Tuesday, January 30. 2007Wonderful Water
We are studying water in my Biology class and I am realizing that water is a very odd thing. It has many properties that are found in virtually no where else. If even one of these properties is missing, life would cease to exist.
This information is based off of chapter 3 of Biology, 6th edition by Campbell, et. all.
Water is Wet
The majority of “liquids” are not liquid at room temperature. Some, like oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are liquids at very cold temperatures but are gasses at room temperature. Others, like iron are solid at room temperature and liquid at very high temperatures.
Since living organisms are mostly water, they would cease to function if water was a gas or solid.
Water is Cohesive
Water is cohesive, meaning the molecules of water tend to stick to one another. This is why you can drink water through a straw. The water molecules stick to one another and syphon water up the straw. In plants, water evaporates from the leaves and like the straw, syphons water up from the roots. If Water wasn’t cohesive, plants wouldn’t be able to get their nutrients and vegetation would die.
Water Moderates Temperature
Water has a the strange property of being able to absorb or release a relatively large amount of heat with only a slight change it is own temperature. This helps to stabilize the Earth’s temperature and protects the marine creatures by keeping a relatively constant temperature. In addition, since we are mostly water, that water helps to stabilize our temperature as well. If water did not have this property, not only would the Earth’s temperature wildly fluctuate like a desert, but we would freeze and overheat much quicker.
Water Floats
Most elements, when frozen, are more dense and sink. However, water becomes less dense and floats. If water didn’t float, whenever the surface of the water froze, it would sink to the bottom. This process would repeat itself until ponds, lakes and even oceans would freeze solid, making life impossible. Even in the summer, only a small portion of the water would thaw before refreezing.
Water Dissolves
Water is one of the best solvents in existence. Relatively hard substances such as salt and sugar easily dissolve in water. Our blood is mostly water and relies on this principle to transport nutrients and waste around the body. In addition, with out this, plants would not be able to get their nutrients from the water.
Wow!
There is truly no element quite like water. Water is essential for life; that is why scientists first look for water when looking for signs of life on other planets. However, even if water exists, if any of these many properties changed, life as we know it would cease to exist. The chances that water could have been created with all these properties and with no additional, harmful properties (like radioactivity) is staggeringly low. So what is the chances that all of life could have evolved?
We are studying water in my Biology class and I am realizing that water is a very odd thing. It has many properties that are found in virtually no where else. If even one of these properties is missing, life would cease to exist.
This information is based off of chapter 3 of Biology, 6th edition by Campbell, et. all.
Water is Wet
The majority of “liquids” are not liquid at room temperature. Some, like oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are liquids at very cold temperatures but are gasses at room temperature. Others, like iron are solid at room temperature and liquid at very high temperatures.
Since living organisms are mostly water, they would cease to function if water was a gas or solid.
Water is Cohesive
Water is cohesive, meaning the molecules of water tend to stick to one another. This is why you can drink water through a straw. The water molecules stick to one another and syphon water up the straw. In plants, water evaporates from the leaves and like the straw, syphons water up from the roots. If Water wasn’t cohesive, plants wouldn’t be able to get their nutrients and vegetation would die.
Water Moderates Temperature
Water has a the strange property of being able to absorb or release a relatively large amount of heat with only a slight change it is own temperature. This helps to stabilize the Earth’s temperature and protects the marine creatures by keeping a relatively constant temperature. In addition, since we are mostly water, that water helps to stabilize our temperature as well. If water did not have this property, not only would the Earth’s temperature wildly fluctuate like a desert, but we would freeze and overheat much quicker.
Water Floats
Most elements, when frozen, are more dense and sink. However, water becomes less dense and floats. If water didn’t float, whenever the surface of the water froze, it would sink to the bottom. This process would repeat itself until ponds, lakes and even oceans would freeze solid, making life impossible. Even in the summer, only a small portion of the water would thaw before refreezing.
Water Dissolves
Water is one of the best solvents in existence. Relatively hard substances such as salt and sugar easily dissolve in water. Our blood is mostly water and relies on this principle to transport nutrients and waste around the body. In addition, with out this, plants would not be able to get their nutrients from the water.
Wow!
There is truly no element quite like water. Water is essential for life; that is why scientists first look for water when looking for signs of life on other planets. However, even if water exists, if any of these many properties changed, life as we know it would cease to exist. The chances that water could have been created with all these properties and with no additional, harmful properties (like radioactivity) is staggeringly low. So what is the chances that all of life could have evolved?
Saturday, January 27. 2007Comics week-in-review
As I was growing up, we hardly ever got the paper. It was only when important news or the day after Christmas sales advertisements were printed that we purchased a copy. When we did get the paper, Natalie, Philip, and I always knew the most important part to dive straight into: the comics!
Now, we still hardly get the paper, but thanks to the Internet, I can subscribe to a few of my favorite comic strips and get them daily. I’ve decided to include my favorite ones in this post for you, too!
As I was growing up, we hardly ever got the paper. It was only when important news or the day after Christmas sales advertisements were printed that we purchased a copy. When we did get the paper, Natalie, Philip, and I always knew the most important part to dive straight into: the comics!
Now, we still hardly get the paper, but thanks to the Internet, I can subscribe to a few of my favorite comic strips and get them daily. I’ve decided to include my favorite ones in this post for you, too!
Thursday, January 25. 2007Super Duper Dad!
My Dad is a Super Duper Dad! Mom hurt her back a couple of days ago and has been spending a lot of time in bed trying to recover. Today, Dad took the day off so that he could help out Mom around the house. He took her to doctor appointments, helped her get dressed, took care of the kids, made lunch and dinner, got Mom’s medication, and lots of other stuff, too.
I’m so glad that I have such a wonderful father. He’s a great role model as he consistently puts his family first and is always there for us. He is always fixing stuff, teaching us new things, helping around the house, and making sure that he talks with us, catching up on what’s going on in our lives.
You’re Super Duper, Dad!
My Dad is a Super Duper Dad! Mom hurt her back a couple of days ago and has been spending a lot of time in bed trying to recover. Today, Dad took the day off so that he could help out Mom around the house. He took her to doctor appointments, helped her get dressed, took care of the kids, made lunch and dinner, got Mom’s medication, and lots of other stuff, too.
I’m so glad that I have such a wonderful father. He’s a great role model as he consistently puts his family first and is always there for us. He is always fixing stuff, teaching us new things, helping around the house, and making sure that he talks with us, catching up on what’s going on in our lives.
You’re Super Duper, Dad!
Monday, January 22. 2007School Starts!
Well,
It’s that time of year and school is kicking into full gear. This semester will be quite difficult for me, but I’m really excited since I’m almost done with school 
! Here are the classes that I’m taking:
- Biology 213: Cell Structure & Function
- CS 450: Database Concepts
- English 302: Advanced Composition
- Math 214: Elementary Differential Equations
- Music 101: Introduction to Classical Music
- PHED 134: Self Defense for Men & Women (I’m taking this with Natalie)
- Chinese: I’m trying to learn some Chinese via an online tutor
Lots of fun classes!
Also, I finally got a photo album up on my website! Now I can show off my cool family 
Here are some of my favorite pictures:
The three of us older kids having fun
Abby and Amanda being best friends
Our entire family
Well,
It’s that time of year and school is kicking into full gear. This semester will be quite difficult for me, but I’m really excited since I’m almost done with school ! Here are the classes that I’m taking:
- Biology 213: Cell Structure & Function
- CS 450: Database Concepts
- English 302: Advanced Composition
- Math 214: Elementary Differential Equations
- Music 101: Introduction to Classical Music
- PHED 134: Self Defense for Men & Women (I’m taking this with Natalie)
- Chinese: I’m trying to learn some Chinese via an online tutor
Lots of fun classes!
Also, I finally got a photo album up on my website! Now I can show off my cool family
Here are some of my favorite pictures:
Friday, January 19. 2007Great Vacation!
This past week, our family was at Lake Harmony, PA. Personally, I think that this has been the best vacation that our family has taken. There were numerous little “best” things which, when summed together, made this the “best” vacation.
Akeelah and the Bee
At the resort, there was a daily free video which was shown in the theater. Upon hearing that Akeelah and the Bee was playing, I was quite reluctant to go as I assumed it was an animated kid’s video about some animal named Akeelah and a friendly bee. On the contrary, it turned out to be a very touching movie, most possible the best I have ever watched. Akeelah is a young black girl who has a knack spelling. She is encouraged to enter a spelling bee and must overcome her own fears, the mocking of her peers, and racial prejudices. Akeelah ends up entering the bee and training with an older black gentleman. She ends up doing well in the bee, and in the process, her trainer and her help each other through personal struggles and past griefs. It is a wonderful movie and definitely worth the watch if you get a chance!
High Calling
Hands down, this is best book I have ever read. It is the biography of Rick Husband, written by his wife, Evelyn. Rick was the commander of the final Columbia space mission in which the spacecraft fell apart and killed all the crew upon re-entry in early 2003. Rick was a very strong christian and has become one of my heroes. We was a model father, husband, and lived his faith. One thing that he did so well was to praise and encourage others. His life has really motivated me to firstly, do everything for Christ, and secondly, to become an encouragement to others.
Skiing
This has been the forth time that we have been skiing and it had definitely been our best. We started out on the green (easiest) slopes to warm up and then quickly moved to the blue (intermediate) slopes where we spent most of our time. Towards the end of the day, we were going down the terrain park! There are all kinds of railings for grinding and jumps to provide airtime. None of us tried grinding, but Philip went off and landed several jumps. At the end of the day, Philip and I even went down a black diamond (hardest) slope a couple of times. I’m still a little sore from the skiing!
Family relations
The family has been working really well with each other. Philip, Natalie and I almost always get along well with each other, but often there is tension with the two smaller kids and with the parents. Since we spend all day together coupled with the stress of packing, traveling, and unpacking, the family will often quarrel and exchange some sharp words. However, in general, the family really worked well together. We talked a lot, worked through, and resolved some problems. Hopefully we will continue to work well with one another.
So, this has been one of our best vacations! I saw a great movie, read a great book, had an awesome time skiing, worked well with the family and had an all-around super time!
This past week, our family was at Lake Harmony, PA. Personally, I think that this has been the best vacation that our family has taken. There were numerous little “best” things which, when summed together, made this the “best” vacation.
Akeelah and the Bee
At the resort, there was a daily free video which was shown in the theater. Upon hearing that Akeelah and the Bee was playing, I was quite reluctant to go as I assumed it was an animated kid’s video about some animal named Akeelah and a friendly bee. On the contrary, it turned out to be a very touching movie, most possible the best I have ever watched. Akeelah is a young black girl who has a knack spelling. She is encouraged to enter a spelling bee and must overcome her own fears, the mocking of her peers, and racial prejudices. Akeelah ends up entering the bee and training with an older black gentleman. She ends up doing well in the bee, and in the process, her trainer and her help each other through personal struggles and past griefs. It is a wonderful movie and definitely worth the watch if you get a chance!
High Calling
Hands down, this is best book I have ever read. It is the biography of Rick Husband, written by his wife, Evelyn. Rick was the commander of the final Columbia space mission in which the spacecraft fell apart and killed all the crew upon re-entry in early 2003. Rick was a very strong christian and has become one of my heroes. We was a model father, husband, and lived his faith. One thing that he did so well was to praise and encourage others. His life has really motivated me to firstly, do everything for Christ, and secondly, to become an encouragement to others.
Skiing
This has been the forth time that we have been skiing and it had definitely been our best. We started out on the green (easiest) slopes to warm up and then quickly moved to the blue (intermediate) slopes where we spent most of our time. Towards the end of the day, we were going down the terrain park! There are all kinds of railings for grinding and jumps to provide airtime. None of us tried grinding, but Philip went off and landed several jumps. At the end of the day, Philip and I even went down a black diamond (hardest) slope a couple of times. I’m still a little sore from the skiing!
Family relations
The family has been working really well with each other. Philip, Natalie and I almost always get along well with each other, but often there is tension with the two smaller kids and with the parents. Since we spend all day together coupled with the stress of packing, traveling, and unpacking, the family will often quarrel and exchange some sharp words. However, in general, the family really worked well together. We talked a lot, worked through, and resolved some problems. Hopefully we will continue to work well with one another.
So, this has been one of our best vacations! I saw a great movie, read a great book, had an awesome time skiing, worked well with the family and had an all-around super time!
