When I read chapter 2 of the Tao Te Ching, there was a phrase which got my attention: "Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.
All can know good as good only because there is evil."(Chapter 2)
What this says is that the reason why something is what it is, is because of its opposite. For example there's evil because there's good. We know when someone looks ugly because we know when someone looks pretty. We know when something is hard because we know when something is easy. The reason why things are what they are is because of their opposites. It's because we have something to compare them with. If there weren't short people, then there wouldn't be tall people. We can tell when someone is tall because we know when someone is short. Opposites make things be what they are.
Things exist because they have opposites. Love exists because there's hate. There's knowledge because there's ignorance. There's intelligence because there's stupidity. There's light because there's darkness. If things didn't have opposites, then they wouldn't exist. Things are what they are because of their opposites. If there weren't opposites to compare things with, then there will be nothing. If it wasn't for the bad things that have happened to us in our lives, we wouldn't have great moments and memories. What makes those moments great are the bad things that have happened to us before. When something happens to us, we know if it is good by comparing it to past events. We know how something is by comparing it to its opposite.
domingo, 30 de noviembre de 2008
domingo, 23 de noviembre de 2008
Words that Sound Alike Practice
1. Where
2. Wear
3. We're
4. To
5. Two
6. Too
7. Conscious
8. Conscience
9. Led
10. Lead
11. Their
12. They're
13. There
14. Idea
15. Ideal
16. Than
17. Then
18. It's
19. Its
20. You're
21. Your
22. Advise
23. Advice
2. Wear
3. We're
4. To
5. Two
6. Too
7. Conscious
8. Conscience
9. Led
10. Lead
11. Their
12. They're
13. There
14. Idea
15. Ideal
16. Than
17. Then
18. It's
19. Its
20. You're
21. Your
22. Advise
23. Advice
Quantity Terms with Count and Noncount Nouns
1. Quite a few students have trouble with economics.
2. It requires quite a little or quite a bit of* reading.
3. Few advisors spend as much time with their students.
4. He has little hope of passing his exams.
5. George's advisor spends quite a little or quite a bit of time with him.
6. He knows few people in the class.
7. Bill spends little money on clothes.
8. She spends quite a little or quite a bit of money on CDs.
9. He has few suits.
10. He understands little of the reading.
2. It requires quite a little or quite a bit of* reading.
3. Few advisors spend as much time with their students.
4. He has little hope of passing his exams.
5. George's advisor spends quite a little or quite a bit of time with him.
6. He knows few people in the class.
7. Bill spends little money on clothes.
8. She spends quite a little or quite a bit of money on CDs.
9. He has few suits.
10. He understands little of the reading.
sábado, 22 de noviembre de 2008
Noun and Noncount Nouns 3-5
Exercise 3:
Because diabetes can cause devastating damage to virtually all body systems, people with diabetes should not underrate the seriousness of their disease. Learning to live with a chronic illness such as diabetes must be an ongoing process.
The Hospital's Center for Family Life Education is sponsoring a five-part educational series on diabetes. The series will begin on April 30 and continue through May 29. The program will be held in the second floor classroom of the Education Center from 7-9 p.m.
The diabetes series is free and open to the public and will be of specific interest to people who have diabetes and their families and friends.
Exercise 4:
a table
these person X
this furniture
that assignment
a boy
the poetry
a difficulty
a research X
this eggs X
those argument X
Exercise 5:
The Computer Jungle
Though you can make the decision on purely economic grounds, buying a computer is often more like joining a religious cult. Buy an Apple, for example, and almost by default you join Apple chairman Steve Jobs in his crusade against IBM. Every machine has its "users' groups" and a band of loyal enthusiasts who tout its merits. That makes it all the more difficult for the uninitiated to decide what machine to buy. Students have a huge advantage, however. The computer companies are so eager for students' business (it builds "brand loyalty") that many offer huge discounts.
In the past six months, IBM, Apple, and others have brought out new computers, and the fierce competition has forced prices down. Also, time is on your side: next year at this time you'll have even more choice and more computing power and features for the same price. On the other hand, this will probably be true for many years. So for those who need or want a computer now, it's a great time to buy one.
Because diabetes can cause devastating damage to virtually all body systems, people with diabetes should not underrate the seriousness of their disease. Learning to live with a chronic illness such as diabetes must be an ongoing process.
The Hospital's Center for Family Life Education is sponsoring a five-part educational series on diabetes. The series will begin on April 30 and continue through May 29. The program will be held in the second floor classroom of the Education Center from 7-9 p.m.
The diabetes series is free and open to the public and will be of specific interest to people who have diabetes and their families and friends.
Exercise 4:
a table
these person X
this furniture
that assignment
a boy
the poetry
a difficulty
a research X
this eggs X
those argument X
Exercise 5:
The Computer Jungle
Though you can make the decision on purely economic grounds, buying a computer is often more like joining a religious cult. Buy an Apple, for example, and almost by default you join Apple chairman Steve Jobs in his crusade against IBM. Every machine has its "users' groups" and a band of loyal enthusiasts who tout its merits. That makes it all the more difficult for the uninitiated to decide what machine to buy. Students have a huge advantage, however. The computer companies are so eager for students' business (it builds "brand loyalty") that many offer huge discounts.
In the past six months, IBM, Apple, and others have brought out new computers, and the fierce competition has forced prices down. Also, time is on your side: next year at this time you'll have even more choice and more computing power and features for the same price. On the other hand, this will probably be true for many years. So for those who need or want a computer now, it's a great time to buy one.
viernes, 21 de noviembre de 2008
Count and Noncount Nouns
Exercise 1:
world C
textbook C
acid D
smoking N
poetry N
applause N
thought D
banana C
conduct N
progress N
biology N
essay C
crystal D
shopping N
Exerecise 2:
defense X
beauty X
garbage
experience X
baggage
rain X
rug
nature
bag
emotion X
world C
textbook C
acid D
smoking N
poetry N
applause N
thought D
banana C
conduct N
progress N
biology N
essay C
crystal D
shopping N
Exerecise 2:
defense X
beauty X
garbage
experience X
baggage
rain X
rug
nature
bag
emotion X
martes, 11 de noviembre de 2008
Always Try, Always Believe
"To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe."
-Anatole France
When I began to read Book 7 of Confucius, I thought about on how some people are always willing and wanting to learn and always trying to achieve what they want. But I also thought on those people who are very closed minded and they say they want to learn but they don't really try. There's two kind of people in the world, there are the those who are always seeking for more knowledge and are always willing to learn in order to achieve something. And there are those who just want to know for knowing without a reason. The difference between these people is that the first ones before learning, they are willing and already trying to learn. And the second ones, don't really want to learn, they are the people who don't even try.
There was a quote in Confucius which led me thinking of this:
"I will not open the door for a mind that is not already striving to understand, nor will I provide words to a tongue that is not already struggling to speak. If I hold up one corner of a problem, and the student cannot come back to me with the other three, I will not attempt to instruct him again." (Book 7, pg. 20). What this says is that in order to learn, you need to want to learn. You need to be willing to do the thing you want to do in order to achieve it. Because in order to achieve something you have to always want it and always try. You can't never stop trying or stop believeing in something because then, you won't be able to accomplish your goal.
domingo, 9 de noviembre de 2008
What is Goodness?
When I began to read Confucius I thought that he was a very smart and clever person who had many great things to teach. Lessons that we all have to learn about. Books 4, 5 and 6 have something very important which is the definition of goodness. Since I was little, I have always asked myself and others: What is goodness? What makes a good person good? I have always got the same answer. Everyone has told me that goodness are the actions a good person commits, and that a good person is someone who is always doing the right thing, basically someone who is perfect. That's what everyone has always told me. But after I read these Books, I realized that goodness was something more besides the acts a good person commits. And a good person was something more than just someone who always does the right thing.
Book 4, 5 and 6 of Confucius talks about goodness. It talks on what goodness is, and what people are good and which are not. According to Confucius, a good person is someone who not only does always the right thing for oneself but the right thing for everyone. Also, a good person is always learning from others and their own mistakes and this way, they won't fall to committing them. And something very important good people have is that they are not good in order to receive something, but they are good because they know that's the right thing to do. "One who is Good sees as his first priority the hardship of self-cultivation, and only after thinks about results or rewards. Yes, this is what we might call Goodness."(Book 6 pg 17).
This shows that good people are the ones who are not seeking for a reward for what they do, they just do the right thing because they know it will make them better people. After knowing what Confucius says about a good person, I was kind of able to realize that in a way we are all good. Because being good doesn't means being perfect, it means caring for others and trying to always act the best for your own personal development without caring about the results or what you will receive by acting good.
Book 4, 5 and 6 of Confucius talks about goodness. It talks on what goodness is, and what people are good and which are not. According to Confucius, a good person is someone who not only does always the right thing for oneself but the right thing for everyone. Also, a good person is always learning from others and their own mistakes and this way, they won't fall to committing them. And something very important good people have is that they are not good in order to receive something, but they are good because they know that's the right thing to do. "One who is Good sees as his first priority the hardship of self-cultivation, and only after thinks about results or rewards. Yes, this is what we might call Goodness."(Book 6 pg 17).
This shows that good people are the ones who are not seeking for a reward for what they do, they just do the right thing because they know it will make them better people. After knowing what Confucius says about a good person, I was kind of able to realize that in a way we are all good. Because being good doesn't means being perfect, it means caring for others and trying to always act the best for your own personal development without caring about the results or what you will receive by acting good.
jueves, 6 de noviembre de 2008
The New President
When I saw Barack Obama's speech I thought on how an amazing speaker he is. He speaks with such confidence and authority that I was convinced that he was the best candidate for the United States Presidency. He also used his hands and tone of voice to emphasize the important things. Obama's eye contact with the audience shows his confidence on what he was saying, he was sure of all of his words. All of his gestures were very well used, it helped increase his credibility without being to exagertated.
Throughout his speech, Obama used rhetoric. He used Ethos and Pathos to show the Americans that the United States is a great country, and that he with their help is going to make it even better. "So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers — in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people."
He also uses deliberative and demonstrative talking about the present and future of the United States. "We are and always will be the United States of America."
Throughout his speech, Obama used rhetoric. He used Ethos and Pathos to show the Americans that the United States is a great country, and that he with their help is going to make it even better. "So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers — in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people."
He also uses deliberative and demonstrative talking about the present and future of the United States. "We are and always will be the United States of America."
martes, 4 de noviembre de 2008
Always Belief
After I finished reading Night, I was shocked by its content. I was shocked by the inhumanity of the Nazis, by the great horror and sufferment they caused. But mostly, I was amazed my the faith the Jew people had in God. All of those people went through literaly "hell." But many of them managed to keep their faith in God during the harder moments. Many of them were close to losing their trust in God due to the terrible things they were going through. They had to view the people they love, their friends and family go under tortures and watch them die in the most horrible ways! But still, they kept their faith in God, which at the end, when some of them were free, it helped them.
When reading Night, I was able to see that Ellie was very similar to Job. They both were put through very hard and difficult situations in which they suffered very much. Both of them were very strong believers, they absolutely believed in God, but they both doubted His justice. "How I sympathized with Job! I did not deny God's existence, but I doubted His absolute justice" (Night, pg. 42). Both of them lost their families. And both of them were very good people, and were very faithful to God. But, they were very unfortunate. They probrably thought that because they were very good and faithful people nothing bad was going to happen to them. So when they lived these terrible situations of course they had to doubt God's justice. How could something terrible happen to good people?
I completely agree with Job's and Ellie's point of view respecting to God. In the situations in which they lived God's justice was very doubtful. But then, when I finished reading I was able to open my mind. I realize that even though in a moment they had doubted God's fairness, they were able to later keep their faith. And this faith they had helped them overcome these obstacles. Ellie and some of the Jewish people in the concentration camps were able to maintain their faith. And at the end, when they were free, they saw that their constant faith, and their always belief in God helped them through their worst nightmare.
When reading Night, I was able to see that Ellie was very similar to Job. They both were put through very hard and difficult situations in which they suffered very much. Both of them were very strong believers, they absolutely believed in God, but they both doubted His justice. "How I sympathized with Job! I did not deny God's existence, but I doubted His absolute justice" (Night, pg. 42). Both of them lost their families. And both of them were very good people, and were very faithful to God. But, they were very unfortunate. They probrably thought that because they were very good and faithful people nothing bad was going to happen to them. So when they lived these terrible situations of course they had to doubt God's justice. How could something terrible happen to good people?
I completely agree with Job's and Ellie's point of view respecting to God. In the situations in which they lived God's justice was very doubtful. But then, when I finished reading I was able to open my mind. I realize that even though in a moment they had doubted God's fairness, they were able to later keep their faith. And this faith they had helped them overcome these obstacles. Ellie and some of the Jewish people in the concentration camps were able to maintain their faith. And at the end, when they were free, they saw that their constant faith, and their always belief in God helped them through their worst nightmare.
Real Faith
As I was reading Chapter 38 of Job, I was able to see that God was very mad because he was judged by Job. His actions were being questioned and criticized. And becasue God is said to be the only "perfect being," he felt probrably felt indignied when he was judged for his own choices. "3)Who is it that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job Chapter 38: 3) . Also something that impressed me was that Job was the one who was criticizing and judging God. Job who was God's most faithful man, Job who believed unconditionanly on Him. How was it possible that he was judging God?
But then, I remebered something very important that I have learned while reading the bible, nobody's perfect, everyone makes mistakes, everyone sins, everyone doubts, even Job. Even though Job was very faithful, he, just like all humans go under temptation. He was tempted to see that God was not all good, that God commited terrible things. After all, it was God who made him lose his family and suffer greatly. It was God who challenged Job's faith by causing him great devastation. Job was tempted to almost lose all of his faith in Him. But Job was lucky to have real friends such as Elihu who helped him believe in God again. To see that was good, and that He did this things to prove his faith.
After Job realized his mistake, he was very sorry. He had doubted his faith and he had almost lost his trust on Him. But God saw that Job was just like the others (Moses, David, Abraham), he was a human, a NOT perfect being. Job committed mistakes just like anyone, and God accepted it. That is why after God saw that Job was very sorry for doubting Him, and that his faith and trust were back, he decided to reward him. “The Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.”(Job Chapter 42:10). At the end, Job proved God that no matter what happened, he will always trust Him. And God learned that there will be humans that will go through great and devastating obstacles, but will still have faith in Him. But he also learned that no matter what, there will never be a perfect human.
But then, I remebered something very important that I have learned while reading the bible, nobody's perfect, everyone makes mistakes, everyone sins, everyone doubts, even Job. Even though Job was very faithful, he, just like all humans go under temptation. He was tempted to see that God was not all good, that God commited terrible things. After all, it was God who made him lose his family and suffer greatly. It was God who challenged Job's faith by causing him great devastation. Job was tempted to almost lose all of his faith in Him. But Job was lucky to have real friends such as Elihu who helped him believe in God again. To see that was good, and that He did this things to prove his faith.
After Job realized his mistake, he was very sorry. He had doubted his faith and he had almost lost his trust on Him. But God saw that Job was just like the others (Moses, David, Abraham), he was a human, a NOT perfect being. Job committed mistakes just like anyone, and God accepted it. That is why after God saw that Job was very sorry for doubting Him, and that his faith and trust were back, he decided to reward him. “The Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.”(Job Chapter 42:10). At the end, Job proved God that no matter what happened, he will always trust Him. And God learned that there will be humans that will go through great and devastating obstacles, but will still have faith in Him. But he also learned that no matter what, there will never be a perfect human.
Fallacies
"I think everybody knows now we are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. And a lot of you I think are worried about your jobs, your pensions, your retirement accounts, your ability to send your child or your grandchild to college." (Obama)
"Is it expensive? Yes. But we all know, my friends, until we stabilize home values in America, we're never going to start turning around and creating jobs and fixing our economy. And we've got to give some trust and confidence back to America." (McCain)
"And I believe this is a final verdict on the failed economic policies of the last eight years, strongly promoted by President Bush and supported by Sen. McCain, that essentially said that we should strip away regulations, consumer protections, let the market run wild, and prosperity would rain down on all of us. " (Obama)
"Well, thank you, Oliver, and that's an excellent question, because as you just described it, bailout, when I believe that it's rescue, because -- because of the greed and excess in Washington and Wall Street, Main Street was paying a very heavy price, and we know that." (McCain)
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