Investing 101: Stocks, Bonds, 401K, Cash, Portfolios, Asset Allocation, ...

When it comes to investing and financing, I know very little. Be that as it may, had I been trying to write about a slightly different topic from my usual trend. At least for my last post of 2018 that is.

In the following, I will be tackling elementary terms and concepts most commonly used in investing. My focus will be on the well-known 401K plan.

 

For starters, let us define what the 401K plan is. In simple terms, it is a retirement savings plan sponsored by an employer. It allows workers to save and invest part of their paycheck before taxes are deducted from it. Thus, it is imperative for employees to have a solid foundation of how to properly manage their financial resources available. In other words, how to invest that particular part of their income wisely. Now that the aforesaid concept has been taken care of, let us move on to the simple terms: Stock, bond, and cash.

 

To start with, we will be addressing stock. It mainly means ownership in a company. More specifically though, "part of the ownership of a company that can be bought by the public". Among the major ways to classify stock we have: Size or market capitalization (cap) and company location. It goes without saying that each classification has its own level of risk. As you may also know, if the value of the company increases, the stock price rises and vice versa. It is also worth noting that a company can share its yearly profit in the form of a dividend. On the other hand, we have bonds. A bond is, in simple terms, a loan to a company or government. They borrow by selling a bond, which is a promise to repay the buyer in a fixed number of years at a fixed interest rate. Case in point, when the US government borrows money, it does it from its citizens. Through the investments they make in bonds that is. If interest rates drop after you buy a bond, its value rises. When the opposite happens of course, the bond's value decreases. How much the value of the bond will change depends on how  long it is. The longer the bond, the more risk you will take. Still and all, bonds are considered less risky than stocks. Lastly, we have cash. There is little risk that this asset will lose value. Notwithstanding. holding too much money can lead to it losing part of its worth. Cash loses value over time. For instance, in 1950 you could actually purchase a Coke for 5 cents. However, today you can barely buy anything with such small amount of money.

 

Hopefully, I have shed some light on this issue. Something I neglected to mention earlier was that most people with 401K plans invest in mutual funds. "A mutual fund is a service where financial experts invest the money of several people in many different companies". Bear in mind also that in order to invest well, you need to diversity. In other words, have several different options available.

 

Sources:

- Smart Investing Trends YouTube Channel.

- Cambridge Dictionary.

Theories of Emotion | Processing the Environment | MCAT | Khan Academy

The field of psychology is one I have been particularly interested in for the past few years. Thanks to a close friend, it was recently brought to my attention how theories of emotion tackle our reactions to unexpected situations. In the following post, I am going to address four of these theories to the best of my ability and compare them with each other.

 

To begin with, we have the theory of James-Lange, which in fact were two different people who developed quite similar theories around the same time (1800s). They suggested that the emotions we experience are owing to the perception of our physiological responses. For instance, holding your pet cat may bring on physiological responses such as increased heart-rate, neuro-transmitter levels changing so as to make you smile, among others. Thus, making your interpretation of these responses happiness.  On the other hand, we have the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion. They both proposed that both physiological responses and emotions themselves take place at the same time. Not to mention they also brought into consideration the fact that some responses are related not only to one emotion, but to several of them. Case in point, our hear-rate rises after a long run as well as when we are scared.

Back the cat example. We realize we are happy at the same time as our responses are being caused by the experience of holding the cat.

 

Furthermore, there are two more relevant theaories: The Scahcter- Singer Theory of Emotion and the Lazarous Theory of emotion. The first one proposes that if we react in particular way to a particular event, we are not able to feel a specific emotion until we have identified the situation taking place.

The Lazarous Theory suggests that an appraisal of the situation should come first. In other words how we appraise a situation is based on personal experience. To illustrate this point, let us yet again work with the cat example. If the cat happens to be our friend's and he hands it to us  so that we can hold it, our reaction to it may be either positive or negative. If we are not keen on cats, then our reaction will be negative. Then, our physioligical responses will also change, and the emotion we feel might be either repulsion or fear.

 

In summary, being able to understanding what is happening while we are experiencing a strong emotion could help us control ours better. There may be some exceptions to the rule. Nonetheless, responding positively to most unexpected negative situations can prevent us from compounding the problem even more. Hence theories such as the ones mentioned above could serve as the groundwork we need so as to start managing and assessing our emotions more effectively from now on.

 

Sources:

- Khanacademymedicine YouTube Channel.

- Personal experience.

Why Doing This Will Get You A+ On All Your School Exams

Had I not exactly found the appropiate time to write a new post before now. Not to mention choosing the right topic is not easy task either. Have you ever considered that your methods for succeeding at exam taking were not exactly the most effective ones? It has certainly crossed my mind on a number of occasions. Hence, the reason for me seeking a different approach. In the following, I will share some study techniques that have been proven to be quite effective and elucidate on the most important points.

 

First of all, most people tend to take notes and re-read them. Nonetheless, the aforesaid method does not exactly aid in effectively memorizing what you need to know for the test. More importantly, it does not help you understand what you are reading. A different approach would be to test yourself based on what you have read. You can do this either by yourself or with friends. If you put your knowledge of the topic at hand to the test, you will be certain of how much you have improved. For instance, designing a mock test for  yourself could better prepare you for the real one if do it in advance.

 

Furthermore, a study technique that has also proven to provide high results is deconstruction. In other words, breaking down what you are learning into smaller parts. Thus, being able to tackle them one at a time. Case in point, visual organizars, puzzles, among other resources could assist you during this process. On the other hand, recording your professor while he is delivering the lesson is without a doubt one of the most useful techniques. You can play the recording back as many times as you need so as to remember the main facts. In most cases though, it is required for you to ask for permission before you start recording.

 

In summary, there are countless methods you have at your disposal that are more useful than note-taking per-se. There is even one I neglected to mention earlier, which is self-reflection. Be that as it may, the ones listed above are more than capable to progressively make you a better student. You only have to keep in mind that for them to work 100% you must be disciplined and manage your time as best as possible.

Sources:
- The Infographics Show YouTube channel.
- Personal experience.

The FIGHTER Mentality | Mindset Motivation

Self-motivation is one of the topics I am most passionate about. To this day I still dream of the day when I will be able to give motivational speeches to crowds all over the world. Even though I may have a long way to go before that happens, it is without question one of the reasons that keeps me motivated and excited to start my day every morning. In the following post, I will be sharing some advice that has proven to be quite effective when it comes discipline and constancy merged into one fighter mentality.

 

First of all, being sure about what your goals are and who you expect to become are imperative for success. They will set you apart from most people. In order to take the steps necessary for you to be able to reach your end goal, you must know how to accomplish each small step. Thereby, allowing you to ultimately attain your ultimate aim. Of course, acknowledging the reason why we have that ambition is also a powerful source of motivation on itself. Reminding us from time to time of why we are fighting so hard will give us a sense of purpose. However, none of this will matter if we do not develop a sense discipline. Oftentimes, long-term goals may take years to accomplish. Therefore, there is a strong need for you to be resilient and get back up after every single fall. Case in point, if you want to develop big muscles and acquire a strong physique, strong bursts of effort will hardly have any effect. Hard work over a long period of time is the only path you have to bear in mind.

 

Self-reflection is a powerful tool we should take into account as well. Albeit, we must be honest with ourselves for it to work. Keeping track of our progress and carefully analyzing our mistakes will also be highly beneficial. By learning from our shortcomings, we improve our performance and ensure not to make the same mistakes. On the other hand, having concrete goals will  save a considerable amount of time and effort. Having realistic and specific goals will give us more clarity on how to pursue them. Being organized and having a structured schedule is one strategy that we all to have to keep in mind at all times as well. To illustrate my point, let me tell you about how I was able to refine my exercise routine to make it more effective. Through trial and error, I discovered that there were some exercises I needed to change so as to see more progress. Not to mention that I reduced the amount of reps and frequency of some other exercises. Hence, keeping myself from getting hurt and allowing my body to rest more.

 

Notwithstanding, there is one feeling that prevents us from succeeding at whatever it is we desire to attain. I am speaking of shame. Something that held me back in past to a great degree. Even so, I found an effective way to control it and make it almost non-existent. How are going to show the world what you can do if you withhold your talents and keep them to yourself? For instance, giving presentations in front of a large number of people seems frightening. Be that as it may, once you realize that those people sitting in front of you are no different from anyone else, your anxiety will drop. Your desire to succeed must be stronger than any fear you possess. Thus, giving you the determination to tackle any challenge, however threatening it may appear to be.  

 

In review, these pieces of advice will ensure you stay on the right track. To all of them nonetheless, I would add commitment. The quality to finding learning a never-ending process. Even after you accomplish a long-term goal. There is a sense of purpose that keeps you active and meaning to help other people through the use of your talents. Having confidence in yourself and always challenging yourself to be better are great assets to have. Never forget that. To finish, let me quote Helmut Schmidt: "The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement".

 

Sources:

- TopThink YouTube video.

- Self-experience.

Dealing With Difficult & Annoying People

There are everyday situations we have no control over. One of them is without a doubt not being able to choose who we work or go to school with. There is no escaping the nightmare that sometimes is dealing with difficult people on a daily  basis. It takes determination and willpower to know how tackle certain interactions with this sort of people. Even though I have slightly touched on this topic before, revisiting it would aid me expanding my view on it even more. Without further ado, let us begin.

 

As I was growing up, I happened go through different phases. You would expect that from any normal child  of course. In fact, I came from being the victim to being the bully in my last three years of high school. Even so, once I left school, it took me longer than expected to develop the social skills I needed to survive in this aggressive  world we live in. Needless to say it was starting to take a toll on my self-confidence. Case in point, when my assertiveness was needed to file a complaint over a faulty service or to ward off against an abrasive individual. There are cases however, in which it is better to walk away from a person who is extremely negative. Irrespective of how confident you are. It is not worth it to try to reason with some individuals.

 

What is more, the social events I had been attending for a couple of years began to work wonders on my recovery. Progressively, I would push and exert myself constantly to deal with different people and situations so as to eliminate that fear for good. What had once been an impossible task for me, turned into a skill I acquired over time. To the point where it is almost second nature now. No therapist or amount of money (however much it may be) is going to change the way you behave but you yourself. That is, unless you start doing your part from now on. I am not saying curing a mental illness of course. For the aforesaid, you DO need a professional who can assist you along the way. For everything else, it takes a strong will and perseverance.  

 

In review, it is possible to learn how to control your emotions in uncomfortable situations. Such us when dealing with cantankerous co-workers, classmates, among others. You can curtail your interactions with that type of person gradually. Confront them only when necessary, and ignore rumors and unnecessary comments as long as they are not harmful. We may not be able to control the behavior of people around us. Be that as it may, what we CAN do is to change how we act around them.

 

Sources:

- Personal experience.

- Ratalyst YouTube channel.

How is Height Determined?

Is it going to be two months since my last post. To say they have been eventful would be an understatement. Even though I have several topics in mind to write about, my topic for today will definitively be whether hegiht is 100 percent genetic or not.

 

Back when I was about to finish high school, I remember it was commonplace to hear something to the extent of: "If you work out at a gym or lift too much weight, you will stunt your growth". Thus, the reason why I began exercising more seriously much later in life. Regardless of it being an old wives' tale, it sounded quite convincing at the time. There was a friend nonetheless, whom seemed more eager to exercise himself than I was. He claimed height had nothing to do with lifting weights. Be that as it may, I did not believe him.

 

According to a study by Molecular Biologist Chao-Quiang Lai from Tufts University (US), 60 to 80 percent of a person's height can be attributed to genes. Whereas external factors such as nutrition are responsable for the other 20 to 40 percent. Case in point, Peter S. Visscher of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, accounted that likelihood of height being inheritable to be 80 percent. Based on a broad survey of genetic markers to 3375 pairs of twins and siblings. This could be corroborated by research done to 8798 pairs of Finish twins with similar results.

 

In summary, I would say that it indeed makes sense to believe that height is for the most part genetic. Consequently, making it one of the few priviledges that are genetically bestowed to a person since birth. Apart from some others that a person has no control over. Albeit, a person can contribute to slightly improve their hegith through the proper nutrition and exercise routine, among other factors. Such as hormonal ones for instance.

 

Sources:

- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-of-human-height/

- Super Scienced YouTube Channel.

How To Be MORE Assertive | Standing Up For Yourself Without Being A Jerk

Has it been a while since my last post. Albeit, there is a topic I had been meaning to talk about ever since I watched a YouTube video on it quite recently. I have already touched on assertiveness before. Be that as it may, this time around. Have I decided to address it in a more realistic setting. In the following, I will tackle this issue as best as possible and illustrate my points with a few examples.

It is true that I personally have significantly grown socially in the past few years. I have been able to start and develop friendships by just striking up conversations with complete strangers on social events. On the other hand, it is now easier for me to express my opinion on situations I consider unfair often. Nonetheless, there are still a couple of rough edges I need to improve upon. For instance, the fact that I do find it quite challenging to communicate my discomfort to people I deal with on a daily basis. It seems as though I were more self-conscious than I thought I was.

 

Besides, a quality that has considerably helped me improve myself is resilience without a doubt. There have been times in which I could have chosen to quit my daily activities. Be that as it may, the fact that I had my main goal in mind prevented me from doing the aforesaid. Oftentimes, we lose hope when we are about to reach our prime objective. Albeit, we tend to fail to realize that.  Some other times, it is also advisable to start over. There is no shame in doing what we feel is our calling even when it has taken us longer to work that out. Case in point, the fact that I went back to school even after I was at some point convinced I was going to be able to get around without a degree.

 

In summary, I would say that on occasion, experiences mold us into the people we are now. Notwithstanding, there is always  going to be room for improvement. Thus, there are two aspects we should always have in mind: Keeping a positive mindset and knowing with certainty that most problems can be solved. I will leave you with a quote by Tony Robbins: "The way we communicate with others ultimately determines the quality of our lives".

Sources:
- https://www.selfesteemawareness.com/assertiveness-quotes/
- Alpha M. YouTube channel.

Krashen 5 Hypotheses

Being able to encounter topics worth mentioning is in fact more than a challenge oftentimes. Thus, the reason why this blog has remained stagnant for some time. Apart from my daily obligations that is. English teaching is a subject I have not dealt with in a while now. Hence, I decided to give Steven Krashen's Theory of Second Language Acquisition the opportunity to shine once again. In the following, I will be addressing its five main hypotheses and expand on some.

 

First of all, I would like to point out the difference between language acquisition and language learning. What most students do in a classroom setting (Learning grammar rules, performing group tasks, drilling activities, among others.) would be considered as "learning". Whereas, what people do when they move to a country where the target language is spoken would be known as "acquisition".

More often than not, acquisition takes place when the learner receives "comprehensible input". Which is input that is slightly above the learner's. However, it is still understandable to them. Despite not knowing all the words. Due to different factors. Such us the gist of the message, body language, etc. Both concepts are crucial to mastering a foreign language. It is how we use them though that determines our success with it. Now that these to concepts are out of the way, let us proceed with the hypotheses themselves.

 

1. Comprehensible input +1/ Input hypothesis: Krashen believed that if the input a student receives was meaningful enough and slightly above their level, they would still be able to acquire it. This of course includes understanding the message by receiving the aforesaid "comprehensible input".

For instance, students could understand what a song is trying to express because their teacher uses body language.

2. Monitor hypothesis: In other words, being aware of what your are learning. When we reach certain age, we all have a monitor in our minds. This helps us better produce written material for example. Even so, it inhibits speech if the learner is too conscious about what he is about to say.

3. Natural order hypothesis: When learning a language, we all follow a reasonable sequence of patterns. There are grammar structures and parts of language that must be learned before others for us to build on our previous knowledge. Case in point, nouns are learned first when studying a language.

4. The affective filter hypothesis: How students feel about themselves at the time of learning is imperative to their success. If they have a high affective filter, they develop a mental block that prevents them from reaching their LAD (Language acquisition device). Consequently, it is our duty us educators to provide a fulfilling and comfortable environment where students feel motivated.

5. The acquisition-learning hypothesis: Students have two main ways so as to reach mastery in a second language: Acquisition, by using language for real-life communication. As well as learning, that understanding how the language works.

 

In summary, I would say it is not always enough to know about all these theories and approaches from language experts. We have to apply them in the classroom in a sensible manner so as to start seeing an improvement. Reason being why having an eclectic approach to teaching is highly regarded nowadays. Keep in mind that the more creative you are with your lessons, the more you will be able to capture your student's interest. Needless to say that taking into account their learning styles and intelligences is a must too. 

 

Sources:

- https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/comprehensible-input

- http://www.viviancook.uk/SLA/Krashen.htm

- Joan Wink's YouTube Channel.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Therapist Kati Morton

Recently, did I encounter a topic that made me realize how important it is to receive the right treatment for your condition to improve considerably faster. Notwithstanding, in countries such as mine, where the health care system is corrupt and therapists see patients more as a means to make  money more than anything else, the recovery process takes longer than necessary. In the following post, I will be addressing the main principles CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy), and how useful it can be for a person diagnosed with depression and anxiety, among others.

 

Most therapies focus on patients talking about their past experiences no-end. Be that is may, CBT is a more structured method that tackles current thoughts, behaviors, and difficulties. For instance, a person could be constantly grumbling about the fact that their father abandoned them at a young age. Thus, blaming that past unpleasant experience to how they presently feel. Still and all, it is the thought of that past occurrence that makes the patient feel miserable and not the experience on itself. Hence, the aim of CBT is to search for different avenues improve the state of mind of the person on a daily basis.

Not only does CBT treat people with anxiety and depression. It can also help people with:

 

- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

- Panic Disorder.

- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

- Phobias.

- Eating disorders - such as anorexia and bulimia.

- Sleep problems - such as insomnia.

- Problems related to alcohol misuse.

 

A regular patient will usually have between 5 to 20 sessions (Each of them lasting 30 to 60 minutes). Their actions and feelings are usually connected to their thoughts. Therefore, the goal of therapist is to aid the patient break down their problems into the three aforesaid parts. Both the patient and the therapist will examine the areas to work on. As a result, the specialist will be able to design a way to help the person switch their mindset and turn unhelpful thoughts and behaviors into positive ones. CBT has proven to be quite effective and in some cases, it can even replace medication. Nevertheless, more severe cases do need CBT to work in conjunction with medication.

Once the patient has made some progress, they are going to be tasked with confronting their problem progressively. Case in point, Joe Wells (Author of the book "Touch and Go Joe" and former OCD patient) had to perform tasks such as taking out trash into the recycling bin without tapping the lid several times (One of the rituals he used to perform so as not to have his "soul" snatched from him). He moved on to take part in even more challenging tasks. Even though his anxiety raised at the beginning of his tasks, it eventually went on to drop dramatically as time progressed.

 

Lastly, I would say that CBT might be one of the many types of therapy available. Albeit, it is still highly effective. It does however, take commitment from the patient himself who wants to see changes in the long run. Moreover, it is essential that the person does not feel discouraged only due to having a "bad day". Following the therapist's instructions diligently and fighting the negative thoughts with the right treatment is imperative to expedite the recovery process. Having said that, there is not "magic pill" and no treatment is 100% efficient when it comes to OCD for example. Consequently, the patient himself has to have the right attitude and put in the necessary amount of work for the recovery to be as successful as possible.

Sources:
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/
- Touch and Go Joe - An Adolescent's Experience with OCD - Joe Wells.
- Kati Morton YouTube Video.

What is Cloning?

It has not been that long since I last posted. Albeit, I recently encountered a topic that although controversial, will prove to be of utmost importance in the near future. Cloning has been the main theme of science fiction movies for quite some time. What if I told you though, that mother nature has also been able to produce clones? Identical twins are a clear example of the aforesaid. In the following, I will expand on this matter as best as I possibly can.

 

First of all, let us define the word "clone"(artificial that is). According to the Oxford Dictionary, a clone is "An organism or cell, group of organisms or cells, produced asexually from one ancestor or stock, to which they are genetically identical. They cannot be produced solely in a laboratory nonetheless. There is a need for a surrogate mother where the clone can grow. Case in point, Dolly the sheep was one of the first successfully cloned animals back in 1996. However, some abnormalities have been stated to take place by scientists. Even after the cloning process has successfully been concluded.

Even though, the process slightly varies depending on which organism scientists are working on, I am going to walk you through the basics. The first step to clone Dolly for instance was to remove body cells from a first female sheep's udders. Afterwards, the egg was taken from a second female sheep. Moreover, they took the nucleus containing the chromosomes from the first sheep. They also took  the nucleus from the second sheep's egg. Furthermore, they took the chromosomes from the first sheep and placed them into the egg from the second one. In addition, they were both pulsed with electricity for the embryo to come to live. What is more, the embryo was transplanted into a third sheep. Where it developed naturally. Despite the fact that three sheep were needed to clone Dolly, a different method could have been used.  Had the original sheep still been alive, the embryo could have been transplanted into her.

 

Why cloning nonetheless? Well, there are countless reasons why it would be beneficial for humanity in general to keep making breakthroughs in this scientific domain. Take stem cells for instance. Through the development and mastery of this process, organs could be made. Thus saving a considerable number of lives and ridding the need for transplants. On a different note, the quality of livestock in farming could be significantly enhanced as well. To illustrate my point I will say as follows: A farmer could clone a cow with a high yield of milk and keep making his farm progress. Among other  reasons would be: The possibility to bring back endangered or extinct species, cloning animal models of diseases to develop better treatments, etc.

 

Irrespective of what your opinion on this issue is, you cannot deny a simple fact. Not only has it proven already to benefit mankind in several different fields, it has also given scientists hope for a brighter future. Perhaps human cloning  in the foreseeable future would be a stretch. Be that as it may, we cannot disregard how helpful cloning would be for present and future generations. When it comes to the well-being of humanity, there is no religious or scientific belief that could possibly supersede them.

 

Sources:

- Oxford University Press.

- Ana Kuebler's YouTube channel.

Common Rhetorical Devices

Has it not exactly been a month since my last post. Be that as it may, during a conversation with my father, I managed to encounter the topic for this article. Have you ever wonder how you could be better at public speaking? Well, rhetoric may be key to solving your communication problems. Even though it started out over 2000 years ago, it is still as effective as it was back then. In the following, I will go deeper into the aforesaid and also explain some of the most relevant rhetorical devices.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, rhetoric is "speech or writing intended to influence people". Thus, it could be used for both good and evil purposes. Albeit, I believe rhetoric goes beyond the aforementioned definition. Trying to convince an audience is no easy task. When using the proper techniques however, the process becomes considerably simpler. For instance, a lawyer making use of rhetorical devices to convince the jury of his client's innocence. Speaking of which. Let us define rhetorical devices before we proceed. "A rhetorical device is a technique an author or speaker uses so as to persuade the reader or listener to consider a topic from a different perspective, and even to take action". The video that I will attach at the end of this post mentions seven devices. I nonetheless will focus only on six of them.

1. Rhetorical Question:

A question that is not answered by the writer or speaker, owing to the answer being obvious.

It often asked to make a point.

- McGregor? Why would you want to vote for a person that does not keep his promises?

2. Allusion:

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, or idea of historical, cultural, etc. significance.

- He was good at business, but his Achilles' Heel was gambling, thus he lost all his money.

3. Repetition:

Repeats a word or phrase several times in order to make a point or emphasize something.

- "The government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from earth" Abraham Lincoln.

Additionally, we have the "Communication Triangle". These devices are better utilized in spoken form. Ethos (credibility), Logos (logical reasoning), Pathos (the audience's emotions) play a crucial role in swaying the audience to your point of view, argument. Shall we continue?

4. Ethos:

The person delivering the message has to be credible (trusted, knowledgeable, etc.)

- He is a forensics and ballistics expert for the federal government. If anyone is qualified to determine the murder weapon, it is him.

5. Logos:

The message must be logical and well-presented. (Makes sense, has facts and evidence for support)

- Ladies and gentleman from the jury. We have not only the fingerprints, the lack of an alibi, a clear motive and an expressed desire to commit the robbery. We also have a video of the suspect breaking in. This case could not be more open and shut.

6. Pathos:

The message touches the emotions (Tugs at the heartstrings with a story or an image, creates anger or fear.)

- You should consider another route. I heard that that street is far more dangerous at night than during the daytime.

In summary, we could argue that there are countless more rhetorical devices that should have been mentioned. Notwithstanding, the ones above are more than enough to have background knowledge on this matter. The reason why these techniques Greek philosophers introduced thousands of years ago remain applicable, is due to them dealing with aspects that are never going to go out of fashion. You will always need qualifications to make yourself look more credible when speaking to a crowd. You will always need evidence, facts and logic to substantiate your points. Lastly, you will certainly always need to appeal to people's emotions to sound more convincing as well. Being able to master the last three devices is a challenge worth pursuing. Before I leave nonetheless, I would like to add a quote from Star Wars that effectively uses "Anadiplosis", a device I left out of this post. "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering" Master Yoda.

Sources.
- Course: Grand Canyon Diploma English 3 YouTube channel.
- Cambridge University Press English dictionary.
- www.mrmediatraining.com/2011/03/15/nine.rhetorical-devices-for-your-next-speech/

How to Study Way More Effectively | The Feynman Technique

Had I been in search of the most suitable topic for my next post, until I found it. I recently encountered the "The Feynman Technique". One of the most popular and accepted study techniques to date. It might as well be the solution for students struggling in college. In the following article, I will expand on why I believe the aforesaid method to be of great significance not only in a classroom setting, but in countless others even outside of the academic realm.

 

Even though no method is infallible, this one is remarkably effective. The Feynman technique was of course developed a Richard Feynman, a well know physicist and author of world-wide recognition. Among his countless accomplishments are his earning of a Nobel Prize in 1965 and his research in 1986. Which actually helped understand the cause of the space shuttle Challenger disaster. Back to the main point however. You can use this model to learn new concepts in a short amount of time. Not to mention that you return later on and fill in the gaps in your knowledge. Moreover, it also allows you to grapple with tedious subject matters in a more effectual manner. For instance, when trying to explain the essentials of particle physics, Feynman relied not only on verbal and spoken communication, but on diagrams and drawings that made his concepts clearer.

 

So as to better understand this technique, let us go through the steps one by one:

1. Identify the subject: Write as much as you can about the subject you want to master. Every time you run into a new concept, add it to your notes.

2. Teach it to a child: If you manage to teach a concept to a child, it shows a good level of undestanding of it.

As you did with step one, start with a blank note. Write everything you know about the topic, but in plain and simple terms. Proceed to explain it to the child in a straight-forward way. 

3. Identify your knowledge gaps: Highlight your knowledge gaps, make sure nothing is missing. You can call upon your source material and answer question you could not have answered before. Organize your notes.

4. Organize + simplify + tell a story: Group together your notes and begin to create an story with concise explanations. Practice reading your story out loud. Pretend you are addressing a class full of students.  Try using analogies and simple sentences to aid you explanation.

 

In summary, being able to use different strategies when trying to learn a new subject will boost your progress. Just remember that the one described above is only one of the many existing methods. Never stop enquiring and looking into more updated versions of previous techniques and new ones as well. Study less, study smart. In fact when Bill Gates bought the rights for Feynman's lectures he said: "I do think that making science cool to people when they are young and therefore getting more people to go into it in an in-depth way, I think that is very important right now".

Sources:
- https://medium.com/taking-note/learning-from-the-feynman-technique-5373014ad230
- Freedom in Thought YouTube Channel.

The great filter | Robin Hanson | TEDxLimassol

Why have we never been able to make contact with life-forms on other planets?. The aforesaid is a question that countless scientists have asked themselves for decades. The most fitting answer to that conundrum is without a doubt the "The Great Filter Hypothesis". In the following post, will I address my thoughts on this hypothesis. Not to mention elucidate on the relevant points.

 

From a wider spectrum perspective, it has indeed not been that long since the first two men landed on the moon.  July 20th, 1969 to be precise. Since then, we have only been able to send rovers, and orbiters to outer space. Be that as it may, our next "big challenge" is for NASA to prepare a human exploration program to Mars. What is more, every new discovery we make brings us one step closer to accomplishing that endeavor. Back to the main argument nonetheless. Experts suggest that the reason why we have failed thus far to contact extraterrestrial civilizations may be due to them having perished. It does seem hard to believe notwithstanding, that in a universe of 300 billion stars, there are no other life-forms alive other than us.

 

Professor Peter Ward, at the University of Washington concurs with aforementioned statement. He says that since there are hundreds of billions of galaxies similar to ours. Thus, billions of planets like Earths as well. There must be life somewhere else. The Great Filter Hypothesis claims that something gives rise to the destruction of civilizations, before they manage to develop intergalactic communication and travel. Professor Ward also states that a couple of reasons why societies cease to exist could be "climate change" and "overpopulation". According to him when a species overpopulates, it begins to poison its home. Irrespective of what the reason is however, by no means is Professor Ward discouraging other scientists from keeping up with their research.

 

Professor Carl Brusse, from the Australian National university, says as follows: "We have only searched a tiny corner of the galaxy, and it is enough for us to start questioning whether our initial assumptions were correct and maybe downgrade the possibility of life". He might as well be right. Being open to the likelihood of human kind being able to finally connect with the unknown is all we civilians can do for now. For the time being, we can expand our scientific knowledge slightly more, and hope for the best.  

Sources:

- https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-21/great-filter-theory-may-explain-why-well-never-contact-aliens/8731806
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aspMV6ERqpo

Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model. | Cameron Russell

This is in fact my very first post of the year. Had I been having a hard time deciding what to write about next. Then it struck me harder than lightning. Something that has been a part of me ever since I can remember. Of course I am referring to superficiality. More so regarding physical appearance. In the following, I will address this issue from a personal standpoint. Apart from expanding on it from I could gather.

 

Even though I have indeed overcome the most negative aspects of being superficial, I still find it hard not to judge a person based on the way they look. These beliefs may be grounded in my ancestor's mindset. Be that as it may, I knew there was more to an individual than only the exterior. Hence, I started befriending people from different backgrounds and stopped disregarding them due to their physical traits. Only then did I understood where the real value of a human being lay. Take intellect, principles, experience, among other major assets you can completely overlook in someone. Only because you were more concerned about how they looked. Statistics do not lie. Out of 2500 people surveyed in the United States by Allure Magazine back in 2016, 64% claimed their appearance had helped them get assistance from a stranger. Whereas 62% of them said they had received better service at a store.

 

People are becoming more aware of the impact of physical appearance in society. Nonetheless, several changes still have to be made in the mentality of the public eye so as to bring about considerable improvements in the future. Prejudice and being judgmental of others can have a serious effect in their personality. For instance, to this day I remember wanting to change my appearance as a child on account of my classmates teasing me. This was owing to a physical flaw a fixed down the road. Still and all, had I been less self-conscious about the way I looked, I would not have had to fix anything in the first place. What I was trying to get at, was that no one (especially employers and people around us) can put limitations on somebody else solely on the grounds of physical characteristics. Instead, they should factor in what the person has to offer (e.g. skill-set to perform the task at hand).

 

In summary, It does seem unfair to receive an advantage over someone else only because you look more appealing to the eyes of the rest. The more we acknowledge this however, the better judgment we can have when dealing with similar situations. It might be true that you can do things to change the way you look. Such as exercise, surgery among others. Notwithstanding, learning to accept yourself as you are right now should be a priority in your life. Unless it is affecting your health that is. As usual, I will leave you with a video that will give you more insight into this matter.

Sources:
- TED YouTube Channel
- https://www.allure.com/story/national-judgement-survey-statistics