Scentipedia

Scientific Models that support religious symbols help us understand who we really are. The Real Da Vinci Code, the Da Vinci Man (Vitruvian Man), is a very important bridge between scientific models (the material world) and religious symbols (the spiritual world). This was exactly Leonardo’s intention:

“The outstretched arms and legs of a man form a square and a circle: the square symbolizes the solid physical world and the circle the spiritual and eternal. Man bridges the gap between these two worlds.”
-Leonardo Da Vinci, “The Magical Proportions of Man”

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man (the Da Vinci Man with four arms and four legs in a square and circle) is the most popular secular symbol in the world. My ten years of research suggests that the Vitruvian Man is a universal symbol for greater love, relationships, success, health and the new age 21st century paradigm of indivisible wholeness, the paradigm for world peace. A New Renaissance!

The Da Vinci Man is a universal translator between scientific models (represented by the Da Vinci Man in the square) and religious symbols (represented by the Da Vinci Man in the circle). Therefore, the Vitruvian Man (Da Vinci Man) is a bridge between science and religion. There are amazing similarities between the sacred geometry of the Da Vinci Man, Yin-Yang, Star of David,Tree of Life, Christian Cross, Angels and Kabbalah.

Over the last ten years, my intention has been to discover a way for individuals to accept their experiences of higher states of consciousness, unity and indivisible wholeness. My research compares amazing similarities between higher states of consciousness, modern scientific models and ancient religious symbols or art. This comparison of scientific models, conscious experiences and religious symbols can be referred to as Sacred Studies.

Sacred Studies is the study of the convergence between Science (S), Consciousness (C) and Religion (R). The first letter of each word creates the letters SCR, an acronym for the word “Sacred.”

For example, the scientific description of electrons surrounding the nucleus of the atom seems very similar to descriptions of angels surrounding the throne of God.

This experience of angels surrounding the throne of God has been the experience of saints and seers throughout the ages. It is illustrated in the beautiful drawing of “The Saintly Throng in the Form of a Rose,” described by Dante and beautifully drawn by Gustave Dore. This also resembles “The Unity of Creation” with the nine Choirs of Angels surrounding the Throne of God as drawn by Saint Hildegarde of Bingen in the 13th century.

Furthermore, the three-in-one description of quarks at the center of the nucleus seems very similar to the descriptions of the three-in-one aspect of God found in most religions (Jewish Mysticism or Kabbalah, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism).

There are other amazing coincidences between modern scientific models and ancient religious art and symbols. For example, scientists believe that all creation began from a cosmic singularity. Most religious traditions also believe that nature arose from a cosmic singularity. This is the Keter of Judaism (Kabbalah), Easter egg or Cosmic Orb held by Jesus, the Yggdrsl of Norse and the Bindu Golaka of Hinduism.

The Ten Dimensions in Science and Religion
Most religions believe in a three-dimensional cosmic being (a holy trinity) as well as the angelic realm, which also consists of three dimensions. Our material existence also consists of three dimensions of length, width and height. Time is allotted the fourth dimension. All together, these comprise ten dimensions.

Scientists also believe that there are ten (or eleven) dimensions. There seem to be very interesting similarities of these dimensions as described by scientists and the experiences of saints and seers of all religious faiths throughout time.

By good fortune, I happened to see the Da Vinci Man placed in the O of Google on the anniversary of Leonardo’s birthday, April 15, 2005. This gave me the confidence that the world was ready for a book on the true significance of the Da Vinci Man as Leonardo’s real secret code–to help us understand that the Cosmic Person we really are, created in the Image of God, is connected to the whole universe.

From here we feel one with the Divine, Divine Creation and all humanity. From here we experience our neighbor as our self and can, therefore, love our neighbor as our self. This experience of interconnectedness is espoused by religion and now validated by science.

David Bohm and the Paradigm Of Indivisible Wholeness
John Bell was inspired by his teacher, David Bohm. Proof of Bell’s Theorem indicates that subatomic creation, the subatomic particles which make up our body, is interconnected and indivisibly whole. Indivisible wholeness is the paradigm for the 21st century. Feeling connected, no longer feeling separate, we find inner peace. This will lead to greater peace on earth and good will towards all.

The current paradigm in science is based upon atomism and creates an artificial duality between man and nature. This results in a feeling of separation and is responsible for man trying to dominate nature and others. This also leads to environmental destruction and war. The new paradigm of wholeness began with Einstein’s unified field and continued with David Bohm’s proposal for a paradigm based upon the undivided wholeness of creation.

David Bohm discovered that plasma, the operation of fluids at very high temperatures (like those found on the sun), was a fourth state of matter (in addition to solids, liquids and gases). As a result of this work, Bohm also discovered that matter not only exhibited energy (as in E=mc2), it was also imbued with intelligence! Bohm discovered that many electrons seem to be able to work as one whole and are able to detect the previous existence of a magnetic field.

David Bohm was an assistant to Einstein. Einstein considered Bohm to be his intellectual heir and proclaimed, “If anyone could discover a unified field, it will be David Bohm.” In 1967 David Bohm’s student, John Bell, proposed an experiment that could prove the existence of indivisible wholeness. Proof of Bell’s Theorem was demonstrated by Alain Aspect in 1987. This has been proven time and again and has shaken the very foundations of quantum physics.

Like the Yin-Yang, Star of David and Christian Cross, the Da Vinci Man is a universal symbol for this indivisible wholeness. Deep within the atom is a powerful field of indivisible wholeness. From here, with the help of the Da Vinci Man code, we can experience the essential unity of all creation and humanity.

I have spent over ten years comparing the amazing similarities between modern scientific models and ancient religious art and symbols. There are incredible coincidences between the findings of modern scientists and the experiences of ancient saints and seers.

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Graduates with arts degrees often feel some difficulties to determine their career goal in the initial stage. In general view, most of jobs seem to suit the arts degree graduates but when come to decide a career goal, it seem like hard to define one. Unlike graduates from science and technology fields, graduates from the arts fields feel that their program of study hasn’t necessarily prepared them for specific jobs or careers. Many arts degree graduates become apprehensive once graduation approaches.

Are these the facts of art degrees? Is pursuing an art degree a waste of money and will only get you a job flipping burgers? These popular art degree’s myths affect many students who are interested in art degrees and they stop moving their step into art fields and force themselves to take science & technology related degrees for a brighter future.

The Facts versus Myths

In actual, the facts are contrary to the popular art degree myths, a variety of career possibilities await art graduates, almost half of all job vacancies available to new graduates are open to students with arts degrees. These employers are particularly interested in transferable skills.

Let review the true facts of these popular art degree myths and you will realize that you are totally employable with your Arts degree and arts degree graduates are really in high demand in the jobs market with well-paying positions.

Myth 1: A Bachelor of Arts degree is not enough to find a well-paying, interesting job. You need to go to Law School, the Faculty of Education, or a technical training institute to be competitive for professional employment.

Fact 1: Based payscales.com salary survey conducted in 2006, average salary for bachelor’s arts degree graduates in various job fields at United States are ranging from $32,000 to $55,000 annually, without having any further college or university study.

Myth 2: A Bachelor of Arts degree will get you a job of flipping burgers.

Fact 2: Based recent job survey conducted by a well-known survey company, arts graduates are often employed in a professional or managerial capacity (50 – 81%). This compared favorably with those in Commerce (60%) and those with technical or vocational diplomas from colleges and technical institutes (24 – 35%).

Myth 3: A Bachelor of Arts degree is a waste of time and money and does not earn as much money as a bachelor degree in science and technology.

Fact 3: According to a job survey report from “Express News” of University Alberta, Those with a general arts degree do well in the long term, although initially they may not make as much as graduates of professional faculties, what’s really striking is the gains they make over five years, the gap starts to close. This is because Arts graduates emerge with highly developed research, communication, creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills that are in high demand because they are difficult to teach in the workplace. Many employers want this type of well-rounded employee, who can be trained for more specific skills.

Arts Degree Students Are In Demand

Almost 50% of job markets are opened for students with arts degrees. Many of these jobs are within Arts students’ reach upon graduation, particular if they have already identified their unique interests and abilities. Career opportunities for Arts degree graduates are ranging from non-profit, to private business and to government sectors; examples of job titles held by Arts graduates are:

• Manager
• Events Planner
• Advertising Executive
• Program Coordinator
• Counselor
• Marketing Professional
• Facilitator
• Corporate Trainer

In Summary

Arts degree graduates are in demand in the job markets, a variety of career possibilities are awaiting for art degree graduates at a well-paying level and expandable career future.

Jullie Harvard is the author from http://www.studykiosk.com. Find out more information of Arts Degrees offered by Online Universities and what are The Myths & The Facts of Arts Degrees.

At a point in history that is saturated with self help books, get rich gimmicks, and exercise infomercials, it is no wonder that Budokon purposed to emerge in our culture. Budokon is philosophy, science, and art for the spirit, body, and soul. Its literal Japanese translation is “way of the spirit warrior” and it represents a conscious decision to no longer chose more of the same.

The merging of yogic and martial movements combined with limbic re-integration techniques enables the human species to engage in health and wellness not known since the human movement potential era. It far exceeds the sum total of components needed for fitness and enables the whole person to awaken to a new potential organically. It has been heralded as the most intelligent practice on the planet; it is indeed a functional revolution.

So much time and energy is exhausted plotting how to look, feel, and get better. The emphasis is on the quantity and not the quality, on doing something instead of being something, as if there is a boundary separating the thought, the word, and the action. How much can I shove into my day because I am busy getting somewhere is how most of us live our lives, and it is said, the way we do anything is the way we do everything. The structural and functional differential states that quanta filters into sensation, then e-motion, into belief, and finally into expression, in other words our perception of other or our circumstances predicate our movement. When the pressure starts to mount in life or on the mat how do we keep the drama or the functional differential at bay?

What if there was a way to approach all of our personal ideals as if they were already available in the form of latent potential waiting to be unearthed? Budokon is a system of somatic awareness that presents itself in the yogic, martial, and living arts with a premise of self-accountability, patience, and mastery by practicing just to practice. Weight loss, tone body, clear mind, better coordination, increased strength are not goals of Budokon, they are benefits.

The nervous system that governs the functional differential does not normally change quickly but progressively by diligent, compassionate practice it changes slowly and subtlety. Practice just to practice. It encompasses the components of nutrition, fitness, health and wellness desired by our culture and ultimately navigates each person to a more authentic expression, a functional evolution.

The movement science of this practice is purposed to cultivate bio-mechanic potentials that are consistent with structural and functional ideals. What distinguishes Budokon movement from all other yogic or martial systems is its recognition and subsequent utilization of the spinal engine. The spinal engine theory suggests that all biomechanical movement, walking, running, yoga, etc., originates in the small muscles of the spine that initiate movement. The origin and insertion of these tissues initiate and accommodate movement in the sagital, frontal, and transverse planes, thus when the activation for movement begins it expresses from the spine, through the core, into the appendicular.

Since we are designed to live in a dynamic, fluid filled body it makes perfect sense that a practice cultivates uninhibited movement in all three planes with flexion-extension, side bends, and rotation. Movement in life is the sum total of all three planes and associated movements in these planes operating synergistically so our practice is more fruitful if it acknowledges these potentials. Budokon also provides a dynamic approach to medial/internal and lateral/external rotation of the pelvic and shoulder girdles and core activation enabling the spinal engine to transmission into full expression extending in to an open or closed kinetic chain. The kinetic chain is an energetic potential that transmissions from the spine or core into the appendicular or limbs of the body. If a limb is grounded the chain is closed, sending system wide signals of stabilization and containment and if a limb is not grounded but extended with direction into infinity it is open.

The nervous system is designed to operate in terms of survival and predictability so much is involuntary. The limbic brain is where the body houses these maps of movement predictability for survival and as we discussed earlier its change is slow and subtle or sub-cortical. These changes happen when they are discovered not discussed so it seems that when one allows the opportunity to play with movement as an exploration into something new and unfamiliar as apposed to analyzing and repeating something taught, that spontaneous change can happen.

Limbic re-integration is a vital component to Budokon that enables each individual to play and explore bio-mechanic potentials buried under the yoke of cultural and social stigmas. Gorilla, kimodo dragon, bull frog, panther, lion, crocodile, spinning monkey, and many others can provide a gateway to a new movement potential by offering the opportunity to play with homologous, homo-lateral, and contra-lateral movements.

Philosophy plus science equals art. The artistic value of Budokon emerges through movements like rolling wave, floating frog, dancing dog, flying warrior and dancing lion. Budokon is a yogic and martial system teaching basic movements that can augment into a more advanced expression by making movement fun, exploratory, and efficient. The merging of the yogic and martial movements into a practice is a way for complete new comers to engage in learning and exploring basic stand up and ground budo with out the threat of failure.

Art is adaptation and although there is form that is essential to efficiency of specific movement it is the exploration of innovating the form that creates the fertile ground for artistic value. Budokon instructors are specific to teaching form while allowing the opportunity to play, explore, and innovate. When movement is sloppy and unrefined it is not innovation it is laziness, it is the predictable pattern of movement that is no longer desired and Budokon will not enable more of the same. It will provide the framework for a new potential and allow each individual to create a different and more satisfying option.

There is so much more that can be written in an attempt to discuss Budokon and its life altering benefits, but again true change can not be discussed it has to be experienced. To list and identify all of the components of Budokon and the practice would create a lengthy article and it is not the focus of this article to overwhelm the reader with everything just enough of the philosophy, science and art so that an individual can make an informed decision to no longer chose more of the same.

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I’ve been harping on the benefits of art and I thought I was tooting my own horn. So when I bumped into an article the other day written beautifully by Lisa L., a teenager from Wisconsin, I thought it was absolutely great. The article was entitled “Benefits of the Arts.” While her article also discusses the benefits of music and dance, it speaks of all the arts and her words were more than perfect.

Her essay begins with “The arts are an essential part of public education.” That sounds like someone would like to do more dancing and singing in class. But, what it says to me is that Lisa understands that art benefits the students in ways few people realize. Lisa goes on to list all the ways in which art helps students develop. But, she mentions one sad fact that for some schools is already true. She is worried that the schools will cut art from the curriculum because of budget cuts.

Art helps students express themselves in ways they normally aren’t allowed. Classrooms don’t offer much discussion and when they do, discussions still have to be monitored by the teacher. But, art allows a student to say what she wants to say. After all, why do you think Lisa wrote her essay? The art of self-expression through writing allows her to put concerns into print where others can understand her and possibly change what will be cut from the school curriculum because of her influence.

In our industrialized nation, we push the maths and sciences. We constantly make those subjects seem more important than all the rest because the political figureheads are convinced that math and science will solve all of our problems. We give scholarships out left and right to college students claiming a math or a science as a major. Other majors are forced to fight for the scraps. But, math and science are process skills.

When I wrote the “Art’s Most Fun Aspects” I wrote about the left and right brain conflict. Art introduces different cognitive abilities that help us solve complex problems. It activates the part of our brain that works without words, but thoughts that can’t be expressed in words. It activates the imaginative and creative side, the spatial and intuitive side. While math and science activate logic and analysis, process skills that are basically trial and error, art activates a way of thinking that surpasses normal thinking paths. Not every gap has to be filled. Not every “t” has to be crossed nor “I” dotted.

That’s how important art is to academics. Because of how it reaches into the brain, kids get better grades. They enjoy school more. They understand concepts with greater ease. They are more helpful to others who are struggling in school. Art solves problems and Lisa was trying to tell us that.

With money issues facing our schools, parents and teachers alike often find themselves battling uphill battles. As art is pushed to the backburner, parents will see a change in their kids’ attitudes toward school. Teachers will feel more challenged to meet their demands. But, there is a solution. If art is cut from the schools because of budget issues, parents will only be doing their kids a service by making sure they still have art in their lives.

What is the true nature of digital photography? Many people have been asking this question for a long time. In fact, when people ask the question about the true nature of photography, they often mean to ask whether it is art or it is science.

Many people consider photography as an art because it allows for an expression of emotion. They believe that digital photography is a continuation of the art of drawing or painting. You see, photography is just like painting in the sense that although it does take accurate pictures of reality, it also allows for some modification through the various digital tools available today.

Even without the editing many people still believe that digital photography is art because of the fact that it does take an artist’s eye to find a great subject of digital photography. The nature of electronic photography as an art has something to do with the fact that an artist is able to express emotions and statements through visual subjects.

The supporters of this art also argue their case by stating its ability to convey emotional messages through aesthetics. The beauty of each photograph, of course, needs also to be credited to the person taking the pictures. One of the strongest arguments for the artistic nature of electronic photography is the fact that the picture is rarely really what is seen with the naked eye. Through the camera and computer, a person can alter the image in order to present what he or she wants to show.

Some people argue that science is the true nature of this art. One argument is that photography, unlike painting, actually comes from something existing and not from a painters mind or emotion. This can be very persuasive since, indeed, a photographer does not actually make photographs. He or she merely takes them.

Another argument regarding the scientific nature of digital photo taking is the fact that the editing that people do and adjustments that photographers make are based on a series of steps that can be narrowed down scientifically. People who argue for the scientific nature of digital photos may reason that the same series of steps can be taken in order to achieve the same results. There is a certain quality of constancy about this type of photography that renders it a science.

But what is the true nature of digital photos? We have read the various arguments supporting science and art. There appears to be no solution to this question, right?

The true nature of digital photography will always remain to be a paradox. This means that though it can be considered as an art, it can also be considered as a science. When is the paradox of the nature of digital photography solved? Well, it is solved when a person takes a digital photograph.

The true nature of digital photos lies in the hands of the person who takes the pictures. The way a person treats the process defines the nature of digital photography for him or her. It is not absolutely art nor is it absolutely science. The true nature of digital photography is a paradox. It might seem to be contradictory, but it is somehow true.

It goes without saying that sometimes it is very hard to compare the science and the art due to their various essence and different ideas which are presented to people. But sometimes the structure of analysis is more or less similar as these two point (science and art) are the contrary parts and the analysis of each should be regarded as the opposition.

Science tries to give the definition to that what is going on around us and art tries to interpret all these actions. Probably, science takes place above the interpretations, but it is more useful and clear when we try to understand the nature of facts. So, the science can state certain points of vision the reality, but art, from its side, can easily break down it due to the close analysis of the surrounding.

The arts are more worried about positive reception of that which is supposed to be, and an explanation of the same. Take an example: as an alternative to breaking down a wheat field into many wheat pieces composed of a stems and vascular bags and pith etc, one painter or poet will merely glance on the real beauty of the whole field and put in writing or paint of what he or she sees. The results will be different and different people are going to have different points of view.

Let’s bring the conclusion according to the point of similarities and differences of art and science. Well, they both are based on the person’s imagination. The creativity of the person will be very important in order to describe the event. Of course, science deals more with observation of given information, but art tries to explain everything as it is seen by the person inside.

The main task of science is to understand, and the main task for art is to percept. It turns to be the main difference of science and art.

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There is a raging debate over the fact that whether history is an art or science.

History as an Art:

Those who believe that history is an art advocate the following opinion :—

1) According to Rickman, “History deals with sequence of events, each of them unique while science is concerned with the routine appearance of things and aims at generation and the establishment of regularities, governed by laws.”

2) Colingwood says, “Events of history are the things which the historian looks, not at, but through, to discern the thought within.”

3) Some scholars are of the view that history is neither pure science nor pure art. In other words, a blending of the two. When it discovers facts it is a science and when it settles truths, it becomes an art.

4) Some of the people went to the view that history is a part of literature.

5) Historical data are not available for scientific observation and experiment.

6) History is an art only. It cannot be called science. It is not based upon certain concepts and ideologies.

7) Of course, history is a social science, which contacts with human life and actions.

In history, we have a set of the data. It is fully analysed and classified.

History is a science:—

From the following points we can define history as a science.

1) History aims at discovering facts of the past events and interprets them objectively.

2) History uses various traits of enquiry such as observation, classification, formulation of hypothesis and explanation of evidence before reconstructing the past.

3) History follows the trends of enquiry to find out.

4) History seeks to tell the fact by giving a scientific method, hence, it is a science.

5) Is history a science as physics or chemistry or biology are? It is of course a negative question. History is a social science. It deals only with the experiences of human beings and human civilizations.

6) Historical facts cannot be observed.

Then, what is history?

1) History is a unique subject possessing the potentials of both an art and a science.

2) Secondly, history is neither pure science nor art, hence, it is two sides of the same coin.

3) Thirdly, history of course is a social science and an art. In that condition history shows its flexibility and variety.

4) Fourthly, history is a subject of study is less or more completely at the mercy of sources.

5) Fifthly, history is a natural science.

GWhiz Arts & Sciences (Los Angeles, USA), www.gwhiz.com, publisher of the music of American composer and virtuoso pianist Michael Glenn Williams is releasing a new recording in partnership with Stradivarius Records, Milan, Italy stradivarius.it. The recording is a fascinating and charged portrait of the composer’s more aggressive and most musically intellectual period. The music ranges from moods of deep contemplation, melancholy, abstract expressions, through to folk, pop and Arabic influences. Stradivarius has championed such music in their Times Future series, featuring other prestigious composers as Cage, Petrassi, Dallapiccolla, Scelsi, Sani and Nono.

The artist for the solo piano music is Balzano-born Enrico Pompili, as well known for his Ravel as for contemporary composers. This combination of deep sensitivity, philosophy, appreciation of beauty and stamina allows Pompili to bring off a tour de force in the truest sense. Pompili is joined by young Firenze pianist Gabriele Baldocci for two piano works. These pyrotechnicians explode from the speakers and jet through some fantastic explorations of the new two piano idiom, of which Williams is a master.

About Pompili, noted concert artist and producer Hans Fazzari wrote “Implicitly nonconformist, he is faithful to himself, as he proves in his original approach to contemporaneous music, which he only does not disregard, but exalts the magic and intelligibility of the sound.” The artistic director on the sessions is famed Italian pianist Roberto Prosseda. Prosseda exacts great beauty and intensity of expression from these artists, as he knows the composer’s music intimately. Prosseda released his own DVD audio recording of other works by Williams with AIX Records (Los Angeles) Williams/Prosseda.

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The subject of good resume writing has never become obsolete, and in today’s tough job market, it is smart to get the process down to an exact science.

Computers and the Internet have made it a lot easier for the erstwhile job-seeker to craft and distribute a resume.

However, easier doesn’t always mean better. In fact, resumes have gotten longer – in some cases, three pages and beyond.

Do PR people have more responsibilities? Or, are word processing programs making it easier, faster and cheaper to write and distribute lengthy resumes? Or, are long-resume writers likely to be long-winded in person?

Good press releases

Follow the basic principles of journalism – who, what, when, where and why. That means, short, substantive sentences that actually convey facts.

The two-page rule still applies.

“Chronological” format (titles, company names, job descriptions listed in date order) is the preferred format. However, people with many years of experience often opt for the more abbreviated “functional” version.

Arial and Times Roman are the recommended fonts. Exotic fonts are distracting and hard to read. Be font consistent throughout.

Keep bolding, italicizing and underscoring to a minimum. They are generally reserved for sub-headings which include company names, titles and dates. Use underscores for references to publication titles, quotations and such.

Use one-inch margins top and bottom, and at least half-inch margins left and right. It’s better to have more white space than too many words.

Job and/or career objectives are okay when career direction is not obvious from reading the resume. Career summaries and highlights are also OK.

Avoid the “cutesy” approach. No gifts (like a chunk of Brie with a note inscribed to “The Big Cheese”), stunts (balloon/flower deliveries), teasers (telegrams delivered, saying on it: “I have a great idea for a campaign. Hire me today and I’ll tell you what it is”).

Resumes on tapes, CDs, disks and high-content rag pages are a nice touch, but expensive to produce and distribute. Keep it simple.

Word processing template resumes are certainly acceptable and useful at keeping the writer within basic format guidelines.

Letters

Keep to one page.

Don’t start your letter by saying “If you are looking for a person with, etc. etc. “Well, look no further.” Chances are our clients will definitely look further.

As your high school typing teacher warned you – don’t sound too chummy when writing a business letter. Maintain professionalism at all times.

And remember, just about all correspondence software has a spell-checker and, in some cases, a grammar-checker. Use them.

If you’re sending your letter and resume via fax or the U.S. mail, be sure to sign it. It’s a nice personal touch in an otherwise impersonal, digital world. When sending an e-mail letter, close the letter with your name typed out.

Thank-you notes

Nothing in the computerized world can replace a handwritten thank-you note. It’s polite, it’s personalized, it’s professional. Given the overabundance of e-mails that everyone, least of all employers receive, an e-mailed thank-you note can get lost, deleted or overlooked. By sending yours the old-fashioned way, you’ll be remembered for your good manners in addition to all you’ll bring to their table, should you be hired.

Job-seekers don’t need to spend a fortune; a box of simple letterhead and envelopes from the local stationery store will do just fine. Keep your envelopes stamped in advance – this way it’s harder to procrastinate about not having gone to the post office! Unless an interview was a complete disaster or you’re definitely not interested in the job, taking this extra measure can help a great deal.

Email

In the sender’s info area of your e-mail message, your name and the word “resume” in the subject is sufficient.

If possible, send both your letter and resume in the body of the email and also send them as an attachment.

Avoid email “priority” indicators. They are an alarmist tactic and should only be used in an emergency or when conveying classified information.

The beginning of a job search is a good time to change that “really cool” e-mail address to a more professional-sounding identifier. We’ve received materials from people with e-mail addresses with the words dudes, studs, vixens, gals, buddies, chicks, love machines and the like.

Unless you’re auditioning for the next Bond movie or ghost-writing the next Jackie Collins book, leave the personal stuff on a second, personal e-mail address.

For obvious reasons, home or private e-mail addresses are always preferable to that of your employer.

Requesting a “return receipt” is OK; still, follow up within a decent interval.

When in doubt, use a PC platform. Macs are fine, but can display some quirks when being read by a PC.

After putting the finishing touches on your letter and resume, send it to a friend to make sure it can be read and doesn’t have any viruses. Have a trusted associate double-proofread it to ensure it reads smoothly.

Lastly, computer address books are very handy. But it is easy to click on the wrong name and send your resume to THAT person – thus risking some serious embarrassment, or worse.

There you have it. When it comes to letter and resume writing, remember the old adage, “The more things change…”

The Benefits of Tai Chi and Internal Martial Arts for Self-defense: Part 1 of 2

Internal Martial arts such as Tai Chi, or Ba Gua can be extremely effective for self defense if trained correctly. There are a few strategic principles in Chinese internal Martial Arts that can provide a tactical advantage in melee combat. I will outline them in the following sections: Body Alignment and Changing, Friction and Sensitivity, Timing, Initiative (these last two I will explain in part two of this article). You will notice there is no magic to any of this – it is all science. For more information on tai chi, self-defence and kung fu please visit Martial Arts London Ontario (MALO).

Body Alignment / Posture and Body Changing

The first thing about internal chinese martial arts like Tai Chi and Ba Gua is that they are based off of the chinese system of medicine. This system has been well aware of things that chiropractors and sports physiotherapists are just starting to learn about the human nervous system and spinal cord, meditative benefits, and muscle/tendon functional excellence. Like gymnasts and dancers, internal arts practitioners do difficult and challenging exercises, drills, and forms in order to literally change their body’s metabolism, balance, structure, tendon strength, speed and flexibility. The more serious one is with their body changing training, the more results they will see. Doing Tai Chi once per week without the requisite secrets is not good enough. At first this training is extremely difficult, just as jogging is extremely difficult for the beginner. But after years of practice, the internal martial artist’s body starts to change, and they start to see the health and martial benefits as they begin to move as a functional unit and cease using “awkward force”. They also get damaged less often in hard martial arts sparring. This body changing also includes tendon conditioning, thus making an internal artist “seem” stronger as they move as a more functional unit. Tendons are as strong as steel. If you can learn to use them, and to strengthen them, then you will move as a more functional and solid (yet fluid) unit.

Friction and Sensitivity

Another key aspect in internal arts like Tai Chi, or Ba Gua (Cheng Sher and Magui), is friction, or what is sometimes called sticky hands. With this body changing, and two person “push”, “search”, or “sticky” hands practice, practitioners become more sensitive to the movements of others, and by using this sensitivity, internal martial artists can use a foe’s force against them by placing them off balance. And by using friction, the practitioner can deliver more kinetic energy per second than a straight punch. All boxers know that more friction means more damage, so too does this apply to throws and arm drags. The more friction when throwing an opponent, the more kinetic energy you deliver into them, the faster they hit the ground. Also, using friction properly

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