Hands Up

 So if you don't want to see some bitter truth then don't read further into this post.

If you did decided to look then I'm going to answer a few questions. Yes, this is a boy holding his hands up. Unfortunately to you it looks like he is just doing this to stretch or clap but sadly... no.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF YENIAKIT.COM.TR.

 The boy in the photo is a a four year-old boy surrendering to the camera, because he thought it was a weapon. The young child is from Syria and this photo has gone viral. The photo was first published on Instagram by photojournalist Nadia Abu Shaban and has said to be taken by Osman Sağırlı. While the the story of the photo can not officially verified it has been widely reported and shared over several days. A report on the picture identifies the child as Adi Hudea, and says he fled the war in Syria with his family. The family landed in a Turkish refugee camp where this picture was taken around 2012. The story behind the picture says he threw his hands in the air when the camera was pointed at him, believing it was a gun. The fact that a four-year old child, would feel the urge to physically surrender to any object is heartbreaking, let alone the fact that a child so young mostly has seen this done, has surrendered before, and also knows the unforgettable consequences of not surrendering immediately.

" It's a poignant reminder of how war derails the childhoods of those who grow up in its shadow." said the publisher of the photo, Madia Abu Shaban

Oh happy day!

Everyone hates Mondays. Well actually if you are a work professional or a impatient students then yes, you definitely hate Mondays, but today was a special exception. Today on this very special Monday was International Happiness Day! Today we took it upon ourselves to make someones day just a little bit brighter. Rather it was a random act of kindness or a grand gesture.  

Every year on National Happiness Day, the countries are evaluated to see who is the "happiest country of the year" the past winners have included Denmark, Switzerland, and many more. Including this year's winner Paraguay!  So what makes a country so happy? Is it the stable economy, the lack of wars, or simply the friendly neighbors? And where does American rank on this list?

The United States of American was ranked #15 on the list of the happiest countries in the world, sharing the spot along with ten other countries with a rank score of 79. The countries are ranked on a system called A World Happiness Report. The countries are compared by multiple factors including economic, psychology, survey analysis, and national statistics. These factors help assess the progress among the nations as well as using these to measure aspects of happiness, including mental illness, life expectancy,  benefits of happiness and ethics. All and all its nice to know that small acts of kindness and grand gestures can still occur between neighbors, even between nations.

A Second Chance For Malls Everywhere

Have you ever seen a post-apocalypse movie where the scenery is usually abandoned cities, run down homes, empty airports, and silent malls?  Have you ever watched and wondered what  actually happens to a building when it becomes abandoned? 

Usually they are torn down and condemned but what if we were able to recycle buildings like we do with plastic bottles, turn something old and used into something new and useful.  

The new skylight in what was the Highland Mall 

  According to Ellen Dunham-Jones, an architect and professor at Georgia Tech,there are about 

1,2000 abandoned malls around the United States Most of these malls have become abandoned due to the rapid building a malls in the 20th century, when the malls were seen as dollar signs, but only became a problem in over retailing the public. Now the old malls are become new and improved. Many architects like, Ellen , are using old malls and turning them into new functioning institutions like schools, churches, and medical centers.  Malls are becoming more vacant because of the incline of online shoppers. With lots of space to build upon, changes are being made for the better, allowing these once populated shopping centers to become something that is helpful to the community.

photo credit: Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects 

Move Over Wall Outlets!

Today you may have finally found a reason to upgrade your furniture.

If you are a human being and have not been living under a rock then you know what Ikea is.
If you don't, then you will soon, Ikea is a very popular Swedish furniture/home decor warehouse store. Most people describe it as a decorators heaven. The furniture is modern and simple, they have everything from rugs and couches to plates and painted glassware. Now Ikea is stepping up their technology game and introducing to the world a new line of furniture that will charge your devices, yes you just read that right, the little useless table next to your bed will now be available with wireless charging pads, and if your device is compatible then when it is placed over a "pad" it will charge without being plugged into anything. The first products available will be tables, desks, and lamps. Ikea will launch the line in the United States on April, 15th 2015.