Monday, May 27, 2013

Evolution Theory + Famous Contributors

Charles Darwin contributed to science by observing the legendary theory about how life changes overtime.  Darwin observed characteristics of many animals and plants varied noticeably.  Darwin realized life change overtime and organisms became more adept with the society.  James Hutton and Charles Lyell helped scientists recognize that Earth is millions of years old, and in the process that changed Earth in past are the same processes that function in the present.  Lamarch proposed that by selective use or disuse or organs, organisms acquired or lost certain traits in their life time.  These traits could then be passed to their offspring.  Overtime, this process led to change in the species.  Malthus reasoned that if the human population continued to grow unchecked, sooner or later there would be insufficient living space and food for everyone.  In artificial selection, nature provided the variation, and humans selected those variation that they found useful.  Overtime, natural selection results in changes in the inherited characteristics of a population.  Darwin argued that living things have been evolving on Earth for million's of years.  Evidence for this process can be found in fossil records, the geographical distribution of living species, homologous structures of living organisms, and similarities in early development, or embryology.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Done with OFK?

The Disney version is always more friendly than the real deal.  When I was told I was to read The Once and Future King I got excited because I loved the Disney version, little did I know the book completely different.  Since it was so different, it became a very complicated and boring book.  There are parts that go on and on, basically just plain boring.  Today, I took the final test on The Once and Future King and exactly one week from now I am going to turn my essay about Guenever and Lancelot.  Whilie I might not be done yet, I sure am close to being done.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Fear.

I was scared.
Actually, I get scared easily.
When you were lost in the super market... I was lost, scared and alone.
When I found you I complained about being scared and I was upset.
I shouldn't have yelled at you.
But, I did.

Why can't I be happy.
Why can't I be nice.

I was afraid.
Actually, I am always afraid.
You didn't know I killed her.
When you were gone... I was mad, furious and I had a knife.
When you found out I just cried with you.

I am sorry.
I am not happy.
I am not nice.
I am sorry.

Authors note:  Creepy I know!  I am scaring myself.  I just wanted to try this type of writing.  Tell your friends and tell the dog!

Math Basics

Math is a fundamental subject, and within in are some basics.  A lot of vocabulary, so sit tight and enjoy the ride.  A preimage is the original figure in the transformation of a figure in a plane.  An easy way to remember this is to think of pre- in preimage and remember that that means before.  An Image is the new figure that results from the transformation of a figure in a plane.  I like to think that I upload images to my blog.  This helps me because I edit the preimage, maybe transforming it, and then once its ready I upload the image.  The word transformation has been referenced a lot in my other definitions.  Basically, its the operation that moves a preimage onto an image.  3 of the basics are reflections, rotations and translations.  A reflection is they type of transformation that uses a line that acts like a mirror with an image reflected in the line.  When ever I write a sign and try to look at it in the mirror everything is flipped.  Try it and understand reflections better.  A rotation is another transformation and it is when a figure is turned about a fixed point, called the center of rotation.  Remember!! Every rotation has 3 critical elements, a center of rotation, a direction of rotation and an angle of rotation.  The final important transformation is the translation; slides figure the same distance in the same direction.  Latin is important because I was able to pick up that trans- means across.  To wrap everything up, rigid transformation or isometry preserves lengths, angle measures, parallel lines and distance between two points.  Isometry makes sure everything is and stays equal.  Math basics are important to move forward in learning.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Emo? Emotional? Cutting?

Three words you never want to here from your best friend, son or daughter is the works, "I cut."  I am happy with my life, so I would never cut, but after serious thought over the subject I have concluded a reason for self harm.  Each cut is a very painful experience especially heart-breaking because someone is hurting themselves. I believe that the emotional pain they are feeling is confusing their body and so they associate it with physical harm by sawing at their skin.  While "sawing" may not be an appropriate word, I feel that it is very conveying and intense word choice.

Enough Water?

This post isn't about conversion of water, because frankly if that was an issue it would be on the news more often; instead it's the minuscule ad in the corner of a website.  When I say "enough water,"I mean enough water for our body, do we really drink the suggested 6-8 glasses?  I never was able to figure out how big a glass actually was, so when I was little I would drink 6 of the smallest glasses I could find and drink that: I hated water.  I was inspired today by my biology teacher who was talking about needs of animals and how people needs 6-8 glasses of water.  The whole class might have just laughed because I am pretty sure none of us drink that much water unless we are athletes or they are weirdos who never want to stop going to the restroom.  I wonder what the exact measurement of water is truly enough water.  Do you ever think of that?

Art and Government. Greek/Roman and Middle Ages.

Last semester, world civ students were educated on Greek and Roman Life, including art and government.  The Greeks and Romans were very different from the Middle Ages.  Although, the Medieval period was based on some Roman philosophies.  All in all, Germanic tribes were barbaric compared to Rome.

The Greek/Roman art included pillars, realistic glorified people who were proportional, meanwhile the golden ratio did not apply at all in the Middle ages.  There is nothing similar in these two societies except that art was created by artisans.  The government was also none in the same.

In the barbaric society, also known as the Germanic tribes, they had small bands of warriors led by lord, unwritten laws, traditions, and family ties, also ruling a large territory was impossible that made up their government.  On the other hand, Rome had a large public government, had unified laws and ruled vast territory.  Which means that all the rumors that vikings are barbaric is true!

Civ students have vast knowledge in Greek and Roman lifestyle and now they also know about the Germanic tribes.  We can conclude there is nothing that these two societies share in common in terms of government and art.  Although the Medieval was based on the Roman Heritage, Catholic Church and Germanic Tribes, that is the one of the only things that can link these two societies.

deFining Feudalism

The Vikings, Muslims and Magyars were attacking Europe.  Kings were too weak to protect the people and maintain order, because of this they granted nobles use of land from Royal Estates.  Nobles were respected, meanwhile peasants were not.  Every peasant had to give 1/3 of their produce to the King for protection by the kings knights.  There were also taxes that the peasants had to pay.  Let us not forget the serfs who were legally bound to the king's land with feudalism.

Magyar and Muslim

Magyar people were nomadic from Modern day Hungry and they attacked Italy, meanwhile Muslims attacked North Africa, Spain and Italy.  People who were conquered in the Magyer society were made slaves.  In the 800's the Muslims wanted to settle in Europe, but once a decade passed in 900's they ended up wanting to plunder (pillage/sack) Europe.  Although, the Magyers and the Muslims where not the only two groups, the celts, angels and saxons made up a large portion of the tribes.

The Crusades

The crusades defiantly changed the role of the church, because now the pope and nobles authority was weakening, meanwhile kings gained authority.  Not only did the crusade change the role, but they also were constantly changing the control over the Holy land with other Mediterranean empires.

Jerusalem was a holy city that the Christians, Jews and Muslims wanted control over.  The Christians believed that Jerusalem was holy because that was where Jesus was crucified and resurrected.  Jewish people believed it was God's own city and site of Soloman's temple.  The Muslims believed that it was 3rd holiest city and where Muhammad ascended to heaven.  The Crusade's were a Christian group that fought for the religious right of Jerusalem.

Pope Urban ignited the Crusades when he said, "Expel that wicked race from our Christian lands... Christ commands it."  Crusade actually has latin in it "crux" means cross.  The Crusades ended up being a series of nine military expeditions.  Why would people go?  Well knights could finally use the techniques they learned, peasents had freedom from feaudal lands, and anyone else that wanted to go could get instant salvation if killed, plus the chances of adventure and possible wealth were out there.

The Crusades were a series of bloody wars for religious reasons.  Pope Urban lead the people through this and everyone could get a reason to go.  Would you?