Watch and Learn: Learn a Foreign Language While Watching a Foreign Drama

I love foreign films and television shows, as long as they have English subtitles.  But what if?  What if there was a tool to combine my education with my entertainment?

I got hooked on Korean dramas several years back. I especially liked the historical dramas during the Joseon or Chosun time period.

Because Netflix did not have enough K-dramas to satisfy me, Viki became my GO-TO site for Asian TV. One thing that used to frustrate me though was having to wait for a series to be translated with English subtitles. My first K-drama television series was “Tamra the Island”. The young British noble William seemed to have a gift for learning languages. But the one thing I noticed when I started watching K-dramas was that the language was not that difficult to learn. I am not gifted like William however I found it easy to pick out conversational phrases like “Have you eaten?” However, the idea of adding a feature to the video that helps you learn the language? That's absolutely fabulous! Way to go Viki! And the tool will teach Chinese also?? SCORE!

• Learn more about how to Learn languages while watching dramas! ~ Viki Blog

Watch Tamra the Island on Viki 



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Watch Asian Dramas ~ Free Online Streaming

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Continuing Education: Introduction to Arabic Philosophy (with Suggested Reading)

When you tackle a topic like this the best place to start your research is in a reputable and reliable encyclopedia like the Encyclopedia Brittanica. A perusal of several EB articles revealed the following eye-opening facts:

 
~ Islamic philosophy and Arabic philosophy, are phrases that are used interchangeably and the beginning of the philosophical movements in the Islamic world dates back to the 9th century.

~ Arabic philosophy combined the Western philosophies of Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism with other ideas introduced through Islam.

~ Al-Kindī is honored as being the first Muslim philosopher. He was known as “the philosopher of the Arabs”. How did he know so much about Western philosophy? Because he was appointed by the Abbasid Caliphs to work alongside his contemporaries, and translate Greek philosophical and scientific works into Arabic.

~ An important distinction must be made between Islamic philosophy versus Islamic theology (or religion). That distinction is that … it is very similar to Western philosophy in that the philosophers sort of try to eliminate God or Divine Intervention from the picture and rely on non-religious secular human reasoning and science to explain TRUTH and the UNIVERSE.

~ In addition to Al-Kindī, others who made significant contributions to Arabic philosophy in the medieval Islamic world include: al-Farabi and Avicenna (Persia); Averroës (Andalusian Spain); and Ibn Khaldūn (Egypt).

~ Curiously, Christian and Jewish thinkers also participated in and influenced the Islamic or Arabic philosophical movements.

~ The first period from the 9th to the 12th (or 14th) century is referred to as classical or early Islamic philosophy. After that time, interest in the movement declined due to lack of supporters. However, there were and are still those who pursued a course of philosophical study to this day.

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The articles in the Encyclopedia Brittanica provided a great introduction to Islamic/Arabic philosophy. Additionally, I would like to recommend one more article published via Encyclopedia.com which is a much easier read. Arabian Philosophy | Encyclopedia.com. ~ www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/arabian-philosophy
- Image credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_philosophy
- Secondary source link: tinyurl.com/3uze7k9a

Suggestions for Additional Reading:

The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy (Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic) 1st ed. 2015 Edition

Greek Thought, Arabic Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early 'Abbasaid Society (2nd-4th/5th-10th c.) (Arabic Thought and Culture) 1st Edition

American Presidents During My Lifetime: John F. Kennedy (with Suggested Reading List)

Continuing to follow the dots on my timeline which started with Eisenhower. 
 
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35th POTUS, John F. Kennedy (1961 – 1963) - What do I recall? 
 

 

The grown folks around me sure thought he was a good POTUS. Didn't know much but saw no reason to disagree with them. Have always believed that this man would have been one of the best presidents. But we will never know as he was cut down by an assassin's bullet or bullets. To this day, the identity of his murderer or murderers have never been confirmed. But the day he was shot is etched in my memory forever. People – the adults, that is, in my neighborhood were showing a range of emotions: sorrow, shock, despair, anger, dread. My older sister made a scrapbook of newspaper clippings – everything she could find about JFK. Sadly, don't know what happened to it. Wish I had kept it. Its historical value would have been priceless. 
 

Kennedy's assassination completely changed my understanding of this thing called “politics” in America, and in the world. Politics is dangerous! Not only dangerous but confusing. To want to get rid of a bad leader – like a ruthless dictator or a really cruel monarch - that's understandable. Not saying that's the right thing to do. But to kill a good leader? That is so clearly and obviously wrong. WHY?? Does this mean the good really do die young?? (O.o) 
 
Thoughts from a child's heart. ♥

 
Next two POTUS Dots:  Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon

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My original content first published via Persona Paper, Jan 18, 2016, "POTUS Dots on My Timeline: Kennedy".

American Presidents During My Lifetime: Dwight D. Eisenhower (with Suggested Reading)

George Washington was America's first president.  But Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first American president during my lifetime.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the process, American presidents are voted in by the people. Although if you believe in the gospel according to Senator Bernie Sanders, that's a myth. Big Money runs this country. It runs the campaign process. It runs the Congress. This is not America. This is the Roman Empire. Blah blah blah ... yadda yadda ... 

But let's just say - for purposes of my blog posts - the ideal democracy does exist and the real power does rest with the GAP (general American public) and the people do elect their leaders in America. If so, here's how it works. 

• Leaders are elected. They get to serve for no more than two terms, 4 years each, 8 years top. Then they leave and they can't come back! Most citizens, like me, are OK with this arrangement. Additionally, most citizens, like me, will probably live through about 8 to 10 presidents in their lifetime. 

This is my intro to a series of posts that will be published where I take a look back at the presidential DOTS on my timeline. Won't be drawing from what is written about these fearless leaders in the history books. Just going to try to see what can be drawn from my memory.  

* * *

Beginning with the 34th POTUS, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served from 1953 to 1961. You could say my DOT is on his timeline since, my birth occurred during his time of service, close to the end of the year 1955.

Only thing in my memory about this administration was that his daughter got married. No. That's not a political act. It's not politics at all. But … back in my time, children were taught not to speak when grown folks were talking and only thing I can recall grown folks talking about was the fact that his daughter was getting married. 

Guess that's an indicator that times during 1953 to 1961 weren't too too bad. (???) 

It's a guess from a person who was between the ages of: Newborn to 6 years. (O.o) 

That's it! Not much extracted. Next post? Next POTUS DOT?  John F. Kennedy

My original content first published via Persona Paper, Jan 18, 2016, "POTUS Dots on My Timeline: Eisenhower".

Continuing Education, Entertainment and Reality TV

The title for this post?  Well I wasn't sure if the words education or entertainment would get your attention.  But I was pretty sure Reality TV would attract you.  LOL. ☺

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I have always loved continuing my education by increasing and improving my vocabulary.  Not just learning new words but learning about words. Found this awesome blog from Cambridge Dictionary and this blog post shares 3 words and how they are used in everyday language. You get to vote on whether or not they should be added to the dictionary.

I voted NO on all 3.

• The 1st word I voted NO because I never heard of it and I don't think it will become popular!

• The 2nd  word I voted NO because I have heard of it used a different way and using it another way because it was posted on Tik Tok that way would just totally fry my brain! I'm confused enough already! LOL.

• The 3rd word, I voted NO because Reality TV shows are the worst thing that ever happened to television entertainment. I definitely don't want a word about it in the dictionary! It's my totally arbitrary and subjective opinion and I'm entitled to it! LOL. I'll bet I'm not the only one who thinks so.

"Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s with shows such as The Real World, then achieved prominence in the early 2000s with the success of the series Survivor, Idols, and Big Brother, all of which became global franchises."  (Quote Source)

Doesn't that historical statement just make you want to cry?  😢😢😢

Don't people know what it means to be entertained any more?

Tell the truth. 

Do think reality TV shows have made television “better”???

History of Reality TV timeline | Timetoast timelines

Then and Now: Reality TV Stars | The Insider

How to become a reality TV millionaire | BBC News

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