April 2018 – Page 3

Quoc Tu Giam: Ancient Palace of Literature in Vietnam

In this series on ancient universities we now go to Hanoi in Vietnam to visit the Palace of Literature. Just the name makes it sound like a paradise for all students and scholars. Quoc Tu Giam was built in 1070 with the intention to provide a learning center for the elite on the teachings of Confucius.

A period of Chinese occupation had just come to an end after lasting almost one thousand years and the building of the Palace of Literature was an expression of national identity and pride. It continued as an institute of Confucian teachings for seven hundred years.

The palace is arranged around five courtyards with a path through the center for the king. The gardens are an oasis of calm intended as a place for students to relax with trees and greenery surrounded by a stone wall. The whole design reproduces the birthplace of Confucius in Qufu, China and two of the great pavilions once contained altars to the students of the master.

The 82 stone stelae are a significant feature of the palace. These record the names of those students who achieved their doctorates in the years from 1484 to 1780. The pavilion in which these are kept surrounds the third courtyard which has at its center the Well of Heavenly Clarity.

Extensive restoration work has been done on the palace in 1920 and 1954 after it was seriously damaged by French bombs in 1947. There is now a museum there which contains various scholarly artefacts such as pens and ink-wells. The Palace of Literature is an excellent historic site well worth a visit and an exemplary example of the architecture of the Ly dynasty.

Private Scholarships

Universities often have monies available to finance scholarships for students, but they are certainly not the only place to secure these much coveted gift monies. Just as universities use scholarships as a way to attract and keep a certain segment of students, private organizations often have scholarship funds set up to ensure that the segment of the population they are invested in can go to college as well. Below, we will look at what kind of private scholarships are available, how to find them, and how to secure them.

What Kinds of Private Scholarships are Available? While it might seem surprising, almost every kind of scholarship exists that can be imagined. There are private scholarship funds set up by feminist groups for working mothers, ones set up by firefighters for the children of firefighters, scholarships for children of Vietnam Veterans, for first generation immigrants, etc. If you can think of it, a scholarship probably exists.

How Do I Find a Private Scholarship? There are several ways to go about finding private scholarships. The first and most simple is to contact your university’s office of financial aid and ask them. They usually have a list of private scholarships that are available. Next, go to the web. Using Google or a similar search engine type in your special interest and the word “scholarship”. You’ll be amazed at what comes up!

How Do I Secure a Private Scholarship? There is no one answer to this question. Some groups ask that you write an essay, others ask for proof of eligibility (your dad’s discharge paper, for example), and some might ask for a personal interview.

There are literally millions of private scholarships out there! Go out and find them!

iPods: Not Just for Listening to Music

Now in they’re sixth year of existence, iPods can be seen virtually everywhere on college campuses. These portable music players come in a zillion colors with a variety of different memory capabilities. From the shuffle to the 5th generation iPod that can play videos along with your music, there is literally an iPod for every budget and every need. While we all like our music, iPods can also be a great convenience and study tool — yes, I did say study tool — for college students. Let’s look at why.

Although they started as basic music players, iPods today have many more capabilities that should be taken advantage of. The first feature that can be beneficial to students is the calendar feature. Sick of lugging your schedule book around with you to class? Your iPod might be the perfect solution. Along with synching your music play lists, you can also synch your calendar into your iPod. What could be easier than to look at your day while listening to music on your way to class? With this feature, you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to see where you’re supposed to be. Your schedule, literally, fits in your hand.

Another beneficial feature on iPods is the contacts feature. Like the schedule feature, you can upload your contacts directly into your iPod for easy access. Once again, having your contacts right at your fingertips saves you from having to stop what you’re doing to look through another device.

Another use of your iPod that can help you in college is uploading books on CD. Doing this allows you to listen to a book, be it for class or pleasure, while tromping around campus. To many, this probably seems like multi-tasking overload, but give it a try. You might be surprised at how much you absorb while walking between classes.

Now that we’ve looked at some beneficial features to the iPod, let’s look at some models:

1.The iPod Shuffle: There is no display on this model and it doesn’t have the contacts or scheduling features. You can, however, play books on CD. This model holds about 100 songs and retails for around $80.00 U.S.

2.The iPod Nano: This model has a color display and all the features talked about previously (contacts, calendar). It comes in a variety of colors and is super light weight. The battery life is long and you can get it with anywhere between 2 and 8 GB of storage (this translates to approximately 200 to 800 songs). This is the iPod I have and I absolutely love it. It retails for around $150.00 to $250.00 U.S.

3.The 5th Generation iPod: This model has a color display, can play videos, comes in a variety of colors, and has all the features listed above. This monster of an iPod can hold more than you can probably fill it with (60 GB memory) and retails for between $250.00 and $350.00 U.S.

iPods are more than a tool for recreation, they can also be used to make your life as a student easier. Try one out and see for yourself!

Stephen Hawking: An Extraordinary Physicist

Stephen Hawking is probably the best known astrophysicist today. Born in 1942, he is the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. His publications for the general public on time and on black holes are best sellers. The man behind the work is as interesting as the scientific theories he proposes.

Stephen Hawking was born in war time Britain, one of four children and the son of Frank and Isobel Hawking. His father was a research biologist. Hawking was interested in studying mathematics but University College, Oxford, where he enrolled, did not offer the subject and so he studied physics instead focusing on relativity, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. It was obvious to his fellow students and his tutors that he possessed an exceptional intelligence.

On completion of his degree he went to Cambridge for further study in Astronomy and cosmology. At this time he began to notice that his movements were becoming more and more uncoordinated. Faced with a diagnosis of a type of motor-neuron disease and the prognosis of an early death initially provided little motivation for finishing his Ph.D. but he defied all expectations and he says on his website,” But I didn’t die. In fact, although there was a cloud hanging over my future, I found, to my surprise, that I was enjoying life in the present more than before. I began to make progress with my research, and I got engaged to a girl called Jane Wilde, whom I had met just about the time my condition was diagnosed. That engagement changed my life. It gave me something to live for.”

Stephen and Jane married and had three children. Hawking finished his Ph.D. and was awarded a research fellowship at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Hawking’s condition steadily worsened until he was bound to a wheelchair and in need of constant nursing. After contracting pneumonia in 1985 a tracheotomy was performed and he lost his power of speech completely which until then had become increasingly slurred. He now uses a voice synthesizer which he jokingly remarks on as giving him an American accent. He has, however, always felt fortunate that his illness has not impeded his work and research activities. He does a lot of lecture tours and continues to write books to bring a greater understanding of physics and the cosmos to the general public. Despite the enormous popularity of his bestseller, A Brief History of Time, many readers felt it too difficult to fully understand the concepts he presents. He has now written a new book, A Briefer History of Time in the attempt to become more accessible to the general reader. He believes it is important to look to space in a time when the planet is so endangered by human activity that it may die.

For his sixty fifth birthday this year, 2007, he went on a zero gravity flight paid for by millionaire, Richard Branson. He took eight plunges and for the first time in so many years was able to move freely without his wheelchair.

Stephen Hawking maintains his own website. You can also read an interview he gave to The Guardian newspaper which gives some insight into the way he thinks as a result of not being able to move and write mathematical formula. Stephen Hawking writes in a humorous and engaging style and is a well-known character in the media.

Chiropractic Careers – the Medical Alternative!

There is no doubt that many young people have dreamed of becoming a medical doctor from a very young age. There is also no doubt that studying in Britain has a special kudos all of its own. But what about the job?

Becoming a doctor involves many years of rigorous study (quite rightly) followed by several years of additional study should you choose to specialize. Although by no means badly paid, it can take an awfully long time to reach the top, and for most – if not all – of that time, you will always be answerable to someone else.

So what if you really love the idea of the academic rigor of medicine and the rewards of healing, but frankly don’t have the stomach for the more unpleasant physical aspects? What if you don’t fancy the idea of working for someone else, and would really like to be your own boss? Or what if something inside you keeps telling you that if there is a way of healing without the use of drugs, the natural way has to be preferable?

If any of the above have ever crept into your thought process, then you could do a lot worse than taking a long hard look at chiropractic as a career.

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a medical system which was developed by Daniel Palmer, a Canadian living the United States, in 1895. It was based on the concept that most, if not all, ill health or disease was due to neurological dysfunction (or problems with the central and peripheral nervous systems) and that by using manipulation and adjustments of the muscle-skeletal system, particularly the spine, as well as support techniques, much ill health and disease could be corrected.

Since then, chiropractic has grown to become the third largest health care profession in the world after medicine and dentistry, and is a recognized part of the healthcare system in countries spanning the globe.

Chiropractors DO NOT prescribe drugs or perform surgery, but frequently offer an alternative to both. They bring help and relief to thousands of patients who would otherwise suffer prolonged pain or illness.

How long does it take?

Depending on where you study, it takes about five years to qualify as a chiropractor, with a further year spent working under the close supervision of an experienced chiropractor in a clinic.

What do the courses involve?

Typically, the first part of a chiropractic course lasts four years and results in a BSc in Chiropractic Science. The fifth year then leads to the award of an MSc in Chiropractic, at which point graduates can register with the governing or statutory body (in the UK, the General Chiropractic Council) and go on to carry out their year of supervised practice. The first two years of the course are similar to those followed by medical students, including anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, biochemistry, nutrition, behavioral science and infectious diseases. Thereafter, the emphasis shifts to chiropractic with technique, radiography, pathology, pharmacology, applied neurology, geriatrics, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, dermatology, clinic preparation and communication. In the fourth year, students have to complete a major research project, which helps provide a good basis for evidenced-based culture of contemporary health care.

Finally, students spend their fifth year doing what it really is all about: treating patients. Under the close supervision of clinical tutors, students will see a wide range of conditions, as they are trained to read x-rays and able to send patients for a variety of tests at local hospitals. In rehabilitation units, students are now able to work with patients who have a long-term history of chronic conditions in retraining their posture and rebuilding muscles to help improve their condition, where chiropractic treatment alone may not be enough.

Chiropractic Career Prospects

Evidence shows that most graduates quickly start to earn incomes that often exceed those of an experienced doctor. However, nobody ever succeeded in chiropractic who came into it for the financial rewards. You need to be dedicated to the ideals of healing first and foremost, have a first-class brain, and want to make a difference. If you have those, then medical school needn’t be your only option.

Outsource Your Local Search to Google Desktop

Some time ago Google released an amazing new offer, the Google Desktop. This desktop did not take the world by storm; however those who take the time to check it out will not be disappointed.

If you have some disk-space to spare, this product is well worth trying. (This product builds full text indexes for all your data.)

You can bring the power of Google to your desktop.

The installation takes only a few minutes, however, once you have the software setup a background process will need to run to index your hard drive.

The amazing and wonderful thing is that the desktop client is a free download. This is amazing technology to get at no charge.

You know how powerful Google search is, we search the Internet with Google every day.

Imagine when you did a search, being told not only that there were 1,200,459,000 web pages that matched your search string. What if, in addition to this huge search result you were told that there were also 57 emails and three files in your local file system? Is it possible you could find this useful?

No more do you have to search around your file system looking for that directory you stored something important, well it was important at the time.

You can search with the speed and power of Google on your own PC. Use the system tray search box or you can hit escape twice to get a popup search in the center of your screen.

You have type ahead matching so you can often get your result before you have typed the whole word.

As stated earlier, after you install the product the system will index your hard drive while your PC is idle. This will take between 10 – 24 hours depending on how much data you have. Once it is completed however, you have a dynamically updated index, as you add new files they are indexed on the fly.

The system indexes all your key data, including email in outlook and outlook express, plus your web history.

Setup:

The installation takes only moments and you are asked during the install if you want to enable the advanced features.

This relates to the fact that some non-user specific information is sent back to Google. This information is sent back to Google while you are using the product to help ensure you get relevant content showing up and no doubt some targeted advertising.

You also have the ability to encrypt the indexes that will be built on your PC. This well provide you with additional security, however, this will have some impact on performance;

Once installed on your system, the software will begin to spider your hard disk. This can be done in the background over a day or two. You can also set the interface to be aggressive and let the computer run flat out.

Note: indexing 20GB of content ran overnight and produced 1.2 GB of index files.

Now that the index is there, the impact is minimal on processing and seems to be updated real time or close to it.

Other Features:

There are many more cool things to discuss which will be the focus of another article, these include portal type desktop helper applications like weather, and news feeds etc., a scratch-pad that remembers what you type and much more.

All other features aside, the search feature on its own is worth evaluating. You will not be disappointed.

More Sleep Helps You Learn

For those of you that are students, here are a few tips to help you succeed in your endeavors.

Do you drive your car to school? You better buckle up because many of today’s car crashes are caused by sleep deprivation. Chances are you’re not getting enough sleep at night. Sleep deprivation doesn’t just cause physical symptoms; your brain can be affected as well. This article looks at the connection between sleep and learning.

According to the national sleep foundation 85% of students do not get enough sleep at night. What’s enough sleep? While definitions vary, the average is 8.5 hours of sleep per night according to the foundation. If 85% of your fellow students are suffering from sleep loss, then you can gain a major edge in the classroom just from lying in bed, relaxing, and falling asleep.

Lack of sleep impairs one’s ability to pay attention, abstract thinking, creativity, communication, problem solving, innovation, and more. If these symptoms look familiar, they are also symptoms of ADHD, the attention deficit disorder many learners experience. Studies have shown that these symptoms lead to poor performance in the classroom.

The key to getting more sleep is making sleep a priority. Many operate on a sleep schedule that treats sleep as a low priority. While this is common, it is not a healthy habit. To make getting more sleep a priority you can add incentives to getting rest. This could include investing in a new set of super soft sheets. Even some sleep inducing music, such as sounds of the sea can help one fall asleep.

Once a student is given more sleep the results should be almost instant. You will see grade go up because of better quality work. There will be a significant increase in energy which can be translated into more productive work time.

It has been noted that getting more sleep can have other fringe benefits besides helping you learn better. When the body gets at least 8 hours of sleep the body burns more calories, and after being rested the chance increases for more active behaviors while you are awake. This can lead to significant weight loss for those getting sufficient sleep. Also sleep can contribute to happiness. Serotonin the chemical the body needs for a good sleep also provides happiness feelings to the brain. Thus when one sleeps more they are happier.

Not Tech-Savvy? Learning the Basics

Obviously if you want to go to college online you have to know how to use the internet, e-mail, and do research online. Granted you’ll get way better at this once you’ve been in class for a few months, but it’s good to get a head start and learn what you need to know before you begin.

I personally got lucky because the first class I took was an introduction to MS Office and most of the software that comes with it, including PowerPoint and Excel. I have to say, though, that the most useful things I learned came from getting the details figured out.

For example, I had no idea how to create a PowerPoint presentation, much less that you could add animated slide transitions and hyperlinks to anywhere in the document. I also had no idea that you could do so much stuff in MS Word, either, but these days I use a ton of the features for work, especially when I’m editing.

So what are some of the basics you should know about the web? Obviously I can’t go into everything in a single blog post, but I’ll certainly share what I found useful and fun… sometimes even at the same time!

First, learning to do research online.

Before I began college, I really had no clue about how to do research on the internet. I mean, I sort of knew, but since I’ve been, I tell people all the time: I can find anything online… and it’s the truth. There’s only been a single search out of the thousands (maybe even hundreds of thousands) that I’ve done that turned up a lack of information: a term I hear in a movie describing a psychological condition that, apparently, doesn’t really exist.

Other than that? Just tell me what you need. Divorce papers you can print for free? Information on demons or mythical creatures? How to use Photoshop to make a person look like a werewolf? The best and worst web sites of every year? It’s all out there.

But how do you enter search terms? It doesn’t seem like much, but knowing what terms to enter can speed up the process of finding what you really need to find exponentially. For example, if you’re looking for how to change the oil in your car, it helps to mention what kind of car you have in your query.

Then, of course, some searches are more in-depth. In college, you’re likely to be required to cite your sources and, if the source is only a web page, you’ll probably have to read through several pages of information before you find the right kind of source.

Next, learning to use your software.

This will vary from one online program to another, so depending on what you’re supposed to be using, you’ll need to gather information and training on how to utilize your software in the best way.

You can find tutorials for your specific version of any software all over the internet. If I want a certain effect in Photoshop or Paint Shop, I go find some tutorials to guide me through it. If it’s something I want to keep on hand and use again, I bookmark the tutorial and return to it whenever I want that effect.

You can find tutorials for free on YouTube and graphic designer blogs, which is awesome. With all of the screen capture software out there and the ability to share information so freely, online college can be almost like getting a degree in finding free information.

Even InDesign has tutorials all over the place. I’m sure that even if you’re learning to be a medical administrative assistant, you can find tutorials for the software you’re required to use for that, too.

The internet is the most powerful tool you can have at your disposal. Amazingly enough, not everyone has computers or knows how to use the internet… but if you’re serious about attending college online, these are two of the main things you will need to begin learning in order to succeed.

Finals – eek!

Yep, that’s right… finals are upon us, just before winter break. My final portfolio for my current class is due on Friday, which means there’s a ton of work to be done!

Even online college students have finals… and the funny part is that Mr. Facebook can’t stand all the talk about finals! It’s hilarious! There was an article written about how much he hated it, and how Facebook users ranting about their finals has made the site nearly crash on several occasions.

I still think it’s funny =)

Now that I got that out of my system, I want to share some of the things I do to keep myself on track for final projects. These little tidbits have helped me throughout my college career, and will continue helping me to stay on task and focused throughout the rest of my college career.

I decided that I want to be a very educated person, which is why I’m now going for my BFA and later my MFA in creative writing.

My final portfolio this week has components from the entire course’s lessons, so it’s going to be a huge file of work. There was a personal essay, a poem, short fiction, and even a screenplay – all of which I have finished and am going to revise over this week.

It sounds like a lot, huh? Over the course of 8 weeks, I’ve written a LOT, which makes me extremely happy. For this week, my plan is to revise one or two pieces every day. This will ensure that I get everything done and can turn in the absolute best final portfolio ever.

This is definitely one of the most useful tricks I’ve learned as far as getting work done goes.

Do a little bit each day

You know finals will come no matter what course or college you go to. Finals are just a part of it, that’s it. When you give yourself enough time to do a good job, it becomes much easier to knock it all out. Doing a little each day – planning your week out in your planner (I have an amazingly handy, spirally-bound weekly planner that always stays on my desk so I can write out my entire schedule, appointments, to-do lists, and anything else I might need to plan for.

Doling out tasks for each day means I don’t overwhelm myself, I can cross it off as I do it, and I don’t freak out about what I have to get done because it’s all right in front of me.

Take breaks when you need them

This is mainly for online students, but taking breaks after working for a good 45-minutes to an hour is important. Sitting

at a computer all day isn’t good for you, so taking breaks between working and just knocking out one task after another is a great way to make sure you get everything done and can then relax a bit.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should take a break every 15 minutes. But if you time yourself and work for a good, solid hour and then take a break, you’ll be amazed how much you can finish and how quickly you can get through your workday.

The power-hour

The idea behind this concept is to knock out a good chunk of work in an hour. You are not allowed to get up until you finish it, one hour, and then you can have a break. This is an excellent method of knocking out a ton of work in neat blocks of time, and it’s a great way to manage your time and keep stress levels low. Just sit down, work for 50 minutes to an hour very intensively, and then take a 10-15 minute break.

Exercise & eat healthy foods

When I was pregnant and attending college online, I liked to eat what I call “brain food.” Brain food is things like vegetables, cereal, granola bars, PBJs, and trail mix. These foods help improve mental clarity, focus, and give you an energy boost when you need it. Along with eating brain food, it’s also important to have some sort of exercise routine in place, even if it’s something as ridiculous as running up and down the stairs a few times during breaks. Getting your blood pumping is a great way to keep focus high and maintain healthy levels of energy overall.

Hopefully some of these ideas will help you stay focused and get through your finals week! After all, you don’t get a medical assistant’s salary by freaking out or handling finals in an unhealthy way. Keep yourself managed! After all, if I could still do homework on a laptop in a hospital room right after giving birth to my son, then I know it’s definitely doable for you, too.

Proving Yourself to Your Parents

For a moment, imagine yourself wearing a diaper and crawling around the kitchen floor while trying to pick up a bug with your pinkie. This is how your parents see you.

Unfortunately, altering this mindset is not easy. Parents tend to operate on a point system. What this essentially means is that for every responsible thing you do, you get 1 point, but for every bad thing you do, you lose five points.

Your goal is to conduct yourself in such a fashion that over time you accrue enough points that your parents see you as you actually are – a young man or woman.

Simple things such as taking out the trash, washing dishes, and keeping the family pets watered and fed are great starts; however, to truly establish yourself as an independent, capable individual, you must take a step back and attempt to empathize with your parents.

As monumental as it may seem to you, completing daily chores is not something your parents are likely to laud as an achievement. Keep in mind that these people have been doing chores longer than you’ve been alive. In order to really open their eyes, you have to make a commitment to yourself. This commitment requires that you begin accepting responsibility for your behavior, your finances, and your future.

I recommend that you don’t blatantly announce that you have made this commitment. Since you’ve been able to talk, your parents have heard you make numerous claims and grandiose assertions before. By slowly incorporating new habits and behaviors into your life, you won’t be under any pressure to “practice what you preach.”

Before doing anything else, independently institute your own method of letting your parents know where you are at all times. So many good kids maintain such an impeccable record that they eventually believe they are exempt from touching base with their parents. You may think that they know you are staying after school, but for all they know you could have been in a car accident. Text messages are great for this since they allow spur of the moment changes of plans, but, if you do not use a cell phone, a dry-erase board on the refrigerator should display all of your after school plans and upcoming obligations.

Got it? Great. Here’s how you can get started:

Go to bed earlier and wake up on time.
Beat your parents to the punch by completing things before they even think to ask you to do them.
Consistently ask your parents to study with you and keep them updated on your progress. Even if you do poorly on an assignment or test, your parents will appreciate your candor; this is especially true if your parents helped you prepare because they can clearly see that you’re trying your best.
Find some means, however small, to create your own income. Even if you only make enough money to put gas in your car each week, your parents will notice your effort and reward you accordingly.
Open your own bank account. Your parents can still deposit money into your account if they have your account number and you can get a checking account free.

As you can tell, the primary way of proving yourself to your parents is by achieving consistency and maintaining a personal level of accountability. The erratic behavior of most teens gives parents every right to maintain a short leash on them. By eradicating the inconsistencies from your life, you will obliterate these predispositions.

Here are a few more advanced ways to eviscerate you umbilical cord:

Keep a daily planner. It does not have to be anything expensive; a cheap spiral notebook is more than enough.
Pay for your own car insurance.
Pay for your cell phone.
Buy your parents gifts on mother’s day, father’s day, birthdays, and any other holiday which you celebrate. Adults buy each other gifts whether they want to or not. If you do not have any money, give your parents what they want most – your time.
Fill out all of your own forms. Whether it is for the FAFSA, SAT, ACT, whatever, take care of it yourself.
Enjoy alcohol and tobacco in moderation or not at all, depending on your parents’ tastes. If you’re underage, don’t use either.

For some of you, this will be more difficult than others. But I assure you that if you hold up your side of the bargain by fulfilling all or most of the above, your parents will hold up theirs.