So, I was reading my chemistry textbook like a good little nerd over the Easter break and I was looking over some of the TOK excerpts as well as looking at some things on Theoryofknowledge.net. (excellent little site and facebook group). I was also reading R.A. Salvatore because I forgot my Fifth Buisness and Great Gatsby at school. *dodges stones*
Is it sad that I take more from the works of a writer of fiction than I do from some of the biggest discussions and debates of the modern day? Just an interesting fact I've seemed to discover about myself and a little thing to blog about while it's on my mind. I find I take just as much in from the fiction I read as I do the news I read, see, hear etc. For example, R.A. Salvatore includes little excerpts from the mind of Drizzt Do'Urden before differing parts of his novels. They explain his character and provide delightful insight into human nature and life.
I found some of these quotes from some of my favorite book to be greatly insightful and ponderful. :)
I am dying. Every day, with every breath I draw, I am closer to the end of my life. For we are born with a finite number of breaths, and each one I take edges the sunlight that is my life toward the inevitable dusk.
-Drizzt Do'Urden
No, I would not want to live in a world without dragons, as I would not want to live in a world without magic, for that is a world without mystery, and that is a world without faith. And that, I fear, for any reasoning, conscious being, would be the cruelest trick of all.
-Drizzt Do'Urden
Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
Galadriel, the Fellowship of the Ring
Such is of the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.
Elrond, Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring
The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.
JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
It is our choices, Harry, that make us who we are
Professor Dumbledore, Harry Potter
I`m running because I can, because I must. Because I want to see how far I can go before I have to stop.
Gemma Doyle - A Great and Terrible Beauty
These quotes gave me a new outlook at life. A simple thing from a creative writer, such simple words, to open the eyes of another real mind.
Combined with the daily events in my life and around the world, I do find it a little more than odd that I take so much from these simple words than I do from an hour of my life at times. Maybe it is because these simple quotes are so ... simple? And life is so complex at times?
Who knows.
I'm done for now.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Modern Art - Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan
Okay, so I found the website of Chris Jordan would made the art that we saw in class that depicted large amounts of certain items used in the United States in a certain time limit. I really found these images amazing and terrifying at the same time. The depth, effort and thought that must have went into the images is amazing. But the amounts and quantities that they represent are terrifying. One that really stood out to me was the teenagers under eighteen who are becoming addicted to smoking each year. With science, medicine and media, people KNOW that smoking is BAD and that smoking KILLS. Armed with this knowledge, why would sooo many teenagers smoke?? Do they want to die? And smoking is not glamourous as it once was.. so the peer pressure is not severe as it used to be.
Also, the plastic cups on an airplane was really shocking. To think that the little cups I drank out of were always disposed shortly after use and filled up landfills. This really brings to mind that many things need a reusable or recyclable option. Such as the cups. Perhaps using recyclable paper cups would be more environmentally friendly? Who knows.
I'm out.
Shakespeare calls.
Okay, so I found the website of Chris Jordan would made the art that we saw in class that depicted large amounts of certain items used in the United States in a certain time limit. I really found these images amazing and terrifying at the same time. The depth, effort and thought that must have went into the images is amazing. But the amounts and quantities that they represent are terrifying. One that really stood out to me was the teenagers under eighteen who are becoming addicted to smoking each year. With science, medicine and media, people KNOW that smoking is BAD and that smoking KILLS. Armed with this knowledge, why would sooo many teenagers smoke?? Do they want to die? And smoking is not glamourous as it once was.. so the peer pressure is not severe as it used to be.
Also, the plastic cups on an airplane was really shocking. To think that the little cups I drank out of were always disposed shortly after use and filled up landfills. This really brings to mind that many things need a reusable or recyclable option. Such as the cups. Perhaps using recyclable paper cups would be more environmentally friendly? Who knows.
I'm out.
Shakespeare calls.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Literature!
Yeah! IB English time eh?
So, literature is also a form of art. It may not be visual or the story tangible but it is still a work of art. Through mere words and paper, an author or poet can create a new perspective, new scenario, new culture, new language and even a new world. Books can open up your mind and writing can help let the creativity flow. Something that I personally think IB lacks is a creative outlet. There are few oppourtunities to express knowledge through creativity versus more analytical stuff.
Some examples of literature I enjoy are The Forgotten Realms by R.A. Salvatore, His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman, The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, anything Tolkien, Like Water for Chocolate, Life of Pi and the list goes on and on and on... Fantasy is my favorite genre but I'll read almost anything.
I share my opinions in literature as I do in art to a degree. I do not care for reading about "real life problems" because I experience them everyday and live it all the time. My own personal story. I much prefer fantasy novels or books with historical meaning or background, novels that would pertain to my interests and my love for creativity.
Now after my rambling, I should perhaps be working on some Chemistry homework that calls my name.
Yeah! IB English time eh?
So, literature is also a form of art. It may not be visual or the story tangible but it is still a work of art. Through mere words and paper, an author or poet can create a new perspective, new scenario, new culture, new language and even a new world. Books can open up your mind and writing can help let the creativity flow. Something that I personally think IB lacks is a creative outlet. There are few oppourtunities to express knowledge through creativity versus more analytical stuff.
Some examples of literature I enjoy are The Forgotten Realms by R.A. Salvatore, His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman, The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, anything Tolkien, Like Water for Chocolate, Life of Pi and the list goes on and on and on... Fantasy is my favorite genre but I'll read almost anything.
I share my opinions in literature as I do in art to a degree. I do not care for reading about "real life problems" because I experience them everyday and live it all the time. My own personal story. I much prefer fantasy novels or books with historical meaning or background, novels that would pertain to my interests and my love for creativity.
Now after my rambling, I should perhaps be working on some Chemistry homework that calls my name.
Talking about art, is about as easy as trying to do all your internal assessments, world lit, TOk presentation and (if applicable) extended essay in one night. ^^
Now, in my personal opinion. I agree with Joyce when she said in class that she doesn't really appreciate art as much if she could do it. I like to look at artwork that is extraordinary. Something new and fantastic, not just three lines on a huge piece of paper. (Sorry Voice of Fire fans) Now, in a series of two blogs, because I don't like to make mine excessively long, I'm going to open up two art forms we seem not to touch on often. Architecture and Literature.
Architecture can be a work of art. Think of the effort and the design that went into the Trevi Fountain, or the Eiffel Tower, the pyramids of Eygpt or even the post office in Battleford. Haha.
Take for instance the following pictures, (hoping that they work this time...) and see the beauty in each of them.
Now, in my personal opinion. I agree with Joyce when she said in class that she doesn't really appreciate art as much if she could do it. I like to look at artwork that is extraordinary. Something new and fantastic, not just three lines on a huge piece of paper. (Sorry Voice of Fire fans) Now, in a series of two blogs, because I don't like to make mine excessively long, I'm going to open up two art forms we seem not to touch on often. Architecture and Literature.
Architecture can be a work of art. Think of the effort and the design that went into the Trevi Fountain, or the Eiffel Tower, the pyramids of Eygpt or even the post office in Battleford. Haha.
Take for instance the following pictures, (hoping that they work this time...) and see the beauty in each of them.
Monday, January 4, 2010
2012!? Spooky...
So the big deal heading our way! 2012!
Are we all going to die?
Be united to a similar cause?
Be without internet?
Have all technology turn against us?
Make some more epic movies?
Sleep in on December 22nd?
Here are some predictions for the big year that I thought were quite memorable or funny that I found online. Enjoy!
The above were taken from the Discovery Channel's show The Nostradamus Effect, the movie 2012 and a site with lists of theories. (http://www.2012endofdays.org/general/2012-end-of-days.php)
Are we all going to die?
Be united to a similar cause?
Be without internet?
Have all technology turn against us?
Make some more epic movies?
Sleep in on December 22nd?
Here are some predictions for the big year that I thought were quite memorable or funny that I found online. Enjoy!
1. There have been three or four previous races and ages of humanity (depending upon the source you read). All of these have been destroyed in major cataclysms. December 21.2012 marks the end of this age and it will end in major catastrophes such as Earthquakes. (see commentary on this statement below)
2. For half of the katun (20 year Mayan cycle) there will be food, for half some misfortunes. This katun brings the end of the "word of God." It is a time of uniting for a cause.
3. As we pass through transition there is a colossal, global convergence of environmental destruction, social chaos, war and ongoing Earth changes.
4. The Earth will undergo a magnetic field shift, reversing the polarity of the planet.
5. An asteroid or comet will collide with the Earth.
6. Conspiracy Theory - the idea of the conspiracy is total population control by a one-world government. Many people believe it to be religious in nature, as a plan to usher in the antichrist. Interestingly enough, the book of revelations speaks of the antichrist, his one-world government and one-world religion. Events that could possibly lead up to a scenario such as this is a movement by the United Nations or some other global establishment to force control over many nations. Also, the implanted microchip that everyone would be forced to receive. Watch for more surveillance in public areas and the gradual erosion of our freedoms and rights as individuals. Believed to be ran by the United Nations, WHO, Free Masons, the Knights Templar or affluent families in the United States such as the Rothschilds, Reckefellers, Morgans, DuPonts and the Bush family.
7. The prophecy leads up to the antichrist assuming world domination with his false prophet overseeing the one-world religion. The antichrist rules the world for a period of time until the battle of Armageddon. At this point, Jesus Christ returns to earth and destroys the armies of the antichrist. Then the false prophet and the antichrist along with the devil are thrown down into the lake of fire. Interestingly enough, the story continues to state that the devil must be released one more time after Christ’s 1000 year reign. At this time a final battle takes place with the devil losing and being vanquished into the lake of fire forever. At this time God’s kingdom is setup for eternity and all who accept Jesus as their savior are allowed access to the kingdom of God. Also known as the Apocalypse.
8. The most famous doomsday prophet is Nostradamus. He is best known for his book Les Propheties. He wrote his prophecies in a poetic style, in “quatrains.” Many of his prophecies dealt with disaster such as plagues, earthquakes, wars, floods and the coming of three antichrists. However his predictions are vague and people tend to apply his words to many situations. Check out the Nostradamus Effect on the Discovery Channel if interested.
9. Biological warfare will be employed by nations of the world and in 2016, a disease will spread and kill all human life
10. Up to hundreds of comets will strike the Earth on august 29th, 2009
11. The war of Armageddon may occur when the world’s population reaches 6.66 billion.
(This seems unlikely as many events need to occur leading up to the biblical Armageddon and the world’s current population is already at approximately 6.23 billion)
12. The world will under a serious of natural events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, hurricanes and rising water levels which will tip the balance of the world and eventually kill the human race or make Earth uninhabitable.
The above were taken from the Discovery Channel's show The Nostradamus Effect, the movie 2012 and a site with lists of theories. (http://www.2012endofdays.org/general/2012-end-of-days.php)
I was randomly searching about the placebo effect online, trying to catch up on some blogging that will most likely not really be read but anywho! :)
The Nocebo Effect. o.0
(Below is from skepdic.com)
I found this to be really interesting. I kinda reminds me of an experiment we saw on one of the videos where if you were told that the water you were putting your hand into is warm, you wouldn't react as much, but if you were told it was really hot, you would react quite differently to water at the same temperature.
The above experiment is really intriguing as well. A combination of the nocebo and the placebo effect. It is remarkable that people would develop such serious attacks with no real reason behind them other than their mind playing a trick on them. The nocebo effect is deemed to be nearly as bad as the placebo effect in some people because they believe that they will only get worse before they get better.
But that tis all for now. Back to reading Beloved... o.e
The Nocebo Effect. o.0
(Below is from skepdic.com)
A nocebo (Latin for "I will harm") is something that should be ineffective but which causes symptoms of ill health. A nocebo effect is an ill effect caused by the suggestion or belief that something is harmful. The term 'nocebo' became popular in the 1990s. Prior to that, both pleasant and harmful effects thought to be due to the power of suggestion were usually referred to as being due to the placebo effect.
More than two-thirds of 34 college students developed headaches when told that a non-existent electrical current passing through their heads could produce a headache.
"Japanese researchers tested 57 high school boys for their sensitivity to allergens. The boys filled out questionnaires about past experiences with plants, including lacquer trees, which can cause itchy rashes much as poison oak and poison ivy do. Boys who reported having severe reactions to the poisonous trees were blindfolded. Researchers brushed one arm with leaves from a lacquer tree but told the boys they were chestnut tree leaves. The scientists stroked the other arm with chestnut tree leaves but said the foliage came from a lacquer tree. Within minutes the arm the boys believed to have been exposed to the poisonous tree began to react, turning red and developing a bumpy, itchy rash. In most cases the arm that had contact with the actual poison did not react." (Gardiner Morse, "The nocebo effect," Hippocrates, November 1999, Hippocrates.com)
I found this to be really interesting. I kinda reminds me of an experiment we saw on one of the videos where if you were told that the water you were putting your hand into is warm, you wouldn't react as much, but if you were told it was really hot, you would react quite differently to water at the same temperature.
"In one experiment, asthmatic patients breathed in a vapor that researchers told them was a chemical irritant or allergen. Nearly half of the patients experienced breathing problems, with a dozen developing full-blown attacks. They were “treated” with a substance they believed to be a bronchodilating medicine, and recovered immediately. In actuality, both the “irritant” and the “medicine” were a nebulized saltwater solution."*
The above experiment is really intriguing as well. A combination of the nocebo and the placebo effect. It is remarkable that people would develop such serious attacks with no real reason behind them other than their mind playing a trick on them. The nocebo effect is deemed to be nearly as bad as the placebo effect in some people because they believe that they will only get worse before they get better.
But that tis all for now. Back to reading Beloved... o.e
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