BLOG 4...: The Gecko

Scientist are awed by the gecko’s ability to scale smooth surfaces- even skittering across a smooth ceiling- without slipping! How does this amazing little lizard do it? The gecko’s feet do indeed resemble hands, and they grasp smooth surface with amazing agility. Each toe contains ridges of that have thousands of hairlike protrusions. Each protrusions, in turn, has hundreds of microscopic filaments. The molecular forces that emanate from these filaments are sufficient to hold the lizard’s weight- even when its scurrying upside down along a glass surface. Researchers want to make adhesive that, like the gecko’s feet, will cling to smooth surfaces. Among other uses, this could have a variety of medical applications, from bandages that stay put when wet to a tape alternative to surgical sutures. Scientists are also analyzing the protein that is secreted from muscles, which gives these underwater creatures the ability to cling to wet surfaces.

BLOG 3...: Facing the Lion Part 2

Continuing on the story of Simone Arnold Liebster. This book continues to explain in deep detail the lives of those children who were separated from their parents and sent to Nazi reform schools during war years. The children who were not involved in a Nazi organization were to be found guilty if immoral and dishonorable behavior. All sort of political authority believed that Jehovah’s Witnesses who were parents were of bad influence to their children and considered to be dangerous. As Simone was expelled from her school after being subjected to physical and psychological brutality to conform, at the age of 12 she was taken from her mother’s custody and transferred to the Wessenberg Erziehungsanstalt reform school in Germany. So, throughout the book she has to put up this fight to maintain whatever normality she could possible keep in a physical and psychological sense. In the end, Simone Arnold Liebster’s story taught me to have hope, strength and courage. This book brings out her courage in fighting the true fight for her social and religious values.

BLOG 2...: Facing the Lion Part 1

I started a book called Facing The Lion. The author of such book is Simone Arnold Liebster. This is the life story of a young girl in Nazi Europe who had to deal with the religious oppression. When she was born, she was involved in the Catholic faith. Throughout her story she transmit’s a message of her personal search for faith and identity which creates friction in the political and social activities of the time. In 1938, her mother converted to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Despite family opposition, her dad got baptized and in time Simone followed her parents example, by being baptized in 1941. By 1940, in France, the German government had taken control. Almost immediately, the Germans established their political and social values, which excluded the so called “undesirables”. This included the Jehovah’s Witnesses. After her father was arrested for his believes, her mother and Simone faced harsh economic status. For the next 2 years, her and her mother did small jobs in exchange for food. During that time, Simone’s father was put in a concentration camp for individuals who would damage the reputation of the German authority. Jehovah’s Witnesses were categorized in such manner because their religion did not allow them to render unconditional obedience to the government. After 1941, Simone became physically and mentally intimidated at her school. When the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to enroll in the Hitler Youth group, the League of German Girls or to follow the rules of the Nazi’s social and political behavior, school officials took the parental custody and sent them to Nazi homes and juvenile institutions. To this, more than 500 minor Jehovah’s Witnesses children were separated from their parents. Simone was one of them.

2ND QUARTER

BLOG 1...: 2 Universal Questions

This week going through some of my papers I thought of writing this paragraph on 2 questions that are considered universal. One of them is: Will war and suffering ever end? What happens to us when we die? So, many people have wondered why the question arises. Well, as war continues to claim untold numbers of human lives. All of us have been touched by human suffering. In the bible, God foretells a time when he will establish peace earth wide. Under his kingdom, a heavenly government, people will not “learn war any more.” Instead, they will “bear their swords into plowshares.” (Isaiah 2:4) God will bring an end to all injustice and suffering. The Bible: “[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things [including today’s injustices and sufferings] have passed away.”- Revelation 21:3,4. The second question arises because most of the worlds religions teach that something inside a person continues living after death. Some hold that the dead can harm the living or that God punishes the wicked by condemning them to eternal torment in a fiery hell. The Bible teaches that at death, humans cease to exist. “The dead… are conscious of nothing at all,” states Ecclesiastes 9:5. Since the dead cannot know, feel, or experience anything, they cannot harm- or help- the living.- Psalms 146:3’4.

The Plight Of The Shark

Its interesting how terrified people are of sharks. When, interesting enough, we don’t stop and think of how terrified the sharks are of us. Why can we say so? Conversely, the shark is under attack by man. Each year 100 million sharks are being caught. They are so many that if we put each one from nose to tail, they can circle the earth 5 times! Its not just their death rates that is scary, but its their low birth rates, slowness in maturing, and long gestation as well. Let us not forget the pollution of their nursery grounds. All this adds to the sharks rapidly declining population. Once depleted, it would take years for it to replace itself. The majority of sharks are captured for their fins, which are highly prized by some Asians for their supposed medicinal and aphrodisiac properties. Shark-fin soup is an expensive delicacy that can cost up to $150 a bowl! Supply the lucrative Asian market has led to the cruel and wasteful practice of “fining”- slicing off fins of a life shark and throwing it back into the ocean to die of starvation or drowning. Shark fishing is unregulated in many countries. But, because the government has considered this problem as a major issue, they decided to take some action. So, after a ten year debate, Mexico, a major shark-fishing nation, where over 30,000 tons a year are harvested, recently passed a law prohibiting shark fishing. In other countries it has been banned. Still, some people keep murdering these amazing animals. Organizations have asked the government for more to be done, as far as laws go. This amazing, sea monster will not be here for the next generation if we don’t do anything about it. Please, I beg to stop the murder of sharks.

A Voice Of The "Eternal City"

The sight an sound of Rome’s many fountains moved Italian composer Ottorino Respighi to compose a suite entitled “ The Fountains of Rome”. One of the most stunning examples is the Trevi Fountain. When walking down a narrow street that leads to the fountain and turn a corner, we are greeted by a sight that takes our breath away. It is the huge Trevi Fountain. It is 65 feet wide and 85 feet high. This fountain was commissioned by Pope Clement XII and designed by Italian architect Niccolo Salvi. Construction was started in 1732 and completed in 1762. The fountain is fed by the first century Aqua Virgo aqueduct, which begins eight miles from the city. The theme of the fountain, which is built against the facade of a palace is the sea. The mythical figure Oceanus stands in his shell shaped chariot, controlling the flood that cascades beneath him. As water gushes around the other figures and tumbles over the rocks below. This produces the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Every day hundreds of visitors pour into the tiny square and toss coins into what is Rome’s largest tourist attraction. Once a week, the fountain is drained. The money left by tourists adds to an average of $11,000 a week. This is then collected and donate it to a religious charity. If, as Respighi believed, the fountains sing with the voice of the city, then the Trevi Fountain stands out as a soloist. This an exceptional among the many fountains that are admired by visitors to Rome, the so-called Eternal City.

The Beetle's Pressure-Spray System

As I was looking through a magazine I came across this article called, “ The Beetle’s Pressure- Spray System. This article mentioned that, though, less than an inch in length, the beetle is noted for its unique defense mechanism. When the beetle is threatened the insect sprays boiling, foul-smelling liquid and steam from its posterior, warding off spiders, birds, and even frogs. How can it do so? The beetle is equipped with a pair of glands which open at the tip of its abdomen. Each of these has a reservoir that stores an acidic compound and hydrogen peroxide as well as a reaction chamber filled with enzymes dissolved in water. To protect itself, the insect can squeeze the solution from the reservoirs into the reaction chambers to trigger a chemical reaction. As a result, noxious chemicals, water and steam- at a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit- are sprayed onto an attacker. The chambers are less than a sixteenth of an inch long. Yet, the beetle can change the speed, direction, and consistency of this toxic spray. Researchers have studied the bombardier beetle to learn how to develop more effective and ecologically-sound mist systems. They have discovered that the beetle not only uses one-way inlet valves to allow chemicals into the reaction chambers but, also, has a pressure-relief valve to expel them. Engineers hope to use spray technology base on the bombardier beetle in car engines and fire extinguishers, as well as in medical drug-delivery thingies, such as inhalers. Scientist have not truly appreciated this small insect as much as they do now, because they have been able to learn many things and mostly to a commoners interest.

What Is The Meaning Of A Rainbow?

This time a read a following article after the flood of Noah. Once the waters were dried up and Noah got out. The first thing Noah did was that he made an offering or a gift to God. Noah offered this gift to God to thank him for saving him and his family. Jehovah accepted Noah’s gift. He, also, promised that He would never again destroy the world by a flood. So, when Noah and his family began a new life outside the ark, God blessed them and told them, “ you must have many children. You must increase in numbers until people live all over the earth.” But later, when people would hear about the great flood, they might be afraid that a flood like such would happen again. In consequence, Jehovah God gave something that would remind people of his promise, to never again flood the earth. What God gave to them, as well as us, was a rainbow. This is happens right after a drizzle or a heavy rain, once the sun shines forth and light passes through the water drops. Acting as a spectrum they diffuse light, and making 7 different colors appear. This is what God said: “I promise that never again will all people and animals be destroyed by a flood. I am putting my rainbow in the clouds. And when the rainbow appears, I will see it and remember this promise of mine.” Yes, God promised never to flood the whole earth again.

What Did Jesus Teach About Hell?

“ If your eye causes you to sin, get ride of it. You would be better off to go into God’s kingdom with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. The warms never die and the fire never stops burning.” - Mark 9: 47,48, Contemporary English Version.
At fist glance to these words seem to promote the teaching of hellfire. Though, Jesus did not mean to contradict God’s Word which clearly states: “ The dead no longer know anything.” Ecclesiastes 9:5, NAB. To then what, was then, Jesus referring to when he spoke of a person being thrown into hell? Well, the original Greek word translated “hell” is Geenna. This word comes from the Hebrew Geh Hinnom’ which means “Valley of Hinnom”. This valley was located outside of Jerusalem. In the days of the Israelite Kings, it was used for child sacrifice- a gross and unapproved practice condemned by God. This valley was later called “the valley of slaughter,” where “the carcases of this people” would lie unburied. Jehovah God foretold that this place would become a place, not for the torture of live victims, but rather, for the mass disposal of dead bodies. In Jesus’ day, the inhabitants of Jerusalem used the Valley of Hinnom as a garbage dump. They threw the bodies of some vile criminals into this dump and kept a fire constantly burning there to dispose of the reuse and carcasses.
When Jesus spoke of the undying worms and unquenchable fire, he was apparently referring to 66:24. Regarding “the carcases of the men that have transgressed against God,” and “ their worms shall not die neither shall their fire be quenched. Therefore, Jesus used the Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna, as a symbol of death without the hope of a resurrection. In conclusion, Gehenna or hell is a symbol of eternal death, not eternal torture.

The Importance of Obedience

This past week I read an article about man that lived may years ago. His name was Enoch. In the beginning, as the number of people began increasing on the earth, most of them did bad things. But this man different. Enoch was a brave man. The people all around him were doing very bad things, nut Enoch remained faithful to God. The people back then were doing bad things because their heart had that inclination. An inclination which became much more strong once Adam and Eve sinned, by disobeying God and eating the fruit from the tree. Through this action God’s biggest enemy started the spark of disobedience, which leads to people doing vial things most of the time. So, Satan wants us to be bad and gain God’s disapproval. One day Jehovah God had Enoch tell the people something they did not want to hear. It was this: “God is someday going to destroy all the bad people.” The people were probably very angry to hear this. They may have tried to kill Enoch. So Enoch had to be very brave to tell the people about what God was going to do. Enoch lived to be only 365 years old. This was relatively a short life expand because men in those days were much stronger than now and lived much longer. For instance, Enoch’s son Methuselah lived to be 969 years old! After Enoch died the people became much worse. The Bible says that “ everything they thought was bad all the time”. God let some time pass by. Soon, He couldn’t take it anymore. that’s when he brought the flood. And only Noah and his family were saved because of their obedience. This account taught me of the importance of obedience.