clothes, food, health and above all 'parents'. This gives you a feeling of compassion and positive thinking towards life.
86. Look at you in the mirror and smile for a few seconds. Looks funny but neurotransmitters like Dopamine (pleasure) and Serotonin (feel good) in turns stimulate your Acetylcholine, which is the source for your attention, learning and memory.
87. Exercise : After brushing the teeth, bend ten times touching your toes with your fingertips. The blood circulation to the brain converts the short time memory into semantic memory. If you have no neck problem, spend a minute staying topsy-turvy (Seershasana) by the side of wall for another minute.
Let suprabhata continue while you are doing the above exercises.

88. Can we fight fear? Certainly yes if you know the Four Noble Truths sermonised by Buddha philosophy, first being the Reality (of the problem), Second the Cause (for the problem), Third the Effect (by the problem) and lastly the Solution (to the problem). It is as simple as that. In physician's terms, it would be like: Disease, the Cause of disease (Diagnosis), the Treatment (Prognosis) and the relief (solution)
89. There are six stages of tension before exams. One: Three months prior to the actual exams certain sense of unease, a sense of lonely feeling, insecurity, catch you up. Two: One fine morning you wake up and suddenly reminded of your exams. Three: A week prior to the exams, it gradually turns into anxiety. Suddenly from nowhere the worry erupts. Anxiety causes troubled sleep, depression. You begin to fear the worst and indulge in unnecessary thinking. Four: The day before exams you are almost panicky. Panic includes sweaty palms, shivering fingers. Slowly you cease to grin and smile. Five: As you receive the question paper, your 'tension' peaks. Your memory fails you. You experience lapses in your thinking process and mental blocks. Six : The nervousness peaks during the exam. Rapid heartbeats, loosing self-confidence are the indicators at this stage Uneasiness continues for sometime even after exam.
90. Stay relaxed and confident before answering. Spend the first 2 minutes previewing the question paper. Allocate time in proportion to the marks. Just because you know the answer in detail, don't write beyond the requirement.
91. Have the entire picture of the answer. Determine the length, time to be spent answering depending on the marks allotted to it.
92. Focus on how to start, elaborate, reach a climax and end it. The answers should be brief but should cover all the points.
93. Before starting, close your eyes for 30 seconds, take a deep breath, calm down and be pleasant and start answering.
94. Improve on your grammar and spellings. Think in English while writing in English. Don't write 'Rama Ravana killed' which may be be correct in your colloquial language. Say 'Ram killed Ravana'.
95. Be careful with construction of sentences and particularly with pronouns. If you write, 'Rama killed Ravana as his wife was kidnapped by him', the examiner confuses to understand who kidnapped whose wife. If you write, 'Ravans kidnapped Sita and then got killed by Rama', it gives a meaning that RAvana made Rama to kill his wife.
96. Don't get confused with words like 'accept/except/expect', 'affect/effect', 'its/it's' etc.,
97. Avoid repeating the same words in a sentence or paragraph. Know exactly when to use a simple or a compound sentence. Don't use more commas. Divide paragraphs correctly.
98. Last but not least.. Write to communicate. Not to electrify. Comprehend a fact.
99. Finally the exams come and the exams go, you will be there, sane, smiling and ready to enjoy the summer. Cheer up.
100. Did you ever realise that life would not have been so cheerful for some people in this world including your parents, had you not been there and 'you' made that difference? Who knows? You may be the person who would change the history of the country..world..er..univese! Implement at least 50 percent of the above, you will be in the process!! I promise.. And I challenge!!!

What is a Teenage?

Teenage

Teenage/ Adolescence is a transitional stage of human development that occurs between childhood and adulthood. Adolescent humans go through puberty, the process of sexual maturation. Teenagers (ages 13-19) are usually adolescent, though in some individuals, puberty may extend a few years beyond the teenage years, and in some individuals, puberty begins in the preteen years.

In common usage around the world, "adolescent", "teenager", "teen", "youth", "youngster", "young person" and "emerging adult" may be considered synonyms - although the term 'teenager' is an artifact of the English counting system, something which does not occur in all languages. The Oxford English Dictionary cites the first usage of the term to a Popular Science Monthly issue of April, 1941, "I never knew teen-agers could be so serious." In sociology, adolescence is seen as a cultural phenomenon for the working world and therefore its end points are not easily tied to physical milestones. The time is identified with dramatic changes in the body, along with developments in a person's psychology and academic career. At the onset of adolescence (often referred to as 'puberty'), children usually complete elementary school and enter secondary education, such as middle school or high school. A person between early childhood and the teenage years is sometimes referred to as a pre-teen.
As a transitional stage of human development, adolescence is the period in which a child matures into an adult. This transition involves biological (i.e. pubertal), social, and psychological changes, though the biological or physiological ones are the easiest to measure objectively.
The ages of adolescence vary by culture. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescence as the period of life between 10 and 19 years of age.[1] In contrast, in the United States, adolescence is generally considered to begin somewhere between ages 12 and 14, and end from 19 to 21. As distinct from the varied interpretations of who is considered an "adolescent", the word "teenager" is more easily defined: it describes a person who is thirteen to nineteen years of age. It is most commonly referred to people who attend high school and undergraduate college.
During this period of life, most children go through the physical stages of puberty which often begins between the ages of nine and thirteen. (See Puberty below)
Most cultures regard people as becoming adults at various ages of the teenage years, often at the age of eighteen. (See Social and cultural below)
Puberty
Puberty is the stage of the lifespan in which a child develops secondary se characteristics (for example a deeper voice or larger Adam's apple in boys, and development of breasts and hips in girls) as his or her hormonal balance shifts strongly towards an adult state. This is triggered by the pituitary gland, which secretes a surge of hormones, such as testosterone (boys) or estrogen (girls) into the blood stream and begins the rapid maturation of the gonads: the girl's ovaries and the boy's testicles. Some boys may develop Gynecomastia due an imbalance of sex hormones, tissue responsiveness or obesity
The onset of puberty in girls appears to be related to body fat percentage. In most Western countries, the average age of a girl's first menstrual period, or menarche, fell in a decreasing secular trend. Girls start going through puberty earlier than boys. The average age for girls to start puberty is 10-12 while the average age for boys to start puberty is 12-14.
Psychology

Adolescent psychology is associated with the notable changes in the behavior also known as Mood swing. The characteristics of adolescents, cognitive, emotional and attitudinal changes take place during this period, which can be a cause of conflict on one hand and positive personality development on the other.
Due to the adolescents' experiencing various cognitive and physical changes, it is frequently notable that they start giving more importance to their friends, their peer group, and less to their parents/guardians, due to the aggregated influence of whom they might go on to indulge in activities not deemed as socially acceptable, although this may be more of a social phenomenon than a psychological one.
In the search for a unique social identity for themselves, adolescents are frequently found confused between the 'right' and 'wrong.' G. Stanley Hall denoted this period as one of "Storm and Stress" and, according to him, conflict at this developmental stage is normal and not unusual. Margaret Mead, on the other hand, attributed the behavior of adolescents to their culture and upbringing. However, Piaget, attributed this stage in development with greatly increased cognitive abilities; at this stage of life the individual's thoughts start taking more of an abstract form and the egocentric thoughts decrease, hence the individual is able to think and reason in a wider perspective.
Positive psychology is sometimes brought up when addressing adolescent psychology as well. This approach towards adolescents refers to providing them with motivation to become socially acceptable and notable individuals, since many adolescents find themselves bored, indecisive and/or unmotivated.
It should also be noted that adolescence is the stage of a psychological breakthrough in a person's life when the cognitive development is rapid and the thoughts, ideas and concepts developed at this period of life greatly influence the individual's future life, playing a major role in character and personality formation.
Sexuality
Adolescent sexuality refers to sexual feelings, behavior and development in adolescents and is a stage of human sexuality. Sexuality and sexual desire usually begins to appear along with the onset of puberty. The expression of sexual desire among adolescents (or anyone, for that matter), might be influenced by family values and influences, the culture and religion they have grown up in social engineering, social control, taboos, and other kinds of social mores. The risks of adolescent sexual activity is sometimes associated with: emotional distress (fear of abuse or exploitation), sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS) and pregnancy through failure or non-use of birth control. In terms of sexual identity, sexual orientation among adolescents may vary greatly across the spectrum from heterosexuality and LGBT orientations to pan sexuality.
According to anthropologist Margaret Mead and psychologist Albert Bandura, the turmoil found in adolescence in Western society has a cultural rather than a physical cause, and societies where young women engage in free sexual activity have had no such adolescent turmoil until more recently when truthful information about deadly STD's has been made publicly assessable. However many of these studies have been proven false.
The age of consent to sexual activity varies widely between international jurisdictions, ranging from 12 to 21 years, although some governments, such as Canada's, are planning to raise the age to at least 16 in an effort to reduce the incidence of lethal STD's, pregnancy among teenage girls, and the sexual abuse and exploitation of younger teens.
Culture
In commerce, this generation is seen as an important target. Mobile phones, contemporary popular music, movies, television programs, sports, video games and clothes are heavily marketed and often popular amongst adolescents.
In the past (and still in some cultures) there were ceremonies that celebrated adulthood, typically occurring during adolescence. Seijin shiki (literally "adult ceremony") is a Japanese example of this. Upanayanam is a coming of age ceremony for males in the Hindu world. In Judaism, 12 year old girls and 13-year-old boys become Bat or Bar Mitzvah, respectively, and often have a celebration to mark this coming of age. Among some denominations of Christianity, the rite or sacrament of Confirmation is received by adolescents and may be considered the time at which adolescents becomes members of the church in their own right. African boys also have a coming of age ceremony in which, upon reaching adolescence, the males state a promise to never do anything to shame their families or their village. This was also continued among African-American slaves in the early days of slavery before the practice was outlawed. In United States, girls will often have a "sweet sixteen" party to celebrate turning the aforementioned age, a tradition similar to the quinceañera in Latin culture. In modern America, events such as getting your first driver's license, high school and later on college graduation and first career related job are thought of as being more significant markers in transition to adulthood.
Adolescents have also been an important factor in many movements for positive social change around the world. The popular history of adolescents participating in these movements may perhaps start with Joan of Arc, and extend to present times with popular youth activism, student activism, and other efforts to make youth voice heard.

Greetings

hello teens!

i am coming with lots of goodies for you.
hope you enjoy.

with best wishes,

uncle
bob