Six Former US Presidents Warn About ‘Invisible’ Shadow Government

Six former U.S. Presidents have warned the public about an invisible “shadow government” secretly running the United States behind the scenes, who have an “incredibly evil intent”.
Over the last 214 years, past Presidents and political leaders have tried to warn the public that the U.S. government is under the control of an “invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.”
Hiduth.com reports:
They “virtually run the United States government for their own selfish purposes. They practically control both parties… It operates under cover of a self-created screen [and] seizes our executive officers, legislative bodies, schools, courts, newspapers and every agency created for the public protection.”
As a result, “we have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated, governments in the civilized world—no longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read More

• Share

Mitch McConnell Tells Unemployed Kentuckians It’s Not His Job To Bring Jobs to Kentucky

Mitch McConnell’s suicide mission of a reelection campaign continues to get worse. At an appearance back home in Kentucky, Sen. McConnell said that it is not his job to bring jobs to the state.
The Beatyville Enterprise reported:

Appearing in Beattyville, McConnell was asked by The Beattyville Enterprise what he was going to do to bring jobs to Lee County.
“Economic development is a Frankfort issue,” McConnell said. “That is not my job. It is the primary responsibility of the state Commerce Cabinet.”
Asked about public works projects McConnell said he is interested in bringing public works to the state. “Most comes from the state, though,” he said.

McConnell is claiming that his comments got lost in translation, “This April, I visited Lee County to talk about a top priority of mine: jobs. Unfortunately, my message got lost in transition, and I was surprised to see a headline about my visit that sent the exact opposite message to the one I was trying to convey.”
Notice that McConnell doesn’t deny that he said that bringing jobs isn’t his job. Instead, he is resorting to a version of claiming that he was misquoted or misinterpreted. However, his jobs comment bears a striking resemblance to what his office told an unemployed veteran in January. McConnell’s spokesperson told an unemployed veteran, “I can only tell you what we can do here in the Senate. I have no control over your life.” In other words, it’s not my job.


If bringing jobs to Kentucky isn’t his job, what is Mitch McConnell’s job? According to McConnell, it isn’t his job to bring jobs to the state, help the unemployed, or assist more people in getting access to healthcare. McConnell’s job seems to involve protecting the Koch brothers by blocking any new campaign finance laws, obstructing the agenda of Barack Obama, and denying the unemployed and veterans the support that they have earned and deserve.
Mitch McConnell is making it clear that he doesn’t care about the people of Kentucky. All Mitch really cares about is getting back to D.C., and becoming Majority Leader. McConnell reign as Minority Leader has been blight on the United States Senate. McConnell’s obstruction is the reason why Harry Reid had to invoke the nuclear option just so that the Senate could return to being a somewhat functioning body.
Sen. McConnell is bad for Kentucky, bad for the United States, and bad for democracy. Kentucky voters can do a great service to their country by voting Mitch McConnell into retirement this November.

Read More

• Share

Update Samsung Galaxy Y S5360 to Android 2.3.6 DDMD1 Gingerbread Firmware

Update Samsung Galaxy Y S5360 to Android 2.3.6 DDMD1 Gingerbread Official firmware with this article. This update is rolled out for the Indian region and comes with much improvement than the previous versions. With the vast developing custom ROMs, most of the users are attracted towards them. And this is the reason the official firmwares are neglected now a days. Since an official update has not much customization as well as features like the custom ROMs they are refused by many Android lovers. But you must note that the official firmware is the only method to overcome the loss or damage that your device may face with these third party custom ROMs. Yes, the custom ROMs increases the risk of permanently damaging your device and making it useless. If such thing happens then without wasting any time and going to the service center, you can renew your damaged phone by flashing a firmware. In this article we’ll be discussing a detailed procedure on how to update Samsung Galaxy Y S5360 to the latest Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread DDMD1 Indian firmware. With this firmware flashed, you’ll get a much better battery backup than before as well as smooth in performance wise. The previous firmware had many issues in it. Some apps used to force close. Also the system used to hang sometimes. All these issues have been cleared in this latest DDMD1 update. Interested users may proceed further for flashing this Android 2.3.6 DDMD1 Gingerbread Official Firmware on their Samsung Galaxy Y S5360.

This process of updating your Samsung Galaxy Y GT-S5360 to Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread DDMD1 Official firmware is considered to be of much risk. If you don’t attempt as per mentioned then there is a high risk of permanent damage to your device. If you are new to this stuff and have no knowledge regarding the same then you better stop right at this point. Only the advanced android users who have gone through such thing are free to proceed further. If by mistake your Galaxy Y gets damaged or bricked by following this guide then neither we nor the developers of this firmware will be held responsible for that. Although we assure you that the chances of damage to your device are least, still I recommend you to follow all the given step by step procedure correctly and without attempting anything by your own. Note that this firmware is only compatible with Samsung Galaxy Y having the model number GT-S5360. Flashing this on any other device or variant will result into unwanted outcomes or bricked device. You can verify your device model number with the number given above from Homescreen–> Menu–>Settings –> About Phone.

Pre-Requisites:

• Ensure that your Galaxy Y has a proper battery backup. Any lack in the battery may increase the risk of interruption during the flashing process. This may give rise to further problems. So ensure that the battery of your phone is charged at least upto 60%. You may use apps like Battery Notifier for the same.

• There is always a risk of loosing your important data while performing any flashing process. Thus a timely backup helps a lot in such cases. You may transfer your contacts, SMS/MMS, APN settings, Call logs, Memo etc. on your SD card/PC or just use this Super Backup app for more safety. In the last step of this procedure you need to wipe all the data and cache that is currently present onto your phone memory. So a backup is must.

• Enable USB debugging mode using the path Menu->Settings->Applications->Development->USB debugging.

• Ensure that you have installed mobile specific drivers on your PC so as to detect the phone when you connect it to PC. You can install them from the Samsung Kies CD which you’ve got at the time of purchase. Or you can manually install them from link given below.

1. Download Windows 32 bit x86 drivers.

1. Download Windows 64 bit x64 drivers.

• Make sure that you temporary disable all the security tools as well as antivirus that are installed on your PC so as to  minimize the interruption risk during the process.

By assuming that you have followed all the instructions mentioned above we will proceed further for the actual Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread DDMD1 firmware flashing process.

Procedure to update Samsung Galaxy Y S5360 to Official Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread DDMD1 firmware:

 

Downloads:

1. Download Odin 3.07 for Samsung Galaxy Y S5360.

1. Download Android 2.3.6 DDMD1 Gingerbread Firmware for Samsung Galaxy Y S5360.

Procedure:

Step 1: Download both the files in a specific folder and extract them. You’ll find these three files inside the firmware package:

1. CSC_S5360_ODDMD1.tar.md5
2. MODEM_S5360_DDMD1.tar.md5
3. PDA_S5360_DDMD1.tar.md5

Step 2: Now switch off your Galaxy Y completely until it vibrates.
Step 3: Enter into downloading mode now. For the same, keep pressing and holding ‘Home Button (middle button) + Volume down key + Power Button’ simultaneously until you see a warning message on the screen (Refer Screenshot). Just press Volume Up button to continue. This will land you into downloading mode.

Step 4:  Keep the phone as it is in downloading mode and connect it to your PC using USB cable. Ensure that you’ve installed device specific drivers on PC to detect the phone when connected (As mentioned in pre-requisites).
Step 5: Launch the ‘Odin Multi Downloader_v3.07′software which you have just downloaded & extracted on your PC. As soon as you launch it, the ID:COM section in it will turn blue with a random COM port number below it. You’ll also see an ‘Added’ message which will appear in the message box window. If it’s not showing, then check whether you have properly installed those device drivers on your PC or not.

Step 6: Now tick the Auto Reboot option and F.Reset option present on the Odin window (Refer screenshot). Do not tick or un-tick any other options. Keep them as they are.

Step 7: Select the ‘PDA’ tab on the Odin window and navigate to the ‘PDA_S5360_DDMD1.tar.md5‘ from the firmware package & select it.

Step 8: Similarly select the ‘PHONE’ tab located below the PDA tab and navigate to the ‘MODEM_S5360_DDMD1.tar.md5‘ file & select it.

Step 9: Finally select the ‘CSC’ tab and navigate to the ‘CSC_S5360_ODDMD1.tar.md5‘ from the firmware package and select it.

Step 10:  After doing everything as mentioned above, just navigate to the ‘Start’ option on the Odin window and select it. This will initiate the actual firmware flashing process. Your Galaxy Y will automatically reboot itself while the process goes on. Do not remove the USB cable until the process completes fully. Be patient for few minutes.

Step 11: As soon as the process completes, you’ll see the ID:COM section on the Odin window is turned green with the message ‘Pass’ below it. This will confirm that you have successfully flashed your Galaxy Y with the latest Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread DDMD1  Indian firmware. You may now safely disconnect your phone by removing the USB cable.
Note: If the process fails or if Odin gets stuck or in case your device gets boot loops, then close the Odin window, remove battery from your Galaxy Y and re-insert it. Again go into downloading mode and follow the whole procedure as given above.
Step 12: After successfully completing the process, switch off the phone and boot into recovery mode. For that, press and hold Home Button (middle button) + Volume up key + Power Button simultaneously until the recovery mode appears.
Note: Touch will not work here in this recovery mode. So all you need to do is use Volume Up and Volume Down keys for navigation and Home button (Middle button) for selection.
Step 13: On the recovery mode, navigate to the ‘Wipe data/factory reset’ option and the ‘Wipe Cache partition’ option for clearing all the data and caches present in your phones memory. This is essential in solving the boot loops issue.
Step 14: After wiping data/cache you’ll again land into recovery mode. Just select ‘reboot system now’ option to restart the phone.
If you want to install latest Android 5.0 Lollipop ROM on Galaxy Y S5360 then follow our article:

1. How to install the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop Custom ROM on your Galaxy Y S5360.

Success

Congrats! You have successfully flashed the latest Android 2.3.6 DDMD1 Official Gingerbread firmware on your Samsung Galaxy Y GT-S5360. You may confirm the same from Menu->Settings->About Phone. Remember that this is a stock ROM so you can flash this whenever you want to restore the warranty or restore the default system on your mobile. Don’t forget to tell us your views and experience after using this firmware. I have made this article very simple so that you’ll understand it easily, still if you have any doubt/query  or any problem regarding the given stuff then do contact me through the comments section given below. I’ll provide an exact solution for your every problem. Till then Enjoy!

Read More

• Share

Create 3-D Glasses at Home Using a CD Case

The basic 3D glasses are available for around 99 ¢ on eBay but if you want them right now, you can build your own using a spare CD jewel case and some permanent marker pens.
Just scribble the transparent side of the jewel case with red and blue marker pens* large enough to cover the width of your eyes. The blue (or cyan) color lens is for the right eye while the red color will cover the left eye.

Alternatively, you may use an existing pair of sun-glasses and replace the lenses with colored sheets of transparent plastic. Or pick an old pair of eyeglasses and fill the left and right lenses with red and blue permanent markers respectively.
I tried using water colors instead of permanent markers but that didn’t work. Same was the case with sketch pens so stick with permanent markers.

Read More

• Share

The Case For Teaching Your Kids To Meditate

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) of Austria was a keen and skilful billiards player. A slight deformity of his left ear was hidden by his wig. Mahler’s last word before he died was “Mozart”.

Instructions

Do the Preparation task first. Then go to Text and read the article (you can also listen to the audio while you read). Next go to Task and do the activity.

Preparation

magazine-mozart.mp3

Everything you (n)ever wanted to know about Mozart

- See more at: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/everything-you-never-wanted-know-about-mozart#sthash.ApKQRp8s.dpuf

 
Inner peace isn't catching up on a new original series (a Making a Murderer marathon isn't exactly what your spouse meant by "Netflix and chill"), and it's not killing yourself on the elliptical machine. Nope, the scientifically backed way to become more mindful, more relaxed, and more engaged is to start practicing meditation. The Beatles did it. The Dude does it. Even Jerry Seinfeld went from "a show about nothing" to thinking about nothing.
Mario Orsatti is a director at Transcendental Meditation at the David Lynch Foundation (yes, Twin Peaks, Lost Highway, Dune, Dennis Hopper as a gas-huffing pervert, David Lynch) and a pretty centered guy. He says that meditation is great for your overstressed lifestyle, but it may be even better for your kids.

"Twenty-three percent of teens have anxiety," he points out. "Children as young as 6 and 7 have learning disorders. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers—and you know all of it is stress related." Those are troubling stats, but here's a more hopeful one: In one San Francisco high school horrifyingly nicknamed "Fight School," there was a 75% decrease in suspensions after the kids were introduced to "Quiet Time"—a modified version of Transcendental Meditation first introduced in schools about a decade ago.
Meditation is ancient stuff, but there's no ancient secret to getting toddlers to sit quietly in a lotus position. However, for kids 10 and older, there are plenty of benefits meditation might provide. Here's how Orsatti suggests helping your child see the light.

Lead By Example

If you've watched your kid flip between iPad apps, you know that they're generally trending toward less attention and more distraction. "Our mind is constantly moving toward something more interesting from something less interesting," says Orsatti. But there's an easy way to get your toddler to sit still: You sit still. Start your own meditation practice (yes, it is for you, too—here's proof) and give yourself a time out before you give them one.

Meditation For Kids Versus Adults

All meditation involves sitting in a quiet spot and not thumbing through your Instagram account. But there are some different ways you can do your practice. Some are good for kids; some are better left to the adults. Zen monks, for example, used a focused attention technique where they concentrate on a single thought (like a lotus floating on a pond—or squirrels water skiing) and use that to avoid their mind from wandering. This is the black belt of meditation and probably not right for your kid, unless your kid is the Golden Child.

For Kids 10 And Older

The most common form of meditation for kids is "open monitoring," which flips the zen stuff around and involves observing their thoughts without reacting—more like the aforementioned Quiet Time than astral projection time. There are plenty of parent-friendly books and apps you can use to introduce this stuff to little ones, or you can enlist someone like Orsatti to provide guidance.
If you take your kid to one of Transcendental Meditation's centers, they'll go through a seven-step course that introduces the concept of a mantra (a wordless sound that helps them focus) to a practice similar to open monitoring. Full disclosure: it ain't cheap, but ostensibly goes to giving others free lessons, like those students at Fight School. It also isn't particularly time-consuming. "A 10-minute deep meditation is all junior high kids need," says Orsatti. "In high school, 15 minutes, and adults, 20 minutes for the full effect."

For Younger Kids

Like expensive coffee, books without pictures, or Captain Beefheart, there are certain things that are wasted on young children—Transcendental Meditation doesn't work with kids younger than 10 because they need a developed prefrontal cortex in order to do that deep, inward reflection. That doesn't mean you can't get your toddler to join you during your own meditation session; just get them to sit quietly and explain what you're doing—so next time they'll let you get centered, goddamn it!

Still Skeptical?

Orsetti knows that when you think of meditation, you think a bunch of hippies are going to brainwash you and force feed you tempeh. "This doesn't involve changing your lifestyle or even belief," he says. "It's as automatic as eating an orange to get vitamin C. You don't need to believe in the vitamin; you just get it."

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) of Austria was a keen and skilful billiards player. A slight deformity of his left ear was hidden by his wig. Mahler’s last word before he died was “Mozart”.

Instructions

Do the Preparation task first. Then go to Text and read the article (you can also listen to the audio while you read). Next go to Task and do the activity.

- See more at: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/everything-you-never-wanted-know-about-mozart#sthash.ApKQRp8s.dpuf

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) of Austria was a keen and skilful billiards player. A slight deformity of his left ear was hidden by his wig. Mahler’s last word before he died was “Mozart”.

Instructions

Do the Preparation task first. Then go to Text and read the article (you can also listen to the audio while you read). Next go to Task and do the activity.

Preparation

magazine-mozart.mp3

Everything you (n)ever wanted to know about Mozart

- See more at: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/everything-you-never-wanted-know-about-mozart#sthash.ApKQRp8s.dpuf

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) of Austria was a keen and skilful billiards player. A slight deformity of his left ear was hidden by his wig. Mahler’s last word before he died was “Mozart”.

Instructions

Do the Preparation task first. Then go to Text and read the article (you can also listen to the audio while you read). Next go to Task and do the activity.

Preparation

magazine-mozart.mp3

Everything you (n)ever wanted to know about Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) of Austria was a keen and skilful billiards player. A slight deformity of his left ear was hidden by his wig. Mahler’s last word before he died was “Mozart”.
Among composers of the classical period, the most prolific was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) of Austria, who wrote c. 1,000 operas, operettas, symphonies, violin sonatas, divertimenti, serenades, motets. Concertos for piano and many other instruments, string quartets, other chamber music masses and litanies, of which only 70 were published before he died at the age of 35. His opera La Clemenza di Tito (1791) was written in 18 days, and the symphonic masterpieces, Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, Symphony No. 40 in G minor and Symphony No. 41 in C major (the Jupiter), were reputedly written in the space of 42 days in 1788. His overture Don Giovanni was written in full score at one sitting in Prague in 1787 and finished on the day of its opening performance.
The longest interval between the known composition of a piece by a major composer and it s performance in the manner intended is from 3 March 1791 until 9 October 1982 (over 191 years), in the case of Mozart’s Organ Piece for a Clock, a fugue fantasy in F min (K 608), arranged by the organ builders Wm. Hill & Son and Norman & Beard Ltd. at Glyndebourne, Great Britain.
In what is believed to be the largest-ever recording project devoted to a single coposer, 180 compact discs containing the complete set of authenticated works by Mozart were produced by Philips Classics for release in 1990/91 to commemoreate the bicentennial of the composer’s death. The complete set comprises over 200 hours of music and would occupy 6.5 feet (1.98 metres) of shelving.
Researchers at University College, Cardiff, in 1970 announced an important discovery concerning the formation of musical taste in rats. A group of experimental rats were played Mozart all day long during their infancy. They heard The Magic Flute, the Fifth Violin Concerto K.219, and two symphonies (unspecified), each four times a day. In later life these rats grew up preferring Mozart to Schoenberg, given the choice. Sceptics might claim that any with taste would do so anyway.
Research shows that newborn babies enjoy Mozart and Vivaldi but tend to sleep through any Beethoven which may be played at them.
Mozart was a keen and skilful billiards player. Haydn once tore the cloth on Mozart’s billiard table. Coincidentally, the invention of the game of builliards dates back to 1591, exactly 200 years before the death of Mozart.
Mozart had a slight deformity of his left ear, usually kept covered by his wig.
The principal theme of the last movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto K.453 was suggested to the composer by a tune whistled by his pet starling. The bird also knew his Concerto no. 17, for Mozart had devoted some idle moments to teaching the bird the principal theme of the last movement, a theme that is, admittedly, rather chirpy and bird-like in nature. Yet the starling was an imperfect student. One note it sang wrong every time and, according to the composer, another note was consistently held too long. It seems that even the example of the concerto's creator was insufficient to convince Mozart's starling to sing the piece exactly as written. On May 27, 1784 a strange funeral was held. As usual, hymns were sung at the graveside. Then Mozart recited a poem he'd penned. Finally, the composer's pet starling was laid to rest.
If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing slowly. Though Mozart had only 35 years of life in which to compose all his works, the task of cataloguing these 624 or so pieces of music took Ludwig von Kochel twelve years.
Gustav Mahler’s last word before he died was “Mozart”.
Source: The Ultimate Irrelevant Encyclopaedia by Bill Hartson & Jill Dawson, George Allen & Unwin, 1984
“Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" is an anagram (a word or phrase made by using the letters of another word or phrase in a different order) of "Among us a grand maestro of opera, waltz music”
“Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart” is an anagram of “A famous German waltz god” and “Gorgeous waltz fan, madam” and “Zealous, warm 'n' mad faggot” and “Warm gazes to a manful god”
Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" is an anagram of "Common arts as opera, waltz, fugue: I am so grand!"
“Johannes Chrystostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus ‘Amadeus’ Mozart” is an anagram of “Just some Austrian. (Composed many half-hour songs/waltzes, though!)”
The Mozart effect refers to disputed scientific studies that test a theory suggesting that classical music increases brain activity more positively than other kinds of music, and that listening to certain kinds of complex music may induce a short-lived (fifteen minute) improvement in the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as "spatio-temporal reasoning". Two pieces of Mozart's music; Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K. 448) and Piano Concerto No. 23 (K. 488), were found to have this effect, giving it its name. Later research also suggested that K. 448 can reduce the number of seizures in people with epilepsy.
In the frequently playful letters of his youth Mozart sometimes would spell his name backwards, viz., Mozart Wolfgang or Trazom. More often he would sign letters 'Mzt'.
The Mozartkugel (English: Mozart ball), known originally as the “Mozartbonbon”, was created by the Salzburg confectioner Paul Fürst in 1890 and named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The confectionary Fürst still produces the original Salzburg Mozartkugeln by hand according to the original recipe and only sells them in its shops or over its website. As the Fürst confectionary does not own a trademark for Mozartkugeln, there are numerous imitation products, most of which are produced using industrial techniques.

- See more at: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/everything-you-never-wanted-know-about-mozart#sthash.ApKQRp8s.dpuf

Read More

• Share

3 Ways to Globalize Your Curriculum 2016

 
Incorporating global themes in your curriculum can be one of the most effective ways to engage your classroom in an open dialogue about intercultural learning. Whether you teach social studies or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, there are a variety of creative ways to globalize your curriculum. In an interconnected global world, it is essential that every student is provided with the necessary 21st century skills to excel in the classroom and beyond.

As a leader in intercultural education for more than 65 years, AFS-USA continues to spearhead initiatives that encourage an open dialogue to foster peace and cultural understanding. We believe that as educators, it is essential to use the world as your classroom. Therefore, we have identified three simple steps you can take this year to globalize your curriculum.

Step 1: Incorporate Current Events

Incorporating current events can be one of the most effective ways to raise awareness on issues all over the world. Utilizing your local newspaper in your classroom teaching can be a great way to integrate both local and global themes into your curriculum. Including topics that students may already be familiar with can be a great way to involve them in the learning process.  Encouraging your students to compare articles, reach out to reporters, or even submit editorials can empower them to take action outside of the classroom. To highlight, Education World offers 10 lesson plans that can be easily incorporated as classroom assignments and allows students to be creative in a learning environment.

Step 2: Include Social Media

As we move towards a more interconnected, globalized world, social media continues to play a significant role in classroom learning. Most recently, students have been participating in hashtag activism, where the internet is utilized as an outlet for social activism. Some of the most recognizable hashtags include #BlackLivesMatter, and #MuslimsAreNotTerrorists. As more students are familiar with social media, incorporating hashtags in your lesson plans can be an effective way to promote awareness on global issues. Furthermore, AFS-USA has designed social activism lesson plans that address the effect of social media on influential change-making initiatives such as the #Saynotoracism and #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Incorporating these themes into your curriculum will not only have a lasting effect on student learning, but will empower them to make positive changes in the world. 

Step 3: Invite an Exchange Student into Your Classroom

Inviting an exchange student into your classroom is one of the best ways to expose students to intercultural learning. Whether you are teaching a humanities class or STEM education, inviting a student can bring an interesting perspective to your classroom and begin the conversation on global learning. Moreover, each year during International Education Week, AFS students deliver country-specific presentations to local schools to promote cultural awareness and mutual understanding through dialogue. To invite an AFS exchange student into your classroom, please click here.

Join our community and let us know how you plan on globalizing your curriculum in 2016! Incorporating global themes in your curriculum can be one of the most effective ways to engage your classroom in an open dialogue about intercultural learning. Whether you teach social studies or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, there are a variety of creative ways to globalize your curriculum. In an interconnected global world, it is essential that every student is provided with the necessary 21st century skills to excel in the classroom and beyond.

As a leader in intercultural education for more than 65 years, AFS-USA continues to spearhead initiatives that encourage an open dialogue to foster peace and cultural understanding. We believe that as educators, it is essential to use the world as your classroom. Therefore, we have identified three simple steps you can take this year to globalize your curriculum.

Step 1: Incorporate Current Events

Incorporating current events can be one of the most effective ways to raise awareness on issues all over the world. Utilizing your local newspaper in your classroom teaching can be a great way to integrate both local and global themes into your curriculum. Including topics that students may already be familiar with can be a great way to involve them in the learning process.  Encouraging your students to compare articles, reach out to reporters, or even submit editorials can empower them to take action outside of the classroom. To highlight, Education World offers 10 lesson plans that can be easily incorporated as classroom assignments and allows students to be creative in a learning environment.

Step 2: Include Social Media

As we move towards a more interconnected, globalized world, social media continues to play a significant role in classroom learning. Most recently, students have been participating in hashtag activism, where the internet is utilized as an outlet for social activism. Some of the most recognizable hashtags include #BlackLivesMatter, and #MuslimsAreNotTerrorists. As more students are familiar with social media, incorporating hashtags in your lesson plans can be an effective way to promote awareness on global issues. Furthermore, AFS-USA has designed social activism lesson plans that address the effect of social media on influential change-making initiatives such as the #Saynotoracism and #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Incorporating these themes into your curriculum will not only have a lasting effect on student learning, but will empower them to make positive changes in the world. 

Step 3: Invite an Exchange Student into Your Classroom

Inviting an exchange student into your classroom is one of the best ways to expose students to intercultural learning. Whether you are teaching a humanities class or STEM education, inviting a student can bring an interesting perspective to your classroom and begin the conversation on global learning. Moreover, each year during International Education Week, AFS students deliver country-specific presentations to local schools to promote cultural awareness and mutual understanding through dialogue. To invite an AFS exchange student into your classroom, please click here.

Join our community and let us know how you plan on globalizing your curriculum in 2016!

Read More

• Share

12 sexy lingerie sets to tempt your fantasies

It's that there are tons of other brands out there that sell gorgeous lingerie. While they might not have their own televised runway show or a store in every mall across America, they do offer uniquely stunning pieces.
We've showcased some of our favorite garments below to help you expand your knowledge of sexy-time attire, whether you're shopping for yourself, a bride-to-be, or that special someone.

See also: 16 creative jewelry brands millennials will adore

1. This lace chemise is for the ultimate bombshell.

Image: www.barenecessities.com

Oh La La Cheri lace babydoll set, $54

2. This high-cut bodysuit sits above your hips to elongate your legs and show off your greatest assets.

Image: WWW.MIMIHOLLIDAY.COM

Mimi Holliday lace bodysuit, $975.47

3. The sheer robe is great over a lingerie set or nothing at all.

Image: www.yandy.com

Yandy.com plus size lace robe and G-string, $39.95

4. Wear these silk and chiffon pieces separately or as an adorably alluring set.

Image: www.fleurdumal.com

fleur du mal cami, $248 and tap shorts, $128

5. The hourglass design on this lace and mesh bustier corset will flaunt your amazing curves.

Image: www.seventilmidnight.com

Seven Til Midnight lace and mesh bustier

6. Sometimes matchy-matchy is the way to go. This ultra sheer look even has a coordinating eye mask.

Image: www.morgan-lane.com

Morgan Lane robe, $398 bra, $178; and panty, $98

7. This silk satin chemise is sensual to the touch.

Image: www.fleurofengland.com

Fleur of England babydoll slip, $250.10

8. Made in the city that never sleeps, this black lace set ensures that you won't be getting any shut-eye either.

Image: www.cv-newyork.com

Curriculum Vitae bra, $95; thong, $58; suspender, $85

9. The v-neck dot print chemise is both sweet and sultry.

Image: www.asos.com

New Look Inspire babydoll chemise, $25.64

10. A long line bra paired with high-waist briefs leaves some to the imagination.

Image: www.elselingerie.com

Else long line bra, $98; high-waist brief, $73

11. If whips and chains excite you, try this bondage-inspired brand that seduces and supports.

Image: www.bordelle.co.uk

Bordelle bondage wrap bra, $320.48; brief, $128.19; harness brief, $113.95; garters, $85.46

12. With push-up cups and a streamlined bodice, this corset enhances your figure.

Read More

• Share

Create 3D Hologram Video with PowerDirector

Hologram is a buzz word on internet world these days. Part of the reason is a simple tip of making hologram viewer with a CD case, and turning your smartphone into a hologram viewer.
But how to create a hologram video yourself? Check out this simple tutorial of making hologram video with PowerDirector.

Step 1

Download this hologram reference image (resolution 1920 x 1080/ 16:9 ratio)

Step 2

Import the hologram chart to PowerDirector, and drag it on timeline track 1.

Step 3

Click on and add 4 timeline tracks.

Step 4

Right click on preview windows at top-right side, select Grid Lines > 8 x 8

Step 5

Go to PiP room by clicking on . Select Animated Object, choose an object and drag it to timeline Track 2.

Step 6

Double click on track 2's PiP object to enter PiP Designer, resize the PiP object, and place it above the square on reference image, align to the center. Click Save.
Select object on Track 2, Ctrl+C to copy the object, then move to Track 3, Ctrl+V to paste it on Track 3.
Double click on Track 3's object to enter PiP Designer again, drag it to the right side of reference square, click on to rotate the object clockwise by 90 degrees.
Follow the same procedure to add object on track 3 and 4, and place/rotate them to their positions.
Now you will get a set of animated objects from 4 dimensions. Produce it, play it on your smartphone with the hologram viewer!

Read More

• Share