숑샘 숑샘

[ The Problem of Pursuing Unrealistic Goals ] ❶ People often think that they can accomplish more than they actually end up accomplishing and that any costs incurred will be as expected. ❷ In reality, many of us fall short of our work goal. ❸ And, budget overruns are a common feature of large public projects. ❹ The Sydney Opera House, for instance, was supposed to be completed in 1963 at a cost o..

[ description of semiotics ] ❶ Semiotics is the theory of signs. ❷ Simply put, a sign is something that represents something else. ❸ Here’s an example: look out of the window and find a tree. ❹ There are all sorts of signs for that thing you’re looking at. ❺ One of them is the word tree itself, four letters spelled out on the page: t-r-e-e. ❻ A different sign is the spoken word, “tree.” ❼ Anothe..

[ Changes in bathing according to changes in society ] ❶ For most of the history of our species, in most parts of the world, bathing has been a collective act. ❷ In ancient Asia, the practice was a religious ritual believed to have medical benefits related to the purification of the soul and body. ❸ For the Greeks, the baths were associated with self-expression, song, dance, and sport, while in ..

[ A watch that tells you the duty of loyalty ] ❶ A soldier in one of the Prussian regiments had a watch chain of which he was very proud. ❷ Because he could not afford a watch, he used to wear a bullet attached to the chain’s free end. ❸ One day Frederick the Great noticed this curious ornament and, deciding to have some fun with the man, took out his own diamond-studded watch. ❹ “My watch tells..

[ Expenses included in the purchase of goods ] ❶ When you purchase an item, you are paying not just for the item, but the costs to get that item to you. ❷ Let’s say you visit a farm and buy a tomato. ❸ It might cost the farmer very little to grow a tomato, so the farmer might be able to sell you a tomato for much less than it would cost in the supermarket and still make a nice profit. ❹ When you..

[ Benefits of an official interrogator during class ] ❶ Every day in each of my classes I randomly select two students who are given the title of “official questioners.” ❷ These students are assigned the responsibility to ask at least one question during that class. ❸ After being the day’s official questioner, one of my students, Carrie, visited me in my office. ❹ Just to break the ice, I asked ..