Why Study the Humanities?

Having learned more about the myths and stories of Western civilization, I am understanding more how study of the humanities (art, history, and literature) can be used to help people better understand and communicate with one another. It is obvious that the study of humanities is not just a college course, but it is an ongoing process and practice in life.
The humanities can first be used to understand the past which has created the present. The culture which we have was shaped by the past. Facts, findings, and literature of even thousands of years ago have influenced our world today. Knowing this past can allow people to understand our present; knowing how we came to this present helps us to communicate about it and the future.
The study of the humanities can also be used to realize differing interpretations of life and history. Studying facts of the past helps to understand literature of the past. Art reflects the cultures of the past, and shows how we achieved what we have today. For example, the Song of Roland was very biased about the Saracens (Muslims). If one only studied literature, they would have a totally skewed interpretation of who the Muslims were. By studying history though, we know that the battle in this literature wasn't even against Muslims. Also by studying history and religion we can see how Islam developed and what it really is. This is just one example of how the comprehensive study of the humanities can be used to understand the world, and to communicate fairly and intelligently with others in the world.
The humanities are not just part of the college's curriculum. The study of the humanities teaches one how to study and look at how the past developed and how it has impacted today's world. The humanities allows people of different cultures to communicate and understand their sometimes common pasts but present differences. The humanities shows how different disciplines affect and complement one another. Finally, the study of the humanities shows that this study is ongoing and continual, constantly evolving and shaping.

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions for Introverts

As a kid, I was an avid reader of MAD magazine, which had a regular feature called Al Jaffee's Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions. (You can still find used copies of the books of the same name.)
The snappy answers were the responses you wished you could think of right away instead of two hours later, the clever retorts to dopey and/or clueless questions that would wither the questioner and provide certain smug (if unkind) satisfaction.
This feature came to mind as I was writing the post "How to Piss Off an Introvert" and so I decided to revisit the topic. I can't hope to be funny as the great Al Jaffee, who is the longest-running contributor to MAD. But I thought I'd take a shot at snappy answers some of the questions/comments that drive introverts bonkers.


Why are you so quiet?

• I'm listening to the voices in my head.
• Somebody has to be. (Thanks to reader sb22)
• I'm studying to be a mime.

Smile!

• Why?
• I can't. Tragic Botox incident. 
• I will when you go away.

Why are you always so serious?

• I'm only serious on the outside. I'm partying on the inside. 
• Always? Have you been stalking me?
• Because the universe is expanding, and if it's expanding, someday it will break apart and that would be the end of everything! (Thanks Alvy Singer.)

Are you mad?

• No, just eccentric.
• Why, what have you done?
• Not yet.

Do you hate people?

• Not all people.
• Only people who ask me that question.
• No, they're delicious with a nice Chianti. (Thanks Hannibal Lecter.)

Are you a snob?

• No, I'm a slob. That must have been a typo.
• Of course not. I'm here, aren't I?
• No, I pride myself on my low standards.

You look bored.

• Don't be so hard on yourself.
• This is my rapt face.
• Only when you talk.

You don't know how to have fun.

• Sure I do. Tell me when it starts.
• I didn't know "fun" was a synonym for "loud."
• You're right, I'm outta here.

Got some of your own? I'd love to hear them. Keep ‘em clean and not too mean, please. Let's make Al Jaffee proud.

How to Know if a Guy Likes You

There's no way to know for sure if a guy likes you, unless you ask him (and even then he could get shy and say no!); here are some tips to help you determine if he likes you.

1. Examine his body language. If he likes you, you may see that he rarely turns his back to you, often leans towards you, and also looks at you a lot. If he slouches his shoulders when near you, he's romantic and cares about what you have to say. If he points his shoulders and pelvis towards you while sitting, he is definitely feeling something for you.
   
   
2. Notice his eye contact. If he likes you, he may either look away quickly if he is shy, or he'll try to catch your eye and hold it or make faces. This can be uncomfortable if you don't like him. If you feel like you have held eye contact just a fraction of a second longer than you would with anyone else, or if he looks away quickly, then there is something there. When he's around you and he says/does something funny and everyone around laughs, his eyes will flicker towards you for a second to see if you laughed, too.
   
   
   • His pupils may dilate if he likes you, but this is quite hard to pick up on, and you might come across as acting strangely by looking that closely into his eyes. If you're around him for a long time, it could be easier to pick up on gradually.
3. 3
   Listen to what he's saying. If he likes you, and he's nervous, he'll probably start talking about himself. Many times, guys feel the need to prove themselves- especially if you talk about another guy in his company.
4. 4
   Be aware of touching. He might put his hand on your arm when he laughs, and won't move his leg if it happens to touch yours, or he may hug you for small things - all are good signs of a guy liking you, unless he's a bit of a "playboy" who flirts with a lot of girls. See if he uses any of the tricks in How to Touch a Girl, and see if he uses them more with you than with anyone else.
5. 5
   Watch his actions around other girls and see if he treats you differently. Some guys flirt with other girls to get your attention. It gives them a chance to see your reaction, and helps them know if you really do like them or not. You can tell that they are trying to make you jealous if they find little times when they're flirting with the other girl to look at you. His eyes will flick over and look at you. Another sign is that when you leave, he stops flirting with the other girl. That will be a harder one to pick up on, but you can have a friend to look out for you or something like that. You have to be sneaky sometimes to find out if a guy likes you.
6. 6
   Watch for him showing interest in things you like and do. For example, if you like a certain genre of music that he likes as well, he may suggest bands or artists for you to listen to. Another example, if you introduce him to a TV show that he didn't really know about and that becomes his new favorite thing, thats a sign that he likes you.
7. 7
   Check for signs of nervousness. Signs of nervous laughter, sweaty palms, deep breaths, fidgeting, or possibly even looking away quickly when you notice if he is watching you are all good signs of an attraction towards you and that he is nervous about making an impression on someone he likes.
8. 8
   Pay attention to his friends. If they know he's interested in you, they might tease him subtly when you're around, hint to you that he likes you, or even try to find out if you like him. Study their reactions to your presence - do they smile? Do they turn to him? Do they smirk in a way that suggests they know something that you don't?
9. 9
   Don't ignore him If he shows genuine interest in you, (i.e. smiles at you a lot in the hallway, work, etc., at least go out for a walk.)
10. 10
    Look to see if he imitates you. If he mimics you, he probably likes you, such as if you move to another table, he'll go with you.
11. 11
    Pay attention to teasing. If a guy teases you a lot, it might mean he likes you, but if he doesn't tease any other girl, he probably does like you.
12. 12
    If he hits you or playfully punches you on your arm, this may mean he likes you. A guy may hit you but it's just flirting he probably just wants to see your smile You may find it annoying if you're not into him, but otherwise if you hit back then that's a way then he can know that you like him back!
13. 13
    Acknowledge any compliments that come your way. If you do your hair or makeup differently one day, and the guy notices, that's a very good sign that he likes you. Most guys won't notice, and if they do, they won't say anything unless they're into you. Anything like, "You look nice today," "I like that shirt," or even "Did you do your hair differently today? It looks nice," are all indicators that he could be interested in you. NOTE: If he's a good friend of yours, these won't necessarily be indicators of romantic interest. It could just be him being a good friend. Not all guys are this straightforward about compliments, so don't be worried if he doesn't compliment you.
14. 14
    Watch for him noticing 'masculine things' on you. For example, some of your dad's aftershave rubbed off on you when you hugged him. Your crush may say 'is that aftershave on you?' This indicates he thinks it is from another guy (and not your dad!)
15. 15
    If he talks to you on a Social Networking site. If he chats with you often he may like you. He could also just be talkative and friendly so don't assume he's into you for chatting. He may put 'x' on the end of everything he says to you. That might not necessarily mean he likes you. It could just mean that you are good friends. If he says, "I know something you don't know," then this could mean that he likes you and wants you to be guessing. He might also want you to know and wants to see if you feel the same way. Or it could just mean he knows something you don't know, e.g. a new colour, the fact that he has a new friend, etc.
16. 16
    Watch to see if he is following you in a sneaky way. For example, if you're on table 1, talking to your friends, watch to see if he is close nearby. So when the conversation end, and you go to say, table 7, see if he follows you, but of course does not follow you to table 7 unless he is good friends with the people at table 7 and wants to talk to them coincidentally. Check to see if he stands at a different place when you are at table 1 and 7 to make sure he is following you.

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Tips

• If you like him and you are confident, ask him out.
• If you think a guy likes you and you sort of like him just ask him out and you'll be surprised.
• The Clock Test: To see if a guy has been checking you out, abruptly look at the clock, then look at him really fast. If he followed your eyes to the clock, he was staring at you and was startled by your sudden movement that following your eyes is a reflex to them.
• If he seems comfortable talking to you about other girls, he probably does not like you in that way. Either that, or he is trying to make you jealous, which might mean that he likes you but doesn't reflect too well on his character. Or he could be trying to see if you like him.
• If his ex hates you, there might be a reason.
• If you have a different lunch schedule than him, try "visiting" your friends in that period and pass by him so he knows you are there. If he comes by to sit with you, or "surprises" you by sneaking up on you, talk with him. Then, later, ask your friends if he normally comes over to sit. If he doesn’t, he most likely likes you and wanted an excuse to be near you.
• The Pencil Test: If you have a lead pencil, "accidentally" break it. If you ask him to sharpen it for you, and he says "Yes", he could be into you. If he says "No", no hard feelings, he could be shy.
• Here's a way to ask him if he likes you without really asking! You can tell a friend to go up to him, look him up and down, and say, 'You and (insert your name) should go out.' If he looks at your friend like he's thinking or nods at her/him, he may be considering the offer. But if he shrugs, or just turns away, don't think he doesn't like you. He may not be comfortable telling your friend if he likes you or not.
• You return the favor, too! If he winks at you, let him know you know what that means by smiling, laughing, etc.#
• If you notice him walking behind you in the hallway, continue to walk in front of him and pretend to not know he's there. If he likes you, he may try to catch up to you and make it seem like a casual "Hello."
• Notice how he acts around his friends. Now, do he act the same with you around?
• awkward look you may be in a room without a clock at some time in your life. if you think he is looking at you ,or you just want to make sure, look at him real quick-like and if he seems to stare at you for a moment longer and then acts like he's staring at everyone for a moment around you, you may have a "Admirer"
• Guys that are really smart (not nerds) might have a lower self image and automatically think you don't like them even when you are flirting a lot with them try to ask them to help you with something like schoolwork or work to get them into their playing field then compliment them on their smarts. This will make them feel better about themselves and begin to like you more and may give them the courage to ask you out.
• Just ask him out! He might be waiting for you to make the move or to ask him out. This happens a lot with shy guys. If he rejects, don't take it personally. He's not worth your time.
• Does he talk about you to his friends? there is no harm asking his friends if he does, if he does talk about you often this can only be a good thing. When asking his friends try not to make it obvious that you are interested that way they won't suspect anything.
• Watch where he sits in class. If he's sitting in your seat when you come back from break or a weekend, then he may like you. Just politely ask him to move. I've noticed that my crush wants to sit near me in the one and only class we have together. It may be a hint that he likes you if he is around you a lot.

Warnings

• If you look at him a lot, he might look at you just to see if you're looking at him and not because he likes you.
• Remember that if you like someone you can sometimes misread their signals in the hope that they like you back. For instance, a guy who teases you in an affectionate way may act like that towards everybody and doesn't realize that he's making you swoon every time he pokes good-natured fun at you!
• Watch out for the subtle guys. If he asks you something that could potentially be a date but you're not really sure, make sure it's clear before you agree to it. It can be uncomfortable when one of you thinks you're on a date and one of you thinks you're not.
• The wrong kind of guy might say he likes you without meaning it; if this is the case, he probably wants to see how far you would go with him, for any of those activities (whatever they may be) themselves and for bragging rights among his friends.
• Don't ask your friends to ask him if he likes you. He might not be truthful and tell your friends that he doesn't like you. It doesn't work 99.999% of the time.
• He doesn't look in your eyes when talking to you. If he focuses more on your body, be careful, he may not like you for you. He could just be looking for a "good" time.
• This is from a guy: DO NOT ask a guy what he likes in a girl or get to be real close friends with him (by flirting etc.) just to eventually learn if he likes one of your friends. This guy might begin to like you and when you ask him it kind of turns him down automatically because he sees what you have been doing. This may lead him to hold a lower opinion for you and your friend so it was a loss for the both of you.
• Don't assume a guy likes you just because he talks to you. He may just be being friendly.

Five Things Girls Want to Know About Periods

 

 

 

How Do I Tell My Mom or Dad That I Got My First Period?

It's normal to feel a little shy about sharing this bit of news. In some families, talking about body stuff might seem like no big deal. With this kind of family, they might take you out to dinner to celebrate your womanhood! Other families may be more private, so a girl might not know exactly what to say or whom to tell. But this news needs to be shared, at least with one grown-up in the family. You might just pull the person aside and say it clearly, like this: "I got my first period today. Do you think you can help me get some supplies?" If brothers and sisters find out, they might razz you a bit. Just tell them that it means you're getting older.

How Does a Tampon Work?

Unlike pads, which catch blood after it comes out of the vagina, a tampon is inserted in the vagina. It's made of soft material with a string for easy removal. The opening to the vagina is between the urethra (where pee comes out) and the anus (where poop comes out). It may take a while to get the hang of using tampons. Inside each box, there's an instruction booklet that will tell you how to do it. If a tampon ever does feel "stuck," it's only temporary. It can't get lost inside you because there's no other way out except through the vagina. Relax and wait a few minutes; you should be able to get the tampon out.

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Can I Go Swimming During My Period?

Swimming during your period isn't a problem. However, you will want to use a tampon when swimming so you don't bleed on your swimsuit. Pads won't work. The tampon won't fall out if it is inserted correctly, so go ahead and make a splash! Tampons also can be helpful for girls who exercise or play sports during their periods. Although pads will work, they can be bulky and uncomfortable.

Everyone Says You Need to be Prepared for Your Period by Having Pads or Tampons. What Happens If I Don't Have Them?

If this happens, here are your options: Borrow from a friend, buy some from a restroom dispenser, visit the school nurse if you're at school, or call home so your mom or dad can bring you what you need. If you are desperate and trying to keep your clothes from staining, you can fold up some tissues or toilet paper and place them in your underwear. That won't work for long, so you'll need to get some pads or tampons quickly. If you are nervous about telling the school nurse, a teacher, or another adult about what you need, write it down on a piece of paper or use code words. You might say that "it's that time of the month" or that you need some "personal supplies." Even better, keep extras in your backpack, locker, or gym bag.

What If Blood Leaks Through My Undies and Pants?

Oh, no! There's blood on the back of your pants — what do you do? It happens to just about every girl at some point. Sometimes it happens in a place where you aren't at home, so you can't change right away. But if you are wearing a sweater or jacket, you can take it off and tie it around your waist. Then get a fresh tampon or pad so that it doesn't bleed through your pants more than it already has. Change as soon as you can. You'll need to rinse your underwear and pants with cold water as soon as possible. Sometimes, the stain comes out and sometimes it doesn't. To avoid this mishap, change your pads and tampons regularly, and keep extras in your backpack or locker. For extra protection on heavy days, some girls wear a pad with a tampon. As added insurance, wear dark-colored underwear and pants during your period.