Emotional Intelligence 3.0(SSR)

The book talks about the importance of emotional intelligence. I read this book about a month ago to maintain a healthy way of living. I did take a lot of direct summary from this book because everything is so essential.

Chapter 1: What are Emotions for?, Chapter 2: Anatomy of an Emotional Hijacking. In these chapters Daniel Goldman describes the dynamic interrelation of the cortex and the limbic system. The cortex is The book is comprised of five parts with 16 chapters and six appendixes. The first part “The Emotional Brain” consists of two chapters which focus upon the physical side of the emotional intelligence.  He presents emotional intelligence in the sense of moderation of primitive emotional impulses by the rational mind. He suggests that the emotional intelligence can be learn with practice. This part, “The Nature of Emotional Intelligence” comprises of six chapters. Chapter 3: When Smart is Dumb,Chapter 4: Know Thyself, Chapter 5: Passion’s Slave, and  Chapter 6: The Master Aptitude.

In chapter 3, Daniel Goleman quotes a number of studies to prove that many high IQ scoring students have failed in their practical lives while many average people have got phenomenon successes. He claims that if the IQ scoring has to play any role in your success, it can’t be more than 20%. He also claims that your 80% success is based on your emotional intelligence.

The Chapter 4 discusses a reflexive mode of experience which the author calls “self-awareness” or “self-observation”. He assimilates self-awareness with Freud’s “evenly hovering attention”. However, he fails to differentiate between consciousness and thought, like Freud. He says that you should know yourself and your strengths instead of your IQ test and its results. At the end of Chapter 4, in a section called “Plumbing the Unconscious,” he writes that you may be more aware to emotional mind’s special symbols such as metaphors, similes, poetry, songs and fables.

Chapter 5, “Passion’s Slaves”, states that emotional disorders need pharmacological help. However, there are certain disorders like manic-depression where the patient never feels any need for medication. The author claims that such severe emotional disorders can hamper your success if not handled properly. He also gives attention to depressive states. He says that when you are depressed, you need to focus your attention to some upbeat activity. However, you should always avoid tragic movies, novels and stories which shall drag your mood further down. Observing that anger is the most difficult emotional impulse to resist, Goleman rejects the popular myth that “ventilating” is an effective way of reducing anger. However, he also does not support pushing the anger out of awareness. He goes for a third option and suggests that you should experience anger by assuming that anger belongs to some other person.

In Chapter 6, “The Master Aptitude,” Goleman highlights importance of emotional traits such as enthusiasm and persistence. He says that most of the Asian students show better record of success than their white counterparts, not for their IQ level but persistence to improve their weaknesses. This book will help anybody understand emotional intelligence.

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I don't understand why America support's Israel? (FC)

What I genuinely do not understand is Americas, seemingly unquestioned, support of Israel. Why does Israel receive on average 7 million of tax payers dollars from the US a day? Why does America condone Israels direct attacks on woman and children who are clearly not Hamas fighters and on UN staff and medics? Why does it consider Israel it's strongest ally in the middle east?

I'm not asking this to start a debate about Israels offensive. I just want to know how America benefits from their relationship.

I mention money because considering Americas economic situation it seems an insane amount of Americas tax payer dollars to be giving to a state that seems to wish to wipe out Palestine completely and is directly targeting UN (which America is part of you might recall) workers, children and women and civilian men for no gain of their own. I think if you want to simplify international relationships to "friendship" you could answer what Americas "friendship" with the United Nations means when they're supporting a country shooting their workers.

To a certain extent I agree with George Washington, told us that we should never get involved with other countries. That was his foreign policy, to mind our own business. Why we deviated from that, I will never know. America should solve its own problems before even thinking of helping other nations. Especially Israel, which, in my opinion, should have never been created. The U.N gave away land that wasn't theirs to a group of people who abandoned their land.

Marlow (CRR)

Marlow and Kurtz
In class we are reading the Heart of Darkness and throughout the book I've develop certain feelings for the characters.
The way Marlow obsesses about Kurtz, we almost expect Kurtz to file a restraining order on the guy. (Or, we would if Kurtz weren't already half-dead by the time Marlow meets him.)But it wasn't always like that. When Marlow first hears about Kurtz, he's not "very interested in him" . But when he hears the story about Kurtz turning back to the jungle, his ears prick up he sees Kurtz for the first time"  as a solitary white man among black men. And then, just a few paragraphs later, Marlow is actually excited to see the guy, saying that, for him, the journey has become entirely about meeting Kurtz. The boat, he says, "crawled towards Kurtz.

Weird. What was it about that story of Kurtz returning to the jungle that tickled Marlow's fancy? True, we've already seen that he's kind of obsessed with the jungle and its people. But at the same time he's drawn in by the wilderness, he's terrified by it. It's thrilling but horrifying, kind of like Saw XVIII. (What, they haven't made that one yet?) Kurtz has done what Marlow can only dream of: refuse to return to the luxury and comfort of Europe and choose instead to pursue fortune and glory.

But Marlow's roller coaster of love doesn't doesn't end there. Once he actually meets the guy, he starts to resent him. Africans have for Kurtz turns Marlow's stomach, "He's no idol of mine" . And then he seems to decide that Kurtz is actually just childish—a helpless and selfish man who has ignorant dreams of becoming rich and powerful.

Segregation in New York City’s Schools New York Times Article ( SSR)

The landmark decision that outlawed segregation, Brown v. Board of Education, was handed down 58 years ago. Brown v. Board of Education (1954), now acknowledged as one of the greatest Supreme Court decisions of the 20th century,  held that the racial segregation of children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Although the decision did not succeed in fully desegregating public education in the United States, it put the Constitution on the side of racial equality. School systems undertook desegregation efforts that peaked in the 1980s. Since then, schools across the country have been going through a process of "de facto resegregation" according to the New York Times.  I Efforts over the years to reduce the segregation of schools in New York City  have had little effect.

New York is rank third in the country for most segregated school system. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/05/11/nyregion/segregation-in-new-york-city-public-schools.html?_"The most segregated public schools in the city include Asian-dominated schools in Chinatown, heavily Hispanic schools in Washington Heights and Corona, and one white school in Manhattan Beach. But the greatest segregation is in black neighborhoods.Hispanic Isolation The most segregated Hispanic schools are in Dominican Washington Heights and Central American Corona. Many are high schools, including Gregorio Luperon High School, that cater to Spanish-speaking immigrants. Luperon has a diversity index of 0, with 477 Hispanic students and no blacks, whites or Asians. Asian Segregation Overall, Asians are the least segregated minority, attending schools that are about 62 percent non-Asian, on average. The exceptions are in Chinatown, including the Lower East Side Preparatory School, which has a diversity index of 12 (537 Asian students,12 blacks, 20 Hispanics and 3 whites)."

This is not all but this information is just so compelling. I can relate to this article because my school is predominantly African- American and Hispanic. I have noticed a huge difference between my schools, including high school in South Carolina and  my current school in New York. My high school that I attended in Charleston.  It was way more diverse which help me identify many cultures which was set to prepare me for the future. My current school that I am enrolled in,  is not as diverse, which is not a bad thing ,but  I believe I could of truly benefited socially a more diverse environment. I tend to ask myself "do other students have the same problem?" I believe an individual will seek a better education with a diverse learning environment.

This article has loads of interesting and profound information that every student and teacher should read. To see more information regrading segregation in New York City’s schools, go to:  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/05/11/nyregion/segregation-in-new-york-city-public-schools.html?_r=0

Can Republicans ever compromise??? (FC)

A remarkable thing just happened in Congress. Republicans and Democrats sat down together to work out a budget. This hasn’t happened since 2009. House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan Romney’s running mate, you’ll recall, and the hero of fiscal conservatives told Politico, “Let’s understand what we’re doing here, we’re going back to regular order.This is how the founders envisioned the budget process. We want to get back to that.”
Ryan’s comment is both encouraging and puzzling. Departure from the regular order has left majority of the nation thinking our political system is in decline. It’s encouraging that Ryan, is attempting to make the system work again, we should remember why Congress became so dysfunctional and unwillingly to provide for the American people.

According to New York Magazine "There have been fiscal crises before  17 shutdowns since 1976, now 18. There have been almost suicidal economic policies  fights over tariffs, trade and taxes have been bread and butter issues since Colonial days. Admittedly, the disaster known as the sequester is something new"One reason has been the Republicans determined effort, since the election of President Obama, to undermine the process of compromise. This is not a secret. The result has been to undermine the works of government and the good standing of the Republican Party. It may be that Republicans, following the principle of enlightened self-interest that has been establish since the beginning of goverment, have recognized that no one has all the answers and that compromise for the good of the country. Doing one’s sworn duty  is what they were elected to Congress to do not to put America in a egrectious situation. But I’m skeptical. Especially with the fact that  Paul Ryan voted against a bill that ended the shutdown and both “ultra-conservatives”  the committee that’s supposed to restore Congress to “regular order.”

Meanwhile, this week millions of disabled elderly veterans and children will start to see their food stamps cut. Private charities across the nation are being overwhelmed with demands beyond their control. Yet sadly, Republicans want to make even more cuts. This is wrong. Whatever happened to “We the people”?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The middle ground in Congress has all but disappeared. The founders intended competing principles and interests to check excesses and create a balance in our politics that would benefit “we the people.” Gerrymandered districts and a hyped-up fight-night media offer a partial explanation of why we seem to have neither checks nor balances.

Majority of Congressional Members may need to take A.P U.S History like I did, to get a better understanding on how Congress was made to make America a stable country. With all my being that holding the government of the people as hostage, demanding political ransom, is dead. Maybe at the end of the 2014 election, it will be. Especially if Americans go out and vote for lawmakers that will represent the American people but, not themselves.

Until then, pray, but don’t hold your breath that we’ll return to any “regular order.”

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GOP in Congress (FC)

The Economy? Tell the GOP Congress to stop blocking the American Jobs Recovery Act which is fully paid for and would create 2 million jobs (as cited by the CBO), they delayed the Transportation bill, and are blocking the Jobs Act, Construction, Infrastructure, Veterans Jobs bill, Teachers/First Responders, the Farm bill, threatening to use the same obstructionist hostage taking tactics again to send the U.S. over the cliff.

A fair and balanced approach with spending cuts, entitlement reform, and revenue is still needed. However, the Republicans have no interest in a fair and balanced approach as evidence with the following that was offered to them a few weeks ago:Senate Dems $110 billion sequester-reform

Economists agree that the U.S. economy needs stimulus now, not austerity, and that severe spending cuts in the economy, military, layoffs, and other areas will bring on another recession. Take note that during the recessions of the first Bush, Reagan, and G.W. Bush presidencies, the government added (instead of laying off) jobs to cushion the recession. The economy is primarily supported by consumer spending, and you cannot fix the economy and increase employment by cutting spending severely, increasing layoffs, or further weakening the middle class. Just ask the Greeks (recession/default) and Italy (27% unemployment).   Americans, Congress is operating from crisis to crisis to wreck and destroy America. Either they get their failed agenda without a reasonable compromise or they will try to sink this entire country, acting like domestic terrorists.

Americans, it is time for YOU to remind the GOP that you know about and don’t approve of their despicable actions, and vote every last one of these Republicans that don't care for the American people out of office in 2014.

Health Care Innovation (PB)

                                           
 The Affordable Care Act also known as the Obama Care. This  remarkable health care law was enacted in March 2010. . As of now there is a lot of opposition against the law; regarding the Republican majority in Congress. Today marks the 6th day of the government shutdown, which Congress enforced, since the Senate refuse to defund Obama care. This law is a huge step towards fixing our broken health care system.

  

This innovation will help improve the quality of life of many Americans.  Every American deserve quality health care!  According to www.whitehouse.gov, “The benefits of the Affordable Care Act are pretty straight forward: the law makes it easier to get insurance you can afford, ensures you have the care you need when you get sick, and covers the preventive services you need to stay healthy for free”   this law will expand Medicaid and decrease premiums. Health insurance companies have to be more accountable for the American people. “If they spend too much money on overhead and not enough on medical care, you get a rebate -- just like 8.5 million Americans this summer”, according to www.whitehouse.gov . The health care law requires insurers to spend at least 3/4 of their premiums dollars on medical care. Now if the insurance company spends more than 20% of American premium’s dollars on administrator cost; that will result in rebate for the difference.  A lot of lobbyist and corporate leaders disagree with this law, based on the fact that it cracks down on fraud and loopholes that is costing Americans more hard ache.
 
This family that lives in Baltimore shows why the Affordable Care Act is a success “My family is one of the reasons why I support the Affordable Care Act. It is one of the reasons I run an organization called Young Invincible that is committed to expanding opportunity, including health care access for young adults. Health care coverage protects me, my brother, my sister,  my parents individually, but it also protects us collectively.

  

My brother, Arthur, for example, grew up with terrible asthma. The asthma attacks would keep him up at nights, make even routine colds causes for worry, or send him to the doctor or hospital. For my mom, the fear and anxiety for my brother’s health would keep her up at night too, just from the anxiety and fear. Fortunately, we had good coverage and my brother got the medicine he needed to treat the condition, and avoid attacks. He has overcome that illness, and now lives in Baltimore after recently graduating from college. My brother can still get the inhalers and other medicine he needs because he is covered under my parent’s plan up to age 26. That is just one of the benefits of the ACA and has already helped over 3 million young people gain coverage.  (According to http://www.policymic.com)
 
  The health care law will lower the cost for families seeking health insurance.  Over the next ten years, health spending will be more efficient and less costly. In part of the loopholes that will be stop and fraud; this will make up all the expenses to go toward the health law. In New York, health care plans set fall 50%.  According to www.newyorktimes.com  “Individuals buying health insurance on their own will see their premiums tumble next year in New York State as changes under the federal health care law take effect, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Wednesday. State insurance regulators say they have approved rates for 2014 that are at least 50 percent lower on average than those currently available in New York. Beginning in October, individuals in New York City who now pay $1,000 a month or more for coverage will be able to shop for health insurance for as little as $308 monthly. With federal subsidies, the cost will be even lower. Supporters of the new health care law, the Affordable Care Act, credited the drop in rates to the online purchasing exchanges the law created, which they say are spurring competition among insurers that are anticipating an influx of new customers. “It’s been only six days and Americans are starting to feel comfortable with the cost."
   
 The Affordable Care Act will have a long-lasting impact on Americans. This amazing bill will allow me to afford health insurance and it allows me to stay on my parents health insurance until I am 26!  Expanding Medicaid to those who are less fortunate is a remarkable way on bettering the lives of Americans. Throughout American history we have seen successful laws that have improve America health care system.  On July 30, 1965, President Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments which established Medicare and Medicaid, which provide a wide range of health and medical services for Americans of all age. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Social Security Act in 1935 which provides insurance and benefits, to those  are unemployed and retired.  Now, President Obama has reform health care , know as the  “Affordable Care Act”

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I will use my blog pass.

Phyllis Wheatley CPR

What I've learn from class discussion....

Action isn't her thing; ideas are. She wants to praise things and talk about ideas, like Christianity, salvation, history.  Also there's a little narrative in her poem though, when the speaker writes, "brought me from my pagan land." So, the speaker is a slave that was brought from Africa to America because of  "mercy." And it's mercy that converts the Wheatley to Christianity, which she knew nothing about in Africa. Although people view her race in America as negatively and as "diabolic dye" the poem reflects her belief that anyone, even "Negroes," can be saved by joining the religion  Christianity. 

Peyton Manning and the Broncos.(FC)

I have been a Peyton Manning fan for at least eight years. Not only is he my favorite athlete, he is the best Quarterback of all-time. Peyton is also one of the smartest quarterbacks in the NFL he can read defense before he snaps the ball, he can pick up defenses before the ball is snap, and can even get the ball out to his recovers before the blitz comes. According to www.bleacherreaport.com, Manning completion rating for this season already, against blitz's is 49.95%. Manning had a huge game against the Baltimore Ravens, that has not been done since the 60's throw 7 TD's in one game.

Peyton is coming into this season as his second year as the Denver Broncos quarterback. Over the past season they're has been a lot of questions based on if Peyton has recovered from his neck surgery.  That was not a question last week, when Manning threw for 462 yards, 27-of-42 with 7 TD's. With Manning having multiple threats at wide receiver, the Ravens could not slow him down. This season Peyton Manning will when the Super Bowl and MVP!