31 May 2009
Evolution
Biological evolution, simply put, is change over time. This encompasses small-scale evolution (changes in gene frequency in a population from one generation to the next) and speciation (the descent of different species from a common ancestor over many generations). Evolution helps us to understand the history of life.
This is a conversation blog. The topic is Evolution. Your task:
1. You are to answer the question posted by the last person. Use their link to help you out. 3 sentences minimum.
2. You should then make a link to an article were you will make up a question for the next person to answer. This should be biology related, nothing like their address, phone number, etc.
Question: What did Darwin base his research on while visiting the Galapagos islands?
# posted by Dr. B @ 2:00 PM
Evolving Conversation P1
Evolving Conversation P3
Evolving Conversation P8
24 May 2009
STRESS!
A very stressed out student.It's 5:30 in the morning, and you have a long day lying ahead of you. Unfortunately, you still need to make your lunch, you have a math test this afternoon, and a two hour concert to perform at tonight. You also have an english project that needs to be completed by tomorrow at 2pm, and you're sick with a cold. Depressed, angry, and anxious to complete all of your work, you can feel your heart beating 20 miles per hour and your hands are shaking. Although to some extent, stress is normal and healthy, chronic anxiety is not.
Stress might seem like a normal part of a responsible lifestyle, but it is what sometimes leads to an early death for even the most hardworking individual. Studies show that stress speeds aging, leads to heart problems, depression, digestive problems, obesity, and skin problems.
It is important that we understand the reason why we are in this tense predicament, whether it's because we procrastinated too much, or because we are mentally giving ourselves more pressure than is really relevant.
In these times of tension, it helps to keep a goal or positive idea/motto in mind. If you often find yourself frustrated and rushing to meet deadlines, it is time for you to take action and manage your time and nervous system. Doing yoga, breathing deeply, eating healthy foods, exercising, watching the clouds go by, gardening, or organizing your books (surprisingly) can help you unwind and relax.
Stress might seem like a normal part of a responsible lifestyle, but it is what sometimes leads to an early death for even the most hardworking individual. Studies show that stress speeds aging, leads to heart problems, depression, digestive problems, obesity, and skin problems.
It is important that we understand the reason why we are in this tense predicament, whether it's because we procrastinated too much, or because we are mentally giving ourselves more pressure than is really relevant.
In these times of tension, it helps to keep a goal or positive idea/motto in mind. If you often find yourself frustrated and rushing to meet deadlines, it is time for you to take action and manage your time and nervous system. Doing yoga, breathing deeply, eating healthy foods, exercising, watching the clouds go by, gardening, or organizing your books (surprisingly) can help you unwind and relax.
This article "The aging game: Studies show that stress could be the wild card" shows how managing your stress can lead to a longer, happier life. Studies like these show how a calm disposition can trigger longevity. Be sure to read all three pages of this article.
1. What personality traits can be linked to aging well?
2. What is the hormone regulating system involved with stress? What hormones are released when stress peaks? (specific names, please)
3. What are two negative effects that stress has on your body? How does this affect your performance and capabilities? What is the most common cause of stress for you?
4. What are three things that you, personally, can do to relieve stress? How will these benefit your overall well-being? (please find answers other than the ones provided... be original!)
5. Provide a link that supports your statement.
1. What personality traits can be linked to aging well?
2. What is the hormone regulating system involved with stress? What hormones are released when stress peaks? (specific names, please)
3. What are two negative effects that stress has on your body? How does this affect your performance and capabilities? What is the most common cause of stress for you?
4. What are three things that you, personally, can do to relieve stress? How will these benefit your overall well-being? (please find answers other than the ones provided... be original!)
5. Provide a link that supports your statement.
# posted by Lindsey C. @ 2:00 PM
Meditations and links Period 1
Meditations and links Period 3
Meditations and links Period 8
17 May 2009
Hero or Hoax?
“Look, mommy, look at what I did at school!” With a smile, your mother congratulates you and then hangs it on the refrigerator where your lovely drawing will be forever admired. Do you remember those times? Yes, it was very nostalgic. What about Esref Armagan? Well, his drawings received some smiles from his mother, too. But instead of being on the fridge, his is framed and then mounted on the wall. What did you say? How is this possible?
Simple, Esref Armagan is blind. He has been blind from birth, and yet he is a very famous painter. Esref does not see colors; he does not witness beautiful sunsets or glorious fields of flowers. Then how is he able to do this? When Mr. Armagan draws portraits requested by people, he asks for their photo that has impressions. This way, when he paints he feels the picture with his left hand while he paints with his right hand. For other paintings, he uses his ‘imagination’. At a quick glance, Esref Armagan seems as a hero. Everyone applauds his ability, but after second thoughts, they begin questioning themselves. How can a blind person paint realistic paintings if he has never seen the world?
So Mr. Armagan lost his entire sight. A sight is a sense, therefore he lost one sense. In kindergarten we learned the five senses were: touch (hands), see (eyes), smell (nose), hear (ear), and taste (tongue). A very small minority of the people have mixed up senses. This neurological phenomenon is known as Synaesthesia. Some people can see letters/numbers (graphemes) as a certain color. Another group of people can hear colors. For example, a door bell could flicker a shade of orange. Some people can hear sounds (phonemes) which invokes their taste sense. Synaesthesia does NOT defect a person’s life. There are many people who are diagnosed with synaesthesia and are very successful; for example, Richard Feynman (Nobel laureate in physics), Duke Ellington (a jazz musician), and Leonardo Bernstein (a composer and conductor).
Johnson's Blog Related Links:
1. synaesthesia article
2. color association
3. video
4. Esref Armagan’s gallery
The Objectives:
1. Look at Esref Armagan's gallery. Is this man the real deal? Do you believe he was blessed or is this some scam he devised with his family/friend? Support your response in a minimum of 3 sentences.
2. Do you think synaesthesia is a gift or a curse? For studying purposes, do you think having synaesthesia would be better than be a "normal" kid? Why? Support your answer with a minimum of 3 sentences.
3. Name the colors that you associate with your favorite number and the letters that make up your initials.
# posted by RCK Green Works! Program @ 2:00 PM
# posted by Henry @ 10:00 AM
Believe It or Not: Period One :O
Believe It or Not: Period Three :O
Believe It or Not: Period Eight :O
10 May 2009
Week 2 Review...
It worked so well, lets try it one more time!
I've Posted the last question from each class, we can pick up where we left off.
No Repeats Please.
# posted by Henry @ 2:00 PM
Evolving Conversation Period 1
Lima: Explain the steps of DNA replication?
Site: Click Here
Evolving Conversation Period 3
Evolving Conversation Period 8
Ikram Q’s: What are the parts of the brain? , and list their functions.
Site: The Brain
03 May 2009
I'm changing the format of this weeks' blog assignment to a conversation once again. This time my goal is to begin a review for the Regents exam in June. Find a question to post from your notes. The answer to your question should require a response of 2 or 3 complete sentences. It should be a complete explanation to the question, not a one word answer.
Requirements:
- Respond to the question that is posted in 2 to 3 complete sentences.
- Supply a link with background information about the question you ask.
- Post your question.
The first question P-8: What are the differences among the three types of symbiotic relationships? Symbiotic Link
# posted by Henry @ 12:59 PM
# posted by Henry @ 12:58 PM
Q & A's Period 1
Q + A's Period 3
Q & A's Period 8
