Random links

http://www.collegehumor.com/facebook-history Hilarity! Facebook History of the World. It stuffs up loading the pictures once you get to the Middle Ages section though.

I am reading the manga (Japanese comic) One Piece. One Piece is an enormous ball of crazy! It is ten different kinds of heartwarming. The characters all have huge dreams, passions, enormous flaws, insane powers and terrific strengths. They're totally fierce. The only issue is that the manga is incredibly long (It started in the eighties and it's still ongoing). Oda (the creator) is a true eccentric. This is the Ultimate Manga's Manga. One of the most popular mangas of all time. Be warned, the characters overreact, it's melodramatic and over the top, and the art might look strange to some (especially if you're new to manga). You can read it in English here: http://www.mangareader.net/103/one-piece.html

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3784000/1/The_Scarlet_Pimpernel  Harry Potter fanfiction that portrays Percy Weasley as the heroic protagonist (and a sympathetic one at that). Hilarious, sad and touching. It teaches how to offer emotional support to people experiencing traumatic situations, and the characterisations of characters was spot on (especially of men). I liked how nerdy and serious, studious men with obsessive interests were portrayed as being intelligent, humane and sympathetic people here (nerds and socially awkward, serious people often get a bad rap in fiction and real life, so I like it when they get the credit they deserve). And the French characters were awesome in the story. Best line? "He (Harry Potter) may have saved the world, but he's still a seventeen year old drop out. There's no way I'm letting a seventeen year old drop out become Head of the Aurors."

Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta

From the website: http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/11/airdate-once-upon-a-time-in-cabramatta.html

The series will look at how the community has fought back from adversity and found their place in modern Australia will be told for the first time in a new landmark documentary series on SBS.

Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta explores the extraordinary transformation of this south-western Sydney suburb, and how it has contributed to the Australian multicultural success story.

Told for the first time by the community itself, the three-part series features interviews with the youth who got caught up in gang culture, politicians and police who were involved in Cabramatta’s critical moments, and the ordinary people who lived through it all – from the crime and violence, the fear and racism, a heroin epidemic and the first political assassination in Australia’s history, to the fight back as this immigrant community found its voice.

“From a community that was once paralysed by fear, Cabramatta has become a proud example of immigrant success and this new SBS series is set to tell this important Australian story in a compelling and contemporary way,” says SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid.

So excited! I am really looking forward to seeing this. 

Tony Hoang - Breaking free from drugs and gangs

http://www.tonyhoang.info/ 

The Break Free Project
The Break Free Project is a string of stories just like Tony's. Our aim is to have Tony's story (Pt 1) on 10,000 DVDs and into the hands of every school student across Sydney's West at no cost, raising the awareness and consequences of gangs and drugs. 
And most importantly provide a way of escape...

http://www.pottershouse.com.au/thoang/?page_id=173 Tony Hoang's story is nothing short of inspiring. Hoang was an ex gang member who is now working to raise awareness among youth about the dangers of gangs and drugs, and how to leave that dangerous world. The article shows how isolated children from abusive families can end up joining gangs for acceptance and purpose. It also shows how forgiveness and support can also lead to someone turning their life around.

Psychology: Change your life and how you communicate

I'm sure nearly all of us want to strengthen and nurture our relationships. Humans are social to some extent. Nearly everyone wants to resolve arguments and understand people who are different from us. We've all been there. So I was really happy and excited to find great advice from this website.

This is not a magic pill. But I believe that it will drastically improve how you can problem solve relationship issues on work, relationships and parenting. The Keirnsey Temperament website looks at the different personality types (based on the Myers Briggs Personality Types). There are tests you can take to find out which one you belong to, what makes you tick. And best of all, how to understand and help others. Understanding each person is the key to showing care and respect, and working together as a team to solve challenges in work, school, or relationships. 

I was disturbed by how the site treats faults and abusive or neglectful behaviours of the types too lightly at times (understanding someone does not mean that you should let someone off when they're being vindictive, and obviously you shouldn't ignore someone being incompetent or cruel just because they're your boss). I am impressed by how it shows understanding and respect of the different personality types' strengths though.

Change your life and how you communicate with people here:

http://www.keirsey.com/personalityzone/wz14.asp (Click on the topics/articles on the right hand side of the web page). Topics of articles: Acing the Job Interviews. Dealing with work related stress. How to deal with people of different personality types acting out. Applying Jobs. When to leave a job. Finding the right career path for you. Taking new jobs in the city or country. How to avoid getting fired. Network to keep your job (how to network and socialise at work with different personality types).

http://www.keirsey.com/personalityzone/lz51.asp (Click on the topics/articles on the right hand side of the web page). Topics of articles: Personality types / temperaments and relationships. Dating. Marriage/long term relationships. Fair fighting. How to argue / debate fairly and respectfully with each type. How to communicate with and understand each of the types. Parenting together with personality types (making a great team). Separating from each type. Affairs/infidelity. How to show care, respect and love towards each type/temperament.

http://www.keirsey.com/personalityzone/cz1.asp Temperaments and school. Roommates. Your academic strengths. Sporting careers. College vs Technical Degree. Balancing work and school. Changing subjects/degrees. Failing Classes. Helicopter parents. Perfection trap. Professors. Internships. Professional organisations. Home for holidays. Double Majors/Degrees.