One of the best grammar reference book.

I'm really impressed by this very comprehensive and detailed manual for english usage. However, this is not a grammar book for self-learning because its contents are arranged alphabetically like a dictionary unlike other general grammar books which are arranged by importances but it best suits for advanced learners. I think Peter is also using this book as a reference book.

This link below contain the PDF file of Practical English Usage written third edition by Michael Swan. Please be informed that using this file may violate copyright law using for your preview purpose only. I actually had bought this book but I bought it again at the current book exhibition ending tomorrow at very discounted price (300 baht). However, with this electronic file, it is more convenient to use because you can search function without flip around from page to page in the printed out book.

http://www.junjaowka.com/webboard/showthread.php?p=214744

Activities during AEP Class at AUA

I just uploaded all photos from Soo Jin's camera if someone didn't see it yet.

Free time during AEP Class at AUA Bangkok Thailand

The Robots are Coming. Yesterday.

A couple of days ago I watched a new video, which I've embedded below, that has been posted by TEDtalksDirector to YouTube. It's a recording of a presentation given by Rodney Brooks at a conference in 2003. In his well organised presentation, Brooks begins with some general comments about the certainty that robots will become common place in our lives, and suggests that an explosion in the use of robots is beginning now. He then gives some examples to illustrate the recent past of the arrival of robots, with increasing attention to the role and abilities of robots in 2003. He explains some of the work his own research teams are working on, with discussions of such things as robotic awareness of and responsiveness to human visual activity and robotic "emotional spaces". His visual aids, both static and video, make his points very clearly in an entertaining way. Finally, he raises some deeper philosophical questions about the possible developments of robotic intelligence in the not so distant future, including the question of human-like rights for robots, which he relates to the role of scientific and technological progress over the last 500 years in removing our idea that human beings are something special and somehow different to, and superior to, the rest of nature and the universe. 

I enjoyed Brook's 20 minute presentation. He speaks well, with clarity and humour, his ideas are well organised, with interesting visual aids, and his topic and main ideas are relevant to what is likely to happen in our lifetimes. Some of the issues that Brooks addresses are also relevant to the ideas that some of you discussed in your essays on the meaning of person, so although it isn't a reading or writing activity, you might find Brook's presentation worth watching. And it is good practice for speaking and listening. 

TEDtalksDirector is one of the channels I subscribe to on YouTube. They present a range of presentations by leading academics, scientists, authors and others on a range of topical questions. Most are about twenty to thirty minutes in length. Some of my favourites include physicist Stephen Hawking, philosopher Daniel Dennett, psychologist Steven Pinker and evolutionary biologist raichard Dawkins, but there are a lot of other well known thinkers to choose from, some very controversial, such as the Harvard biologist E. O. Wilson. If you are looking for some challenging material to practise listening, you might like to have a look at TEDtalksDirector on YouTube. 

References

Brooks, R. (presenter). (2008, October 10). How robots will invade our lives. TEDtalksDirector on YouTube. Videoclip retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdyRmdv-KiY&sdig=1 

Summarize the Fibonacci's of Pisa

Leonardo Fibonacci was the great mathematician in middle ages. Fibonacci was born in 1170 A.D. His family lived in Pisa city where it was the economical center in that age. Fibonacci learned about mathematic in Algeria. In the first time, he learned to calculate about Indo-Arabic, and he also read about algebra of Algorismi, who was the Persian mathematician. After he was adult, Fibonacci did his business in Egypt, Greek, French, and Constantinople, so he exchanged any knowledge with several people in those cities. When he was 30 years old, Fibonacci went back home in Pisa he referred about Indo-Arabic number, after that it was used in Europe. In 1202, Fibonacci Published the first mathematical book that was name “Abaci” and between 1220 and 1225, he wrote 2 books that was “Flos” and “Liber Quadratorum” Both Flos and Quadratorum were about number theory. Fibonacci number is very surprising and it is learned and applied in many field of study such as biology, engineering, business, and so on. I like this number because it can help me to understand about nature.

Fibonacci number 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 19, …

referrence :
J. Gibb. jrg22@bath.ac.uk

http://people.bath.ac.uk/jrg22/FibonacciNumbers.html

Sweet's article summary

I've read "WHEELS OR NO WHEELS? WHAT'S THE DEAL?". This article point out that when people decide whether or not to buy an own car, it is necessary to consider of the hidden expenses. Some would like to have one because someone else got one, while some think that it is less important than buying houses; however, nobody's right or wrong. This is because if people are confident that their life will run smoothly, that's fine. This article shows many details about financial problems that people will have from owning a car. First, when people decide to down a car, they have to spent much more portion of their salary on installment each month. Also this article wants the reader think of depreciation of a car. And for the drop in price, the used-car market is a good choice for this problems. Moreover, there are a lot of expenses coming such as fuel which car owner has to face with inevitably, tyres maintenance, shock-absorbers, timing belts and insurance cost as well. Furthermore, there are many kinds of public transportation that are more convenient than owning car. The purpose of this article is not to resist buying am own car but rather to make people who really need one think of these expenses.
I think this articlel is essential for people nowadays since most of them are materialistic and also want to have whatever others have. Furthermore, I hold an idea that all of these expenses mentioned in this article is very significant things that some people usually ignore them, even if they are very important for a person who will buy one and also for a person who has already got it. I think this information benefits for many people including me.

Reference
The Nation. (2008, September 15)

Pat's news summary

I've read the news in thenationmultimedia.com it said that there were several sound of gunshots in the ThaiCambodia border at about 2.45pm and it is still not clear who fired first. After Cambodia' premier Hun Sen threatened to open war if Thai troops are not withdraw from the area, both Thai and Cambodia troops moved to the border area in Si Sa ket, Thailand. Thailand has prepared armies and air force to be on the high alerts and to fight back in case if be attacked. And also people were warned to stay away from the border and villagers should stay at home, prepare under shelters and prepare to pack in case if it needs to move out.

I found this is interesting because it just happened not many hours ago and now Thailand is kind of messing, we fight, kill and injure each other even we're the same "Thai" and now other country is attacking us because we are weak, we disunite. This is sad if Thai can't get together .... How Thailand will end up?

Reference
The Nation(2008, October 15). In thenationmutimedia.com.Retrieved 23:25, October 15, 2008, from http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/10/15/headlines/headlines_30086115.php
.

What would you like to read next?

As a class, we have read two pieces of writing so far: Stephen Law's philosophical dialogue "Carving the Roast Beast" and Steven Levitt's economics essay "Where Have All the Criminals Gone?" 

What would you like to read next? The choices are: a classic American novel (a short one), another essay, or your suggestion. 

If you have any preference, please share your ideas.  

Krich's book summary

I read one book before I study in AEP. The name of book in Thai is “pai nok”. If I translate to English is “go aboard”. This book talks about Thai worker in some office of government. He didn’t know anything about England and can’t speak English, but his boss gives scholarship to him to study about technology typing in England. When he thinks that how can he live in England? He didn’t want to go, however, it’s interesting. No one can reject it. After, he decides to go to study. He went to see boss and said that he want to go by ship because he can learn some English in ship with some foreigner. And he could make small talk with other people. When he arrive England he try to study English and take the university test. That’s mean he can graduate bachelor degree. And he can success in his life.

I like this book because at first I gave up in study English because it’s very hard to talk with foreigner. However, I read this book I change my mind I think I can speak if focus on it. Finally, I know some western culture from the book. What is essence difference between city and rural in England.

Reference: Sertthabud. S , PAI NOK.

Yoann's summary

According to Jonathan Amos in http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7668070.stm, scientists seem to become more and more curious about a breakthrough in Antarctica. How would you describe Antarctica?...............A flat iced area, yes I would have guessed. However, in the 1950s scientists discovered that actually there is a mountain chain larger than the Alps (French mountains' chain) under the Antarctica. In the article, it is explained that a plane equipped with radars and gravitational instruments is used to go over the continent as scientists from all around the world are very interested in this discover. The reason of their interest is more on the origin of this chain. Effectively, such a chain could be "created" by two ways which could not have occured in the Antarctica because of its localisation. The aim of the operation is to understand the cause of the creation of this chain which should not be here. Coould you imagine what it could be?

I found that article interesting because first it shows us that we do not have to trust only on what we imagine, a huge area of ice covers in fact a great mountains' chain! Moreover I'm looking forward to knowing the cause of the creation of that chain as it could not be due to tectonics placs collision, and the existency of volcano is studied although it seems to be incredible. The next studies about the age of the whole chain, its composition and what there is even under it could be very helpful and may imply new breakthrough in the field of geology.

Reference: Amos, J.(2008, 10, 14). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7668070.stm

Tuk recent reading: Newton's Lore

This is the true story of Carl Rowlands about his life and one of the most famous scientist in the world, Sir Isaac New.

Carl Rowland was born on Newton street in Grantham town, Lincolnshire which is the hometown of Sir Isaac Newton. During his childhood, he had to walk pass Newton statue on his way to a school everyday. This is just the beginning of his unbelievable coincidence. When he was 12, he passed the exam to The King's School, Newton used to study here, and he was assigned to be in, definitely, Newton house, one of the sporting house. A year later, he was sent to the town museum to see how the system work. His duty there was to take care of "The Life and Work of Newton" secter. At the age of 14, he broke the school reccord in cricket with his friend, sure enough, Titch Newton. When he turned 18, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). Although there were many hundreds of RAF, he was sent to RAF Newton. After attending to national service, he joined the Nottingham City Police Force and, again, he was sent to an address on Newton Street. In 1958, he met a beautiful lady at Palais de Dance in Nottingham, the famous dance hall in the city, then he asked her to dance. During the conversation after dances, he told her how his life, by chance, related to Newton. Then, Jean, his wife-to-be, amusingly told him that her full name was Jean Newton. Moreover, her family were considered to be the decendants of Sir Isaac Newton. He has been married with Jean for 49 years; however, he still thinks about the strange "Force" between Sir Isaac Newton and him. Is it just the incredible coincidence? No one knows.

After I have read this article, I feel so amaze with Carl's story. How can that almost incredible coincidences happen? Are there anybody would like to calculate the probability of that event? I wouldn't, but i guess it would be less than one in a billion. This story remains me about the probability of , most of people think that, impossible events such as other living things out side the earth, somewhere in the universe.

Reference: Carl Rowland. (September 2008) Newton's Lore. Reader's Digest.

"Blood rather than ballots" PAD chose

In New Mandala, blog regarding Southeast Asia political news, I found that the latest column ,written on Oct 14, 08 by Andrew Walker and Nicholas Farrelly is quite interesting. What Andrew and Nicholas wrote about thai politic at this moment; so please be warned that it may be argued from PAD's advocate because what the writer implied in their writing may harm PAD righteousness. If you are hard-core PAD's supporter ,please don't read it.


What make this blog, whose nationality, from its address i guess, is Australian, interesting is that it has different view from mainstream media in Thailand. If you read the column "what happened on 7/10/2008" ,you will receive some information that doesn't exist in Thai mainstream media. However, in "Blood rather than ballots", the writer persuaded reader that PAD prefer blood on the street instead of ballot in the stall. The writer says that it's quite obviouse that PAD intent to benefit from violations in crackdown, or didn't try to avoid this violation. They also analysed that the 2007 election result that PPP almost got a half of members of paliament,but in many electronates, PPP won by very thin margin. Therefore, it is quite clear that if PAD cooporate with Demorate, implicitly or explicitly, Democrat will probably win in the next election. So the election by majority won't be unavoidable tyranny like PAD said. Why did PAD choose the move that risks for their followers' lives instead of supporting Democrat in next election campaign,if their preference is not bloodbath.

In my opinion, their supporting reasons are quite strong and obious. Because in that moment, there is none reasonable stimulant to increase their protest. Everythink were gonna be fine, although their assistant head was captured, there is still no reasons to increase their fighting level. However, thought not related to this column, I agree with PAD that the government should take responsibilities for this violent ,with or without their intention, but because we are in the moment of world's chaos, those responsibilities can be postponed.

References

Andrew Walker and Nicholas Farrelly, (OCT 14, 2008). New Mandala. retrived October 14, 2008 from http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/2008/10/14/blood-rather-than-ballots/

Soojin's summary of magazine

This article said about several symptons of sleeplessness and how to overcome it. According to writer in "Bangkok post the magazine", if the more serious sleeplessness you are, the more difficulte you can't fall asleep. This sympton starts when you feel very tired. Writer emphasize the importance of quantity of sleep. We have to check wheather you get deep sleeping or not. Also, internal clock affects your sleep. When you sleep, you has two typles of sleep; REM(Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. Non-REM sleep is the deep sleep and generally, an adult has a three-quaters of his or her night in non-REM sleep. It makes your brain activity easing and relaxing. If you haven't enough quality sleep, it will make you very tired and you can't concentrate on everything in your life. For example, fatigued drivers is the most immedeate danger as drunk drivers because the drivers can't contcentrate, according to researchers at Stanford University. David Fairbanks, in his book, Snoring and obstructive sleep Apnoea, said that people with sleeplessness got below average on test for attention and concentration. In additional, people sufferd from sleeplessness are isolated from family and friend. They can't adjust their sociality.
Lastly, the writer suggest that some tips about how to overcome sleeplessness, for example, "exercise and be active, learn to relax".

Referance: Bangkok Post the magazine, 28 August 2008 issue 122

Killing Yaa Baa - forget the government

I read the BBC News report "Montana meth ads winning drug battle", a few weeks ago, when it was published on August 22, but remembered it and looked it up again this afternoon. The article describes an unusually successful campaign against abuse of methamphetamine in the US state of Montana, which, despite it's reputation for natural beauty had been devastated by the effects of crystal meth, which is known as "Yaa Baa" in Thailand. Abuse of this highly addictive drug was said to be responsible for half of the crimes that had put people in prison and for half of babies in foster care because their drug addicted mothers could not care for them. But then in just two years, Montana fell from being number 5 to number 39 on the list of US states with meth. problems. The unusual campaign that made this possible had was financed and planned by Tom Siebal, a rich software developer, who lived there and wanted to help his community. He treated the problem as a sales problem, researched the users demand for the drug and applied the same marketing techniques used to sell software and other products to selling the idea that methamphetamine was bad news and best not used. Siebal's campaign has not completely removed the drug, but it has made a very big improvement. 

What I found most unusual in this report is that it was done without any interference from the government. I can't help but wonder: did it work better because the government was not involved? Would it be better for other areas with drug problems to get rid of the failing government "solutions" and let the local community care for itself? 

It reminds me of a change that has occurred amongst the native Australian communities in cities like Sydney over the past ten years or so. Where once they would accept, or demand, government support, many community leaders now see that as unhelpful and they are leading their own drug addicted, alcoholic and crime prone communities to say "No" to government help because it doesn't seem to work, and merely makes the people dependent on the government. 

Would we all be better off if the government did not interfere in our lives so much? Are free market people like Tom Siebal better agents for improving society than communist like governments that make up laws to try to control people's personal lives? 

__________ 

References

Montana meth ads winning drug battle, (2008. August 22). BBC News. Retrieved October 14, 2008 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7576275.stm 

James and Yoann's Questions: Paragraph or Essay?

The questions that James and Yoann raised in class this morning were, as always, relevant and worth some discussion time. Their supporting reasons were also thoughtful and clearly stated. 

As the example paragraph in Quest shows, it is certainly possible to write a one paragraph answer to the question: What can be done about the problem of drug addiction? (p. 227) However, the same proposition can also be supported in an essay. 

The incomplete essay I've just written to support the same proposition as the paragraph on page 227 is at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc39t2qs_417dqfpdcdc . 

Which do you think gives stronger support for the proposition, the paragraph or the essay? Which is more persuasive? 

If you really wanted to persuade others to your proposition, which would you use, the paragraph or the essay? 

James's thesis statement, number 11 on the list, is strong because he is clearly going to give three different supporting reasons for his proposition. Each reason needs to be stated, explained and developed enough to make clear how it supports his proposition. James could do that in one paragraph, or he could write an essay. Which do you think would be the better choice? Why? 

I think the way his his proposition is written now might be a problem, as Sweet suggested, but it certainly seems good enough for him to start writing his essay. He might decide later, perhaps when he reviews his essay, that it would be a good idea to revise the thesis statement. Such revision is normal: you don't always know in advance how your essay will turn out, or what you will end up being able to support, so a final thesis statement is often quite different to the one that the essay started with. Your thesis statement is provisional until you have finished revising your essay. 

Even if you only have one supporting reason (hopefully a very strong one), for your proposition, why might it be better to write an essay than a paragraph? If you disagree, as Yoann and Soojin did, why might a paragraph be a better choice than an essay? 

Why do people usually write essays  instead of paragraphs? 

Since you don't have much else to do this evening, please read the linked essay and list of thesis statements, think about the questions here, and share your ideas in a comment. 

If you would like to disagree with me, that's fine. (Don't worry - I will support my opinion.) 

Pat special

Fashionista, Pat

Yoann special

Cool guy
but psycho?
Just kidding ^^;;ye~

Tukky special

I made it for you with colecting your pictures.^^

There are a lot of your pictures in my camera.

Cutty Tukky~

HELLO:D

All friends agree to post pictures on Friday lunch^^

Sorry, Peter, is this blog just for studyig?

If you don't like it I will delete them.

We had a very good time.Some students didn't join us.

Please come with us next time~
I will picture you too.

HELLO:D

All friends agree to post pictures on Friday lunch^^
Sorry, Peter, is this blog just for studyig?
If you don't like it I will delete them.
We had a very good time.
Some students didn't join us. Please come with us next time~

I will picture you too.

Soojin's response to number 2 and 4, p211 of Quest

I choose number 2 and 4 .
First, I'm going to talk about number 4. As I said in class, in Korea there is an alcohol culture. This culture is similar to Chaina, but alcohol is not like a water like that. Korean would like to enjoy drinking some places like Meeting, MT(Membership Training) in university. If you watch a Korean movie, you can see a Korean alcohol and beer easily. Expecially, if the someone have a lot of stress, he or she find a beer or alcohol with their friends. In that case, they want to be drunk to relieve their sad feeling. If Korean freinds explain unhappy events like breaking with her boyfriend, failing a exam, they usually say to their friends including me, "Could you buy some beers for me?" Every begining of semester, in University some students die because they are drunk too much. Therefore, today university students try to change this culture. No more than 10 years ago, if an elder gave a glass of Korean alcohol "soju" to freshmen, the younger had to empty his or her cup. It was difficulte to refuse thier glass. Thesdays, students think that alcohol culture have a lot of problem so we have to change it. Lately, it is more easier to refuse drinking. However, it is still welcome if you can enjoy drinking in Korea.
Because of Alcohol culture in Korea, the rate of liver cancer is very high. That is a health problem in Korea.

krich's answer question #1,2

In my country the kind of illegal drug to use in people are depend on status and age. For example, Thai worker take Ya-Ba, Thai whisky and something is the price is cheap. But in case of teenagers who have money to support like to take something is more expensive. Because they think is so smart when they do something wrong and no one can catch them. That sound like show to other in the people that they have many powers to do everything that population cannot do.
There are many problems from people who take drug because it can increase many things such as crime rate, a number of addicts, and social problem. It is very hard to control someone who falls in the power of drug. There are many cases in my country; for example, the guys who fall in the power of Ya-Ba catch someone to negotiate to do something with police. Actually, he don’t want to do anything but it’s just stress of the people.