Monday, January 16, 2017

Review questions, Letter From Birmingham Jail, Robert Trudeau

Review questions, Letter From Birmingham Jail:

1. Why would clergymen call King's protest march in Birmingham, Ap. 1963, "unwise and untimely"?
2. King says to call him an "outsider coming in" is incorrect. Why is he not that?
3.What are the 2 great Mediterranean nations from which the US and Europeans have derived Western Culture?
4. North of Greece is a small nation in which Alexander the Great was born. __
5. A person who has a narrow point of view and usually lacks full educational attainment.
6. A phrase that means documentation of abuse.
7. "If I do this, will you do that?" __
8. Getting mentally prepared to be arrested, to be hit with sticks and to spend time in jail. __ __ .
9. Sitting at the front of the bus - as a black person in 1963, Alabama. __ __ .
10. Period in which action is halted. __ .
11. A boycott: __ __ __ .
12. "People will not be happy to hear this but we will march on Main St on Tues." __ __ .
13. Greek who taught young men by asking them question after question. __ .
14. Not being held back. __ .
15. In ancient Greece, a person who would, " sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth." __ .
16. As a comedian I perform alone; I do a __ .
17. While it means one thousand years, among Christians it may refer to a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1000 years prior to the final judgment.
18. "That is the way it is, son. That's the way it always has been." __ __
19. An expert in matters of law. __ 20. African Americans slavery began some __ years ago.
21. African American population today: a) 20 b) 45 c) 80 million. That is 14% of US population, says the 2013 census.
22. Wealthy. __ .
23. A deep chasm. __ .
24. This case overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896, which allowed state-sponsored segregation in public education. __ _ __ _ __ _ __
25. St Thomas Aquinas, Martin Buber and Paul Tillich: which philosopher-theologian represents the ancient world?
26. Separation. __
27. Chaos owing to lack of governmental structure. __ .
28. The US' First Amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to __ __ or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.
29. Refusal to obey certain laws, demands, or commands of a government. __ __ .
30. Political protest by the Sons of Liberty in 1773 in which some of the demonstrators were disguised as American Indians. __ __ __ .
31. In 1933 Hitler’s government, under a ‘law’ passed by the Cabinet, had set up a programme in secret to ‘purify’ the German ‘race’, namely to sterilise the handicapped, ‘undesirables’ and the incurably insane. Rooted in this ‘law’ was the ‘mercy killing’ confidential order, issued and signed by Hitler on his personal headed note-paper in October 1939. It directly resulted in the planned murder of thousands of the handicapped. __ __ __ .
32. A perhaps surprising group of people is singled out by King as a stumbling block in the march towards freedom: __ __.
33. King says that Socrates should not have been condemned simply because of his philosophical inquiries and devotion to truth. Nor should King's demonstrations be condemned because his peaceful demonstrations often resulted in violence by the police. His actions did not __ __ .
34. A lament for the dead. __ .
35. A feeling of uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements. __ .
36. The dominant school of thought that typifies and influences the culture of a particular period in time. __ .
37. German priest who wrote about the corruption of the Catholic church. __ __ .
38. Third president of the US, slaveowner and principal author of the Declaration of Independence. __ __ .
39. To deprive of feeling or awareness. __ .
40. Making a show - in a silly way - of being morally superior to other people. __ __ .
41. Non religious: __ .
42. Two acts of the Romans which were opposed by Christians: __ and death by __ .
43. A provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or areward for obedience. __ .
44. American poet. __ __ .
45. Air Force veteran and the first African-American student admitted to the segregated University of Mississippi. __ __ .
46. "Keeping it real." __ .
47. Not relating to the topic at hand. __ .
48. In 1620 the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts from the Mayflower. The first Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619.
49. The religious cultural framework of the US and most of Europe. __ __ __ .
50. "Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever." Can you find an exception to this assertion?

Friday, June 07, 2013

Gandhi, the Mahatma,or "Great Soul"

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot much of the time, which
produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet.
He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered
from bad breath. This made him ...

A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Semester geography exam review, May, 2013

1. The Fuller center for Housing is affiliated with a well-known program called __ for Humanity.

a) Helpers b) Habitat c) Housing d) Happy.

2. Millard Filmore, a native of Alabama who made a fortune as a lawyer, founded two national shelter organizations. T / F

3. The Fuller Center is not a give-away program. Impoverished people pay market value for their houses. T / F

4. People who get Fuller Center houses are required to do 350 hours of service that is called an investment via __ equity. a) elbow grease b) atomic fusion c) charity d) sweat.

5. The generous fellow who founded Fuller Center was notable for giving grants to deserving people and organizations. He was a __ . a) philanthropist b) philanderer c) philosopher

d) phallopian.

6. A major gift to the Fuller Veterans Build in Shreveport came from famed British musician Roger Waters, a founder of the psychedelic group called __ . a) Grateful Dead b) Rolling Stones c) the Beatles d) Pink Floyd.

7. The Veterans Build project is located on a) Martha St b) Viking Dr c) Youree Dr d) Olive St.

8. The project is located in the neighborhood known as a) Pierremont b) Highland

c) Stoner Hill d) Coates Bluff.

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Washington to Hanoi: Vietnam review
1. Geneva is a city in the nation of a) Netherlands
b) Switzerland c) Germany d) Belgium.
2. The Geneva Accord was part of ending the war between Vietnam and __ . a) France b) England
c) Belgium d) Netherlands.
3. Appropriate order of the presidents: a) Eisenhower, Nixon, Kennedy b) Kennedy, Nixon, Johnson
c) Nixon, LBJ, Eisenhower d) Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ
4. Not a Senator from Massachusetts: a) John F Kennedy
b) Dwight Eisenhower.
5. Commander-in-chief of US during Vietnam conflict:
a) Nixon b) Truman c) JFK d) Eisenhower.
6. President associated with secondary escalation of troops in Vietnam: a) Nixon b) JFK c) LBJ .
7. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: a) Nixon b) JFK c) LBJ.
8. Tet Offensive: a) Nixon b) JFK c) LBJ.
9. Great Society: a) Nixon b) JFK c) LBJ.
10. End of Vietnam war, ‘73 - ‘75: a) Nixon b) JFK c) LBJ.
11. Domino Theory: a) Nixon b) JFK c) LBJ d) Eisenhower.
12. Tet Offensive: a) Hue b) Hanoi c) Bangkok
d) Cambodia.
13. Viet Cong: a) US b) China c) Japan.
14. Australians: a) US b) China c) Japan.
15. Protest march in Washington, DC: a) 1966 b) 1969
c) 1973 d) 1975.
16. Sent US advisers to Vietnam: a) LBJ b) Nixon
c) JFK.
17. Ho Chi Minh: a) Hanoi b) Hue c) Da Nang d) Saigon.
18. Indochina: a) France b) Belgium c) England d) US.
19. “Goodnight, Irene”: a) Dylan b) Leadbelly c) Hendrix.
20. Civil Rights march on Washington, DC: a) 1960
b) 1963 c) 1969 d) 1971.
21. President who banned racial discrimination in the military: a) LBJ b) JFK c) Nixon d) Eisenhower e) Truman.
22. Vietnam’s population today is about one third the US population. T / F
23. Vietnam is a communist nation today. T / F
24. Vietnamese boat people: a) 1954 b) 1966 c) 1969
d) 1975.
25. Not an example of Vietnamese ingenuity: a) punji traps
b) tunnel system c) betel nut.

Washington to Hanoi: Vietnam review
1. b 2. a 3. d 4. b 5. a 6. a 7. c 8. c 9. c 10. a 11. d 12. a
13. b 14. a 15. b 16. c 17. a or d 18. a 19. b 20. b 21. e 22. F
23. T 24. d 25. c

Vietnam Conflict Review
1. "Those who don't learn history are doomed to ___ it." a) wonder about b) argue c) repeat d) study
2. 1950: Pres. __ sends advisers to help the French. a) Eisenhower b) JFK c) Nixon d) Truman e) LBJ.
3. 1954: Vietnam is divided by the document called the __ __. North is communist; South is democratic. a) Gulf of Tonkin Resolution b) Tet Offensive c) Geneva Accord d) Treaty of Versailles.
4. The French exit after almost 100 years of occupation of the 3-nation region called __. a) Indonesia b) LaoCamNam c) Vietnam and its neighbors d) Indochina.
5. __ __ __, leader of the communist revolutionaries, is triumphant in both 1954 and in 1975 (though posthumously). a) Gen. Da Nang b) Chaing Kai Shek c) Chairman Mao Zedong d) Hai Phong e) Ho Chi Minh
6. In 1954 Pres. __ sends advisers to aid the S. Vietnam Army (see answers in #2).
7. 1961; Pres. __ sends more advisers - some 15,000 US troops in 'Nam. (see answers above)
8. 1964; Pres. __ asks Congress for approval of direct military action. Bombing of N. Vietnam begins.
9. 1965; Doves make their opinions known in regards the war in Vietnam: a) conservatives b) liberals c) undecided d) veterans e) birds.
10. 1968; Peak US troops reach peak: a) quarter million b) half million c) million d) almost 2 million.
11. 1968: Communist surprise attacks on US-held regions, including the capital city: a) Da Nang b) Hanoi c) Bangkok d) Saigon.
12. Called the Tet Offensive, it is widely seen in the US as a) encouraging b) enraging c) discouraging d) inevitable.
13. 1969; Pres. __ reduces troop strength in Thailand and Vietnam. But he continues the bombing of N. Vietnam. (see answer choices in #2)
14. A massive protest demonstration in 1969 brings students and other anti-war groups from across the US to the city of a) Paris b) NYC c) San Francisco d) Washington e) New Orleans.
15. In 197_ a peace pact with the communists was signed in Paris. It signaled the end of the US’ longest-running war. The year was a) 1954 b) 1964 c) 1974 d) 1984.
16. The communist forces won victory over S. Vietnam in a) 1968 b) 1971 c) 1975 d) 1977.
17. During the cold war era the US goal was to stop communism across the globe. In regions such as Southeast Asia the US military felt a risk of a communist chain reaction. Therefore Pres. Eisenhower enunciated the policy known as the __ theory. a) Chain reaction b) Cold war c) Domino d) Chess.
18. The name for the communist guerillas living and fighting in South Vietnam:
a) Orangutans b) North Vietnam Army (NVA) c) Viet Tigers d) Viet Cong.
19. Principal US allies in Vietnam: a) England, Netherlands b) Canada, Australia
c) Japan, Mexico d) England, Germany.
Viet answers:
1. c) repeat 2. d) Truman 3. c) Geneva Accord 4. d) Indochina
5. e) Ho Chi Minh 6. a) Eisenhower 7. b) Kennedy 8. e) Johnson
9. b) liberals 10. b) half 11. d) Saigon 12. c) discouraging 13. c) Nixon
14. d) Washington 15. c) ‘74 16. c) 1975 17. c) domino 18. d) Viet cong 19. b) Canadians / Australians
1. c 2. d 3. c 4. d 5. e 6. a 7. b 8. e 9. b 10. b 11. d 12. c
13. c 14. d 15. c 16. c 17. c 18. d 19. b

Presidents / Vietnam quiz
Choose from these presidents -
a) Nixon b) LBJ c) JFK d) Eisenhower e) Truman

1. Resigned from presidency rather than face impeachment.
2. The most successful of the US generals in WW II.
3. Formerly a senator from Texas.
4. Once a senator from Massachusetts.
5. Defeated Richard Nixon for presidency in 1960.
6. Served as vice-president under Eisenhower.
7. Associated with Franklin Roosevelt.
8. Associated with the Watergate scandal.
9. Commander in chief of US military in WW II.
10. President associated with successful legislation on civil rights and Medicare; his program was called the Great Society.
11. President who ended the Vietnam war.
12. President who used the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to escalate American troop strength in Vietnam.

Presidents / Vietnam quiz answers -
a 1. d 2. b 3. c 4. c 5. a 6.
e 7. a 8. e 9. b 10. a 11. b 12.

1. Fukushima, site of a nuclear power plant meltdown, is located on the Japanese island of a) Kyushu b) Honshu c) Hokkaido
d) Shikoku.
2. The nuclear meltdown occurred in a )1986 b) 2011 c) 2013.
3. The fuel rods in a nuclear reactor are made of a) steam b) heavy water c) coolant
d) uranium.
4. Electricity-producing nuclear plants begin by producing a) steam b) heavy water c) coolant
d) uranium.
5. Power reactors work by splitting __ in a chain reaction. a) fuel rods b) atoms c) coolant
d) uranium.
6. Fukushima's seawall was about 20' tall; the tsunami's height was about a) 49' b) 99'
c) 149'.
7. The meltdown could've been avoided by preventing flooding of the basement of the turbine buildings, location of the emergency diesel __ . a) generators b) reactors c) cafeteria
d) thermal producers.
8. The key failure in the Fukushima disaster: a) mechanical factors b) human factors.
9. Basically, the Fukushima meltdown was unavoidable. T / F
10. Japan has numerous renewable energy alternatives, including wind turbine, hydroelectric, solar energy and __ power, seen in the numerous volcanic mountains of the nation.
a) nuclear b) steam c) tidal d) geothermal
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Nippon review -
1. During the colonial era in Europe, the nation of Japan was called a) Cathay b) Cipangu.
2. Japan has a heterogeneous population. T / F
3. Japan’s population is approximately half that of the US.
T / F
4. Hayao Miyazaki is notable for the type of movies called monster movies, a terrific example being Godzilla. T / F
5. “Empty orchestra” is the meaning of a term coined by the Japanese in the 70’s when technology allowed creative manipulation of recorded works. It has since become a world-wide source of entertainment. It is a) sashimi b) j-pop c) auto tune d)karaoke.
6. Most Japanese are able to integrate 2 types of religious practice into their lives: a) Buddhism b) Hinduism
c) Islam d) Christianity e) Judaism f) Shintoism
g) Confucianism h) Atheism.
7. In terms of altitude, Mt Fuji can be compared to the
a) Appalachians b) Rocky Mtns.
8. Some people, typically the ill-educated, may be said to be fearful of immigrants and other non-native ethnic types. They may be termed xenophobic. T / F
9. Bamboo and paper, classic ingredients in Japanese art, may be used to make large, rectangular aero forms called a) tea houses b) temples c) tori d) kites.
10. Anime has been part of Japanese culture since 1917. In 1937 Japanese anime movie-makers were influenced by a Disney film called a) Snow White b) 101 Dalmatians
c) The Jungle Book.
11. Japanese greeting: a) Ni hau! b) Salaam! c) Namaste'!
d) Konichi wa!
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1. The city of Nagasaki is on the island of a) Shikoku b) Kyushu c) Honshu d) Hokkaido. B
2. The city of Hiroshima is on the island of a) Shikoku b) Kyushu
c) Honshu d) Hokkaido. C
3. The city of Kyoto is on the island of a) Shikoku b) Kyushu c)
Honshu d) Hokkaido. C
4. To say "good afternoon:" a) ohayo (gozaimas') b) konnichiwa c) konbanwa. B
5. Like Hindus, Buddhists believe in the law of karma, in which there
is a consequence for one's actions. T / F T
6. Japan's population is close to one half of US population. T / F T
7. Japan's closest neighbor: a) S Korea b) China c) Taiwan d) Philippines. A
8. a) Hayao Miyazaki b) Osamu Tezuko c) Soichiro Honda has been called
the Father of both Anime and of Manga. He was an illustrator and artist rather than a filmmaker. B
9 & 10. Most Japanese are able to integrate 2 types of religious practice
into their lives: a) Hindusim b) Buddhism
c) Islam d) Christianity e) Judaism f) Confucianism g) Shintoism h)
Atheism. Please pick 2. B & G
11. Japanese comedy about food: a) Spirited Away b) Tampopo c)
Totoro d) Manga. B

Gandhi in Mumbai
1. Gandhi's first protest activities were actions against the government in __ . a) Kenya b) India c) Sri Lanka
d) South Africa.
2. Home Rule was the slogan of the Congress Party of India. It meant that the British should
a) rule from London b) give representation in Parliament c) leave India d) leave Delhi.
3. Gandhi was raised as a a) Sikh b) Muslim c) Christian
d) Hindu.
4. The religious minority of India originating in the Punjab region: a) Sikh b) Muslim c) Christian d) Hindu.
5. Gandhi began his protest activities in India soon after the end of a) WWI b) WW2 c) the US Civil Rights Movement
d) Great Depression.
6. The capital of India: __ .
1d2c3d4a5a6Delhi

Gandhi in Delhi
1. Traditional sweet scent of India packaged as a garland: a) gardenia b) rose c) lilies d) jasmine.
2. South Africans have numerous derogatory terms for Indians. Not among them: a) Sammy b) coolie c) kaffir d) pachuco.
3. On the train in South Africa Gandhi quotes a book of __ literature. a) Christian b) Hindu c) Muslim d) Sikh.
4. Gandhi uses the phrase "children of __ " to emphasize the incorrectness of racist laws. a) Brahma b) Allah c) God.
5. Car manufacturing company that produces a cheap city car: a) Nano b) Tata c) Momo d) Bapu.
6. Nefarious crop emphasized by the British in India - to be sold to the Chinese. a) indigo b) tobacco c) saffron d) opium.
7. City on the Bay of Bengal: a) Delhi b) Agra c) Mumbai d) Kolkata.
8. City on the Arabian Sea: a) Delhi b) Agra c) Mumbai d) Kolkata.
9. City called the Silicon Valley of India: a) Delhi b) Agra c) Mumbai d) Bangalore.
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Gandhi in South Africa
1. Gandhi's life spanned the 19th and 20th centuries. T / F
2. Gandhi studied to be a barrister, which is a Britishism for: a) lawyer b) professor c) business man d) clergyman.
3. South Africa was a European colony at the turn of the century. It is part of the empire built by the a) British b) French c) Hindus d) Muslims.
4. In all his pronouncements, Gandhi encourages ethnic unity. That would be between the a) castes b) major social organizations c) armies d) governments.
5. Gandhi declares that being raised in a crossroads region gave him an unusual perspective on religion. He lived near a) Delhi b) Bay of Bengal c) Himalayas d) Arabian Sea.
6. What is the great social taboo of India that Gandhi wanted to change?
a) Hindu vs. Muslim b) the caste system c) the class system d) British vs. Indians.
7. Gandhi felt that the beliefs of Christianity might help people understand racism. T / F
8. Gandhi understood poverty and accepted it as inevitable in India.
T / F
9. Gandhi was not assasinated; he was assassinated. T / F

1.t 2.a 3.a 4.a 5.d 6.b 7.t 8.t

1. The Taj Mahal was built about the year __ .
2. Its construction was commanded by the emperor called the __ Jahan.
3. Jahan was the Mughal - or Mogul - emperor of ___ India.
a) northern b) eastern c) southern d) western.
4. The design of the Taj reflects a particular religion: a) Islam b) Judaism c) Hinduism d) Jainism.
5. It was built of white __ (type of stone) for Mumtaz Mahal.
6. A building that is a tomb is called a __. a) masala b) malformed c) mausoleum d) mandible.
7. The designers of the Taj were from the nation of __ . a) Persia b) Afghanistan c) Arabia.
8. There are three items of the Taj Mahal complex that identify the Shah's culture as Islamic: the mosque, the Arabic inscriptions and the towers called __ .
9. The decorative designs on the walls are called __.
10. Aside from the decorated caskets of the emperor and his wife, the interior of the Taj Mahal is empty. T / F
11. In the final chapter of his life the emperor's son, Aurangzeb, made sure his father was __.

1.1600 2.shah 3.a 4.a 5.marble 6.c 7.a 8.minarets 9. arabesques or calligraphy 10. t
11. imprisoned

Semester exam schedule, Caddo Magnet HS, 5/20 - 5/23, 2013

Exams
Mon, 5/20
1) 8:29 - 8:40 1st period class, roll call.
2) 8:45 - 9:45 2nd class
3) 9:50 - 11:50 exam: 1st
4) 11:55 - 1: 25 4th class / lunch
5) 1:30 - 3:33 exam: 3rd

5/21
same times as above
1) 5th class
2) 6th class
3) exam: 5th
4) 8th class
5) exam: 7th

5/22
1) 1st class
2) 1st class
3) exam, 2nd
4) 3rd class
5) exam: 4th

5/23
1) 5th class
2) 5th class
3) exam: 6th
4) 7th class
5) exam: 8th

Report cards will be mailed to students June 10.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Japanese aesthetic: wabi and sabi

"Wabi-sabi is the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of traditional Japanese beauty and it occupies roughly the same position in the Japanese pantheon of aesthetic values as do the Greek ideals of beauty and perfection in the West," says Wikipedia.

"If an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi."[2]

"Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."[3]

Wabi now connotes rustic simplicity, freshness or quietness, and can be applied to both natural and human-made objects, or understated elegance. It can also refer to quirks and anomalies arising from the process of construction, which add uniqueness and elegance to the object.

Sabi is beauty or serenity that comes with age, when the life of the object and its impermanence are evidenced in its patina and wear, or in any visible repairs.

Essay on making Japanese raku tea bowls

Descriptive essay (12 pts) on the raku experience:

- third person, scholarly tone.
- details: names, materials, locations, etc.
- quote
- colorful title and opening sentence.
- construction: logical flow, grammar, etc.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Exam review of Coates Bluff nature Trail material

Fairfield Studios, Shreveport by trudeau
Fairfield Studios, Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.


1. Tree whose bark has small growths that resemble tiny volcanic peaks: __ .
a) Cottonwood b) Hackberry c) Sycamore d) Dogwood.
2. This tree has a mottled bark and gargantuan leaves: __ . a) Cottonwood b) Hackberry c) Sycamore d) Dogwood.
3. Type of oak that is most prevalent in North Louisiana river bottoms: __ oak.
a) Live b) Water c) Pine d) River.
4. This tree produces "knees," a sort of knobby growth that pokes up through the ground in the vicinity of the tree. __ . a) Cottonwood b) Hackberry c) Sycamore
d) Cypress.
5. Tree that produces puce-colored blossoms (purplish-reddish-brown) in the late winter: __ __ . a) Cottonwood b) Redbud c) Sycamore d) Dogwood.
6. If this woods vine isn't the 5-leafed Virginia Creeper it must be __ . a) Cottonwood b) Redbud c) Sycamore d) Poison Ivy.
7. The principal forest grapes of North Louisiana: __ . a) Cottonwood b) Redbud c) Muscadine d) Virginia Creeper.
8. When clay, sand and silt occur in a mixed soil, it is called __ . a) riparian
b) loam c) topsoil d) alluvial.
9. Louisiana is widely-known as a state with unusually rich bird life. T / F
10. The zone along a bayou is __ land. a) riparian b) conservation c) aquifer
d) up.

Thursday, May 09, 2013

Made in China by Foxconn: Kindles, Playstations, Wiis and the iPhone

iPhone 07 by Yasunobu Ikeda
iPhone 07, a photo by Yasunobu Ikeda on Flickr.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., trading as Foxconn, is a Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturing company headquartered in Tucheng, New Taipei, Taiwan, says Wikipedia

It is the world's largest electronics contract manufacturer measured by revenues.[3][4]

Foxconn's products include the iPad,[5] iPhone,[6] iPod,[6] Kindle,[7] PlayStation 3[8] and Wii U.[9]

Foxconn has been involved in several controversies, most relating to how it manages employees in China where it is the largest private-sector employer.[10]

In 2012 Apple hired the Fair Labor Association to conduct an audit of working conditions at Foxconn.[11]

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

The ancient Silk Road and China

Silk Road and China by trudeau
Silk Road and China, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Slaves, perfumes, spices, medicines, jewels, glassware: the Silk Routes (collectively known as the "Silk Road") were important paths for cultural, commercial, and technological exchange between traders, merchants, pilgrims, missionaries, soldiers, nomads and urban dwellers from Ancient China, Ancient India, Ancient Tibet, Persian Empire and Mediterranean countries for almost 3,000 years.[5]

It gets its name from the lucrative Chinese silk trade, which began during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 CE), says Wikipedia.

Extending 4,000 miles, the routes enabled people to transport slaves and luxuries such as silk, satin, hemp and other fine fabrics, musk, other perfumes, spices, medicines, jewels, glassware and even rhubarb, as well as serving as a conduit for the spread of knowledge, ideas, cultures, zoological specimens and some non indigenous disease conditions[6] between Ancient China, Ancient India (Indus valley, now Pakistan), Asia Minor and the Mediterranean.

Trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the great civilizations of China, India, Egypt, Persia, Arabia, and Rome, and in several respects helped lay the foundations for the modern world. Although the term the Silk Road implies a continuous journey, very few who traveled the route traversed it from end to end.

For the most part, goods were transported by a series of agents on varying routes and were traded in the bustling markets of the oasis towns.[6]

A guide to the Mandarin Chinese movie, "Not One Less"

Not One Less by é que te Mofo!
Not One Less, a photo by é que te Mofo! on Flickr.

Describe the terrain around Shuxian School.

Paint a verbal picture of the condition of the village school.

How would you characterize the mayor? Describe 2 incidents which you feel illustrate his role in the story.

Teacher Wei undergoes something of a transformation as the story unfolds.
Give an example of her style in the beginning and give an example of her behavior as she grows into her job.

Describe the elements of life in the city versus life in the country - as seen in this movie - that were most affecting to you.

What 2 incidents do you remember from Wei Minzhi’s initially unsuccessful attempt to get help at the TV station?

In the city Wei can easily be spotted as a girl from the country. One give-away is her clothing. What part of her behavior would be evidence she was a provincial girl?

The bureaucracy of China is illustrated by the Mayor’s actions and by the attitude of the receptionist at the TV station. Offer examples of their behavior which reveal the nature of the bureaucracy.



Not One Less guide / Trudeau

1) Not One Less is a movie in a) Mandarin Chinese b) Cantonese Chinese c) Rural Chinese.
Choose between a. Teacher Gao b) the Mayor c) Teacher Wei d) Zhang Huike in the following prompts:
2) Most frugal character.
3) Battling the drop-out rate.
4) Money conscious.
5) Menial work.
6) Moderating influence.
7) Greatest allegiance.
8) Stubborn.
9) Happy-go-lucky.
10) Philosophical and accepting.
11) Chinese currency: a) yuan b) yen c) Chinese dollar.
12) Shuixian School is located near a) Xi’an b) Beijing c) Shanghai.
13) Symbol of pride in learning and efficient use of resources: a) sending swift runner of the class to the sports specialty school b) flag c) chalk.
14) Type of humor which crosses cultural borders: a) religious b) political
c) scatalogical d) sarcasm.
15) The director of Not One Less: a) Jet Li b) Zhang Huike c) Zhang Yimou
d) Shi Huang Di.

Chinese manufacturing advancing rapidly: Geely's Gleagle Panda

2010 Geely's Gleagle Panda by Hugo90
2010 Geely's Gleagle Panda, a photo by Hugo90 on Flickr.

Few in the US know about the Chinese auto companies.

Once these companies were experts at "knocking off" Western car models. They could make a fake BWMW and sell it for half price. Or a fake Jeep or Honda.

Today companies Like Geely Motors are less copycats and more independent. Recently the Swedish car company Volvo was purchased by Geely, indicative of the Chinese company's strength.