Opposites

Opposites are part of our world. There isn’t something if there is no opposite of it. Although they may limit our minds, we trace lines, as laws in which we have to respect; so society may be able to live. But if describing a human being implies opposites (which limit us) we may loose our liberty, our uniqueness. The concept of liberty is an ideal but a reality, humans always depend on something. Or maybe the ideal of our liberty is not lost but the word itself is lost, but what difference does it make? If words are created by our uniqueness (a part, not a hole). By communicating (words) we express our thoughts, which distinguish us from animal, “man is a social animal” (Aristotle), but words are limited. Then maybe we are humans not by our ability to express, but rather for something else. Opposites are simple, not essential, but lines which we don’t need, which makes us loose a type of uniqueness, or maybe delimit something which is rather necessary for liberty, “Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good because there is evil. Therefore having or not having arises together.” (Tao Te Ching. Two)

Our Logic

Confucian philosophy is based on tradition. Confucius was a highly religious and traditional Chinese man. Through it teaching you notices his “Ritual” or”rightness”. The Way of Goodness is another important asset of the book. Although I believe they are all literal translation, for an abstract ideal. The three pillars are highly philosophical, with a probable alien ideal for the western mind. All of them can be abstractly understood through the book, those are the keys for the “perfect men”. This tradition of eastern philosophy and theology, of making one self better through ones individual dogmas; following the Buddha, the Bagahdevita, or any other holy character or scripture. Analyzing eastern individuals and the territories, you can notice more fullness, not a materialistic, but abstract, individual and spiritual. Attributed to the keys, which for us, are simply no materialistic ideal heavily difficult to understand, therefore stupid or irrelevant.
We have simply destroyed the idea of a “perfect man” in the west. One would think or expect, to do something which will eventually affect him or others in a positive aspect. But that rationalism has disappeared. We live in a world where we create more suffering, more poverty, and a disastrous future for us and our children. “We live in a Newtonian world of Einsteinian physics rules by Frankenstenian logic.” (Unknown)

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.

Count And NonCount Nouns

Are the following nouns count or noncount? Put an N next to the noncount nouns and a C next to the count nouns. If the noun can be either noncount or count depending on the context, put a D next to it.

world C
textbook C
acid N
smoking N
poetry N
applause N
thought D
banana C
conduct D
progress N
biology N
essay C
crystal D
shopping N


Exercise 2
Put an X next to the words in the following list that can be used as either count or noncount nouns, depending on the context.



defense X
beauty X
garbage ___
experience X
baggage ___
rain X
rug ___
nature ___
bag ___
emotion X


Exercise 3
Fill in the blank with the form of the noun in parentheses that is appropriate to the grammatical context of the sentence and the meaning of the passage as a whole.

Diabetes: Beyond the Basics

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
On the basis of the rules for using articles, which combinations of words below are permitted and which ones aren't? Put an X next to the incorrect combinations.

____ a table
X these person
____ this furniture
____ that assignment
____ a boy


____ the poetry
____ a difficulty
X a research
X this eggs
X those argument




Exercise 5
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate article if one is needed.

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.

Words That Sound Alike: Exercise 1
Question Your Answer The Correct Answer Your Response is:
Question 1 Where Where Correct
Question 2 wear wear Correct
Question 3 we're we're Correct
Question 4 to to Correct
Question 5 two two Correct
Question 6 too too Correct
Question 7 conscious conscious Correct
Question 8 conscience conscience Correct
Question 9 led led Correct
Question 10 lead lead Correct
Question 11 their their Correct
Question 12 They're They're Correct
Question 13 there there Correct
Question 14 idea idea Correct
Question 15 ideal ideal Correct
Question 16 than than Correct
Question 17 then then Correct
Question 18 Its It's Incorrect
Question 19 it's its Incorrect
Question 20 Your You're Incorrect
Question 21 you're your Incorrect
Question 22 advise advise Correct
Question 23 advice advice Correct

You had 19 out of 23 questions correct.
Very good!

His Ritual

The conception of ritual to Confucius seems to be a guide for a perfect life. Or at least a beacon of a “never mistake”. If you follow it, you will probably succeed in which ever you are implying it; and consequently never mistake. Confucius consecutively implies to term in its teachings, when being asked something, “The Master said: the gentleman takes rightness as his substance, puts it into practice by means of RITUAL, gives it expression through modesty, and perfects it by being trustworthy . Now that is a gentleman.”
Taking into context the quotation, ritual is not a literal translation, nor its actual dictionary meaning. I would understand this pillar of his teachings, as the so called path in eastern philosophy and theology. The spiritual path the Buddha transuded through out his existence or the circular path of reincarnation in Hinduism. Perfecting one self, is the basis of the eastern philosophical tradition, probably implied as well by Confucius.

Our Ignored Natural Side

For one to know his inner self is very difficult; recognizing mistakes, accepting criticism and a great effort are the main assets for the objective. Many people live in a constant rush to help others, in which I may be included. A professor of mine once told me, “For you to help others, you need to know yourself.” Or paraphrased by Confucius, “desiring to take his stand, one who is Good helps others to take their stand; wanting to realize himself, he helps others to realize themselves.” –Confucius. 6.30. Taking the Masters recommendation would leave the world with allot less “helpers”; the majority of humans who accept the sociological challenge to seek there inner self, spend half of their lives on the task.
The Confucian Way and religious salvation are very selfish, the concept of attaining Good or heaven, and saving yourself, leaves you with no other thought than you. Spiritualism is a pillar of your non materialistic existence, which paradoxically is very egocentristic. But if we were to reflect- again to help others would be selfish- for achieving it, you have to undergo a process of knowing yourself- for yourself. The conclusion would simply rely of Hobs theory, “man is a wolf for man” for we are all unconsciously, running and stabbing for our spiritual welfare. We are a leave of a tree, but we feel as the only leave of the tree. Why should we judge criminals that unleash our “egocentric” natural side, not for salvation, but for survival?

Acceptance Speach

Obama`s speech was full of emotion, of Pathos, “for there are new jobs to be created, new schools to build and new threats to meet, and alliances to repair.” He applied a perfect tone for the situation, his dexterity was outstanding. The elect president often applied both forencsic and deliberative rhetoric during the speech, as may have noticed, the speech was divided in two: what happened in the last century (implies forensic) and the next hundred years to come (implies deliberative), “to those who promote peace and security, we will support you.”Demonstrative rhetoric was present although not continuously, when speaking of his policies the tone was recurrent (considering he spoke of his policies for one or two minutes). Ethos had a small representation, when stating how honest will he be with America. His body movement was nor distractive nor irrelevant. He continuously raises his tone and speed to stress a point. The speech was a well written and well spoken by Sen. Obama.

His Disappearance

God is present until problems appear. The believers have extreme faith on his existence and presence on earth. The bible continually states that the individuals who follow him will be rewarded with riches, prosperity, and protection from evil (mostly interpreted as Satan). The Hebrew people (God`s people) has been persecuted for 2000 years. Although their protector disappears when he is required to establish peace, and continue to reward all those who stand next to him.
Terrible tragedies shouldn’t occur, and seems that god’s judgment and promise is lost. God is very powerful, he holds our destiny, our future, he controls us as puppets. He is the CREATER and the MAINTAINER. Ancient Chinese philosophy though that the human was a reflection of the hole universe (acupuncture is based in this), the Yin Jan is the representation of a balance, the balance of the universe, the one that we should try to mimic. The LORDS perfection relies in his equilibrium. Although sometimes it disappears, as said by Job:
“Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.” -Job. 12. 14-25
I am not a believer, although if there is an almighty power, I hope he would intervene and make of the world a better place.

Changes

Life continually changes, nobody has something secure in their lives. We can’t predict our future nor ignore our destiny. All of the TV shows in Colombia have the same story, the poor becoming rich or vice versa. My mother tells me, “We don’t know what we have until we loose it.” Maybe you have heard a song of Juanes, were we repeats what my mother says. The story of Job is the bible representation of this thought. He was a perfect man, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.” although he had to suffer. The biblical character was rich, prosperous, and happy, until Satan arrived killed his cattle, and kids, and finally he home. Many of us facing that situation would have cursed, although Job abstained from committing that sin.
When humans have to pass through a situation as Job had to, we would all appreciate things more. We may all think that the Colombian TV shows are stupid, and of low quality, although they may hold a life important message.