Wayne Imber

While scientists and researchers are still trying to come up with more explanations as to what causes behavioral problems in children, a study discovered that prenatal exposure to air pollution may be one of the culprits, affecting a child during the fetal stage. Image source: psychcentral.com In said study, which was published in the Journal of Child Psychology, children born from women who were regularly exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAH had depression, ADHD, anxiety, or similar behavioral issues. PAH can be found in car smoke emissions, cigarette smoke, and burning coal. The study further delves into how the gestation of the unborn child is affected by PAH. Scientists found that once a mother is exposed to the pollutant, the part of the unborn child’s brain that handles self-regulation is affected. The research found that during infancy and toddlerhood, these children had problems relating to others, poor social skills, and difficulty in controlling...

Making new friends as an adult seems like one of life’s greatest hurdles. Add this to the fact that we’re in the digital age now, where many socializations often occur on social media rather than in real life. How then can one make new friends at this time of life and in an increasingly wired world? Express genuine interest in someone Image source: Pixabay.com  If a person whose online persona inspires you, tell them how you feel through a message, comment, or email that you want to get to know him or her better. Work on developing a friendship with that intentional approach, and integrate both digital and personal means to make it work. Share a meal Invite a new coworker or a neighbor to join you for lunch. Gather fellow volunteers or members of a class or organization, and propose having a meal together. Make plans and make sure they happen! Image source: Pixabay.com  Maximize online platforms It’s ironic but these days the easiest way to ma...

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...