Precis 10: ADHD symptoms can be a sign of excess sugar and boredom

http://www.naturalnews.com/032247_ADHD_sugar.html

• disengaged - not involved with or interested in something or someone, and feeling separate from them [≠ engaged], eg. teenagers who are depressed or disengaged from their families

• disruptive - causing problems and preventing something from continuing in its usual way, eg. Night work can be very disruptive to home life.Ways to handle disruptive pupils

• fidgety - unable to stay still, especially because of being bored or nervous, eg. The boys get fidgety if they can't play outside 

• acclimate (US) acclimatize (UK) - to become used to a new place, situation, or type of weather, or to make someone become used to it, eg. Runners had to acclimatize to the humid tropical conditions.I found it hard to acclimatize myself to working at weekends. 

• argumentative - someone who is argumentative often argues or likes arguing, eg. He quickly becomes argumentative after a few drinks.

• degenerative - a degenerative illness gradually gets worse and cannot be stopped[↪ progressive]

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Children showing ADHA symptoms might be diagnosed wrong with that disorder. Even worse, they might be placed on medications without needing them. Medications effects are just temporary and the child can acclimate to it, so it is no longer covering up the symptoms. It would be wiser to find out what the real cause of the symptoms might be. In so many cases, the children are hyperactive, shoving the attention deficit and being argumentative, after having consumed refined sugar. Another cause of that behaviour might be a boredom in the classroom.What can help to minimize the hyperactivity and lack of attention is Tai Yi, an ancient form of Chinese hands-on energy work that can be described as similar to acupuncture or acupressure. There is a special treatment called Sugar Dragon and it can assist the person to release a sugar addiction and to understand why he or she carries the addiction.

 

Happy Mother's Day

All the best to all of you who are the mothers. 

May the day be filled with happiness.

Below is my sleeping angel :) This time of the day all mothers love the most.

My Travels - St. Helena Island

Guess what? The discussion with Mrs. Krajewska about philosophies of Napoleon and Hitler, made me think about choosing my next travel post. This time it will be about St. Helena Island, where Napoleon spent the last six years of his life in confinement by the British.

The Island is situated in the South Atlantic Ocean. It was discovered in 1502 by the Portuguese admiral, João da Nova. He built a timber chapel in the valley which later became the site of Jamestown.

I had been trying to summarize the history of the Island for you, but after a while of doing so, I realised that it will take me more time than writing the précis, so.... if someone wants to get deeper knowledge, here is the link with some facts about St. Helena : http://www.sthelena.se/history/history.htm

What I remember the most, were the contradictory landscapes I saw there. At the bottom of the Island  it seemed like a hell, like nobody could live and survive there, as it was only made of dark volcanic rocks.

Then we had to climb "million" stairs in order to get to the higher level, where from the taxi took us for the trip around the Island. As we drove deeper inland, the landscape was changing gradually, showing  us the charm of this place. It was becoming greener and more beautiful . On the way to Napoleon's house we stopped by his grave, which was placed on a small valley surrounded by very green hills with lots of beautiful flowers. The house that he lived in is transformed to museum these days, so we were able to see it inside. I was surprised to see in what small bed Napoleon slept in. It made me wonder, whether he fitted in it. I heard he was a short man, but I didn't know his exact height, so I checked it up. He was 168cm.

I liked the Island, but I don't think I could live there for a long time. It had to be hard for Napoleon too ;)

Bottom of the Island

The stairs.

Inland

Napoleon's Grave

 

Napoleon's House

Napoleon's Bed

Precis 9: How nuclear disaster forced Japan to be frugal with energy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2011/may/12/nuclear-japan-frugal-energy

• a shortfall - the difference between the amount you have and the amount you need or expect , eg. Parents have been asked to pay £30 each to cover the shortfall in the budget. An estimated shortfall of about £1 million

• sustained - continuing for a long time, eg. A period of sustained economic development. A sustained attack on the government

• considerable - fairly large, especially large enough to have an effect or be important, eg. We've saved a considerable amount of money. Michael has already spent considerable time in Barcelona.

• frugal - careful to buy only what is necessary [≠extravagant], eg. As children we were taught to be frugal and hard-working. He led a remarkably frugal existence.

• blazing - 1 extremely hot, eg.a blazing August afternoon. 2. full of strong emotions, especially anger, eg.He jumped to his feet in a blazing fury.

• a grid – 1. a metal frame with bars across it. 2. the network of electricity supply wires that connects power stations and provides electricity to buildings in an area, eg. the national grid (=the electricity supply in a country)

• a livelihood - the way you earn money in order to live, eg. Fishing is the main source of livelihood for many people in the area. It's difficult to earn a livelihood as an artist.

• reluctant - slow and unwilling, eg. She gave a reluctant smile. Maddox was reluctant to talk about it. 

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After Fukushima power plant explosion it was decided not to build more nuclear reactors in Japan. Prime Minister Naoto Kan says that supply of electricity can be sustained by investing more in renewables. Japanese were also asked to use less power and they are doing so. The frugal actions, such as limiting the use of elevators and escalators in shopping malls have been implemented. Neon signs and restaurant lights have been dimmed. Convenience stores are close late at night. Ordinary people also started to save the electricity by changing their bad habits of living the lights or TV in the empty rooms or over-using the heating system. It is hoped that people will be continuing this kind of actions. In Fukushima, many people have turned against nuclear power, which has ruined their livelihoods. However, renewables might make up the gap. On the other hand, that will need time, land and money that Japan will struggle to find after a disaster and an economic crisis. Looking at Japanese difficult situation, we should all start to think of how much electricity is wasted on the daily basis and what we can do to change it.

Rain

I hope the weather will get better soon. It is quite depressing to sit by the window ( that's where my desk with computer is placed) and watch the pouring rain. My son takes it in the positive way. He says that the flowers and trees are happy and they will grow better. He doesn't mind the rain at all.  I've just decided to follow my child and find something nice about the rain... and I searched for the song which I like very much

" Rain" by Madonna.

I'm sitting and enjoying the song now, watching the rain drops on my window at the same time :)

Precis 8: SlutWalking

SlutWalking gets rolling after cop's loose talk about provocative clothing

Lecture to Toronto students ignites protests across Canada and US at culture of blaming rape victims

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/06/slutwalking-policeman-talk-clothing

• unwittingly - in a way that shows you do not know or realize something, eg.Friedmann had unwittingly broken the law.
• blandly (adverb) from bland [= dull] : without any excitement, strong opinions, or special character, boring  eg. a few bland comments. When talking about bland food it means that has very little taste.
• to bolster - 1.to help someone to feel better and more positive, eg. He is making a bold attempt to bolster the territory's confidence. 2.to improve something, eg. his efforts to bolster his career.
• a riposte - (formal) a quick, clever reply to something that someone has said, eg. a suitably witty riposte
• a patriarchy - 1. a social system in which men have all the power  2. a social system in which the oldest man rules his family and passes power and possessions on to his sons.
• to grovel [intransitive, =crawl] to praise someone a lot or behave with a lot of respect towards them because you think that they are important and will be able to help you in some way - used to show disapproval, grovel to, eg. I had to really grovel to the bank manager to get a loan.
• to belittle someone, sth - (formal) to make someone or something seem small or unimportant, eg. He tends to belittle her efforts.
• an ally - someone who helps and supports you when other people are trying to oppose you, eg. She knew she had found an ally in Ted. 
• a proclivity - (formal) a tendency to behave in a particular way, or to like a particular thing - used especially about something bad, proclivity to/towards/for, eg.The child showed no proclivity towards aggression. His sexual proclivities.
• to strut - to walk proudly with your head high and your chest pushed forwards, showing that you think you are important, eg. I strutted around Chicago as if I were really somebody.
• to holler - [informal especially American English, = yell] to shout loudly 
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  After a policeman Michael Sanguinetti adresses 10 students in Canada in the pep talk and told them that woman should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised, a movement called "SlutWalking" was born and has gone international in reposte to his loose talk. It is attracting the ones who don't accept blaming the victims. People signed up via facebook and twitter to attend the SlutWalks in USA, Argentina, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK.
  The police officer admitted that the comment should  never be made and what's more, shall not to be repeated, but there is no holding back the SlutWalkers now. The first one was held in Toronto in April, where participants carried placards saying "Met a slut today? Don't assault her," "Sluts pay taxes" and "We're here, we're sluts, get used to it." They all wanted to express the belief that rape is about the rapist, not his victim. The SlutWalks are the most popular among the college students.
  The US government's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found that up to one in four women in US universities report having experienced an attempted or completed rape while in college. 
  The SlutWalks motto: " being a slut and getting pissed off" – proclaims that the word "slut" is being reappropriated. The Slut Walkers appeal to come and walk with them.
  
  
  
  

My Travels - Australia's Wild Life

Going with the stream of my travel adventures, here comes the one about my visit to Tasmanian Wild Life Park in  Australia.

It was so interesting to see Kangaroos, which were unbelievably "not wild". They were coming to us and waiting to be fed. Also, the view and the experience of holding Koala Bear was very memorable. I dreamt to do it since I was a child and I have to say, the bear is really like a toy- cute, warm and friendly. You just have to be careful, because it has very sharp nail  and while the bear clutch to you, it really scratches.

As the park was situated in Tasmania, the main attraction was the Tasmanian Devil, which is rarely found these days and it is protected under Australian preservation I didn't like it's appearance at all though.

Another Tasmanian animal I saw there, was a bear called Wombat, very cute creature. Wombats dig extensive burrow systems with rodent-like front teeth and powerful claws. One distinctive adaptation of wombats is their backwards pouch. The advantage of a backwards-facing pouch is that when digging, the wombat does not gather dirt in its pouch over its young.

Here it comes the photo of Tasmanian Devil:

Here I'm petting the baby kangaroo:

and here comes the meeting with Koala Bear:

and at last - Wombat:

 

My Travels - Hobbiton

Yesterday Grammar Classes gave me inspiration to post some info about the place I visited once, which is situated on the most picturesque private farmland near Matata in the North Island of New Zealand. It is called Hobbiton and it is the place when The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was shot.
There are spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges from the hills. The place is an tourist attraction as well as a sheep and beef farm.
I was amazed with the amount of green grass on the hills, strange big trees, bushes and an incredibly fresh air. The Hobbiton itself wasn't so interesting to me, as I didn't even read or watched the story about these creatures. I believe I will learn some things about them from the grammar test ... ;)

I don't have my own photos from there, as I lost them all after my computer crashed few years ago :(
From then on I try to back up it up from time to time :)
I found some nice pictures of the place for you thought...