The Goldendragon Chronicles

The Greatest Gift of All

2011-12-03T01:03:00.001-05:00

Light It Up Blue

2011-03-08T22:57:00.000-05:00

World Autism Awareness Day is coming up on Saturday, April 2, and it’s going to light up the world in blue! Light It Up Blue is an easy way to raise awareness about autism and be part of a worldwide movement to show your support for the autism community. Sign the pledge to raise autism awareness at Autism Speaks.

Participating in Light It Up Blue is simple - just sign the pledge to do things like wear blue clothing, feature the Light It Up Blue logo on your Facebook profile, or write a blog posts about the event.

Mild Autism - Gaining An Understanding of Mild Autism

2011-02-21T12:42:00.000-05:00

Autism is one of the most misunderstood situations that a child could deal with. Those overly do suffer a vague understanding of the understanding could often assume that it easily is in its severe form. In actuality, autism comes in different forms including a less impactful but no moderated serious manner.

Mild Autism

This variant of autism is able to be identified a form of mild autism. When a child suffers for mild autism, the impact is still severe because it will dramatically burn the way the child can employ in his life activities. That is why a better arrangement of the condition is needed. What exactly is autism? Autism can be defined as a very misunderstood cognitive disorder that does require professional treatment in order to overcome.

Specifically, this is a condition where brain development is marred and the child (or, in some cases, the adult) will be limited in the way he/she will interact or communicate with others. Often, the behavior of a child with autism will embody a restricted and withdrawn attitude towards others and their environment. There are many different signs and symptoms of autism. The most common symptoms would be impairment with speech, communications, social interactions, and behavioral patterns that are oddly repetitious.

With severe forms of autism, such behavior will be extremely severe and indicative through extreme withdrawal from social interactions. With the mild form of the condition, the symptoms would not be as pronounced although they would definitely be quite clear and visible. Generally, the problems related to autism are most evident when the afflicted person is a child and mild autism will sometimes dissipate as the child grows into adulthood. However, there are clear instances where autism remains well into adulthood.

Regardless of whether the individual's condition is considered severe or mild autism is irrelevant. Anyone who is showing signs of autism will need to undergo treatment for the condition. This is very important for a child suffering from mild autism or the severe form of the condition to be provided with the proper treatment that can help alleviate the condition.

Some parents may become nervous at this suggestion because they may assume that treatment involves the use of psychotropics. Thankfully, with mild autism, it is possible to treat the conditional behaviorally and avoid the trapping of psychiatric drugs. Counseling, therapy, behavior modification, and special education programs will be required in order to reverse the impact of autism in a child.

Through the step-by-step process of altering the child's ability and comfort to interact with others, the impact of autism can be reversed. Of course, this may take quite a bit of time since the condition is a serious one. No one is inferring there are easy cures and patience will be required for noticeable results to occur. Don't let your child suffer anymore! Lead your child out of his world through Mild Autism program now!

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/mild-autism-gaining-an-understanding-of-mild-autism-1604517.html

Savannah Georgia - America's Most Haunted City

2011-02-21T11:21:00.000-05:00

In 2003, the American Institute of Paranormal Psychology named Savannah America's Most Haunted City. And Savannah is able to support the title. Ghosts, apparitions or paranormal activities have been reported at many of Savannah's inns, restaurants, private residences, and of course, cemeteries.

There are many magnificently restored buildings nestled around Savannah's twenty-one squares. Many of these buildings are stately homes supposedly still occupied by former owners. James Habersham has been known to roam around the Olde Pink House, now a restaurant, but formerly his home. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, was born and raised in Savannah. Her parents, long deceased, are said to still roam Juliette's childhood home.

Savannah's Sorrel-Weed House, visited by The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) in 2005 as part of their SciFi Ghost Hunters Halloween special, is supposedly haunted. The story goes that Mrs. Weed caught her husband in a compromising position with one of the Weed's many slaves. Mrs. Weed, very distraught, ran back to her second-floor bedroom. After a long argument with her husband, she either threw herself (or was thrown) to her death from a second floor balcony. Soon after Mrs. Weed's death, the slave found with Mr. Weed was found hung in her slave quarters. Both women are said to be still roaming the grounds.
The Hampton-Lillibridge House was said to be so haunted, that Jim Williams (of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" fame) had an exorcism performed at this former boarding house. On countless occasions, residents and passersby have heard the sound of jazz coming from inside the home.

The Kehoes were a very prominent family in Savannah, as Mr. Kehoe owned the ironworks on the riverfront. The Kehoes built this fireproof, all-iron home and lived there with their 10 children. The Kehoe's heirs sold the house in 1930 and the property changed hands many times to include use for 65 years as the Goette Funeral Home. It is now a beautiful bed and breakfast where many of its visitors report supernatural occurrences such as a woman screaming, a nurse shushing visitors, the Lady in White making appearances, and several instances involving ghosts of children.

The list goes on and on!

So, what is it about Savannah that makes it so attractive to ghosts and ghost stories? Many people start with the fact that Savannah is literally built on its dead. Savannah was the first city in Georgia founded in 1733. It was established in the same location as the Creek and Choctaw maintained their burial grounds.

As the colony began to grow and thrive, it needed more room. Buildings were erected on the burial plots of the original colonists. Tombstones in cemeteries were moved to make room for sidewalks and roads. Places of worship were erected on the graves of slaves.

Second, Savannah has a very violent history. Many bloody battles and skirmishes were fought in Savannah. One of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution, the Siege of Savannah, where about 1200 men lost their lives in one hour, was fought in Savannah.

Also, the city has been victim to many city-wide fires, at least two yellow-fever epidemics and several hurricanes.

Third, Savannah has been a major port city since the days of King Cotton, so many a sailor has ventured through Savannah spinning a romantic tale or two.

Fourth, Savannahians are (proudly) an eccentric bunch, as were their ancestors, which adds history and volume to the ghost stories.

Lastly, I blame the large amounts of Spanish moss hanging from the majestic oak trees. The blankets of moss look like ghostly shrouds and give the entire region an eerie look.

Whatever the reason, the ghost stories are endless, earning the Savannah the right to the title of America's Most Haunted City.

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Deb Bunting is an accountant who makes her home in Oklahoma City. She is an avid traveler with special interest in historical places. Visit her site at www.loveofsavannah.com.

Reflections

2011-02-21T10:32:00.000-05:00

1. Hongkong skyscrapers, 2. pink bridge & reflection, 3. Halong Bay karst mountains, 4. Wright Park lagoon

Lady Antebellum Captures Song of the Year at the Grammy's

2011-02-14T00:37:00.000-05:00

Country music trio Lady Antebellum (Charles Kelley - lead and background vocals; Dave Haywood - background vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin; and Hillary Scott - lead and background vocals) brought home four of five Grammy nominations for their song "Need You Now" . The group won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Country Song! Released in 2009, "Need You Now" has been raking accolades last year from various awards bodies. This year's achievement is an icing on the cake for the song's captivating lyrics and melody. Among other nominees that included Eminem's "Recovery", "Need You Now" lost to Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs" for the Best Album of the Year,

Once Upon a Summer Trek

2011-01-31T11:43:00.001-05:00

We traveled along great dry plains and barren mountains. The day was hot and humid but we took comfort from the fact that we were traveling on an air-conditioned vehicle. Besides, the drive to Datong, Shanxi revealed more interesting land formations to ogle at than taking much notice of the summer heat. We passed through valleys and rolling hills, dried-up rivers and mud-walled villages - all the while wondering how people survive the rugged terrains and harsh weather in these parts of China. We never have known much, I guess, about the co-existence of man and nature around here, because as we traveled inland, life was vibrant amidst the cornfields, among the many varieties of crops propping up from the seemingly dry and infertile soil.

Life was dynamic in its ruggedness and simplicity as lived by the villagers along our path, by the farmers in mud and straw and brick houses and those whose houses built from the same dry earth on which they squat, by the shepherds who could barely find a grazing green patch for their herds, the coal miners on their three-wheeled trucks causing traffic on an otherwise empty freeway, and common folks going about their daily tasks. We reached Guangling by mid-afternoon where we had most of the challenging part of our decision to go off-the-beaten path as trainers for the Amity Summer English Program.

It all started when we learned that we were to teach around three hundred middle school students on top of the forty or so middle school teachers who were registered for the program. The administration had a summer program prepared ahead of us that was totally different from what we expected, that was to train middle school teachers from countryside schools on their oral English and somehow expose them to innovative methodologies in language teaching. Theirs was a summer English program for incoming freshmen and second year students, complete with name tags and dialogue booklets. We were astounded! The fact that there were no middle school teachers from the outlying villages in the registry but mostly active and inactive teachers from the two middle schools in the county made the situation even more suspicious.

At the end, after a week of negotiations and a couple of calls from Amity, the administration started to cooperate with us, grudgingly. We had two classes of middle school teachers in the morning working on 'relationships', 'daily life' and TALLT and in the afternoons, we had an hour of discussions on topics about 'our country' with the teachers and an hour with the students. Saturday afternoons were used for the students' English corners. Since there were less than forty middle school teachers who actually came to our classes, two trainers teamed up for each class. Of course, it was a waste of resources, but we had to drive the idea that the administrators' expectations about the whole program were way too farfetched from the Amity mission and that our flexibility had its limits. The stressed out relationship between the team and the administration eased a little, but day in day out, as we went about our business, implementing our plans was at times difficult because even little things like using the audio-visual room seemed to be an issue. We were glad we never had to make a track on whose turn it was to give and take, although we were caught off handed twice when we were told to do things in exchange of the trips we had earlier.
And trips, they were a respite to both team and administrators. For the administrators, it was a time for them to share the wealth of their culture and show us a glimpse of ancient Chinese civilization. For the team, traveling around and outside the county provided a chance to marvel at the grandeur of God's creation - in the vast arid lands where life seemed to be an impossibility yet possible, in the eerie rocky mountains where temples were perched and Buddhist monks managed their affairs before the eyes of unexpected guests, in the simple abode of a farmer-paper cutting artist who kindly opened his house for us to see his craft, in the ancient temples and numerous caves that showcased man's creativity and the lifestyles of rulers and common folks in ancient times, and in the simple folks we met in our travel into the off-the-beaten path.

Literally and figuratively, treading on the off-the-beaten path had always been a challenge. Sometimes, just being on the track was quite an achievement. The path maybe rugged and winding sometimes but it presented lots of learning experiences, revealing new things and rediscovering the old. And so it was with our brief encounter with the town folks of Guangling and the people in and around the school where we were billeted. While it was true that there was a friction between the team and the administrators, we had a good time with our students, both the middle school teachers and the high school students - from whom we learned that people anywhere have similar aspirations and dreams and that the way we see life and living are universally the same.
As forerunners in a new site, we consider our mission fulfilled, wishing that those who tread the track behind us will walk the path and will not stumble. Sometimes, the path may not be the same path one wants to travel, but knowing that other people are treading the same course somewhere, growing in the love of God - makes one feel comfortable and at home on the off-the-beaten path.

Search and Live

2011-01-31T11:20:00.000-05:00

Here, I set my eyes on the net
seeking answers to questions
the artificial mind can google,
some trivial, some profound
- inquiries that border
from the obvious to the absurd,
sifting lies from truths,
trying to make some sense
from the tons of search results
to a simple question.
I punch on my keyboard and surf,
hoping somehow somewhere
inside this tube
I see some light to my inquest
so that when I finally stand and leave,
I know I haven't come only to search
but also to live.

Cooking Asian Food

2010-04-06T22:34:00.000-04:00

Asian cooking can generally be classified into several categories on the basis of the regional styles of cooking and the people and culture of those regions. Some of the main categories of Asian food are East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, Central Asian and Middle Eastern. In common usage however, Asian food (also referred to as Asian cuisine) primarily includes South and Southeast Asian cuisine. The main countries that constitute this region are India, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma etc.

Chinese food is generally considered to be East Asian food, even though China stretches from across mid-Asia to the Far East. Rice is the most important staple through most of China. In some regions however, noodles are preferred to rice. Most foods are prepared by mincing or cooking, and are cooked in a wok, using very little oil. Traditionally, there are eight main regional cuisines in China: Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan and Zhejiang. The three distinct regional cuisines however, are Shanghainese – characterized by hot and spicy chilly pepper flavoring, Cantonese – associated with flavorful meat and vegetable combinations, and Mandarin – associated with steamed noodle and bread dumplings.

Since Japan is an island nation, much of its food includes fish and fish-based ingredients. Rice and sliced, salted vegetables are staples in Japanese cooking. Soy products such as soya sauce, soya paste and tofu are also used in many Japanese preparations. Japanese cuisine also includes sushi, meats in teriyaki sauce, lightly battered and fried meat and fish, as well as shellfish called tempura. Japanese food is healthy, tasty and simple to cook. It is low-fat, low-cholesterol, and well-known for reducing heart-related diseases.

While different parts of India are known for their different cultural backgrounds, they are also known for their different flavors and cuisines. Vegetarian food includes khakra and dhokla from Gujarat, daal-baati-choorma from Rajasthan, the Kashmiri dum-aloo, as well as dosas and kesari bhaat from South India. Non-vegetarian delicacies, especially the tandoori kind, were especially devised for the Nawabs of India. The saffron-flavoured reshmi kebab, and the lime juice and garlic marinated fish tikka serve as delectable appetizers in combination with the yoghurt-marinated chicken sheek kebab. Tandoori food is the perfect evidence of the richness of India’s cultural diversity and royalty.

Asian recipes were casually shared among the womenfolk in Asia, who generally got together after a long day’s work, to discuss the day’s events. Many of these recipes were guarded as important family secrets and carefully passed down from one generation to another. Thai food is a blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Myanmar, Khmer, Laotian and to a lesser extent, Portuguese cuisines. It is a harmonious blend of indigenous spices. Malaysian cuisine consists of fish, seafood, vegetables and poultry, though beef is conspicuously absent. It is usually spicier than Chinese food. Indonesian cuisine is also known for its unique blend of sweet and sour spiciness. Asian cooking has enormous potential in modern times, as Asian food chains are springing up all over the world very rapidly, and are also enjoying immense popularity.

About Author: Silvia Blach. Asian Food Recipes is an online Asian recipes and cooking website offering plenty of free Asian cooking recipes and cooking tips.

ADD – What are the Symptoms?

2010-04-05T14:11:00.000-04:00

Attention deficit disorder is a condition that’s characterized by behavioral & learning disorders. This disease is generally diagnosed in children & mostly affects boys than the girls. This disease tends to linger on in adulthood in some cases.

Hyperactivity, distractibility & impulsivity are some of the most common characteristics found in children with ADD. This makes children difficult to perform a task assigned to them or concentrated on some of the important aspects of conversations.

ADD is a neurobiologically-based developmental disability that usually affects children.
The actual cause of this disease is not known. However, many researches have proved that the disease is caused due to the genetic transmission of the condition from parents to the children. This can be also a result of a type of chemical imbalance or deficiency of some important neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are actually chemicals that help the brain regulate the behavior of an individual. According to a recent study, it has been proved that the rate at which the brain uses glucose, the main energy source is lower in people suffering from ADD as compared to individuals not suffering without ADD.

Some of the symptoms of inattention in this disease include inattention, hyperactivity & impulsivity. Some of these symptoms due to in attention include conditions such as facing difficulty in sustaining attention in certain tasks & activities, not able to listen when spoken to directly, indulging in careless mistakes in school activities & forgetting certain tasks in daily activities.

Some of the symptoms faced by patients with ADD due to hyperactivity include fidgets with hands, squirms in seat, fidgeting with feet, running about or climbing excessively in situation where it is not required.

Other symptoms include facing trouble in playing or engaging in leisure activities & excessive talking. Patients with ADD may also suffer from impulsivity that include blurting out answers way before the question are completed in tempting in a conversation & facing difficulty in waiting for their turn.

Some people even face difficulty in remaining seated for a long time. Here are some other symptoms of ADD:

a) Facing excessive difficulty in following instructions.

b) Shifting from one uncompleted task to another.

c) Facing difficulty in playing quickly.

d) Talking excessively.

e) Forgetting things that are important for tasks or activities

f) Eagerness in participating in dangerous activities without knowing consequences.

g) Easy distraction by extraneous stimuli.

h) Unable to follow daily tasks.

i) Difficulty in organizing activities.

j) Avoiding important tasks & assignments.

k) Feeling & acting restless.

Once it is confirmed that an individual is suffering from ADD & all the symptoms confirm this, it is important to take immediate medical attention.

Meet an expert medical practitioner & follow all the instructions provided by him or her. You also need to go for medication as prescribed by your health care practitioner. This will help you cure this disease promptly & effectively.

It is also important to provide adequate social support to the patient to help him come out of this situation. Remember that it is a joint effort of the health care practitioner, the individual, people around him & medication that work towards the cure of this condition.

About Author: Bertil Hjert For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about ADD-ADHD please visit ADD-ADHD NEWS

Basic Digital Photography - The Old Rules Still Apply

2010-04-05T11:43:00.000-04:00

For the majority of us, taking photographs is a rather "informal" event. We spend minimal time posing our subjects, setting up the shot, adjusting the lighting, and so forth. However, understanding some of the basics of digital photography and taking just a bit of time prior to pressing the button can greatly improve the quality of the pictures we create.

Digital cameras introduced two great features into our world. One is the ability to delete pictures and try again. Beginning photographers need to experiment and practice. Digital cameras allow us to do this inexpensively. The second great feature is the ability to edit after the fact. However, the editing function is not unlimited and should not be used as a crutch; getting the shot right in the first place is still much more effective in creating quality images.

Most of the traditional rules for creating pictures still apply with digital photography. What makes a good photograph is the same. Good photography is a topic of considerable study but for now a brief discussion about just a handful of tips that will make the most immediate improvement for the true novice is sufficient.

Avoid blurry pictures by keeping a steady camera. Tripods are of course excellent for this purpose but aren't always handy or available. Without a tripod, you can grasp the camera in a manner that is comfortable for you; using two hands offers the best stability. Steady the camera by holding your arms next to your body with your elbows in close to your chest or stomach. You can brace yourself by keeping your feet apart or leaning against a wall, tree, or other object when possible.

Don't be afraid to set up the shot. When working with people as subjects, it is easy to direct them for a better picture. When looking at the LCD you can see basically how the shot is set up. Would the shot be better if the subjects in a group stepped in closer together, if they removed their sunglasses, if they turned slightly, or looked over your shoulder versus straight into the camera? You are the director and can make alterations at that point.

Another element of setting up the shot is to use an uncluttered background. If a person is the subject of your picture you want to eliminate all the other “distractions” in the surrounding area. A lot of background activity and other objects can take away from your intended subject. Sometimes just repositioning a bit and stepping in closer can help achieve a better background as well.

Another general rule is to take pictures at the eye level of the subject. In other words, your view angle should not be from above or below. This allows much more detail, the ability to see expression, emotion, personality, and so forth. This doesn't necessarily mean that the subject must look directly into the camera however.

When shooting people, animals, and wildlife it is usually best to move in close. Closer shots can dramatically improve your results. In some instances stepping in closer is not an option but in these instances you can use zoom to come in closer to the subject. Too close is 3 feet or less, this kind of proximity can result in blurry pictures. Special lenses are used for ultra up close photography.

Lighting is probably the most critical factor in image quality and it will be discussed in greater detail in a later article. For now it will suffice to say that mid-day often does not produce the best pictures. The lighting is harsh, it creates shadows, and it can alter the colors you are trying to capture. In general, you want the sun behind you but you need to be sure your shadow is not in the picture! When shooting people you also need to be sure that the sun is not forcing them to squint.

These are just a few of the most basic tips for creating the kind of images you want. To master these concepts practice is critical but the happy news is that they don't really require a great deal of time or require any additional equipment and expense.

About Author: For more basic tips about using your digital camera be sure to take advantage of the information at homemedias.info, the author's home electronics store.

How to Learn the Chinese Language.

2010-04-05T11:22:00.000-04:00

The desire to learn Chinese is an admirable one, although it can be rather frustrating at times. This is because of the fact that Chinese is such a complex language. Unlike English and Spanish, many people have a difficult time picking up on Chinese as quickly as they might wish because the structure of the language is so different from what people are used to. For this reason, having the best Chinese language program available as a method of learning the language the right way is important. There are many products out there that promise miraculous results, but it is important to remember that learning a language takes time.

Consider the fact that you didn't learn to speak English in just three months, so why should Chinese be any different? In order to have a solid grasp of the language, finding the right program is important, and everybody has different learning styles. Chinese is not about letters and syllables, but characters that have a meaning. As such, learning Chinese is about understanding how to decipher these characters as well as quick memorization. What is the best way to go about learning these things?

For some people, college level courses are the best Chinese language program. This is great for those who are already enrolled and want to add a foreign language to their current study schedule. Often times, financial aid will pay for these classes as well so there is no reason why it shouldn't be done in this way for those that can make it happen.

What about those who aren't enrolled in a college, or whose college does not offer a Chinese language program? This is where a private tutor can come into play. Private tutoring is not cheap by any means, but for those that require one on one attention, private tutoring as a method for picking up on Chinese as a second language is a great option.

Another great method of learning Chinese is through computer programs or fluency programs. These are awesome for many people that can't afford college courses or private tutors, or those who would prefer to learn at their own pace and when they find it convenient. Life often gets in the way of doing the things we want to do, quickly replacing them with the things that we must do. Programs like Rocket Chinese and others allow people to learn at their own pace, when they have the time, and when they can focus and dedicate their attention to the task at hand.The best Chinese language program for you depends on how you learn the best and what you can afford. Try out a few different things if necessary, and see which ones work best for your needs.

About Author: Noel Lillis contributes regularly to the popular blog Best-Language-Learning.Com.

Building a Photographic Portfolio

2010-03-26T22:15:00.000-04:00

When you start looking for photography jobs and assignments, the first thing your client wants to see is some samples of your photography work. These samples collected together are called a portfolio. Your first step to making money from your photography is building a credible portfolio of your best work. There are several ways that you can do this.

Working at a non-profit charitable event: Non-profit charitable events are great experience and you will give you the chance to collect a lot of good photographic samples from these events for your portfolio. You may not get paid but you will gain a lot of experience and you will get some good shots.

Voluntary work: you can volunteer for some jobs and do them free just to build up your experience and portfolio. I have done free photography for bands in he past and had a real good time doing it.

Collecting some of your best shots together: As you take photos you can save some of your best to put in your portfolio. When photography is your hobby you will find many places to take pictures. I like to pick a theme and develop some photography shots on that theme. For example I live near the sea, so I would go to the beach and take loads of pictures, then when I get home sort the best ones out. Then do some photoshop enhancements to the pictures. But would be editing through to find the best ones so that I can use in my portfolio.

Taking some pictures of family and friends events: This is great way to learn how to take photos of people. You can take pictures at family or friends events and keep a few for your portfolio, also they make great gifts to give to them. This will also give you good experience to perfect your skills and this will look good in the portfolio.

It is important to know just what area of photography you will be specializing in before you start to build your portfolio. Once you have decided this you can then start to build up a good collection of photo portfolio samples relevant to the type of photography you are into. It is good to show off your range of skills as a photographer. Take different photos from different angles and really show that you can master the different lighting set ups.

Make sure that you present your portfolio extremely well. Put your photos in nice looking portfolio folder that shows your professionalism. You can create a slick laptop presentation and show them off in style. A good idea would be to design a logo or think about creating a brand for yourself. So you can use this on all your photo samples, website and promotional material.

Your portfolio is critical to your photography business. Make sure that you take care to prepare it very well. It is your first introduction to your clients and first impressions are lasting ones. Your portfolio is also the means that your prospective clients will know that they can trust you to take fantastic pictures for them. You need to make your portfolio stand out from the rest. So the more time you take grooming the portfolio the better. Build confidence and trust in your prospective client.

About the Author. Gordon Powles is a Graphic Design Graduate and the founder of Gordon Powles-Media (http://www.gordonpowles-media.com) a design consultancy that specialises in Graphic Design and Promotional Marketing. With over fifteen years experience in the Graphic Design arena working for a variety of blue-chip and small business helping them to achieve their business goals. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Building a Photographic Portfolio

Education Options for Children With Special Needs

2010-03-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

A child with special needs and learning disabilities is someone who is different developmentally and formatively from normal children. This is either due to a physical, mental, or emotional handicap, a formative delay, or a particular learning disability.

Nowadays, a lot of educational allowances are accessible to families in order to assist them with the extraordinary costs of giving special educational or related services to children with special needs. This, very often could include a very gifted child with certain physical and mental disabilities.

Assessment of developmental problems

Kids with developmental problems are entitled to educational evaluations as part of the medical clearance process. No sooner has it been suspected than parents ought to describe the child's developmental problems on their medical history form.

This is so that evaluation and treatment plans of the childs educational needs may be devised early in the child's life. Experts, with special education degrees, in the field emphasize the importance of early intervention.

Children with learning problems ought not to be considered abnormal. They just have a different way for handling information. The solution lies in parents and teachers finding out what the childs processing system is as it helps the kids compensate with their strengths. Since developmental problems affect several aspects of a child's physical and psychological health, oftentimes the assessments are extensive.

The assessment of a child having trouble in school could include an educational evaluation as well as the special needs of a child such as speech, hearing, and neurological examinations, plus a series of psychiatric interviews.

Processing a child's developmental problem

If developmental problem is suspected when parents are abroad, the family should have the child examined by a Regional Medical Officer, Regional Psychiatrist, or Nurse Practitioner. Parents also ought to get written reports from a school so that the problem can be fully understood.

It is unlikely that a full assessment will be completed immediately. The complications of the issues often call for a multi-specialty approach. This is why evaluations are usually done. However, a medical evacuation is not normally required.

After the assessment is done, the child will be cleared to return to post. Then the school at post will have the benefit of the childs specific educational recommendations in trying to develop a program for the child. However, before the child is cleared for an onward post, a letter from the proposed new school will is required.

When making a clearance decision for the child, assessors and the Medical Division often consider the appropriateness of boarding school placement or home study options or online special education courses.

About the Author. Kevin Pederson writes content for learning pulse a website that offers valuable information on special education for gifted children and recognizing signs of learning disability. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Education Options for Children With Special Needs

Must See Places in Asia

2010-03-25T10:09:00.000-04:00

The Lodge of Nature Cultivation, Forbidden City

Featuring outstanding blend of ancient culture and rich history, Asia is an ideal place to gratify every traveler's dreams and expectations. Myriad of incredible and infinite places of interests are scattered all through the continent and you can find almost everything in this part of the world. Whether you wish to take pleasure in countless of beach activities, or want a break from your busy schedule to enjoy pristine natural beauty of thick forests, Asia is right here for you. Explore top tourist destinations in Asia, meet different people, get acquainted with diverse culture, and enrich your knowledge.

Asia is also the home to the deities of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. People of different religious faiths are living in concert and you will be amazed to see the communal harmony regardless of villages or cities. Thousands of spectacular Architectural wonders as well as astounding sacred places like the Great Wall of China, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, the Tajmahal, Golden Temple, and Kiyomizu Temple make Asia alluring to the travelers. Asia is also the place where you can satisfy your palate with array of mouthwatering delicious foods.

The Great Wall of China: Being one of the seven wonders in the world, The Great Wall of China is a must visiting place in Asia. This architectural wonder, considered as the pride of China, was constructed in the 3rd century BC, during the Qin Dynasty. It is told that the wall is the only human creation in the earth which is visible from the moon. The wall has got an imposing length of 3,948 miles. A trip to the Great Wall of China would surely be one of the memorable experiences that you would cherish for the rest of your life.

Ha Long Bay: Are you tired of busy and monotonous schedule, and planning for a trip to the heart of the nature? Ha Long Bay could be the perfect choice for you. This is one of the must see places in Asia and has been recognized as World Heritage site by UNESCO. Positioned in the Hanoi, this bay embraces a massive 3000 islands. The panorama is simply breathtaking.

Taj Mahal, Agra: Nestled in the romantic and historic city of Agra, the Taj Mahal is the symbol of eternal love. The architecture is renowned for its immaculate beauty and highly acclaimed all over the world. The Taj is mausoleum of Mumtaj, wife of mogul emperor Shahjahan. UNESCO has recognized it as one of the World Heritage sites.

Forbidden City, China: Centrally located in Beijing, China, the Forbidden City is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This imperial Kingdom in China was functional during the period of Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Featuring stunning art work, this time-honored Chinese palatial architecture is presently maintained by the Palace Museum. This astounding architecture encompasses 720,000 square meter of area and comprised of 8,707 bays of rooms.

Floating Markets in Thailand: Are you a shopping buff, and love to visit the best shopping destinations in the world? If the answer is yes, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the floating markets in Thailand. The country is known as the 'Venice of the East' and the floating markets are truly unique in its category. Damnoen Saduak (Klong Lat Phli) and the Tha Kha Floating market are among the most popular markets where you can enjoy shopping at its best.

About the Author. Mark Smith / Prem is an associate editor for the site www.youmustsee.com . It is committed to providing visitors with complete information on must see places of Asia, Europe, Africa and America. Also find information about Caribbean islands, Caribbean Cruises, milford sound cruise, djavolja varos and much more in the entire World. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Must See Places in Asia

Learning A New Language Makes The World Seem Smaller

2010-03-24T19:55:00.000-04:00

The Internet is becoming a massive force in the lives of many people around the world. It is used to connect to the world at large, to communicate for the purposes of business, family, and friendships, as well as to find entertainment. The Internet is quickly replacing the television as the preferred medium of entertainment around the world as well as opening doors to new cultures, ideas, and beliefs as well as new opportunities.

As a result of this, we've seen an abundance of people interested in learning new languages as they meet friends and build relationships across the cultural and language barriers that once seemed so much larger than they are today. With the global community literally at your fingertips it is great to know that you can get free language lessons online or that you can easily find courses and books to help you skill up in a foreign language, regardless of its popularity across the Globe. You'd be amazed to find out how many sites offer such great services for free. Not only are these lessons free, but you can also find programs that offer fun matching games, flash cards, and word game worksheets to help you build your skills.

Not only will you learn the basic vocabulary of other languages, but also how to improve your existing vocabulary skills in your own language. You will study language arts activities, pronouns, adjectives, and common slang terms of the language you are studying. You will be able to travel with the ease of a native without the worry of needing translations of road signs and simple instructions thanks to flash cards, and free language lessons online.

When used alone, the results of this will be slow and not provide a comprehensive learning experience, but when you combine the power of such an interactive site with your other language courses, you will be amazed at how quickly your progress and even advance in your studies. Play games designed to improve vocabulary while receiving a top-notch foreign language education. In fact, you have the ability to teach yourself at your own pace and learn far more than you would ever learn in a traditional classroom. It is well known that learning through entertainment is the easiest and most effective way of dealing with any given subject, even more so with a foreign language, since it requires a lot of assimilation to be done.

After completing your lessons you should be able to speak your new language like a native while having a better understanding of how your own language works. Perhaps what you learn about yourself and the language you know already is worth just as much if not more than the priceless gift of learning a new language and opening a window to the world.

About the Author. Michael Gabrikow. Increase your foreign language vocabulary at http://www.InternetPolyglot.com by playing online games. The site contains thousands of lessons in different languages from English, Spanish, French, Russian to Hindi, Turkish, Ukrainian and many others. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Learning A New Language Makes The World Seem Smaller

In the Name of Our Ancestors

2010-03-24T00:16:00.000-04:00

Mountain of Rice, originally uploaded by Storm Crypt.

One thousand five hundred meters above sea level, Igorot villages lie in a sprawl of lush forests, pine thickets and rice terraces. This photo by Storm Crypt of the Banaue Rice Terraces represents the hardiness of the Igorots - from the Ifugaos to the Bontocs to the Ibalois and the Kankanaeys - who, through the centuries have skillfully carved the mountains with primitive equipments, leaving a legacy that's beyond the engineering prowess of our generation.

Savannah

2010-03-23T10:48:00.000-04:00

Downtown Savannah provides a glimpse of old America with its vintage homes and streets. Just about every block has a history of its own. Prominent landmarks are the Colonial Cemetery, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the 24 squares, the Massie School, SCAD, River Street, City Market and many more. Built in 1733 by Gen. James Oglethorpe, Savannah's preserved aesthetic beauty attracts tourists from all over the country.

I wish I Were A Bird

2010-03-23T10:20:00.000-04:00

Perched, originally uploaded by Rex Pe.

"I wish I were a bird," so, the flying nun dreamed and be able to see the world from the top. Unfortunately for her, she was given the chance but she didn't. She lifted off the ground and was overcome with shock and fear. Now, she wished she could have flown.

Traditions and Culture of the Philippines

2010-03-19T12:50:00.000-04:00

The culture of the Philippines has been greatly influenced by the migrants that have come to this island nation throughout time. Most of the people that call themselves Filipinos actually descend from Austonesian tribes that most likely migrated from Taiwan to the Philippines thousands of years ago. It is suspected that the first Filipinos were related to the Ami Tribe.

There are at least fifteen ethnic groups that currently call the Philippines home. These groups include: the Tagalogs, the Moro, the Bicolanos, the Igorot, the Mangyan, the Chabacano, the Ivantan, the Visayan, the Ilocanos, the Kapampangans, the Pangasinese, the Lumad, the Ibanag, the Badjao and the Palawan tribes. Each of these tribes has a unique set of traditions, beliefs and languages. However, while languages vary from tribe to tribe the official languages of the Philippines are English and Filipino. These languages are used for trade and business, and tribal languages are used for private communications between tribe members, religious ceremonies and leisure communications.

The culture of the Philippines is made up of several religions. However, the majority of this nation is Roman Catholic. If fact Catholics make up 81 percent of the Filipino population. Other religions practiced in the Philippines include Protestantism, Islam and local tribal religions.

The culture of the Philippines has been influenced by a number of outside cultures. One of the most influential cultures on the Filipinos was the Hispanic culture. Hispanics introduced Roman Catholicism to this country. They also influenced the development of Filipino music, folk art, dance and food. The Chinese also influenced the culture of the Philippines. However, their influence was mostly on Filipino cuisine. Their influence can be seen in the used of noodles in Filipino dishes.

Learn about the culture and art of the Philippines including Filipino sculptures, antique carvings and clay pottery - Filipino Sculptures is your source for information on Filipino art, music and traditional culture. Art lovers who travel to the Philippines can find both traditional and contemporary pieces that will compliment just about any decor. For more on cultural and historical art of the world also check out African masks. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Freeland

Beginning the Special Education Process

2010-03-18T00:29:00.000-04:00

Like anything else in life, there's a method to the special education process. It was put in place to help people who deal with learning disabilities get the best services possible. In order to help you understand this method, here's a simplified version of the Special Education process.

Request for Evaluation

Someone sees that the child is having difficulty in school and asks that testing be done to find out what's causing the problem. This request can come from parents or educators. If the parents make the request, the district must agree to give a full and individual evaluation. If the request is made from someone else, such as a teacher, a team of educators and an administrator will meet to review the reasons and decide whether to pursue testing. No matter who makes the request, you as the parent, must give written permission for this testing to be done. At this point, you will be informed of your rights and those of your child.

If the district decides not to test, then it must let you know that and inform you of your rights. You can continue to pursue the option through a due process hearing if you wish.

Results of the Testing

You have the right to be notified of the results of the testing before the meeting. If you don't understand what is being said in the report, you have the right to have someone explain the results to you.

When the testing is done, you will meet with the team of professionals to be told of the results. If your child is found to have a learning disability, and you agree that he should receive special education services, then you must give written permission for this to happen.

If he is not found to have a learning disability, you and his teachers will still have valuable information about him and the ways he learns best.

If you disagree with the results either way, you have the right to have him tested by someone outside the school district. The district must pay for the evaluation or show at a special hearing why it refused.

Placement

If you and the school district agree that a learning disability was found, then you and the team will decide the best program for your child. The team will make up an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that will include goals and ways to measure those goals during the year. It will also list the services your child will get and any special aids or helps your child can get, such as special transportation or speech therapy if he needs it.

Your child is entitled to receive his services in the "Least Restrictive Environment. "That means that he will receive the services that are best for him in the place that's best. For example, he won't be placed in the resource room for help with math if he needs help only with reading. He won't be asked to stay in the mainstream for spelling if he has a learning disability in that area. In other words, he will only receive help in things he needs help in.

It's important to be active in this process for your child. If you know the process, you can make sure that it's followed correctly and that your child's rights are recognized. This doesn't mean that you always have to be on the attack, but it does mean that you need to keep a watchful eye. Again, it all comes back to acting on behalf of your child, since he can't do that for himself. And, in the long run, he will be more successful because of you.

About the Author. Sandy Gauvin is a retired educator who has seen learning disabilities from many perspectives - as the parent of a daughter with learning disabilities, as the teacher of children with learning disabilities, and as an advocate for others who have diagnosed and unrecognized learning disabilities. Sandy shares her wisdom and her resources at http://www.LDPerspectives.com. Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Rewarding Careers For The Language Skilled

2010-03-16T00:50:00.000-04:00

Why is it important to be language-skilled?

Broadens Career Options. Not only does learning foreign languages improve your job performance, it also increases your value as an employee. This in turn can improve your chances of getting a raise or a promotion.

Increases Job Opportunities. Hotel and restaurant, tourism, marketing, advertising, military and defense, and journalism are some of the industries that require multi-lingual people. Being able to interact with clients and customers in their language makes them feel more comfortable.

In addition, learning several languages can give you the opportunity of getting a project in a new country. The potential of the knowledge and expertise gained could create an entirely new plateau in your profession, or a new job opportunity altogether.

Liberal Arts Are Being Increasingly Sought After. These days many employers are searching for flexible employees with extensive abilities and skill sets. Communication skills and business skills combined with foreign language abilities are what most managers are seeking today.

Satisfying Careers for the Language Skilled

Some of the careers to be explored if you can speak foreign languages fluently are:

Translators: Translators have a wide variety of job opportunities. They can find jobs in magazines, books, the news and other media. Translators need to be well read, and be well versed with the current magazine and newspaper jargon in different languages. Most translators are required to specialize in particular fields.

Interpreters: Interpreters are required to translate from one language to another almost instantaneously. This is what makes this career one of the most demanding ones. Hence, skilled interpreters are much in demand these days. They are required to be comfortable and confident in each of the languages they interpret.

Teaching: For some, this is the most satisfying career to be pursued with their foreign language skills. Since many people are seeking to become language skilled these days, trained teachers of languages are in demand.

International Humanitarian Organizations: These organizations provide first aid, emotional support, medical treatment and even lifeline support in areas that have been destroyed by natural calamities, civil unrest and wars. Since most of these people require care and nurture, it is important to communicate with them in their own tongue. As the nature of the job is worldwide, the more languages you know, the better are your chances of working with such organizations.

Whatever your career goals are, being language skilled is very beneficial. People who speak foreign languages fluently can relate to people from all over the world, and can adapt to different situations. These days teaching language-learning techniques have been improved. Graduated steps that are devised to build language skills and improve vocabulary in the foreign language are useful for mastering any language you choose.

About the Author.Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online - http://www.sixsigmaonline.org - offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

How To Make Money With Photography

2010-03-15T23:11:00.000-04:00

There are many ways to make money online with photography, but a popular and fairly new way is through Micro Stock Photography websites.

Micro stock photography is simply stock photography that's sold at deep discounts. Clients are able to license stock photos for just $1 or $2, and photographers earn money each time a client chooses one of their photos.

Micro stock photography is considered to be still in it's infancy, and some people feel it's wrong to sell photography at such low prices. Particularly since many professional photographers invest a lot of time and money on equipment, learning, and photo shoots.

For the beginning photographer though, micro stock agencies can be ideal places to start. Since entry requirements are not overly restrictive, many hobby photographers with inexpensive cameras have already started making a nice second income from their pictures.

How Does It Work?
The process of making money from your photography through micro stock agencies is fairly simple.

1. Research popular micro stock photography agencies online. There are quite a few of them, but you'll want to start with just one or two until you get the hang of things.

2. Choose your absolute best pictures to submit. Some agencies require you to submit 10 pictures for review when you apply for an account with them, while others only require three the first time. Most don't have minimum requirements though, and you can start by submitting just one.

3. Your pictures will be reviewed by humans, and accepted or rejected into the micro stock site. If they're accepted, they'll be available for clients to "buy".

Technically they're not fully buying your pictures though. They're simply licensing the pictures for specific use. Usually micro stock photography is used in websites, though sometimes it's used in advertisements, brochures and other marketing materials. The photographer always retains full copyrights to their photos though, and is normally able to sell the same photos over and over again to additional clients.

And this is the beauty of stock photography. Once you've taken a great picture and had it accepted into a stock photography portfolio, that one picture can continue earning you money month after month... sometimes year after year.

Most micro stock agencies pay $0.20 - $0.50 per picture license, or download. This may not seem like much, however a good photographer with several hundred pictures for sale could make a nice second income over time, because it all adds up!

There's a lot more to the stock photography business, which we don't have room to cover in just one article. You'll find expanded details about making money with stock photography in the article noted below though.

About the Author.(c)2006, Kathy Burns-Millyard. "Can Photographers Make Money With Stock Photography? - http://www.stocktography.com/Making-Money.php - Stocktography.com is a new, free online guide to Royalty Free Stock Photography. New articles are being added frequently so please visit, bookmark and enjoy.

Top 5 Tips To Broaden Your Audience For Your Photographs

2010-03-12T23:55:00.000-05:00

Great photographs are the intersection of three important factors – a great photographic eye, a great photographic situation and a substantial audience to view and appreciate the result. The old days where people anxiously awaited proofs, visited conventional photo galleries or requested and kept books from stock agencies are history. Today there are countless web sites showcasing the artistic craft of working photographers. These sites are often directly coupled with social media sites or employ technologies like Web 2.0 that allow real, two way communications between audience and artist. In order to get broad exposure of your work, you really need to make some of your best work viewable online. There are many good online vehicles that can showcase photographs. You can create an online gallery and connect it to your website or blog. Another option is to display your work employing dedicated photo-sharing sites like Flickr, Google Albums or SmugMug or you can create display albums using popular social networks like Facebook.

Tip #1 Blog and Show Off Your Expertise

Most working photographers already have their own website, but if you really want to make the leap and create an online following, add a blog to your website. While your website displays information about yourself, your business and your products, it typically remains relatively constant. Your blog, on the other hand, contains a wealth of information that continually changes and grows and is actually the focal point of your "social media" strategy. You can blog about any number of things ranging from simple tips and tricks to a narrative of an interesting and successful photo shoot. You might review interesting new tools or products or perhaps even include comments from some of your customers relating their views of the photographic experience. Let your imagination go, but you will be surprised how easy it is to come up with truly compelling and interesting content.

Tip #2 Create a Facebook FanPage…It Is Free and Easy

With over 400 million members, Facebook is a great way to show off your work and subtly advertise your skills. You can create a Facebook "Fan Page," name it and invite others to join. Run a simple contest, post images of your work, talk about your product and maybe even offer occasional specials. Most importantly, offer some simple, yet valuable advice to your target market. Give people a reason to keep coming back and they will become your social network "word of mouth."

Tip #3 Heard of Google Knol…Give It A Try

Google Knol is an information sharing site (sort of a viral Wikipedia) that allows you to share your unique expertise and knowledge…and build a personal following. You create a Knol through any Google account. Since you are a photographer, make sure to show off your best photographs and include links to the other social sites you are on. Once you have informational articles written for your blog, you can change them up a bit and repurpose them as Knols.

Tip #4 Expand Your Reach With Be A Photo Sharing Site

Sites like Flickr are not only a great place for showcasing your photos, they are also a great way to store and reference collections of photographs from other web locations. For example, you can use creative tools like FlickrSlideShow generator to arrange multiple images into a slideshow. Once the show is created, copy the supplied HTML and add it to your blog, Facebook Fan Page or use Twitter to post a link. You can also use Flickr to get great feedback on your work. The network is large and people love to give feedback. If you are worried about copyright they have a great tool PicMarkr which allows you to create a custom watermark and place it on your Flickr images as well as exercise full control over printing and downloads. Not to be outdone, SmugMug, Zenfolio, and Photobucket are other sites that offer similar capabilities. H&H, like many professional labs, also offers studio branded image sharing and output services using our HHImageHost platform. There are lots of powerful options, but an on-line photo sharing and output site will definitely allow you to greatly expand your customer reach.

Tip #5 Twitter is a Powerful Tool To Awaken Your Audience

Twitter is a powerful publicity tool but is often misunderstood. When you have new content posted to your blog, photo sharing site or you own site, use Twitter as a pointer to your new content by publishing a few tweets! Remember to ask for feedback. You can us search.twitter.com with an applicable keyword such as "wedding photographer." You can even constrain the search to a zip code or search within a certain mile radius. Once you search collects the applicable audience, tweet them with a link to your content! You will have to brief as Twitter has a message limit of only 140 characters. You probably want to use a URL shortening service such as Bit.ly or TinyUrl for your link to avoid using up too much of the message limit. Twitter doesn't directly support any attachments, but as usual, a number of third-party services have sprung up to fill the void, although mostly for consumers without personal web sites or blogs. The list expands daily but you might want to check some of them out. Look at Mobypicture, Pikchur, Posterous, Twitpic and Tweetphoto.

As the web moves toward more and more two-way conversation, Twitter is clearly becoming one of the most important ways for people to highlight interesting content. Even though Twitter has a 140 character limit, as the saying goes, a good picture is worth well more than a thousand words!

The options for social media marketing in photography are endless. Used correctly, social media sites can represent powerful new marketing tools for photographers, allowing images and compelling content to be broadcast to huge networks of potential customers. But remember, social networks are virtual versions of crowded town squares, where catchy images and compelling content are required to grab the attention of the entire crowd. It may seem like a lot of work, but effective use of social media is a lot like "the miracle of compound interest," your following and reputation will continue to grow as time goes on!

About the Author. David Drum is head of Business Development at H&H Color Lab in Kansas City, Missouri. Starting his professional career as a process engineer at Xerox and Motorola, David moved to the professional imaging industry in 1993. David has worked as Technical Support Manager, Production Manager, Lean Manufacturing Manager, and IT Director before assuming his present role. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Top 5 Tips To Broaden Your Audience For Your Photographs

Travel Asia - A Popular Choice for Travelers

2010-03-11T00:28:00.000-05:00

The largest as well as the most populous continents in the world - Asia is a land of diversity with a multitude of geographies, cultures, and people. Occupying an area of about 9% of the total area of the earth's surface, Asia is home to more than five billion people.

In other words, Asia consists of more than 60% of the world's overall population. As a tourist destination, Asia boasts of a feast of attractions in the form of traditional cities, ancient monuments with superb architecture, museums and art galleries that throw light on the history of the place, incredible wild life, scenic mind blowing attractions, and attractions that are a blend of both east and west.

There are also a range of vibrant attractions, covering action packed beaches, bargain shopping areas, and exuberant nightclubs. Equally remarkable is the sumptuous cuisines available here, each of which is a representation of different cultures. In fact, the world's majority of tourist attractions are found in Asia. Discussed further in this article are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Asia.

The continent of Asia is home to such incredible destinations as India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Philippines. Asia has such a great number of attractions that even a year is not enough to explore them all. For those who want to explore a range of rich culture and topography and at the same time interested in recreational pursuits, then one of the most suitable options would be to take a tour to India. Stunning beaches, gorgeous monuments, ancient temples, and lively cities, all sum up the attractions of India. Attractions, among many others, in India are Red Fort and Qutab Minar in Delhi, Taj Mahal, one of the world's seven wonders, Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh, Elephanta Caves in Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad, and Kerala's backwaters.

For those interested in exploring the pristine beauty as well as the ancient wonders, perhaps the greatest of all attractions in Asia would be China, which boasts of such lively destinations as Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing, all of with loads of mind blowing attractions. Most popular among the attractions in China are the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Potala Palace, West Lake, and Mogao Grottos. Another much sought after tourist destination in Asia is Japan, which is acknowledged as the Land of the Rising Sun. It features attractions such as Nara Park, Kyoto's Higashiyama area, Kin Osaki, Himeji Castle, and Takayama in Gifu. With attractions such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is also an incredible spot in Asia.

Popular countries in Asia also include the Kingdom of Thailand, which is probably the number one tourist destination in South-East Asia. What that set apart Thailand from other spots in Asia is its breathtaking natural beauty, stunning temples, gorgeous island destinations, stupendous monuments, healthy cuisines, and above all presence of amicable Thai people.

Just few among many of the attractions in Thailand are Bangkok, the capital city; Ayutthaya, which is much famed for its Gothic ruins; Chiang-Mai, bestowed with the title 'Rose of the North,' Krabi, which is a paradise for enjoying a range of water sport activities; and Pattaya, one of the best resorts in Asia. Also, a tourist spot in South-East Asia is Singapore, which is an island destination situated at the Malay Peninsula's southern tip. Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore Discovery Center, Little India, and China Town, are some of the Singapore's landmarks.

Southeast Asia also contains incredible destinations such as Indonesia - the largest archipelagic nation in the world; Malaysia, with attractions like Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya; Philippines, with more than 7000 islands; and Burma, which is the largest country in Southeast Asia. Other top places of interest in Asia are Sri Lanka - an island destination located off the southern tip of India; Afghanistan, with a rich as well as complex history; Maldives, which consists of more than 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean; Uzbekistan, one of the most popular destinations in Central Asia; Kyrgyzstan, which is probably the most popular tourist spot in Central Asia; and Bangladesh, which has to its credit a number of ancient palaces, magnificent Buddhist shrines, and beautiful monuments.

In short, Asia is truly a dream destination for every traveler.

About the Author: Wolfgang Jaegel / The Accor Group manages Hotels with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis, Formule 1, Grand Mercure brands and offers services to corporate clients and public institutions: 23 million people in nearly 40 countries use a broad range of services engineered and managed by Accor Services. Article Source: http://www.freearticles.co.za/recreation-and-leisure/travel/travel-asia-popular-choice-travelers.html

Adhd and Supplements

2010-03-09T19:35:00.000-05:00

It is startling to know that 3 to 7 percent of children in the US suffer from ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This means it affects over 2 million children in America, that is, one in every class of 25 would have ADHD. This condition is usually diagnosed in the pre-school and early school years. Children with these symptoms are unusually fidgety and restless. They could even have problems paying attention in school, waiting in lines or taking turns. Some children could be very aggressive. ADHD is usually diagnosed more in boys that girls, but that could be because girls tend to be quieter and less aggressive than boys. In girls it could manifest itself as talkativeness rather than aggression.

The U.S. Surgeon General has defined ADHD as a metabolic form of encephalopathy. The disease weakens the release and homeostasis of neurological chemicals, reducing the function of the limbic system. Other relevant research however points out that some part of the brain could be involved. These are the frontal lobes, their connections to the basal ganglia, the central aspects of the cerebellum and the middle or medial aspect of the frontal lobe.

Four types of ADHD types have been recognized. These are the Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and Combined Type of ADHD (hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive) and ADHD Not Otherwise Specified. As a person gets older, the symptoms of ADHD could reduce, but many children diagnosed with ADHD retain this disorder into adulthood too. It is then known as Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder or AADD. In adults, it manifests itself in the need to be physically busy all time, excessive talking, interrupting others, risk taking, speaking out without regard to the consequences and even daydreaming.

The research into the causes of ADHD has thrown up a number of issues. Primarily it seems that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in ADHD. Significantly, research has shown that many critical food deficiencies could cause the problem. These could be as varied as deficiency of essential Omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins like Vitamin C, iron and even zinc. This suggests a role for suppmentation in the treatment of ADHD.

Omega 3 deficiency may lead to behavioral problems that are linked with ADHD. Some ADHD children show other symptoms connected with Omega 3 deficiency, such as dry skin and hair, thirst and even frequent urination. Trials in supplementing Omega 3 in children with ADHD revealed some surprising results. Over a period of time, fish oil supplements were given to a group of children and a placebo to another set. The children with fish oil supplements showed remarkable improvements in attentiveness and other attributes. Academic results were much better with better scores in reading, spelling, mathematics and other skills. No such improvements were seen in children given the placebo. Thus Omega 3 rich supplements such as fish oil could be a solution to help children with ADHD. Some researchers feel babies who are breast-fed have a lower chance of developing ADHD later because it is rich in Omega 3.

Children with ADHD usually suffer from food allergies. They could be losing vital vitamins, iron and even zinc because of their allergy to dairy products, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, eggs, chocolate, peanuts and artificial colors and preservatives. It has been seen that ADHD children lose zinc when exposed to a food dye. In a study that eliminated these allergens in the diet of some children, the majority of the children showed lower levels of hyperactivity. Once these were added back to diet, the problems associated with ADHD once again returned.

Research has also shown that iron levels are low in children suffering from ADHD. The children's serum ferritin levels were measured to determine their iron status. It was seen that one-third of the ADHD children had a very low range of iron levels. It was noticed that the lower the iron levels, the higher were the severity of the ADHD symptoms. The researchers concluded that low iron stores might explain some ADHD cases. Iron supplements could be given but proper testing is required before doing so, because excess iron stored in the body can cause several other problems.

Supplements of zinc and zinc sulpahate have proved successful in the treatment of ADHD in small trials - more results are awaited. In the mean time, a good idea would be to remove additives from the diet along with all foods that the child could be allergic to. This could improve the absorption of natural zinc present in foods.

Vitamin C could also be supplemented in the treatment of ADHD, because sometimes it is not easily absorbed from natural foods. However, once again it might be good idea to remove additives and allergy-causing foods from the diet. This would result in better Vitamin C absorption.

Most ADHD children are on some prescribed drug or the other. Should drug interactions with dietary supplements be a concern? New research indicates that more often than not, mixing doesn’t produce side effects that are serious enough to warrant concern.

Most research indicates that a balanced diet rich in omega 3, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, free from toxins, would be beneficial in the treatment of ADHD in children. What goes in seems to be so important to the proper functioning of the body and mind.

About the Author bd@mitamins.net Mitamins' aim is to custom-made the best natural remedies to complement the treatment of your concerns. Our unique process allows you to combine multiple formulas into a single formula, in a single bottle, and avoid overdose and interactions. http://www.mitamins.com Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Adhd and Supplements

Preparing Children to Learn to Read: Is Standardized Testing Coming for Homeschooled Kids?

2010-03-07T11:06:00.000-05:00

Perhaps a bit unfairly, the parents of homeschooled children sometimes discover that the success of their children's reading achievement is often evaluated differently than it is for traditionally-schooled children.

Traditionally-schooled children are tested regularly on their reading skills because the traditional teaching methods rely so heavily on children's reading ability as a way for them to learn other subject matter. The teaching reading is so significant for the traditionally-schooled child that they seldom achieve academic success without first mastering fundamental reading skills.

Developmental Readiness vs Early Reading Skills

The story of teaching reading in the homeschool has evolved somewhat differently. Home schooled children have many advantages and opportunities that enable the acquisition of reading skills less stressful than they are for traditionally-schooled children. Some homeschooling authorities many that there is really no need to be concerned about mandating the development of reading skills in homeschooled children because many homeschooled children don't master reading until years after their traditionally-schooled peers. Many homeschooling educators believe that teaching reading is something that happens naturally.

Because they are taught in different ways than traditionally-schooled children, homeschooled children may not require mastery of reading skills at the earliest possible age. Traditionally-schooled children must abide by a relatively fixed standard that is designed to ensure that all children develop at the relatively same (fairly slow) pace. Teaching dozens of children the same material requires that all of the children are approximately at the same basic level of preparation. A public school teacher faced with teaching ten, twenty, or even thirty children at varying learning stages is likely to be unsuccessful at such an endeavor. Assuming or requiring that children learn specific skills by a specific age simply makes teaching large groups of students far more efficient.

The Influence of Maria Montessori on Reading Instruction

The work of Maria Montessori changed the face of teaching reading and opened the door to a new home schooling movement. Dr. Montessori challenged traditional teaching theories and methods by presenting research that children learn at varying rates and that hands-on activities enable children to learn better and more completely than traditional rote memorization teaching techniques. Her pioneering work in the late 1800's and early 1900's made dramatically clear that having multiple learning levels in the same classroom generally provides surprisingly unexpected benefits. Regardless of age, children learn from each other. Older children teach younger children without even realizing it. And, younger children give older children the opportunity to learn by experience. However, because the Montessori classroom relies on individualizing teaching methods to each student, employing this method in the public school environment is seldom. More about Dr. Montessori's work can be found at www.montessori.edu.

Intentionally or unintentionally, homeschooling is Montessori-like in the practical application of homeschooling teaching methods. Like Maria Montessori's theories, homeschooling today emphasizes the specific learning style of the individual student over the need to teach certain skills by the time a child reaches a certain age. The child who is a so-so reader might be verbally proficient and a verbally weak student may be an above-average reader. This suggests that the homeschool teaching partner plays on each child's strengths to teach each individual child. This format is far more easily implemented in the homeschooling environment than it is in a traditional school setting.

Standardized Assessments Encourage Early Reading Skills

The movement towards assessing student progress has invaded what was once a rather freestyle homeschooling environment. Students nationwide are now expected to perform at certain levels based on their age and academic grade. And, even though standardized assessments can be good indicators of overall performance, they are somewhat constraing to homeschooling enthusiasts because they fail to consider the different learning styles and speeds of individual students. Essentially, periodic standardized assessments, which are now required of many homeschooled children, are ultimately forcing homeschooling educators to ensure that their students learn academic skills at roughly the same pace as their traditionally-schooled peers. This means that teaching reading has recently become more important within the homeschool environment.

Many educators, homeschooling and traditional, strongly dislike standardized testing. Still, it looks like it's here to stay, at least for the moment. And, for the homeschooled child to meet the expected standards and to stay on track, that child has to have mastered certain skills, especially reading, by a comparatively early age. In situations where standardized testing is an important assessment tool, children who fail to develop early reading skills are likely to be incorrectly assessed. And, an incorrect assessment is dangerous to both the child and the homeschooling program. For this reason, it is important for homeschooling educators to emphasize reading skills as a learning tool and that they emphasize teaching reading.

Reading as More Than an Ordinary Skill

Teaching reading to children as early as possible does not have to be a perceived slight to the homeschooling approach. Like Maria Montessori, many homeschooling educators take issue with forcing children to learn any skill before they are developmentally ready because there is no definitive research showing that teaching kids to read early can harm their future development in any way. As a result, apart from the obvious difficulties associated with teaching children skills that they may not be prepared to learn, early reading development probably still is a worthwhile endeavor.

The benefits of reading are well-documented. Reading is fun, opens doors to new subjects and adventures, and helps prepare children to think critically and embrace information that is both educational and entertaining. Reading is so important to today's teaching methods that its importance spills over into the areas of mathematics, social studies, science, and other academic areas. The student who is interested in reading develops faster in many academic areas than peers who are unprepared with basic reading skills.

Homeschool parents and home school providers have a large basket of tools available to encourage their child's early reading skills. Some reading experts insist that the first ten years are crucial for reading development and that teaching reading and a love of reading before the age of ten sets the stage for a lifetime of reading enjoyment. Many theories strongly suggest that reading to young children helps them develop a love for reading. When young kids then express a desire to learn to read on their own, they then practice reading by doing with adults and older peers, and ultimately can read for their own satisfaction and/or pleasure. Children who have become regular readers and who truly enjoy reading live in a world that is forever enriched and expanded by this one simple skill -- reading.

About the Author
Michael Levy is a well-known teacher and university researcher who has published more than 250 articles about learning. His latest project is Reading Buddy 2.0, software for teaching children to learn to read basic English using the innovative syllabics methodology. Michael invites traditional and home school teachers to explore this new method. Claim your free copy of Reading Buddy 2.0. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Preparing Children to Learn to Read: Is Standardized Testing Coming for Homeschooled Kids?

Igorot Woman

2010-03-03T13:42:00.000-05:00

Igorot Woman, originally uploaded by jaeWALK.

Women of the Igorot stock are by nature sturdy and hardworking as shown by each life line etched in this lady's face. In this photo, Jeremy Villasis beautifully captured the essence of what being an Igorot woman means to us, meek and mild yet brawny and strong willed. This portrait reflects a lady who has seen good days in the tough cold mountains of the Cordilleras.

Top Philippine Destination and Paradise Spots

2010-03-03T00:05:00.000-05:00

Explore Paradise Philippines. Take a peek at Filipino's culture and history as mirrored in century-old churches, ancient forts and modern museums. Paradise Philippines have the best of nature's paradise pictured thru white-sand beaches and three-layered virgin forests.

Paradise Philippines is blessed with an extensive coastline, ringed with unspoiled beaches and first-class resort facilities. Paradise Philippines' deep-blue, crystal-clear waters offers about 40,000 square kilometers of coastal reefs teeming with a variety of marine life.

Paradise Philippines is endowed with a tropical climate offering perfect paradise treat to enjoy the sunlight. Lying in Southeast Asia and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Paradise Philippines boasts of unsullied beaches, spectacular sunsets, luxuriant pastoral lands, cool mountain weather, brilliant man-made paradise resorts, and dazzling 7,000+ islands.

Paradise Philippines boasts of some of the best beaches and scuba diving waters in the world. Witness the vast expanse of nature's paradise Philippines' splendor under the spell of cool paradise Philippines mountain breeze.

Here are some featured destinations and paradise spots that is living proof of Paradise Philippines reputation of being called Paradise Philippines.

Alona Beach, Paradise Philippines

Panglao Island, Bohol (May 6, 2007) - The Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano has inaugurated the first phase of a P600-million upscale resort complex that is riding on the tourism boom in this province. Durano said, referring to the 16-hectare Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, which is building 70 luxurious villas catering to the rich Filipino tourists and visitors from Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan and Korea.

Donsol, Whale Shark Capital, Paradise Philippines

Once a sleepy coastal village located at the northwestern tip of Sorsogon province, this town now eyes to be a first-class municipality, thanks to giant sea creatures that are now attracting hordes of foreign and local tourists who infuse millions of pesos into the local economy.

Boracay Paradise, Paradise Philippines

Widely known as one of the finest swimming destinations in the world, Boracay is blessed with unsullied fine talcum powder-sand beaches. Its tranquil crystal clear waters are perfect for swimming, sailing, fishing and sunbathing. Boracay also boasts of sapphire seas and spectacular sunsets. Countless hidden coves dot the island and tall coconut trees line up along the beaches. Boracay lies at the northwest tip of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea.

Captivating Guimaras, Paradise Philippines

Nueva Valencia, Guimaras - An Italian couple on a two-month holiday in the Philippines chose to include this paradise in their itinerary and stayed at the Raymen Beach Resort in December 2006, unperturbed by news about the oil spill that brought the island province to world attention in August of the same year. "We are just here to see good beaches," said the Boldo couple, who are just among the hundreds of foreign guests who kept coming to Guimaras even in the aftermath of the infamous oil spill.

Wonderful Palawan, Paradise Philippines

The exotic beauty of Palawan remains undefiled. Branded as the country's last frontier, Palawan is a sanctuary to an amazing variety of exotic flora and fauna that are found nowhere else. With more than a thousand islands and islets, Palawan boasts of white-sand beaches, scenic rock formations, underwater rivers and magnificent caves. Palawan is also home to Tubbataha Reef, the only national marine park that made it to the World Heritage List and whose grandeur is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Banaue Rice Terraces, Paradise Philippines

Traversing the rugged terrains of Cordillera highlands in a span of one week is an adventure in itself and could be an immense learning experience for someone who has the guts to look down into the depths of mountain cliffs to get a good view of the rice terraces. With tall rice terraces at the backdrop and cool breeze shuttling between mountain peaks, a journey across the Cordillera mountain ranges exposes one to an atmosphere strangely different from the daily offering of Manila and its suburbs.

Amazing Coron, Paradise Philippines

Coron, a town in the Busuanga Island in Northern Palawan, can charm even the most insensitive among men. Its natural beauty can only be described as seductive, giving first-time visitors and repeaters alike a sense of wonder that is hard to shake off.

Cebu City, Paradise Philippines

Cebu City drew 403,326 international visitors in 2005, making the "queen city of the south" the top provincial destination of foreign travelers. Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) also showed that Cebu City attracted 1,813 overseas Filipinos and 712,938 domestic travelers.

Pagudpud, Paradise Philippines

If Aklan has Boracay, Ilocos has Pagudpud, its northernmost town bordering the South China Sea. The coastal town of Pagudpud is the perfect setting for panoramic movies and photoshoot for travel magazines cover. The town's main attractions are Saud Beach, known for its fine white sand stretching for hundreds of meters and Maira-Ira Point, which hides a secluded beach called Blue Lagoon. Other breathtaking landscapes in Pagudpud include Bantay Abot-abot, a natural sculpture carved by the wind and sea, the Mabogabog Falls and the Patapat viaduct that treats motorists to a scenic view of green lushes and blue waters of South China Sea.

Bohol, Paradise Philippines

Bohol is one of the loveliest islands in southern Philippines. It is situated at the heart of Visayas and with coastline skimmed by gentle coves and white-sand beaches. Many highways snake along sparkling beaches or leafy rivers where one can stop at any point and jump in. With its rolling hills and plateaus, crystal springs and beaches, the province of Bohol is a picturesque province replete with ancestral homes and centuries-old churches.

About the Author: Eligio Tapiador Jr is a freelance webmaster, web developer, SEO Specialist, and a Web Designer base in Manila, Philippines. Visit Philippines Travel and Travel Directory. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eligio_Tapiador_Jr

Digital Photography Technique - The Digital Super Shot Scoop

2010-03-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

Digital photography technique offers both challenges and rewards. However, in essence, photography remains just that when you convert to digital cameras: you still have to know how to compose and shoot pictures to get the best results.

The way you see your subject, and visualize the resulting image doesn't change in any basic way with digital photography technique, but there are exciting new approaches and technologies to understand and to master!

Digital Photography Technique One - Pixel Parlance:

Bigger isn't always better. Having more pixels doesn't always translate into better images, as the size and quality of the pixels are also important. 6 Million pixels of a bigger size can actually give you a clearer image than 8 million of a smaller size.

Digital Photography Technique Two - Zoom Zones:

Optical zoom is more important for your image quality than digital zoom. Optical zoom delivers more detail to your camera sensor, whereas digital zoom is more of a cropping function applied to existing data (detail) captured by the sensor.

Digital Photography Technique Three - Making Sense Of Sensors:

Digital photography relies on sensors, which are often less discerning than film when it comes to rendering detail in shadows and highlights. You should therefore be careful not to "blow" your highlights. If they are not captured to start with, you can't adjust them afterwards in your software processing!

Digital Photography Technique Four - Grading The Grain:

While there is a general acceptance of the grain sometimes visible in film prints, the human eye is particularly good at seeing regular patterns, such as row-and-column "noise" in some digital prints. When you purchase your digital camera, it is a good idea to check the reviews regarding noise levels for particular models!

Digital Photography Technique Five - Color Coding:

What about black and white shots? Digital cameras take pictures in color. The most basic element of the digital darkroom, such as Photoshop, you will need to master, is how and when to turn your digital color images into exactly the black and white image you want.

Digital Photography Technique Six - Setting Selections:

In digital photography you the freedom to choose on a per-shot basis many settings you were locked into or restricted to, when using film, such as film speed and white balancing.

Digital Photography Technique Seven - RAW Rewards:

When purchasing a digital camera, you will have the option of models which produce only JPEG files (which are processed on board by your camera), or some which give the option of RAW files, which are unprocessed.

The assumption is that RAW files can then be processed on your computer with more powerful software to achieve the desired results. RAW converters are improved all the time. Over time you will get better results from your existing RAW format picture files by applying the latest converters when they become available.
RAW is like wine: it improves over time, just let it lie until the right converter comes along...

Digital Photography Technique Eight - LCD Leeching:

The LCD screen drains battery power. Use the viewfinder to compose your photographs. Most digital cameras will let you switch between the two.

Digital Photography Technique Nine - Histogram Hits:

You will need to figure out how to use the histogram function - once mastered it is an indispensable tool to get balanced pictures. Some cameras show the histogram in real time for easy correction of your exposure.

Digital Photography Technique Ten - Software Solutions:

Digital cameras are susceptible to artifacts and aberrations that film cameras are not, such as those resulting from JPEG file compression, oversharpening, etc. However, most of these problems can be dealt with by applying the correct software solutions before printing.

There is no mystery behind the images your camera produces. It is only a question of mastering digital photography technique. For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

What is Autism?

2010-03-02T00:31:00.000-05:00

By David J. Carey

Most reputable scientists now believe that autism has existed throughout the history of humankind. Some have speculated that ancient legends about "changelings" are actually stories of children with autism. Celtic mythology is redolent with stories of elves and visitors from "the other side" who steal a human child and leave their own damaged child in its place. The child left behind is usually mute, remote and distant, staring into space and unresponsive to its adult caretakers. We must bear in mind that in times gone by, and in some cultures today, children who are unlike the average expected child are seen to be victims of evil or some sort.

In 1801 the French physician Itard took into his care a boy who had been found wandering naked in the forest. It was believed at the time that the boy had lived alone in the forest since early childhood. The boy could not speak and was unresponsive to human contact. He has come to be known as "sauvage de l'Aveyron," or "wild boy of Aveyron". Itard's tireless efforts to help this boy mark the beginning of special educaiton. Although autism was not a term used at the time there are those who speculate that the wild boy of Aveyron was a child with autism.

The real history of autism dates back only one hundred years to the time of the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler. In 1911 Bleuler was writing about a group of people then identified as having schizophrenia. In his writing he coined the term "autism" to describe their seeming near total absorption with themselves and distance from others.

Writing in the early 1920's, Carl Gustav Jung introduced the terminology of extrovert and introvert. Jung viewed these personality types as being present in all people to one degree or another. However he noted that in extreme cases, cases that in the language of his day were called "neurotic", a person could become totally absorbed into himself or herself.

It was not until the late 1930's and early 1940's in America that the term "autism" joined the official psychiatric nomenclature. Psychiatrists Leo Kanner, who started working with a particular group of children in 1938, and Hans Asperger, both publishing findings and writing in 1943 and 1944, wrote about groups of children they had studied and called either "autistic" or children with "autistic psychopathy". Both authors believe these children displayed a constellation of symptoms that were unique and represented a syndrome not previously identified. As the children they studied seemed unable to engage in normal human relationships they borrowed Bleuler's term "autism" to identify the syndrome. The defining difference between the work of Kanner and Asperger and that of Bleuler is that for the former two the condition they describe is present at birth while for Bleuler the condition appears much later in life.

Another important difference in these early pioneers of autism is that Kanner group is quite self-contained and comprised of individual all sharing the same "core" symptoms. Asperger's group is quite wide, ranging from the children like Kanner's to children with near normal characteristics. The vestiges of these two differing descriptions, now bearing the names of their illustrious "discoverers" remains to this day. In the literature and in lay terminology we still hear people described as having "Kanner's autism" or "Asperger's syndrome.
Around the time of Kanner and Asperger another famous, indeed in autism circles infamous, name appears. This is Bruno Bettelheim. In 1944 Bettelheim directed the Orthogenic School for Children in Chicago, Illinois. There he worked out his own theory of the cause of autism and started intervention programmes. Bettelheim believed that autism was a result of children being raised in severely unstimulating environments during their early years. He believed it was parents, particularly mothers, who were unresponsive to their children that caused autism. The unfortunate term "refrigerator mother" arose during this time.

Although Bettelheim's psychological theories were eventually discredited it was not for many years that science advanced to the point that mother's were not blamed for autism. Indeed, the author's own post-graduate training in the mid to late 70's was characterised by lectures about "refrigerator mothers" having caused autism. The legacy of Bettelheim's theory is undoubtedly one of terrible harm inflicted on so many mothers for so many years. [I cannot help but wonder if we really have progressed since I have so often heard mothers of children with autism being described as "over-anxious", "clinging", "over-involved" and "pushy or aggressive" by some educators, psychologists and physicians]

From the 1980's onward considerable research has been undertaken to uncover the "cause" of autism. So many theories have come forward: genetic, environmental, toxins, endocrine, metabolic, unusual reactions to certain foods or additives and the current favourite, immunizations. Despite all this theorising autism still remains a puzzle. Little scientifically valid evidence supports any particular theory and research continues into the cause of autism.

What do we know about autism?

It is now and accepted fact that autism is a neurodevelopment (sometimes called neurobiological) condition. This places the site of autism within the human brain itself, not in the form of physical brain abnormalities that appear on physical examination or X-ray, but rather in the chemical and electrical activity of the brain. It is know that autism is present at birth, is more common amongst boys than girls and is a life-long condition with no "cure". We know that autism can be treated effectively and there are a wide number of treatment options available. It is now known that education is particularly important in the treatment of autism and that early intervention is critically important. Children born with autism can improve along a number of pathways but they will always have autism no matter how seemingly like others they may become.

Having said what was said about autism being incurable and a life-long condition there are those who say it can be cured. Interesting forms of treatment being studied in New Orleans, Louisiana involve testing children with autism for low-level presence of lead in there system, then providing treatment to eliminate any traces of autism. This is said to have "cured" over 1,500 children of the condition (personal conversation with the lead physician). It has to be cautioned that such extreme and emphatic statements must be put to the rigorous test of scientific study and that the sorts of assessments being completed on these children in New Orleans are not in favour in Europe at the moment.

What is autism?

The neurodevelopment or neurobiological condition known as autism is highly variable. No two people with autism are alike. Having said that, all people with autism share common characteristics. These characteristics exist along what is called the "Triad of Impairment".

The Triad of Impairment consists of significant deficits across three developmental areas:
1. Social impairment
2. Verbal and non-verbal communication impairment
3. Impairments of thinking and behaving

Impairment of Social Interaction

There are several sub-types of behaviours that characterise this group of people with autism. They can be quite aloof, behaving as if other people did not exist at all, making little or no eye contact and have faces that seem to lack any emotional display whatever. Less common is the passive group who will accept the advances of others, can be led to participate as a passive partner in an activity and who return the eye contact of others. Another subtype has been called the "active but odd group". These people pay no attention to others, have poor eye contact and may stare too long and often shake hands far too vigorously and strongly. The last subtype is the overly formal and stilted group. They tend to use language in a very formal way when it is not called for, are excessively polite and try to stick to the rules of social interaction but don't really understand then. They tend to have well developed language skills that can mask their real social deficits.

Impairment of Communication

Significant deficits in communication are present, to one degree or another, in all people with autism. They may have problems is using speech (expressive language), ranging from having no speech at all (about 20% of cases) to have very well developed speech. They make repeat words spoken to them (echolalia) or repeat phrases they associate with something they want (e.g. "Do you want to play" instead of "I want to play"). They will also have deficits in understanding speech (receptive language). Confusing between sounds of words can be present (e.g. meat and meet). Difficulty with irony, sarcasm and humour is often found in those with well-developed expressive language. They may have problems understanding when an object has more than one meaning (e.g. soup bowl, toilet bowl).

In addition to the problem listed about in receptive language people with autism can often have significant difficulty with modulating their tone of voice and putting expression into what they say. They can sometimes sound robotic and speak with a droning monotone. Sometimes they can emphasise the intonation of certain words with unnecessary force. Sometimes they are too loud, sometimes too quiet (more frequent).

It is important to recognise that communication is more than speech. Non-verbal communication is important for human social interaction to proceed smoothly. People with autism have deficits in understand non-verbal communication. They may not be able to interpret facial expression or to use it themselves. They may have odd and unusual body posture and gestures. They may not understand the body posture and gestures of others.

Impairment of Thinking and Behaving

People with autism have pronounced difficulty with play or imagining. The lack of the ability to play has a profound effect on the ability to understand the emotions of others therefore sharing joy or sorrow with another can be impossible. Repetitive and stereotyped movements or activities are often present in autism. They may want to taste, touch or smell things. They may have a need to twirl things before their eyes. Sometimes they may jump up and down and make loud noises. In more severe cases they may bang their heads against walls or floor or pull and scratch at their skin. People with autism have a strong need for consistency and sameness. They become unsettled when routine changes. All these behaviours and characteristics point to a pronounced inflexibility in thinking and behaving.

Although every person with an autistic spectrum disorder has deficits in all three parts of the triad each varies significantly in the nature of their deficits. This makes is imperative for people working with children with autism to individualise their interventions. Autism is a highly variable condition with no two children alike and with some children, seemingly near normal but having subtle deficits.

Problems that may accompany autism

In addition to deficits across the triad there are a number of problems often associated with autism, though it is not known yet if they are caused by autism. Among the most common are: epileptic seizures (particularly in adolescence), sensory integration deficits (difficulty integrating the reception of sensations such as sound, sight, taste, hearing or movement), general learning disabilities, Fragile X syndrome (about 2-5% of people with an ASD), tuberous sclerosis (benign tumours in the brain or other organs, occurs in about 2-4% of people with an ASD), ADHD, Tourette's syndrome and dyslexia. Proper treatment of autism must include appropriate treatment of any associated condition.

Education of children with autism

Many children with autism can be educated in the mainstream with appropriate supports. These supports typically include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychological services and special education. Though they perceive the world differently from those around them they benefit from placement in mainstream classroom and the other children benefit from having them in their class.

People with autism vary to an enormous degree as has been said above. As they progress through the educational system the types of supports they require and the intensity of these supports can vary as well. It is important to recognise that children with autism can be educated and reach their optimum level of potential. The task may be difficult and progress may be slow but progress will be made when supports are present and all work cooperatively together.

When autism is severe and accompanied by extremely challenging behaviour such as aggression, self-harm, extreme disorganisation and complete lack of language the education being provided often must take place in a specialist setting. The goal in these settings is to attempt to re-integrate the child back into the mainstream. For children whose autism is of such a severe nature psychiatric services may be required as an adjunct to the educational programme.

People with autism can be educated and a great many of them can enter the work force, sometimes independently and with great success, at other times requiring the support of a job coach and in some cases may require sheltered work settings. As well as entering the work force many people with autism can live independent lives, some will require structured and supported accommodation and some will require accommodation is specialist settings.

Autism and the brain

Considerable research is underway to investigate the exact nature of brain functioning in a person with autism. A lot is being learned but there is more to be learned in the future. What is known now is that there seems to be differences in the brain functioning of people with autism. With advances in nuero-imaging it is now possible to look at the brain with performing an autopsy. This makes it possible to study how the brain works while it is working. These imaging methods (CT scans, MRI scans PET scans and others) have shown that there seem to be a number of brain structures associated with autism and autistic spectrum disorders. These include the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, limbic system, corpus callosum, basal ganglia, and brain stem. These structures are responsible for cognition, movement, emotional regulation and coordination as well as sensory reception. Other studies are looking into the role of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and epinephrine. There seems to be a genetic factor involved in some of these brain dysfunctions and some research indicates that unusual brain growth may take place in the first three months of life, is a genetic factor and that results in autism appearing in early childhood.

What is being learned turns other theories, such as Bettelheim's, upside down. Autism is no one's fault. It is a neurodevelopment disorder affecting more boys than girls (4:1), occurring in about 3-6% of the population. This makes autism less common than general learning disabilities but common than cerebral palsy, hearing impairment and visual impairment. Translating these statistics into something more comprehensible it can be said that about 1 in 500 to 1 in 150 people will be born with autism. The implications for these figures are alarming because it means that virtually every school in the country has a child on the spectrum and that the vast majority of these children have not been diagnosed and are perceived in a pejorative light by their teachers, sometimes seemingly odd or obstreperous and sometimes lazy or unable to learn.

Autism and the family

Autism is a family condition. When there is one child in the family with autism there is a condition present that affects every single-family member including those who do not live in the same home. On receiving a diagnosis of autism parents sometimes feel a certain relief, now knowing that it isn't their fault the child is different. Others react with anger, grief, shame, denial or rage. Sometimes they become angry with the diagnostician and refuse to believe the findings. Although diagnosis at an early age is a good predictor of successful outcome if appropriate treatment is provided it is always accompanied by considerable trauma to family life. The impact of the diagnosis is always greatest on the mother.

The impact of living with a person on the spectrum has been shown to be harder on the mother than the father. The lessened paternal impact has a lot to do with factors associated with the gender role of the man in the traditional family: out of the home and working much of the time. Mothers are left in the major caretaker role and face the day-to-day stress of rearing a child with autism. For fathers the major impact of autism in the family is associated with the stress it puts on the mother. Figures in the US seem to indicate that the divorce rate in families of children with autism is not higher than in other families. This is something that has not been studied extensively in other countries however one study conducted in the UK indicates that the lone parent rate in families with autism is 17%, compared with 10% in other families.

Studies have shown that the emotional impact of autism on the mother can be quite severe. Many mothers experience enough emotional distress to require medication or psychotherapy. One study showed that 50% of mothers of children with autism screed positively for significant psychological distress and that this was associated with low levels of family support and brining up a child with challenging behaviour. Another study raised this figure to 66%. The emotional stress on the mother appears to have a significant effect on the work status. Many cannot work outside the home. For those that manage to work outside the home there is an increased incidence of tardiness, missed days and reduction to part-time status. Mothers are also the person most likely to be held responsible for their child's behaviour by others outside the family including neighbours and teachers. Mothers tend to cope differently with these stresses than fathers. Fathers tend to hide their feelings and suppress them, the result often being increased episodes of anger outburst. Mothers tend to cope by talking about their difficulties with friends, particularly other mothers of children with autism. They also cope by becoming avid information seekers, often knowing more about autism then the educators of their children.

The impact of autism on the siblings is not to be underestimated. They know from an early age that their brother or sister is "different". They will have a great many questions but most often don't ask them for fear of hurting the parent's feelings. The will have a deep love of the sibling with autism but this love is sometimes associated with anger and resentment due to the increased time the parents spend on the sibling with autism. They will often worry about their own future and obsess about whether or not they will "get" autism or will they pass it on to their own children one day.

The impact is not always negative and several studies have shown that being a sibling of a child with autism is associated with greater self-confidence and social competence. Care-taking skills often improve as well. Levels of tolerance to difference can be higher than in the siblings of children who do not have autism. So, what do we know about the impact of autism on the family? It is a mixed bag of results. At times is can be devastating, at other times it can lead to higher levels of coping skills and a sense of self-mastery. A lot depends on the family itself and the community in which it is embedded. A lot more depends on the supports and treatments available, especially the educational interventions and supports that can be provided. One this is certain: autism is a family condition affecting everyone.

David J. Carey, Psy.D., 297 Beechwood Court, Stillorgan, Dublin, Ireland, http://www.davidjcarey.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._David_Carey

Effective Lesson Plans for Reading

2010-03-01T23:51:00.000-05:00

By Morgan Hamilton

As an instructor of English (reading, writing, lit, creative writing, etc.) and as an online course developer, I have found many valuable teacher resources for linguistic, literary, and rhetorical disciplines. Specifically for education and none for teaching in general, and a great many more with lesson plans for reading. Many of the lesson plans for reading are laid out so well that they will include peer work suggestions, interactive games and quizzes and maps, and dynamic and thorough strategies for cross-referencing studies.

As an example I used THE TIME MACHINE one semester. After a few decent lesson plans for reading, I found an incredible sight that was an invaluable resource that told me everything I needed to know about the author and his motivation for his work this was a wonderful resource, doing great justice to the writer, the work, and to students who are offered pre-reading, reading, and post-reading tasks and activities (as well as writing ideas/prompts). Here it is: The Time Machine High School Teacher's Resource Page(s) - Http://www.sff.net/people/ james.van.pelt/wells/ timemachine.htm .

Yet another great example is for Harper Lee's classic. For lesson plans for reading TO KILL a MOCKINGBIRD, I started at EdHelper.com; and went on with the incredible chapter-by-chapter synopsis of vocabulary words with The Student Survival Guide which is located here at this URL: http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Belmont_HS/tkm/; and concluded by taking advantage of some outstanding lesson plans for reading found at SCORE, the site designed and run by Schools of California Online Resources for Educators.

For lesson plans for reading Achebe's THINGS FALL APART, I was able to locate a fantastic pre-reading historical, anthropological, and cartological exercises at the following location http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/things/thingstg.html. This resource is broken down in a five-part cyber guide is basically set up as an informative piece for weeks and weeks of pre-, during-, and post-reading work.

And for lesson plans for reading, pre-reading, interim reading, and post-reading tasks, experiments, peer-work, and quizzes and tests, I found such sites as those sponsored, designed, and maintained by educators at all levels--at Proteacher.net; Teachers.net; TeacherOz.com; Webenglishteacher.com; sheboyganfalls.k12.wi.us/ staff/dehogue/AP/teachers/main.htm; readwritethink.org; teachersfirst.com; Awesomelibrary.org; mrscassel.com; and Teachnet.com to be absolutely exquisite resources that were extremely helpful.

A great advantage of the Internet is the fact that there are so many outstanding lesson plans for reading, writing, and any other discipline. Usually designed, written, and submitted by fellow instructors, these materials lend themselves to professional development, and our excellent for stimulating thought and discussion inside the classroom, or virtual classroom if that's the case is outstanding as an aid to learning of concepts, strategies, methodologies, and skills. Hopefully these resources that I've shared for you will not only help you find lesson plans for reading but also many other valuable resources

Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding the world of education. You can get interesting and informative information here at Lesson Plans for Reading. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton

Levitation

2009-09-14T09:28:00.000-04:00

Jellyfish
Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
September '09

Sea Elements

2009-09-14T09:21:00.000-04:00

English as a Second Language Teaching Tips

2009-02-18T13:15:00.000-05:00

by Celia Webb

ESL students often develop sticking points or plateaus in learning English. To work past the difficult phases, teachers can try these classroom tested techniques which work with all age groups. Do not be afraid to introduce some game playing to your adult students, particularly if you are teaching evening classes for working students. Introducing short, active periods to breakup the textbook subject matter reawakens (literally) tired students and freshens their interest and motivation in the class. Here you will find methods and ideas for working through particular sticking points, increasing vocabulary recall speed, and spelling, pronunciation, and listening skills.

Tongue twisters. Alliterative phrases where every word starts with the same letter can be a fun and useful way to practice clear pronunciation and enunciation. “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”, “Sally sells seashells at the seashore”, and other tongue scrambling phrases make a delightful break to text book work. Introduce a new tongue twister once a week. Search the internet using the keyword “tongue twisters” to find lots of possible tongue wriggling phrases.

R and L for Asian speakers. Asian speakers often struggle with producing the correct sounds for the letters “R” and “L”. Listening to you say the letters over and over does not do the trick. The easiest way for them to pick up the correct pronunciation is to show them the physical difference in the production of the sound. Have your student watch where your tongue is placed in your mouth as you say these letters. Point out that to make the sound for the “L” the tongue goes to the roof of the mouth; for the letter “R”, the tongue stays down. Make sure your students are close enough to you to see the difference in the action of the tongue.

Just whisper. Interestingly, whispering is a very effective way of enabling students to enunciate more clearly. Students who are having difficulty pronouncing words or letters correctly often benefit from trying to say the same phrase or letters in a whisper first. We naturally make a more conscious effort to form the letters more carefully when we whisper. Whispering also softens the pronunciation slightly so differences like those between the letters “j” and “g” become more distinct.

Play hangman in class. Plan your class time to include a 5 minute session of a modified version of the game “Hangman” to improve vocabulary and spelling. Choose words from a previous class. Draw blanks for each letter and then set a limit to the number of guesses. As your students state their guess letters, record the correct letter guesses on the blanks you have drawn and the incorrect guesses off to the side. The goal is for the students to guess the correct word before they run out of the allotted number of guesses. As your students gain familiarity with the game, select a different student to run the game each time you play. Call the student up and tell them the word. Then let them take it from there.

Make it apply. If you have adult working students, practice the vocabulary of their professions. Include practical everyday situational vocabulary as well like check writing terms and spelling out numbers, driver’s manuals, and forms they might have to fill out to apply for a job, visa, bank account, and so forth. Students are highly motivated by being able to handle daily living language.

Exposure is key. Just as with so many other skills we learn, exposure and practice are critical for enabling learners to develop their budding language skills. In addition to practice in class, assign listening “homework”. Listening is such an important part of learning a language. If your students have access to the internet, have them visit a website you have picked out and play a particular podcast or short video you have selected. They can listen as many times as they wish. Their job is to tell you what the podcast or video was about. Another way to achieve the same type of practice is to provide them a “mystery” phone number. You pick a phone number which is answered by an automatic answering machine which gives callers menu options. Have your students write down what the automated message stated. Again they can listen as many times as needed until they know what was said and your student does not need to speak to anyone, so they do not need to feel apprehensive for that reason. The next time you meet, your students can reveal what the “mystery” number was all about.

Buzzing with excitement. Counting and numbers are very important skills in any language. Practice numbers by having students form a circle, introduce a number sequence, and have the students state the next number in the sequence as they work around the circle. Start with straight counting, then do simple sequences like odds, evens, 5’s and 10’s. When your students are comfortable with simple sequences, play the game “Buzz”. Announce the “Buzz” number at the start of the sequence. Each time a student gets a number which includes the selected number; they say “Buzz” and play proceeds to the next player. For example if the “Buzz” number is 2, then players would say “Buzz” for numbers like 2, 12, 20, and so on. The goal of the game is to get as far along the sequence as possible before a mistake is made.

Building natural speaking rhythm. A very common situation for speakers learning English is the application of the speaking rhythm of their native language to English. The result is heavily accented English with unusual speaking patterns. There are a couple of techniques which will help foreign language speakers gain the rhythm and stress patterns of English. The first is to introduce nursery rhymes. One per class session or so will provide a break in the more regimented language practice and give the students a chance to listen to the natural rhythms of English. Nursery rhymes are short, easy to memorize, and can be said in a cadence which helps students both pronounce words more clearly and hear the natural breaks between words. Another technique is to use a call and response exchange between the teacher and students. An example would be:

Teacher - How long does it take?

Students - It takes a long time.

Teacher - How long does it take?

Students - It takes a long time.

Together - It takes a long, long time.

Hymns, marching cadence calls, some popular songs, poems, or other rhyming sequences can be adapted for this use. Teachers can write the phrases on the board to help students learning new call and response exchanges. Clapping to keep the rhythm is also beneficial in this exercise.

Applying these techniques as you work with students will make your classes fun, challenging, and, best of all, successful.

Celia Webb, President of Pilinut Press, Inc., publishers of advanced readers for children and ESL students. Check out http://www.pilinutpress.com for more free articles on developing reading-related skills, word games and puzzles, and activity sheets for the company's entertaining and educational books. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/english-as-a-second-language-teaching-tips-723791.html

Educational Evaluation For Special Education Student With Autism

2009-02-17T23:21:00.000-05:00

by Theresa McFarland

All students in special education are required by law to have a complete evaluation every three years to determine eligibility for special education services. The following case study is about a student named "Adam". Adam is seven years old and has autism. He is in a Special Day Class setting in a public school. The case study includes details of Adam's three-year educational evaluation.

The student in this case study has autism. His name is Adam. Adam is seven years old. He is in a Special Day Class for Severely Handicapped students. Adam's 3-year evaluation needed to be completed to determine eligibility for his special education services. Adam has an advocate and parents who are intensely involved with his education. When the assessment plan was presented to the parents, they requested additional assessments including a functional analysis, occupational therapy and an assistive technology assessment. A copy of the signed assessment plan was given to the appropriate specialists: psychologist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, speech therapist, nurse and special education teacher.

The school psychologist observed Adam on several occasions before administering the psycho-educational profile revised (PEP-R). The PEP-R covers a variety of developmental areas. The test items are presented with simple, concrete instructions and most of the expected responses are nonverbal. The PEP-R provides information on developmental functioning in imitation, perception, fine motor, gross motor, eye-hand integration, cognitive performance and cognitive verbal areas. The PEP-R consists of a set of toys and learning materials that were presented to Adam within structured play activities. The psychologist recorded Adam's responses to the test. His scores were then distributed among seven developmental and four behavioral areas. The resulting profile revealed Adam's strengths and weaknesses in the different areas of development and behavior.

Adam's portfolio was used as an assessment tool. Included in his portfolio were work samples, progress reports, behavior reports, notes from parents and daily reports. The teacher sent home daily reports that included performance, compliance and prompt levels on Adam's tasks and goals/benchmarks. His parents signed and returned the daily reports and became part of his portfolio. The daily reports were used to assist in the assessment of Adam.

The school psychologist also conducted the functional analysis to determine why Adam was exhibiting disruptive behaviors. Questionnaires were sent home for the parents to complete. Screaming and biting were behaviors his parents and teacher were concerned about. The classroom teacher was responsible for collecting data on the behaviors. The psychologist and the teacher created a data collection form. The teacher recorded the occurrence of the undesired behaviors. The information from the parents, psychologist observations and teacher were compiled by the psychologist and the report was written.

The occupational therapist observed Adam, assessed him and wrote a report. The school nurse tested Adam with a special device. She was able to determine that his hearing appeared to be normal. Adam's parents reported no problems with his vision and hearing. The speech therapist, who worked with him over the past year, also assessed him.

Other tests that can be used to diagnose and assess students with autism are the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Pre-Linguistic Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (PL-ADOS). These tests are individual autism assessment instruments that have been specifically designed to assess children with autism. Furthermore, these tests rely on either historical information about the child's behavior (usually provided by a parent), direct observation of the child by a professional or a combination of these methods.

Adam's assessment for his 3-year evaluation was extensive and comprehensive. This assessment gave the team information on Adam's development, behavior, communication, health, coordination and cognitive levels. With this information, the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team determined that his placement was appropriate. Occupational Therapy (OT) services were recommended. The occupational therapist wrote several goals and will provide services for Adam. The functional analysis concluded that Adam's undesired behaviors occurred during transitions. The assistive technology assessment revealed that Adam excelled in this area. No recommendations were needed. Although Adam's assessment was extensive and required hard work for the IEP team, valuable information was provided that assisted the team in making recommendations for Adam's education. The assessment also revealed that Adam was making great progress in his special day class setting.

Theresa McFarland, M.A. has over 20 years of experience providing services to children and adults who have disabilities including autism. For up to date news on topics related to autism, please visit: http://www.newsforautism.com "Your Online Magazine for Autism Related Issues!" Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/educational-evaluation-for-special-education-student-with-autism-269257.html

How to Sell Your Photos

2009-02-17T22:52:00.000-05:00

by Jason Kay
Stories of ordinary people becoming millionaires overnight with the help of some wonderful programs are flooding us from all directions and even though many of these stories are exaggerated at best and total lies at worst, there are many ways in which you can make money, even if you are not a unique talent. Well, I don't mean that photography does not require talent, but even beginner photographers can make money by selling their photos. Most likely you will not make your first million selling photos, but this is a viable way to earn some extra cash. Photos are a product and as with all products, you need to know what to offer and where to sell it.

What You Can Sell

For those people, who have no idea about photography, a photo is just a photo, but for people who are familiar with photography and arts in general, there are separate distinct groups of photos. The most obvious distinction of photos is based on their content, but for the purposes of selling photos, this distinction is not as important as what the photo can be used for.

The two major uses of photos are for the Web and in print. Web photos tend to be low resolution and lower quality is acceptable for them, while print photos generally are high resolution and low quality is unacceptable. As a beginner photographer, you will most likely target the Web market first because the entry barrier there is not as high as with the printing market. Additionally, if your camera is not a high-end one, your skills in photo processing will hardly be able to compensate for this, so in this case, print photos are not an option for you because of technical reasons. This shouldn't discourage you because the Web market is vast and there is a lot of space for beginners.

The main buyers on the Web market are Web designers, who make sites for their clients. For many Web designers it is much easier and cheaper to buy ready-made photos than to take the pictures themselves. A solo Web designer can make 10 or even more middle-sized sites a month, which means that he or she will need at least 200-300 photos and illustrations. This does not mean that you will be able to sell 200-300 photos a month to each Web designer you contact, but even if you manage to sell him or her 10-20 photos a month, or more realistically a batch of several hundred photos for him or her to use in the next year, then you can make a lot of money.

Similar to other arts, photography also has genres. Not surprisingly, photos of people, nature and cities sell best. Another category, which is especially popular with designers, is objects of different kinds. You can shoot a light bulb, a pen, some pills, or whatever object you choose, and this may be enough. Add some unobtrusive background to it and you get a cool photo for a Web site. But be careful with copyrights because not all manufacturers will be happy if you shoot their products and make money from this. Try shooting generic products, which have no visible branding.

Similar copyright issues apply to people. If you want to shoot people and you want to be on the safe side, ask them to sign a model contract, which clarifies all the issues in regard to copyrights and sales. Very often you won't have to hire professional models and you can shoot your friends and relatives instead. Your models don't have to be extremely beautiful because pictures of ordinary people also sell well. Shooting friends and relatives has one more advantage - they work cheaply or free.

Nature and urban photos are always in demand, but avoid photos which look as if they were taken by tourists because they simply look too unprofessional to be sold. Abstractions are also popular, so if you are creative with PhotoShop or another image processing program you can wake up the Picasso in you.

Where You Can Sell

The type of photos you have is one of the major factors in choosing your sales channels. Basically, the options to sell your photos are the following:

1. Stock photo sites. Stock photo sites are the most popular sales channel. Stock photos are photos you have already taken, i.e. you have in stock. You open an account with a stock photo site, upload your images and every time somebody downloads your photo, you earn a commission. Different sites have different policies, but it's not unusual to earn $40 per photo each time it is downloaded.

If your photos are popular, it is not impossible to reach dozens of downloads per week. One of the prerequisites for success is to submit sought after photos and to use the right keywords in the descriptions of your photos. The best stock photo site I have found is Shutterpoint. They provide photographers an e-commerce store-front for selling photos, handle advertising and promotion, handle all purchase transactions, provide customer service, and securely deliver images to buyers. All of these features are provided for a very reasonable fee, and in addition, other members often provide valuable feedback on your photos. This is a great way to begin your career as a professional photographer.

2. Stock agencies. Stock agencies are similar to stock photo sites, but in addition to listing your photos, they consult buyers and handle all the legal and logistical matters. Stock agencies usually deal with professional photographers mainly but there are stock agencies, which are beginner-friendly. As with stock photo sites, you usually have to decide (if you have the choice of course) whether you want to sell exclusive rights or only per use rights.

3. Sell directly to newspapers and magazines. Although this is hardly the easiest way to sell your photographs, it is worth trying. Newspapers and magazines are a very tough market to get into but can be a very high paying one. For a start, you can try your local or community media.

4. eBay and similar auctions. Auction sites, such as eBay, are one more sales outlet you can try. Yes you really can earn decent income from selling photos on eBay. This is a good alternative if you sell other products in addition to photos, but even if photos are the only thing you sell, eBay and the other auction sites can do a lot for you. Make sure to avoid small and dark photos. Listings should be created which are descriptive and include realistic prices. Check the Completed Listings option when searching to see examples of photos which have sold.

5. Freelance sites. Unlike the other options listed up to here, freelance sites are generally a place for work for hire projects. This means that usually a buyer comes and asks you to make some photos especially for him or her, but very often there are buyers who offer to purchase your already made (or stock) photos as well.

6. Your own website. Even if the other options work great for you, having your own website is a valuable sales channel. You can offer everything you like - i.e. low resolution mockups for free, paid downloads, etc. The downside is that you need to market your site, otherwise you will hardly get much traffic and, respectively, sales. Search engine optimization is a must and if you are really serious about selling your photos via your website, you can even consider starting an affiliate program.

7. Free samples. These days advertisements are something one can hardly sell without. Instead of launching an expensive campaign, you can give photos away for free but keep your logo on them. This is a kind of advertisement and it will bring you new customers.
Jason Kay recommends you sell your photos on Shutterpoint, which offers a store-front to showcase and sell your photos and handles all transactions for you. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/how-to-sell-your-photos-508880.html

China's Qinghai-Tibet Railroad Touches the Skies

2009-02-17T15:20:00.000-05:00

by Subert Kiing
Tibetan mountain ranges and landscapes are home to an immense diversity of species of rare plants and birds. Tibetan forests are also famous for its tremendous spectrum of herbs for Chinese medicines. But due to the freezing temperatures and geographical altitudes, China's tourist access to Tibet region has been very limited until recently. On July 1, 2006 Qinghai-Tibet Railroad commenced its passenger service, marking a remarkable milestone in China's infrastructure building. This opens up a way for adventurous tourists to travel from Beijing to the remote Tibet by train with a low budget.

An estimated 90% of tourists would use the railroad to reach Lhasa, Tibet. It is an unique ground expedition across clear cascading streams, spectacular mountain ranges, and the colorful landscapes almost untouched by modern civilization. It would be the dream of urban travelers to experience nature with such a panoramic vision, indulging and rejuvenating for a true getaway from the hectic city-life.

A Centennial Dream Comes True

From its initial conception in the early 1950s, the construction of Qinghai-Tibet Railroad went through a lengthy 50 years to build. The first section of 814 km, from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, to Golmud began operation in 1984. The Golmud-Lhasa section commenced construction in June 2001. On July 1, 2006, the 1,956-Km Qinghai-Tibet Railroad started its full-length operation. Its 2 inaugural trains, "Qing 1" and "Tibet 2", started service from Golmud and Lhasa separately. China President Hu Jintao labeled the project as an unbelievable achievement both in China and the World's railway construction. This completed mission also realized a centennial dream of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of China's democratic revolution.

The Physical Deterrents

Geographical conditions from Golmod to Lhasa are especially harsh. Perennial icy soil as hard as steel, thick blankets of Winter snow and the high altitudes deterred and slowed down project progress through the many years of site execution. An American, Paul Theroux, prophesized that Kunlun Range was a definite impossible geographical barrier for railroad to get to Lhasa. But the inauguration of Qinghai-Tibet Railroad, now the world's highest railroad terminating in Lhasa, has proven Theroux's prophesy untrue.

Key Facts of Qinghai-Tibet Railroad

Qinghai-Tibet Railroad is the world's highest.

960 kms of its tracks are located 4,000 m above sea level.

The highest point is 5,072 m above sea level or 200 meters higher than the 2nd highest Peruvian railroad in the Andes.

550 kms of the route run on frozen soil

Tanggula Railway Station is the highest railway station in the world (5,068m above sea level)

Fenghuoshan Tunnel is the world's highest tunnel on frozen soil (4,905 m above sea level)

It is the world's longest plateau railroad, extending 1,956 kms from Xining, Qinghai to Lhasa, Tibet.

The Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kms across the Tanggula and Kunlun Ranges.

lKunlun Mountain Tunnel is the world's longest plateau tunnel built on frozen soil(1,686 m)

The maximum design train speeds are 100 km/h in frozen zones and 120 km/h on non-frozen areas.

Environmental Friendly

Chinese authority responded to international call for environmental friendly and sustainable development. 8% of the total development cost was set aside for conservation of environment. Recommendations by the Academy of Environment Protection were taken seriously by the Chinese government before construction. Qinghai-Tibet Railroad was credited with the honor of being the first environmental friendly railroad in the world.

Train Schedule for Tibet

Tourists can join in this rail route from several different cities in China.

1. Western Beijing Train Station to Lhasa, the whole journey is 4,064Km and takes 47 hours and 28 minutes. The ticket fee is RMB389 (USD48) for a hard seat, RMB813 (USD102) for a hard sleeper and RMB1262 (USD160) for a soft sleeper. It leaves Beijing at 21:30 every night and arrives in Lhasa at 20:58 on the third day. Another train leaves Lhasa for Beijing at 8:00 each morning and arrives in Beijing at 8:00 the third day, via Xian, Lanzhou, Xining, Golmod and Nacku.

2. Chengdu Train Station to Lhasa, the whole journey is 3,360km. The ticket fee is RMB331 for a hard seat, RMB712 for a hard sleeper and RMB1104 (USD140) for a soft sleeper. It leaves Chengdu at 18:18 on the odd days and arrives in Lhasa at 18:28 on the third day. It leaves Lhasa for Chengdu at 9:05 and arrives in Chengdu at 9:55 the third day, Via Guangyuan, Baoji, Lanzhou, Xining, Golmod and Nacku

3. Chongqing Train Station to Lhasa. The whole journey is 3,654Km The ticket fee is RMB355 for a hard seat, RMB754 for a hard sleeper and RMB1168 for a soft sleeper. It leaves Chongqing at 19:20 on the even days and arrives in Lhasa at 18:28 on the third day. It leaves Lhasa for Chongqing at 09:05 and arrives in Chongqing at 09:55 the third day, Via Guangan, Dazhou, Xian, Baoji,Lanzhou, Xining, Golmod and Nacku.

Preparing for the cold temperatures, Travelers to Tibet are advised to bring Winter clothing like ski jackets, winter coats and thermal under-wears.
Subert Kiing has lived and traveled in many parts of Asia. He writes for Asia Travel 1asiatravel.com and Royal Caribbean

For more travel resources visit http://www.1asiatravel.com ; www.tropicalcaribbeantravel.com/RoyalCaribbean.html; www.1asiatravel.com/china.html
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/asia-travel-chinas-qinghaitibet-railroad-touches-the-skies-53363.html

Remembering Nanning

2008-06-06T00:42:00.000-04:00

an elephant fountain at minzu dadao, originally uploaded by peiqianlong.

The grandeur of modern China is reflected in its skyscrapers and meticulous landscaping not only seen in big cities like Shanghai and Beijing but also in smaller [Chinese standards] cities like Nanning. This photo reminds me of one very hot weekend I spent just hanging out at a park in Minzu Dadao, a skill I've learned to keep me sane at least for the time I was there. Thanks to Ashby Jones for posting this at the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog.

Taekwondo

2008-06-03T07:33:00.000-04:00

Kids as young as five years old tussled against each other at the SM San Lazaro on the 30th of May to culminate a summer long training in taekwondo at different locations in Manila. Most were beginners who started taking taekwondo classes only last April, but one of these kids might land in the nationals and represent the country in future competitions. What is more important, however is starting the kids to take on responsibilities that can develop their strength and confidence for future endeavors.

How To Stop Echolalia In Autistic Children

2008-05-16T07:04:00.000-04:00

Echolalia is a repetition of some form of dialogue that the Autistic child has heard. It can be repeated immediately or in can be repeated per verbatim at a later stage.

An example of immediate echolalia would be when someone asks the child "how are you?" and the child repeats "how are you?"

This can include complete dialogues that the Autistic child has heard from a conversation or a movie or radio broadcast.

It may not have a meaning to them at the time but they just repeat it.

Echolalia can be a little confusing when the child uses it all the time and then gets frustrated when people don't understand what they are trying to communicate.

An example of this would be if you asked the child what they wanted for lunch, a hamburger or a hotdog. An Autistic child with echolalia would say hotdog as it is the last thing they would have heard even if it was the hamburger they really wanted then they may get upset when presented with the hotdog.

Echolalia is being used by the child with Autism as a means of processing words and storing the words or complete dialogue for further use.

It increases their word bank and at times you may hear them practicing their dialogue using similar tones or inflections in speech as they heard it until they think that they got it right.

If careful attention is paid when listening to a child with echolalia, you may find that in their speech, there may be a link to what ever it is they are saying even in dialogue and what the situation is that is going on.

There are ways to stop or significantly decrease echolalia.

Present the Autistic child with two items, one that you know that they want, and one that you know they don't want.

When you offer the two items to the child, put the one that they don't want last.

For example, if you know that they like balls but they don't like puzzles, ask them "Do you want the ball or the puzzle?"

They will initially repeat "The puzzle".

At which point, hand the puzzle to them. They may get a little frustrated and make a grab for the ball and at that point you would repeat the question "Do you want the ball or the puzzle?"

As you ask, extend the ball towards them when you say ball and then extend the puzzle when you say puzzle.

After a couple or more times of this, the Autistic child with echolalia usually is starting to understand that they need to listen to what you are saying in order to get what they want.

Obviously you are going to start them out slowly and not make the requesting sentences too long or complicated as you just want them to get the idea that if they listen to your question and take the time to think about it, then answer by naming what it is they want, they will get what they desire.

Obviously your success in stopping the echolalia depends on the degree of Autism that they have but you should definitely be able to decrease it significantly in any case.

As time progresses this can be used for other more complex conversational situations and evoke more appropriate conversational responses from the autistic child with echolalia for questions such as how are you and what is your name.

Taken slowly but consistently, echolalia in an autistic child can be decreased significantly to the point where only an experienced person could pick it up.

Donna Mason has been a Registered Nurse for the past 16 years. She is the mother of 6 children, 3 of whom have varying degrees of Autism. For more information on Autism signs and symptoms, and to learn more about this mother's battle in the fight against this misunderstood condition, visit: http://www.autisticadventures.blogspot.com

Request for Photo Usage

2008-05-16T04:49:00.000-04:00

For my viewing pleasure, I'm posting requests for the use of some of my photos on Flickr. Isn't this cool? I've never thought anybody would be interested in my pictures, much less publish them. What's funny is that the ones I thought are 'just okay" snapshots are the ones getting requested. Well, it's not the National Geographic nor Life Magazine but the mere fact that someone's attention got caught gives a good feeling. Take it from an amateur.

FlickrMail

From: halcyonwinds
Subject: Usage of Image from your Photostream

Dear peiqianlong,

I'm an editor with Pearson Education in Singapore, and am currently preparing an undergraduate marketing textbook tentatively titled "Marketing Management in China" (1st edition) to be published around June 2008.

If there are no objections, I would like to use an image from (http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldendragon613/246227331/) for Chapter Five in the textbook to illustrate a paragraph about Levi's publicity and marketing in China.

As this is an educational publication, any assistance rendered will be very much appreciated.

We require non-exclusive world rights in all languages for this edition and any subsequent editions. These rights will in no way restrict re-publication of your material in any forms by you or others authorized by you. Should you not control these rights in their entirety, please let me know who does and supply their address. Full acknowledgement will be made to the source of this material.

We would greatly appreciate your consent to this request. If so, please also indicate the appropriate photo credit line to be used.

If you have any queries about this request, please contact me and I will be glad to furnish you with more details. Thank you very much!

Charles Ho
Pearson Education South Asia
23/25 First Lok Yang Road
Singapore 629733
(65) 6 3199 388
E-mail: charles.ho@PearsonEd.com.sg
_____________________________________________

From: astraurm
Subject: find someone who

Hello,

I'm writing about image "find someone who: ".

I'm an editor working for a Polish publisher (WSZ PWN) and I'd like to ask you if I can use your photo in a publication which is a textbook for schoolchildren?

Yoy will be given credit on the editorial page in the textbook, if you let us use your picture.

I will be very grateful for your answer and permission.

Kind regards,

Malgorzata Astrau
RedaktorRedakcja Filologii Angielskiej
Tel.: +48 22 69 54 518
Fax: +48 22 69 54 547
malgorzata.astrau@wszpwn.com.pl
www.wszpwn.com.pl
_____________________________________________

From:beijing1982
Subject:utilizing your photo

Hi Pei Qian Long,

I think you are a terrific photographer. I hope it's okay that we are using one of your photos to illustrate an article by a student on our website. The article and the credit are at:
uschina.usc.edu/ShowFeature.aspx?articleID=1269

If you would like us to change the credit line, please email me at cdube@usc.edu.

Best wishes,
Clayton Dube
USC U.S.-China Institute
china.usc.edu
_____________________________________________

From:minjiechen
Subject:Re: image usage permission

Hi, Rex,

Sorry for a long delay. I contacted you in summer for the permission of a panda picture you took. I was in China for three months, and when I am back, I found that my local public library has uploaded my course project on their website. Thank you for letting me use the image of the adorable panda! I think it fits in the map snugly. You can see the final work at urbanafreelibrary.org/departments/childrens/booklists/findingchina/mapchina.htm and your credit at the bottom of the page. I hope the wording of the credit is okay to you. Thanks again!

Sincerely,

Minjie Chen
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

_____________________________________________

From: Aidan M. Grey
Subject: Xiang Shui photo use?

Hello!

My name is Aidan Grey, and I'm the Photography Manager for Home&Abroad, an internet travel company partnered with Expedia, HawaiianAir, Marriott Hotels, Amazon, and a number of other industry leading websites.

I'd like to use one of your photos on our website:

www.flickr.com/photos/goldendragon613/601194942/

Naturally enough, for the Xiang Shui waterfall.

We'd provide proper credits, of course. We'd be happy to include a link (to your Flickr page, a blog, etc.) as well.

May we have permission?

Best wishes,
Aidan Grey
Photography Manager
Home&Abroad
aidan@homeandabroad.com
303-544-0073 x101
www.homeandabroad.com

_____________________________________________

From: apwbdsgirl
Subject: Your photo in "What Happens Next?"

Hello-

During the past few months, our company, BannerCaswell Productions (BCP), contacted you so we could use one of your Flickr.com photos for our upcoming health series, What Happens Next.

I promised I would contact you again when I had more information concerning the airtime and scheduling of the show so you may be able to view your work in action.

I am happy to tell you that we now have more information!

Veria TV will launch on DISH network on October 3rd. We do not have a specific schedule or an airtime so I am not sure what time of day What Happens Next will air. I would advise you to watch either the Veria website (veria.com), the BCP website (bannercaswell.tv) or DISH for that kind of information.

I will email you again when we know a set schedule.

I have brought up to Veria the possibility of airing the show online for our overseas photographers and was told that the idea was still being considered. I was also told that, unfortunately, BCP itself has no authorization to provide it online at this time.

And for those in the Dallas, TX area, the first Veria Wellness Center opened September 24th in Plano, TX on Preston and Park.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at acardinal@bannercaswell.tv.

Cheers,
Allison
_____________________________________________

From: kayceetoo
Subject: Photo Permission Request

Hello,

I work at a teaching and learning center at Western Washington University, in Bellingham, Washington. We are creating a series of online video modules that promote engaged teaching. These will be five-minute movies available on our website in the Resources area starting in October, with subjects ranging from using technologies in the classroom, strategies for connecting students, and various classroom assessment techniques.

I am writing to request permission to use your photograph, listed below, for this “online video module” educational series.

www.flickr.com/photos/goldendragon613/250121958/

We would provide proper credit, and the use would be purely educational, not-for-profit.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,
Justina Brown

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Justina Brown, M.Ed.
Instructional and Multimedia Designer
Center for Instructional Innovation
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-650-7210
pandora.cii.wwu.edu/cii/default.asp
_____________________________________________

From: rmnadel
Subject: Your United Nations photo

Hi peiqianlong,

Here's a personal note from Ryan Nadel:

I'd like to use your photo to illustrate an article I've published about the United Nations. But first I need your permission and give you credit for your work. Please follow the instructions below.

Ryan Nadel is a contributor at Nowpublic.com and would like to use your photo for a story that has just been published.

NowPublic is a news sharing community that uses stories, photos, & videos from sources like you.

If you would like to learn more about this request, and the context in which your photo might be used, please click on this link - where you can approve or reject its use:

www.nowpublic.com/import/467c1f7ad955a1.61149885

If you do give your permission, your photo will always remain your property, and the Creative Commons license you have specified will follow its use on NowPublic.com

If you have any concerns about this, please contact our Quality Assurance Coordinator at quality@nowpublic.com
_____________________________________________

From: marek debowski
Subject: Your pictures.

Hello Peiqianlong :)

I have just seen your great asian pictures on Flickr.
My name is Marek, I am working on some kind of virtual online guidebook devoted to Asia. It is in polish only, but I hope to translate it into english one day.
I am looking for some nice pictures showing places I've described. Your pictures would be perfect and I would be happy to have them in my guidebook.

Would you let me use some of your Flickr pictures on my site?

Since my undertaking is purely hobbystic and not commercial I can not offer you much in return except for putting your name next to the picture and link to your Flickr gallery (or any other personal website). You will still own the copyrights, of course.

So, what do you think about it?

My website: www.mandalay.pl
Example page: www.mandalay.pl/Indie/Andamany

Regards,
Marek
marek@debowski.com

Musings on Special Education

2008-04-25T20:35:00.000-04:00

Special education seems to have now become the buzz in the field of education. Thanks but no thanks to the diminishing number of special education teachers in the United States that has led school districts to recruit teachers from a third world country like the Philippines. Thanks but no thanks to the economic and political state of this country that has forced professionals to relocate in other countries for a greener pasture. Thanks but no thanks to the increased number and frequency of human disabilities that has now become the blight of modern civilization.

Notwithstanding the manner by which the trends in special education in the Philippines have grown over the years, there is now an improved awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities and a greater acceptance of their capabilities as contributing members of society. However, meeting the needs of exceptional people is still wanting of an all out support from government and private institutions and individuals.

While it is true the Magna Carta for Person’s with Disabilities and R.A. 7277 provide laws governing the rights of exceptional people, still not so many persons with disabilities have access to support facilities and services. Mobility for one has not been fully responded to. There may be some noticeable positive developments in infrastructural designs that are disabled-person friendly, but the construction and facility of said amenities are limited, not only within communities with marginalized exceptional persons and rural folks, but also in urbanized towns and cities. Not many buildings including institutions that provide basic services have ramps and elevators for the physically challenged and the visually impaired; and where facilities are present, most often they are not free of obstructions -particularly the sidewalk ramps.

In many cases, other support facilities and services provided specifically for specific disorders can be availed of only by those who can afford them.

On the other hand, the needs of persons with disabilities are not being entirely met by families and caregivers because of differing diagnosis, unachievable benchmarks or outright ignorance of the person’s disability. There is still a long way for society to fully accept and integrate something that’s quite different from the norm, not only in the area of special education but also in the many aspects of the Filipino way of life like gender biases, sub-culture and minority issues, religious and political beliefs and many more. Having a special child in the family can be seen as a source of shame and puts a stigma on the parents and siblings of the person with disability, so that often, instead of giving the exceptional person proper and appropriate care, the family may not accept the child’s disabilities and may not be open for intervention. The family may spend more time attending to their emotional and psychological well being as well. As much as possible, the members of a family with a special child should get some kind of professional help but the child’s welfare should be taken cared of first and foremost.

“The field of education has produced a mushrooming industry that is making its living off the growing percentage of students that are supposedly learning disabled, dyslexic, have attention deficit disorders, are neurologically impaired, or have language processing deficits, etc. The list of disorders has kept expanding as more "experts" attach their names to what is supposedly wrong with an ever-growing number of students having trouble learning to read. Now we have testing experts, teaching experts, special classes and a ballooning educational budget producing poor results and many, many very unhappy children!” The problem with this is that often, expert opinions over a child’s disabilities are just that, expert opinions and are detached from what the child actually needs to conquer his/her disabilities. It’s pretty much like the seven blind men describing a huge elephant. Their contributions to the understanding of the animal don’t show the greater picture of what an elephant actually is. Each blind man is stuck with his own “expertise” and doesn’t see the whole animal the way it should be. Similarly, the collaboration between and among experts in the field of special education is sometimes detrimental to the welfare of the child. Instead of providing proper and appropriate intervention for the child with disability, the “expert opinions” only give a profile of the child as seen from different angles. A wholistic approach that focuses on meeting the needs of the child is more ideal.

Certainly, we have seen persons with disabilities who are fully integrated in the academe and in the workforce living lives that are comparable or even better than many people in the mainstream but the incidence and frequency of people with disabilities living productive lives does not represent the majority of people who need adequate and meaningful support and services.

My Autistic Mind

2008-04-24T09:06:00.000-04:00

I guess, I would be a person with autism. I live in my own world but I don’t mind. My world is not the same as the one most people have grown into. I worry not of the ills of society and people would label me a retard because I do not speak their language; no - I cannot speak their language and when it happens, my body has grown faster than my brain. People are baffled why I have to say and do things over and over again. I shake my head a lot and it annoys them. I twirl objects and flap my hands and I don’t look at people’s eyes. I cannot seek people I can call friends nor join into a spontaneous or make-believe play because my mind is persistently amazed at a singular object. I am a social pariah not by my own accord, but this is my story and I’m sticking to it.

The world of the child with autism is indeed mystifying as well as it is overwhelming. Unravelling the puzzle in the child’s life takes a lot of patience and compassion. Too many pieces just don’t fit. Putting the pieces together, I believe is a valuable challenge. I guess I’m pretty fascinated about how the mind works and influences a person’s way of life. I would like to be able to somehow understand where and when can a person with autism “awakens” from his/her slumber and be able to get in touched with his/her environment. I’m interested in being able to find ways on how to help a child with autism see his/her potentials outside his/her world and be able to offer possibilities that are not detrimental to his/her own limitations. While there have been several cases of person’s with autism who went beyond their disabilities and were able to go through secondary and tertiary education, there are still hundreds of individuals needing guidance. To be able to do so provides a personal fulfillment and a humbling experience.

Reflections on Reading and Special Education

2008-04-24T07:30:00.000-04:00

There is quite a big volume of studies made on the complexities of the reading process. Researches were done to find answers to how the mind works in relation to how the eye interprets data from print. The spectrum of reading research covers a wide range - from the developmental stages of the reading process to the psycho-social situation of the learner. Still, many children cannot read, much more with exceptional children who are limited by their disabilities or disorders.

As an educator, I would like to be able to make a contribution in the field of teaching reading to children with exceptionalities in the early developmental stages. This may be in the form of a research or in the development and enhancement of a methodology or a strategy. I believe that children, even among those with exceptionalities - will have a better grasp of the world around them if they can read.

With the rapid developments in technology and the sciences, there is now a demand for a higher level of competence in language and communication. Even entry level jobs require the ability to read simple instructions. The ability to read therefore prepares the exceptional child to overcome difficulties in becoming a productive member of society. Moreover, the ability to read empowers the exceptional child with a sense of confidence in communicating his/her needs and desires with his/her family and peers.

Research reveals that reluctant readers trace their inability to read and comprehend what they read from early childhood experiences (Wothy, 1996). Positive early literacy experiences are impressed into the minds and attitudes of the learners, hence are carried through other stages of their human development. The amount of reading experience children with exceptionalities have in reading therefore presents both a potentially rich resource for learning as well as an impediment to learning. It is a resource when the child’s ability and desire to read renders him opportunities to gather, analyze and synthesize as much information needed to achieve academic and life skills and goals. It is an impediment when the reading experiences are too limited to provide greater opportunities for comprehension, a necessary element for academic success and an important element of personal and interpersonal communication.

Teaching reading to children with exceptionalities is a much more complicated area than with children who fall along the normal stages of development. Consequently, it presents a greater challenge to see how teaching theory and practice reach out to children with disabilities. Still, this is where I would like to work on and be able to contribute an answer to the endless questions we have about reading and the exceptional child.

April Fooled

2008-04-05T10:58:00.000-04:00

Lunch was hurriedly digested without my taste buds even trying to savor the exotic mixture of fresh greens. I had to be in school in an hour for my first day in 'Teaching the Mentally Retarded'. I took a jeepney ride, the train and an fx to my destination while trying hard to keep myself from getting soaked in this sweaty afternoon. I guess I was lucky, I traveled in a flash without a glitch. But then, I wasn't done with my registration. Alas, the accounting office was closed for the weekend. How could I forget that? But hey, there were weekend workers behind the bars who accommodated me. This school is ran by the nuns after all. I got my papers stamped. Now I was officially enrolled. It was time to meet my professor. Several students were waiting outside the classroom, excited to know what was there to learn about teaching the MR - only to be told the professor was not around. Uh, bummer.

Reading and Learning

2008-04-03T23:43:00.000-04:00

Eighty years ago, since French psychologist Alfred Binet, together with his colleagues developed the Intelligence Quotient test, a Harvard psychologist, Howard Gardner [Tenedero, 1998] challenged the objectivity of the IQ test and proposed in his Frames of Mind that human potential is beyond the confines of the IQ scores by identifying at least seven other intelligences. These intelligences are linguistic, logical-mathematical, space relations, musical, physical-kinesthetic, intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence. Gardner suggests [Concepcion, 1998 and Torres, 1994] that intelligences are galvanized by participation in some kind of culturally valued activity and that the individual’s growth in such an activity follows a developmental pattern. Each intelligence-based activity has its own developmental trajectory i.e. each activity has its own time arising in early childhood, its own time of peaking during one’s lifetime, and its own pattern of either rapidly or gradually declining as one gets older.

On the other hand, research has identified and described many variables that can contribute to the learner's success or failure which are directly or indirectly linked to the learner's ability or inability to read. Rubin (1987) classifies these as: behavioral and mental - those behavior and thought processes that the learner uses in the process of learning; psychological characteristics - such as risk-taking, tolerance for ambiguity, field dependence, and empathy among others; affective variables - such as liking or disliking the teacher, the culture, one's classmates or one's state of mind at the time of the learning activity; and social style - such as degree of sociability and outgoingness or social competence.

Wong-Filmore (1976) in her study of Chicano students found out that there is a strong evidence of the link between strategies which contribute indirectly to learning - social strategies and communication strategies, and learning strategies - inferencing through what is known as storage through associations and context.

These ideas support research findings in applied linguistics and reading research that consistently show a strong correlation between reading proficiency and academic success at all ages, from the primary school right through to university level: students who read a lot and who understand what they read usually attain good grades. In fact, the relationship between reading and learning begins even earlier in the pre-primary school years - children who are exposed to storybook reading before they go to school tend to have larger vocabularies, greater general knowledge and better conceptual development than their peers, and in addition, they learn to read and write more easily and quickly [Heath 1983; Ninio 1983; Snow 1983; Wells 1986; Elley 1991; Feitelson et al. 1993].

The Igorot is a Myth

2008-03-18T03:49:00.000-04:00

While there is now a better understanding of the Igorot as physically and culturally different from the rest of Philippine society, there is still a lingering negative point of view about them from the cultural majority. Blame it on the wrong depiction or representation of the Igorot in books and mass media; blame it on the little information people have about them which in their own little worlds have become gospel truths; blame it on the Igorot himself who has become resentful of anything Igorot and has become defensive, at times offensive in dealing with issues about his Igorotness; blame it on a lot of factors - still, the fact remains, for some, the Igorot is a myth.

MYTH: Igorots have tails.

FACT: Traditionally, male Igorots used loin cloths [wanes] and the females wore belts [bakget] over their skirts [tapis]. Both garments are worn with a considerable length of threads hanging from behind, hence were mistaken to cover a tail.

MYTH: Igorots are dark, short and kinky-haired.

FACT: The word Igorot is a general term that refers to the people of the Cordillera Mountain Ranges, home to several ethno-linguistic groups like the Kankanaeys, Kalanguyas, Bontoks, Ifugaos, Kalingas, Itnegs, Ibalois and many others; and like many Filipino cultural groups, they share similar physical characteristics which are quite different from the Pygmies [Negritoes, Aetas, Ita, Agta] of Pampanga, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Quezon and Negros. The Igorots are generally medium built but one can find really short or tall individuals; they are mostly from fair to very dark-skinned and have a straight hair. Some do have curly hair, specifically from among the Bontoks. Physically, the Igorots are generally similar with the Filipino majority.

MYTH: All Igorots eat dogs.

FACT: Dog eating has been a way of life for a lot of people, not only in the Cordilleras, but also in many parts of Southeast Asia and China until the birth of animal rights movements. Dog meat is believed to keep the human body warm during cold seasons and a rich source of protein. Like all the other farm animals, the dog is treated with respect but with the purpose that soon it will end up on the table. Nonetheless, dog eating is now down to one's personal preference for many Igorots and is not and has never been a matter of cultural practice.

MYTH: Igorots are [like any taga-bundok] poor, uncivilized, uneducated and they lack manners.

FACT: The provinces of the Cordilleras have been listed as some of the poorest provinces in the Philippines but this does not mean that one's economic status is directly related to one's ethnicity. All cultural groups in the Philippines have their share of rich and less previleged individuals and to say that one group is better off than the other is wrong, unless one talks about government negligence on the welfare of certain cultural groups. On the other hand, coming from the mountains and being poor have nothing to do with being civilized, educated or having good manners. Even the most shrouded hermit gains wisdom and education in his seclusion.

Classroom Management Techniques For Obsessive-Compulsive Students

2008-03-08T04:09:00.000-05:00

By: Marie Dunleavy

Even at school, children with OCD behaviors must be given extra love, patience, and understanding to help them achieve their full potential. To ensure a successful learning experience, teachers must employ strategic classroom and teaching management plans that deal with special needs children. Because these children have special needs, they need special education. Here are some classroom management and teaching techniques to help teachers dealing with obsessive-compulsive behavior students:

* Teachers must be educated about the student’s special need.

If a child’s behavior is obsessive-compulsive, the teachers should be notified at once. It is necessary that the teacher knows that the child needs special attention. This will help parents ensure that the child’s needs are met. In the same manner, this will also help the teachers bring out the full potential of the child. A parent-teacher meeting will be perfect to bring out issues regarding the child’s behavior and special needs.

The teacher must have not only knowledge but understanding of the child’s situation. Knowing what obsessive-compulsive behavior is different from understanding its effect on the child. Teachers must have some reading materials and resources that will help them understand better the different behavior of the child.

* Time limits should be made flexible.

Just like any other special children, OCD students should not be pressured to finish an activity. OCD can cause a momentary distraction on the child due to anxiety. This should be considered by the teacher. Intense compulsion in the child may cause him to be a perfectionist. There are times when he needs to do one thing several times because he wants to make it perfect. This may slow down the time of activity completion.

* Study the situation of the child.

Studying the situation of the special child with obsessive-compulsive behavior is essential for teachers. This will help them arrive at a useful analysis of elements affecting the behavior of the student. Look for stimulus that sets off anxiety in the student. Note the usual time when anxiety or habits occur. Study if there is something that can be done to lessen or eliminate the stimulus that makes the child anxious.

* Everybody makes mistakes.

This should be stressed in a classroom with special needs children. Children should understand that a classroom is a venue for learning and reaching full potential rather than a place where intimidation abides. Let the children explore more and don’t reprimand them every time they commit mistakes. A mistake is something natural to everyone. Instead of reprimanding, explain to the child why his work or his action is wrong and show or tell him how to do it right. Avoid competition in the classroom as well.

These classroom techniques will help OCD children and other special needs children appreciate learning and eventually reach their full potential. It is important that teachers understand the various needs of their students to ensure they are able to help each student achieve maximum learning potential.

[With seventeen children's books currently in print, and with sixteen new books to be published in 2007, Marie Dunleavy is an accomplished children's books author. Her books and associated resources were originally developed for a differently abled child in her own family but are now used for children with special needs in classrooms in U.K. and Ireland. For more information about the resources, please visit POPS Special Needs Resources]

Finding Inspiration from Music

2008-03-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Amazon.com Widgets

Move mouse over widget to find your inspirational music.

Making Art with Pasta

2008-02-26T21:27:00.000-05:00

By Sarah Jones

As an educator, you are always looking for quick and easy craft projects. But more importantly, you are looking for craft projects that are budget friendly! Keep reading to find out some simple projects using pasta that will impress your students and pocketbook.

Dying Pasta

First you will need to be able to manipulate the pasta and color it to fit your theme or artistic needs. Here is the basic recipe:

Materials Needed:

Rubbing alcohol
Food colors
Noodles, uncooked

Method:

1.Pour alcohol into large bowl and add food color.
2.Note: the more food coloring the brighter the pasta.
3.Add pasta, stir and let set until desired color.
4.Spoon out, using slotted spoon, onto newspapers.
5.Spread to dry (about 2 hours).
6.Then use for your favorite art project.

Some Simple Ideas

Now that you have the materials, it's time to get crafty! Try these projects on for size:

Pasta People

Materials Needed:

A couple different types of pasta and dried beans, like spaghetti, macaroni, tiny tube pasta, long tube pasta, wagon wheels, long spirals, tiny shells, wagon wheels
A piece of construction paper
White glue

Method:

1.Glue the pasta to the paper using white glue.
2.Have the kids arrange the pasta on the paper before gluing (to make sure that they have room for the whole body on the piece of paper).
3.You can use just about any type of pasta (or dried beans) for the body parts. Experiment with different variations.

Pasta Jewelry

Materials Needed:

A piece of string about 40 cm long
Pasta pieces that you can thread string through

Method:

1.Color about ten to fifteen pasta pieces. Use different colors and/or pasta shapes if you like. Leave to dry.
2.Thread the pasta pieces, one at a time, onto the piece of string. When the string starts to get full with pasta, tie both ends of the string together to form the necklace.

Macaroni Noodle Frame

Materials Needed:

Macaroni or other small pasta
1 - 3 X 3 terracotta tile
Glue
Paint
Plate stand
Black permanent marker
Small flowers
Ribbon

Method:

1.In the center of the tile, draw the shape and size of the picture with the marker.
2.Apply glue to the border of the area you outlined, leaving the center empty.
3.Apply macaroni/pasta.
4.Let it dry (for about 30 minutes).
5.Paint.
6.Once dry, you may apply flowers or ribbon to decorate.
7.Place picture in the empty center.
8.Place tile on plate stand for display.

Have Fun

One of the cool things about pasta is that there are so many different choices and variations. You can control the color of the pasta very easily by adding more or less coloring, and it is a fun way to teach your kids about the different colors and what results if you mix them together. It is a great medium both cooked and uncooked, and cost just pennies per child! So the next time you think about creating a craft, bring out the old spaghetti noodles and start creating some fun!

Sarah Jones loves teaching. When she isn't homeschooling her own children, she is busy sharing her love of education with others. Find a wide assortment of Lesson Plans, crafts for kids, and homeschooling tips at her site, www.KnowMore.com.

Programs used for 360 photography

2008-02-20T22:08:00.000-05:00

By Ken Wilson

360 photography is a branch of photography that seems to be very popular lately, with many photographers (professional or not) being interested in it. Making a 360 virtual tour is not very difficult, but whether or not is a good one depends on little details such as the camera that is used and the stitching software. For anyone who doesn’t know photography, making a 360 virtual tour seems almost impossible.

Watching a 360 tour can be breath taking, but making it is, for most of us, a puzzle. Photographers would strongly disagree – the technique is simple, and the stitching part is easy. The tricky part, in their opinion, is finding the right subject for a 360 virtual tour. In just a few words, 360 photography works like that: you need a tripod, a camera and a stitching application. You take several photos, making sure each time you move your camera with let’s say 50%. Once you got all your shots you stitch the images and there you have it – your very own 360 virtual tour.

Someone who is just starting to be interested in photography is probably puzzled about all the choices he or she has to make – from camera to tripods and from photo paper to the printer. When it comes to panoramic photography, professional photographers have different views on one thing: the stitching software. This is the application that allows anyone to actually stitch two or more pictures together. There are many such applications out there, and it is up to every photographer to choose the software he or she thinks is best.

360 photography stitching applications can easily be found: they can be purchased on line or in stores or they can be downloaded for free from the internet. During the last few years camera producers have included such applications in their camera kits, so basically anyone can make a 360 virtual tour. But please have in mind that all these applications do not have the same quality, and there may be features that are not available with all applications.

Probably the most frequently used stitching applications are Photoshop, Google Picasa and AutoStitch. As well as that you can also stitch images in Flash but some say that the image may come out distorted. It is also said that one of the best image stitching software is the Panasonic Lumix. It comes with all Panasonic Digital cameras and it is called Panorama Maker. It is available for both Windows and OS, making it a panoramic photography tool for virtual anybody.

Usually all 360 virtual tour programs come with a sample set of photos on which to experiment. With some of the programs you will have to select the whole set of photos. They are then opened simultaneously and put together and the finished photo is automatically saved. You may even find such applications to open your picture viewer to show you the result. With certain applications you can even get an image where you look 360 degrees around a room by moving the mouse left or right, and you think you are actually in the room looking around.

There has been an increase in the demand of 360 virtual tours lately; as a result of that there is an increase in the number of people who are interested in 360 virtual tours as well. Being successful in this type of photography greatly depends on the stitching program.

ESL Chanting for Classroom Management

2008-02-20T21:16:00.000-05:00

By ESLPAL

Teaching ESL can be a rich and rewarding experience for anyone who loves a challenge. You only need a degree in any field, and a TESOL or TEFL certificate to get started, after that, it’s simply a matter of choosing the right school in the country in which you wish to live and teach. This can be done by surfing a few ESL sites and applying for a job online, waiting for a reply from some of the schools you’ve contacted, and then choosing the most appropriate position for you. You’ll usually be able to pick and choose because you hold the trump card.

So you’ve stitched up a great teaching job in Asia, well done! Maybe they have agreed to pay your airfare after a qualifying period, and help you with your visa and work permit. Hay! You’ve even got free accommodation. You’re really excited, and so you should be! You’re about to go to another planet and encounter all kinds of alien cultures and traditions, but remember, YOU are the alien, or commonly know as “the westerner”, or “the foreigner”.

You enter your first class of 10 year olds. You expect everything to be the way it was explained in the TESOL/TEFL course you took. You have a super wiz bang lesson plan and the children don’t even seem to care that you’re in the room! You raise your voice (over the din) to get their attention, and that works, so you get into the lesson and find that many of the activities and strategies you thought would be a hit, fall flat. You have some success with some activities, and manage to finish the lesson in reasonable style. Good work! Now you realize that it will require some creative strategies for managing the situation, so you plan to come better prepared next time. This continues for several weeks, but you’re getting worn down, and falling into routines of doing the same things that work best, more often in every class. You get so angry sometimes, with some of the kids that just cause trouble and don’t give a dam about your precious lessons. So much so that you’ve even resorted to slamming books, hitting the blackboard, yelling, screaming, and other boisterous techniques for maintaining “control”.

Time to re-assess the situation, for the benefit of your sanity, and that of your students, you need a new game plan. Here are some ideas that have worked for me and MIGHT work for you also.

First and most importantly, you need to get into the room with style while establishing your authority as the owner of the room, in a professional and positive manner which will impress everyone and give you the respect you deserve. TO GET RESPECT YOU MUST FIRST GIVE IT. I include details on how to get into a classroom this way, and increase student talk time, in another article entitled: “ESL, Teaching the Silent Way, 99%STT”

Now, assuming you can get into the classroom and gain the attention of most of your students for a few seconds this might work.

Establish a set of expectations, draft them using target vocabulary and structures, and drill them as a pronunciation exercise at the beginning of each and every lesson. Your students are familiar with this technique because that’s how they’ve leant everything since day one. You will get their respect and attention the first time you do it, and every time you do it. Also whenever you start to loose their attention during the lesson, you can quickly and easily regain it, while simultaneously having your students practice pronunciation and use target vocabulary/structures (without them realizing it).

Exactly what, and how, to do it (don’t be put off by the audio linguistic nature of what follows. Audio linguistics saved lives during the war, it works!)

Introductory lesson

Step one

Consider your class’s overall level of receptive English language ability, (what most of them will be able to comprehend after an initial introductory lesson). Then, draft up 3-5 sentences, pertaining to your expectations, in the target language for this group. Remember this is for the beginning of each lesson, (after you’re in the room), as well as intermittently throughout the lesson. Be sure to keep the rules positive, say “I will remember”, instead of “I must not forget”. You may like to use my “ESL class directed expectations technique” for this, which is covered in another article by me with the same title.

Step two

Write the rules/expectations/requirements/ or anything you want to call them, on the board. It’s best not to say anything while you do this, just let them guess and talk amongst themselves while you’re writing, this is great for helping to gain your students attention, while encouraging analytical thinking, and the more advanced students will help the others who are having difficulty. Maybe someone will say “copy”, you can just nod, this signal will soon get around the room, so that before you know it, all your students are writing your expectations in their note books. (The silent approach)

Sample set of rules: (present simple),

1. I listen carefully to teacher Bill
2. I bring all my books to every lesson
3. I speak English to my friends (this is a positive way to encourage no first language use)
4. I am ready for every lesson

Change the tenses easily like this:

I will (future)
I am listening (continuous)
I have brought all my books to this lesson (Present perfect)

Step three

Drill the rules! Do this any way you like, but I’ve found the best way for me is as follows:

Say “rule number one”, then give an example of the correct pronunciation while encouraging full participation through your body language, and do the same for each consecutive rule, gradually begin to prompt by saying the rule number, “rule number…..”.

Tap the board for rhythm as you present each word (do this two or three times), then circulate the room to ensure all students are participating. Encourage by using your body language and facial expressions. You may have a rule which requires such things as, “no books on your desk”, or “a pencil, a ruler, and a rubber, must be on my desk”, while you circulate, check to make sure that all students are meeting the requirements of the expectations. Then return to the board and keep the chant going! While the class is chanting, you erase two or three words from each sentence until you have a blank board and all the students are reciting each rule by rote. It helps to tap the place where the words were, each time they recite one of the sentences, so that a subliminal memory jogger is created (students love the challenge, and it really works! I’ve had students who can’t remember the words until I tap the places where they were, and then they remember them).

Step four

Repeat the drill of the rules several times during the first lesson, using the tapping technique on the places where you had written them at first (for memory jogging) and allow students to refer to their note books if they need to. (This establishes the understanding of the reason for taking notes.) After a few days they won’t need to refer to their notes, so there is never any need to “control this” remember all students learn differently, so allow for it!

Implementation

Start every class by saying, “rule number one” etc. The whole class will start reciting to your prompts; you have their attention so launch your lesson.

Whenever you lose the attention of the whole class, say in a normal voice “rule number one”, your class should respond by reciting rule number one. The first few lessons you should go through all of the rules in order. Later you can start to mix them up etc. If they don’t respond to your normal voice, DON”T RAISE IT! Simply make eye contact with an attentive confident student and say it again. This will get things started. Have patience, it will soon catch on.

When you lose the attention of a particular student, say “rule number one”, the whole class will get his/her attention.

If a student is ignoring/forgetting an expectation/rule, say “rule number….” Where the number is the number of the rule he/she is ignoring/forgetting.

Summary

Be sure to change the expectations periodically to match needs.

Use this as a simple classroom management strategy that can complement any ESL program/syllabus/curriculum.

Bill Boyd offers you this excellent ESL website: ESLPal

Commercial Photographer

2008-02-13T21:41:00.000-05:00

By Estelle Judah

Photography has come a long way in the past 50 years. In fact, not just the past 50 years, the evolution of photography into the diverse field it is today is truly amazing. With time photography has evolved into diverse fields like travel photography, food photography, photojournalism and much more. In fact, today still life photography alone has many diverse fields like food photography, jewellery photography etc. A common misconception that people have when it comes to photography is that a single photographer can take care of all kinds of photographic requirements.

The most interesting aspect of photography is the shift from film based photography to digital storage based photography. Today even ‘old school’ photographers have started using digital SLR cameras to capture the most vivid and vibrant images possible. Compared to the every day use digital cameras available in the market, professional photographers use SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras. A SLR camera can costs anything between $1000 and $5,000. The SLR camera rarely utilizes digital enhancement of the images (for example, unlike regular digital cameras the zoom feature in a digital SLR camera is purely optical) and a digital SLR camera has far superior optics when compared to the digital cameras available for everyday use.

The reason why most photographers prefer digital storage over film is that digital images are easier to manage and can be easily distributed. For example, if a photograph has been clicked using a traditional SLR camera, the negative has to be developed, the photo scanned and then digitally ‘fixed’ before it is ready for electronic distribution. However, with digital storage, there are no such problems, and a camera can be connected to a digital printer and within seconds it is possible to produce hard copies of the digital images. In fact this is the reason why digital SLR cameras have become so popular, the storage mechanism is the same as digital cameras, but the quality of images is as good as traditional SLR cameras. The only advantage that traditional film based cameras have over digital SLR cameras is that the images can be over and underexposed as per the photographers convenience, also since the capture field of digital cameras is static, they are more prone to problems like dust.

One of the popular forms of photography today is Commercial Photography. Commercial photography is a broad term that is used to describe photography that is purely commercial in nature. Commercial photography includes advertising photography, fashion and glamour photography, food photography, fine art photography, portrait photography and other similar forms of photography designed for commercial use. Recently, photojournalism too has also been classified as a form of commercial photography, as the eventual purpose of photojournalism is to sell photographs to newspapers and news agencies. By and large, commercial photography is for professional photographers that can utilize their expertise to make money. Commercial photography is diverse, and ever day an ever increasing number of commercial photographers are joining one of the many disciplines of commercial photography that exist today. It is only a matter of time before newer disciplines are added to commercial photography.

Estelle Judah is the author of this article on Commerical Photographer.

The 5 Fastest Ways to Increase Your Vocabulary

2008-02-13T21:07:00.000-05:00

By Marilyn Estelle

If you are looking to increase your vocabulary, you probably already know about the massive benefits you will gain by doing so. A good vocabulary is tightly linked to your career opportunities and earning potential, not to mention being a valuable asset in all your personal relationships.

And if you have ever glanced at the bulging dictionary on your shelf and felt overwhelmed at the number of new and difficult words it contains, you'll be relieved once you learn about some new, easy, ways to increase your vocabulary. You no longer need to memorize words by rote from the dictionary or laboriously copy them into fat notebooks to carry around with you for endless, tedious review.

There are many studies that show how the human brain learns best, and now there are powerful new vocabulary learning tools that capitalize on this research and make it simple, easy, and best of all fun for you to learn the new words that will catapult you towards the success you deserve.

"Constructivism" is a theory of learning that has been developed from years of research and exploration. Many eminent scholars including Jean Piaget, George Hein, Eleanor Duckworth and Howard Gardener have developed these ideas and now YOU can use them to help you increase your vocabulary.
Educationalist Roger Bybee developed a model that builds on these ideas, and that is ideal to use for building your vocabulary. This is the "5Es" model:

Engage - The material to be learned must be of interest to the student. You need to have your attention engaged on a personal level.

Explore - Interactivity is key. The more ways you have to explore a new idea or a new word, the easier it is to learn.

Explain - You must have a clear explanation (essential in vocabulary building) - and with the other elements of this model it is easy for you to remember the explanation.

Elaborate - In this step of the model, the student is now able to easily learn more, related facts or words or situations. This is a vital part of vocabulary learning as you elaborate from a simple definition to related words and meanings. Crucially, you also elaborate when you learn different situations it's appropriate to use the word in.

Evaluate - As you learn interactively, your brain naturally evaluates what you are taking in and assesses it, finding links to your own personal experience, which guarantees retention in your long-term memory.

So - as you look for methods to increase your vocabulary, be sure to find tools and interactive software programs that can make the whole process fun and easy!

Marilyn Estelle is a vocabulary building expert. Marilyn has a popular vocabulary blog with tons of great free vocabulary building information. Why not visit the blog now at vocabulary

Learn the Ropes of Digital Photography

2008-02-09T01:10:00.000-05:00

By David Peters

Most photographs aren't just well-defined black and white boundaries - in fact, none of them are. So when faced with angles, gradients, or irregular shapes, the computer has to use its stored rules to guess what color the new pixels should be. In theory, the better routines allow the computer to do a pretty good job at smoothing out the image when the resolution is increased and all those new pixels are put in place. In practice, unlike in the movies or on TV, you can't get information out of a picture that isn't there. That tiny black dot on the horizon isn't going to turn into an umbrella when you double the resolution, it will just be a bigger black dot. So if you need a "bigger picture" than you have, why not use interpolation? The trick is that the interpolation done in your camera is not the same as the interpolation done in your computer's editing software.

You can recreate the settings of a favorite shot or repeat a favorite effect, and higher-level information such as special lenses and light metering modes can be invaluable as you advance your knowledge of photography. You can even share this information with friends or colleagues to help duplicate tricky shots, or create a database or spreadsheet of the effects of specific settings to help you recreate effects or types of shots under different conditions. An example would be keeping track of how white balance changes affect the appearance of particular colors. Instead of making notes of what changes you made and what order photos were taken in (particularly when the string of photos were all taken of the same scene), you can skip the notes and compare the settings in the EXIF data instead. Then, when you work on your log, you can copy setting information over and just make a note about which settings worked best.

Rough Side of RAW: RAW formats differ from camera to camera and there are debates about camera programming that provides some control over your RAW files by the camera manufacturer. Where protests have been issued, there is an effort to provide standardized RAW formats that would better serve the consumer where general market software could be used to edit the RAW material. If your computer is equipped with lots of processing memory, RAW data will not be as much a problem, however presently, RAW files take a lot more time to open and process than JPEG and TIFF files. That is where the option to capture in RAW and JPEG simultaneously is a strong benefit. While standard editing software is now offered on the market, the way that software processes RAW files may differ depending on how the software from the manufacturer is recognized by the software. Thus, be sure to find and ask a savvy sales expert. Most sensors record light over a 12-bit range, with intensities of more or less 4096 possible values. Each sensor with 12-bit output is one and a half bytes. So our small chip with 20,000 light cells gives a raw output of 30,000 bytes. In an actual file there is some non-image information, but that can be ignored for simple calculations.

Analog or film cameras use the term ASA speed, however it is important to remember that a single digital camera can capture and store images at several ISO speeds. Amplifying the image signal in a camera can also amplify noise and thereby higher ISO speeds may produce progressively more noise in the photo. The character of an image in a photo can also change noise. Where lighter areas in analog or film photos tend to have the most noise, it is the darker areas of digital photographs that have the largest amount of noise. Digital cameras produce three types of noise called random noise, fixed pattern noise and banding noise. Random noise describes the abnormal intensity of color fluctuations compared to the rest of the photograph. It is most influenced by the ISO speed however the pattern of random noise may change even if exposure settings remain the same. Random noise may be the least objectionable, but the most difficult to remove where the noise is too often mistaken for true image characteristics. Fixed Hot pixels or fixed pattern noise describe pixel intensity that far exceeds that of ambient random noise fluctuations.

If you are looking to turn your pictures into pieces of art, there are many options available to you, as well. You can turn your print into a black and white picture and hand color some details. You can create beautiful special effects that will really make your digital photo stand out in a crowd, too. As you can image, the tools to create the perfect picture can cost a lot of money, if you have to purchase them. If you are on a budget, or just like to save money, anything you can find for free is a bonus! Well, there are free photo editors out there, you just have to look for them. Since the introduction of the Internet, there are literally thousands upon thousands of pages of information that are geared specifically toward helping you achieve the pictures of your dreams. You don't have to spend one penny to edit your photographs. All you need is access to a computer and scanner and you are well on your way. Just log onto any one of the number of free photo editor applications available and a whole new world of editing possibilities will be right at your fingertips. Don't let your money, or lack of, keep you from making the best pictures, just download some freeware and start editing your own pictures!

At the opposite end of the spectrum, you can take advantage of the extremely short duration of the flash in low-light situations. Flash firing time can be as short as 1/50,000 of a second, and while the camera's CCD sensor will remain active longer than that, almost all of the light in a dark scene that reaches the CCD will be from that flash event. This can effectively "freeze" the action as if you were using a shutter speed faster than your camera can support. Small built-in flash units have a very short "reach," often providing effective light only as far as two or three meters. This weakness, however, can be turned into a strength if you think about how you want to compose your scene. Certainly for "isolating" or emphasizing your subject, the ability to move only a short distance from background objects and radically reduce their light level is handy. In night shots outdoors or low-level indoor shots, the "weaker" flash gives more control over the content of the shot by dramatically reducing the "foreground" and magnifying the effect of distance.

Secure Digital (SD) cards were designed to replace the older MMC standard - but it's beginning to look like the reverse may happen. The good news is that SD cards are available in larger sized - up to 4 Gigabytes, and higher speeds than MMC cards currently are. In theory, SD cards are the fastest on the market. In practice, it's almost a dead heat with Compact Flash cards. The bad news is that SD cards are losing market share rapidly, though they are still used in many cameras. The better news is that if the MMC standard takes over, full-size MMC cards can be used in SD slots. Compact Flash (CF) is one of the oldest and most popular standards available today. They have the widest range of sizes (up to 8 Gigabytes with larger microdrive-based cards rumored) and are quite quick. Currently they compete only with SD cards for the high-end camera market, and their position looks more secure than SD. New developments in wireless transfer support for cameras and links to external drive packs may cement CF cards' place.

Overcome difficult obstacles while learning digital photography Avoide annoyances with printers, and get aid with this free report.

The Kumon Education Technique

2008-02-07T04:27:00.000-05:00

By: Ian Williamson

Are you anxious to see your child learn to read and write? Whether they are already enrolled in a school program or you are spending time teaching your child at home, it is every parent's hope that their child will master these and other skills with ease.

The fad of creating super-genius children may be out, but concerned parenting will always be in. Encouraging your child to learn in a manner that makes learning rewarding and fun will help him or her to build confidence and self-reliance.

WHAT IS KUMON?

Kumon was created 50 years ago in Japan by a father and teacher. It is just one of the many programs available that help children improve their reading, writing and math skills outside of the school system.

The Kumon system is self-taught. The work is illustrated on the worksheet and the student is given assignments to be completed over several days. Students attend the Kumon centers about two days per week for marking and new assignments. Assignments are short (about 20 minutes per day) and parental involvement is encouraged.

HOW IS KUMON DIFFERENT?

Instead of frustration and pressure, the Kumon learning system is geared to build confidence and create a positive learning experience. Part of that comes from using self-motivation rather than a class or tutor to guide the student. This system works by evaluating the student's level of understanding and starting them with familiar work they can easily complete.

Starting the student with work that is easy builds confidence. The work gradually incorporates more complex lessons so the student can learn new skills on their own without assistance.

When an assignment is turned in with errors, the student will redo the assignment until it can be completed without error before moving on. This is very different from traditional schools where assignments are marked and returned and the class moves on to new work regardless of the abilities of individuals within the class.

Since Kumon is self-taught, there are no pressures to keep up with a class. Each student moves at their own pace. Working on one assignment until completed accurately ensures the student understands the concepts and is ready to move forward. Each student is therefore working at 100% of their potential.

HOW CAN MY CHILD LEARN WITH KUMON?

Whether you want to use Kumon to build on what your child already knows or to help master skills that they are behind on in school, you can find a Kumon center online or look for Kumon materials sold in bookstores or online.

Kumon is just one way parents can help their children to learn. Looking for a program that builds confidence or using similar techniques at home all work towards helping children learn to teach themselves - a skill that will reward them throughout their lifetime.

For more Education articles by Ian Williamson please visit www.real-articles.com/Category/Education/82

Reading and Childhood Experiences

2008-02-05T05:42:00.000-05:00

Over the years, there has been a gradual and steady decline in the ability of students to comprehend the reading page as evidently shown by their written and oral output. Educators would attribute this to the lack of interest among students in learning a language or the reluctance of the learners to read, others cite psychological and social factors, while still others trace it from the student’s reading experience. The level and degree of reading abilities are acquired from appropriate experiences. As espoused by the proponents of the Significant Human Experience (SHE) Approach, learning is equated with experience where experiencing is tied up with human development. Learning affects and is affected by the learner’s experiences, personality, values, roles and other related factors. To learn is to experience, that is to interact with one’s environment; to feel, to do, to sense, to see - the opportunities that present themselves to the learner. The amount of experiences that college students have in reading therefore presents both a potentially rich resource for learning as well as an impediment to learning. It is a resource since the learner’s ability and desire to read renders him opportunities to gather, analyze and synthesize as much information needed to achieve academic and life skills and goals. It is an impediment when the reading experiences are too limited to provide greater opportunities for comprehension, a necessary element for academic success.

In his paper, Pretorius (2000) asserts that: "research findings in applied linguistics and reading research consistently show a strong correlation between reading proficiency and academic success at all ages, from the primary school right through to university level: students who read a lot and who understand what they read usually attain good grades. In fact, the relationship between reading and learning begins even earlier in the pre-primary school years - children who are exposed to storybook reading before they go to school tend to have larger vocabularies, greater general knowledge and better conceptual development than their peers, and in addition, they learn to read and write more easily and quickly" (Heath 1983; Ninio 1983; Snow 1983; Wells 1986; Elley 1991; Feitelson et al. 1993).

"The correlation between reading proficiency and academic performance obtains for both those who study through their first language (L1 students) and for those who do not (L2 students). In fact, several teachers and researchers argue that reading is probably the most important skill for L2 students in academic or learning contexts" (Saville-Troike 1984; Carrell 1989; Hafiz and Tudor 1989; Mbise 1993; Fasheh 1995).

Further, research reveals that reluctant readers trace their inability to read and comprehend what they read from early childhood experiences (Wothy, 1996). Positive early literacy experiences are impressed into the minds and attitudes of the learners and hence carried through other stages of their human development. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experiences, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies and their understanding of textual features, e.g. sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics. When children scribble letters and stories and read their compositions to others; make up spelling or create letter like forms, they show awareness of this educational belief: “What I can think I can say; what I can say I can write, what I can write, I can read.” (Hermosa, 1996, p.27)

The Nine-Dragon Wall

2008-01-31T22:59:00.000-05:00

Built in 1392 during the reign of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty, the Nine-Dragon Wall in Datong is a screen wall measuring 45.5 meters long, 8 meters high and 2.02 meters wide. The Nine-Dragon Wall is the largest of its kind now in existence in China. Similar walls were built all over the country where the emperors and other prominent people lived. This particular wall was built at the gate of the dwelling place of Lord Zhu Gui, the 13th son of Zhu Yuanhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

The Confluent Approach

2008-01-30T10:47:00.000-05:00

The confluent approach has its foundations from the humanist theories of education where the integration of the cognitive, affective, social, and psychomotor domains is emphasized in the learning process. This concept underscores the premise that education cultivates and encourages intellectual growth and the emotional, social, and physical well being of learners.Frederick Edwords delineates the fundamental ideas commonly espoused by religious and secular humanists. Among others, he explained that:Humanism is a philosophy of imagination.
Humanists recognize that intuitive feelings, hunches, speculation, flashes of inspiration, emotion, altered states of consciousness, and even religious experience, while not valid means to acquire knowledge, remain useful sources of ideas that can lead us to new ways of looking at the world. These ideas, after they have been assessed rationally for their usefulness, can then be put to work, often as alternate approaches for solving problems.Humanism is a realistic philosophy. Humanists recognize the existence of moral dilemmas and the need for careful consideration of immediate and future consequences in moral decision making.Humanism is in tune with today's enlightened social thought. Humanists are committed to civil liberties, human rights, church-state separation, the extension of participatory democracy not only in government but in the workplace and education, an expansion of global consciousness and exchange of products and ideas internationally, and an open-ended approach to solving social problems, an approach that allows for the testing of new alternatives.Humanism is in tune with new technological developments. Humanists are willing to take part in emerging scientific and technological discoveries in order to exercise their moral influence on these revolutions as they come about, especially in the interest of protecting the environment.The many interpretations on the ideals of humanist theorists heralded great debates that confronted its essential beliefs. Whether these beliefs are what the arguments claim they are or not, the convergence of thoughts that are instrumental to the development of this approach for the language class is far more germane to the rationale behind this pursuit. The world is changing at a pace in which too many people have trouble catching up with. The universal values central to an abiding respect for life and the environment have been shaken and the least that can be done is for people to see these changes and take some responsibility to the afflictions these changes may have caused. Bringing the language learners closer to the understanding of their relationship with the world and society is our attempt as language teachers to face up to these challenges to human existence, not only as distant learning materials but also as an essential part of the wholeness of the language learner. The language learner therefore goes beyond the mastery of new vocabularies and sentence structures by consciously developing skills necessary in responding to social challenges head on.

A Glimpse on the History of Christian Igorots

2008-01-28T04:02:00.000-05:00

Here's a look into the Christianization of the Igorots as presented during the 50th Anniversary of the Holy Rosary High School entitled: "Kayan Mission: A Brief History".

In 1665, more than a hundred years after the discovery of the Philippines by the Spaniards, a Spanish Military Expedition under the command of Admiral Pedro Duran de Monforte reached Kayan (Cayan in old records) through thick and thorns in search for gold which was believed to exist along the mountains of now named Lepanto. With them were three Agustinian friars, one of whom was Father Pedro Diaz, who settled in Kayan, hence the origin of "the Old Mission of Kayan", also known as the Mission of the Archangel Michael.

The Spaniards found the entrance to the gold mines but were not able to excavate them, instead the missionaries found a store of "gold" among the people of the mountains. "The place was deserted when they reached Kayan, but soon the people slowly came around when they sensed the friendly character of their visitors. The golden souls of the "Ygolotes" (mountaineers trading gold in the lowlands), so long hungry for the good message to reach them.” Three years of vain search and the lack of proper instruments and the necessary skills for mining made the expedition leave frustrated, with Fr. Diaz and some converts leaving with them.

When Father Diaz left, the people rapidly forgot their Christian teachings and went back to animism, however missionaries from Candon and other towns from the lowlands made repeated trips to Kayan and the surrounding villages to visit and comfort the new Christian, notwithstanding the dangers and bad conditions of those journeys to the mountains. There was rebellion against the conquestadores and the Igorots were often out hunting for human heads to offer in their own animistic rites. As shown in the records of the churches of Tagudin and Bangar, there were eighty three adults from Kayan baptized between 1753 and 1755.

Extensive expeditions were made in 1836, 1877 and in 1881, but in 1881, more than two hundred years after the first expedition by Duran, a permanent Spanish Military garrison was stationed in Kayan with a missionary priest of the Agustinian Order, Padre Rufino Redondo who continued on converting the Igorots to the Christian Faith. From 1881 to 1890, a total of 218 marriages were officiated, 686 children and 586 adults were baptized, and 395 Christian burials were recorded (Little Apostle, 1940).

On November 1907, two missionaries of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) settled in the Mountain Province, one in Bontoc and the other in Bauko. These two pioneers were Rev. Fr. C. Jurgens and Fr. J. Sepulchre. Fr. J. Sepulchre (the first Belgian Father to visit Kayan after the Spanish Occupation) lived in Bauko for a while. Meanwhile, the missionary work in Kayan has to be started all over again. Kayan then became an outstation of Bauko and was regularly visited by the zealous Fr. Sepulchre and his successors.

The latest was Fr. Jose Portelange (the reorganizer of the Kayan Mission) who was obliged to make Cervantes his residence from where he visited Kayan, Bauko and their barrios. During the time of Fr. Portelange, Kayan was divided into two factions, the upper and the lower camps. When he said mass in the upper camp which was held in the house of Mr. Lino Cardenas, those from the lower camp wouldn't join. The same was true with the lower camp. The mass for the lower camp was held at the house of Mr. Brigido Recile. It was at this point that Fr. Portelange decided to construct a chapel for Kayan and so he requested for a suitable place in lieu of the old site of the Spanish mission which was taken for another purpose. Several meetings with the people were made but in vain. Then Mr. Recile offered his house and lot for sale. Fr. Portelange took this kind and great opportunity and with some donations in his hands he wasted no time and closed the deal. The residential house was renovated into a chapel Mission in memory of the late Fr. Redican, assistant of the Right Rev. Monsignor McGlinchy of the Archdioceses of Boston and was inaugurated by Fr. Portelange himself. The Kayan Mission has since been established, Fr. Portelange succeeded in uniting the two camps in celebrating mass together.

Father Leon Wins (who spent the best of his life in working for Kayan) came to help Fr. Portelange. He was entrusted the outlaying districts of Cervantes and took charge of the Kayan Mission. Fr. Leon a sturdy priest and with his faithful mule Johnny, braved the steep trails to the barrios, rain or shine to say mass, teach catechism, and spread the gospel of God and bring the Sacraments to those in need. He gathered the children in the evenings for catechism, attracting the little ones to come by offering them medals, images and candies.

In June 1928, Father George Cardijn, a WW I veteran, came to Kayan and became the first resident missionary. He gave his best to the mission even to the cost of his health. Aside from evangelizing, teaching the doctrine of faith and serving the people in their spiritual needs, he built many chapels within the Kayan mission including that of Mankayan, which was then under the jurisdiction of his missionary district. In January 1929, he blessed a chapel in Tue, a barrio which gave him much consolation. The beautiful chapel of Tadian was built in May 1930.

In 1932, Fr. Cardijn went on leave and Fr. Juan Dekker came in his place. After a year, Fr. Cardijn was back and continued his work for five years. Because of his deteriorating health, he was transferred to La Trinidad, Benguet on May 1938 and Father Andres Marquez who was then the priest in La Trinidad came and took over. Fr. Marquez, a doctor priest, who before coming to Kayan was already known for his remarkable achievements in providing people comfort in their spiritual and physical health. He was a zealous missionary and easily won the hearts of his parishioners. Fr. Andres loved the people of the Kayan mission and was proud of them. Because of his medical ability and patience in attending to the sick he was well known not only in his mission station but also in the neighboring municipalities of Sagada, Besao, Bontoc and Mankayan.

On May 1940, Fr. Andres Marquez built a beautiful cement church with its equally beautiful interiors. It was blessed by Mons. Jose Billiet, Prefect of the Apostolate of Montanosa. The Church of the Holy Rosary was a monument to the sacrifices of the missionaries and the Christian faith of the Igorots. It defied the odds of getting leveled permanently by American bombers during WWII. Tons of bombs were dropped into the tiny village of Kayan that tore down all visible structures.

Father Andres left on July 1941 and was succeeded by Fr. Luis De Boeck who stayed only up to December of the same year. On the same month, Father Rafael Van Niewvenhove arrived. The mountains then were already occupied by the Japanese. The people evacuated to the forest but the very calm padre stayed. He did not leave his convent, even then, he did not forget his flock. He followed them in their evacuation camps to comfort and render them their spiritual needs, especially that there was an epidemic. He was harassed by Japanese soldiers and he had great difficulty traveling to the hiding places of the evacuees in the depth of the forests. When the war was over, Fr. Rafael left Kayan on February 1945. Father Carlos Desmet took over on June 6, 1945 to November 1946. A makeshift house near the church ruins was used as the church. On December of the same year, Father Harry Geeroms came. In 1950, Fr. GilHuenaerts came and started the reconstruction of the church. Under the skillful supervision of the parish priest and the brother-assistants, the church rose again. Since then, the Kayan Mission continues to survive and expand for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Following are the clerics who served the mission either as parish priests or assistant parish priests from 1946 to the present:

Rev. Fr. Harry Geeroms
Rev. Fr. Gil Huenaerts
Rev. Fr. Cornelio Zonus
Rev. Fr. Jose Baute
Rev. Fr. Theodoro Bonarius
Rev. Fr. Camilo Dec1erq
Rev. Fr. Leon Dapiaoen
Rev. Fr. Victor Pil
Rev. Fr. Marcos Molitas
Rev. Fr. Vicente Castro
Rev. Fr. Alberto Duggom
Rev. Fr. Vie. Decquoran
Rev. Fr. Brigido Galasgas
Rev. Fr. Hubert Dec1erq
Rev. Fr. Wilfred Daels
Rev. Fr. Francisco Balacuit
Rev. Fr. Francis Dinacas
Rev. Fr. Rogelio Baychon
Rev. Fr. Patricio Guyguyon
Rev. Fr. Valentin Dimoc
Rev. Fr. Herman Bugatti
Rev. Fr. Vincent Sagandoy
Rev. Fr. Andrew Claver

Baguio Then and Now

2008-01-25T23:32:00.000-05:00

I was going over my old man's documents when I came across these old pictures of Baguio. I surmised these were taken during the late 1940's or early 50's basing from his other old pictures. After more than 50 years of development slowly gnawing the birthright of ethnic civilization that was Kafagway, the bagiw is no longer synonymous to Baguio, but now a memory long forgotten in many fronts. The signature moss of Baguio that kept the place cool even in summer is vanishing with the influx of migrants and tourists, all wanting to have a piece of the nation's summer capital. The city that was meant for a few thousands is now overcrowded. Trees no longer grow on mountain slopes but concrete shanties and mansions and structures meant to match with the times. The last tree I've seen standing on Mount Mary was cut to give way to a new building. I guess nobody knows anymore where Mount Mary is. Such is Baguio now. Still, I'm happy to see that the old landmarks are still there like the Mansion House, Burnham Lake and the Baguio Cathedral. I hope and do really pray that nobody ever thinks of putting up a floating restaurant on Burnham Lake.

Improving Our Landscape Images

2008-01-19T01:04:00.000-05:00

By: SUDHIR A. KUMAR

Landscape photography can be a challenge, but with the right composition and good natural light it can be made a bit easier.

All the world’s cameras, films and other photographic equipment are no more than tools for making landscape pictures. Cameras don’t think for themselves. Whether we use digital or film camera, the same photographic principles apply.

We don’t have to stick to many rules to produce great landscape images, but knowing what they are will make your pictures more successful. There are two salient points in landscape photography: how to compose your image, and how to use available natural light in any given situation.

Lets start off with light: There are three basic qualities of light: intensity, direction and color.

Intensity: refers to the strength of light. If the sun is high in the sky, light can be harsh and too strong. Cloudy days bring soft and defused light.

Direction: this refers to light placement. There are three categories of light placement: front, back and side-lighting. Side lighting produces more texture between light and shade.

Color: the color of sunlight varies depending upon conditions and time of day. If the sun shines at the beginning or the end of the day, the color of the light will be much warmer, and will lead to a much more dramatic scene.

Understanding natural light will develop your ability to see. You will start to see the beauty of light in a different and exciting way.

In landscape photography it is very important to take care with composition. A normal scene can be transformed by paying close attention to detail. Composition is all about how you arrange the elements in front of you.

Here are a few ideas in which you may find useful.

Lead with lines: To lead with lines into the main part of the scene will draw your viewer into your image. These lines don’t have to be straight. Lines, such as tracks, riverbanks or fences, may work successfully.

Foreground interest: Simple foreground objects can give your landscape a greater sense of depth. Use a small aperture (f/22) to keep the entire scene in focus.

Natural frames: Frame your scene with the elements all around you. This will focus attention on the main part of the picture. Trees make great natural frames.

These are just a few essential guidelines, and combined with a good eye, you have all you need to get the best out of photography - especially landscape photography. These are just a few rules to get you started, but like all rules, they are there to be broken.

www.greateducationonline.com

Teaching Social Responsibility

2008-01-15T10:45:00.000-05:00

Man is by nature social. His individual personality is an imprint of the heart of society. Just as his existence depends on society as a whole and his welfare becomes the indicator of progress in social life, man is endowed with a will and the ability to consciously interact with his world. Man's personal relationship with the world is a natural outcome of an instinctive will to survive, but unlike the rest of the animal kingdom, man can reflect upon his circumstances and his actions are governed by his intrapersonal and interpersonal persuasions from which his values are drawn. Man is uniquely gifted with the capacity to make or unmake; to create or destroy; and the inherent responsibility to develop and nurture his world. However, this innate accountability comes with considerable circumspection and dedication to the betterment of humanity instead of the satisfaction of naked individual ambitions. His stewardship of the world renders him answerable not only to society, but also to the parameters of divine, natural and human life principles.

Unfortunately, human laws change; people change as new technologies, new rights and new systems are introduced to meet the insatiable needs of an ever growing internationally connected society. The rapid transformation of agricultural societies into industrial villages; of mono-lingual socio-cultural tribes into cosmopolitan communities; and of self-sufficient economies into multi-laterally controlled markets have in effect altered the way people think and act. Consequently, people have become willing and unwilling participants to drastic adjustments in the dynamics of human interaction. Society has unwittingly turned people’s lives into the influence of non-conventional ideologies spurred by mass media, industrial development, socio-economic and geo-political mergers and the increasing dominance of multinational corporations in world markets. Eventually, the world is overrun by pride, power and greed. Lives falter and the weak are crushed; but the one most nagging question is never raised. How does the way I live my life affect the way other people live theirs? There is an urgent need to reflect and redirect our value systems and find ways to the abatement in the proliferation of apathy by a changing world. It is from this context that teaching social responsibility in the language classroom seeks to pursue what is morally and ethically correct and fulfill what is deemed right for the welfare of a greater number of people and the protection of man’s habitat.

Doing what is right is the language teachers’ response to the demands of an evolving society where needs are as diverse as individual concerns are. It is the language teachers’ noble contribution to the simple premise that while people everywhere are different because of their race, religion and culture and their political and economic backgrounds, people have similar desires and aspirations for humankind. Universally, people share the same hopes about how their lives should rise beyond economic gains and how the world treats them and gives them positive expectations for the future of their children. The language teacher stirs up the learners’ sub-conscious self to conscientiously acknowledge that one’s intrinsic and extrinsic persuasions are bound by one’s universal accountability to humanity; that one’s actions may directly or indirectly have an influence on another person’s happiness, health, safety and comfort.

Indeed, the teaching profession has always placed itself at the forefront in the pursuit of righteousness; and in molding individuals into responsible citizens. A catalyst for change, teachers have assumed an extraordinary role in revealing man’s innate decency and worth; accordingly, teachers take on an ethical and a moral obligation to seek out moments where students’ values can be clarified; their negative feelings be mollified and converted to something productive; and their uncertainties resolved. They undertake the noble tasks of creating and recreating, of forming and nurturing individuals as world citizens that are open and sensitive to the social demands of a global community and responsive to social issues, either internationally or at the local level. After all, Bertrand Russel once extolled the teachers’ role in sustaining order in society as “guardians of civilization”.

Issues and problems that beset the human race are concerns that should not be attended only within established institutional structures but also inside and outside the confines of the language class. The language class is a rich venue for the development of both the cognitive and affective domains of learning which are vital in counteracting the scourges of narrow ambitions, contracted nationalism, of evil subterfuges of man against man, and apathy. Further, researches have shown that social and emotional skills are necessary elements for the successful development of thinking and learning activities. The processes that have been considered as pure reasoning and academic are now considered to be integrative of the learners’ cognitive and affective capabilities. Effectively promoting emotional competence is the key to helping language learners acquire the skills, attitudes, values, and experiences that will motivate constructive behaviors, make responsible and thoughtful decisions and seek out positive opportunities for growth and learning. The language teacher therefore shares in the responsibility of ensuring that the choices students make are informed choices based on the best information and insights available, and a genuine concern for the welfare of humanity and anything that encompasses its existence.

Paulo Freire (as cited in Lewis, 2003) saw the necessity of providing people the opportunity to understand where they are situated in their society by giving them basic education. Such opportunity helps them become productive contributors to the transformation of their society. He wrote:

Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.
Language learning is one area in education where participation in the transformation of the world can best be explored. Initially, the four language skills serve as channels for communication. The plain fact that the ability to read and write opens up many opportunities to someone who got the skills heightens the influence language learning has on the investigation of social concerns. Scholars like Bertrand Russell, Paulo Freire and Alfred Adler believe that social change can be achieved mostly when people are liberated from the restrictions of illiteracy and ignorance. One’s effective use of language gives one ample space to grow, and grow creatively. As learners articulate their feelings and points of view and plan specific actions to instigate positive responses on topics that interest them, vocabulary use and language structures are strengthened. Allowing students to collaboratively dissect and investigate a social issue among their peers using their own experiences and observations maximizes the manipulation of the language. Such exercises empower the students to be responsible for their own learning. In effect, the language class is a fertile ground in generating productive use of verbal communication geared at comprehending the nuances of man’s social nature. It provides a venue for teachers and students to see the world in different perspectives and be able to examine and reflect upon how this diversity strengthens or disintegrates the social fiber that binds them with humanity. As they hone their linguistic and social competencies, students are encouraged to cultivate in themselves a sense of respect, tolerance and sensitivity to disparities in race, culture, religion and ideologies.

Alternatives in Language Education

2008-01-05T10:39:00.000-05:00

Recent events in world history have shown the interconnectedness of peoples around the world and their aspirations for peace and economic comfort as well. While these events inspired heated discussions in the social sciences, language teachers can not overlook the fact that social concerns are an integral part of the life systems of language learners too. Issues and problems that beset the human race are concerns that should not be attended only within institutional structures but also within and without the confines of the language class. There is an urgent need to provide student experiences with an international dimension, experiences that should empower them and equip them with the proper knowledge and skills in dealing with social issues that should help equalize the negative feelings of selfishness, regionalism, discrimination, hatred and hopelessness.The task of providing appropriate information and stimuli to language learners is daunting indeed. Both students and teachers may find universal topics like human rights, poverty, hun ger, war, minority issues and related concepts too overwhelming and cumbersome. Nevertheless, a confluent approach to teaching social responsibility in the language class helps to neutralize this seeming difficulty in dealing with social issues. Alfred Adler (as cited in Stein and Edwards, 1999) explained that:If people have developed social interest at the affective level, they are likely to feel a deep belonging to the human race and, as a result, are able to empathize with their fellow humans. They can then feel very much at home on the earth, accepting both the comforts as well as the discomforts of life. At the cognitive level, they can acknowledge the necessary interdependence with others, recognizing that the welfare of any one individual ultimately depends on the welfare of everyone. At the behavioral leve l, these thoughts and feelings can then be translated into actions aimed at self development as well as cooperative and helpful movements directed toward others. Thus, at its heart, the concept of feeling of community encompasses individuals' full development of their capacities, a process that is both personally fulfilling and results in people who have something worthwhile to contribute to one another. At the same time, the concept denotes a recognition and acceptance of the interconnectedness of all people. The confluent approach to teaching social responsibility in the language class embraces the four dimensions of teaching social studies: the provision of factual information; the development of skills; drawing on one’s concern for positive change; and the practical application of knowledge and skills in actual situations. Further, the instructional model adopts Nonita Marte’s (2003) four phases of value learning: learning trigger phase; values clarification phase; directive / inculcation phase; and action phase. The uniquely personal and subjective nature of learning allows the learner to undergo experiences within these four phases alone or by collaborating with others. At the end, recognizing the learners as the nucleus of the learning process and allowing them to facilitate productive transformations in their cognitive and affective attributes heighten the purposes of language learning. This discussion is therefore guided by the perceptions that this confluence is a process of holistic learning, involving body, mind, emotion and spirit. Students learn multi-dimensionally about themselves and others at the same time learning the traditional structures of the language.Language learning is a social activity as much as it is an academic exercise. Students should be provided with venues for collaborative learning. Collaborative activities heighten student participation and can easily translate to students getting a chance to come across the perspectives of others besides themselves and the teachers, thus enriching the acquisition of knowledge and social skills that are necessary in developing students’ ability to respect diversity, understand conflict, and practice negotiation and cooperative problem solving.Language learning goes beyond factual learning to problem finding and anticipation. Classroom activities should encourage students to hone their thinking skills they need to understand controversial contemporary issues and the ability to take responsibility for what is learned. Activities should therefore motivate students to go deep into the issues and analyze them from different perspectives, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the language.Understanding one's role in society helps create or develop the explorer in the student. This promotes positive self-direction and independence as well as develop one's sense of community, a personal responsibility for the well-being of a greater populace.

Dao'es

2008-01-05T04:47:00.000-05:00

Click Photo to Watch Video

Dao'es is a traditional Igorot rite of cleansing, more often done when someone comes home or passes through a village with a heavy burden [e.g. illness, death]. A village elderly is called to offer wine or water and chicken to the gods and spirits and seeks their blessings of good health, forgiveness, good voyage or whatever the present situation calls for. However, variations in purpose and ritual elements can be seen from one village to another. [Watch related videos from WaltWide.]

4 Great Camera Tips for Enhanced Digital Photos

2007-12-21T01:38:00.000-05:00

By: flashG

Just bought a new camera ?? And very excited to start taking photos with your new gadget??

But Alas, why does the picture not look as good as you wanted to !! Fret no more, stay tuned below for 4 new tricks to taking more interesting and memorable photos.

Trick #1 - Try out different camera exposure settings
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By exploring the exposure settings of your camera, you could have pictures looking more brilliant with 0.5 to 2 stops underexposed in bright surroundings, and scenes appearing more clear with some overexposure. Just by simple tuning of the exposure level, you can create

pictures which can bring out different moods from people viewing it. Thats why the quote "A Picture Says A Thousand Words" is very true indeed ! For newbies, try out bracketing (i.e: Take the same photos with different exposure levels) and take your favorite pick from them.

Trick #2 - Bring out some creative blur in photos
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By introducing some well-planned blur in photos, you can bring across certain important features, while using the rest as good complement, providing an overall nice touch. This can be done in 2 basic types.

First type is depth-of-field blur. Varying the lens aperture between 0.4 to 1.4 can create a lovely, soft background blur which bring sharp focus to the subject in the foreground.

Second type is movement blur. Done by setting the camera exposure on shutter priority, and keep it slow so as to capture interesting streaks as the subject moves in front of the camera.

Trick #3 - Create something out of nothing !!
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What does it means? This exercise encourages you to take a step back and rethink how you can take wonderful pictures with things you already encountered on a daily basis.

One approach is to create your shot around the common elements around you such as lines, space and patterns. This can mean anything from the roads to the bridges, the trees, the railings, etc.. You start to see more possibilities and room for creativity.

Trick #4 - Take Unique Photos !!
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Try to avoid taking photos from already popular places where everyone else has taken before, it will not be fresh, and the excitement is also much diminished. Try out new extreme photography (for example: underwater photography), or it could be as easy as shooting through thick glasses for that extra 3D feel, or shooting reflections of objects in water or other reflective objects.

Original Article @ nichephotos.blogspot.com/ For more great stuffs and exciting blogs, visit Exciting flashG Blogs!

Hongkong

2007-12-08T04:14:00.000-05:00

Commercial Photography

2007-11-09T01:09:00.000-05:00

By Estelle Judah

Photography has come a long way in the past 50 years. In fact, not just the past 50 years, the evolution of photography into the diverse field it is today is truly amazing. With time photography has evolved into diverse fields like travel photography, food photography, photojournalism and much more. In fact, today still life photography alone has many diverse fields like food photography, jewellery photography etc. A common misconception that people have when it comes to photography is that a single photographer can take care of all kinds of photographic requirements.

The most interesting aspect of photography is the shift from film based photography to digital storage based photography. Today even ‘old school’ photographers have started using digital SLR cameras to capture the most vivid and vibrant images possible. Compared to the every day use digital cameras available in the market, professional photographers use SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras. A SLR camera can costs anything between $1000 and $5,000. The SLR camera rarely utilizes digital enhancement of the images (for example, unlike regular digital cameras the zoom feature in a digital SLR camera is purely optical) and a digital SLR camera has far superior optics when compared to the digital cameras available for everyday use.

The reason why most photographers prefer digital storage over film is that digital images are easier to manage and can be easily distributed. For example, if a photograph has been clicked using a traditional SLR camera, the negative has to be developed, the photo scanned and then digitally ‘fixed’ before it is ready for electronic distribution. However, with digital storage, there are no such problems, and a camera can be connected to a digital printer and within seconds it is possible to produce hard copies of the digital images. In fact this is the reason why digital SLR cameras have become so popular, the storage mechanism is the same as digital cameras, but the quality of images is as good as traditional SLR cameras. The only advantage that traditional film based cameras have over digital SLR cameras is that the images can be over and underexposed as per the photographers convenience, also since the capture field of digital cameras is static, they are more prone to problems like dust.

Some of the popular forms of commercial photography today are:

Commercial photography is a broad term that is used to describe photography that is purely commercial in nature. Commercial photography includes advertising photography, fashion and glamour photography, food photography, fine art photography, portrait photography and other similar forms of photography designed for commercial use. Recently, photojournalism too has also been classified as a form of commercial photography, as the eventual purpose of photojournalism is to sell photographs to newspapers and news agencies. By and large, commercial photography is for professional photographers that can utilize their expertise to make money. Commercial photography is diverse, and ever day an ever increasing number of commercial photographers are joining one of the many disciplines of commercial photography that exist today. It is only a matter of time before newer disciplines are added to commercial photography.

Estelle Judah is the author of this article on Commerical Photographer.

The Tiger Leaping Gorge

2007-10-19T22:06:00.000-04:00

Lost Horizon

2007-10-17T21:58:00.000-04:00

The Tiger Leaping Gorge [Hutiao Xia] was highly rated in many of the guidebooks I've read so I decided to do it. Together with some foreign teachers and students from Europe, Canada, the US and Australia, I took a bus to Shangrila that dropped us off at Qiaotou, the Tiger Leaping Gorge town. We paid the entrance fee of 50 RMB each and went our separate ways. I quickly went looking for the Backpacker's Cafe to leave my bag but couldn't find it, instead, a man directed me to Jane's Guesthouse some 50 meters away. For a fee of 5 RMB, travellers can leave their bags at the guesthouse and claim them whenever they can. I thought it was wise to do so since there's no point in carrying my things up and down the mountains when I didn't need that much clothes for an overnight up in the villages, besides I was going back to Qiaotou to get a bus to Shangrila anyway. I had everything settled, was given a trekking map of the mountain and went on with my journey. As described in the guidebooks, there were two trails, the low path and the high path. The low path actually wasn't a trekking trail at all. It's a paved highway that goes all the way to Shangrila through the gorge. I took the high path that goes through some Naxi villages some two hours in between. The trail was easy from Qiaotou but as I hiked onwards, the trail became more challenging. Along the way, a man came following me with his horse and offered me a horse back ride for a fee. Considering that I was alone and I needed a guide and as I looked at the map it was going to be a painful climb at a certain point, I took the offer [that gave me a travelling companion and a horse at 100 RMB four hours into the gorge] so there I was on a horse, mesmerized by the serenity and beauty of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. That was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life! And I'm not talking about the way my students back at the coastal region call a thing beautiful. Once in a while, we passed by some hikers trying to catch their breath and I felt a little awkward passing through still looking good, but I tell you, riding a horse going up and down a steep mountain on very narrow paths wasn't easy at all. One misstep and we could go plunging into the rocks and river below. Two hours into the hike, we came to a Naxi village called Nuoyu. We stopped for lunch at the Naxi Family Guesthouse. Good heavens! I could sit there and just look at the Yulong Xue Shan towering over the village all day. Even with the chatter going on at the guesthouse courtyard, the place was very peaceful. I soon mounted the horse and we went along. And then there came the 24 bends, a zigzagging climb to the peak of a mountain followed by a steep descend down to Yacha Village. My travelling companion led me to the Tea Horse Guesthouse where I booked a room for the night. Later in the evening, the guys I rode with on the bus to Qiaotou came in groups and checked in as well. Still, Yulong Xue Shan stood at a very close distance, its snow capped peaks glistenning like a white jade under the evening sun, looking mighty and powerful, yet gentle and calm.

Liu San Jie

2007-10-04T22:05:00.000-04:00

If you ever get to Guangxi, China and find the urge to write or meditate or simply relax, there's this quiet place neatly tucked in a farming village not too far away from Nanning City, the provincial capital. You can take a stroll and explore the river banks that wind in between rocky mountains or take a dip into the cool and clear waters. The lush foliage and mystic hills can make great settings for fairy tales or a romantic fiction you'd been dreaming to write about. Otherwise, you can simply frolic and wonder at this awesome place and allow mother nature to release that little tension lodged at the base of your soul.

Shutterbugs

2007-09-04T22:08:00.000-04:00

Halong Bay

2007-08-16T02:29:00.000-04:00

More photos at my Halong Bay Collection.

Still on Vietnam, - I went on a group tour to Halong Bay on Wednesday, February 21st right after the Tet festivities. Halong Bay is one of North Vietnam's best nature showcases. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, the bay is home to 3,000 karst mountains sprouting out from the sea in different sizes and shapes. There were sixteen of us in the group including our guide. The sky was overcast when we travelled from Hanoi [3 hrs.] to the bay so I wasn't very excited but the view was amazing starting from Hai Phong to Halong Bay even with the cloudy skies and occasional rain showers. The mountains along Hai Phong rose straight up from rice paddies and made a picturesque image of a bygone civilization. The waterfront was teeming with tourists when we got there, all queueing up to their boats. The clippers were handsome in their reddish black coating and their furled masts, almost like the ships on the 'Pirates of the Carribean'. One dinghy was even more beautiful with its masts unfurled, showing some Chinese influence on its design. Our guide rented a boat and herded us in just before the rain poured. The motor hummed with the spattering rain as we circled the rocky mountains. The mountains were magnificent and calm! There were fishermen living right on the bay, tending some fishpens. We stopped in one of the pens , apparently to buy some seafoods being kept in the cages. We had lunch on the boat and then we took a smaller boat to see two lagoons inside the mountains. Our last destinations before heading back to Hanoi were the cave Hang Dau Go or Grotte des Merveilles and the adjacent cave, Hang Thien Cung. The first cave was huge and consisted of three chambers and its walls sparkled when light is shone on them. The other cave was smaller and had the same characteristics with the first one. We wandered inside the caves for some thirty minutes, then sailed back to the docks. We were back in Hanoi at 8 pm, exhausted.

Exploring Hanoi

2007-08-10T02:28:00.000-04:00

Hanoi Slideshow

Monday, February the 19th was still a holiday and most establishments were closed so checking out shops and museums was shelved for a while. I tried calling some people to meet up with them but they were all out of town visiting their families! I then browsed over my three dollar map and found several places that seemed worth visiting. I asked about bus routes at the hotel but Dung [pronounced 'dzoom'], the friendly night-shift personnel wasn't much of a help. Since most locals moved around the city with their motorbikes, he said that they were not very familiar with bus routes and stops but he directed me to the nearest bus stop where I hopped on the first bus that came along. I had no idea where I was going. I just sat there and checked out the places along the way through my bus window. Two bus stops away from its destination, I got off and re-traced the bus route. It was a fine day for trekking and so I walked, trying to take note of where people congregated. Ten minutes later, I came upon Dong Da Hill, a small memorial built for a local hero in 1789. Except for a mother and son having an early morning walk, there were no people around. I wandered a little bit and continued re-tracing my path. Then I stumbled into a throng of people pushing their way into an alley. My curiousity got me shuffling with the crowd. There were rows of open restaurants along the alley so I thought this was a famous dining place, then at the corner of my eyes I saw a 'ban my' stall. Yeah, I was going to have a real 'ban my' afterall! This was one of my favorite foods back at the refugee camp in Bataan. The 'ban my' is actually a sandwich where 'ban' means bread and 'my' means American, but there's nothing American in it. It's a thick crusty French bread [baguette] filled with liver pate, pork or beef slices, vegetables, chili sauce and a sauce I'm not exactly familiar with. The one's I had in Bataan were grilled over a pit of charcoal and this one wasn't. Still, I was glad I found one. I finished my loot and followed the crowd. At the end, I was amazed that the crowd was heading to a church, yes a Catholic church and it was overflowing! Families were everywhere trying to get as close to the church as possible so they could hear the priest. I got hold of a man who can speak English and asked what occasion were they celebrating since it was a Monday. "Now is Vietnamese New Year," he replied. But of course! Uh, silly me.

The church was part of a hospital complex which, according to my new interpreter, was built during the French period. The hospital now is government-owned. In the guy's words, it was borrowed from the church when the communists took over. I wanted to peek into the church but there was no way I could get through the crowd. I decided to move on instead after getting some directions. Further down the road was the Temple of Literature. Built in 1070, the small complex that includes a Buddhist temple, a drum tower, a bell tower and halls for the performing arts, calligraphy and painting and Chinese chess - was dedicated to Confucious. There was a big Chinese chess board on the ground with giant chess pieces that were carried and moved around by the players. Now that I was getting the hang of just finding interesting places, I walked around the block to the north and found St. Paul's Hospital complete with St. Paul's statue still intact and well kept. I went inside, checked the clinics, the garden and the red and yellow edifice with its green wooden windows that was very common in many of the old buildings in Hanoi. Well, it was clean and didn't smell like a hospital. [Now, do I sound like a sanitary inspector!]

I wandered farther up north and chanced upon the Ho Chi Minh Museum which was closed but next to it was the One Pillar Pagoda that was built in 1049 to resemble a lotus flower in bloom. Nearby was the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace which was not open to tourists. To the east facing the mausoleum was the Martyrs' Monument. Both structures were imposing and were fittingly solemn for their purpose. There were guards in white military suits manning the mausoleum and other guards in green outfit all over the grounds to keep people from misbehaving. I walked back to the main street by the Temple of Literature and got on a bus, again not exactly knowing where it was going. The bus went through the same area I came from alright but I got off too late and got lost. I got off in front of an impressive building called the Opera Theater. Beside it was an equally beautiful structure - the infamous Hanoi Hilton. [Thinking about the pictures I took of these places and were gone in a second now makes me feel really bad.] I tried to find my way back to the hotel. Unknowingly, I went farther and farther away from it. I accidently walked towards the old quarters and went walking in circles for two hours wondering where was that street that led to the church. Soon, a 'xe om' driver found me and brought me to the cathedral. I went back to the hotel, freshened up and went to church. This time, kids in traditional Vietnamese costume did the singing. After the mass, the priest distributed candies and gifts to the kids that were gathered at the front pews. I went back to the lakeside from the church and was rewarded with a wonderful acrobatic show at the corner of Hang Dao and Le Thai To. Well, that was my Tet celebration - one adventurous day indeed!

Hanoi

2007-08-09T02:26:00.000-04:00

Vietnam Photos

The cheapest way to explore Hanoi is of course by walking but it can be wearisome, specially so when it's sunny or damp. A good alternative would be to take a bus where you pay 3,ooo dong [1.5 RMB, 0.2 $] to any point within the city limits. Farther away costs 6,000 to 8,000 dong. This was how I visited places in Hanoi, interesting or otherwise - although it wasn't easy following the bus routes. Because there were no bus route maps on sale, I did some trial and error joy rides until I figured out where the buses were going and which buses run through the streets close to my lodging. There were maps on the buses and in some bus stops that were quite helpful.

Hanoi has a lot of temples and pagodas, old churches, colonial houses, museums and lakes. It seemed that on every block there was a temple or a pagoda where some date back to as early as the 11th century. Unless you're really into Buddhism or history of religion or architecture, you may get into a saturation point visiting these places of worship. Worth visiting were the Temple of Literature [1070], One Pillar Pagoda [1049], Tran Quoc Pagoda [17th century], Quan Than [11th century], Ba Da Temple [15th century], Hai Ba Trung [1142], Tay Ho Pagoda and Ngoc Son [1843]. There were still many that may catch your interest. Just look for the big colorful square banners and you can surely find a temple nearby. St. Joseph's Cathedral [1886] was definitely a show-in for church architecture and it's very close to Hoan Kiem Lake and the old quarters. The Cua Bac Catholic Church at Phan Dinh Phung looked very medieval with its criss crossing beams and looming steeple and there's the Protestant Church at Pho Phung Hung right within the old town.

Hanoi's display of architectural designs from the simple abodes to the grandest buildings reflects its history dominated by the occupation of both eastern and western powers. It's historical past can be gleaned from its varied museum exhibits. Museums worth checking out were the Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology, History Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Military Museum. And yes, Hanoi is a city of lakes. Hoan Kiem is the most visited I think because of its proximity to the old quarters but you can check out Ho Tay, Bay Mau or Thu Le which actually cover some interesting places. The Tran Quoc Pagoda, Chuc Tan Pagoda and the Tay Ho Pagoda are all within the Ho Tay lakeside. The Lenin Park is within the Bay Mau area and Thu Le Lake is at the Thu Le Zoo. Speaking of zoos, the Thu Le Zoo has a good collection of monkeys. The zoo floorplan and cage designs are quite tastefully done and are integrated in the natural atmosphere of the gardens, however, the place is overrun by food stalls and vendors. On the second thought, I think it's still child friendly.

Opening Doors

2007-08-04T22:11:00.000-04:00

Victims of a flood that ravaged a village in southern China warmly welcome visitors to their new homes as they rebuild their lives and dreams. The literally widely opened large doors are quite indicative of the villagers' resilience and flexibility.

Go Oriental - Travel China

2007-07-04T22:18:00.000-04:00

by Barney Garcia

People touring all the important countries of the world; prioritize their travel to China. People’s Republic of China is the world’s most populated country, touching the 1.3 billion mark. With such a huge population and the large area, it is bound to be diverse and hence makes for a hot tourist destination..

Natural And Man-Made Wonders
China is a beautiful blend of natural beauty and man-made architecture. Nature here is bountiful with magnificent mountains of Guangxi Zhuang, deserts like Xinjiang and rivers as Yangtze. Man has erected splendid structures like ‘The Great Wall of China,’ beautiful bridges, structurally planned buildings and other monuments. This makes it one of the worlds most sought after tourist spot and the reason for people to travel to China.

Getting and Staying There
While planning to visit China, it would be wise, if you take a tour package for travel to China. However, be sure to do some research of your own, so that you can choose a suitable tour. While in China, you can go around by road, train or even by air. Accommodation is available to suit all budget and taste.

Places to Visit
Beijing, the capital of China is a must-see during your travel to China. Cities of Hangzhou and Suzhou are extremely beautiful. The most popular destinations in China are: The Great Wall of China, which is one of the seven wonders of the world; Tiananmen Square; the Forbidden City of China, the famous temples of Shibaozhai and Yangtze River, which is a very astounding natural marvel. Boat cruise on River Yangtze is breathtakingly beautiful as it takes you through various exquisite Chinese cities and places of historical importance.

People of China
People of China are very gentle, hardworking and thoughtful. Their main religion is Buddhism and Taoism. Most people speak Chinese and local people do not understand English very well. This can cause a little problem for the tourists. Other languages spoken here are Korean, Tibetan, and Mongolian etc. China is rich in culture and has vast areas to explore. Your world-tour will never be complete, if you do not visit this oriental country.

Barney Garcia writes about various topics, and chose to write about China because of it's rich history and the fact that travel to china is ever increasing on what seems to be a daily basis. Please visit http://www.china-travel-tips.info and http://www.travelto-china.info for more information Source: http://www.isnare.com

The Middle Rapids

2007-06-29T02:24:00.000-04:00

The sun rose at Yacha Village at around 10 o'clock but I got up early and chose to start trekking to the next village. I thought I should be in Qiaotou at least before 4 in the afternoon and I still had to hike down to the middle rapids. So I had a quick breakfast of Naxi bread and Yunnan coffee and headed north. I set off at 8:45 and although the sun wasn't up yet, it was bright enough for me to see the trail. The morning mist was chilly but I was already perspiring after 20 minutes of walking. I walked all alone in the middle of nowhere surrounded by massive rocky mountains and deep ravines and I thought if those mountains were alive, I could have been easily engulfed into their guts and nobody would have ever thought I'd ever been there, such is a reality of life underscored by the immensity of those mountains. I treaded on constricted pathways mile after mile until I came to Bendiwan Village an hour later. That was the halfway point from Qiaotou to Walnut Groove. I kept my pace and overtook at least three groups of hikers who stayed overnight at Bendiwan. I ascended the last climb before Tina's Guesthouse and was rewarded with an amazing view of Yulong Xue Shan from top to bottom. The river flowed furiously hundreds of meters right below a ledge along the second highest path! Then it was downhill all the way to Tina's Guesthouse at the low path. Soon, I had lunch at half past eleven. I lingered for a little while and tried to shake off my weariness from the more than two hour hike and hit the road once more to the middle rapids. I wasn't really sure what I was expecting to see or do at the rapids, but the attraction of the mysterious was so inviting and so I had to satisfy my curiousity. The guidebooks suggested several places to start from but it was still an hour's hike to Woody's which was said to have the best view of the gorge. I crossed a bridge over a very deep canyon and hiked farther down the road until I saw a signboard showing directions to the river. The gushing sound of the river can be heard from the highway and the river can actually be seen from some points of the road so I thought it shouldn't take long for me to walk down to the river and be back in time for Qiaotou. It took me a little more than two hours going down and coming up from the river! It looked so close yet so very far away. Halfway down into the river, I was ready to give up. I couldn't see nor hear any signs of human life around me and if I got suddenly ill down below, I wasn't sure if I could climb back to the highway, yet there was this part of me that kept cheering me up and urging me to go on. Then out of nowhere, there was this bearded man perched on a rock, just sitting there gazing at the foliage beneath him. I walked on and followed the trail, at least happy to see another human being in the depth of this gorge. Then suddenly, I came upon a very nice platform complete with a rock table and stool overlooking the rapids. The view was remarkable. If only I could stay longer and let everything sink in, but then again, there's a bus I got to catch. As I was resting and enjoying the vista, a girl came out from a hut nearby and asked for coverage fee. I realized the trail and the platform were made by the family and so I paid 10 RMB. I asked if I could drink the water running from a spring near the platform and she gave me boiled water and asked if I wanted tea with it. I readily took her offer minus the tea. After a while, the girl showed me how to get to the other side of the ravine to get to the shortest climb back to the highway. I went along as told and found the trail was so tight and dangerous but there was no way I was going back to the trail I used coming down. I held on to the precipice with the river practically under my feet several meters down. I edge my way around the crag until I got to safer grounds. There was a makeshift hut by the banks of the river but there was nobody to ask about directions, only a three year old child playing with the dirt inside the hut. Soon I saw people upstream, on a rock but I wasn't excited about walking that way. I was too tired to be going down and coming back this way again having seen a pathway going up. Instead, I went on and climbed the path above me. Not until I was at the top an hour later that I realized I did the steepest path in all of the suggested trails from the middle rapids! No wonder I felt like a cliffhanger, pulling my body up on the face of a huge rock. The most dangerous part was a climb on a more or less 20 feet high steel ladder made out of thin steel bars that stood almost as straight as a street light post. And I kept on thinking I must have gone crazy doing all these by myself. But then again, I didn't want to dwell on what if's because I knew there were always reasons to everything going on with my life and the best way I could deal with them was to look at them on the positive side. That, I could say with my extraordinary passage through the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

2007-06-28T02:23:00.000-04:00

While in Lijiang, I asked around about getting to Yulong Xue Shan, otherwise known as the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain which was visible from the city on a clear day. Touts at a van depot close to the entrance of the old town mentioned about a 100-200 RMB fare to go there on a private van, a 120 RMB entrance fee and 160 RMB chair lift ride or a 180 horse-back ride to the mountain. That was a lot of money getting lost on a simple mountain trek! It was good I didn't buy it because the next day, I was up into one of the most exciting journeys I ever did in China.

Getting a Haircut

2007-05-30T04:06:00.000-04:00

Some people have problems getting a haircut especially when they just moved into a new place more so when they've been so used to having their haircut from a single barber all their hair growing life. Still, there are those hairdressers who have the audacity of cutting other people's hair the way they want it and ask people to pay for their run away masterpiece. As a rule of thumb, always bring an interpreter if you're not accustomed to your barber when you're in a foreign land.

Cangshan Mountain and Xizhou Town

2007-05-08T02:15:00.000-04:00

I was tempted to take a day tour of Erhai Lake which brought tourists to some of the villages and islands across Dali but it was too expensive and like most Chinese tours I'd been to, my time would have been limited in exploring these areas, more so by the fact that the tour offered too many places in one day so, that one had to be a miss. I decided to take a walk to the foot of Cangshan Mountain and to take a chair lift to Zhonghe Si. I walked up Boai Lu then turned left to the West Gate. I crossed the street looking for markers I saw in the map but I couldn't find them. I hiked farther up on very rough cobbled streets which to my surprise was partially deserted in the middle of the day. And then there was this sign board that led me to the chair lift. Huh! It looked so close in my map I thought it was going to be a short walk - and that was only to the foot of the mountain! I got a ticket from a tout who offered me 50 RMB for the chair lift instead of the regular 60 RMB fee. I thought these people must have different sets of tickets for the same service! Back at the hostel, I overheard the lady at the ticketing office selling the same tickets at 80 RMB each to some Australians which she even boasted to be much cheaper from the regular price of 100 RMB. Whoa! That's a big mark up there. The chair lift was a 15 minute ride to the temple and provided a commanding view of the Old Dali Town and Erhai Lake and the villages around them. Climbing Zhonghe Shan to the temple is not recommended if you want to view the city from the hill. The hill was thickly covered with pines and there were too many different paths that mostly led to the cemeteries underneath the tall trees. I was particularly drawn to the pine trees along the way. There seemed to be two varieties growing in that area. One was like the one's covering the Cordillera ranges in the Philippines [Note: For some of you who haven't been to the Philippines, the archipelago is normally warm being located right below the equator but there's this patch of land that's eternally cool and grows Khasi Pines in the tropics.] and Himalayan Pine or Blue Pine. Both trees grow as tall but the Himalayan Pine had a trunk that looked more like an alnus, smooth and grayish unlike the Khasi Pine which had dark red brown barks that can be peeled off from the trunk. The cones sticking out of the branches of the Himalayan Pine were much bigger and the long needle like leaves had a shade of grayish green that looked silvery in the sun. I had fun checking out those trees. You see I grow up practically around pine trees and it's always been a source of joy for me to be able to breathe the sweet scent of a pine covered forest.

I followed the trail to the temple from the chair lift station. Although there were monks [not really sure whether they were monks since they were not wearing robes] in residence, the temple itself was not extra-ordinary. After lighting some joss sticks handed to me by one of the monks, I was coerced to give a donation of 100 RMB for goodluck. What? I thought that was a highway robbery! No, I gave ten which was enough to buy me lunch and more. I would have readily given him ten yuan but I felt bad that he had to ask that much. Even Bill Gates I suppose would mind where his money was going specially when taken by a stranger. I walked out of the temple and hiked to a guesthouse farther up into the mountain. The little map in my ticket showed the way to a pool and a waterfall but finding my way there now was a pain. I was really tempted to explore the mountain, however, a public announcement posted near the temple advised trekkers to bring adequate provisions, have enough clothes and to climb with somebody - got me worried. I was trekking alone and I had no provisions, besides my legs were already aching from the intensive walking the day before so I gave up. Instead, I scouted for a nice place to get a view of Dali, sat there and tried to contemplate on my life and its impact on other people.

Coming down from the mountain, I took a quick lunch and rode a bus to Eryuan. I stopped at the crossing to Xizhou 18 kms. north of Dali. There were three wheeled motorbikes waiting for passengers at the crossroad. I took one and we drove through some dirt and paved roads to the town. Xizhou is known for its ancient Bai houses and that was why I was going there. There were no other tourists when I got there and so walking around all alone in empty streets and alleys and gawking at buildings under the heat of the afternoon sun made me look like an idiot. I wandered at the vicinity of the town square and found two blue batik cloths for my wife. Aside from the ancient houses, I read that people in Xizhou do have a tie dye industry and so shops sold genuine batik cloths than most shops in Dali did. Having nothing more else to do, I went back to the crossing and waited a while for a bus to Dali to come along. The rest of the day was spent checking out shops and cafes at the foreigners' street in Dali.

Tapey: The Igorot Rice Wine

2007-04-22T11:24:00.000-04:00

"Stay away from the house. Come back in two hours." She yelled to us kids at the yard as she closed the kitchen door. Pushing pine wood into the hearth, she let the flame lap a big potful of dark purple glutinous rice until the mixture of water and rice started to boil. Halfway before the grains could expand and burst, the pot was taken off the fire. Then she strained the rice and spread them over a wide bamboo winnower to cool until they're ready for the yeast. Earlier, the whole rice grains were sifted and separated from the ground tidbits to ensure the quality of the wine. "Whole grains make better wines," she said. "And rice making," she added, "demands silence, especially when the bubod [local yeast] is being sprinkled over the rice, otherwise the grains won't ferment well." That was how my mother's tapey were made, done almost like a religious ritual and they were damn good!

The rice wine is a customary brew used in various occasions among Igorots. Mostly, jars are opened during weddings, wakes and funerals, fiestas, family reunions and birth and wedding anniversaries. To the older generation, drinking the wine is almost akin to taking a sip from a chalice on a Roman altar. It is sacred and shared only when it has been properly offered to the anitos. In most Igorot homes, women make the wine, but as head of the family, the man of the house is given the responsibility to allow the openning of a jar as he sees it fit, otherwise the duty falls on the oldest person in the household, be it male or female. The jars in themselves were heirlooms from generations past and possess interesting stories on their own. When properly blessed before being served, it is hoped that the wine does not bring trouble to those who partake of it. It is believed that spirits dwell among humans, hence the Igorot calls out for them to share with his produce, yet he exhorts them to keep their distance from their human friends and family since they are now on another realm and interacting with humans may cause unnecessary discomfort to their earth bound counterparts. The tapey therefore is not an everyday indulgence, rather, it is reserved for that especial occasion when men and women are just about ready to handle it. Now, times have changed.

A freshly fermented tapey is usually served as a delicacy among women. While men prefer to squeeze and drink the sap out of the grains, women love to eat the rice whole and suck its juice. Because freshly fermented rice wine are sweet, kids are allowed to eat with the women.

When the rice wine has gone too long in the jar, it becomes bitter and vinegary sour. This does not go to waste, instead it is used to give spike on various local dishes generally called "pinaspasan". Among the Igorots of the Southwestern Cordilleras, "pinaspasan ay kaling" [mudfish cooked in rice wine] is one of their favorites. The Northern Dispatch Weekly gives a detailed preparation of the tapey if you want to try it.

Religion in the Igorot and Japanese Culture

2007-04-22T10:42:00.000-04:00

[Ms. Philian Louis C. Weygan discusses the similarities between Igorot religion and Japanese Culture article in her column "Sangal di Kultura". Ms. Weygan is the executive director of the Upland Development Institute and the Association of Young Igorot Professionals.]

Indigenous peoples and most Asians consider their religion as part of an intricate web with the other aspects of culture (sangal di kultura) that dictate their way of life. This is in contrast to most Western worldview of compartmentalized religion.

Nihonjinron says that the Japanese culture is perceived as ‘uniquely’ unique. Ruth Benedict in the 1945 book The Chrysanthemum and the Sword proposed that Japan has a “shame culture” rather than the “guilt culture” that is common in the West. Further, that inter-relationship between people is heavily influenced by concepts of “honor” “obligations” and “duty” in a way that is much less true in the individualistic West. Finally, the book asserts that particular and situational obligations to family, school, and friends tend to guide behavior.

As far as people can remember, the Igorot peoples maintain a holistic comprehensive and integrative culture interwoven into their spiritual, social, physical and economic lives. They believe in being stewards of the land entrusted to them by the Creator God. History books refer to the peoples of the Cordilleras of the Philippines as “Ygollotes” and current documents use the generic term “Igorot”. The Igorots has defined sets of values include “inayan” “bain” or shame which guide them with a “fear of God and man” a consideration of the welfare of others. The “sinpangili” “og-ogbo” “ur-ur” a sense of community obligation and duty. The “bodong, peden, pechen, pochon, vochong” is an indigenous system enhancing peace, order and justice. Marriage ritual is one that portrays the interwoven spiritual and physical nature of the Igorots like the Sagada and Besao Dawak. To the Kalingas like those in Magsilay they practice the palanus, the tugtugao, the Lagading, Atod and Paapo as part of the marriage rituals.

Legends and myths form part of the tradition of the Igorot. To the Maengs of Abra they trace their existence after the great flood and May-eng survived on top of Mt. Peswey. He wandered after the flood, reached Mt. Bitinan, and found Mayyang. They were the first family of the Maengs.

Language plays a major role in culture as there are specific words that cannot be translated. Nemawashi in Japan a consensus reached through careful preparation reflecting harmony that is desired and respected in their culture. The Igorot tongtongan in the ator and dap-ay are realities where consensus is reached, owned and respected. To most outsiders they may lack the comprehension to understand and respect these processes may remain foreign because of language and culture barriers.

Animism (popularly referred to by majority Filipinos as paganism) is the indigenous religion of Igorots. It finds its way in how some practice their syncretic Christianity. The religion continues to pervade in the community rituals in prayer, dances, music, sacrifice and offerings. However, efforts have been made to redeem the culture towards the one true God.

It is widely known that Shinto is indigenous religion of Japan, it is the “Way of the Gods” The central test of Shinto is the Kojini, which outlines the ancient mythodology whereby Japan’s ancestral gods and lands are born. It expresses the love and respect for nature. Religion is more relaxed where the Japanese spend little time trying to analyze what is spiritual and what is not. It is often difficult for outsiders to determine religion, superstition and tradition in the Japanese culture.

The Japanese creation story, contained in the Kojiki provides the central explanation as to why Japanese do what Japanese do.

Shinto religion is said to remain the most organized ancient animistic system. With the influence of the Chinese, Christianity and others, the religion in Japan is now traditionally syncretic. It is believed that many people in Japan do not ascribe to any single religion but incorporate several religions.

In Japan, Christianity is perceive as very idealistic and widely persecuted during calls for national unity. Some areas of contrast into Japanese culture include the following: monotheism versus traditional polytheism, the transcendental God versus the immanent Japanese deities, individual ethic versus the Japanese group-orientated ethic. It is then a challenge to express Christian thought in a more Japanese form. Likewise, tribal churches organized by Igorot tribal leaders like those in Cada, Mt. Data believe that there is an Igorot tribal Christianity.

The Kodanhsa’s Encyclopedia of Japan relates that during the Meiji period(1868-1912) Christianity was perceived as that of the West. This tendency was oppose by Uchimura Kanzo the founder of the Mukyokai or Non-church Christianity. Even in his later years, he refused to be identified with a specific church, insisting on the need for a “Japanese Christianity” uninfluenced by the West.
Indigenous religions persist even with the introduction of other cultures. To the Igorots, it is the influence of Christian missionaries, government systems and education that has influenced a change in the culture. We have not seen yet any significant conversions to Islam though Muslims now fill the shops in Baguio and the rest of the Cordilleras in this present decade. Similarly in Japan, foreign influence brought with it Buddhism and Christianity. Statistics peg 1% Christians with 7000 Protestant churches and 800 Roman Catholic parishes.

Even today, some Igorots and Japanese continue to regard Christianity as a “foreign” religion. Their awareness of Christ was through missionaries from the West, in spite of this there are now numerous Igorots and Japanese are now missionaries, clergy, nuns, pastors and lay leaders who themselves have become evangelist in foreign lands.

Both cultures have very rich art, music, dance, food, clothing that may become a venue for the expression of religion in culture. Christianity challenges all religions, so it is a continuing effort of redeeming of the culture for God in terms of worship, rituals and worldview. [Weygan, PLC. March 18, 2007]