Enigma of the Butterfly

                It is truly a wondrous sight to see the glorious transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.  The fellow who takes its steps inch by inch settles in a homemade chrysalis for an extended drought of daylight and a lack fresh air on its face, only to emerge as an amazing, enigmatic being.  This transformation, this alleged enlightenment, is a journey yet to be understood.

                The caterpillar shuts the sunshine out from its world as it hides itself away in a dark, protective shell.  Once safely locked away, the caterpillar’s organs and body parts melt into a viscous soup.  It falls into a somnolent sleep for several weeks.   The days go by.  The sun rises and sets. The birds sing morning melodies and the geckos snack on unfortunate mosquitoes at dusk.  Forest animals scurry on the earthen floor and find shelter when it the tropical rains come.  As soon as the forest quiets down with the occasional drip of water plopping into a puddle, naive animals poke their heads out of their dry homes to see if the sky has cleared.  As normal life proceeds on, nobody stops to view the inconspicuous chrysalis.  Inside, a morphing, newfound life is preparing to open its eyes and find its place in the world.  As it comes nearer to “waking up,” the cells inside it grow to create the unmistakable characteristics of an adult butterfly. Wings begin to form, legs grow sturdy, and a very small head takes its shape. The chrysalis begins to split open on the magical day that the young butterfly will take its first flight.

                I had the astonishing opportunity to wake up one morning find a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. It ended its process of metamorphosis and has become a fully formed butterfly.  Its wings are limp and moist from being enclosed for several weeks, and begin to spread out its limbs, forcefully pumping blood through its veins. The young butterfly jumped off the chrysalis, and faltered for just a second before remembering the use of its wings.  It fluttered away through the sunlight. Dancing dust fairies made the sun rays shine with a mystical touch, and the butterfly disappeared into the dense foliage.

Marie Curi- The Successes of the first woman Chemist

November 7, 1867, Warsaw, Marie Curie was born.  She had a normal childhood and her mother was a high school teacher.  Her education was not great; however, she learned advanced science on the side with her father.  She left Warsaw in 1891 for Paris, France, to continue studying physics and mathematical sciences at the Sorbonne. In those subjects she gained licentiateships leading her to meet her future husband, the professor of the School of Physics, Pierre Curie.   In 1903, she obtained her Doctor of Science degree.  In 1906, her husband unfortunately died, leaving his position as Professor of General Physics to Marie.  This was a step forward for women at the time, for she was the first woman to hold that high position.  Till today, she can be considered the most famous woman scientist.

Marie and Pierre Curie were poor during these years, making laboratory experiments stressful to their economic situation.  Nevertheless, the Curies discovered polonium and radium through excellent researches inspired by the discovery of radioactivity by Henri Becquerel in 1898.  She named the two new elements in honor after her homeland, Poland.  To do this, Marie studied uranium radiations.  She and her husband created piezoelectric techniques to weigh the radiations in pitchblende.  Pitchblende is a dark mineral ore that contains deposits of uranium. She realized that there must be more unknown elements present because she found the radiation from the pitchblende was stronger than from pure uranium.  Radium became important as it helped reason our understanding of matter and energy.  Marie strongly conducted the use of radium to help medical treatment.  This newfound era of medical advancement helped relieve pain and suffering during World War I. 

The Curies were awarded the half of the Nobel Prize in physics for discovering the new elements.  The other half was awarded to Henri Becquerel for the radioactive elements he discovered, which was what started Marie’s research to the discovery of polonium and radium.  She won another Nobel Prize in chemistry for her research on the compounds of adium and radium. She also isolated pure radium which added to her success. In addition to her accolade of successes, radioactive isotopes she helped discover became extremely useful even till today.  Radioactive isotopes, radioisotopes, can be used in many things.  Radioisotopes are used in smoke detectors, agricultural applications, food irradiation, irradiation in pest control, archaeological dating, as well as nuclear medical uses.  Marie Curie can be considered the best woman scientist; she has won two Nobel Prizes, discovered Radium and Polonium, and has helped advance science on radiation and radioactive isotopes.

An essay on "How to Make an Almond" by Jared Diamond (Part 2)

The almond in particular is a very interesting species.  They have the most prominent change under human domestication.  Wild almond seeds are extremely bitter, and have been changed into a delicious seed eaten by people around the globe.  When in the wild, it has a chemical called amygdalin, which then breaks down to the fatal poison cyanide.  The domestication of wild almonds results in the occasional almond seed that has a mutation in a single gene which stops the creation of the bitter tasting chemical, amygdalin.   Farmers have understood this phenomenon and took advantage of the one mutant almond seed, planting it, growing into a non-fatal almond tree.  This is yet another example of plant domestication by humans, utilizing the best of what nature can offer, grasping the opportunities as they arrive and building upon them.

Throughout history, plant species have undergone special human selection, prioritizing the plantation of the most favorable plants and discarding the rest.  They have also evolved naturally, with the come and go of hungry predators, plant seeds have been carried vast distances to be dispersed through feces matter among other natural phenomenons.  Whether intentional or unintentional, the domestication of plants has helped the human race survive, and has provided us with a reliable, nutrient-sustainable food source.  

An essay on "How to Make an Almond" by Jared Diamond (Part 1)

Evolution has become a way of life. The adaptation and desire to survive and produce offspring has formed the modern species of the human race.  Just like humans, animals have evolved to stay alive and conquer the environmental obstacles beset upon them.  In addition to humans and animals, plant species have also found the need to adapt to their surroundings.  Plants have become domesticated by humans to turn once inedible wild plants into crops found at the supermarket.  They have genetically changed to become more useful to consumers.  Plant species and fruits have also altered their physical genetics to more thoroughly disperse their seeds.   Evolution as well as the human impact on plant domestication has utilized the very best of wild plants and vegetables to create larger, more nutritional domesticated product for mankind.  Whether intentional or unintentional, it has become our best development of modern day plant species.

Plant domestication goes back over 10,000 years and is defined as the growing of plants while genetically causing them to become more useful to human consumers.  Farmers have done this with peas, olives, strawberries, pecans, and even poisonous almonds.  Not only were humans at work of changing the fruits, but also the fruits themselves.  Strawberry plants evolved through natural selection to become redder, sweeter, and juicier.  The main reason is that strawberry plants had to disperse and germinate their seeds elsewhere to survive in the wild. When the seeds of strawberries are green and unready to be planted, the berries remain sour and green, turning away hungry predators.  However, the redder and sweeter the strawberry got, the more birds came to disperse the ripe seeds.  “Many wild seeds evolved to be bitter, bad-tasting, or actually poisonous, in order to deter animals from eating them.” This example of natural selection has shown that many plants and animals have evolved on their own to become bigger, juicier, and more abundant.  When picking berries, humans generally pick the largest and sweetest ones, leaving the small withering fruits behind.  Those large berries are brought home, and end up germinating in the human’s garden.  This larger breed of fruit becomes more abundant, and the human only will plant that one, further domesticating it into a better variety of fruit.  What we call farming is the “preferential harvesting and planting of the most appealing largest plants.”

My thoughts on Spearfishing

            In the early spring of 2010 I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Peter Houk, a biologist in the Division of Environmental Quality.  Dr. Houk was conducting a survey counting the quantity and quality of the fish caught by spear fishermen in the fish markets; my job was to measure and record the lengths of those fish caught.  After seeing and handling all the beautiful fish before my eyes, I came to the realization that it was the hunt and the raw energy that imbued the hunter, becoming the fish inside of him.  It intensified my desire to become a spearfisherman.

            Peter Houk offered to take me spearfishing with Scott Russell, both very experienced long time spearfishermen.  We ventured outside the reef on Scott’s Boston Whaler.  It took nearly half an hour to reach our designated coordinates guided by Peter’s waterproof GPS.  The bow of the boat slammed against the rough waves, tossing us around like exploding popcorn.  We slowed down as the GPS began beeping hysterically, informing us that we had reached the somewhat invisible coral reef we were supposed to fish at.

The sun disappeared  behind the clouds and the water turned a deep, impenetrable blue.  I looked over the edge of the boat and saw my confused countenance peering back at me as I searched for the bottom.  Being my first time at this spot, I could not come to realize that we were actually floating above an underwater mountain 40 feet beneath the surface. 

We tossed the anchor overboard and Scott dove in to guide it.  Suited up in a camouflaged wetsuit with all the necessities of a diver, he disappeared beneath the surface and about 45 seconds later, he reappeared with a large Unicorn Fish wriggling at the end of his spear.  Peter caught two Groupers in the first ten minutes and I was ready to catch my own fish.

My open ears digested the wise words of these experienced fishermen.  I learned the ways of spearfishing and expanded my knowledge on the sport.  The most crucial point to spearfishing is an individual’s breath-hold. Without a long breath-hold, it is nearly impossible to stealthily creep up on a fish for the final kill.  From the first day working in the fish markets all the way to this memorable experience with Peter Houk and Scott Russell, I knew that I wanted to be a spearfisherman.  I practiced underwater exercises to increase my breath hold, applied the knowledge I learned, and the next day I caught my very own fish. 

Eric Clapton is a Genius

     Eric Patrick Clapton was born on 30 March 1945 in his grandparents home in Surrey, England.  Eric's mother, Patricia Molly Clapton, was only 16 years old when she gave birth to him.  His father was a Canadian soldier stationed in England.  24-years-old, Edward Walter Fryer already had a wife back in Canada, and returned to her before Eric's birth. 

 

     

    An unmarried 16 year old girl raising a child on her own is unthinkable and did not work out for Patricia.  It is especially hard to do in the mid 1940's amidst the ages of fundamental changes in society and young generation's revolutions. She couldn't handle it, and her parents (Eric's grandparents) took care of Eric and raised him as their own. Eric ended up thinking that his mother was his sister, and his grandparents his real parents.  

        Eric Clapton's background of music makes it easier to understand why his music is widely known and very influential to many other musicians.  He grew up in a house with musical notes dancing before his eyes, 24/7.  His grandmother played piano, and his mother constantly took him to see bands perform.  

    For his 13th birthday he asked for a guitar and got an inexpensive 

German made Hoyer.  He found it too hard to play, and waited for an electric guitar.  When he turned 17, he joined the Roosters, his first band.  When he heard B.B. King play, he asked for a electric guitar from his grandparents, who helped him achieve that guitar, and his career took off from there. 

         

His Albums: 

24 Nights Album

461 Ocean Boulevard Album

Another Ticket Album

August Album

Back Home Album

Backless (24K Gold Disc) Album

Behind The Sun Album

Blues Album

Bluesbreakers Album

Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton 1981-1999 Album

Cream Of Album

Crossroads Album

Crossroads 2 Album

Early Stages Album

Eric Clapton Album

E.C. Was Here Album

From The Cradle Album

Journeyman Album

Just One Night Album

Me and Mr. Johnson Album

Money & Cigarettes Album

No Reason To Cry Album

Pilgrim Album

Rainbow Concert (Remastered) Album

Rarities (with The Yardbirds) Album

Reptile Album

Slowhand Album

There's One In Every Crowd Album

Timepieces-Best Of Eric Clapton Album

Timepieces 2 Album

Unplugged Album  

   Eric Clapton should be inducted into the wonders of Rock n' Roll.  His music is pure and fascinating, with an equally melodic voice.  I have learned "Layla" by him on acoustic guitar, as well as "Tears in Heaven."  The song "Tears in Heaven" is a wonderful yet poignant song about the death of his son.  A bizarre death.  His son, Connor, fell 53 stories out of the open window of a New York skyscraper.  This tragic story filled Clapton with emotions and poured them into his songwriting.  

       This is not the only reason why I believe he is such an amazing songwriter/singer.  I feel that his music has touched me, and the more songs of his I learn, the more I tend to think Eric Clapton is a genius.

Forest Fire Caused by Golfer?

      

    

   I recently read an article on yahoo news about a forest fire covering 25 acres in California.  We hear about fires all the time. They are common natural phenomenon’s, especially in California.  Although they are mostly caused by nature, fires have also been started by humans from time to time. The National Interagency Fire Center lists that throughout the last ten years in the US, the yearly range was between 63,000 to 96,000 fires. In 2008 alone there were 78,979 wildland fires recorded. Either by on accident, or on purpose, forest fires are usually caused by trivial matters. But a GOLFER starting it?! Now that's a story!

      August 31, 2010 was typical dry, hot day in Irvine, CA.  The conditions were just perfect for a blaze, and in addition to the foreboding heat, the surrounding brush was dead due to a recent heat wave.  The perfect recipe for a fire awaited the initial spark to set it free.  A golfer (his name is being withheld) was playing at the Shady Canyon Golf Course when his ball flew off course into the brush.  Following the rules of golf, he did not pick the ball up, but hit it from outside the greens towards the hole.  Not only did the golfer's swing make contact with the ball, but it also chipped a protruding rock.  As a human makes fire from hitting flint, the golfer's club created a bright hot spark which flew into the dry brush.
   

      From all the things one can use a golf club for, no one has ever thought of using it to make a fire.  I wonder if cavemen living such precarious lives would have used a golf club in order to create fire, or whack each other’s heads.  I remember Tom Hank’s countenance in "Cast Away," when he created fire.  It was painted by the roots of absolute excitement and joy.  Fire is such a necessity to life and without the right tools it is almost impossible to make.  However, once started fires can be dangerous and leap on the wind to burn down thousands of acres of land.  Ironically, this otherwise trivial wildfire started by a golfer turned into a relatively intense wildfire acquiring over 150 firemen and helicopters to distinguish the flame. How bizarre is that? Golfer, golf course, golf club, golf ball, and fire.  What an eye catching story.