Critical Thinking: Are Some Universities Making People Mentally And Emotionally Weak?

Critical Thinking: Are Some Universities Making People Mentally And Emotionally Weak?

By Oliver JR Cooper

If someone stays up to date with the news, they may have heard about the kinds of things that have been taking place at universities around the world. One could read news papers, watch TV, and use social media to stay up to date with what goes on at these institutions.

A Closer Look

For one thing, one may have heard about how students are now being given 'safe spaces', with this being a way to protect them from 'offensive' words or 'hate speech', for instance. Additionally, they may have read about certain speakers who have been banned from speaking there.

Also, perhaps one has heard about the instance where a student completely lost all self-control because she was wasn't protected from Halloween costumes. While something like this can sound a bit extreme, it is far from the exception.

The Purpose

Hearing about these kinds of things can make one wonder what the purpose of a university is, as it can seem as though some of these institutions serve a different purpose. Regardless of what someone studies there, it could be said that they should be open to being challenged, be curious, and want to learn about different things.

Ultimately, this is not somewhere where someone should be if they don't want to have their views and beliefs challenged. If they only want to spend time with people who agree with them, they shouldn't have gone there in the first place.

A Big Difference

It is then going to be vital for one to be able to handle different views and opinions, without feeling as though their life is under threat. This will allow them to question the validity of their own beliefs and to find to out why another person would believe what they believe.

Yet, even though they will be challenging the other person's views, they can still treat them with respect. Each person will be challenging what the other believes, as opposed to trying to end their life.

Impersonal

There can be times when this will be challenging, and it can even feel threatening, but one can focus on the fact that they are more than what they believe. What is going on it their mind will change over time; this is just part of life.

The challenge is when one ends up getting too attached to what they believe, and finds it hard to let go and to embrace another way of seeing something. When this happens, their minds need to be right can be more important than anything else.

The Only Thing That Matters

So, unless one is able to step back and to observe their minds need to be right, they are going to be nothing more than a slave. One is then not using their mind, their mind is using them.

Now, if one is at university and they are completely attached to what their mind believes, they are going to stop themselves from being able to truly embrace this experience. They will have gone in with a closed mind and they will leave with a closed mind.

A Waste of Time

A few years of their life will end up being wasted, and they might even be in a lot of debt afterwards. One will have been given a great opportunity to expand their mind and to grow, but they won't have taken it with both hands.

And if someone like this sees themselves as oppressed and not as 'privileged' as others, they are not going to realise how 'privileged' they are to be able to go to university. In addition to the negative effect this will have on their own life, they can make it a lot harder for the people who do want to learn.

The Cause

However, while it would be easy to focus on how certain students behave; this is only going to be part of the problem. What needs to be looked into is why these universities put up with this kind of behaviour.

But, if students are seen as 'consumers' as Joanna Williams has pointed out, there is going to be no reason for them challenge students in any way. The priority for the people who run these institutions will be to do whatever they can to please the people who are paying them money.

A Different Purpose

Thus, instead of providing somewhere where people will be able to grow and develop, they will be providing a completely different environment; an environment that is more like a day care centre than a place of learning. Making students feel comfortable is going to be the priority, meaning that anything that might challenge them will be off limits.

One way of looking at this would be to say that a university like this is more feminine than masculine. The masculine energy is made up of many traits, and the need to challenge ideas and others is one of them; whereas a big part of the feminine energy is about affirmation, and this is a very different approach.

A Deeper Look

It would be easy to focus purely on what that certain universities are doing, but this wouldn't take into account why someone would be in a position where they desperately need to be affirmed and are unable to handle anything that challenges them. Physically, someone like this can look like an adult, but emotionally, they can feel like a needy child.

Maybe, someone like this didn't receive the kind of care that they needed during the beginning of their life, with this being the reason why they expect a university to give them special treatment. The special treatment that they needed as a child wouldn't have been provided.

Unmet Childhood Needs

There would have been the needs that were not met during this time in their life and they probably would have experienced trauma in the process. This would have stopped them from being able to develop the ability to regulate their own emotions.

The trauma within them can be triggered whenever they hear something that they don't agree with, thereby causing them to feel as though their life is under threat. Their need to control and silence others is then a way for them to try to stop themselves from being overwhelmed by their own emotions.

Conclusion

One way to find out what someone's early years were like is to pay attention to how they behave as an adult. There is a lot more to it than this and this time in someone's life can be irrelevant, but it is a starting point.

If someone finds it hard to experience self-control, and they want to settle themselves down, they might need to reach out for external support. This can be provided by a therapist or a healer.

Prolific writer, author, and coach, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over one thousand six hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.

To find out more go to - http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk/

Feel free to join the Facebook Group -
   https://www.facebook.com/OliverJRCooper

Article Source:  Critical Thinking: Are Some Universities Making People Mentally And Emotionally Weak?

Inner Guidance: Do Some People's Childhoods Set Them Up To Look Outside For Answers?

Inner Guidance: Do Some People's Childhoods Set Them Up To Look Outside For Answers?

By Oliver JR Cooper

It can be easy for someone to believe that they wouldn't know anything if it wasn't for their time in the education system. The information that they were fed during this time in their life would then have played a big part in who they are today.

Taking this into account, it would have been as though one was a blank slate and the information that was poured into them was part of what enabled them to function. This is likely to have been a time when one wasn't encouraged to bring forth what was within them.

A Waste of Time

Nevertheless, if one was just a blank slate, then there would have been no reason for this to take place. These authority figures around them at the time would have known what was right for them.

Additionally, their caregivers may have acted as though they knew what was best for them when they were not at school. Therefore, after they had received guidance from these people, they would have been able to live their own live.

No Different

This is then going to be a very similar approach to what would happen if one wanted to drive a car or to use a piece of machinery, for instance. They won't know anything, so they will need someone else to show them what to do.

It could then be said that their mind is the only part of them that will know anything, and this part of them will have been programmed by what has taken place externally. One is then nothing more than a machine.

The Wisdom Body

This can sound accurate, but what it would overlook is that one's mind is not the only part of them that knows anything. In addition to their mind, there is what is taking place in their body.

The information that is found here also relates to who they really are, as opposed to who they have been conditioned to be. Here, one can feel connected to all that is, and being in touch with their body can allow them to just know things.

The First Step

When someone has a strong connection to their body, they will be aware of what their true needs and feelings are. From here, they will be able to reach out for the information that they need to move forward.

For example, one could have a strong need to assist others and this could mean that they will want to become a nurse. What is within them will have caused then to take this step and this is why they will want to go to university, for instance.

Backwards

On the other hand, if one isn't in touch with their body and their mind is where their attention resides, they can end up wanting to do something for the wrong reason. Through being in their mind, they can be more cornered with pleasing others.

One can then end up doing something for the wrong reason, and this can cause them to engage in the wrong type of training. Pleasing others might make them feel good in the short-term, but it won't do a lot for them in the long-term.

A Time and A Place

Information from the outside world is going to play a part, yet this information is not supposed to replace the information that is within them. In the same way as a supplement is not supposed to replace a real meal.

However, if someone has been brought up in a culture that is all about adding information and not bringing information out of people, it is going to be normal for this to take place. In many ways, this is like stopping a plant from being able to produce its own flowers and adding false ones instead.

Completely Misguided

One's time in the education system would have primarily been about getting them to think like everyone else. Thus, not only would they have the same uniform as everyone else; they would also have developed the same views.

This kind of education is about control, meaning that it is fear-based, and it gets people ready to join a rotten system. Still, although the kind of conditioning that someone receives is going to play a big part in whether or not they are in touch with their body's wisdom, there is something else that can play a part.

A Big Impact

If someone has experienced trauma, it can cause them to disconnect from their body and to lose touch with their inner guidance in the process. So, if one was brought up in an environment that was abusive, it could have caused them to leave their body.

Living it their mind will be what feels safe, and this would have taken place without them needing to think about it. The downside to this is that while this will be what feels safe, it will stop them from being able to tune into their inner guidance.

Out of Balance

Consequently, one can live a life that is not very fulfilling; they might even believe that their life has no meaning. Being this way will make them look outside for guidance - it could seem as though the answers they need are 'out there'.

One could then look towards some kind of guru or someone with a well-developed intellect to give them the answers that they desperately need. If they were to ask someone who has their feet firmly on the ground, they might be encouraged to look within themselves.

Awareness

If one can relate to this, and they want to develop a strong connection with their body, it might be a good idea for them to reach out for external support. This is something that can be provided by a therapist or a healer.

Prolific writer, author, and coach, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over one thousand six hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.

To find out more go to - http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk/

Feel free to join the Facebook Group -
   https://www.facebook.com/OliverJRCooper

Article Source:  Inner Guidance: Do Some People's Childhoods Set Them Up To Look Outside For Answers?

Critical Thinking: Does Identity Politics Stop People From Having To Think For Themselves?

Critical Thinking: Does Identity Politics Stop People From Having To Think For Themselves?

By Oliver JR Cooper

For a little while now, there has been something called 'identity politics,' and one way of looking at this would be to say that this is a way of viewing the world. Everyone is seen as belonging to a particular gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.

What this means is that it is not important what would benefit people in general; what matters is looking after a particular group. Therefore, people are not seen as individuals; they are seen as being part of a group that is either oppressed or part of a group that oppresses others.

Two Options

Once someone believes that they belong to a certain group, it can cause them to go one of two ways. Either they will believe that they are being held back, or they will believe that they are holding other people back.

The former can then feel angry and full of rage, and the latter can end up feeling guilty and ashamed. One person will see themselves as a victim and the other will see themselves as a perpetrator.

Divide and Conquer

Instead of bringing people together, so that they can make the world a better place; this is something that just divides people. The energy that could be used to transform the planet is being wasted.

As a result of this, identity politics can be seen as a great way to distract people and to make them believe that they have very little in common. Yet, if someone is told to focus on what they don't have in common with people who belong to another group, this is to be expected.

An Ulterior Motive

It could be said that there are certain people in this planet who want people to fight amongst themselves. What this does is allow these people to maintain control and to stop their fellow humans being from experiencing heaven on earth.

However, while it would be easy to believe that these kinds of people have all the power that would overlook the part that people play in keeping their power structure alive. With that said, why would someone buy into identity politics?

One Thing

It has been said that human beings have an in-group preference, and this causes people to identify with people who look like them or who have a similar approach to life. This can be seen as something that relates to a human beings primal nature - something that happens without the need for someone to use their brain.

There are likely to be plenty of people who gravitate towards a group because of this, and this could show that they have an aversion to thinking. What is going on for someone at an emotional level is also going to play a part here.

The Oppressed

If someone was to identity with a group that is said to be 'oppressed' by another group, there is the chance that they are not an empowered human being. Their early years may have been a time when they were victimised by others, and this could relate to what their parent/s did.

Being told that they are victims is then going to match up with how they see themselves already. And through seeing themselves in this way, they could have a sense of entitlement, which will make them believe that they deserve to be given special treatment and resources.

The Oppressor

On the other hand, if someone was to identify with a group that is said to 'oppress' others, they could also be a disempowered human being. The beginning of their life might have also been a time when they were treated badly.

Thus, as they already feel guilty and ashamed of who they are, there will be no reason for them to push back against the people who abuse them for belonging to a particular group. This will be what feels comfortable, and the abuse that they receive from others can be no different to how they treat themselves.

An Escape

What someone like this can then do is end up abusing people who are said to belong to a group that oppresses others, with this being a way for then to feel better about themselves. They can believe that they are paying back the debt that they owe to the groups that they are oppressing.

Someone like this is going to lack a strong sense of self and they will also be a self-hating human being. One can make out that they are virtuous for doing this, even though they are only behaving in this manner to manage their own pain.

A Lack of Empathy

Yet, regardless of whether one sees themselves as belonging to a group that is oppressed or oppresses others, they are going to find it hard to connect to truly others. When they see someone, they will either be put into one box or they will be out into another.

This is going to stop them from being able to see that they are an individual; an individual that has their own needs and feelings. Not only this, the reality is that this person is going to have had moments in their life that were good and moments that were not - the group that they supposedly belong to is going to be irrelevant.

Mental Laziness

Being this way has a lot in common with someone who has disconnected from their own issues, so they end up seeing their issues in other people - they are going to be projecting their reality onto everyone else. Ultimately, identity politics stops someone from living in the present moment and causes them to be stuck in their head.

After someone's mind has been infiltrated by this way of viewing the world - and this is something that can probably happen in a few days or less - they won't need to engage their brain. They will have a ready-made way of looking at the world and an answer as to why the world is the way it is.

Conclusion

This is then similar to how someone can do a weekend course in something and then see themselves as an expert. What can be different is that someone can see themselves as being morally superior when they have given their mind over to identity politics.

It has been said that thinking is one of the hardest things to do, with this being the reason why it is often avoided. The trouble is that if one blindly adheres to a certain viewpoint, they can end up doing more harm than good.

Prolific writer, author, and coach, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over one thousand six hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.

To find out more go to - http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk/

Feel free to join the Facebook Group -
   https://www.facebook.com/OliverJRCooper

Article Source:  Critical Thinking: Does Identity Politics Stop People From Having To Think For Themselves?

Home Remedies for Dealing With Diarrhea

Home Remedies for Dealing With Diarrhea

By Anand Kumar

Diarrhea is a dreadful condition and some of its symptoms are frequent passing of fluid faeces, abdominal pain, nausea, dehydration and bloating. It generally takes like two to four days for diarrhea and its symptoms to completely vanish and this is largely dependent on the intensity of the condition. You can get rid of diarrhea naturally and the following tips will be of great help.

Use Ginger

You can grate a little piece of ginger, add a teaspoon of honey to it and eat the mixture in order to boost digestion. It is important to avoid taking water immediately after eating the mixture. Alternatively, you can drink ginger tea, two to three times daily. How do you make ginger tea? Cut one little piece of ginger into slices and put them into a cup of water. Boil the water for some minutes and leave the mixture to infuse for about an hour. You should then strain it, add honey and drink it. If you cannot lay your hands on fresh ginger, you can make use of powdered one.

Yogurt Remedy

Researchers have discovered that yogurt, especially the one with live bacterial cultures like lactobacilus acidophilus and bifidobacterium, can be very effective for treating diarrhea at home. These live cultures destroy the microorganism causing the disease and replace it with good ones. Two bowls of yogurt is enough everyday and you can eat banana with it in order to get a better result.

Fenugreek Seeds

You can also make use of fenugreek seeds because they contain mucilage in high proportion and mucilage is a powerful anti-diarrheal agent. You can chew one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds with a tablespoon of yogurt to get relieved. Alternatively, you can mix a half teaspoon each of fenugreek seeds as well as cummin seeds with two tablespoons of yogurt. Blend the mixture and take it three times everyday.

Eat Bananas

Ripe bananas contain pectin in high proportion and pectin is a soluble fiber that fights diarrhea. Bananas are also high in potassium, an electrolyte that boosts the functioning of the digestive system. You should eat a couple of bananas everyday and you will discover that it will improve your condition.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is an antispasmodic agent which is effective for relieving abdominal disorders associated with diarrhea and it reduces intestinal inflammation. In order to make chamomile tea, you should soak one teaspoon each of chamomile flowers and peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water. Leave it for ten minutes, strain it and drink the tea a number of times daily. You can also drink green tea which is very beneficial for the optimal functioning of your digestive system.

You should get natural products like the Maharishi Ayurveda products to stop your diarrhea by MaharishiAyurvedaIndia.com.

Article Source:  Home Remedies for Dealing With Diarrhea

Different Encryption Algorithm

Different Encryption Algorithm

By Dhiraj Kumar Ray

There are basically 2 different types of encryption - Asymmetric and Symmetic Encryption. This both encryption is supported by Java.

Different encryption algorithms that supports java are:

1. DES - with Key size of 56-bit, DES is considered as slower encryption algorithm.

2. Triple DES - it engages the key size of 112/168, but provides equivalent security of 80/112, which makes it a slower one too.

3. AES - it reserves the key size of 128-bit, 198-Bit and 256-bit which is considered as a faster algorithm. Though it is a faster one, its speed depends on the Key Size.

4. Blowfish - with key size of 128-bit up to 448-bit, it's considered as a better, faster algorithm. Blowfish is now superseded by Twofish.

5. RC4 - Key size from 40-bit to 1024-bit, RC4 is the fastest java supported encryption algorithm.

Now when it comes to choose between these different encryption techniques, DES and Triple DES are outdated.

The best algorithms are the ones which are shipped with Java.

DES and 3DES have been outdated and known to be cracked without a key, so you should skip them.

AES is the industry standard as of now as it allows 128 bit encryption. Here is an example of AES Encryption in java

Apart from that if you're trying to encrypt a password, you should use a hash function to create hash of the encrypted password string. MD5 hash is used mostly for this. When comparing you can encrypt the input password, hash it with MD5 and compare it with the value stored in the database under password.

However MD5 hash is easily crackable, but provides a first line of defence against cryptanalysis.

Following is an example that uses AES encryption.

public static String encrypt(String key, String initVector, String value) {
try {
IvParameterSpec iv = new IvParameterSpec(initVector.getBytes("UTF-8"));
SecretKeySpec skeySpec = new SecretKeySpec(key.getBytes("UTF-8"), "AES");

Cipher cipher = Cipher.getInstance("AES/CBC/PKCS5PADDING");
cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, skeySpec, iv);

byte[] encrypted = cipher.doFinal(value.getBytes());
System.out.println("encrypted string: "
+ Base64.encodeBase64String(encrypted));

return Base64.encodeBase64String(encrypted);
} catch (Exception ex) {
ex.printStackTrace();
}

return null;
}

The most secure encryption algorithm--and the most impossible to construct in real life--is an infinite, one-time pad XOR ciphered onto the plaintext.

If you're talking about Public-key cryptography, which is the type of encryption you'd be worried about in most Internet applications, in one type that has been validated and not intentionally weakened, key length matters much more than the strength or weakness of the algorithm.

Some algorithms allow up to a certain size key, so you want ones that have unlimited key length. Doing a quick search, I can't find any that directly support it.

Since it's the only hash that supports unlimited key sizes, there will probably be some based on SHA-3 once it's fully implemented. http://www.devglan.com http://www.devglan.com/corejava/java-aes-encypt-decrypt

Article Source:  Different Encryption Algorithm

Angular 5 (Upgrade Your Project From an Older Version to Angular 5)

Angular 5 (Upgrade Your Project From an Older Version to Angular 5)

By Nimish Goel

Hey coders, if you are still working on angular 2, 4 then it is the time to upgrade your application to angular 5. Angular 5 (also called Pentagonal-donut) has a lot of new features better performance, small bundling.

If you want to update your old angular 2 application to angular 5, then this tutorial is for you.

Upgrading from angular 2, 4 to angular 5 is not too hard task because there are very few breaking changes. The Angular team has also put a handy tool to make upgrading from any version to angular 5, as simple as possible.

Here are the few points to keep in mind when upgrading your application:

Rename your project's all  tags to  tags as the  element has been deprecated since v4.

You will have to upgrade all of your angular packages to version 5.0, run the following command:

$ npm install @angular/{animations,common,compiler,compiler-cli,core,forms,http,platform-browser,platform-browser-dynamic,platform-server,router}@5.0.0

# or, using Yarn:

$ yarn add @angular/{animations,common,compiler,compiler-cli,core,forms,http,platform-browser,platform-browser-dynamic,platform-server,router}@5.0.0

Angular 5 now also depends on TypeScript 2.4.2 and RxJS 5.5.2, so you'll have to upgrade those package as well.

npm install <a href="mailto:typescript@2.4.2">typescript@2.4.2</a> --save-exact

If you rely on the date, currency, decimal, or percent pipes, in 5 you will see minor changes to the format. For applications using locales other than en-us you will need to import it and optionally locale_extended_fr from @angular/common/i18n_data/locale_fr and registerLocaleData(local). For more information on pipes breaking changes: stackoverflow.com/a/47263949/2810015

Use of implements instead of extends with any lifecycle events: Ensure you don't use extends OnInit, or use extends to any lifecycle event. Instead, use implements.

Switch from HttpModule and the Http service to HttpClientModule and the HttpClient service. HttpClient simplifies the default ergonomics (You don't need to map to json anymore and remove any map(res => res.json()) calls, which are no longer needed.) and now supports typed return values and interceptors.

Here's a quick example of the old syntax:

import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';

import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';

import 'rxjs/add/observable/of';

import 'rxjs/add/operator/map';

import 'rxjs/add/operator/filter';

import 'rxjs/add/operator/do';

@Component({... })

export class AppComponent extends OnInit {

myObs = Observable.of('Hello', 'Alligator', 'World!');

ngOnInit() {

this.myObs

.do(x => console.log('The do operator is the do operator!'))

.filter(x => x.length > 8)

.map(x => x.toUpperCase())

.subscribe(x => console.log(x));

}

}

... and the same example with the new lettable operator syntax becomes:

import { of } from 'rxjs/observable/of';

import { map, filter, tap } from 'rxjs/operators';

@Component({... })

export class AppComponent implements OnInit {

myObs = of('Hello', 'Alligator', 'World!');

ngOnInit() {

this.myObs

.pipe(

tap(x => console.log('The do operator is now tap!')),

filter(x => x.length > 8),

map(x => x.toUpperCase())

)

.subscribe(x => console.log(x));

}

}

Read more about how to upgrade your application to AG5
  https://onlyforcoder.blogspot.in/2017/11/angular5QuickStart.html

AG5 features:
  https://onlyforcoder.blogspot.in/2017/11/angular5Features-Pentagonal-donutfeatures.html

Article Source:  Angular 5 (Upgrade Your Project From an Older Version to Angular 5)

Will the Raiders Domed Stadium Increase My Market Value?

Will the Raiders Domed Stadium Increase My Market Value?

By Glenn J Rigdon

The development of a $1.9 Billion dollar professional football stadium down the street from your current business location is usually a good thing. There are always those who may garner a real property value increase due to the stadiums location but then realize that the traffic from the new venue may destroy their ability to do business or it may make renting their building to a tenant or tenants more difficult. You can have a huge real property market value uptick and still lose your tenants or lose the utility of your building for its current use at the same time.

Appraisers are always asked "how much of a property value Increase can I expect?" It's not something that can easily be answered because, as you know, each property is different and each will benefit more or less from the stadium development.

If you own a single-family residential home located 5 miles away from the planned stadium I wouldn't hold my breath regarding appreciation, the stadium may provide some great entertainment to you if you can afford to pay for it but you will likely pay more in taxes for its construction than you will ever gain from your homes appreciation.

The domed stadium planned for Las Vegas is going to be developed west of Interstate 15 and thus west of the Las Vegas Strip in an area dominated by smaller existing industrial building development.

Thus, it is likely that many industrial properties located near the planned domed stadium site will likely increase in value over the next few years. If you look at other professional stadiuhe dome, but they can't offer you that many choices. ms, I have, you will find that there are (look at the AT&T stadium in Arlington, TX for example) 30 to 50 restaurants surrounding it. Las Vegas is full of Strip based restaurants but do fans traveling in and out of the dome want to deal with the Strip just to get some food? Yes, they will sell you food inside of t

Industrial land often sells in Las Vegas for a price near $10 per square foot but fast food restaurant ground sells closer to $25 per square foot. There appears to be some upside potential for those willing to transition their properties from industrial to commercial, and much of the area surrounding the proposed Las Vegas dome stadium has already been planned for a tourist commercial use.

Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO is isolated from most private development, and the Bank of America stadium in Charlotte is isolated by highways. The Los Angeles Chargers stadium (StubHub Center) adjoins Cal State University and still has nearly 15 fast food restaurants close by.

Properties have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and owners have to follow how the areas near the planned stadium are transitioning. If the stadium had been planned for the Strip side of the freeway there would likely have been much less potential for stadium-related development given the relatively high prices from the influence of the Strip, but west of the I-15 there are more possibilities.

The transition of the area away from small industrial users to stadium related uses will offer an opportunity to current owners and to investors who can benefit from locating close to the stadium.

Contact Glenn Rigdon at  grigdon@cox.net a licensed broker and commercial appraiser in the Las Vegas area for additional information or at http://www.appraiserlasvegas.com

Article Source:  Will the Raiders Domed Stadium Increase My Market Value?

Vygotsky's Social Development Theory

Vygotsky's Social Development Theory

By Martin Hahn

Kids have dialogues with themselves if they enlist in imaginative play. Role-playing implies developing a story and providing a voice on the various figures in the story. When kids copy others, they're creating a vocabulary which enables them to brand and go over the world around them. Less verbal kids may well chat much more during innovative play than in some other ways.

Psychologist Lev Vygotsky' s concept of cognitive development posits that info through the outside world is converted and also internalized through language. Because words is both a symbolic method of interaction and a cultural tool utilized to transmit history and culture, play is a crucial aspect of each language development along with a child 's comprehension of the outside world. When a kid is at play, he or she is in a continuous dialogue possibly with others or self.

Kids at play are making good sense of the earth through a procedure for "inner speech" - that's, they're frequently speaking aloud to themselves. As adults, we drop this particular capacity since it's not socially sanctioned.

In case we actually tune in kids at play, we are able to audibly hear the way they converse with themselves in an effort to make good sense of the outside world. Mimicking adults is usually the most apparent means this procedure could be observed. ("Now, we need to clean the hands of ours and ingest supper" a kid playing "family" may say, for instance).

Based on Vygotsky, words also serves the goal of regulation, or maybe self control more than one 's very own cognitive tasks like thought and memory. As we produce, we switch from being other regulated to remaining self regulated in the cognitive processes of ours. Discovering dialect via play is a crucial aspect of this change.

The social interaction of play develops cognition

Vygotsky had also been enthusiastic about the function of social interaction on cognitive growth and also argued that improvement initially takes place socially. That's, parental behavior is observed by children, tune in parents' speech, and attempt to mimic them. As kids process through imitation, parents will direct kids, fix them, and also supply challenges. Through child centered play, kids tackle roles that are different and also try various language uses, almost all of that help them over the journey from remaining externally regulated to internally controlled in cognition. Through play, kids start to be far more proficient in the language use of theirs and also start regulating the own thought processes.

Vygotsky's principle is among the foundations of constructivism. Three leading themes concerning social interaction, are asserted by the more skillful other, and also the zone of proximal advancement. A fundamental role in the practice of cognitive development is played by social interaction. In comparison to Jean Piaget's comprehension of kid development (in what progress necessarily precedes knowing), Vygotsky sensed community learning precedes development. He states: "Every feature within the kid's cultural advancement appears twice: for starters, on the interpersonal level, and also later, on the unique level; for starters, between individuals (interpsychological) after which inside the kid (intrapsychological)".

The greater Knowledgeable Other (MKO) The MKO describes any person who's got a clear understanding or maybe a greater capacity level than the learner, with regard to a specific undertaking, process, and idea. The MKO is generally considered as being older adult, coach, or a teacher, but the MKO might be also colleagues, a young individual, or maybe perhaps computers.

THE ZONE OF PROXIMAL Development (ZPD)

The ZPD is the distance between a student 's potential to do a task under adult guidance as well as with peer cooperation and the student 's potential solving the issue by themselves. Based on Vygotsky, learning it happens in this specific zone.

Vygotsky centered on the connections between individuals as well as the sociocultural context where they take action and interact in shared experiences. Based on Vygotsky ideas, people use equipment that develop a lifestyle, like writing and speech, to mediate their sociable environments. Initially kids develop these tools to deliver solely as sociable features, means to communicate needs. Vygotsky thought the internalization of these resources resulted in increased thinking skills.

Uses Of the VYGOTSKY'S Social Development THEORY

Lots of schools have usually held a transmissionist or maybe instructionist model of education where a teacher or maybe lecturer' transmits' info to pupils. In comparison, Vygotsky's principle encourages learning contexts where pupils have an active part in learning. Functions of the instructor along with pupil are thus shifted, since a teacher must collaborate with his or maybe the students of her to be able to simply help facilitate meaning construction in pupils. Learning thus turns into a reciprocal experience of the pupils and teacher.

Get an affordable life experience degree from http://www.asian-europeanuniversity.com

Article Source:  Vygotsky's Social Development Theory

Great Fiction: Jump at the Sun by Kim McLarin

Great Fiction: Jump at the Sun by Kim McLarin

By Pete Quinones

At the nucleus of Kim McLarin's third novel is a concern with a seminal sociological theory, which we'll take a look at in a moment - however, lest anyone have the idea that this is a dry, academic type novel, let's enjoy this comet of observational exactitude:

"He said his name came from the Bible, the Book of Genesis; Cush was a son of Ham. She was impressed that he knew the Bible and that he didn't make up some stupid, sleazy explanation for his name, like "It means cushion, baby, because my love is so soft."

This pericope is a perfect, exegetic example of one of McLarin's real strengths as an author - she moves from being Whoopi Goldberg or Dave Chapelle or Richard Pryor on one page, in one paragraph, to an intellectual making her way through Durkheim, James Q. Wilson, Ann Morrow Lindbergh on the next. Plenty of authors attempt to unite qualities such as this, but what makes McLarin's writing memorable is that she combines these with a third trait -she has chutzpah in droves, a frankness about people, issues and feelings that really borders on the courageous. Jump at the Sun packs a real emotional wallop for this reason.

In the book New York in the Fifties by Dan Wakefield there's a photograph of the sociologist C. Wright Mills roaring off on his motorcycle, a surprising image that we could interpret, with some poetic license, as a symbol of the power of some of Mills' ideas. Mills' The Sociological Imagination advances the interesting hypothesis that individual facts, standing alone, don't mean very much. They have to be connected by a theory in order to make an impact. The way's McLarin's narrator Grace Jefferson puts it is

"One man's joblessness is his own problem - unless that man is black and fifty percent of black men in New York City are also unemployed One woman's homelessness is her own sad concern - unless the supply of affordable housing in a city has doubled to near nothingness. One child flunking a standardized test is the headache of that child's parent exclusively- unless sixty to seventy percent of the children in Boston public schools also can't pass the test."

Grace Jefferson is a wholly up to date woman, a PhD in sociology, mother of two young girls, married to a successful scientist named Eddie who STRONGLY longs to father a son, a desire that Grace really doesn't share; this situation percolates slowly throughout the novel, commencing when Grace takes the morning after pill (aided, in a hilarious exchange on the phone, by a Dr. Aranki) and gathering steam steadily until Eddie accidentally uncovers this behavior ( which she's tried to keep hidden from him) towards the end, where it coincides with another serious choice Grace has made).

Most reviews of this novel approach it from the standpoint of its being about motherhood, which it most assuredly is, but it is about much more than that too, and in my opinion it's quite worthwhile to check these less obvious areas.

Three sets of relationships of Grace's form the backbone of the story - her relationship to her mother and grandmother, to her husband and children, and to her friend Valerie. The relationships form a series of time mirrors around Grace - we see that in some ways she is exactly like the others, in some ways very different. McLarin takes the risk of brief departures from Grace's first person narrations, which form the majority of the tale, to offer third person accounts of episodes in the lives of Rae, her grandmother, and Mattie, her mother. One of the reasons this potentially artificial narrative experiment works is that it allows us to see similarities between Rae and Mattie that Grace cannot see - it gives us, as readers, a privilege that Grace, the main character, does not have. For example, in the very first scene Rae is sort of half-raped in a cotton field and when the man finishes with her "She pushed him off, pulled down her skirt." Years later, Mattie "put her hands against my father's chest and pushed" in an effort to get free. Obviously the pushes are literal, but they're symbolic as well. They're also part of the construction of the Sociological Imagination - if one woman wants to push her repulsive lover off herself so she can get free that's her own little knotty point, but if hundreds - thousands? millions? -have the same appetency it's something more. And Grace rejects Eddie in ways that have a similar spirit, the strongest expression of which occurs near the end, when she briefly participates in her sister Lena's insane road adventures. McLarin uses ths narrative technique to point up differences also - Grace is a bookworm, an academic, while Rae "at fifteen had long since given up on what good could be located on the inside of schooling books."

I don't have any doubt that with time the character of Rae will be recognized as one of the great characters in the fiction of this era. Facing the world alone from age fifteen on, she survives purely by her own wits and her ability to control and manipulate (we see a few scenes in which she scams Mattie out of money; it's clear that Mattie is not the only person she does this to). Somehow McLarin is able to give us an accurate portrait of this woman's entire life without ever really dwelling at great length on it anywhere ("She died as she had lived: solitary, defiant, nobody holding her hand.") In the beginning, as a child in the cotton fields just before World War Two, she is said to be able to pick as much as cotton as any man; at the end, on her deathbed, fighting her daughter and granddaughter, her weak blows are compared to snowflakes. (But she's spunky as ever - her persona cannot be depleted or diminished with age, as her physical body can.)

Whereas Rae lives her life essentially as a hustler, wholly selfish, not especially concerned with her family, Mattie works hard for her kids, getting a job with the US Postal Service and putting in a lot of overtime. In fact her husband, Cush - Cush Breedlove, notice - seems to present her with a choice, "The way we used to be... Just me and you. Nobody pulling on us, tugging on us all the time. It was sweet, wasn't it, baby?" Simply unable to step up to the responsibilities of being a father, he's coaxing her to bring their kids to her mother for a while. The irony is that, a young mother, Rae had run off with a man and left Mattie behind. More ironically still, Grace will come to to have these same feelings, that her daughters are "pulling on her." Mattie, correctly, is horrified of the idea of leaving her babies with Rae and Cush eventually leaves her.

Ostensibly Grace has everything - handsome husband with a great job at a major drug company, highly educated herself (she was let go, though, from the faculty at Duke University, denied tenure, and this weighs heavily), two great kids, beautiful house in Boston, much to be envied. From the beginning, as soon as we meet her, she has the thought that she could leave her family as her grandmother did. (McLarin's first novel, Taming It Down, also begins with the heroine in a disturbed state, looking for a psychotherapist.) What makes her feel this way? The short, uncomplicated answer is that her husband and her children are choking her to death, taking all her space. In the first chapter she is symbolically, accidentally, locked in the basement of the house. She acknowledges that the men in her mother's and grandmother's lives have not been very loving guys, and she is therefore confused by her own husband's loving, extremely social nature. He insists on trying to make her pregnant with a boy, against her wishes. I found it immensely interesting to compare the following two excerpts, the first from Grace herself, the second about Rae and her first husband:

"Really, what was my problem anyway? House too big? Bills too paid? Kids too healthy and well fed?"

"Hootie had treated her well - no beatings, no slipping out, no throwing her down anyway when she said no, and her never asked her to rise earlier or work harder or sweat longer than he did himself."

Notice in the second passage that what most of us would consider to be the barest minimum hygiene factors of a successful relationship, mere requirements for survival, she considers to be being treated well. What would she say if she found herself living under the conditions described in the first passage! McLarin implies, though she never really specifically states, that Rae and Grace share some dark, selfish, even Machiavellian impulses, some sort of soul-commiseration. Grace spends a good part of the novel wondering about Rae; in one scene she journeys to Providence from Boston looking for Rae, following a false clue she's gotten from an internet search that is of course a dead end. Her last meeting with her grandmother in this world only becomes possible when Mattie joins in, when the three of them can be present. The two personalities of Rae and Mattie - the battler who would forsake even her own children and the martyr who exists only for her children - in the end are combined in Grace. (Mattie, now that her own kids are grown and gone, serves as a foster parent in her sixties, unable to get the need to be a mother out of her system.) Grace has got the emotional DNA of both of the older women.

In my opinion the real pith of the novel occurs in the relationship that takes up the least amount of space and time, and this is that of Grace and her new friend, Valerie. The two women mirror each other in many ways, are what is called in screenplay writing classes the reflection characters, both African American mothers in their thirties with kids (three boys in Valerie's case), women of education. They meet in the park where they take the kids to play. Although the outer circumstances of their lives seem quite similar, their interior wiring is very different. Whereas Grace is nervy, on edge, confused, and in the grip of existential dread, Valerie is very nearly a fully actualized person, almost monk-like in the Zen peace of a harmonic life. Her husband and her children are still creatures of wonder and fascination to her, something that Grace can no longer imagine. This is Grace on her husband:

"Back in the early days of our relationship, back when we still had the energy to explore each other's inner life... "

"I'd be reading on the living room couch or at the computer doing work or at the kitchen table contemplating space and Eddie would say something and the irritation would just crawl up my back. I would think: Can't you just leave me alone?"

On her children:

" But to have children is to understand the impulse toward child abuse. As a parent, you will say and do things to your children that you would never say and do to anyone else- because society would not allow it; because no one can rattle you the way your children can... You will be horrified at the way you behave."

At one point, when her kids ask her why they have to do a certain thing, she is horrified to hear herself give the response she herself loathed as a little girl: "Because I said so!" The beauty of the passage that follows should be read in the text, within the flow of the story, so I won't quote it here. As dissatisfied in marriage and parenthood as Grace is, Valerie is satisfied, but when two unexpected events rock Valerie's universe badly we come to see the lives of Rae, Mattie and Grace very differently, and Grace's brief acquaintance with Valerie teaches her a lot. And it teaches us as well. In a way the entire story is an investigation of how Valerie was able to get to an emotional haven that Grace is not, and why, and if Valerie's evident happiness is - or can even in theory be - real.

There's so much in the novel I haven't gotten into - Grace's thoughts about some of her in-laws, her observation of young black teenagers on the streets of the Providence ghetto, her memories of one of her beloved professors in college, her sister Lena's ability to sense emotional truth about Grace's daughter where Grace can't, and that's just a sampling. McLarin has a sharp, sharp lens. If someone ever asks you to recommend a good story about generational relationships, here it is. Or about motherhood, or marriage, or modern feminism, or strong women, or the application of intellectual ideas in fiction. Jump at the Sun works with a wide net, and it catches everything.

Peter Quinones is the author of a #1 Amazon bestseller, Postmodern Deconstruction Madhouse. http://www.postmoderndeconstructionmadhouse.com

Article Source:  Great Fiction: Jump at the Sun by Kim McLarin

Great Fiction: The Other Language by Francesca Marciano

Great Fiction: The Other Language by Francesca Marciano

By Pete Quinones

One of the greatest rewards of following an individual author's career is seeing their progress evolve before your eyes - being able to see how, with the passage of time, they have become a stronger writer, a better artist, how they have developed, honed, and sharpened their craft. In Francesca Marciano's case, with her new book of stories, we're talking about an author who has arrived - the apprenticeship is over. The people, places, messages and motifs are all familiar to us from her earlier work - indeed, she takes up this very issue in the story here entitled "An Indian Soiree" - but in The Other Language she's in full command of her themes, subject matter, and characters in a way she may not have been in, say, Rules of the Wild or The End of Manners (as good as those two novels are). Every story here has the absolute ring of truth and the authority of wise and intelligent observation. One, "The Presence of Men", achieves real literary greatness and deserves to be anthologized for hundreds of years to come.

This kind of maturity in fiction is extremely rare - I think maybe Ward Just is the best example of it I can think of. Nothing clunks awkwardly here, nothing falls with a thud. Even something that is usually a dagger to the heart for a fiction writer - making up lyrics to a rock song - comes off very well.

A consistent hallmark of strong fiction is the ability to make the reader smile with little jolts of recognition; this volume made me bust out laughing with its pitch perfect rendering of the way we email and text; made me nod in grim recognition of the way we might make a date with a person, knowing full well the very minute we are doing so that we have no intention of showing up; and will make all of us who are NYC subway rats feel like we're right back on the Q train going over the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn. The eye that is watching here catches it all, from a fourteen year old girl on the beach in the budding stages of becoming a cosmopolitan European woman to the way Indian tailors cut material to conjuring up the long lost, but instantly recognizable, theme song from "Born Free", just to take a few examples.

But great writing undertakes a dual job - not only does it strive to show us the everyday world in the author's unique and original way; it usually also pushes elements of the author's own personal experience up against the edges of questions like "What does it all mean?" and "What's the use of it all?" In one of these stories a young documentary filmmaker who starts out with great promise finally arrives at wisdom and self knowledge and respect in a way that has nothing to do with film. In two others young Italian women living in America burn with the desire to "become American" although achieving this may not be exactly what they hope it is. And the aforementioned "An Indian Soiree" is one of the best examinations of the disintegration of a marriage I have ever seen in imaginative literature. And it is so precisely because Marciano lets the mysteriousness of how it happens hang in the air without attempting a lot of explanation and analysis the way God only knows how many thousands of other story writers would.

Another - admittedly minor - thing I enjoyed about the way Marciano writes in these stories is that, although she name drops, she always does so with a light touch and in a way that the story perhaps requires. It's a function of the character of the characters, if I may put it like that - if someone mentions Terence Malick or Fellini it's to make certain someone else feel something. It's not done in such a way that we get the impression it's just the author showing off about how many books they've read or films they've seen.

The Jungian principle of synchronicity - which some people may prefer to categorize as blind, random chance - pops up twice, once in a small scene in the title story that leads off the book and a second time as the principle theme of a later story, "Quantum Theory". This is an example of another thing Marciano excels at here - a sort of gentle recurrence of theme and tone - of an idea popping up here and there, never over emphasized or overdone, never being used to bludgeon the reader over the head - and in my view it's an appealing way to write.

We'll close with some sparkling highlight examples of what you'll find here:

"We met in the bathroom at Jonathan Cole's house. You had on a pair of bright red sandals you had just bought in Italy."

She opened her mouth, feigning bewilderment.

"Come on. How can you remember that?"

"We had quite a long chat in there, and I tend to notice women's feet," he said.

****

There's something terribly sad about a young girl sobbing on the street without restraint. You just know she must have a broken heart.

****

Only Italian men wear loafers without socks with their ankles showing this much beneath the trousers.

****

Without even asking permission to do so, Mrs. D'Costa supervised meals, went shopping for supplies and took care of logistics with military precision, as one does whenever a tragedy strikes and everyone else is walking around in a daze.

In summation: if you care about contemporary literature at all you cannot really afford to miss this collection.

Peter Quinones is the author of a #1 Amazon bestseller, Postmodern Deconstruction Madhouse. http://www.postmoderndeconstructionmadhouse.com

Article Source: Great Fiction: The Other Language by Francesca Marciano

Great Fiction: Donald Duk by Frank Chin

Great Fiction: Donald Duk by Frank Chin

By Pete Quinones

Three scenes in Curtis Choy's documentary film What's Wrong With Frank Chin? surely will give anyone pause. The first of these occurs when the camera slowly pans over Chin's boxes of files on data he's collected about every Chinese-American actor who's ever played a role in a Hollywood film. In the second, authentic footage of Chin's 1970s wedding to the writer and illustrator Kathleen Chang shows the couple, as well as the poet Lawson Inada (acting as the preacher, equipped with a "$1 license to marry people"), wearing elaborate, traditional masks that Chin himself made, and shows Chin reading an account of Chinese railroad workers on the Union-Pacific as part of the ceremony. (This is one of Chin's consistent themes - perhaps the best of all his works is an American Book Award winning collection of stories called The Chinaman Pacific & Frisco RR Co). In the third, Chin rails at his opposition in a meeting on the question of redress for Japanese Americans (Chin was largely responsible for the US government granting the redress, and for the day many Japanese-Americans now celebrate as Remembrance Day). Whether one agrees with Chin or not - and there appear to be many Japanese-Americans who don't - it's hard not to be moved by the urgency of his conviction. The guy is absolutely on fire as he makes his arguments. And when he says he went back and researched a speech given by an army colonel in 1943 (this was all before the internet!) we understand that this is a man who is absolutely driven in a way that very few of us are. This is evidently the same kind of passion he shows when he speaks to audiences with his relentless pounding of writers like Amy Tan and Maxine Hong Kingston - what he calls "the fake". In his novel Donald Duk the protagonist, twelve year old Donald, is an example of a young "fake" - he wants to turn his back on his Chinese heritage and assimilate totally. For Chin, assimilation, or what he believes American society regards as assimilation, is tantamount to a crime. Donald Duk reiterates the themes expressed in the three vivid scenes from the film that we noted above, and it also marks a shift in Chin's tone from the one of polemics and even hostility that was found in the book of stories and in the plays which first gained him notoriety on the literary and cultural scene. This novel is more playful, more kidding, more of an invitation to the reader to consider the points and ponder as opposed to the early works which bludgeon the reader over the head with his or her own ignorance, prejudice, and stupidity.

It's Chinatown in San Francisco, the present (1990 or so), and it's the start of the celebration of Chinese New Year. Donald is approaching his twelfth birthday, an occasion of moment because there are twelve years in the Asian lunar zodiac; he is thus completing his first cycle of life. But Donald has the thought that "Everything Chinese in his life seems to be awful." He describes himself as American to anyone who asks, refusing to acknowledge the obvious fact that he is of Chinese background. The way he eventually begins to come around is via the dreams he has throughout the novel - he dreams he's a worker on the railroad. When the Golden Spike ceremony is planned, when it becomes known that not only the governor of California but photographers from all over the world will be present, one railroad boss repugnantly comments:

"I promise you, Mr. Durant, there will not be a heathen in sight at tomorrow's ceremonies... The Last Spike will be hammered home, the telegram sent, our photograph made to preserve a great moment in our nation's history, without the Chinese. Admire and respect them as I do.I will show them who built the railroad. White men. White dreams. Whitebrains and white brawn."

As a result of witnessing these events in his dreams Donald begins to change, to be interested in embracing his heritage and his race. Towards the end of the book he has this conversation with his father:

"The Chinese. The Chinamans who built the railroad. I dream I'm laying track with them when I sleep, and nobody knows what we did. Nobody, just me. And I don't want to be the only one who knows,and it makes me mad to be the only one who knows, and everything I dream makes me mad at white people and hate them. They lie about us all the time."

"No, don't hate all the white people. Just the liars," Dad says.

In the movie Chin speaks very eloquently of the dreadful way the whites made certain that no Chinese appeared in any of the railroad photographs. And contemporary historians' accounts certainly back Chin up, particularly H.W. Brands in The Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream and Stephen E. Ambrose in Nothing Like It In The World: The Men Who Built The Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869. Ambrose actually studied Chinese-English phrase books from 1867. He notes that the phrases "How are you?" and "Thank you" are not in any of them.

Essentially the novel only has this one theme, overcoming the denial of one's roots and racial identity in favor of being 'American', but as in all of Chin's writing - this is especially true of the long novel Gunga Din Highway - it's an undeniable fact that Chin himself is American to the core, so steeped in American culture, folklore and, most particularly, the movies, that one has to wonder if he is not one of the most shining examples of true multiculturalism (he would despise the term) that we have.

So - if the book is somewhat limited thematically, what can readers extract from it to learn and enjoy? In a word, fun! Donald's journey from being a self-hater who accepts negative white attitudes about Chinese-Americans to a proud Chinese-American has him cross paths with quite a few interesting characters along the way, not the least of which is his family. His father, King Duk, owns one of the best restaurants in Chinatown. His namesake Uncle Donald is a Cantonese opera star who is in for a visit. Mom is supportive and often trying to keep a handle on Donald's twin sisters, Venus and Penelope, who are cute literary creations, often speaking as if they are commentators instead of participants. (The sense of play and fun Chin has with this is palpable.) Crawdad Man and his son, Crawdad Jr., a Vietnam vet named Victor Lee, a pair of old twins who haunt the streets of Chinatown at night, the Frog Twins, and a dancing teacher who bills himself as the Chinese Fred Astaire round out the cast. Each exists within the structure of the fiction to reinforce the main lesson to Donald in a situation that is usually humorous. I think this is the sign of a really developed intelligence - using humor to make a deadly serious point. And because Chin insists on bewildering the non-Chinese reader at first by including customs and traditions of the culture in the story without explaining them, he involves the reader in experiencing how the white power structure has humiliated and degraded his people since the days of the railroads. This kind of thing is always a fine line - I'm not sure that the non-Chinese, the non-Indian, the non-African American, can always empathize. Sympathize, yes, but empathy is hard, sort of like a male trying to understand what it's like to be pregnant. Chin gives it a great effort.

In closing I should like to comment briefly on what I perceive to be both intensity and integrity of purpose on Chin's part. I sometimes read that Chin's attacks upon some other writers really have their roots in malice, or jealousy. This claim is mistaken. Certainly Chin's books don't sell in the numbers that Tan's or Kingston's do; however, we need not even argue the point intellectually to rebut it. All we need to know is that a top Hollywood director, Wayne Wang, has approached Chin about filming his play The Year of the Dragon, and Chin rejected the idea on the grounds that he didn't want Hollywood messing with his story. This rejection of potentially millions of dollars in royalties is not the action of someone who lacks belief in themselves - Chin practices what he preaches. So his integrity is intact. So is his intensity. At the outset I mentioned Chin's collections of files on Asian American actors. The reason that this came into being is that, incredibly, no Asian-American actor has ever played Charlie Chan in the movies. Chin's long novel Gunga Din Highway is about this ridiculous, apalling state of affairs and, in it, his research about the actors is put to full use. This research was truly a massive scholarly project, as a reading of the novel amply demonstrates. Nobody would ever label this "fake" - again, Chin's intensity is also intact. Whatever Chin's merits or demerits may be, love him or hate him, he's the rarest kind of author of imaginative literature, someone who truly leaves his impact upon the times.

Peter Quinones is the author of a #1 Amazon Bestseller, Postmodern Deconstruction Madhouse. http://www.postmoderndeconstructionmadhouse.com

Article Source:  Great Fiction: Donald Duk by Frank Chin

We, My Friends, Are Walking Mirrors

We, My Friends, Are Walking Mirrors

By Steve Wickham

HAVE you ever noticed that, no matter how confident you are, eye contact is harder with a person who avoids eye contact? Or, when someone gives you intentional eye contact their attention provokes your own attention?

Whilst we tend not to notice it, we do tend to mirror each other.

It is a problem that is easily fixed, for instance, if we are fearful of being rejected and we rarely open ourselves up to be accepted. In such a case, we need to be courageous to facilitate people accepting us. If we wish to be accepted by others we need to model such acceptance. Do it and things slowly change.

We are walking mirrors in this relational world - what we receive we tend to mirror and give, and what we give others tends to be mirrored. The opportunity is to both break the pattern and become more a social pioneer, and to use the pattern and give only what is worthy of mirroring.

The world is not against us without us make our own contribution to rejection.

In feeling rejected we reject others due to low desire and confidence, then they reject us, so we feel rejected. Never does the twain meet. The process is so circular.

As we feel rejected more and more, more and more are we forced to think why we are being rejected. We, being creative and negative about ourselves, make up all sorts of stories that aren't in keeping with reality. We come up with a story and assume it's correct, never thinking the fault is with our own thinking.

But the truth is we don't make the effort to reach out, because of our fear.

So, what can be done?

Face your concern, ignore your fear.

Face your target, ignore your shadow.

Face your truth, ignore your voices.

Face your desire, ignore your history.

See that it is the story in your head that matches your behaviour. Strip that story bare, live present in reality, refuse to be a mirror, and see people begin to mirror your positive intent. Rewrite your story. Help them rewrite theirs.

It is time to resist being sucked into the social story of our time.

Steve Wickham holds Degrees in Science, Divinity, and Counselling. Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/ and http://tribework.blogspot.com.au/

Article Source:  We, My Friends, Are Walking Mirrors

Biological Grounding - Real or Hocus Pocus?

Biological Grounding - Real or Hocus Pocus?

By Dr Edward Brell PhD

Biological grounding involves standing barefoot on the ground. The idea being any residual static electricity will be drained off into the earth - like emptying out the battery, as it were. The idea has intuitive appeal. Who hasn't been zapped by a car door handle discharging static electricity, sometimes with an audible crack? Or, who hasn't taken off a shirt or blouse and heard the crackle of static discharge? The question is, is there any therapeutic benefit derived? This article explores what published science may have to offer to underpin the practice of grounding in the context of health and wellbeing.

A university library search on the term grounding yielded 183,000 peer-reviewed publications. The meaning of the word 'grounding' ranges from the devastating grounding of a naughty teenager to grounding an issue in the facts, and beyond. Another search, this time on biological grounding, narrowed the field to almost 31,000 peer-reviewed publications. The term biological earthing yielded a manageable 600 peer-reviewed publications to winnow. This article reports on many of these publications and their relevant linked publications.

So here's the theory highly simplified. Now we all know free radicals aren't a good thing. A free radical is missing an electron (and so is positively charged). When connected to the earth the earth supplies the electron to nullify the free radical. In 1994 Anisimov performed tests to show that the earth's surface is electrically charged.

Now, according to Rosalind Tan (2014) our bodies are electrically conductive. Charged ions and free electrons get good conduit via blood and other body fluids. Electrical charge builds up in people like a battery especially in a dry climate. Fuel truck drivers must discharge any possible likelihood of sparking, sometimes with wrist straps. The relevance here is that earthing or grounding a person is very much part of solid science.

Earliest and pioneering work was that of Dr White GS (1929). Ahead of his time he helped sleep deprived individuals by earthing their beds with copper wire.

In 2010 Clinton Ober et al claim in their book: "Earthing - The most important health discovery ever?" the following:

"Defuses the cause of inflammation and improves or eliminates the symptoms of many inflammation-related disorders.

Reduces or eliminates chronic pain.

Improves sleep in most cases.

Increases energy.

Lowers stress and promotes calmness in the body by cooling down the nervous system and stress hormones.

Normalizes the body's biological rhythm

Thins blood and improves blood pressure and flow.

Relieves muscle tension and headaches.

Lessens hormonal and menstrual symptoms.

Dramatically speeds healing and helps prevent bedsores.

Protects the body against potentially health-disturbing environmental electromagnetic fields.

Accelerates recovery from intense athletic activity."

Ghaly & Tepliz in 2004 measured cortical (stress hormone) secretion during sleep of 12 subjects. The electric field of the subjects was measured and found to decrease as a result of earthing from an average over the 12 subjects from 3.270 V to 0.007 V. They concluded that earthing a person during sleep reduces night-time levels of cortisol so improving sleep.

Ib Andersen in 1965 remarked how a person could become electrically charged in relation to his surroundings merely by walking over a Nylon carpet. He added that an electric field may electrically induce a person, if:

"A person has a certain potential relative to the surroundings.

A person is at earth potential while free charges occur in the surroundings.

Both 1 and 2."

Christian Back (1967) an electrical engineer, devoted his book "Ions for breathing" to atmospheric electricity. The term 'ion' is ill defined like a rock can range from just bigger than the size of a grain of sand to massive asteroid size. The term stretches from atomic ions like household salt dissolved into Sodium cations and Chloride anions all the way to the larger aerosol size. He disserts the electric field in rooms around occupants and delves into the effect of ions on such people.

A good study of the dispersal of small air ion concentrations is a case study by Jamison et al who in 2006 measured the charged particles and molecules in an office for one person. The measurements were taken in an horizontal plane through seated eye-level and then in a vertical plane nominally coinciding with the seated person. In the vertical plane the average number of Negative Small Air Ions per cubic cm (SNAI cm-3) was 361 per cubic cm over 276 sampling points ranging in number from 10 ions to 930 ions per cubic cm. In the vertical plane the isoline areas bounded by the upper bound concentrations completely obscured the seated subject immersing the person in the higher ranges of SNAI.

A further point of interest is the electrostatic potential measured by them in the vertical plane averaging 104.9 V and ranging from 2.2 V to 7.7 kV. The maximum values were around the footrest where the operator had been rubbing shoes. Russian and Swedish guidelines stipulate less than 500 V at 50 cm from the computer.

High school science teaches about anions and cations. It should come as no surprise that the air we breathe also has ions and Charry (1984) concludes that small air ions are likely to have biological effects. Yet Krueger in 1976 had already presented experimental data that small air ions are indeed biologically active.

Just like fish swim in an ocean of Sodium and Chloride ions so too are humans in an atmosphere of ions, positive and negative. Whilst the ions can be generated, more than one third positive ions occur naturally as a result of radioactive decay. They don't travel far and have a short life. Indoors the ions have an even shorter life (30 seconds) as they bump into things and short out. (Alpha Lab Inc) Therein lies the key to biological grounding: Shorting out by earthing with Mother Earth.

To conclude, a snippet from an invited editorial prepared by the late Dr AP Kruger in 1982 is presented from the International Journal of Biometeorology. The editorial sets many urban myths about air ions straight. He concludes his editorial with advice for prospective buyers of air ion generators:

"Air ions, negative and positive, are normal constituents of our biosphere and they are biologically active.

A good deal is known about the effects of air ions on bacteria, protozoa, plants, insects and small animals. Less is known about their action on humans. There is evidence that air ions can influence mood, behaviour, and performance of certain tasks.

There is some suggestion that air ions may be of value in the treatment of certain diseases, but more critical trials are needed before air ions therapy can be established as an acceptable addition to the medical armoury armamentarium.

Some air ion generators produce ozone and should be avoided.

No one as yet has found that the negative air ion concentrations produced by any properly constructed commercial generator may be harmful." http://www.facebook.com/Wellness-Wear-612983345564444/

After about 6 years of buying women's wear from China, India, Thailand, Bangladesh and Indonesia we found a need to ensure supply is according to the following:

• No child labour

• No Azo dyes that cause cancer

• No harsh processing chemicals that hurt the environment.

• Fabric from renewable sources

• Natural fire retardant fabric

We went a little further, and asked ourselves the question:

What can we add to our range of clothing that enhances wellness in the wearer?

We came up with some surprising answers. Watch this space.

diana-ware and Wellness-Wear

Article Source:  Biological Grounding - Real or Hocus Pocus?

A Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise Is King

A Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise Is King

By Hilary Green

A conversation I recently had with a friend, prompted me to research Alzheimer's Disease and if anything could be done to prevent or cure it. As I am no longer a 'Spring Chicken' myself, the fear of contracting something that will take away my love of and ability with words is a devastating one. Among all the information available online, I came upon the following report. Our health is of vital importance to all of us and so I thought to pass on some of what I learned.

"A UCLA study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that the Mediterranean diet is one of the main lifestyle factors that seems to keep the brain from developing the toxic plaques and tangles associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Plaque is characterized by deposits of a toxic protein called beta-amyloid in the spaces between nerve cells in the brain. Think of tangles of knotted threads of the tau protein found within brain cells. Both are considered key indicators of Alzheimer's."

It seems we hear of more and more people succumbing to this awful disease. I will certainly do everything I can to prevent falling victim to it. Something else in the report, reminded us that our quest for good health these days was a concern for Hippocrates who knew the importance of food in healing the body even back in 400 B.C. when he advised people to prevent and treat diseases first and foremost by eating nutrient-packed foods. That is 2,400 years ago and it seems modern science is only now beginning to catch up.

One of the solutions offered was that the food staples in the diet eaten in the Mediterranean, such as leafy greens like spinach and kale, non starchy veggies like cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, plus olive oil and many other items that many of us know about already, especially if we have looked at this food regimen at some stage, can have a very positive result. Most of us like things like hummus, salads, eggs and cheese, even red meat. It even mentioned that a glass of red wine could be beneficial.

Another part of the prevention/delayed onset option is exercise, which is considered a potent Alzheimer's preventer. As that report also mentioned, people who were physically active on a regular basis have a much lower risk of developing the disease. Even people who are physically challenged in some way or other can, with a little help and good advice, become more active.

It doesn't take too much, when you look at all the information available, to realise that you have the ability to prevent such a dreadful disease affecting those around you.

I wonder how many of us has ever been advised by their medical advisors that this healthy diet and regular exercise regime can actually help prevent, or at the very least delay, the onset of such a disease as Alzheimer's, that will cause so much misery, not only for the family dealing with the effects, but to any one of us who contracts the disease.

Just the research I have undertaken myself has cemented my decision to change my own eating routine and make sure I exercise every day, even if it's only a walk.

There are so many health issues surrounding us today, I believe it is up to us to make sure we do everything we can to keep ourselves fit and healthy.

Hilary is a copywriter concentrating on health and travel in the Christian Market. Particularly those who are concerned about their own health and how to ensure they stay healthy.
Any questions, comments, or for further information she can be contacted at email  hilary@hilaryagreen.com

Article Source:  A Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise Is King

What Causes Anal Fissures?

What Causes Anal Fissures?

By William M Mason

Anal fissures are cracks, fissures or disruptions on the skin surface around the anus. These fissures are comparable to small wounds that may cause acute or chronic pain, itching, irritations, and difficulties in defecation. These tears are present inside the anus, particularly in the area where the skin inside the rectum meets the skin of the anus. Of course, there's only one question in your mind right now - what causes anal fissures? It's time for you to find out.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and is composed of different parts. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin. And this part of the skin is the most exposed to damages.

With regard to the skin on the anus, when it's stretched too much, or when it's irritated too much, that's where the problem occurs.

Sometimes, anal fissures are said to be caused by the dryness of the skin area on the anus, which in turn makes the surface quite rough. This rougher epidermis is likely to disrupt or break out, that's why it forms cracks or fissures.

Apart from the dryness of the skin, there are also other things which might cause the cracking of the anal surface. These are:

1. Frequent Constipation- the hardening of the feces may contribute to the breaking of the skins, as the pressure on the surface becomes too much. That is why it is greatly advised for someone experiencing anal fissures to have high fiber food on a regular basis. It's also recommended for people to avoid food that may cause constipations.

2. Postponing of defecation- when you feel the urge to go to the bathroom and you postpone it a little while, that's when the amount of feces would increase. This makes it difficult to expel the feces and may cause too much pressure on the anal surface. This eventually leads to tears.

3. Too much strain on the anal sphincter- the anal sphincter is the circular muscle found on the anus. This is where feces are being expelled, and if they build up and get harder, this causes too much strain or pressure on the anal sphincter. Because of that, cracks or fissures may appear on the surface.

4. Pregnancy/Giving birth- when the skin on the anus has been stretched too much, chances are high that fissures will appear.

5. Pressure or tension on the surface- sometimes friction from toilet paper or other things might slightly damage the anal skin. If these materials are rubbed over the skin with too much pressure, irritations and cracking might occur.

6. Improper digestion and defecation- the damage on the anal surface is sometimes related to improper digestion. This might cause constipation, stool hardening, and improper defecation. Due to this, the skin might be damaged and cracked.

What causes anal fissures? Well, you finally know the answer and you now understand why it is a must to observe proper hygiene, and to avoid doing things that may cause the damage to the skin.

To download a free report please visit http://www.stopanalfissures.com

Article Source:  What Causes Anal Fissures?

A Time to Heal

A Time to Heal

By Rhonda Kitts

Step 1: Detox

Prior to beginning my journey back to healthy living, I was under the understanding that if I wasn't feeling well, I needed to add something - maybe a medicine or if I preferred the natural route, perhaps a vitamin, herb, or even a new exercise program.

With thousands of products, services, and programs out there for general health, how do you know where to begin?

It might seem overwhelming, but your health journey can become your most exciting journey when done with the right intention and the right knowledge.

If we first and foremost understand that we are three components: the mind, the body, and the spirit. Each of these three components needs to be taken care of with proper health habits in order to feel our best as a whole.

Although sometimes we do need to add something, in a general sense, the first step in a healing journey is to detox. What exactly does that mean when broken down into our three aspects of mind, body, and spirit?

Detoxing the Mind

Our words, thoughts, and feelings contribute greatly to either a sense of well-being, or a stress-filled survival mode. If you find that your mind is not the most pleasant home to reside in, it might be time to think about your thoughts you are allowing in. Do you consistently have worried thoughts? Is your mind constantly analyzing situations? What might be wrong in situations in order to "fix" them?

The mind can be reprogrammed. It is called "neuroplasticity" which literally refers to the neurotransmitters as being malleable, reformable. It is not a quick fix and just like any other addiction, negative thought patterns give us a nice, although temporary, soothing effect. Understanding that the reprogramming process begins with difficulty and gets easier with time is important.

Detoxing the Body

Our bodies need assistance with this process and the most effective methods of detox are also the most ancient. There are great regimes out there for detoxing just about any organ you would like to focus on. All you need is Google and you're well on your way.

My favorite way to detox is with reflexology. For me, all I need to do is take off my shoes and the reflexologist does the rest - and it feels wonderful! Reflexology consists of rubbing the foot and focusing on the reflex points of the foot, which correspond to the specific organs in our bodies. As a busy mom, entrepreneur, and business owner, I have limited down time and this is the most efficient way I have found to keep my body clean on the inside.

It is a very powerful form of detox and care should be taken to schedule your first session at a time when you can rest for a day or two after. I've had sessions where the detox was so strong that I was shaking on the table as the toxins were released from my organs back into my bloodstream. This was after many years on pharmaceutical medications and I have a genetic marker for detox missing, so my results were not typical.

If you want to really turn your health around for the better, I recommend monthly reflexology sessions as well as regular massage for overall body detox.

Detoxing the Spirit

First of all, let's define what this means in a mind, body, spirit approach. What exactly is spirit? The mind, body spirit approach to health and wellness is not a religious view, but rather a holistic view of our whole being, including the body we see and the ethereal body most of us cannot see. Our spirit can also be identified as our aura or energy field and it extends anywhere from a few inches to several feet out from our physical bodies, depending on our spiritual health.

The first step to detox our energy field is to avoid situations and relationships where negative energy might be present. Negativity and arguments are very unhealthy for the energy body.

If you can imagine your energy body as a magnetic force, it becomes easier to understand the concept of picking up energy everywhere you go. You've heard the phrase, "You become who you hang around." This is very true.

There are exercises that can be practiced to protect your energy field and breathing exercises and meditations that can be practiced to clean your aura. Grounding is also very important and there are exercises to help balance your energy as well.

I explain these processes in more detail in articles on my website http://www.rhondakitts.com if you are interested in exploring this further.

Check out my website at http://www.rhondakitts.com. Congratulations on beginning your beautiful journey of healing!

Article Source:  A Time to Heal

Natural Ways to Cure Acne

Natural Ways to Cure Acne

By Maureen Abuor

Acne is caused by the clogging of hair follicles with dead skin cells and oil from the skin. It is considered a major contributor of low self-esteem in both adolescents and adults.

Acne could be a natural way of your body conveying a vital message to you. Consider the following tips on how to live an acne free life.

1. Management of stress

Your body responds to stress by directing blood and oxygen to the key organs that help in fighting stress. In this process, your skin is left dry and hence susceptible to clogged pores that may eventually lead to breakouts.

You can manage stress by exercising, since this triggers sweating of the body hence cleansing the pores.

Quality sleep also enhances metabolism rate hence leading to reduced stress and eventually zero acne skin.

2. Fasting

It sounds weird, doesn't it? Scientific research has shown that when you fast, your body redirects the energy that would have been used in the digestion of food to other activities like healing, cleansing and restoration of your skin. This works literally for all skin types.

3. Observe your Diet

A well balanced diet is very crucial in the development and performance of your body organs and system at large.

Just like in body weight issues, you need to watch your food intake in order to ensure you have a good skin. Incorporate fruits in your diet, instead of junk foods like pizza which has a lot of oil, hence can be a nightmare to your skin.

Rich in nutrients and vitamins, fruits help in the healing, cleansing and even maintenance of the body PH, and hence, a good skin free of acne.

4. Hygiene

When oil from your body mixes with dead skin cells, your skin pores become clogged. This creates a suitable breeding ground for the bacteria, hence may lead to skin outbreaks. You can prevent these skin outbreaks by ensuring that you bathe daily, and also, wash your face at least twice a day.

Curing acne is one of the big questions that almost everyone wants an answer to. We all desire to have beautiful skin free of acne, as this helps in the enhancement of high self-esteem. To ensure acne-free skin, actively manage stress, observe your diet, maintain a high level of hygiene, and ensure that you practice healthy habits like fasting. Enjoy the beauty of a clear skin as you put these into practice.

Maureen Abuor is an excellent writer with a passion-driven writing. I ensure you get the needed information at the right time and place.
Thorough research ensures that I give you the best articles in the market.
Feel free to contact me for more on articles.

Article Source:  Natural Ways to Cure Acne

Hush Lil Birdie

Hush Lil Birdie Matahari rendah di udara berjemur di taman dalam cahaya keemasan; Kolam bersinar seperti madu dan pepohonan mulai terlihat ...