Lifestyle Glitz - September Tranquility 2016

Lifestyle Glitz 

September 2016 

Tranquility 

Four Postpartum 

Psychological 

Problems 

Mothers 

Need To Know 

About 

Eat Right, Feel 

Right: Food for 

Your Age 

(Women Only) 

How Essential 

Oils Can Help 

You Sleep Better 

8 Most Fearsome 

and Famous 

Sea Pirates 

of All 

Times 

Most Famous 

Textile Companies 

in South 

Asia 

The Three Best 

Self-Driving 

Cars and Why 

10 Crucial Business Best 

Practices You’ll Need in Your 

Company 

3 Best Cloud Storage 

Services of 2016 

How to Inflict Less Pain on Yourself: 

7 Things You’re Doing Wrong 

Discovery of the 

Ninth Planet 

1 

Spotlights on “The 

Spellz” with Singer Nasir 

Anis Khan

E A T R I G H T , F E E L R I G H T : F O O D F O R 

Y O U R A G E ( W O M E N O N L Y ) 

With age, our digestion becomes slower and 

we bring changes to our diet just so we can 

feel right. We also come across new spices and 

aromas, which make way into our meals. However, 

are you providing your body with the required 

nutrition according to your age? A nutritionist, 

Ella Allred’s recommended nutrients for 

women of every age group, which we shall discuss 

today. 

T H E Y O U N G F L O W E R : T E E N A G - 

E R S 

As a girl blooms from her baby days into her 

youth, she becomes the focus of all eyes. Everyone 

wishes to see how beautiful she turns 

out to be. The young girl herself also becomes 

cautious of how she appears to those around 

her, combined with the social media pressure 

of “perfect body” on the women. 

To reach size zero, (the desirable shape), girls 

opt for severe diets. Ridding their body of any 

useful minerals and vitamins needed for their 

proper growth. For this age, Ella lays focus on: 

 

 

Magnesium and Calcium rich foods that 

help the bones. (Nuts, whole grains, seeds, 

and green leafy vegetables) 

Omega 3 fats for the production of hormones. 

(oily fish, flax and chia seeds) 

P A R T Y A N I M A L ; E A R L Y T O M I D - 

2 0 S 

The 20s period is famous for bringing out the animal 

inside a person, the odd hour parties, crazy risk and 

thrills. Food people eat at this age is mostly garbage; 

a tortilla chips at a party, a margarita at home. Living 

at leftovers is not the way to go. What should you eat? 

Here’s a hint: 

 

 

Click image to play! 

Food rich in vitamin B will support your exploratory 

routine and make it easier for your body to survive 

your late night alcoholic parties. (mushrooms, 

eggs, green leafy vegetables, kale chips and fish) 

Sufficient iron to make up for the loss in menstruation. 

(sunflower seeds, nuts, fish and beef) 

 

 

 

Fiber and zinc to enhance the skin. (fruits 

and vegetables) 

Protein rich foods for growth and development. 

(eggs and chicken) 

Almond milk instead of cow’s milk because 

it simple tastes better! 

W O R K I N G W O M A N ; M I D T O L A T E 

2 0 S 

At this age, women are often too busy changing their 

passion into a successful livelihood and looking for a 

new friend or even a romantic interest. In order to 

deal with your hectic, fast-paced life you should: 

F R E S H F I G S A S A S O U R C E O F 

C A L C I U M 

It is not necessary to eat these foods in their 

usual form; you can make vegetable smoothies 

including the trending spinach smoothie: 

 

 

2 

Increase intake of magnesium rich foods, which 

help the body to unwind and face tough situations. 

(beans, avocados, dark chocolate and 

whole grains) 

Avoid sugar and coffee because they drain your 

magnesium stores.

T H E F A M I L Y W O M A N ; 3 0 S T O 

4 0 S 

After building up their career and focusing on 

their love life, women may want to start a family 

at this age. For someone starting a family or 

for future pregnancies: 

 

its richness in protein 

Try the traditional Japanese food, Natto recipe 

below: 

 

 

Diet revolving around folic acid. (spinach, 

kale, asparagus, beans and citrus fruits) 

Daily intake of citrus fruits and two servings 

of green leafy vegetables 

E N E R G Y L O S S ; 4 0 S T O 5 0 S 

Many women at this age complain about their 

energy draining out quicker and losing focus. 

The production of antioxidant CoQ10 in the 

body slows down from the 30s to the late 40s. 

CoQ10 is required for energy and concentration. 

To restore CoQ10 in the body, foods including: 

Sardines/ Mackerel. (two portions per 

week) 

Beef and peanuts 

T H E M E N O P A U S E 

Most women dread this age of their lives. However, 

eating required foods can make a big difference 

in reducing the symptoms. For this 

stage, one should consume foods containing 

phytoestrogens, which are substitutes for estrogen 

in the body. 


B E Y O N D T H E M E N O P A U S E 

Your need for iron decreases when you stop menstruating. 

Foods for this age include: 

Vegetables as a source of iron instead of meat 

Protein and complex carbohydrate with every 

meal to avoid fluctuation in blood sugar level 

and to lessen the chance of diabetes 

Avoid refined sugar at all costs 

Replace white potatoes with sweet potatoes 

Feel happier and feel right with these health tips! 

Never forget to take care of what you put into your 

body. 

 

 

 

 

Chickpeas, sesame and flax 

Hummus 

Fermented soy 

Tofu is an ideal substitute for meat due to 

Author Bio: 

Aruba Ali has two passions – photography and studying English as a subject. Having specialized in English, she continues 

to reach out to learn more and improve her skills in writing. In her spare time, she writes for Lifestyle, EBooks, and Blogs 

to share her voice, expertise, and thoughts with the world. 

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H O W E S S E N T I A L O I L S C A N H E L P Y O U 

S L E E P B E T T E R 

T H E B E S T E S S E N T I A L O I L S T O A I D 

S L E E P 

Each essential oil can have different effects on the 

mind and body. This is why learning about the different 

oils that help with sleeping disorders can you help 

you better. Here are some essential oils that are ideal 

for sleeping at night. 

Sleeping without any interruption at night is one of 

the most important aspects of any individual’s day, 

as well as for their wellbeing. However, in today’s 

hectic and stressful lifestyle, many people find it 

difficult to fall asleep at night. 

Aging is also one of the factors that come with 

sleeplessness. Worrying, exhaustion, or having 

emotional stress can also contribute to the inability 

of getting a good night’s rest. 

There are so many different ways through which 

you can find relief from insomnia, but the use of 

essential oils is one of the most common, natural, 

and simplest methods that you can use each day 

to help you sleep better at night. 

H O W E S S E N T I A L O I L S A I D 

S L E E P 

Using essential oils will not cure insomnia or tackle 

the root cause of it. However, it is a renowned 

fact that essential oils can help you to relax and 

calm down before bedtime. They also help you fall 

asleep easily and enjoy an uninterrupted sleep. 

You should know that essential oils are natural 

extracts from flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and 

barks of specific plants. They are highly concentrated 

and to reap their benefits, using them in 

high amounts is not necessary. 

 

 

 

 

Lavender Essential Oil: This is an excellent choice 

that helps relieves stress, and it is one that you 

can also use as a sedative or antidepressant. Predominantly, 

this oil is composed of alcohols and 

esters and it has different therapeutic properties. 

Chamomile Essential Oil: This is famous as a powerful 

agent that calms the body and mind. It can 

also help to alleviate depression, and lift one’s 

mood. There are different forms of this oil available 

in the market today, but the Roman Chamomile 

is popular as the most effective one. 

Valerian Root Essential Oil: For over a hundred 

years now, people use Valerian root for its calming 

and sedative effects. The roots have valerenic acid, 

which is a GABA receptor modulator. It suppresses 

the breakdown of the enzyme GABA in the 

brain and causes sedation. Valerian is very effective 

whether one uses internally or topically. When 

using it as a supplement, it is advisable that you 

dilute one drop in 4 ounces of liquid for half an 

hour right before going to bed. 

Marjoram Essential Oil: Again, there are different 

forms of this essential oil available in the market. 

Sweet Marjoram is the only suitable oil that helps 

with sleep disorders mainly because it comes with 

sedative and calming effects that reduces hypertension 

as well as eases the nervous system. 

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al economy. Cotton is the main raw material used 

by textile firms. They process it and prepare it in 

yarns for use in various ways. 

Here is a list of the top textile companies in 

South Asia: 

I N D I A 

 

Vetiver Essential Oil: This is also an excellent 

oil, which relaxes and calms the body. Once 

you use it, you may stay asleep all through the 

night. 

C O N C L U S I O N 

Essential oils are best for insomnia and many other 

health related problems. However, before purchasing 

the appropriate one, it is advisable that 

you consult with a qualified practitioner before using 

any specific essential oil. It is also good to first 

test them out just to ensure that you are not allergic 

to them. For best results, buy the ones with 

high quality. 

Author: Farah Sharief 

M O S T F A M O U S T E X T I L E 

C O M P A N I E S I N S O U T H 

"South Asia" is the term used to represent the 

southern regions of the South Asian continent. 

The countries in these regions include the famous 

India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, 

Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan. The 

textile industry in South Asia is one of the least 

spoken about topics in the world. Primarily, this 

industry provides clothing, yarn, and all kinds of 

materials needed for apparels. Their distribution 

around the world makes countries like Pakistan 

very famous. 

According to a research by Mr. Rao Umar Farooq 

on "Markets Industry and Dynamics”, the textile 

industry in Pakistan sees an annual growth by 

3%, each year. This is very slow and the most 

apparent reason for this is the recession in glob- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 

Wardhman Textiles 

Arvind Mills 

Bombay Dyeing 

Raymonds 

Grasim Industries 

Reliance Textiles 

Fabindia 

JCT Limited 

Lakshmi Mills 

Mysore Silk Factory 

There are 2,500 textile-weaving factories, 4,135 

finishing factories. According to a survey by AT- 

Kearney, India ranks at the 4 th most promising 

textile market. 

P A K I S T A N

Chenab limited 

Fateh Textile Mills Ltd 

Nishat Mills Limited 

Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Limited 

The National Silk & Rayon Mills Limited 

Husein Industries Limited 

Kohinoor Textile Mills Limited 

Safa Textile Limited 

The Crescent Textile Mills Limited 

Fazal Textile Mills Limited 

S R I L A N K A 

According to the Pakistan Textile Mills Association 

(APTMA), there are 396 textile mills in Pakistan, 

of which, 315 are spinning, 44 weaving, 

and 37 composite units. 

A F G H A N I S T A N 

The country is still working on its economy, but 

for starters, Spinzar is doing a great job. 

There are 19 or more textile companies in Sri Lanka. 

G.R.T. Tea Export 

Apekz Solutions (Pvt) Ltd 

TRUCO (PVT.) LTD. 

Daedo Trading Co., LTD 

Kingki (Pvt) Ltd, 

CoCo Green (Pvt) Ltd 

The Buying House (pvt) Ltd 

Multichemi Exports (Pvt) Ltd 

Haycolour Pvt Ltd 

GREENKEEPERS (PVT) LTD 

N E P A L 

 

Spinzar Cotton Company, cotton 

B A N G L A D E S H 

 

Arun Textiles Pvt. ltd 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ha Meem Denims Ltd 

Beximco Denims Ltd 

Partex Denim 

Chittagong Denims Ltd 

Pacific Denims Ltd 

Envoy Textiles Ltd 

Jamuna Denims Ltd 

Argon Denims Ltd 

Shasha Denims Ltd 

Mahmud Denims Ltd 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Himchuli Readymade Cloth Udyog 

Kriti Textile Pvt. Ltd 

Response Clothing 

Resprens Clothing 

Samriddi Textile Pvt.ltd 

Wool Bikri Cendra 

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Anil Store Center 

Budathoki Cotton Mill 

Chitwan Readymade Cloth Udyog 

S P O T L I G H T S O N “ T H E 

S P E L L Z ” W I T H 

S I N G E R N A S I R A N I S 

M A L D I V E S 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADG Garments 

ADG Textile Centre 

Aqua Jam 

Donad Garment Industries 

Elegant Garment Designer 

Hudhuma 

Jilbaab Fothi 

Maldives Garment Manufacturing Pvt Ltd 

Misraab 

MMI Bamboo Pvt Ltd 

B H U T A N 

Bio 

Name: Nasir Anis Khan 

Date of birth: Feb 9, 1981 

Favorite movie: Legends of the fall 

Favorite singer: Nusrat Fateh Ali 

Aim in life: To represent Pakistan at an unprecedented 

International level. 

Interviewed by: Najiullah Qureishi and Alina Maniar 

About The Spellz: 

Before we proceed with the interview, it’s important to 

introduce “The Spellz.” 

Mostly the fabric of Bhutan is about weaving. 

The one and only textile company here is 

Kushuthara. 

Kushuthara weaving 

Author: Mona Sharif 

"The Spellz" is a famous band created by a Toronto 

based Pakistani artist Nasir Anis Khan. The band has a 

strpng vision to inspire and entertain the English 

speaking audiences all over the world. The Spellz reflects 

the cultural diversity you find in Canada. 

Nasir Khan was kind enough to give us some time to 

interview him to get to know him personally. 

7

1. Tell us something about yourself. 

I was born and raised in Lahore. Got all my education 

from Lahore. Metric from DPS Model 

Town, FSc from Govt College Lahore and BSc 

from UET. I loved music all my life. Everyone in 

my family sang and they were always singing 

spiritual stuff that planted the seed towards 

spirituality in me. But I tasted what music could 

be. For me personally, it was when I started 

writing my own music with my band in UET. 

That was magical. Later, once I moved to Toronto, 

the whole process stopped and 10 years 

later, I decided to go back to my roots of making 

music. 

2. How did you put together the band Spellz? 

What does your band name "The Spellz" mean 

or represent? 

It’s like casting a spell. When I am in the zone 

of writing music, it casts a spell on me and in 

that moment, I am not aware of my own surroundings. 

That’s what makes music special 

for me. Hence the name “The Spellz”. 

3. How was the experience like… ‘The Spellz’ 

working with Daniel Weber the vocalist and the 

lead guitarist of the Hollywood based rock 

band, ‘The Disparrows’? 

It was absolutely fantastic. He is a great musician, 

but to top it off I found him to be a very 

humble and a hard working person. It’s very 

refreshing to see an artist like him who is ready 

to work day and night just for the love of art. 

That’s really hard to find these days. 

4. How do you look at Pakistan’s music industry, 

where is it heading? Is it grooming or failing 

to produce meaningful music? 

I think, it’s a mixed bag. The artists who are 

established are in a good spot as they have 

defined their style and genre already. For new 

artists, it’s always a challenge to define who 

they are and how they are different from the rest. 

I feel that while there is no lack of talent, a lot of 

new artists are trying to copy a hit song in Bollywood. 

Personally, I feel that they are aiming for a 

shortcut and there is no such thing as a short cut 

in life. Every successful person regardless of the 

profession has to do the hard hours and you can 

only do the hard hours of practicing, training, 

and redefining/redesigning if you really love it. 

So, my advice to new talents in Pakistan will be 

to really find the love of music inside of them and 

not try to be someone else. If you sing with soul, 

it will touch the souls of others for sure. 

5. What is music and ‘sufism’ together for you? 

Both go hand in hand. It’s like a perfect marriage. 

Sufism is all about finding the One inside 

of you and when you see a glimpse of the One, 

you will keep diving deeper and deeper. 

Music one the other hand is a channel and probably 

one of the most powerful mediums. Happy 

notes will make anyone happy and sad notes 

make anyone sad regardless you understand the 

words or not. So simply put, Sufism is the message 

and music is the carrier delivering it to 

hearts. 

6. Do you have any regrets? 

None. I am doing what I love and following the 

path of God at the same time. 2 years back when 

I started music again, I offered myself to Him 

and said that I want to pass good messages to 

the world and I want to talk about your greatness 

to the world. I am happy that I am doing that. 

7. Which type of music artist are you following 

recently from east and west both? 

Surprisingly, I don’t listen to a lot of music anymore. 

There was a time when I did but not anymore. 

If anything, I will listen to Coke Studio. 

There is one song that took my heart away from 

this season and that was Dam Ali Ali. Fantastic 

8

audio/video production. Kudos to Coke Studio 

and Strings. I hope I can perform there one 

day. 

8. Did you face any hurdles in reaching this 

point? 

Tons of them but at the same time I am very 

happy that I did. People look at a rose and 

think how beautiful it is. They don’t look at the 

journey of the rose. What they don’t see is that 

the rose had to pass through the pains of 

thorns before God gives it the beauty it wanted. 

So yes, I have faltered and shattered many 

times and had to sacrifice many personal 

things in life in hopes that I will reach my desired 

goals. 

9. What are your plans for the future after this 

collaboration with Daniel Weber? 

Well let’s just say, I hope for many more. 

(smile). 

the world and working on passing messages of 

peace and love. In 10 years, I want to have my 

own city in Pakistan full of love and harmony InshaAllah. 

I know this is what HE created me for… 

13. Finally, a message to our readers and 

your fans? 

Create goals in life and be fearless going after 

them. There is no better feeling than that. There 

is nothing called a success and a failure in life. 

Struggling to achieve goods is best form of learning 

and the goods will always be sweeter. Love 

you All! Nasir 

Click here if you want to read more on NAS, or 

click here to find him on Facebook. 

Authors: 

& 

10. Are you a proud Pakistani? 

I bleed GREEN. One day I will be back and 

making a difference. That’s the goal and the 

plan. I want to have my own city of spirituality 

where there is nothing but love. 

11. What is the message ‘The Spellz’ are trying 

to express through their music? 

We are all one regardless of faith, color, gender, 

race or any other borders. We are nothing 

but souls captured in human bodies and that 

soul is reflection of God himself. Think about, if 

you are standing in a crowd, do you see the 

crowd or do you see that there is only ONE. If 

you see that there is only One, then you are a 

true form of humanity. If you see a crowd, you 

need to work on getting to see nothing but 

One. 

12. Where do you see yourself after 5 years? 

On stage with the biggest artists from all over 

Najiullah 

Qureshi 

Alina Maniar 

9

F O U R P O S T P A R T U M P S Y C H O L O G I C A L 

P R O B L E M S M O T H E R S N E E D T O K N O W 

A B O U T 

Pregnancy brings about dramatic physical, chemical and emotional changes in the body. Few people are 

aware of the influence of these changes on the mother’s mental health. Even though these effects last 

only a few weeks, not being prepared for them can make them more severe and affect the wellbeing of the 

baby. This article discusses four common mental health problems in the postpartum period along with 

their symptoms and available treatment. 

P O S T N A T A L D E P R E S S I O N 

Postnatal depression is normal and nothing to 

worry. Few parents expect it because nobody 

talks about it enough. Both men and women experience 

postnatal depression as they go 

through the emotional and lifestyle changes in 

the first few months after the birth of the child. 

Identifying the symptoms of postpartum depression 

can be difficult because cultural norms 

teach mothers to ignore them and wait for them 

to pass away. 

Most of the time this is true, but if the symptoms 

persist for more than a couple of weeks, it may 

be a sign of postpartum depression. Typical 

symptoms of postpartum depression include 

feeling low or less energetic, frequent urges to 

cry, irritability, exaggerated fear for the baby’s 

safety or being alone, insomnia, marked changes 

in appetite, weak concentration, and the desire 

to get away from it all. 

As mentioned earlier, the difficult thing about postpartum 

depression is identifying that it exists. Treating 

it is relatively easier since there are many cases 

in which psychological therapy has helped to treat 

postpartum depression successfully. Cognitive behavior 

therapy (CBT) helps parents to become effective 

self-monitors and to analyze the origins of their 

own thoughts and behaviors. CBT develops a 

heightened sense of awareness among parents 

about the reasons behind how they feel, which 

helps them to avoid feeling overwhelmed by negative 

thoughts and develop more positive, realistic 

thought patterns. 

A N X I E T Y 

Hormonal changes in the body during and after 

pregnancy cause Anxiety. Anxiety manifests in urges 

to cry as well as heightened sensitivity and irritability. 

As with depression, the critical step is to identify 

anxiety. This is extremely important because the 

treatments of anxiety and depression are different, 

10

and it is easy to confuse symptoms of one with the other. Postpartum anxiety can take various forms, 

including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks and phobias. 

Mild levels of anxiety are common during pregnancy and after childbirth as the body adapts to the 

drastic changes taking place. Symptoms of anxiety include feelings of restlessness, muscular tension, 

frequent episodes of feeling fearful or worried, and repetitive behaviors like checking up on the baby. 

Treating anxiety can be with a combination of medication and psychological counseling. Often, both 

approaches complement each other, so approaching a psychologist and a psychiatrist is recommendable. 

Psychiatrists normally prescribe antidepressants that can be safely taken during pregnancy or 

while the mother is breastfeeding the child to avoid any effect on the baby. Counseling methods include 

behavior therapies that enable the individual to develop deeper perspective about their problems 

and become better at coping with feelings of fear and worry caused by specific situations. 

B I P O L A R D I S O R D E R 

Compared to postpartum depression and anxiety, 

bipolar disorder is relatively easier to identify. 

People with bipolar disorder experience varying 

emotions ranging from extremely negative to extremely 

positive moods. Although it does not 

seem to be so, bipolar disorder can become serious 

if left untreated. An important feature of bipolar 

disorder is that it is hereditary. Therefore, if 

others in the family have experienced bipolar 

disorder at some time in their lives, then you 

should be attentive towards bipolar disorder 

symptoms during and after pregnancy. Feelings 

of depression and fear are common and the earliest 

symptoms of the condition. 

Bipolar disorder can be identified by the presence 

of different symptoms for depression (the 

phase of heightened negativity) and mania (the 

phase of heightened positivity). The symptoms of 

depression are the same as those for postpartum 

depression, i.e. unexplainable urges to cry, 

heightened fear and feelings of lowness. Episodes 

of mania are easy to identify by reduced 

sleep and high energy levels, frequent engagement 

in risky behaviors, hyperactivity, irritability, 

and feelings of grandiosity. 

As with postpartum depression and anxiety, bipolar 

disorder is controllable by a combination of 

pharmacological and psychological therapies. 

Medication largely consists of antidepressants 

and mood stabilizers. Psychological counseling 

11

includes cognitive behavioral therapy and family-focused 

therapy. 

P O S T P A R T U M P S Y C H O S I S 

Postpartum psychosis is a relatively rare but 

serious psychological condition experienced by 

women. A particular challenge with postpartum 

psychosis is that it increases the risk of selfharm 

or injury as well as harm to the baby. 

Therefore, it is crucial to identify symptoms as 

early as possible. According to the most recent 

research on the subject, postpartum psychosis 

and bipolar disorder are related. Therefore, the 

two share several symptoms. 

As with bipolar disorder, marked shifts in mood 

characterize postpartum psychosis, thought 

patterns and behavior. The symptoms may 

emerge anywhere between two days to three 

months after childbirth. Typical symptoms of 

postpartum psychosis include insomnia, high 

energy levels, irrational fear for the baby’s safety, 

and decreased appetite. 

Educating oneself about the possible mental 

health issues during childbirth goes a long way in 

developing an emotionally healthy mother who 

can provide the necessary care to her baby. Having 

someone to talk to during pregnancy and creating 

a relaxing, supportive environment for the 

first few weeks after childbirth can help to reduce 

the severity and duration of postpartum 

psychological problems. 

Postpartum psychosis is relatively complex; 

hence, one must sought its treatment should 

as soon as the symptoms have been detected. 

Medications are usually the first line of defense 

and a good psychiatrist will generally recommend 

a course of antidepressants, mood stabilizers 

and antipsychotics to control the manicdepressive 

episodes. In many cases, the mother 

will need admission in a psychiatric ward to 

receive treatment and to minimize the risk of 

self-harm or harm to the baby. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal 

therapy are usually a great help in developing a 

positive relationship between the mother and 

the baby. It also helps to deal with symptoms. 

In severe cases, treatment may involve electroconvulsive 

therapy. 

An editor by profession, Noman Ahmed has a 

keen interest in reading and writing on diverse 

topics. With a varied educational background 

that encompasses science, commerce and the 

humanities, he values the ability to accommodate 

diverse perspectives and sensibilities on 

the things he writes about. 

12

8 M O S T F E A R S O M E A N D F A M O U S S E A 

P I R A T E S O F A L L T I M E S 

Many of those who have watched the famous sequel “Pirates of the Caribbean” would know 

one name for sure – Barbossa. He was close to the original pirate and a modification of the 

actual name. Here’s a list of ten of the most feared pirates of old times and interesting facts 

about them: 

T H E B A R B A R O S S A B R O T H E R S 

‘Barbarossa’ in Italian means “Red Beard.” The Barbarossa Brothers sailed from North Arica’s 

Barbary Coast, capturing any European vessel they came across in the Mediterranean Sea. The 

two brothers, Aruj and Hizir targeted a Sardinian warship, two papal galleys, and Spanish boats. 

Aruj lost his arm to the Spanish when they engaged in a battle. In 1516, Aruj has been in charge 

of the Barbary Coast by the Ottoman sultan of that time. Hizir took over this post two years after 

his brother died. He became famous by the name “Khair-ed-Din” and spent the rest of his lifefighting 

Christian enemies. He fought the “Holy League” fleet formed by the pope too. 

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S I R F R A N C I S D R A K E 

Queen Elizabeth I, named Francis Drake “My Pirate.” He was 

among the privateers that the English government licensed to attack 

the Spanish ships. The group of privateers went by the name 

“Sea Dog” and made quite a name. Drake went on a famous voyage 

between 1577 and 1580, which made him the first English 

captain to circumnavigate the earth. On this voyage, he lost four 

out of five of his boats, raided several Spanish ports, captured several 

Spanish ships carrying gold, and he executed a subordinate 

for plotting mutiny. When he returned to England, the Queen 

dubbed him a knight. Eight years after that, he played a big part in 

defeating the Spanish Armada. 

To find out why the Spanish Armada was one of the greatest failures despite being a great fleet, 

watch the video below: 


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F R A N Ç O I S L ' O L O N N A I S ( A K A J E A N - D A V I D N A U ) 

History says that the François L’Olonnais was 

one of the many famous adventurers of his 

time in the 1600s. He was French and became 

a buccaneer. State sponsored privateers and 

outlaws raided the Caribbean Seas during that 

time. He became famous for raiding Spanish 

ships and attacking coastal settlements. Upon 

arriving at the Caribbean, he made quite a fearsome 

reputation for his excessively cruel behavior 

as an indentured servant. 

Alexander Exquemelin described François l'Olonnais 

as a man who tied a cord around the 

necks of his victims and strangled them until 

their eyes would pop or and hacked his victims 

to bits and pieces. Once he suspected someone 

of betrayal and he cut out the heart and 

even took a bite off it. However, in 1668, karma 

struck him when Exquemelin wrote that cannibals 

captured him and ate him. 

H E N R Y M O R G A N 

15

Henry Morgan may be the best of all the pirates known from the buccaneering period. He supposedly 

ordered his cohorts to lock citizens of Puerto Principe (Cuba) within the confines of a 

church while they plundered the town without hindrances of any sort. Then he went on to capture 

Porto Bello (Panama) by using priests, mayors, and women as a human shield. He led 

several other brutal raids against two more towns in Panama and Venezuela. In 1672, his arrest 

changed his life and he served the acting governor of Jamaica in 1678, and then between 

1680 and 1682. The irony in his life was that the Jamaican government passed an anti-piracy 

law and Morgan actually assisted in the prosecution of pirates. 

C A P T A I N K I D D 

Captain Kidd was a Scottish sailor. His full 

name was Captain William Kidd, and he 

was one of the most respected privateers 

that sailed in 1696 to hunt pirated who 

troubled and occupied the Indian Ocean. 

However, he later turned into a pirate himself 

and started capturing vessels like the 

Quedagh Merchant. He also killed a subordinate 

with the aid of a wooden bucket, 

which earned him a fierce reputation. At 

some time on his way home, he stopped at 

New York’s Gardiners Island to bury treasure. 

At this time, a massive abandonment 

by his crew left him crippled with only a few 

companions. He had an encounter with the British East India Company and they arrested him, 

taking him back to England. There, they executed him and left his decaying body to hang at 

the banks of River Thames to serve as a notice to other pirates. The London Gazette reported 

this. 

16

C A P T A I N B L A C K B E A R D 

laying low when the British Navy attacked 

him and his crew. Legend says it took five 

gunshot wounds and twenty stab wounds 

before he took his last breath. Romanticized 

versions of Blackbeard have played in movies 

like the “Pirates of the Caribbean” and 

“Treasure Island” over the past years. 

C A L I C O J A C K O R J O H N 

R A C K A M 

His birth name was Edward Teach but as a 

pirate, he went by the name “Blackbeard.” 

He intimidated his enemies with his long, 

braided facial hair, slinging multiple daggers 

and pistols across his upper body. He 

captured a French slave ship in 1717, and 

retitled the vessel to “Queen Anne’s Revenge.” 

He reequipped 40 guns into it, and 

with some extra firepower, he blockaded 

the port of South Carolina and Charleston. 

His demand was a large chest of medicines, 

and until the people of the town provided 

this, he continued occupying the area. 

Blackbeard died a month later while 

17

Calico Jack received pardon for his earlier piracy acts in 1719. The following year he went 

back to sea and seized a 12-gun sloop that he found at the Nassau harbor (Bahamas). 

Among his crew were the only two women pirates that ever terrorized the Caribbean Sea. 

One of them was Anne Bonny who had left her husband to tie the knot with Jack. The other 

was Mary Read who purportedly sailed disguised as a man for quite some time. However, 

another pirate took over Jack’s boat while he was drunk. Only Read, Bonny, and one other 

man tried to resist the takeover. John Rackam hanged a month later whereas the two women 

escaped the noose because they were pregnant. However, Read died in prison later, but 

no one knows what happened to Bonny. 

M A D A M E C H E N 

Cheng Yih formed the biggest 

pirate confederate in history in 

1805. His wife, Madame Cheng, 

took over his business after he 

died two years later. She expanded 

it further, and approximately 

70,000 men with 1,800 

ships joined her command. Her 

husband had adopted Cheung 

Po Tsai, who later became Madame 

Cheng’s lover. Together, 

they attacked ships in the South 

China Sea, demanded protec- 

tion money from coastal inhabitants, and captured seven British sailors. However, in 1810, 

she sought a pardon when the Chinese authorities started to crack down on piracy. In her 

youth, she lived as a prostitute and then ran a large opium smuggling business. 

There’s more! Watch the video below: 

18


Stay tuned, there will be more to read about pirates! 

Author's Bio: Mona Sharif has been a blogger for the past five years, writing in different 

niches ranging from travel to health and everything related to lifestyle. She 

writes for us on part time basis to strengthen her profile as a writer. 

19

1 0 C R U C I A L B U S I N E S S B E S T P R A C T I C E S 

Y O U ’ L L N E E D I N Y O U R C O M P A N Y 

When you study project management as a course, you will marvel at so many details you 

learn. However, only a few weeks later, you forget them. If you are one of those people who 

prefer to go by the books and focus on the principles of project management, then it’s inevitable 

that you forget the details that make project managers worth rivalling. Here are ten crucial 

business best practices that you will need to keep in mind for the betterment of your 

company. 

# 1 : C O M M U N I C A T E W I T H P R O- 

J E C T S T A K E H O L D E R S 

Communication is the key to getting the right message 

across and to make sure your project has a 

great kick off. This means talking to everyone on the 

team including stakeholders, managers, valued user, 

sponsors, and clients. 

# 2 : F O R M A R I S K M A N A G E M E N T 

A N D R E S P O N S E T E A M 

Every task and project in the company has different 

risk levels. This is why you need to form a team responsible 

for tackling risks. This can help you maintain 

the projects in the progressive state without 

getting out of hand. You should think of the risk 

management team as the first line of defense in 

case there are problems you encounter. 

# 3 : H O S T A P R O J E C T K I C K - O F F 

M E E T I N G 

To manage any project successfully, you must align 

all stakeholders. The best way to do this is in a 

meeting. Involve everyone related to the project. 

Address everyone’s expectations and both foreseen 

and unforeseen risks and problems. This helps en- 

sure proper communication and keeps everyone involved 

in the loop. Make sure that everyone has a 

healthy approach to the project. 

# 4 : C L E A R C O N F U S I O N S U S I N G A 

W O R K D E F I N I T I O N D O C U M E N T 

When things go wrong, sorting out who is responsible 

for specific things can be a problem. However, with a 

detailed work definition document you can avoid confusions. 

The document must define what you need and 

by whom. Everyone can understand their roles and put 

efforts accordingly. In order to create accountability, 

which is also an important business best practice, you 

can use the document. Get every stakeholder to sign it 

if you must. 

20

you need. Documentation helps you track discrepancies 

and helps with accountability. 

# 7 : A S K F O R C R I T I C I S M O R 

F E E D B A C K 

# 5 : I M P L E M E N T W O R K P L A N S 

( C R U C I A L B U S I N E S S B E S T 

P R A C T I C E ) 

A work plan helps you stay up-to-date and 

helps meet deadline without forgetting. Without 

a proper work plan, you cannot track any 

project at various stages. The key here is that 

when you measure progress every now and 

then, you stay focused on completing it. 

# 6 : D O N ’ T I G N O R E T H E P O W- 

E R O F D O C U M E N T A T I O N 

Being a project manager means that you cannot 

let any assignment slip your supervision. 

Moreover, following deadlines and making sure 

you and your team meets the targets is a crucial 

business best practice. If you slip, the CEO 

will ask questions like why it happened, what 

the cause was, and how to prevent it in future. 

A slip up will be proof of your being a weak 

manager and you cannot afford this. Despite 

all your efforts if there are slip-ups, you need 

answers to the situation. You need to draw evidence 

and track the cause. For this, documentation 

can be the source of every information 

Nobody is perfect. Despite all your business best 

practices as a manager, you will have some good 

days and bad days. Not everyone will be happy 

with your performance, despite all other achievements 

you’d had. Nonetheless, asking for criticism 

and feedback can help you keep yourself in 

check. Seeing your performance from another’s’ 

perspective will help you improve your management 

skills. 

# 8 : C O M M U N I C A T E T H E I M P A C T 

O F D E C I S I O N S Y O U M A K E 

Saying yes to any project or a new task is easy. 

What’s tough is managing the project’s overload. 

Whenever you approve a new project, it is your 

duty to assess the impact of your decisions. Plan 

a budget and make sure it works according to 

the plan. 

# 9 : M A N A G E A L L O L D A N D 

F R E S H A G R E E M E N T S 

A new agreement means changes in the scope of 

the original project. Whenever a new development 

happens, it’s a business best practice to 

make everyone sign the agreement document. 

This way, stakeholders can have a clearer idea of 

the scope of the project and its impact on the 

company at large. An agreement also avoids confusions 

with deadlines. 

# 1 0 : H O L D A P R O J E C T C O M- 

P L E T I O N M E E T I N G 

Once a project completes, holding a meeting to 

21

make sure everyone knows about it is a very good business best practice. It is a time when everyone 

involved should reflect on the progress, achievements, ways of optimizing next projects, and correcting 

past mistakes. Wrap-up meetings are a time when you can discuss lessons learned and help everyone 

in the team, including yourself, improve. 

Continuously improving your management and optimizing strategies can go a long way with both time 

and budget management. Thank you for making time to read this blog. Feel free to share your thoughts 

or suggestions about it down below in the comments section. You may want to the infographic we have 

about business best practices. 


22

3 B E S T C L O U D S T O R A G E S E R V I C E S O F 2 0 1 6 

The use of online storage such as One Drive, 

Google Drive, Dropbox, and many others has 

become an important facet of our daily lives. 

Business personnel and individuals are using 

online storage tools frequently nowadays to 

store their data. We have rounded up the top 

five online storage services used in 2016. 

D R O P B O X 

Unlike its rivals, Dropbox offers its services to 

clients that use platforms like Linux and Blackberry 

along with the usual Windows, Android, 

iOS, and Mac OS X. Dropbox has an official app 

for its Windows phone users. Moreover, it has a 

various storage plans. 

The free account has a standard 2GB storage, 

which is quite enough for storing documents. 

However, if you need to store images, videos, 

or music, it definitely be too small. Nevertheless, 

no worries, you can upgrade to Dropbox 

Pro, which offers 1TB of storage for $9.99 a 

month or you could buy it for a year for $99.99. 

Dropbox also gives an additional space of 

500MB if you get a friend to sign up with Dropbox, 

but there is a limit of 16GB to this. You 

also get 1GB of storage space if you set up a 

mailbox account and you get to have an additional 

250MB of storage if you take a tour of Dropbox 

basic. You can also get a 3GB storage space 

if you enable your camera uploads to Dropbox; 

this automatically uploads your images on your 

smartphone or tablet. Dropbox also offers 50GB 

of space for two years if you buy certain tablets 

or smartphones. 

Here is how Dropbox works: 

Dropbox creates a folder on your PC, which synchronizes 

with an online version. This feature 

enables you to have your data with you whether 

you are online or offline. Although, this feature is 

not available on mobile devices by default, you 

will have to select your files in order to get them 

to work offline. Dropbox has a very good offline 

editing feature. 

Dropbox files and folders are easy to share with 

others, but the basic account does not allow you 

to set permissions, which means that other users 

can delete files. However, Dropbox backs up 

changes to files for up to 30days, so you could 

always recover deleted data. If you upgrade to 

Dropbox Pro, you will be able to set permissions 

and set expiry times to links you have shared. 

Dropbox has servers encrypted with AES 256-bit 

encryption and files uploaded or downloaded are 

secure with SSL. 

Dropbox remains a solid online storage service 

provider and it is compatible with many platforms 

and devices. 

23

O N E D R I V E 

Microsoft’s one drive offers a very impressive 

15GB of free storage space and you get an additional 

15GB of space by linking the camera 

roll to One Drive. Users, who sign up with Office 

365, get unlimited storage space. 

Unbelievable right? Well, in November 2015, 

announced that it would cut down on all storage 

allowances and remove the 15GB bonus 

you got by linking camera roll. It would revert to 

t 5GB storage. It blamed a minority of its users 

who abused the service by storing hundreds of 

gigabytes of videos. 

One Drive has a modern UI. It is easy to create 

folders or files on the internet. It supports Office 

files and One Note formats because of the 

tight office integration. Windows 10 introduces 

selective sync, which allows you to synchronize 

selected files to your laptop or PC. 

One drive allows you to share media and files 

easily with friends and colleagues. It allows you 

to connect to various social media networks 

like Facebook. This does not really improve 

productivity but does make it easy to share 

files. 

There is a feature that allows you to access 

files on another PC remotely through the one 

drive website. However, take note that if you 

are concerned with privacy, Microsoft like Apple 

has the rights reserved to scan your documents 

and files to check for copyright material 

or files that are explicit in nature. 

The changes in storage coming to one drive are a 

disappointment, there was a time when one 

could easily recommend one drive as a very good 

storage solution, but that is not the case now. 

G O O G L E D R I V E 

Similar to the ways One Drive links its self to other 

Microsoft products, Google drive too does the 

same. Google drive links itself to various services 

Google offers. 

Google drive offers 15GB of free space once you 

create an account or if you link it to an already 

existing account. In fact, you get a Google drive 

account if you use any Google service like Gmail, 

you tube or even Google calendar. 

Google Drive’s shares its storage space across 

all other services Google has to offer, so for example 

large attachments in your email will be 

stored in the 15GB space you have. Photos 

backed up from a smartphone also get stored in 

the 15GB space. 

When uploading heavy data like videos or photos, 

Google drive gives you the option to choose 

between “High quality” and “original”. High Quality 

offers a great upload quality and a reduced file 

24

size without taking up space in your storage. Original 

on the hand takes up storage space. 

Unlike its rivals, Google does not offer any ways of 

adding extra storage space, although you can get 

100GB free for two years if you purchase a Chromebook. 

Author: Samiullah Sharief 

T H E T H R E E B E S T S E L F - 

D R I V I N G C A R S A N D 

W H Y 

Have you heard? The concept of self- driving cars 

is the next big thing in automotive technology. 

There will be driverless vehicles running around 

the road doing your chores like picking and dropping 

your kids to and from school. Self- driving 

cars have been under development by many car 

manufacturers. Many well-known car manufacturers 

such as Toyota, Honda and Audi have 

shown a great interest in self-driving cars. In fact, 

we should be seeing self-driving cars on our 

roads in a couple of years. Here’s my list of three 

best picks from the list of best self-driving cars 

that are yet to come. 

of Lexus SUVs with the self-driving technology. 

Soon, Google manufactured its own car called 

the Google car. The Google car has been on the 

streets of California for testing purposes. Google 

recently announced that its fleet of self-driving 

cars had completed a million miles of road testing. 

Google does not intend on becoming a car 

manufacturing company, however it has hopes it 

can have self-driving cars on roads by the year 

2020. 

Google cars have had 14 minor accidents, although 

Google insists that the accidents were not 

the cars’ fault, because the cars were manually 

driven or that another vehicle was at fault. 

Google cars didn’t undergo tests under harsh 

weather conditions such as heavy rainfall or 

snow. Google cars fail to detect potholes and do 

not stop for human beings or police when being 

signaled to stop. Google hopes to fix these issues 

by 2020. 

# 3 O F 3 S E L F - D R I V I N G C A R S : 

G O O G L E 

Google had made its interest in developing a selfdriving 

car quite public. It announced in 2012 

that it was working on the self-drive technology 

and it began modifying cars like Toyota, Lexus, 

and Audi. Google successfully built its first fleet 

25

# 2 O F 3 S E L F - D R I V I N G C A R S : M E R C E D E S B E N Z 

Mercedes Benz has been researching on the self-driving car concept for quite a while. In 

fact, its most well-known self-driving car is the F 015, which Mercedes calls its “research 

car”. The design of the car aims to make it look very futuristic; it has a luxurious interior and 

is quite roomy. The research car has enough room for working and sleeping while you are on 

the move. 

Mercedes' most notable involvement with self-driving technology has been with the "research car" 

called the F 015. 

The car design was supposed to be ultra-futuristic in every way, with the interior of the car being extremely 

luxurious and roomy, offering plenty of room for things like working and sleeping. The two front 

seats of the car can also turn around so that the two sets of seats can face each other. The entire design 

of the car is provide a unique driving experience starting from the year 2030. 

As far as the technology behind it goes, Mercedes is careful not to label the car a concept car, instead 

preferring to call it a "research car." In short, it is using the new car to develop its own self-driving technology. 

Mercedes says that it has made significant advancements in this; however, the car still doesn't 

react very well to rain or extreme heat. 

It's important to note that the car is still a prototype, however it does highlight the fact that Mercedes is 

seriously working on self-driving technology. 

26

# 1 O F 3 S E L F - D R I V I N G C A R S : F A R A D A Y F U T U R E F F Z E R O 1 E V 

This is by far, my most favorite, groundbreaking vehicle. It is an all-electric supercar, which 

pushes the boundaries of modern driving machinery. Faraday Future is the name of a new 

tech-based company situated in Nevada. Its debut vehicle, an ultra-fast, self-driven sports car 

came out in 2016’s Consumer Electronics Show, which held in Las Vegas. However, it will officially 

be available for sale in 2017. It has a strong engine with 1,000 horsepower; its driving is 

almost completely autonomous, it has a smartphone docking system right in the center of the 

steering wheel, and it has other high tech features to impress users. This my dear readers is 

the future of self-driving vehicles! 

There are still more to come! 

Samiullah holds a degree in Software Engineering. He is passionate about 

writing blogs and reviews about technology. His hobbies are driving, watching 

TV Shows like Top Gear, Mega Factories and he follows Popular car 

magazines. 

27

S E C R E T S T O H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T – E V E N 

W I T H L O W B U D G E T 

Undoubtedly, the real estate market these days is unpredictable. The prices/rents of so many homes 

are outrageously soaring high. This leaves people with one choice-to stay put in their present home 

and say goodbye to their dream of living in a bigger and more lavish one. However, what most people 

don’t know is that some minor home improvement touches to your home can also add an incredible 

change. 

Even in this down economy, millions of smart interior decoration tips could transform the entire look of 

your home. In fact, some home improvements can also add significant value to your home when you 

decide to sell it. 

So, what kind of home improvement projects are worth the money? Let’s have a look! 

R E M O D E L I N G Y O U R K I T C H E N 

Most homeowners consider their kitchen to be the heart and soul of their home. For this precise reason, 

remodeling it is definitely worth every bit of money. Whether you own an old-looking or deluxe 

home, a contemporary looking kitchen can surely transform the entire appearance of your home. You 

could make minor changes that are affordable, including: 

28

Repainting: do you know that fresh paints, especially cool colors can actually go a long way towards 

upgrading the entire look of your kitchen? In addition, they are relatively cheap! It is advisable 

that you use low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints. They not only help to make 

the kitchen more eco-friendly, but they also keep you and your family away from inhaling benzene 

(common in regular paints). 

Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances: it is best to replace all old appliances with newer, energy 

efficient ones. They are not only ideal for the environment, but they also help you to save money 

as they use up lesser energy. 

P R O P E R L I G H T I N G F O R A N O T I C E A B L E T R A N S F O R M A T I O N 

Good lighting can instantly lift up your spirit and at the same time, add a new dimension to your 

home. Along with dimension, proper lighting can add a new personality to your home and add a welcoming 

touch to it. So what kind of atmosphere do you want in your home? A relaxing and light or 

exuberant and exciting one? 

You can tune the lighting levels and invest in affordable, yet classy looking chandeliers or light fixtures. 

LED lights are good options. They last a long time and actually tend to do wonders! They also 

help to save energy, thus reducing financial tensions. 

29

A R T I S T I C D E C O R S F O R A N A R T S Y T O U C H 

30

Incorporating simple creative elements into your home like health-promoting plants, fancy floral arrangements, 

or artistic paintings can transform it. They are quite affordable and help to upgrade the 

look of homes. Apart from aesthetic appeal, they also promote feelings of serenity and calmness. 

Something as simple as an ornate rug, textured wall covering, or elegantly framed family photos can 

help greatly when it comes to the addition of some noticeable flair to your deluxe home! 

So who says you can’t live in a modern home even in this down economy? Try these minor upgrades 

and notice the effects they have on the beauty of your home! 

Author Bio: 

Farah Sharif is an established writer with special interest in fashion, makeup tips, and the latest in various other niches. 

Over the past 3 years of working as a ghostwriter, she learned a lot about writing eBooks, blogs, articles, marketing 

content, product reviews, and other forms of web content. She shares her expertise with us to offer our readers 

the best and informative content. 

D I S C O V E R Y O F T H E N I N T H P L A N E T 

Sounds impossible to believe that there may be yet another planet in our solar system, but it true. Scientists 

have found evidence of a new and mysterious world. Here’s why they think there is a ninth planet: 

 

Astronomers say they found newly found Kuiper Belt Objects (KBO) that suggest where the 9th planet 

should be 

31

The mysterious planet is almost as large as Neptune 

Caltech scientists found evidences of its existence in January 2016 

Since this new discovery, numerous scientists have been looking at the documented facts to confirm 

proof of its existence. It has been getting a lot of attention and now, Mike Brown of the academic 

home of NASA, Caltech, claims he found substantial evidence to back this theory. This is why they 

made an official announcement about the new discovery. 

Astronomers believe that this gas giant sits at the last limits of our solar system and it is about ten 

times larger than Earth. It is gaseous and resembles Neptune and Uranus. 

Ever since scientists have discovered it, the mystery surrounding it has made scientists work harder to 

confirm its existence. The evidence found so far is under constant scrutiny. Professor Mike Brown 

claims that the evidence strongly suggests that their suspicions about the ninth planet are almost confirmed. 

He even tweeted the photo of the planet showing the plot of the newly discovered KBO as 

shown below: 

32

Sometime ago, Brown also wrote, “Hey Planet Nine fans, a new eccentric KBO was discovered. 

And it is exactly where Planet Nine says it should be.” 

The KBO is “uo3L91” and appears with a blue line in the graph below: 

A subsequent tween by Brown said that the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS) made the discovery 

on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Planet Nine has an opposite orientation from outer 

planets. Brown also tweeted that, “I haven’t done the statistics yet, but I suspect this takes the probability 

of this being a statistical fluke down to ~.001% or so.” 

However, it is important to mention that so far there is no conclusive evidence. A number of researchers 

are still working on the theory, based on the few facts found until date, which suggest the existence 

of a Planet IX or even Planet X. 


33

H O W T O I N F L I C T L E S S P A I N O N Y O U R S E L F : 

7 T H I N G S Y O U ’ R E D O I N G W R O N G 

Pain is inevitable, at one point or another you’re bound to get hurt. At times, a person becomes the 

source of bad happening to you, so you focus all your anger and energy on that person. Are you guilty 

of this charge as well? You curse them, despise them and ask yourself, “How could he/she? After all 

that I have done.” 

The saddest truth is; you are the one who becomes your own worst enemy; you hurt yourself. It may 

seem rather far-fetched right now, but just give it a thought. You meet someone, you become friends, 

that person is super nice, you’re happy, you start expecting him/her to be the same like this and to 

treat you the same way. You build impossible scenarios in your head where you expect them to bring 

you moon and the stars. Somehow, you forget that people are imperfect; they are unable to fulfill the 

standards you set for them. When such a thing happens, your brain starts thinking where you went 

wrong. Here is where you went wrong: 

E X P E C T A T I O N 

When you expect something from someone, you’re putting yourself up for heartache. That is because 

a person is untied to your thoughts about them. They cannot always treat you the way you 

wish to be treated. Even if you treat them exceptionally, they may only treat you commonly. Expecting 

equal treatment from them is almost a joke. 

34

Perhaps, it becomes hard not to expect at all 

when things are going so well, but you can at 

least try to expect a bit less. Try not to build a 

perfect image of that person; the way you want 

them to be after all they’re not a puppet. Accept 

them the way they are and be with them 

as they are with you. That way, you will face 

fewer disappointments. 

If you still are unable to give up the habit of 

expecting, channel all your expectations towards 

yourself. If you expect love, love yourself 

as much as you want others to love you. If you 

want respect, give yourself the respect you deserve. 

Whatever kindness you do, try not to 

expect anything in return for it. 

D E P E N D E N C Y 

You may believe that your friend would stand by 

you when you need them and it may even be 

true. However, if you think that he/she will always 

be there for you and ready to help you at 

all times, you are living in a bubble. At one point 

or another, your friend will let you down. He/she 

may have had never disappointed you in the 

past. Nevertheless, at a certain point, one of 

you will lose touch, e.g., when you get married or 

if you start a new job. To sum it up; you may be 

important for him/her right now, but for how 

long? 

Therefore, it is important to learn to survive on 

your own, to see yourself as a complete person. 

This does not simply mean not to ask for help 

when needed, it means to be okay if no one is 

there to help you. It means you will be there for 

yourself. 

N O T P U T T I N G Y O U R S E L F F I R S T 

Are you one of those who are always ready to 

put others needs before yours? If yes, you may 

feel tired of making so many sacrifices and not 

getting much in return. Unknowingly, you are 

draining your energy by constantly making others 

happy and forgetting about your own happiness. 

If such a friendship or relationship ends, it 

hurts even more because you gave them your 

all. 

So, always put yourself first. Putting yourself 

before others means to love and care for yourself. 

It means to respect your boundaries and 

not let anyone else cross it. You should be able 

to say “no” when you want to without feeling 

guilty. Never allow anyone or anything to destroy 

your inner peace. Sometimes it’s okay to deacti- 

35

vate Facebook, to switch off phone just so you 

can recharge yourself. The key is to do what is 

good for you and your body. 

Make yourself a priority in every relation. This 

will also give the other person space to enjoy 

their alone time. In the end, both of you will be 

able to perform better because you won’t be 

worn out or cranky. 

Try not to plan for many years ahead. Not everything 

has to go as you wish. It may even be better 

than you hoped! So, just take a deep breath and 

go with the flow. Nothing lasts forever so just enjoy 

what you have right now. Live every moment 

as it passes without worrying about the future or 

regretting over the past; both of them are not in 

your control. 

P L A Y I N G T H E V I C T I M 

When things don’t go your way, you open the 

long lost file of “everything that ever went 

wrong”. You assume that life should be fair, 

which is not a mature way of thinking. You feel 

bad for yourself thinking that life is unfair to you 

even though you’re a nice person. You become 

stuck in this constant loop without making any 

progress. 

Although, you may not be fully responsible for 

what happened, but it is always good to ask yourself 

if you played any part in it. This will allow you 

to own up to your mistakes and take responsibility 

for your actions. So in the future, you will be 

more aware of the control you have over your life. 

O V E R S H A R I N G 

O V E R P L A N N I N G 

Often you have been wishing, waiting and 

wanting someone for so long that you ruin 

everything before it begins. You destroy it by 

over thinking, planning every moment and 

forgetting to enjoy the moment. 

In search of advice and approval, you allow too 

many ears to listen to your story. In reality only a 

few actually care about you, the rest are either 

curious or jealous. They might even try to ruin 

your relation deliberately by giving bad advice or 

saying something hurtful. 

It’s better to trust no one instead of trusting the 

wrong person and regretting later onwards. Always 

be very careful while trusting and opening 

up to people. 

36

C O N T R O L L I N G 

Sometimes in a relationship or an extremely closed friendship, you start to feel like you have a 

say in everything the other does; they are obliged to ask for your permission. You get angry and 

disappointed when they don’t follow your advice or do as you say. This leads you to the belief 

that they don’t care about you because they’re not accepting the life you have planned for 

them. 

However, the truth is, a person is not bound by the rules you set for them. At times, they will 

make their own choices even if you disapprove of them. You may think you know what is best 

for them, however they may not agree with you. Trying to control someone only pushes him or 

her away from you. A person is like a bird, no matter how beautiful their cage is, all they want is 

to be free! So set them free! 

Author: Aruba Ali 

37

W H Y S E A P I R A T E S B E C A M E E X T I N C T A N D D O 

T H E Y S T I L L E X I S T 

People usually speak of sea pirates or sea bandits like something of a legend. The truth is that 

they were real, and they did exist. They are no myth nor fable. In fact, they existed in great 

numbers at one time. There may never have been a hype about their existence. However, the 

world has experienced problems by them in different places around the globe. What needs 

pointing out is that modern sea bandits are different from those of the past in many ways. 

Nonetheless, their activities and actions remain an unchanged pirates’ code. 

38

M O D E R N P I R A T E S 

Piracy became a serious problem in the early 

1980s. Since then, the numbers of their attacks 

on people traveling by sea increased. 

Between 1993 and 2003, their numbers 

tripled and in 2004, the world experienced 

more than 200 pirate attacks worldwide. 

Catching these modern sea bandits was just 

as difficult as it was to catch their ancestors. 

No authority could do much on the sea, and 

even though countries invested in sea police 

or military defenses, there wasn’t much success. 

Moreover, modern sea bandits could use many 

of the old tricks their ancestors used. They 

could hide behind the flag of any state they 

chose to belong to, which made it almost impossible 

to recognize and arrest them. In fact, 

it may come as a shock but not all governments 

were against sea bandits. Some collaborated 

with them. Today, pirates are frequently 

present in the Southeastern and Southern Asia 

regions. Some still sail in the South American 

sea and South of the Red Sea. They wear 

masks, are good with disguising, and have a 

very aggressive nature. 

There are two kinds of modern sea bandits: 

organizations of sea bandits and minor sea 

bandits. As the name implies, organizations of 

sea bandits are large operating groups. Their 

goals are to loot small ships they come across 

at sea. They attack to complete their agreed 

business and are mostly a link in some criminal 

chain. On the other hand, minor sea bandits 

work independently and have smaller goals. They 

work for no one and loot small ships. 

P I R A T E S A R E S E A R O B B E R S 

People may call them “Pirates” but they are no 

different from the ‘Sea Robbers’ of old times. 

Modern sea bandits use speedboats, have sonars, 

use radars, and stick to the most recent 

technology. They use machine guns, rocketpropelled 

grenades, torpedoes, and all kinds of 

weapons at sea. They may even have access to 

satellite communications. They can locate any 

ship they want to target. They have a new and 

advanced style of robbing people, but in the end, 

they are sea robbers. 

P I R A T E S F R O M 3 0 0 Y E A R S A G O 

No matter how the modern sea bandits act, they 

will remain the same as the sea bandits from 

three hundred years ago. In the past, sea bandits 

39

kidnapped people for ransom, robbed ships, and murdered people at sea. They used the most brutal 

ways of that time to attack people. Some of those sea bandits have left the world with a fearsome 

reputation. 

W H Y P I R A T E S B E C A M E E X T I N C T ? 

Pirates haven’t become extinct. They 

just became less popular. The reason 

for this is that modern technology has 

helped people protect themselves better 

at sea. Acquiring weaponry is no 

longer as easy as it was at one time. 

As awareness about the attacks at sea 

increased, governments around the 

world have taken every measure to 

stop these people. Although they still 

operate, they do so at a very low level, 

which is almost negligible. 


40

C A N T A B L E T S H E L P I M P R O V E L E A R N I N G 

O U T C O M E S F O R C H I L D R E N I N S C H O O L S ? 

More and more schools, in developed as well as developing 

countries, are introducing tablets in classrooms 

as the primary instrument for delivering educational 

content. Experts say tablets are more efficient 

than textbooks and traditional learning activities because 

they provide a larger database for information, 

are more engaging and interactive, and are affordable. 

But, do tablets improve the effectiveness of the 

educational process and increase students’ ability to 

learn? 

What about the apprehensions of several parents that 

exposure to mobile devices at a young age could well 

turn their children into zombies? This article discusses 

the potential for tablets to improve learning outcomes 

for children as well as some of the challenges that 

parents, teachers, and school administrators are grappling 

with as they strive to deliver education in more 

effective and efficient ways. 

One of the benefits of using tablets in 

schools on which there is consensus is that 

tablets increase engagement between learners 

and the educational content. Tablets are 

more interactive than textbooks and incorporate 

different forms of media. This leads 

to stronger engagement and receptivity to 

what people present using the tablets. Studies 

have also provided evidence to support 

the claim that tablets lead to improved 

learning outcomes in several key areas, including 

literacy, mathematical skills, and 

scientific concepts. Tablets allow children to 

learn and strengthen their concepts through 

online tutorials, apps, games and assessment 

tools, something that is not possible 

41

on such a large scale with traditional learning tools. 

Another benefit of using tablets is that they place a 

very large trove of knowledge at the disposal of the 

students. A single tablet can store more information 

than hundreds of textbooks and makes even more 

accessible via the Internet. This makes accessing information 

on the tablet easier than searching for it in 

a book or a traditional library. All of these features 

help to make the learning process more efficient and 

seamless for the students. 

Not only are tablets excellent repositories and transmission 

channels for knowledge, they are more affordable 

and convenient. When compared with other technological 

tools such as computers, tablets are more 

affordable for school administrations as well as parents. 

Children find it easier to carry a tablet to school 

than a load of books. This makes learning 

seem less cumbersome and painful to students. 

Tablets are a useful instrument for delivering 

seamless educational experiences. By 

making learning materials and other educational 

content accessible from the cloud, 

children can use mobile technology to access 

lessons at home, on the bus, and at 

school. Online assessments that deliver 

feedback in real-time make the evaluation 

process more efficient and allow students to 

identify areas for improvement quickly. 

An important area where tablets have recently 

shown positive results is in early 

childhood education. While research on the 

use of tablets in education has traditionally 

42

to respond to descriptive, analytical or reflective 

questions. 

School administrators face the additional 

task of sourcing, evaluating and acquiring 

educational content available online in the 

form of websites, eBooks, interactive tutorials, 

educational games, assessment tools, 

and learning apps for the entire curriculum. 

Several factors such as compatibility with 

the local culture and teaching methodology, 

costs of teacher training and supporting infrastructure, 

and effect on learning outcomes 

need consideration before making 

any significant investment. 

Teachers need to get on board if tablets are 

to be useful successfully in the classroom. 

Teachers need to develop ways in which 

th0y can incorporate the tablet in daily lesson 

planning and student assessment. They 

should get training so that they are familiar 

with the various features of the tablet and 

the online learning and assessment tools 

that they have to use. Most importantly, 

school administrators and parents need to 

devise ways to monitor the use of tablets in 

order to ensure that students do not use 

tablets for non-educational activities. They 

need to invest in parental controls as well as 

filtering and detection systems to ensure 

that children do not access objectionable 

content on their tablets and are safe online. 

There is no turning back from where we 

stand today with regard to the use of tablets 

in the classroom. The challenges are as relefocused 

on secondary and tertiary education, recent 

studies have shown that the use of tablets helps to 

improve learning outcomes in kindergarten learners. 

This improvement is due to several factors. For instance, 

the touch-screen interface makes learning 

more accessible to children at a younger age, which is 

a significant development considering that the children 

are at a stage where their motor skills are developing. 

Another feature of tablets that promotes learning 

is the use of multimedia content including games 

and interactive apps to deliver information. Tablets 

also come equipped with video players and cameras 

that allow teachers to deliver content in the form of 

images, video and games. 

Of course, for many parents, teachers and school administrators, 

the use of tablets represents a drastic 

shift in the way children learn, and, more importantly, 

in the way teachers conduct lessons. Many parents 

and educators are worried about children becoming 

too reliant on their tablets to access information and 

to do homework. There is also the risk of becoming 

addicted to technology, especially as more schools 

introduce tablets at the kindergarten level. The instant 

gratification to which young children become accustomed 

when using a tablet may lead to psychological 

and behavioral issues in their social and interpersonal 

relations as well. 

From the learning perspective, there are some challenges 

that we need to address. For instance, teachers 

cannot rely on tablets as the sole medium of student 

evaluation and assessment. While the tablet may 

be a convenient tool to enter single-click responses to 

assessment questions, one may not use it effectively 

43

vant and valid as the benefits of using tablets as a vital learning tool in schools. Tablets offer an efficient 

and effective way of delivering diverse content to students in ways that strengthen engagement 

and interest in the learning process. At the same time, there is an urgent need to develop robust policies 

and standards for tablet use by schools and parents to ensure that the use of tablets does not obstruct 

the overall physical, psychological, emotional and social development of the child. 

Today, there is no returning. 

Author: Noman Ahmed 

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©www.lifestyleglitz.com 

45

Lifestyle Glitz - September Tranquility 2016

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