Tao of la Vida

TAO FOR LA VIDA
BY: SARA PAREDES

Lyrics for “Viva la Vida”
BY: Coldplay


I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sweep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you know there was never,
never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
(Ohhh)

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries Wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)

Hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
(Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh)




After listening to the song, many things can go through your mind. For many, they remember Napoleon or Cesar, while others associate the song with Bush and the war in Iraq. However, no matter what you are remembering, you will be seeing the effects that the Tao Te Ching explains. The Tao explains why there are tons of souls, that go through Earth in search of happiness and a complement to their lives but only less than 1% have reached their goal.

This is a phenomenon that we live in our daily lives, but never understand it as a mystery. But, why aren’t we surprised with the live the owner of the song is living? Doesn’t the song remind is of the frustration that the entire human population is living? Let’s analyze it.

First of all, it is very important to point out that in the first passage of the Tao, it says not to read the book you have in your hands, and so does the song. In the passage, the reader is warned that it is better to live a life in ignorance, than understand the book and start living a pointless live. In the other hand, the song starts saying, “I used to rule the world”, meaning that his happiness has already faded, therefore you can’t expect any kind on happiness after listening to the song.

Since you read the first verse, you can put some clues in a timeline to understand the life of the narrator. Until now you know that the narrator started out as a normal person, and became king, a new and different king. Later, he took the wrong decisions, and ended up in the most miserable position. This type of life reflects one of the teachings the Tao says: Happiness is rooted in misery, misery lurks beneath happiness who knows what the future holds? (Tao Te Ching 58).
The first mistake that the narrator made according to the Tao, was not accepting your position. Accept disgrace willingly.
Accept misfortune as the human condition. (Tao Te Ching 13) If the person, would have lost all the ambition for power, and accepted his place he wouldn’t have lost anything, or risked anything.


Also, the owner of the song made a big mistake. He fought to arrive to his highest position. There is a saying among soldiers: I dare not make the first move but would rather play the guest; I dare not advance an inch but would rather withdraw a foot.

This is called marching without appearing to move, rolling up your sleeves without showing your arm, capturing the enemy without attacking, being armed without weapons. There is no greater catastrophe than underestimating the enemy. By understanding the enemy, I almost lose what I value. Therefore when the battle is joined, the underdog will win. (Tao Te Ching 69) The narrator was the one that fought his way to arrive to the throne, even before the king attacked. Therefore, yes, won the victory, but right after that moment, he cried in despair.
In addition, he used weapons and force to get the trophy, and a wise person doesn't choose weapons. Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man’s tools. He uses them only when he has no choice, peace and quiet are dear to his heart, and victory no cause for rejoicing. If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing; if you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself. (Tao Te Ching 31)



Know, lets think what mistakes did that person made, during his moment of glory. According to the Tao, only the wise can rule.
The wise therefore rule by emptying hearts and stuffing bellies, by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones. If men lack knowledge and desire, them clever people will not try to interfere. If nothing is done, then all will be well. (Tao Te Ching 3).

Nevertheless, if the ruler fails to bring peace to the land, he will pay the cost. When there is no peace within the family,
Filial piety and devotion arise. When the country is confused and in chaos, loyal ministers appear. (Tao Te Ching 18)


Viva la Vida, is the name of the song, and it agrees with the Tao Te Ching, as long as you accept yourself and your position. If you don’t do so, you will mess with perfection, and instead of screaming “viva la Vida”, you will be screaming the actual lyrics.

How to Play Go

The game Go consisits in killing the opponents peables. Nevertheless, it has a crucial trick that ralates to the Tao Te Ching. In order, to pull yourself out of any struggling situation, you have to remember not to attack the opponent directly, but first let him make some more moves, and that will give you more opportunities and moves. Later, you can attack after a little bit of patiance, and you will probably win.

Spelling Exercise

PART I

Exercise 1
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- D
smoking- D
poetry -N
applause -N
thought -N
banana -C
conduct -N
progress -N
biology -N
essay -C
crystal -D
shopping -C

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-X
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
these person- X
this furniture

that assignment
a boy
the poetry
a difficulty
a research- X
this eggs- X
those argument -X

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

The Computer Jungle
Though you can make a 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.





PARTII

In the following sentences, substitute one of these expressions for the underlined words:
little, quite a little or quite a bit of , few, quite a few
To clarify, little means "not much," but quite a little (or quite a bit of) means "a rather large amount." Few means "not many," but quite a few means "a rather large number."

1. Quite a few students have trouble with economics.
2. It requires few 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.

The Missing Piece of a Puzzle

In Tao Te Ching I have read values and lessons that are usually the same in the society I live in. Nevertheless, there are only few values I have been raised with, giving me the perception of a totally different culture and perception of life.

In my life, I have always seen wisdom and knowledge as a gift that only few in the world have. However, I have always have in consideration that “ignorance is blessed”, and life can be more fun in a superficial life, but a shallow happy life is far worse than a complicated live having a lot of knowledge.
The Tao Te Ching is in controversy, and advises to take the path of the shallow life. “Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles.” (Tao Te Ching 20).

My mother has a saying, “never go to the extremes, nor too much nor too little”. I have always tried to use it in my life especially with feelings, such as pride or admiration. However, I felt as Tao Te Ching was completely erasing ambition, “Accept disgrace willingly” “Accept being unimportant. Do not be concerned with loss or gain.” (Tao Te Ching 13). I disagree with this saying, for a person or animal will always be making an effort, but for there to be effort there must be the encouragement that comes with a drop of ambition. I do recognize that ambition can be deadly if there is too much of it, but I also recognize that none of it can take the purpose of effort, of life.

The Tao Te Ching and I have different perceptions towards life, and there is no way of knowing witch is wrong or right, and I believe that every individual will choose its path, after lessons and experiences from their lives.

Muiscas

Sometimes I have the perception that what the Tao Te Ching is telling, is that a human being is what it has cultivated inside of him and not the materials he has gained. Therefore, a person only grows with the touch of values, and not the touch of time. “Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow” (Tao Te Ching 9). This reminds me of a piece of information I recently learned in El Museo del Oro. I learned that a tribe called the Muiscas, said that the fetal position of a human being resembles a basket, and from every experience the lesson will be saved in the basket.

Quick Thought

“All can know good as good only because there is evil.” (Tao Te Ching 2)reminded me of a scientific term that says, “there is no such a thing as darkness, darkness is the absence of light”, because the value and the term are opposites. In the value there is good because there is evil, in the term darkness exists because there is light.

Spelling Exercise

PLEASE NOTE: The answer numbers on this quiz do not correspond to the question numbers. Each drop-down answer has a separate number even if it belongs to a differently numbered question. We're aware that it's confusing and we're going to switch to a new system.

1. Where is my jacket? I wanted to wear it today, and if I can't find it, we’re going to be late.

2. Jane wanted to go on the school trip, but her mother said that two hundred dollars was too much for the family budget.

3. As she waited for Rodney to become conscience , Selma was seized with an attack of concious -- was there anything she could have done to prevent the accident?

4. The map led the intrepid treasure hunters to a lead box of precious stones.

5. Have you seen their coats? They’re going to need them; it's cold outside. I last saw the coats over there.

6. After conducting careful research, Shufang had a brilliant idea; she'd write a paper on Thomas More's concept of the ideal society in Utopia.

7. Even though Bob would rather play than video games study, he decided to hit the books and then play some Halo.

8. Its easy to admire a business that puts so much effort into creating it’s signs and window displays.

9. You’re fortunate to have survived the car crash without a scratch; it must have been because you were wearing your seat belt.

10. I would advise you to seek qualified legal advice about how to handle this situation.

No More Untamed Horses

The Essentials Analects is a very old book, and was written when customs were different. For example, philosophy is studied more than technology, and now it is the other way around. Also, I have the impression that being obedient and respectful to the elder was much more important then, and in the XXI century speaking up your believe has a greater priority.

In the Book Seventeenth, I found a difference that rather disturbed me. Before, women were in a lower status than men, and they had to make them obedient and had the right to treat them as they pleased. Unfortunately, in the Analects this was mentioned. “The Master said, “Women and servants are particularly hard to manage: if you are too familiar with them, they grow insolent, but if you are too distant, they grow resentful:” (17.25). As I read it, I felt as we were untamed horses and that the Master was giving some advice to the owners, so they could have a nice and obedient animal.

I can imagine what people in other time periods would say about our culture, and how they will arrange rules to benefit us. Nevertheless, the pain caused in the present will always have a prolonged effect, for example many Jews and African Americans are still bleeding from their past suffering, and a young Colombian girl is still mad for the way woman were treated.

Eternity

I believe that being named a professor of any kind is one of the greatest triumphs a human being could have. They have to make a relationship with someone that will last forever, but it is not based in their mutual love. In addition, a teacher has to differentiate every single pupil, and treat him or her differently according to his or her needs.

For me there are three types of teachers. The first and most important is your parent/s or guardian/s, and later comes the mentor and the teacher. A mentor is the teacher that will only teach what a student is willing to learn, and has no need to beg the student. The Master will qualify in this category after saying,
“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.” (7.8). Then comes the teacher, that is someone that is forced to teach, doesn’t bend according to the pupils needs and has to bed for attention.

“Ran Qiu is very cautious, and so I wished to urge him on. Zilu, on the other hand, is too impetuous, and so I sought to hold him back.” (11.22) explained the Master. There is no way a teacher can treat all of his students equally, therefore the teacher has to be very flexible and opened for change. Also, with any job or work that you do you can follow a specific order, but a professor may have a calendar but will most likely have to arrange dates, to serve the pupil’s week or strong points.


As a result, a mentor will have to be dough, that will bend for specific needs, create a relationship without love, and at the same time feed the students needs. With all of these accomplished I agree with Henry Adams when he said, “ A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” (Tuesdays with Morrie. Pg. 79. Henry Adams).

Fast Reminder

Right when I read, “Yan Hui is of no help to me- he is pleased with everything I say.” I remembered some past “relationships”. I believe that relationships are made put of love, and like the song by Pat Benair says “love is a battlefield”. Therefore, there is no relationship without a fight, and someone that agrees with everything is just a pet that has no say in anything.

Breaking Your Own Walls

Overwhelmed is the word that fits best my feeling while reading. There are many statements and arguments that have opened my heart, and tatood themselves in the walls of my ventricles. Nevertheless, I read a quote, that didn’t have the same effect as the rest, but the strange thing, is that the quote is one of the most suttle but with a major effect.

The master describes Goodness and a completely good person. “ If the gentleman abandons Goodness, how can he merit the name? The gentleman does not go against Goodness even for the amount of time required to finish a meal. Even in time of urgency or distress, he necessarily with it.” (Book Four 4.5, pg.10-11). Since the first second I read this, I felt in total disagreement. I believe a good person, or someone that is categorized under any name, should have the right to make mistakes and change from their usual manner. For example, if you are a straight A student, you have the total right to fail every once in a while, and still be named as a straight A student.

This thought rapidly reminded me of a movie called, Away From Her. While talking about unfaithfulness, the wife says to her husband, “I think people are too demanding. Aren’t they? People want to be in love every single day. What a liability.” (Away From Her. Julie Cristie. Pg. 96). I agree and relate to what she said. Nobody is perfect, and even the Masters that teach this lesson aren’t perfect. As a human I am aware of the need to change of personality and break the walls of your normal attitude or characteristic. Therefore I agree, what a liability.

Hypnotize

You want the absolute truth? I had no idea what Obama was saying, every once in a while I played some attention, but I was much more focused in the way he talked. I believe what makes Barack Obama such a great speaker, is his confidence in speech and the way he hypnotized the public with his spirit. Also, he looks to every single person, so each one forgets about the people that are around him or her, they forget to listen and they just look at him with over whelm.

I noticed the tone and the volume of his voice. He clearly emphasized important points by raising his voice, and he stopped and made pauses whenever he was giving too much information. Also, he used his hands to support his ideas and to direct the public. In addition, he’s tone of voice was never unbelievable or had a rush of energy.

The last fundamental detail I noticed of the future president was how concise and straight he talked. Usually in most speeches the speaker repeats the same point several times, but not Barack. He says the statement once, he says the arguments, and rapidly connects those to his next statement, and moves on.

In regular bases I would say that public speaking is not that important, but after seeing Obama, and looking at the way people are hypnotized by him, I must say that one of the things that really helped him in his campaign is the way he speaks in front of a public.

The Same Soul

Night and the Bible, they are two very different books that are bound with small threads. One of the main similarities that I found between these two masterpieces was the way the story flows, and the similarities between their characters.

Job, Elie (the main character of Night) and most of the victims have very similar characteristics. Elie once mentioned his connection with Job saying, “But I ceased to pray. How I sympathized with Job! I did not deny God existence, but I doubted His absolute existence” (Night, pg. 42).

Just like what happened to Job, when the suffering was very intense, the people start to question and despise God. “Why should I bless His name?” (Night, pg. 31. Also as the situation got worst they felt His absence asking themselves “Where is God? Where is He?” (Night, pg. 61).

While these questions were aroused, also the strictness of the rituals was doubted. “The Day of Atonement. Should we fast? The question was hotly debated. To fast would mean a surer, swifter death.” (Night, pg. 65-66).

Nevertheless, just like there was a “good” friend in the Book of Job, there were few true believers in the concentration camps. Elihu once said to Job, that one of the ways that God communicated with humans was through suffering. This way, when you are healed you will value more God and his kindness. Also, he told Job never to question God or the information that was far beyond his knowledge, and so did Akiba. “I know. Man is too small, too humble and inconsiderable to seek to understand the mysterious ways of God.” (Night, pg. 73).

As I said before, no matter how different the situations and the settings of these two pieces, they both share the same rolls and through suffering, the same questions are aroused.

Forgive and Forget

God and the Church have me totally confused. I do not understand the procedure of forgiveness, of neither of them. In today’s Church we confess, but a simple prayer at home is not enough. Nevertheless, Job only asked God, and didn’t have to talk to a priest, “Hear, I beseech thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee, Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:4). I think this means that the confession we follow is not necessary, or just part of the business of the Church.

As well, I find it very peculiar the way God forgives. In the Book of Job, he easily forgave Job and his friends. If God was so flexible with pardons, I am sure that there wouldn’t be any soul burning in hell, because with the simple mentioning of forgiveness, God would rise them up to heaven. However, there are many times that a simple apology doesn’t convince God. For example, if Satan asked God for a pardon, I’m sure God would close heavens doors in his face.

Fallacies In The Presindential Debate

In the presidential debate, John McCain said the first mistake I noticed, “We've got to have a package of reforms and it has got to lead to reform prosperity and peace in the world.” I classify this quote as a Broad Generalization, because he is saying that with this new change, there will be world peace. Nevertheless, he is not mentioning other fundamental aspects that contribute to world peace. Another similar error was said by Barack when he said: “And that's why, for example, on tax policy, what I want to do is provide a middle class tax cut to 95 percent of working Americans, those who are working two jobs, people who are not spending enough time with their kids, because they are struggling to make ends meet.” These statement talks about 95% of the middle class getting tax cuts, but the 5% that is left over, turns out to be huge amounts of people. Also, he is not talking about the people in the other social classes.

I believe that the statements that said Obama and McCain, are saying “95%” and “world peace”, to call peoples attention even though their ideas are not so good.


In addition, I drew my attention rapidly to Senator McCain’s words, when he said: “Is it expensive? Yes.” The question was said in the beginning of the paragraph, and right then he gave me the answer. This fallacy is called Beginning Question, and with it I lost all my interest in the rest of the paragraph because he already answered the question he is implanting in me.

Death

When reading the Bible, I have noticed a lot of differences between the culture of then and today’s culture. Nevertheless, none of the comparisons I have deduced have been as shocking as the one I derived in chapter 13, of the book of Job.

When Job said: “Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?” and later, he told his friends, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”, I was paralyzed. Job made it very clear that he is more afraid of God, than he is of his own death. I believe, that most of the people in the world feel differently than he, because we are raised with the mentality that death is the black whole. Maybe this idea was born because, “impossible is nothing” (Adidas) except knowing what is death and why we die.

Another passage that hypnotized me said, “My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready form me.” The quote rapidly reminded me of a quote by the director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. He once said, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” probably I remembered him because, with his breath he demonstrated the importance he gave to life, and how today’s culture values life. In the other hand, Job talked about his death in a very relaxed manner, giving me the intuition that he doesn’t give to much importance to it.

Quick Click In Coffins

While reading Job, I was drawn to chapter 17: 1. It says, “My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.” First of all, I was impressed by the extremely relaxed tone of voice Job had when he said this. Also, it remembered me of a song by My Chemical Romance, named Mama. A part of the lyrics says: “Mama, we're all full of lies. Mama, we're meant for the flies. And right now they're building a coffin your size, Mama, we're all full of lies.” Like the Bible, the song talks about the making of the coffin you will be using. These two made me think for a long time about death. It made me realize that I know I will die, but I don’t believe it. Nevertheless, the cruel reality is that someone is cutting the wood that is going six feet under with me.

Oil And Water

While I advance through the Bible, I can predict God’s action because he repeats most of them. Once more a son of God had his faith tested with agony. As Job lost everything he had build during his life and his family, as well did Abraham in the Genesis. “And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son, and the angel of the Lord called unto him out from heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.”(Genesis 23:10). Job also had to mourn during seven days and seven nights, after his entire family and wealth was swept.

In addition, I found it unusual the point of view of God opposed to the ones of Satan. As rivals, I believe they both have to have different points of view in most subjects, especially in sufferment. Satan was being cruel when he challenged God to test out Job, but God did nothing to stop him and finally accepted the challenged. Also, God had agreed to test one of his son’s, faith in the Genesis with pain and misery, and so does Satan.

Many things are impossible, such as testing faith unless you are God, of course. Personally, I couldn’t test someone’s faith, just like I couldn’t test a pals love or desire, since they are spiritual and intangible. For instance, Job could have perfectly prayed and served to God, only because he knew that if he did not do so bad would come to him. But in that case, what Job had inside him was not faith but ambition. Also, as the American writer, Carlos Castaneda once said “A man of Knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting”. I think that all humans are permanently acting, that is why Dante named his trilogy The Divine Comedy, because we are always in a stage. Therefore, there is no way of knowing when someone is lying, specially if they are good actors.

Nevertheless, I would assume that God is the only one excluded from this statement, since he is beyond any human. But why would he want to test humans? Why would he want to prove to others, such as Satan, that we are faithful? If God lives within our hearts, wouldn’t he know if we are faithful?

Snowball of Fear

“The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.” – William Penn

In the first book of Samuel we have two crucial and totally different characters, Saul and David. Like most people in Earth, Saul is ambitious and cares more about material objects, than the health of his spirit. Therefore, Saul was punished by God, “But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.” (Samuel 16:14).

But David arrives to cheer up the scene. He is a small child, with the courage of a tiger that leads him to the battle with Goliath. David has the innocence and creativity to slay his opponent with rubber plant. Also, he softened the Lords and the people’s heart, by being a faithful soul and not a material one. “Thou comest to me with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” (Samuel 17:45).

However, the two characters seemed to be friends with each other. David cleaned up Saul’s spirit by playing the harp, and healed him once again. But these good actions that David made were taken by Saul in the shape of jealousy and reasons to take David out of the scenario.

Saul’s envy started to arouse. First he was “afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.” (Samuel 18:12). Saul is filled with anger, and orders the death of David, he orders the death of the man that healed his heart.

Writing His Soul

I never understood politics, I think of politics of a mixture of failing projects, corrupt people, and the steeling of a lot of money. Also, I dislike the hypocracy between the politicians and the way they ignore the others mistake. But for the first time in my life, I have had the desire to watch the news, I have had the desire to watch Barack Obama.

During his acceptance speech in Ohio, I thought it was crucial the way he recognized the problems many Americans are dealing with, and was not afraid to blame someone. “Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that's beyond your reach. These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.” I believe this is a demonstration of trust, and a great courage to face the real problems.

Nevertheless, a master is the sum of the union between head and spirit. For me there is no better measure of spirit than once intuition, but senator Obama was a able to write his soul. “America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.” Also, within his soul there is a huge patriotism and between every syllable he pronounces, there is a shout for a change. “This country is more decent than one where a woman in Ohio, on the brink of retirement, finds herself one illness away from disaster after a lifetime of hard work.”

Believe In Second Chances?

Exodus 22-35

“Give me reason but don’t give me choice
‘Cause I’ll just make the same mistake again” ~Same Mistake by James Blunt~
“Second chances they don’t even matter
People never change” ~Misery Business by Paramore~

God gave Moses a second chance, after breaking the tablets he had given him. God said “Hew thee two tablets of stone like unto the first” (Exodus 34:1) giving Moses a second chance. In that moment Moses was so humiliated of himself and the other humans that he swore to be loyal and obedient to God. However, did Moses swear in vain?

Little by little Christianity has lost power, and there are hardly any true believers in the world. In every generation, the believers have been very flexible with the liberal and different ideas. Also, the Ten Commandments have been replaced with government laws, and updated laws have received more attention.

With this the church has lost a lot of power, and believers themselves do more and more sins. Therefore, there are more excuses for not following the commandments, like the confessions. This system is a fake spiritual doorway, which believers have invented so they are excused for not following the church. This only demonstrates more the weakness of Christianity.

As a result, I believe that God made a mistake when he gave us a second chance, because for the last centuries we have done nothing but go against God. Ass well, I think that Moses was too hasty and promised to God in vain.

Presidential Debate

MACCAIN
Past- “You told him you wanted to spread the wealth around.”

Present- “Nobody likes taxes.”

Future- “We ought to put our homeowners first.”


OBAMA

Past- “I think everybody understands at this point that we are experiencing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.”

Present- “In fact, independent studies have looked at our respective plans and have concluded that I provided three times the amount of tax relief to middle-class families than Senator McCain does.”

Future- “I also want to give them additional tax breaks, because they are the drivers of the economy.”

Building Chains

Exodus 16-22

Reading the Exodus, I found out several differences from the book of the Genesis. There are many different details, but one of the ones that took my attention was the communication chain that the Exodus has that the Genesis lacked of.

In the Genesis, the relationship that God had with the humans was very vulnerable. “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth”, in chapter 9:1 of the Genesis, shows the tight relationship God had with humans. To begin with, God and Noah have a very personal relationship and tight confidence between them. Also, anything God said, hardly any received the information, because only sympathized with few.

Unlike the Genesis, the Exodus had a wider radius of listeners. In the beginning, God talks to Moses in a very serious way, and then Moses spreads the word between people. Later on, God communicates directly with the people with the ten commandments and all the Israelites follow and listen to them. In addition, God not only talked about the commandments, but also he specifically said his desire to be the only god, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am jealous God” (Exodus 21:5).

I believe the chain of communication that God was able to build in the Exodus helps emphasize the power God has gained, and the importance that the humans are giving to him.

Does Power Have Any Limits?

Exodus 8-15

“The attempt to combine wisdom and power has only rarely been successful and then only for a short while.”~ Albert Einstein


“Everyone is God’s child.”, I was told by many adults, but in the Exodus I have perceived everything but that. In chapter 15 of the Exodus, I was impressed by the way “Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea” (Exodus 15:27). I was used to think that God loved everyone, including the people of other religions, but the way he treated and disadvantaged the Egyptians in such a rough way, made me think that God was more of a cruel figure, than a loveable figure. Also, before that incident, God sent pests to the Egyptians making them suffer as much as the Israelites did before.

In addition, I thought of the pests as a selfish reaction that God had. While reading the text, I rapidly connected God with a spoiled and scandalous child, that doesn’t have any limits. I thought so, because God has no parallel, nobody that can match his strength and power, so he can do anything to anyone, and not follow their rules. As a consequence, God’s image has turned more into an unfair and spoiled figure, rather than a holly and fair figure.

At the same time as I read the text, I started questioning God. Is God the correct, or the best figure to have the power over everything and everyone? Could God love every equally?

The Only Hero

Exodus1-7

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” ~ Helen Keller

Moses, a fine representation of an ordinary person, someone that is afraid and is has no responsibility whatsoever of the luck he has received. He was very fortunate during his early years, by being rescued from death by the Pharaoh. Nevertheless, Moses has many of the most common feelings and reactions a human person has.

The first situation that gave this perception of Moses, was when he runned of fear after killing a Hebrew, “And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known” (Exodus 2:14).
Also, I was very moved, with Moses’ reaction while he talked to God. Like any current human, Moses didn’t believe until he saw “the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” (Exodus 3:2).
Finally, I believe the finest example of Moses human and believable characteristics, was his questioning. “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM.” (Exodus 3:13- 3:14).

As I said before, Moses is one of the only or the only character I feel connected with, for his characteristics and feelings. Nevertheless, for the way Moses challenged his fears, took the risks, and strengthened his character, Moses is able to be one of the few figures that break the human disgrace and become heroes.

Trimming The Religion

Genesis 17-24

There are two figures, they are completely different, both are right, which one to follow?

Lord God and God, are the two terms used to describe the ruler in the Genesis. These two names are for two different figures, Lord God refers to Jehovah and God to Jaweh. Jehovah is more radical and strict, while Jaweh is a calmed God. For example, in Genesis 6:7, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast” were words used by Jehovah, that threatened the innocent and the sinners. I believe that two figures were used to represent one, because there had two be a dark side in God, just as every human in earth. Also, it was fundamental because God is an explanation for events, and there has to be a reason for the bad and good.

However, I wonder wether having to figures have any impact in the religion itself. First of all, if there are two powers that command the religion, why aren’t we a polytheistic religion? Also, during the forth century the church divided into two and now the population is growing rapidly, and one God won’t be enough for a large percentage. Would having two Gods be a space for the church to open again? I believe that the Bible is a book that will no longer support additions, but what the Bible explains to us are no longer explanations we need, because we have younger obstacles. Will dividing the church once again between the believers of Jehovah and the believers of Jaweh, will help update the religion? With this will the number of believers increase?

Is It A Bingo?

Genesis 10-16

Noah and Abram, they are two regular men that are chosen for the most glorious assignments. But why are they the chosen ones?

In the Genesis we can see many generations that derive from Adam and Eve, but none have received more importance than Noah and Abram. Throughout Genesis 6:9it is written, “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was just a man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God”, but what specific details or characteristics does Noah have? If we don’t take the Bible literally, will Noah and Abram just be symbols to state that any man can do a very big difference? Nevertheless, during the time period that the Bible was finished until today, why hasn’t there been any man that reached the status of these two characters, out of the billion souls that have lived in the world? What is the real identity of Noah and Abram? What did they do to astonish God? Did God just choose them randomly?

Genesis 15

Drawing The Gates Of Heaven

With the sight of your sky
The angels are recalled
And the faith is watered
And bloomed.

The details embody the text
That had its hands over power,
Giving a reason
Not to treason.

Remembering the suffering
Explains the sweat
Of the eternal war
For peace.

Each paint brush,
Is a batch of holly hair of an angel
That tries to paint us
The glory of the gates of heaven.

Meter the Poem

Numbering The Calendar

GENESIS 4-9

I have always wondered were our calendar comes from. I know that Jews believe in another calendar, and so does other cultures and religions. However, I never understood who had the idea of categorizing 7 days in a week. But, in the Genesis I have been familiar to many numbers, such as “forty days and forty nights” or “seven days”. Also, I noticed the importance that is given to the pairs.

One of the first details I noticed while reading the family tree, where the pairs. For example, Adam and Eve, had three children, but only two were alive at the same time. Also, when they talked about the children the people had, they didn’t mention the wife, except in the case of Lamech and his two wifes, and his two children per woman. In addition, “There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female” (Genesis 7.9).

As well, there are others number that I believe have helped formed our modern-day time units. “For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights” (Genesis 7.4), said God to Noah. Here we can see that seven days is used, and now we still use seven days as a week, and our work and break time periods rotate around it. Also, God talked about forty days and forty nights, which I assume that has slowly turned into 30 days and nights, that means a month.

Now I understand were do many of our important numbers come from, and how they have might have changed accordingly to further knowledge, and different cultures.

Genesis 1-2-3

Spelling Exercise

Spelling #1

In dealing with students on the high-school level - that is, the second, third, and forth year of high school - we must bear in mind that to some degree they are at a difficult psychological stage, generally called adolescence. Students at this level are likely to be confused mentally, to be subject to involuntary distractions and romantic dreaminess. They are basically timid or self-conscious, they lack frankness and are usually very sensitive but hate to admit it. They are motivated either by great ambition, probably out of all proportion to their capabilities, or by extreme laziness caused by the fear of not succeeding or attaining their objectives. Fundamentally they want to be kept busy but they refuse to admit it. They are frequently the victims of earlier poor training, and this makes every effort doubly hard. They are usually willing to work, but they hate to work without obtaining the results they think they should obtain. Their critical faculties are beginning to develop and they are critical of their instructors and of the materials they are given to learn. They are beginning to feel the pressure of time; and although they seldom say so, they really want to be consulted and given an opportunity to direct their own affairs, but they need considerable guidance. (From A Language Teacher's Guide by E. A. M�ras)

Spelling #2

They seldom admit that they need this guidance and they frequently rebel against it, but if it is intelligently offered they accept it with enthusiasm. If they are healthy they are capable of long periods of concentration and an extraordinary amount of work. They are trying, most of them, to form political ideas and they have a tendency to be either extremely idealistic (which is usually another term for radical) or conservative, blindly accepting what their fathers and grandfathers believed in. It is in this period that students can be most easily and permanently influenced. It is the period in which they form strong attachments for their teachers. Their outlook on life is usually extremely exaggerated. They are either far too modest and retiring, or extravagantly boastful. They are much more susceptible to the influence of a strong personality than to that of a great intelligence. Of all periods of life, this is what may best be called the 'plastic age'. (From A Language Teacher's Guide by E. A. Mares) .

She is a Law

NOTE:
Teenager in Spanish is adolecente, which comes from the word adolecer that means that something is missing.

A nation is a teenager. The two of them change constantly, have billions of small problems, are exhausted and have a profound hunger for liberty. Also, both feel there is a gap in the puzzle they are trying to figure out. Teenagers search there answer in parties, books and experiencing new activities, while a country searches for answers within different bases such as economics and politics. In addition, they are stuck between finding an identity and the path they will follow, and discovering themselves.

The difference between these two is the guidance they can turn too. Who helps a teenage find its identity? Who pulls out a teenager from the black whole they have fallen to? Who helps the kid cut the cycle of mistakes and confusions? An adult is the responsible for such actions. Any adult can be a stable and confident source to look up to.

On the other hand, what is the nation’s adult? I believe the most common hypothesis between people, would be the nation’s ruler. Nevertheless, a ruler is a human that makes mistakes, and is as lost as its nation. For example, King Henry VIII of England changed entirely his position towards the church, not knowing if it will benefit the country. So, if a nation seeks up to a ruler like Henry, it would be the same, as if we trusted ones’ life in a card game.

However, just like in a card game there is a remote possibility of winning, and for England its victory was Queen Elizabeth I. I don’t think of Queen Elizabeth as a queen, or politician, or president or any known term, I consider her an adult, a mother. I am sure; a nation has to seek up to a constant and secure person that will guide it the same way for several consecutive years. If this process fails, like it has been happening al over history, a nation’s formation is interrupted, and will never finish growing. “The queen’s motto was still what it always had been: Semper eaden, Always the same.” (pg. 2) Therefore, during Elizabeth’s life, England was able to seek up to a trustworthy source.

Before I said that Elizabeth was a mom, but finally what is mom? I see a mom as the law because they both share the trait of constance. For example, America’s victory comes from the document that every American citizen has followed, since it was signed in 1776. They have a clear and concise idea of what they want and how they will act in order to get it, and it has been followed for a long period of time, enough time to form the most powerful nation in the world. In the other hand, there are countries such as Colombia, that are constantly changing policies and constitutions that break the growth of the country, such as the moment James arrived to throne.

Duplicating

Everything has a reason of being, just like legs are in the bottom of the body to carry the body, or horses live in grasslands and not in glaciers. For this same reason, the eyes are in the face, so we can’t see ourselves. It is very curious that everybody that has seen you knows your face better than yourself. Maybe this is a simple self-esteem trick that the human and animal creator gave us, so we become more confident about ourselves, and don’t care about the perception of others towards us. Or maybe, it is the other way around, the sight of us is not available, because we should only see our view of things, and be very selfish.
In the myth, Echo and Narcissus, Narcissus first saw himself in the water reflection and didn’t recognize himself. “He stooped down to drink, and saw his own image in the water; he thought it was some beautiful water-spirit living in the fountain. He stood gazing with admiration at those bright eyes, those locks curled like the locks of Bacchus or Apollo, the rounded cheeks, the ivory neck, the parted lips, and the glow of health and exercise over all. He fell in love with himself.” In the case of Echo, Narcissus didn’t recognize that she was repeating what he was saying; he just kept on talking, as if it was a normal conversation. “One day the youth, being separated from his companions, shouted aloud, “Who’s here?” Echo replied, “Here.” Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one called out, “Come.” Echo answered, “Come.”
In addition, I believe the myth repeats itself, by repeating the same repetition. This means that, Echo repeated sound and used the sense of hearing. Meanwhile, Narcissus’s reflection repeated his face and used the sense of sight. Therefore, the myth repeats the same, and is constant but not in an obvious way.

Clichés

Titles:

Freaky Friday

What Happens in Vegas

I Love You

Once Upon a Time in the West

Mar Abierto / Mar Adentro

Plot Lines:

All I want for Christmas is you

I love you

Disaster

Obstacles of love

Victim of cruelty or misfortune

Spelling

1. Where is my jacket? I wanted to wear it today, and if I can't find it, we're going to be late.

2. Jane wanted to go on the school trip, but her mother said that two hundred dollars was too much for the family budget.

3. As she waited for Rodney to become conscience, Selma was seized with an attack of conscious-- was there anything she could have done to prevent the accident?

4. The map led the intrepid treasure hunters to a lead box of precious stones.

5. Have you seen their coats? They're going to need them; it's cold outside. I last
saw the coats over there.

6. After conducting careful research, Shufang had a brilliant idea; she'd write a paper on Thomas More's concept of the ideal society in Utopia.

7. Even though Bob would rather play video games than study, he decided to hit the books and then play some Halo.

8. It's easy to admire a business that puts so much effort into creating its signs and window displays.

9. You're fortunate to have survived the car crash without a scratch; it must have been because you were wearing your seat belt.

10. I would advise you to seek qualified legal advice about how to handle this situation.

Destiny is Already Written

Would you like to know how and when will you die? This is a common question asked in interviews, but 96% of the people that have answered said no. I’m astonished to find out that many of the characters of the myths, fall into the 4% that said yes.

These characters have visited oracles and want to know about their future, even though they are aware that the future is already written, and nothing can change it. “Laius, king of Thebes, was warned by an oracle that there was danger to his throne and life if his new-born son should be suffered to grow up. He therefore committed the child to the care of a herdsman with orders to destroy him.” How the myth demonstrated, Laius wasn’t able to change his destiny; nobody is able to change their destiny. Also, I find it absurd to visit an oracle, having the knowledge that no matter what he tells me I’ll be incompetent and won’t be able to change what he tells me. In addition, if I don’t like my future is because I’ll probably suffer, so I will most likely start worrying about my future, extending the amount of stress in my life.

Take My Advice

When a person is young, he is an alien to the world. He is barely discovering and understanding the world that surrounds him, and is constantly exited with simple things or actions. Nevertheless as a stranger, children are not aware of the dangers or consequences the world has, so they’re guide is usually a parent or experienced adult. This relationship has two main ingredients that are crucial for the safety of the child, obedience and confidence. The child has to be obedient to what he is told, and must trust the adult on whatever he is told to do. If any of these is missing there might be very serious problems, just like Phaëton and Daedalus demonstrated.
“Then Phaëton beheld the world on fire, and felt the heat intolerable.” Shows the lack of trust and obedience he had for his father, and didn’t said what he was told, when his father told him to change of

We Are All Judges

I’ve paid my dues -
Time after time -
I’ve done my sentence
But committed no crime – Queen. We Are The Champions

Venus was out of control when she found out that Cupid, his own son, had chosen the beautiful Psyche over her. She even made her do impossible tasks for her forgiveness and locked up his son. Nevertheless, Psyche and Cupid did nothing wrong, and still they were consumed by Venus jealousy. Psyche had no idea that the man she was marrying was Cupid, and Cupid can’t decide who to love.
In the myth of Dyrope, a very similar incident happened. When Dyrope gave her son the lotus flower, she didn’t know that nymph Lotis was the flower. Therefore, Dyrope meant no harm to the nymph, and still she was turned into a plant.

“The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom.” (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 23). During our lives, there are many decisions and opinions that we make, based on what we think is just. Nevertheless, this justice is taken from our points of view, but we don’t walk a mile in others shoes. For that reason I agree with Atticus Finch, when he said that only under the rule of a judge, and the human rights there is almost a perfect deal. Outside of court, we all take the judge’s job, but only make fairness from our views. Once again, this is a common trait between humans, because we tend to take control over everything, such as our situations, peers, and Earth.

A Warning Sign Please

Every decision taken in life has a consequence. I agree with this phrase, and I do belief that you have to respond for your actions. Nevertheless, I think that when someone proposes different paths, it is that person’s obligation to state the hidden consequences, and if he fails to do so, I would consider it cheating. In other words, for the benefit of the person that is taking a decision, you should enlighten them with consequences you know they are not aware of.
For example, in a modern day problem, when a teenager makes a wrong decision about addictions, I would only consider the action a sin if the child was aware of the implications of being an addict. If in that same case, the kid is not conscious about the consequences, I would first blame the person that offered him the decision before the victim.
In the case of Baccus and Midas, I would say that Baccus should be the one to blame. “He asked that whatever he might touch should be changed into gold. Bacchus consented, though sorry that he had not made a better choice.” In this case, Baccus lamented Midas decision, but lamenting is not an excuse for skipping vital information. If Baccus had told Midas about the possible consequences, and what could have happen with the loved ones and food, I’m sure that Midas would have modified or changed his wish. However, what really occurred was that Midas lost a wish and I have the feeling that Baccus cheated him, even though he had no reason for doing so.
Cheating can be made in many ways, and it can be intentional or not. To avoid unintentional cheating, informing all the possible consequences is fundamental, for making a conceit decision.

Battle Between Leaders

Before there was one dominate religion, but today there are thousands of religions with different gods, so whom are we going to follow? If there are so many religions, which one is right? Who are believers going to look up to?
After thinking about this, the only answer I could find was the prophets, but Gods and Prophets are so different. Prophets accept they are regular people with a specific mission, while Gods are supreme, they are from a much more advanced society, and have powers. After all, the main difference is, the gods explain why we are this way, so they turned out to be models of humans in a larger scale. Meanwhile, prophets are only guides that advice you how to live your life.
Therefore, gods can explain prophets by the way they act, and prophets can advice gods how to live, and make them recognize their mistakes.
“Job is a good man, but God makes him suffer. To test his faith.
“I remember.”
Takes away everything he has, his money, his family…
“His health.”
Makes him sick.
“To test his faith.”
Right. To test his faith. So, I’m wondering…
“What are you wondering?”
What you think about that?
Morrie coughs violently. His hands quiver as he drops them by his side.
“I think,” he says, smiling, “God overdid it.” (Tuesdays With Morrie. Mitch Albom. Pg.151)

While I was reading Diana and Actaeon, I was thinking what if prophets were present? What would they tell Diana? What would they say to Actaeon? If the prophet present was Jesus I’m sure he would say, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Meaning, that Diana shouldn’t turn Actaeon into an animal because it was a mistake that he intruded her house, but also Actaeon shouldn’t be so cruel while he hunts, because he found out how much pain he caused.

The Waterfall

Thisbe and Pyramus, a pair of young lovers that are separated and can’t be together, both end up killing themselves for the other. This myth, remembered me of a well-known tragedy, called Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. “A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life” (Prologue Romeo and Juliet) presents the conditions the pair is living, just like in the myth, “One thing, however, they could not forbid—that love should glow with equal ardor in the bosoms of both”.
Usually, I would consider it a sin to compare these masterpieces, for their unique style, they both leave the same values and anxiety instilled in the reader. Also, it demonstrated how two masterpieces represent different generations, genres and detail, but they are able to mark the public in the same way. As well, I find it crucial to recognize Shakespeare’s work, because the myth was refreshed in human kind, and it’s values were able to touch more hearts.
The unintenede team work that both pieces did, reminded me of a waterfall. It first started as a vague idea, the stream of the river, then an author was able to bring it down, but it needed the help of the second author, gravity, to crash into the minds of humans.
A myth and a play, two master pieces with different authors and generations that end up crashing human minds; Thisbe and Pyramus, and Romeo and Juliet.

The Final Draft

Sure God created man before woman. But then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece. ~Author Unknown

Men have always been recognized by their strength and the amount of passion they have while they are fighting, but they are all vulnerable and addicted to the same thing. This can be as evil to curse the entire humanity or as sweet to find hope in moments of despair, but as bittersweet that it can be, all men are seduced by it, seduced by women.

Women have rarely been the main character, but have always influenced men tremendously. Pandora, the curious wife of Epimetheus is the perfect example of the balance between chaos and beauty. She was built by Jupiter, that made her beautiful, so she captivated the eyes of Prometheus, Jupiter’s enemy, and made her as curious inorder to curse Prometheu's invention.

Daphne is also a divinity of the mythology. She is the one that shows how hard it is for men to catch a woman’s eye, and also how powerful is the addiction from men towards women. “He touched the stem, and felt the flesh tremble under the new bark. He embraced the branches, and lavished kisses on the wood. The branches shrank from his lips. “Since you cannot be my wife,” said he, “you shall assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown.” This is a demonstration how much effort a man will do for the love of a woman, and the wish to be loved back.

It is amazing what men can do for a women’s heart, and the amount of strength her love can produce. Also, how a woman’s little details and their touch can influence a men and story in such a radical way.

The Creator Kills The Creation

Earth has two sons, animals and nature. They have always gone along during thousands of years, and they both needed each other to survive. All animals depend in nature, well nature is the home of all of them, and gives them the food and conditions they need to survive. Meanwhile, nature needs animals to reproduce, and spread through out of every inch of Earth.

This connection had never been broken, until humans arrived. In their early years, as Leavers, they worked together, and had a bound. Enkidu in his yearly years represented this stage; he lived surrounded with animals and in the forest. “He feeds upon the grasslands with the gazelles; visits the watering places with the creatures.” (pg.5) Nevertheless, Leavers slowly became Takers by making their own environment, and getting from nature, but not giving him back. Enkidu also represents this moment of evolution, when he is taken into civilization and prefers to stand loyal to Gilgamesh than he’s homeland.

This separation was the end of a relationship, and the beginning of disaster. Since this event, humans have thought of themselves as the legimit rulers and owners of the world. With their power they have slowly destroyed the world, and now it is headed to destruction. Gilgamesh characterizes this step in humanity. You can recognize it by the unjust rules he gave his city and the need he had to destroy the cedar forest.
What seems very strange is the reason of human creation. Every animal has a beneficial purpose on Earth except for humans. If an animal tries to oppose to nature they are eliminated, but humans have been able to go against it and still be in Earth.
Most of the times, when something is created, only the creator can destroy it. For example a rock made by lava can only be melted easily with lava. Or in the case of snake poison, when someone is poisoned, that same poison can heel the injury. But in the case of humans is different, nature created humans, but it hasn’t been able to destroy us, instead humans we are destroying nature.
For that reason, I think humans will end up killing themselves. I guess that we will create such a negative environment that we will kill ourselves. Meanwhile, nature will be able to heel itself again, and slowly restore everything we took from it. In the text, this event is vaguely represented, when Gilgamesh doesn’t receive his eternal life, therefore Gilgamesh and what it represent, sooner or later will end up extinction.

Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It

Gilgamesh’s character is the representation of humans, and their civilization. A cross his actions we can recognize our evolution, and way of thinking. Also, he has many characteristics that are common within us, and with them we can explain why we arrived to where we are.

By tablets X and XI, Gilgamesh’s representation of our society already covered, the evolution from Leavers to Takers, and he’s interaction with nature. Know he is demonstrating our greatest defects, such as dishonesty, laziness, arrogance and rebellion. From these, we can easily identify ourselves with Gilgamesh.

When Gilgamesh approaches to Urshanabi, he breaks essential pieces of stone, “When Gilgamesh heard this he raised the axe in his hand, drew the dagger from his belt, and slipped stealthily away after them. Like an arrow he fell among them ("the stone things"). From the middle of the woods their noise could be heard. Urshanabi, the sharp-eyed, saw.”(Tablet X). This shows our arrogance and the urgency of having objectives done fast, and for this we are messy. Later when Utanapishtim tells Gilgamesh the task he must accomplish in order to be immortal, Gilgamesh promises to do so. Nevertheless, Gilgamesh fails to do, and denies he’s mistake to Utanapishtim, with this Gilgamesh reveals the dishonest and lazy aspect of humans.

As Gilgamesh designs humans through out history, we recognize characteristics that have separate us from Leavers, and animals. Also, it can explain why we turned out to be in the place we arrived, and aspects we have grown with, that are stopping us from becoming Leavers, but aspects we can’t live without.

Using Commas Exercise #3

1. The problems involved in this operation, are I think, numerous.

2. Celene, who does not usually tell anyone what she feels, said she didn't want to go to the dance.

3. To get tickets for some Broadway musicals, one has to order three months in advance.

4. Listening to the radio, Jun heard an announcement that Spangler, his own dog, was lost.

5. I used to live at 16689 Sutton Avenue, Milpitas, California, but we have since moved to 1895 Holland Way, Dubuque, Iowa.

6. The Valley of the Moon, the name of a section in Napa County, California, is the heart of the state's wine producing area.

7. Chris did not see how he could organize, write, and proofread this paper in only two hours.

8. By the pilings of the old pier, I found four starfish, a clam, and a sea anemone.

9. Yes, Helen did mention that all three of you were coming for lunch.

10. I relieve, therefore, that fraternities are good influences on a college campus.

Using Comas Exercise #2

1. There was no question that John's painting, a huge colorful and ugly mural, was the worst entry in the art exhibit.


2. Werner von Braun, Willy Ley, and Edward Teller noted authorities in the field of rocket development, have done much to guide the missile program of the United States.


3. Mr. Cready's ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time is, I believe amazing.


4. Running around the house, the dog was abruptly stopped by a fence.


5. If the opposition should win, our candidate would never have any political future.


6. Gracefully, lightly, and daintily the ballerina moved across the stage.


7. Glamour, the woman's fashion magazine recently incorporated with Charmanother fashion journal.


8. Joe was born on May 7, 1955 and his best friend was born exactly two months later on July 7, 1955.


9. Mr. and Mrs. Kwon, my parents' best friends, sat in front of us at the football game.


10. November 11, 1918 the armistice ending World War I was

Using Comas Exercise #1

C. He left the scene of the accident and tried to forget that it had happened.

3. Oil which, is lighter than water, rises to the surface.
6. Madame de Stael was an attractive, gracious lady.

1. Nice is a word with many meanings ,and some of them are contradictory.

C. The contractor testified that the house was completed and that the work had
been done properly.

C.Some people refuse to go to the zoo because of pity for creatures that must
live in small cages.

5. Taxicabs that are dirty, are illegal in some cities.

5. The closet contained worn clothes, old shoes, and dirty hats.

C. The uninvited guest wore a dark blue tweed suit.

2. After surviving this ordeal, the trapper felt relieved.

3-prase. Mark Twain's early novels, I believe stand the test of time.

9. December 7, 1941, will never be forgotten.

7. The field was safe enough, wasn't it?

9. Write the editor of the Atlantic 8, Arlington Street, Boston, Massachusetts ,
02116.

2. He replied, "I have no idea what you mean."

2. After a good washing and grooming, the pup looked like a new dog.

2. Because of their opposition to institutions, that force creatures to live in
captivity, some people refuse to go to the zoo.

C. Men who are bald are frequently the ones who are the most authoritative on
the subject of baldness.

2. Vests which were once popular, have been out of vogue for several years.

2. As a celestial goddess, she regulated the course of the heavenly bodies and
controlled the alternating seasons.

C. I hope that some day he will learn how to be polite.

Be Careful For What You Wish For

After Enkidu died, Gilgamesh felt that the gods would give him the same punishment that his friend received. For this reason, Gilgamesh was panicked, “Over his friend, Enkidu, Gilgamesh cried bitterly, roaming the wilderness. "I am going to die!--am I not like Enkidu?! Deep sadness penetrates my core, I fear death, and now roam the wilderness” (tablet IX). In this moment Gilgamesh could only wish for an eternal life, so he went in search of it.

Eternal life is a very dangerous gift, because eternal has no finish line. It might be a gift, because during life you can do dangerous and risky decisions. Also, you can take your time in everything, and will never have to rush. Nevertheless, it is a crazy and stupid wish. You may have eternal life, but that doesn’t mean you will stay young, or that you will always be in the same condition. Maybe, you will have to live for an eternity in a comma or paralyzed, and that would be a dreadful life. Also, you will live for a pair of generations with the people you love, and with the relationships you build, but by the forth generation you will loose all the loved ones. In addition, you will always have the ideas you were raised by, but future generations will deny your values and the way you think.

If I was Gilgamesh, I would really think about my wish, because he might be making a huge mistake. I would like that in the next tablets, Utnapishtim and his wife wouldn’t help Gilgamesh. This way, Gilgamesh doesn’t suicide himself by giving him a life, and it would demonstrate that even kings can’t escape from some consequences.

Classism Takes Over Human History

Since Mesopotamia, classism has been a problem. Gilgamesh and Enkidu turned out to be great friends, and made a great team. Together they were able to do everything, from fitting Humbaba to ruling over Uruk. Nevertheless, the fact that Enkidu was a beast and wasn’t born king made a great difference in tablets VI to VII.

I was surprised to see that the gods decided to make Enkidu the responsible for the death of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, “Sun God of Heaven replied to valiant Enlil: 'Was it not at my command that they killed the Bull of Heaven and Humbaba! Should now innocent Enkidu die!”(tablet VII). Both of the fights were aroused by Gilgamesh’s behavior, because Humbaba died for Gilgamesh’s desire of cutting down the forest, and the Bull’s death was for insulting a god’s daughter. Enkidu only participated in the fights, because he was a loyal to his king and friend. Therefore, I think Gilgamesh should be the one to receive the consequences the gods send, and Enkidu should be rewarded.

I think that the gods decision to kill Enkidu, was only made because he was born beast, and without a kingdom. Nevertheless, Enkidu was loyal and a great fighter and friend. Meanwhile, Gilgamesh used to be a very tyrant king, never thought about his actions, and was tremendously spoiled. If I was a god, I would make my decision based on there actions and the values they had inside, and not the status they were born in.

This decision reminded me of the world today. People that are born with less money have to suffer, and pay for the rich peoples actions. Also, they can’t even be rewarded for the tremendous effort they do and most likely will live in the same status for the rest of their lives. The text Gilgamesh mainly represents the beginning of human civilization, and it was clear that classism has always been an aspect that has marked human history strongly.

Enkidu's Portrayal

A lot of hair
Shaggy body
Wild
Valiant
Strength- “In the wildness she created valiant Enkidu,
born of Silence, endowed with strength by Ninurta.
His whole body was shaggy with hair,
he had a full head of hair like a woman,
his locks billowed in profusion like Ashnan.

Cursed Earth

My values:
• Humble
• Caring
• Loyal
Defects: Vulnerable, has a quick temper
Characters:
- Penelope- The hero, she is Earth’s lover, and has characteristics of Enkidu.
-Stacy- The pupil, that is very ignorant.

ACT 1 SCENE I
During a terrible storm, a girl named Stacy was running dripping wet to her house. Right before she arrived, a thunder crashed into a tree beside her house and curios Stacy couldn’t wait to see what was under it. When she looked, there was a female figure covered with smoke, and looked tired.

Stacy: Who are you?
Penelope: What do I look like?
Stacy: Well you are a woman, but you arrived from that thunder.
Penelope: Yes, you are correct.
Stacy: But, how is that even possible? No one can arrive from a thunder.
(She giggles)
Penelope: But I just did.
Stacy: Yes, you are right. Would you like to come in for some hot chocolate?
Penelope: Sure. By the way, I’m Penelope.
Stacy: It is a pleasure to meet you, I’m Stacy.
Penelope: Well Stacy thank you for the invite.

SCENE II
(While drinking hot coco)
Stacy: So, where do you come from?
Penelope: Hmmm…it’s complicated.
Stacy: Don’t worry I have time.
Penelope: I used to be a star, a star that was united with your sun. We used to lighten all the galaxy and we used to be the most powerful couple of all during billions of years.
(Stacy was pale, and didn’t know if she should trust this woman.)
After some time, Earth evolved and became what we know today. During his’ first million years, he was just like any other planet. He used his time discovering the galaxy, and rotating around the sun.
(Penelope paused and took a deep breath)
But Earth decided that he wouldn’t let the stars be in charge of life, so Earth decided that he would make is own life. With this Earth made rivers, animals, trees and everything else we know today, but all of this was against the galaxies rules.

SCENE III
Stacy: Is this a joke?
Penelope: It’s not, but you decide whether you will believe me or you don’t. May I continue, or you have more questions?
Stacy: Please, go on.
Penelope: There the Universe Committee, send me to stop Earth from going crazy. Therefore, I attacked him with a gigantic fire ball, killing dinosaurs and other species, but right before I was going to send the other fire ball; I fell in love of Earth. It was a strange feeling, Earth was so powerful, and seduced me with all the colors it grew inside him.
(She looked through the window)

SCENE IV
Stacy: This is crazy.
Penelope: You insolent child! I already told you, if you don’t want to believe me, I couldn’t care less. I’m on my way.
Stacy: Sorry, sorry, please continue.
Penelope: All right. Well after I fell in love with Earth, obviously the Sun was furious. He said to Earth, “All right take her, and go on making live for yourself, but I will send you a terrible pest, called humans. You will grow them between your other species, and let them reproduce into millions. They will start by killing other living animals in your planet, and later when everything is dead, they will kill you. That is your price for rebellion, and treason.”
Since the moment Earth was cured I come to the surface. My appearance is rain, so I wan wash and destroy what humans build.
Stacy: You are rain?
Penelope: Yes, but I’m getting weaker and weaker. Earth’s atmosphere is getting thicker and hotter, so this doesn’t let me get in, and I can’t spread my water through out most places. This is taking all of my energy and I don’t think I will be able to keep on for long. I used to find strength from my loyalty and love, but I’m in despair for Earth and myself.
Stacy: That is why you look tired, and fell?
Penelope: Correct.

SCENE V
Stacy: So you are trying to kill us.
Penelope: Yes, but I’m failing. Nevertheless, I shouldn’t be your enemy, because I’m trying to help Earth, and if Earth survives, you survive.
Stacy: Is there any way I can help?
Penelope: (Laughs) No. There is no way, because Sun programmed you with the need to take over the world, and there is no way you can stop it. Obviously, you can help by recycling and other projects against pollution, but mainly you can help by spreading the word to many people.
Stacy: And what about you? Why don’t you kill Sun?
Penelope: I’m a woman, rain and star, by the time the curse is over I will be physically fine, but there will be an immense pain within me. And hunny, I can’t kill Sun. He used to be my partner, and if I kill him Earth will die, taking you with himself. I’ll be leaving know, I have to rain over Africa’s rain forest, but remember Stacy, do your best to take care of Earth, because without him you are history.

Sentence Fragments: Exercise 2

These paragraphs need proofreading for possible fragments. Use the space below each paragraph for revising.

1. How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends, Rick and Lon, the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club.

ANSWER: 1. How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends, Rick and Lon, the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club, sang a popular American song.

2. For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan has been measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians and quasi-political trust and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders. "Political" being all levels of government, and "quasi-political" churches, labor unions, large professional/business associations, educational institutions, and the like. The result is that a very sharp decline has taken place every year since 1964.

ANSWER: For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan has been measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians and quasi-political trust and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders. "Political" means all levels of government, and "quasi-political" include churches, labor unions, large professional/business associations, educational institutions, and the like. The result is that a very sharp decline has taken place every year since 1964.


3. For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for one's children. This confidence no longer exists. Polls now indicate that fewer Americans who feel they are better off today than they were five years ago. A public-opinion analysis group has found that large numbers of Americans, at some times and in some places, see themselves as lower on the ladder. Adding worse living conditions and anticipation of further decline over the next five years.

ANSWER: 3. For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for one's children. This confidence no longer exists. Polls now indicate that fewer Americans who feel they are better off today than they were five years ago. A public-opinion analysis group has found that large numbers of Americans, at some times and in some places, see themselves as lower on the ladder with declining living conditions.

4. Well, in looking at the picture at the left you see an old lady. She has a very funny look on her face. As if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as if she has seen a lot and experienced lots of things.

ANSWER: 4. Well, in looking at the picture at the left you see an old lady. She has a very funny look on her face, as if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as if she has seen a lot and experienced lots of things.

5. A president is an appointed leader. Someone who is a decision maker in the executive branch of our government. This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people elect is capable. Just hopefully assumes. Assumes through his past record as a politician, over the years' buildup of experience and handling situations.

ANSWER: 5. A president is an appointed leader, someone who is a decision maker in the executive branch of our government. This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people elect is capable. Just hopefully assumes that through his past record as a politician, over the years' buildup of experience and handling situations.

Sentence Fragments: Exercise 3

The following paragraph has no capital letters or periods to mark the beginnings and ends of sentences. Add capitals, periods, commas, and/or other punctuation that may be needed to make the word groups into complete sentences. Your goal is to be sure that there are no fragments.



my brother was always my best friend when I was a child especially as we two were almost alone in the world we lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country whenever I think of him now I see a solemn, responsible boy a boy too old for his years who looked out for me no matter what once there was a bully John Anson who looked enormous to me though he was probably an average twelve-year-old John had it in for me because he liked Littice Grant who liked me he decided to beat me up right before her eyes I was lucky my brother came by he didn't interfere any he just stood there somehow though his presence gave me confidence I licked the stuffing out of John Anson if my brother hadn't been there I don't think I could have done it.

ANSWER
My brother was always my best friend when I was a child, especially as we two were almost alone in the world. We lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country. Whenever I think of him now, I see a solemn, responsible boy, a boy too old for his years, who looked out for me no matter what. Once there was a bully, John Anson, who looked enormous to me, though he was probably an average twelve-year-old. John had it in for me, because he liked Littice Grant, who liked me. He decided to beat me up, right before her eyes, I was lucky my brother came by. He didn't interfere any he just stood there, somehow though, his presence gave me confidence. I licked the stuffing out of John Anson. If my brother hadn't been there, I don't think I could have done it.

Pleading For Dreams

Dreams are small magical moments heaven sends you. Most of the times you don’t remember them, sometimes they are a collage of unimportant events, or fast flashes of the past or the future. Well, Gilgamesh has his dreams right beside him at all times, and he even asks the god Shamash to send him some. After having the two identical dreams with different characters, another set of dreams arrived in the cedar forest. “The skies roared with thunder and the earth heaved, then came darkness and a stillness like death. Lightening smashed the ground and fires blazed out; Death flooded from the skies. When the heat died and the fires went out, the plains had turned to ash.” Enkidu was able to interpret the dreams that Shamash sended, and they turned to be very positive.

I was surprised of how much dreams are constantly appearing in the text. They are presents of the Gods, and they are taken very seriously, unlike today, that most people ignore them. Also, they are very important for the characters, that they can be considered as their main weapon. Nevertheless, I think that asking for dreams that explain the future, reveals a touch of fear within the characters. If they pleaded to the Gods to send them courage or strength, means that they just want the support of the gods; but by asking them for dreams, mean that the character will act depending in the future result, so they are not acting from the heart.

Evolution in other words

The city of Uruk is ruled by Gilglamesh, a powerful king that has it’s people suffering. Therefore, the villagers pray to the gods to help them, so they let go a wild beast named Enkidu to the forests around Uruk.
One day a trapper sees this terrible beast, and tells Gilglamesh. "Go, trapper, bring the harlot, Shamhat, with you. When the animals are drinking at the watering place have her take off her robe and expose her sex. When he sees her he will draw near to her, and his animals, who grew up in his wilderness, will be alien to him."
This means, that Shamhat has to sleep with Enkidu, in order for him to loose his powers, and so it’s done.
"You are beautiful," Enkidu, you are become like a god.
Why do you gallop around the wilderness with the wild beasts? Come, let me bring you into Uruk-Haven, to the Holy Temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar, the place of Gilgamesh, who is wise to perfection, but who struts his power over the people like a wild bull." With this Enkidu is taken to Uruk, in order to meet the powerful Gilglamesh.
Meanwhile, Gilglamesh is having two dreams he can’t explain. The first, is that a meteorite fell from the sky, and he wasn’t able to move it, so the people of the city make a great feast around it. And the second dream, is just like the one before, just that the meteorite is replaced by axe.
Later, the king is making a new rule for his kingdom, and it consist that every bride will have to sleep with him, before going to bed with her new husband. There, Enkidu arrives and tries to beat up Gilglamesh, but he fails to do so. Nevertheless, they both become partners and grow up together.
One day, Gilglamesh decides that he will cut down all the trees from the forest, and that means he will have to beat up Humbaba, that is the guardian of the forest. Enkidu asked Gilglamesh to forget this dangerous journey, for he knew the power of Humbaba. Gilglamesh ignores his friend, and is ready to battle Humbaba.

From the Gilglamesh I can notice some historical facts to force me to say, that it is a myth to explain our existence. First of all, Ekindu, turns from being a wild animal to a civilized human just like us. Also, Gilglamesh had a sever desire to cut down trees, and during all of human history we have done the same.
I am very egger to keep on reading, and find out want will happen to Gilglamesh after his battle with Humbaba

Why does it take a Minute to say Hello and Forever to say Good-bye?

Ishmael and the pupil talked about laws that applied to everyone, like gravity or aerodynamics, but they forgot to include the law of death.
“It was a pneumonia that got him-your friend the ape.”
I stood there blinking at him, unable to fathom what he was getting at.
“Vet came Saturday night and shot him full of stuff, but it was too late. Passed off this morning around seven or eight, I guess.”
“Are you telling me that he’s...dead?”
“Dead is what he is, pardner.” (pg.260-263)
I’m not surprised that this law only showed up at the end of the book, because all of their lessons were about the study of life. Nevertheless, with this particular death, I didn’t look at it as I explained in “The looser in all of us”, but in a positive sense. With Ishmael dying, I see it as a green light to go ahead and use all the wisdom he instilled in us, and apply to my own life. Also, it means that I can’t depend in my teachers, but in what they taught me.

Michelle Obama's Speech

By The Associated Press – 1 day agoPrepared remarks of Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, for her address to the Democratic National Convention. On Monday night in Denver as released by the Obama campaign:OBAMA, As you might imagine, for Barack running for president is nothing compared to that first game of basketball with my brother Craig.I can't tell you how much it means to have Craig and my mom here tonight. Like Craig, I can feel my dad looking down on us, just as I've felt his presence in every grace-filled moment of my life.At six-foot-six, I've often felt like Craig was looking down on me too - literally. But the truth is, both when we were kids and today, he wasn't looking down on me — he was watching over me.And he's been there for me every step of the way since that clear February day 19 months ago, when — with little more than our faith in each other and a hunger for change — we joined my husband, Barack Obama, on the improbable journey that's brought us to this moment.But each of us also comes here tonight by way of our own improbable journey.I come here, tonight, as a sister blessed with a brother who is my mentor, my protector and my lifelong friend.I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president.I come here as a Mom whose girls are the heart of my heart and the center of my world — they're the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night. Their future — and all our children's future — is my stake in this election.And I come here as a daughter — raised on the south side of Chicago by a father who was a blue collar city worker, and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me. My mother's love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, and her intelligence reflected in my own daughters.My Dad was our rock. Although he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his early thirties, he was our provider, our champion, our hero. As he got sicker, it got harder for him to walk, it took him longer to get dressed in the morning. But if he was in pain, he never let on. He never stopped smiling and laughing — even while struggling to button his shirt, even while using two canes to get himself across the room to give my mom a kiss. He just woke up a little earlier, and worked a little harder.He and my mom poured, everything they had into me and Craig. It was the greatest gift a child can receive: never doubting for a single minute that you're loved, and cherished and have a place in this world. And thanks to their faith and hard work we both were able to go on to college. So I know firsthand from their lives — and mine — that the American dream endures.And you know, what struck me when I first met Barack was that even though he had this funny name, even though he'd grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine. He was raised by grandparents who were working class folks just like my parents, and by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills just like we did. Like my family, they scrimped and saved so that he could have opportunities they never had themselves. And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them and even if you don't agree with them.And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children — and all children in this nation — to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.And as our friendship grew, and I learned more about Barack, he introduced me to the work he'd done when he first moved to Chicago after college. Instead of heading to wall street, Barack had gone to work in neighborhoods devastated when steel plants shut down, and jobs dried up. And he'd been invited back to speak to people from those neighborhoods about how to rebuild their community.The people gathered together that day were ordinary folks doing the best they could to build a good life. They were parents living paycheck to paycheck; grandparents trying to get by on a fixed income; men frustrated that they couldn't support their families after their jobs disappeared. Those folks weren't asking for a handout or a shortcut. They were ready to work — they wanted to contribute. They believed — like you and I believe — that America should be a place where you can make it if you try.Barack stood up that day, and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about "The world as it is" and "The world as it should be." And he said that all too often, we accept the distance between the two, and settle for the world as it is — even when it doesn't reflect our values and aspirations. But he reminded us, that we know what our world should look like. We know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like. And he urged us to believe in ourselves — to find the strength within ourselves to strive for the world as it should be. And isn't that the great American story?It's the story of men and women gathered in churches and union halls in town squares and high school gyms — people who stood up and marched and risked everything they had — refusing to settle, determined to mold our future into the shape of our ideals.It is because of their will and determination that this week, we celebrate two anniversaries: the 88th anniversary of women winning the right to vote, and the 45th anniversary of that hot summer day when Dr. King lifted our sights and our hearts with his dream for our nation.