Comment on "Celebrating International Day of Peace'

     I am very proud of Hawaii taking the initiative to set aside a day of recognition for world peace. The United Nations International Day of Peace and Non-violence is a stepping stone, if not the foundation, for world recognition and focused intention on eliminating war and promoting peace and harmony. The earth is a victim of every war for every battle waged by the human race. Although there are humans victors, the earth always remains the victim, for there is destruction and contamination of soil that supposed to nourish new life. Unfortunately, potential life is victimized by the chemicals and contaminants of war, thereby depleting the earth of natural resources to continue the environmental harmony. I hope Paul K. Chappell is successful with his plight to bring attention to what the UN has already declared a Day of Peace and Non-violence. Kudos to Hawaii for becoming the first state to declare September 21^st as Peace Day Hawaii for all to recognize and focus their own intention for peace on the rest of humanity which in turn will benefit the planet. Now, if we can only make this a federal holiday, then people would really stop and think.

Comment on 'Grasping the tree of life: There is an app for that, too'

     Sudhir Kumar idea of phylogeny and timescale are so technologically applicable up to this point and time in our modern society that now iPAD and iPod Touches are being used to research the connection (i.e., psylogeny) and origin (i.e., timescale) of organisms. Robert Karl Stonjek says the technological concept and application is a “powerful tool for understanding the interrelationships and diversity of living things (para. 4). Frankly, I’m not surprised it has come down to this. The way that technology to booming at an exponential rate is astounding to the Baby Boomers and even Generation X, but common place for “Millennials or Generation Y” followed by the “New Silent Generation or Generation Z (Rosenberg, para. 1).” Looking at all this hand held technology surrounding us now, I think I know why the next generation has been dubbed silent. Everyone is so absorbed into looking down into their handheld devices that they neglect interacting with the random people around them, but I digress. Now, with this particular application, all consumers may see the world’s abundance of life at a fingers touch. It was really interesting how the speaker last Tuesday (i.e., November 16, 2010) spoke about his grandparents using rocks for retaining and gathering information and now we use technological rocks for the same desired recollection. According to the article, we’re now using these metal rocks to research ancient rocks. Go figure. Accessing a browser which contains 160,000 organisms and their lineages opens a window of opportunity for all curious and analytical minds to develop a better understanding of the complex diversity of life and how vitally important this diversity is to the natural sustainability of the planet.

References

Rosenberg, M. Names of Generations. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from

     http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/qt/generations.htm

Stonjek, R. K. (2010, September 20). Grasping the tree of life: There is an
     app for that, too. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from
     www.physorg.com/news204219074.html

Comment on 'What Castro Really Means'

     Richard Gott understands that Cuba, despite its many set backs due to communism, has pinged on a new idea of enterprising agriculture for the benefit of the country. The economic turn around of Cuba has left many to wonder if President Raul Castro is really going to go through with innovative farming. Small-scale private enterprises are on the rise, but more emphasis is given to the plan to revamp the economic organization of the country. The innovation of each farmer freely working to support the community and family is a responsibility that citizens of Cuba are eager to take. Now that private enterprise is on the rise, there must be an endeavor to link Cuba’s agriculture to the rest of the world; thereby, strengthening their economy. And then there is foreign investment. May the Cuban model prevail without the influence of communism in the mix.

Comment on 'Sizing up consciousness by its bits--nytimes/science'

     While trying to develop a theory of consciousness, Dr. Giulio Tononi has experienced a personal level of consciousness while going under for surgery. Interested in marking the time of lost awareness, Dr. Tononi tried to convince the anesthesiologist to allow him to temporarily block the muscle-blocking drug. In doing this, the Dr. would be able to lift his finger as he would loss consciousness; thereby, signaling the anesthesiologist the precise moment he lost awareness. Unfortunately, the Anesthesiologist did not comply. Thank God for minds such as Dr. Tononi’s. His ingenious ambition to explore the awareness of the mind is an endeavor that has not been researched much by others. His development of a theory of consciousness will help put a measuring stick to the perplexities of when the human brain is aware. Right now, doctors can only ask the simple questions of whether or not the patient can hear them. Dr. Tononi is working on a way of seeing the activity of the brain as an indicator of awareness during commas or epileptic seizures. Also, his findings may aid in the determination of whether or not the patient is experiencing any pain during the seemingly unconscious state. Currently, he has discovered that the brain relies on integrated information in order to maintain awareness. If the network of integrated information known as phi has isolated parts, then awareness is not present. Dr. Tononi Integrated Information Theory, in my opinion, holds water; for, seizures force many neurons to turn on and off which in turn disrupts awareness. That is why patients don’t remember the episode. May his spectacular theory grow from infancy to adulthood and ravage the scientific world.

Comment on 'Kelp Raft Carries Marine Stowaways Hundreds of Kilometers'

     Marine biologist, Ceridwen Fraser, has discovered on a New Zealand beach whole communities of invertebrates that have traveled about 250 miles hitchhiking on bull kelp. I can’t believe the 10 types of marine invertebrates didn’t use any fossil fuel to make the journey! If a life form as small and unnoticed as crustaceans and other invertebrates can travel without emitting toxic fumes, why cannot the most advanced species (i.e., humans) on the planet do the same? Even iguanas traveled from island to island with the use of natural resources. These invertebrates traveled, although unwillingly, from a Caribbean Island to another island using wind from a hurricane as a natural propellant for a mass of trees. We as humans should take notes of these finding and incorporate them into our lives. As though these happenings were hints as to how we as humans ought to alter our mindset on means of travel, I find that the natural order of things have a tendency to naturally transport invertebrate and vertebrate from land mass to land mass. Although erratic and unexpected, the resources that were utilized by nature to transport these creations without dangerous and harmful emissions into the atmosphere ought to strike cord in the minds of engineers throughout the world on how we may do the same. Indeed, there is already promising implementations of engineering feats of energy conservation, but much more most be done. Altering the mindset of every single human being and weaning them off the fuel nipple will be the ultimate challenge for sustaining a growing economy.

Comment on 'Record Hot Summer Wreaks Havoc'

If you cannot handle the heat:  Get out of the kitchen! Unfortunately, the kitchen is in a studio called earth, and there is really not that far to move. According to National Snow and Ice Data Center, sea ice is declining dramatically with no reverse affect in sight. Even our coral beds are being affected by the warmer temperatures via bleaching and disease. For 131 years of fluctuating temperatures, 2010 is the warmest to date. The National Resources Defense Council states that thirty-seven states in the U.S. have hit record highs this year alone. A computer model has indicated a 17% drop in Arctic ice volume every ten years. What does this all mean in the long run, earth is losing its crucial balance with temperature control which has created a domino affect that wrecks havoc on the earth as a whole. In reference to the book Ishmael, no where to run or move means we all have to work together to make the takers into givers as soon as possible.

Comment on Photos from Russia

These pictures are evidence of how dedicated the Russians are at utilizing space to further enrich the amenities on earth or national defense or research on matter and the universe. Despite the cramped discomfort of working and riding in a small capsule for an established time span, these three Russians have gone so far as to wait just one more day due to mechanical difficulties. They were stationed in space at the International Space Station which has been in orbit for about 12 years. Worth approximately 100 billion dollars, this station must be the cornerstone to further space discovery and international cooperation as to how to deal with the devastating challenges of restoring the earth's natural balance although critics say different. I for one applaud the sacrifices that these particular Russians, namely Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Korniyenko, and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, for putting forth their knowledge, time, and dedication to exploring the mysteries of space at the expense of valuable family time. As for the pictures that depict their landing, the American people should also be provided with the detailed pictorial landing of our American patriots returning from their adventures in space so we may become aware of their deserved appreciation.