tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18029279417010330022024-02-19T19:28:03.010+08:00Grad School JungleSurviving the rough terrains of the academeMike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-53277509061296501522015-12-31T06:07:00.002+08:002017-10-19T21:47:11.263+08:00Why I will never forget 2015?<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, 2015 will now depart and 2016 will arrive several
hours from now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When 2015 started, I promised myself this: that I will
publish lots of scientific papers. How many? I didn’t give myself a target; I
just promised that I’ll push myself to the limits. I did publish seven (7) of
them. These are all open access papers so you don’t have to worry finding them
online. Here’s the list:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. <a href="http://www.aes.bioflux.com.ro/docs/2015.1-10.pdf">The sustainability of on campus residence: a utilization of ecological footprinting in a state university in Mindanao, Philippines</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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2. <a href="http://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/62/62-1414654779.pdf">Gender and Educational Influences of Job Mismatch: The Case of Forestry and Environmental Science Graduates of a Philippine State University</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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3. <a href="http://www.innspub.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/JBES-Vol6No3-p84-90.pdf">The value of flood risk reduction in selected communities near the Pulangui River in Bukidnon, Philippines</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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4. <a href="http://www.ijset.net/journal/658.pdf">Selecting Globally Accepted but Locally Available Sustainable Development Indicators Pursuant to Philippine National Development Priorities</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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5. <a href="http://www.idosi.org/aejaes/jaes15(5)15/19.pdf">Estimating Methane Gas Emissions from Solid Waste Generated by Households in an Urban Village in Bukidnon, Philippines</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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6. <a href="http://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/62/62-1428387844.pdf">A proposed local sustainable development index: An application to cities of Davao Region, Philippines</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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7. <a href="http://bepls.com/july_2015/1fJuly2015.pdf">Reducing our Ecological Footprint: Developing Sustainability Scenarios for the College of Forestry and Environmental Science,Central Mindanao University, Philippines</a></div>
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Seven publications in a year, that’s one scientific article in
every two months (or less). I probably won’t be able to replicate this feat in
the years to come so that’s why I’m posting this as a reminder that if you
permit yourself to push outside your physical and mental boundaries, you’ll achieve
something good if not great.</div>
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Have a productive 2016 everyone. From Grad School Jungle!</div>
Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-67885803673486893952015-11-25T16:08:00.000+08:002015-12-21T06:14:50.060+08:00The great dissertation hoaxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pcweenies.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2010-10-21_pcw-370x210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://pcweenies.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2010-10-21_pcw-370x210.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">“Originality is undetected plagiarism.” - </span><b style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">William Ralph Inge</b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">, (1860-1954), English author, Anglican priest, and professor of divinity at Cambridge.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Around two weeks ago, Apple Daily, a Hong Kong print
newspaper reported an <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1774918341"></span>alleged plagiarism committed by a top university official
in Lingnan University<span id="goog_1774918342"></span></a>.
In 2013, Herdip Singh, associate vice president and comptroller of Lingnan
University submitted his doctoral dissertation at the Tarlac University,
Philippines.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms8NXR1o4ssJFCEuOh1sWOWpxvbLXM7kF1wZNvEGPs3JZC-aT2qViu-buynvgccLSwv_Vjch3jpWNwbaUwL4L56NbVVzRI5wmhYKBxhtzFhLl8WcSDxKIcYiSP-CY5fSLI0rxOzSg4HJg/s1600/-+a+Dr+Herdip+Singh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms8NXR1o4ssJFCEuOh1sWOWpxvbLXM7kF1wZNvEGPs3JZC-aT2qViu-buynvgccLSwv_Vjch3jpWNwbaUwL4L56NbVVzRI5wmhYKBxhtzFhLl8WcSDxKIcYiSP-CY5fSLI0rxOzSg4HJg/s320/-+a+Dr+Herdip+Singh.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singh</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Singh’s dissertation entitled <i>“Corporate Governance in the
China Region: Implication to Business Management”</i> was found to be substantially
similar to a master’s thesis submitted by Wu Chunshui, a Chinese student at
Lund University, Sweden in 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Using Lund University’s plagiarism detection software, it
was revealed that the two manuscripts were 96% similar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Currently, Singh refused to comment on the issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">This however is not the first time such issue
came about in academia. Here are examples of popular people from the past who
were alleged (and proven) to commit plagiarism with regards to their
dissertations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">German Defense
Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsuKzgHcRGUeflV9WwaKsgsZIK6HTGEKMpwalfteck13a1zRDvQarQtugFmMY01dvx1Nq8XpiwdK6izRO76KOjgV2rel4ux4dIu1CpipiHLiKSq6Hbz4QUh2iHTwnrMtGnpFdfdwbopAa/s1600/keynote_speaker_Guttenberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsuKzgHcRGUeflV9WwaKsgsZIK6HTGEKMpwalfteck13a1zRDvQarQtugFmMY01dvx1Nq8XpiwdK6izRO76KOjgV2rel4ux4dIu1CpipiHLiKSq6Hbz4QUh2iHTwnrMtGnpFdfdwbopAa/s320/keynote_speaker_Guttenberg.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guttenberg</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">In 2011, Guttenberg’s doctorate degree from the University
of Bayreuth was stripped of him after he admitted copying several sources for
his thesis in 2006 without citing them. This issue earned him the moniker as
the minister for cut-and-paste, and Baron zu Googleberg. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/01/german%C2%ADdefence%C2%ADminister%C2%ADresigns%C2%ADplagiarism">As a consequence, Guttenberg resigned as minister thereby ending his promising political career</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Russian President
Vladimir Putin<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdv9kB4Zv2PyALBz_eNpiEV3EpKpFR4fszlygMm8LH1SmFFRd67xVG7_ErthiuAR5R0INEVcCi0wKYu8C-n1etYgW1z8MG_T_Df7B2YJ4WiseNYC_z_TcOLWRIf3x0Et3HjaJ9F0e7mjp/s1600/vladimir-putin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdv9kB4Zv2PyALBz_eNpiEV3EpKpFR4fszlygMm8LH1SmFFRd67xVG7_ErthiuAR5R0INEVcCi0wKYu8C-n1etYgW1z8MG_T_Df7B2YJ4WiseNYC_z_TcOLWRIf3x0Et3HjaJ9F0e7mjp/s320/vladimir-putin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putin</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Putin claimed to hold a doctorate degree in
economic science at the St. Petersburg Mining Institute in 1996. However, it
was reported that Putin never really attended the institute. Later, researchers
were able to get a copy of his dissertation. After inspection, <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/events/2006/03/30putin%C2%ADdissertation">Putin’s hardly accessible manuscript turned out to be littered with plagiarized content all throughout</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Civil Rights Activist
Martin Luther King Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UFDhhd9uL97kwsUmgIMkQWxKCztzInqyQBa3az5NUF4Y8JUq4iNecNccTrMJMcGl53hGfYQ4XeTVvUetMPR6mI0wXP3eCezH-g5ycZM5aJrPRoUrD6jbmJDzd1zvyJGFW5rrATMV0AIU/s1600/dr-king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UFDhhd9uL97kwsUmgIMkQWxKCztzInqyQBa3az5NUF4Y8JUq4iNecNccTrMJMcGl53hGfYQ4XeTVvUetMPR6mI0wXP3eCezH-g5ycZM5aJrPRoUrD6jbmJDzd1zvyJGFW5rrATMV0AIU/s320/dr-king.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In the later part of 1980’s, King's doctoral dissertation at
Boston University entitled <i>“A Comparison of the Conception of God in the
Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman”</i> contained exact texts from
another dissertation in the same university three years earlier. Further
investigation also revealed that his other <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/us/plagiarism%C2%ADseen%C2%ADby%C2%ADscholars%C2%ADin%C2%ADking%C2%ADs%C2%ADphd%C2%ADdissertation.html?pagewanted=all">academic papers as well as his speeches were also plagiarized</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Despite this, Boston University did not revoke
his doctorate degree further saying that in fact King’s dissertation made an
intelligent contribution to scholarship.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27.6px;">How about you, do you know of anyone who were suspected or found out to have plagiarized their PhD dissertation? You can add to this list by using the comment link below.</span></span></div>
Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-75791891384213162642014-09-03T11:01:00.001+08:002014-09-03T11:26:41.728+08:00Blogging at IE Matters Conference<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg759wOHrdm53Zb3hqQ39RTcZXa-ly2_QM0V0ix4IGbSQw4AlYrGCwA-wDGP2Ex_1ZCZKfASxv12AorCH21b-iooLMouVjakqFVHu3Glne6x0UW19IMbhzd46XjnA-p7xul3dWINyF_pGsy/s1600/mikemedina.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg759wOHrdm53Zb3hqQ39RTcZXa-ly2_QM0V0ix4IGbSQw4AlYrGCwA-wDGP2Ex_1ZCZKfASxv12AorCH21b-iooLMouVjakqFVHu3Glne6x0UW19IMbhzd46XjnA-p7xul3dWINyF_pGsy/s1600/mikemedina.png" height="151" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blogging and preparing for the IE Matters Conference at the Holiday Inn Galleria Manila</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When my PhD classmate and good
friend, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nelson.faustino.33?fref=ts" style="font-family: inherit;">Dr. Nelson Faustino</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> took me in as data analysis consultant for the
evaluation of the School Electrification and Education (SEEd) Project of the
</span><a href="http://climatechange-asiapac.com/projects/alliance-mindanao-grid-renewable-energy-amore-project" style="font-family: inherit;">Alliance for Mindanao Off Grid Renewable Energy (AMORE)</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Program funded by the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which at the same
time is the centerpiece of his PhD dissertation, I immediately took the offer.
Aside from our long standing professional collaboration in several projects of
the past which I believe makes our </span>team up<span style="font-family: inherit;"> becoming as effective </span>every time<span style="font-family: inherit;">, I think
this would be an opportunity for me to develop my skills in </span><a href="http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/EXTISPMA/0,,menuPK:384339~pagePK:162100~piPK:159310~theSitePK:384329,00.html" style="font-family: inherit;">impact evaluation</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and hopefully provide several </span>opportunities<span style="font-family: inherit;"> for my academic career.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEySYiXc1yVHhzxiZWd_grcA2u2duBnsJ8qY1UOrgInS2MirtzITZNx5-bfTdd8m4Les1RBh_mOHdjjAa0kGdjKCJ8Shet2YnyhMOvhyMIru8fQnzw-hXaeAx0CtAtPDFSjDOESd7z4Rj/s1600/amore.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEySYiXc1yVHhzxiZWd_grcA2u2duBnsJ8qY1UOrgInS2MirtzITZNx5-bfTdd8m4Les1RBh_mOHdjjAa0kGdjKCJ8Shet2YnyhMOvhyMIru8fQnzw-hXaeAx0CtAtPDFSjDOESd7z4Rj/s1600/amore.png" height="264" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A landmark of the SEEd-AMORE Program in Marilog, Davao City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">True enough, about two years later today I am here at</span><a href="http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/pasig-city/mnlgl/hoteldetail?qAdlt=1&qBrs=6c.hi.ex.rs.ic.cp.in.sb.cw.cv&qChld=0&qFRA=1&qGRM=0&qPSt=0&qRRSrt=rt&qRef=df&qRms=1&qRpn=1&qRpp=10&qSHp=1&qSmP=3&qSrt=sBR&qWch=0&srb_u=1&icdv=99617280&sicreative=44531653277&sicontent=0&siclientid=2763&sitrackingid=735590361&icdv=99617280" style="font-family: inherit;"> Holiday Inn Manila Galleria</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for the </span><a href="http://impactevaluation2014.org/" style="font-family: inherit;">“Making Impact Evaluation Matter: Better Evidence for Effective Policies and Program”</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, a conference for impact evaluation at the
Asian Development Bank Headquarters in Ortigas, Metro Manila. <a href="http://impactevaluation2014.org/wp-content/themes/universe_theme/core/images/pdf/Making-Impact%20Evaluation-Matter-conference-programme.pdf#page=54">Our impact evaluation study</a> of SEEd-AMORE found its way through for presentation. This </span>is<span style="font-family: inherit;"> organized by <a href="http://www.adb.org/">Asian Development Bank</a> (ADB), <a href="http://www.3ieimpact.org/">International Initiative for Impact Evaluation</a> (3ie), and <a href="http://www.pids.gov.ph/index.php">Philippine Institute for Development Studies</a> (PIDS).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to meet with impact evaluation
professionals from around the world. Furthermore, it makes me proud to be a
part of the goals of impact evaluation by providing evidence for development programs necessary for creating better
policies and programs for society.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll try my hand at live blogging this time to give you updates as
the conference starts at 1:00 PM today.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1Jj30esULg80OpaokGxsGoTCxRQtLy-ScgLGjfHP8vI2tBAgGU8Jiarw7hzPu8rV7L9ZmGULljA_oSTQkiHn9SLputkPt5C3HKCAVTOeT0IcfukmmQbun-BRkLuATmJlhIWbbItEBxFI/s1600/adbheadquarters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1Jj30esULg80OpaokGxsGoTCxRQtLy-ScgLGjfHP8vI2tBAgGU8Jiarw7hzPu8rV7L9ZmGULljA_oSTQkiHn9SLputkPt5C3HKCAVTOeT0IcfukmmQbun-BRkLuATmJlhIWbbItEBxFI/s1600/adbheadquarters.png" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glimpse of the ADB Headquarters (building on the left) from my hotel room.</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com1Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines14.5995124 120.984219514.4765839 120.822858 14.7224409 121.14558099999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-89937754469760039792013-01-12T06:08:00.000+08:002017-10-18T09:40:18.357+08:00The Truths of Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRzX6DztvzwBKDcFdGAXVKJNj2UFw8ylaz37F0_fzh9lHE6XlnZdxEjSZm8kr4C7C_9Djd0bIM-2OEiDMl1hj7m0ygu4_JOdwD9iE91-BNCHXrZAwDclqCje5p4OAfkzHIiZVJUqaH6bi/s1600/dog+reading.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRzX6DztvzwBKDcFdGAXVKJNj2UFw8ylaz37F0_fzh9lHE6XlnZdxEjSZm8kr4C7C_9Djd0bIM-2OEiDMl1hj7m0ygu4_JOdwD9iE91-BNCHXrZAwDclqCje5p4OAfkzHIiZVJUqaH6bi/s320/dog+reading.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
Martha Maxwell of Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center exposes some <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/docs/6_reading_myths.doc">myths of reading</a>. Here’s what I’ve learned from it.<br />
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<b>You don’t have to read every word</b><br />
<br />
Writers sometimes compromise sentence length in order to make grammatically and artistically favorable paragraphs. In so doing sentences become longer when in fact only 3-5 words in a sentence are the only ones that matters to give its meaning. So finding the right keywords in a paragraph can be enough to make you understand what the paragraph explains. The rest is just grammatical mumbo jumbo.<br />
<br />
<b>It’s not enough to read only once</b><br />
<br />
My grad school professor used to tell us (his students), that his former professor of the same course we are currently attending, has read the required textbook ten times. And so his students (including my professor) must read the same textbook 20 times in order to be better prepared. Thus, we being the third generation students must read the same textbook 30 times to have the same effect.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, textbooks aren’t like novels, or storybooks which can be easily understood within one sitting. Textbooks, scientific journals, or articles are meant to be painstakingly read many times in order to fully grasp the concept it intends to explain. So, don’t worry if you cannot understand a passage in your first try. It’s meant to be that way, so read again.<br />
<br />
<b>It’s OK to skip passages in reading</b><br />
<br />
You may think that in order for you to understand a certain reading, you must read every word, sentence or paragraph. However, a technique called skimming and scanning can be handy in case you don’t have the time to comprehend lots of concepts.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, some books are like a full meal, it has appetizers, a main course, and perhaps dessert. You won’t go hungry even if you skip either one of them (or two).<br />
<br />
<b>Sounding out words while reading slows you down</b><br />
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This is what’s being taught to us by our teachers in primary school; reading aloud. Eventually it caught us between the teeth. Now, even when we are reading silently, we still get the habit of saying it aloud in our minds, thus we still read as fast as we talk. That should not be the case; the brain is faster than our mouths, thus reading can be faster than talking. I bet when you are reading this paragraph, you are currently moving your lips (hehehe! Gotcha).<br />
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My advice: Next time your read, try humming inside your mind, eventually you’ll beat the habit of moving your lips while reading.<br />
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So what other things about reading do you know about? Share it with us here by typing your comment below.Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0Central Mindanao University, Sayre Highway, Maramag, Philippines7.86487 125.050935999999987.8019525 124.97025499999998 7.9277875 125.13161699999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-14359858935928560772013-01-01T00:44:00.000+08:002013-01-02T12:48:54.998+08:00A list of lists<div style="text-align: center;">
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Santa has his own list of things to give during the holidays.</div>
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In fact, everyone right now has their own list for the holiday season. List of gifts to buy, list of people to thank, list of things to do (and not do) before and after the year ends, let’s face it, lists are everywhere.<br />
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Here is a list of reasons why people love to make lists:<br />
<ul>
<li>Lists won’t take much time to write</li>
<li>Lists won’t take much time to read</li>
<li>Lists are simple</li>
<li>Lists are easy to understand</li>
<li>Lists are easy to remember</li>
<li>Lists are universal, everybody does it</li>
</ul>
However, I have yet to see a list of lists.<br />
<br />
If you still don’t know what I meant by that, then here’s a list of different lists posted in Grad School Jungle.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/5-time-saving-tips-for-grad-students.html">A list of time management tips</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/surviving-grad-school-army-style.html">A list of survival tips</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/extreme-websites-to-spike-up-your.html">A list of weird websites</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-5-computer-tips-for-grad-students.html">A list of computer tips</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-raise-money-for-grad-school.html">A list of financial management tips</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/01/4-sites-where-you-can-download-ebooks.html">A list of eBook sites</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/01/top-10-interesting-quotes-from-up.html">A list of funny classroom dialogues</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/10/10-celebrities-who-has-been-to-grad.html">A list of celebrities who value education</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/03/things-that-i-love-to-write-about.html">A list of lovely things to write</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-should-grad-student-blog.html">A list of reasons why I blog</a></li>
</ul>
Have a prosperous New Year Everyone!Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0Central Mindanao University, Sayre Highway, Maramag, Philippines7.86487 125.050935999999987.801952 124.97025499999998 7.927788 125.13161699999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-57683509887958866452012-10-28T12:29:00.000+08:002015-11-22T16:14:40.411+08:00Three Vital Points in Choosing Your Thesis/Dissertation Topic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, you are now in your final year in grad school. But before you finish your degree, comes the final rite of passage: your thesis or dissertation. </div>
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<br />Have you come up with your desired topic then? Are you having trouble conceptualizing what direction your research will go into?</div>
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<br />Some would give you a large list of suggestions on how to choose your research topic. However, it all boils down to three essential factors in your choice of topic. For me, it must be something you know, like, and can.</div>
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<b>What You Know</b><br />It’s important that you choose a topic that you are very well versed on. This could be on a subject that you are very familiar with for several reasons (e.g. your line of work, your favorite subject, related to your hobby, etc.). Don’t dwell on a topic in which you still have to learn or read more or have limited reference.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />You know what I’m talking about: Your knowledge on a certain topic gives you one leap of advantage in terms of time spent in formulating your research outline than having to learn something first before deciding what to write.</div>
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<br /><b>What You Like</b><br />It’s not enough that you know a great deal about a certain topic. What usually matters is your interest in it. The topic must be something that can grab your 100% commitment. Never choose a topic in which you have the slightest hint that you’ll get bored with it in a short while.</div>
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<br />Remember this: If you do something you like and enjoy doing, you can’t stop until you finish it.<br /> </div>
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<b>What You Can</b><br />The tendency for people who are too excited to start on something is that they overestimate. What I mean is that sometimes when we feel we know so much about one thing and at the same time extremely enjoy doing it, we seem to think of goals which are way over the roof and eventually impossible to realize. So, what I really meant is to think of a research project which you can implement within your capability.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />Hint: Time, Money, and Effort are limiting factors for what type of research you are going to undertake.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />I know these three points are not enough to make you finish your thesis or dissertation on time. But it’s a good way to start. Any way, you can share your own thoughts by adding other important points I might have forgotten.</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-2316356730087097272011-11-25T23:38:00.005+08:002014-02-07T15:26:31.439+08:00Climate Change Adaptation through Education<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhJBFTDrkj9mcLToYad9cp-n9j1J-9MAoDbrTTUO4s_bV_KbFa0EzThOaK3Y5z06vEavBvPOlDfTXCYXQUi9LBJw0Wm7IUYj8936EewFTR-gMICBIrLaRmi66miwaf_emWgqEizHx8QDp/s1600/calvin.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhJBFTDrkj9mcLToYad9cp-n9j1J-9MAoDbrTTUO4s_bV_KbFa0EzThOaK3Y5z06vEavBvPOlDfTXCYXQUi9LBJw0Wm7IUYj8936EewFTR-gMICBIrLaRmi66miwaf_emWgqEizHx8QDp/s1600/calvin.gif" /></a></div>
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It’s another great time for educators and administrators as they got together and talk about climate change adaptation during the 16th National Senior Educators Assembly in Environmental Protection and Management. The event was held on November 24 – 25, 2011 at the Legend Hotel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. This was organized by the Philippine Association of Tertiary Level Educational Institutions in Environmental Protection and Management (PATLEPAM) in cooperation with the EMB-DENR and Palawan State University.<br />
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The Meeting showcased the reports of selected universities nationwide on their climate change adaptation experiences. The reports focused on the following areas: coastal and marine, health, agriculture, and forestry. These were presented respectively by Prof. Rowena Zoilo (NSTP Director, Bicol University), Dr. Roger Guzman (Executive Director, Philippine Federation for Environmental Concerns), Dr. Helen Sigua, MD (Professor, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health), Dr. Leonora Ngilangil (Professor, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University), Dr. Helen Pondevida (Research Director, University of Southeastern Philippines), Dr. Santiago Utzurrum, Jr. (Professor, Silliman University), and Dr. Olga Nuneza (Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology)<br />
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Guest speakers who opened the ceremony were the following: Dr. Teoticia Taguibao (OIC-President, Palawan State University), Dr. Ruth Guzman (VP for Research, Extension, and Information Services, Rizal Technological University and Chair, PATLEPAM Board of Directors), Ms. Gay Maureen Alagcan (Outcome Manager, MDGF 1656 Programme Management Unit, National Economic Development Authority), Mr. Reynaldo Pallaya (OIC-Provincial Environmental Management Officer, Environmental Management Bureau-DENR), and Vice Mayor Lucilo Byron of Puerto Princesa City.<br />
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Other topics presented in the meeting are the following:<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/73746895/A-Lair-A"><b>Assessment on the Extent of Knowledge of Educators on Climate Change Adaptation</b></a> (Ms. Sofia Alaira, UPLB-SESAM)<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/73748330/rguzman"><b>Assessment of the Extent of Knowledge of Administrators on Climate Change Adaptation</b></a> (Dr. Ruth Guzman, RTU)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/73748662/binoya"><b>Assesment on the Extent of Climate Change (CC) Integration in Selected Higher Education Curricula, and the Enhanced Syllabi with CC Concerns</b></a> (Dr. Cely Binoya, CBSU)<br />
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Resource Inventory on Climate Change Adaptation (Dr. Ninfa Pelea, BU)<br />
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Following the presentations is the open forum and the PATLEPAM Business Meeting.<br />
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The Meeting culminated with the body's approval of PATLEPAM General Assembly Resolution No. 1 series of 2011 otherwise known as “Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Reduction and Risk Management (DRRM) in the Curricular Programs of Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s). The resolution asks the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to issue a memorandum (CMO) obliging higher education institutions (HEI’s) in the country to integrate CCA and DRRM in the school curriculum.<br />
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After the meeting, the participants had the chance to visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the world's longest navigable subterranean river and recently been announced as one of the New 7 Wonders of the Natural World.<br />
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Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0Puerto Princesa, Philippines9.9672162999999987 118.785509999999939.5780817999999979 118.35451099999993 10.3563508 119.21650899999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-26617255121629478592011-11-15T21:17:00.000+08:002011-11-23T21:27:12.380+08:00Document Management for Students (and Non-Students): a crash course<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHLmma7VOA3uKP5MVusnHM-TMS3JlVgfi6MA5v3RGuDEnbT6EcmUjIsovVEnfdwWCO_NBdTkeqBQu2Lw7vlPMEUybEKI0nf4rm2-omBGnGN9qF5rmJ6i-Ah_-K2Llj1oP-LVhZA9FWEp3/s1600/messydesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHLmma7VOA3uKP5MVusnHM-TMS3JlVgfi6MA5v3RGuDEnbT6EcmUjIsovVEnfdwWCO_NBdTkeqBQu2Lw7vlPMEUybEKI0nf4rm2-omBGnGN9qF5rmJ6i-Ah_-K2Llj1oP-LVhZA9FWEp3/s200/messydesk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Messy desks, overflowing drawers, loaded cabinets…<br />
These are prerequisites to a disaster.<br />
…a disaster that might take up most of your time and in fact a risk to your job.<br />
Lost files, untraceable documents, unorganized references…<br />
You need to create a system of organizing this messy environment and lead a life of efficiency and being effective at home, school or work.<br />
Noticeable results will surely come your way if you follow these three easy steps:<br />
<br />
<b>SORT</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5Zd5fp8kFLNlURxle4KFqq-iCN4sy_uZS5fp3H9Bep1hXSM41jypvKvEgEMLprnPIuVY_RHiAmlP2qMd4FjdVy_1jbtvvTfWQBe4O4vWerD6xw6oGhvOv8PB9ydr4ZPH_UH2iOhmTexS/s1600/paperpiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5Zd5fp8kFLNlURxle4KFqq-iCN4sy_uZS5fp3H9Bep1hXSM41jypvKvEgEMLprnPIuVY_RHiAmlP2qMd4FjdVy_1jbtvvTfWQBe4O4vWerD6xw6oGhvOv8PB9ydr4ZPH_UH2iOhmTexS/s200/paperpiles.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span id="goog_1311070695"></span><span id="goog_1311070696"></span>Run through all your documents one by one and put the related ones in a pile. Example: you can put together lecture notes, handouts, clippings from a course you took up the previous semester in a pile while another pile is for financial records (receipts, bills, bank slips, etc.). It doesn’t matter how many piles you put up as long as the documents in there are somewhat related. You can then run through each pile and create piles or subcategories for each.<br />
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<b> SEND</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZxdYvZZhD5M6C9oYQ4zZdlhy2Q__OYM3lNnQbj45dViscD2JtDJbSqvFCs1YwBCMJnnbm22V_TTKeN-BbBtbts42eHWttUrru041fGmnMxA-sWdDfPSgBfGENOSKytMClklznhMpgErx/s1600/papershredder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZxdYvZZhD5M6C9oYQ4zZdlhy2Q__OYM3lNnQbj45dViscD2JtDJbSqvFCs1YwBCMJnnbm22V_TTKeN-BbBtbts42eHWttUrru041fGmnMxA-sWdDfPSgBfGENOSKytMClklznhMpgErx/s200/papershredder.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>If there are documents or files you think you don’t need any more, there are two ways you can do about it. First, if you think other people might need it (friends, officemates, classmates) then you can send it to them. Second, if you think others won’t have a use for it as much as you do then send it to the garbage bin.<br />
<br />
<b>STORE</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0gKYQVOZ7bO3Tu8hgNPMScRsFOfhwfExcTkOyFqpa_qkBGZOa1ebNpEsEgvTm4I_aeToFl6VE2OwSq1480Jy_YD35Xzn6V5on-euOOCJ-AiX_wLTirHm_mfO-4zxnzyJtGbrHi5fjIII/s1600/A1258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0gKYQVOZ7bO3Tu8hgNPMScRsFOfhwfExcTkOyFqpa_qkBGZOa1ebNpEsEgvTm4I_aeToFl6VE2OwSq1480Jy_YD35Xzn6V5on-euOOCJ-AiX_wLTirHm_mfO-4zxnzyJtGbrHi5fjIII/s200/A1258.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><br />
Prepare supplies for storing your files and documents. Folders can be good for documents with few pages. Boxes can be used to store thick documents or a group of folders. Folders or boxes, it doesn’t matter, what’s important is proper labeling of the documents, alphabetization, or numbering for easy retrieval.<br />
There you go, an easy way to organize your cluttered documents in three easy steps.<br />
If there’s something I have left out it’s because I want you to provide it here. You can use the comment link below.Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-37459107814877935342011-11-05T09:58:00.000+08:002011-11-05T09:58:25.695+08:00On blogging and teaching at the same time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSsJrfOe1Z3IODNlX8oq8I_IfHJgGMl3JhmSP_6l1iDI99d6JQbAChwCJy3WSzUXnSvuuCuEEcEcdrLk5i4GuAm9H4pWrxVpDYIflf0nDiIIOMvRntnP5lJggxIDE1PGG0wyt1cK2h4tu/s1600/teaching.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSsJrfOe1Z3IODNlX8oq8I_IfHJgGMl3JhmSP_6l1iDI99d6JQbAChwCJy3WSzUXnSvuuCuEEcEcdrLk5i4GuAm9H4pWrxVpDYIflf0nDiIIOMvRntnP5lJggxIDE1PGG0wyt1cK2h4tu/s1600/teaching.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I stopped teaching a year ago, I started to blog frequently. Let’s face it, at that time, I’ve got more time to write posts, learn more html stuff, and do research on several topics for my posts. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t have the same amount of free time when I was teaching. I mean, you write lessons, you make exams, check papers, advice students, how in the world will you find the time to write even a single 200-page blog post given such hectic schedule?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I admit I got hooked with blogging after I quit teaching. The excitement I feel as pageviews increases everyday, the lively comments from readers, not to mention the fulfillment from seeing your work published (and being read) online: these are some of the reasons why I was preoccupied with blogging.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, I might say teaching is really a calling. Somehow, the academe finds me back even if I tried to run away from it. I’m back to teaching again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But this time, I don’t intend to place blogging in the sidelines. I’m not yet sure how to go through this, but I plan to combine teaching and blogging. Not in a separate way but in a more complementary fashion.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m thinking about teaching using a blog or blogging about teaching. I still don’t know. It will be a work in progress. I think it’s worth a try.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">How about you, in what way do you think can we combine blogging and teaching in a complementary fashion? Share it with us.</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-35986932110106447272011-07-15T10:25:00.008+08:002011-10-24T19:03:47.862+08:00Sustainability in Higher Education<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMnUruKL0pycfMC__MZGZOtmnXMS0mpGc5Evpqtsc8q6YpR0hyphenhypheniu4_jc0jHh_4AfHibrS0havuBiTYuO61IyYAdQbQPRYKJvLdBTyUXvBiSjkOAkr4ztIBk03izHSE4NxtxWOGKWGO2Y1/s1600/van-gogh-harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMnUruKL0pycfMC__MZGZOtmnXMS0mpGc5Evpqtsc8q6YpR0hyphenhypheniu4_jc0jHh_4AfHibrS0havuBiTYuO61IyYAdQbQPRYKJvLdBTyUXvBiSjkOAkr4ztIBk03izHSE4NxtxWOGKWGO2Y1/s1600/van-gogh-harvest.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Distinguished professor <a href="http://www.rrcap.unep.org/leadership2007/resource/dahe.cfm">Dahe Jiang, Ph.D.</a> from <a href="http://www.tongji.edu.cn/english/">Tongji University</a> in Shanghai, China visited Central Mindanao University last July 13, 2011. Dr. Jiang was here on a UNEP and UNESCO project to implement the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Higher Education. This is a move to incorporate and fuse the concept of sustainable development in the higher education curriculum. Other academic institutions to be visited by Dr. Jiang will be UP Diliman and the Mapua Institute of Technology.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dr. Jiang talked about the Education for Sustainable Development framework of the UN and how institutions in the country and in Asia can take part in the process of advocating the young minds about the concept of sustainable development.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In my own view, I think it is a great step in trying to advance the concept of sustainability into the limelight. However, may I add that it will also depend on how we will market sustainability in the classrooms. I hope that we can transcend from advocating environmentalism and sustainability as a cause-oriented endeavor to a profit-oriented one.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We just cannot market environmentalism these days like what we have done with “nationalism” and/or “patriotism”. It just won’t work in these times of practicality and pragmatism. Though we all know any type of unsustainable activity won’t be as practical in the long run as it seems.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">However, when we start marketing sustainability as a product, we may start to slowly reap the fruits of sustainability in due time. Once people begin to realize that living sustainably can bring more savings and profit through the efficiency it provides (more work with less energy, materials, and waste), then they would start buying the concept like a product).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Businesses and institutions would then follow suit. This could start with policies and activities that adhere to the standards of sustainability and in so doing leads to savings and profit for such business. Hopefully, government will eventually follow.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How about you, do you think environmentalism and sustainability is still a cause-oriented concept or has it transformed into a profitable one?</span></div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-44570994792285842092011-05-05T20:46:00.005+08:002011-11-03T21:59:49.399+08:00Opening up a business in Mati: an experience that discredits (or is credited to) Peter Wallace’s kiss<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZA6-9NgaQFG7UWblxiZCQNcspHRsz4fR44YG6J9H9hyphenhyphenVecWCUsOLwZutspOYyzS6pGs_vprr1jRDNCaXcTuNFp2ys_HSlMv-eFOPtC0HSayuag7DTT-u5hkq3rJkJPHB7R3PAZxGSEg/s1600/maticity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZA6-9NgaQFG7UWblxiZCQNcspHRsz4fR44YG6J9H9hyphenhyphenVecWCUsOLwZutspOYyzS6pGs_vprr1jRDNCaXcTuNFp2ys_HSlMv-eFOPtC0HSayuag7DTT-u5hkq3rJkJPHB7R3PAZxGSEg/s200/maticity.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Rewind July, 2004</b>. <a href="http://www.imaasia.com/partner_philippines.php">Peter Wallace</a>, an Australian business consultant residing in the Philippines and Managing Director of the <a href="http://www.dataphil.com/">Wallace Forum</a>, several years ago released a report entitled <a href="http://www.dataphil.com/special/kiss.pdf">KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid)</a>. This is a critique of the process of opening up a business in the Philippines.<br />
<br />
Although he compared the Philippines as better than the Democratic Republic of Congo in terms of the number of days it takes to open up a business (215), it definitely is way behind Australia’s record (2 days). The country's average is 40 days and can be much more as Wallace wrote. The report basically expands on the World Bank’s work which links excessive government intervention to slow economic growth.<br />
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I do agree with such claims, the statistics presented by Wallace is reason enough. Because of the delays caused by some unnecessary processes in business registration, several businessmen may hesitate to do business in the country. Thus, hindering investment into our country and obviously worsens our employment problems and thus slows the economy.<br />
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Times have changed I guess.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Fast Forward to February 2011</b>. My hometown, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mati,_Davao_Oriental">Mati</a> has just been recently declared (again) as a city based on a <a href="http://www.gmanews.tv/print/213170">Supreme Court reversal</a>. I’ve been in and out of the town for several years now, not knowing when and how (and where) to settle down for good with my wife. I have decided to stay (again) for good in the town (city, I mean) last May, then another consultancy project came last October which brought me to General Santos City.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
However, I’m back here again, and this time I have decided to symbolically settle down in this promising place by registering my consultancy practice as a business here. Having read Wallace’s KISS report a long time ago, I tried to test if it still is true today here in Mati.<br />
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<b>First Stop</b>: Business Name Registration at the Department of Trade and Industry. This would have just taken less than an hour (they have a computerized system). However, I went into the provincial office of DTI in the afternoon and they told me that their cut off time for the day’s transaction is at 12 noon so mine is considered as the next day’s transaction, so my Certificate of Business Name Registration will be released the next day. Fair enough because I still have to get the checklist of requirements for the next step, the Mayor’s Permit.<br />
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<b>Next Stop</b>: Getting the Mayor’s Permit. Following is a list of requirements I have to comply before the city permits me to operate my business here (for sole proprietorship):<br />
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•Duly accomplished Application for Business Permit<br />
•Current year Business Community Tax<br />
•Certificate of Business Name Registration (from DTI)<br />
•Barangay Clearance<br />
•Police Clearance<br />
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That’s 5 requirements and takes note that I have already started finishing one (the DTI Certification). The Business Community Tax took me around 15 minutes to get (including the waiting at the line). The Police Clearance took around 15 minutes too. It’s a bit longer (almost an hour) for the Barangay Clearance.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V8fno8jExtL6hSrcGP4KhoGChA0UOViXzyWojCu_0HR9i8M7JS6dG4S3HnKfcVv8EZ4ZXtMJarpgM9jz0YH-A3GBaE2YL0PXuf5rzIhXc4qNm7cqlIw-hscMElmhieOkPPsre5doypU/s1600/cityhall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V8fno8jExtL6hSrcGP4KhoGChA0UOViXzyWojCu_0HR9i8M7JS6dG4S3HnKfcVv8EZ4ZXtMJarpgM9jz0YH-A3GBaE2YL0PXuf5rzIhXc4qNm7cqlIw-hscMElmhieOkPPsre5doypU/s1600/cityhall.jpg" /></a>Afterward, it took me one whole day the next day to pay the necessary payments and fill up the Application for Business Permit Form which should be signed by the different city offices (City Engineer, City Environment, City Planning, City Treasurer, Fire Department, City Health, and the Business Permit and Licensing Office). Thank God I have several friends at the City Hall: I would have suffered the same fate as <a href="http://www.dataphil.com/standard/080406.pdf">Wallace’s friend who got lost</a> in the maze of offices and hallways.<br />
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Wheew! That’s almost two days of coming and going and I finally got my Mayor’s Permit.<br />
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<b>Last Stop</b>: Certificate of Registration from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Following are the requirements for this particular registration:<br />
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•3 copies of Duly Accomplished <a href="ftp://ftp.bir.gov.ph/webadmin1/pdf/20361901pg1.pdf">Form 1901</a> (Application for Registration for Self Employed and Mixed Income Individuals)<br />
•Registration fee (Php 500.00) to be paid at Land Bank using <a href="ftp://ftp.bir.gov.ph/webadmin1/pdf/1210605.pdf">Form 0605</a> (Payment Form)<br />
•2 photocopies of Marriage Contract (Birth Certificate for Single Applicants)<br />
•2 photocopies of DTI Certificate of Business Name Registration<br />
•Certification fee and Documentary Stamp (Php 115.00)<br />
<br />
The BIR process took less than a day. I guess much has really changed since Peter Wallace’s report.<br />
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But wait! There’s one more step.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz8ECupmEY5PGuaovKh6V-LmxIr9wc-S62SY-eC4drMf0R1kVFCSlnqLKOSFhvKTqZtXeCuKFWtVY4q7wJ_g-DfTsnadHuJnfrmomgab-RorEFds18cJnIra9Exns47j1FS7bchFDE2o/s1600/birphil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz8ECupmEY5PGuaovKh6V-LmxIr9wc-S62SY-eC4drMf0R1kVFCSlnqLKOSFhvKTqZtXeCuKFWtVY4q7wJ_g-DfTsnadHuJnfrmomgab-RorEFds18cJnIra9Exns47j1FS7bchFDE2o/s320/birphil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Ultimate Step</b>: Authority to Print Receipts and Invoices. Here are the requirements for this:<br />
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•Dully Accomplished <a href="ftp://ftp.bir.gov.ph/webadmin1/pdf/21411906-FINAL.pdf">Form 1906</a> (Application For Authority to Print Receipts and Invoices)<br />
•Job Order (from a BIR accredited printer that you have contracted to print your receipts)<br />
•Final and Clear Sample of Receipts and Invoices (from the accredited printer)<br />
•BIR Certificate of Registration (the one given to me after I have accomplished the Form 1901)<br />
•Proof of Payment of Registration (The Php 500.00 paid to Land Bank with Form 0605)<br />
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I was a bit relieved when the printer told me that they will help me in following up my Authority to Print. All I have to do is drop by the printing press and pick up my documents and the receipts after a minimum of three weeks. Huh! Wait. Did I hear it right? Yup, three weeks. <br />
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Ok, three weeks, that’s 21 days right plus I have already consumed 2 days for the mayor’s permit plus the 1 day for the BIR registration, that’s 24 days. Not bad. 7 years ago it would have been almost twice that long.<br />
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As Wallace has reported, Pakistan’s computerization and streamlining of business registration, shortened the time of starting business in that country from 53 days to 22 days. Maybe the Philippines has done something aside from just talk about it for the past seven years (take note: that’s from 40 days to 24 days). Or maybe it’s geographical, Mati maybe an exception. Maybe the city government learned something from Wallace’s KISS 7 years ago. Or maybe (Wallace would have said) I’m just lucky.</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-68232341064433371092011-04-16T06:33:00.004+08:002011-04-23T23:41:53.189+08:00How to raise money for grad school<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS8vJViK4zKX98Sb0L9KqewrzziQCqjDeOMpG0c403XXYyir2GAR126bHirmQpE6vt3Q3r_DYff90Y6xlg1mUdeuOEoLIXhv0nhyVmwb4tnNHdesDtT-PB2WFqcrYsmGNyhu6pzkSDtJM/s1600/savemoney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS8vJViK4zKX98Sb0L9KqewrzziQCqjDeOMpG0c403XXYyir2GAR126bHirmQpE6vt3Q3r_DYff90Y6xlg1mUdeuOEoLIXhv0nhyVmwb4tnNHdesDtT-PB2WFqcrYsmGNyhu6pzkSDtJM/s1600/savemoney.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So, you plan to enroll on a graduate program next semester or maybe next school year. However, you are worried that financially, you are incapable of finishing it. Don’t worry here are some tips which can provide you with insights on how to raise money for graduate education.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">1. <b>Savings</b>. If you plan to enroll next year, then start raising a “Grad School Fund”. Keep a separate envelope for this or perhaps a bank account and every time you receive your monthly salary, set aside a certain amount for your studies.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">2. <b>Choose a school wisely</b>. I strongly suggest that you choose a state college or university within your area. School fees for state universities are cheaper by about ¼ or less compared with private universities and with that you don’t have to compromise the quality of the education that they deliver. As much as possible it should be within your locality in order to cut costs on transportation when you start attending classes. Furthermore, when you choose what school you are going to enroll beforehand, you can have a complete picture of how much money you should prepare for school expenses.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">3. <b>Cut other unnecessary expenses</b>. Financially, you save on expenses if you skip going out on Friday night or watching a movie every Sunday. Academically, you really won’t have time for that once classes start, so better get used to it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">4. <b>Find scholarships</b>. Government, private companies, and other entities provide financial assistance to deserving graduate students. You just have to be persistent in finding them. You can start asking the school’s registrar on the scholarships they offer, you may just be in luck to find one in which you qualify.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">5. <b>Negotiate with your boss</b>. Who knows, your company might offer an arrangement to fund for your studies. Sometimes it comes with an agreement that you should serve the company for a certain number of years after you graduate. So you get both a scholarship and job security, two birds with one stone!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">6. <b>Apply for a loan</b>. Government owned financial companies (GSIS, SSS, and PAG-IBIG) offer loans with acceptable interest rates. You might as well apply for it to fund for your studies. Education is an investment so borrowing funds to finance it is not a bad move.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">7. <b>Sell assets you don’t need</b>. You might have something in your closet or drawers, which you don’t need and still be of value to others. These may be books, appliances, clothes, furniture. You can set up a garage sale or maybe sell them online to generate finances for your studies.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">There are other things you can do to finance your studies such as having a sideline job, a home based business, or tutor graders on weekends. However, you have to make sure that you don’t compromise your time for your studies while doing it. It may defeat your real purpose in the end.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So, how about you? Do you have some tips you can share here on raising money for graduate school?</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-12149407600846228202011-04-12T06:58:00.000+08:002013-04-12T14:47:59.718+08:00Top 10 funny graduation photos<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Graduation day is such a memorable event in our lives. Photos and videos are priceless souvenirs to reminisce those wonderful days in school. Unfortunately some souvenirs may also gather some laughs. Here are examples of funny graduation photos:</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">1. An Indian Ceremony or a College Prank?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQyj9Kd_yet36CuZZ_uI9ij3v2Z6-dmNmfjeUbucq8K4ZrnYgKun-zZHurlPfGsiknRZMIbONSNsghyZCynv9-20MM5shIeVyDIqMesbhlyHI22QbF4_TS__h5_PXWjReaEW8TgBPCbIg/s1600/indiangraduation.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579907848797072226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQyj9Kd_yet36CuZZ_uI9ij3v2Z6-dmNmfjeUbucq8K4ZrnYgKun-zZHurlPfGsiknRZMIbONSNsghyZCynv9-20MM5shIeVyDIqMesbhlyHI22QbF4_TS__h5_PXWjReaEW8TgBPCbIg/s400/indiangraduation.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 382px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A graduation class pictorial obviously becomes a wet photo as pranksters throw pails of water into the graduates as the camera clicks. (Source: damnfunnypictures.com)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">2. A Dual Party for a Student Mom</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNARbrU_3nkU1RCR2Gb2zLbWdgPedhx0MegLegx4hxiWfpn_BW7gK-ocZeSNU0lURlkI_twAKoUFLIUfiVs1zm299QUMYHoZq71_l3DGTkt_-TtiXNpW5476oFzMQQf8mMZaQNb_-qTgOx/s1600/multitaskinggraduate.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579908190638982834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNARbrU_3nkU1RCR2Gb2zLbWdgPedhx0MegLegx4hxiWfpn_BW7gK-ocZeSNU0lURlkI_twAKoUFLIUfiVs1zm299QUMYHoZq71_l3DGTkt_-TtiXNpW5476oFzMQQf8mMZaQNb_-qTgOx/s400/multitaskinggraduate.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kudos to successful working moms, single parents, and student moms. Super multi taskers. (Source: www.collegehumor.com)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Don’t they have an English major in the Graduation Committee?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEmG7sICaLWHXb1jej9JXq8yHAa7AmNfKinaNMcszJ_iSydU0IdR_J05FRMuAWSogQermsQ0AF7PJnJ9MiVD2EuCbiwQE3pc40H-chVXG3lvSQAHd099xySdxEWsdoVCeNjvbidHtxuWz/s1600/graduationprogram.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579908525645081570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEmG7sICaLWHXb1jej9JXq8yHAa7AmNfKinaNMcszJ_iSydU0IdR_J05FRMuAWSogQermsQ0AF7PJnJ9MiVD2EuCbiwQE3pc40H-chVXG3lvSQAHd099xySdxEWsdoVCeNjvbidHtxuWz/s400/graduationprogram.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 322px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Though we don’t need an English major to notice such errors. Even MS Word can do that (Source: www.collegehumor.com)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">4. A Witty(?) Yearbook Quote</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj15enFU8sLFboZnXTkCtuAdmW2ulmPoWJid6xk_KjSXp0Nyv0pTuoRBGkGTwv8osdrUeKsDSPbuJ-_wk6zGNKVmLJ51bbofaNiYBzWho1JfnFoi3p_6xoxwjB0shSQmrtTdWVbB3E0THa/s1600/yearbookgrad.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579908962753895410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj15enFU8sLFboZnXTkCtuAdmW2ulmPoWJid6xk_KjSXp0Nyv0pTuoRBGkGTwv8osdrUeKsDSPbuJ-_wk6zGNKVmLJ51bbofaNiYBzWho1JfnFoi3p_6xoxwjB0shSQmrtTdWVbB3E0THa/s400/yearbookgrad.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 252px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Yearbook quotes are mirrors to a student’s intelligence (hope so). It is preserved in the pages for others to admire, comment or make fun about. (www.zoopatrol.com)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">5. An Unknown Girl in the Varsity Team (Yearbook Picture)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPey20OC1Bd6hWxRf6nF8UjoFG3sN5qGOaCLKkQUg7F-AQKbl0xKMeV9vEQUWwXnL1Eh3W6zhPxGZKPC7Xr19VbjZvkEyCbTQBgKpLmhWYuTKdDIKBRmVPl_IkitbAmDmP4jEysjmeL9ga/s1600/yearbookgirl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579909868504011506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPey20OC1Bd6hWxRf6nF8UjoFG3sN5qGOaCLKkQUg7F-AQKbl0xKMeV9vEQUWwXnL1Eh3W6zhPxGZKPC7Xr19VbjZvkEyCbTQBgKpLmhWYuTKdDIKBRmVPl_IkitbAmDmP4jEysjmeL9ga/s400/yearbookgirl.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe, its just here real name. I wonder what his father’s name is. (Source: failblog.org)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Lack of Planning?</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0WtN5tk19Q2Z36hIVsyRQ0QPTzW1Dg0MgdDnTdXss-A4ITbZ59RmW-dH9KOZa5Y1sU0nLu5wTPYX1Nlhi363TLtRm1MHL-OaTOp_pu0VDbsSZJNSwX3kyN4aCu9TKDW8Xv37Z8hZHz3Q/s1600/graduationcake.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579910207927564354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0WtN5tk19Q2Z36hIVsyRQ0QPTzW1Dg0MgdDnTdXss-A4ITbZ59RmW-dH9KOZa5Y1sU0nLu5wTPYX1Nlhi363TLtRm1MHL-OaTOp_pu0VDbsSZJNSwX3kyN4aCu9TKDW8Xv37Z8hZHz3Q/s400/graduationcake.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Anyway, it’s the thought that counts. (Source: www.funnypictures.net.au)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Ever Wonder what Female Graduates Wear under their Gowns?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyj0D3AwlkDBeLZRQROTexZoMrigjJFey_okrY-OywA5b3HVTfZqFarfiJbEMsOb6_y_AeWLbNyWkAHsq1gsMChQeICEZi0an71v26PxwkPOvhfIdT9Kvz85YmeU71hqf9T756EusN3yCg/s1600/graduateundergown.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579910663490726242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyj0D3AwlkDBeLZRQROTexZoMrigjJFey_okrY-OywA5b3HVTfZqFarfiJbEMsOb6_y_AeWLbNyWkAHsq1gsMChQeICEZi0an71v26PxwkPOvhfIdT9Kvz85YmeU71hqf9T756EusN3yCg/s400/graduateundergown.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 257px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Now I know why male deans sitting on stage are frozen on their seats. (Source: funnyforwards.net)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Can you pick her out from among the Graduates?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqIUnFT8rnu-vtNfpViLRhxG_2E6OZC_-U4rudgWB8S5f_VG8c8rHQMcah297F_ggTSbpZYmTQsR4CEA6mQf21f5lL-gNJ_A8O61ZMP9XWHRgYiPIeODOXKpFgXfxzhWQNVhvWw6ikNQB/s1600/standoutgrad.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579911510635771586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqIUnFT8rnu-vtNfpViLRhxG_2E6OZC_-U4rudgWB8S5f_VG8c8rHQMcah297F_ggTSbpZYmTQsR4CEA6mQf21f5lL-gNJ_A8O61ZMP9XWHRgYiPIeODOXKpFgXfxzhWQNVhvWw6ikNQB/s400/standoutgrad.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 319px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">There will always be at least one. (Source: thechive.com)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">9. A Typical Graduation in Somalia</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVaXdMptFFDQsSTGp__CCAMTaHutkG1iV5PDHAOTSIR0ZgqOnhBJ8q91m6VK7xKS3KX2HFfiC9vsFdN8V04Ys_gnG_gcus9D-kWl7S6XlN00Zd-dLQFXMymVx3Lh9jmcYRUWFiEMGXL7X/s1600/somaliangrad.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579919917212794386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVaXdMptFFDQsSTGp__CCAMTaHutkG1iV5PDHAOTSIR0ZgqOnhBJ8q91m6VK7xKS3KX2HFfiC9vsFdN8V04Ys_gnG_gcus9D-kWl7S6XlN00Zd-dLQFXMymVx3Lh9jmcYRUWFiEMGXL7X/s400/somaliangrad.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 329px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Graduates of military science and guerrilla tactics? I wonder if they need security guards at the ceremony. “Give me my diploma or else!” (Source: killsometime.com)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">10. He thought it was Funny</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZRSnpsNTzdsPZqDt4kXZR28Zd-PX5vLRMXMh1eI9cZwptLYVfehwfDwH3zxjMLxUssHcDt8WQcTwE4bXYaV5JGUmiYHsme4LRDNRgFLI6IT9iUsjf0KhWM87ngpIfXqMu9yA58fcXoJE/s1600/graduationstage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579928252339430834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZRSnpsNTzdsPZqDt4kXZR28Zd-PX5vLRMXMh1eI9cZwptLYVfehwfDwH3zxjMLxUssHcDt8WQcTwE4bXYaV5JGUmiYHsme4LRDNRgFLI6IT9iUsjf0KhWM87ngpIfXqMu9yA58fcXoJE/s400/graduationstage.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 357px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">But the school administrators don’t think so. The man wearing a sexually offensive costume during a graduation ceremony was later arrested for disorderly conduct. He was asked by the court to publish a letter of apology in the local newspaper, pay court charges, and do 24 hours of community work. (Source: nicedeb.wordpress.com)</span><br />
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Are there any funny graduation photos you can share with us? Send us the link by using the comment link below.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span></div>
Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-71319862411401717642011-04-09T13:30:00.012+08:002013-01-04T14:13:28.575+08:00Does progress have something to do with a country’s colonizer?<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Let us ask the most obvious questions first? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"></span><i><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; line-height: 200%;">“Why did the West become so much richer than the rest?</span></i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vK4rihrCQ8QGjUmq82cr1o-ScK4MBwAh-GyUqsJPFA0mSx6gkxIcxlvGOKOfqaNysUKPLsCpc-gS8rDI4YEri3iciXdH5jE5AXWZkRfzqUkHfx6XUGe_YpMaIiRS-k5T_vfERISfvkuZ/s1600/magellan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vK4rihrCQ8QGjUmq82cr1o-ScK4MBwAh-GyUqsJPFA0mSx6gkxIcxlvGOKOfqaNysUKPLsCpc-gS8rDI4YEri3iciXdH5jE5AXWZkRfzqUkHfx6XUGe_YpMaIiRS-k5T_vfERISfvkuZ/s1600/magellan.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferdinand Magellan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span id="goog_1462421105"></span><span id="goog_1462421106"></span>M. <span class="SpellE">Shahid</span> <span class="SpellE">Alam</span>, Professor of Economics at Northeastern University in Boston (USA) in his book entitled <i><span id="goog_1202652098"></span>“<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poverty-Wealth-Nations-Integration-Polarization/dp/0312230184?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Poverty from the Wealth of Nations: Integration and Polarization in the Global Economy since 1760</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312230184" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />”</i><span id="goog_1202652099"></span> explains his stand by stating that “today's less-developed countries suffered from a lack of autonomy as a consequence of European imperialism since the mid-eighteenth century. As colonies and dependencies, they were not allowed to map out their own future, invest in education and infrastructure, and – more importantly -- use trade barriers to pursue import-substituting industrial policies on which to base their further industrialization and development. There are some nuances, but that's basically it.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This might be substantiated by <span class="SpellE">McCusker</span> & Menard in their book “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/1607-1789-Published-Omohundro-Institute-American/dp/0807843512?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Economy of British America</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0807843512" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />” when they cited some reason why countries colonize:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">1. To do things the home country can’t do well:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">2. Different climate (Try growing sugar, indigo, tobacco, rice in Europe).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">3. Low priced land/worker</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Lumber can potentially grow in Europe, but not when it’s all been cut down</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Land is scarce and therefore expensive in England. England can produce wheat, cattle, hogs, etc., but not as cheaply as in the new world.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1D_4a145WeM-iRn7nqm341DrT-vZXEafLxhILLqaRuQl4zYgAWG5lNcDD11d_F4QeoWwsgRA00QaQwu6nr-H7q0zaFmgxmcfpToy1tQ6nHFbXYmBGvj2VfQo41v-LkV8IB8g9vgUXq09/s1600/guardiacivil.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1D_4a145WeM-iRn7nqm341DrT-vZXEafLxhILLqaRuQl4zYgAWG5lNcDD11d_F4QeoWwsgRA00QaQwu6nr-H7q0zaFmgxmcfpToy1tQ6nHFbXYmBGvj2VfQo41v-LkV8IB8g9vgUXq09/s200/guardiacivil.bmp" width="114" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Colonization will favor the conqueror more the than colonized country in a way that the resources of that certain colony were exploited by the colonizers. Although it brought in an economic movement internally by the processing of our raw materials into commodities, the colonizing country are the ones largely benefiting from exports as well as heavy taxes imposed in the colony.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">However, <span class="SpellE">McCusker</span> & Menard cited that some colonies could have had an opportunity for development from being colonized through the following reasons:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">1. The colonies are basically doing the same thing as in the mother land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">2. The only real difference is that they have a frontier to which they can move.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">3. Other than the expanding frontier, colonial economic development mirrors the mother land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">4. Factors internal to the colony drive development</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Well, this could explain why other countries have become developed despite being colonized in the past. Our question lies now in the premise of who colonized whom and how were they colonized? However, the latter question could already have been answered. We were colonized for trade, and taxation and we submitted because they have the greatest weapon ever invented, religion.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; line-height: 200%;">So does the nature of the colonizer differ or does it depend on the colonized?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Could I just rephrase the question? <span class="GramE">How about “<i>who is the best colonizer</i>?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">In an internet article in Slate magazine entitled “<i><a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2151852/">Master of the Island: Which Country is the Best Colonizer</a>”</i>, Joel <span class="SpellE">Waldfogel</span> cited a study by James <span class="SpellE">Feyrer</span> and Bruce <span class="SpellE">Sacerdote</span>, both of Dartmouth College. They considered studying a certain factor in history that could explain why some countries are rich and some are poor. This factor is the length of European colonization. The study made use of data from 80 tiny islands in the Atlantic, Pacific, and elsewhere which were once colonized by European explorers at a point in time.</span></div>
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<span class="SpellE"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Feyrer</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> and <span class="SpellE">Sacedote's</span> key findings are that the longer one of the islands spent as a colony, the higher its present-day living standards and the lower its infant mortality rate. Each additional century of European colonization is associated with a 40 percent boost in income today and a reduction in infant mortality of 2.6 deaths per 1,000 births.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This data could somewhat be interesting but let’s try to look further into their findings because I seem to understand since time that my country was also once a colony. Let’s try to look for more clues.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrZoWoW5qfJ_wlxD2NTqcWscshfsu7sk83lMs5xcGs5OOGBL5wBDkcHrM36GuYiAoojCOG5e1hRVGfCnR4euFEvuk14v5XAVQ7qosavYst2RY3axs8S5E4KbGuroIdjw51KRKBoMLQTiQ/s1600/colonyisland.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrZoWoW5qfJ_wlxD2NTqcWscshfsu7sk83lMs5xcGs5OOGBL5wBDkcHrM36GuYiAoojCOG5e1hRVGfCnR4euFEvuk14v5XAVQ7qosavYst2RY3axs8S5E4KbGuroIdjw51KRKBoMLQTiQ/s1600/colonyisland.bmp" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">So, what did the Europeans do right? The authors conclude that there's no simple answer. The most plausible mechanisms include trade, education, and democratic government. When the study directly measures these factors, some of them help to explain income differences among islands—for example, the places that traded only basic agricultural products in colonial times now have lower living standards. But even after accounting for these concrete determinants, longer European colonization has some extra pro-growth effect. Exposure to European colonizers, it appears, benefits living standards for reasons apart from the direct effects of government, education, and markets.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library in UST</td></tr>
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<span class="GramE"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Trade and education?</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Yes it made some sense I remember the Galleon trade, the <span class="SpellE">encomienda</span> and <span class="SpellE">Ateneo</span>, or UST. Yes that’s a European legacy I can’t deny but what about the democratic government part? So now we’ve got a clue. Maybe there are countries given a democratic form of thinking. I am sure the Philippines <span class="GramE">is</span> not one of those colonies being influenced with a democratic form of government. So where are we trying to get at here? And by the way what European country are we referring to here? Let’ not lose hope, let’s read further on with the results of the study.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Cook</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">To be sure, Europeans have not always been benevolent masters. Before the Enlightenment, they tended to view natives as savages who were better off dead than not baptized. After about 1700, however, attitudes began to change. While 16th-century explorers like Magellan set out to spread Christianity as well as make money, later voyages, like those of English Capt. James Cook between 1768 and 1779, had more explicitly scientific aims. The experience of island colonies reflects the difference. When the authors divide the islands into those that were colonized in the centuries before 1700 and those that were colonized after, current island income is 64 percent higher per century for the post-Enlightenment group but only 11 percent higher per century for the pre-Enlightenment one. And, no, the effects don't appear to stem from the replacement of decimated low-income native populations with higher-income Europeans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Eureka! I think I finally got it. This may be the explanation why the Philippines <span class="GramE">is</span> far off from other colonized countries. It practically made sense, we are actually colonized in the 1500’s, the pre-Enlightenment era, with a few inconsistencies of course because we are not colonized for religion but religion is their tool to colonize us. We could have thrown them off much better if the reason was purely trade and money rather than use religion as their weapon. It was a classic psychological warfare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">However, let us look further for more clues. If we could just see how other colonizers apart from Spain have fared as master of islands. I bet this could shed light into the matter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The authors also compare the experiences of separate Pacific islands with eight different colonizers: the United States, Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Japan, Germany, and France. Their verdict is that the islands that are best off, in terms of income growth, are the ones that were colonized by the United States—as in Guam and Puerto Rico. Next best is time spent as a Dutch, British, or French colony. At the bottom are the countries colonized by the Spanish and especially the Portuguese.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">My God! This made me the greatest detective! <span class="GramE">At least for a while.</span> This has really made sense, a whole lot of sense (Spain, the worst colonizer?). The United States is no. 1 huh! Well wasn’t the Philippines colonized by the U.S.? My God again! What am I trying to get into? Let me look more into my readings here.</span></div>
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<span class="SpellE"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Taufik</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Abdullah in his scientific paper entitled “<a href="http://www.springerlink.com/content/lvelmlpnc5wwe2p5/"><i>Asia and European Colonialism</i></a>” which was published in the Asia Europe Journal has the following explanation. “The clearly marked boundaries of colonial territories and the consolidation of power in their respective areas of control also meant that for the first time in their respective histories the colonized countries experienced administrative unification. The Spaniards might fail to unify the whole islands of the Philippines under one administration, but the Americans, who emerged as the victors in the American-Spanish war, managed to accomplish, even for a short period, what the Spaniards failed to accomplish. The failure of the Spaniards and the short rule of the U.S. was one of the causes for the slow process of nation building in the Philippines”.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7kfevOMjbQilyXZFvkT0zAz1YQ4bXP9V-IHa10fjmQoqp2P_42QcaLf01subRxeN1c0HTZtPycyUrHb4x1uoEWYaq-HkCZoIz8DHlNE0Uvhc_9l1gyTfLZfUpUpyUFLRk5XweNpM2z5w/s1600/philaamericanwar.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7kfevOMjbQilyXZFvkT0zAz1YQ4bXP9V-IHa10fjmQoqp2P_42QcaLf01subRxeN1c0HTZtPycyUrHb4x1uoEWYaq-HkCZoIz8DHlNE0Uvhc_9l1gyTfLZfUpUpyUFLRk5XweNpM2z5w/s200/philaamericanwar.bmp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filipinos captured by American Soldiers</td></tr>
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<span class="SpellE"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Ahaa</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">! This probably suggests that if only the Americans could have stayed longer or if they have been here earlier we could have been more progressive. Although the statement provided some answers, I can’t seem to tolerate the term Spanish-American War. There was never a Spanish-American War at least in the country. There was however the Spanish-American Deal to purchase the Philippines. But I’ll throw out my nationalistic pride for a while and think that if only the Americans were not so brutally violent during the Philippine American War (remember the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balangiga_massacre"><span class="SpellE">Balangiga</span> Massacre</a>) then I would accept that we should have let them stay longer and sooner.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlshDR-XHtmJ4NZBtdIWn5BuYJYdicHCAjKo-QbyfQXQq78DLuTcOYKKBV6Tjnww40B2MxVSnZdBWGZHo0Aw3wr_GRLlb9BqSDMT47Yc1WQ0bJKiQ5s0CrOkpS2R1OU1FA9UMp6cTlduD4/s1600/japanesesoldiers.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlshDR-XHtmJ4NZBtdIWn5BuYJYdicHCAjKo-QbyfQXQq78DLuTcOYKKBV6Tjnww40B2MxVSnZdBWGZHo0Aw3wr_GRLlb9BqSDMT47Yc1WQ0bJKiQ5s0CrOkpS2R1OU1FA9UMp6cTlduD4/s1600/japanesesoldiers.bmp" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">However, I believe the Americans could have stayed longer if not for that damn World War which made us attractive to the Japanese (let’s face it, we have always been attractive to foreign powers, two words: natural resources). Furthermore, there are evidenced controversies that <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pearl-harbor-conspiracy-is-bunk-1173728.html">Pearl Harbor was really a conspired event</a> to legitimize the U.S. entry to the World War but that’s another story let’s deal with colonization’s effect on us for now. So what could have led us in the wrong rhythm in the music of development? Let’s try to look at other explanations.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seoul, South Korea</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">James <span class="SpellE">Chiriyankandath</span> in “<a href="http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199296088/burnell_ch02.pdf"><i>Colonialism and Post-colonial Development</i></a>” reveals that “East Asian states like South Korea and Taiwan, both Japanese colonies in the first half of the twentieth century, was credited with producing an economic miracle”. Well Japan could well be a good colonizer. Remember we have also been under the powers of Japan. But I believe it was such a short stint and an interrupted one. Thus we cannot create much inference from this because all we can remember are the cries of our oppressed ancestors. However, <span class="SpellE">Chiriyankandath</span> further asserted that “Korea and Taiwan benefited from an ethnically homogenous society with a cohesive dominant class and a purposeful leadership”. This could refer to what they have intact after being a colony and this helped in their gradual yet clear progress in relation to other former colonies in the region.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGuaxazr0u4jDzZI0bbZ4CJSv8Ufad7f4GkspuL9fF7NPvNey16tRY_Ip2bf3gm6MKtqgYLurs6jXs70a2BFtEm1j58lGrdNfKBcLrPf0w8F-JpPvNfzVhsH2JUnrIbUA27DJUGqcvoeX/s1600/afterww2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGuaxazr0u4jDzZI0bbZ4CJSv8Ufad7f4GkspuL9fF7NPvNey16tRY_Ip2bf3gm6MKtqgYLurs6jXs70a2BFtEm1j58lGrdNfKBcLrPf0w8F-JpPvNfzVhsH2JUnrIbUA27DJUGqcvoeX/s200/afterww2.bmp" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the Second World War</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Abdullah on the other hand presented some political situation after a colonizer disengage from a colony by stating that “after the forced imposition of peace and political-military consolidation, the newly established towns, which might have been used as the military posts during the time of colonial conquest, were transformed into the political centers of their respective surroundings. The towns also served as the trading and industrial centers as well. Consequently one can also say that colonial rule was an important factor of the formation of plural society in a number of Asian countries. Not a single town occupied by a homogenous community. At the early stage of colonial rule most of the big colonial towns can to some extent be considered as a conglomeration of several ‘‘communities of strangers’’, who lived in separate compounds. Horizontally they spoke different languages, professed different religions, and held different occupations. Vertically they consisted of several layers of economic classes and political positions”.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luis Taruc (Huk Leader)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This is exactly what is happening to the country after the Americans left in 1945. We are now a combination of different cultural orientations. Let’s face it we have a New Filipino identity, a race ripened by time and fertilized by different cultural and religious background both external and internal. This may have resulted to a heterogeneous ethnicity resulting to clashes within the classes which no legitimate leadership could pacify. I mean when the Americans left we still have the HUKBALAHAP which threatens the peace and order during our first stages of reconstruction and then came the CPP-NPA and the MNLF in the 70’s. Adding to this Abdullah further stated that “In some countries it [religious and cultural heterogeneity] became the most important reason for the slow process of national integration and nation building. The Muslims in the Southern part of the Philippines could hardly consider the Christians in the North as belonging to their understanding of what a nation should be”.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Conclusion</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Real Heroes</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Thus, what we have left after the foreigner walked away (if they are really gone) is what matters in terms of development in a former colony. Although, a great factor is also the nature of the colonizers (the British and the Americans are above the rest) this will never be the main reason why a colony rises after independence. It is what we have left and our development depends on our efforts of uniting our fellow brothers who have been with us through the ordeals brought about by abusive political powers. It also depends on our resourcefulness in creating something from the remains of the ruins. Nation building is such a tall order when you are ravaged by the destruction of colonization politically, physically, culturally, and psychologically. Thus my position in this essay is that it does not depend on who colonized us but it is who we are after the colonizers have left. And one prerequisite to it is a nation that never welcomes another colonizer again.</span></div>
Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-12639324695044447962011-04-02T06:35:00.003+08:002011-04-04T16:06:36.575+08:00Reductionism and Development<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2P8QNT1eGOF6r3uExmSJxglmDDGQ-t1anO8D_P4X0Ne2YlokIrMSIP7xorIG8ChdLq-SyGbC5C_xkKfVfHbzVDHCSTFgXd8N_v7Xu6KCZQNS-WKb4za6UGtNVw1RwKklmWINR-gdv6Y/s1600/reduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2P8QNT1eGOF6r3uExmSJxglmDDGQ-t1anO8D_P4X0Ne2YlokIrMSIP7xorIG8ChdLq-SyGbC5C_xkKfVfHbzVDHCSTFgXd8N_v7Xu6KCZQNS-WKb4za6UGtNVw1RwKklmWINR-gdv6Y/s1600/reduction.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">INTRODUCTION</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is an analysis of the article entitled “On Reductionism” (1994) by Gerald L. Smith. This literature tries to give an account of how reductionism as a concept was revolutionizing our traditional view of science putting emphasis on the scientific method thereby giving some positive as well as negative implications on our modern way of thought.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sGGhaNXrrLGwq2ezhkoNUJiBX0Oer6J59U9L_BODW4zP_cKOJlvJhtSUi2QNsAyiUH6xDy03hudmMb263WbktsDFCLTjWVsbCrh6b3Zr4NSh_dZPSUbsII7X0YK5SS6e1TIItqqiNoE/s1600/descartes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sGGhaNXrrLGwq2ezhkoNUJiBX0Oer6J59U9L_BODW4zP_cKOJlvJhtSUi2QNsAyiUH6xDy03hudmMb263WbktsDFCLTjWVsbCrh6b3Zr4NSh_dZPSUbsII7X0YK5SS6e1TIItqqiNoE/s1600/descartes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rene Descartes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the first part of the article, Smith cites some statements from Descartes’ “<a href="http://faculty.uccb.ns.ca/philosophy/kbryson/rulesfor.htm">Rules for the Direction of the Mind</a>”. he specifies that Rules V, VII, IX are Descartes’ effort to uphold scientific inquiry through a system we now call scientific method. This now becomes the foothold of our modern science, that nature should be studied through empirical observation. Smith further added that Descartes’ statements on Rule II and III demanded non-acceptance of claims that are not proven within the methods that he proposes (V, VII, and IX).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Smith, I believe is right about this claims. The rules when studied carefully reveal the kind of philosophical and ideological battle during that time between scientists and its critics (the Church). We may cite how Galileo was disgraced because he was presenting his findings on the nature of position of the sun and the planets based on empirical observations, a method we may now call scientific. Galileo’s findings were rejected not because there was something wrong with his methodology or because of discrepancies with his data but because his findings does not coincide with the church’s view.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUXyZZ63ACSBCU3OcRSDpxmpli-8mHAyqUZgAF-0rAdh5oKu3uSpvPOnlvRAneNqizo2TKKpxEDe9H2tqAxIWM_X_Fcm9WHT0YJ91XiZYOj-E7SP2RUtOXtfpYGRDQDT2oO5Kf2NP0C0/s1600/galileo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUXyZZ63ACSBCU3OcRSDpxmpli-8mHAyqUZgAF-0rAdh5oKu3uSpvPOnlvRAneNqizo2TKKpxEDe9H2tqAxIWM_X_Fcm9WHT0YJ91XiZYOj-E7SP2RUtOXtfpYGRDQDT2oO5Kf2NP0C0/s200/galileo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galileo tried before the Inquisition</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Probably this was the concern of the scientist’s during those times. They were trying to prove something in order to free the mind of civilization on things they believed that are apparently false as proven by a rational inquiry. Descartes’ “Rules” were geared towards this motivation. Embedded in the “Rules” are philosophical statements that could spark a revolutionary view of fact finding. Descartes and Galileo motivated future scientists to pursue knowledge with a more valid explanation on natural phenomena. These explanations should not be based on mere speculations or philosophical debate but rather by data observed with nature. This furthermore, should be quantified and arranged in mathematical equations which we could plainly understand. This paved the way for scientific laws which have become unchallenged through the ages (Newton’s Laws, Einstein’s theories, the Gas laws).</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">WHAT IS REDUCTIONISM?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2RLuwO31N87hSQUkj7TDguTfsRn9TRJh1ui0KgzJeA7upO-zfwIKYI550KudW6O0BEeYimYUEuRVYsnO991tT5mfjSbbbmFEPuzZ2_iKHeNrQr3LIranyjo3bc3hZ9FXvxzBY8gy1BI/s1600/reductionism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2RLuwO31N87hSQUkj7TDguTfsRn9TRJh1ui0KgzJeA7upO-zfwIKYI550KudW6O0BEeYimYUEuRVYsnO991tT5mfjSbbbmFEPuzZ2_iKHeNrQr3LIranyjo3bc3hZ9FXvxzBY8gy1BI/s200/reductionism.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reductionism can either mean a) an approach to understanding the nature of complex things by reducing them to the interactions of their parts, or to simpler or more fundamental things or b) a philosophical position that a complex system is nothing but the sum of its parts, and that an account of it can be reduced to account of individual constituents. This could refer to objects, phenomena, and theories. Smith described it based on what Descartes stated in the “Rules” as “an attempt to understand an object of inquiry by a precise and exhaustive detailing of the particulars, the constituent which compose the object”. An example of this is considering an ecosystem to be composed of organisms and its non-living components, or those organisms to be composed of molecules, or these molecules to be composed of atoms.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Smith wrote that the “Rules” fit into such reductionist perspective. However, he noted that reductionists have no consensus on the idea of Descartes being a reductionist. Those who do think that Descartes was one without him knowing it. Those who don’t, submit to the idea that reductionism was undreamed of. It just came out of the process.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is also important to note that reductionism regards the whole system being studied as equal to the sum of its subsystems, disregarding the relationships that put them together. I go with Smith’s stand that it is truly untrue. If the whole is equal to its parts, then the whole is not a whole, those are only parts. I firmly believe that the whole is called a whole not because of its parts but by how these parts were relatively strung up together by natural laws. These interactions got lost along the way because of a reductionist approach.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUPwL4WEmTi9JuDwQ8WkhyphenhyphenPZAxuhXamtL-ar6shZ9e1qZDYchJ92RmZhOm7KqqgXYf98lFpCDi2YDU4qB4PD9oHveNmJ34qJhkGm1bS668t3h_lsQiemSNVeWtv21Fis564Md0co0Oo8/s1600/woodnails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUPwL4WEmTi9JuDwQ8WkhyphenhyphenPZAxuhXamtL-ar6shZ9e1qZDYchJ92RmZhOm7KqqgXYf98lFpCDi2YDU4qB4PD9oHveNmJ34qJhkGm1bS668t3h_lsQiemSNVeWtv21Fis564Md0co0Oo8/s1600/woodnails.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In studying nature for example, we should strive to study its parts so that we could understand nature more not understand it as mere arrangements of organisms, elements, or compounds. The study of these parts should enhance more our understanding and appreciation of how nature is a fragile interdependence among different meaningful parts which in turn are also composed of interdependent parts. The reductionist approach is just like thinking of a table only as wood and nails, and in the process we forget the purpose of the table because we have concluded that it is just equivalent to a wooden coffin which we can also reduce into wood and nails.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">REDUCTIONISM AND NIHILISM</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcs4uJqKa5MAuZoNDkEC6yNWbiaW7FTtPBQwtyZa33fybwLU5-RxdTqBalVBqI93lwG3hn9e3OmRlEcmH0dsJShyphenhyphenrtZu8g0cOMwrejlgS9ddITkGbbrwMmD3jyaTjHkmZ57wm3dhm4LH4/s1600/viktorfrankl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcs4uJqKa5MAuZoNDkEC6yNWbiaW7FTtPBQwtyZa33fybwLU5-RxdTqBalVBqI93lwG3hn9e3OmRlEcmH0dsJShyphenhyphenrtZu8g0cOMwrejlgS9ddITkGbbrwMmD3jyaTjHkmZ57wm3dhm4LH4/s1600/viktorfrankl.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Part of smith’s article is an excerpt from an essay by Victor Frankl entitled “Reductionism and Nihilism” which tries to equate reductionism to nihilism. This dealt further with the idea of reductionism disregarding relationship among the elements of the system thus in the process, the system being studied becomes meaningless. An example here is the human value of love which was then chopped down into sexual activity by the famous Masters and Johnson experiments.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I definitely stand up for this proposition because it is so evidential. Everyday, we see how traditional human values become useless pieces of physical artifacts. We seem to these all instantly because it employs the method we have always known as science. One of this examples is how Christianity as a religion becomes nothing more than a political movement motivated an influential man coming from an ordinary working class family at least based on historical studies. The field of psychology trimmed it down as a result of man’s need to be sedated of a divine thinking in order to overcome the trials and sufferings in life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnO7IeilTjKusC5K6yEr3jD-iepUoSjOneezdaFyWJTTaaKOji0cUH985TpWcYAUKDnUvCmNmEEpPgqxeWFsn1xnDiKlupeN2VvL_NHqEsa4wHXvvP0a_uK5xMhJrOtTYc3lbGHj2nxJ0/s1600/customerservice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnO7IeilTjKusC5K6yEr3jD-iepUoSjOneezdaFyWJTTaaKOji0cUH985TpWcYAUKDnUvCmNmEEpPgqxeWFsn1xnDiKlupeN2VvL_NHqEsa4wHXvvP0a_uK5xMhJrOtTYc3lbGHj2nxJ0/s1600/customerservice.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="goog_1110878961"></span><span id="goog_1110878962"></span>The notion that the whole is equal to its parts creates a negative effect on our civilized mind. It destroys the higher meaning of the whole by equating it with the lower meaning of its parts. Management becomes nothing but strategies; political campaigns becomes marketing and customer service becomes a constant smile and memorized greetings. During the Cold War, political agenda were realized through a seemingly reductionist approach of military intelligence science by dirty tricks and sabotage. All of these were equated as part of a democratic process.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reductionism is indeed nihilism, values become nonsense. In the future we may realize all the things we have upheld as values for our children now becomes meaningless pieces of dry psycho-socio-cultural elements much like the idea that a table is nonsense because its just wood and nails.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">DEVELOPMENT AS A SYMBOL</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Symbols as Frankl pointed out, has two parts: something that signifies (the parts; lower meaning) and something that is signified (the whole; higher meaning). Reductionism equates the two. Man for example, as a symbol, now becomes fragmented parts of non-life substances studied by varied disciplines of humanity. We forgot about what man signifies because we think it is equal to what signifies it (its parts).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiSAAyLlG-gL6lfS_UX1srHpAv8YvscoX7VVp3DdZYvwtZtlwDW8lJR0hzI2A5gW1nc3Tf6MzM5gLb_0eRfT3W6qAeRanehl616ZgUHK2iCpGMV8EVLfX2gEFMKaLP0-9ip1BoMR10us/s1600/development.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiSAAyLlG-gL6lfS_UX1srHpAv8YvscoX7VVp3DdZYvwtZtlwDW8lJR0hzI2A5gW1nc3Tf6MzM5gLb_0eRfT3W6qAeRanehl616ZgUHK2iCpGMV8EVLfX2gEFMKaLP0-9ip1BoMR10us/s1600/development.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I wish to include development as an example of how symbols are reduced here. As a whole development is a process of advancement towards a better condition. It is a complex symbol which represents man’s higher aspiration of living and trying to overtake necessity and hardships. It complexity is so vast that expertise on this field needs a generalist approach. It has a wider meaning as a whole yet we study its bits in order to understand it better. However, this somewhat reductionist approach alienates its different dimensions from each other, creating low level meaning for each dimensions as we equate it with the whole. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One dimension is economic development which is geared towards additional income. Another is physical development which concerns technology and the convenience it offers. Social development on the other hand deals with the improvement of people’s welfare and needs in terms of interaction among societal organizations. These components of development are all important aspects of development. Each one defines what development should be thus harmonizing all of these is a tough job for a development manager. In order to better understand it we practically studied each component individually and in the process, we created different perspectives on development depending on where we stand in the picture. To the economist it means income; to the engineer it means buildings or infrastructure projects; to the sociologist it means a more modern type of organization or flow of information. We forgot the whole meaning of development. What we know are only the meaning of its parts which are a lot different from the whole.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRTa9v3lTJ0b_qFsdh7MajjMvfcSE3YjuCNeU1vn9KD2nH7HkZd8lr7vvfctLL7GvAnZPiVseYzfttQC29RWbaOeBONxe2ZHY04vA86xdCUecRYAglN6E9eBglmsN8O_-59DEpUDdw1I/s1600/deforestation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRTa9v3lTJ0b_qFsdh7MajjMvfcSE3YjuCNeU1vn9KD2nH7HkZd8lr7vvfctLL7GvAnZPiVseYzfttQC29RWbaOeBONxe2ZHY04vA86xdCUecRYAglN6E9eBglmsN8O_-59DEpUDdw1I/s1600/deforestation.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Another victim of this reductionist approach in development administration is how we have neglected the real purpose of nature and the environment as our source of resources for development to take place. Economics equates environment as factors of production which should be utilized to a maximum in order to achieve the maximum production. In the process we have depleted nature and reduced it into something that unconditionally gives us everything we need all the time. While processing raw materials from nature into goods and services we also create large amount of waste, something we don’t need. This time we throw it back to the environment. Therefore, we have reduced the environment into something that receives everything we don’t need all the time. Reductionism comes unnoticed because it disguises itself as science and it is thus appropriate that we must be careful in identifying how we generate knowledge and how we use it for our decisions and policies.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">CONCLUSION</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is thus an alarming situation in these so called “scientifically charged” civilization that reductionism is a threat to its viability to explain and predict phenomenon. It clouds our view of reality which is our only hope of explaining better the natural events that would help us make decisions and policies for our future survival. This clouded view permits us to make the wrong decisions. Employing analyses from a reductionist approach may create worse courses of action for development thus creating more problems.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHyjgYwupxb5m5fIOGIOYx8jhGsoBA6xusf6mljaibzU2j8v25uPmoW9JGfbgCJZSFpEm1sPyXjINhi2FYTeRtnKXfuHLet1qfA6TKbekmj1UBlTp-0eXhbfUm4ZzK2naJ-dp85Lzm8s/s1600/sciencereductionism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHyjgYwupxb5m5fIOGIOYx8jhGsoBA6xusf6mljaibzU2j8v25uPmoW9JGfbgCJZSFpEm1sPyXjINhi2FYTeRtnKXfuHLet1qfA6TKbekmj1UBlTp-0eXhbfUm4ZzK2naJ-dp85Lzm8s/s1600/sciencereductionism.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reductionism however, has been of great help in the natural and pure sciences especially in the fields of neurology, genetics, physiology, etc. However, when employed in the social sciences especially with implications on development administration, these create a twisted interpretation on the type of knowledge that we try to pursue. If these will then be used as basis for our development policies, great setbacks might occur adding impact to the problems we are trying to solve.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFTXRVNsoMoBsJbvvuTrh_j9SFYIRMNL3UTjsbCgy72ZIJsVis4nNnIyIyNGy9Lppi3lNzM2L-GvzqLstBNDfibKgFK9z_CE2xK1Fgw1ZvK5VJhKMA-WaU01dWxbGXdMaqImSaX9Tues/s1600/povertyinhalf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFTXRVNsoMoBsJbvvuTrh_j9SFYIRMNL3UTjsbCgy72ZIJsVis4nNnIyIyNGy9Lppi3lNzM2L-GvzqLstBNDfibKgFK9z_CE2xK1Fgw1ZvK5VJhKMA-WaU01dWxbGXdMaqImSaX9Tues/s1600/povertyinhalf.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Science has come a long way for the betterment of mankind. It has enlightened our minds on the reality of things we formerly cannot explain. These explanations lead us to create plans of actions that were beneficial to us. However the impending threat of reductionism trying to stain our view of reality is a threat that needs constant vigilance. Reality should never be pursued through reductionism especially in the development sector. It may be helpful in the natural sciences when we talk about mass or volume as an example. In this case reductionism may be true. However, development is a more complex issue and reductionism only degrades our view of it thus lessening its original meaning. </span></div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-49076754435316579572011-03-19T06:06:00.010+08:002011-03-23T23:28:47.003+08:00Grad School Survival Guide: another free eBook by Mike Arieh Medina<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpV1H_UKlIRWJdaj169ScI3gmVhPhPoqQMtuZ2hCyr2Ja07ppsKpUZrCiYTAC_D1O3OFAe8tAYx9XL2SVUpS3jiGjbbNpuvwo5VJmlxTRA_H_PFeHIyKGc2t2U6_rQxiLgdmgjZPV5YZk/s1600/gradschoolsurvivalguide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpV1H_UKlIRWJdaj169ScI3gmVhPhPoqQMtuZ2hCyr2Ja07ppsKpUZrCiYTAC_D1O3OFAe8tAYx9XL2SVUpS3jiGjbbNpuvwo5VJmlxTRA_H_PFeHIyKGc2t2U6_rQxiLgdmgjZPV5YZk/s200/gradschoolsurvivalguide.jpg" width="200" /></a>I wish I have bought a book or two about grad school 7 years ago when I took up my master’s degree. I just wasn’t able to find one at least locally.<br />
<br />
I wish somebody would have shared with me what to expect from grad school. My academic life would have been a bit bearable because I would have prepared for some unexpected twists in my academic life.<br />
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Maybe it was meant to be.<br />
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Having survived the jungle, here’s a guide for everyone who has taken the same step as me (advancing their academic career).<br />
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However, if you’re still contemplating on whether to get in or not into grad school, this eBook is also for you (in fact this is really for you).<br />
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However, if you’re not into the “grad school thing” you can still download it and share it to anyone you think would benefit from it.<br />
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Reading this book however will not guarantee higher grades in grad school. It cannot even guarantee that you obtain that degree just from reading it and following everything written on it. All it could guarantee is that somebody has done what’s written on it and survived grad school (that’s me).<br />
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And oops! Did I mention that it’s <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/statistically-excellent-free-ebook-by.html">free</a>? O yes! I just did. So what’s stopping you? I’m sorry, here’s the link:<br />
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<a href="http://clickpct.tripod.com/free/index2.htm">Grad School Survival Guide: The Incomplete Handbook for Surviving the Rough Academic Terrain</a><br />
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Kind of a long title for a short book isn’t it? Any way here’s another catch: you don’t really have to download it because all the chapters are built up upon articles on this blog. So if you have the time to explore the archives on this blog please do so. However, if you wish to have a good reading experience offline I suggest you download this eBook.<br />
<br />
Here’s the link again.<br />
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<a href="http://clickpct.tripod.com/free/index2.htm">gradschoolsurvivalguide.pdf</a><br />
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And if you ever have opinions after reading it (I’m sure you do) or any suggestions to improve it (I’m planning a 2nd edition), then please do use the comment link below. I would sure love to hear from you.</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-83249990876318975892011-03-12T06:32:00.012+08:002011-03-16T21:38:06.151+08:00Cityville on Facebook: an academic point of view<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7k87mNK3KyDiPSODL05BW_F74SMzu0Z43Z16Q0h99ZirMaeHERkBPjx7z6AKHtgB3qKhLc_VF94-Biy_JzBd_EEsj8dLRavxbHAxZjF9RwFtnZKvq-ZXqJBEJJR06dmYCsBKtivK1Vd1/s1600/Cityvillelogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7k87mNK3KyDiPSODL05BW_F74SMzu0Z43Z16Q0h99ZirMaeHERkBPjx7z6AKHtgB3qKhLc_VF94-Biy_JzBd_EEsj8dLRavxbHAxZjF9RwFtnZKvq-ZXqJBEJJR06dmYCsBKtivK1Vd1/s1600/Cityvillelogo.jpg" /></a>You may have heard of Cityville, the newest game craze on <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/01/abcs-of-facebook.html">Facebook</a>. Right now, you might already be hooked on the game. Yup Cityville, and you know what? I hated it. You know why? It’s because my wife is totally hooked on it. Right now while I’m writing this post, her eyes are glued on it. Then come to think of it, she’ll have something to think about while I’m also glued on my monitor writing this post.<br />
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But wait I’m giving it a second thought. Just from observing the intricacies of the game while she plays it, I come to realize its academic value. Academic in the sense that it made use of certain concepts and models I have encountered in school when you play it. I think playing the game can be a good exercise for the (academic) mind. Here’s a short list of these concepts and models which are applied in the game:<br />
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<b>Models of Urban Structure</b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNvTWVyK66Yy1Dl8lh2LZLXyvwl4Wxowmfemtc0_t0GjynhMYXm169t_m-vEzdy6nxthoCVbisU3CdgOUfvWFq02odctXDFK98V08wLWbnEHTqcHT8XxpU-pd1_-qPwR5va0Lha32ntw8/s1600/concentricring.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNvTWVyK66Yy1Dl8lh2LZLXyvwl4Wxowmfemtc0_t0GjynhMYXm169t_m-vEzdy6nxthoCVbisU3CdgOUfvWFq02odctXDFK98V08wLWbnEHTqcHT8XxpU-pd1_-qPwR5va0Lha32ntw8/s200/concentricring.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Concentric Ring Model</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have encountered this when I took up Environmental Planning. There are three models that can be used in the game in terms of the placement and arrangement of your building and structure in your city. You can use the <a href="http://62.0.5.133/geographyfieldwork.com/Burgess3.gif">Concentric Ring Model</a> if you wish for simplicity in building your city. This means you start with a central business district in the city center and surround it with industrial, residential, and agricultural lands in an outward fashion (anyway the game allows you to move structures even if you have already built it, so this is doable in the game as opposed to a real city).<br />
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A more complex yet interesting model is the <a href="http://62.0.5.134/geographyfieldwork.com/Hoyt3.gif">Sector Model</a>. This is a city developed along major transportation structures (railroads, roads, ports, etc.). The model is based upon the idea that settlements grow from a need for greater access thus commercial areas are established along main roads and industries along railroads. Residential areas are then categorized into low income (those near industries and businesses), middle income (farther away from industries) and high income (farthest from the industries).<br />
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The <a href="http://62.0.5.133/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Ulman2.png/400px-Ulman2.png">Multiple Nuclei Model</a>, although starts with a central business district, eventually produces multiple centers as necessary structures spring around major businesses (e.g. hotels and restaurants built around airports or apartments and cafeterias established around schools). This may happen in the game as you city expands into a more complex arrangement of buildings, houses, and other structures.<br />
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<b>Factors of Production</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNZ3vWzCanbqXobUcL9uK9paSps849AFS6rlW8fT2e8w4nUcwS_jfEE1csF8y_TnWZJqYu69i_ya6GdZ-Akvm-zFeFjZiclUibmbcrMn6i6VbprraLCd5x1LX4KFvkyhKotlkO4pdquUJ/s1600/labor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNZ3vWzCanbqXobUcL9uK9paSps849AFS6rlW8fT2e8w4nUcwS_jfEE1csF8y_TnWZJqYu69i_ya6GdZ-Akvm-zFeFjZiclUibmbcrMn6i6VbprraLCd5x1LX4KFvkyhKotlkO4pdquUJ/s1600/labor.jpg" /></a>As a basic economic concept, production is possible through the right combination of the following factors: land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship. In Cityville, your performance on the game is based on how you make decisions in using and acquiring these factors: land (expansion), labor (energy), capital (buildings, structures, etc.), and entrepreneurship (this refers to your skills and strategies as a player).<br />
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<b>The Law on Comparative Advantage</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTrdYfCqI6wXKnGOfXOcBxiTzIk1hBdw3HXBAcznwWLgFFutefBgPz8UEQKUS1v8Vafzs51ggYe2oPDXRn5k4gdCBC8YS1wNELL-kmbblJGLbL3-9K6B-1Yf-90MVg5BNutfdgl3rLkWb/s1600/goods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTrdYfCqI6wXKnGOfXOcBxiTzIk1hBdw3HXBAcznwWLgFFutefBgPz8UEQKUS1v8Vafzs51ggYe2oPDXRn5k4gdCBC8YS1wNELL-kmbblJGLbL3-9K6B-1Yf-90MVg5BNutfdgl3rLkWb/s200/goods.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>This is a concept in political economics referring to an economy’s advantage in the production of goods in response to the advantage of another economy. If you have the ability to produce more of a specific product which is needed by another country which has a limited production of it and that country also has the ability to produce a certain product which you need but you cannot produce much for your own consumption, then why not trade. You sell your surplus goods to them and buy goods you need from them. In Cityville, the train facilitates the use of comparative advantage. If you lack the goods to supply your business then buy goods using the train. On the other hand, if you lack the money to build your businesses, then sell your goods using the train. Export/Import! That’s what I’m talking about.<br />
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<b>Ecological Services</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu5Oh7wIKRHlDx2GCkXzjHeEE98DXSRysGsF88EjqF0vPed8aJg0aYjYvN8lFweb48M72adh3MBRKGAfxt7gNQG1ajHdK9jiN6S7VuPKbLYLuP6eKwv02cq3SCLyCaO74wJepx4o00Ho_/s1600/treeshade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu5Oh7wIKRHlDx2GCkXzjHeEE98DXSRysGsF88EjqF0vPed8aJg0aYjYvN8lFweb48M72adh3MBRKGAfxt7gNQG1ajHdK9jiN6S7VuPKbLYLuP6eKwv02cq3SCLyCaO74wJepx4o00Ho_/s200/treeshade.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>My inclination in the field of economics is on <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2008/06/lifes-enduring-questions-explanations.html">balancing it with the environment</a>. So I can’t help but notice this concept. Ecological services refer to the services given by nature (organisms and ecosystems) which has given us a load of benefits through its processes (water purification, provision of clean air, pollination, or aesthetic and recreational benefits). The value of these services is a factor of production (e.g. we need to breathe clean air and drink clean water in order to do our job well, right?). Furthermore, these services cannot be replicated even by the most modern technology. Thus, it should have a certain value in the market and in Cityville it does have. The shady tree decoration adds a 1% value to your earnings if you plant it near a business or a residence. This means more trees more earnings. I just regret that a tree only adds 1% value to an economic good, it should be more. Any way, I hope this transcends into reality, so plant more trees around your homes to add value to it.<br />
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<b>Social Capital</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGQ86TOcDHSWz7V2gfzHg2H7Rr9ysf5f5ti2fKwg0alQAQVU61zPwqobIIvfqNXyT4yFuk-zcFImbBnzX0cZjIPMgZg4m3QtyxDjslnn3WOUZVBwY4F0U_D8ioGUyixvjuNY3-u9OdOHd/s1600/socialcapital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGQ86TOcDHSWz7V2gfzHg2H7Rr9ysf5f5ti2fKwg0alQAQVU61zPwqobIIvfqNXyT4yFuk-zcFImbBnzX0cZjIPMgZg4m3QtyxDjslnn3WOUZVBwY4F0U_D8ioGUyixvjuNY3-u9OdOHd/s200/socialcapital.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>Social Capital is a sociological concept referring to social networks (friends, relatives, associations, etc.) as a factor of production in the same way as a computer or your master’s degree contributes to productivity (e.g. if you’re a single parent, you might not be able to work without a relative whom you trust to take care of your child while your in the office). In Cityville, you won’t be able to harvest all the crops in your farm or collect your earnings from businesses without the help of your neighbors (friends) you need lots of energy for that. Sometimes you need to hire your friends in your community buildings (city hall, post office, police station) so that you can attract more citizens. Furthermore, you need your neighbors’ gifts so that you can effectively build your city. After all Cityville (and Facebook) is a community, we need each other every now and then.<br />
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There you go. Games should not just be recreational, it should also be educational. There are more concepts in my list but this post is getting longer. I don’t want to bore you so I’ll end this post by breaking the following news:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Jb6M4cjOirbjogVFjPNZdbqU9k4wM3FQShSzsTfQRD10bQOMEBqjW36ULsfzxIJKyezwoopcCL40Y_fkPB1vAAThts9UZbzNpYRCblGA-JlVeGh2kWFf5o_NFnt5Y93PrEoC_O4ZN-s8/s1600/cityvillerequest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Jb6M4cjOirbjogVFjPNZdbqU9k4wM3FQShSzsTfQRD10bQOMEBqjW36ULsfzxIJKyezwoopcCL40Y_fkPB1vAAThts9UZbzNpYRCblGA-JlVeGh2kWFf5o_NFnt5Y93PrEoC_O4ZN-s8/s320/cityvillerequest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My wife told me that she needs my help in building her city. She asked me to be her neighbor so I could give her gifts that she could use. She said, I can also help by visiting her city and help her with harvesting her crops and collecting fees. Being a good husband I submitted to her will.<br />
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</div></div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-47522125259161001042011-03-05T06:45:00.018+08:002011-11-05T10:16:24.301+08:00Things that I love to write about<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPYR7lDNjTFSIXu2DV-MbYDb6o2zkrKR4E-bCYUn7-FhmlMVEDHLb7yGfi2ZQjnGaLrF23QRu08wiSF4VlpHFjBuAMu2URCs5wQKAO18V2MQX30XzfNQ1ETzGIWBuIcLhPkFUHX7O9fGm/s1600/love2write.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPYR7lDNjTFSIXu2DV-MbYDb6o2zkrKR4E-bCYUn7-FhmlMVEDHLb7yGfi2ZQjnGaLrF23QRu08wiSF4VlpHFjBuAMu2URCs5wQKAO18V2MQX30XzfNQ1ETzGIWBuIcLhPkFUHX7O9fGm/s1600/love2write.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am Mike Arieh Med and I write for Grad School Jungle. This is not really a grad school blog. It’s just a blog managed by a grad student. In this blog, I hope to write about things that I love. And what are these? Here’s a list of topics I love to write about:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. <b>The Environment</b>. Well, if you still don’t know it yet, I studied <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-is-environmental-science.html">environmental science</a> in college. That’s because I have always wanted <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/12/5-reasons-why-i-want-to-be.html">to be an environmental scientist</a> (obviously). If you have noticed, the first ever post that I wrote in Grad School Jungle is <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2008/03/planet-in-thermos-bottle.html">about climate change</a>. I have also written down some of my thoughts on <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2008/06/lifes-enduring-questions-explanations.html">development based on ecological principles</a>. Maybe, these aren’t enough to save the world but I hope it's enough to profess my love for nature.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. <b>Teaching</b>. I believe education is one way we can <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-can-colleges-and-universities-help.html">create a large impression to society</a>. As a teacher, I have always been proud of myself having the opportunity to influence young minds to be better members of society. I’m not saying that I am the best teacher there ever was. It’s just that I believe it’s the thing I’m best at.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. <b>Research</b>. Curiosity may have killed the cat but you might just as well kill it if you plan to prohibit it to take action on that curiosity. Curiosity leads to <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/search/label/research">research</a> and unlike the cat’s case, it doesn’t kill me. In fact it’s my source of income right now (I’m a <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/10/consultants-oath.html">research consultant</a>).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. <b>Computers</b>. A computer is an indispensable tool for a researcher as the hook and line is to a fisherman. And taking this discussion further, the internet is to a researcher as the sea is to the fisherman (as if that would make sense. LOL!). The emergence of computers has revolutionized the way we do things (e.g. edit pictures, <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/statistically-excellent-free-ebook-by.html">compute complex formulas</a>, publish documents, and even <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/01/4-sites-where-you-can-download-ebooks.html">read books</a>, etc.). I simply cannot afford to not love it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. <b>Graduate School</b>. The things that I love about grad school are the unique experiences that I have with it. I have come to realize that it’s a totally different type of educational experience. This blog is a product of my experiences in graduate school. Grad School Jungle is not just here to provide <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/01/news-about-2-grad-students-good-and-bad.html">news</a>, <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/10/top-7-grad-school-tips.html">tips</a>, or <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-did-i-enter-grad-school.html">encouragement</a> for grad students, but first and foremost this is an avenue me to share what I have learned from my experiences with it.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. <b>Trivia</b>. It doesn’t really matter on what topic it’s about or what category it belongs, I just love sharing information which are uncommon. It may be about <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/10-interesting-facts-about-valentines.html">Valentine’s Day</a>, <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/extreme-websites-to-spike-up-your.html">interesting websites</a>, <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/12/damn-funny-research-part-1-ig-nobel.html">funny researches</a>, <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/03/top-10-funny-graduation-photos.html">funny photos</a>, <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/01/top-10-interesting-quotes-from-up.html">interesting quotes</a> etc. I love sharing those interesting facts and there are no limits to that. And hey! I even write about <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/10/10-celebrities-who-has-been-to-grad.html">interesting celebrities</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are the things that I love to write about. How about you?</span>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-19781116879213895852011-02-26T05:25:00.046+08:002011-02-26T05:25:00.816+08:00What’s happening on my side of the blogosphere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq9PgibAwYMvMQSHQPX7ZGTWr_-CGjPE2crxwXpK-KSqRAIeDprrOhDUJYKchBkkCCG2MMGpnL4EimWrkBLBOjGs4Pqj-u1CN3wfSY2t2Zxd2-DExVu4XII5PEKyT1-68DStOnWXtd69C/s1600/blogosphere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq9PgibAwYMvMQSHQPX7ZGTWr_-CGjPE2crxwXpK-KSqRAIeDprrOhDUJYKchBkkCCG2MMGpnL4EimWrkBLBOjGs4Pqj-u1CN3wfSY2t2Zxd2-DExVu4XII5PEKyT1-68DStOnWXtd69C/s200/blogosphere.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">There are millions of blogs out there. How can I be sure that somehow, somebody out there reads my stuff?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I found good people in the blogosphere last week. Good enough to link my blog on their posts.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Ms. Halibel Ding (I’m not sure if it’s her real name) talked about her frustration on not being permitted by her parents to pursue her dream of becoming an environmental scientist. It’s <a href="http://halibels.blogspot.com/2010/12/some-stolen-articles-d-what-is.html">on her blog called Recorded Butterflies</a>. Thanks for the link sweet lady!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><a href="http://iamanoverachiever.wordpress.com/about-me/">Amara Levine-Reich</a> blogs about managing her time for work, family, and grad school in <a href="http://iamanoverachiever.wordpress.com/">I am an Overachiever</a>. Grad School Jungle is in her blogroll, so I am posting a link to her blog (actually, that’s two links) to show my gratitude.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><a href="http://www.gradshare.com/profile.html?user=DevinMcGinty">Devin McGinty of Gradshare.com</a> mines the web about anything related to grad school. I think he has done a good job because he not only noticed Grad School Jungle, he <a href="http://www.gradshare.com/blog/gradshare360/2011/02/11/1297459064236.html">mentioned my post about blogging for grad students</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Before I end this post, thanks to <a href="http://ncssmapes.wikispaces.com/">AP Environmental Science</a> for sharing my article explaining the field of environmental science to their students. (It's on the bottom part of the site).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">So why don’t we do this type of post more often. You can post a link to <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/">Grad School Jungle</a> in your website or blog, tell me, and I’ll post a link to your site here for free. Isn’t that a sweet deal?</span>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-81989706420407053312011-02-23T13:35:00.007+08:002011-02-23T13:35:00.141+08:00The commonality between James Bond and a grad student<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuk_Ks-JUcEXk8FAT6I03gOnxOBaB_gJYZw-SCGUhz0kGZOVWG7uD9ZukSs_kVVuLlsJoUrd6UQVsHcN3YMQus5qugl1PGaFekoZBsgy9Wq8Rl-GpNmXFd_cDx7SLLue5ykWHw7YycpZH/s1600/jamesbond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuk_Ks-JUcEXk8FAT6I03gOnxOBaB_gJYZw-SCGUhz0kGZOVWG7uD9ZukSs_kVVuLlsJoUrd6UQVsHcN3YMQus5qugl1PGaFekoZBsgy9Wq8Rl-GpNmXFd_cDx7SLLue5ykWHw7YycpZH/s200/jamesbond.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Grad students and Agent 007 might just be another two contradicting concepts. But wait; let’s see what they really have in common. Let me start with 5 of the things I can think about as of the moment:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
1. <b>Both are knowledgeable on lots of things</b>. We all know that James Bond’s character seems like a Mr. Know-It-All. He knows something about geography, politics, government, culture, and even food and literature. A grad student, as my former professor once said “must know something about everything and a lot about one thing”. I bet that’s a challenge for every grad student, to comprehend every topic that concerns his craft. However, there should be one field he/she should be an expert of.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
2. <b>Both have an arsenal of gadgets/tools</b>. Blame it on Dr. Q. Double “O” 7 has submersible cars, mini blowtorches, miniature cameras, state-of-the-art communication systems, whatever you can think of. A grad student on the other hand has all the necessary tools for analysis. Statistical and mathematical tools, software tools, and other analytical tools needed for decision making and problem solving in their field of expertise.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
3. <b>Both knows how to improvise and innovate</b>. We can just admire how our favorite spy agent can get out of every dangerous situation. Give all the credit to his resourcefulness and quick thinking. A grad student knows well how to improvise too. In the field of research, they are known to introduce tools or methods in their own field which were taken from other fields. A business analytical tool perhaps can be used in the field of environment or a social research tool is used in the field of engineering. These are just examples of how a grad student innovates and improvises in order to further his/her field of knowledge.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
4. <b>Both work even on vacation</b>. If we see James Bond in a beach, or swimming pool, or a bar in a hotel, we all know he’s not on vacation, he’s on a mission. A grad student might also be seen in a resort or a hotel but inside that traveling bag you’ll see some lecture notes, or books, or a laptop with all the study materials in its hard disk. We all know what he’ll be doing whenever he finds the time.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
5. <b>Both sometimes don’t follow convention</b>. Our special agent doesn’t care if his methods are acceptable or not as long as he gets good results in the end. Grad students are in the same way unconventional in such a way that they try to find new and fresh ideas in order to improve our understanding of the real world.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
I hope it gives us the idea that a grad student’s life is as full of adventure as Agent 007 does. However, I do not claim that they are comparable in any way.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
How about you? What do you think are the things that makes the James Bond character similar with a grad student's?</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-83614373262539783962011-02-20T11:01:00.070+08:002014-08-05T16:53:44.737+08:00Surviving grad school: Army style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr99NF0RpJPs8oG9axRJ7riLiHmsWTnooyY3gfmMVDPpDvDcTiEacqX_JWe04MiJv9MhQEHIQGm6H6gUDAR0jU9PfBxcHeB8b3rrwoudVAgfYDEKyl1E16o67hD-0XJnQ93l5VJmqbMwv/s1600/junglearmy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr99NF0RpJPs8oG9axRJ7riLiHmsWTnooyY3gfmMVDPpDvDcTiEacqX_JWe04MiJv9MhQEHIQGm6H6gUDAR0jU9PfBxcHeB8b3rrwoudVAgfYDEKyl1E16o67hD-0XJnQ93l5VJmqbMwv/s1600/junglearmy.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">According to the <a href="http://www.m4040.com/Downloads/FM%2021-76%20US%20ARMY%20SURVIVAL%20MANUAL-Abridged.doc">US Army Survival Manual</a>, S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L. means:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>S</b> – <b>Size up the situation</b>. Your surroundings, physical conditions, and equipment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>U</b> – <b>Use all your senses </b>undue haste makes waste.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>R</b> – <b>Remember where you are</b>. Pay close attention to where you are and where you are going, and don’t rely on others to keep track of the route.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>V</b> – <b>Vanquish fear and panic</b>.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=grads07-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0760747105&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I</b> – <b>Improvise</b>. See how to adopt tools to new purpose.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>V</b> – <b>Value living</b>. Don’t give up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>A</b> – <b>Act like the native</b>s. Discover how they survive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>L</b> – <b>Live by your wits</b>. But for now, learn basic skills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have modified the definition above in order to suit the grad school context.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here’s a grad school survival tip, army style!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>S</b> – <b>Size up the situation</b>. <i>Be always observant of the situations around the school campus, the physical facilities, location of offices, the professional and political environment, studying conditions, and equipments available</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>U</b> – <b>Use all your sense</b>s. <i>Look around you. Listen to what others say. Taste the food in the canteen. Smell the fresh air in the school grounds. Try to feel what other students, teachers or staff are concerned about</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>R</b> – <b>Remember where you are</b>. <i>Always be aware of the <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-go-to-grad-school.html">reasons why you are in grad school</a>. You should always be the one who knows where you are and where you are going ‘coz others won’t do it for you.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>V</b> – <b>Vanquish fear and panic</b>. <i>When you are in such a situation, stop, look, and listen.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I</b> – <b>Improvise</b>. <i>Find new ways to do things efficiently. Purchase gadgets that can make your work easier. Learn new methods or techniques that will make you productive.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>V</b> – <b>Value living</b>. <i>Life is worth the sacrifice. So is grad school</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>A</b> – <b>Act like the ones who have been there</b>. <i>Discover how students before you survive the academe. Observe them or just plainly ask them, you’ll be surprised by how much insights they can provide.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>L</b> – <b>Live by your wits</b>. <i>And for now, learn basic skills. I’m referring to <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/search/label/computers">computer skills</a>, <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/search/label/math%20and%20stat">mathematical skills</a>, <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/search/label/research">research skills</a>, etc.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There you have it! The soldier survives the jungle. And so does a grad student.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What do you think about this post? Tell me. There’s a comment link below.</span></div>
Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-39281817858046020632011-02-16T23:01:00.004+08:002011-02-16T23:01:00.620+08:005 time saving tips for grad students<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DucTEAtP8Qvzm0ugKpViVl-P-T_zvDU7pLtDLFhKbotq25rZxmKRzQpg1R3sxsKLg7CeXG0h04ml146A9hxZxJbF2pbMBy-QsJgfg8a6TV775X3KKw6lM1IL5kMBZKinrgELRVmFnT-E/s1600/timesave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DucTEAtP8Qvzm0ugKpViVl-P-T_zvDU7pLtDLFhKbotq25rZxmKRzQpg1R3sxsKLg7CeXG0h04ml146A9hxZxJbF2pbMBy-QsJgfg8a6TV775X3KKw6lM1IL5kMBZKinrgELRVmFnT-E/s320/timesave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Time is a priceless commodity for a grad student. So here's some practical tips on how you should save it:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. <b>Get started immediately</b>- Get down to work as soon as possible.<br />
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2. <b>Make it a routine</b>- Designate a time every day to do certain tasks (read journals, write a paper, organize your files, etc) and do it regularly.<br />
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3. <b>Learn how to say no</b>- Saying yes to too many things means some other things won’t be done.<br />
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4. <b>Divide large tasks into smaller ones</b>- Smaller tasks are more manageable and easier to do. Eventually the larger job will be done in time.<br />
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5. <b>Plan your activities</b>- Proper scheduling filters out the unnecessary tasks that can cost you too much time.<br />
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I know this won’t be enough. You might have something more to add to this list. Share it here by using the comment link below.</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-15324495513249590712011-02-13T14:13:00.001+08:002011-02-24T01:47:04.511+08:0010 Interesting facts about Valentine’s Day<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Love is in the air once more as we celebrate Heart’s Day. But before we go out for our dates, here are some trivia about the day in recognition of love and romance:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdxx0-ZbgPSAUlglQ7axHeNJrN536a62UJmv0yAl_XaC_ZNlBAQSe-9KtJCnhfoRmo5t9dGvPC528K62UGZ65xNaMktIPSXp1jXxTIbjQp1xbD7eDUWhGDuu5C9KsCIRrT2-7SnVqsvan/s1600/stvalentine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdxx0-ZbgPSAUlglQ7axHeNJrN536a62UJmv0yAl_XaC_ZNlBAQSe-9KtJCnhfoRmo5t9dGvPC528K62UGZ65xNaMktIPSXp1jXxTIbjQp1xbD7eDUWhGDuu5C9KsCIRrT2-7SnVqsvan/s320/stvalentine.png" width="187" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Valentine’s Day was named after St. Valentine, one of the martyred saints of ancient Rome. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60Lb6cgO-U_kaLX3Eo6fhJCQtgMZXldVFgCzoMaMJpSeWFzduYcy9TJ3VFmERtzooZ4p1dDu-oZ3UZa92pWr5fxp8yl8lqVvSwi5k542m24oXxIJnak0-iqGOWYSxtrQ_LcdFe45WT9rc/s1600/lupercalia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60Lb6cgO-U_kaLX3Eo6fhJCQtgMZXldVFgCzoMaMJpSeWFzduYcy9TJ3VFmERtzooZ4p1dDu-oZ3UZa92pWr5fxp8yl8lqVvSwi5k542m24oXxIJnak0-iqGOWYSxtrQ_LcdFe45WT9rc/s1600/lupercalia.png" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Valentine's Day is believed to have been derived from the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia, an ancient Roman pastoral festival. In the year 496, Pope Gelasius I renamed Lupercalia festival as Valentine's Day and moved its date from February 15th to 14th. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB7epihmRadpWPHS6h5m-awXF4S0IDQxA1DjzB5XKccxhzR8fH0HN79CC8r_CxipG-8vGYqNzQEi6P_fYszbIhRuXqQV3CRDkvXO8YAPqF8Gl634v2mQDuCZG3L4U_ApnlCRB-aSSKrUH/s1600/valentinescard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB7epihmRadpWPHS6h5m-awXF4S0IDQxA1DjzB5XKccxhzR8fH0HN79CC8r_CxipG-8vGYqNzQEi6P_fYszbIhRuXqQV3CRDkvXO8YAPqF8Gl634v2mQDuCZG3L4U_ApnlCRB-aSSKrUH/s1600/valentinescard.png" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Approximately as many as one billion cards are sent on Valentine’s Day each year.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIsdBYYRpO6aEPviN5VIKSbUTFHZalRLCRU0y5db864v2iX07-rvXt3Tj2LEpBUZjuaM4paXu3iaIXolOhAR4nurt1kSuuFoczvvNJtU-UN0z0n1ax_RgC1NN1Yv5khR3ANRK8MFyYX5h/s1600/act4scene5hamlet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIsdBYYRpO6aEPviN5VIKSbUTFHZalRLCRU0y5db864v2iX07-rvXt3Tj2LEpBUZjuaM4paXu3iaIXolOhAR4nurt1kSuuFoczvvNJtU-UN0z0n1ax_RgC1NN1Yv5khR3ANRK8MFyYX5h/s320/act4scene5hamlet.png" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shakespeare referred to Valentine's Day in Act 4, Scene 5 of “Hamlet”.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGbEoIyBHEb-Omjvs9Swut4MBt6_LVSaAszHOtHTOV6gN9FbNIL02-73ZQsvY9XE5EJBb3PIBmclch725-Z4rUuw3hwWfjTVz0Mi2Og3PYs8bBt-y3bGbj4Gx95MtpNMrFvvkMq6ixan8/s1600/telephonepatent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGbEoIyBHEb-Omjvs9Swut4MBt6_LVSaAszHOtHTOV6gN9FbNIL02-73ZQsvY9XE5EJBb3PIBmclch725-Z4rUuw3hwWfjTVz0Mi2Og3PYs8bBt-y3bGbj4Gx95MtpNMrFvvkMq6ixan8/s1600/telephonepatent.png" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Alexander Graham Bell applied for the patent on the telephone on February 14, 1876. It was later approved on March 7 that year.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdLtYxRjVztVoBPhZWHeSj3DLhH9Ddyk94e4zMxQLhVHrrtoTNvEqBo9F9S2ieVeQ03p2LwTNSKyDOligSYHPar8C_Hmqjg_KhY4Mson5b_wVXj2NlC0keAdxSx0GC32Th5Z1UEl8JqPn/s1600/valentineprison.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdLtYxRjVztVoBPhZWHeSj3DLhH9Ddyk94e4zMxQLhVHrrtoTNvEqBo9F9S2ieVeQ03p2LwTNSKyDOligSYHPar8C_Hmqjg_KhY4Mson5b_wVXj2NlC0keAdxSx0GC32Th5Z1UEl8JqPn/s1600/valentineprison.png" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is believed that it was on 14th of February, that St. Valentine was executed. Before he died, he wrote a letter to his love - the jailer's daughter, signed "From Your Valentine". </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WuLeTO2AFe8jF3TQ_h04QvyIIknPl6X9HvDzlAR4zrHeV3fKtm6oYBQTvgwyrk363rKTol2VVLUlp0ZOCjKOx5J5aaJd1E2GDmMmo9DECuh_bJBATNJnjnJdEndYdFOdbIi-fQBaHpGk/s1600/victoriancard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WuLeTO2AFe8jF3TQ_h04QvyIIknPl6X9HvDzlAR4zrHeV3fKtm6oYBQTvgwyrk363rKTol2VVLUlp0ZOCjKOx5J5aaJd1E2GDmMmo9DECuh_bJBATNJnjnJdEndYdFOdbIi-fQBaHpGk/s1600/victoriancard.png" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the Victorian era, if someone signs a card on Valentine's Day, it means bad luck. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuf7i1DvdDrOdnA0mrEVFQ9eK_pupG4ESs0osYbTnSoyCyUie3uGfFXS-r-8OsuYojY1TixjvsKCfDK0jPAHmHjfP-C0j-ugVT-vSvVlpZ41WexB2-FzRe8wSNjLC8pTh7b7p7NEbGgGa/s1600/penicillinfleming.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuf7i1DvdDrOdnA0mrEVFQ9eK_pupG4ESs0osYbTnSoyCyUie3uGfFXS-r-8OsuYojY1TixjvsKCfDK0jPAHmHjfP-C0j-ugVT-vSvVlpZ41WexB2-FzRe8wSNjLC8pTh7b7p7NEbGgGa/s1600/penicillinfleming.png" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Alexander Fleming announced the discovery of penicillin on Valentine’s Day in 1929. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-SokpIqoqK7816o57dU9rFNgXYb0gHfNZSRl5NETXcYMnOImfIF_hXZZv8HJgW5AgXFKbiHw_87x3h6HTf7HKr-zjTR3JevVcBUABifGQpZgfqpgvPk6fUfNZk8xxr3kBoksc4-tYpWu/s1600/charlesdukeorleans.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-SokpIqoqK7816o57dU9rFNgXYb0gHfNZSRl5NETXcYMnOImfIF_hXZZv8HJgW5AgXFKbiHw_87x3h6HTf7HKr-zjTR3JevVcBUABifGQpZgfqpgvPk6fUfNZk8xxr3kBoksc4-tYpWu/s320/charlesdukeorleans.png" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Charles I, the Duke of Orleans sent the first Valentine's Day card to his French wife, after being captured in 1415.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh398TUDyHNoLiVxrbhNoR-JrJMDSI1ELDZEVVidbl76-Nee0ZE1iYMix7vsf5jrBZpmooxN8z3zpz751GGml8gMh_hSExFcMtLQ2WGR740g67mMP8FnU5gbWn4hpMkFvNgnkBvaaqZkFOy/s1600/veronaitaly.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh398TUDyHNoLiVxrbhNoR-JrJMDSI1ELDZEVVidbl76-Nee0ZE1iYMix7vsf5jrBZpmooxN8z3zpz751GGml8gMh_hSExFcMtLQ2WGR740g67mMP8FnU5gbWn4hpMkFvNgnkBvaaqZkFOy/s1600/veronaitaly.png" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The City of Verona in Italy, where Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Especially to my wife, Analie!</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-39648216767044839012011-02-10T10:39:00.000+08:002011-02-10T10:39:00.304+08:00Top 10 time wasters for a grad student<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0HXR5ohWMlVlDx9iO4ZmbkRUyEIvIDeuQ3PyaLxStKQ5v-8IK_zJ97o5CCBWR8NxJRC6lDYlasFa7fsInLoUzbsGewNPEb4HwiYnZtAXNLEHImkmAoZkgdZLQuJtPcM36MCiGCaLt4n5/s1600/clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0HXR5ohWMlVlDx9iO4ZmbkRUyEIvIDeuQ3PyaLxStKQ5v-8IK_zJ97o5CCBWR8NxJRC6lDYlasFa7fsInLoUzbsGewNPEb4HwiYnZtAXNLEHImkmAoZkgdZLQuJtPcM36MCiGCaLt4n5/s200/clock.jpg" width="200" /></a>Time is Gold. Yeah right! That’s absolutely true especially for a grad student. Most especially if you’re also working at the same time. Wasted time can never be bought back. But what usually wastes our time? <a href="http://www.nwlink.com/%7Edonclark/leader/leadtime.html">Don Clark of Big Dog Leadership</a> enumerates the different time wasters for corporate leaders. I’ve extracted 10 of them which applies to grad students:<br />
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1. <b>Indecision</b>- Spending too much time on deciding what course of action to take. <br />
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2. <b>Inefficiency</b>- Taking the longer course of action, too much effort with little work done, not using the available tools.<br />
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3. <b>Interruptions that do not pay off</b>- Sometimes, a minute of interruption can cause you to spend more minutes recovering your momentum for work.<br />
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4. <b>Procrastination</b>- Delaying a course of action to a later time.<br />
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5. <b>Unrealistic time estimates</b>- Assuming that a certain work can take up less or more time than it actually does.<br />
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6. <b>Unnecessary errors</b>- Correcting trivial mistakes can take more time than by double checking it every now and then. <br />
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7. <b>Poor organization</b>- Not putting things in order.<br />
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8. <b>Poor planning and lack of contingency plans</b>- This leads to more time spent figuring out what to do next.<br />
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9. <b>Failure to delegate</b>- Doing too much of everything yourself.<br />
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10. <b>Lack of priorities, standards, policies or procedures</b>- Not knowing what to do with your time.<br />
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What are other time wasters aside from what’s on this list? You can share it with us. Please write your comments below.</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802927941701033002.post-53837339218011324062011-02-06T17:47:00.006+08:002011-02-24T01:46:00.491+08:00Why should a grad student blog?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_TdvLuph4HgiJshEXFHr5RxDIwT3O1aQriNAO8FAZAAytFuosHjwVSTqql5Lmf90HgUPXaMRsKb-KkB6OCxjOd4ciJJMSG_jpThGVP9dcjUayYxpW625iDafmpae-eK0uimSfNmdXAqY/s1600/blogging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_TdvLuph4HgiJshEXFHr5RxDIwT3O1aQriNAO8FAZAAytFuosHjwVSTqql5Lmf90HgUPXaMRsKb-KkB6OCxjOd4ciJJMSG_jpThGVP9dcjUayYxpW625iDafmpae-eK0uimSfNmdXAqY/s320/blogging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i></span> <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Should I or should I not? But before you dismiss blogging as a <a href="http://gradschooljungle.blogspot.com/2011/02/top-10-time-wasters-for-grad-student.html">time waster while you’re in grad school</a>, here are some of the valid reasons why a grad student should maintain a blog:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>Relieve stress</b>. Stress is inevitable when you’re in grad school. Lots of reports, readings, and other requirements could eat you up in whole. Sometimes we need a diversion, something that takes our mind out of the academic hassles. Writing is a form of diversion. In grad school we write about scholarly topics in order to impress our professors. When you blog you write to impress yourself and your target readers. Never mind if you don’t have more than 10 readers. Somehow, somebody out of the billions of internet surfers will find your blog through a search engine. Plus, you’ll have your family and friends as loyal readers, what more can you ask for. Furthermore, nothing beats the feeling of seeing your writing being published online.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>Understand technology</b>. Let’s face it, we have to catch up with it. The internet is not just for teenagers it’s for everyone. It has revolutionized our concept of communication. When you blog, you’ll learn about the concept of web traffic, search engine optimization, social media, internet security, web programming, etc. This is a practical example of “learning by doing”.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>Publish your ideas</b>. You got into grad school because you want to be an expert of a specific field. Because of that, you are expected to have something to say that relates to your field. What better way to publish what you think about certain issues than through a blog. It’s easier, faster, and more convenient than traditional media.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>Sustain your interest</b>. If you stay in grad school within 3 to 5 years. How long can you sustain your interest in that field? Blogging helps you focus your interest in your field if you keep on posting articles related to what you are majoring in. Furthermore, blogging is not only about writing posts, it’s also about researching, editing, publishing, and marketing it. This is something that keeps you on your toes while in grad school.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>Establish internet presence</b>. Blogging is a way of showcasing your skills. What you write about tells a reader what you are interested in and what your expertise is. The growing trend in human resource recruitment nowadays is to google applicants in order to find out something about them. A blog puts your name on top of a Google search (it really does) so people interested in you (or your work) can easily find you. Try <a href="http://www.google.com.ph/search?q=michael+arieh+medina&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">googling my name</a>, and see the results. Moreover, an internet presence can also be a marketing strategy especially if you are offering consultancy services.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
I’m not saying that blogging can be appropriate for all grad students. However, I believe that for every endeavor to be successful, it should be enjoyed by the one doing it. For someone to enjoy blogging, a good reason for doing it should be a prerequisite.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
What’s your take on this post? Please do share it with us. Use the comment link below.</div>Mike Arieh Medinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795961904820252911noreply@blogger.com3