Great MythConceptions by Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki was truly one of the most interesting books I've ever read. Sometimes that was a good thing, and other times it wasn't. The concept of the book and the ideas in it were all very interesting. The fact that he collected off of this interesting data for the book was wonderful and I learned a lot. The way he presented it, though, was not as wonderful.
Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki should stick to being a doctor and never write again in his life. Unless, it is maybe a very dry essay. No, strike that, he shouldn't write at all. He went to school to study to be a doctor, that's great, congratulations, go with that! Don't write! The way he formatted this book was all wrong in my opinion, and he should have had someone else write it for him. He could have presented his thoughts in a different order and it would have made a huge difference. Another thing he did was try to make a book that was slightly comedic and fun to read. To achieve this goal, he used made-up words, slang, and bad jokes. This is not a side show in Vegas, this is a book.
I found myself groaning out loud over distastefulness of his writing at times.
One of my biggest problems with his writing, though, was his arrogance. He was very haughty in his writing and he basically blatantly insulted at times. One quote that sticks out in my head is from the section about Albert Einstein not really failing school. He said, "Schoolchildren can't use this mythconception as a crutch anymore-- they'll just have to work harder..." Well, excuse me, we can't all be doctors.
So, in conclusion, the actual information in the book was great, and I'm happy to have learned it, but this doctor is not in.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
The Inconvenient truth
An Inconvenient truth
Al Gore
This book was really a wake up call because it raises the issues that I and others find important. One of the points that shocked me in this book is that, 92% Number of peer-reviewed articles dealing with "climate change" published in scientific journals daring the previous 10 years. 0% Percentage of articles in the doubt as to the cause of the global warming.The second point I'm making is why should you contribute? Well, the United States contribute 30.3%, Europe 27.7% Russia 13.7, Middle east 2.6%, Southeast Asia, India, and China 12/2% South America 3.8% and Australia 1.1%. This world will melt on less change. There was serious affect on the Pacific island already.
there land is drowning by raising water and if the water keeps raising, NYC is going to be and under water city. This is there reason you should pick up this book and start helping.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Ocean Like Body of Water found under Asia
The article is called: Huge Underground "Ocean" Found Beneath Asia. The website I got it from is: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070227-ocean-asia.html The author is Richard A. Lovett. The topic is underground water.
This is what I learned:
Underneath Eastern Asia, scientists have found a large body of water hundreds of miles below the earth's surface. This body of water would equal up to about the size of the Arctic Ocean. The water came there by the process of plate techtonics. Scientists can related this to other things, and to learn more about our earth. They view this as a good thing, for it could keep the continents from flooding, due to global warming.
Blog posting by Jay Reist.
Broken Ice Shelf Reveals Thousands of Arctic Species
The article is called: Ice Shelf Collapses Reveal New Species, Ecosystem Changes. I got it from the website: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070227-polar-species.html The author is John Roach. The topic is new species.
This is what I learned:
After two ice shelfs in Antartica broke due to global warming over the past 12 years, scientists have found thousands of new species. This means that our ecosystem might change. The studies and photographs have revieled that their are relationships between certain species that we have never known before. This is a lot of new information for scientists to handle and I think that it will be a while before we have all the information on these species. I definitely think our science text books will have to be updated!
Animal Winter Games: Food Snatch
The podcast is called: Animal Winter Games: Food Snatch. It was created by National Geographic. I got it from the website: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals.html The topic is polar bear food snatching.
This is what I learned:
After 5 months in a lair of snow, a mother polar bear comes out with her babies. She hasn't eaten since she went in, 5 months ago. She is getting thinner by the day, so they all go out to find food. She must protect them, for baby polar bears are usually killed by male polar bears within the first month that they come out of their lair. She teaches her children how to get food, by breaking the ice and stealing seal cubs. The children usually play with their food and sometimes get into fights over food with their mother.
This is what I learned:
After 5 months in a lair of snow, a mother polar bear comes out with her babies. She hasn't eaten since she went in, 5 months ago. She is getting thinner by the day, so they all go out to find food. She must protect them, for baby polar bears are usually killed by male polar bears within the first month that they come out of their lair. She teaches her children how to get food, by breaking the ice and stealing seal cubs. The children usually play with their food and sometimes get into fights over food with their mother.
Dolphin Parenting
The podcast is called: Dolphin Parenting. It was made by National Geographic. I got it from the website: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals.html The topic is dolphin parenting.
This is what I learned:
The only skill baby dolphins know when they are born is to mimic or copy any thing that their mother dolphin does. To learn how to find food, the mother finds it for the baby and the baby mimics the mother perfectly. One technique that they use is a type of dolphin sonar system, where their voice echoes back at them to see what fish lye under the sand. Another way to get food is to speedily follow a fish in the shallows and catch it. And another thing is that playing with your food gives you a statis in the dolphin community.
Blog posted by Jay Reist
This is what I learned:
The only skill baby dolphins know when they are born is to mimic or copy any thing that their mother dolphin does. To learn how to find food, the mother finds it for the baby and the baby mimics the mother perfectly. One technique that they use is a type of dolphin sonar system, where their voice echoes back at them to see what fish lye under the sand. Another way to get food is to speedily follow a fish in the shallows and catch it. And another thing is that playing with your food gives you a statis in the dolphin community.
Blog posted by Jay Reist
Chimps vs. Humans: Where do we draw the line?
The podcast I watched was called: Video: Chimps Make and Use "Spears" to Hunt. This video was made by National Geographic/NOVA. I found it on the website: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070222-chimp-video.html?fs=video.nationalgeographic.com The main topic is chimpanzees' relations to humans.
Now I watched this short video and I was surprised. I knew that there were some type of ape that was similar to humans, but not this similar.
This is what I learned:
Chimpanzees found in Senegal are more adapted than scientists previously thought. Some of us don't think about it, but there is only a 6% difference in our DNA. That means these apes are the closest thing to humans. Scientists have found that these animals have found ways/tools to make food. For instance, in the video, a chimpanzee crushes nuts to make food. This might not seem like a very big deal, but it is. Another new observation is that they do hunt (with tools). In the video, we see a female chimanzee take a spear-like branch and throw it at an animal in a tree, the spear kills the small animal. Then the chimpanzee jumps over to it and takes it for a meal. This means that scientists might have to rethink their theories about these animals.
Blog post by Jay Reist
The Hot Zone [Mid-Point Post]
So far I have really enjoyed The Hot Zone. It's very descriptive, very graphic and gruesome story is what makes the book incredible. So far there has been an outbreak in parts of Africa of an unknown virus which they later discovered was a virus called Marburg. There is not a lot known about Marburg. Marburg is the least explosive virus of three viruses.
They are as follows:
-Marburg
-Ebola Sudan
-Ebola Zaire
Marburg kills 1 out of 4 where Ebola Sudan kills 50% and Ebola Zaire [the worst of the three] kills 9 out of 10. In the book they have described many of the deaths and the studies of the viruses. These viruses have a violent way of attacking their hosts and even though as you read you seem to personify the viruses and make it seem as if their goal is to kill the person but really once the host dies they have to find a new one. All the virus really wants to do is replicate itself. I would recommend this book to almost anyone, and even if your squeemish [like myself] you should still read this because I've had no problem with the gruesomeness of the book. Once I started reading this book I could literally not put it down, it was as if it was glued to my fingertips. I would often be reading at 1 or 2 in the morning. This book is amazing. There are studies still being done on these viruses but no one has found where these viruses go to hide, waiting to make there next attack.
[P.S: I will never go to Africa. I refuse.]
By: Emma DW
They are as follows:
-Marburg
-Ebola Sudan
-Ebola Zaire
Marburg kills 1 out of 4 where Ebola Sudan kills 50% and Ebola Zaire [the worst of the three] kills 9 out of 10. In the book they have described many of the deaths and the studies of the viruses. These viruses have a violent way of attacking their hosts and even though as you read you seem to personify the viruses and make it seem as if their goal is to kill the person but really once the host dies they have to find a new one. All the virus really wants to do is replicate itself. I would recommend this book to almost anyone, and even if your squeemish [like myself] you should still read this because I've had no problem with the gruesomeness of the book. Once I started reading this book I could literally not put it down, it was as if it was glued to my fingertips. I would often be reading at 1 or 2 in the morning. This book is amazing. There are studies still being done on these viruses but no one has found where these viruses go to hide, waiting to make there next attack.
[P.S: I will never go to Africa. I refuse.]
By: Emma DW
Final Entry - Human Origins
(Let me just dive right into it) The book for the most part, follows Human evolution, going through the waves of change in Africa, such as stone tools, social and family relationship changes, and bipedal walking. It eventually spreads out into other areas such as Neanderthal evolution and the basic spread of Homo erectus. Every now and then the book jumps away from the main timeline to discuss something like a comparison of ancient apes to modern chimpazees, or to discuss a theory (such as the missing link theory) in a quick chapter. But, it soon goes back to talk about the evolutionary timeline. It covers such common topics as the Cro-magnon/Neanderthal relationship in Europe, to the more elusive fate of the Homo-erectus in Asia or the fascinating discovery of the Homo floresiensis in Indonesia.
It usually jumps from one archeological discovery to the next, and while these are fine checkpoints, I feel the author sometimes gets to excited with a certain point of finding and goes into too much detail. But the author usually brings you back with relative clarity, and little confusion on subjects.
But other then that the text is clear and very readable, and not in the least daunting. I found the book easy to read (as in length) but not too easy, which is good. Overall I say it is a very well written book.
It usually jumps from one archeological discovery to the next, and while these are fine checkpoints, I feel the author sometimes gets to excited with a certain point of finding and goes into too much detail. But the author usually brings you back with relative clarity, and little confusion on subjects.
But other then that the text is clear and very readable, and not in the least daunting. I found the book easy to read (as in length) but not too easy, which is good. Overall I say it is a very well written book.
Final Entry - Human Origins
(Let me just dive right into it) The book for the most part, follows Human evolution, going through the waves of change in Africa, such as stone tools, social and family relationship changes, and bipedal walking. It eventually spreads out into other areas such as Neanderthal evolution and the basic spread of Homo erectus.. Every now and then the book jumps away from the main timeline to discuss something like a comparison of ancient apes to modern chimpazees, or to discuss a theory (such as the missing link theory) in a quick chapter. But, it soon goes back to talk about the evolutionary timeline. It covers such common topics as the Cro-magnon/Neanderthal relationship in Europe, to the more elusive fate of the Homo-erectus in Asia or the fascinating discovery of the Homo floresiensis in Indonesia.
It usually jumps from one archeological discovery to the next, and while these are fine checkpoints, I feel the author sometimes gets to excited with a certain point of finding and goes into too much detail. But the author usually brings you back with relative clarity, and little confusion on subjects.
But other then that the text is clear and very readable, and not in the least daunting. I found the book easy to read (as in length) but not too easy, which is good. Overall I say it is a very well written book.
It usually jumps from one archeological discovery to the next, and while these are fine checkpoints, I feel the author sometimes gets to excited with a certain point of finding and goes into too much detail. But the author usually brings you back with relative clarity, and little confusion on subjects.
But other then that the text is clear and very readable, and not in the least daunting. I found the book easy to read (as in length) but not too easy, which is good. Overall I say it is a very well written book.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Petrified Lightning Yields New Information on the Past
I read this article called:Stroke of Good Fortune: A wealth of data from petrified lightning. I read it on the website: http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070217/fob5.asp The subject is glass and the author is Sid Perkins. This is what I learned.
Well, as some of us know, when lightning hits sand it creates a kind of glass that presserves chemicals in the air from its surroundings. Well, in the Egyptian dessert, this doesn't happen that often, but 15,000 years ago, it did.
Scientists have recently learned about the of barren Egyptian dessert, but 15,000 years ago. Because fulgurites are found in glass, and rarely erode. This means that the chemicals in the glass have been presserved. After chemical tests of the carbon concentrations found in the glass, scientists have found that after the last ice age, most of Egypt was covered in plants and fields of glass. I liked the article, and I would reccomend this website if you'd like to read some new and interesting things about different subjects in science.
This blog entry was written by Jay Reist.
Well, as some of us know, when lightning hits sand it creates a kind of glass that presserves chemicals in the air from its surroundings. Well, in the Egyptian dessert, this doesn't happen that often, but 15,000 years ago, it did.
Scientists have recently learned about the of barren Egyptian dessert, but 15,000 years ago. Because fulgurites are found in glass, and rarely erode. This means that the chemicals in the glass have been presserved. After chemical tests of the carbon concentrations found in the glass, scientists have found that after the last ice age, most of Egypt was covered in plants and fields of glass. I liked the article, and I would reccomend this website if you'd like to read some new and interesting things about different subjects in science.
This blog entry was written by Jay Reist.
Progress in New Knee Surgery Technique
The article I found is called:Hurt-Knees Rx: Surgical method promotes ligament regeneration. The author is Patrick L. Barry and the subject is surgery. I read the article on the website:http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070224/fob3.asp.
Now I found this article quite interesting, and I learned a few things about this developing surgery technique. Apparently, surgeons have found a new, and in some ways a better technique to perform knee surgery. Instead of using prothetics to help keep the knee together (for this technique often fails because the prothetics obviously cannot regenerate), surgeons have looked to the rest of the leg. What they do, is they take ligament tissue that regenerates from another part of the same leg and place it where the prothetics would usually go. Now this benefits the knee is some ways (basically, you won't have to get knee surgery again), but there are some cons. One is that is can effect the rest of the leg because you are taking the tissue from the other part of the leg and that can make it hard to move. Currently, they have been testing it on rabbits (much to my dissatisfaction), who do not have a recovery time, but immediately get back to hopping around and such. Humans, who usually take a recovery time, might have a better time with this procedure. Experts know that this isn't the finish line, and they hope to eventually not need to use the ligament tissue from your leg, but another solution. This was a well written article, and I learned quite a bit from it, as you can see.
Blog post written by Jay Reist
Mid-Point Entry-Great MythConceptions
Great MythConceptions, by Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki, works to unveil the secrets behind the myths. Such as Albert Einstein failed school, gold fish have no memory, etc.
When reading this book you learn so much because, well it is really a book that teaches. It's about things you probably don't know. So, it is almost impossible to learn nothing from this book.
One of my favorite quotes in the book so far is "So, low nicotine cigarettes not only deliver the same amount of nicotine, and give you more carbon monoxide, they also lull you into a false sense of security." I love this quote because, not only is it informative, but it is interesting and, yet, disturbing. This section of the book talks about low nicotine cigarettes, and how they deliver the same amount of nicotine to the brain and blood as regular cigarettes. Nicotine is basically what addicts you to cigarettes. Smokers "need" a certain amount of it. So, when they smoke low nicotine cigarettes, the just take longer drags (or sucks), or take more drags, in order to get the same amount of nicotine to the brain. What is scary though, is that most smokers think they are doing better for themselves by only smoking low nicotine cigarettes, but, in reality, they are smoking the same amount as ever before.
When reading this book you learn so much because, well it is really a book that teaches. It's about things you probably don't know. So, it is almost impossible to learn nothing from this book.
One of my favorite quotes in the book so far is "So, low nicotine cigarettes not only deliver the same amount of nicotine, and give you more carbon monoxide, they also lull you into a false sense of security." I love this quote because, not only is it informative, but it is interesting and, yet, disturbing. This section of the book talks about low nicotine cigarettes, and how they deliver the same amount of nicotine to the brain and blood as regular cigarettes. Nicotine is basically what addicts you to cigarettes. Smokers "need" a certain amount of it. So, when they smoke low nicotine cigarettes, the just take longer drags (or sucks), or take more drags, in order to get the same amount of nicotine to the brain. What is scary though, is that most smokers think they are doing better for themselves by only smoking low nicotine cigarettes, but, in reality, they are smoking the same amount as ever before.
Just for Fun - Try It
The problem with these self-tests is that what you want to do and what you actually have an aptitude for are often 2 or more different things...
Some wishful thinking on my part perhaps, along with some forced either/or questions that can't possibly capture nuance and the complex nature of our personalities. Just for fun, don't take it too seriously. And avoid the other "tests" on the page that ask for your cell phone number.
via Evolving Thoughts
Your Dominant Intelligence is Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
You are great at finding patterns and relationships between things.
Always curious about how things work, you love to set up experiments.
You need for the world to make sense - and are good at making sense of it.
You have a head for numbers and math ... and you can solve almost any logic puzzle.
You would make a great scientist, engineer, computer programmer, researcher, accountant, or mathematician.
Some wishful thinking on my part perhaps, along with some forced either/or questions that can't possibly capture nuance and the complex nature of our personalities. Just for fun, don't take it too seriously. And avoid the other "tests" on the page that ask for your cell phone number.
via Evolving Thoughts
Saturday, February 24, 2007
FINAL ENTRY!!!! (whoop whoop)
ok so here is the deal...
AWFUL!!!!! the Big Bang book was definately the book from hell. It didn't start literally talking about the big bang until like page 300! (and this is most dissapointing considering i bought the book so i could learn more about what wiped out my favorite critters...the DINOS!!!) no offense to anyone that liked this book, but you have to be seriously senial and incredibly smart (interesting combination...sort of like monk from the show monk on usa) to actually like and learn anything from this book. and for all my buddiesin 801 I really suggest you not read this bok because it is so borning and long by the time you finish it there m9ight be another big bang. i was so upset at the outcome of this book that my head almost had a big bang out of pure anger.
no big deal just wasted a few hours of life.
oookay,
I to the Z
AWFUL!!!!! the Big Bang book was definately the book from hell. It didn't start literally talking about the big bang until like page 300! (and this is most dissapointing considering i bought the book so i could learn more about what wiped out my favorite critters...the DINOS!!!) no offense to anyone that liked this book, but you have to be seriously senial and incredibly smart (interesting combination...sort of like monk from the show monk on usa) to actually like and learn anything from this book. and for all my buddiesin 801 I really suggest you not read this bok because it is so borning and long by the time you finish it there m9ight be another big bang. i was so upset at the outcome of this book that my head almost had a big bang out of pure anger.
no big deal just wasted a few hours of life.
oookay,
I to the Z
My final entry (For Great Mythconceptions)
For my last entry I shall explore myths that you may have heard, and tell you the REAL story behind it all. Therefore telling you what I have learned from this book.
Myth exploration #1 - Do you goldfish actually have memories?
Although it is limited, goldfish DO have memories. You may be surprised, you may say - "How can something that just swims around in circles, and is that small have a memory? You see, in order to live - you must have a memory. Your memory stores lots of information like where to swim, what to eat, and where not to go. Some fish are known for responding to feeding time, and human interaction. Both of these activities require memory. They even did a test, where they had two fish - one had been swimming in his tank for a while, and the other had just been put in. Then they put a net in the tank and raced after the fish. The fish that had been in his tank for a while, knew his way around the tank, so that he could get away from the net. While the other one struggled to find a place to hide.
So if you ever wondered if a goldfish could remember... well know you know- they can.
Myth exploration #2- Does truth serum really work?
Truth serum is known as a drug that allows people to tell the truth, so there is not a single thing that they should hide. But does this drug really work? Studies say not completely. The drug can loosen some one's tounge, and reveal a very small part of their subconscious. And when tested, some people even admitted to crimes they couldn't have committed, such as murdering a step- mother - even though there is no step- mother to kill.
So if you were hoping to slip someone truth serum to find out the truth... you may not find it out. Sorry!
I have learned lots more from this book. I have learned about Einstein's brain, Baby deliverys, and just by reading the front of the book you learn that a desk has 400 times more bacteria than one square inch of a toliet! Imagine!
CCL7
Myth exploration #1 - Do you goldfish actually have memories?
Although it is limited, goldfish DO have memories. You may be surprised, you may say - "How can something that just swims around in circles, and is that small have a memory? You see, in order to live - you must have a memory. Your memory stores lots of information like where to swim, what to eat, and where not to go. Some fish are known for responding to feeding time, and human interaction. Both of these activities require memory. They even did a test, where they had two fish - one had been swimming in his tank for a while, and the other had just been put in. Then they put a net in the tank and raced after the fish. The fish that had been in his tank for a while, knew his way around the tank, so that he could get away from the net. While the other one struggled to find a place to hide.
So if you ever wondered if a goldfish could remember... well know you know- they can.
Myth exploration #2- Does truth serum really work?
Truth serum is known as a drug that allows people to tell the truth, so there is not a single thing that they should hide. But does this drug really work? Studies say not completely. The drug can loosen some one's tounge, and reveal a very small part of their subconscious. And when tested, some people even admitted to crimes they couldn't have committed, such as murdering a step- mother - even though there is no step- mother to kill.
So if you were hoping to slip someone truth serum to find out the truth... you may not find it out. Sorry!
I have learned lots more from this book. I have learned about Einstein's brain, Baby deliverys, and just by reading the front of the book you learn that a desk has 400 times more bacteria than one square inch of a toliet! Imagine!
CCL7
A Possibility for a Future AIDS Cure
I based this posting on the article: How to Beat AIDS? I read it on the website: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1590570,00.html. The subject is cures and the author is Howard Chua-Eoan. This is what I learned.
Now I read this article and it surprised me and gave me hope for the future. Some experts and general people were beginning to give up on the idea that maybe there is a cure for AIDS. Now, experts have found, that there may be a glimpse of hope for this disease that the world is suffering from. What happens is that there is a rare antibody called B12 that latches on to the AIDS virus and it is stable through the virus' many mutations. This isn't the cure because B12 only occurs in certain individuals, but it is now the template for a possible AIDS vaccine.
Blog posting by Jay Reist.
Now I read this article and it surprised me and gave me hope for the future. Some experts and general people were beginning to give up on the idea that maybe there is a cure for AIDS. Now, experts have found, that there may be a glimpse of hope for this disease that the world is suffering from. What happens is that there is a rare antibody called B12 that latches on to the AIDS virus and it is stable through the virus' many mutations. This isn't the cure because B12 only occurs in certain individuals, but it is now the template for a possible AIDS vaccine.
Blog posting by Jay Reist.
Ozone Worries
The article that I read was called "As Asia Keeps Cool, Scientists Worry about the Ozone Layer".The topic is global warming. Theses are some things that I learned from the article. Scientists were finally hopeful that the Ozone layer was on its way to being healed.
That was before healing Ozone layer went back to the record size recorded in 2001. That size was as big as the North American continent. Scientists now say that it will take another quarter of a century than expected to heal this large hole. This hole is reportedly over Antarctica. This means that a large percentage of Antarctica is unprotected to large asteroids and high powered rays from the sun. What has caused the process that was being made, go back to where we started?
The cause is India and southern China. There has been an extremely large boom of air-conditioner sales in these parts of Asia from the world wide known producer of air-conditioners: LG Electronics. The number one chemical that we know of that caused this decrease in progress is HCFC-22. This chemical is widely used in air-conditioners and due to the future threat of global warming, it has been banned in all of Europe and is in the process of being banned in the United States (by 2010). The United Nations hopes that this harmful chemical will be banned in all of the world by 2020. But the Montreal Protocol has allowed countries with growing economies (such as India and China to have this harmful chemical until 2040.
In the Indian suburbs and in the Chinese suburbs (where two thirds of the country's population resides) there has been an air-conditioner boom due to heat waves. In India, the government had to cut the 32% luxury tax on air-conditioners by 50% due to the middle class' demands.
Hopefully by 2040, this problem will have been solved.
Summary by Jay.
Friday, February 23, 2007
MY LAST ENTRY!!! YAY!!!!
So I just finished reading Phineas Gage and OMG I really enjoyed it!!! The main points were mostly about how the brain works and how this accident of getting a rod shot though his head really effected his brain and personalaty. I really enjoyed how the book talked about the different parts of the brain and how the differnt parts control different things. The book in general really kept my attention and was a pretty easy read considering it was a about a complex subject. I also very much enjoyed the detailed and suspensful describtion of the accident, eventough it was a little nasty. All in all it was a very good book and would reccomend it to anyone.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
More Accurate Mid-Point Entry
"Honey, Mud, Maggots, and Other Medical Marvels" by Robert and Michele Root-BernsteinThis book is the science behind folk remedies and old wives' tales
"The philosophies of one age become the absurdities of the next, and the foolishness of yesterday has become the wisdom of tomorrow"
--Sir William Osler, M.D.,1902
This quote explains the concept of the whole book in one sentence.
Ch.1- Cow pox is cured by cowpox pus.
Ch.2-Maggots clean wounds by eating the dead flesh. But there are different types of maggots. One type eats dead flesh, another eats both dead and alive flesh, another eats living flesh. They look really similar.
Ch.3- Honey and sugar heals wounds and burns.
Ch. 4- Bath water cures constipation, colic, gout, ingertility, and paralysis. It's also very good for elders.
Ch.5- Clay was full in calcium (food supplement) nutrition. From too much bloodloss you can die.
Ch.6- Its been proven that bloodletting helps in high blood pressure and heart disease
Ch.7- Leeches were used for taking blood and cured headaches and black eyes and other problems in the body.
Ch.8- A dog's wound was healed from its pus. And the same thing happened for humans.
Midpoint Entry
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other- by Oliver Sacks
"Tells the stories of individuals afflicted with fantastic perceptual and intellectual aberrations: patients who have lost their memories and with them the greater part of their pasts; who are no longer able to recognize people and common objects; who are stricken with violent tics and grimaces or who shout involuntary obscenities; whose limbs have become alien; who have been dismissed as retarded yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents."
From reading this book i have learned how a brain tumor can affect ones actions; how one person can be affected when they have lost half of their memory and are living in the past, but can be in a whole different world spritualy; how a lady can be disembodied in a way that she can not feel her own body, but it is still there or how someone can be tricked into thinking that their own leg is someone elses. People on this book sometimes can only tell who a doctor is by an object he/she may be carring aroung, such as a stethoscope. People in this book can be discribed as "helpless, demented, confused and disoriented." But in other cases when a disorder is cured beautiful things can happen. Like in the chapter "Hands" a blind woman who had never used her hands, and who had lost all feeling within her hand suddenly started to use her hands. She used to describe her hands as "Useless godforsaken lumps of dough-" now she uses her hands to create sculptures, which within a year become locally famous as the Blind Sculptress of St. Benedict's.
This book has shone me recoveries and patients who will stay the same till they take their last breath. It has shone me tears and smiles, andi hope the rest of the book will be as interesting as the first half.
"Tells the stories of individuals afflicted with fantastic perceptual and intellectual aberrations: patients who have lost their memories and with them the greater part of their pasts; who are no longer able to recognize people and common objects; who are stricken with violent tics and grimaces or who shout involuntary obscenities; whose limbs have become alien; who have been dismissed as retarded yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents."
From reading this book i have learned how a brain tumor can affect ones actions; how one person can be affected when they have lost half of their memory and are living in the past, but can be in a whole different world spritualy; how a lady can be disembodied in a way that she can not feel her own body, but it is still there or how someone can be tricked into thinking that their own leg is someone elses. People on this book sometimes can only tell who a doctor is by an object he/she may be carring aroung, such as a stethoscope. People in this book can be discribed as "helpless, demented, confused and disoriented." But in other cases when a disorder is cured beautiful things can happen. Like in the chapter "Hands" a blind woman who had never used her hands, and who had lost all feeling within her hand suddenly started to use her hands. She used to describe her hands as "Useless godforsaken lumps of dough-" now she uses her hands to create sculptures, which within a year become locally famous as the Blind Sculptress of St. Benedict's.
This book has shone me recoveries and patients who will stay the same till they take their last breath. It has shone me tears and smiles, andi hope the rest of the book will be as interesting as the first half.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Mid-point entry - "Collapse"
I have been so far enjoying this book, despite the fact that it is quite depressing (apparently the author tells about ways that we might be able to prevent collapses in our society similar to the historical ones he discusses later on in the book, but, at this point, it simply seems as though we are all doomed to an endless cycle of complete destruction and building our societies up again from scratch, which is a depressing though not exactly startling thought.
I particularly enjoyed the section on Easter Island. Though I had read many years ago about the mysterious fall of the society there and been intrigued by it, I had never before had a clear understanding of why exactly it happened. Over the course of reading this book, I feel that I do understand why it happened. I also have the sense (though I'm not sure how accurate it is) that Mr. Diamond's hypotheses on Easter Island are ones that have never before been proposed, at least not in quite this manner. As with "Guns, Germs and Steel", I have the sense while reading this book that it is a monumental work that reinvents contemporary knowledge of the subject. It feels odd to be reading such a thing on a subject that I know relatively little about, and it is a very odd look into the world of ecological studies.
I have not yet reached the section on Greenland and Vinland, which I am excited about reading. Hopefully those sections (about subjects that I know significantly more than the other topics yet discussed in the book) will not disappoint me!
So far, I would recommend this book to someone interested in the subject. But I would warn them that the book seems somewhat slow at first, and the section on Montana has a Harold Bloom-esque sense of self importance to it, at least in my opinion.
I particularly enjoyed the section on Easter Island. Though I had read many years ago about the mysterious fall of the society there and been intrigued by it, I had never before had a clear understanding of why exactly it happened. Over the course of reading this book, I feel that I do understand why it happened. I also have the sense (though I'm not sure how accurate it is) that Mr. Diamond's hypotheses on Easter Island are ones that have never before been proposed, at least not in quite this manner. As with "Guns, Germs and Steel", I have the sense while reading this book that it is a monumental work that reinvents contemporary knowledge of the subject. It feels odd to be reading such a thing on a subject that I know relatively little about, and it is a very odd look into the world of ecological studies.
I have not yet reached the section on Greenland and Vinland, which I am excited about reading. Hopefully those sections (about subjects that I know significantly more than the other topics yet discussed in the book) will not disappoint me!
So far, I would recommend this book to someone interested in the subject. But I would warn them that the book seems somewhat slow at first, and the section on Montana has a Harold Bloom-esque sense of self importance to it, at least in my opinion.
Field Guide to Human Origins I expected a little more story oriented, but aside from that the first chapter seemed fine, (Although apparently the author seems to think he's hilarious.) a lot of information, good facts, and I expect to get a good view of the Human of evolution from this book.
One of the most interesting chapters was the one which included the "myth of the missing link" which commented rather harshly on people who believed in the missing link theory. It pointed quite a few mistakes in the theory, but at least described why people could easily accept and come up with the theory.
Most of what I've learned are a few more things about our relation to chimps. But mostly the book took me on an investigation to find out how we started walking up rite. Describing different theories and points of view from different scientists.
truly nobodies, Devil'sAdvocate
One of the most interesting chapters was the one which included the "myth of the missing link" which commented rather harshly on people who believed in the missing link theory. It pointed quite a few mistakes in the theory, but at least described why people could easily accept and come up with the theory.
Most of what I've learned are a few more things about our relation to chimps. But mostly the book took me on an investigation to find out how we started walking up rite. Describing different theories and points of view from different scientists.
truly nobodies, Devil'sAdvocate
Mid- point entry para mi libro
I am almost done with the book, I am reading, and I must say it is pretty good. Just to clear things up, I thought I would be writing 10 entrys, but I decided againist it. So this is my mid- point entry (obviously).
The blurb (The back of the book says):
Do we really use only 10 percent of our brains?
Is MT. Everest truly the world's tallest mountain?
Did Einstein actally fail school?
Does your soul actually weigh 21 grams?
Did NASA fake the moon landing?
Do so-called truth serums realy work?
Find out the answers to these intriguing questions and many more in Great - Mythconceptions: The Science Behind the Myths, as author Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki offers funny facts and dizzying discoveries about some of science's greatest myths. Told in an accessible and quirky, humorous style, Great Mythconceptins is a captivating expose of all things scientific!
What I have found out while reading this book:
This book is so much fun to read because you learn so many things that you had never even thought about before. I mean like did you know that someone actually STOLE Einstein's brain? People took it out after he died, so they could study the size and such. And when they did study it they found that the parietal lobe was 15% larger than the average parietal lobe is.
Just random things like that are what I learn in this book, and it's nice to know some new things that are so funny and crazy! And I am sure that all of you will hear some from me when I finish readng the whole book! And you should read this book as well!
Crazy Cat Lady
The blurb (The back of the book says):
Do we really use only 10 percent of our brains?
Is MT. Everest truly the world's tallest mountain?
Did Einstein actally fail school?
Does your soul actually weigh 21 grams?
Did NASA fake the moon landing?
Do so-called truth serums realy work?
Find out the answers to these intriguing questions and many more in Great - Mythconceptions: The Science Behind the Myths, as author Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki offers funny facts and dizzying discoveries about some of science's greatest myths. Told in an accessible and quirky, humorous style, Great Mythconceptins is a captivating expose of all things scientific!
What I have found out while reading this book:
This book is so much fun to read because you learn so many things that you had never even thought about before. I mean like did you know that someone actually STOLE Einstein's brain? People took it out after he died, so they could study the size and such. And when they did study it they found that the parietal lobe was 15% larger than the average parietal lobe is.
Just random things like that are what I learn in this book, and it's nice to know some new things that are so funny and crazy! And I am sure that all of you will hear some from me when I finish readng the whole book! And you should read this book as well!
Crazy Cat Lady
Sunday, February 11, 2007
2nd posting of "An inconvenient Truth!
Mid Reading An Inconvenient Truth!
Author: Al Gore
Back of Book Description:
Our climate crisis may at times appear to be happening slowly, but in fact it is happening very quickly-and has become a true planetary emergency. The Chinese expression for crisis consists of two characters. The first is a symbol for danger; the second is a symbol for opportunity. In order to face down the danger that is stalking us and move through it, we first have to recognize that we are facing a crisis. So why is it that our leaders seem not to hear such clarion warnings? Are they resisting the truth because they know that the moment they acknowledge it, they will face a moral imperative to act? Is it simply more convenient to ignore the warnings? Perhaps, but inconvenient truths do not go away just because they are not seen. Indeed, when they are responded to, their significance doesn't diminish; it grows. - Al Gore
What Ive learned so far:
I learned a lot of things to educate myself and others about the dangers of globe warming.
One of the things I'm astonished about is all of the things that happened in are times and what it can lead to in the future. The events I'm talking about are all of the hurricanes between the years 2005-06. Here are all 27 of them, Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose ,Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Willma, Alpha, Beta, Delta, Episilon, Gamma, & Zeta. Mostly all of these were Category 3-5.
If global warming continues there can be worse hurricanes & fluids etc. Looking at the other side
of this, money loss is also of part of this. From the book I discovered that from the years 1998-2005 from floods & other weather related disasters we lost 740 billion dollars.Mountain Kilimanjaro used to have hundreds of glaciers.
Now this is it's remains. Soon, most of the glaciers will look like this. that's why we need to change this problem, fast.
One quote that I admire form the book is "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."-Mark Twain. I love this quote because it's so important in life.
By: Gisella
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Phineas Gage-MIDPOINT ENTRY!!!!
So I am reading Phineas Gage by John Fleischman which is about this guy Phineas Gage, a railroad construction foreman, who had a hole in his head. It happened in vermont 1848, a thirteen-pund iron rod was shot though his brain. He survived another 11 yeard and became one of the biggest cases in Brain science history. But the accident forever changed Phineas and what happened inside his brain tells you alot about how the brain works.
So far I have learned a lot from this book. Mostly about how the brain really controls who you are and how your personalaty can change if you have an accident with your brain like Phineas. I also learned a lot about how which parts of the brain control what like with the eyes and ears and other things. This book also had a lot to talk about doctors and how different they are now and then.
"One popular parlor game is reading ones charactor by feeling the skull for bumps and dips". I found this very interesting because its like the different parts of your brain are different personalaty trates. I thought that was cool.
So far I have learned a lot from this book. Mostly about how the brain really controls who you are and how your personalaty can change if you have an accident with your brain like Phineas. I also learned a lot about how which parts of the brain control what like with the eyes and ears and other things. This book also had a lot to talk about doctors and how different they are now and then.
"One popular parlor game is reading ones charactor by feeling the skull for bumps and dips". I found this very interesting because its like the different parts of your brain are different personalaty trates. I thought that was cool.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
my 2nd entry!!!
my dearest fellow science nerds,
I am happy to announce that I am on page 201 in the ridiculously huge science book! (whoop whoop for me) so we all know that the book is called The big bang yet not once has there been any mention of (yes you guessed it) the Big Bang! I'm half way through this book and still there is nothing about the big bang. Pretty much all its mentioned is light, and sound which I suspect has something to do with the big bang but i guess I will have to find out.
infinate X's and O's,
Dork
I am happy to announce that I am on page 201 in the ridiculously huge science book! (whoop whoop for me) so we all know that the book is called The big bang yet not once has there been any mention of (yes you guessed it) the Big Bang! I'm half way through this book and still there is nothing about the big bang. Pretty much all its mentioned is light, and sound which I suspect has something to do with the big bang but i guess I will have to find out.
infinate X's and O's,
Dork
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