By Teens, For Teens.
One site, Lots of Answers.
This site has gained national recognition, and I appreciate you taking time to check it out.
"Don't you wish there was a way you could feel morally satisfied about your internet time wastage AND make yourself feel smart? Today I discovered the most adorably efficient way to accomplish both goals: Free Rice http://www.freerice.com . It's a multiple choice vocabulary game, and for each word you guess correctly, the advertisers on the site donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. Oh, and the competitive, ego-driven side of this? With each 3 correct answers, you go up a level and the words get harder. The maximum level is 50, though according to the FAQ, few get past 48.
Someone should make a Facebook application out of this (I am far too lazy to check and see if this has already happened) we would clearly get tonnes of rice and thousands of self-satisfied vocabulocrats out of it. "
It's not about the rice. It's about raising awareness. If you went there and checked it out, they have succeeded - weather you have nice comments to make about it or not, they are raising awareness. You may be able to get a $6 bag of rice on eBay to give to those in need, but the truth is, you're not going to. You could spend your thanks giving at a local soup kitchen, but you're not going to. If everyone did something, there wouldn't be a need, but most likely you're not going to. It's true that 10 grains of rice don't go far, but the awareness you gain from those ten grains of rice does. It's about spreading awareness. It's about working towards everyone making a difference. I could spend 3 hours clicking answers and donating 10 grains of rice at a time, but it would go much farther for me to spend those three hours telling other people about world hunger and poverty, weather that's through this Free Rice program or by other means. Check out the Millennium Development Goals: http://www.unhchr.ch/development/mdg.html What the United Nations - all the countries - agreed they could do for extreme poverty and hunger, universal primary education, gender equality and empower women, child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, environmental sustainability, and a global partnership for development to better the world. I don't see that as our current focus with this war and all, but who knows, maybe they'll keep their word. Maybe we will come together and it will happen after all, but it takes everyone working together. Pitch in - do your part.
You could spend your time clicking and donating 10 grains at a time, or you could buy $20 of rice directly, but would you acctually make the $20 donation or would you blow it off? You CAN donate directly to world hunger and poverty. Try Heifer International. http://www.heifer.org/#
Anyways, if everyone in the world did this, it's FUN and, if everyone did, say an avarage of 1000 grains, that's a quadrillion grains of rice, surely enough to feed the hungry. It's something. If all 100 million + United States citizens did it, that's 100,000,000,000 grains of rice. What if everyone in the USA gave one cup of rice a day, or 10 cents a day to an organisation for world hunger, refugees, and poverty? What if the USA gave all the money we've used on war to such a cause? All the time and energy and resources to peace instead of war. What kind of difference would that make?
Stop folding your thousand paper cranes for Sadako and start planting a million trees. And a million times a thousand is a billion and a billion times 6 is our population. If you had stacks of fifty pieces of paper, (that would be about 5cm tall, lets say? or 3 inches?) then you would have to have 200,000 stacks. that would cover a room... over 100ft in each direction and that's only a million sheets. That's only a thousanth, 0.001. That's an incomprehensable number! Someone needs to develop something that will cut back the number of people without harming animals or plants or anything else we're already destroying. So, that would be like a virus, because viruses usually can't go between people and other animals. So, like AIDS? Which kills 1/3 in africa and 6,000 a day? But that's so terrible to wish that slow and painful death on anyone ever. Even with that high of death rates, even a 6,000 people a day, it would still take 2,739.7 years to kill 6 billion people. So if 1/3 of africa has AIDS and 1/3 of the US is aborted, meaning 1.3 million babies a year or 3,600 babies a day... No! This is horrible. Plus, our world population is growing reguardless of these things, not instead of. Everyone needs to stop having children. 6,000 fewer couples a day need to have sex, there need to be 6,000,000 more condomes and birth controll and abstonance. So, if we just eliminated teen pregnancy in the united states, there would be $6.9 billion a year more money in our pockets from taxes, and 821,810 fewer people born in the United States alone each year. You know, Washington D.C has more teen pregnancys than all of Alaska? That's rediculous. Not percapita, of course, but total. California has the highest number of teen pregnancys, followed by Texas, New York, and Florida. This is rediculous and disgusting. And less than half of all teenagers even have sex. There are half a million babies born to teen mothers every year! 35% of girls get pregnant at leas once before age 20, and 35% of girls have sex befor they're 18. Coincedence? Did people miss the part about how sex makes babies? "When a man and a women love eachother very much, something specal happens..." all that crap? Did their parents not tell them? Did their teachers not tell them? I know it feels good and right and all of that but SEX MAKES BABIES! Pretty much, moral of the story is, don't have sex before you want a baby.
Marital Customs and Laws
To most, marriage is a mutual commitment two people make to a union between each other. In different cultures different rules, laws and ceremonious rituals take place. In some cultures, for example, a monogamous relationship is expected while in others, polygamous relationships are practiced. Also, by cultural standards and laws, marriage can be between only a man and a woman or between same-sex couples as well. These are only some of the many cultural and legal standards about marriage.
The Tlingit culture is one of monogamy. Among the Tlingit, there are Eagles and Ravens. Men and women must be of opposite clans to marry. The children they have are part of their mothers’ clan and are brought up to honor and respect the clan of their father. When marrying, the man gives gifts to the family of the bride-to-be, and they in return give him gifts of equal or greater value.
When a wedding is to occur in India, many rituals must take place, as well as much singing and dancing. Before the wedding, the brides body is decorated with henna designs. A dower of at least ten dirhams is required from the bride. After the wedding, the brides family throws a party for all the guests and then the bride travels with the grooms party back to his house where there is another party to welcome her. His family then gives her gifts.
For the Swedes, marriage or “partnership” can occur between both heterosexual couples and homosexual couples, so long as both people are over 18. Also, you cannot be married to more than one person at the same time or anyone of direct blood relation. Traditionally, a Swedish wedding is not to become a couple but to become a family, so the bride wears three gold rings; one for engagement, a wedding ring, and a ring for motherhood. Also, the bride puts a silver coin from her father in her left shoe and a gold coin from her mother in her right shoe to ensure that she will never be without. During the ceremony, the brides maids and bride traditionally have bouquets of pungent herbs and stinking weeds to ward off the imaginary trolls that might otherwise bring misfortune to the couple.
Some cultures have complex ceremonies and laws while others have simple and casual marriages. The Tlingit have more rules about whom you may marry. The Indian ceremony lasts many days and has many particular parts. The Swedes are very open to who may marry each other. In the end, however, the only thing that really matters is the love that is shared between the two people and the family they create together.
Alright, that's my essay thing but this is what I found when resurching for it. I thought it was great! Now, knowing that I'm swedish, does it make sence why I am the way I am? 
Immagenary trolls...
cultural customs & traditions by country
African: You may have heard of "jumping the broom". It is a tradition whose origin is debated, but whose significance is agreed upon to be a symbol for the start of the couple making a home together. Cowrie shells can be used to accent table decorations. The shells represent purity and beauty.
Armenian: A saying that is regarded as a cultural tradition, "may you grow old on one pillow", can be woven into a theme for the wedding. Print the phrase on invitations, or engrave on a silver keepsake as a guest favor.
Chinese: Perform a traditional tea ceremony where the bride serves tea to her parents, and her new in-laws as a symbol of respect. To update the tradition, the groom can serve tea with his new bride. The color red represents celebration and prosperity, and the Chinese character "xi" or double happiness bestows the wish of a happy life for the couple. Chinese weddings are festive celebrations in the full capacity of the word. The bride and groom are required by etiquette to make the rounds and toast each table individually to the loud cheers of the group visited. Sometimes members of the wedding party can be called upon to drink in place of the bride and groom in the event either party cannot hold his or her liquor.
Czech Republican: Traditionally the bridesmaids make a wreath of rosemary for the bride to wear. An updated version can be made with roses and baby's breath.
Dutch: A wonderful custom is to create a wedding "wish tree". At the reception a beautiful tree branch is placed next to the bride and groom's table, and paper leaves attached to pieces of colorful ribbon are placed at each guest's place setting. Guests write their special wish for the happy couple on their leaves, which the bride and groom can then read and hang on the tree.
French: The groom customarily walks his mother down the aisle before arriving at the alter to be married. This is a lovely gesture that can be easily adopted and will surely elicit a collective "aww" from the audience.
German: Breaking dishes, pots, or anything that will break into pieces and then cleaning it up together is said to bring good luck to the bride and groom just before the wedding. In fact another version of the popular custom is for friends to bring over all matter of junk they can gather for the couple to clean up. The idea is to prepare the bride and groom for facing life's trials together. It's a somewhat harsh custom, but one that is rich with meaning nonetheless.
Greek: In the Greek tradition, the bride and groom are honored as queen and king for the day, and so are bestowed, usually by the best man, crowns of gold, or orange blossoms.
Indian: Indian weddings are traditionally multi-day affairs, and involve many intricate ceremonies, such as the painting of the hands and feet of the bride called a mehndi. Garlands are presented to guests of honor instead of corsages, and lots and lots of flower petals are thrown for good luck. It is tradition for the closest male relative to sprinkle flower petals on the married couple to fend off evil spirits.
Irish: The traditional wedding ring is called a claddagh, and depicts two hands holding a heart bearing a crown. The hands represent faith, the heart love, and the crown honor. Another accessory for the bride is a lucky horseshoe. Tie one with ribbon around her bouquet for that walk down the aisle. But make sure to hang it with the points up, it is said to catch and hold all the good luck. A popular Celtic design is the love knot. It is a pattern created by using continuous, unending lines that intertwine. The design represents eternity, unity, and fidelity. A lucky four leaf clover can symbolize, “One leaf for Hope, the second for Faith, the third for Love, and the fourth for Luck!” Include mini pots of shamrock for décor (don’t last long after they’re cut). The national symbol of Ireland is the heraldic harp since ancient Ireland honored the harpist above all other musicians, and it was they who played for the highest officials. Another tradition in Ireland is, instead of clinking glasses to get the couple to kiss, a guest would stand up and sing a song, or recite a poem with the word “love” in it.
Italian: One of the oldest traditions is the giving of candy-coated almonds. Meant to represent the bittersweet nature of marriage, these treats are given to guests wrapped in tulle, or pretty pouches, and in quantities of 5, which is a lucky number.
Japanese: The Japanese ritual of "san-san-ku", or three by three exchange is rich with meaning. It is performed by the bride and groom; each takes 3 sips of sake from each of 3 cups. The first 3 represent three couples, the bride and groom, and their parents. The second 3 represent three human flaws: hatred, passion, and ignorance. "Ku", or 9 is a lucky number in Japanese culture. And "do" means deliverance from the three flaws.
Korean: Ducks and geese are animals known to mate for life. In Korean culture this makes them the perfect symbols of fidelity and are incorporated into weddings.
Mexican/Philippino/Spanish: In Latin culture the groom gives his bride a gift of 13 coins, or arras, representing Jesus and his 13 apostles. These are blessed by the priest and bear the groom's promise to care for and support his wife. For the reception, a festive mariachi band would bring an abundance of fun to the party.
Scottish: The unmistakable sound of bagpipes will surely evoke the pride of Scotland. Incorporate them into the procession. Traditionally, the groom adorns his bride with a sash in the colors of his clan to welcome her to his family.
Swedish: An old, and adorable Swedish custom is for the bride to carry coins in her shoes. One silver coin in her left show from her father, and one gold coin in her right from her mother to ensure that she will never go without.
Vietnamese: It is customary for the mother-in-law to bestow upon the bride pink chalk, which symbolizes a rosy future for the couple.
Scandinavian Wedding Traditions
Traditionally Scandinavians don’t like to rush into marriage. Marriage is a serious business and in many parts of Scandinavia an engagement may last three or even four years, allowing plenty of time for the couple to get to know each other, to see each other at their best and at their worst.
The Gates of Honor
Many of the wedding traditions in the Scandinavian countries go back hundreds of years. In Denmark, for example, it is traditional for an arch of pine branches to be built in front of the bride’s home. This arch is known as the Gates of Honor.
At the wedding reception in Denmark it is traditional for the groom to disappear during part of the ceremony so that all the unmarried young men can kiss the bride – and then it is the bride’s turn to disappear while all the single girls kiss the groom.
To insure good luck and to ward off evil spirits it is required that a Danish couple cut their wedding cake together, the new husband and wife holding the knife together, and then for each wedding guest to eat a slice of cake.
Crowning the next bride-to-be
In Finland it is tradition for the bride-to-be to walk from house to house with a pillowcase to collect her wedding presents. While she walks from house to house an older, married man walks beside her, holding an umbrella or parasol over her head as a symbol of protection and shelter.
It is also traditional for a bride in Finland to wear a golden crown and during the wedding reception she is blindfolded and spun around while all the unmarried girls dance around her – the one she places the crown on will be the next to marry!
Two pine trees – the symbol of fertility
When a couple is married in Norway their friends and neighbors plant two small pine tries on either side of their young couple’s front door as a symbol of fertility.
Also, a Norwegian bride wears a silver crown in silver charms hanging all around it. As she walks the charms tinkle, making a beautiful music sound which wards off evil spirits which love to cause havoc with newlyweds.
Gold and silver coins so the bride will never be without
In Sweden mother of the bride traditionally presents her daughter with a gold coin to be placed in her right shoe and her father gives her a silver coin for her left shoe. In this way they hope to ensure that their daughter will never be poor.
When a girl in Sweden is engaged it is customary for her to receive an engagement ring. Then, during the wedding ceremony the bride’s husband slips the wedding ring onto his new bride’s finger plus he slips a ring of motherhood onto her finger as well – meaning that a Swedish wife will wear three golden rings.
While the details may vary from one country to another, many customs and traditions are the same. Throughout all of Scandinavia there is some fertility custom that goes along with all marriage ceremonies, a recognition that the purpose of marriage is not to be a couple…but to become a family.
