Wednesday, August 27, 2008

==========================Today's Parents are Poor Role Models for Kids

Parents are usually considered to be a child's first teachers and role models. But, a study has some dampening news for today's generation of adults - you are responsible for your kid's lack of basic moral values.

Researchers at the Children's Society in Britain have carried out the study and found that children are not acquiring basic moral values nowadays because today's parents are actually poor role models.

According to the society, the rise of the celebrity culture and weakening family bonds are undermining traditional moral values among young people.

But it has also blamed adults for failing to engage with children and being too eager to criticise their behaviour rather than just intervening and helping them to navigate the challenges of modern life.

According to Bob Reitemeier, the chief executive of the society, adults need to take more responsibility for the young people around them. "We reap what we sow when it comes to teaching children values. Every adult plays a vital role, which we should nurture as much as we can.

Unfortunately, it is easier to criticise children than to invest in them, and it is the children most in need of positive role models who are becoming disconnected from their communities and wider society." - PTI

Excerpt from The Times of India, Chennai, July 1, 2008.
Grateful thanks to PTI and The Times of India.

Friday, August 22, 2008

======================Achievers-2: My Svensson

Seventeen-year-old My Svensson claimed the Swedish text messaging championship by writing a 141-character SMS in 61 seconds.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, August 18, 2008 (“Newscape”)
Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

====================Achievers-1: "Michael Phelps creates all-time Olympic Record"

US swimming great Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal of the Olympics at Beijing to eclipse the 36-year-old record of compatriot Mark Spitz. Further, he holds 7 world records in swimming.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, August 18, 2008 and Wikipedia.

Wikipedia article on Michael Phelps:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Phelps
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Inspiring Lives-24: "Alexandr Solzhenitsyn"

Solzhenitzyn is dead!
By Vladimir Radyuhin

Nobel prize-winning Russian author and thinker, Alexander Solzhenitsyn died on Sunday (August 3, 2008), ending a bitter and illustrious life journey that reflected Russia’s tumultuous history through the 20th century.

Aged 89, Solzhenitsyn died of heart arrest close to midnight at his home on the outskirts of Moscow. His family said he worked till the last minute and died a happy man.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, August 5, 2008.

For the full article from The Hindu.com:
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/05/stories/2008080551292000.htm

For the BBC News article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7540038.stm

For the CNN.com article:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/03/solzhenitsyn.dead/

Wikipedia article on “Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Solzhenitsyn

For the New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Obit-Solzhenistyn.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Grateful thanks to Vladimir Radyuhin, The Hindu, BBC News, CNN.com, New York Times and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.