It is no small fact that a few of the education systems we have, at least this side of the pond, are rather lovely but not as lovely as they should be, so to speak. It depends on a number of factors, to be honest. We have the entire background philosophy to the structure of our societies, we have our environment, our people, the number of people, and the entire sustainability of our economy, our society, and our future generation ... That being said, we occasionally run into things about our education system we feel we could improve. I may as well expand upon my answer later when I may collect my thoughts, but here is one of the many problems I see with our education system in Canada. An ... excessive one-size-fits-all approach. This is not endemic to the Canadian system, though the extreme standardization is something that does not necessarily sit well with me when, throughout the elementary and high school systems, there seems to be a continued focus on rote learning (though not as much as Asia) without actual application. Not to mention the fact that everything seems to be centered around visual learning when we have a diverse range of people who learn better through auditory and kinetic methods. Although standardization is necessary with education to some degree, students learn better when things can connect to them more on an individual level, as Finland and Denmark teach us. It would also be a dream of mine for English Canada to take French more seriously, and this is from an English Canadian, but the biggest problem with this lies in educational funding. In Ontario, at the very least, education and educational funding seems to be stuck in a flux. For some reference, here is one of the many education indices you can glance through, sourced through the UN Human Development Index project. So I come to this lovely forum to ask you, Discussion section: 1. What are some of your qualms with your country's education system? None of them are perfect, mind you, so do not hesitate to say anything that comes to mind from personal experience. 2. How do you think this could be improved?
Spoiler
What a jerk.
Bet on it Bet on it Bet on it Bet on it Bet on it Bet on it Bet on it Spoiler Bet on it
Oh hello, I have not posted here in a good while, and the spark has returned in earnest to my heart now that I have free time. For the past -- two or three years, has it been? -- we have heard stories of inspiring, insightful revolutions of what the West connects as liberalism and democratic progress in a number of Middle Eastern and Northern African states. Source: Wikipedia The media has delightfully given an almost brightly cinematic name to this mass public upheaval of opinion. We know it as the Arab Spring. Traced back to December 2010, when Tunisian protests sparked in response to Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in response to maltreatment, this wave of revolutionary fervour and the everyday people wishing to have their civil rights further respected began to take hold across much of this region. In the past three years, we have had political reformations, overthrown governments, consistent protests, and two violent civil wars, one of which is still ongoing. Where does this leave us? The Hotspots It can be argued that out of the many conflicts going on at the moment, the situations in Egypt and Syria are perhaps the most tense. Egypt The public, with the help of the armed forces, have overthrown two leaders and governments thus far. Mubarak's authoritarian collapse felt generally welcomed by many at that time, but the overthrow of Morsi, who was democratically elected, has prompted internal strife and constant conflict between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and a few more secular or moderate groups. Syria A civil war has been raging since 2011. Much less clean cut than the Libyan Civil War, despite beginning on similar foundations, the Syrian Civil War is an extremely messy, complicated affair which has racked up a death count of around 100,000 individuals by June 2013, and there is little sign of the war ceasing peacefully or decisively any time soon. The government of Bashar Al-Assad has some support from powers such as Russia and Iran, while the opposition forces are getting direct support from Saudi Arabia and Qatar with reluctant support from countries such as France and the United States, but not necessarily to the same extent. In contrast to the Libyan Civil War, the opposition is much more heavily fragmented and disorganized, and this, along with Assad's methods of keeping support, have led to the government slowly routing out existing opposition. Timeless historical constructs and entire city sections have been destroyed, many lives lost, and there are even possibilities of chemical weapons usage. Furthermore, the conflict exhibits a sectarianism that underlies not simply this conflict but the sparks of other conflicts around the Middle East. Locations of Note Libya In 2011, a majority of the Libyan people overthrew Muammar Gadhafi, long time head of the nation, restoring power back in the hands of the public, generally. Although things are shaping up, tension still exists within the nation, mostly internally between militia powers. Benghazi is an especially notable hotspot, and was the site of the infamous attack on the US consolate. Tunisia Tunisia's revolution, of sorts, was much more lax compared to that of Libya and Syria, but that did not change the sentiment behind it; Tunisia was, for all respects and purposes, the place where everything began. Although power has been redistributed to the elected party Ennahda, a moderate party with an Islam incline, a few recent concerns involve the assassination of opposition figureheads, and a few calls for the toppling of this government as well. Yemen Yemen has, unfortunately, been not in the best shape for a while. Although the government was ousted and elections took place, the country is still in a bit of an unstable, precarious shape. Even recently there has been an Al-Qaeda scare that has led the United States and a few other nations to be further on guard in the country, closing embassies. Iraq An enormous increase in bombings has plagued Iraq in the past few months of 2013 alone. Although the country was doing a bit better for itself in the past few years thankfully, these recent attacks are increasingly sectarian-linked and do not appear to be stopping anytime soon, unfortunately. Iraq may very well be on its way to becoming a hotspot of its own. Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC Although many of these were generally simplifications which is why those links exist, what does KHV think? Do you have hopes that the tumultuous region will pull together any time soon? Are these simply the throes of transition that every country in transition goes through? What are your outlooks on this hot region of affairs in the world?
Heading to the University of Toronto for some immunology and pathology related microbiology shenanigans. I may have enough connection to lurk the forum from time to time. My eyes are always watching. Please do not kill this beloved section in the mean time. Au revoir.
What do you call a Venetian who likes to drop it like its hot. Spoiler Snoop Doge
We are at a beautiful hotel in a lovely city and my parents wish to eat at one of the nearby restaurants. Menu here. No restrictions, though slightly averse to steak because I eat steak all of the time. Thank you for the time you may give to post, my lovely Spamzonians.
... ► The CONCOURSE ONE SPEAKERPHONE turns ON. A soft tune begins to play, as a canned and spicy female voice begins to drone. ► Ahem. Ah, yes, good ... I just love Paganini ... R-Right! uh- PERCIVAL LOWELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. The largest airport of its denomination in the region, and a marvel of engineering and architecture. Outfit with state of the art ticket management technology, entertainment suites, restaurants, boutiques, lounges, and anything else you may fly a plane at, scattered across its THREE CONCOURSES. PERCIVAL INTERNATIONAL is a scintillating beacon of human ingenuity, hope, and genius, and radiates, sun-like, the luminous spark of future peace through mutual betterment. Aha! That is why I have brought you here, my WONDERFUL THESPIANS. Your existence in the cosmos is to be tested, and your survival of utmost importance. The SHOW MUST GO ON, as long as human ingenuity, hope, and genius exist. Your minds radiate, sun-like, as the luminous sparks of future peace through mutual betterment. It is 21 Messidor. Your flights will be leaving soon. But this is not to say you should fly from each other so soon. Human existence, it depends on others for comfort. Your flights may be off in different directions but your relations ground you to the dusty red earth that we all call our home. But will this be enough for my SEVEN ACTORS and ACTRESSES to GROW THEIR WINGS AND FLY INTO THE UNKNOWN? Your flight is leaving. Do not be late, little ones. All is for mutual betterment. Aha! ... The recording cuts off. ► CONCOURSE is a seven-player slotted puzzle-based role play that is currently in the works. It takes place almost entirely in the enormous PERCIVAL LOWELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ► The seven players take the roles of the seven slots, all of whom hold a basic backstory but are free to continue and be creative beyond this. CONCOURSE is based heavily on the relationships established between its eclectic cast of unique characters. ► On 21 Messidor, six of these seven people strike fate's chord when they share three different flights to different parts of the Country. They meet, greet, and part ways as the day of 21 Messidor ends, or so it seems. ► Not everything is right in PERCIVAL INTERNATIONAL. ► The roleplay is progressive; players follow a MAP provided as they attempt to move through the CONCOURSES. The major obstacles in this roleplay show themselves as PUZZLES AND CHALLENGES that our eclectic cast must traverse so they may continue their trek. Throughout their time, they shall be guided by the enigmatic voice relaying itself through PERCIVAL INTERNATIONAL'S SPEAKERPHONE. ► Death is permanent. Possibly ... Just stay away from the darker corners ... ► I. The Pilot Age: 34 - 42 A grizzly man who tastes bitter black coffee. One day he will return to the old fields of the Gasconne. ► II. The Attendant Age: 19 - 28 A saucy lady with a silver tongue and arrogant heart. The bohemians in the Mareaux think of her as a princess. ► III. The Doctor Age: 64 - 66 A creaky woman whose soul is built on bone and sinew. The injured and weary thank this "saint of the Rhennes". ► IV. The Artist Age: 18 - 27 An ostentatious, dramatic lad whose world is awash in colours. A prodigy of the autumn-touched Carcassone University. ► V. The Student Age: 13 - 16 You can her the jingle of money in her vicious eyes. Nobody knows where she came from. ► VI. The Veteran Age: 57 - 65 Gruff, sour, and tired of this world's hell. The battlefield of decades ago is his only home now. ► VII. The Homeless Age: 18 - 29 To the millions every day, this young man does not exist. He considers the airport his only livelihood. - - - I am sorry this is extremely strange for an RP and I am not sure if it would even work here but alas here you are.
Gotta go fast.
Hello. Instead of littering the forum with random threads I have decided to simply keep my sketches in here. Huzzah! This shall be updated periodically with sketches or some such. Feel free to post comments, critique, and recommendations. Spoiler: bluh <unfinished and touching up + needs background> Spoiler: messing with watercolour I particularly am okay with that pomegranate and the "dress" possibly perhaps maybe Spoiler: Saxima's Ives I Spoiler: Saxima's Ives II = Title Card
What are your plans for this normal summer day. I am sleeping in peace and quiet.
My sides.
What exactly does one get?
They are the images of the ones wearing the Guy Fawkes' masks. I am not sure what to make of this.
