~Taha's Blog~

Implemented by Inspiration

Taha — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:14:53 +0000

As we leisurely walked into the summer course of WRA110, my hands were shaking, sweat dribbling down the sides of my head, and the cold air conditioning hitting my chest strongly. I was more nervous than ever, for I did not know what to expect especially since I knew our professor was somewhat strict. Our professor, Dr. Khalil, made this summer course intense having work almost everyday with essays peaking to 4,000 words. An intense course that had all of us working rather than relaxing in the summer.
Days went by as Ritvik, my class mate, and I were moving houses constantly due, to misunderstandings. A hectic start to the summer and summer course itself. Dr. Khalil motivated us with his kind heart but pushy rules. We worked hard this semester and I am proud to say that this class has inspired, and moved me in a strong way. I had a goal this semester and with the help of Dr. Khalil, I achieved it. A teacher who touched all of us and allowed all of us to progress from normal college slackers to independent and responsible students.
There will be no teacher like Dr. Khalil, for me, and I thank him for this opportunity he gave me and others alike. Summer class of 2009: TOGETHER WE MADE IT!!!

Does the Internet Strenghten Social Connections?

Taha — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:55:34 +0000

Social Networking has been been a main part of our history for the past 31 generations. Now a new method of social networking has been introduced. The new technology is the Internet, and it is said that this new form of technology can strengthen social connections, and some say it does not. Two class mates conducted a debate over this subject titled, Does the Internet Strengthen Social Connections. Here both members stated the pros and cons with detailed examples that many of us where shocked with because it applied to many of us. Aya, being pro on this subject, explained how people can connect with their friends and family overseas, meet new people and gain information. On the other hand, Neguine, who was con towards this subject, said that relationships made online are much weaker to those in the real world. The Times Magazine had an article that explained how affairs are even made online.
My position to this debate is neutral because it all depends on how the people themselves use the Internet for social connections and can both help improve and also implement a person’s life.

The Ancestor’s Tale

Taha — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:34:03 +0000

The first three chapters of his book, The Ancestor’s Tale, Richard Dawkins explains everything from present to the past. In his first chapter, The Conceit of Hindsight, he explains how he tracked our ancestor’s background in history starting from the present day, working back in time up to which we were bacteria – 31 generations back. Each stage of going backwards in history is referred as a pilgrimage, and each pilgrimage tells us its own story about evolution to the next generation.
In his second chapter, The General Prologue, he explains how fossils have been useful to finding our ancestor’s; how they used to look, who they were and so on. He then talks about how with DNA technology we can find the history of our ancestors from the present day. He also explains how literature and writing were a major part of evolution, and marked certain periods of the man kind. Communication itself was a major step in history and evolution.
In the third chapter of his book, The Pilgrimage Begins, Dawkins explains the way evolution took place in the field of agriculture. Scientists believe that agriculture was the first destruction humans did to our planet. The agriculture sector marked the start of the stone age, and several developments took place like the development of grazing animals. This exploited the natural resources resulting in extinction of certain species; however, it resulted in the evolution of certain crops such as wheat.
Richard Dawkins’ book is effective, especially the way he explained his idea. He did this in his book by his peculiar way in going back in search for our ancestors.

One Flew Over the Coockoos Nest

Taha — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:17:22 +0000

Randle Patrick McMurphy, the start and one of the main characters of the movie, is played by Jack Nicholson. He is a criminal who has been sentenced to prison for a short period of time, and he decides to declare himself insane so that he can be transferred to a mental institute. He believes that if he goes to the mental institute, he will serve his prison hours in comfort and luxury, rather than in a cell. While trying to get out of doing work while in prison by pretending he is mad, his plan goes all wrong as soon as he goes to the mental institute. He passes the days by playing basketball and card games with other people who have been sent to the mental institute. By playing and having fun, he begins to develop strong friendships with two patients he met there. On the other hand, we can say he had an enemy, the head nurse, Nurse Ratched, because as McMurphy continues to break the rules throughout the movie, she is always after him.
Based on a true events, this movie moved me because I did not know about the way mental institutions treated their patients. As the movie, One Flew Over the Coockoos Nest, progressed McMurphy kept braking rules and kept trying to escape. Not only that, he taught several patients at the mental institute how to speak up for themselves. This movie taught everyone who watched this movie that bad men are not necessarily bad, and that a man should be judged by his heart and not by the way he acts. The movie shows this to the viewers when McMurphy had a chance to leave, but he did not. He was attached to his new friends and his heart cared for them.
The movie begins to reach a climax near the end of it when both McMurphy and Chief get into trouble. We find that the Chief, who has been silent throughout the whole movie, could actually talk, and was not deaf or dumb. They plan to travel to Canada together, but a terrible and unexpected scene is shown. Billy Bibbit, another patient at the hospital, committed suicide after getting in trouble with Nurse Rached. This leads McMurphy to strangle her, and as a punishment to McMurphy, Nurse Rached planned a surgery to take out a part of his brain. Coming back, half dead, the Chief killed him, taking his sole with him to travel to Canada together.
A movie with so much drama and excitement shows us the true bond with friendships. With and unexpected ending, leaving the viewers stunned, this movie was artistic, teaching the viewers about freedom, confidence and speaking for what they believe in.

Morally Unacceptale: Colong (no)

Taha — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:22:19 +0000

To clone is to generate a living human embryo with no mother and no father. Already we have population crisis and the people in Africa and other Third World countries need help. How can you just go around cloning at times like this. Cloning only creates a subclass of humans who are nobody’s children; however, these children are killed after 14 days due to scientific research.
Well does the embryo matter? It is genetically human, composed of genetic material entirely from the species homosapiens, it has a purposeful independent function as opposed to an organ or tissue, and also has a developmental potential. The embryo is a living individual member of our species. As a delegate of the UN said, “No human life should ever be produced to be destroyed for the benefit of another”. They saw inhumanity of creating a cloned human embryo.
The embryo is a living individual member of our species, even the life of an embryo has meaning. For all religions, all of us matter, even the “littlest of these His brethren” (Bible), because we matter to God. Size and age are not a measure of human meaning; what matters is that the individual life is known and loved by God.
Well why is cloning bad? It violates the bond of love and care to manufacture offspring who have no mother or father, and it violates ethical prohibitions to create an embryo with the intention of destroying it in research. Now do you really need to clone?

Science and Media

Taha — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:21:58 +0000

No previous bibliographies have explored the topic of science and the media from the perspective of science and technology studies as Bruce V. Lewenstein has. Lewenstein explains to us how we are to understand literature that deals with science and the media. He goes in to detail on how science and media are used by journalists, science writers, and in a historical context. Not only does he define science and media in many different ways, but he also explains the direct influence of media on science and science outside the news. But I think that the part that we all are familiar with is the section, What the Public Knows. In fact, he tells us what we already know with several statistics and uses it to send out the message to his other topics, which I think is like a backfire method. In his book, Science and Media, Lewenstein main goal was to resolve the problem of the two opposing subjects and making them into a more general model.

To Eat or Not to Eat

Taha — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:04:05 +0000

A debate conducted by my fellow classmates on a topic that not only I but the world we live in today has a lack of knowledge. Genetically Modified Food has its pros and cons.

To Eat:

As Aya explained, Genetically Modified Food would not harm us. She explains how lately Americans are avoiding organic products due to toxins, and are turning to Genetically Modified Foods because of fewer risks of fungus and diseases. “Scientists agree, however, that gene spliced crops [modified food] are not only better for natural environment, but safer for consumers as well” (Miller and Conko 219). This is a strong point Aya stressed.

Not to Eat:

On the other hand, Khaled explained that Genetically Modified Foods are harmful to us. Now you are probably wondering, “Well if the scientists approved it and believe it is safer for consumers and the environment, then why or how is it harmful?” Apparently, Genetically Modified Foods has led to a new, but disease called Morgellons. A very harmful disease, although, not a very common one. Not only do the Genetically Modified Foods do this, but they decrease in nutrition value and decrease the level of antibiotics.

The Choice is yours:

Now understanding these two very opposite points of view, what would you go for, a juicy Big Mac or a healthy salad. I have no opinion towards this debate, but do you?

Air Pollution and Children’s Health

Taha — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:37:47 +0000

Did you know that children’s lungs are undeveloped until the age of six? Well, in these short years, all sorts of problems can happen to a child caused from air pollution. Dr. Joel Schwartz explained in his article Air Pollution and Children’s Health, that air pollution has long term and short term affects on children in today’s world.

First, let me tell you what air pollution causes: miscarriages, death, bronchitic problems, asthma and much more. The world we live in today is filled with air pollution from factories, cars and so on. This causes the Ozone Layer to widen and allow more ultraviolet rays, Carbon monoxide and other particles that have a strong affect on one’s immune system. These great problems are mostly in cities, and cause lung failures and bronchitic problems in children all over the world.

One of the greatest problems that children face from air pollution is asthma. Schwartz explained in his article that a person who has asthma in natural environment is like a normal person in a city. This means that people with asthma in cities have a problem that is severe and not easy to handle.

The author also explains how death can be a result of air pollution, for example, did you know that smoking is also toxic and is another source of air pollution? Not that many people see it as a problem but a smoking mother with a child in her womb could have severe diseases, lung problems, or possibly miscarriages.

I am a victim of air pollution. I am one of the thousands that has asthma. I really hope that in the future we will find a way to reduce air pollution so that others will not have to face this problem.

All in all, air pollution affects the children of today greatly especially with an increasing population. There have been ways to reduce the air pollution but once again the increasing population over rules it and still causes thousands of children to have health issues.

There Will be Blood – movie review

Taha — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:09:07 +0000

After breaking a leg, and digging silver mines, Daniel Plainview hires a crew to help him, but shockingly, he discovers oil in his mine. His men and himself build a pump to drain the oil. He then changes his path and becomes an oil man with an adopted son, whose father died when finding the oil. Plainview and his adopted son, H.W., become successful having produced many oil wells all around New Mexico.

A man named Paul Sunday visits Plainview’s campsite, and offers to sell information on land containing oil. He tells Plainview that his family has a ranch in California and underneath is “an ocean of oil”. With the offer accepted, Plainview and H.W. travel to Little Boston, California, and pretend to hunt for quail.
Plainview meets the Sunday family and negotiates on a deal. The price was $10,000 towards building a church for Paul’s twin brother Eli Sunday.

After buying almost all the land at the Sunday Ranch, he builds the first oil platform. This plan benefited Plainview because by buying so much land he will have not only the drilling rights but also to build a pipeline to the ocean to escape shipping costs.
Eli wants to bless the new oil platform before the drilling begins but because Plainview and Eli have their differences. Plainview brings Mary, Eli’s little sister up to the stand. Marry and H.W. Become good friends and Plainview treats her well telling her that her father, Albert, will never hit her again. While, the Sunday family and Plainview not having good ties, a man dies during the drilling. Plainview asks Eli to prepare a funeral, but Eli demands the $5,000 that he promised him. Plainview slaps Eli around and Eli agrees to condemn the funeral.

Days pass, and finally oil is found, but an explosion is caused due to escaping gas. H.W. became deaf because he was watching the drilling from a really close range. Shortly after the incident, a man called Henry claims to be Plainview’s half brother, “brother from another mother”. Plainview trusts Henry because Henry tells him information about his family in Wisconsin. H.W. attempts to burn the house Henry and Plainview are sleeping in due to his jealousy. Without any other reasoning Plainview reacts quickly and sends H.W. to a boarding school.

While successfully having three oil wells, competitors try to buy them for $1,000,000. Plainview rejects this offer and tells Henry “I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed”. Plainview and Henry then set off to start planning how to build the pipeline the right way. After checking the land, they both swim in the ocean and Plainview asks a question about his family in Wisconsin, Henry does not understand. Growing suspicion, Plainview threatens Henry and forces him to confess. Henry comes clean and says that he is not Plainview’s brother, but he did know him in Kansas. When Plainview’s brother died, Henry took his identity and made his way to California. With anger, Plainview then kills Henry and buries him in the shallow.

Bandy comes to Plainview the next morning and forces him to be baptized because he knew about Henry, leaving no choice to Plainview but to accept. Plainview confesses that he is a sinner and takes in the warmth of the church.

H.W. and Marry are now married. H.W. misses the oil fields and tells Plainview that he will move to Mexico to start his own company. Plainview tells him that he is now a competitor and that he is not even his biological son. Plainview is now a drunk and soon after meeting H.W., Eli visits him at his bowling alley. Eli comes with a new deal to sell the oil fields to him, but Plainview will only accept if Eli says that he is a sinner, and a false prophet and God is nothing but a superstition. When Eli does it, Plainview tells Eli that he already has taken the oil from the place being offered by draining the land. Plainview’s than figures out the Eli does not have a twin brother called Paul; they are both the same person. So Plainview beats Eli to a horrible death. The butler walks in and sees Plainview over a dead body. Plainview announces “I am finished”.

This movie was quite amazing catching my attention completely. The music and especially the acting are the main aspects that grab the viewer’s attention. This movie has showed me that life is a competition and that almost anyone will go after what they want, even if it is not in a mannerly way. The actor playing Plainview is one that I like from his previous movies. He plays his roles to his best, making this movie what it is. This movie is very artistic and the choice of music is outstanding. It was not anything spectacular it just sets the theme of the movie, and makes you feel like you are part of the environment.

-information/ideas retrieved from: www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/

Hydrogen vs. Fossil Fuels

Taha — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:42:47 +0000

Ozone friendly, however dangerous. A debate between two class mates who presented with good positions and postures, delivering useful information to all of us, trying to persuade us on their causes. I for one can not choose a side and I do not have any opinions about this topic. Hydrogen can really help us and it can help the ozone. By using hydrogen, we stop burning fossil fuels which is a good way in reducing pollution. As Neguine said, hybrid cars would not run on gasoline but on hydrogen, hence the name. The reduction of gas can allow us to realize that hydrogen is not only helpful to the ozone but helpful to us in several ways.
On the other hand, Ritvik, believes that using hydrogen is severely dangerous. He gave us an example of a hydrogen-filled hot air balloon which blew up. Hydrogen is very flammable and very dangerous. Another major point Ritvik argued is that the methods of hydrogen would take decades to prove and test.
In my opinion… I have no opinion! Something that could take decades to prove test and make safe could be one of the most significant discoveries of all time. But while they do their research it is still dangerous. All in all, I do not take sides on this debate held in class today.