HOLY CRAP!.......before I write my blog........THIS IS THE LAST ONE!!!!
Maybe Memphis in May should have been moved to this weekend. This year's Memphis in May was a real disappointment. I know that it is tradition for the festival to see more rain than sunshine, but tornado warnings are not part of the annual forecast. The weather men proved some of credibility with this past weekend's weather prediction. Nobody had no clue how bad the weather was going to be. After Friday night, the rain, wind, and tornado warnings made believers out of many people that wanted to attend this year's music festival. Every year people reserve hotels and purchase tickets for this all weather three-day event. Unfortunately, the year was a little too water-logged. The weather was even discouraging for some of the bands. Several dropped out after Friday. Saturday was even worse. The park's events were postponed until three o'clock. The weather had settled down some with random downpours. My friend Bailey and I decided to go around nine o'clock. Her aunt had two tickets that she gave us because she decided not to use them. We got all the way downtown when we heard the sirens go crazy. Then, we got a ton of text messages that flooded our phones (no pun intended!). Everyone was telling us to turn around. We left the area quickly. The tickets were a waste of money, and I felt sorry for Bailey's aunt because she had wasted about sixty dollars. The website clearly states that there is no refunds and that the events are subject to change, but there should be some way to ensure satisfaction of the customer when the weather gets this bad. Sunday, a lot more bands dropped out because they could not make it due to the flooding, or because they did not want to participate in the music festival anymore. The weekend was a total disappointment for me and others that were anticipating an exciting weekend.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Blog 14
Maybe we have a slightly bigger problem than what was originally thought. The recent gulf coast oil spill is going to have a huge impact on our lives. Our gas prices will go up; also the spill poses a big health risk to the people on the coast. However the biggest cause for concern is the wildlife and the seafood industry .many animals could be in danger because of this spill. If the spill reaches the shoreline, the seafood industry could be shut down for years. The gulf coast is the nation’s biggest seafood provider. If the seafood is not available, many restaurants will have to resort to using imported seafood from out of the country. The spill will have a huge impact on the fishermen of the gulf coast. Fishing is their livelihood, which for most of them dates back to generations. This oil spill could cost hundreds of fishermen their jobs. Most of them probably have never done anything else but fish for a living. One of the main issues right now is that there is not enough oil containment booms to be put out into the gulf to protect the coast line and the wildlife and seafood. BP has stated that there were three leaks. One of them has been capped off; however, two of them remain producing about 200,000 gallons of oil a day into the gulf. The current plan is to have an oil containment dome, which will be used to pump out most of the oil. The 100 ton, 40 feet high steel, concrete box should arrive to the coast by the weekend. The gas company says that this will be an experiment in hopes to contain this crude oil. The odds of this plan working are about 50/50. There is not a real solution to this problem. There is already a lot of damage that has been done. The news has already stated that this oil spill will influence The Gulf and its marine life for many years to come.
Blog 13
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/may/02/woolly-mammoth-antifreeze-blood
What if we can prove another piece in the science of evolution? In a recent study by a group of scientists led by Kevin Campbell, a paleobiologist, evidence of a blood adaptation was found in wooly mammoths. The study was conducted on a wooly mammoth that was 43,000 years old. The team extracted DNA from the animal's remains. These great, big animals existed in the harshest weather. They lived in sub-zero climates. They lived during the Ice Age when climate changes were spread globally. How could they have survived in sub-zero climates? The team set out to answer this question when they began the study. The DNA remains were processed, and the answer was found in the wooly mammoth's blood. The animal's haemoglobin had adapted genetically to the harsh climates and resist heat loss. The wooly mammoth had already undergone evolutionary transformations in the size of their small ears and small tails; but their haemoglobin allowed their bodies to function. The team also conducted another study in which they compared the DNA of modern elephants to that of their ancestor. The study shows that the modern day elephant and the wooly mammoth's genetics are not too different. The protein of the wooly mammoth was slightly different. The research proved that the wooly mammoth's haemoglobin burned less energy than the modern elephant. The oxygen could be carried throughout the body with very little energy. The less energy it used the less heat the animal lost. This was an efficient evolutionary adaptation. The study proves that without this genetic change, the wooly mammoth probably would not have survived at all. The research that has been done has also led to other studies in other animals. Scientists are looking for more "antifreeze systems" in animals that have adapted genetically. These studies will greatly impact science and evolutionary research.
What if we can prove another piece in the science of evolution? In a recent study by a group of scientists led by Kevin Campbell, a paleobiologist, evidence of a blood adaptation was found in wooly mammoths. The study was conducted on a wooly mammoth that was 43,000 years old. The team extracted DNA from the animal's remains. These great, big animals existed in the harshest weather. They lived in sub-zero climates. They lived during the Ice Age when climate changes were spread globally. How could they have survived in sub-zero climates? The team set out to answer this question when they began the study. The DNA remains were processed, and the answer was found in the wooly mammoth's blood. The animal's haemoglobin had adapted genetically to the harsh climates and resist heat loss. The wooly mammoth had already undergone evolutionary transformations in the size of their small ears and small tails; but their haemoglobin allowed their bodies to function. The team also conducted another study in which they compared the DNA of modern elephants to that of their ancestor. The study shows that the modern day elephant and the wooly mammoth's genetics are not too different. The protein of the wooly mammoth was slightly different. The research proved that the wooly mammoth's haemoglobin burned less energy than the modern elephant. The oxygen could be carried throughout the body with very little energy. The less energy it used the less heat the animal lost. This was an efficient evolutionary adaptation. The study proves that without this genetic change, the wooly mammoth probably would not have survived at all. The research that has been done has also led to other studies in other animals. Scientists are looking for more "antifreeze systems" in animals that have adapted genetically. These studies will greatly impact science and evolutionary research.
Blog 12
Maybe we should get more than a couple hours of sleep each night. As a full time college student and worker, I find it hard to get a decent amount of sleep every night. It is recommended that we get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Most people do not get this much each night. I hardly ever get more than 5 or 6 hours each night. I consider myself lucky to get 6 or 7 hours of sleep in one night. According to an article that I read in The Guardian's science section, getting less than 6 hours of sleep may lead to early death. It is a scary thought for a college student that has many stresses and work to do every day. Outside assignments make up the majority of college work, and allowing time for those assignments after work is very tiring. However, I have to do them in order to pass and succeed. The scientists that conducted this work also concluded that getting too much sleep can lead to early death due to illness. The likelihood of someone dying from too much sleep is not as threatening as lack of sleep. Lack of sleep can really harm a person's health. The article suggests that the economical status is placing pressure on a society that works long hours to make enough money to pay bills and "get by." The study that they conducted revealed that lack of sleep was also linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. These studies make sense if we step back and look at how the majority of people function in today's world. We are people that are constantly on-the-go. Maybe one day we can all find a resting period, and I do not mean early death!
Blog #11
http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/04/23/store-makeup-testers-often-contaminated-with-herpes-e-coli/
What if you got E. coli from a cosmetic sample? A recent study that was conducted by Elizabeth Brooks, a M.D. and biological sciences professor at Jefferson Medical College, shows how just how contaminated free testers are at different stores. The test results were positive for E. coli bacteria, conjunctivitis, herpes, staph, and strep. "Wherever you see E. coli, you should just think 'E. coli equals feces,' " Brooks told the newspaper. How gross! The results were shown 100 percent of the time. The tests were conducted on busy days like Friday and Saturdays. How are these viruses and bacteria spread? Some people apply these testers and samples directly to the skin. For example, somebody sticking their finger in an eye shadow tester and applying the makeup directly to the eyelid. The article uses the example of lipstick being applied directly to the lips. If a consumer comes to test some lipstick and uses a cotton swab to apply the lipstick, she can still contaminate herself because she is unaware of whether or not the person before her applied the lipstick directly to their lips. I have had a personal experience at a makeup counter where a salesperson has put her finger directly into a tester and applied the product to my face with her finger. I thought that was nasty and unsanitary on her part. The article discusses other options for women at the makeup counter. One option is to wipe off the top of a sample with a cloth dipped in alcohol, but it also states that the alcohol will only get rid of some of the bacteria. It encourages people to avoid uses brushes that people use to apply the sample product. Another suggestion was to avoid things like lotion that come in a jar or container that one would typically apply to the body with the hand. Instead, the article advises people to use tube sample that can be squeezed out.
What if you got E. coli from a cosmetic sample? A recent study that was conducted by Elizabeth Brooks, a M.D. and biological sciences professor at Jefferson Medical College, shows how just how contaminated free testers are at different stores. The test results were positive for E. coli bacteria, conjunctivitis, herpes, staph, and strep. "Wherever you see E. coli, you should just think 'E. coli equals feces,' " Brooks told the newspaper. How gross! The results were shown 100 percent of the time. The tests were conducted on busy days like Friday and Saturdays. How are these viruses and bacteria spread? Some people apply these testers and samples directly to the skin. For example, somebody sticking their finger in an eye shadow tester and applying the makeup directly to the eyelid. The article uses the example of lipstick being applied directly to the lips. If a consumer comes to test some lipstick and uses a cotton swab to apply the lipstick, she can still contaminate herself because she is unaware of whether or not the person before her applied the lipstick directly to their lips. I have had a personal experience at a makeup counter where a salesperson has put her finger directly into a tester and applied the product to my face with her finger. I thought that was nasty and unsanitary on her part. The article discusses other options for women at the makeup counter. One option is to wipe off the top of a sample with a cloth dipped in alcohol, but it also states that the alcohol will only get rid of some of the bacteria. It encourages people to avoid uses brushes that people use to apply the sample product. Another suggestion was to avoid things like lotion that come in a jar or container that one would typically apply to the body with the hand. Instead, the article advises people to use tube sample that can be squeezed out.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
# 10
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/apr/25/stem-cell-breakthrough-leftover-veins
Maybe stem cell research is closer to a solution than critics may think. I read an article about stem cells in the science section of The Guardian. The idea is to take stem cells from a patient's veins. Research was conducted on the veins of a patient after heart surgery. In heart bypass surgery, a portion of a patient's vein is removed from their leg and transplanted where it is needed to re-route blood to and from the heart. The surgeons that remove the vein from the leg always remove more than is necessary for the procedure. The left over vein is called a dead vein. The dead, leftover vein is usually done away with by disposal. The study was published by a professor from Bristol University. The professor’s name is Paolo Madeddu. He said that they used the leftover vein to collect stem cells. The vein only contained several thousand stem cells, which is not enough to use for recovery and repair. He and his colleagues place the stem cells in special plates and grew the cells. The cells multiplied into millions. The ideal amount is fifty to sixty million stem cells. The professor was able to reach that amount and conduct an experiment for his study. He used mice his experiment. The research provided that the stem cells actually "stimulated new blood vessel growth." This study is a great advancement for stem cell research. The research on stem cells also influences medicine as the article states. If this procedure can be carried out and approved for practice, surgery for the heart may be less risky and recovery may be quicker. Maybe the study can extend past the heart. Maybe the results from this study will provoke new research for other vital organs. The experiment offers hope. It also helps establish a better argument for stem cell researchers in proving the healing abilities of stem cells.
Maybe stem cell research is closer to a solution than critics may think. I read an article about stem cells in the science section of The Guardian. The idea is to take stem cells from a patient's veins. Research was conducted on the veins of a patient after heart surgery. In heart bypass surgery, a portion of a patient's vein is removed from their leg and transplanted where it is needed to re-route blood to and from the heart. The surgeons that remove the vein from the leg always remove more than is necessary for the procedure. The left over vein is called a dead vein. The dead, leftover vein is usually done away with by disposal. The study was published by a professor from Bristol University. The professor’s name is Paolo Madeddu. He said that they used the leftover vein to collect stem cells. The vein only contained several thousand stem cells, which is not enough to use for recovery and repair. He and his colleagues place the stem cells in special plates and grew the cells. The cells multiplied into millions. The ideal amount is fifty to sixty million stem cells. The professor was able to reach that amount and conduct an experiment for his study. He used mice his experiment. The research provided that the stem cells actually "stimulated new blood vessel growth." This study is a great advancement for stem cell research. The research on stem cells also influences medicine as the article states. If this procedure can be carried out and approved for practice, surgery for the heart may be less risky and recovery may be quicker. Maybe the study can extend past the heart. Maybe the results from this study will provoke new research for other vital organs. The experiment offers hope. It also helps establish a better argument for stem cell researchers in proving the healing abilities of stem cells.
What If #9
What if you found an insect in your packaged food? What if you found pieces of rodents in your food? What would you do? Most people would probably panic and stop eating their food. I think even throwing the food away is a decent assumption. An even more unsettling idea would be to find feces in your food. I think that most would be completely dissatisfied and disgusted. As a culture, we would be completely grossed out by the thought of someone eating parts of an insect, insect excretions, or rodent filth. However, according to the Food and Drug Administration all of these things are acceptable in the food that we consume. The FDA regulates all foods and drugs in the United States. They ensure food safety and consumption safety. If their task is to protect people from harmful agents or things that do not belong in our food, then why do they consider certain proportions of these filths to be permissible? There are many things that can still be packaged with our food. Some of these "things" are insect filth, rodent filth, excreta, animal hairs, rot, mold, and parasitic cysts just to name a few. Each defect, as the FDA calls it, is able to be processed with food if the defect is less than the established proportion. They call the proportion the action level meaning if the amount of contamination from the defect is larger than the proportion, then the product is considered ruined. The FDA's website has a list of all the defects that can affect a product. There are many defects listed. The website displays a list of foods in alphabetical order with the possible defects for each food. When I read the list, it made me feel sick. I understand that every contamination cannot be completely eliminated, but the thought still makes a person squirm in their seat. I thought about the list, and it made me connect the Japanese puffer fish to it. The fish is considered a delicacy, but it is extremely poisonous. The way it is served and ate is raw, but the chefs have to cut all around the stomach, which is the part being eaten. There is no way to get rid of all the poison, so the person consuming the fish will experience a tingling sensation on the tongue. However, if there is too much remaining poison, it can kill the person.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Blog #8
What if there were no bugs in the world? Yesterday, I went hiking at Shelby Forest. I began walking up the trail and through the wooded land, when I noticed that I was walking in mosquito heaven. It was the ultimate breading ground for these evil creatures. It was moist in places and there were rivers and streams across the land. It was very beautiful, but the wonderful scenes of nature were interrupted by the bugs. They were all over the place. I saw centipedes and bright green beetles. I saw some spiders, nats, bees, and other unidentified flying bugs. I complained the whole time. I kept hearing them fly by my ear. I kept feeling them on my body. I kept getting the chills as they met with me. I walked through swarms of flying insects, and I was greatly freaked out by this experience. I felt each and every bite. The mosquitoes definitely ate well yesterday. This experience made me wonder, though. I hate insects. I just wish that there was not any on this planet. What if there was none? What would this do for people? If there were no insects in this world, a lot of the diseases that are a result of these pests, would be eliminated. I didn't say that all the diseases of this world would be eliminated just the diseases that are the cause of these small, annoying carriers. The outside activities and recreation that people enjoy would not have to be disturbed by these insects that crawl and fly around us. I kept thinking about my experience. I just cannot stand being insect food, but despite my hate towards them, I realized I like the way I live. Without insects, things would be entirely different. Insects pollinate flowers, insects are used for medicine, and certain animals could not survive without them for their diet just to name a few of their many uses. The benefits of the use of insects definitely out weigh my disgust.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Elemental Name
Ashley Livingston
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
17 March 2010
Astatine
I am Astatine, but my nickname is Ashley. I am the rarest element on Earth. I am a unique individual that enjoys being singular. I value friendship, but I only offer it to a select few. I share friendship in small quantities, but when I do get friends, I reacted with them very well. I like my friends, but I only have a few. The friends that I do have were selected wisely. I can’t bond with just anybody. My personality is too extraordinary.
I think that I react violently toward the things that I value most in life. I don’t mean violently as in brutal or cruel, but as passionately or strong. I just have this undying desire to make the life that I live a fulfilling one. I want to triumph over what I can accomplish, but I’m scared to death of what I might do.
I am unstable. I am just a solitary creature that has recently discovered a new environment. I do not really like being tossed into a big world that I am unfamiliar with. As any unstable individual would do, I decided to react quickly to my new life and figure out what I really want to do. Unfortunately, I’m confused about what I would like to do. I can tell myself that I should just stick it out; maybe I will be able to make my dream a reality. I know, however, that my mentality has been synthetically produced. I can’t possibly be able to establish my unstable-self as a doctor the way my chemistry is going. So, should I look deeper within me and try to find the real, pure matter of my situation?
I can’t deny my situation. It is solid. It is so concrete in my mind that I can’t shake the thought. How can I live comfortably some day? Will I ever be successful? There are so many questions to be answered. Maybe, I jumped into my new environment too quickly. I hope that I overcome my insecurities.
I mentioned that I am also called Ashley. I like to be called Ashley because that is the more motivated side of me. It is the side that has the ability to look for the answers to my questions. Ashley is my real state, my rare state. One just has to do some digging to find it.
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
17 March 2010
Astatine
I am Astatine, but my nickname is Ashley. I am the rarest element on Earth. I am a unique individual that enjoys being singular. I value friendship, but I only offer it to a select few. I share friendship in small quantities, but when I do get friends, I reacted with them very well. I like my friends, but I only have a few. The friends that I do have were selected wisely. I can’t bond with just anybody. My personality is too extraordinary.
I think that I react violently toward the things that I value most in life. I don’t mean violently as in brutal or cruel, but as passionately or strong. I just have this undying desire to make the life that I live a fulfilling one. I want to triumph over what I can accomplish, but I’m scared to death of what I might do.
I am unstable. I am just a solitary creature that has recently discovered a new environment. I do not really like being tossed into a big world that I am unfamiliar with. As any unstable individual would do, I decided to react quickly to my new life and figure out what I really want to do. Unfortunately, I’m confused about what I would like to do. I can tell myself that I should just stick it out; maybe I will be able to make my dream a reality. I know, however, that my mentality has been synthetically produced. I can’t possibly be able to establish my unstable-self as a doctor the way my chemistry is going. So, should I look deeper within me and try to find the real, pure matter of my situation?
I can’t deny my situation. It is solid. It is so concrete in my mind that I can’t shake the thought. How can I live comfortably some day? Will I ever be successful? There are so many questions to be answered. Maybe, I jumped into my new environment too quickly. I hope that I overcome my insecurities.
I mentioned that I am also called Ashley. I like to be called Ashley because that is the more motivated side of me. It is the side that has the ability to look for the answers to my questions. Ashley is my real state, my rare state. One just has to do some digging to find it.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Outside Event 2
Ashley Livingston
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
15 March 2010
Outside Event 2
I attended an outside event at my old high school. It was a night for people to read poetry. It lasted for about an hour. Students and teachers read from other poets’ work and some read from their own.
The stage was set in the cafeteria. It was emptied of all the tables. The stage was set and the lights were off. They had the room lit dimly by the lamps that were set up. The decorators of the room moved couches into the cafeteria. The atmosphere was very comfy. Each reader came up one by one and read. There were the traditional readings from poets such as Robert Frost, Hughes, and Poe.
The original poems were different. One girl by the name of Jessica read from the paper she put her own pen to. It was very dark, and it made me wonder what her life was like. She talked about a little girl that had a disease. The little girl had a rare disease. Jessica made herself a character in her own poem. Jessica’s character had to care for this girl. The little girl was Jessica’s sister. Apparently, the little girl died. The poem continued on about her divorced parents, her messed up life, and how she had been through many hardships. The story made me feel weird. At first, I felt sorry, but then, I felt pity over Jessica. As she continued with her poem, I lost the feeling of sympathy and started to feel like she wanted attention. The other readers finished. Most of them made very short appearances. The event wrapped up, and I went home shortly after. I kept thinking about Jessica’s poem. I can’t figure out the point she was trying to make in her reading. Maybe she was trying to say that even she does not understand her life.
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
15 March 2010
Outside Event 2
I attended an outside event at my old high school. It was a night for people to read poetry. It lasted for about an hour. Students and teachers read from other poets’ work and some read from their own.
The stage was set in the cafeteria. It was emptied of all the tables. The stage was set and the lights were off. They had the room lit dimly by the lamps that were set up. The decorators of the room moved couches into the cafeteria. The atmosphere was very comfy. Each reader came up one by one and read. There were the traditional readings from poets such as Robert Frost, Hughes, and Poe.
The original poems were different. One girl by the name of Jessica read from the paper she put her own pen to. It was very dark, and it made me wonder what her life was like. She talked about a little girl that had a disease. The little girl had a rare disease. Jessica made herself a character in her own poem. Jessica’s character had to care for this girl. The little girl was Jessica’s sister. Apparently, the little girl died. The poem continued on about her divorced parents, her messed up life, and how she had been through many hardships. The story made me feel weird. At first, I felt sorry, but then, I felt pity over Jessica. As she continued with her poem, I lost the feeling of sympathy and started to feel like she wanted attention. The other readers finished. Most of them made very short appearances. The event wrapped up, and I went home shortly after. I kept thinking about Jessica’s poem. I can’t figure out the point she was trying to make in her reading. Maybe she was trying to say that even she does not understand her life.
Outside Event 1
Ashley Livingston
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
14 March 2010
Outside Event 1: Richard Bausch
On Thursday, March 4th, I attended my first outside event for this semester. It was so packed. My first impression of Burkes Bookstore was that it was a hole in the wall place. Parking around the bookstore is an absolute nightmare! I circled the block twice before I gave up and decided to park a couple streets over. The small building was way too crowded. Most people were on there feet, because there was no place to sit. The audience had many adults in it. The place has an odd smell to it. It is a cross between mold and old books. Old books have an odd smell.
I got there after Bausch’s daughter sang. Bausch gave a few thank-you's on the side and then began reading. He read one of his short stories. It was called “Immigration.” The story was about a couple. The couple’s last name was the O’Keefes. Michael, the husband, was Irish and Rita, the wife, was American. They were married in Tennessee. The story takes place in Memphis. The couple was going to an office on Summer Avenue to get their permanent residency. The couple displayed normal arguments that husband and wife often have. The morning they had to go to the office they were arguing. They barely make it in time to the place. The two got into a woman’s office and began the process. The woman worker asked Rita at one point if they had any kids and she began to cry. The woman eventually exits the room because Rita continues to cry. Michael does not do a very good job at comforting her because he is embarrassed. He touches her shoulder and then they talk a little. They both agree it was a bad morning. They say “I love you” and the story ends.
While he was reading, he spoke in an accent to emphasize the Irish element. I liked how he did this because it made me picture the character better. He gave life to the story. He incorporated details into his story. It helped me as his audience to visualize what he was reading.
After Bausch was done, another author took the stand. The author’s name was Wyatt Prunty. He spoke for a short time. He read some his poems. At this point, I had lost some of my focus because I was tired of being cramped in the small bookstore. When he finished, I left as quick as I could cut through the crowd. Some stayed to have their books signed by Bausch.
I thought about Bausch’s story on the way home. At first, I was not interested with it, and the story did not entertain me much. As I continued to think about it, I recalled the day before the event. I was in the vehicle with my boyfriend, Ryan. I was not feeling well, but I had promised to take him to a few places, so he could get a few things he needed done. While on our way to the first place, he calls his mother to ask her if where he was going was right. Of course not! I basically was taking a scenic view to the destination. The only problem with that was we were pressed for time. If we were late, it would influence everything else. I was mad, and we started to argue. My bad day made me think about the O’Keefe’s argument. They were stressed and one thing influenced another. I was sick and mad which made us start arguing. I related my experience with Bausch’s story. Thinking about his story more made me appreciate the story more.
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
14 March 2010
Outside Event 1: Richard Bausch
On Thursday, March 4th, I attended my first outside event for this semester. It was so packed. My first impression of Burkes Bookstore was that it was a hole in the wall place. Parking around the bookstore is an absolute nightmare! I circled the block twice before I gave up and decided to park a couple streets over. The small building was way too crowded. Most people were on there feet, because there was no place to sit. The audience had many adults in it. The place has an odd smell to it. It is a cross between mold and old books. Old books have an odd smell.
I got there after Bausch’s daughter sang. Bausch gave a few thank-you's on the side and then began reading. He read one of his short stories. It was called “Immigration.” The story was about a couple. The couple’s last name was the O’Keefes. Michael, the husband, was Irish and Rita, the wife, was American. They were married in Tennessee. The story takes place in Memphis. The couple was going to an office on Summer Avenue to get their permanent residency. The couple displayed normal arguments that husband and wife often have. The morning they had to go to the office they were arguing. They barely make it in time to the place. The two got into a woman’s office and began the process. The woman worker asked Rita at one point if they had any kids and she began to cry. The woman eventually exits the room because Rita continues to cry. Michael does not do a very good job at comforting her because he is embarrassed. He touches her shoulder and then they talk a little. They both agree it was a bad morning. They say “I love you” and the story ends.
While he was reading, he spoke in an accent to emphasize the Irish element. I liked how he did this because it made me picture the character better. He gave life to the story. He incorporated details into his story. It helped me as his audience to visualize what he was reading.
After Bausch was done, another author took the stand. The author’s name was Wyatt Prunty. He spoke for a short time. He read some his poems. At this point, I had lost some of my focus because I was tired of being cramped in the small bookstore. When he finished, I left as quick as I could cut through the crowd. Some stayed to have their books signed by Bausch.
I thought about Bausch’s story on the way home. At first, I was not interested with it, and the story did not entertain me much. As I continued to think about it, I recalled the day before the event. I was in the vehicle with my boyfriend, Ryan. I was not feeling well, but I had promised to take him to a few places, so he could get a few things he needed done. While on our way to the first place, he calls his mother to ask her if where he was going was right. Of course not! I basically was taking a scenic view to the destination. The only problem with that was we were pressed for time. If we were late, it would influence everything else. I was mad, and we started to argue. My bad day made me think about the O’Keefe’s argument. They were stressed and one thing influenced another. I was sick and mad which made us start arguing. I related my experience with Bausch’s story. Thinking about his story more made me appreciate the story more.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
What if Blog # 7!
What if people could go to college for free? If people could go to college for free the dreams of so many would be granted. A lot of people cannot afford college of afford to take out the loans to attend. I would much rather be surrounded by a community of hard, educated workers that were once inspired than a bunch of people that had the "right" connection. I think it is a sad excuse on our government's part to put a price on someone's dream. It scares me to think that if I lose my scholarships that it would be the end of the road for me. I would have to settle working at Kroger for the rest of my life. I could not get a decent paying job because I would lack a stronger, higher education. If I could go to college for free, I would be less stressed. I would not have to worry about finding scholarships to pay for my school every year. It is hard to get funded. The state will not give me any money because my parents work. They don't get paid much but they work, so I can't live up to my dream. That is not fair. My parents have no means to my college education. I do not get any of their money for my school. I am totally on my own. It is hard to compete with everyone that is going to college for a scholarship. It is almost as if people have to settle with what they have for the rest of their life. It is extremely hard to overcome any financial barrier. I also do not think that it fair that children whose parents are divorced get more money from the government. My parents are together and I get nothing, but if they were split up I would get twice as much to go to school. It does not make any since at all. Each scholarship should practice equality.
Maybe blog # 6
Maybe I should change my major. I'm afraid that my dream of becoming a pediatric oncologist is diminishing. I took less hours this semester to focus on chemistry, but most of my time is spent on English this semester. I feel like I know most of the material in chemistry, but the tests show just the opposite. I am not improving. I so not understand why. I feel like I'm majoring in English. The work load has completely double and I feel lost and unorganized. I feel like I am struggling in this class. I don't know what to do anymore. I thought about taking summer classes to compensate for the fewer number of hours I have taken this semester, but at this point, I don't know if I want to. I'm thinking that maybe business of psychology may be of interest to me. I like the thought of being someone else's boss. I think that I could be a good leader and communicator. My aunt is a vice president of a major company. She lives very comfortably. She has her master's in business. She just got another promotion and the company is buying her a car. She got to pick out whatever she wanted. She picked out a black BMW convertible. There is none around here and it is being shipped in from another state! How awesome would that be? I know that is a lot of hard work, but at least chemistry would be out of the question. Psychology is interesting to me because I find myself trying to figure out what others are thinking. It is interesting to know how others think too. Maybe I should take the summer and do some serious thinking. It might give me a chance to do some more maturing and get my stuff straight. I just want everything to fall into place. College is really difficult for me.
Maybe blog # 5
Maybe the world just needs to be positive. Maybe the world needs to stop making excuses for things that have to be earned with a little hard work and TLC.
I was reading a headline on AOL news about a woman with six children. Five of her six have autism. Her kids have conquered there battles. For a parent with a child that has a disability, it is their goal to make sure the child can overcome or even get cured for the obstacles that may come with a diagnosis. Defeat Autism Now doctors or DAN doctors work to treat autistic individuals. The article said that the treatment involved making the kids stay on liquid diets. The treatment also makes the children take a bunch of shots and suppositories to rid their bodies of certain elements. The treatment seems worst than coping with the condition. The mother of six says that she treated them normal. She did take her children to speech and physical therapies several times a week to help them overcome their different obstacles. She sent them to school just like every normal child. One of her children had to be held back after completing kindergarten. The mother told her child why she could not advance to the next level. She could not read. The child was empowered by the reason. She taught herself and learned really quickly. She was even more advanced than her peers after that. Maybe the only cure to autism is to instill values, disciplines, and motives in the children with this "disability." Working harder for something is more valuable than disposing of potential. What causes autism? Autism is a neurological disorder that affects communication social behavior. Some people believe that the environment, vaccines, and pesticides can cause autism. However, none of these causes are probable.
http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/03/04/caring-for-autistic-children-jeanette-odonnell/?icid=main|hp-laptop|dl3|link2|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2F2010%2F03%2F04%2Fcaring-for-autistic-children-jeanette-odonnell%2F
I was reading a headline on AOL news about a woman with six children. Five of her six have autism. Her kids have conquered there battles. For a parent with a child that has a disability, it is their goal to make sure the child can overcome or even get cured for the obstacles that may come with a diagnosis. Defeat Autism Now doctors or DAN doctors work to treat autistic individuals. The article said that the treatment involved making the kids stay on liquid diets. The treatment also makes the children take a bunch of shots and suppositories to rid their bodies of certain elements. The treatment seems worst than coping with the condition. The mother of six says that she treated them normal. She did take her children to speech and physical therapies several times a week to help them overcome their different obstacles. She sent them to school just like every normal child. One of her children had to be held back after completing kindergarten. The mother told her child why she could not advance to the next level. She could not read. The child was empowered by the reason. She taught herself and learned really quickly. She was even more advanced than her peers after that. Maybe the only cure to autism is to instill values, disciplines, and motives in the children with this "disability." Working harder for something is more valuable than disposing of potential. What causes autism? Autism is a neurological disorder that affects communication social behavior. Some people believe that the environment, vaccines, and pesticides can cause autism. However, none of these causes are probable.
http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/03/04/caring-for-autistic-children-jeanette-odonnell/?icid=main|hp-laptop|dl3|link2|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2F2010%2F03%2F04%2Fcaring-for-autistic-children-jeanette-odonnell%2F
Maybe blog # 4
Maybe America should change their general education standards. In the United States, education is a major issue. The standard is being lowered year after year. I feel like this is destroying every level of education. The more the standards become lowered, the more it will affect a child when he or she becomes eligible for college. Speaking as a witness and victim of these awful policies, college is a severe struggle. High school has not shaped my education. High school did not allow me to expand my knowledge. I could not learn all a course had to offer because it would leave some classmates "behind." I had to stop at a certain level because my high school did not offer anymore than two advance placement courses. How embarrassing! It is bad when you have taken all of the offered science courses and math courses by your sophomore and junior year. It is almost insulting to be forced to take pointless classes because all that is left to choose from is a bunch of agricultural classes and home decorating/parenting classes. How can you come out of a school with a 4.0 GPA and become a college student that seems to barely be getting by? In Tennessee, there is a specific act that should have never ever been passed. The "No Child Left behind Act" is so ridiculous. It forces students that have potential to learn at an under average rate. The Act forces teachers to pass everyone, even if a student is not ready to graduate to the next level. This ultimately penalizes the child that is not prepared and the child that is smarter than the average. It is a horrible system that needs a lot of repair. The bigshots that are calling the shots need to put the students first. Education makes for a better tomorrow.
What If Blog #3
What if the Memphis Tigers would have won the game on Thursday? The Tigers needed to win against Houston yesterday. Unfortunately, they lost by one point. The game should have been a Memphis victory. The game consisted of a lot of bad calls from the referees. Houston did not get hardly any bad calls. The replays were evidence to every Tiger fan that we were most definitely having to compete with the referees instead of focusing on the Houston players. The last call sent the whole Tigers' fans and team into an uproar. In the last five seconds, it was a Memphis possession with Willie Kemp dribbling toward the goal. The umpire called a double dribble on Kemp! When it is this late in the game, ordinarily a double dribble would not be called unless it was extremely evident. In this case, it was not a double dribble. There is nothing we can do after a call like that is made, but when the call was made, the opposing team ran out on the court before time. Running out onto the court is a technicality. The referees denied calling the technical error on Houston which would have allowed Memphis possession. Memphis really played hard the second half, but you can't play against unfair referees. It has been a struggle for the Tigers this year after the allegations from last season. I think coach Pastner has done an excellent job at exceeding their predicted expectations. I believe that Memphis was purposely denied advancement in the tournaments. If they would have won that would have placed the Tigers in line to play Kentucky. The NCAA will not allow that to happen this year. Each game has to be evenly distributed. If Kentucky and Memphis were matched then it would not be an equally watched game. The NCAA needs to stand by every team instead of shaming certain ones.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
What If Blog #2
What if the Earth had rings like Saturn? The earth's sky would be a spectacular view. The rings would be huge just like Saturn's. I watched a video by Roy Prol, an animator that showed what Earth would look like if it indeed had rings. The animation took into consideration several calculations in order to provide a realistic animation. In the video, several locations scattered throughout the globe were shown with different views of the rings. Each location's view was considered by its latitude, southern or northern hemisphere, and location. The video stated that the rings' sizes were calculated by the Roche limit. What is the Roche limit? It was named after a French astronomer, Edouard Roche. He was the first to calculate the limit in 1848. The Roche limit is also called the Roche radius. It is a limit in which a celestial body (such as Earth) will disintegrate or decay due to a second celestial body's tidal forces that exceed the first body's self gravitation. Each planet or celestial body is held together by its own gravitational pull. A tidal force is another effect that gravity has. It produces waves of force and attraction that influence two celestial bodies upon contact with one another. The rings that orbit a planet remain inside the Roche limit. Because the Roche limit is so strong, comets that come into contact with this theoretical barrier simply break apart. What if the Earth had rings? Well, maybe the Earth would have its own defense from invaders such as comets. Maybe Earth would have its own defense. The rings orbit due to the strong gravitational force that lies between them and the planet. If Earth had rings, then maybe any meteors that come into contact with the rings would become part of the rings' orbit. This would prevent any meteoroids, meteors that have broken through Earth's atmosphere, to cause destruction to our planet like they did in the age of the dinosaurs.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Annotated Bibliography #1
Ashley Livingston
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
15 February 2010
Annotated Bibliography
Uta, Francke. Fetal Research and Applications : A Conference Summary. Washington, D.C.: National Academy, 1994. Net Library. OCLC. Web. 15 Jan. 2010..
This book is from 1994. It gives some good background information about how in vitro fertilization. On page 61, it says that IVF was not being funded by the government. As a result of lack of funds and ways to test this arising technology, the tests began on cows. This method is used in artificial cattle breeding. The study of oocytes in humans and how they develop would eliminate the use of fertility drugs in women. The book suggests that other areas of study surrounding in vitro fertilization and other technologies invest in more research related to infertility. The book explains on page 5 that the research must begin with the study of the two main components of conception: the sperm and the egg. The book reveals a discovery that had raised certain questions about why sperm was not combining with the egg. It continues on about funding this type of work. At the time the book was written, the government still did not want to fund research on human oocytes. However, the United Kingdom does fund these types of technology. The research would be made from aborted female fetuses, because they have a lot of oocytes.
This book is helpful to my research, because it helps me document the background of in vitro. I can learned the history and understanding that had been discovered. It will help my paper as well as the reader to develop the evolution of this research.
Uta, Francke. Fetal Research and Applications : A Conference Summary. Washington, D.C.: National Academy, 1994. Print.
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
15 February 2010
Annotated Bibliography
Uta, Francke. Fetal Research and Applications : A Conference Summary. Washington, D.C.: National Academy, 1994. Net Library. OCLC. Web. 15 Jan. 2010.
This book is from 1994. It gives some good background information about how in vitro fertilization. On page 61, it says that IVF was not being funded by the government. As a result of lack of funds and ways to test this arising technology, the tests began on cows. This method is used in artificial cattle breeding. The study of oocytes in humans and how they develop would eliminate the use of fertility drugs in women. The book suggests that other areas of study surrounding in vitro fertilization and other technologies invest in more research related to infertility. The book explains on page 5 that the research must begin with the study of the two main components of conception: the sperm and the egg. The book reveals a discovery that had raised certain questions about why sperm was not combining with the egg. It continues on about funding this type of work. At the time the book was written, the government still did not want to fund research on human oocytes. However, the United Kingdom does fund these types of technology. The research would be made from aborted female fetuses, because they have a lot of oocytes.
This book is helpful to my research, because it helps me document the background of in vitro. I can learned the history and understanding that had been discovered. It will help my paper as well as the reader to develop the evolution of this research.
Uta, Francke. Fetal Research and Applications : A Conference Summary. Washington, D.C.: National Academy, 1994. Print.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Hot Zone Reflection Essay
Ashley Livingston
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
10 February 2010
Hot Zone Reflection
The Hot Zone written by Richard Preston is a well written nonfiction book. The book was really interesting. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel.
It is very different from other books that I have read. I really liked how the author was involved in his writing. He shared a history with the origins of the ferocious virus. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the reader informed. He incorporated definitions like “rongeur…..The word is French and means ‘gnawer.’ It is used for opening skulls” (66) very smoothly into the context, as if it was simply part of the story instead of for understanding. He also gives the reader extra features- a glossary of terms and a character list. There are a lot of names that are mentioned in the book, and the character list helped me as a reader to keep track of each person.
The book is about a filovirus and its sister strains. The virus is identified as “Ebola.” Ebola originated in Africa. The Ebola virus is “a Level 4 hot agent [that] is a lethal virus for which there is no vaccine and no cure” (47). Ebola is so powerful that if it gets out-of-control it would be “an unstoppable tidal wave” (49).
The author develops this story and presents the book’s subject matter in the way same order that the virus was being discovered. He reviews each episode of the virus in chronological order. He questions at the end the same thoughts that other scientists had questioned at the beginning of Ebola’s emergence. I liked how he emphasizes the same questions. It reveals that they might never be answered.
This book kept my focus because of the great detail throughout the book. If a new scene made an appearance the details were very vivid. The author did a great job in the way he used the details to reinforce the dangers of the hot agent, Ebola. In the chapter, “Ebola River,” the virus’s effects on the human body are described. One of the effects is “the tongue’s skin may be torn off during rushes of black vomit” (80).
The characters in the book were presented in great detail as well. I liked how the author did this because it allowed me to really “see” or imagine each character. I was able to picture characters, like the “beautiful, long blond hair[ed], eighteen year old” Nicole Berke that did not make a huge appearance. The author used people of authority in the book to show that the virus must be dealt with by experts. It helped to highlight the urgency of this filovirus.
The operation at the monkey house was intense. It generated feelings of suspense while the team of officials dealt with the sick monkeys. The author also incorporated (throughout the text) a little bit of the character’s memory from each event from the interviews he had with these people. It helps reveal the characters and what they thought.
During the planning of the “monkey house operation,” there was a particular meeting where the officials and experts tried to settle a game plan. Two characters, C.J. Peters and Joe McCormick, had a history of conflict. The tension and the animosity between them were demonstrated in the text. Their dialogue outlined their different personalities. The author also incorporated the two characters background into the story. I was able to see each character’s opinion about the other one.
The book was very orderly and presented with vivid, specific details. The author’s involvement with the story showed his interest in Ebola. He presented the book so that the reader could see the problem and maintain the same interest that he has with Ebola and the other Level 4 hot agents. The text is not an ordinary book. It is very different. The story told a bigger story. It allowed me to wonder and question things about Ebola. Overall, it was a great book, and it inspired me to become a better writer.
Wendy Sumner-Winter
English 1020
10 February 2010
Hot Zone Reflection
The Hot Zone written by Richard Preston is a well written nonfiction book. The book was really interesting. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel.
It is very different from other books that I have read. I really liked how the author was involved in his writing. He shared a history with the origins of the ferocious virus. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the reader informed. He incorporated definitions like “rongeur…..The word is French and means ‘gnawer.’ It is used for opening skulls” (66) very smoothly into the context, as if it was simply part of the story instead of for understanding. He also gives the reader extra features- a glossary of terms and a character list. There are a lot of names that are mentioned in the book, and the character list helped me as a reader to keep track of each person.
The book is about a filovirus and its sister strains. The virus is identified as “Ebola.” Ebola originated in Africa. The Ebola virus is “a Level 4 hot agent [that] is a lethal virus for which there is no vaccine and no cure” (47). Ebola is so powerful that if it gets out-of-control it would be “an unstoppable tidal wave” (49).
The author develops this story and presents the book’s subject matter in the way same order that the virus was being discovered. He reviews each episode of the virus in chronological order. He questions at the end the same thoughts that other scientists had questioned at the beginning of Ebola’s emergence. I liked how he emphasizes the same questions. It reveals that they might never be answered.
This book kept my focus because of the great detail throughout the book. If a new scene made an appearance the details were very vivid. The author did a great job in the way he used the details to reinforce the dangers of the hot agent, Ebola. In the chapter, “Ebola River,” the virus’s effects on the human body are described. One of the effects is “the tongue’s skin may be torn off during rushes of black vomit” (80).
The characters in the book were presented in great detail as well. I liked how the author did this because it allowed me to really “see” or imagine each character. I was able to picture characters, like the “beautiful, long blond hair[ed], eighteen year old” Nicole Berke that did not make a huge appearance. The author used people of authority in the book to show that the virus must be dealt with by experts. It helped to highlight the urgency of this filovirus.
The operation at the monkey house was intense. It generated feelings of suspense while the team of officials dealt with the sick monkeys. The author also incorporated (throughout the text) a little bit of the character’s memory from each event from the interviews he had with these people. It helps reveal the characters and what they thought.
During the planning of the “monkey house operation,” there was a particular meeting where the officials and experts tried to settle a game plan. Two characters, C.J. Peters and Joe McCormick, had a history of conflict. The tension and the animosity between them were demonstrated in the text. Their dialogue outlined their different personalities. The author also incorporated the two characters background into the story. I was able to see each character’s opinion about the other one.
The book was very orderly and presented with vivid, specific details. The author’s involvement with the story showed his interest in Ebola. He presented the book so that the reader could see the problem and maintain the same interest that he has with Ebola and the other Level 4 hot agents. The text is not an ordinary book. It is very different. The story told a bigger story. It allowed me to wonder and question things about Ebola. Overall, it was a great book, and it inspired me to become a better writer.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Eng 1020: Blog 1: What if...
What if the earth's water supply becomes regulated by the government due to its scarcity? The earth's water supply is becoming increasingly smaller and smaller. What if the government decides to do like Arizona and regulate everyone's water usage? Would it help at all? It has helped Arizona cut back by fifty percent. What if the prices of groceries went up too? This would be affected by the limited amount of water. Soft drinks, soups, and other foods all contain water. What would happen if drink companies had to use less water in their drinks? How would this affect the consumer and the business? Water levels in many places are getting lower and lower. How does this affect people's careers? Do fishermen still get the same results? Are the fish that once lived in these places still living there? Is there still as many as there once was, or have they left and adapted to new environments? What if our country becomes poverty stricken? After all, the lack of water lowers living standards. If the government did limit the amount of water for each individual or family, the number and amount of time everyone uses for bathing would have to be cut back. How do we fix such a serious problem? Desalination plants are being used as the solution. What is a desalination plant? A desalination plant eliminates the salt from salt water. It is a difficult process. How does it work? I looked up the process of desalination, and there are two methods to extract the salt from the water. One method is by distillation. Distillation is when the water is heated and then cooled. After, the water is cooled the salt will settle to the bottom and the water on top is removed. The other way is by reverse osmosis. The water is placed into a high-pressure container. It is stirred continuously as it moves through a filter. The filter only allows water molecules to pass through it. Which method is more effective? The process of reverse osmosis would probably be the more efficient method for large amounts of water.
Word count: 352
Word count: 352
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