@Concert & fun with Friends

@Luray Caverns

It was a great fun.
It deepen the love among our family.
It might be the last travel living in Virginia.
We'll leave here to the western U.S on the 29th of June.
We'll never gorget the fantastic experiences here in Virginia.

@Washington D.C Trip

Hi! Jin A

We went to D.C Zoo and the White house last Sunday.
Actually we want to see the cherry brosom but it seened too late to see it.
But, Cindy and Lucille seemed to be so fun.
We miss you very much and looked forward to seeing you soon.
Lovely..

@Williamsburg Trip

Hi!  Jin a

I finally edited the pictures that we took while taking a trip to Williamsburg.

At the first time, the content size was too big to upload, so I edited again.

See the lovely daughters and we wish your father gets to be fine so that you can be back earlier.

Love...

@ Lucille's Solo & Ensemble

Hi! Jin

Those are Lucille's Solo & Ensemble. Unfortunately I didn't take the pictures during the solo.
Lucille was so nervous while waiting the grades. Fortunately she got 1 grade!!

@ News

<Reporter>

      G. Clooney is now in Sudan, an African nation, to help people achieve independence from the northern government, Khartoum. After the first genocide of 21st century in Darfur, South Sudan would finally be on the path to the independence.

      G. Clooney has power and ability to amplify a village's voice onto the world stage. Actually, he has a satellite privately founded and publicly accessible. That satellite helps to watch the military movement on the northern border. He said, "I am a guy with a camera from 480 miles up. I am the anti-genocide-paparazzi."

<Reporter>

    G. Clooney leveraged his celebrity to get people to care about something more important than celebrity. He said, " Celebrity can help focus news media where they have abdicated their responsibility." He also said to the paparazzi, " If they are going to follow me anyway, I want them to follow me here."

    His acts in Sudan actually draw attention from not only people but also main apparatus concerning this problem like Foreign Relation Committee in U.S and U.N Security Council. With the help of his work, president Obama appointed a special envoy to Sudan.

   Furthermore he influenced many actors to help other countries, like B. Pitt in Katrina, B. Affleck in Congo, and S. Penn in Haiti.

<Reporter>

   Actually one of the motives to force him to go to the Africa is his father. His father was a newsman. His had been furious when international stories were bumped by celebrity gossip. A few years ago, G. Clooney visited the African nations with his father, and he poured some money into building shelters and schools etc.  But it couldn't be the problem. And then, he decided to help people know the situation of Sudan before just pouring money to it.

   Some critics criticized him. "It's unclear why we want celebrities to be in a diplomatic role." But it is certain that he did a great role to help people in Sudan get independence from a dictator in reality, as well as help world watch the process carefully.                  Park, M&P news from Sudan.

This stories is based on the article of  NEWSWEEK.

@ Happy weekend

@ funny or weird news (Homework)

(Reuters) - A U.S. man high on methamphetamine drove with his wife on the hood of their minivan for more than 40 miles, hitting speeds of 100 mph, according to police.
The woman climbed onto the hood early on Saturday morning, outside the couple's home in Manteca, California, because she wanted to keep her husband from driving off, said the city's police spokesman, Rex Osborn.
But instead of stopping, Christopher Carroll, 36, sped away with his wife clinging to the hood, Osborn said.
Police said they would not identify the woman because she is the victim of domestic violence, but Osborn said she is in her 30s and a mother.
In Pleasanton, the woman rolled off the hood when Carroll slowed down, police said.
Carroll was arrested back at his Manteca home, and charged with attempted murder and domestic violence, Osborn said.
No charges were filed tied to Carroll's methamphetamine use, which the woman described, he said.
"Her big message is this meth has ruined her life, affected her husband's family, his children, just because of poor choices," Osborn said.    (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Peter Bohan
LOS ANGELES | Thu Mar 3, 2011 11:33am EST)

@ How to handle the Stress

Tips on How to Handle Pressure and Stress

A collaborative work by High-Advanced students at Pimmit School

·        Having a Support team

·        Delegating and relying on others

·        Recalling happy moments

·        Maintaining a sense of humor

·        Talking about stress

·        Walking

·        Accepting the stress or Ignoring the stress

·        Thinking positively

·        Drinking and eating

·        Figuring out how to react

·        Staying calm

·        Talking to people who you trust

·        Putting stressors into perspectives

·        Meditating

·        Doing your favorite activities

·        Praying

·        Trying to be confident.

·        Altering your environment.

·        Having hobbies.

·        Pampering your-self.

·        Scheduling your time.

·        Renewing self image.

·        Letting it be.

·        Playing games with people you like.

·        Figuring out something for refresh.

·        Getting into self- hypnosis.

·        Driving and concentrating.

·        Watching the kid’s happiness.

·        Running and lifting weights or doing yoga

·        Staying away from e-mail and phone for a period.

·        Getting up early and running.

·        Working out on a regular basis.

·        Getting disconnected when I take off.

·        Enjoying with family.

·        Sharing the feelings with others trough blog.

·        Cheering up myself.

·        Taking a rest.

Types of SPA and massages

·        Stress relief massage

·        Sauna and steam room

·        Aromatherapy massage

·        Swedish massage

·        Hot and cold  stone

·        Golf massage

·        Half massage

·        Beauty products

·        Heat experience

·        Experience shower

·        Series of cold and hot treatments

·        Therapeutic massage with herbal medicine

·        Thai massage

·        The clothed massage

·        Well trained and experienced therapist is essential

·        Cheap and quick(I prefer long) massage

Foods that might help

·        Citrus –the vitamin C prevent the release of the stress hormone cortical and help to

Make lower blood pressure

·        Walnuts-Many omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts can reduce blood pressure and stress.

·        Dark Chocolate-can reduce cortisol levels as well as catecholamine in highly stressed individuals. Can reduce blood pressure and improved mood.

·        Black tea – dropping cortisol.

Pay someone to do it

·         There are many professional organizers and errand

·          Runners who can help you to plan your schedule

Reboot Your Brain

·        Meditating in the same spot

·        Controlling your inhalations and exhalations.

·        Making your own mantra.

·        Keeping your mind focused on your breath.

Quick Moves

·        Stretching 10 minutes before getting out of the bed

·        Do a spinal twist setting on a chair

·        Lay down on your back with legs up against the wall for 3 to 5 minutes

·        Try putting tongue on the roof of your mouth

·        Taking a moment and getting out of your chair a few times a day to realign your neck and upper back muscles

·        Making shoulders rolls

·        Breath properly

·        Squatting using dumbbell

·        Punching and twisting your hips

Mind Workouts

·        NIA: A lively cardio workout to music, combining dance, martial arts, and yoga

·        HYPNOSIS: An altered state of mind from the waking state where you’re worried

·        ACUPUNCTURE: The practice of inserting needles into points on the body to relieve ailments

·        TAICHI : A series of choreographed poses , turning and extending the body, shifting one’s weight.

·        QIGONG : An ancient Chinese healing art, repetitive movements with controlled breathing to stimulate the flow of QI within the body

·         BIOFEEDBACK: A way to measure the body’s responses to stress and learn to control them

·        REFLEXOLOGY: Points in the feet and hands correspond to organs and glands in the body

Take a Chill Pill

·        Today there are many “benzos” (medication to control stress) that doctors prescribe to treat anxiety.

·        Physicians are loath to use them long term because they can be addicted.

·        Every person reacts differently to antidepressants, but gain weight and low libido are possible side effects.

·        Psychiatrists caution that all of these medications should be coupled with counseling.

@Reflection Today's Class

We can know everything if we try. With the help of a variety of mass media, especially internet, we can search anything we want. That means that the world becames narrower,and there is no barriers of information or even the states. So we sometimes delude ourselves that we know evetything, at least, we are able to get to everything.

Actually I didn't know before that we are careful not to thumb up to others. We usually show that when we mean 'You did a good job!'. But it means in Islam states that I despise you.

In modern times, the differences between the nations and cultures became diminished. But there might remain the tricky differences between them. Most of all, those culures and traditions must be respected however they seem to be strange to me or us. That's why we always be cautious to treat others and be careful to face the other's culture or customs.

* The image above was from clker.com.

@ Wonderful Friends!!!

@ Looking for the 'President'

* President wanted


We are looking for the new president of  the United States of BIs. Any man, who has the criteria below, can apply for the job.


- Age is not important. But above 45 below 60
  will be welcomed.
- Male is welcomed.
- Religion is not matter. But he must be detached
  from his religious tendancy.
- Born in  the U.S.B. territory is needed.
- Need to be graduated from the Univ.
  Counterfeit cretification of graduation will be rejected!
- One who is able to settle the dispute and has
   powerful leadership skills will be welcomed.
- One who can boost the crippling economy will get
   higher priority of others.
- One who has any heavy criminal records will be
   rejected.
- Financial background is not a criteria.
   But he must reject any bribes or lobbies.


* Benefits for the President :


- all applicants will be given subway round-trip tickets
  and a set of meal.
- The president will take a salary of 500,000$/yr
   plus bonus 500,000$ when you succeed to boost
   the economy so much as reaching to more than 5% p
   added to GDP.
- If you failed to keep the promises that you made,
  you will be deprived from all the sallaries and bonus.
  So your sallay and bonus will be kept in the national bank
  until you will resign.
- We will rent you a big house and 5 big cars and
   an airplane without paying.
- Health care insurance will be given during and after
   the presidency.

If you have any question, contact the office- presidentwanted@usbi.com

@ Immigration to the U.S.A

(1)  Immigration to the U.S.A

As of 2006, the United States accepts more legal immigrants as permanent residents than all other countries in the world combined. Since the liberalization of immigration policy in 1965, the number of first- generation immigrants living in the United States has quadrupled, from 9.6 million in 1970 to about 38 million in 2007. 1,046,539 persons were naturalized as U.S. citizens in 2008. The leading emigrating countries to the United States were Mexico, India, and the Philippines.

Recent debates on immigration have called for increasing enforcement of existing laws with regard to illegal immigrants, building a barrier along some or all of the 2,000-mile (3,200 km) U.S.-Mexico border, or creating a new guest worker program. Through much of 2006, the country and

Congress was immersed in a debate about these proposals. As of   April 2010, few of these proposals had become law, though a partial border fence was approved and subsequently canceled.  

(2) Contemporary Immigration

(1) Until the 1930s, the gender imbalance among legal immigrants was quite sharp, with most legal immigrants being male. As of the 1990s, however, women accounted for just over half of all legal immigrants, shifting away from the male-dominated immigration of the past.

(2) Contemporary immigrants tend to be younger than the native population of the United States, with people between the ages 15 and 34 substantially overrepresented.  

(3) Immigrants are also more likely to be married and less likely to be divorced than native-born Americans of the same age.

(3) The Impact of  9/11 on the US Immigrants 


80% of immigrants say the government has become tougher on enforcing immigration laws since 9/11, and 30% report that they personally have experienced discrimination.


Public attitudes about immigration in the U.S. have been heavily influenced by the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. After the attacks, 52% of Americans believed that immigration was a good thing overall for the U.S., down from 62% the year before, according to a Gallup poll. Half of Americans say tighter controls on immigration would do "a great deal" to enhance U.S. national security, according to a Public Agenda survey.


(4) Top Ten Foreign Countries - Foreign Born Population Among U.S. Immigrants

Country	2000	2004	2010	2010	%(2010)
Mexico	175,900	7,841,000	8,544,600	9,600,000	23.7%
China	50,900	1,391,000	1,594,600	1,900,000	4.7%
Philippines	47,800	1,222,000	1,413,200	1,700,000	4.2%
India	59,300	1,007,000	1,244,200	1,610,000	4.0%
Vietnam	33,700	863,000	997,800	1,200,000	3.0%
Cuba	14,800	952,000	1,011,200	1,100,000	2.7%
El Salvador	33,500	765,000	899,000	1,100,000	2.7%
Dominican Republic	24,900	692,000	791,600	941,000	2.3%
Canada	24,200	678,000	774,800	920,000	2.3%
Korea	17,900	701,000	772,600	880,000	2.2%
Total Pop. Top 10	498,900	16,112,000	18,747,600	21,741,000	53.7%
Total Foreign Born	940,000	31,100,000	34,860,000	40,500,000	100%

(5) Video Clip 

 

* This Vidio Clip Source  is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SGSJx-JCmQ

   This is used here for an educational purpose.

* The infomation about 'Immigration to the U.S.A' was extrated from 'Wikipedia'.

   That was also used here for the educational purpose.

* The Pictures above was copied from 'immigrationdnatesting.us' & 'libertarianviewpoint.com'.

   They were used here for the educational purpose as well.

@ Burrhus Frederic Skinner

(1) Who is B.F. Skinner?

Burrhus Frederic Skinner (1904 – 1990) was an American behaviorist, author, inventor, social philosopher, and poet. He was the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University from 1958 until his retirement in 1974.

Skinner invented the operant conditioning chamber, innovated his own philosophy of science called Radical behaviorism, and founded his own school of experimental research psychology—the experimental analysis of behavior. His analysis of human behavior culminated in his work Verbal Behavior, which has recently seen enormous increase in interest experimentally and in applied settings.
Skinner discovered and advanced the rate of response as a dependent variable in psychological research. He invented the cumulative recorder to measure rate of responding as part of his highly influential work on schedules of reinforcement. In a June, 2002 survey, Skinner was listed as the most influential psychologist of the 20th century. He was a prolific author who published 21 books and 180 articles.


(2) Reinforcement (pigeon experiment)


See the U-tube attached bellow. 





(cf) This video clip was extracted from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepqpTtKbwo.
      This clip is used here for the educational purpose.  




(3)  Influence on education


Skinner influenced education as well as psychology. He was quoted as saying "Teachers must learn how to teach ... they need only to be taught more effective ways of teaching." Skinner asserted that positive reinforcement is more effective at changing and establishing behavior than punishment, with obvious implications for the then widespread practice of rote learning and punitive discipline in education. Skinner also suggests that the main thing people learn from being punished is how to avoid punishment.
In The Technology of Teaching, Skinner has a chapter on why teachers fail (pages 93-113): Essentially he says that teachers have not been given an understanding of teaching and learning. Without the science underpinning teaching, teachers fall back on procedures that work poorly or not at all, such as..

1. using aversive techniques. They produce escape and avoidance and undesirable emotional effects.
2. relying on telling and explaining. "Unfortunately, a student does not learn simply when he is shown or told."
3. failing to adapt learning tasks to the student's current level.
4. failing to provide positive reinforcement frequently enough.

Skinner suggests that any age-appropriate skill can be taught. The steps are

1. Clearly specify the action or performance the student is to learn to do
2. Break down the task into small achievable steps, going from simple to complex.
3. Let the student perform each step, reinforcing correct actions
4. Adjust so that the student is always successful until final the goal is reached
5. transfer to intermittent reinforcement to maintain the student's performance

Skinner's views on education are extensively presented in his book The Technology of Teaching. It is also reflected in Fred S. Keller's Personalized System of Instruction and Ogden R. Lindsley's Precision Teaching.


(3) Negative Criticsm


Chomsky also reviewed Skinner's Beyond Freedom and Dignity, using the same basic motives as his Verbal Behavior review. Among Chomsky's criticisms were that Skinner's laboratory work could not be extended to humans, that when it was extended to humans it represented 'scientistic' behavior attempting to emulate science but which was not scientific, that Skinner was not a scientist because he rejected the hypothetico-deductive model of theory testing, that Skinner had no science of behavior, and that Skinner's works were highly conducive to justifying or advancing totalitarianism. The fields of Relational Frame Theory and ACT Therapy are currently attempting to deal with most of these suggestions.



**This information source is from 'Wikipedia'.