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I prepared a summary to introduce you to this topic:
Models of consciousness aim to inspire new experimental protocols and aid interpretation of empirical evidence to reveal the structure of conscious experience. Nevertheless, no current model is univocally accepted on either theoretical or empirical grounds.
The four current and major neuroscientific theories of conscious experience are: global neuronal workspace (GNW) theory, re-entrant processing theory, predictive coding, and integrated information theory (IIT).
A fantasy is an idea with no basis in reality and is basically your imagination unrestricted by reality. Reality is the state of things as they exist. It’s what you see, hear, and experience.
Imagery and perception are the same? A large body of evidence has shown that imagery and perception can behave in strikingly similar ways. For most of us, both can produce the subjective feeling (or qualia) of ‘seeing’; however, imagery is often a weaker and fuzzier version of visual perception.
The Perky Effect describes the relationship between real visual information (perception) and mental imagery. Discovered by C. W. Perky in 1910, her experiments were able to show that visualization of images can depress the sensitivity of perception of real visual targets.
What did Perky find about projecting a faint image of a banana while participants created a mental image of a banana? Their descriptions of the mental image matched the real image.
Quanta Magazine’s coverage of biology in 2023, including important research progress into the nature of consciousness, the origins of our microbiomes and the timekeeping mechanisms that govern our lives and development. Read about more breakthroughs from 2023 at Quanta Magazine: https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-bi…
00:05 The Research of Consciousness: Our minds are constantly taking in new external information while also creating their own internal imagery and narratives. How do we distinguish reality from fantasy? This year, researchers discovered that the brain has a “reality threshold” against which it constantly evaluates processed signals. – Original story with links to research papers can be found here: https://www.quantamagazine.org/is-it-…
04:30 Microbiomes Evolve With Us: This year, scientists provided clear evidence that the organisms in our microbiome —the collection of bacteria and other cells that live in our guts and elsewhere on our body — spread between people, especially those with whom we spend the most time. This raises the intriguing possibility that some illnesses that aren’t usually considered communicable might be. — Original story with links to research papers can be found here: https://www.quantamagazine.org/global…
08:43 How Life Keeps Time: The rate at which an embryo develops and the timing of when its tissues mature vary dramatically between species. What controls the ticking of this developmental clock that determines an animal’s final form? This year, a series of careful experiments suggest that mitochondria may very well serve dual roles as both the timekeeper and power source for complex cells. – Original story with links to research papers can be found here: https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-m…
First, select the video that best suits your training level (there are two options, the first video is more suitable for higher levels, the second one is better for lower levels).
After that, watch the video, listen to the song and complete the lyrics.
Writing Skills. After that, summarize what the song is about.
Speaking Skills. Explain it using clear and simple structures and vocabulary.
♪♫♬ Black Box Fantasy (1st video) ♪♫♬
________ _______ has a place In his ________, there’s a __________ And the world ______ _________ his __________ Take a _______ in the _______ On our ________, ___________ All your _________ will come _______ _______ away
And we will ______ _____________ Until the ______ of _________ Our ________ will ________ forever, as _____
________ to see ________ In a _______ called ___________ ________ _______ for ______ and _______ To _________ to your soul is ________
You will _____ other ________ That has been in search of you Many lives has brought you to ________ It’s your life now in _______
_________ thought is a ________ _________ by in a _______ _________ life to the ________ of doing
Take a _______ in the _______ On our ________, ___________ All your _________ will come _______ _______ away
Our ________ will ________ together Until the ______ of _________ We all _____ _______ on _________ as ______
________ to see ________ In a _______ of ___________ __________ life a new decree Bring your mind to _________ ________
as you _______ for the _______ _________ has in ________ for you _________ light will see you _____ It’s your day, ________ day All your _________ come ______
As you ______ in your ________ With the ________ as you _____ away Give a _______ from your ________ and say “I’m _____, yes I’m _________ As you ______ in your ________ With the ________ as you _____ away Give a _______ from your ________ and say “I’m _____, yes I’m _________ , now I’m on my way”
________ to see ________ In the _______ of ___________ __________ life a new decree ________ your mind to _________ _________
Our ________ will ________ together Until the ______ of _________ We all _____ _______ on _________ as ______
________ to see ________ In the _______ of ___________ __________ life a new decree ________ your mind to _________ _________
As you _______ for the _______ _________ has in ________ for you _________ light will see you _____ It’s your day, ________ day All your _________ come ______
As you ______ in your _______ With the ______ as you _____ away Give a _______ from your ______ and say I am ______, yes, I’m _____ Now I’m ___ my _____
♪♫♬ Earth Wind & Fire Fantasy (2nd and 3rd videos) ♪♫♬
________ _______ has a place In his ________, there’s a __________ And the world ______ _________ his __________ Take a _______ in the _______ On our ________, ___________ All your _________ will come _______ _______ away
And we will ______ _____________ Until the ______ of _________ Our ________ will ________ forever, as _____
_________ thought is a ________ _________ by in a _______ _________ life to the ________ of doing
Take a _______ in the _______ On our ________, ___________ All your _________ will come _______ _______ away Our ________ will ________ together Until the ______ of _________ We all will _____ _______ forever, as ______
________ to see ________ In a _______ called ___________ __________ life, a new _________ __________ your _______ to ____________ liberty As ______
________ to see ________ In a _______ called ___________ __________ life for ____ and _____ To __________, to your soul is _________ You ______ _______ (you will find) Other ______ (other kind) That has been in ________ of you ________ lives has ____________ you to ________ ( ________ ), it’s your life now in _________
This part in only in the 3rd video: And as you _______ for the _______ _________ has in ________ for you _________ light will see you _____ It’s your day, ________ day All your _________ come ______
Oh-ah-oh-ah-oh-ohh As you ______ in your ________ With the ________ as you _____ away Give a _______ from your ________ and say “I’m _____, yes I’m _________ , now I’m on my way”
Come to see victory In a land called fantasy Loving life for you and me To behold, to your soul is ecstasy You will find other kind That has been in search of you Many lives has brought you to Recognize, it’s your life now in review
Songwriters: Eduardo Lopez, Carlos Efren Reyes Rosado, Eliezer Garcia, Noah K. Assad, Jose Carlos Cruz, Jesus Manuel Benitez-hiraldo, Rafael Ricardo Jimenez, Freddy Montalvo Alicea. For non-commercial use only.
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
To correct the ESL & ELT song activity, watch the video, listen to the song, activate the subtitles (closed captions) button at the right bottom margin, do karaoke and sing it along !
Then, try singing the song with the fluency and at the speed that they do in the video
Listen to the complete song twice.
Then divide the song into chunks (small portions or parts, as the stanzas in the lyrics) and pause it, so you can try singing that little part.
After that, try singing the full song.
This is is great training ! Give it a try ! 🙂
Fantasy Black Box version
Every man has a place In his heart there’s a space And the world can’t erase his fantasies
Take a ride in the sky On our ship, fantasize All your dreams will come true right away
And we will live together Until the twelfth of never Our voices will ring forever as one
Come to see victory In a land called Fantasy Loving life for you and me To behold to your soul is ecstasy
You will find other kind That has been in search of you Many lives has brought you to recognize It’s your life now in review
Every thought is a dream Rushing by in a stream Bringing life to your kingdom of doing
Take a ride in the sky On our ship fantasize All your dreams will come true miles away
Our voices will ring together Until the twelfth of never We all will live on forever as one
Come to see victory In the land of fantasy Loving life a new decree Bring your mind to everlasting liberty
As you stay for the play Fantasy has in store for you Glowing light will see you through It’s your day, shining day All your dreams come true
As you glide in your stride With the wind as you fly away Give a smile from your lips and say I am free, yes, I’m free Now I’m on my way
Come to see victory in the land of fantasy Loving life a new decree Bring your mind to everlasting liberty
Our voices will ring together Until the twelfth of never We all will live on forever as one
Come to see victory in the land of fantasy Loving life a new decree Bring your mind to everlasting liberty
As you stay for the play Fantasy has in store for you Glowing light will see you through It’s your day, shining day All your dreams come true
As you glide in your stride With the wind as you fly away Give a smile from your lips and say I am free, yes, I’m free Now I’m on my way
Fantasy Earth, Wind & Fire version
Every man has a place In his heart, there’s a space And the world can’t erase his fantasies Take a ride in the sky On our ship, fantasize All your dreams will come true right away And we will live together Until the 12th of never Our voices will ring forever, as one Every thought is a dream Rushing by in a stream Bringing life to the kingdom of doing Take a ride in the sky On our ship, fantasize All your dreams will come true miles away Our voices will ring together Until the 12th of never We all will live love forever, as one Come to see victory In a land called fantasy Loving life, a new degree Bring your mind to everlasting liberty As one Come to see victory In a land called fantasy Loving life for you and me To behold, to your soul is ecstasy You will find (you will find) Other kind (other kind) That has been in search of you Many lives has brought you to Recognize (recognize), it’s your life now in review And as you stay for the play Fantasy has in store for you Glowing light will see you through It’s your day, shining day All your dreams come true Oh-ah-oh-ah-oh-ohh As you glide in your stride With the wind as you fly away Give a smile from your lips and say “I’m free, yes I’m free, now I’m on my way” Come to see victory In a land called fantasy Loving life for you and me To behold, to your soul is ecstasy You will find other kind That has been in search of you Many lives has brought you to Recognize, it’s your life now in review Songwriters: Eduardo Lopez, Carlos Efren Reyes Rosado, Eliezer Garcia, Noah K. Assad, Jose Carlos Cruz, Jesus Manuel Benitez-hiraldo, Rafael Ricardo Jimenez, Freddy Montalvo Alicea. For non-commercial use only.
Writing Skills. After that, summarize what the song is about.
Speaking Skills. Explain it using clear and simple structures and vocabulary.
Bones
Gimme, gimme, gimme some time to think I’m in the __________, looking at me _________in the ___________is all I need (ooh) Wait until the reaper takes my life Never gonna get me out __________ I will live a __________million lives (ooh)
My __________is ________________ Is this _____________? Our _____________is _______________ Is this ____________?
I-I-I got this _________, yeah, you know Where I’m ________all ____________ ‘Cause there’s _________in my __________ I-I-I got this ________in my ___________ Go ahead and __________your ________ ‘Cause there’s ____________in my _____________
Playing with a stick of _________ There was never gray in _________and ___________ There was never _______’til there was _________(ooh, oh)
____________like a boulder ______ Seeing all the ____________circling ____________in the flames I’m working in ____________in a bed that’s _____________
My __________is ________________ Is this _____________? Our _____________is _______________ Is this ____________?
I-I-I got this _________, yeah, you know Where I’m ________all ____________ ‘Cause there’s _________in my __________ I-I-I got this ________in my ___________ Go ahead and __________your ________ ‘Cause there’s ____________in my _____________
Look in the ________of my mind ___________the ________of my life ___________the path so many paced a million times Drown out the voices in the ________ ___________the ones that __________cared ___________the pieces up and building to the _____
My __________is ________________ Is this _____________? Our _____________is _______________ Is this ____________?
I-I-I got this _________, yeah, you know Where I’m ________all ____________ ‘Cause there’s _________in my __________ I-I-I got this ________in my ___________ Go ahead and __________your ________ ‘Cause there’s ____________in my _____________
There ______my _________(I-I-I) Don’t ________ There ______my __________(there it goes, there it goes) There ______my __________(I-I-I) Don’t _________(there it goes) There goes my __________ ‘Cause there’s ________in my ____________
Vocabulary
Reaper =
A reaper is a person or machine that cuts and collects crops. It is a worker who reaps crops1. Reaper can also refer to someone who brings death. In this context, the reaper is a symbol of death. Reaper can also refer to an egotistical idealistic genius who killed his parents to achieve his goals.
A reaper is someone who loves death and who believes that he is supposed to be dead. Essentially, a reaper is a soul taker.
my patience is waning = Decreasing or becoming weaker
When someone says their patience is waning, it means that their patience is decreasing or becoming weaker.
gimme = give me
a stick of dynamite
“a stick of dynamite” means something that either causes great awe or confidence. When we mix the colours ‘black’ and ‘white’, we get a neutral ‘grey’. But Imagine Dragons are convinced that it was never grey. They have used the same analogue to justify that the concept of ‘right’ comes from the concept of ‘wrong’.
boulder hurtling
Boulder hurtling and burning in flames are distinct phenomena, each with its own characteristics:
Boulder Hurtling:
Description: Imagine a massive boulder rolling or tumbling down a steep hill or mountain slope.
Nature: It is a physical event involving the movement of a solid object (the boulder) due to gravitational forces.
Energy Transformation: The boulder’s potential energy (stored energy due to its position) is converted into kinetic energy (energy of motion) as it accelerates downhill.
Visual Aspect: The boulder’s movement is typically slow and powerful, with occasional bouncing and rolling.
Heat Generation: There is no significant heat generated during boulder hurtling.
Examples: Landslides, rockfalls, or large rocks dislodged from cliffs.
Burning in Flames:
Description: Flames result from the combustion of organic material (such as wood, gas, or oil) when it reacts with oxygen.
Nature: It is a chemical process involving the release of energy through the oxidation of fuel.
Energy Transformation: The chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted into heat, light, and other forms of energy.
Visual Aspect: Flames appear as colourful, flickering tongues or shapes, depending on the type of fuel and temperature.
Heat Generation: Flames produce intense heat due to the exothermic chemical reactions.
Examples: Campfires, candles, gas stoves, and wildfires.
In summary, boulder hurtling is a physical movement driven by gravity, while burning in flames involves chemical reactions that release heat and light. Both phenomena are fascinating in their own ways!
“boulder hurtling” means the erosion of rock particles because of the frequent movements. “burning in flames” refers to the legend of Phoenix that rises from its ashes.
TOPICS & SYMBOLS IN THE SONG
The word ‘bones’ either reminds us of our dogs or the graveyard. ‘Bones’ by Imagine Dragons has the meaning of grievances in the lyrics as Dan Raynolds lost his sister-in-law to cancer. When you lose a family member to a deadly disease, it’s easy to get into a cycle of sadness. People overthink while mourning for the deceased ones.
Imagine Dragons reflect on the fragility of life in their new song ‘Bones’. It’s necessary to think, at least once, about the last moments.
The lyrics of ‘Bones’ is around the topic of eternal life and Imagine Dragons believe that life never ends. There is more to come to our lives, even after our deaths. You read it correctly, even after our death! For someone who believes in science or philosophies such as ‘Atheism‘, the topic could be hard to digest. But religious people live by the principle of reincarnation and eternity.
The first verse of ‘Bones’ centres around the topic of introspection. Whenever we try to think with a clear mind, somehow we always end up in our bathroom. We look into the mirror and talk to ourselves. This is exactly what the singer is feeling. He is waiting for the ‘reaper‘ to take his life. But he is ready to fight the reaper to live forever.
Then, the discussion turns to the singer himself. Dan tells himself to look inside the mirror of his mind and not the mirror of his bathroom. He wants to see what kind of thoughts does he reflect on himself on an everyday basis. Now, he is reflecting on his own life. Dan is leaving all the people from the past who didn’t care about him. He is picking up himself and has decided to move forward.
The lyrics of ‘Bones’ by Imagine Dragons means that there is no bigger pain than losing a loved one. But every painful moment makes a person stronger. We should always try to overcome our loss by staying strong. In the process of grieving for someone who is gone, we shouldn’t lose ourselves. Self-care and self-respect should always come first.
Training: Try singing the song with the fluency and at the speed that they do in the video
Listen to the complete song twice.
Then divide the song into chunks (small portions or parts, as the stanzas/verses in the lyrics) and pause it, so you can try singing that little part.
After that, try singing the full song.
This is is great training ! Give it a try ! 🙂
Bones
Gimme, gimme, gimme some time to think I’m in the bathroom, looking at me Face in the mirror is all I need (ooh) Wait until the reaper takes my life Never gonna get me out alive I will live a thousand million lives (ooh)
My patience is waning Is this entertaining? Our patience is waning Is this entertaining?
I-I-I got this feeling, yeah, you know Where I’m losing all control ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones I-I-I got this feeling in my soul Go ahead and throw your stones ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones
Playing with a stick of dynamite There was never gray in black and white There was never wrong ’til there was right (ooh, oh)
Feeling like a boulder hurtling Seeing all the vultures circling Burning in the flames I’m working in Turning in a bed that’s darkening
My patience is waning Is this entertaining? Our patience is waning Is this entertaining?
I-I-I got this feeling, yeah, you know Where I’m losing all control ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones (in my bones) I-I-I got this feeling in my soul Go ahead and throw your stones ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones
Look in the mirror of my mind Turning the pages of my life Walking the path so many paced a million times Drown out the voices in the air Leaving the ones that never cared Picking the pieces up and building to the sky
My patience is waning Is this entertaining? My patience is waning Is this entertaining?
I-I-I got this feeling, yeah, you know Where I’m losing all control ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones (magic in my bones) I-I-I got this feeling in my soul (soul) Go ahead and throw your stones ‘Cause there’s magic in
There goes my mind (I-I-I) Don’t mind There goes my mind (there it goes, there it goes) There goes my mind (I-I-I) Don’t mind (there it goes) There goes my mind ‘Cause there’s magic in my bones
TOPICS & SYMBOLS IN THE SONG
The word ‘bones’ either reminds us of our dogs or the graveyard. ‘Bones’ by Imagine Dragons has the meaning of grievances in the lyrics as Dan Raynolds lost his sister-in-law to cancer. When you lose a family member to a deadly disease, it’s easy to get into a cycle of sadness. People overthink while mourning for the deceased ones.
Imagine Dragons reflect on the fragility of life in their new song ‘Bones’. It’s necessary to think, at least once, about the last moments.
The lyrics of ‘Bones’ is around the topic of eternal life and Imagine Dragons believe that life never ends. There is more to come to our lives, even after our deaths. You read it correctly, even after our death! For someone who believes in science or philosophies such as ‘Atheism‘, the topic could be hard to digest. But religious people live by the principle of reincarnation and eternity.
The first verse of ‘Bones’ centres around the topic of introspection. Whenever we try to think with a clear mind, somehow we always end up in our bathroom. We look into the mirror and talk to ourselves. This is exactly what the singer is feeling. He is waiting for the ‘reaper‘ to take his life. But he is ready to fight the reaper to live forever.
Then, the discussion turns to the singer himself. Dan tells himself to look inside the mirror of his mind and not the mirror of his bathroom. He wants to see what kind of thoughts does he reflect on himself on an everyday basis. Now, he is reflecting on his own life. Dan is leaving all the people from the past who didn’t care about him. He is picking up himself and has decided to move forward.
The lyrics of ‘Bones’ by Imagine Dragons means that there is no bigger pain than losing a loved one. But every painful moment makes a person stronger. We should always try to overcome our loss by staying strong. In the process of grieving for someone who is gone, we shouldn’t lose ourselves. Self-care and self-respect should always come first.
From the director of Ex Machina comes one of the year’s most critically acclaimed thrillers. Biologist and former soldier Lena (Natalie Portman) is shocked when her missing husband (Oscar Isaac) comes home near death from a top-secret mission into The Shimmer, a mysterious quarantine zone no one has ever returned from.
Now, Lena and her elite team must enter a beautiful, deadly world of mutated landscapes and creatures, to discover how to stop the growing phenomenon that threatens all life on Earth. Experience this visually stunning film that will be sure to leave you on the edge of your seat…
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