Archive for November 2011
The Combative Strategy of the Five Animals of Shaolin Kung Fu
The Martial Arts, and this includes Shaolin kung fu, are passed on through unique strategies of motion. They are, at their source, a mythology created to represent a unique methodology. They are the science of an ancient culture, passed down to us by dance.
Thus, to understand the martial arts, we must ask ourselves what martial science were the ancients trying to pass along. Science is science, however, and I think you will find that the real reasons for the five animals are quite logical. Also, you will find that there is a distinct combat strategy behind the animals.
The tiger is an aggressive animal, and he is designed to go forward. Claws and teeth, he drags down the runner and rends him fiercely. Thus, the direction of the Tiger is forward, and he charges and charges and charges.
The Crane is a lighter animal, giving way as he manipulates and uses legs. He does not run, but rather and deflects the attack to set up his kicks. He does not charge, but fights on the edge of a circle, never letting that circle collapse.
The Snake coils and twists and allows the attacker to get close. The artful deflections of the crane become full blown traps and locks under the deceptive practices of the snake. Thus, the snake gives way without giving way, allowing the enemy to fall into trickiness and deception. Read the rest of this entry »
Should There Be Middle School Science Fair Projects for Girls?
You can talk round in circles on this topic but the bottom line is you have to look at the kids and where they are in their development. So, the question becomes do you use science fair projects for girls that are different than the ones for boys? Fact of the matter is that middle school kids are into their own heads, and worry about trying to fit in with the crowd. Peer pressure is at its highest. Science often has the look down your nose because it is too geeky, So some middle school science projects for girls might avoid the geek label because it would be about something they like, so might be just the thing.
This is not to say girls are not into science. Lots of girls like doing cool science fair projects, but there are some who will put that interest aside in order to fit in with the cool crowd. Others feel that science is for geeks, so if you make it practical for things that interest a middle school girl, you can help get past that. With the new drive to improve math and science eduction for everyone, you need to do what you can to get kids motivated to look at science as part of their lives and not a boring school subject.
Here are three ideas thoughts about dealing with science fair projects for girls only and ways around the issue.
- To avoid the “not cool” thing, he teacher could flat-out assign projects. Then there is less chance of peers commenting on your interests as everyone has a project to do that may or may not be classified as cool. The teacher would have to have a good solid list projects that have been popular in the past.
- Do projects in teams. The team works at school and some individual parts are done at home. Cooperative learning has been pretty successful in schools when organized right. The problem with this one is the girls (or boys) with the least interest in science may not hold up their end or take the easier jobs and not learn as much as they would if they did a project on their own. Read the rest of this entry »
Twelve Events Science Has Confirmed Prove the Biblical Creation Account
What do we mean by scientific proof of the Bible? For this article we are going to look at the creation only. The creation is covered in 31 verses in the first chapter of Genesis. It is obvious we aren’t looking at detailed step by step instructions on how to create a universe, but rather the broad overview of how the universe was created.
Moses wrote Genesis 3500 years ago. He either saw in vision or was taught by tradition the creation of the universe and wrote what he learned. Since then scientists have found his description and their findings to be in complete agreement. Moses wrote 3500 years ago about events that scientists have not fully understood until just recently.
One example is the first event, the separation of light from darkness. This is an excellent description of an event astronomers refer to as the photon decoupling event. Prior to that event, say modern astronomers, the universe was opaque.
Light could not stream, helium atoms could not form. There was no material for building worlds, there was no light and darkness. After this event, light formed and streamed creating light and dark places in the universe.
Helium atoms could form and thus worlds were able to be formed. The photon decoupling event as described by astronomers matches Moses description of the separation of light from darkness. Read the rest of this entry »