Lying

By Ryan

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave

When first we practice to deceive!"

-Sir Walter Scott

The value of the lie is equal to that of the truth.

We were always encouraged to speak the truth, and only the truth. We grew up with the threat than lying was a sinful action that would wrought shame, distrust, and misfortune upon us; fables such as “Pinocchio” and “The Boy who Cried Wolf” reinforced those notions. We went through childhood with our parents telling us to tell the truth; we go through school with teachers telling us to tell the truth; we will step into a courtroom, where we will be told to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing else, so help us God.

Then why do we lie?

Because we learned lying has its rewards.

The word “Lie” itself comes from a straightforward etymology. Derived from the Old English word lēoġan, which itself was derived from Germanic leugan, both words had the same meaning as what we now consider a “Lie”: a purposely erroneous statement. Words like Lying and Deception have all garnered such a negative connotation that people shudder as those sounds sting and singe the soul as the cold breath of authority and the brimstone fires of hell both collide on a person’s soul.

Lying is considered worldwide as an action worthy of shun. Societies and cultures have their own folklore and fairytales about lying and the misfortune it brings, most of which had their morals and lessons immortalized. As previously mentioned, tales like “Pinocchio” and “The Boy who Cried Wolf” illustrated the possible horrors and dangers of a lie, whether it be an elongated nose or an ironic death. Philosophers warned of the hazards of lying, some of the notable consequences being the reduction of trust from society and the perversion of the communication of thoughts and ideas. Thomas Aquinas, as severe as it may be, believed that one should be beaten, tortured, and murdered, rather than lie.

One never questions why we lie, often because those who learn to lie will acquire that skill that it becomes interwoven with their natural train of thought, where lying is as possible and available as speaking itself. Is this a terrible, sinful act?

Let’s face it: it has been common truth that people lie and live with it. The lie has become as common as the truth, perhaps even more so than we perceive: for every truth, there are an infinite number of possible lies. Politicians lie, Homeless lie, parents lie, teachers lie, I lie, and, despite what you may want to believe, you lie too.

Let it be known, however: we do not lie without reason.

We do not lie for our moral souls; we lie for our own benefit, whether it is to evade a threatening circumstance, to place a disliked group in a disadvantageous circumstance, or to upgrade your own circumstances. A child will tell their teacher that they have a doctor’s appointment to get out of a test, a band that says their rivals don’t make their own music, an employee claiming that they solved a problem single-handedly: all of them lied, but to their own benefit: the child will get out of that test, the band’s rivals and their music will be questioned, the employee will get a commendation or even a raise. When prompted, a person will respond with the truth much quicker than with the lie; when prompted with an incentive to lie, that same person told the truth much less often. We lie for a reason, and never without.

There is a certain skill, a sort of art, of the lie: it takes a quick wit and a convincing act, but above all else, it requires intelligence. When broken down step by step, lying requires a very complex and highly abstract level of thinking. To begin, one must take the truth and analyze it to the fullest extent for possible holes and exploitations. Next, they must formulate a believable alternate reality of sorts, where the actions that occurred are replaced with a different happening, utilizing the same clues and activities that caused the initial action. Finally, they must convince another party that to believe this alternate reality actually happened. Lying is a sign of higher intelligence, so if your child attempts to slyly slide a lie past you, it can come as a blessing and a curse: your child has begun to think abstractly, creatively, and on a higher level than his peers, but if their actions are effective enough, lying will be a tool at his disposal that he or she may be more than willing to utilize.

We humans are not the only beings capable of deception either: animals and insects can deceive others, sometimes as a matter of survival. Camouflage is one form of lying visually, and several organic beings rely on camouflage to survive in their environments. Mimicry is to lie about one’s identity, and to become what they are not, common place among insects. Some chemical and organic compounds can be used as decoys for predators, or bait for prey; this is especially present with mammals. Feigning is used to either divert or attract attention, especially with wolves and apes. Even the lying that we conduct on a regular basis occurs with our chimpanzee cousins: Koko the gorilla, after a tantrum, broke a sink, and told her handlers that her pet kitten had done it. Even though lying is not normally associated beyond humans, animals are indeed guilty of the same crime.

In the end, the question of, “Is Lying Bad” comes back to perspectives, beliefs, and backgrounds. We cannot deny, however, that we deceive in order to better benefit ourselves and for others. We lie as a way to get what we want, or to avoid what we don’t. We lie because it is in our nature to progress. To progress in our lives, we progress in the art, the art of Lying.

Laughing

By: Casey

The cackle. The snort. The giggle. The hiss. The snigger. The blast. The chuckle. Laughs are in no way uniform. They are unique, as are the individuals who laugh them. They express eccentricity.

A laugh can be portrayed as a series of unarticulated sounds that are accompanied by distinctive facial and bodily movements. These noises are uncontrollable; they surface with little notification. The act of laughing is the body’s natural reaction to an overwhelming presence of emotions and or stress. Thus, laughs are our body’s natural technique to methodically displace our sentiments: releasing them in the form of sound. We do it often, we do it daily, and we do it virtually subconsciously.

An average person laughs at least four to eight times a day. The myriad essential aspects for a human being to laugh on a daily basis are unknown to the public: laughter causes positive changes in brain chemistry by releasing endorphins, laughter brings more oxygen into the body with deeper inhalations, laughter improves our moods, laughter reduces stress, laughter aids in fighting infection, and laughter minimizes pain. The 1998 movie, Patch Adams, discussed the true story of a maverick doctor who was entirely convinced that fun, play, pleasure, and clowns were the most important components in improving his patients' quality of life within a gloomy hospital ambiance. It is true that those deprived of a healthy dosage of laughter, live their lives sheltered by isolation and depression.

Laughter links us with our peers in a union of positive thoughts. A sequence of short vowel-like syllables, laughter is a language on its own. This “laughter” vocabulary is universally accepted and recognized by people of all cultures and races. Thus, it is of no surprise that laughter is contagious. By introducing laughter into one’s life, one can most likely help others around themselves to laugh more. By elevating the moods of those around you, one can decrease their stress levels, and improve the quality of social interaction they will experience. However, stalwart laughter can sometimes derive an onset of tears or even moderate muscular pain. When contagious, high levels of emotional laughter can be dangerous. An extreme case of contagious laughter can be identified in the Tanganyika laughter epidemic of 1962.

“Triggered by a joke among students at a Tanzania boarding school, young girls began to laugh uncontrollably. At first, there were spurts of laughter, which extended to hours and then days. The victims, virtually all female, suffered pain, fainting, respiratory problems, rashes and crying attacks, all related to the hysterical laughter. Proving the old adage that laughter can be contagious, the epidemic spread to the parents of the students as well as to other schools and surrounding villages. Eighteen months passed before the laughter epidemic ended (Central African Journal of Medicine).”

Laughing relays a sense of comfort and trust. This temporary state of ease soothes and calms. Parents, who listen to the twittery, bubbly giggle of a child, experience an equilibrium of peacefulness. They are beguiled with a feeling of completeness because the delightful sound of children innocently laughing resembles an adolescent accumulation of happiness – reassuring guardians that they are parenting to their fullest potential.



When one laughs, a rush of air inflates the lungs. The rhythmic breathing pattern drastically increases and ones heartbeat begins to dance without reflection. According to numerous studies, laughing approximately 100 times is equivalent to 15 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike. Crisp air sporadically enters through the mouth’s orifice, while carbon dioxide is freely released. The “junk”, carbon dioxide, spews from the body and into the atmosphere along with grunts and voluble clamors. This daily activity may be viewed to some extent as barbaric.

Today’s contemporary world (media and society) has set high standards for its inhabitants: the world’s population, both male and female, is socially expected to abide by these unorthodox values. Many a times, unique laughs are frowned upon. Their authenticity and originality are associated with scorn and embarrassment. Personally, I have been a victim of this prejudice outlook. When surrounded by great company and yummy food, my guard is automatically dropped. Vulnerable to judgment, my emotions prone to roam freely. Occasionally, I have been known to let an obnoxious snort or hoarse groan slip. Emotions are organic and wild. They should not be deemed repulsive when not controlled. But, is laughing really a social facet? Does the general public really judge laughter on its “appearance” versus it imperative importance in our lives?

The truth is, like breathing, laughter is a vital scientific factor of everyday life. Not only does it benefit our health physically, laughing allows us to strengthen our psychological health. The audible expression is an outlet for our emotions and inward feelings of contentment or rage. Without accessing laughter, our bodies would undeniably malfunction. Without a way to formulate and organize our innermost sentiments, our physiological reactions would implode with eradicate explosions. Laughing is not only enjoyable, but a necessity in prospering in a world full of rejection, displeasures, and heartbreaks.

Breathing

By Lainey

Breathe in. Breathe out.

In through your nose, out through your mouth.

When we’re nervous, when we’re excited, when we’re frustrated, when we’re overjoyed, when we need to calm down, we take deep breaths. This is the natural way to relieve our ever-changing polar mood swings. We do it often, almost subconsciously. The swelling rush of air into our lungs feeds oxygen to our blood and our numerous awaiting cells.

All living things breathe. All living things need oxygen. Breathing is life. We breathe to live.

Throughout the day, the average human takes over 17,000 breaths. We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide waste. It is essential for humans to receive a sufficient amount of oxygen; otherwise, the blood and surrounding cells in the body will begin to shut down. We take these breaths without realizing it. Most people fail to comprehend that they are, in fact, breathing throughout the day. It becomes second nature; however, it is more than necessary to make sure enough oxygen enters our bodies.

With the ceaseless, crazy environment of the contemporary world, it is often hard for people to maintain a healthy equilibrium when it comes to stress. The majority of people in the world deal with constant tension on a daily basis. All-nighter cram sessions, 14-hour workdays, double practices, lessons for five different instruments, situations where we pack three days worth of activities into one afternoon can leave us literally gasping for breath. People truly forget to take the time to make sure they are breathing adequately. There are ways in which people overcome this cultivating epidemic.

Yoga, for example, is insanely popular among people in the contemporary world. Yoga not only improves flexibility and ameliorates the body’s center of balance, it consistently focuses on deep breathing. This deep breathing helps the body become more relaxed and more pliant. The substantial amount of oxygen consumed while doing yoga makes up for much lost breathing throughout the hectic days of our lives.

Breathing aids in times of intense pain. For example, when women go into labor, they are coached through their increasing contractions by a nurse who helps them breathe in certain patterns. These deep breaths help to alleviate some of the severe pain that women endure; they allow women to focus more on their deep breathing patterns than on the excruciating torment of childbirth.

When nerve-racking situations are prevalent, breathing is often the answer. An anxious teenage boy standing on the doorstep of his newfound crush with his heart fluttering, carrying a lush bouquet of flowers takes a strong, sturdy breath before carefully knocking on the door; a pressured professional basketball player setting up for his free throw that will win the game for his team, with one second left in the game, gathers a solid, bottomless breath before nervously shooting the ball; an ambitious college student preparing for her last final exam that will determine if she earns her medical degree musters a smooth, weighty breath before scratching away with her pencil.

Breathing allows music to come alive. Wind instruments require an enormous amount of breath to function flawlessly. Smooth breaths assist in an even tone. Also, it is imperative that singers learn how to breathe properly, as their lungs are in fact their instruments. They are taught to use their diaphragm to achieve the most powerful breathing possible. Music teachers often have their students go through breathing exercises in order to expand their lung capacities. The steadier and stronger the breath, the higher quality of sound will be produced.

When we hear breathing, we are put at ease. Parents who check on their kids in the middle of the night are reassured with the sound of their children’s fixed breathing. Pet owners watch their beloved animals stomachs’ rise and fall and feel a sense of comfort. Breathing is the sound of life.

But is breathing truly all about life? Is every breath we take solely about replacing the carbon dioxide waste with oxygen? Or do we also breathe to start something new?

Breathing is more than a scientific factor of life. When we breathe, we are diving into our problems and letting go. Breath is the bridge we travel to conquer new ground. We are automatically refreshed when we take a deep breath. Breathing soothes and consoles us; it is the mother who is consistently with us, helping us through uncomfortable situations. With each new breath, we are able to think more clearly and to make better decisions in life. Breathing allows us to cope. Without it, life would cease to exist.

Blogging

By Anna Koval =)

 

I wish to speak a word about Blogging, about its absolute freedom and wildness. I wish to make an extreme statement, for there are enough champions of hand-written and type-written assignments: the Superintendent, the Principal, your teachers, and every one of you can attest to that.

 

I have met but one or two persons in the course of my life who understood the art of Blogging -- of posting blogs -- who had a genius, so to speak, for Blogging, which term is beautifully derived from "web-log" or online journaling. For journaling and journeying is the secret of successful Blogging. He who pens his thoughts in a notebook may be the greatest vagrant of all; but the Blogger is no more vagrant than a text message which is all the while sedulously seeking the shortest course to a cell phone.

 

It is true, we are but faint-hearted crusaders, the Bloggers, nowadays. Our online expeditions are but blips on the screen. But if you are ready to leave dittos and handouts, PowerPoints and posterboards -- if you have done all your homework, studied for exams, reconciled your GPA, and are a free man -- then you are ready for a Blog.

 

To come to my own experience, my fellow Bloggers and I, for there are many of us online, take pleasure in fancying ourselves knights of a new order -- not columnists or journalists, but Bloggers, a still more honorable class, we think. We are a sort of fourth estate, outside of District and School and Classroom.

 

I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least -- and it is commonly more than that -- Blogging through the Blogosphere, absolutely free from all worldly engagements.

 

When sometimesI amr eminded that the teachers and students stay on the printed page, not only all the forenoon, but all the afternoon too -- I think that they deserve some credit for not having all committed suicide long ago.

 

I, who cannot stay off-line for a single day without some rust -- confess that I am astonished at the power of endurance, to say nothing of the moral insensibility, of teachers and students who confine themselves to lined paper, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word the whole day, for weeks and months, aye, years almost together. I know not what manner of stuff they are of.

 

The Blogging of which I speak has nothing in it akin to an essay, as it is called. Think of a student writing an essay, when there are Blogs blinking on far off screens uncommented on by him!

 

Moreover, you must Blog like a Blogger, which is said to be the only beast which ruminates while online.

 

Blogging will no doubt produce a certain roughness of character -- will cause a thicker cuticle to grow over some of the finer qualities of our nature -- but methinks that is a stuff that will fall off fast enough.

 

Some do not Blog at all, I Blog such as the old prophets and poets Blogged, according to the Blogger's Code.

 

1. Take responsibility for your own words
2. Encourage enforcement of terms of service
3. Cite (and preferrably hyperlink) any sources
4. Write nothing you wouldn't say in person
5. Think twice - post once

 

What makes it so hard to determine what we will Blog about? I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Blogging, which if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. There is a right way to Blog; but we are very liable from heedlessness and stupidity to take the wrong one.

 

Blogging consists with wildness. The most awesome are the freest. In short, all good Blogs are wild and free.

 

Many a poor, sore-eyed student that I have heard of would grow faster, both intellectually and physically if, instead of being made to coplete the same boring assignments, he were allowed to Blog. There are other skills for the student to learn than those which Bill Gates invented.

 

So we Blog toward the future, til one day the sun shall shine more brightly than ever he has done, shall perchance shine into our minds and hearts, and light up our entire educational system with a great awakening light, as warm and serene and golden as a blinking cursor on a screen in early morning.

Two Quick Reminders: