Week Six
How would you distinguish between living and non-living systems?
This seems to be largely a matter of perspective. From the perspective of a sub-atomic particle, could anything that it enlivens be considered more alive that dead? How about the bicycle in my back yard that is oxidizing as we speak, is that non-living? Everything is in a constant state of change, either being created or being destroyed and re-patterned and re-structured as something else.
Perhaps from the cellular perspective there must be, "a ceaseless flux of matter through a living organism. Each cell continually synthesizes and dissolves structures, and eliminates waste products."
We might be better off in the long run if we consider the possibility that a living magical energy animates everything we can lay eyes on and much, much more that we can't see. I fear we are like the fish in water who are searching for the ocean, it cannot be found because it is clear and we are in it and it is in us. I am really alive, do I actively engage in any autopoietic activities? or do they all happen for me? If I were responsible for beating my own heart, regulating my own hormones etc. I assure you, it would get put off or delayed by the snooze button. Clearly there is something larger at play here. I often chuckle when I hear speculation about whether life exists on other planets, of course it does, the whole universe is alive after all and we exist in it.
"DNA doesn't determine race. Society does". The human race is the only one I know of, but we humans do all manner of things to each other don't we? This discriminative function of the mind is always at work labeling, measuring and judging, add a little ego and the rowdy rabble and trouble will ensue. I think next to reducing poisoning and destroying the environment, working together to create a just world needs to be our next priority.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Week 5
Chicken or the egg, chicken or the egg, chicken or the egg? To get to the other side of course!!
I cannot imagine this question to be anything other than some sort of zen koan, designed to exhaust the intellectual mind and put it in it's rightful place. I mean, my system starts to overload when I even start thinking about this. As a guy I used to work with often remarked in frustration, "Ugh, if I was only 30% smarter!", which is quite a bit.
How do new species emerge? I lean toward survival of the best adapted species. It seems that nature is willing to play the numbers game and hedge all bets, create a couple million of something and hopefully 2 will survive and reproduce, adapt and mutate. If that doesn't work, according Hindu mythology, just wait several cycles of several billions of years and start all over again. No hurry, no worry the cosmic play just continues on and on and on and on, stop! or maybe it doesn't.
Perhaps changes in the surrounding environment necessitate changes in a particular species or favor certain mutations that become adaptive traits to be passed on. In the case of a virus it might be necessary for survival for the species to jump species and even create some symbiotic relationship with the new host. Like some form of adaptive plasticity, that any organism can stretch it's pattern of forming to the outer limits but still stay within range.
Chicken or the egg, chicken or the egg, chicken or the egg? To get to the other side of course!!
I cannot imagine this question to be anything other than some sort of zen koan, designed to exhaust the intellectual mind and put it in it's rightful place. I mean, my system starts to overload when I even start thinking about this. As a guy I used to work with often remarked in frustration, "Ugh, if I was only 30% smarter!", which is quite a bit.
How do new species emerge? I lean toward survival of the best adapted species. It seems that nature is willing to play the numbers game and hedge all bets, create a couple million of something and hopefully 2 will survive and reproduce, adapt and mutate. If that doesn't work, according Hindu mythology, just wait several cycles of several billions of years and start all over again. No hurry, no worry the cosmic play just continues on and on and on and on, stop! or maybe it doesn't.
Perhaps changes in the surrounding environment necessitate changes in a particular species or favor certain mutations that become adaptive traits to be passed on. In the case of a virus it might be necessary for survival for the species to jump species and even create some symbiotic relationship with the new host. Like some form of adaptive plasticity, that any organism can stretch it's pattern of forming to the outer limits but still stay within range.
Week 4- The Pattern of Life
Many abilities that we attribute to super heroes are skills possessed by animals all around us. The ability to fly, run extremely fast, hear things undetectable to the human ear. Perhaps animals don't have human intelligence but that presumes that we are the pinnacle of evolutionary development. Even different people differ in intellectual capacity and the like, but we afford everyone the same dignity and respect don't we?
Or maybe we don't. Of course we don't, perhaps as individuals but not as a species.
If animals were less intelligent and we treated them poorly just because of that, wouldn't that say more about how pitiful we are? Perhaps the technocratic ruling elite trained us so well that anything that doesn't rank high in the service to the system is rendered less than or even useless.
Many abilities that we attribute to super heroes are skills possessed by animals all around us. The ability to fly, run extremely fast, hear things undetectable to the human ear. Perhaps animals don't have human intelligence but that presumes that we are the pinnacle of evolutionary development. Even different people differ in intellectual capacity and the like, but we afford everyone the same dignity and respect don't we?
Or maybe we don't. Of course we don't, perhaps as individuals but not as a species.
If animals were less intelligent and we treated them poorly just because of that, wouldn't that say more about how pitiful we are? Perhaps the technocratic ruling elite trained us so well that anything that doesn't rank high in the service to the system is rendered less than or even useless.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Biology Week 3
1. Which of the following is not alive, but requires life to be able to reproduce?
Yes, a virus requires a living cell for reproduction, and cannot reproduce by itself.
2. Which statement best describes the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum?
Rough ER is covered with ribosomes (causing the "rough" appearance) which are involved in the process of synthesizing proteins for secretion or localization in membranes.
3. Which statement best describes the function of the Golgi apparatus?
The Golgi apparatus processes proteins after they leave the endoplasmic reticulum.
4. In some diseases like cystic fibrosis, a cell membrane receptor fails to function. In the majority of cases, the problem comes from a change in the receptor so that it cannot reach the cell surface. The site in the cell where membrane proteins are synthesized and assembled builds up with the abnormal protein. This site would likely be the:
The site of synthesis and assembly of membrane proteins, the ER also seems to be able to detect proteins that cannot fold correctly. These accumulate and are degraded. For CF, 70% of the patients have a form of the disease where the receptor accumulates in the ER.
5. The following organelle is found in prokaryotic cells but not eukaryotic cells of animal origin.
Animal cells in contrast to the majority of bacteria lack a cell wall.
6. Mitochondria and chloroplasts both:
Contain DNA, are present in plants and function to provide the cell a source of energy.
“99.4% of the most critical DNA sites are identical in human and chimp genes”
Six tenths of a percent is not very much difference if we can assume that we indeed have calculated correctly. Then again there may be a lot that we still don't know. Though the percentage may be small it is significant when you consider the differences in the way that humans and chimps express themselves. That being said we do show our primate color when living in densely populated urban areas. I am reminded of Desmond Morris' book the "Naked Ape", when I at loss to explain the way I feel or behave whilst living in the human zoo.
It could be that there are other mechanisms at play here, concepts that we have attempted to explain away with genetics and DNA. I would have to say that the similarities are profound but the differences are staggering when we consider the potential that human consciousness holds.
Stem Cells
It is interesting to know that new ways to collect stem cells has been developed. I remember when this was a hot button issue when human embryos were the source of stem cell collection. It will be interesting to see what sort of developments will come along because of this new technology. Not so sure I am crazy about the idea of synthetic meat, but I am willing to stay open to the idea.
1. Which of the following is not alive, but requires life to be able to reproduce?
Yes, a virus requires a living cell for reproduction, and cannot reproduce by itself.
2. Which statement best describes the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum?
Rough ER is covered with ribosomes (causing the "rough" appearance) which are involved in the process of synthesizing proteins for secretion or localization in membranes.
3. Which statement best describes the function of the Golgi apparatus?
The Golgi apparatus processes proteins after they leave the endoplasmic reticulum.
4. In some diseases like cystic fibrosis, a cell membrane receptor fails to function. In the majority of cases, the problem comes from a change in the receptor so that it cannot reach the cell surface. The site in the cell where membrane proteins are synthesized and assembled builds up with the abnormal protein. This site would likely be the:
The site of synthesis and assembly of membrane proteins, the ER also seems to be able to detect proteins that cannot fold correctly. These accumulate and are degraded. For CF, 70% of the patients have a form of the disease where the receptor accumulates in the ER.
5. The following organelle is found in prokaryotic cells but not eukaryotic cells of animal origin.
Animal cells in contrast to the majority of bacteria lack a cell wall.
6. Mitochondria and chloroplasts both:
Contain DNA, are present in plants and function to provide the cell a source of energy.
“99.4% of the most critical DNA sites are identical in human and chimp genes”
Six tenths of a percent is not very much difference if we can assume that we indeed have calculated correctly. Then again there may be a lot that we still don't know. Though the percentage may be small it is significant when you consider the differences in the way that humans and chimps express themselves. That being said we do show our primate color when living in densely populated urban areas. I am reminded of Desmond Morris' book the "Naked Ape", when I at loss to explain the way I feel or behave whilst living in the human zoo.
It could be that there are other mechanisms at play here, concepts that we have attempted to explain away with genetics and DNA. I would have to say that the similarities are profound but the differences are staggering when we consider the potential that human consciousness holds.
Stem Cells
It is interesting to know that new ways to collect stem cells has been developed. I remember when this was a hot button issue when human embryos were the source of stem cell collection. It will be interesting to see what sort of developments will come along because of this new technology. Not so sure I am crazy about the idea of synthetic meat, but I am willing to stay open to the idea.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Biology Week 2
It seems that evolution is a numbers game. Existence creates genetic variation via mutation and then takes a sit back and wait approach. On the human time frame millions of years of evolution seems like a long impossible, arduous journey but to the infinite universe it is a blink.
Not having a scientific mind it is hard for me to imagine segmenting DNA and breeding flies to learn how particular traits are passed on. I am quite happy to say that everything changes over time and move on, but part of genetic variation is that different minds function differently partly by nature, partly by nurture. The process of natural selection got us this far,the creation of all life as we know it out of the dust, so clearly we are part of a larger game.
Important to remind ourselves of and realize deeply is the adage that man did not weave the web of life, we are but a strand in it. Perhaps we are functioning precisely the way that our genes are telling us to, like apoptosis, programmed cell death, we have begun to kill ourselves off thru pollutions, overpopulation and altering our environment to make it uninhabitable to all but those who have the necessary new mutation.
:-)
John
It seems that evolution is a numbers game. Existence creates genetic variation via mutation and then takes a sit back and wait approach. On the human time frame millions of years of evolution seems like a long impossible, arduous journey but to the infinite universe it is a blink.
Not having a scientific mind it is hard for me to imagine segmenting DNA and breeding flies to learn how particular traits are passed on. I am quite happy to say that everything changes over time and move on, but part of genetic variation is that different minds function differently partly by nature, partly by nurture. The process of natural selection got us this far,the creation of all life as we know it out of the dust, so clearly we are part of a larger game.
Important to remind ourselves of and realize deeply is the adage that man did not weave the web of life, we are but a strand in it. Perhaps we are functioning precisely the way that our genes are telling us to, like apoptosis, programmed cell death, we have begun to kill ourselves off thru pollutions, overpopulation and altering our environment to make it uninhabitable to all but those who have the necessary new mutation.
:-)
John
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Biology Week 1
As I examine the interface between science, human biology and our technological evolution, time and time again it occurs that we are indeed animals ourselves. To often blinded by our primitive drives, we think we are civilized and fail to see the folly of our animal nature. Unable or unwilling to see our own shadow, we consider ourselves modern, evolved or civilized. We study and manipulate the physical world as if we are some how separate from it.
When we use scientific discovery to implant nano-chips to help restore sight, this is obviously a wonderful use of technology. I marvel how every time I read an article for example about moon phases or sleep cycles etc. it always comes as a surprise, we are intimately connected to the cosmos beyond which we can conceive. The fact that we would use narrow human intelligence to study animal intelligence and to try and out smart the infinite creation is a testament to our lack of conscious awareness of the interconnectedness of the web of life.
As I examine the interface between science, human biology and our technological evolution, time and time again it occurs that we are indeed animals ourselves. To often blinded by our primitive drives, we think we are civilized and fail to see the folly of our animal nature. Unable or unwilling to see our own shadow, we consider ourselves modern, evolved or civilized. We study and manipulate the physical world as if we are some how separate from it.
When we use scientific discovery to implant nano-chips to help restore sight, this is obviously a wonderful use of technology. I marvel how every time I read an article for example about moon phases or sleep cycles etc. it always comes as a surprise, we are intimately connected to the cosmos beyond which we can conceive. The fact that we would use narrow human intelligence to study animal intelligence and to try and out smart the infinite creation is a testament to our lack of conscious awareness of the interconnectedness of the web of life.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Hello All,
Been living in the Bay area for about the last year after spending two years living in Taipei, Taiwan.
New to this blog-eat-blog world so don't know exactly what to say.
Spent four years at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin and now need a couple Western science classes to sit for the California Acupuncture Board. Great to meet some local folks and be in a learning environment again! Peace.
Been living in the Bay area for about the last year after spending two years living in Taipei, Taiwan.
New to this blog-eat-blog world so don't know exactly what to say.
Spent four years at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin and now need a couple Western science classes to sit for the California Acupuncture Board. Great to meet some local folks and be in a learning environment again! Peace.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Week 14
Class discussion on AI. This idea will always be a little disturbing to me. Why do we need to create a computer that can think like, or better than a human being. Guess I am not very progressive in this regard and perhaps a bit of a technophobe. Didn't any of these people at Vicarious corporation see the Terminator and see the parallel to the building of sky-net.
An artificial intelligence robot would undoubtedly still be controlled by humans to some degree. This is where the idea of AI and dolphins in captivity intersect. This reductionist world view of modern science is all turned around, we are enslaving the dolphins and freeing the computers. If the god lord had intended for dolphins to be in captivity then the oceans would have been made a lot smaller. It is most certainly not for us to decide who lives and who dies and how.
We are but a small byproduct of autopoietic universe that gave birth to us and desperately in search of life or the source of life. The very nature of desire keeps us striving always for the future seeking on and on. I like to contemplate that the same energy of the universe that makes the trees grow also beats my human heart, with this I remember to take a step back and appreciate some of that is.
Class discussion on AI. This idea will always be a little disturbing to me. Why do we need to create a computer that can think like, or better than a human being. Guess I am not very progressive in this regard and perhaps a bit of a technophobe. Didn't any of these people at Vicarious corporation see the Terminator and see the parallel to the building of sky-net.
An artificial intelligence robot would undoubtedly still be controlled by humans to some degree. This is where the idea of AI and dolphins in captivity intersect. This reductionist world view of modern science is all turned around, we are enslaving the dolphins and freeing the computers. If the god lord had intended for dolphins to be in captivity then the oceans would have been made a lot smaller. It is most certainly not for us to decide who lives and who dies and how.
We are but a small byproduct of autopoietic universe that gave birth to us and desperately in search of life or the source of life. The very nature of desire keeps us striving always for the future seeking on and on. I like to contemplate that the same energy of the universe that makes the trees grow also beats my human heart, with this I remember to take a step back and appreciate some of that is.
Week 13
“..the human species is living as if it had more than one planet to occupy…”
Yes this certainly seems to be the case. One theme that seems to come up in class time and time again is the huge amount of resources consumed by the corporate military industrial complex. How we unplug that god damned thing, I don't know, but I am open to suggestions.
Our current pace is not bringing us any closer to happiness, we have become the epitome the hungry ghost, always hungry but no matter how much we eat, never satiated. Perhaps the best we can do for now is just enjoy the ride while learning to under consume :)
Nanobionics aims to give plants superpowers
Not so sure we are meant to see behind the curtain this far, despite our self fascination and self cherishing nature. I would have agree with several commentors during class conversation that this could get out of hand and averts the more pressing issue of how we must live in a more balanced way. A lecture that I heard on NPR today spoke about how we have set the earths microbial balance off kilter and may soon have to live through the re-balancing process. I don't believe we need to get so clever with how we avert the coming cataclysms, just stick to the fundamentals and follow the examples that nature has given.
That being said it is somewhat interesting to manipulate different variables and see what happens, some good could potentially come from it. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, "Plants are an engineering marvel of nature." I couldn't agree more with this, designed by the grand omnipotent emptiness and will work just fine without our tinkering.
“..the human species is living as if it had more than one planet to occupy…”
Yes this certainly seems to be the case. One theme that seems to come up in class time and time again is the huge amount of resources consumed by the corporate military industrial complex. How we unplug that god damned thing, I don't know, but I am open to suggestions.
Our current pace is not bringing us any closer to happiness, we have become the epitome the hungry ghost, always hungry but no matter how much we eat, never satiated. Perhaps the best we can do for now is just enjoy the ride while learning to under consume :)
Nanobionics aims to give plants superpowers
Not so sure we are meant to see behind the curtain this far, despite our self fascination and self cherishing nature. I would have agree with several commentors during class conversation that this could get out of hand and averts the more pressing issue of how we must live in a more balanced way. A lecture that I heard on NPR today spoke about how we have set the earths microbial balance off kilter and may soon have to live through the re-balancing process. I don't believe we need to get so clever with how we avert the coming cataclysms, just stick to the fundamentals and follow the examples that nature has given.
That being said it is somewhat interesting to manipulate different variables and see what happens, some good could potentially come from it. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, "Plants are an engineering marvel of nature." I couldn't agree more with this, designed by the grand omnipotent emptiness and will work just fine without our tinkering.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Week 12
Realizing, per the cellular links, that there is a gap in my conceptual understanding. When I step thru the process of recreating from atoms to cellular organelles, things become a bit muddled and unclear. Time and time again I am fascinated and astounded by the infinite intelligence of the universe, moving from atoms to elements to molecules to cells to organs. Words fall short of describing the majesty of this intricate cosmic dance orchestrated to the finest detail, yet always fresh, unpredictable and incomprehensible in it's breadth.
Actually the dictionary definition for intricate says it pretty well.
1. Having many complexly interrelating parts or elements.
2. Difficult to resolve or analyze.
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
Realizing, per the cellular links, that there is a gap in my conceptual understanding. When I step thru the process of recreating from atoms to cellular organelles, things become a bit muddled and unclear. Time and time again I am fascinated and astounded by the infinite intelligence of the universe, moving from atoms to elements to molecules to cells to organs. Words fall short of describing the majesty of this intricate cosmic dance orchestrated to the finest detail, yet always fresh, unpredictable and incomprehensible in it's breadth.
Actually the dictionary definition for intricate says it pretty well.
1. Having many complexly interrelating parts or elements.
2. Difficult to resolve or analyze.
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”
Radioactivity
Perhaps radioactivity demands a much more nuanced understanding than I am capable of. It is after all, something that we can encounter in the tiny grains of sand at our local beach or various fruits at the corner store. I believe that very few individuals intend to monitor and calculate their yearly exposure from x-rays, bananas and airport scanners, yet the vast majority of people would not seek out undue exposure. It is somewhat telling when Marie Curie suffered the ultimate insult for not acknowledging the innate hazard and potential folly of carrying such radio active elements in ones pocket.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Week 11
The concept of placebo is an interesting one that is worth further examination.
As was mentioned in class, is it really ethical for doctors to give patients this was without their knowledge and consent. Yet we would be foolish to disregard this powerful form of treatment that everyone seems to know about. We must certainly find a way to use this treatment technique ethically to help calm and alleviate a patients anxiety. If we are ready and able to take personal responsibility perhaps we can learn to calm and control our minds and not leave this matter in the hands of our healthcare practitioners.
It would be interesting to see more research on just how far this idea can be taken and to what extent we can train the mind to heal the body.
The concept of placebo is an interesting one that is worth further examination.
As was mentioned in class, is it really ethical for doctors to give patients this was without their knowledge and consent. Yet we would be foolish to disregard this powerful form of treatment that everyone seems to know about. We must certainly find a way to use this treatment technique ethically to help calm and alleviate a patients anxiety. If we are ready and able to take personal responsibility perhaps we can learn to calm and control our minds and not leave this matter in the hands of our healthcare practitioners.
It would be interesting to see more research on just how far this idea can be taken and to what extent we can train the mind to heal the body.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Assignments for Week Nine – A Question of Balance
Whether or not the Washington Post article agrees with acid/alkaline controversey is irrelevant in my book, I have to give some credence to it. It would be interesting to experiment with litmus testing saliva and urine to actually test my own pH, as this would be the only way to know for sure.
My only hesitation about going too far overboard with acid/alkaline balance is the idea that the pH balance of the body is very tightly controlled by the kidneys/endocrine systems of the body. Even a tiny movement in one direction or the other can cause dramatic changes in the body.
The information about coffee on the same page as pH balance: Acids & Alkalis & Anti-Oxidants, is very interesting and worth contemplating. Though I do love a delicious cup of coffee early in the morning, it would come as no surprise to me that liquid speed is not good for me.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Here is what I found under my sink. It is interesting that many products under the sink do not list the ingredients. Surprisingly, the seventh generation spray lists 95.95% as other ingredients. I had to look online to find what it is made of. This does come as somewhat of a surprise to me as I would have thought that chemical labeling would be nearly as transparent as food labeling. According to the environmental working group this spray received the score of D+, though none of the ingredients seem to be particularly harmful. Once again perhaps we must keep in mind that the word "natural" doesn't mean anything anymore.
Clorox- Active ingredients
Sodium Hypochlorice…6.0%
Other Ingredients…94.0%
(Yields 5.7% available chlorine)
Windex-Ingredients not listed
Vinegar –Distilled vinegar with water to 5% acidity
Stain x- Ingredients not listed
Bon ami- Ingredients not listed
Bartenders friend-Ingredients not listed
Wisconsin Hard woods-wood oil-no ingredients listed
Oxysteam carpet cleaner-ingredients not listed
Denatured alcohol
Borax-Sodium tetraborate (a natural mineral)
Seventh generation disinfecting spray-
Active
ingredients:
Thymol…0.05
Other
ingredients…99.95%
Aqua (water), thymol (component of thyme oil), sodium lauryl
sulfate (palm kernel or coconut-derived cleaning agent), copper sulfate
pentahydrate (bluestone) (mineral derived water mineralizer), citric acid and
sodium citrate (cornstarch derived water softeners), essential oils and
botanical extracts† (origanum vulgare (oregano) oil, cymbopogon nardus (citronella)
oil, cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) oil
† Citral is a component of these essential oils.
† Citral is a component of these essential oils.
Monday, March 3, 2014
The Mediterranean diet
I have always been curious how much low stress plays a role in this diet. Lifestyle can be a huge component as to how our body processes the foods we eat. People have been speaking out against the low fat/cholesterol myth for quite some time. Still think we must be aware of the quality of fats/carbs etc., is there a balance of Omega 3's and Omega 6's. Was the animal raised on the food it was designed to eat or was it raised on a factory farm, forced to eat cheap subsidized corn.
The growing trend that I keep hearing again and again seems to be "increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pasta and fish, eating products made from vegetable and plant oils, and eating less meat."
Yes, I think it is that simple! Oh and reduce stress!
I have always been curious how much low stress plays a role in this diet. Lifestyle can be a huge component as to how our body processes the foods we eat. People have been speaking out against the low fat/cholesterol myth for quite some time. Still think we must be aware of the quality of fats/carbs etc., is there a balance of Omega 3's and Omega 6's. Was the animal raised on the food it was designed to eat or was it raised on a factory farm, forced to eat cheap subsidized corn.
The growing trend that I keep hearing again and again seems to be "increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pasta and fish, eating products made from vegetable and plant oils, and eating less meat."
Yes, I think it is that simple! Oh and reduce stress!
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Week Seven
Selenium
Se
Atomic Number: 34Atomic Weight: 78.96
I chose selenium because it seems everyone else chose Silicon. I have often heard of selenium being added to certain supplements and often been curious about exactly what it is.
Selenium can evidently, according to one source, produce electricity directly from sun light.
It is a semiconductor that is used to convert a/c to d/c current.
Elemental selenium is relatively nontoxic and is considered to be an essential trace element.
As with several of the elements I have learned about throughout this class, its seems that Se is another naturally occurring element that is essential to human health in small doses. Most people can obtain enough of this trace mineral from a balanced diet. Selenium is sometimes prescribed as a supplement for people suffering from certain health conditions.
Alchemy – science, magic, art – or all three?
The answer is yes, yes, yes!
This brings to mind an Alan Watts lecture about flood light vs. spot light consciousness.
One way of viewing the world is looking at the individual bits and pieces while the mystical awareness is looking at the much larger picture.
Though the Western scientific paradigm would claim to be the authority here, in reality, it is just one filter thru which one can view the world. One that happens to be useful for dissecting a labeling the world if that is what you intend.
Much like the alchemical changes that leprosy can produce in animal cells, the workings of the universe can be cut apart and labeled but the magic behind what makes it all go is still a mystery.
To go back to the musings of Alan Watts, Do you it, or does it do you? If we could figure the whole universe out and unravel the mystery and magic, it would be rather like making love to a plastic doll. And who wants to do that?
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Avogadro's Hypothesis
Which of the following is not a characteristic of an hypothesis?
it lets us make predictions that can be experimentally tested
Consider the following combining gas volumes: Chlorine 50 mL
Oxygen 25 mL
What formula is suggested by the combining ratio of these gases?
Cl2O
Which of the following statements is true?
According to Dalton the formula for ammonia would be NH
Molecular Medicine
This is a truly fascinating idea. Remote control bio particles that can zoom through our blood stream, in and out of cells. Science is such a double edged sword though, so we must be careful. This technology will probably be developed first by the C.I.A. for military purposes then trickle down to corporations and finally medical technology for individual benefit. Like Avogado's hypothesis who knows how long this valuable technology will sit idle before reaching it's full potential to human kind.
As a side note, I recently heard a report on current HIV treatments. Researchers are trying to find exactly where the virus hides. Perhaps this nano technology could be used to hunt and kill the virus in the human body once discovered. That will be a great day!
Monday, February 17, 2014
Atomic weight=226
I once went to a place called radium hot springs. Kind of thought it might have been a bad idea but nobody else seemed worried while bathing in it's waters.
So let's take a look, is it safe to bath in radium?
One of the first things I read directly from webelements.com stated:
Inhalation, injection, or body exposure to radium can cause cancer and other body disorders. It is and alkaline earth metal that is white but tarnishes black upon exposure to air, luminesces, decomposes in water, and emits radioactive radon.
Upon further investigation it seems that only small amounts of radon, which is a decay product of radium, exists in the water. It seems that it is indeed safe.
Mixtures of radium salts and appropriate phosphors were widely used for clock dials and gauges before the risks of radium exposure were understood.
Radium is a naturally occurring element. It is the product of decaying uranium and thorium and is commonly found in all rock, soil and water.
|
Number of Energy Levels: 7 First Energy Level: 2 Second Energy Level: 8 Third Energy Level: 18 Fourth Energy Level: 32 Fifth Energy Level: 18 Sixth Energy Level: 8 Seventh Energy Level: 2 |
![[Bohr Model of Radium]](http://www.chemicalelements.com/bohr/b0088.gif)
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Taking an inventory of my fridge and pantry.
I have at least purchased decent array of vegetables, fruits and grains.
Green- Brussels sprouts, Kale
Orange- Oranges, carrots
Red- Apples and beets
Brown rice, tri-colored quinoa
The question is... how often do they go bad at the back of my fridge? I do make a concerted effort to eat a variety of vegetables but there is always room for improvement.
As mentioned during class, dietary changes are one of the hardest things to do but they don't cost anything and it is a way of taking our lives in our own hands. After reading book mentioned below, I really started to get the link between phytnutrients and food colors. As for how these relate to the chakras themselves, think I would need to do further investigation but for the time being it does seems like good dietary advise to diversify.
Here is a link to an NPR interview with the author of, "Eating on the wild side".
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/07/10/195592468/Eating-On-The-Wild-Side-A-Field-Guide-To-Nutritious-Food
I have at least purchased decent array of vegetables, fruits and grains.
Green- Brussels sprouts, Kale
Orange- Oranges, carrots
Red- Apples and beets
Brown rice, tri-colored quinoa
The question is... how often do they go bad at the back of my fridge? I do make a concerted effort to eat a variety of vegetables but there is always room for improvement.
As mentioned during class, dietary changes are one of the hardest things to do but they don't cost anything and it is a way of taking our lives in our own hands. After reading book mentioned below, I really started to get the link between phytnutrients and food colors. As for how these relate to the chakras themselves, think I would need to do further investigation but for the time being it does seems like good dietary advise to diversify.
Here is a link to an NPR interview with the author of, "Eating on the wild side".
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/07/10/195592468/Eating-On-The-Wild-Side-A-Field-Guide-To-Nutritious-Food
Monday, February 10, 2014
![[Bohr Model of Radon]](http://www.chemicalelements.com/bohr/b0086.gif)
Which Noble gas is this?
I first learned of this gas back in the late 80's, when warnings were given to test and see if this gas was seeping out of your basement. The sensationalist news reports of the day made all manner of claims about cancer risk and encouraged you test your home for it's presence.
Anyone remember this?
Radon gas is it's name. But is it really bad for you? Let's find out!
Directly from the EPA website...
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.
Radon can be found all over the U.S.
Radon gas is a natural by-product of the break down of uranium that is occurring in the soil, rock and water.The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Wow! This is a startling statistic and quite a surprise!
Interesting to think of radioactive gas around us all the time. Consider the idea of evolution and genetic mutation, could radon gas be driver of mutation that prompted our emergence from the primordial soup?
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Green Chemistry/Green Economy
We vote everyday with our money. What we eat, how far we drive and what we do for recreation.
I think we need to organize as people with the use of technology and take the power back.
Where do corporations get their money and power any way.
I believe there is a lot more we can be doing in regards to manufacturing and consumption patters.
Just heard an amazing radio program on KALW called, Your Call. The topic was a book, "Consumed" was the title." How can we feed 9 billion people on a finite planet?", was the shows name. What is the purpose of this Green revolution if we will just produce more and more people, pushing ourselves ever closer to brink of cataclysm.
An unpopular idea I know but perhaps we do need some sort of population management agency, but who will arrange the chess pieces?
We vote everyday with our money. What we eat, how far we drive and what we do for recreation.
I think we need to organize as people with the use of technology and take the power back.
Where do corporations get their money and power any way.
I believe there is a lot more we can be doing in regards to manufacturing and consumption patters.
Just heard an amazing radio program on KALW called, Your Call. The topic was a book, "Consumed" was the title." How can we feed 9 billion people on a finite planet?", was the shows name. What is the purpose of this Green revolution if we will just produce more and more people, pushing ourselves ever closer to brink of cataclysm.
An unpopular idea I know but perhaps we do need some sort of population management agency, but who will arrange the chess pieces?
![[Bohr Model of Chromium]](http://www.chemicalelements.com/bohr/b0024.gif)
Hello my name is Chromium.(Cr)
My atomic number is 24.
Interestingly Chromium in small amounts is necessary to healthy body functioning. Chromium is naturally occurring and can commonly be found in many fruits, grains and vegetables.
Perhaps the most common association we have with Chromium is it's use as a protective and decorative coating in the home or on various vehicles.
Chromium as a catalyst, is added to glass to produce an emerald green color. Chromium compounds are important as pigments, mordants, and oxidizing agents.
Chromium is also an ingredient in stainless steel.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Zinc is the transition metal of the week.
For years I have heard people prescribe zinc for cold prevention in the for of lozenges or added to vitamin C packets. It is interesting to think that it is a metal harvested from the surface of the earth.
I found info. on the International Zinc Association website, which prior to this week end I had no idea existed.
Zinc is essential for the proper functioning of plant, animal and human life.
Zinc can be obtained from a host of animal meats and various cereals and vegetables.
As with many other essential trace elements too much zinc can be cause problems as can a zinc deficiency.
Zn
Atomic number= 30
30 protons
30 electrons
35 neutrons
According to the International Zinc Association, zinc has the strongest effect on the immune system. It helps the immune system by supporting the T cells.
For years I have heard people prescribe zinc for cold prevention in the for of lozenges or added to vitamin C packets. It is interesting to think that it is a metal harvested from the surface of the earth.
I found info. on the International Zinc Association website, which prior to this week end I had no idea existed.
Zinc is essential for the proper functioning of plant, animal and human life.
Zinc can be obtained from a host of animal meats and various cereals and vegetables.
As with many other essential trace elements too much zinc can be cause problems as can a zinc deficiency.
Zn
Atomic number= 30
30 protons
30 electrons
35 neutrons
According to the International Zinc Association, zinc has the strongest effect on the immune system. It helps the immune system by supporting the T cells.
Neptune's Medicine Chest
It seems that the scientific mind is always looking for the magic bullet cure. Why is it so hard for us to see our own shadow?
We can't continue to pollute the air, land and sea and then turn to look for the cure to all our ignorance.
Yes it is wonderful that this particular gentleman is isolating active ingredients that can make his university or investors lots of money but we cannot close our eyes to the environmental devastation that we are causing concurrently. This is what I mean by shadow. Let's admit the wrong we are doing while also attempting to do right. Hate to always be a contrarian but I feel like the point must be acknowledged before we can proceed.
So in regards to green chemistry links, yes, we must reduce the amount of pollution byproducts of chemical processes. Our survival depends on it. I love the idea of a cradle to cradle mentality, we plan further than the next quarter's profits when we design and conceive of products. So if we make products with planned obsolescence in mind, lets make products that we know can degrade in an ecological way. The twelve principles of green chemistry seem like excellent guide lines with which to proceed. If we can split atoms and destroy all life on earth, we can definitely find a way to make 100% clean products.
Thank you.
It seems that the scientific mind is always looking for the magic bullet cure. Why is it so hard for us to see our own shadow?
We can't continue to pollute the air, land and sea and then turn to look for the cure to all our ignorance.
Yes it is wonderful that this particular gentleman is isolating active ingredients that can make his university or investors lots of money but we cannot close our eyes to the environmental devastation that we are causing concurrently. This is what I mean by shadow. Let's admit the wrong we are doing while also attempting to do right. Hate to always be a contrarian but I feel like the point must be acknowledged before we can proceed.
So in regards to green chemistry links, yes, we must reduce the amount of pollution byproducts of chemical processes. Our survival depends on it. I love the idea of a cradle to cradle mentality, we plan further than the next quarter's profits when we design and conceive of products. So if we make products with planned obsolescence in mind, lets make products that we know can degrade in an ecological way. The twelve principles of green chemistry seem like excellent guide lines with which to proceed. If we can split atoms and destroy all life on earth, we can definitely find a way to make 100% clean products.
Thank you.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
This link was the first one I clicked on and I 'm glad for that because other links seem like a bit of foreshadowing. This link how ever is plain as day obvious. I like this. Leaving less room for interpretation. If we are studying building blocks of matter and life, I guess we must make sure we get it right.
But now.... I must further digest the other links
:-)
This link was the first one I clicked on and I 'm glad for that because other links seem like a bit of foreshadowing. This link how ever is plain as day obvious. I like this. Leaving less room for interpretation. If we are studying building blocks of matter and life, I guess we must make sure we get it right.
But now.... I must further digest the other links
:-)
In regards to class discussion on W. Virginia chemical spill and we should all be drinking filtered water.
Chemical spills and the ingestion of toxic by-products is happening all around us and these are considered by some to be externalities.
I see this acute flair up to be symptom of a more chronic condition. Would hope to explain it away as business, wall street or simple greed but I fear it is possibly human nature. Which perhaps can be molded perhaps, shaped like clay.
Not sure that despite all these toxic by products of modern life we are much happier, content or connected.
"Doesn't matter how fast your going if your headed in the wrong direction", a friend once said. Ok, it was actually Ghandi but he would have been my friend I just know it.
:-)
Chemical spills and the ingestion of toxic by-products is happening all around us and these are considered by some to be externalities.
I see this acute flair up to be symptom of a more chronic condition. Would hope to explain it away as business, wall street or simple greed but I fear it is possibly human nature. Which perhaps can be molded perhaps, shaped like clay.
Not sure that despite all these toxic by products of modern life we are much happier, content or connected.
"Doesn't matter how fast your going if your headed in the wrong direction", a friend once said. Ok, it was actually Ghandi but he would have been my friend I just know it.
:-)
Hello,
My element of the week is Carbon.
I am told that carbon is the very basis for life to be constructed. My actual knowledge of carbon would consist of.
Atomic number= 6, that's 6 protons and 6 electrons.
Symbol= C
Atomic mass= 12, 6 neutrons
C= 6 so that is 1s2, 2s2, 1px1, 1py1
Is that right?
Hope so then I understand in correctly.
I am interested in seeing how carbon fits in with the rest of the world.
Anything else I would say about carbon would be plagarism. Thank you.
My element of the week is Carbon.
I am told that carbon is the very basis for life to be constructed. My actual knowledge of carbon would consist of.
Atomic number= 6, that's 6 protons and 6 electrons.
Symbol= C
Atomic mass= 12, 6 neutrons
C= 6 so that is 1s2, 2s2, 1px1, 1py1
Is that right?
Hope so then I understand in correctly.
I am interested in seeing how carbon fits in with the rest of the world.
Anything else I would say about carbon would be plagarism. Thank you.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Still thinking about reducing consumption in regards to carbon neutrality and last weeks class.
It seems that we become habituated to a certain degree of pleasure and then it becomes Status Quo.
Considering what truly brings me joy and inspiration. I hope it will be things that are inexpensive and eco-friendly:-)
It seems that we become habituated to a certain degree of pleasure and then it becomes Status Quo.
Considering what truly brings me joy and inspiration. I hope it will be things that are inexpensive and eco-friendly:-)
1. Classify the
following as either a chemical or physical change.
Burning wood-The burning of a substance is a chemical change.
Crushing a rock-The crushing of a rock is a physical change.
Dissolving
sugar in water-If the water is evaporated, the sugar will be recovered,
therefore this is a physical change.
The rusting of
iron-This is a chemical change.2. Classify the following as to whether or not they are pure substances or mixtures.
milk- mixture
table salt- mixture
sugar- pure substance
steel- mixture3. A cup of black coffee is considered to be __?__ and a/an __?__ substance.
Homogenous-Impure
4. The boiling of water is considered to be a __?__ change and the temperature at which water boils is considered to be a __?__ property.
Physical-Physical
Sunday, January 12, 2014
BioMio
Hello All,
Been living in the Bay area for about the last year after spending two years living in Taipei, Taiwan.
New to this blog-eat-blog world so don't know exactly what to say.
Spent four years at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin and now need a couple Western science classes to sit for the California Acupuncture Board. Great to meet some local folks and be in a learning environment again! Peace.
Been living in the Bay area for about the last year after spending two years living in Taipei, Taiwan.
New to this blog-eat-blog world so don't know exactly what to say.
Spent four years at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin and now need a couple Western science classes to sit for the California Acupuncture Board. Great to meet some local folks and be in a learning environment again! Peace.
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