BULLETIN!!!!!BULLETIN!!!BULLETIN

Today and tomorrow are the anual sports days at Qiqihar University. We hope you enjoy the photos.

Reporting from Qiqihar , Helilongjiang  , P.R.C.Spacedteacher for Americans In China News Association.

Spacedteacher










This is a slide show of the nature preserve where the famous Qiqihar Red Crowned Crane nests.

With gratitude and in honor and reverence.

Dear Students :

  Since the vast majority of you liked the classes of last week and voiced a desire to have more of that kind of class I am pleased to announce that we will have a new segment of our classes called " Culture Corner " . I will pick a couple of songs every week for us to study. I will underline all the phrases I think you will not understand. Your job will be to learn the meanings of those words and phrases. We will then  discuss them in class. If there are any words or phrases that I have not underlined that you don't know be prepared to discuss those also in class. Both of these songs may also be used as D.D.1. topic choices. I am also adding a new topic to the D.D.1. Topic Choices. As follows : " Attitude Adjustment ". I want to know what famous people or groups of people or perhaps what occupations you think deserve and need an attitude adjustment. As an example I think taxi drivers in Harbin are in need of a severe attitude adjustment. I don't think they have the right to refuse ANY fare. As another example I think many actors and actresses that think they are above the law are in need of a severe attitude adjustment.

  The two songs for next week's Culture Corner are " New Kid In Town " and  " Wasted Time " by The Eagles. The lyrics are below.

New Kid In Town

By The Eagles

Theres talk on the street, it sounds so familiar.
Great expectations, everybodys watching you.
People you meet they all seem to know you,
Even your old friends treat you like youre something new.

Johnny-come-lately, the new kid in town,
Everybody loves you, so dont let them down.

You look in her eyes, the music begins to play.
Hopeless romantics, here we go again.
But after a while youre looking the other way.
Its those restless hearts that never mend.

Johnny-come-lately, the new kid in town,
Will she still love you when youre not around?

Theres so many things you should have told her
But night after night youre willing to hold her,
Just hold her tears on your shoulder.

Theres talk on the street, its there to remind you
That it doesnt really matter which side youre on.
Youre walking away and theyre talking behind you.
They will never forget you till somebody new comes along.

Where you been lately? theres a new kid in town.
Everybody loves him, dont they? now hes holding her
And youre still around, oh my my.
Theres a new kid in town,
Just another new kid in town.

Oo-hoo, everybodys talking bout the new kid in town.
Oo-hoo, everybodys walking like the new kid in town.
Theres a new kid in town I dont want to hear it
Theres a new kid in town I dont want to hear it
Theres a new kid in town
Theres a new kid in town
Theres a new kid in town everybodys talking
Theres a new kid in town people started walking
Theres a new kid in town
Theres a new kid in town (repeat & fade)



Wasted Time

By The Eagles
Well baby, there you stand
With your little head, down in your hand
Oh, my god, you cant believe its happening
Again
Your babys gone, and youre all alone
And it looks like the end.

And youre back out on the street.
And youre tryin to remember.
How will you start it over?
You dont know what became.
You dont care much for a strangers touch,
But you cant hold your man.

You never thought youd be alone this far
Down the line
And I know whats been on your mind
Youre afraid its all been wasted time

The autumn leaves have got you thinking
About the first time that you fell
You didnt love the boy too much, no, no
You just loved the boy to well, farewell
So you live from day to day, and you dream
About tomorrow, oh.
And the hours go by like minutes
And the shadows come to stay
So you take a little something to
Make them go away
And I could have done so many things, baby
If I could only stop my mind from wondrin what
I left behind and from worrying bout this wasted time

Ooh, another love has come and gone
Ooh, and the years keep rushing on
I remember what you told me before you went out on your own:
sometimes to keep it together, we got to leave it alone.
So you can get on with your search, baby, and I can
Get on with mine
And maybe someday we will find , that it wasnt really
Wasted time
Mm,hm
Oh hoo, ooh, ohh,
Ooh,ooh, mm

Dear Students :

   In view of the events of the night of May 8 at approximately 11:30 P.M. I thought it would be wise to provide you with some earthquake survival tips. Described below are some tips from a world acclaimed disaster rescue expert.

  I strongly suggest that you learn them and follow them if we should ever have an earthquake of any appreciable magnitude here in Heilongjiang, This advice will most likely save your life.


The Triangle Of Life

Following is information for surviving an earthquake extracted from an article written by Doug Copp

Mr. Copp is the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake. He has crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and is a member of many rescue teams from many countries. He was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years and has worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985 (except for instances of simultaneous disasters).  In 1996 a film was made which proved his survival methodology to be correct.  The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul, University of Istanbul, Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test.  A school and home were collapsed with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did "duck and cover," and ten mannequins used the "triangle of life" survival method.  After the simulated earthquake collapse researchers entered the building and crawled through the rubble to film and document the results.

The study showed there would have been zero percent survival for those using the duck and cover technique.  It also found there would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using the "triangle of life."

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling
upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space
or void next to them. This space is what is called the "triangle of life".

The larger and stronger the object the less it will compact. The less  the object compacts, the larger the void next to it and the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured.


The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the
"triangles" you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common
shape, you will see in a collapsed building. They are everywhere.

TEN TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

1) Most everyone who simply "ducks and covers" when buildings collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are
crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You
should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You
can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next
to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to
it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an
earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If
the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also,
the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings
will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less
squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll
off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a
much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the
back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor,
next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the
door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a
sofa, or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case,
you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. (The stairs have a different "moment of
frequency" they swing separately from the main part of the building). The
stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until
structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs
before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated.
Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs
are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not
collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by
fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible It
is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the
interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the
building the greater the probability that your escape route will be
blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in
an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened
with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the
San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all
killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying
next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been
able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed
cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had
columns fall directly across them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and
other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids
are found surrounding stacks of paper.

---

---

30 Questions About " The Triangle Of Life " method for earthquake survival.

1) Q : Why is 'it" called the triangle of life?
A: If you look closely at collapsed buildings either in pictures or on TV you will rapidly discover that you see 'triangular spaces' formed throughout collapsed structures. It is as natural and normal as gravity or the 'shape of snowflakes'. They are formed everywhere around objects when buildings collapse.

2) Q: Why has it taken Doug Copp 23 years to eliminate Duck and Cover?
A: If Galileo could come back from the dead he would ask why some people still believe that the earth is the center of the universe, the world is flat, people should be 'bled' to allow demons to escape from the body and man never landed on the moon.

As Schopenhauer, the German Philosopher, said: 'The path of all truth is first to be ridiculed, secondly to be violently opposed and thirdly to be accepted as 'self-evident'.

3) Q: What are the 15 safest places to be in an earthquake? (The places most people survive.)
A: 1) Outside in the middle of a field where nothing can fall on top of you.
2) Outside in the middle of the street where falling glass can't reach you.
3) On a seismic resistant platform such as a boat.
4) On the top floor of a wooden building.
5) On the top floor of a concrete building
6) in the space between 2 large objects (between twin beds, between 2 cars, between 2 rows of desks).
7) Next to an office bank vault or stack of paper.
8) Next to a squashed vehicle
9) At the foot of a bed
10) In front of a hotel lobby counter or bar counter.
11) In front of a sofa.
12) Next to Kitchen Cabinets
13) Next to a big bulky object like a piece of machinery, fridge, stove.
14) Next to a large carrying beam
15) In the subterranean exterior perimeter of a building.

4) Q: Where are the 15 deadliest places to be in an earthquake? (The places where most dead victims are recovered from or simply the most lethal.)
A:
1) Under an object that gets squashed (like a desk, car, bed)
2) Inside of an object that gets squashed (like a car)
3) On top of an object that gets squashed (like a bed or sofa)
4) Inside of an elevator
5) On stairs.
6) More than 10 ft away from the outside of a building and on the ground floor
7) In a brick building less than 10 ft from the outside wall.
8) In a doorway of a collapsed building.
10) On the ground floor of any building.
11) Under a carrying beam.
12) Under an object with a high center of gravity that fell over in the earthquake (like a fridge.
13) The middle decks of highway overpasses.
14) Places that catch fire after collapsing.
15) Places with toxins, chemicals and gases that collapse.

5) Q: What is frequency of moment?
A: This convoluted term is meant to explain the resultant third force from 2 objects which are swinging out of synch with each other. If the swinging lasts long enough and the force of the earthquake is strong enough then the smaller object will break into pieces at the joints and collapse( such as, stairs moving out of synch with the rest of the building.)

6) Q: What do I do in a multi-story building?
A: Be calm; lay down, in a fetal position next to a bed or sofa. When the earthquake has stopped and the building has not collapsed DO NOT MOVE! DO NOT GO TO THE STAIRS! Wait until all the panicked people have fled down the stairs. If the stairs haven't collapsed under all the combined weight of panicked, fleeing people then you know that they will be safe for you to go on. If you can, then wait for an expert to inspect the stairs before putting weight on them.

7) Q: What do I do in a basement?
A: Basements are relatively safe if you are near the outside perimeter of the subterranean area. The center of the basement area is very unsafe. Typically the walls fall outward and downward until the forces reach the subterranean area. At this point the lateral force is stopped by bedrock and is reflected inward. For example: The outside perimeter under the World trade Center had huge voids where thousands of people would have been safe; whereas, the center core area was so pulverized that it crushed the subway car to an inch thick. You can see this video at www.amerrescue.org

8) Q: What do I do on a highway?
A: Pull your car to the side of the road. Do NOT stop under an overpass or something that can fall on your car.

9) Q: What about the glass windows in a multi-story building?
A: Typically, glass is NOT a problem for the people inside the building. (It is like bursting a blown-up paper bag.) The glass blows outward as the air pressure inside of the building increases at the same time as the volume of the space decreases. If you are outside of the building then you should run away from the building into the middle of the street.

10) Q: Where is the deadliest place to be?
A: Most dead people are found squashed under a desk.

11) Q: How dangerous is it to search a collapsed building?
A: According to OSHA: 60% of 'rescuers' are killed going into their first confined space rescue.

12) Q: What are the 10 most important things that I really need in a safety kit? Which are NOT usually found in a emergency kit.
A:
1) Chlorine to purify drinking water (usually there is lots of water; however, it is contaminated from sewer lines and water lines leaking and mixing together.). or O3 Liquid Oxygen purification and energizing and immune system booster drops.
2) Garbage bags (to use to protect your valuables, to cut out arm holes to make a raincoat, to keep your food safe from the weather and rats.)
3) 50 ft of nylon rope (to use to make a tent and other uses)
4) Plastic tarps (to protect your valuables, and to make a tent)
5) A Swiss Army Knife with lots of tools.
6) LED flashlight.
7) A hand crank generating radio,
8) Energy bars in sealed bags
9) Baby wipes.
10) Emergen'c' powered multi-vitamin and mineral powders.

13) Q: Where is the best place to put an earthquake kit?
A: 1) On the roof of your house in a safe box.
2) In the trunk of your car
3) In a shipping container in the middle of your corporate workplace parking lot.

14) Q: What about books falling on you?
A: In 23 years I have never heard of a single individual getting killed by a falling book.

15) Q: What about ceiling fixtures falling on you?
A: They typically stay attached to the ceiling and don't fall away.

16) Q: Who will come to save my family in a major disaster?
A: 1) You. You care more for and will do more for your family than anyone else will.
In a major disaster the local 'forces' are overwhelmed. Do you really expect FEMA to save you?

17) Q: How do people get injured after the earthquake?
A: By falling objects. Solution: spend as much time looking up to see what is above you as you do walking over the rubble and looking at your feet.

18) Q: What do I do after a major earthquake stops?
A: Get ready for the next aftershock. Get in a safe place and stay safe.
Never go back inside of a building until 2 weeks-4 weeks after the initial earthquake.

19) Q: What do rescuers do when a major earthquake occurs?
A: 1) Think about their family.
2) Think about their duty to others.

20) Q: What type of structure is immune from earthquake collapse?
A: None.

21) Q: How come nobody told us to stop going under doorways?
A: If somebody who had been telling you to go under doorways actually told you not to do it anymore then they would have to admit that they made a mistake and expose themselves to liability.

22) Q: What happens when schools collapse?
A: The legs snap when the ceiling falls on the desks. The ceiling doesn't break up because there are so many points of support. The ceiling stays intact and the weight snaps all the legs. You are left with rows of crushed desks and rows of wide open aisles to be safe in and escape to the outside by crawling through.

23) Q: How do I understand what an earthquake is?
A: Think of an earthquake as 2 extremely large misshapen and rough edged objects sliding past each other.. Sometimes they get 'hooked' or caught up together until the forces pulling one object and pushing the other object make them break free. This built up force that is released is the initial earthquake. The forces which continue until the 'rough' area has been completely cleared are aftershocks. Remember an earthquake is NOT a single seismic event. It is a period of time ( usually less than a month) when you can have hundreds if not thousands of aftershocks. Most of these aftershocks are tiny; however, you can have a larger aftershock than the initial earthquake. Stay outside and safe. Go on vacation.

24) Q: How do I understand the 'force' of an earthquake?
A: There are many hundreds of elements which determine how much force an earthquake will actually bring to your structure. A smaller magnitude earthquake can cause more damage than a larger magnitude earthquake if the smaller earthquake is closer to you or not as deep. Earthquakes under the Ocean have a lot of their energy absorbed by the Ocean itself. The type of soil is very important and the underground formations can cause earthquake energy to be amplified or even deflected from your area. I could write a book on this.

26) Q: What about terrorist explosions?
A: The survivors are found in survivable voids (triangles of life) on the opposite side of the objects as the blast center.

27) Q: What about collapsed buildings in landslides?
A: If the building is collapsed and covered by the dirt or rocks of a landslide then you will survive in the same triangle of life or survivable voids; however, you must have air to breath. Plumbing pipes and other conduit can provide Oxygen to the victims trapped inside of the landslide; however, it is much more difficult for the rescuers to locate entry points into the buried ruble. You can see video of Doug Copp searching inside of collapsed buildings buried under a landslide at www.amerrescue.org

28) Q: What is the most important thing for a 'rescuer' to have after a major earthquake?
A: Have piece of mind that your family is safe because you told everyone about the triangle of life and the things you learned from this video, power point presentation and manual. This is necessary in order to do your duty to others than your family.

29) Q: What is the most important thing a survivor or rescuer needs immediately before and after a major earthquake?
A: Before: Purchase a 'Quake Alarm' device which does for earthquakes what smoke detectors do for fires. It will give you enough warning of an earthquake for you to take action to save your life. It sounds the alarm as a result of the non lethal pre-destructive waves; thereby, warning you before the building starts to collapse. For less than $20, it has already saved the lives of an entire school of children. www.amerrescue.org After: Proper attitude: Be calm, be patient, be focused and pay attention (This is just the beginning of the ordeal.)

30) Q: What is the most important thing that you have learned from your experiences at major disasters throughout the world?
A: All people look the same when they are squashed under a desk.

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Most experts would agree that you should have the following emergency supplies available.

1. Fire extinguisher


2. Adequate supplies of medications that you or family members are taking


3. Crescent and pipe wrenches to turn off gas and water supplies


4. First-aid kit and handbook


5. Flashlights with extra bulbs and batteries


6. Portable radio with extra batteries


7. Water for each family member for at least two weeks (allow at least 1 gallon per person per day) and purification tablets or chlorine bleach to purify drinking water from other sources.{ Remember canned fruits and vegetables are usually packed in water / liquid so that can help take care of your water needs.}
   


8. Canned and package foods, enough for several days and MECHANICAL , not an electrical , can opener. Extra food for pets if necessary.


9. Camp stove or barbecue to cook on outdoors (store fuel out of the reach of children){ I disagree with this recommendation. I think having flammable fuel near an earthquake disaster where there are many children and potential gas leaks and fires is dangerous. If you've packed enough dried fruit and nuts you should not need to cook.}
   


10. Waterproof, heavy-duty plastic bags for waste disposal.{ The plastic
    
11. bags can also be used as raincoats if the need arises}
12. 100 meters of strong nylon rope.
13. 3-4 days of dry, clean and warm clothes.
14. 2 weeks worth of dry cleaning gell. Remember the water and electricity will most likely be shut off for an extended period.
15. A two week supply of surgical masks. You will not want to be inhaling all the dust that will be caused by the collapsed buildings.
    
16. A book or two. If  you should get trapped it may be for a long boring time.
17. A basic tool kit. Knives , screwdrivers, hammers etc. etc.
    

            Remember students if a big earthquake such as the one that struck Sichuan happens in Heilongjiang you will most likely need to survive on your own for 2 weeks. Those that are the best prepared will stand the best chance of surviving with the least possible damage.

          Now as soon as possible go do as the American Boy Scouts do and get prepared!! Buy your selves a BIG backpack and equip it with all the tools I've told you to. For the next few weeks I would keep it with me at all times if I were you.

Dear Students, sunshine of my life :

    I posted the following announcement on my website around March 14th so that you'd be well prepared for your midterm exams which were coming shortly there after. I also verbally told you about my grading system in class.It has recently come to my attention that some of you are concerned that you don't know my grading system. While I'm a bit confused as to why and how that could be I will nevertheless re-post and update it now.

    I would like to remind you students that I am your biggest supporter. I truly believe that there is NOTHING you can't accomplish if you put your minds to it and use all the tools at your disposal that I've given you. I would ask  you with all due respect to allow me to help you achieve your goals and dreams.

   You are ALL smart kids. Now go out there and achieve your goals and attain your dream.

You  ALL CAN  DO IT!!!      

  Don't let anybody stop you , especially yourselves.

  

Dear Students , sunshine of my life :

    I'm pleased to announce that effective next week we will no longer have a mandatory homework assignment. We will have a voluntary homework assignments. You may pick the assignment that you prefer that will get you the score that you wish as described in my previous post regarding my scoring system.

   D.D. 1 Assignments :

      Big Yellow Taxi
      By Joni Mitchell

         1. Please get the definitions of the words and phrases I've underlined in the song and be prepared to use one or two of them in a sentence when asked.Remember to get the definition that best pertains to the topic of the song.

2. Be prepared to speak about China's progress and development. I will expect you to give me at least 2 examples of what you think is positive Chinese progress / development and why you think so and 2 examples of what you think is negative progress / development and why you think so. You will speak for EXACTLY 3 minutes.This means you will have to practice your speech BEFORE you get to class to insure that it neither runs too long or too short.You will need to understand the meaning of the song to be able to do the aforementioned well. If you  don't understand the meaning of the song I suggest you "google it."

Big Yellow Taxi

 By Joni Mitchell

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
Put em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away that d.d.t. now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

    D.D. 1 Assignment  Choice # 2 : The Stock Market: Be prepared to speak about the stock market for 1 minute.

     D.D. 1  Assignment Choice  #  3 : Be  prepared to speak about politics of any culture. If you use sources such as the internet , newspapers or magazines you must be prepared to tell me the sources you used.

     D.D.1 Assignment Choice # 4 : Current world events . The news of the day in other words. Again if you use sources you must tell me your sources.



     D.D. 2 Assignment Choice # 1 What I want to know. You may ask me any question on any subject you wish. Assuming the question is not inappropriate or too personal I will answer you honestly and to the best of my ability.

    D.D. 2 Assignment Choice # 2 What is on my mind. You may speak  for 1 minute about anything that is on your mind at the time.

   D.D. 2  Assignment Choice # 3  You may ask me the meaning of any American idiom of your choice. After I tell you the meaning of the idiom I will ask  you to use it in a sentence. { Remember I don't particularly care if you use it correctly but only that you try. If you can and do use it correctly that would be a bonus. You would gain much face.

    D.D. 2 Assignment Choice # 4 You may tell me the meaning  of any of the following American idioms.

             " Praise the lord and pass the ammunition."
             " They'll be on you like a dog on a bone "
             " The apple doesn't fall far from the tree "
              " He bought the farm "

    D.D.3 Assignment Choice #  1 You may speak for 1 minute on any of the following topics.

             Sports

             Fashion

             Music

             Movies
 
             T.V.
   
             Kung fu
 
            Friends

             Love

             Animal / Pets.

            These will be the topics for all the D.D. lesson levels until further notice except that if we have any students that would like to do their lessons based on a song I will post a new song upon request.If you wish to speak about a topic that is not on the list please ask me at the time .