Imagine A Better 2016

Where did 2015 go??

 

As I searched for end of the year recaps or videos to share with you, all I seemed to come up with were negative stories: this shooting happened, this bombing, this refugee story, that injustice. We had to offer our "thoughts and prayers" far too many times.

 

I wondered: Where are the good stories? Where are the stories about people helping people without being asked? What about positive "Stories of 2015"? Good things had to have happened...but where were they?

 

What were some good and positive things that happened to you this past year? Stuff like:

• Making progress on a goal you've set
• Making a new friend
• Learning something cool
• Going somewhere you never went before
• Creating something
• Doing something that scared you, and then you liked it
• Enjoying time with friends and family

 

What if we stopped and thought about the possibilities of the new year and focused on that?

UPDATE: Finally, a list of good things that happened this year, via Senator Amy Klobuchar and Buzzfeed:  Read them and smile. I knew they were out there somewhere: http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/2015-was-okay?utm_term=.qyDE25MjZ#.djWp1PqKw

Most of us can't accomplish peace in the world. But we can...

•  Remember to be grateful for our lives
•  Learn about other cultures and appreciate that we are actually pretty similar. 
• Care about what's going on around us. 
• Notice when a friend is struggling and offer help. 
• Accept help when we need it.

And, we can imagine a better world starting right now. Have a great 2016!!!

 

"Imagine" by John Lennon, sung by Eva Cassidy

 

 

 

 

 

 

$33,822: The Math of the 12 Days of Christmas, The Gift of People, And Why All The Birds??

That dollar amount, my friends, is the cost of buying every thing on the 12 days of Christmas song.


The song was probably written in French and had no music when it was first published in 1780.

 

In 1909, music was added and it became the song we are familiar with today.

• "4 "Calling Birds" was originally 'Colly' birds, meaning coal colored, or blackbirds.
• 5 gold rings originally meant 5 ring-necked pheasants. This makes the first seven gifts to be birds.
• Aside from the maids a-milking, the rest of the gifts are people who dance or play an instrument. You could give people as gifts?? That's not right.
• If you gave the total with repetition, you would be giving  364 gifts.

Because: Day 1- receives 1 gift
Day 2- receives 3 additional gifts, making 4 total
Day 3- receives 6 additional gifts, making 10 total
Day 4- receives 10 additional gifts, making 20 total
Day 5- receives 15 additional gifts, making 35 total
Day 6- receives 21 additional gifts, making 56 total
Day 7- receives 28 additional gifts, making 84 total
Day 8- receives 36 additional gifts, making 120 total
Day 9- receives 45 additional gifts, making 165 total
Day 10- receives 55 additional gifts, making 220 total
Day 11- receives 66 additional gifts, making 286 total
Day 12- receives 78 additional gifts, making 364 total gifts received.

Here is what these things cost today, one day at a time...
1 Partridge                $25             in a pear tree, $190.00
2 Turtle doves          $290
3 French Hens          $182.00
4. Calling Birds     (Canaries) $600
5 Gold Rings          at least $500 *if using pheasants, then only $28
6 Geese         $360
7 Swans         $13,125

**Wait, that's 28 birds of various types, or 33 if you count the 5 golden ringed pheasants....Why???**

8 Maids (working for an hour at minimum wage) $58
9 Lady dancers  (ballerinas at $75 per hour each, for an hour) $675
10 Lords who leap $5509 (apparently not as valuable as ballerinas)
11 Pipers piping   $2635 (even bagpipers charge about this much)
12 Drummers  $2855   (although if you're talking rock star drummer, it would probably be more)

And how much, with repeating as in the song (3 French hens, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree....)? That would run about $115,000. Good math practice, what total do you get?

The cost of these things in 1913, the earliest we could figure using an inflation calculator, was about $1450.00. The price of a 9 room house at that time was under $3,000.

 

Some people over-think. They feel that the song's gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith, and the "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. They hold that a partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The other symbols could mean the following: 

 

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.

6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation

7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments

8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments

11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed


Here's a slightly mixed up version. Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!!
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=parody+12+days+of+christmas+straight+no+chaser&view=detail&&&mid=3B60D1D49262FED7635D3B60D1D49262FED7635D&rvsmid=3B60D1D49262FED7635D3B60D1D49262FED7635D#view=detail&mid=3B60D1D49262FED7635D3B60D1D49262FED7635D


 

 

 

 

 

Microblog: Careers With Minnesota Companies: General Mills

 

General Mills was founded in 1866 as Washburn Flour Mills. In 1928 the name was changed to General Mills. Corporate headquarters are in Minneapolis, but there are offices worldwide. Today, General Mills is owner of the following brands:

• Bisquick
• Betty Crocker products
• Cereals: Cheerios, Wheaties, Kix, Trix, Chex
• Pillsbury
• Gold Medal Flour
• Green Giant
• Yoplait Yogurt
• Gardettos Snacks
• Nature Valley Granola Bars
• Wanchai Ferry
• Hamburger Helper
• Haagen Daz ice cream
• Totino's Pizza
• Progresso Soup
• Old El Paso

and also

• Play Dough
• Easy-Bake Oven
• Parker Bros. board games
• Red Lobster restaurants
• Burger King restaurants

Learn more about the history of the company here:
http://www.generalmills.com/en/Company/history




You may find a career at General Mills in the following areas:

• Engineering
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• Research
• Quality Control
• Marketing
• Sales

Here is a job description and requirements to be a Snack Scientist (Yes, that's a real job title)
http://careers.generalmills.com/job/5926741/senior-scientist-snacks-minneapolis-mn/

The Food Was Delicious.....Ways to Burn Calories After the Feast

Thanksgiving and the holidays may mean a bit of weight gain. Or, you may be gaining that "Freshman 15" you always hear about (generally due to eating any free food offered on campus plus eating a lot more junk and fast food than you used to, and not moving enough to burn it off).


In order to lose one pound of weight, you need to cut 3500 calories fom the food you eat for the week, or 500 calories every day.

The other way to lose weight: burn calories.


Here are some ways to burn 100 calories, for someone who weighs about 150 pounds:


10 Minutes       Jump rope continuously
                        Shovel snow
15 Minutes       Paint walls
                         Swim some laps
                         Walk up stairs
20 Minutes        Rake leaves
                          Wash the car
                          Take a slow bike ride
                          Play basketball
                         Take a brisk walk
                          Spend 20 minutes on an elliptical or treadmill

30 Minutes        Walk the dog
                          Put up holiday lights
                          Do some dancing


Wondering how many calories you're burning? See this calculator: http://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html

• Take weight loss slowly, don't do any 'fad diets' where you eat nothing but cabbage or one that doesn't include a major food group.
• Losing one or maybe 2 pounds a week is perfectly fine---that's between 5 and 8 pounds in a month.
• You can eat a bit of everything. Forbidding a food is just asking you to 'cheat.'
• Watch the way you use words---'skinny' and 'thin' really refer to people who are not a healthy weight. You're trying to be healthy, feel better, and make it easier for your heart to work, not go to extremes to be underweight. Work on a sensible body image while you're learning to eat better and move your body.
• Make new eating habits you're not going to abandon once you've lost weight.
• Regular soda has 100 calories and 27 grams of sugar, about 8 teaspooonsful (or more). Diet soda has 0 calories and 0 grams of sugar. If you typically drink 3 cans of soda in a day, you could cut out 300 calories a day (and 24 spoonsful of sugar!!) simply by switching to diet soda. That's 9000 calories in a 30 day month.

WOW for November 30: What does BMI mean? What is your BMI? Click here: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm

How many calories are in that??? Look up the number of calories foods including items from restaurants here: http://www.bing.com/search?q=calories+in+food&qs=n&form=QBLH&pq=calories+in+food&sc=8-16&sp=-1&sk=&cvid=AA919045BF3848219640C1BB99D03E1B

Here's a list of apps that might be helpful in your goal of getting healthy: http://www.healthline.com/health/diet-and-weight-loss/top-iphone-android-apps#2

Black Friday, Gray Thursday, Buy Nothing Day

Originally, Black Friday referred to a stock market crash that happened in 1869. It was also used to describe the crash that happened October 24, 1929, Black Tuesday.  Now it refers to the day after Thanksgiving, when a high number of sales allows retail merchandisers to be "in the black," or to make profits, even when selling some items very inexpensively. Their hope is to have customers buy other items not on sale. 

Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade has always been used to advertise items for sale the following day.

Did you know:

 

• From a shopping standpoint, stores opening on Thanksgiving call it  'Gray Thursday.'
• It is prohibited for stores to be open on Thanksgiving Day in Massachusetts.
• Charlotte, North Carolina, has the most customer traffic on Black Friday.
• Other countries also have sales on Black Friday. Most of the sales take place online, but they are present in England, Panama, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, South American countries, and Canada.
• India has The Great Online Shopping Festival that lasts 3 days.

Canada invented Buy Nothing Day, now observed worldwide either on the Friday or Saturday following Thanksgiving. Besides concentrating on saving the planet with less waste, people also have parties to cut up credit cards, have a winter coat exchange, and steer empty shopping carts around a store. Some people also see it as a way to support retail clerks required to work on a day that most others have off--at possible danger to the clerks.

Do you shop over the Thanksgiving weekend? Could you participate in Buy Nothing Day? (For college students, that's every day).

And speaking of poor college students, here are some do it yourself ideas to make simple Christmas Gifts:

http://www.onlineclasses.org/resources/100-diy-gift-ideas-for-the-cash-strapped-college-kid/

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/11/13/a-do-it-yourself-christmas-34-great-gifts-you-can-make-yourself/

Ideas to make with items from the Dollar Store: http://www.trendsandideas.com/exciting-dollar-store-diy-projects/

What About Veterans?

Originally published November 11, 2013

A Letter to a Vet:


"Thank you" hardly seems adequate

For time away from your family

For putting yourself in harm's way

Without question, without complaint, when your country asked

For your triumphs

For your losses

For showing the rest of the world, the best of the world

For being there

Whether it was yesterday

Or 50 years ago

We appreciate everything you did, everything you do

We haven't forgotten

Thank you isn't enough, but , Thank You.

Sincerely, Your Country

Some brief facts:

• There were 21.9 million vets in the U.S. in 2009
• 1.5 million of those vets were female
• 71% of all vets voted in the 2008 election, compared to 63% of non-vets
• 5.5 million vets have a service-related disability

 

What do these people have in common?

• Jimi Hendrix
• Drew Carey
• Ice T
• Chuck Norris
• Clint Eastwood
• Elvis Presley

They all served in the military.

For a video that gives a history and other facts about Veterans Day, check this out:

 http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/veterans-day-facts

Microblog: Careers With Minnesota Companies: Medtronic

Medtronic is a large medical manufacturing company based out of Fridley, Minnesota, but having corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.

 

Some of the things Medtronic develops and manufactures are:

• Pacemakers for the heart
• Insulin pumps for diabetics
• Spinal repair devices
• Neurostimulators for pain relief

It's National Diabetes Awareness Month. Your WOW for 11-2-15 : T1D  http://jdrf.org/about/about-type-1-diabetes-t1d/

Medtronic has offices across the United States, Ireland, and China, and lists all jobs here:
http://www.medtronic.com/us-en/careers-7.html

Here is a list of careers at Medtronic:
Administration

• Sales
• Education and Training
• Engineering
• Finance
• Health Policy
• Research
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Legal
• Production
• Patient Care
• Recruiting
• Scientist
• Surgical Technologist
• Telehealth

 

Applicants to any jobs with Medtronic will be most appropriate when they have some amount of medical background. Thus, an RN, Surgical Tech, Physical or Occupational Therapist or Tech, Physician, Medical Researcher, Lab-experienced researcher, or anyone with knowledge of medical terminology and procedures, will fit a career with Medtronic the best.

Very Superstitious....

A superstition is a belief that powers out of our hands, maybe supernatural causes, can make things happen.


Did you ever cross your fingers for luck, or knock on wood, or have a 'lucky' shirt that you wear when you need to have a good day? Have you felt guilty for stepping on a crack on the sidewalk? Do you think you have lucky numbers?

If you have, then you have participated in superstitions.






But how did some of these things get started???


It's thought that there are two basic sources for superstitions: religion or folklore. When we say 'religious reasons,' we're talking about people who believed that if you didn't do something a certain way, you would be punished by God or by The Gods. This also branches out into any kind of religion, maybe even including voodoo.


Folklore includes ideas passed down generation to generation and across communities. Beginning when education was scarce, rumors could be spread throughout a community, so if someone started the notion that it was bad luck to wear yellow, let's say, that could spread by word of mouth until it was an accepted fear, even though there was no basis for it. Here are some common superstitions:

 

• Cross your fingers for luck: It seems this is a way to have the sign of the cross, for Christians; you are in essence blessing yourself.
• Knock on wood: Wood being a long-lasting material, it's thought that people started to 'knock on wood' to ensure success, that is, the wish they expressed would be as solid as wood.
• Lucky charms-you may have some object you think is lucky, whether it's a small object or a piece of clothing you wear when you want to do well. These things can be traced to voodoo, where objects were 'given' power. Obviously, this is strictly in the mind of the charm-holder.
• Black cats being bad luck: When witchcraft was a feared part of life, cats that belonged to 'witches' were thought to bring bad luck.

• Walking under a ladder brings bad luck: It was thought that since an open ladder forms 3 sides, it represented the Trinity in Christianity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) so if you walk under the ladder you are breaking the Trinity.
• Breaking a mirror: People used to believe a mirror actually held some of your soul, so logically (to them) if you broke one, you were destroying part of yourself. Why 7 years of bad luck, who knows.
• Spilling salt, then throwing some over your shoulder: Salt used to be very valuable, as it was used to preserve food. If you spilled some, it was considered very bad luck. The idea was to take some that you spilled and throw it over your left shoulder for luck. Why the left shoulder? Because that was the side the Devil supposedly sat on. The idea was to throw the salt in the Devil's eyes. In fact, the word 'sinister' means 'left.'

• Have you heard the saying, "Break a Leg" as something you say to a performer about to go on stage? There are a number of possible explanations, one being that all the understudies for a part hoped that the star would break a leg so one of them could go on. Another is that Shakespeare referred to bowing after a performance as Breaking a Leg. Here is a link for a few other ideas:

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/11/origin-of-the-phrase-break-a-leg/

• And what of Friday the 13th being unlucky? This is thought to have originated from the number of people at the Last Supper of Jesus. It was held on a Thursday, and the following day, Jesus was crucified. There have been two Fridays the 13th so far in 2015 and there is another on November 13th.

WOW for 10-26-2015: Talisman

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talisman

• It's considered unlucky to open an umbrella inside. Why? It's thought that originally umbrellas were used in ancient times to keep the sun off; if you opened it inside you might offend the sun gods. It doesn't matter, however, if the umbrella has been used and you're just trying to dry it off. People used to believe that if you were a single woman and placed an umbrella on a table, you would never marry.

• Two people take hold of a wishbone, one on either end, and pull it apart. The one with the larger piece will have good luck.

• Make a wish, then blow out all the candles on your birthday cake and your wish will come true. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gif%20blowing%20out%20birthday%20candles%20animated&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=gif%20blowing%20out%20birthday%20candles%#view=detail&mid=DFD8E5A363A9B837DD27DFD8E5A363A9B837DD27

• It's considered bad luck to put a pair of shoes on the table. This may be explained by the idea that when burying a body, people used to put all new clothing on the person and then have the body 'lying in state' at home, where their friends and relatives would visit. It seemed to tempt fate somehow to have shoes on a table, not to mention that shoes used to be hammered together with nails, and the nails could damage the table.
• When opening gifts at a bridal shower, it's an old tale that the number of ribbons the bride breaks will be the number of children she will have.

Do you have any rituals, lucky things, or superstitions? Share them with others (if you dare)....Or make up something new. Who knows, maybe only hitting "Snooze" twice will mean you'll have a good day....

I Had This Weird Dream.....

Have you ever wondered what your dreams mean?

Here are some common dreams and their supposed meanings:


Being chased: You may be afraid of a new experience, or that you can't keep up with everything


Falling off a cliff or high building: You may be fearful of a new risk or new situation or crisis in your life.


Being lost: This might mean you are overwhelmed with life and don't know how to sort it out, or that you are embarking on something new that you don't understand yet


Dreams about animals, let's say snakes in particular: You perceive a threat in your life


Being Late:  You might be anxious that you are disappointing someone


Water: Water usually signifies change and renewal in your life


Car out of control: You feel your life is out of control, and it's out of your hands


Unable to complete a phone call: You're disconnected somewhere in some way in your life




Here is the cycle of sleep for most people:

You are most likely to remember a dream if you are awakened during the REM portion of sleep.

A dream can last from a few seconds up to 20-30 minutes.

How do drugs affect your dreams?

• Smoking marijuana can seriously impair the REM stage of sleep, when you sleep deeply and dream
• Anti-depressant medication can interrupt your sleep patterns
• Anti-anxiety medication such as Valium  can also affect sleep patterns

People who suffer from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) often times suffer from nightmares, possibly from changes in their brains and also from medications they are given to manage their condition.


Other things than can affect your sleep include

• Pregnancy
• Sounds
• Quitting Smoking
• Going to bed hungry
• Watching a scary movie before you go to bed

 



If you need some tips on getting to sleep and staying asleep, check out Triogenius "Must Get Sleep," November 5, 2012.

25 College Hacks: What if I Need.......

Translator  http://readlang.com/

 Free graphing calculator https://www.desmos.com/calculator

 Playlists for studying: http://8tracks.com/

 Ambient noise such as surf, night, nature http://noiz.io/

 

Timer for study breaks: http://noiz.io/

 Cite your sources-when you write a paper, you have to give credit to your sources: https://www.citethisforme.com/

**WOW 10-5-2015: : Ambient: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambient **

Dictionary, Thesaurus, What's the Plural of, and word games: http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Grammar check AND Plagiarism check: Did you word that correctly?? Is it your original work, or not??  https://www.grammarly.com/1?utm_term=plagiarism%20checker&q=grammar&gclid=CPad2cG7nMgCFZaHaQod_aIIUA&utm_campaign=kct&utm_medium=cpc&matchtype=&placement=www.merriam-webster.com&utm_source=google&utm_content=57841616286&network=d

d

Make your own flash cards for lots of subjects https://quizlet.com/browse-sets

Internet Public Library-if you can't go there in person   http://www.ipl.org/

 Getting and saving ideas to write about stuff  http://wridea.com/

 Medical research that could be useful for a report http://www.biomedcentral.com/

 Math and science homework help from teachers: http://www.brightstorm.com/

Academic planner: http://schooltraq.com/p/home/

Another planner: http://www.inclassapp.com/

Virtual visits to colleges, and college life articles: http://www.sparknotes.com/college/

Money management  https://www.mint.com/

Alarm clock: “Alarmy”: It won’t turn off until you get out of bed and take a picture that matches the alarm clock’s picture: Apple or IOS:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sleep-if-u-can-alarm-forces/id609598558?mt=8   Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=droom.sleepIfUCan&hl=pt_BR

Study help, reminders, and links to other similar stuff: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.young.studious
Math, social science, humanities: http://www.hippocampus.org/
 A plethora of stuff at  http://www.actionbioscience.org/
Free courses, interviews, all kinds of stuff http://www.openculture.com/
Advice on finances  http://www.brokegradstudent.com/
Financial calculators-how long will it take to pay off that amount??  http://www.online-college-blog.com/uncategorized/100-money-saving-financial-calculators-for-college-students-and-parents/
 Easy cooking in your dorm http://www.cengagebrain.com/blog/2014/08/10-easy-recipes-college-students/
20 ways to memorize stuff: http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2014/01/27/20-memorization-techniques-for-college-students.html

Do you know of a site that's helped you? Leave it in the comments so others can benefit!

Music: More Than Just a Playlist

You're sure to have some songs or artists that always get your attention; maybe you have a song you play over and over in your playlist, or songs that make you think of something that happened in your life. But did you know that music has far-ranging power?? Check this out:

 

Music, and learning music....

• Fights depression and reduces stress
• Raises the level of Serotonin in your brain (lowering the level leads to depression) http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-serotonin.htm
• Keeps you alert
• Improves your ability to learn
• Increases your level of concentration
• Increases your memory
• Learning to read music is very similar to learning a new language
• Helps you be more creative
• Helps you to learn anything faster
• Gives you increased problem-solving skills
• Helps you sleep better
• Increases endorphins (the 'feel good' hormone, see it explained here:  http://www.road-to-health.com/64/What_are_Endorphins_.html ). Endorphins are also secreted when you exercise.
• You may eat less when listening to music
• Increases your endurance
• Helps you heal faster
• When shopping, stores have music playing to get the shoppers to relax and stay longer

 

Unless

• The music is too loud (see Triogenius 4-6-15 about noise pollution and how too-loud music damages your hearing)
• The music is too harsh
• It may bother you if it is too high-pitched
• It has a dissonant (clashing) sound rather than harmony
• There is too much music coming at you at once

Someone who reads music can translate this for you......

You might also consider a career in Music Therapy:

(Interview with a Music Therapist, Triogenius May 7, 2012)

New feature: Word of the Week. Every week we'll learn a word that has to do with the blog.....

 

WOW for 10-5-2015: Libretto

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/libretto

Worth a try:

• Ask your parents or even your grandparents what their favorite singers/groups were, when they were your age.
• Listen to a type of music you never had listened to before. Try New Age, Jazz, Big Band, Opera, or music from another country such as Ireland, India, or South America. Check out a violinist or a trumpet player. You don't have to love it....just give it a listen. Go to Youtube and see what you can find that's not familiar....and remember, there's a huge variety of CDs you can borrow for free at your local library.
• Try singing in a group, maybe with your friends, if you never have.
• Really listen to lyrics: Are they saying something you agree with? Are they unimaginative or do they say exactly how you feel? Are they insensitive or mean-spirited or even violent? Do they portray women with disrespect? Is that OK with you...or not?
• Try playing an instrument. Can a friend or family member teach you?
• Write a song--words and/or music. Or, dance...maybe dance to something new?
• Watch a musical. If you haven't seen Les Mis, The Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera, Rent....you've missed a lot! Again, many of these (videos or soundtracks) are available to borrow at the library for free.
• Pay attention to what sort of music you hear at the mall, the doctor's office, maybe in a lab at school. Does it soothe you? Would you rather have silence?
• Imagine life without music. Wouldn't that be sad??

 

"Bohemian Rhapsody" on Ukelele??? Yep, and he's excellent: Jake Shimabukuro: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=jake+shimabukuro&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=9E28F2938B7F13A177F99E28F2938B7F13A177F9

A cellist and a street dancer?? Fascinating. Yo-Yo Ma and Li'l Buck: http://www.wimp.com/mabuck/ The song is "The Swan," by Saint-Saens. Li'l Buck's style is called 'Jookin.'


Random Act of Culture: "West Side Story" at the Miami Airport.   http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=random+acts+of+culture&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=9C5EBFDE9463DB0103DD9C5EBFDE9463DB0103DD






Jethro Tull's "Kashmir"...on violin??? Yep, and this violinist is excellent: Lucia Micarelli http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lucia%20micarelli&qs=VI&form=QBVR&pq=lucia%20mica&sc=8-10&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&mid=86EA8396732E4351FD0A86EA8396732E4351FD0A










Maybe some blues: Kenny Wayne Shepherd. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=kenny%20wayne%20shepherd&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=kenny%20wayne%20shepherd&sc=8-20&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=66FA1393003FAE18FFBF66FA1393003FAE18FFBF
















*Also worth discussing: Do you think music should be censored, or should there be a 'parental advisory' on music? Why or why not?


Share a cool music video by posting it in the comments section below!

Campus Security-Safety Pointers

Now that you’re a college student, you’re responsible for your own safety; it’s up to you to look out for yourself. Keep these tips in mind to stay safe...

  

                                       

 When traveling....

• Take turns being a designated driver or sober companion. You could save someone’s life.
• If you have a car on campus, avoid running your car to the Empty point. If you need to get in the car and go, or if you will be driving in bad weather, you don’t want to be out of gas. Have a $5 bill tucked away in your glove box for emergencies; that should get you a gallon or more, and even that much gas will probably get you at least 10 miles. 
• Tell at least one person where you are going and when you plan to be back.
• If you have a GPS, set the home address to the local police station, not to your home. They are often stolen, and you don't want the thief to show up at your house.
• If you are using a GPS that attaches to your dash by suction cup, remove it and hide it--or take it with you--when you aren't in the car.
• If a party gets out of hand, leave!
• Put 911 on speed dial so you only have to hit '9' or another single digit. You may be quite jittery when you need to dial those three numbers.
• Remember that if your car stereo is on super-loud, you may not hear a siren approaching or someone trying to get your attention.
   

 Emergency phones may just be a speaker with buttons or an actual phone.

Personal safety:

• Most campuses have a 'panic phone' system. Know where they are, and don't be afraid to use one should you need to.
• If you have unwisely had too much to drink, or are high, do not try to walk home alone.
• Never, ever leave your drink alone or with someone you don’t know. Date rape drugs are easy to use. And men are just as vulnerable as women.
• If a stranger offers you a drink or food, say no thanks. Safer to get your own.
• Be cautious about a date with someone you don't know that well: avoid being alone with him or her, until you feel certain you are in no danger. Give it time. Be smart.
• Don’t ride with drunk or drugged drivers.
• It isn't smart to offer rides to people you don’t know, nor to get in a car with someone you don't know.
• Trust your instincts!
• If you don’t have a friend to walk you to your door after a campus event or a late class, call campus security for an escort. Most dorms will have an office and/or resident advisor that can get you a security escort if you don’t know where to ask.
• You and your roommates have a right to have friends over, but if a visitor makes you sense danger, you also have the right to speak up.
•  Lock your dorm door even if you just plan to be down the hall for a few minutes. This keeps your stuff safe as well as your roommate's stuff, as well as prevents visitors from going into your room when you're not there.
• ALWAYS lock your car.
• Put anything of value, including your backpack, in your trunk. Many times thieves will simply break a car window and take your backpack, because they assume you have a laptop in it.
• Do not "Buzz someone in" that you don’t know. 
• If you feel uncomfortable getting into an elevator with someone, wait for the next one.
• If you have trouble with a person, talk to someone about it! See what can be done.

Have fun, and be safe: You can do both!

 

Top Ten Best Study Tips

10. Don't cram. It doesn't help you remember, in fact it probably is the worst way to retain information. It's much better to study every day.


9.  Take really really really really really really good notes. Use a tape recorder in class if it's allowed (or get recorder app on your phone, and be discreet about it, or ask if it's allowed). Go over your notes as soon as you can while the class is still fresh in your mind. You might not be able to make any sense of them an hour or two... or five... later.

8.  Disconnect  and concentrate. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, video games, whatever you are doing other than looking at a book is taking time away from studying. Study is study, and not social interaction. Turn off your phone (yes, you will live). If you have to look up something online, look it up and then disconnect. (Looking at Pinterest, videos, or Vines does not count as studying, just so you know)


7.  Assume you will be studying for several hours. It's part of school. Put study time on your schedule if it will help.




6. Eat nutritious food. It will help you stay awake and concentrate better than chips and candy.


5. Take a break sometimes. Maybe you study an hour, then step away for 10 minutes, then get back at it.

4. Be organized

• Have a copy of the syllabus for each class. Stick it up on the wall where you study, or punch holes in it and keep it in a 3 ring binder, so it can't just slide out and be lost. Refer to it when you aren't sure where the class is going.
• A notebook for each class is a good idea.
• Using highlighters or different colored pens to make some points stand out can be helpful.
• Know where your printer paper is.
• Have a specific place where you always study. If you can't concentrate in your home or dorm, use the library.
• Keep a good supply of pencils, pens, paper clips, staples in a place close to your studying.
• Keep all of these things in the same place. Even a shoebox works, if you put things back and you know you'll be able to find them there the next time you study.
• Sticky notes and flags can be really helpful to make note of important stuff, too.
• Try making your own flash cards. Whether you use them in a group study or on your own, they can be helpful.

 3. Find a study group. You can help each other understand the class and give encouragement to one another.

2. Self-test: Make up a test and then 'take it.' You'll see how much you already know and possibly some things you don't. The good news is, you can still learn those things.

1.  Do it. The worst thing you can do is think you don't need to study, then show up for a test and fail it completely. 

These are helpful, too:

http://homeworktips.about.com/

 http://www.howtostudy.org/resources.php