Chinese Medicine Gaining Respectability

As a third year student and the light of graduation seems slightly brighter (in addition to the blinding light of the boards), I appreciate greatly that the profession I love and am committed to unconditionally is gaining notoriety. I feel there is a significant momentum of the practice, as it is being incorporated into the greater medical community. More education, information and exposure to TCM is prevalent and individuals are seeking it out, experiencing the medicine and sharing these experiences with others. Ideally, such people have had positive interactions and further support the efficacy of our medicine. Although this particular article did have an antagonist to TCM, it is 'good press' and as these articles make their way into published journals and periodicals or newspapers, I believe it will continue to support the profession, thus gaining respectability.

Chimps: Language and Tools

I must say I am not surprised in the slightest that chimpanzees have a language. Who would think the grunts and noises would be meaningless?! The association of particular pitches based on particular foods is quite interesting, as it allows researchers the ability to discern the language they utilize. What the significance may be? I can't say I know for sure. The article claims this is special because "it provides the first evidence that listening chimps are sensitive to this variation..." Well, great.

Living and Nonliving Systems

The article we explored in class about the nature of life provided helpful insight as to how I differentiate between living and nonliving systems. Take the example of a bicycle: it is a system of sorts, there are structures with fixed components, it is a well oiled mechanism. However, the design and particular important parts (wheels) never change. There is not a variation of how a bicycle works, nor is there a living system within these parts. By contrast, a living system is continually changing. "There is a ceaseless flux of matter through a living organism." This is quite evident as a human being... I am always changing, there is always 'ceaseless' activity, and this occurs on a cellular level and via identity as a person. Both are everchanging and therefore, a living system lives within me. This can be true of plants, animals, air, water- whether microscopically or up front and visual. I believe it is a gift to be witness to such a changing of events, to see growth, development and evolution. And I'm happy to see all of it on a bicycle.

Broccoli

Yum. I love broccoli. I incorporate some kind of vegetation in my daily meals and broccoli is always invited, though doesn't always make the cut. I enjoy it cooked, never raw. Steamed is a favorite. My most recent pleasure is chopped in scrambled eggs... I know that sounds bizarre, but it's quite tasty with onions and eggs.

The EGG wins!

I have to admit, at some point in my lifetime I have considered this question. And I did not ever come up with a conclusive answer, or one that I felt made sense. It's quite an anomaly. Having read the recent article in class, I believe the scientists who claim the egg had to have come first. (I mean, how did we get here? Egg.) It seems quite plausible that an interbreeding of species somehow lead to an egg in which the chicken developed. From there, the chicken had to have reproduced with another similar bird-like animal, and over time, through evolution (the theme of the term it seems) a chicken species evolved.
Whichever way it was, I don't care. I love chicken, and I'm glad it's part of the world.

Can diversification save species?

The possibility of diversifying species in order to protect a particular species seems a relevant, important thing to consider... but will it work? I don't know. Has it worked? Is there evidence that a threatened species has survived because it was protected? I have a sense the process of natural selection may not be controlled, despite technology and concerted efforts. History of evolution has illustrated that "the strong survives"... If we employ various methods to diversify, interbreed, or entirely separate then perhaps it will inhibit the destruction of species. The important question for me is what should be diversified? What merits this action? Plants? Animals? Something to consider as diversification is explored and utilized.

Please excuse the paragraph of questions...

Chimps and Humans Diverge as Species

In a word, interbreeding. I support the theory that thousands of years ago members of specific lineages interbred, interbred, interbred, and through evolutionary process a human species developed. This is of course quite controversial. Many individuals cannot fathom any sort of link between "animal-primate" and the glorified human being. And yet, the scientific evidence is building as researchers can dissect DNA and fossil records and thereby illustrate the link between chimps and humans. What more discussion is needed? Proof is in the puddin'.