TOW #24 - Bioengineering professor gives talk on biology, physics working together

http://observer.case.edu/bioengineering-professor-gives-talk-on-biology-physics-working-together/

Herbert Levine, physicist and professor of bioengineering at Rice University, makes the argument that the subjects of biology and physics have inherit similarities. Levine made his argument by appealing to logos. He explained, logically, that cells must use complex degrees of navigation to perform properly in their environment. He writes, "Cells figure out where to go by using primitive ‘senses,’ mostly smell—detecting chemicals—and touch—detecting the hardness of surface." Levine goes on to describe how these movements involve the law of attraction, there for making evident that biology has physics applications.

Another way Levine rationalizes his argument of cell mobility is through analogies. With the knowledge that his readers are of the age of driving, he compares the chemical mechanics of cell structures to a "cell driving car". He draws similarities to a cell and a car whereby they refuel themselves, respond to stimuli and survive in many ranges of environments. In this way, he gives his audience a tangible and memorable way to understand his subject at hand.

Overall, Levine makes a compelling argument. As a student of science, it is interesting to learn how all the facets is interconnected. I would think that chemistry and biology are more directly related, before reading this article, but it seems that all three subjects have some parallels. I wonder what it is like to have a teacher like Levine who also researches in laboratories and makes new discoveries every day. Science is a growing subject in that we still do not know what we do not know. Textbooks are constantly changing and new methods are being brought up, in contrast to history or math, where bureaucratic learning has been practice for years. In conclusion, biological structures are constantly making amazing innovations and people like Herbert Levine are responsible for this! 

TOW #23 - The Little Mermaid Playbill

Alas, the school's musical has come to an end. With all the free time I have without after school, late night rehearsals, I decided to analysis "The Little Mermaid" program in honor of it's closing this weekend. I should confess that this will most likely not help with my PSD (Post-show depression, as theater kids would call it).

Pictured is the outline of a mermaid, likely to be Ariel. She is facing the sun, sitting on a rock just above the sea. This is similar to how the show opens, with Ariel on her rock, looking out to the ocean to a ship that which Prince Eric is sailing. We can infer that this is what Ariel is looking at.

This texts, like the show, makes the argument that people often get curious of the unknown. Ariel, a mermaid, finds herself collecting "human stuff" and eventually (spoiler alert) sells her soul to the sea witch, Ursula, in place of getting legs. Ariel's body is facing towards the sun to highlight this longing.

I agree with this argument. I think that, for as long our existence on this earth, we are drawn to forbidden things. Think Adam and Eve, for instance. The forbidden fruit that Eve ate is equivalent to that of land for Ariel.

In some cases, following one’s curiosity can be a good thing. It can lead to new discoveries, new talents, and rid one of prejudice. For Ariel case, things worked out well for her when she visited the human world (thanks Disney). But, in some case, like Adam and Eve, obstacles will occur. It is imperative that when you follow your curiosity, you’re doing it with the right intentions. Otherwise, disasters may occur, or danger will proceed.

TOW #22 - Does Time Really Exist?

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/biocentrism/201202/does-time-really-exist

“We're living through a profound shift in worldview, from the belief that time and space are entities in the universe to one in which they belong to the living.”

Biocentrism Robert Lanza, M.D. argues in an article that time is more of a social-constructed idea than a reality. He states that he believes that education and experience has shape time. He describes clocks and watches as "comparisons of events", but says that time is conceptually not this.

I agree with Lanza's argument. I think that our sleep and school and work schedules shape how we fill time, but time is not something that is measurable. For example, I think that, whoever came up with the idea that we sleep at night and work during the daylight did this because they were tired, not because it was their definite "bedtime".

Working on "week days" (which is a social construct in itself) and having off on weekends is another society construct. Our bodies and minds are used to the routine of getting up at a certain time and going to sleep at a certain time, but this does night necessarily mean that this can't change. People who often feel in a "time crunch" are actually just having problems following this social construct. In reality, everyone has the same amount of "time" during the day, just some are better at managing this unit of measurement than others.

Thinking time is a social construct may be pessimistic sounding thinking. A lot of people feel this way because questioning things that are yet to have been discovered is out of people's comfort zone. But, like Socrates preached with his method, you can’t discover things if no one ever questions anything. A society that does not tweak and refined their ways is an unproductive, undeveloped one.

TOW #21 - Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu

Even at 6 B.C., people were already exploring the best ways to govern a nation. Lao-Tzu (meaning "old master" is rumored to write the earlier piece of text that is "Tao Te Ching". Nothing can be certain about his life, though it's said that he worked in the court during the Chou Dynasty. His philosophical document uses parallelism and distinct pronouns in order to explain to his audience that society is best with little action."

Tzu writes "There is a time for being ahead, / a time for being behind; / a time for being in motion, / a time for being at rest; /..." (29). By using repetitive sentence structure, Tzu is able to communicate the variability of life. He is also able to suggest that there should be a balance of all these activities. This helps prove that we need do little things in order to have a life full of bliss.

In addition, Tzu also use distinct pronouns to prove this. He often differentiates using “she” when talking about the universe, as suppose to “he” when talking about men and rulers. He does it to show how women follow life’s course and do not interfere with life’s path, whereas men often create destruction and mess with the universe’s plan. In this way, he shows that when it comes to action, less is more.

Tzu main point is to emphasize that “If you want to be a great leader, / you must learn to follow the Tao. / Stop trying to control.” (57) His rhetoric, as well as his ideas, were perhaps ahead of his time. But if we consider the true message of his text, we can try to grasp the truth in it. Unfortunately, as time elapses, people often get caught up with the pace of society and forget that at the end of the day, the universe gives us all we need.

TOW #20 - President Trump Is Skipping The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner

https://www.buzzfeed.com/tomnamako/trump-skipping-whca?utm_term=.xplq6KdGl#.lq8oPz3yM

"The annual, celebrity-studded WHCA dinner has long been criticized as a display of too-cozy relations between the media and people they are supposed to cover fairly and critically. It usually involves a comedian or master of ceremonies roasting the president, and then president responding in kind."

This week, Donald Trump has become the first president after Nixon to not attend the White House's Correspondents' Association Dinner. To President Trump, this dinner promotes such "Fake News" he has spread awareness to during his campaign. News reporters like the New York Times, NBC News, and CNN will be in attendance.

Tom Namako makes the claim that Trump is not attending this dinner because his views on the media and how it illustrates himself as a political leader. I agree with Namako. I think that part of Trump’s failure to gain support from most medias sources is the way he handles criticism. It seems that whenever the President is critiqued, he has to shoot back with a tweet or a snarky retort. Take Meryl Streep’s acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, for instance. When Streep spoke out about how it is troubling to know that someone who is that insensitive to disabled people could be representing our country, instead of responding to Streep with an apology, or even a rational behind his earlier claims, Trump instead felt the need to tweet about it, like a teenage girl. He said something along the lines that Streep was an overrated actress, and how her comments were violent.

I think that, when examining what makes Trump and other inefficient leaders weak is that of their use of the rhetoric. Maintaining ethos at all cost should be essential for anyone politics, especially towards those who opposed your views. If this is not practiced, people will dislike one not just because they disagree with them, but because they think one put their emotions in the way of their craft.

TOW #19 - Dear Evan Hansen makes Top 10

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7694135/billboard-200-chart-moves-dear-evan-hansen-hamilton

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7694135/billboard-200-chart-moves-dear-evan-hansen-hamilton

In a weekly update of the top albums purchased and consumed, Billboard music makes mention of frequency of Broadway musical cast albums on this chart. Dear Evan Hansen has become the Hamilton equivalent of the year. So far, the cast and crew has sold about 29,000 albums, putting them at number 8, (behind Lady Gaga and Rebal McEntire).

In the article, Keith Caulfield, co-director of charts at Billboard, writes of the past musicals to make the top 40. This list is small, with the inclusion of Hamilton (obviously), The Book of Mormon, and Hair. Caulfield argues that in order to have this degree of success as a Musical soundtrack, a requirement of modernism is needed.

I agree with Caulfield’s argument. As a theater nerd myself, I am always aware of the differences between the “mainstream” musicals out, as suppose to the “hipster” musicals the me and my friends listen to. For example, I know a lot of people who listen to Hamilton despite not being into musicals at all. What makes this musical so popular is its similarities to modern-day music (as well as its historical accuracy, for some). That being said, I imagine if I showed these non-theater people the soundtrack to Sunday in The Park with George or Evita, they would not show the same enthusiasm.

Caulfield uses inductive reasoning to reach his argument. First, he mentions specific musical titles, like Hamilton, Hair and Dear Evan Hansen. Next, he tells us what these scores have in common. He draws the conclusion that all the top musicals are also the most similar to the top music on the radio. Finally, Caulfield synthesizes that all the Musicals to make the top 40 display a commonality of conventionalism, and because of this, in general, musicals that have “pop” sounding scores are more successful.

TOW #18 - They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky (IRB)

Judy A. Bernstein writes of the tragic events that took place during the Sudan Civil War in the autobiography, "They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky". This accredited book tells the story of three boys, Benson, Alephonsion, and Benjamin, the three of them brothers and cousins. These "lost boys" were sent across the world from Sudan to Ethiopia and Kenya in order to escape the terrible conditions of their hometown. The book is structured with alternating passages narrated by each of the three boys' perspectives.
Found in the title, the author plays allegory of the children's story, "Peter Pan" when often referring to the three boys as "lost". This comparison is genius, as it displays just how young the boys were when having to flee the country, and contrasts with the immature nature of the "lost boys" in Peter Pan. Another rhetorical device used in the book is vivid imagery. When describing the events, the boys do not shy away from telling the horrible truth. Benson describes the journey in saying "We could feel our bones trying to exhibit themselves to the world. Everything around us looked ugly and wild. We couldn't find happiness in ourselves, and no one could put it in us." This appeals to the audiences Pathos using upsetting and bleak diction. It also adds to tending the purpose: to display and bring awareness to the underprivileged countries in our world.

Before hearing of this book, to be completely honest, I did not even know of the Sudan Civil War. It is not commonly taught in History classes (at least Wissahickon’s history classes), so I felt a little ignorant to the situation, especially after reading the first view chapters. I am a prime example of why this book is so important in all its arguments. I hope in the future that I can have a voice in helping weaker nation who may experience similar cruelty such as the ones faced in Sudan.