Ortho

Well yesterday I made a trip to my least favorite place in the world. *drumroll* The orthodontist. Okay you may be thinking "what's so bad about the orthodontist?" I admit it's a very helpful place. I have braces for almost two years now and I've gone from bucktoothed to straight which is very nice of course. When you have to go in every single month, however, it becomes something not so pleasant. When you first arrive you get your chart, which must have stuff in a different language on it (probably tooth language), and head to the back room. Once in there you sit in an uncomfortable chair in a room with about 100 different people (maybe not 100) and wait for somebody to show up and acknowledge your presence. Suddenly out of the middle of nowhere a hygenist jerks your chair down and switches a blinding light on overheard (are they trying to interrogate me or something?). She starts out working pretty fast and you start thinking "hey we'll be done in no time". What kind of a nut would think that. Pretty soon they start talking to each other and when they start talking heaven help us. (Okay they don't talk for that long but it sure feels like it.) As you sit there you hear strange conversations about Super Bowl parties, socks, and whether or not you should die your hair purple or a light green color. Then she leaves, by this time I'm about to fall asleep due to those boring conversations, and after a few minutes the orthodontist himself decides to show up. He says hello, looks at your teeth, and bids you goodbye. (Thank goodness for that.) That's one of the easy visits though. If you get your wires changed be prepared because that's when those hygenists decide to start talking and start hurting people. haha just kidding. It does hurt though I can tell you that. It took a lot of guts not to go screaming out the back door. :) And then of course when you have a lose bracket they have to take it off and replace it. To take it off they use a horrible gas that suffocates you. If you survive that ordeal you have to sit with a large tube in your mouth that glues your bracket back on. Then when that's finally over you slowly get up from your chair and get really dizzy from lying back so long. You stumble down the hall, find your parent, and head to (suprise suprise) make another appointment. Will it ever end? *sigh* All this had better be worth it.

Stem cell research- part two

Before I launch into my second discussion of this topic I need to correct something I said last time I talked about stem cell research. The stem cells derived from fertilized eggs are totipotent stem cells, not pluripotent stem cells. Sorry about that :) Anyways moving on, today in class we discussed the parable of the talents found in Matthew chapter 26 and how that story relates to stem cell research. In the story the master entrusts three men with a certain number of talents (money) and tells them to go out and do something with it. Two of the men use this money wisely and gain more money through it. One of the men however buries his money in the ground and does nothing with it. Thus he does not gain anything like the other two men did. The money in this parable represents talents given to us by God. God wants us to get out there and use those talents for good and not hide them or use them to show off in front of others. How does all this tie in to stem cell research you may ask? Doctors who came up with the idea of stem cell research had many talents in the medical field. According to this parable you’re supposed to use your talents for good and isn’t that what they did? Didn’t God want them to use those medical talents to come up with stem cell research to help many people overcome fatal diseases? Did He want them to just bury that idea in the sand and not do anything with it? Chew on that one for a while. I'm still thinking about it myself as I try to form an opinion about this whole issue.I’ll post more on ethical objections to this research next week.

Another book review

The historical novel "Mine Eyes Have Seen" by Ann Rinaldi has proved itself to be one of the most compelling novels I’ve ever read. The story centers around a real historical figure- 15 year old Annie Brown, the daughter of famed abolitionist John Brown. In the story Annie and her sister-in-law Martha travel to Harper’s Ferry to be with her father as he prepares to make a raid on the arsenal in the town. He plans to use the weapons to force the slave holders in the area to free their slaves. Annie hopes to reconcile with her difficult father concerning her actions at the age of three which led to the death of her sister, and so she travels to Harper’s Ferry even though she is in very great danger by doing so. Unfortunately Brown does not seem to want reconciliation. He merely wants Annie to work hard so he can focus on the raid. Annie’s task is to sit on the porch and watch. She is to make sure no one suspects that there are many men in the house planning a raid and thus must sit on the front porch watching for hours at a time. Throughout the summer Annie learns to deal with a peculiar neighbor, learns about courage and bravery, and realizes that after the raid she might never see her father, her friends, or her lover (a young man participating in the raid) ever again.
This story is very well told, and is very accurate in its historical claims. This book could be very upsetting to a younger audience, however, due to the deaths of many of the characters and the hardships of this time. I would not recommend this novel for children under the teen age. It is a very exciting read, however, and very thought provoking. The characters seem to "come alive" in the story and you may become very attached to them. (I sure did). I greatly enjoyed it though I wish it didn’t have such a sad tone about it. Overall I give this book 4 stars out of 5. I highly recommend you read the book for yourself if you haven’t already done so.

Sick

Sorry it's been a few days since I posted last. Unfortunately I've been sick this week and I'm still sick now. Don't worry, it's not typhoid fever or something like that. It's just your average cold which includes a sore throat, congestion, weakness in the legs (I call it jelly legs), yada yada yada. Watching Kentucky lose last night against Georgia after being up by 17 points at the half sure didn't help me much I can tell you that. That's probably why I'm not better yet. haha. Looking on the bright side the good thing about lying on the couch for hours is that you get to read all you want. As a result of this I've read six and a half novels and I'm still going. I'll probably end up posting a book review for one of them today or tomorrow. Unless you'd rather hear me moan and groan about my cold for the rest of the day. If you're in your right mind I don't think you'd jump at that possiblity.

Stem cell research

Yesterday my high school Sunday School class at church started a study on stem cell research and how Christians should respond to it. Truthfully I knew basically nothing about this research before this session, but thanks to it I have been enlightened as it were. I don’t know a whole lot about it yet since we’re not done with the study, but I do know the basics so I’ll share some of them with you.
Basically this treatment revolves around stem cells (makes sense doesn’t it?) which are cells that produce other cells. These stem cells can be placed in a human’s body and can replace damaged diseased tissue with new healthy tissue. Thus this process can cure many diseases such as cancer. The controversy that comes with this subject is introduced when the subject of pluripotent stem cells comes up. (This is rather difficult to explain but I’ll do my best to not confuse you.) These pluripotent stem cells are derived from fertilized eggs and embryos that are sometimes even about 8 weeks old. After the stem cells are placed in a human's body the embryo is destroyed, thus destroying the life possibility along with it. That’s where the controversy comes in. On the one hand using these stem cells could save many human lives and turn around many horrible diseases. It would mean a positive cure for cancer. On the other hand destroying the embryo means destroying a potential life. Some people comment that it’s really not that important. After all the baby isn’t really alive as an embryo is it? I have not yet developed on an opinion on this subject yet, but I will try to form one over the next few weeks. This post may not be very clear, but I did just learn about stem cell research so don’t jump on me too hard. Meanwhile what’s your opinion? What do you believe when it comes to stem cell research? I am interested in hearing your opinions so feel free to comment. Also if I’m wrong on any of these facts please let me know. I’ll post more on this next week after our next session.

Kentucky basketball

"Go Kentucky!! No way! Unfair call! Fair call! Yes!!!"
Those are words which come commonly from my mouth when I happen to be watching a UK college basketball game. As you might have already guessed I'm a huge Kentucky basketball fan. Don't know how I got to be such a big fan. Mainly cause I love the state of Kentucky I suppose. (haha) Last year, however, Kentucky didn't play too hot. Okay they stunk last year. (That was painful to say) If I was a fair weather fan I would have stopped rooting for Kentucky a long time ago. Fortunately for them I'm not. In fact I was betting that Kentucky was going to make it to the championship game last year. Here is what my dad would say to such a thing.

Me: Dad, I bet Kentucky will make it to the championship game.

Dad: Yeah sure. The Easter Bunny and Santa will be playing backcourt and George Washington will be playing point guard.


As you can surmise my dad didn't have too much faith in Kentucky's skills last year. This year is different. Kentucky is playing much better, and they have won 11 straight games. They are 4-0 in the SEC conference. Sure they've played nothing but dog teams in the SEC but still, they look a lot better as a team this year than last year. This afternoon they're playing Vanderbilt which could get tricky. (Vanderbilt killed them last year.) Not this year though. Things will be different. (Hopefully)
Oh well. No matter how bad Kentucky is you'll probably still see me rooting for them. I'll keep you updated on their condition. This year they just might make it to that championship game.
Go UK

Let It Snow

Living toward the southern part of the U.S. is enjoyable in many ways, but weather wise it is not. I remember Christmas 2005 the newspaper headline read "Snow Snow Snow!" and predicted about 5-6 inches. The next morning we got a couple of snow flurries. A more recent example of me getting tricked by over enthuastic weather reporters: last night we were under a winter storm watch. Rumor had it we would get some snow today, a wonderful miraculous substance I haven’t seen in almost two years. My mother even said that if it snowed today we’d get school off (her announcing that is a miracle in itself). I went to bed last night envisioning waking up to at least a foot of beautiful of snow. I imagined sleeping in, throwing off the worries of long detailed history comprehension questions, algebra, mechanical science, and the like, and burying my brothers’ heads in the snow (haha). I imagined drinking large cups of hot chocolate and eating my mother’s heavenly homemade chicken noodle soup. When I woke up I noticed that it was about 15 minutes past the normal time I have to get up. "It must be snowing since Mom’s letting me sleep in some" I happily considered. I hopped out of bed and looked out the window. Guess what I didn’t see. I guess by this time I should have learned my lesson about trusting weather reporters. Well on the plus side at least I still get chicken noodle soup.

Since nothing too exciting is going on in my life right now I thought I'd share a few random facts about the group Jehovah's Witnessess which I'm doing a research paper on for school. You might be amazed at some of these strange practices, and you'll realize that this group isn't Christian at all as they lead you to believe.

*No Witnesses are allowed to celebrate birthdays or holidays because they are believed to be pagan practices.

*Witnesses are not allowed to have blood transfusions, even if their life or the life of one of their family members is on the line.

*Witnessess state that Jesus is equal to Adam and that He did not become the savior until his baptism.

*Witnessess can not celebrate mothers or fathers day. They are afraid it will produce pride.

*Witnessess believe that churches are of Satan and that you should never enter a church service.

*Before becoming baptized as a witness you must answer 80 questions before a panel of elders.

*You are not saved by grace but by good works

*You are forbidden to say God Bless You when someone sneezes.

*Witnesses claim Jesus' second coming took place in 1914 and was known only to Jehovah's Witnessess. They also state that at this time Jesus threw all the demons from heaven down to earth which is supposedly why the earth seems to be becoming more evil as time goes on.



There are many more of these strange beliefs practiced by this group, but if I went into all of them it would probably take a considerable amount of time. Thus I'll close on a lighter note. A good old blonde joke.


BLONDE ON THE SUN A Russian, an American, and a Blonde were talking one day. The Russian said, "We were the first in space!" The American said, "We were the first on the moon!" The Blonde said, "So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!" The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads. "You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!" said the Russian. To which the Blonde replied, "We're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!"

Well another weekend is almost gone. Even though most kids don’t have to go to school tomorrow guess who’s mom is making them do school anyway. (Ahem) It’s funny how we just started school last Wednesday and I already have 3-4 papers to write in the immediate future such as a large research report on Jehovah’s Witnesses and a mini-report on Isaac Newton (which I stupidly suggested to my mom one day while discussing him during a science lesson. )What was I thinking?? Oh well. Tonight I have my usual array of youth activities at church. First youth bells which is pretty fun, especially since I get to play the second to highest set of bells. It can get excessively boring however when the director works with the bass bells for about 20 minutes out of the hour rehearsal. Okay maybe not that much but it sure seems like it when you’ve had the time to memorize every single one of your notes out of two or three bell songs. Maybe that’s the directors’ point. Haha. Then comes youth choir which is always an enjoyable experience. (Except when it takes us 15 minutes to go over one measure of music.) Then finally we head to the gym for youth fellowship which is fun if you’re a pretty good sports player. I enjoy playing dodge ball, and occasionally basketball, but I can’t stand everyone’s favorite game volleyball. (Let's just hope I don't have to go through the torture of playing it tonight.) I might be able to dance, but the probability of me playing volleyball with exceptional skills (and most all other sports while I’m at it) is nada. Zero. Zilch.

Earlier today I happened to read a news story about a new school in Brooklyn, New York called a Free Fall school. In this "school" students aren’t graded, don’t take tests, and don’t turn in assignments. Why you may ask? Kids in this school are allowed to do whatever they want to do. That’s why it’s called Free Fall. The "teachers" at this school prompt students to follow their desires and remark that kids should only learn when they feel like it. They should never be forced to learn. If the kids want to learn chess, do yoga all day, eat, or sit in a corner it’s perfectly acceptable. One student interviewed for the article remarked that some kids sit around playing video games all day. According to the article, parents must pay $10,000 dollars a year to put their kid through this school. (What exactly are they paying for? Video game lessons?)
After the news story I enjoyed reading a commentary on the article by a professed Christian man. He brought out some excellent points such as "doesn’t the Bible say something about discipline and education?" If we are to live up to our potential in the world and serve God doesn’t that mean learning more about the world so we can do more good in it? Sure school can be a bore sometimes and sure we don’t want to do it. (I sure would like to slack sometimes.) But as my dad will sometimes say, think about the big picture, not just the small little details. Beating level 10 on that cool new video game is not enough to get you through life. Face it. (Seems like the parents of those kids would realize that don't you think? Guess not)

Book review

Just recently had the privilege of reading one of the best Dear America books I’ve ever read entitled "One Eye Laughing the Other Weeping," by Barry Denenberg. If you are not familiar with Dear America books they are fictional diaries of fictional girls and boys living during momentous time periods in history. This book contains the diary of Julie Weiss- a 12 year old living in Vienna, Austria in 1938. In the book infamous tyrant Adolf Hitler invades Austria and makes the country a part of Germany. Hitler sends his Nazis through the streets breaking into Jewish homes and dragging the Jews inside into concentration camps. Since Julie and her family are Jewish, her father soon sends to her America after a family tragedy to live with her Aunt Clara and Uncle Martin. Julie can’t stop thinking about her homeland, however, and wonders if she will ever see her family and friends again.
This book really shows us how horribly the Jews were treated during this time, and thus might be upsetting for some younger children to read. Many of the characters are killed as the story unfolds, and the cruel treatment of the Jews is shocking to comprehend. I actually came close to tears while reading it, and that’s saying something as I never cry over books. It is excellently written, but I didn’t care for the fact that the main girl and her family really didn’t care about their Jewish faith or any religious faith at all. This fact keeps this from being my favorite Dear America book. (I prefer the ones where the main characters are Christians.) But that shouldn’t keep you from reading the book. The characters are fascinating and I could hardly put the book down. It is probably the most suspenseful book in this series. Overall I give the book 3 ½ to 4 stars out of 5.

Back again

Well we made it. We're back after a pretty enjoyable, (and much needed for sanity's sake) vacation at my grandparents'. It's pretty good to get back to the grind of normal life though (never thought I'd say that), and good to get away from the very annoying little girl next door to my grandparent's. She's sweet enough, but after hearing from the little genius herself how she's doing sixth grade math while she's in third grade, having to hear about every story she's ever though up, (which is about 10 million), and hearing how she's "too advanced" for the school she's in now, I've had about enough for a while. Luckily she's moving to a different house in the summer. (Starts singing Hallejuah Chorus). Ah well. I've been thinking lately about how glorious doing algebra tomorrow is going to be. How delightful.