Faith,FamilyandIdentity InspireGuyaneseAuthor’s DebutBook
GUYANESEauthorandentrepreneur,AthalyahYisrael,was onlyateenagerwhenshebegan lookingdeeperintothefaithshe wasraisedin,examininghowthat faithwasinfluencedbyculture andhowitshapesidentity.While shefoundherselfrealigningwith biblicalvaluesatanearlyage,it wasnotuntilsevenyearslater thatshereleasedherdebutbook, “TheCreator’s7HolyAppointed Seasons:APracticalGuideforAfricanFamiliesintheDiaspora.”
Whilethebookencourages readerstoreturntothedivinecalendarlaidoutintheHolyBible, Yisraelnotedinaninterviewwith thePepperpotMagazinethisweek thatitalsoexploresthemesofidentity,culture,andfamily.
LaunchedinAugust2025,“The Creator’s7HolyAppointedSea-
sons”hasreceivedstrongsupport andpositivereviews.Atitscore, Yisraelhopesthebookwillinspire readerstoreflectonthemselvesand askasimplequestion:Whatwould theyliketheirspirituallegacytobe?
Yisrael’sjourneyoffaithbegan inherlateteens.Assheshared duringherinterview,shegrewup asayouthleaderinherchurchand heldstrongreligiousbeliefs.She noted,however,thatwhiledeeply embeddedinthechurch,shefeltshe wasnotfollowingtheexactcommandmentsoutlinedintheBible.
Assheshared,“Irealisedthere wasadifferencebetweenwhatwas commandedandwhatIwasdoing. Sothatwasthatdivinepulltobe like,okay,Ireallywanttobeableto dowhatwearecommandedtodo.”
Sheadded,“Ihadneverheard ofgrowingupinaChristianback-
-AthalyahYisraelhopes‘TheCreator’s7 HolyAppointedSeasons’willencourage readerstoreflectontheirspirituallegacy
ground,holidays,festivalsandall thosedifferentthings.Icouldn’t findanyofthatinwhatIwasreading.SoIhadtomakesometough choicesandbelike,okay,sothisis whatIwastold,butthat’snotwhat wascommanded.”
Thisshiftat17waslife-changingforYisraelandnoticeabletoher friendsandfamily.Thechangewas soimpactfulthatshefeltinspired toputherexperiencesintoabook.
However,whileshefeltinspired,shealsostruggledwith insecuritiesthroughoutthewriting process,notingthatshefirstbegan workingontheprojectmorethan sevenyearsago.
Assheshared,“Ittookmeseven years.Itdidnottakemesevenyears becauseIwouldhavewrittenit. Therewerealotofinsecuritiesthat Ifelt.Iwouldhavewrittenitand thenputitdown.”
Overtheyears,Yisraelbecame theco-founderofOutliersZone Caribbeanandhasspentnearlya decadehelpingindividuals,families,corporationsandgovernment institutionsbuildthefinancial
disciplinerequiredforlong-term success.
“TheCreator’s7HolyAppointedSeasons”remainedunfinished forsevenyears,andduringthat time,Yisraelbecameamother offour.Whensheeventuallyreturnedtothemanuscript,shedidso throughanewlensandcompleted thebookwithafreshperspective.
Assheshared,“Thelens throughwhichIcompleteditwas different.It’slikeIamnowtalking asamother.Thatisthelegacywe haveasindividuals.Thatiswhat wearepassingon.Icompletedthe writingwhentheyweresleeping. Iputthemtobed,thenwrotebetween12and4.Especiallyaround Emancipation,thatwasvery,very importanttome,”shesaid.
Yisraelsharedthat“TheCreator’s7HolyAppointedSeasons” speaksonthesevenholyappointed seasonsoutlinedinscripture,walkingreadersthrougheachoneasthe Creatorcommanded.
ThefirstistheSabbath,aweeklysignbetweentheCreatorand Hispeople,rootedinthesixdays
ofcreation.Thesecondandthird seasonsarePassoverandtheFeast ofUnleavenedBread,followedby theFeastofWeeks,allobserved accordingtotheBible’sowncalendar,whichreferencesmonthssuch asAbibratherthanJanuaryand Februaryusedtoday.
Theseventhmonthcarriesthe mostholydays,beginningwiththe BlowingoftheTrumpetonitsfirst day.ThatsamemonthholdstheDay ofAtonement,theonedayeachyear theCreatorcommandsa24-hour fastfromeveningtoevening.Five daysafterthefastcomestheFeast ofTabernacles,sevendaysoffeastingandrest.
ThefinalseasonistheEighth DaySolemnAssembly,adayof returningtothecommandmentsand reflectingonhowtheyshouldguide dailyliving.
Yisrael’sworkisalsodeeply inspiredbythemesofidentityand culture.Reflectingonthehistoryof slavery,shenotedthatithashada profoundimpactonthecultureand familystructuresofthedescendants TURNTOPAGEV
BuildingCapacityinCountry: PreparingGuyana’sWorkforce foranOilandGasFuture
WITHmoreeyesonGuyanathan everbeforeandaboomingeconomydrivenbyrapidlygrowing sectors,thecountryhasquickly attractednewinvestorsandopportunities.Atthecoreofthis development,however,arepeople. Humanresourcesspecialist,NicholasTuma,saysthatthestrategic developmentofGuyana’shuman resourcesisvitalnotjusttothe successoftheoilandgassector butalsotothesuccessofGuyaneseandthecountryatlarge.
SittingdownwiththePepperpot Magazineearlierthisweek,Tuma sharedexpertinsightsfromhis14yearcareeronhowthegovernment continuestoensurethatGuyanese arepartofthegrowingsectors,how privatecompaniescandeveloptheir workforcethroughcollaboration, whyinclusionissovitalinthis push,andjusthowdifferentthe Guyaneseworkforcecouldlookin thenextfivetotenyears.
Tuma,whocurrentlylivesand worksinGuyana,wasbornand raisedinJinja,Uganda,anditissaid thatitwastherethathispassionfor peopleandnationaldevelopment wassparked.
Asheshared,“HavingabackgroundofcomingfromadevelopingcountryinAfrica,tome,it hascreatedthisdesiretoseethat everywherewework,weneedto buildthecapacityinthosecountries, becauseIrefusetobelievethatit hastobesomebodycominginfrom elsewhere,”hesaid.
Peopledevelopmentinhome countries
Tumanotedthatwhilesome developingcountriesmaylack personnelwithspecificskills,the aimshouldalwaysbetodevelop thepeopleofthatnationratherthan havingforeignersaccountforthe entireworkforce.”Weshouldbe abletopassthatknowledgeonto somebody.Likesomebodycame
intomycountrywhenmyorganisationstarted,passedtheknowledge tomeandnowI’mwhereIam.So, weshouldbeabletodevelopthe capacityinthecountrieswherewe operate,”hesaid.
Thisbeliefanddrivegaverise toTuma’s14-yearcareer.Hiswork hasspannedcontinentsandhasfocusedprimarilyonestablishingstrategichumanresourceoperations.
CurrentlytheRegionalHR ManagerforGuyana,Trinidadand theCaribbeanatSLB,Tumaworks
toensurethedevelopmentoflocal capacityandstrongpartnerships betweenthehumanresourcefunctionandthebusiness.Henotedthat thereisalsoastrategicelementto supportingbusinessesinachieving theirgoals.
“Ihavebeenwiththeorganisationandworkedinvariousjurisdictions.So,IstartedoutinAfrica, sothatwas[in]Uganda,Kenya, [thenI]spentaboutsixyearsinthe USbeforegoingbacktoEastand SouthAfrica,andthennowcoming toGuyana,”headded.
TumacametoGuyanathrough SLBin2023andobservedthat Guyanahasmadesteadyandimpactfulprogressindevelopingits talentpipeline.Whilehenoted thattheframeworkfordeveloping Guyana’shumanresourcescould continuetobestrengthened,he emphasisedthatthegovernmentis
clearlycommittedtoovercoming thesechallenges.
Asheshared,“Thegovernment istakingintentionalstepsthrough, one,thescholarshipsthatthey’reoffering,openinguptheUniversityof Guyana,makingitfreesothatmore peoplecanaccesstheeducation,and thenit’swherewe,too,comeinto helppushthatalong,”headded.
“Inbuildingthatpipeline,we comeinthroughpartnershipswith educationalinstitutions,partnershipswiththeministriestomake surethatwe’reabletoprovideour knowledgeonwheretheindustryis going,what’sneededintheindustry,thesortofprofilesneededinthe industry,sothatthegovernmentcan planandstrategicallysetthemselves upforsuccessatthetime.”
StrategicHumanResource Development
Speakingontheworkofcompanieslikehisown,Tumanoted thatthefocusshouldbeonstrategic humanresourcedevelopment.This includesunderstandingwherethe gapsare,leveragingmentorshipopportunities,andensuringthatwhen expatriatesarehired,localworkers andinternsaregiventheopportunitytolearnalongsidethemandgain theexperiencetheyneed.
Tumaalsohighlightedtheimportanceofpartnershipswitheducationalinstitutions.Speakingon whathebelievesaresomeofthe majorwaystoaddressGuyana’s skillsgap,Tumaadded,“Iwould say,secondmentabroad,sothat peoplecanexperience,mentorships locally,soeveryone’spairedup withanexpatriate,earlyexposure tooperations,soinsteadofkeeping peopleinanofficedoingthetheory, sendthemout,letthemgotothe field,”hesaid.
Whilenewavenuescontinue toemergetoaddresstechnical skillshortages,Tumanotedthat emphasisshouldalsobeplaced onsoftskills.Callingsoftskills “non-negotiable”,heexplainedthat, likeinanyotherindustry,attitude andworkethicarevitalinensuring workplacesuccess.
Alongsidemindset,however, Tumasaysanunderstandingofand willingnesstoworkwithdigitalisationandtechnologyisbecoming increasinglyimportantwithinthe
oilandgassector.
“Ourorganisationisoneof thosethathasbeenrankedasnumberoneinadoptingAIintoouroperations,”headded.“Digitalisation isoneofthethingsthat’strending now.Sohavinganunderstanding ofthedigitalsphere,AIandhow itplaysaroundisgood,andsoft skills.Softskills,presentationskills, communicationskills,thoseare veryimportantinmakingsurethat peopleareabletogetinandstay in,”hesaid.
Diversityandinclusionarealso vitalaspectsofensuringGuyanese succeedwithintheoilandgas sector.Tumanotedthatensuring inclusionrequiresorganisationsto beintentional.
Havingquotasandstrongfemalerepresentationcouldalsobe majordrivers,saysTuma.
“[Oneexampleis]havingwomenrepresentativesspeakingto women,tellingthemmoreabout thesectorthroughcareerpresentations,whicharedonebyfemales, tellingthemabouttheirjourney, thechallengesthattheyface,and thesuccessesthathavecometheir way,”hesaid.
Thefuture,throughpeople LookingaheadtowhatGuyana’soilandgasworkforcecould looklikeinthenextdecade,Tuma saystheoilboomwillcontinue, growingtheeconomyandcreating newopportunities.Bythen,heexpectsmoreGuyanesethaneverto bepartoftheindustry.
Asheadded,“Lookingatfive yearsdowntheroad,theoilboom willstillbegoingon,andprobably itwillbenowtransitioningmore fromtheexplorationandmore intotheproductionphase.Andat thatphase,Iwouldexpectthat, one,therearemoreGuyanese,”he added.
ForTuma,thefutureofGuyana’soilandgassectorisclosely tiedtohowwellthecountry continuestobuilditshuman capital.Hebelievesthatwhilethe industrywillcontinuetoexpand, therealshiftwillbeseeninthe progressionofGuyaneseworkers fromentry-levelrolestoleadershippositions,asmorelocals gainexperience,training,andexposurebothathomeandabroad.
Faith,FamilyandIdentity InspireGuyanese Author’sDebutBook
ofenslavedpeople. Reflectingonherjourney, Yisraeladdedthatdelving deeperintothestructureofa traditionalfamilyhashelped shapeherlife.
Assheshared,“ReturningtotheCreator’slaws givesmeanidentity,andI understandmypurposein life.MyhusbandandI,it’s adecadeofustogether.Nine yearsmarriedandouroldest childisfive,andwe’vehad fourchildreninfiveyears,” shesaid.
Yisraelwasalsokeento notethatwhilethetraditional familystructurehasbeena positiveadditiontoherlife, shebelievesindividualsmust choosethepaththatbestsuits them.
Assheadded,“Ithink ifyou,inyourself,feelthat independenceisyourway, thenthat’sthepaththatyou choose.”
Withthebookcontinuing toreceivepositivereviews, Yisraelnotedthatoneofthe mainaimsof“TheCreator’s 7HolyAppointedSeasons” istoencouragereadersto askthemselvessomedifficult questionsabouttheirfaith andpersonaljourney.
Assheadded,“Iwould wantreaderstoaskthemselves,whatstoodoutto you?Whatdidyoulike? Whatdidyounotlike?Think aboutyourspirituallegacy thatyouareliving.Ifyou lookatyourspirituallegacy, howmanytimesadayyou pray,howyouarelivingyour life.Andifyouseethere’s somethingmissing,thenit ismyhopethatyouwill findtheconnectioninyour Bible,”sheadded.
“Justthinkaboutyour spirituallegacy.Usethebook
asagaugetoseehowon trackyouareandhowyou canimprove.”
ForYisrael,“TheCreator’s7HolyAppointed Seasons:APracticalGuide forAfricanFamiliesinthe Diaspora”representsmore thanthecompletionofa long-delayedwritingproject.Itistheculminationof apersonaljourneyoffaith, self-discoveryandmotherhood,oneshehopeswill encouragereaderstoreflect ontheirownbeliefs,values andthelegacytheyhopeto leavebehind.
Copiesof“TheCreator’s7HolyAppointed Seasons:APracticalGuide forAfricanFamiliesin theDiaspora”canbepurchasedthroughNewEra BusinessEnterpriseorby contactingYisraeldirectly on623-4386.
INmoststories,theplot revolvesaroundafinal message–ameaningintendedtobeconveyedto theaudienceinthemiddle orattheend.Thismessage lendsweighttothestory, givingitapurposeforbeing read,viewed,orlistenedto. Thosewhoseekoutstories forthesakeoffindingnew messagesmaybewilling tositthroughthethrilling obstaclesanddullmoments tohearthethoughtthatanchorstheentireplot.
Mostofus,however,do notdiveintostoriestoseek outlessons,butrathertoenjoyajourneywhereweneed notworryaboutthedullness oranxietiesthatplagueour ownlives.Forthosepeople,
evenastorythatdoesnot bringanynewlessonsor carrydeepmeaningisworth thetimeandenergyspenton it.Thethrillingobstaclesand dullmomentsarenotpartsof thestorymeanttobeendured butratherenjoyed. Thissentimentoften spillsintomanyoftheotherchoiceswemakeinour lives.Meaningorconnection isnotthemainreasonwe delveintonewendeavours andrelationships;rather,it isaneedfordistractionfrom theday-to-dayirritations andboredomthatdriveus.
Soonerthanwerealise,we mayfindourselvesoccupied withseveralthingsthatdo notaddvaluetoourlivesbut keepusdistracted,or,atthe
veryleast,occupiedforlong periods.Thisisanissuewe facemorespecificallyinthe transitionfromchildhoodto adulthood.Aschildren,the decision-makingprocessbehindhowwespendourtime isvastlydifferentfromthe oneweutiliseasadults.Our childhoodisusuallyspent exploringtheworldaround usandattemptingtodiscover partsofitthatdrawusmost closelytowardsit.
Usually,thismeansengaginginactivitiesforno otherreasonthanthatthey areenjoyableorentertaining tous.Aswegrowolder,we begintospendourtimemore focused.Atthisage,thereasonforspendingtimeonan endeavourisnotalwaysto
beentertained.Webecome responsibleforseekingout thingsthataddvaluetoour livesor,otherwise,doing thingsthataddvaluetothe worldaroundus.
Thissuddenchangein responsibilityis,ofcourse,a bitterone.Theworldnolongerfeelslikeaplayground, andattemptingtochasethis feelingwithdistractionscan leadtoashallow,meaninglesslife.Toputitsimply,the transitionfeelslikegoing backtoschoolafteralong andfunvacation!Itmaybe saddening,butthischangeis anecessarypartofgrowth.
Theeasiestwaytohandle thisdiscomfortistointentionallyseekbalance,even whenitdoesnotseemallthat
necessary.Suddenlydelving intoaseriouslifewithno roomforpassion,hobbies, orpersonalenjoymentcan quicklybecomeexhausting. Evenwhenwearecareer-orientedorfocusedonourstudies,wemustensurethatwe takeafewmomentstodothe thingsthatwelove. However,itmaynotalwaysfeellikeit;itisalright tosparetimetodosome thingssimplybecausewe lovedoingthem.Atthesame time,wemustensurethat ourlivesarenotfilledwith pursuitsthatdonothelpus growormoveforward.Ifwe choosetoembarkonajourney,thenweoughttoknow thedestinationatwhichwe willarrive.
Lifeisquitesimple.Itis nothingmorethanthesumof ourchoicesandthequietimpactoffate.Thereisnoway topredicthowourfuturewill turnoutorhowourchoices willmanifestasreality.In truth,wehavenothingto guideusexceptthewaywe feelaswemakeeachnew choice.
Allwehavetodois pauseforlongenoughto introspectandunderstand whywemakeeachchoice andwhetheritfeelslikethe rightone.Perhaps,ifwedo maketherightchoices,we caneventuallycreatethe kindoflifewheredistractionsarenotnecessaryto feelthewarmthofhappiness.
ManagingAccounts Receivableand DebtCollection
MANAGINGaccountsreceivableanddebtcollection ischallengingforabusiness owner.Thoughcustomers arenodoubthappytoreceivefinancing,theymay finditdifficulttopayoff theirdebts.Toavoidpotentialconfusion,financial mishapsorlegalissues, businessownersshould establishacreditpolicyand ensuretheircustomersand employeesareawareofits contents.
Truly,offeringbothcash andcreditpaymentoptions willhelpincreaserevenue andwidenthepotentialcustomerpool.
Successisneverguaranteed,butbyarmingthemselveswiththepropertools, entrepreneurscanincrease theirchancesofachieving success.
Indeed,toprotecttheir business,entrepreneurs shoulddevelopasoundcredit policy,maintainasteady streamofcommunication withtheircustomers,educate theiremployeesaboutcredit approvalapplications,and utilisethenewesttechnologiesandservicestorecord allfinancialtransactions. Beinganentrepreneurisby nomeanseasy,butifyouput inthenecessarywork,you cansaveyourbusinessfrom financialruin.
1.SalesandTheirImpact onAccountsReceivable Organisationstypically producegoodsorservices andsellthemtocustomers. Customerswilleitherpayfor goodsandservicesimmediatelyorarrangetopaythe fullpriceatalaterdate.
Somecustomersdislike creditandwillonlyengage incashpurchases.Othercustomershavemoneybutwant
toholdontoitandusecredit whenitisoffered.Somepeopledonothaveanymoney atagivenmomentbutneed goodsandservicesandcan paythefullpricelater. Organisationsmustsell goodsandservicestogeneraterevenue(finance).The absenceofmoneyinanorganisationwillcauseutility billstogounpaid.Employees willnotprovidetheirservices onacreditbasis.Theyexpect tobepaidinaccordancewith theircontractualarrangement withtheorganisation.
1.1CashSales
Mostorganisationsprefer thatcustomerspaythefull priceforgoodsandservices immediately.Whencustomerspayimmediately,the organisationisnotrequired tofollowupwiththosecustomers.
Somecustomersdonot liketopurchaseitemson credit.Theyprefertosave theirmoneyandmakepurchasesonlywhentheycan affordthem.However,while thesepotentialcustomersare waitingtoacquirethefunds,
theycannotbenefitfromthe product.
Whencustomersmake cashpurchases,theyare sometimesentitledtodiscounts.Theymayalsowin thefavourofsomebusinesses,sincethosebusinesses receivecashimmediatelyfor thegoodsandservicessold. Businessesneedcashtomake investments,restockmaterialsorprovidemoreservices.
Notallorganisationshave sufficientcashtoruntheir businesses.Theymaydependonhavingcashtopay
theirsuppliers,settlealltheir expensesandstilloffercredit tocustomersforasustained period.
Severalsoleproprietors struggletosettledebtsdue tolimitedfunds.Therefore, theywillnotengageincredit sales,astheyneedallthe cashtheycangettoreplenish theirstocksandcoverany immediateexpenses.
1.2ShouldOrganisations
OfferCreditto Customers?
Someorganisationspre-
ferthatcustomerspurchase goodsandservicesoncredit. Thiswillallowtheseorganisationstochargecustomers interestonthevalueofgoods andservicespurchasedunder creditarrangements.
Notallpotentialcustomershavethecashtomake immediatepayments,soofferingcreditoptionsgives themaccesstothegoodsand servicestheyneednow.
Organisationswillalso increasetheiroverallsales whentheyoffercreditto TURNTOPAGEX
CultureandtheArt ofUnderstanding
THEdialogueofculture revolvesaroundtheterritoryofmultiplefunctional realmsofideasthatwill envelopusandthatwe willlearnfrom,through vexationsandregrets.
Butitisinthelearning spherethatweshallrise torespecttheotherculture andtrulyunderstandwhy theinnerrefrainurgedyou tohesitate.Cultureisan
instinctivemassivedebate, thatinvitesyouin,mostof usseektobelong,resisting theintuitwhispers,that enforcestheimaginationto notexplore;thatpointstoa resistanceagainstthecompellingmoment,thatwhen youresistoverthepassage oftimeyouwillevenpray, ifyou’reareligiousperson youwillbegratefulfor avoidingtheurgencyof
aplanthatwasclothedin possiblesuccess,thatwas indeedadimenticement, towardsahauntingeverlastingregret.It’sallabout thecultureofthings,and thebeliefsthatgoverna culturalrealm.
Cultureisnotafixed expression;itisdiverse, andmostofthetime,what wewereraisedinisnot whattheladyorgentleman
you,yoursibling,oryour offspringwillmeetwillbe immediatelycompatible with,thoughtheymayvery wellcometounderstand thecomplexitiesovertime. Cultureevolvesthrough diverseexperiencesacross differenthumancivilisationsonourplanet.Among thesegroups,theremaybe diverseinterpretationsof similarobservations,in-
cludingdietarypreferences, acrossnumeroushistorical backgroundsandexperiences.
Thatiswhy,inmany countrieswithdiversepopulations,somepeoplefill certainrolesanddobetter thanlocals,despitethelowerpayandbanditry.
Ihavealsowrittenthat personsincertainareasof theartsandcraftsshould
meritrespecttodelivertheir platformsintheirowninterestandnotbeignored.It allenvelopestheDialogue ofCultureinaprogressive mood;therearesignificant aspectsandhistoricallearningstobeshared,butof courseithastobeguidedby platformsofcollaboration andnotbyguesswork… itshouldbedone…asthe brothersaid,let’sgetiton…
ManagingAccounts Receivableand...
eligiblecustomers.Potential customerswhoareunableto makecashpurchasesmay enjoytheoptiontopurchase whatevertheyneedandpay later.
Customerswhoreceive creditoftenbecomeloyalto theorganisation.Theybuild goodrelationshipswiththe organisationandmaymake additionalcreditpurchases or,whentheyhavesufficient cash,returntothesameorganisationtomakefurther purchases.
Customersmaypurchase morethanoneitemwhen theyrealisethattheyare entitledtocredit.Theymay discovertheycanrepaythe creditoverashortperiod. Forexample,acustomermay enterafurniturestoreand purchaseatableanddining roomchairsatthesametime. Astheyassesstheirmonthly payments,theyknowthat theywillbeabletorepaythe monthlyinstallmentwithin oneyear.Itwouldbechallengingforthesamecustomertopaythefullamountfor animmediatepurchase.
Evenwealthycustomers maynotalwayshaveallthe
cashtheyneedimmediately. Someofthemusemostof theircashforotherinvestmentsoruseittoincrease theirinventories.Therefore, becausemostofthefundsare tiedupinotherthings,these customerswillwelcome anyopportunitytopurchase goodsorservicesoncredit.
Whenorganisationsoffer credit,theycanattractmore customers.Onecustomer willtellanotherthatcreditis beingofferedatthoseorganisations.Asmorecustomers becomeawareofcreditoptions,theymaychooseto shopwiththoseorganisations becausetheycancollectthe itemsrightawayandpay later.
Whengoodsandservices areexpensive,customers maynothavethecashto purchasethem.Purchasing housesandvehiclesisexpensiveformanypotential customers.However,ifthe housesandvehiclesareavailablethroughthecreditoption,morecustomerswillbe abletoseethemselvesasnew homeownersorvehicleowners.Organisationalowners consideringofferingcredit
tocustomersmustremember theyhavethepowertodecidewhethertodoso.They alsohavetheopportunityto determinethecreditperiod forwhichtheywilloffer credit.Beforeofferingcredit, theymustcarefullyevaluate eachcustomer,andifthey aresatisfiedthatapotential customeriseligible,theycan extendcredit.Therepayment durationforthecustomeris crucialandmustbecarefully decidedupon.Withalonger duration,theorganisation mayattractmoreinterest,but itmayberiskiertocollect outstandingbalancesfrom customersovertime.
1.3CreditSalesIgnite AccountsReceivable Withcreditsales,organisationsdelivergoods andservicesandcollect paymentatalaterdate. Theoutstandingbalance fromcreditcustomersconstitutestheorganisation’s accountsreceivable.Cash salesdonotaffectaccounts receivablebecausethe goodsandservicesreceived bythecustomerarepaidin fullimmediately.
AQUAINT LITTLE HOUSE
“Iamhome.”
ANexhilaratingfeeling filledAmber’sbeingasshe steppedoutofthecarand lookedatthesmallhouse whereshehadlivedasa child.
Itdidnotlookoldand worn;itwasjustthesame beautifullittlehousethatshe hadneverstoppedthinking ofovertheyearsshehad beengone,asthoughitwas waitingforher.
Heruncle,whohad broughtherfromtheairport, unloadedherbags,andshe lookedathimandaskedquietly,“How?”
Hesmiledandanswered, “Youhavebeenhelpingthe familyalotfromoverseas, andsinceweknowhow muchthishousemeansto you,Idecidedtocareforit foryou.”
TearsmistedinAmber’s eyes,andshesmiled,“Thank yousomuch.”
Shetookadeepbreath asshewalkedupthesteps, rememberingthesimplelife thereinthecountryside,the laughterandjoy.Shehad heldontothosememories sincethedaysheleftwith hermothertoliveoverseas, lookingbackonelasttimeat thelittlehouseandhertearful grandmother.
“Iwillbeback,”shehad criedquietly.
Shehadbeentenyears oldthen,caredforbyher grandmothersinceshewas two,whenhermotherhad lefttoseekabetterlifein
America.
“Somebondsarenever meanttobebroken,”shestatedtoherselfwithanintense feeling.
Anewhome,anew school,andanewlifewere atoughtransitionforher, butshewasastrong-willed girlwhobelievedinherself andworkedhardtowardsher goals.Shegraduatedfrom highschoolwithtophonours, thenattendedcollegeand university,andfinallyjoined alawfirm.
Shehadoftensentmoney hometohergrandmotherfor herupkeepfromthepart-time jobsshehadworkedwhileat college,becausesheknew shewouldreturnhomeone day.
Andtodaywasthatday. Hermotherhadtriedto persuadehernottoreturn hometoGuyana,buttostay andbuildamorepromisingfutureinNewYork,but Amberhadmadeplansyears agotoreturnbecauseofher deeploveforhercountryand homeinthecountryside.
Sheopenedthedoorand inhaledtheagedaura.Butthe homelinesswasstillthere, withthequiltedsofacoveringsandafloralvaseonthe centretable,justwaitingfor abunchoffreshflowers.On thewallwasaframedpictureofBuster,thepetdog, andSpice,thecat.Grandma hadtwofaithfulcompanions whostayedwithheruntil theygrewoldandcrossed
the‘rainbowbridge’.Not longafter,shehadlefttoofor God’shome.
Amberstoodtherein frontoftheportraitonthe wallofthebeautifulwoman withawarmsmileanda twinkleinhereyes.
Tearswelledinhereyes againasshelookedather, andtouchingtheportrait,she saidquietly,“Youweresupposedtowaitformyreturn.”
Butshehadpassedaway peacefullyonenightwhen Amberwasinthemiddle ofexams.Ithadgrievedher heartdeeplythatshecould notbetheretopayherrespectstothewomanwho meantsomuchtoher.
“ButIfulfilledmypromise,Icameback.”
Shesleptthatnightin thehouseinheroldroom,in blissfulsleep,intheembrace ofsomanyfondmemories.
Thenextday,shevisited hergrandmother’sgravein thechurchyard,placinga bouquetofcarnationsonher grave.
“Yourlegacy,Iwillkeep aliveinmyheart,”shesaid toher.“AndIwillestablish acharitableorganisationin yournametohelpthepoorer classofpeople.”
Asthedaysandweeks wentbyandshesettled down,familymemberswho cametohelpherurgedherto pulldowntheoldhouseand buildanew,modernstructure thatwouldsuitherstatusasa younglawyer.
Shealwaysshookher headwithapatientsmile.“If Ido,thenI’llloseallofthe preciousmemories.”
Inthemonthsthatfollowed,shetravelledtodiffer-
entpartsofthecountry,and shesaweverywherebeautifullydesignedhouses,from moderatetoposh,charming andelegant,butwhatshe lovedmost,theonesthat spoketoherheart,werethe small,neathousesthatembodiedcosinessandwarmth. Therainynightsshe lovedthemost,snuggling TURNTOPAGEXV
AFEWyearsago,ifsomeonehadtoldmethatIwas theuniverseexperiencing itselfthroughawoman fromGuyanawhoenjoys poetry,gardening,babies, dogs,andentirelytoomuch food,Iwouldhavesmiled politelyandwonderedexactlywhattheyhadbeen puttingintheirtea.
Thenlifestartedasking thebiggerquestions,andit reallyhasafascinatingway ofdoingso.Itallowsyouto
spendyearsbelievingyou areaseparatelittlecreature navigatingagiantworld,and thenonedayithandsyou amomentsoprofoundthat yourentireunderstandingof yourselfbeginstoshift.
Asunrisefeelsdifferent, aconversationfeelsdeeper,a treesuddenlylookslesslike landscapingandmorelike alivingmiraclethatsomehowfiguredouthowtoturn sunlightintoexistence.The realisationofallofthissitsat
theheartofthisweek’spoem, ‘TheUniverseinI’.
Mostofusspendour livesintroducingourselves withlabels.Weintroduce ourselvesthroughournames, careers,nationalities,politicalopinions,relationshipstatusandeducational achievements.
Webecomeaccountants, teachers,engineers,reporters,mothers,fathers,husbands,wives,entrepreneurs andexperts.Thoselabels
serveapurpose,butthey onlydescribethecostume; theyrarelydescribetheactor wearingit.
PsychologistCarlJung spentmuchofhiscareerexploringthatdistinction.Jung believedeveryhumanbeing carriedadeeperselfbeneath thepersonalitypresentedto theworld.Heunderstoodthat peopleoftenspenddecades developinganidentitywhile searchingforsomething largerthanidentityitself. Heoncewrote,“Wholooks outside,dreams;wholooks inside,awakes.”
Thisawakeninghasappearedthroughouthuman history.AncientHinduphilosophydescribestheindividualself,knownasAtman, asanexpressionofagreater universalrealitycalledBrahman.
Taoistteachingsdescribe lifeasparticipationinalivingflowthatmovesthrough allthings.Mysticsfrom countlesstraditionsspeak ofmomentswhenseparation dissolves,andconnectionbecomesobvious.Thenscience arrivedandmadetheconversationevenmoreinteresting.
AlbertEinsteinfamously describedthefeelingofseparationasakindofoptical illusionofconsciousness. Hebelievedthathumanbeingsexperiencethemselves asseparatefromtherestof existence,whilerealityitselfoperatesasaconnected whole.Thestatementsounds remarkablyspiritualfora manwhosedayjobinvolved rewritinghumanity’sunderstandingofspaceandtime.
Themoresciencelearns abouttheuniverse,themore extraordinaryexistencebecomes.
Astronomersnowunderstandthatmanyofthe elementsinsidethehuman bodyoriginatedinsideancientstars.Thecalciumin yourbones,theironinyour bloodandtheoxygenyou breatheallemergedfrom
cosmicprocessesthatbegan billionsofyearsago.Every personwalkingthrougha supermarketarguingabout thepriceoftomatoescarries theremainsofexploding starsinsidetheirbody.Ifthis factalonedoesn’tdeservea momentofappreciation,then nothingdoes.
Sothepoembelowexploresthatsenseofconnectionthroughsimpleobservations.Thetreesbecomealive, thewindfeelsfamiliar,and strangersbegintofeelless likestrangers.
Allofthismeansthat theboundariesseparating lifeintoneatlittlecategories starttosoften,andtheworld becomeslessmechanicaland morerelational.
SpiritualteacherSadhguruoftenspeaksaboutthis shiftinperception.Heexplainsthatpeopleexperience greatereasewhentheysee themselvesaspartoflife ratherthanseparatefrom it,inwhichconnectionexpandsawareness,awareness expandsperspective,and perspectiveexpandspeace. Theexpansioncanchange thewaypeopleexperience everydaylife.
Apersonwhofeelsconnectedtoexistenceapproacheschallengesdifferently. Theneedforconstantcomparisonisbeginningtolose itsgrip.Theobsessionwith statusstartslookingslightly ridiculous.Agreatdealof unnecessarysufferingleaves throughthefrontdoorwhen perspectiveentersthrough theback.
Thepoemeventuallyarrivesatoneofitscentralinsights:“Thestarsthemselves havecomethisfar,toknow whathumanfeelingsare.”
Ilovethatideabecause ittransformsordinarylife intosomethingsacred.Everylaugh,everytear,every friendship,everyheartbreak, everylessonandeveryact ofkindnessbecomespart ofamuchlargerstory.The
experienceofbeinghuman becomesmeaningfulinits ownright.
TeacherEckhartTolle oftenremindspeoplethat presencecreatesaccesstolife asitactuallyexists.Presence allowsapersontoexperiencerealitydirectlyinstead ofthroughendlessmental commentary.
Apresentmomentcontainsextraordinaryrichness. Aconversationbecomes deeper,amealtastesbetter,a walkfeelsrestorative,solife beginsfeelinglivedrather thanmanaged.
Thepoemcloseswiththe realisationthatconsciousness itselfmaybefarlargerthan theindividualpersonality.It isanideathatcarriesboth humilityandwonder.Ahumanbeingremainsimportant whilealsoparticipatingin somethinginfinitelylarger. Itisahealthybalancein whichhumilitykeepstheego grounded,andwonderkeeps thesoulalive.
Perhapsthatisthereal invitationhiddeninsidethe poem.Lifeofferseverypersonanopportunitytolook beyondthelabels,thefears, theachievementsandthe storiestheycarryaboutthemselves.Lifeoffersanopportunitytoparticipateconsciouslyinexistencerather thanmerelypassthroughit.
Afterall,theuniverse spentbillionsofyearsarrangingstars,planets,oceans, mountains,trees,andliving creaturesuntil,oneday,it producedaspeciescapable ofaskingquestionsabout itself.Thatseemsfartoo remarkabletoexperienceon autopilot.
Perhapswearemorethan justnames.Perhapsweare morethanjustprofessions, morethanacollectionof memoriesandplans.Perhaps weareexisting,becoming awareofourselvesthrougha uniquelyhumanpairofeyes. Honestly,thatsoundsa TURNTOPAGEXIV
WhatIsInformation?
BYmostscholarlyaccounts, theconceptofinformation isnotoriouslydifficultto define.Definitionsvaryso widelyfromonescientist ortheoristtoanotherthat thedisagreementscanappearalmostschizophrenic intheirinconsistency.The reasonforthisdiversity seemstobethatinformationisoftendefinedbythe contextinwhichitisused acrossdifferentfieldsof inquiry.
Becausethereisnosingle mathematicallydefinitive formulationthatdecisively invalidatesallcompeting interpretations,amultitude ofdefinitionspersists;toask, therefore,“Whatisinformation?”immediatelyinvites asecondquestion:inwhat context?Ifthecontextistextual—andonemayarguethat thereisnocontextwithout text—andthefieldisLibrary andInformationScience, theninformationmaybedefinedquitedifferentlythanit wouldbeinphysics,computerscience,literarystudiesor communicationtheory.
Onecanhardlydisagree withthepropositionthat informationiswhatinformationdoes;thatis,itsmost salientdefinitionliesinits modeoffunction,itspurposeanditsreasonforbeing acrossitsmanyformsofexistence:image,idea,allegory, prose,poetry,speech,symbol andcode.Apoemaboutmangoesisnotaboutthefescue lawnsoftheAmericanSouthwest.Meaningisdirectedby intentionandcontext.Few thingscommunicatetheir functionmoreimmediately thanatitle.
TheOrderofThings, forexample,announcesits subjectwithrelativeclarity,whileTheLighthouse, whetherapproachedliterallyormetaphorically,still centresupontheimageand symbolicsignificanceofthe lighthouseitself—metaphor andallegorysimilarlypresent informationthroughsymboliccomparisonandrepresentation.Thetraditional
imageofDeath—skeletal, hooded,carryingascythein onehandandacressetinthe other—isapowerfulallegoricalembodimentofanidea; evenachildmayrecognise theinformationconveyedby thesymbol.
Theargumentthatinformationisdefinedbywhatit doesfindsperhapsitsclearest realisationinmoderncomputingapplications,whose functionsconstitutetheir veryreasonforexistence: theflashlightapplication, theGPSapplication,the OnlinePublicAccessCatalogue(OPAC)application, theheart-ratemonitor.In eachcase,informationis inseparablefromutilityand operation.
Themultiplicityofdefinitionsisthereforelargelyalliedwithcontextand meaning.Meaningitselfmay beallusive,symbolic,abstract,culturallyembedded orinaccessibletoaparticularreaderunfamiliarwith theassumptionsthatgovern interpretation.Theproblem, then,isthatitisdifficultto formulateasingledefinition forsomethingthatpotentially concernseverything.
Informationrelatesto cultureasmuchasculture hasbeendescribedas“everythingwedo”withinsociety. Information,correspondingly,maybeunderstood astherecord—recordedor unrecorded—ofeverything donewithinsuchasociety. Livinggeneratesinformation; dyinggeneratesinformation. Anepitaphisinformation, asisaeulogy,atombstone orastele.
LucianoFloridi,citing DonaldMacKayandGregoryBateson,notesthatinformation“isadistinction thatmakesadifference” (MacKay)and“adifference thatmakesadifference” (Bateson).Suchformulationssuggestthatinformation emergesnotmerelyfromthe existenceofdata,butfrom meaningfuldifferentiation. Aprudentpointofdepartureindefininginfor-
mationmaythereforebeto identifywhatitisnot.Such aprocessresemblesakind ofconceptualtriage:ruling outinadequatedefinitionsto approachamoreusefulone. Arudimentarydefinition mightclaimthatinformation isfundamentallyfact-based, butthisispersuasiveonly withinanempiricalframeworkwheretruthandverificationareparamount.Thisis clearlyinsufficientinliterary orartisticcontexts.
Imagesandideas—the foundationofpoetryand fiction—arerarelyconcerned withfactualrepresentation alone;rather,theyoftendependupontransformation, disguiseandsymbolicdisplacement.
Figurativelanguagedeliberatelyaltersthefactualnatureoftheobjectsit represents.Asimplemetaphorsuchas“thatmanisa mountain”doesnotclaim literaltruth;instead,ittransfersqualitiesassociatedwith mountains—strength,size, enduranceandimmovability—tothemaninquestion. Moreelaboratemetaphors, conceitsandkenningsoperatesimilarly.Theinformation conveyedbysuchdevices bearslittlerelationshipto scientificfact,yetremains profoundlymeaningfulwithinliteraryorpoetictruth.To personifythesunandsaythat itsmilesisfantasticalandantitheticaltoempiricism,yetit remainsintelligibleandevocativeaspoeticinformation.
Thissuggeststhatinformation,initsinnumerable permutations,permitscontinualredefinitionaccording totheneedsofscientific, artisticorsocialinquiry.Such flexibilitydoesnotimplythat alldefinitionsareequally valid,onlythatvalidityitself isoftendeterminedbydisciplinarycontext.
Informationmayalso beunderstoodasinherently self-referential—thatis,as metadata.Yetthisdefinition risksexcessiveabstraction, possessingsomethingofthe “artforart’ssake”quality
thatneglectstheindispensableroleofagencyandcreation.Informationdoesnot merelyexistindependently; itisgenerated,interpreted andcontextualisedbyminds.
Perhapsinformation mightultimatelybeanythingsaid,done,thought, imagined,recordedorinferred—orevennothingness itself.Absencecansignifyas muchaspresence.Ablank pagecommunicatesdifferentlyfromawrittenone,but bothcommunicate.Floridi’s exampleoftheblankpageillustratespreciselythispoint:
thereisnotrueabsenceof information,becauseeven silence,emptinessoromissionmayitselfbemeaningful.Theclaimthatthereis “noinformation”isalready informational.
Forthestudentofliterature,informationoftenconcernssymbolicrepresentation:themeansbywhichone thingstandsinforanother. Synecdocheallowsapartto representawhole;acronyms condensecomplexentities intoabbreviatedsigns.Even thefracturedsyntaxoftext messagingconstitutesatrans-
formationofinformationalform.Entiresystemsof languagemaythemselves becomesymbolicartefacts, asinEgyptianhieroglyphsor cuneiforminscriptions.
Anilluminatingillustrationofthecomplexity ofinformationalmeaning appearsintheStarTrek:The NextGenerationepisode “Darmok”,featuringPaul Winfield.Intheepisode, thealienTamarianlanguage communicatesalmostentirelythroughmetaphorand culturalreference.Literal TURNTOPAGEXIV
TheUniverse...
lotmoreinterestingthan beinganotherstressed-out mammalcheckingnotifications.Hereisthatpoem.
TheUniverseinI IusedtothinkI Walkedthroughspace, Alonelymaninaborrowed place. Amind,aname,afleeting breath, Justpassingtimeonroads todeath.
Butsomethingstirredone silentnight, Andcrackedapartmyinward sight. Avoicelikethunderwrapped incalm Placedburningstarsintomy palm.
Itsaid,Youarenotjustaman Tryingtounderstandthe span. Youarethecosmosdressed inskin, Theendlesslearningfrom within.
Iwatchedthemoondissolve thesea, Andsomethingancientwoke inme. Thetreesnolongerlooked likewood, Butveinswherelivingspirit stood.
Thewindnolongerfeltapart, Itmovedlikebreathinside myheart. Andeverystrangerpassing by Feltlikeforgottenpartsof “I.”
ThenGodsaidsoftly,Look again,
Theuniversehasalways been Athousandforms,athousandfaces, Adanceofsoulsthrough timeandspaces.
Andnowforjustamoment, brief, Throughjoyandwonder, loveandgrief, Thestarsthemselveshave comethisfar, Toknowwhathumanfeelingsare.
Iweptbeneaththeendless skies, Withgalaxiesbehindmy eyes. Forallmylife,Ifearedthe end, Notknowingdeathitselfcan bend.
Becausetheriverneverdies, Itchangesshapebeneaththe skies. Andwearenotsmalldrops alone, Wearetheseapretending bone.
SonowIwalkthisearth moreslow, Likesomeonefinallylearninghome. Nolongertrappedinsidea name, Nolongerchainedtofearor shame.
ForIamnotjustfleshand breath Marchingunconsciousinto death; Iamtheuniverseawake, Experiencingitselfforheaven’ssake.
RomellaDasratt
WhatIs...
translationfailsbecausewhat issaidisnotidenticaltowhat ismeant.Meaningdepends uponsharednarrativesand symbolicassociations.The episodedemonstratesthe profoundgapbetweendata andsemanticunderstanding: languageisnotmerelythe transmissionoffacts,butthe communicationofculturally encodedmeaning.
AsFloridiremarksinThe PhilosophyofInformation, “informationisaconceptual labyrinth”.Sotoo,inevitably, isitsdefinition. Whatemergesfromthese considerationsistherecognitionofawidegulfbetween dataandmeaning.What isspokenorwrittenisnot necessarilyidenticaltowhat isunderstood.Asemantic conceptionofinformation maythereforecomeclosesttocapturingitsessence, becauseinformationalmost
alwaysinvolvestheshaping, shiftingandnegotiationof meaningaccordingtopurposeandcontext.
Inthissense,information becomesinseparablefrom humaninquiryitself.ThomasKuhn’sunderstanding ofparadigmsandMichel Foucault’sreflectionson discoursebothsupportthe notionthatdefinitionsarise fromsystemsofthought shapedbylanguage,cultureandinstitutionalpractice.Foucault,particularly, emphasisesthepowerof languagetocreate,define, classifyandorderreality. Definitionsareproductsof discourse;theydonotexist outsideit.
Themultiplicityofdefinitionsforinformationmay thereforereflectnotconceptualfailure,butrather theinexhaustibleflexibility oflanguageitself.
AQUAINT LITTLE...
FROM PAGE XI
betweenthesoft,fragrant sheetsandbeinglulledto sleepbythegentlesoundsof windandrain.Inthemorning,ahotcupofcoffeesent warmththroughherbody, andshesighedwithsatisfaction.
Thesimplicityoflife.
Hermother,whohad cometovisittoseehowshe wasdoing,hadprepareda lightbreakfastthatAmber atebeforegettingdressed forwork.Shehadquitea fewcasesindifferentcourts today.Shehadgainedareputationasabrilliantyoung
lawyerandwasbecoming recognisedforhersocialand charitablework.Shebecame arolemodelforyounggirls andreachedouttohelptroubledteenagersandsingle mothers.
Somedaysshefeltso tiredthatshebarelymanaged totakearefreshingbathbeforestumblingintobed.
Onenight,asshewas relaxinginfrontoftheTV, watchingoneofherfavouriteseries,hermotherasked, “Well?”
Amberlookedatherabit inquiringly.
“Well,what?”
“Haveyoumetanyone interestingasyet?”
“Oh,Mom,”shegroaned. “Areyougoingtostartwith thatagain?”
“Yes,becauseyou’re givingsomuchofyourself tohelpingothersandnot keepingalittleofyourself foryou.”
“Don’tworry,”shesaid withateasingsmile.“Maybe onedayhewillwalkinto mylife.”
Hermothershookher headinmockfrustration.
Amberstayeduplate
watchingTVbecausethe nextdaywasaholiday,and shesnuggledagainstthe cushionswithatiredsigh.
“IguessIshouldreally takeadayoffforme.”
Sheawokelatethenext morningandhadaleisurely, heartybreakfast.Anhourlater,oneofherfriends,Ashley, calledtoinviteheroutfor lunchinthecitywithtwo otherfriends.
“Ijustwantedtorelaxat hometoday,”Amberexcused herself.
“No,”Ashleyinsisted. “Youneedalittleouting, whichwouldberelaxing.I’ll sendmydriver.”
“Darn,”Amberexpressed toherself.
Butthedayturnedout fineandquiteenjoyableat theMarriott.Afterlunch, theysatatthebarhavinga coupleofdrinks,enjoying girltalkandquietlylaugh-
ingwhenBrianna,oneof thefriends,exclaimed,“Oh, wow.”
“What?”theotherwomenlookedather.
“Threeguyswithclassic goodlooksandawesome bodiesjustwalkedin.”
“Herewego,”Amber saidwithalittlelaughbecauseBriannahadanaffectionforgood-lookingguys withgreatbodies.
Sheandtheotherfriends gavetheguysattheotherend ofthecounterglances,and theyallagreedwithBrianna.
Amberdidnotshowinterestbecauseshedidnot wanttobeapproachedby anyone.
“Ilikemyquietand peacefullifeinmylittle house,”washerthought. “MaybesometimelaterI canshowsomeinterestin someone.”
“Theoneattheendhas
beenlookingyourway,” Briannatoldher.“Ithinkhe likesyou.”
Amberturnedtolook and,surelyenough,hiseyes methers.Itwasabriefmomentasheraisedhisdrinking glasstoherwithacasual smile,abriefmomentthat toldherthesekindsofthings dohappenwhenastranger walksintoyourlife.
Shesighed,knowingshe wasnotready.
“I’llwaitforthatday sothatitcanbeperfect. Fornow,it’smyjob,social workandmylittlehouse.”
STUDYSUCCESS
Dearstudent, Welcome.Staycommitted torevisingconsistently. Usepositiveaffirmations tokeepyourselfmotivated.
Forexample:a)Myconcentrationhasimprovedsignificantly,andwhenitslips, Iknowhowtoregainit.b) Iexpectexcellentresults, andIamstudyingwiththat goalinmind.Thatishow focusedIam.Student,step awayfromanxiety,especiallywhenitcomesfrom lovedones,andremember thateffectivestudyrequires focus.Bewise.
Withlove.
IMPROVINGWRITING
Developingafirst-person recountnarrative
Reminder(1):Afictionalnarrativetellsanimagined storyratherthanafactual one.Itdrawsonhuman themesandemotionstoexpressthewriter’smessageor truth.Itsplotisdesignedfor characterstomovethrougha centralconflict,challenge,or problemthatdrivesthestory forward.
Reminder(2):Apersonalaccountisafirst-person recountofaparticularincidentorencounterintended toconvinceorpersuadethe readertothinkinacertain way.Itisnarrativeinnature.
Thiskindofessayhelps thewritertodiscovermeaningofhisownpastandshare itwithothers.Thewritten formthenhastwoperspectives:hisperspectiveinthe
presentandhisperspective inthepastatthetimeofthe experience.
Sequenceofeventsand importantdetailsaretwoparticularlyimportantreference pointersinthiswrittenform.
Reminder(3):Descriptioniswritingthathelpsthe readerclearlyimaginewhat isbeingdescribed.Ituses strongsensorydetails,when needed,toappealtothesenses—forexample,thesweet smellofripemangoes,the roughbarkofatree,orthe loudcrashofthunder.
Italsoshowsthefeelings aperson,place,orthingcreatesinthewriter—forexample,alonelyhousemaymake thewriterfeeluneasy,while abeachatsunsetmaybringa senseofpeace.
Nowreadtheexcerpt below.
Abruptlyhefelltosearchingforthewordsasshe(Sophia)wantedtohear.“She hasagracefulneck,auburn hair,sobereyes.She’sclean articulate,thoughshy-.”He lookedsidewaysather.“I thinkyou’lllikeher.”
“WhetherIlikeherornot isunimportant.”
“Shewillproducehealthy children,”headded,“-somethingthatyourthreeoffspringhavethusfarbeen unabletodo.”
Shecontinuedtofrown athim.Thenapparentlyas wearyoftheencounterashe was,sheconcluded,“then youwishmetospeakto bannswiththePowelses?”
“Whynot?”hereplied hurriedly,“Iratherthought thatwasthepointofallthis.”
Shenodded,asolemn lookuponherface,assad andpreoccupiedastheone shehadarrivedwith…She hadcooledtowardhim…He couldnotspeakofpassionate love.
Ofcourse,hewasyet tomeettheyoungwoman, Harriette,whomheencounteredonlyatcountryhouse parties…Now,thinking ontheshy,timid,rather stern-lookinggirl,hedoubted seriouslyiftherewasasingle impulseinherentirepersonalitywhichwouldinall honestybecalledpassionate.
WorkwiththePassage
1.Sayyouarethe“he” characterintheextract.Who isSophia?Writeapersonal accountofyourexperience meetingher(Sophia)onthis pointofgraveimportanceto youandthefamily.Capture themoodofbothcharacters toimpressyourreader.
2.Studywhatlittleor muchissaidabouttheyoung woman,Harriette,thatthe malecharacterisplanning tobringintohisfamily,and
thendescribeher.Makeher becomealivetogainyour reader’sapproval.
READING:Readingto supportpredictions
Yousupportyourpredictionsinreadingbymeans ofusingcluesasyouread Readersusecluesfromthe text,alongwithwhatthey alreadyknow,toanticipate whatmayhappennext.
Thisactiveprocessturns readingintoanengaging “guessinggame,”improves understanding,strengthens memory,andhelpsmaintain focus.Predictioninreadingis animportantcomprehension skill.
Twomainelementsare usedtobuildpredictions,not justguessingatrandom:(1) textualcluessuchastitles, headings,illustrations,charts, newvocabulary,andestablishedplotevents.(2)prior knowledgewherethereader usespersonalexperiences, backgroundknowledge,and understandingofhowdifferenttypesofstoriesortexts work.
Theseelementsyouwill coverbefore,during,and afterreadingthetext.
Directions:Readtheselection.Then,answerthe questionsthatcomeafter.
Ericshiftedthegearson hisnewten-speedbike.He hadsavedhismoneyfora wholeyear,andnowhewas
finallyridingitforthefirst time.
Ashecruiseddownthe street,hisfriend,Travis,ran outofhishouse.Oh,no, thoughtEric.Helikedand trustedTravis,butTraviswas alwaysaskingforfavours.I amnotgoingtogiveintoday, Ericdecidedfirmly.
“Wow!Coolbike!”Travisshouted.“Hey,”hesaid, eyeingthebikehopefully “CanIaskyousomething?”
1.WhatdoyouthinkTraviswilldonext?(A)simply turnbackinside(B)askto borrowEric’sbaseball(C) asktoridethebike(D)run offwiththebike
2.Whatcluesupports yourprediction?(A)Travis doesnothaveabikeofhis own.(B)Travislikesthe bikeandalwaysasksfor favours.(C)Travisisnot likedbyEric.(D)Travisis untrustworthyandmean.
3.WhatdoyouthinkEric willdonext?(A)rideaway withoutansweringTravis (B)lookbackandcallforhis mother(C)refusetolend hisbiketoTravis(D)let Travisridehisbike
4.Whatcluessupport yourprediction?(A)Eric dislikesTravisanddoesnot trusthim.(B)Ericlikes Travisbutistiredofdoing favours.(C)Ericisnow gettingtoknowTravis.(D) Ericfeelsguiltyabouthis decision.
Dentistry’sworstenemy
THEuniversalenemyof oralhealthhasessentiallybeenelucidatedbythe equation:germsplussugar equalsacidproduction. Theseacidscandissolve enamelaswellastoothrootstructureandresultin cavities(technically,acariouslesion).Althoughtooth decayisafactoflife,with norecordshowingthatany adulthumanhasneversufferedfromtoothdecay,we knowthatthereisevidence thatsomepeoplearemore resistantthanothers.
Sinceeffectivebrushing andflossingarecriticalto controllingdentaldecayin susceptibleindividuals,I wanttodetourbrieflyto discussthecausesandpreventionoftoothdecay.Of course,everyonewhoreads thiscolumnshouldrealise bynowthatthesecrettooral
healthistheeffectivecontrolofdentalplaque.Now, threeelementsneedtobein placebeforetoothdecaycan happen:themicro-organismresponsiblefordecay (Streptococcusmutans)must bepresent,asugarorcarbohydrateforS.mutansto metabolisemustbeavailable, andthetoothorteethmust besusceptibleto,orcapable of,decay.
Additionally,thereare threecavity-preventingmeasuresthatthoseofussusceptibletotoothdecaymust taketocombatthisdecay:we mustcontrolplaque,reduce carbohydrates(sugars)inour diet,andmakeourteethmore resistanttodecay.
Eliminating,oratleast drasticallyreducing,tooth decayiscertainlyrelatively easy,althoughittakesalittle effort.Properbrushingand
flossingareofparamount importanceineliminating toothdecayinthecaries-susceptibleindividualbecause, withoutexcellentcontrol ofplaque(thestickystuff containingcavity-causing microorganisms,including S.mutans),cavitiescandevelopinthegrooves(pitsand fissures)ofteeth,inbetween theteeth,onthesidesofthe teeth,atthegummargins (edges)offillings,crowns, orbridges.
Thisdistressesdentists andpatientsalike,sincemuch ofthisrestorativeworkwas donetorepairdamagefrom priordecay,andnewdecay aroundexistingdentalwork israrelyrestoredproperly withapatchworkapproach. Oncethedentisthasdone theirbesttorestoreatooth, thepatientneedstomaintain itwell.
Anobviouswaytoreduce dentaldecayistocutback on,oreveneliminate,sugary drinksfromthediet.Great plaquecontrolisanexcellent waytokeepcavity-causing organismsatlowerlevelsin themouth,butevengreat plaquecontrolisnomatch fortheacidsproducedwhen sixtotwelvesugar-containingsoftdrinksareconsumed everyday;thismuchsugar coatingtheteethsupportsthe astronomicallyfastgrowthof thecavity-causingorganism anditsacids.
Coffeeorteasweetened withsugarwillcreatenever-endingcavitiesinanyone pronetodecay.Theuseof non-sugarsweetenersisrecommendedforthoseatriskof toothdecay.
Rinsingand/orconsumingthreeorfourcupsof greenteadailyfordentalrea-
sonsisagreatideabecauseit inhibitsthegrowthofplaque causedbyS.mutans,destroys thebiofilmthatcoatsteeth andtherestofthemouth (thushelpingtocleanthe mouth),and,becauseofthe fluoridecontentingreentea, actuallymakestheteethmore resistanttoacidsproducedby S.mutans.
Fluoride,initsvarious dentalformulations,isthe thirdmethodutilisedtoreducesusceptibilitytotooth decay(caries)incavity-prone individuals.Iaminmyfifties andhaveonlylostfourteeth, whichIlostasateenager.I ascribeconsiderableprotectivevaluetogreenteaand recommendittomypatients.
Pleasenotethatwhen consuminggreenteaforits cavity-reducingbenefits,itis besttoswisheachmouthful vigorouslytocleansethe
mouthbeforeswallowing.In otherwords,don’tdrinkthe teaasyounormallywould, sincethecleansingaction andtheS.mutansinhibition areimprovedbyhavingtea incontactwiththemouth andteethforlongerperiods oftime.
Finally,myadviceon usinggreenteaistofindone youlikeandkeepitreadily availableatworkandathome soyoucandrinkitregularly. Greenteahasbenefitsthatgo wellbeyondcavities,andyou cantakeadvantageofthem allbydrinkingseveralcups aspartofyourdailyroutine.
Afinalnoteondental decay:makecertainyou haveregulardentalcheckups.Yourdentististhereto helpyoustayhealthy,and regulardentalvisitsoffer thebestchanceofkeeping problemstoaminimum.