Wayne Imber

In this internet generation, making friends has become more convenient.   Joining a forum, an online group, tweeting about a certain topic, reblogging a meme, or finding "mutuals" following the same hashtag can pave the way for people from different parts of the world to create online friendships.   However, many question the quality of these relationships.   Just like face-to-face friendships, online friendships can thrive or decline over time.   But in many cases, belonging to an online community and having virtual friends has become helpful for many people.   Those who are usually reserved in person can be more articulate and responsive on the net.   There are also people who find comfort by opening up to people they trust online.   While these people don't see each other in person regularly, the bond cannot be denied.   Whether face-to-face or online, friendships are built on trust, acceptance, and shared interests.    Whil...

Cheese is one of the most versatile types of food out there. No matter who’s going to eat, there are always meals to prepare with cheese ranging from comfort food to healthy meals. And people shouldn’t be bound using cheese with just macaroni or pairing it with wine. Here are some treats to help you experiment with cheese in the kitchen.  Image source: cookingchanneltv.com Eggplant Parmigiana takes a bit of time to prepare, but it’s all worth it. You can choose to buy your tomato sauce in the grocery or make one on your own. Just follow recipes online and remember to salt the eggplant rounds to remove the bitter flavor and excess moisture.  Grilled cheese sandwiches are common snacks that take no time to prepare. Add a twist to this classic by adding caramelized onions. Combine the sweet taste of caramelized onions with aged cheddar cheese, and make sure to serve this with a bowl of tomato soup to round things up.  If you have spare potatoes ...

Over the past few years, the bond between people and their electronic gadgets has only grown stronger. This does not bode well for society as a whole. It only seems like a matter of time before technology takes over every aspect of people’s lives.  Image source: sheknows.com Parents should be alarmed that their children, with their little snub-nosed faces, no longer look up to take in the world with wide-eyed wonder. Parents would be though if they took time to pry themselves away from laptops and smartphones.  However, while the convenience technology affords for everyone cannot be questioned, it has been proven time and again to have detrimental effects on the mental development of children. Thankfully, many psychiatrists and mental health experts have gathered to come up with a list of things parents can encourage children to do to change their tech-centric way of life. One of these things is to go camping and enjoy the great outdoors.  Camping...

British cuisine continues to be underrated, as there are still some people who find it lacking in variety and taste. Contrary to belief, numerous traditional British food choices are quite fulfilling and palatable. Some of them are even a tad easy to make, so much so that even those who are beginners in the kitchen can learn to cook them. Below are some of them:  Image source: taste.com.au Toad in the hole   The British have crafted a lot of ways to enjoy sausage, and one of those dishes is the toad in the hole. It is not difficult to learn how to prepare the dish, and it can be completed within an hour. The meal consists of roasted sausages, usually pork, that are baked together with Yorkshire pudding. You can use various herbs to give the dish a distinct flavor.  Shepherd’s pie   Shepherd’s pie is one of the staple foods of British cuisine. It is made of sautéed meat (the British love using lamb for this dish) that is topped with a m...

Back in 1859, a Swiss businessman and social activist named Henry Dunant happened to pass by Solferino, a small town in Italy, where a battle between the armies of imperial Austria and the Franco-Sardinian alliance had just occurred. Image source: twitter.com There he saw tens of thousands of people either dead or dying, with no one giving them medical attention. To tend to the injured and sick, Dunant organized a group of civilians, composed mostly of women and girls. Dunant covered most of the costs needed to purchase materials and supplies and to help put up makeshift hospitals. What’s more impressive is that he was able to convince the locals to help anyone regardless of their affiliation, giving rise to the slogan by which Red Cross currently abides to, Tutti Fratelli (“All are brothers.”) Upon his return to Geneva after a few weeks, he wrote his experiences in the book “Un Souvenir de Solferino,” translated “A Memory of Solferino.” The book was published three...

Death and loss happen to employees and coworkers.  Family members die and some figure in unfortunate fatal accidents. When grief strikes coworkers, one can be profoundly affected as well – here are some steps to take to help comfort and support them at this difficult time. The company management can organize ways to offer sympathy.  These include collecting money for a struggling employee, taking a dish to pass at a wake, lining up home-cooked dinners for weeks for the bereaved family, sending flowers, or sending a group card signed by coworkers. Image source: Pixabay.com  Bosses and managers should be specially equipped to deal with the situation.  They are, after all, the first ones to be informed in the organization when there is a sad life situation that occurs.  Be prepared to talk to the employee about available options, the bereavement leave, and details into the health or life insurance benefits, if applicable.  As an HR staff, be car...

We know that you know that many of your shopping decisions are influenced by what you see on advertisements.  But what you may not know is that’s only half of it.  Sure, all the little details in a poster or a logo contribute to the allure of the product, but the colors you see play bigger part than you may imagine. It’s no surprise that psychology plays a huge part in marketing a business.  Ideas and ways to present these ideas are created by marketing experts with the sole purpose of attracting people.  Just as including a baby in a poster for diapers, pastel colors with soft tones such as pink and sky blue creates a feeling of safety and softness.  Image Source: precisionintermedia.com Colors play a bigger role in brand recognition more than any other factor.  When a startup creates and builds a brand, it chooses the colors carefully.  It’s these colors that will stick with the brand for a long time, define the company and in extensio...