#final blog

Driving Lemons by Chris Stewart 

The Time In Between by María Dueñas 

Word Count: 608

Spain was my first choice when choosing my top three countries to do my independent reading on. In AP Spanish Literature I read intriguing, ominous, and hilarious texts. When the opportunity presented itself that I could dive deeper into Spanish literature I was excited because the stories I read in my class peak my interest. The books I read did not disappoint. Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart was the first book I read to start my year of independent reading. I was able to grasp a better understanding of Spain’s culture and lifestyle. I started my year of independent reading with Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart, my choice for the nonfiction book that was required to meet the requirements. From week 1 to week 20 of my year of independent reading, I was at the edge of my seat and couldn’t help myself but read more than 10 pages a day. The Time In Between by María Dueñas was the highlight of my year of reading because it gave me everything I wanted from a book. At first, I was a little apprehensive because it was over 600 words but the more I read I didn’t want to put the book down. Overall, I am very satisfied with my book choices and my number one country. 

Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart was a short, enjoyable book to start my independent reading experience. One thing I enjoyed about this book was the author’s way of describing the scenery of the rural side of Spain. I’ve learned that you can take something and change it into something that you are proud of. In the book, Chris took the task of renovating this ranch where he and his family started a new chapter of their lives. I was also reminded of the importance of relationships and to appreciate them because you never when you will part ways. My favorite person from the book was Ana, Chris’ wife because she didn’t hold back any punches and kept a hundred percent. 

The Time In Between by María Dueñas was the star of the show and I couldn’t be more glad that I chose to read this book because it was a rollercoaster of emotions. I spent many hours reading page after page and enjoying it a little bit more each time. From start to finish I was never disappointed. Chapter 43 was my favorite chapter because it had a lot of juicy moments and the drama was top tier. This book had a way of pulling my emotions and somehow I was emotionally attached to some of the characters. I think my favorite character was Candelaria La Matutera because is the definition of an icon. If you are looking for a book to read this is a must-read one. 

I began this course ignorant of what being a nature interpreter consisted of. My early assumption was that the role of a nature interpreter was to just explain and guide people to their environment. In a sense yes this is what they do, but there is a whole different level of complexity and skill needed to be considered a proper nature interpreter that I never thought of.

Throughout this course, I have learnt a lot about myself and who I want to be. I have taken something from each unit and created my own code of ethics (Steven’s Code of Ethics as a Nature Interpreter):

1. Be knowledgeable. Understand who you really are as an interpreter, understand your audience, and constantly think of ways to make your audience’s experiences more meaningful. Learning about nature is important and all but remember that meaningful connections last longer than random facts.

2. Be flexible. Realize that everyone is different and learns differently. Utilize different skills to help people learn more efficiently.

3. Treat everyone with equity. It is important to include everyone, but it is also important to realize that people come from different privileges. Making a program to ensure that everyone can have the same experience should be the goal.

4. Be open to new ideas. Constantly explore with different lens as there are many perspectives when viewing a topic. Welcome other ideas and go along with it. See where it takes you.

5. Honesty and Integrity. Be reliable and responsible for your actions. Keep your word and be respectful of the people and nature around you.

These are just some code of ethics that I thought were important. Was there anything that I was missing from your list that you think I should incorporate?

From creating Steven’s Code of Ethics, I realize that these traits are transferable to the profession that I currently am in. I work as a physiotherapist assistant and constantly must work on my knowledge of the field. Although in my field being knowledgeable about the topic is considered more important, there is still a huge emphasis on understanding the patient. I find that being able to connect to the person and fully understanding them, optimizes the entire healing process. 

Being flexible is important for building strength and stability, allowing for greater range of motion. Oh, sorry for the wrong context of flexibility (a bad health joke, although it is important to remember to stretch your body), what I meant to say is that every patient is different and will need different programs and techniques to treat. 

As I live in Toronto, Ontario, I have met people from different races, varying in age and gender and have treated them all to the best of my ability. Regardless of what it might be, I always ensure to work to the best of my best abilities. 

As for the fourth code of ethics, I am constantly learning from other professionals that I work with, such as the chiropractor, the head physiotherapist, the athletic trainers, the message therapists, and even the patients themselves. It is important to remember that as human beings, we are not able to know everything. We must constantly communicate with each other and be open with the different perspectives that the other professions might look at the situation. 

And for the last code of ethics, it is important to constantly build trust with the patients as well as your peers. Knowing your limits and asking for help may seem scary, but the main goal is to always improve the condition of the patient. By not being truthful, the patient may not see any results or even worse, their injury might worsen.  

Although my field is not related to nature, I have always had a love for nature. This course has further my appreciation for nature and made me realize the importance of being able to interpret nature for others. Especially for those who have been less fortunate and unable to grasp the beauty of nature. Whether that be due to being non-privileged such as the story of the Boys & Girls Club of Mar Vista gardens with the low-income housing projects (Beck et al., 2018, p. 127), or the barriers that come with being a minority (Beck et al., 2018, p. 135-147), I want to be able to open their eyes to the beauty that nature has to offer.

Artist: Angus Maguire

However, I understand that this is easier said than done. Beck et al. (2018) states that due to economic, cultural, communication, lock of knowledge, and fear are possibilities to why minorities are discouraged to participate in interpretative programs. Hopefully by seeing more minorities get closer to nature, other minorities will see that exploring nature isn’t all that scary or hard, breaking down some of the barriers that Beck et al. (2018) has previously mentioned.

I am aware that this is a hard task, as most older generation minorities are stuck in their ways, but we are lucky to be living in a time where technology is thriving. The first step to getting people to explore and interpret nature is first by getting their interest. Before my grandparent’s past, they loved staying home and watching the Price Is Right. They didn’t like going outside as they were scared that they would not be able to communicate with others and be judged by the people around them. But if I had the knowledge and internet content back when I was younger, I could have shown them the beauty of nature through nature walks on YouTube.

I would have been able to let them listen to the sounds of what hiking through a forest would sound like. I could have got them intrigued with nature and possibly got them to explore it with me.

This course has been amazing and eye opening. I will use everything that I have learnt from this course to help encourage more people who have not been able to experience and appreciate nature the way that I have been able to! I look forward to reading all your blogs and for those who I won’t be able to reply to, have a great winter break!

-Steven

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Publishing

Dun dun dun, the Chapter 10 finale is finally upon us, and with it, Sonja Lyubomirsky is about to give us some crazy knowledge about the five key principles that will apparently support lasting happiness. First, let’s start off with the fact that positive emotions are something that must be repeated and varied in order to prevent adaptation. That’s a lot of big words, so basically what this means is that if you do the same positive activity over and over, your brain will get used to it and it won’t work anymore. Too much coping = no more success.

Second, activities should fit your personality and values to feel authentic, which means that happiness feels and works best when it’s natural and something that fits your vibe, not something forced. Basically, do what you enjoy and feel comfortable with. That means that when practicing happiness activities, the more you like something, the more likely you are to stick with it. This leads to the third point, in which they should come naturally and be enjoyable, which I think is pretty self-explanatory: find something that makes you happy and is easy—it will keep you happy. Pretty simple. Next up is fourth and fifth. Fourth is that sustaining happiness requires ongoing effort and commitment—it’s not automatic. This means that staying happy over time takes regular effort and that you’ve actually gotta work at it. Shocking. Happiness doesn’t just happen on its own, and even the best strategies won’t help if you just try once and it doesn’t work out. It’s important to do stuff like set up goals and self-reflection, and literally everything else we learned about through this book. This leads perfectly into the fifth point, where finding good social supports plays a vital role in these processes, as surrounding yourself with encouraging people really helps maintain these happiness habits. So go out there and find some awesome friends who will uplift you and make sure you stick to becoming mentally well.

Not gonna lie, when you said to read the afterward, postscript, appendix, and everything else, I thought it was kinda crazy, but actually, there’s some good information in there that’s worth talking about. Our fan-favorite character, Sonja, talks about how writing a book about happiness actually grew her understanding of happiness quite a bit, in tons of ways she didn’t even expect. She said that even though she studied happiness for years, actually trying and doing the activities made a huge difference for her. Shocking, a psychologist actually practicing what they preach—pretty unheard of. She states that some parts of her book, specifically focused on some of the things that she wasn’t good at so she could see the results, and voilà, they actually had the biggest impact on her. She realized that by actually following these simple habits, people can feel better. I really liked this as a final message because she said that now she hopes by people reading her messages, they’ll try them too. I’ve been putting some of these into practice, and I’ve noticed I’m much happier in my relationships. Taking the time to appreciate and reflect on your friends and family really pays off, and for that, I say this book was amazingly worth the read.

Our entrepreneurial journey with Lightaser was a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges that tested our resilience and determination. From the outset, we were tasked with creating a prototype that seemed like a distant dream due to the unavailability of essential materials, particularly the elusive taser module. This setback forced us to confront a reality where our prototype didn't quite match our initial vision.

Navigating the intricacies of cost structures and revenue models added another layer of complexity. The lack of knowledge on what information to include and understanding the technical terms required for our final pitching left us grappling with anxiety and worry.

These emotions echoed our experiences during the midterm pitching and the Business Model Canvas phase, but we held on, fueled by determination and a shared vision.

Amidst these challenges, we found strength in our collective perseverance and the unwavering support of our advisor, Sir Reymark Menguito. His patience, encouragement, and insightful guidance were the pillars that steadied us through the stormy seas of entrepreneurship. His uplifting messages and belief in our potential never failed to reignite our passion and drive, even on the most exhausting days filled with interviews, prototype making, and endless preparations.

To my teammates also, I couldn’t have done this alone. Without you, I would literally be in despair. I know I have a lot of flaws and setbacks and sometimes feel like a useless member in the team, but thank you for bearing with me.

Each of you has taught me valuable lessons that I need to polish within myself and work on in my character. Thank you for being dependable teammates and a strong support system! We deserve this success!

The pivotal moment arrived during our final pitching, where we poured our hearts and souls into presenting Lightaser to the panelists.

Despite the hurdles and uncertainties, we emerged victorious, delivering a product we were proud of and showcasing our growth and determination.

Beyond our immediate challenges, a special lecture series opened our eyes to the broader landscape of entrepreneurship.

The insights gained about starting a business, navigating patents and intellectual property, and embracing failures as integral parts of the journey were transformative. One speaker, in particular, emphasized "Failures 101" over "Success 101," reminding us that setbacks are stepping stones to success. Witnessing his journey from failures to triumphs was a testament to the resilience and perseverance required in this arena.

Reflecting on this entrepreneurial mind journey,

it's clear that the path to success is not a smooth sail. It's marked by uncertain ideas turning into realities, good and bad days, and moments of exhaustion and exhilaration. Yet, each experience, whether motivated or not,

has contributed to our growth and character development.

As we bid farewell to this chapter, I, Marielle Gloria, carry with me a wealth of knowledge, resilience, and a deep gratitude for the lessons learned and the support received. This isn't just the end of a journey but the beginning of a new chapter where the sharpened tools of entrepreneurship will be wielded to claim victory amidst challenges. To Sir Reymark Menguito, thank you for being the beacon of guidance and inspiration. Your impact will resonate in our future endeavors, and we pledge to make you proud.

This is Marielle Gloria, signing off with determination and gratitude,

ready to embark on new adventures armed with the lessons learned and the dreams that fuel our journey forward.

In a world where prosperity and freedom roams alongside with injustice and oppression, Jose Rizal once said:

"I am writing for other ages. If this could read me, they would burn my books, the work of my whole life. On the other hand, the generation which interprets these writings will be an educated generation; they will understand me and say: Not all were asleep in the nighttime of our grandparents."

As Dekada Productions accomplish the generation of our controversial satirical work, entitled BECOMING FILIPINO; I look back and reflect on our journey. From the conceptualization to the proposal, production, and down to our very purpose of telling this story from all the other stories we could have told...

Why Becoming Filipino?

Becoming Filipino is a satirical web series, presenting three video PSAs, that delves into realms of the Philippine socio-economic structures, gender roles, and the struggles of marginalized communities, presented in a manner that not only informs but "horrifies" audiences of the harsh reality Filipinos face at present.

At present...where some thrive, others are forced and oppressed into this unjust and prejudiced society.

There are diverse umwelts and narratives we may not see but others do. Through this, we give an avenue and platform of storytelling digitally.

However, despite its digital nature, Becoming Filipino extends beyond the screen to foster awareness and understanding of the diverse and nuanced realities faced by various Filipinos today. Wherein, this today we portray through the series will be seen by our peers, by our children, our grandchildren, and as history.

This immortalized form of storytelling leverages as a catalyst for social reflection and change for the present, and especially, the future.

But simply showing and informing the future does not suffice. They must be able to feel it, sense it, experience it for themselves in a way that history does not repeat itself.

Through this, we utilize the horror genre and an interactive aspect, departing from the traditional horror narratives, but instead through analog horror which focuses on the unsettling and eerie atmosphere, creating a long-lasting and deeper departure after viewing.

Reality machine, through somatic simulation, paracosm and pharmakon, generates this digital story into reality-like. Tapping into real experiences and realities faced by everyday people, such through the national ID required by every Filipino into this satirical piece, which actually uncovers the deeper and actual truth one hasn't seen.

As we conclude our journey with "Becoming Filipino," it becomes apparent that our undertaking extends far beyond the creation of a satirical web series. In the words of Jose Rizal, who wrote for ages beyond his own, our intent is not just to inform the present but to resonate with the educated generations to come. "Becoming Filipino" stands as a testament to the importance of experimentation prevailing in storytelling. We dared to delve into the realms of socio-economic structures, gender roles, and the struggles of marginalized communities, presenting these issues in a manner that not only informs but provokes a sense of horror—a visceral reaction that lingers.

In a world where stories are kept forever, our choice of storytelling format becomes crucial. The horror genre, particularly the unconventional approach of analog horror, aims to leave a lasting impact. Analog horror, with its focus on an unsettling and eerie atmosphere, facilitates a departure from traditional narratives. Through somatic simulation, paracosm, and pharmakon, we transform our digital story into a reality-like experience. The interactive aspect becomes a tool for the audience to not just witness but immerse themselves in the harsh realities faced by Filipinos today.

The semiotic stratification, from discourse to design, production, and distribution, played a pivotal role in shaping our narrative. This meticulous approach allowed us to create a story that goes beyond the screen, reaching the minds and hearts of our audience. "Becoming Filipino" is not merely a commentary on the present; it is a form of storytelling that will be witnessed by our peers, children, grandchildren, and by history itself. This immortalized form of storytelling serves as a catalyst for social reflection and change, urging future generations to feel, sense, and experience the realities we've depicted, ensuring that history does not repeat itself. In this endeavor, the importance of experimentation prevails, ensuring that our story becomes a timeless vessel for understanding, empathy, and societal evolution.

URL Link : https://www.robonero.com/ar/articles/social-credit-systems-good-bad-or-a-nightmare

Introduction

At a time when technological advancements are occurring, governments are investigating novel approaches to the management and administration of society. The installation of a Social Credit System is one such strategy that has brought about both curiosity and worry on a worldwide scale. To score individuals based on their behavior, financial history, social relationships, and adherence to society standards, this all-encompassing scoring mechanism, which has its roots in China, was developed. This article will go into the complexities of the Social Credit System, investigating whether it serves as a tool to encourage good behavior and promote citizen safety, and critically examining the potential costs involved with its implementation. Specifically, this article will focus on the former.

A Comprehensive Understanding of the Social Credit System

The Social Credit System is a multi-faceted instrument that, in theory, aims to facilitate the development of a culture that is characterized by trust and integrity. Its goal is to contribute to the development of a society in which individuals are incentivized to behave in a responsible manner by intertwining positive acts with prizes and imposing penalties on those with lower scores.

With the intention of instilling good behavior, the purpose would be to

Encouraging Credible Behavior and Behavior Citizen participation in trustworthy behavior is encouraged through the Social Credit System. Higher credit ratings are a reward for positive actions, such as paying bills on time, volunteering in the community, and engaging in other things that are socially responsible.

Improving the overall safety of citizens Supporters of the Social Credit System claim that it has the potential to make society safer if it is properly implemented and operates. Individuals could be held accountable for their conduct through the use of a score system, which could potentially result in better adherence to societal norms, which would, in theory, lead to a reduction in criminal activity and an improvement in public behavior.

What Does It Cost to Have Social Credit?

URL Link : https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-social-credit-system-explained

Security and Confidentiality. The considerable surveillance that is required to collect the data that is essential for scoring individuals is one of the key issues that surrounds the Social Credit System. Because the system gathers information from a wide variety of sources, including social contacts and internet activity, some people believe that this violates the citizens' right to privacy.

Possibility of Abuse of Power over Others Abuse is a possibility that should be considered when such power is concentrated in the hands of the government. Suppressing dissent and variety of thought could be accomplished through the use of the capacity to affect an individual's access to services or opportunities depending on their score. This could be exploited for political or ideological goals.

Classification of people in society The system is in the process of evolving, and there is a possibility that it will create a society that is separated along credit score lines. A lack of equal chances for all individuals can be attributed to the fact that those with better scores may enjoy more privileges, which can lead to social stratification.

Case Study: China's Implementation of the Strategy

A closer look at the Social Credit System's implementation in China will help us gain a better understanding of the impact that it has had. Since its inception in 2014, the system has been subjected to both praise and criticism from various quarters. Critics focus on the erosion of personal freedoms and a developing culture of self-censorship, while supporters believe that it has contributed to a reduction in some forms of crime and improved public behavior. Proponents of the policy also refer to the fact that it has improved public behavior.

URL Link : https://www.wired.co.uk/article/chinese-government-social-credit-score-privacy-invasion

Caption: The Social Credit System in China is being put into effect.

A delicate balancing act: Is it possible for good intentions to prevail without compromising freedom?

There is still the question of whether or not a Social Credit System can accomplish its aim of instilling good behavior and safeguarding the safety of citizens without compromising the individual liberties of its members. The expenses involved with comprehensive surveillance, the possibility of power abuse, and social stratification are key considerations, and it is essential to find a balance between these factors.

As a conclusion

#Bibliophile; “My book is our book things got easier with Bibliophile”

Our product/ services is about books. We choose this because the team seen that there are some students finding a book in their respective area. The problem in this is a lacked of books hassle to find and time consuming. Some students cannot locate the book what they needed and wanted. Not all books are available at CMU library nor CMU press, maybe it is out of stocked. then if you order in online shop such Shoppe or Lazada you will be waited in 7 days or more than that and it’s not high quality. So, the solution for that problem is a Bibliophile. The Bibliophile is willing to help to our costumers what she/ he need kinds of books. the price of the books will it depends of the pages of the books or quality. As a Bibliophile company we make it sure that the book is high quality and high price then if low quality it is low cost.

The team decision it was decided to develop this idea because it would be a unique solution to the students who need books. The team decision was made not only the intention of finding solution to the problem, but also with the consideration of our key partners and involved in this proposal.

Some of our greatest experience is to be with other future entrepreneurs in the UCC of Central Mindanao University joining Lecture Series Program. With two great speakers Engr. Bronson Mabulay and Mr. Arnel Arreglado, I learned a lot from their lectures. From Engr. Magbulay's "Start Up's" lecture and Mr. Arreglado's experience as an entrepreneur.

With a limited time and a growing pressure to finished our product and understand it. We are finally done on our final pitch. Very proud and happy for out team.

Lesson Learned:

-The team should be think outside the box

–Work wit Unity, extend effort and time management

–Obtained unique solution

–Leadership and own strategies in line with objectives, plan and goals.

with the right mindset and team unity we finally got to present and face the odds. I finally undertsood a lot of things in our own venture and how business works. Even the ups and down of our experiences we stilll manage to got this far.

This type of conduct and attitude makes the product more effective, increasing the likelihood that it will be a successful one that can assist students or clients in a timely manner.