Socratic Seminar: Tao-Te-Ching

By Jesus Olvera
Today in class we were discussing two chapters of the Tao-Te-Ching, a book of Chinese philosophies about life. We were discussing chapters 48 and 71. I felt that my group (the group that was discussing chapter 48) had the best discussion out of our two groups. I feel this was because we were really thinking deep into out discussion and many people had great ideas and opinions. When I explained what this quote meant " Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action. When nothing is done, nothing is left undone." I said it meant that when you stop doing things like doing homework, since you didn't do your homework you don't need to (it's confusing). Overall I thought the whole class did a good job, even though the other group was a little silent, they had good arguments.
 


My Ki Gong Expirence

By Jesus Olvera
When I first entered the karate studio, I felt like this was going to be an interesting experience. We were here to experience Ki Gong an ancient practice to make you relaxed, fit, and healthy. When I started to "stand like a tree" I felt dumb, but when I put my hands together and felt my chi like two magnets repealing each other, I was amazed. I also was surprised that it would actually work, and I was surprised no one had told me about chi and Ki Gong. I was amazed at first, but when we did the other chi exercises my chi had disappeared, and I got a little disappointed. But when we meditated I felt my shoulder throbbing and feeling weird. I remembered I hurt my shoulder a while ago and now it was telling me it was hurt. Chi can bring out injuries and heal them, plus in the end of class I felt like I had a lot of energy so Ki Gong benefits almost everything. Ki Gong is an amazing and interesting practice, I hope to eventually know more and practice Ki Gong in the future.
 


Vocab Test # 1 (9/12/08)

By Jesus Olvera
1) The main idea was, a man wants to build a "vertical farm"(a farm in a building) in the city so stores don't have to have get their food from far away. Also there are factors that can change the quality of the products and make land less fertile such as: weather, climate, and incests. In addition to that, it would take less work to create high quality products, because you don't have to worry about losing your livestock, or to cultivate your land. plus it would be easier to domesticate livestock since there aren't any determinants of death such as: disease, predators, etc.
2) Even though a vertical farm can produce better quality products, i don't think it's a solution to our energy crisis. In fact it's the exact opposite, it'll consume more energy. to codify an irrigation system through a 30 story skyscraper would use a lot of metal and water. Even the primitive stages of the building of uses a lot of minerals and energy, to build a 30 story building would use so many materials and energy which we could use elsewhere.
3) I'm a little in the Grey area in this whole thing. I don't really like the idea, it's not that it couldn't be built, we aren't nomadic people but it's the idea that it would use a lot of energy and would leave a lot of poor farmers sedentary. plus scientists would soon alter mother nature and crops and ruin life cycles, which some believe would angry Deities. I just hope those people know what their doing and find a way in which won't consume energy, but help us and the world.