Slummer Reading List

Slummer Reading List According to me, it is scientifically proven that brain cell activity slows down during extreme temperatures. For example, it is  extremely hot outside right now, therefore my brain is slowing to a steady trot. Look around, Rioters, at all of the summer reading lists that require deep thought, thesauruses, and attention spans of steel. All of that is wonderful, and yes, your mind does need the exercise. But how do muscles work? After you tear them down, they are built back up during the resting period. So lets give our brains a much needed break with some Slacker Summer Reading (or Slummer Reading) thats both  fun in the sun (the merciless sun that beats on our uncovered faces) and could possibly build up your brain matter in between your quantum physics studies. After digging deep into my memory banks (and a lot of scrolling through my Kindle), I found some books that were fun, easy reads that both satisfied and whet my appetite.   Also, unlike many other summer reading lists (school requirements not included), the Slummer Reading List isnt limited to just what I recommend, or even limited to the books that have come out this year.   So feel free to add your Brain Candy picks below. So, in no particular order, other than how I wrote them down and typed them up, here is your Slummer Reading List. 1) How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship Musical Theate by Marc Acito Welp, I really dont have to explain this one, as its all in the title.   Seriously.   The main character is a high school boy of ambiguous sexuality who dreams of attending Julliard, sure to be the next big thing on Broadway, with help from his girlfriend (yes, he kisses her and everything), another girl friend (but in the totally platonic sense, when hes not mentioning her boobs), and a jock who may be a  Playboy at heart (check out that play on words, huh).   Prepared to simply enjoy his final years of high school, our hero is thrown a curve ball when his father refuses to pay for his college. Hijinks, sex, and random musical numbers ensue. Set in the 80s, but relevant even in our digital world, HIPfC is funny like a lazy toe dip in the pool just as your friend yells out Cannonball! 2) Whiplash River by Lou Berney Okay, admittedly the cover of this book leaves much to be desired, but as they say, Never judge a book before youve flipped it over and read the synopsis.   This book is what the Slummer Reading List is all about.   There are explosions, cute assassins, snarky commentary, and around-the-world travel (admittedly while being chased by several killers, but all of this happens with the Pyramids of Giza as a backdrop, so win).   Like HIPfc, the characters in Whiplash River leave an impression, and you find yourself rooting for both the bad and badder guys (Are there any good guys in this book?) Whiplash River is the essay Indiana Jones turned in when the teacher asked the class to write about what they did over the summer. 3) Every Demon Has His Day by Cara Lockwood Take your favorite celebrity gossip magazine (you know you have one),  mix in an episode of Supernatural, add a dash of Abbott and Costello, and for fun,  lets grab Britney Spears circa 2002 (before K-Fed and all of that craziness),  and youd almost have the ingredients that make Every Demon Has His Day a Slummer must-have.   The heroine is being haunted by her dead husband,  guarded by angels, stalked by demons, and will possibly usher in the apocalypse in her quaint town.  But dont let the  imminent doom of the antichrist make you think this book is heavy handed or even overly religious.   EDHHD is high on laughs (especially the dialogue between the angels), action, and Southern charm. Now class, Im going to interrupt this list to ask you to take out your ereaders.   Everyone ready? Follow along as I continue with these Slummer ebooks: 4) Fake Kate by David Wailing Two things I loved about this book: Being an American, the author describes London so well, its like you have an extra  Eye (get it) taking you all around the city. Secondly, I like when fiction  makes itself available in  real life.   Like when Im watching a movie at home, Ill pause the DVD whenever theres a newspaper or any type of writing, just to see if the filmmakers put the effort in to use actual copy and not fake Latin words (and oftentimes they do).  Wailing goes an extra step by  including clickable links to the dating site that Kate uses, as well as the profiles of the men she goes out with, and various websites in the story. Oh, and by the way,  Kates missing, so all of these links are clues to  finding her whereabouts. On a  side note:  I once called a number on a missing poster in an  indie horror movie that I saw, and lo and behold, it was the phone number of the director, and he and I chatted about the movie.    Yes,  Im that kind of girl. 5) Who is Audrey Wickersham by Sara Shrieves Speaking of horror, because so far I havent really, Who is Audrey Wickersham (which I downloaded onto my Kindle, but is also available in paperback), is a rather unusual take on your average monster tale.   Audrey is a teen girl who falls for a mysterious boy, and said boy may or may not be a vampire.   But its Audrey who is far more than she appears to be.   Let this serve as a cautionary tale against going into strange shops filled with jars of unspeakable things. Read it, youll see what I mean. 6-13) Triple Shot Of. by Tonia Brown You know what they say about Pringles?   How you cant eat just one?   If thats true, then the Triple Shot Of series is the Pringles of ebooks.   Pick your poison, via Steampunk, Werewolves, Flash Fiction, Zombies, and more.   Each ebook is a collection of three engrossing short stories with varying themes that youll probably read in one sitting, so be prepared for a marathon night.    Some of the  standout stories involve a guy whos facing his phobia of being completely nude, and just when the therapy  starts working,  zombies happen, and a Southern family dealing with being held  hostage by soldiers  during the  Civil War  in a very uncivilized way. 14) Back by Peaches the Writer Most of our Slummer reads have dealt with the supernatural, the outrageous, and the humorous.   But what about good, old-fashioned, human-made drama?   And by drama, I mean Real Housewives of Atlanta, fanning on the front porch, sipping sweet tea drama. Back involves the complicated love life of a divorcee who is still sleeping with her ex-husband when her seemingly gay professor offers to marry her if she can convince the conservative school board that he is simply effeminate and in love with her.    But what happens when real feelings get involved in all of the charades?   Well, youll find out, because  this, like most of our list, is a quick read that will get you through those long, hot, mind-paralyzing summer nights. So, thats  my Slummer Reading List so far.   If youve read anything on the list, what did you think?    What would you add or recommend?

Effectiveness Of A Combined Therapeutic Approach On...

According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2014) website, someone in this country is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease every 67 seconds. Projection figures of the year 2050 state 16 million people in the United States will have Alzheimer’s disease; triple the present rate (Alzheimer’s Association, â€Å"Latest Facts Figures Report†, para. 1). Alzheimer’s research has expanded slowly over the past decade. However, with prevalence rates increasing rapidly, high quality of care will be imperative. Observations, questionnaires and other diagnostic tests will be implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined therapeutic approach on negative disease symptoms. The aim of the study is to reduce negative symptoms of mild and moderate†¦show more content†¦Multi-therapeutic approach towards the reduction of negative symptomatology and diminished brain atrophy in mild and moderate Alzheimer’s disease: An observational, unobtrusi ve research design conducted in nursing home facilities. Alzheimer’s disease is an insidious illness which leads to cognitive and functional impairment, and is becoming more commonplace than ever before. There is no known cure, treatment, or prevention for this disease; in case of point, researchers have yet to discover a way to slow the progression of the illness. As the treatment of the physical manifestation of this disease is difficult to pinpoint, many researchers have dedicated their resources to finding ways to improve the quality of life of those who are diagnosed. Many patients with Alzheimer’s experience depression, anxiety, aggression, and social isolation as a result of their disease; these emotional responses can be treated. Social, music, and exposure therapy in a combined approach will significantly decrease depression scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and reduce agitation scores on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). Participants exposed to our therapy program will show less physical a nd verbal aggression, demonstrate positive body language as observed by a third rater, increased brain stimulation reflected in fMRI scans and decelerated brain atrophy from the

Knowledge And The Act Of Knowing Essay - 1006 Words

Knowledge and the act of knowing could be said to be central to the experience of humanity as we define it, and indeed the study of these things, epistemology, is one which gets to the core of who we are as a race and how we interact as individuals with the world around us. In examining these ideas and forming a personal theory of knowledge, an individual, being confronted with one of the essential questions of human existence: â€Å"What is knowledge?’, can easily become mentally overwhelmed by its scope and complexity, as they might become physically in attempting to push a large boulder up a steep hill. I, initially being one of these overwhelmed individuals, was struck by the sheer enormity of the question as our class progressed through the unit, and began slowly to doubt all which I had previously held to be true. Though I appreciated, respected, and, in many ways, found the works of all the examined philosophers to be illuminating, I ultimately found my closest ally in doubt to be the great French philosopher Renà © Descartes. Though not all of his ideas resonated with me, those which did did so with a power never before experienced in my young life. Among the multitude of ideas presented in his Meditations on First Philosophy, those of Descartes which resonate with me the most are those of healthy skepticism and doubt and the criterion of true, responsible knowledge as being â€Å"clear and distinct.† Though separated by the space of hundreds of years and thus belonging toShow MoreRelatedDiscuss Key Aspects Of Indigenous Thought Throughout The Lectures And Work Of Horn Miller And Frideres1694 Words   |  7 Pagesexamples. Key aspects of Indigenous knowledge include: monism, holism, relations, reciprocity, and inner/outer space (Frideres). 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Daoism Free Essays

Beginnings and History The history of Daoism can befittingly be separated into four periods: Proto-Daoism, Classical Daoism, Modern Daoism and Contemporary Daoism. The first period, Proto-Daoism, spans the time from antiquity all the way to the 2nd century C. E. We will write a custom essay sample on Daoism or any similar topic only for you Order Now The intention behind this period being called â€Å"proto-Daoism† is that we have no information of any official Daoist religious organizations at this time. The classic works that were inscribed in the course of this period, the Daode jing and the Zhuangzi in particular, they were highly significant upon the flourishing of the classical Daoist tradition. Many textbooks on world religions still take this period as representing the essence of Daoism. This is simply an dull-witted and ambiguous interpretation of the m, entire history of Daoism. The second period, that of classical Daoist religion, starts in 142 C. E. when Zhang Daoling established the Way of the Celestial Masters, also known as the Way of Orthodox Unity, the first successful organized Daoist religious system. Daoist priests today claim to be ordained in a lineage that stretches back to this original founder. Two other important movements developed later during this period of classical Daoist religion: the Way of Highest Clarity (Shangqing Daoism) and the Way of Numinous Treasure (Lingbao Daoism). This period, between the 2nd and the 7th centuries can be called the classical period because scholars of Daoism look back to this time (known also as the medieval period of Chinese history) as the era in which many Daoist practices, texts and rituals initially took shape. Also during this period, Buddhism was brought to China by missionaries from India and Tibet. Buddhist ideas and practices were absorbed into Daoism (and vice-versa) but there were also periods of intense rivalry between Daoists and Buddhists. The classical period of Daoism ends with the Tang dynasty (618-906), one of the high-points of Chinese civilisation from the point of view of the development of art and culture. During the Tang dynasty Daoism became fully integrated with the imperial court system particularly under the reign of the Xuanzong Emperor (713-756). During this time Daoism functioned as the official religion of the imperial court and exerted complete supremacy over Buddhism. The period of modern Daoism begins with the Song Dynasty (960-1279), during which time the boundaries between elite Daoist religion, Buddhism, and local cults begin to be increasingly blurred. Based on the syncretism that began in this period, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate out Daoism as a religious category from the popular Chinese religious culture as it functions on the ground. In terms of elite Daoism, however, the most significant event was the founding of the Way of Complete Perfection (Quanzhen dao) by Wang Zhe (1113-1170). The Way of Complete Perfection is the major monastic form of Daoism that exists to this day alongside the more community-based priesthood of the celestial masters. The Way of Complete Perfection is devoted to the practice of internal alchemy, in which the energies of the body are refined through breathing and other forms of meditation into ever subtler forms, thus promoting longevity and even, in a few rare cases, the possibility of totally transcending the ordinary finitudes of human existence. The Way of Complete Perfection is also marked by its aim to â€Å"harmonise the three teachings† of Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism, and became highly influential under the Mongol Yuan dynasty after Wang Zhe’s disciple Qiu Changchun (1148-1227) underook a three-year journey to the court of the Mongol warlord, Chinggis Khan. Despite the rhetoric of harmonization, further acrimonious debates with Buddhists developed at this time, and when the Daoists lost a series of these debates in1281 many Daoist texts were burned. Despite this setback, Daoism flourished during the subsequent Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and the year 1445 saw the compilation of the Daoist Canon (Daozang), a compendium of some 1,500 Daoist texts, under the patronage of the Yongle Emperor. In the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) Daoist ideas and practices became more entrenched in popular religious culture. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that we have better historical evidence of the way popular religion functioned since many popular Daoist morality texts were published and the practice of Daoist-inspired arts such as Taiji quan (Tai Chi) and Qigong (Ch’i-kung) became increasingly widespread. The fourth period, since 1949, has been a near-total catastrophe for Daoism, particularly during the period of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966-76) when many Daoist temples were destroyed and the overt functioning of the religion to all intents and purposes ceased to exist in mainland China. Since 1980 Daoism has begun to be practiced openly again in China and a new generation of Daoists are struggling to rebuild their temples and recover their tradition. On the other hand, through the emigration of many Chinese people across the world, Daoist temples have been established in Europe, the Americas and elsewhere and many popular Daoist practices such as Qigong and Taiji quan (Tai-chi) have taken root in the West. Until recently it was not certain that Daoism had survived this cataclysmic upheaval, but the study and practice of Daoism is beginning to flourish once again in China and throughout the world. Beliefs The primary belief is in learning and practicing â€Å"The Way† (Dao) which is the ultimate truth to the universe. The Dao has several meanings. It is the basis of all living things, it governs nature, and it is a method to live by. Daoists do not believe in extremes, instead focusing on the interdependence of things. There is no total good or evil or negative and positive. The Yin-Yang symbol exemplifies this view. The black represents the Yin the white represents the Yang. Yin is also associated with weakness and passivity and Yang with strength and activity. The symbol shows that within the Yang there exists the Yin and vice versa. All nature is the balance between the two. Daoist beliefs have undergone a series of changes in its history. In the 2nd Century the Shangqing school of Daoism emerged that focused on meditation, breathing and recitation of verses. This was the dominant practice of Daoism until about 1,100 AD. In the 5th Century AD, the Lingbao school emerged which borrowed much from Buddhist teachings such as reincarnation and cosmology. The use of talismans and the practice of alchemy were also associated with the Lingbao school. This school of thought was eventually absorbed into the Shangqing school during the Tang Dynasty. In the 6th Century, Zhengyi Daoists, who believed in protective talismans and rituals, emerged. Zhengyi Daoists performed offering rituals for showing thanks and the retreat ritual that includes repentance recitations and abstinence. This school of Daoism is still popular today. Around 1254, Daoist priest Wang Chongyang developed the Quanzhen school of Daoism. This school of thought used meditation and breathing to promote longevity, many are also vegetarian. The Quanzhen school also further combines the three main Chinese teachings of Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Due to the influence of this school, by the late Song Dynasty (960-1279) many of the lines between Daoism and other religions were blurred. The Quanzhen school is also still prominent today. Another key component of Daoism is the De, which is the manifestation of the Dao in all things. De is defined as having virtue, morality and integrity. Historically, the highest achievement of a Daoist is to achieve immortality through breathing, meditation, helping others and the use of elixirs. In early Daoist practices, priests experimented with minerals to find an elixir for immortality, laying the groundwork for ancient Chinese chemistry. One of these inventions was gunpowder, which was discovered while searching for an elixir. Daoists believe that influential Daoists are transformed into immortals who help guide others. Tao, originally, meant ‘road’ and then implied ‘to rule’ and ‘principle’. Lao Zi used Tao to propound his ideological system; therefore his school of thinking is called Taoism. At the time Lao Zi created this religion, it was simply a school of philosophy. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, it became a religion. Tao is the origin of the eternal world. It is boundless in time and space. Ordinary people can become gods when they have Tao. This religion pursues immortality and preservation of health; its uttermost goal is to become an immortal being. This can be obtained through cultivating one’s moral character and perfecting one’s moral integrity. A Taoist phrase is to say an ordinary man can become immortal if he does good 3,000 times and accomplishes 800 exploits. Of course the number is symbolic. It requires people to do good without making it known to others as the gods will know it naturally, much like the Christian principle expressed in Matthew 6:3-4, â€Å"But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. † At certain dates, food may be set out as a sacrifice to the spirits of the deceased or the gods, such as during the Qingming Festival. This may include slaughtered animals, such as pigs and ducks, or fruit. Another form of sacrifice involves the burning of Joss paper, or Hell Bank Notes, on the assumption that images thus consumed by the fire will reappear—not as a mere image, but as the actual item—in the spirit world, making them available for revered ancestors and departed loved ones. At other points, a vegan diet or full fast may be observed. Also on particular holidays, street parades take place. These are lively affairs which invariably involve firecrackers and flower-covered floats broadcasting traditional music. They also variously include lion dances and dragon dances; human-occupied puppets (often of the â€Å"Seventh Lord† and â€Å"Eighth Lord†); tongji ( â€Å"spirit-medium; shaman†) who cut their skin with knives; Bajiajiang, which are Kungfu-practicing honor guards in demonic makeup; and palanquins carrying god-images. The various participants are not considered performers, but rather possessed by the gods and spirits in question. Fortune-telling—including astrology, I Ching, and other forms of divination—has long been considered a traditional Taoist pursuit. Mediumship is also widely encountered in some sects. There is an academic and social distinction between martial forms of mediumship (such as tongji) and the spirit-writing that is typically practiced through planchette writing Daoism Today The Taijitu (â€Å"yin and yang†) symbol as well as the Ba gua (â€Å"Eight Trigrams†) are connected with Daoist symbolism. While almost all Daoist societies make use of the yin and yang symbol, one could also call it Confucian, Neo-Confucian or pan-Chinese. The yin and yang make an â€Å"S† shape, with yin (Black or Red) on the right. One is likely to see this symbol as beautifications on Daoist organization flags and logos, temple floors, or stitched into clerical robes. In accordance Song Dynasty sources, it originated around the 10th century. Previously, yin and yang were symbolized by a tiger and dragon. A zigzag with seven stars is sometimes displayed, representing the Big Dipper (or the Bushel, the Chinese equivalent). In the Shang Dynasty the Big Dipper was considered a deity, while during the Han Dynasty, it was considered a qi path of the circumpolar god, Taiyi. Daoist temples in southern China and Taiwan may often be identified by their roofs, which feature Chinese dragons and phoenix made from multi-colored ceramic tiles. They also stand for the harmony of yin and yang (with the phoenix being yin). A related symbol is the flaming pearl which may be seen on such roofs between two dragons, as well as on the hairpin of a Celestial Master. In general though, Chinese Taoist architecture has no universal features that distinguish it from other structures. Daoist temples may fly square or triangular flags. They typically feature mystical writing or diagrams and are intended to fulfill various functions including providing guidance for the spirits of the dead, to bring good fortune, increase life span, etc. Other flags and banners may be those of the gods or immortals themselves. Today Taoism is mainly practiced in China and Taiwan. It has also spread to other parts of Asia and even around the world. There are about 20 million followers worldwide–most of them living in Taiwan. About 30,000 North Americans practice Taoism. The Chinese government has tried to suppress Taoism (severely at times in the past), but its teachings and practices still thrive and remain strong†¦ One thing that keeps Taoism popular is its flexibility–it almost isn’t a religion, but a philosophy. Most followers practice Taoism in conjunction with Confucianism, Buddhism, and other religions. Many Chinese practice a mix of Confucianism and Taoism. Evangelization to Daoism Daoist are very involved in their own historic culture much like most other religions, things have always been a certain way for them, so they are comfortable in dealing with the â€Å"Dao† and in saying what’s life is life. Which brings a hard pint top bring across when a Christian makes it their goal to show a Daoist that there is value to life, and things do not simply happen for no reason. Many Christians, including me before this class, have no connection with Daoism like they would with Islam or Buddhism. But with 30 million followers Daoism is making a name for itself in the religious world. Daoist are far opposites from extremist, believing that is simply no evil and no good. So with a start I think as a Christian you have to hear them out and understand their beliefs as to why there is no good or why there is no evil. Otherwise it will just come across as you attacking them and having no care for their soul, and just talking to prove wrong. Once you are comfortable with one another, it’s your turn! You begin to show the good things in the world, and explain how they came to be and how God had a hand in all of it. Now I know this won’t work for every single individual you come across, but any reasonable person will give you a shot and that is all our God needs! Bibligraphy Littlejohn, Ronnie. Daoism: An Introduction. London: I. B. Tauris, 2009. Print. Palmer, David A. , and Xun Liu. Daoism in the Twentieth Century: Between Eternity and Modernity. Berkeley, CA: Global, Area, and International Archive, University of California, 2012. Print. â€Å"The Canon of Reason and Virtue. † (Tao Te Ching) Index. N. p. , n. d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013. â€Å"China and the Chinese. † From Project Gutenberg. N. p. , n. d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013. How to cite Daoism, Papers

Judaism, Hinduism, And Buddhism Essays - Indian Religions

Judaism, Hinduism, And Buddhism The religions of Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism all have there own beliefs. These beliefs play a big role in a persons everyday life, and influence aspects of their culture such as holidays, diet, social structure, art, and music. In Judaism, they believe that the Sabbath day should be kept holy, and that you should follow the Ten Commandments, the laws of G-d. Their diets consist of kosher food, and have there own New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Hindus believe in Brahman and Karma, which are both a part of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Theyre vegetarians, and have a fairly complex social structure called the caste system. Buddhists believe in Buddhas teachings of the Four Noble Truths. These lead to there belief in following the Eightfold Path in order to reach nirvana. Their art consists of statues of the Buddha, each part having its own meaning. Their music was for the temple and they had their own special way of singing. Two basic beliefs in the religion of Judaism are that the Sabbath is holy, and that you should follow the Ten Commandments. Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew means cease or desist. It takes place from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday, and you are prohibited from doing any work, unless it severely effects your life or health. The mistress of the house lights two white candles and says a blessing. An Omeg is held after Friday night or Saturday afternoon services, where theres usually refreshments, songs, and lectures. It took G-d six days to create the world, and on the seventh day he rested. When G-d gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, he asked that the people also rest on the seventh day of the week. The Ten Commandments are the laws of G-d given to Moses at Mount Sinai. They state that: (1) You shall have no other g-ds before me, (2) I am the only g-d, (3) You shall not take the Lords name in vain, (4) Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, (5) Honor your Father and Mother, (6) You shall not kill, (7) You shall not commit adultery, (8) You shall not steal, (9) You shall not bare false witness against your neighbor, and (10) You shall not covet (be jealous of) your neighbor. The first four are covenants between you and G-d, and the last six are between you and other people. The Ten Commandments were written on two stone tablets by G-d, and are in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is believed that Moses, in fury of the sight of people disobeying G-d, threw down and destroyed them. No one knows where the tablets remain today. Jewish people eat kosher food, and celebrate the holiday of Rosh Hashanah. Kosher, meaning fit or proper is used to refer to food in accordance to Jewish dietary laws. The animals must chew their cud and have cloven hooves. Fish must have distinct scales and fins (no shellfish). The food must not be derived from animals, birds, or fish prohibited in Leviticus 11 or Deuteronomy 14, meat must be slaughtered by the method of shehitah, the meat must be salted and soaked to get rid of all blood, and milk will not be mixed with meat. A special way of preparing and slaughtering the meat (shehitah) also applies. First, a certified (by a rabbi) shohet says a prayer over the animal. Using an extremely sharp, nick-free knife, a swift sweep is made across the throat, making the animal unconscious. All blood is then drained from the animal. Many Jewish people keep a kosher home every day and on holidays like Rosh Hashanah. This is the Jewish New Year, and means, head of the year in Hebrew. It is also sometimes referred to as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance), or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). It takes place on the first and second of Tishrei (Jewish calendar), and is one of the most holy days of the year. Its celebrating the creation of the world, and some traditions are the blowing of the shofar and dipping apples into honey. The shofar, or rams horn, is

Every Person Is an Architect of His Own Future Essays

Every Person Is an Architect of His Own Future Essays Every Person Is an Architect of His Own Future Paper Every Person Is an Architect of His Own Future Paper Every person is an architect of his future. Discuss. First draft Batyrkhan Saniya, ID 20122886 Academic Reading and Writing Course GEN 1120 Turgan Zhanadilov 12 February 2013 Outline I. Introduction. Thesis statement: Although some people believe that it is quite hard to manage the future because of inevitable fate, there seem to be no doubt that the person and only person is a creator of the future. II. Body. A. First, the future depends on person’s attitude to life. 1. Inspiring yourself 2. Doing everything with love B. Second, person and only person can create favorable conditions in his or her life. 1. Experience of successful people D. However, some people argue that no one can manage the future. 1. The destiny 2. Life circumstances III. Conclusion. Meaning of the â€Å"Every man is an architect of his future† make the public understand the phrase in different ways. Some people become rich and successful by a chance, while others reach their goals after a long struggle. According to Dahl Ransom (1999), wealthy people may help to poor people, but they will not make poor people become as rich as they are. Why they will not make them rich? Someone may say that wealthy man cannot make poor man rich because being poor and being wealthy is the fate. Others may say that living in wealth depends on person: if poor person do not want to be rich, he will not be rich; but he can be wealthy if he really want it. Some people believe in nature’s laws that everything in this world is related and nothing can happen just like you want; while others know that everything in their hands, that they are masters of their life, they are making their destiny by themselves. Although some people believe that it is quite hard to manage the future because of inevitable fate, there seem to be no doubt that the person and only person is a creator of the future. One of the main reasons for saying that everyone is an architect of his future is the person’s attitude to life. Our future is what we are thinking and doing now. We creating next day by thoughts, wishes, behavior, etc. That is true! There is not only one possible course of events in your life. Every person has several variants of a destiny, and everyone choose the way which he or she wants to follow. The problem is how people feel about a situation that forces them to make this choice. Almost everyone meet with some obstacles on their life road, and many people see them as something irresistible, irreparable. Others see these obstacles as a challenge. They see them as not a dead end, but the opportunity. In all the events that happen around us, for someone there are opportunities and for others may be â€Å"dead end†. For example, Steil (2007) in his article mentioned about a girl, who almost lost the ability to see and move because of accident, weird accident. Doctors said that the situation is very bad, and many people may give up in her place. However, this girl believed herself and in her strength, she was positively-oriented to everything. It was reflected in her attitude to herself and other people. No matter how the situation was bad, she could struggle with this obstacle and move straight to her goals. Another reason is that the person and only person can create favorable conditions in his or her life. The one of good examples for that are the successful people. Not getting that promotion can make person feel like the end of the world, but people who are the idols for whole world show that devastating failures are just another stop on the road to success. For example, Marilyn Monroes first contract with Columbia Pictures expired because they told her she wasnt pretty or talented enough to be an actress. Monroe  kept plugging away and now she is one of the most iconic actresses and sex symbols of all time (http://marilynmonroe. com/history/). Oprah Winfrey was fired from her television reporting job because they told her she wasnt fit to be on screen. But  Winfrey rebounded  and became the undisputed queen of television talk shows. Shes also a billionaire ( oprah. com/index. html). These are the one of the worlds greatest success stories of people, who just happen to have experience of massive failure that could have easily made them give-up. But they didnt and now theyre the monuments of success that they are remembered for, a good source of encouragement when it feels like you will never make it to the top. However, some people argue that no one can manage the future because of the destiny and life circumstances. As Conchalovsky says (2005), â€Å"For every person, there is a destiny. Nothing happens accidentally, everything happens because of some law or other things. † There is a nature’s law that everything comes from something, all subjects and objects are related to each other. Another example is inevitable life situations occurring frequently nowadays that can ruin plans of human at anytime. But, as it was written, the attitude to life helps to fight with these situations. To conclude, our life is complex and unpredictable. Often people think that no one can hide from the fate, that we were born and live on a particular scenario, and that everything what destined above will happen. But few of us have thought about the fact that person creates the future, person’s actions, thoughts, desires and feelings. Always remember that people are the creators of the future, so they must create it with enthusiasm, reveal the creative potential. Reference list: Ransom, M. R. , ; Dahl, G. B. (1999). Does Where You Stand Depend on Where You Sit? Tithing Donations and Self-Serving Beliefs. American Economic Review  (pp. 703–727). American Economic Association. Retrieved February 9, 2013 from www. jstor. org Steil, M. (2007). Chto takoe pozitivnoe otnoshenie k zhizni? Retrieved February 8, 2013 from www. shkolazhizni. ru Baraban, E. (2007). â€Å"The Fate of a Man† by Sergei Bondarchuk and the Soviet Cinema of Trauma. The Slavic and East European Journal,  51(3), 514–534. Retrieved February 10, 2013 from: jstor. org/stable/20459525 .

How to Allow Flexibility for Homeschooled Students

How to Allow Flexibility for Homeschooled Students Homeschooling parents often name flexibility as one of our favorite homeschool benefits. We should be willing to pass that flexibility on to our children. There are non-negotiable tasks in every home and homeschool, but there is usually room for giving children the  freedom to make some of their own decisions. Allowing our children the freedom to make some of these decisions lets them take ownership of their education. It also helps them begin to develop  effective time-management skills. Consider these areas in which you may be able to allow your homeschooled students take charge of their school day. When to Complete Their Schoolwork Depending on their age and maturity level (and the flexibility of your schedule), consider giving your kids some freedom on when they complete their schoolwork. Some kids prefer to get up and get started right away each day. Others feel more alert later in the day. When my oldest, now graduated, was a homeschooled  teen, she preferred doing the bulk of her schoolwork late at night and sleeping in the following day. As long as she was completing and comprehending her work, I didn’t care what hours of the day she worked on it. It can be a valuable skill for kids to learn to recognize when they’re most productive and alert. We did have relatives who worried that she wouldn’t be able to adjust to a regular work schedule when the time came, but that has not proven to be a problem. Even if she had continued to prefer a later schedule, there are plenty of third shift jobs and someone has to work them. Where to Do School Allow your children to choose the physical location to do their independent work.  My son  prefers to do his written work at the kitchen table. He does his reading lying in the bed or on the couch. My daughter prefers to do all her her work in her room, spread out on her bed. When the weather is nice, my kids have also been known to take their schoolwork to our front porch or screened-in deck. Again, as  long as completion and comprehension arent an issue, I don’t care where my kids do their schoolwork. How to Complete Their Schoolwork Sometimes the assignments in their textbooks don’t mesh well with my kids’ personalities and interests. When this happens, I’m  open to alternatives. For example, if the topic of the writing assignment isn’t a good fit, they are free to choose an alternate topic that achieves the same goal. Just last week, my son had an assignment to write a letter of application to a particular type of business – a place to which he would not apply in real life. Instead, he wrote a letter to an actual company where he would like to work some day. On many occasions, we have swapped the boring book activity for a related hands-on learning activity  or chosen a different book for assigned reading.​ If your kids prefer a different activity that accomplishes the same learning objective that the curriculum  is trying to teach, allow them some  room for creativity.   How to Structure Their School Day If your students don’t do  subjects together as a family, letting them decide the order of their school day is one of the easiest freedoms to allow. After all, what difference does it make if they complete math before science? Some kids like to get their most challenging subject out of the way early, while others feel more accomplished if they can quickly mark a few subjects off their to-do list. Allowing kids to choose the order of completion within the framework of their daily schedule gives them a sense of freedom and personal responsibility for their schoolwork. What Topics to Study If you write  your own  unit studies, let your kids chose the topics. This is an effective technique because you’re giving your kids input on the topic, but you can determine the scope of the study and the resources you’ll use. Because this idea is very child-led, I highly recommend it for people who like the concepts of unschooling  but aren’t quite ready to commit fully to the philosophy. What Curriculum They Use Don’t go to the homeschool conventions alone  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ take your children! Let them have some input on the homeschool curriculum you choose. This helps you discover what appeals to them and gives them a sense of ownership over their schoolwork. You probably don’t want to take them with you the whole time, particularly if you have younger children. First, go do a little reconnaissance shopping. Then, once you’ve narrowed down the possibilities, let your kids have a say in the final decision. I have often been surprised at what my kids chose and why. My older daughter preferred books with large text and colorful illustrations all the way through high school. My younger two chose workbooks, much to my surprise, and strongly preferred those that broke each topic into weekly units and daily lessons. What Books to Read At my house, it’s pretty much a given that if I assign a book, it’s going to be boring. We have persevered through supposedly boring books only to discover that my kids’ interest was captured pretty quickly. There have been times when a particular book needed to be completed even if it really was boring. However, I’ve discovered that my kids enjoy reading much more when I give them choices  even if the choices are limited. I’ve started offering two or three choices on the topic we’re studying and allowing them to choose which of the books to read. A friend takes her kids to the library on a regular basis and allows them to choose any books they want under the headings: biography, poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. This allows them some leeway in their topics while providing some general guidelines. How to Spend Their Free Time Let your kids choose what they do with their free time. Surprisingly enough, studies have shown that playing video games can be beneficial. And sometimes a little mindless TV or fluff reading can be just what kids (and adults) need to unwind and process all the information they’ve taken in during the day.   I’ve found that my kids tend to self-regulate on TV and video games after a bit and instead choose to use their time to play guitar, paint, write, or other similar activities. On the days when they over-indulge in screen time, I try to consider the possibility that the mental break is beneficial. Where to Go on Field Trips Sometimes we parents put a lot of pressure on ourselves to choose and plan the perfect field trip. Get your kids in on the action. Ask them what they’d like to learn about and where they’d like to go. Often their insight and ideas will surprise you. Dream big together! Homeschooling families tend to be big supporters of personal freedoms. Lets make sure were extending those freedoms to our kids and teaching them valuable life skills (such as time management and how to learn) in the process.