Class Response

In class we’ve learned lots of interesting facts about owl pellets and how to dissect them. As a result, outside of class I’ve learned a few more interesting facts about owl pellets. I’ve learned that owl pellets can be used to teach a part of the natural food chain. The pellet in the owl travels up from the gizzard back to the proventriculus. I did not know that regurgitation often signifies that an owl is ready to eat again, or that when the owl eats more then one prey item within several hours, the various remains are consolidated into one pellet. Lastly, I’ve learned that the pellet cycle is regular. These are a few facts that I’ve learned about owl pellets outside of class.


http://www.owlpages.com/articles.php?section=owl+physiology&title=Digestion
Source: www.owlpages.com


http://www.col-ed.org/cur/sci/sci54.txt
Source: www.col-ed.org

Current Event #2

My summary of this article is that in Cape Canaveral, Florida – The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis lifted off its seaside launch pad on Monday. It was loaded with spare parts to keep the International Space shuttles flying after shuttles are retired next year. This is NASA’s fifth and final flight of the year. This flight began at 2:28 p.m. EST when Atlantis’s twin booster rockets ignited, sending the 24 year old ship through partly cloudy skies to begin it’s 31st journey in to orbit. The shuttle carries 30,000 pounds (13,610 kg) of equipment. Most of this equipment is too big to be launched by the Russian, European, and Japanese cargo ships. All of which is expected to keep the station supplied after the shuttles are retired. This mission by Atlantis is scheduled to last 11 days. NASA plans five more flights to complete the station. The shuttle is being replaced by a capsule style spacecraft called Orion that can travel to the moon and other places in the solar system in addition to the space station, which orbits about 225 miles above earth. The station, a $100 billion project of 16 nations, has been under construction for more then a decade. Atlantis’s has a six man crew, which includes: Commander Charles Hobaugh, pilot Barry Wilmore, floght engineer Randy Bresnick, lead spacewalker Michael Foreman and astronauts Leland Melvin and Robert Satcher. This is Wilmore and Bresnick’s first spaceflight. A flight engineer named Nicole Scott is joining the crew for the flight to return to the space station. She is the last station astronaut slated to fly on the shuttle.

My opinion on this article is that I think all of these things about the Atlantis are very cool and interesting. Also that Atlantis’s twin booster is 24 years old. The fact that the shuttle carries 30,000 pounds (13,610 kg) of equipment is surprising to me because that seems extremely heavy, even for a space shuttle. The Russian, European, and Japanese cargo ships cannot launch this equipment because it’s too big for them. And so I wonder who is going to keep the station supplied after the shuttle are retired. This mission is scheduled to last 11 days; I thought it would be scheduled to last longer. I think it’s good that the shuttle is being replaced because who knows what could happen with something that is starting to get old. I think the $100 billion project of 16 nations that has been under construction for more then a decade is amazing. And I hope the six man crew does an excellent job on their mission. That is my opinion on this article.

Current Event #1

My summary of this article is that in London, a bunch of scientists wrote a letter to the government. This letter was about the government’s decision to force the resignation of David Nutt, the government’s chief drug policy adviser. The government wanted to force the resignation of David Nutt after he said the government had overstated the risks of marijuana – a drug he called far less dangerous then alcohol. These scientists are asking the government to agree to a set of principles. The set of principles are asking to guarantee from official interference, liberty to discuss their work in public, and the right to have their recommendations heard. The government needs the help of scientists of 75 official committees to advise it on some issues. This includes drugs, disease, and the environment, according to Dr.Evan Harris, a lawmaker with the opposition Liberal Democrats. The government rejected the council’s advice when officials stiffened the penalties for marijuana possession earlier this year. They argued that the science surrounding marijuana was too uncertain to take risks.
My opinion on this article is that the government should carefully think before quickly forcing the resignation of David Nutt. I think they should have thought carefully and maybe even do some research about his statement about marijuana. If they found out he was right, they could have done something about it. Though if he was wrong, they could have had the resignation. I think the principles the scientists are asking from the government are fair. Also, I do agree with Dr.Evan Harris that the government does need help from scientists on issues including drugs, disease, and the environment. Though maybe it was a good decision to reject the council’s advice when officials stiffened the penalties for marijuana possession earlier this year. Considering the science surrounding marijuana is too uncertain to take risks. That is my opinion on this article about marijuana and the government in London.


Source:msnbc

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33723358/ns/technology_and_science-science/

Summer Reading Question

I imagine the author of the novel: The View From Saturday, to be a kind, thoughtful human being, who has a different imagination.

Bullying (Man's inhumanity to Man

I think we can't put an end to bullying because maybe, some people are not normal, and they're just messed up. For example, in the Lord of the Flies. Jack is very violent and crazy. Though maybe he's just the way he is because he's not completely normal. That's why I think we can't put an end to bullying.

Welcome Science!

My favorite subject is Literature because i like to read books.
The best book I ever read was The Truth About Forever.
My favorite food to buy in the cafeteria is popcorn chicken with sweet and sour sauce.
On the weekend, when all my chores are done, I like to hang out with my friends, watch tv, and have fun!
If I won a free airline ticket to any place I wanted, I would go to Bermuda because I heard there was pink sand there!
My favorite color is green.
If I had a pet, it would be a dog and I would name it Fluffy.
This year, if I work hard enough, I hope to get straight A's, and acieve in paino and tae-kwon-do.