Alcohol vs Smoking

 
People tend to compare smoking and alcohol just to see which one causes more health risks, well it’s impossible to determine whether drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes is worse for one’s health because the ways they’re ingested and the effects they have on the body are highly variable. Many years ago, the risks of drinking and smoking were unknown. Fortunately, contemporary research has clearly defined the negative side effects of alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, so now it’s possible to know exactly what one is risking when lighting up or taking one too many shots. Before going further, it may be important to note that consuming alcohol does not necessarily cause harm. The same cannot be said of tobacco use.
Excessive alcohol consumption is known to cause many serious health problems, including the development of 60 major types of disease and approximately 2.5 million deaths per year, more than HIV or tuberculosis. The following list includes some of the ailments that have been directly linked to excessive alcohol consumption:

• Unintentional injuries due to impairment of psychomotor abilities, such as falls, drowning, and poisoning
• Intentional injuries including suicide and self-harm
• Weakened immune system, which increases susceptibility to the common cold and other viruses
• Cancers of the throat, mouth, liver, esophagus, breast, and colon
• Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as epilepsy and withdrawal-induced seizures

Alcohol is ranked globally as the third leading cause of disease and disability, after child malnutrition and unprotected sex. In fact, because alcohol is known to reduce inhibitions, individuals are more inclined to take risks while under the influence, including engaging in unsafe sex. Further, unprotected sex while under the influence may lead to a multitude of sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and HIV. Additionally, it’s important to know that all of these risks are exacerbated by the fact that alcohol is an addictive substance, which can increase exposure to these risks. The most critical factors with alcohol are how much is consumed (short and long-term) and the decisions a person makes after consuming.
Now with cigarettes it’s key to note that they are highly addictive. There are more than 4,000 chemicals found in the average cigarette. The purpose of some of these chemicals is to stimulate addiction, which increases the urge to smoke more frequently. There is also a genetic component that contributes to the addiction factor for most people. Put simply, there is no safe level of cigarette use.
Cigarette smoke inhalation is linked with many diseases and ailments that are also associated with alcohol consumption. Such diseases include:

• Cardiovascular diseases such as Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Cerebrovascular Disease, and Coronary Heart Disease
• Reproductive effects, such as reduced female fertility, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and fetal death
• Cancers of the bladder, cervix, esophagus, kidney, lungs, and mouth
• Cigarette smoking can also cause coughing, wheezing, lung function decline, and susceptibility to acute respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia

Cigarette smoking causes approximately six million preventable deaths per year (which includes nonsmokers who are exposed to smoke in their environments) tobacco kills up to half of its users. Overall both are dangerous and not everyone that smokes or abuse alcohol will have adverse health effects but the big problem is once you practice one or both the possibility of illness is high. So what is the solution????? QUIT BOTH because i am sure we can do without smoking and drinking.

Are Mermaids Real?

 
I have always heard about Mermaids...this long back hair, pretty skin, half human and half fish thing but no one has ever confirmed that they really exist. Just like santa claus and the tooth fairy i believe mermaids are fake or it has something to do with evil spirits. But lets go deeper into knowing what they are all about. 75% of the Earth is covered by water, it's little wonder that centuries ago, the oceans were believed to contain many mysterious creatures, including sea serpents and mermaids. Merfolk (mermaids and mermen) are of course only the marine version of the half-human, half-animal legends that have captured human imagination for ages (half-animals on land include werewolves, and half-avian creatures include harpies).
C.J.S. Thompson, a former curator at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, notes in his book "The Mystery and Lore of Monsters" that "Traditions concerning creatures half-human and half-fish in form have existed for thousands of years, and the Babylonian deity Era or Oannes, the Fish-god, is represented on seals and in sculpture, as being in this shape over 2,000 years B.C. He is usually depicted as having a bearded head with a crown and a body like a man, but from the waist downwards he has the shape of a fish covered with scales and a tail."
Greek mythology contains stories of the god Triton, the merman messenger of the sea, and several modern religions including Hinduism and Candomble (an Afro-Brazilian belief) still worship mermaid goddesses. In secular folklore, mermaids were often associated with bad luck and misfortune, luring errant sailors off course and even onto rocky shoals. In some legends from Scotland and Wales, however, mermaids befriended  and even married humans
There are many legends about mermaids, and even a few dozen historical claims of real mermaid sightings. Though mermaid discoveries are sadly rare in modern times, hundreds of years ago sailors and residents in coastal towns told of encountering the sea-maidens.
One story dating back to the 1600s claimed that a mermaid had entered Holland through a dike, and was injured in the process. She was taken to a nearby lake and soon nursed back to health. She eventually became a productive citizen, learning to speak Dutch and performing household chores. And perhaps most importantly for the time she also became a Roman Catholic.
Another mermaid encounter once offered as a true story is described in Edward Snow's "Incredible Mysteries and Legends of the Sea." A sea captain off the coast of Newfoundland described his 1614 encounter: "Captain John Smith saw a mermaid 'swimming about with all possible grace.' He pictured her as having large eyes, a finely shaped nose that was 'somewhat short,' and well-formed ears' that were rather too long. Smith goes on to say that 'her long green hair imparted to her an original character that was by no means unattractive.'" In fact, Smith was so taken with this lovely woman that he began "to experience the first effects of love" (take that as you will) as he gazed at her before his sudden (and surely profoundly disappointing) realization that she was a fish from the waist down.
This account combines common folkloric features of early mermaid reports, including a (presumably sober) respected sailor; a beautiful woman who like the mythological sirens who tortured brave Ulysses of Greek mythology is immediately enchanting; and the twist ending of suddenly realizing the truth.
By the 1800s, hoaxers churned out faked mermaids by the dozen to satisfy the public's interest in the creatures. The great showman P.T. Barnum was well aware of the public's interest in mermaids, and in the 1840s displayed the "Feejee Mermaid," which became one of his most popular attractions. Those paying 50 cents hoping to see a long-limbed, fish-tailed beauty comb her hair were surely disappointed; instead they saw a grotesque fake corpse a few feet long. It had the torso, head, and limbs of a monkey and the bottom part of a fish. To modern eyes, it was an obvious fake, but it fooled and intrigued many at the time.
Could there be a scientific basis for any of it? Some researchers believe that sightings of human-size ocean animals such as manatees and dugongs might have inspired merfolk legends. These animals have a flat, mermaid-like tail and two flippers that resemble stubby arms. They don't look exactly like a typical mermaid or merman, of course, but many sightings were from quite a distance away, and being mostly submerged in water and waves only parts of their bodies were visible. A glimpse of a head, arm, or tail just before it dives under the waves might have spawned at least some mermaid reports.
Modern mermaid reports are very rare, but they do occur; for example, news reports in 2009 claimed that a mermaid had been sighted off the coast of Israel, performing tricks at sunset for onlookers over the course of several months. Unfortunately, the reports vanished almost as quickly as they surfaced (and without further eyewitness sightings or photographs), leading many to suspect an optical illusion of the waves against the setting sun, or even a hoax to drum up tourism.
A recent TV movie called "Mermaids: The Body Found" renewed interest in mermaids. It presented the story of scientists finding proof of real mermaids in the oceans. It was fiction but presented in a fake-documentary format that seemed realistic. If the program fooled people, it's because it was intended to; as the show's website noted, the movie "paints a wildly convincing picture of the existence of mermaids, what they may look like, and why they’ve stayed hidden … until now." The show was so convincing that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, represented in the film, received enough inquiries following the TV special that they issued a statement in late June officially denying the existence of mermaids.
Though legends of half-human, half-fish seem archaic, mermaids are not merely dusty relics of bygone days. They are still a vibrant part of our culture and in their images can be found all around us in films, books, Disney movies, and even on Starbucks coffee cups.
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Ebay vs Amazon

 
These two companies are unique in their own way, but based on alexa report for traffic amazon is ranked higher but lets go deeper in comparing the two.
Back in the days eBay was the Champion of ecommerce, and for many kinds of goods, it was literally the only reasonable choice for online shoppers.
These days, things are different buyers have all the choice in the world. In particular, another Champion, Amazon.com has come on the scene to entice sellers, and there's now significant overlap in selection and pricing between the two marketplaces.
One way to decide whether to buy on one platform or on the other is simply by looking at price, but is there more to the picture than that? After all, the prices between the two often vary by just a few dollars; if there's a significant advantage to shopping one marketplace over the other, maybe price shouldn't be the final deciding factor.
The answer to this question is a matter of personal choice, but here are some common ways to make the decision.
Shop Amazon.com For
Amazon.com offers advantages to shoppers making frequent purchases of common items, or of items that must be returned. Think of shopping Amazon.com for:

• Comparison shopping. Amazon.com has a much cleaner, easier to use product catalog than eBay does (a trade-off related to the choice to give sellers less flexibility in how to list their items). This makes brand-vs-brand or product-vs-related-product comparison shopping on Amazon.com much easier. Throw in Amazon.com reviews and if you're shopping in product areas where the price differences are minimal, Amazon.com may be a no-brainer.
• When you think you'll be returning items. eBay's managed returns platform goes some way toward making up this difference, but the program is relatively new and uneven across the eBay marketplace, while all Amazon.com sellers have long been required to use the same, standardized returns process that's easy to use and relatively foolproof.
• You're buying commodity goods. With services like Amazon Prime (which offers free 2nd-day shipping on much of Amazon's catalog), Amazon subscriptions, and other similar perks, Amazon.com is a good place to go if you're basically looking to replace a trip to your local department store with a trip to an online store.

Shop eBay For
Given the buzz that Amazon.com has generated in recent years, some have been tempted to think that eBay has been outclassed. Not so there are definite cases in which eBay is the obvious choice. Think of shopping eBay for:

• When you're buying imported goods. eBay remains a much more global marketplace than Amazon.com, even today, and for imported goods that aren't normally available in your local market, eBay still reigns supreme, with better selection and more seller choice than is offered on Amazon.com.
• One-of-a-kind, boutique, and craft goods. Yes, there are sellers dealing in these kinds of goods on Amazon.com, but it's not nearly the fun bazaar that eBay is when it comes to non-mainstream products. You'll find anything at all on eBay, from an almost infinite variety of sellers. Serendipity (accidental discoveries when searching) often delivers fabulous and unique results. None of these things can be said in the same way for Amazon.com.
• Used goods, especially if valuable. Because Amazon sellers dealing in most kinds of products don't have much space to talk about or show photos of the actual item they're selling, buying used on Amazon.com can be a risky bet, particularly for complicated items (for example, those with lots of accessories that come standard) or condition-sensitive items (like gadgets, phones, or clothing). For these kinds of goods, eBay sellers' ability to provide extended descriptions of the actual item(s) in question and multiple photos illustrating any flaws makes eBay a much better bet.
• Antiques, collectibles, vintage items, and curios. The eBay marketplace continues to reign supreme for memorabilia and collectibles of all kinds. Amazon.com just isn't quite set up for this sort of thing, while eBay is ideal for it.

Complementary Marketplaces
At the end of the day, eBay and Amazon.com don't have to be mutually exclusive. In most cases, they're actually complementary. Amazon.com is a great choice for diapers, coffee, batteries, and new products that you might otherwise find in a retail store. For these kinds of goods, Amazon can save you both legwork and money.
eBay, on the other hand, is still unmatched for providing access to goods and deals that can't be had anywhere else a full selection of products from around the world, unique or vintage goods, used items at a significant discount over new, and so on.
Most of the savviest shoppers happily use both, and know when to choose each one.

The Queen of England Role

 
What purpose does the queen serve many might ask, can England function without a queen? Although the Queen is no longer responsible for governing the country, she carries out a number of important tasks on behalf of the nation.

Head of State

As Head of State, the Queen goes on official State visits abroad. She also invites other world leaders to come to the United Kingdom. During their visit, Heads of State usually stay at Buckingham Palace, or sometimes at Windsor Castle or Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. 

Head of the Armed Forces

The Queen is also the Head of the Armed Forces. She is the only person who can declare when the country is at war and when war is over, although she must take advice from her government first.

Head of the Church of England

The Queen is Head of the Church of England - a position that all British monarchs have held since it was founded by Henry VIII in the 1530s.

The Queen appoints archbishops and bishops on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The spiritual leader of the Church of England is the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Government Duties

Every day 'red boxes' are delivered to the Queen's desk full of documents and reports from the government ministers and Commonwealth officials. They must all be read and, if necessary, signed by the Queen.

Represents the Nation

The Queen represents the nation at times of great celebration or sorrow. One example of this is Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph monument in Whitehall. The Queen lays a wreath there each year to honor the members of the armed forces who have died fighting for their country. 

Royal Garden Parties

At least three Royal Garden Parties are held at Buckingham Palace each year and about 8,000 guests attend each one.

Visits

Alongside her other duties the Queen spends a huge amount of time traveling around the country visiting hospitals, schools, factories and other places and organizations. 

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Best Brain Foods for Brain Function

 

There's no denying that as we age chronologically, our body ages right along with us. But research is showing that you can increase your chances of maintaining a healthy brain well into your old age if you add these "smart" foods to your daily eating regimen.

Blueberries. "Brainberries" researchers have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Studies have also shown that diets rich in blueberries significantly improved learning capacity in humans. It is recommended that adding at least 1 cup of blueberries a day in any form  fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried will be beneficial to the brain.

Wild salmon. Deep-water fish, such as salmon, are rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are essential for brain function,it is also recommended because of its "cleanliness" and the fact that it is in plentiful supply. Omega-3s also contain anti-inflammatory substances. Other oily fish that provide the benefits of omega-3s are sardines and herring. A 4-ounce serving, two to three times a week is recommended.

Nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E, the higher levels of vitamin E correspond with less cognitive decline as you get older. Add an ounce a day of walnuts, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, filberts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seed, and unhydrogenated nut butters such as peanut butter, almond butter, and tahini. Raw or roasted doesn't matter, although if you're on a sodium-restricted diet, buy unsalted nuts.

Avocados. Avocados are almost as good as blueberries in promoting brain health, the avocado is a fatty fruit, but it's a monounsaturated fat, which contributes to healthy blood flow. "And healthy blood flow means a healthy brain,". Avocados also lower blood pressure, and as hypertension is a risk factor for the decline in cognitive abilities, a lower blood pressure should promote brain health. Avocados are high in calories, however, adding just 1/4 to 1/2 of an avocado to one daily meal as a side dish is good.

Whole grains. Whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole-grain breads, and brown rice can reduce the risk for heart disease. "Every organ in the body is dependent on blood flow. If you promote cardiovascular health, you're promoting good flow to the organ system, which includes the brain." While wheat germ is not technically a whole grain, it has vitamin E and some omega-3s. 1/2 cup of whole-grain cereal, 1 slice of bread two-thee times day, or 2 tablespoons of wheat germ a day is recommended.

Beans. Beans are "under-recognized" and "economical,". They also stabilize glucose (blood sugar) levels. The brain is dependent on glucose for fuel, and since it can't store the glucose, it relies on a steady stream of energy which beans can provide. Any beans will do, but partial to lentils and black beans and recommends 1/2 cup every day.

Pomegranate juice. Pomegranate juice (you can eat the fruit itself but with its many tiny seeds, it's not nearly as convenient) offers potent antioxidant benefits, which protect the brain from the damage of free radicals. "Probably no part of the body is more sensitive to the damage from free radicals as the brain,"  because of their antioxidant properties -- "the more colorful the better,". Because pomegranate juice has added sugar (to counteract its natural tartness), you don't want to go overboard;approximately 2 ounces a day, diluted with spring water or seltzer is recommended.

Freshly brewed tea. Two to three cups a day of freshly brewed tea  hot or iced contains a modest amount of caffeine which, when used "judiciously," can boost brain power by enhancing memory, focus, and mood. Tea also has potent antioxidants, especially the class known as catechines, which promotes healthy blood flow. Bottled or powdered teas don't do the trick. "It has to be freshly brewed." Tea bags do count, however.

Dark chocolate. Let's end with the good stuff. Dark chocolate has powerful antioxidant properties, contains several natural stimulants, including caffeine, which enhance focus and concentration, and stimulates the production of endorphins, which helps improve mood. One-half ounce to 1 ounce a day will provide all the benefits you need. This is one "superfood" where more is not better. "You have to do this one in moderation,"

Cell Phones and Cancer Risk

 

• Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which can be absorbed by tissues closest to where the phone is held.
• The amount of radiofrequency energy a cell phone user is exposed to depends on the technology of the phone, the distance between the phone’s antenna and the user, the extent and type of use, and the user’s distance from cell phone towers.
• Studies thus far have not shown a consistent link between cell phone use and cancers of the brain, nerves, or other tissues of the head or neck. More research is needed because cell phone technology and how people use cell phones have been changing rapidly. 

There are three main reasons why people are concerned that cell phones (also known as “wireless” or “mobile” telephones) might have the potential to cause certain types of cancer or other health problems:

• Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy (radio waves), a form of non-ionizing radiation. Tissues nearest to where the phone is held can absorb this energy.
• The number of cell phone users has increased rapidly. Globally, the number of cell phone subscriptions is estimated by the International Telecommunications Union to be 5 billion.
• Over time, the number of cell phone calls per day, the length of each call, and the amount of time people use cell phones have increased. Cell phone technology has also undergone substantial changes.

Radiofrequency energy is a form of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation can be categorized into two types: ionizing (e.g., x-rays, radon, and cosmic rays) and non-ionizing (e.g., radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency or power frequency).
Exposure to ionizing radiation, such as from radiation therapy, is known to increase the risk of cancer. However, although many studies have examined the potential health effects of non-ionizing radiation from radar, microwave ovens, and other sources, there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk.
The only known biological effect of radiofrequency energy is heating. The ability of microwave ovens to heat food is one example of this effect of radiofrequency energy. Radiofrequency exposure from cell phone use does cause heating; however, it is not sufficient to measurably increase body temperature.
A recent study showed that when people used a cell phone for 50 minutes, brain tissues on the same side of the head as the phone’s antenna metabolized more glucose than did tissues on the opposite side of the brain. The researchers noted that the results are preliminary, and possible health outcomes from this increase in glucose metabolism are still unknown.


Levels of radiofrequency exposure are indirectly estimated using information from interviews or questionnaires. These measures include the following:

• How “regularly” study participants use cell phones (the minimum number of calls per week or month)
• The age and the year when study participants first used a cell phone and the age and the year of last use (allows calculation of the duration of use and time since the start of use)
• The average number of cell phone calls per day, week, or month (frequency)
• The average length of a typical cell phone call
• The total hours of lifetime use, calculated from the length of typical call times, the frequency of use, and the duration of use

Although there have been some concerns that radiofrequency energy from cell phones held closely to the head may affect the brain and other tissues, to date there is no evidence from studies of cells, animals, or humans that radiofrequency energy can cause cancer.
It is generally accepted that damage to DNA is necessary for cancer to develop. However, radiofrequency energy, unlike ionizing radiation, does not cause DNA damage in cells, and it has not been found to cause cancer in animals or to enhance the cancer-causing effects of known chemical carcinogens in animals (3–5).
Researchers have carried out several types of epidemiologic studies to investigate the possibility of a relationship between cell phone use and the risk of malignant (cancerous) brain tumors, such as gliomas, as well as benign (noncancerous) tumors, such as acoustic neuromas (tumors in the cells of the nerve responsible for hearing), most meningiomas (tumors in the meninges, membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord), and parotid gland tumors (tumors in the salivary glands).
In one type of study, called a case-control study, cell phone use is compared between people with these types of tumors and people without them. In another type of study, called a cohort study, a large group of people is followed over time and the rate of these tumors in people who did and didn’t use cell phones is compared. Cancer incidence data can also be analyzed over time to see if the rates of cancer changed in large populations during the time that cell phone use increased dramatically. The results of these studies have generally not provided clear evidence of a relationship between cell phone use and cancer, but there have been some statistically significant findings in certain subgroups of people.

What do expert organizations conclude?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a component of the World Health Organization, has recently classified radiofrequency fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” based on limited evidence from human studies, limited evidence from studies of radiofrequency energy and cancer in rodents, and weak mechanistic evidence (from studies of genotoxicity, effects on immune system function, gene and protein expression, cell signaling, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, along with studies of the possible effects of radiofrequency energy on the blood-brain barrier).
The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that the IARC classification means that there could be some risk associated with cancer, but the evidence is not strong enough to be considered causal and needs to be investigated further. Individuals who are concerned about radiofrequency exposure can limit their exposure, including using an ear piece and limiting cell phone use, particularly among children.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) states that the weight of the current scientific evidence has not conclusively linked cell phone use with any adverse health problems, but more research is needed.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for regulating the safety of machines and devices that emit radiation (including cell phones), notes that studies reporting biological changes associated with radiofrequency energy have failed to be replicated and that the majority of human epidemiologic studies have failed to show a relationship between exposure to radiofrequency energy from cell phones and health problems.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that, although some studies have raised concerns about the possible risks of cell phone use, scientific research as a whole does not support a statistically significant association between cell phone use and health effects.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concludes that there is no scientific evidence that proves that wireless phone use can lead to cancer or to other health problems, including headaches, dizziness, or memory loss.

Is Realty TV important?

Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents unscripted situations and actual occurrences, and often features a previously-unknown cast. The genre often highlights personal drama and conflict to a much greater extent than other unscripted television such as documentary shows. In competition-based reality shows, a notable subset, there are other common elements such as one participant being eliminated per episode, a panel of judges, and the concept of immunity from elimination. The list of reality TV shows on our screens is endless. But do they contribute anything to our culture? Or are they mindless drivel that corrupt youngsters?

All the Yes points

1. Reality TV shows provide wonderful entertainment.
2. Reality TV shows allow ordinary individuals a chance of stardom.
3. Reality TV shows allow us to see the real personalities of celebrities.
   
   

   All the No points

   1. Reality TV shows make celebrities out of talentless individuals.
   2. Reality TV shows bring out the worse in people.
   3. Reality TV shows are just there to make money for their creators.
      A number of other points regarding reality shows exist but what do you think?

What colour was Jesus?

 
The race and appearance of Jesus have been discussed on a number of grounds since early Christianity, although the New Testament includes no description of the physical appearance of Jesus before his death and its narrative is generally indifferent to racial appearances.
Despite the lack of direct biblical or historical references, from the second century, various theories about the race of Jesus were advanced and debated. While many people have a fixed mental image of Jesus, drawn from his artistic depictions, these images often conform to stereotypes which are not grounded in any serious research on the historical Jesus, but are based on second or third hand interpretations of spurious sources.
By the 19th century theories that Jesus was non-semitic, and in particular Aryan, were developed. However, as in other cases of the assignment of race to biblical individuals, these claims have been mostly subjective, based on cultural stereotypes and societal trends rather than on scientific analysis.The New Testament includes no description of the physical appearance of Jesus before his death. Its narrative is generally indifferent to people's racial appearance or features.
The Synoptic Gospels include the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus, during which he was glorified with "his face shining as the sun." However, the Gospels do not provide details of Jesus' everyday appearance.
The Book of Revelation describes the features of a glorified Jesus (e.g. the head and hair as white, etc.) in a vision (1:13-16), but the vision refers to Jesus in heavenly form, after his death, not his appearance during his earthly life. Old Testament references about a coming Messiah (whom Christians believe to be Jesus) have been projected forward to form conjectures about the appearance of Jesus on theological, rather than historical, grounds; e.g. Isaiah 53:2 which refers to the scourged Messiah with "no beauty that we should desire him" and Psalm 45:2-3 which describes him as "fairer than the children of men", often interpreted as his physical description. Clarks' commentary accepts Lamentations 4:7 "whiter than milk" as referring to skin color. 1 Samuel 16:12 describes David, the ancestor of Jesus, as having "beautiful eyes" or "fair countenance. Despite the lack of direct biblical or historical references, from the second century onward various theories about the race of Jesus were advanced, e.g. by Justin Martyr, based on arguments on the genealogy of Jesus. These arguments have been debated for centuries. The second century anti-Christian philosopher Celsus wrote that Jesus was "ugly and small". The Church Fathers Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine of Hippo argued from a theological perspective that Jesus must have been ideally beautiful in face and body. For Augustine he was "beautiful as a child, beautiful on earth, beautiful in heaven". These theological arguments were further extended in the 13th century by Saint Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologiae based on his analysis of the Perfection of Christ, reasoning that Christ must have embodied every possible human perfection. 
In explaining the development of racial theories in the context of scripture, Colin Kidd, in his book The forging of races, argues that the assignment of race to biblical individuals has been a mostly subjective practice based on cultural stereotypes and societal trends rather than on scientific methods. Kidd reviews a number of theories about the race of Jesus, ranging from a white Aryan Jesus to a black African Jesus, illustrating that there is no general agreement among scholars on the race of Jesus
In his book Racializing Jesus, Shawn Kelley states that the assignment of a specific race to Jesus has been a cultural phenomenon emanating from the higher levels of intellectual circles within societies, and draws parallels between the seemingly different approaches within different settings. Cain Hope Felder has argued that New Testament passages such as Galatians 3:28 express a universalism that go beyond race. So in most cases its best to just focus on the importance of Jesus instead of his colour whether black or white he still serves the same purpose.

Tips for preventing bankruptcy?

 

Tips for Preventing Bankruptcy

When you are overwhelmed by your debt, filing for bankruptcy seems to be the only solution. While bankruptcy can help you get rid of most of your debts, it puts you in a position where you have to start building your financial life all over again. It can also make the process of financial rebuilding more difficult, because it affects your ability to gain credit and employment. Instead of giving up hope, you should take a look at some of the things you can do to avoid bankruptcy. There are many proven bankruptcy prevention methods that can help you get your financial life back on track again, but you need to be very patient and committed to make them work.
Avoid Debt
The need to file for bankruptcy occurs when you have more debt than you can pay off. As long as you continue to accumulate debts, you will draw closer and closer to bankruptcy. As such, you should try your best to avoid getting new loans. If you are in desperate need of money, you can sell off some minor assets to cover your expenses. If getting a loan is the only solution, it is advisable that you get an unsecured loan.
Start Saving
If your lifestyle is causing you to spend more money than you should, you should try to live within your means and start saving. One of the main causes of bankruptcy is credit card debts. Credit cards enable you to spend beyond your means, and you will find yourself facing debt problems if you do not control your spending. When you are experiencing financial difficulty, you should only purchase things that you need and try to take advantage of any opportunity to save money. Make a point to save a certain amount of money every month, and use that money to reduce your debts.
Create a Financial Plan
To make sure that you are on the right track to financial freedom, you need to have a financial plan. Your financial plan should include your monthly expenses and earnings, and the measures that you are going to take to reduce your debts. Even if the plan shows that you are unable to cover your expenses, it can be useful when you are negotiating with your creditors. It gives your creditors a clearer picture of your financial situation and the efforts that you are making to pay off your debts.
Talk to Your Creditors
Show your creditors your financial plan and try to convince them that you are doing whatever you can to clear your debts. Find out if they can reduce interest rates, payments, or fees to make it more possible for you to pay your debts. You should bear in mind that your creditors have much to lose if you decide to declare bankruptcy.
Consolidate Your Debts
If you have multiple debts with high interest rates, you should consider consolidating them. Debt consolidation allows you to get rid of all your debts by taking up one low-interest loan. By consolidating your debts, you can eliminate the hassle of dealing with several creditors, make only one simple payment every month, and pay lower interest.