If "jumbo shrimp" is an oxymoron, what is "medium shrimp?"
Just Joe
Friday, June 29, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
UEFA EURO 2012
Back on June 8, the countries of Europe began competing for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Championship. That's "soccer" to us ignorant Americans. Just yesterday Italy beat England in penalty kicks to advance on to the semi final match against Germany, which is being played in Poland.
Soooo... Italy and Germany are meeting up... in Poland! I wonder if the Pols are as nervous as I am for them?
Just Joe
Soooo... Italy and Germany are meeting up... in Poland! I wonder if the Pols are as nervous as I am for them?
Just Joe
Monday, June 18, 2012
Evolution (of Skin Color)
Human beings are so remarkable that it's difficult to put into words. I could go 1000 different ways with a statement like that, but this time I'm referring to the complexity of our physiology and how it came about.
Dr. Nina Jablonski is an anthropologist who teaches at Penn State University. She wanted to delve into the evolution of skin color. The prevailing convention at the time she started was that dark skin occurred in areas with lots of sun exposure in order to prevent skin cancer. Although the cause of dark skin seemed right, the reasoning didn't. Skin cancer is normally found in people who are beyond ideal reproduction ages, so in a sense, the body isn't even aware of skin cancer before it passes its DNA onto the next generation. Since evolution occurs through the passing down of helpful gene traits, whichever traits seem beneficial up until reproduction are passed along while traits that develop after reproduction aren't really taken into consideration for passing along. (Example: Let's say longer limbs are beneficial to the aged but a hindrance to the young. Because the young'ns are the ones reproducing, limbs will be shorter. Over simplified, yes. But you get the point.)
Dr. Jablonski dug a little deeper and found that there are 2 types of radiation in sunlight, UVA and UVB. Turns out that UVA radiation is what causes melanomas. But Dr. Jablonski figured it had to effect something up to or during the time of pregnancy otherwise cancer-causing UVA exposure would not affect reproduction. Further tests and evaluations proved her correct as UVA penetrates through skin and destroys folates in the bloodstream. The big deal here is that folates are key in maintaining healthy reproductive cells. Therefore, too much UVA exposure before reproducing could mean reproducing either won't happen or could happen with birth defects. So how did the human body adapt to ensure future generations? Yep, by darkening the skin and filtering out more of the sun's light.
Not fascinating enough? Well, the story continues. If keeping out as much UVA as possible is good, why doesn't everyone just have dark skin? The answer turns out to be UVB!
UVB radiation is actually a good thing (in moderation) because, get this, it reacts with a cholesterol in human skin to create vitamin D! And vitamin D is important because it aids in the absorption of calcium into bones and such. Apparently back in 1900s England there was an epidemic of rickets which was eventually determined to be a result of vitamin D deficiencies and led to laws being created mandating that bread be fortified with vitamin D. Back to the story now, as darker skinned humans began migrating to northerly climates with less sun exposure, too much of the UVB radiation was kept out of the bloodstream (likely leading to skeletal problems) so the human body adapted once again by lightening skin color.
There you have it, an incomplete, tip of the iceberg, generalization on the evolution of skin color.
Just Joe
Dr. Nina Jablonski is an anthropologist who teaches at Penn State University. She wanted to delve into the evolution of skin color. The prevailing convention at the time she started was that dark skin occurred in areas with lots of sun exposure in order to prevent skin cancer. Although the cause of dark skin seemed right, the reasoning didn't. Skin cancer is normally found in people who are beyond ideal reproduction ages, so in a sense, the body isn't even aware of skin cancer before it passes its DNA onto the next generation. Since evolution occurs through the passing down of helpful gene traits, whichever traits seem beneficial up until reproduction are passed along while traits that develop after reproduction aren't really taken into consideration for passing along. (Example: Let's say longer limbs are beneficial to the aged but a hindrance to the young. Because the young'ns are the ones reproducing, limbs will be shorter. Over simplified, yes. But you get the point.)
Dr. Jablonski dug a little deeper and found that there are 2 types of radiation in sunlight, UVA and UVB. Turns out that UVA radiation is what causes melanomas. But Dr. Jablonski figured it had to effect something up to or during the time of pregnancy otherwise cancer-causing UVA exposure would not affect reproduction. Further tests and evaluations proved her correct as UVA penetrates through skin and destroys folates in the bloodstream. The big deal here is that folates are key in maintaining healthy reproductive cells. Therefore, too much UVA exposure before reproducing could mean reproducing either won't happen or could happen with birth defects. So how did the human body adapt to ensure future generations? Yep, by darkening the skin and filtering out more of the sun's light.
Not fascinating enough? Well, the story continues. If keeping out as much UVA as possible is good, why doesn't everyone just have dark skin? The answer turns out to be UVB!
UVB radiation is actually a good thing (in moderation) because, get this, it reacts with a cholesterol in human skin to create vitamin D! And vitamin D is important because it aids in the absorption of calcium into bones and such. Apparently back in 1900s England there was an epidemic of rickets which was eventually determined to be a result of vitamin D deficiencies and led to laws being created mandating that bread be fortified with vitamin D. Back to the story now, as darker skinned humans began migrating to northerly climates with less sun exposure, too much of the UVB radiation was kept out of the bloodstream (likely leading to skeletal problems) so the human body adapted once again by lightening skin color.
There you have it, an incomplete, tip of the iceberg, generalization on the evolution of skin color.
Just Joe
Thursday, May 10, 2012
JFK
It's quote time again! Another one of my favorite quotes comes from JFK's inaugural address: "Ask not..."
I think I was drawn to it because, having heard replays as a kid, it made me consider the greater good and being part of something that was bigger than myself. Basically I fell for the patriotic brainwashing that was so prevalent from World War II through the 80s. You know, all of the "Us vs. Them" stuff. Come to think of it, it still goes on plenty but I suppose as an adult one tends to see through it a bit more easily. Anyway, I still dig the quote for the same reasons but the greater good in my mind now goes way beyond the United States.
The other night I was watching a show called "10 Things You Don't Know About." As you might gather from the title, each episode contains 10 "facts" about a person/topic that aren't well known. This particular episode was about JFK. The first fact they mentioned was that JFK was a slacker type in school. He attended the prestigious Choate Boarding School in Connecticut during the mid-1930s, where headmaster George St. John once delivered a speech to JFK and his fellow students saying, "The youth who loves his alma mater will always ask not 'What can she do for me', but 'What can I do for her?'" As the host of the show said, "I guess JFK was paying attention."
I had to shake my head and chuckle. It reminded me very much of my "Be like Water" blog where I found out that Bruce Lee wasn't the first to utter the particular saying I hold so dear. Then I came to the conclusion that everything that's going to be said has probably already been said, it's just a matter of finding it. I guess that's why people read so many books. :-P
Just Joe
I think I was drawn to it because, having heard replays as a kid, it made me consider the greater good and being part of something that was bigger than myself. Basically I fell for the patriotic brainwashing that was so prevalent from World War II through the 80s. You know, all of the "Us vs. Them" stuff. Come to think of it, it still goes on plenty but I suppose as an adult one tends to see through it a bit more easily. Anyway, I still dig the quote for the same reasons but the greater good in my mind now goes way beyond the United States.
*****************************************************
I had to shake my head and chuckle. It reminded me very much of my "Be like Water" blog where I found out that Bruce Lee wasn't the first to utter the particular saying I hold so dear. Then I came to the conclusion that everything that's going to be said has probably already been said, it's just a matter of finding it. I guess that's why people read so many books. :-P
Just Joe
Friday, May 4, 2012
Martian Sunset
Well, I don't really have much to say but I came across this picture the other day. It was taken by a Mars rover and it's a picture of a sunset from Mars.
I suppose the first thing I noticed is how tiny the sun is -- well, looks. Sometimes you tend to forget the types of distances were dealing with when we talk about the planets. Sure, everyone knows that Earth is 93,000,000 miles away from the sun (on average). But Mars averages another 47,000,000 miles away from the sun making it look much, much smaller.
The next thing I noticed is the color. Sunsets on Mars tend to have a bluish hue due to the atmosphere. It almost makes me feel the frigidity.
I hope the picture sparks your imagination and wonderment as it does for me.
Just Joe
Monday, April 16, 2012
Hippie Me
I saw the most beautiful "lecture" I've ever seen! It's given by a psychiatrist named Jill Bolte Taylor at TED. She recounts her experiences and thoughts she had during a stroke. My machismo doesn't want me to tell you this, but I was nearly moved to tears. It's an 18:42 clip but you can probably start at 4:00 if you need to save a few minutes.
(Sorry, Google won't let me embed non-YouTube videos.)
Jill Bolte Taylor
Just Joe
(Sorry, Google won't let me embed non-YouTube videos.)
Jill Bolte Taylor
Just Joe
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Palindromes
Language has never been one of my favorite subjects but from the very moment I learned of palindromes, I was fascinated. I think maybe it's the symmetry that I find so alluring. It's almost like math but with letters instead of numbers.
I looked at a list of palindromes and picked out some of my favorites. These are my favorites from the first half of the list:
A car, a man, a maraca.
Just Joe
Language has never been one of my favorite subjects but from the very moment I learned of palindromes, I was fascinated. I think maybe it's the symmetry that I find so alluring. It's almost like math but with letters instead of numbers.
I looked at a list of palindromes and picked out some of my favorites. These are my favorites from the first half of the list:
A car, a man, a maraca.
A man, a plan, a canal: Panama.
A man, a plan, a cat, a ham, a yak, a yam, a hat, a canal-Panama!
A Santa at Nasa.
A slut nixes sex in Tulsa.
A Toyota’s a Toyota.
Amy, must I jujitsu my ma?
As I pee, sir, I see Pisa!
Are Mac ‘n’ Oliver ever evil on camera?
Bombard a drab mob.
Bar an arab.
Campus motto: Bottoms up Mac.
Dammit, I’m mad!
Delia saw I was ailed.
Dennis and Edna sinned.
Devil never even lived.
Did Hannah see bees? Hannah did.
Did I draw Della too tall, Edward? I did?
Do geese see God?
Doc, note, I Dissent. A fast never prevents a fatness. I diet on cod.
Dog doo? Good God!
Dr. Awkward
Drab as a fool, aloof as a bard.
Drawn, I sit; serene rest is inward.
Dubya won? No way, bud.
Ed, I hung a gnu hide!
Egad! An adage!
Elba Kramer saw I was remarkable.
Eva, can I stab bats in a cave?
Eve damned Eden. Mad Eve!
Evil olive
Evil rats on no star live.
Ew! Eat a ewe?
Flee to me, remote elf.
Gnu dung.
I prefer pi.
I roamed under it as a tired, nude Maori.
I’m a fool; aloof am I.
In words, alas, drown I.
Is it I? It is I!
Lager, sir, is regal.
Late metal.
Lisa Bonet ate no basil.
Lived on Decaf; faced no Devil.
Lonely Tylenol.
Just Joe
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