April 2018 – Page 4

Subsidized Student Loans

Loans are a hard, cold fact for most college students. Most students today do not have the financial means to put themselves through college and many do not have families who are in a position to help them. Because of this, more and more students are relying on loans awarded based on their responses to the FAFSA (Free Application For Student Aid). Loans awarded based on these responses are known as Stafford loans and there are two types. The first is unsubsidized, which we have already explained. The second type is subsidized, which we will look at further.

Subsidized Stafford loans are monies awarded to you as a student based on your personal financial need. This need is calculated from your responses to the FAFSA and take into account your current income level, your parents’ income (if you are under 24), the cost of the college or university you are attending, and the cost of living. Because these loans are based on financial need, interest is not charged until after your deferment period is over.

While subsidized Stafford loans are ideal, usually the amount available to you is less than what is available to you as unsubsidized. If you are able, however, it is better to accept more in subsidized loans than unsubsidized loans for the simple fact that you won’t have to worry about interest capitalizing while you’re in school.

To recap: Subsidized Stafford loans are loans granted based on financial need as determined through your responses to the FAFSA. Interest does not begin to accrue on these loans until after your six month deferment period. After this time, interest begins to accrue. Because these are basically interest-free loans, they are the best option as far as monies you have to pay back.

A Healthy Diet on a Low Budget

You are studying and you have to budget carefully. How will this affect your diet? Many of the most nourishing foods are inexpensive. What are they and how do you prepare a tasty meal?

Diet is the main contributor to your health and well-being. Your clarity of mind and energy levels are affected by what you eat. This does not mean your diet has to be complicated or expensive. Simple meals made with the right ingredients can provide you with all you need nutritionally. The clue to a good diet is to remember the body’s basic needs and to think whole meal.

Carbohydrates

This is what our bodies need most and the various foods that contain carbohydrates need to form the basis of a good diet. However, the provision of energy to the body through carbohydrates happens differently according to the qualities of the food. Fruits, whole grains, and vegetables are good carbohydrate providers. Carbohydrates are broken down in the body into sugar molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Fiber is not digested; it simply passes through the body and aids elimination. The speed at which the conversion takes place is what must be considered when writing a shopping list. All processed carbohydrates such as white bread, pastries, white sugar etc. are converted at a faster rate than carbohydrates which are unprocessed and contain fiber. It is the fiber that slows down the conversion rate and helps to provide you with an ongoing energy supply rather than a quick burst. Always make sure you have a good supply of fiber. If you prefer to eat white rice then make sure you eat whole meal bread as a balance, or whole grain cereals for breakfast. A packet of oats to prepare your own muesli mix is not expensive. Soak in fruit juice overnight and add grated apple and yogurt in the morning and you have a cheap and healthy breakfast that contains plenty of fiber and healthy carbohydrates. Another healthy and cheap addition to your breakfast, rich in good carbohydrates and fiber, is whole meal toasted bread. Although whole meal bread may be more expensive to buy than a loaf of sliced white bread, the whole meal option will last longer, provide more nutrition and energy and therefore see you less likely to be snacking during the day because your energy is flagging.

Protein

Most of our body is built on protein. The basic building blocks of protein are amino acids which are found in a variety of foods. Meat, fish, and dairy products provide the most complete combination of amino acids for the body. Vegetables, pulses and nuts are also good sources but if you are vegetarian you must ensure you eat a good variety of plant sources to provide all the amino acids needed by the body. The whole range of Soya products are good, from Soya milk, yogurt and tofu, many delicious meals can be prepared which have the added bonus of being low in fat. Whether vegetarian or not, on a low budget you may well be eating less meat and the addition of pulses such as lentils and beans is both healthy and cheap. The red Egyptian lentils are the easiest to use as they do not require overnight soaking. Hummus, which is made from garbanzos, can be spread on your whole meal bread and together with a salad provide a cheap, fast, and nourishing meal. When eating meat on a low budget first consider eating less. If you buy cuts for stewing and casseroles you do not need a lot as here you can also add beans and plenty of vegetables. Minced meat is also cheap and very diverse in its uses. One of my favorite meals, especially during the winter, is a lentil and root vegetable soup with the addition of small pieces of tofu, dipped first in Soya sauce and then fried. This is cheap and very nourishing with plenty of good carbohydrates, protein, and fiber.

Fats and Oils

It is not about how much fat you consume that constitutes a healthy diet but the quality. Avoid saturated fats and trans fats. Margarine is definitely out. Butter is better but you can try dribbles of olive oil, or if you are spreading peanut butter, hummus, or jam on your toast you do not really need butter as well. Olive oil, peanut oil, nuts, and avocados are all examples of good oils that will not adversely affect your health, quite the opposite. Remember to buy unrefined oil when you can. It is not the cheapest and is therefore to be used with moderation on a cheap budget but you will have enough cheap ingredients in your diet to allow spending a little more on food that is essential for your health. One solution to paying less is to club together with a group of friends and to buy larger quantities, which always comes cheaper. This can be done with other foods as well such as lentils, oats, spices, and all the pulses.

Fruit and vegetables

The list of benefits from eating more than five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is long. Some fruit and vegetables are more expensive than others. Find what is cheapest in your area and buy some staples such as carrots, apples, and cabbage, then add a few others for variety. The local market is probably a cheaper place to buy than a supermarket.

Drinks

Avoid sugary, fizzy drinks. Water and herbal teas are cheap and healthy. Hot milk and honey is a good warmer in winter and home-made lemonade is a great refresher in the summer. One of my favorite drinks which is also a good protein provider is Soya milk mixed with fruit juice.

Snacks

We all like snacks between meals and this is probably when the greatest temptation to eat junk food arises and rapidly depletes your budget. Make your own mixes with nuts and raisins, they are filling and healthy.

Jacques Derrida: A Short Biography

Poststructuralism and Deconstruction are what Jacques Derrida is known for best but who was the man behind these pivotal ideas? The philosopher who is most familiar to scholars in the area of Literary Criticism and who, together with Baudrillard and Foucault, has had a significant effect on recent thinking was adept at failing examinations as a young man. This is nothing new in the arena of budding geniuses.

He is in good company with other such original thinkers as Albert Einstein, C. G. Jung, and Foucault. The creative seed must be so busy flourishing that regular school work and entrance exams appear more as painful necessities than academic enrichment. He also suffered from anti-Semitic laws coming from the French Vichy government in 1942. Nevertheless, even the greatest of minds need fellow scholars to bounce their ideas against in an intellectual exchange and after failing his baccalaureate in June 1947 he spent a year reading the philosophers, Henri Bergson and Jean-Paul Sartre, and passed the exam in 1948. He failed and passed several exams while developing his theories on language and writing.

At this time Derrida was still living in Algiers, the place of his birth in 1930 to Sephardic Jewish parents. In the 50’s he went to France where he continued his studies in philosophy and began teaching philosophy at the Sorbonne in the 60’s after a period of study at Harvard university. Tel Quel was a left-wing magazine for which he began writing as well as for the journal, Critiqe, focussing on reviews of work on the nature of writing. The Tel Quel group of avant-garde theorists included the giants of post-modernism, Baudrillard, Foucault, Lyotard, Kristeva, and Barthes to mention a few distinguished names. In 1966 he gave a lecture at John Hopkins University entitled ‘Structure, Sign, and Play’. This marked his entry into international appreciation of his work. Having married in Boston in 1957, his wife, Marguerite gave birth to two sons in 1963 and 1967. It was during the same year as the birth of his second son that three of his books were published and which established his name. Those three books were seminal: Writing and Difference; Speech and Phenomena; Of Grammatology.

Always a traveler Derrida taught in Paris, California, New York and at several American Universities. He gave numerous interviews and was awarded honorary doctorates. See the Wikipedia entry for a comprehensive list of his engagements and awards.

Derrida’s understanding of the text is not limited to the written word as usually understood but is widened to include all that is the locus of the word, the logos that claims central authority. The concept of the inscribed body gave impetus to the emergence of Postfeminist theory in the work of Hélène Cixous and Julia Kristeva, and in Postcolonial theory through Gayathri Chakravarty Spivak who also wrote an impressive foreword to Of Grammatology. It is arguably in these areas that Derrida’s influence has been greatest in US academia.

On October 8th, 2004 Derrida died of pancreatic cancer in Paris. His work had sometimes been criticized as not being sufficiently rigorous and at times being deliberately obscure. My personal thought on this is that since his theory of deconstruction, which he described as a textual event and not a method, involves dissolving dichotomies into each other it may be that some, more traditional philosophers, found the questioning of fixed meanings and a logos whose center was found to be wandering, too much of a challenge in the phallocentric system they firmly adhered to.

Derrida attempted to live his life in an integrated manner that spurned dichotomies and he was practically involved in contributing to work against many social and political injustices.

Jacques Derrida is one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century and his work continues to creatively influence the work of many other scholars.

For further information on the work of Jacques Derrida here is good site which contains a link to bibliographies of texts and interviews by Derrida plus a page of links to transcripts of his interviews and talks in English, French, and German, and excerpts of his work.

Food for the Brain: The Omega Factors

Diet plays an important role in your levels of energy and the functioning of your brain. What you eat and how you eat, are important.

When eating during a busy day it is too easy to worry only about satisfying hunger. If this becomes a habit with little consideration for what is actually being put into the body then at some point soon performance will be affected. Mind and body are not separate entities but here I will look at the specific needs of the brain. After all, it is the vehicle of your intellect and this is your primary tool for studying.

Omega-3

Much has been said about Omega-3 in recent years but what is it actually? It is one of two essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce itself. Therefore it needs to be part of a healthy diet. For a very thorough description of Omega-3, and research done at a British school, see the link at the bottom of this article.

Omega-3 has been shown to be beneficial for a variety of ailments but the effect on brain cells has received less attention. As a lay person interested in healthy foods I prefer to make sure I get what my body and brain needs by eating healthily. Supplements are available but please be cautious about taking too many. Too much Omega-6, the other essential fatty acid, can even hinder the effects of Omega-3.

Sources of Omega-3

Omega-3 is found in oily fish such as sardines, tuna, salmon, and mackerel. Pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts also contain Omega-3 and these are all easy to use regularly by scattering a spoonful over your cereal or muesli at breakfast time, although flax seeds are better for the digestive system when ground beforehand. A few walnuts and pumpkin seeds taste good mixed in with a salad or simply combined with raisins as a snack. This is an easy and natural way to nourish your brain.

As a side note here, I was fascinated and delighted when I heard that walnuts are good for the brain because of their Omega-3 content. I remembered a so-called old wives tale which said that walnuts were brain food because their shape is similar to that of a brain. Ancient wisdom or simple observation?

General Considerations for a Healthy Diet

If you eat well so that your whole body is more energized and clear then you will also be more alert. Beware of trans-fatty acids that are found in margarine and as an ingredient in many processed foods. Make sure you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and do not always rely on meat for your protein. Soya and tofu are good alternatives and also contain some Omega-3. The B-vitamin complex is essential for the nerves and again, I prefer to get it naturally rather than in supplements. Unless you are lacking seriously in any vitamins or minerals it is sufficient to make sure you are eating good, organic, whole food as far as possible. Whole meal bread and additional wheat germ are good sources of vitamin B.

Enjoy Your Food

Eating as a pleasurable occasion relaxed and with friends, contributes as much to your wellbeing as the food you are eating so don’t feel you have to be over strict about your diet. Be sensible, care, and enjoy. A few small changes in diet can have a great effect on the way you feel.

How to Get the Most From Your Sleep

Being a full-time student is time consuming. You spend most of your daylight hours in class and most of your evening hours studying. Add in an internship or a part-time job and you may find yourself thinking of sleep as a thing of the past. You certainly are not alone in feeling this way. Numerous studies suggest that college students experience the highest level of sleep deprivation of any demographic of people. Far from being just annoyance, sleep deprivation has serious consequences, from impaired performance at school to serious health problems. Although you can’t change how busy you are and how much time you have to sleep, there are things you can do to make your sleep more productive.

Watch Your Caffeine Intake: As students, coffee and energy drinks are far from beverages of choice; for many they are a necessity. Most students consume at least two cups of coffee a day, with some even drinking upwards of three pots. While caffeine isn’t all that great for you, it can be beneficial if used at the correct times. A cup of coffee in the morning gets most of us going. It is a problem, however, if you consume caffeine too close to when you go to bed. Even though many people don’t have a problem falling asleep after a cup of coffee, the sleep you experience while caffeine is in your system tends to be interrupted and restless. Basically, the rule of thumb is this: try to stop drinking coffee two to three hours before you go to bed. Your sleep will be much more restful.
Take Power Naps: A power nap is a nap of between 15 and 30 minutes usually taken in the middle of the day. Studies suggest that power naps allow your body to rest enough to feel rejuvenated and energized for the remainder of the day. Be sure to stick to the time limit, though, as sleeping longer can have the opposite effect of making you groggy for the remainder of the day.
Keep a Consistent Schedule: Granted, not many students have the luxury of doing the same things at the same time every day, but try to go to bed and wake up around the same times, even on days when you don’t have much to do. This conditions your body and makes it sleep better when you rest than if you binge sleep (sleep 14 hours one day out of seven).
Get Plenty of Exercise: This doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym every day. Rather, try to make sure you get about ten to fifteen minutes of brisk walking in at some point during the day. For most students this isn’t a problem, as they must commute between classes. Regular exercise will help ready your body for productive sleep.

You don’t have to live with the bad effects of sleep deprivation if you pay attention to your body. Don’t let exhaustion hinder your academic career! Following the above tips should help you feel more rested, even on limited time.

Interest-Specific Student Organizations

For the past week, we have been talking about the benefits of membership to student organizations. We have glossed over nationally recognized organizations and major-based organizations, and today we will be looking at student organizations that are based on interest. These organizations can take many forms, from religious in nature based on a love of nature, and all are a great way for you to get involved with the student community at your college or university. While there are a myriad of organizations available, today we will look at some of the most popular types of interest-specific groups that exist on virtually every campus.

Humanitarian Groups: The thrust of these groups are–you guessed it–humanitarian efforts. This can take the form of Habitat for Humanity, in which groups of students work together to build housing for lower socio-economic members of their community, Anti-Racist Groups, Soup Kitchens, Women’s Shelters, Books for Prisoners, etc. Most of these student groups initiate contact with the national umbrella non-profit, but there are also groups that see a need in their community and create a group to fill that need (such as inner-city literacy programs).

Religious Groups: Members in these groups share a common religious identity and come together to create a community within their college or university for people who practice that religion. It is a safe bet that almost every religion represented on your campus has a student group of some sort.

GLBT Groups: Membership in these groups is based, but often not limited to, sexual preference. The aim of these groups is usually to create a safe community for people that identify as GLBT (Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transexual) and to raise awareness within the university setting.

Political Groups: These groups focus on a common political ideology and exist for all of them: from uber-conservative to radically liberal and everywhere in between. These groups tend to be very involved in student politics, but also in national and international policy, as well.

There are many other sorts of interest-specific groups on campuses around the world. If you have an interest, chances are you can find a group that shares your interest. Get involved!

Fear Of Not Fitting In With High School Students

Some people consider high school to be the best four years of their lives, while others choose to block out that timeframe from their memory altogether. Four years is a relatively big chunk of time so it is crucial that fear of not fitting in disappears within the first semester of freshman year. Probably the biggest piece of advice to be given to high school students is that there is no such thing as popularity, really. There is no such thing as social status in a world where everyone learns the same material, has the same homework to turn in, walks the same hallways, and is subject to the same consequences. Materialistic possessions and brand names are by no means the definition of happiness. Some people just come to that realization four years too late. Don’t be one of those people.

The key to “fitting in” is to build relationships, great ones. Not necessarily romantic relationships, just relationships with people that go deeper than a shared interest in the latest gossip. Taking part in clubs and sports is a sure way of meeting potential friends, fitting in (with them), and having a happy, healthy, high school life.

Nationally Recognized Academic-Based Student Organizations

Yesterday, we looked at began looking at student organizations. Today, in part one of our two-part series on nationally recognized student organizations, we will spend some time looking at the benefits of belonging to one or more national student organizations whose basis for admittance is grade point average, also known as GPA.

There are many of these organizations out there, and most seek out students in their early years of college for membership. For most, your cumulative GPA has to be above a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Really, this isn’t that hard to attain, and should you be contacted it is beneficial for you to join. Why? Because membership in academic-based nationally recognized student organizations has many advantaged both while you’re in college and beyond. Some of these benefits include:

Scholarship Opportunities
Special Career Opportunities
Access to lower-interest credit cards and loans through the organization
A great line-item on your resume or graduate school application
Networking opportunities with other organization members at your college or university

Some of these organizations ask for a one-time only membership fee. While this may seem like a waste of money, try to find the funds to join. Remember, membership in a nationally recognized organization gives you an advantage upon graduation and is well worth the price.

Is your GPA above a 3.3 and you have not been solicited for membership? If so, check out these popular organizations’ websites: Golden Key National Honor Society, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, or ask your college adviser for suggestions.

Enjoy a Foot Massage to Release Tension and to Relax

A foot massage is a very simple act and therein lies its beauty. Elegant and luxurious, definitely a good tool in stress management and the release of tension, and yet we pay so little attention to our feet that do so much good work for us.

Anatomy of the feet and ankles

The feet and ankles are very complex structures with twenty-four bones, that is a quarter of the bones in our body, thirty-three joints, and one hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Then of course you have the network of nerves and blood vessels. Our feet do a fantastic job of carrying our weight and transporting us around all day. They deserve a rest and they have earned a regular massage. A foot massage, although focusing on the feet, does have an effect on the whole body and there are massage techniques which use correspondences between areas of the foot and other body parts.

Massage techniques

Reflexology is a well know method that uses a correspondence map. In this method various areas of the feet correspond to zones of the body. Reflexology is not just about a pleasant foot massage, which it also is, but about using the feet as instrument of addressing problems in any part of the body. For a reflexology massage you need to visit a trained professional.

Shiatsu, which is normally a full body treatment, is based on the energy meridians of traditional Chinese medicine that also form the basis of acupuncture. It can also be done as a simple foot massage which would begin with massaging the soles and heel, stretching the toes and then paying attention to the meridian points. These are points along the twelve energy meridians by which the energy of that specific meridian is accessed. Several of these meridians begin or end in the foot. As each meridian expresses an energy particular to various body systems, Shiatsu on the feet can also have a full body effect. Again you would also need a professional practitioner for this kind of massage. However, a short introductory course, a familiarity with the meridians and points, and the aid of one of many of the do-it-yourself books on Shiatsu points and remedies will enable you to perform a simple massage on family and friends.

As a student you are on a budget and regular visits to a professional practitioner may not be realistic so here are some tips for giving a simple foot massage and sharing with friends. The first imperative is to always be sensitive. Feel the foot intuitively and do not massage too firmly or too lightly. You can practice on your own feet to get the right touch. Never press straight down on a bony or tense part of the foot and remember to respond to the receiver’s feedback. Make sure both giver and receiver are sitting comfortably, hold the foot in the palm of one hand and with the other bend the toes gently back and then forward to give them a stretch. Do the same with the whole foot to stretch the Achilles tendon. Now gently massage down between the metatarsals (long bones) of the forefoot that lead to the toes. A lot of tension can gather here so go carefully as it may be a sensitive spot. Then massage in semi-circular movements along the instep from heel to big toe. Usually it is possible to be firmer here as we are on a fleshier part of the foot. Next massage the sole of the foot with circular movements. Please try to be as intuitive as possible. Imagine you are the foot and how you would like to be held. Sudden, hard pressure straight down is not good. Move slowly and increase the pressure gradually. Finally hold the ankles and using fingers and thumb simply move around the ankle bone. Finish by stroking the whole foot downwards from ankle to toes. You can use the same technique to give yourself a foot massage.

The soul of the foot

No, that is not spelled incorrectly. I mean the soul and I mean in it in the sense that our feet are a part of ourselves that contain feeling and character. Our soles connect us to the ground beneath us, they feel the terrain and it is wonderful to walk barefoot along a beach or over soft grass. As a meditation exercise try to be aware of the energy of the earth through the soles of your feet. Or raise your arms high and imagine energy running from the sky down your arms and body, through the soles of your feet and into the ground.

Enjoy giving and receiving foot massage and reflect on the soul in your soles.

World mourns Pluto’s plight

PRAGUE: It’s smaller than Earth’s moon, has a funky way of orbiting the sun, and lurks so far out on the fringes of the solar system that even the powerful Hubble space telescope has to squint to see it.

Still, a day after it was stripped of its status as a planet, many, including astronomers and schoolchildren, are missing Pluto.

The widow of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto 76 years ago, says she is frustrated by the decision, but adds that Clyde would have understood. “I’m not heartbroken. I’m just shook up,” Patricia Tombaugh, 93, said in Las Cruces.

Clyde was 24 when he discovered Pluto while working at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1930. Reacting to the International Astronomical Union’s decision, Walt Disney Company spokesman Donn Walker, speaking of the animated dog by the same name, said, “Pluto is taking this news in stride and we have no reason to believe he might bite an astronomer.”

In the words of 15-year-old Quinn Huebner, “It’s one less planet to memorize”. Huebner was visiting the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, Washington, when he learned that Pluto was no longer a planet. However, Pluto’s demotion may spell confusion for learning the solar system.

“My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas.” This and variations on it has been ways millions of people memorized the names of the planets in the solar system.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. After Pluto was reclassified as a ‘dwarf planet’, how’ll kids learn the planets? Some possibilities:

Major Volcanoes Erupt, Making Jolts, Shaking, Unsteadying Nerves.

Mary’s Violet Eyes Make Jack Stare Until Noticed.

My Very Exotic Mistress Just Showed up Nude (perhaps this one is for college lads).

The planetary change also spells trouble for science museums. The National Air and Space Museum, for example, has a popular song called “The Family of the Sun”, set to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”, that children love and which helps them learn the planets.

Spokesman Mike Marcus said a decision on rewriting it has not been made yet.