Question: Neoplatonism is a modern term for a strand of Platonic philosophy that started with Plotinus in the 3rd century CE. Neoplatonic philosophy derives the whole of reality from a single principle, "the One," an idea which is still popular in modern-day spirituality.

Three distinct phases in Classical Neoplatonism after Plotinus can be distinguished: the work of his student Porphyry; that of Iamblichus and his school in Syria; and the period in the fifth and sixth centuries, when the Academies in Alexandria and Athens flourished. The work of Proclus (412-485) had a lasting influence in the dissemination of Neoplatonism after the closing of the Platonic Academy in Athens in 529 CE by Justinian I.

In the Middle Ages, Neoplatonic ideas were studied and discussed by Islamic, Christian, and Jewish thinkers. In the Islamic cultural sphere, Neoplatonic texts were available in Arabic translations, and notable thinkers such as al-Farabi, Solomon ibn Gabirol ("Avicebron"), Avicenna and Moses Maimonides incorporated Neoplatonic elements into their own thinking.

Latin translations of Late Ancient Neoplatonic texts were first available in the Christian West in the 9th century, and became influential from the 12th century onward. Thomas Aquinas had direct access to works by Proclus, Simplicius and Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, and he knew about other Neoplatonists, such as Plotinus and Porphyry, through secondhand sources. Meister Eckhart was also influenced by Neoplatonism, propagating a contemplative way of life which points to the Godhead beyond the nameable God. 1. What fist became available in the 9th Century?
2. When did they become more meaningful?
3. What does Neoplatonism mean?
4. When did it begin?
5. By who?
6. Anyone else?
7. Who?
8. Is it used today?
9. How so?
10. Did different religions use it?
11. When?
12. Which ones?
13. Can you give an example of someone famous that used it?
14. Any others?
15. When was he born? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Latin translations of Late Ancient Neoplatonic texts
2. from the 12th century onward.
3. it is a modern term for a strand of Platonic philosophy
4. 3rd century CE
5. Plotinus
6. yes
7. Porphyry
8. yes
9. it is still popular in modern-day spirituality
10. yes
11. In the Middle Ages
12. by Islamic, Christian, and Jewish thinkers
13. al-Farabi
14. Solomon ibn Gabirol ("Avicebron")
15. unknown

Question: Frank was clever, but he never liked to work hard. He often said to his friends, "If you work hard, you will make a lot of money, but it is not so good. I want easy work and a lot of money. That's the most interesting thing in the world."So he could only be a thief. But he still thought it was too much work, so he only told his friends what to do and got money from them. One day, Frank sent one of his friends to a very large and beautiful house. He told him to get money from that rich family. It was evening, and a man and a girl were in the room. They were playing a duet on a piano. Then the thief came into the house. When he returned, Frank asked him what he had got. But he said, "I didn't take anything. That family can't have much money. You know, two people were playing on the same piano there. They did not have money to buy another piano." 1. What did Frank dislike doing?
2. What did he want a lot of?
3. Where did he send one of his friends?
4. From whom did he tell the friend to get money?
5. Was it day or evening?
6. How many people were in the room?
7. Was it a man and a boy?
8. Who then?
9. What were they playing on?
10. What were they playing on it?
11. Did the thief end up taking anything?
12. How many pianos did the family have?
13. Was Frank clever or dumb? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. to work hard
2. money
3. to a large and beautiful house
4. a rich family
5. evening
6. two
7. no
8. a man and a girl
9. a piano
10. a duet
11. no
12. one
13. clever

Question: Consumer electronics once again topped the list of the most wanted gifts this holiday season. "Seventy-six percent of consumers who plan to buy holiday gifts say that they will spend money buying at least one technology product; definitely a solid vote of confidence for technology." Steve Koenig is with the Consumer Electronics Association. He says the group's latest research also shows that Americans this year are spending more on technology products.

"Here in 2012, $252 on average-the technology spend for consumers this year." From tablet computers to smartphones, American shoppers have been lining up to get the newest and coolest electronic devices on the market. There are more choices today than ever before. "It's kind of hard to make a decision."

Tablet computers are one of the best-selling products this year. Brian Tong is Senior Editor of CNET.com. The website reports on tech news and examines the latest electronic products. He says the Apple iPad Mini is one of the most popular tablets. Its starting price is $329. One of Apple's biggest competitors is the Google Nexus 7. It starts at $199.

"The hardware inside is more powerful than what's in the iPad Mini, but also it offers you a lot of things like maps that work better than Apple's maps." Brian Tong says there is one reason why people may like the iPad Mini more than the Nexus 7. "If you just want to read books and surf the Internet, you don't really need to get an iPad Mini, but if you want the largest group of apps that's where the iPad and Apple's ecosystem shines the most."

Elman Chacon is with the electronics store Best Buy. He says another hot product this season is smart cameras. They connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi. This makes it easy for users to email or upload photographs directly from the camera. "You can literally take a picture, upload it into your Facebook in a matter of seconds. These things are pretty cool because they do a lot of things."

Streaming media boxes also connect to the Internet. People are able to watch web content such as movies and YouTube videos on their televisions. Another popular item is wireless speaker systems. The newest ones work with any device that has Bluetooth technology, including smartphones, laptops and tablets.

With the growing popularity of Internet shopping, many consumers will visit a store first to look at a product, and then go online to find it at a lower price. Stores like Best Buy understand that and they want to stay competitive.

"We have something called the perfect match promise which means if you buy a certain device and you find it cheaper within 30 days we'll go ahead and price match that for you." Elman Chacon said. 1. What's the cost of the Nexus 7?
2. Who makes it?
3. What is the competition?
4. How many plan to by technological Christmas gifts?
5. Who gave the percentage?
6. With what group?
7. Who is spending more on tech goods?
8. When?
9. What was the average spend in 2012?
10. On what?
11. Are there fewer options?
12. How does this affect decisions?
13. Name a best-seller now?
14. According to whom?
15. Of what website?
16. What does the site do?
17. Who is with the electronic biz?
18. Which one?
19. How long is the price match guarantee?
20. Where can photos be uploaded? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. $199
2. Google
3. Apple
4. Seventy-six percent
5. Steve Koenig
6. Consumer Electronics Association
7. Americans
8. this year
9. $252
10. From tablet computers to smartphones
11. No
12. hard
13. Tablet computers
14. Brian Tong
15. CNET.com
16. reports on tech news
17. Elman Chacon
18. Best Buy
19. 30 days
20. Facebook