Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Buddhist And Christian Ethics Theology

Buddhist And Christian Ethics Theology Buddhism and Christianity are religions with extensive and differentiating moral laws and customs. All through this article the moral acts of the two religions will be portrayed in detail, with an investigation of their similitudes and contrasts introduced. Depiction of Buddhist Ethical Practices Seven weeks after Prince Siddhartha Gautama had accomplished edification while thinking under a bodhi tree, he conveyed his First Sermon to his five previous ascetical partners under that equivalent tree. The substance of that underlying message are knows as the Four Noble Truths, which are basically the establishment of the religion. They are as per the following: (Gwynne 2011, p. 93) 1. Enduring: Now this, priests, is the honorable truth of torment: Birth is enduring, maturing is enduring, infection is enduring, demise is enduring; association with what is disappointing is enduring; partition based on what is satisfying is enduring; not to get what one needs is enduring; to sum things up, the five totals subject to sticking are languishing. 2. The Source of Suffering: Now this, priests, is the respectable truth of the starting point of torment: It is the hankering which prompts reestablished presence, joined by enjoyment and desire, looking for charm to a great extent; that is, wanting for erotic delights, longing for presence, needing for elimination. 3. The Cessation of Suffering: Now this, priests, is the respectable truth of the end of torment: It is the rest of blurring endlessly and end of that equivalent hankering, the surrendering and giving up of it, opportunity from it, and non-dependence on it. 4. The Way to the Cessation of Suffering: Now this, priests, is the respectable truth of the route prompting the discontinuance of torment: It is this Noble Eightfold Path: that is, correct view, right expectation, right discourse, right activity, right employment, right exertion, right care, and right focus. Like its parent religion Hinduism, Buddhism instructs that a definitive objective of the lives of followers is to break liberated from the wheel of resurrection and achieve nirvana. Where it contrasts from Hinduism is as opposed to focusing on the significance of commitments identified with station, sex and age (varna ashrama dharma), it focuses on the epitome of the heavenly truth that was rediscovered by Prince Siddhartha on his night of illumination, which was granted to his initial supporters in his First Sermon. The quintessence of Buddhist dharma (instead of Hindu dharma) is the Four Noble Truths which, alongside the Buddha himself and the network of disciples (Sangha), make up the Three Jewels of Buddhism. The remainder of the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, is regularly partitioned into three classifications: 1. Shrewdness (panna) right view and right expectation 2. Reflection (samdhi) right exertion, right care and right focus 3. Excellence (sila) right discourse, right activity and right business. This class explicitly gives moral guidance to Buddhists, demanding that disciples must forgo oppressive, misleading or disruptive words through right discourse; calling buddhists to be commonly equitable in their activities; and suggesting that specific occupations might be indecent and henceforth inadmissible. (Gwynne 2011, pg. 92) Buddhism does not have a reasonable faith in an incomparable being, bringing about Buddhist ethical quality being founded on the degree with regards to which considerations and activities will progress or obstruct ones mission for conclusive freedom. It did not depend on precepts gave by an extraordinary God which are to be certainly trailed by followers, similar to the case in the Abrahamic religions. Without a God to direct what is acceptable and fiendish, Buddhists allude to specific activities as able (kausalya) or unskillful (akausalya) instead of right or wrong. Buddhist profound quality depends on contemplations of individual advancement headed straight toward freedom from the wheel of rebirth as opposed to rehearsing the desire of an awesome God. The foundation of Buddhist moral educating is the Pancasila, the five statutes. They are as per the following: I shun devastating living animals I shun taking what isn't given I shun sexual offense I shun bogus discourse I shun intoxicants which lead to lack of regard. (Gwynne 2011, p. 94) These statutes give a fundamental good code to Buddhists, so indispensable that they are frequently discussed regularly by the common people, recited by priests at vital minutes, for example, birth, marriage and demise, and are a famous message subject. The Pancasila can be deciphered in an assortment of ways. In one sense it gives an essential meaning of goodness or skilfulness in Buddhist confidence, mirroring the ethics of a profoundly propelled individual. In another sense it is comprehended as the five preparing rules (pancasikkha) as they were at times alluded to as by the Buddha. In this view the Pancasila can be viewed as a rundown of functional rules to morally control the individual Buddhist toward a progressively freed condition, as opposed to a lot of good decrees cast down from the sky by all-powerful God. The Pancasila is generally adversely stated, concentrating on what activities ought to be maintained a strategic distance from instead of empowering highminded activities. Be that as it may, after looking into it further one notification that with each negative, I cease from express, there is a positive expression to force the follower to make progress toward higher otherworldly headway, drawing nearer and closer to edification. In this way the principal statute is to forgo murdering living creatures, people as well as creature and even vegetation. This thought fits consummately with the wheel of resurrection as inside the Buddhist world view one might be resurrected as other living things. (Gwynne 2011, pg. 95) The subsequent statute prohibits burglary, stemming into the over the top want of material items which prompts taking. This decidedly urges followers to be liberal in all parts of life, monetarily as well as in their time and vitality. The third statute demoralizes sexual offense, making it realized that sexual want is such a solid human intuition, that it represents an impressive danger to ones otherworldly way. It isn't viewed as unskilful for followers to have sexual relations, yet it is realized that abstinence is a higher type of profound presence. The fourth statute restricts any lying or type of duplicity, producing a love for truth which is an essential segment of individual edification. At last, the fifth statute forestalls the utilization of any intoxicant, imparting on disciples the significance of clearness of psyche, a fundamental quality for Buddhists who are not kidding about their otherworldliness. (Gwynne 2011, pg. 96) Depiction of Christian Ethical Practices Jesus, when drawn nearer by an educator of strict law and solicited which from the charges is generally significant, addressed The most significant instruction is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the unrivaled Lord. Also, you should adore the Lord your God with everything that is in you, everything that is in you, all your psyche, and your entire existence. The second is similarly significant: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other instruction is more prominent than these. (Imprint 12:29-31, NLT) The rule for Jews to adore the unparalleled God with all their being is found in Deuteronomy, with Leviticus focusing on the significance of cherishing ones neighbor. What Jesus said was not progressive, he simply restored the moral qualities that are represented in the Jewish Decalogue. A near table of the Decalogue in its different structures is given beneath (Gwynne 2011, p. 102): Jewish Catholic and Lutheran Customary and Protestant 1. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the place of servitude. I am the Lord your God and you will have no different divine beings before me. I am the Lord your God and you will have no different divine beings before me. 2. You will have no different divine beings other than me. You will not abuse the name of the Lord your God. You will not make for yourself any graven picture. 3. You will not abuse the name of the Lord your God. Make sure to keep heavenly the Lords day. You will not abuse the name of the Lord your God. 4. Recall the Sabbath day and keep it sacred. Respect your dad and mom. Make sure to keep sacred the Lords day. 5. Respect your dad and your mom. You will not murder. Respect your dad and mom. 6. You will not kill. You will not submit infidelity. You will not murder. 7. You will not submit infidelity. You will not take. You will not submit infidelity. 8. You will not take. You will not shoulder bogus observer against your neighbor. You will not take. 9. You will not shoulder bogus observer against your neighbor. You will not pine for your neighbors spouse. You will not shoulder bogus observer against your neighbor. 10. You will not pine for whatever has a place with your neighbor. You will not pine for your neighbors products. You will not pine for whatever has a place with your neighbor. Jesus himself demystifies any false impressions that may happen in regards to the Christian point of view of the Jewish moral lessons in Matthew 5:17 with Dont misjudge why I have come. I didn't come to cancel the law of Moses or the compositions of the prophets. No, I came to satisfy them. (NLT) Like its parent religion Judaism, the Christian outlook includes a brilliantly planned world wherein people have the chance to live out Gods divine arrangement for them, to have unceasing fellowship with him. Moral conduct is an indispensable segment of this celestial arrangement, being a piece of the last judgment every individual must face. Notwithstanding, as can be seen in different religions, Christianity recognizes that every single individual have an instinctual moral code paying little heed to their confidence or absence of confidence (Gwynne 2011, pg. 101). This internal profound quality is referenced by St Paul in Romans 2:14-16 When outcasts who have never known about Gods law tail it pretty much by sense, they affirm its reality by their acquiescence. They show that Gods law isn't something outsider, forced on us from witho

Saturday, August 22, 2020

There Are No Children Here Essay Example for Free

There Are No Children Here Essay Kids are extraordinary imitators. So give them something incredible to impersonate. (Anonymous)† In the 1980 Chicago ghettos this statement couldn’t be more genuine. The ghettos were/are a horrendous spot for youngsters, however everybody to live. The Henry Horner homes specifically are loaded with death, medications, and neediness. This may not appear the best spot for kids to be raised, yet for a few, they know nothing extraordinary. The steady pack inconvenience, medicate dealing, and avoiding stray shots are a regular event for individuals living in these administration lodging buildings. The obliteration is an endless cycle. The guardians get into medications and savagery, and the youngsters must choose the option to copy their folks and everybody around them as they grow up. The finish of the cycle is concealed for most, however for a few, for example, Lajoe Rivers that cycle will end with her most youthful five youngsters. â€Å"But you know, there are no youngsters here. They’ve seen an excessive amount to be youngsters. (Lajoe)† The plot starts in the mid year of 1987, the young men, Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers are making the most of their time close to the tracks scanning for snakes. Here, the young men could be youngsters. They could let their minds go out of control and they could simply enjoy a reprieve from the loathsome life they have holding up at home. Lafeyette and Pharoah are a piece of enormous family living in the Chicago ventures. Their mom, Lajoe, has eight kids; the three more seasoned ones have gradually tumbled insane, yet the five more youthful get an opportunity to do great. Lajoe invests wholeheartedly in her kids and does all that she can to raise them to be upstanding residents and avoid inconvenience. She is enormously baffled in the manner her initial three turned out, so she makes it a point to hold the more youthful children under severe management. In view of the nonappearance of their medication dependent dad, Lafeyette, a youngster himself, plays the job of man of the house. He pays special mind to his kin and deals with his mom. In any event, when Lajoe loses her government assistance check, her Lafeyette remains steadfast and consoles her it will all be alright. Over the span of their lives, the youngsters face everything from drugs, viciousness, assault, detainment, and more terrible of all, demise. They realize rapidly that they should grow up quick to defeat the despondency that shadows their regular daily existences. Lajoe makes a decent attempt to protect the young people of Pharoah and the triplets. Along these lines, the vast majority of the obligation gets put on Lafeyette and his youth is immediately taken from him. All through the boy’s lives, there are huge occasions that shape the manner in which they grow up and how they figure out how to adapt to their environmental factors. For Lafeyette, losing a few dear companions to savage passings brings about him despising posses, and furthermore detesting cops. Pharoah in the long run winds up having awful emotions towards the white individuals that simply offer derision and never help, to the useless dark young men. Bigotry assumes a gigantic job in the boy’s lives, and the more seasoned they get the more they can see and get it. In any case, at long last, Lajoe is effective in what she imagined and sought after. Lafeyette, Pharoah, and the triplets all end up being acceptable children and generally, avoid inconvenience. The lodging complex is set up with the appearance of Vincent Lane, and updates on Terence getting his GED warms his mother’s heart. Among the primary characters is a little fellow, Pharoah Rivers. Pharoah, around nine years of age in the start of the book is the fifth kid conceived of Lajoe Rivers. Life in the activities negatively affects poor youthful Pharoah. He is mature enough to recognize what is happening, yet at the same time youthful enough that he holes up behind his childhood to shield himself from the unnerving encounters of most kids living in the Henry Horner homes. All through the story, Pharoah’s character switches on a here and there crazy ride. In the first place he is an extremely modest, blameless, energetic little youngster who will in general mind his own business. He goes through the greater part of his days staring off into space to get away from his unnerving life. He contemplates the trees, the canine, the snakes, all the littler things throughout everyday life and it fulfills him. He is frequently disparaged for being little for his age, however his drive for information compensates for his size and he exceeds expectations in school. In spite of the fact that Pharoah battles with a falter and it appears to deteriorate all through the majority of his adolescence, he figures out how to conquer it and enjoys extraordinary addressing questions and standing up in class. His mom savored the way that her child was so splendid for his age, and regularly boasted about the little fellow. Pharoah will be Pharoah. He’s going to be something,† she would tell companions. â€Å"When he was an infant, I held him up and inquired as to whether he’d be the one. I’ve consistently needed to see one of my children move on from second ary school. I inquired as to whether he’d be the one to get me a recognition. † (Lajoe, 116) I learn about that of the considerable number of characters in the book, I relate most to Pharoah. In spite of the fact that I am not a little dark kid living in the activities, nor do I have any comparable beneficial encounters; our characters equal in a few unique manners. Growing up I was the little stick young lady that every other person would ridicule. As a result of my hard figure I was frequently prodded and thought to be more youthful than I truly was. What's more, as Pharoah, I figured out how to look past how little I was and assemble my entire existence and force with my brain. I exceeded expectations in school each time of my life. Through grade school I was granted testaments for my accomplishments and enlisted into the â€Å"Talented and Gifted† program at my school. I was keen for my age, very nearly several years ahead in certain subjects. This persevered through center school, secondary school, and even through school. I endeavor to put forth a valiant effort, similarly as Pharoah does. I can envision that Pharoah’s mind looks to some degree like mine did when I was his age. I had the greatest creative mind and regularly utilized it as a departure from typical life. No, ordinary life for me was not medications, posses, and road savagery; yet I despite everything had an occasionally unfilled and alarming reality. My military family and I lived abroad the entirety of my adolescence and my dad was regularly missing because of battling for our nation. Consistently he was gone my kin and I would think about whether we could ever get the opportunity to see him again, or in the event that he would be murdered carrying out his responsibility and stay away forever. That was my startling reality, and the steady nonappearance of my dad made me dream and life in a dreamland the majority of my days. Along these lines, I can comprehend why Pharoah makes a decent attempt to clutch his adolescence and how he can life consistently in a fantasy to get away from the brutal truth of his life. â€Å"As the small kids sought after one another from one finish of the parking garage to the next, Pharoah remained without anyone else on the building’s back stoop. He inclined toward the dark metal balustrade. Jaw close by, and gazed into space, giving little consideration to the yelling youngsters only a couple of yards away. (Kotlowitz, 61) Poverty, the state or state of having next to zero cash, merchandise, or methods for help; state of being poor (Webster Dictionary). Destitution is a steady issue for the America, yet everywhere throughout the world. This topic runs the course of the books account, and is obviously appeared in the lives of Project occ upants. All through the story the pattern of destitution is plainly appeared. The everyday environments and reliance on government assistance is a clear case of what destitution resembles. Packs run the lanes, drugs run the posses; and with both of these comes viciousness. For most in the Projects, the best way to live is through criminal behavior. Frequently it is simpler to get into and quicker to bring in cash. What's more, for most, it is about difficult to get away. In the book there is notice of â€Å"The Other America†, alluding to the activities. Since America endeavors to be the best nation residents frequently attempt to conceal the destitution that runs our downtown avenues. For the well off it is simpler to simply dismiss and imagine this â€Å"other America† doesn’t exist. â€Å"Horner sat so near the city’s business area that from the Sears Tower perception deck, visitors could have watched Lafeyette duck gunfire on his birthday. (Kotlowitz, 13) Poverty is a reality for some Americans. The steady dependence on food stamps, government assistance, and government lodging is the thing that these individuals live like. Interestingly, Americans would prefer to imagine this doesn’t go on in our nation than eff ectively fix it. For me, this doesn’t bode well. Since my mom works for First Steps; an administration supported program for oppressed families with youngsters with incapacities, I have seen firsthand what destitution in America resembles. At the point when I help my mom on her activity and we enter the once-over unsubsidized houses or the separated trailers and shacks it gives me the mind-boggling sentiment of despise and outrage towards our administration and individuals. There is no explanation there ought to be such a great amount of destitution in our nation. I feel if American residents would quit agonizing over every other person on the planet and simply attempt to fix our nation; a lion's share of neediness could be wiped out. â€Å"Many times, American residents talk about helping abroad in immature nations. As a worldwide understudy, I welcome that. Notwithstanding, if there is destitution directly over the road, why not help those of where you live? † (Molina, 1) Exactly! For what reason would we say we are sending such a lot of cash out of our country? At long last all that will do is harmed us. America isn't the main nation to have issues with sending cash away; a British essayist expresses that it is corrupt to pull back their assets to lesser nations, yet the rich ought to likewise be increasingly liberal as in they offer more to their own nation, not every other person (Glennie). A little liberality is everything necessary. Ther are numerous individuals in America that have a large number of dollars. It doe

Friday, August 21, 2020

Chomsky and Infinities

Chomsky and Infinities YAY November!!! First off, a huge WELCOME to the EA applicants! You submitted your application and now comes the hardest part, forgetting about it until December. A girnomous WELCOME also to the RA applicants! Your application process shall be completed soon. For now, heres a message from TIM the Beaver (as seen on the collaborative blackboards of Stata Center): For me, the second month of college has ended, and what a wonderful time it was! Something exciting constantly happens at MIT. The routine shifts. Special events spike happiness levels. Classes continuously fuel curiosity. Below are some Highlights of my October, occasionally enhanced with visuals and links. * The month started and ended with visits from two wonderful Protofrosh (that is, applying seniors), who were matched to me by the Admissions Office through the Shadow a Student Program. The selection worked rather well, for we shared the love for theoretical math and MIT. I now hope to meet more applicants. Come visit! Itll be great. * By chance, one of the Protofrosh visited during a special 5.112 Principles of Chemistry lecture on the formation of stars by Professor Anna Frebel from the Physics department. In 2007, Professor Frebels team discovered a 13.2 billion-year-old star, the oldest known to humankind, and we got to hear all about it.  Heres a pretty cool time lapse video  of the starry sky Professor Frebel made at the Las Campanas observatory in Chile. * Speaking of wonderful lectures, Noam Chomsky also came to talk at MIT, about two minutes away from my dorm! Chomsky is quite the prominent figure. He is known as the father of modern linguistics and the worlds top public intellectual. Chomsky is also one of the most cited scholars according to the Arts and Humanities Citation Index, a linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, logician, political commentator, and activist. Now at the age of 85, Chomsky maintains a sharp wit and calm yet confident manner of speaking. The topic of his October talk was Gaza and the Prospects for Palestine, and it was hosted by Palestine @ MIT. I was this close to the famous scholar: * My recently added Humanities course, 24.118 Paradox and Infinity, turned out amazing. Though offered by the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, it emphasizes mathematical logic and reasoning. We began by studying time travel as a theoretically possible occurrence. The unit was prefaced by the account of the worlds first and only Time Traveler Convention, held right in East Campuss (my dorms) courtyard. Free will, paradoxes, probability, and the Infinite were the topics to follow. During one class, we constructed an infinite number of infinities of different sizes. Another, we showed that a single sphere of volume 1 can be separated into two spheres of the same volume. Today we proved that computers are incapable of solving all problems (in fact, they cannot solve infinitely many such problems). A homework problem for the course once involved quantizing the decision to study or party before a test, and the party scenario had more value! Mind. Blown. If you enjoy thinking about these topics, check out 24.118 on OpenCourseWare  or Professor Rayos video on the sizes of infinity for Wireless Philosophy. As a fun fact, Professor Agustin Rayo is credited with stating the largest named finite number, now called Rayos Number, and that is beyond awesome. * The rest of the MIT faculty is also rather incredible. I got to interact with some professors personally this month during events organized to bring the MIT community together. Professors enjoy discussing non-academic matters in an informal atmosphere, often communicating on a first-name basis. 5.112, for example, has a monthly Pizza Forum for ten randomly selected students and the professor. The Office of Advising and Academic Programming (UAAP) and the Undergraduate Association both organize numerous food-related events for the faculty and students to meet. * But enough about academics. I also went to my first college party this October! Though technically I didnt really go anywhere, since my own hall organized the festivities. Together, we installed the First East Disco Dance Floor (programmed to display beautiful shifting patterns) and made posters befitting the theme (Throwback), featuring hall residents. They looked like this (credit to Max M. 16 for the animal photography, Angus M. 18 for PhotoShop skills, and Banti G. 17 for modelling):     * In mid-October, fall arrived on campus, which entailed a mix of sunny and rainy days, and cool nights:     * One week a large puddle (consequently named Lake FRED) formed in the East Campus courtyard. Artemis 18 and I decided to make it habitable by  launching charming ducks into the water:   * Autumn also marked the start of flu season. Walk-In Flu Clinics  appeared around campus, with free flu shots for members of the MIT Community. 5,154 shots were administered within six hours of operation! And the set-up of the clinic was absolutely adorable, with shiny balloons and volunteers in neon yellow jackets and bee head bands. It made for quite the festive spirit. Heres what the Student Center Walk-In Clinic looked like this year (taken from the MIT News article on the event):       My October wasnt nearly over after the flu shot, but my post must end for now. Midterm season is upon me. Up next: Tale of a Family Weekend Hack + Maximizing Halloween. Stay tuned and share your highlights of October!

Chomsky and Infinities

Chomsky and Infinities YAY November!!! First off, a huge WELCOME to the EA applicants! You submitted your application and now comes the hardest part, forgetting about it until December. A girnomous WELCOME also to the RA applicants! Your application process shall be completed soon. For now, heres a message from TIM the Beaver (as seen on the collaborative blackboards of Stata Center): For me, the second month of college has ended, and what a wonderful time it was! Something exciting constantly happens at MIT. The routine shifts. Special events spike happiness levels. Classes continuously fuel curiosity. Below are some Highlights of my October, occasionally enhanced with visuals and links. * The month started and ended with visits from two wonderful Protofrosh (that is, applying seniors), who were matched to me by the Admissions Office through the Shadow a Student Program. The selection worked rather well, for we shared the love for theoretical math and MIT. I now hope to meet more applicants. Come visit! Itll be great. * By chance, one of the Protofrosh visited during a special 5.112 Principles of Chemistry lecture on the formation of stars by Professor Anna Frebel from the Physics department. In 2007, Professor Frebels team discovered a 13.2 billion-year-old star, the oldest known to humankind, and we got to hear all about it.  Heres a pretty cool time lapse video  of the starry sky Professor Frebel made at the Las Campanas observatory in Chile. * Speaking of wonderful lectures, Noam Chomsky also came to talk at MIT, about two minutes away from my dorm! Chomsky is quite the prominent figure. He is known as the father of modern linguistics and the worlds top public intellectual. Chomsky is also one of the most cited scholars according to the Arts and Humanities Citation Index, a linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, logician, political commentator, and activist. Now at the age of 85, Chomsky maintains a sharp wit and calm yet confident manner of speaking. The topic of his October talk was Gaza and the Prospects for Palestine, and it was hosted by Palestine @ MIT. I was this close to the famous scholar: * My recently added Humanities course, 24.118 Paradox and Infinity, turned out amazing. Though offered by the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, it emphasizes mathematical logic and reasoning. We began by studying time travel as a theoretically possible occurrence. The unit was prefaced by the account of the worlds first and only Time Traveler Convention, held right in East Campuss (my dorms) courtyard. Free will, paradoxes, probability, and the Infinite were the topics to follow. During one class, we constructed an infinite number of infinities of different sizes. Another, we showed that a single sphere of volume 1 can be separated into two spheres of the same volume. Today we proved that computers are incapable of solving all problems (in fact, they cannot solve infinitely many such problems). A homework problem for the course once involved quantizing the decision to study or party before a test, and the party scenario had more value! Mind. Blown. If you enjoy thinking about these topics, check out 24.118 on OpenCourseWare  or Professor Rayos video on the sizes of infinity for Wireless Philosophy. As a fun fact, Professor Agustin Rayo is credited with stating the largest named finite number, now called Rayos Number, and that is beyond awesome. * The rest of the MIT faculty is also rather incredible. I got to interact with some professors personally this month during events organized to bring the MIT community together. Professors enjoy discussing non-academic matters in an informal atmosphere, often communicating on a first-name basis. 5.112, for example, has a monthly Pizza Forum for ten randomly selected students and the professor. The Office of Advising and Academic Programming (UAAP) and the Undergraduate Association both organize numerous food-related events for the faculty and students to meet. * But enough about academics. I also went to my first college party this October! Though technically I didnt really go anywhere, since my own hall organized the festivities. Together, we installed the First East Disco Dance Floor (programmed to display beautiful shifting patterns) and made posters befitting the theme (Throwback), featuring hall residents. They looked like this (credit to Max M. 16 for the animal photography, Angus M. 18 for PhotoShop skills, and Banti G. 17 for modelling):     * In mid-October, fall arrived on campus, which entailed a mix of sunny and rainy days, and cool nights:     * One week a large puddle (consequently named Lake FRED) formed in the East Campus courtyard. Artemis 18 and I decided to make it habitable by  launching charming ducks into the water:   * Autumn also marked the start of flu season. Walk-In Flu Clinics  appeared around campus, with free flu shots for members of the MIT Community. 5,154 shots were administered within six hours of operation! And the set-up of the clinic was absolutely adorable, with shiny balloons and volunteers in neon yellow jackets and bee head bands. It made for quite the festive spirit. Heres what the Student Center Walk-In Clinic looked like this year (taken from the MIT News article on the event):       My October wasnt nearly over after the flu shot, but my post must end for now. Midterm season is upon me. Up next: Tale of a Family Weekend Hack + Maximizing Halloween. Stay tuned and share your highlights of October!