crop circles?

what do you think?

Scientific Investigations of Crop Circles

Several scientists have become involved in crop circle research.

The BLT Research Organization was established to rigorously investigate the crop circle phenomenon using the scientific method. Their work has been posted on their website [10] on which they state as their objective - "...the discovery, scientific documentation and evaluation of physical changes induced in plants, soils and other materials at crop circle sites by the energy (or energy system) responsible for creating them and to determine, if possible, from these data the specific nature and source of these energies" A copy of a letter from R. Reynold's a recognized authority on clay mineralization is at [11]in which he corraborates the practices followed by BLT Research and the data that was provided.

light therapy

I found these interesting links when googling light therapy:

http://www.aerogrow.com/wow.php
indoor plants/herb therapy - to enhance cooking therapy (integral/complementary?)

http://www.warp-heals.com
we could talk more about this in chemistry - light

http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2005/hm_1.html
When NASA determined that red LEDs could grow plants in space, Marshall Space Flight Center awarded QDI several Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts to investigate the effectiveness of the broad-spectrum diodes in medical applications. The contracts, issued from 1995 to 1998, focused on increasing energy inside human cells. It was NASA’s hope that the LEDs would not only yield medical benefits on Earth, but that they would help to stem the loss of bone and muscle mass in astronauts, which occurs during long periods of weightlessness. (In space, the lack of gravity keeps human cells from growing naturally.) Furthermore, since wounds are slow to heal in a microgravity environment, LED therapy could accelerate healing and keep what would be termed as minor wounds on Earth from becoming mission-catastrophic in space.

In addition to promoting cell growth, the red LEDs are capable of activating light-sensitive, tumor-treating drugs that, when injected intravenously, could completely destroy cancer cells while leaving surrounding tissue virtually untouched. The technique, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in laboratory and human trials, is known as Photodynamic Therapy.

Could we please talk about this in chemistry - or is it biology more - or is it physics then? which class - or all? I'm glad to be in all three at once!

who decides?

The word "eugenics" was coined in 1883 by the English scientist Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, to promote the ideal of perfecting the human race by, as he put it, getting rid of its "undesirables" while multiplying its "desirables" -- that is, by encouraging the procreation of the social Darwinian fit and discouraging that of the unfit. In Galton's day, the science of genetics was not yet understood. Nevertheless, Darwin's theory of evolution taught that species did change as a result of natural selection, and it was well known that by artificial selection a farmer could obtain permanent breeds of plants and animals strong in particular characteristics. Galton wondered, "Could not the race of men be similarly improved?"

for Darwin's mentor John Stevens Henslow

"studying nature is studying God's work"

one creature - a predatory wasp

haunts Darwin, and plays into his religious doubts.

The wasp stings and paralyzes caterpillars, and then stuffs the still living prey into its nest, for hatchin larvae to feed upon.

Why would such a loving God design such a creature? he thinks

- from his diaries

what about god?

		Watch show preview in QuickTime or RealPlayer About the TV Series Show Credits

I was so happy to come to this beautiful website after overwhelming myself with chemistry on wikipedia! Now I got to have alittle break from reading and watch movies. VERY nice and informative - must go back for more now

the bees

very similar comments/reaction as to the GM trees article - also the one about wildflowrs in the meadows and farms of Britain - very sad

pollutants ward off global warming

So - let me get this straight - had aerosol not been banned - we would be better off 20 years later? For some reason instinctually - this doesn't suprise me. If we just let everything go to pot - and our bodies and the environment adapt - what would be the worst that could happen?

It's like almost not living your life because of fear of "the big one" or like you said - the molecules of the chair running away from each other.....

deep sea fish face extinction

This is one of the articles I was referring ot before - too much info for small children - so depressing and sad simply. I can only hope creationists will become conservationists and protect God's creatures one and all. RISE UPO and stop the madness!

"You can't expect fisheries to do it out of the goodness of their hearts, but given the right incentive, fisherman often find a way" The sentence before that states fisheries need to be threatened in order to be conscious of what changes they are having. Sad - cannot be such a sweeping generalization. People have always fished - but now they have to feelguilty about it because we research things now and didn't before? perhaps ignorance is bliss - just a thought. What if we didn't know species have collapsed by 99.6% in 26 years? people would have to eat gm tofu then - or find something else - adapt.

gm trees being secretly grown

well - THAT's pretty scary! talk about allergies! Then what? only to be cured by even more pharmaceuticals? Sounds like goldenrod will be "phased out" so that's one less allergy producing plant...I guess - what exactly do you think and do you feel reassured that some of this is taking place in a "controlled environment" ? and some NOT?!

Sounds like to protesters are pretty good at destroying everything they find - huh - hope they are not being abused along the way.

There are some very powerful corporations multinational involved so I hope someone is keeping a close watch on this, if that's a possibility at all. The missions can be so easily disguised as to their actual purpose I'm sure.

people vs mcdonalds

Chew on this! Fantastic - I hope it comes in movie form!

The "council of war" convened to "discredit the messenger" - why not just create a healthy menu?

I am very happy about the popularity of this book and movie. It seems to be really making an impression on many people. Whatever the method - it is working. Hopefully other issues will be packaged in a similar way for mass appeal as this one has.

"Young Americans for Freedom" picketing - ok whatever - strange - but they do have the right to as their name states.....

Strawberry shakes have 59 chemicals and no fruit! Can we review this in chemistry class? I'm curious what 59 chemicals those would be?

OH - and Burger King opening nine weeks after the US invaded? I have to research that!
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/21/1050777195239.html
http://foodisworse.typepad.com/blog/2003/10/burger_king_in_.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A46700-2003Oct18?language=printer
"We're lucky if we can get over here once a month, we're so busy raiding houses and kicking down doors in the middle of the night," said Miller, who bought $84 worth of food. "When we get free time and no one is using the trucks, then we come out here."

and chickens are speed-reared from egg to mcnugget in six weeks - eeewwww - reminds me of that japanese movie where everything is filmed then sped up considerably and edited all together - what's it called - quonisquatsi? Do you know what I mean?

light relief from wither blues

AAAH - a happy reminder to get a light box for the coming rainy season. I supffer from the dark days and will miss terribly the sunny long evenings we have now. It's not so much the temperature as the lack of light that bothers me. Do you know anyone who has a light box for home use? I'd like to experiment with this this winter rainy season and if it works, provide it to my future patients as a remedy.

Oh - but what about those who find it hard to make it through a hot and humid summer season? (I wilt like a flower - and cannot think straight) Is there a remedy for that? Besides air conditioners? Medication? Something to assist the body in handling heat and humidity?

ok nback to the article: Sad may actually be an evolutionary hangover? When food was scarce it was the best time to get pregnant? But wouldn't you be eating for two? odd

"Sad is simply a reminder that in winter we should hibernate...and many of us are trying to operate at high speed all year round" so true -

overpopulation is the main threat to planet

This is a great article - and once again : The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. I say we take 52% of the population and ship off to another planet or solar system - where? Hey - the scientists could be working on that right now. Anyway - everyone gets a vote - stay or go - and surely 52% would vote go without much struggle.

It's a bit optimistic I agree to expect the human footprint to be reduced to zero. How on earth could we do that?

We must evacuate now - and start building a new world somewhere else - somewhere cleaner and brighter - with a new vibration.

This cracks me up: "[Overpopulation] has become the Cinderella of the great sustainability debate"

biodiversity in warmer climates

It seems that warmth is a good thing (as in global warmth) for genetic variability and evolution. Maybe we should just let the world get warmer and see what happens. Sure we and our bodies and the environment will have to adjust, but isn't that what evolution is all about? Survival of the fittest? After reading this article and some of the others, it seems all the alarmist depressing news about the world we live in may be in fact wrong and not so drastic as each and every article make it out to be. I feel sorry for all of us who are emotional and sensitive to have to be absorbing this information all the time. Especially the children, I am sorry they have to be taught these horrible things about 99% of the fish in the sea are dying and being caught in nets for no reason and just killed bla bla bla - and the poor honeybees - all that is just so sad - and depressing - and everyone is powerless to make changes - wow it's alot to be faced with day in and day out.

darwinism hailed as snub to creationists

Interesting debate for sure - also interested in the use of terminology - "intelligent design"

I'm sure you've heard of this theory:

Two months ago, Cory was among the first to blog about "Flying Spaghetti Monster" -- the overlord of a new parody religion created to protest a Kansas State Board of Education decision allowing so-called Intelligent Design to be taught in science classes.

The FSM cult now has a Wikipedia entry, with details that indicate that followers of His Noodliness -- Pastafarians -- are growing in number, like so many meatballs accumulating on a plate of linguini. A few of the facts I learned:

Codes of conduct:
# Prayers are ended with the word RAmen rather than Amen.

Benefits of conversion:
# Like the great noodles they worship, Flying Spaghetti Monsterists have flimsy moral standards.
# Promise of a stripper factory and a beer volcano in Heaven.

A rival faction, based on SPAM (Spaghetti & Pulsar Activating Meatballs), has formed and is calling for a Holy War against FSM. SPAMation claims to have the One True Letter to the Kansas School Board.

Link to Wikipedia entry.

So, here's a question. If some people see Jesus in a tortilla, or the Virgin Mary on a grilled cheese sandwich, where does the Flying Spaghetti Monster show up to avoid redundancy?

Previously: Dear Kansas: Why stop at "Intelligent Design?" What about Spaghetti Monsters?

ice age holds clues to touching tale

"Footprints left by a one-legged man who appears to have covered some distance without a walking stick or other assistance."

!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd like to know more about that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.shellmoundthemovie.com

Do not dismiss or negate any of the many diverse opinions out there (religious beliefs vs evolution), it is best to remain neutral and respectful of all + any individual's personal viewpoints.

This is a paraphrasing of something you (LS) mentioned during our introductory chat about this class. Thank you for that discrete reminder, point well taken.

Comments on:

Article by JN Wilford on Olemic civilization:

I think that piece of pottery was planted there.

the text contained poetic couplets - a term I had to look up.

Celebration of Chinese New Year
http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/festival/newyear/newyear.html#Spring%20Couplets
Decorations are an important part of the Chinese New Year. Homes and businesses are decorated with poetic couplets wishing people good luck.

1. Look at the examples of poetic couplets at this site. Write your own couplets (in English, of course) and copy them onto a vertical banner. Be sure and use the color of paper that represents good luck!

darwin vs creationismists

In Darwin's day there was no rigid definition of the term "Darwinism"