Bracelets For Women

The Birth of Moses

June 29th, 2010   by Isabella

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. 2The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch ; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. 4His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

5The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, "This must be one of the Hebrews' children," she said. ?Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Yes. " So the girl went and called the child's mother. 9Pharaoh's daughter said to her , "Take this child and nurse it for me , and I will give you your wages. " So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses , "because , " she said , "I drew him out of the water. "

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I am amazed myseh0 at how little trouble it is living with and liking two such different roommates

June 28th, 2010   by Isabella

Their physical appearances differ gready. With small brown eyes and straight black hair to her shoulders, Julie is tall, lean, and statuesque. Pat, on the other hand, is tiny. Under five feet tall, she keeps her blonde hair short and fluffy. Looking out over a small nose, her large gray eyes are "funny looking," according to her. "They're all right if you like cats," she says grinning. These two girls also have different kinds of interests. Julie likes reading or relaxing quiedy in front of the television set. She likes talking too; she will speak to me for hours about a feature in People Magazine or about a Marx Brothers' film she watched on Channel 4 until dawn. Her voice quivers with excitement. "Just listen to this," she will say, her eyes glowing, her warm fingers pressed to my palm to hold my attention. But for Pat the outdoor life holds more interest than books or screens. At six each morning, in a bright orange sweat suit, she is jogging merrily down University Drive, crunching through leaves for her usual four miles. She swims. She plays tennis. She is a terror at paddleball, smashing shots I have to groan to return. However, the most interesting difference between them is their approach to schoolwork. Julie grows tense before an exam. At her desk a small fluorescent lamp throws a pale light on her face as she sits for hours glaring nervously at a page in her biology book . She underlines words noisily and scrawls notes to herself in the margin with a yellow felt pen. Her lips say over and over some key words she wants to memorize. Because only "A" grades satisfy her, she works tirelessly. Pat, on the contrary, takes everything easy, and exams are no exception. Sprawled on the red and white print couch, she surrounds herself with cola, corn chips, chocolate bars, apples, and salted nuts. She jabbers endlessly and jumps up every few minutes to stare out the window, to do a few sit - ups or to splash herself with spicy cologne . Without much effort or anxiety she crams enough data into her head to earn grades that keep her happy . Since I can live in harmony with my two roommates in spite of their differences , I am confident that I will be able to get a-long with most people anywhere.

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IRRIGATION SYSTEM OF NORTHERN THAILAND

June 25th, 2010   by Isabella

Northern Thailand consists mainly of long mountain chains interspersed with valley bottoms where streams and rice fields dominate the landscape. Most of the remaining forests of the North are found at higher altitudes. The forests ensure regular seasonal rainfall for the whole area and at the same time moderate runoff, so that there is water throughout the year.

SECTION 2

The lowland communities have developed an agricultural system adapted to, and partially determining, the distinctive ecosystems of their areas. Practising wet - rice agriculture in the valley - bottoms, the lowlanders also raise pigs, ducks and chickens and cultivate vegetable gardens in their villages further up the slopes. Rice, beans, corn and native vegetables are planted in hill fields above the villages, and wild vegetables and herbal medicines are gathered and wild game hunted in the forests higher up the hillsides. The forests also serve as grazing grounds for cows and buffalo, and are a source of wood for household utensils, cooking fuel, construction and farming tools. Fish are to be found in the streams and in the irrigation system and wet - rice fields, providing both food and pest control.

SECTION 3

In its essentials, a muangfaai system consists of a small reservoir which feeds an intricate, branching network of small channels carrying water in carefully calibrated quantities through clusters of rice terraces in valley bottoms. The system taps into a stream above the highest rice field and, when there is sufficient water, discharges back into the same stream at a point below the bottom field. The water in the reservoir at the top, which is diverted into a main channel (lam muang and from there into the different fields, is slowed or held back not by an impervious dam, but by a series of barriers constructed of bunches of bamboo or saplings which allow silt, soil and sand to pass through.

SECTION 4

Water from the lam muang is measured out among the farmers according to the extent of their rice fields and the amount of water available from the main channel. Also considered are the height of the fields, their distance from the main channel and their soil type. The size and depth of side channels are then adjusted so that only the allocated amount of water flows into each farmer's field.

SECTION 5

Rituals and beliefs connected with muang faai reflect the villageTs' submission to, respect for, and friendship with nature, rather than an attempt to master it. In mountains, forests, water-sheds and water, villagers see things of great value and power. This power has a favorable aspect, and one that benefits humans. But at the same time, if certain boundaries are overstepped and nature is damaged, the spirits will punish humans. Therefore, when it is necessary to use nature for the necessities of life, villagers take care to inform the spirits what they intend to do, simultaneously begging pardon for their actions.

SECTION 6

Keeping a muang faai system going demands cooperation and collective management, sometimes within a single village, sometimes across three or four different subdistricts including many villages . The rules or common agreements arrived at during the yearly meeting amount to a social contract. They govern how water is to be distributed, how flow is to be controlled according to seasonal schedules, how barriers are to be maintained and channels dredged, how conflicts over water use are to be settled, and how the forest around the reservoir is to be preserved as a guar¬antee of a steady water supply and a source of materials to repair the system.

SECTION 7

The fundamental principle of water rights under muang faai is that everyone in the system must get enough to survive; while many patterns of distribution are possible, none can violate this basic tenet. On the whole, the systems also rest on the assumption that local water is common property. No one can take control of it by force, and it must be used in accord with the communal agreements. Although there are-inequalities in landholding, no one has the right to an excessive amount of fertile land. The way in which many muang faai systems expand tends to reinforce further the claims of community security over those of individual entrepreneurship. In the gradual process of opening up new land and digging connecting channels, each local household often ends up with scattered holdings over the whole irrigation areas. Unlike modem irrigation systems, under which the most powerful people generally end up closest to the sources of water, this arrangement encourages everyone to take care that no part of the system is unduly favored or neglected.

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He was a funny looking man with a cheerful face, good-natured and a great talker

June 24th, 2010   by Isabella

He was described by his student, the great philosopher Plato, as " the best and most just and wisest man. " Yet, this same man was condemned to death for his beliefs.

The man was the Greek philosopher, Socrates, and he was condemned for not believing in the recognized gods and for corrupting young people. The second charge his association with numerous young men who came to Athens from all over the civilized world to study under him.

Socrates' method of teaching was to ask questions and, by pretending not to know the answers, to press his students into thinking for themselves. His teachings had unsurpassed influence on all the great Greek and Roman schools of philosophy. Yet, for all his fame and influence, Socrates himself never wrote a word.

Socrates encouraged new ideas and free thinking in the young, and this was frightening to the conservative people. They wanted him silenced. Yet, many were probably surprised that he accepted death so readily.

Socrates had the right to ask for a lesser penalty, and he probably could have won over enough of the people who had previously condemned him. But Socrates, as a firm believer in law, reasoned that it was proper to submit to the death sentence. So, he calmly accepted his fate and drank a cup of poison hemlock in the presence of his grief-stricken friends and students.

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We all have offensive breath at one time or another

June 23rd, 2010   by Isabella

In most cases, offensive breath ema-nates from bacteria in the mouth,although there are other,more surprising causes.

Until a few years ago,the most doctors could do was to counsel patients with bad breath about oral cleanliness. Now they are finding new ways to treat the usually curable condition.

Bad breath can happen whenever the normal flow of saliva slows. Our mouths are full of bacteria feeding on protein in bits of food and shed tissue. The bacteria emit evil smelling gases, the worst of which is hydrogen sulfide.

Mouth bacteria thrive in airless conditions. Oxygen-rich saliva keeps their numbers down. When we sleep, for example, the saliva stream slows, and sulfide-producing bacteria gain the upper hand, producing classic "morning breath".

Alcohol, hunger, too much talking, breathing through the mouth during exercise—anything that dries the mouth produces bad breath. So can stress, though it' s not understood why. Some people' s breath turns sour every time they go on a job interview.

Saliva flow gradually slows with age, which explains why the elderly have more bad-breath trouble than younger people do. Babies, however, who make plenty of saliva and whose mouths contain relatively few bacteria have characteristically sweet breath.

For most of us, the simple, dry-mouth variety of bad breath is easily cured. Eating or drinking starts saliva and sweeps away many of the bacteria. Breakfast often stops morning breath.

Those with chronic dry mouth find that it help to keep gum, hard candy, or a bottle of water or juice around. Brushing the teeth wipes out dry-mouth bad breath because it clears away many of the offending bacteria.

Surprisingly, one thing that really works is mouthwash. The liquid can mask bad-breath odor with its own smell, but the effect lasts no more than an hour. Some mouthwashes claim to kill the bacteria responsible for bad breath. The trouble is, they don' t necessarily reach all offending germs. Most bacteria are well protected from mouthwash under thick layers of mu-cus. If the mouthwash contains alcohol—as most do it-—can intensify the problem by drying out the mouth.

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Managing Stress

June 22nd, 2010   by Isabella

In the last issue of Maintaining Good Health, we featured an interview with stress therapist Dr. Benjamin O'Dell and university student Fumiko Yamada. They talked about how stress can affect the lives of university students. In this issue, Dr. O'Dell and Fumiko share ideas on how to cope with and control stress.

Dr. O'Dell: Fumiko, let's recap1 by talking about the issues2 that have caused stress in your life.

Fumiko: Okay. Well, handing in my assignments late has been the biggest source of stress. Being late for classes has been a problem, too.

Dr. O'Dell: Now that you've identified these problems, what do you think is causing them?

Fumiko: I think there are two main causes. First, I'm very disorganized; that is, I just don't manage my time very well. Second, I procrastinate. I often wait until it's too late to start writing or studying. As for being 15 late for class so often, well, because I'm behind with my studies, I stay up3 late trying to complete assignments or catch up on my reading. Often, I don't get to bed until 3 A.M., and then I oversleep in the morning.

Dr. O'Dell: What do you think is the best way to remedy the situation? 20 Fumiko: First, I need to be more organized, and budget my time better. This semester, I've created a timetable for myself; I've scheduled my entire day—from morning until evening. I really think this will help me a lot. Second, I need to think more about my priorities in life; right now, my studies are more important than my part-time job.

Dr. O'Dell: Excellent. What do you plan to do about your procrastination and chronic lateness to class? Fumiko: Well, I think that this semester, by planning my time more strategically, I can overcome my tendency to procrastinate. If I follow my schedule, I'll spend less time watching TV and hanging out4 at the coffee shop with my friends. I'll get more done during the day, which means I won't have to stay up all night.

Dr. O'Dell: It sounds challenging. Do you think you'll be able to make such a big lifestyle6 change?

Fumiko: It's going to take a lot of will power and self-discipline, but I 35 know that my life will be better. I'll complete my assignments on time; I won't be tired in the mornings. In the end, I'll be less stressed out, and I'll have fewer health problems.

Dr. O'Dell: What about your job? How do you intend to manage all of this and continue to work?

Fumiko: As I mentioned earlier, I need to rethink my priorities and put my studies first. That means my job conies second. I don't want to quit my job, but I do need to work fewer hours. This semester, I'm only going to work on weekends—Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. I won't be able to go out with my friends on Saturday nights, but I'll

45 save more money. Also, if I get behind7 with my studies during the week, I will have time to catch up because I won't be working so much.

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Faces, like fingerprints, are unique

June 21st, 2010   by Isabella

Did you ever wonder how it is possible for us to recognize people? Even a skilled writer probably could not describe all the features that make one face different from another. Yet a very young child—or even an animal, such as a pigeon—can learn to recognize faces, we all take this ability for granted.

We also tell people apart by how they behave. When we talk about someone's personality, we mean the ways in which he or she acts, speaks, thinks and feels that make that individual different from others.

Like the human face, human personality is very complex. But describing someone's personality in words is somewhat easier than describing his face. If you were asked to describe what a "nice face" looked like, you probably would have a difficult time doing so. But if you were asked to describe a "nice person" , you might begin to think about someone who was kind, considerate, friendly, warm, and so forth.

There are many words to describe how a person thinks, feels and acts. Gordon Allport, an American psychologist, found nearly 18,000 English words characterizing differences in people's behavior. And many of us use this information as a basis for describing, or typing his personality. Bookworms, conservatives, military types—people are described with such terms.

People have always tried to "type" each other. Actors in early Greek drama wore masks to show the audience whether they played the villain's (if A) or the hero's role. In fact, the words " person" and " personality" come from the Latin persona, meaning " mask". Today, most television and movie actors do not wear masks. But we can easily tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys" because the two types differ in appearance as well as in actions.

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Amtrak was experiencing a downswing in ridership along the lines comprising its rail system

June 19th, 2010   by Isabella

Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham , were the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly. At one time , trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were_, fast , very luxurious , and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However, times change and the automobile became America's standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west.

Two portions of the total market were targeted ; 1 ) anxious fliers — those concerned with safety , relaxation , and cleanliness and 2 ) travel-lovers — those viewing themselves as relaxed , casual, and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacation. The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom , escape , relaxation , and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful adventures.

Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc. ). These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad, enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route.

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Revenge is one of those things that everyone enjoys

June 18th, 2010   by Isabella

People don't like to talk about it, though. Just the same, there is nothing more satisfying or more rewarding than revenge. The purpose is not to harm your victims but to let them know that you are upset about something that they are doing to you. Careful plotting can provide you with relief from bothersome coworkers, gossiping friends, or nagging family members.

Coworkers who make comments about the fact that you are always fifteen minutes late for work can be taken care of very simply. All you have to do is get up extra early one day. Before the sun comes up, drive to each coworker's house. Reach under the hood of your coworker's car and disconnect the center wire that leads to the distributor cap, the car will be unharmed, but it will not start, and your friends at work will all be late for work on the same day. If you're lucky, your boss might notice that you are the only one there and will give you a raise.

Gossiping friends at school are also perfect targets for a simple act of revenge. A way to trap either male or female friends is to leave phony messages on their lockers. If the friend that you want to get is male, leave a message that a certain girl would like him to stop by her house later that day. With any luck, her boyfriend will be there. The boy won't leave his home for a month.

When Mom and Dad and your sisters and brothers really begin to annoy you, harmless revenge may be just the way to make them quiet down for a while. The dinner table is a likely place. Just before the meal begins, throw a handful of raisins into the food. Wait a-)out five minutes and, after everyone has begun to eat, cover your mouth with your hand and begin to make odd noises. When they ask you what the matter is, point to a raisin and rell, "Bug!" They'll dump their food in the disposal, jump into the car, and head for McDonald's. That night, you'll have your first quiet, peaceful meal in a long time.

A well-planned revenge does not have to hurt anyone. The object is simply to let other people know that they are beginning to bother you.

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