List25

25 People Who Should Have Won The Nobel Peace Prize But Didn’t

Juan Castillo — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:06:52 +0000

The Nobel Peace Prize is the most controversial of the five Nobel Prizes—Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Physiology. Not only is this the most coveted; it is also the most significant out of all other awards since this award is awarded to individuals who have done “the best work for the fraternity of nations,” as well as for the eradication of groups and armies that encumber the massive promotion of peace among people of all nations. Ever since Alfred Nobel chose peace as a category for the Noble Prize, it has been subject to several controversies. “He/she-should-have-won” claims have been pervasive, and debates as to who is more deserving to win have been ongoing year after year. So, according to popular opinion, here is a list of the 25 people who should have won the Noble Peace Prize but didn’t.

Vaclav Havel

As a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician, Vaclav Havel was the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic. During his time, he was widely acclaimed for his human rights work across Eastern Europe and has been named one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

Sari Nusseibeh

Rather than support attacks on Israel the way some of his fellow countrymen did, this Palestinian philosophy professor decided to focus on proactively helping his people in the midst of the bloodshed. His supporters believed that his passive “Ghandi-like” struggle was what warranted him the Noble Peace Prize.

Eleanor Roosevelt

More than just the first lady of a former US president, Eleanor Roosevelt was as politically active as her husband. In fact, she was the one who led the first mission of the United States to the United Nations, allowing the US to recognize how significant the UN was. As the woman behind the UN Commission on Human Rights as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the influence of Eleanor Roosevelt in the lives of many people remains until today.

Pope John Paul II

John Paul II was acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. He is credited with helping to end Communist rule in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe.

Dorothy Day

One of the most significant personalities during the Great Depression, Dorothy Day organized the Catholic Worker Movement, a pacifist movement during the Second World War. Her mission was to help families rebuild their lives and promote peace by means of communal living and distributed wealth. Her movements eventually spread to both Canada and Europe and are still active today.

Ken Saro-Wiwa

Known as the Gandhi of Nigeria, Ken Saro-Wiwa was a part of the Ogoni people, a minority in Nigeria and he had always been honest about his grudges towards the government of his own country, especially when it came to the displacement of his people and the exploiting of their resources for the gain of the Nigerian government. In response to this, he formed an organization which aimed to protect the rights of the minority and led non-violent demonstrations on behalf of the persecuted.

Fazle Hasan Abed

Fazle Hasan Abed played a critical role in the rebuilding of Bangladesh after the Indo-Pakistani Wars of Separation. After the war, Bangladesh became an autonomous country but was left severely devastated. To help his nation recover, he created and led BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), a development organization that aimed to rebuild infrastructure in Bangladesh and help the people of his nation to re-establish their ravaged homes. This organization eventually became one of the largest development organizations in the world with eight countries under its fold, helping more than a hundred million impoverished people worldwide.

Corazon Aquino

Known as the first female president in Asia, Corazon Aquino established a good number of democratic and humanitarian reform programs in the Philippines following the ousting of the former president Ferdinand Marcos. The start of her reign marked the end of the dictatorial rule in the Philippines, as she instituted a new constitution that emphasized the democracy of the Filipino people. She is considered today as one of the most influential women in the history of the world.

Irena Sendler

A Polish Roman Catholic nurse/social worker who served in the Polish Underground during World War II, she smuggled some 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto and provided them with false identity documents, saving them from the Holocaust.

Mahatma Gandhi

Although most people know Gandhi, and he would probably be the first person to pop into their head when thinking of peace prizes, he never actually won the Nobel. His influence, however, has been undeniable.

Dr. Feng Shan Ho

A former consul-general of the Chinese Embassy in Vienna, Dr. Feng Shan Ho is often dubbed as “China’s Schindler”. During the 1940’s, the Chinese Ambassador to Berlin ordered Feng Shan Ho not to issue visas to prevent Jews emmigration. Shan Ho, however, refused to follow the order; instead, he issued around 2000 visas in a span of six months and saved thousands of Jews.

Stephen Biko

Following the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela in 1964, Stephen Biko took the reins and became the head of the South African Anti-apartheid movement. He was the one who founded the Black Consciousness Movement and promoted “the brotherhood of man.” Along with his active involvement in the promotion of unity among all nations, he preached non-violence among his subordinates. He dedicated his life to leading peaceful protests until the Apartheid police sought to kill him.

Abdul Sattar Edhi

Pakistani Abdul Sattar Edhi was the great leader of the Edhi Foundation. As a philanthropist, he used his own meager funds to establish a humble medical shop in Karachi and helped out those people who needed his knowledge in the field of medicine. He allowed the people of Karachi to obtain the medicines they needed at very low costs and urged many of his friends to donate medical equipment and drugs for the poor.

Oskar Schindler

Probably the most well known member of the Avenue of the Righteous, Oskar Schindler saved around 1,200 Jews from the hands of the Nazis by providing jobs for them in his own weapons factories during the Second World War. Though he knew that his life was in jeopardy, he never stopped employing the Jews and even paid millions to the Nazi Party just to compel them to leave the Jews to him.

Jose Figueres Ferrer

As the man who served as president of Costa Rica for three terms, Jose Figueres granted both men and women equal rights to vote. According to him, although men were generally stronger than women, the mental faculties of both genders had no difference. He was also the one who pushed for the abolition of the army of Costa Rica, as he believed that the police force was more than enough to enforce the domestic laws of the land. He gave citizenship to the black immigrants and instituted civil service bureaucracy in his country.

25 Of The Coolest Office Spaces You Could Possibly Work In

Josef Ray Dagatan — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:43:51 +0000

With the age of cubicles, suits, and briefcases on it’s way out the door a new breed of company has taken over. Primarily in the world of tech these companies are smaller, more efficient, and they value individuality and creativity. In order to foster these things their work environments reflect their values. With bright colors, slides, and even water falls companies like Google and Skype have redefined the corporate world. These are the 25 of the coolest office spaces you could possibly work in.

Quirky (New York City, New York)

Foursquare (New York City, New York)

Tumblr (New York City, New York)

Fab (New York City, New York)

Livingsocial (Washington, D.C.)

Github (San Francisco, California)

Gawker (New York City, New York)

ZocDoc (New York City, New York)

BuzzFeed (New York City, New York)

Squarespace (New York City, New York)

AOL Ventures (New York City, New York)

OMGPOP (New York City, New York)

Buddy Media (New York City, New York)

Airbnb (San Francisco, California)

Bloomberg (New York City, New York)

25 Wackiest Wedding Ceremonies

Asia Khatoon — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:14:35 +0000

Getting hitched doesn’t happen everyday and for most people, it is considered to be one of the most– if not the most– important events of their lives. It goes without saying that couples would want their wedding day to be something they’d remember forever. However, some people take it up a notch and come up with crazy ideas to make sure that their wedding is something people will not easily forget. We’ve seen plenty of unconventional weddings and 25 Wackiest Wedding Ceremonies will give you a rundown of those that definitely take the (wedding) cake!

Leap of Faith

You know what they say about Marriage– You never know what you’re getting into until you’re actually there. Well, these two are, quite literally,taking that leap of faith.

The Undead

When you think of Zombies, the first thing that comes to mind is the undead. This wedding could be this couple’s interpretation of “Love Even In Life after Death”. Makes sense? Who knows.

The Plunge

They say relationships before marriage is when you test the waters. Getting hitched is when you take the plunge. And that’s exactly what these two are doing.

Ever After

Everybody dreams of a happy ending. Taking cue from Shrek and Princess Fiona, this couple sets their eyes on a fairy tale wedding.

Don’t Leave Me Hanging

The underlying message of wedding vows actually says that couples should never leave each other hanging. Through thick and thin, spouses should stick to each other. No matter what! These guys are practicing just that.

Superheroes

Marriage is a never ending process. In order for it to survive, couples need to have the strength and tenacity of a superhero to overcome every obstacle that comes their way.

Picture Perfect

This wedding puts a literal spin to “Memory” and “Picture Perfect”.

Survivor

With skyrocketing divorce rates, there’s one thing all couples wish their marriage would be — A SURVIVOR!

Vampires

Not everybody dreams of becoming the next Edward and Bella but you’d be hard pressed to find couples who don’t dream of an immortal marriage. Looks like this couple gunned for just that during their vampire-inspired wedding.

Neverland

A lot of marriages turn sour when the novelty of the Honeymoon stage wears off. Here’s hoping this couple’s marriage turns out to be just like Peter Pan — Never Gets Old!

Star Wars

Somewhere, George Lucas is wondering why he wasn’t invited to this wedding.

Sweets For My Sweet

Yup. That’s a tub full of hot chocolate. This couple hopes to immerse their marriage in a life full of sweetness.

Does That Hurt?

The last thing we’d want on our wedding day is to float around supported by nothing but hooks on our skin. But not this couple. Judging the way they’re all smiles, there’s no other way they’d get married than getting suspended midair.

Like, Literally.

It wasn’t a metaphor when this couple handed out their wedding invitations that said Love Is In The Air. They literally took their love and exchanged it in, yes, the air. Well, aboard an Airbus A330, that is.

How Long?

Very long actually. We’re talking about the bridal train reported to be 600 ft long. We sure hope the marriage lasts just as long too.

25 Funniest Sports Faces Captured On Camera

Syed Balkhi — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:51:45 +0000

No matter what sport you play there will always be those intense moments where you get in the zone and forget to make sure that your face doesn’t look like you’re being attacked by an ax murderer. Of course, because you’re a famous athlete there will be scores of photographers standing at the ready to take your photo and plaster it all over the internet. These are 25 funniest sports faces captured on camera. Were not laughing at you, were laughing….. OK yes we are laughing at you.

25 Most Brutal Torture Techniques Ever Devised

David Pegg — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:20:23 +0000

Ever since man has been in the business of seeking vengeance, torture has been a reality for war criminals, prisoners, and other less than fortunate individuals. In fact, the most unsettling thing about torture isn’t its existence, but the way people have injected a perverted sense of creativity into the creation of devices designed to create pain. To prove our point here are the 25 most brutal torture techniques ever devised.

The Tub

Known as the punishment of ‘sitting in the tub,’ the convicted person would be placed in a wooden tub with only their head sticking out. After that, the executioner would paint their faces with milk and honey; and soon, flies would begin to feed on them. The victim was also fed regularly and would end up swimming in their excrement. After a few days, maggots and worms would devour their body as they decayed alive.

The Brazen Bull

Also known as the Sicilian Bull, it was designed in ancient Greece. A solid piece of brass was cast with a door on the side that could be opened and latched. The victim would be placed inside the bull and a fire set underneath it until the metal became literally yellow as it was heated. The victim would then be slowly roasted to death all while screaming in agonizing pain. The bull was purposely designed to amplify these screams and make them sound like the bellowing of a bull.

Impalement

Given his name, it should come as no surprise that this was the most favored method of execution by Vlad the Impaler. In 15th century Romania; the victim was forced to sit on a sharp and thick pole. When the pole was then raised upright, the victim was left to slide down the pole with their own weight. It could take the victim 3 days to die using this method and it has been said that Vlad once did this to 20,000 people all while enjoying a meal.

Heretics Fork

This torture device consisted of a metal piece with two opposed bi-pronged forks attached to a belt or strap. One end of the device was pushed under the chin, the other to the sternum, and the strap was used to secure the victim’s neck to the tool while the victim hung from the ceiling or was somehow suspended so that they could not sleep. If their heads dropped, the prongs would pierce their throat and chest.

Neck Torture

Humiliating and painful, this punishment was something of an endurance test where the victim would be hooked into a neck device, either made of metal or wood, which prevented the victim from adjusting into a comfortable position. The cruelty of this punishment lie within the fact that they were unable to lie down, eat, or lower their head for days!

Crucifixion

Principally practiced in antiquity, though it remains practiced in some countries today; it is one of the most well-known execution methods due to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a deliberately slow and painful execution where the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until they die, which usually takes days.

The Judas Cradle

Closely related to impalement, this gruesome punishment entailed having the victim sit on the pyramid-shaped cradle, after which they would be forced down on it by ropes with the intent of stretching the victim’s orifice over a long period of time, slowly impaling them. To add to the overall humiliation, the victim was usually naked and the device was rarely washed. So if the torture did not kill you, the infection contracted from it would.

Lead Sprinkler

Usually filled with molten lead, tar, boiling water or boiling oil, it was used to torture victims by dripping the contents onto their stomach or other body parts like the eyes. Using this device the torturer would proceed to pour molten silver on the victim’s eyes which resulted in agonizing pain and eventual death.

Iron Maiden

This torture device consisted of an iron cabinet with a hinged front and spike-covered interior, sufficient enough to enclose a human being. Once inside its conical frame, the victim would be unable to move due to the great number of steel spikes impaling them from every direction. The interrogator would scream questions at the victim while poking them with jagged edges.

Coffin Torture

The most preferred torture technique in the Middle Ages was known as coffin torture. This method involved placing the victim inside a metal cage roughly the size of the human body; hence the name. The torturers also forced overweight victims into smaller cages to heighten their discomfort as they hung from a tree or gallows. Generally, they would be left there until the crows came to feed on their remains.

Thumbscrew

Though there are many variations of this torture device, the thumbscrew or ‘pilliwinks’ all function the same. They were designed to slowly crush not only the fingers and toes, but larger devices were also used to crush knees and elbows. There is also the Head Crusher, which could do the same for heads. It’s primary intention was to extract confessions from victims and it was first used in medieval times.

Rope Torture

A rope is the easiest to use of all the torture devices since it is easy to find and can easily be fashioned to inflict a number of terrible retributions. For example, it could be used to tie the victim to a tree leaving the victim exposed with no way of defending himself from animals or other humans; it could be used to hang victims at the gallows for entertainment purposes while ultimately inflicting death; and it could be fashioned to restrain the victim’s limbs while attaching the other end to horses who would them be made to run, consequently severing the limbs.

Guillotine

One of the most notorious forms of executions, the guillotine was made of a razor sharp blade attached to a rope. The victim’s head was placed in the middle of the frame as the blade dropped, severing the victim’s head from the body. Since the decapitation was considered to be an instant and painless event (at least less painful than the other torture methods), it was often considered the most humane method of execution.

The Rack

Designed to dislocate every joint of the victim’s body, it was believed to be the most painful form of medieval torture. This torture device was made out of a wooden frame with two ropes fixed to the bottom and the other two tied into the handle on top. Once the victim was bound and placed on top of the rack, the torturer would proceed to turn the handle. Eventually, the victim would be stretched till his limbs where dislocated. The torturers, however, (just to make sure those limbs where indeed dislocated) would continue to turn the wheel until the limbs where completely torn off the victim’s body.

Tongue Tearer

Looking like an oversized pair of scissors, it could effortlessly cut the victim’s tongue. Their mouth would be forced opened with a device called a mouth opener, and then the iron tongue tearer would uncomfortably twitch the tongue with its rough grippers. Once a firm hold was maintained, the screw would be firmly tightened and the victim’s tongue would roughly be torn out.

25 Best Photos From The 2013 Smithsonian Magazine Contest

Amanda Balkhi — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:52:02 +0000

Every year thousands of photographers submit their best work to the Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest. The pictures all fall under one of the following categories: the natural world, travel, people, Americana, or altered images. Both the editors and the readers then select who they think is the winner of each category. The photos you are about to see are all finalists in this year’s competition and certainly worthy of that honor. These are the 25 best photos from the 2013 Smithsonian Magazine Contest.

Monks Releasing Lanterns During Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai, Thailand

A Visit to Bagan, Myanmar

An Onlooker Witnesses the Annular Solar Eclipse as the Sun Sets on May 20, 2012

Musicians Arriving at the Bullring

Guardians of the Forest

The Last Pollen Spore Preparing to Leave a Ladybug Trying to Hold On, Because It Didn’t Want to Be Alone

Mummy, I Am Down Here, and Hungry!

Ants Holding Seeds

Rice Terraces Close to Harvest Season

Alternating Rice Plots in the Bacson Valley

A Man-Made Ice Geyser

River Ferry Operating in the Early Morning in Xiao Donjiang, China

People Harvesting Salt at Sunset

The Milky Way Galaxy Exploding from Mount Rainier

Lone Acacia, Sossusvlei Sand Dunes

25 Things That You Must Do If You Ever Visit The UK

Juan Castillo — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:06:55 +0000

Some say that the UK is a country for romantics, writers, and dreamers. It has numerous well preserved historical sites and places where literature has thrived over the past few centuries. The country carries a majestic vibe that every tourist from the world over would be delighted to discover. UK offers a varied selection of spots and activities that are worth your time and money. Here are 25 things that you must do if you ever visit the UK.

Roman Baths

www.dailymail.co.uk

The Roman Baths give visitors the ability to still see how public bathing was done in the 19th century. Guests can check out the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House, and the other buildings on its street level however, the bath themselves are located below the modern street level. This area receives around 1 million visitors per year and was featured in the 2005 TV Program “Seven Natural Wonders” as one of the wonders of the Western world.

Seven Sister Country Park

www.coolplaces.co.uk

The Seven Sisters are a series of chalk cliffs by the English Channel at South Downs National Park. It has 280 hectares of chalk cliffs and open chalk grassland. Visitors have the option of cycling, canoeing, bird watching and hiking in the area. It is one of Britain’s untouched coastlines and it’s currently being managed by East Sussex County Council.

University of Cambridge

www.u20network.org

Aside from being the center of public research in the United Kingdom, it is also the second oldest university in the English-Speaking world. Visitors will be able to appreciate the cultural and practical associations that the university portrays. Today, the University of Cambridge is a collegiate university and has a student population of 18,000 with 31 colleges occupying the various locations. The university offers students art centers, sports clubs and other school related amenities.

Chinatown in London

london-sightseeing.net

At the start of the 20th century at the East End of London, a lot of Chinese immigrants set up their businesses in order to cater to Chinese sailors who were frequently in the docklands. However, due to damage from the WWII Blitz; growing popularity of the Chinese cuisine; and an influx of immigrants from Honk Kong, it led to an increase of Chinese restaurants being opened elsewhere. Today, you can still find London’s finest and most authentic Asian cuisine off of Shaftesbury Avenue.

The Eden Project

www.strategyforsustainability.com

The UK is striving to be a leader in the sustainable growth sector and has proven this goal when they opened the Eden Project. This area is home to numerous social and environmental projects. Visitors of the Eden Project will be able to see creative and stunning gardens as well as different artworks. It is also a place for music events and is the home of valuable plant and conservation research. This is definitely more than just a theme park. It is a place where people can learn with the help of interactive displays and detailed information provided in the 10 hectares of rockeries and gardens.

Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City

opentravel.com

Visitors can check out the six areas in this historic center and docklands. It tells the story of how the UK developed all throughout the centuries. This dock holds the story of the mass movement of people, slaves, and immigrants that came from northern Europe to America. Today, it is a picture of modern dock technology complete with transport systems, port management and the home of significant commercial, civic and public buildings like St. George’s Plateau. However, due to it’s modernization, it has been labeled as an endangered World Heritage Site, one of only two in Europe.

Hadrian’s Wall

www1.american.edu

This place was once a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. They begun constructing the area in AD 122, during the time of Emperor Hadrian. The region served as a military fortification, a customs post, and levy taxation area. Visitors are still able to see a significant portion of the wall that has been rescued through the efforts of John Clayton during the 19th century.

Durham Castle

www.dur.ac.u

This castle has been occupied since the 1840′s by the University College, Durham. Today, this place is open to the general public, but only with the help of guided tours since it is still being used as a working building by over a hundred students. This lovely castle sits on top of a hill in the River Wear on Durham’s Peninsula and is opposite the Durham Cathedral. This castle was first built in the 11th century as a way to project King Norman’s power and prestige in the north of England. It is an example of what early bailey and motte castles look like.

The Malvern Hills and Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

The Malvern Hills are a range of hills in the English counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and a small area of northern Gloucestershire. This place contains some of the oldest rocks in Britain. Mostly igneous and metamorphic rocks from the late pre-Cambrian known as the Uriconian, which are around 680 million years old! Today, people are be able to enjoy the 3000 acres of the open countryside or climb the highest point at the Worcestershire Beacon and even relax while viewing the wooded slopes.

York Minster

www.thewhitehorseyork.co.uk

This is considered to be one of the best cathedrals in York, England and is also the largest in Northern Europe. Guests can enjoy the Gothic nave and chapter house. Visitors also love the medieval stained glass and the Five Sisters Window that is over 16 meters (52 ft.) tall. It was constructed as a clear Christian presence during the 14th century. The place also has an attached school and library that was created during the 18th century.

Royal Observatory Greenwich

blog.onlineclock.net

This place has played a significant role in the history of navigation and astronomy. It is located on the hill in Greenwich Park, and is overlooking the River Thames. The Royal Observatory has been commissioned by King Charles II for the special purpose of “rectifying the motions of the heavens and the places of the fixed stars and in order to find the desired longitude of places in order to master the art of navigation.” The place is currently being maintained in the UK as a tourist attraction.The two clocks in the area were built by Thomas Tompion and were installed in the principal room of the building.

Soho of London

www.jonathanstephens.com

Soho will always be a word connected with live entertainment, sumptuous food and pulsing nightlife. It is the main location for celebrations in London and contains quirky shops. Tourists can go on a walking tour and relax in the Soho Square. It is also a place to locate luxurious hotels and the place to find delicious and cheap snacks as well as fine dining restaurants in London.
Soho of London is likewise a place to check live theatre and performance; the place to see big budget musicals and important plays as well as some smaller stand up acts.

Lake District National Park

traveltripjourney.blogspot.com

It is often referred as The Lakes and is located in a mountainous region in the North West England. It is famous due to its amazing lakes, forests and mountains. Visitors will be delighted to know that the place is associated with 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth and the other Lake Poets.The place also has the deepest and longest lakes in England like the Windermere and the Wastwater. The UK is trying to enter it into World Heritage Status in the cultural landscape category.

Westminster Abbey

www.europepics.org

The Westminster Abbey is a large, Gothic Church located in the City of Westminster, London. It is where coronations occur and is also the burial site for the English and later the British monarchs of the Commonwealth realms. According to historical accounts by Sulcard in the 1080, the Abbey was first established in the time of Mellitus, Bishop of London. Up to the present time, the Fishmonger’s company still gives a salmon a year in the area since this was a community act during the early 1970s.

The British Museum

poster.4teachers.org

This place has been created for the purpose of keeping the memory of human history and culture. It contains permanent collections that number to a total of eight million works. It is considered to hold some of the most comprehensive collections from various continents. It started in 1753 and contained mosts of the collections of physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The museum opened its doors to visitors on the 15th of January, 1759.

25 Cool Examples Of Truck Advertising

Richard Basa — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:46:33 +0000

It’s everywhere. From park benches to shopping bags advertising is inescapable. Of course it usually just makes us shake our heads at our hopelessly consumerist society but every now and then it might cause a double take thanks to its creativity or clever design. These 25 cool examples of truck advertising should drive our point home (pun intended).

25 Worst Military Decisions Ever Made

Elaine Dimdam — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:14:48 +0000

Overconfidence, carelessness, and momentary mental breakdowns can have pretty bad consequences in every day life. Imagine for a moment though what sort of catastrophes they can lead to on the battlefield. With millions of lives on the line one little mistake can literally change the world. From Word War II to Thermopylae these are the 25 worst military decisions ever made and how they affected the course of history.

The Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.)

This was the epic battle of 300 Spartans who fought against thousands of Persian troops in a historical event that has gained even more attention from Gerard Butler’s swashbuckling historical movie simply titled 300. Thermopylae is arguably the most famous battle in European ancient history and has been cited as an example exemplary valor, courage, strategy and heroism. Although the Greeks lost the battle, it set the stage for them to eventually defeat the Persians and win the war.

The Battle of Carrhae (44 B.C.)

Just because you’re rich and war hungry it doesn’t mean you’ll win all the battles moving forward. General Crassus of Rome should have learned this truth before confidence got the best of him. The battle of Carrhae was the first battle fought between the Roman and Persian empire resulting in a crushing defeat for the Romans. In spite of their overwhelming number and heavy infantry the Roman army was outdone by the Parthian cavalry led by Spahbod Surena.

The Battle of the Red Cliffs (208 or 209 A.D.)

Spies have mostly been the trump cards in armed conflicts. You’d be lucky if they’re caught before the damage is done. Chinese warlord Cao Cao found this out the hard way when a spy disguised as an adviser convinced him to chain his ships together to prevent his soldiers from getting seasick. This error eventually contributed to the fall of the Han Dynasty.

The Battle of Hattin (1187)

There’s a couple things that anybody about to wage war in the desert will probably need. One is water and the other is common sense. Unfortunately, King Guy of Lusignan of the Crusaders lacked both and his enemy, the legendary Muslim leader Saladin, knew it. Conveniently, the latter trapped the king’s men on a water-less plateau and the rest is history.

The Defeat of the Spanish Armada (1158)

Like the usual attitude of most notable names in war history, the Duke of Medina was supremely confident that Spain would have England on her knees because of their amazing fleet and long string of victories. Little did the Duke know that their famed armada would be destroyed by the smaller and more maneuverable English ships.

The French Invasion of Russia (1812)

Yet another epitome of sheer overconfidence would be Napoleon Bonaparte’s winter invasion of Russia. Not surprisingly the weather took its toll on the French and as they suffered a long and freezing retreat back to their home country.

The Battle of New Orleans – War of 1812 (1812 – 1814)

General Edward Pakenham, the commander of English forces in North America made a fateful decision during the battle of New Orleans that his troops should hold their fire just a little longer than what was necessary. At the end of the day, at the age of 36, it cost him his life.

The Battle of Waterloo – Last Napoleonic War (1815)

In the middle of a battle, Napoleon took the time to nurse his illness and delegated the responsibility of winning the battle to Marshal Michel Ney. Unfortunately for Ney after the British where able to stop his first attack, it wasn’t enough to convince him that his strategies needed some adjustment. He proceeded to launch the same attack which was countered again by the British. In fact, he repeated the same attack numerous times and in no small way contributed to the high French casualty count.

The Battle of San Jacinto – Texas Revolution (1835-1836)

In an almost unbearably poor lapse in judgement General Antonia Lopez de Santa Anna of Mexico vastly outnumber the 910 Texans he was fighting, but in the end suffered massive defeat. Why? All because the general ordered his men to take a siesta. It was a costly nap as he lost 630 men while the Texans only lost 9.

The Battles led by General Gideon Pillow – Mexican American War (1846-1848), The American Civil War (1861-1865)

It can be difficult to elbow your way through the ranks to become general. Then again maybe you don’t have to, that is if your college friend is the President of the United States of America. Such was the infamous case of General Gideon Pillow whose several mishaps in battles during the Mexican American War and the American Civil War resulted in thousands of lives being lost. To make matters worse, at one point he was even found hiding behind a tree to avoid leading his men into battle.

The Charge of the Light Brigade (1845)

Miscommunication can lead to disastrous results. Such was the case for Lord Cardigan of the British Calvary who misread an order and instead of fighting an enemy’s smaller unit, ended up going head to head with the main Russian force. So bad was this incident that similar situations are now referred to as the “Valley of Death”. If only Lord Cardigan had read that order correctly…

The Leadership of General Benjamin Franklin Butler (1860′s)

During the American Civil War, he served as a major general in the Union Army. His policies regarding slaves as contraband so they could have freedom, his administration of occupied New Orleans, his ineffectual leadership in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign, and the fiasco of Fort Fisher rank him as one of the most controversial and ineffectual political generals of the war.

The Battle of Antietam – The American Civil War (1861-1865)

Although General Ambrose Burnside knew that the lives of his 12,000 men would be in severe danger were they to cross the river without a forge, he made the call to move forward anyway. If only he would have looked just a little longer he would have noticed that a forge actually did exist in the area.

The Battle of Chancellorsville – The American Civil War (1861-1865)

Is there a greater advantage if you were looking up at the enemy from the bottom of a hill or looking down at the enemy from the top? Although most people would choose to be on the higher ground General Joseph Hooker went against common wisdom and it ended up costing him dearly. Following the battle Abraham Lincoln relieved him of command.

Pickett’s Charge (1863)

Although there were some controversies looming as to why General Robert Lee ordered the charge; one thing’s for sure, everything went really wrong. By the end of the confusion and chaos, leaders would be pointing fingers at each other but the lives of the 10,000 men who were lost that day because of their miscommunication would never be retrieved.

25 Tips And Tricks To Manage Your Time

Leonard Deleon — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:51:43 +0000

As technology continues to advance and workload continues to increase, it’d be no surprise to ask yourself, “Where has all my time gone?” Yes, you may need to cut down on the endless hours of browsing the net for the cutest cat videos, the most exciting Facebook status, or the most intelligently humorous philosoraptor memes. But don’t worry; we’ll fix that! These 25 tips and tricks to manage your time will be the answer to your overwhelming workload. Some of them will directly save time. While, some will improve the quality of your work, leading to saved time in the long run. Get excited for you are about to learn the techniques of having a stress-free yet time productive lifestyle!

Leave Early

No better way to start simple than to just leave early wherever you go- school, work, or breakfast. While traffic is a main obstacle to overcome here, you are also compensating for any other unexpected event. With this simple tip, not only will you arrive at work on time, you are also avoiding that “rushed” feeling and anxiety. Leaving early allows you to exterminate that ferocious road rage, and it gives you time to collect your thoughts before your day.

Make use of spare time

So, I leave early, and guess what? I get to work super early and the boredom is killing me! This is the perfect opportunity to make use of dead time. These time frames are normally not enough to get huge assignments or projects accomplished; however, they may be enough to get the little things out of the way. The same goes for waiting in a long line. Bring a book wherever you go; make phone calls; check emails; study flashcards. Note, this is NOT the opportunity to sit in your car playing Angry birds or words with friends.

Look at your watch

Notice, I said “watch.” What do watches have that most current phones don’t have? I’ll tell you one thing, they don’t have wasteful time-consuming apps! Frequently, look at your watch to keep track of time (unbelievable, right?). The purpose here is to keep a small mental tab on your progress. If you haven’t gotten anything done after one hour, it’s time to move on. Even better, get a watch with a ‘timer’ or ‘stopwatch’ feature. This may be tacky, but if you are really stringent about saving time, visually seeing those seconds fly by will motivate you to stay focused. Time yourself to really see where your time goes.

Keep a time journal

What better way to keep track of something than to write it down? If you want to save your time down to the second, it is not good to rely on your mental power. It will be too overwhelming. Also, when you write things down, it tends to ‘stick’ better with the person. The more you record how long it takes do something, the better you can estimate how to portion your day. Hopefully, the statement, “Yes, I did work on this project for 4 hours” will not mean “Yes, I started the project 4 hours ago but I also browsed the internet, walked bought to the vending machine, ran into a friend that I haven’t seen in a while, and chatted an hour away.”

Figure out your optimal work flow

Learn to recognize when you are most productive and focused. Do you feel energized or motivated to the point where you don’t want to take a break or when you don’t feel fatigued? Is there a point in the day where you are not distracted? Finally, are you an early bird or a night owl? Physiologically and mentally, do you work better at night? Or in the morning? Or some time in between? There are benefits to each, but finding out your optimal work flow is something you have to assess yourself.

Create habits

Now, that you know your optimal work flow, your next goal is to replicate this practice each day. The answer- habit. Without getting into too much detail, the basal ganglia governs the part of the brain where habits take place as well as having some connection in choosing what routines reap the most reward. In short, we spend less effort thinking when performing a habit. If you come up with a habit that incorporates your optimal work flow, you may find that motivation will come naturally. For example, let’s say you are an early bird. An ideal habit would be to wake up, brush your teeth, fix your bed, eat breakfast, then immediately get into your productive mode.

Start work early

This is self explanatory. If there’s something you have to do, go ahead and do it. Do not put it off. If you are assigned a project, start planning on that same day. Of course, you do not have to finish it or even get far. However, planning even the least bit can work wonders in the long-term. Starting your work early carries many benefits. It reduces anxiety caused by procrastination; it avoids those unexpected last-minute occurrences that always seem to happen when we least expect it; and, it provides a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day.

Make to-do lists

As previously mentioned, writing tasks down carries a lasting effect on our motivation. By having a list of things to do, we can automatically prioritize tasks at hand. Imagine having a short guideline to look at instead of sporadically thinking of what you have to do. When finished, “to-do” lists can definitely provide that sense of accomplishment. As an added tip, start fresh. This means that you handle the stuff that takes more brainpower at the beginning of the day and end with the easy, mindless tasks.

Limit pointless online activity

What is the easiest way to turn one minute into one hour? Try: email, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit, and I’m sure you can name many more. Let’s face it. It’s not easy staying focused when a multitude of new information is available at our fingertips. To avoid this, set aside specific times to check your favorite websites. For example, force yourself to check Facebook only four times a day: mid-morning, after lunch, mid-afternoon, and before bed. Spend no more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Alternately, there are numerous online programs that WILL FORCE you to check these websites for only a specific amount of time. The program, Self Control, is just one full-proof example.

Work a little each day

The idea here is to avoid procrastination. And, when we avoid procrastination we avoid cramming. If you want to go about doing this, make blocks for designated times each day (or weekday if you want weekends off). They don’t have to be large either. You can portion them to be 30-50 minutes long with spaced breaks in between each session. It’s whatever strategy works for you as long as you are progressing little by little each day.

Keep sleep consistent

Let’s be real. When was the last time you had 7 hours of sleep? If you’re twitching over a cup of coffee, chances are you haven’t gotten much. Sleep is a natural way to rejuvenate your body. In fact, research shows that little sleep in the long run will hinder performance. If you really can’t afford at least 7 hours, do you sleep at the same time everyday? Sleeping at the exact same time every day may actually be better than the amount of sleep that you get. This contributes to maintaining your biological “internal clock” and keeping your optimal workflow consistent.

Call in advance

This is a simple trick. All you have to do is call ahead if you have a list of errands that require travel. How many times have you gone to a store to find that they do not have the product you want? Or, to find that it was closed? Or, how many times were you on your way to a meeting only to find that it was cancelled a few hours before? You may save yourself a few hours and gas if you call ahead of time. As a bonus you’ll probably end up saving money. You are less likely to buy something out of impulse to compensate for an entire car trip wasted.

Keep a planner and a calendar

This is a foundational rule to time management. Planners are portable enough to keep track of dates. They are made to visually assess a weekly schedule. More importantly, it is best to pencil in an event immediately when you know of it. Don’t put it off. Calendars serve the same function except they help visualize a schedule for an entire month. Plan your day by looking at your planner every morning. Plan your week by looking at your calendar. These tools exemplify time management organization at its finest.

Breakdown large tasks into smaller ones

Find a way to break down large tasks into multiple smaller ones. That way, projects do not look as daunting and they become more easily manageable every day. This means that you must begin planning a project on day one. If you are in fact afraid of brainstorming immediately, then suck it up. Eventually, you’ll need to brainstorm, and it’s better to do it now than later. Also, be very specific with your instructions. Instead of saying “I will study chapter 3 and 4 tomorrow,” say “I will read chapters 3 and 4; I will take notes; and, I will do the study questions at the end of each chapter.”

Set long-term goals

Work without purpose is pointless. If you cannot see your accomplishments weeks, months, or even years from now, you will not be committed enough to make deadlines. I’d recommend this mentality when learning new skills or hobbies. Again, be specific! Let’s say you want to get good at guitar by the end of the year. You don’t make any goals, and you decide to just practice for 12 months. More than likely, you will find yourself unsatisfied after one month, and you may quit. Great job- you just wasted one month of practice and learned how to hold a the right way.