An Infinitely Interesting Thing.

Echo

There's something about the look in your eyes

Something I noticed when the light was just right.

It reminded me twice that I was alive

And it reminded me that you're so worth the fight.


My biggest fear will be the rescue of me

Strange how it turns out that way, yeah

Could you show me dear... Something I've not seen?

Something infinitely interesting

Could you show me dear... Something I've not seen?

Something infinitely interesting.

Theres something about the way you move

I see your mouth in slow motion when you sing.

More subtle than something someone contrives

Your movements echo that I have seen the real thing.

Your biggest fear will be the rescue of you

Strange how it turns out that way, yeah

Could you show me dear... Something I've not seen?

Something infinitely interesting

Could you show me dear... Something I've not seen?

Something infinitely interesting.

Final: TSA Essay Outline

TSA Essay Outline

Thesis statement: The safety precautions administered by the TSA can be examined in terms of their invasiveness, the lack of trained screeners, and the possible harmful long-term effects of equipment used during the screening process.

1.      Introduction

• History of the travel industry
• First Flight
• First Commercial Flights
• First Established
• Old safety procedures
• TSA Today
• Number of people that fly a year
• New safety procedures.
• Concerns of flyers
• Unconstitutional: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101129/00172312030/why-tsas-searches-are-unconstitutional.shtml

• Thesis statement

2.      Invasiveness

• The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/24/AR2010112404510.html
• Time: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2032786,00.html

3.      Lack of Training

• TSA Training Program: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9615195

• ACA: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=1232&z=34
• Government Executive: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0903/092503w1.htm
• Three Hour/wk Requirement: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/03/eveningnews/main677974.shtml, http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-05-02-airport-screeners_x.htm

4.      Harmful Long-term Effects

• Safety Concerns over TSA Body Scanner: http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/11/fda-sidesteps-safety-concerns-over-tsa-body-scanners.ars
• Study Looks in to Harmful Effects: http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2010/01/study_looks_into_potential_side_effects_of_terahertz_full_body_scanner_technology.html
• Are Airport Scanners Safe?: http://www.npr.org/2010/11/19/131447056/are-airport-scanners-safe, http://www.vpr.net/npr/126833083/

5.      Conclusion

• Alternatives: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2009/1231/Airport-security-two-alternatives-to-full-body-scanners, http://gizmodo.com/5693841/the-basic-things-you-need-to-know-about-full+body-scanners

Music Education: Influential or Insignificant?

Desmond E. Bing

Professor Kerr

English 101-H4

November 10, 2010

Music Education: Influential or Insignificant?

             Since antiquity, humans have been convinced of the inherent value of music and aware of the necessity of its inclusion in the education of children. Plato considered music to be one of the two most important units in school. Aristotle claimed in Politics, "Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it." (“Music Education”) (“Politics”). In my own experience of music, Erik Satie’s “Trois Gymnopédies” produces a definite effect on the moral character of my soul. The title is believed to mean, "a dance accompanied by song and performed by naked Spartan girls" but the term Gymnopædia was an Apollonic celebration in ancient Sparta where men of all ages danced, not naked, but unarmed (“Erik Satie”). Unarmed is the perfect word to describe this song. It stirs in me fond memories of my past that seem more likely to have happened in some indie flick than in my own life. That is the power of music; it can disarm and lead one to depths of the human experience never thought possible. However, there are individuals who say music education takes time away from core subjects and that the impact of it cannot be measured by state and national assessments and any attempt to do so would be futile. Furthermore, as long as science and math reign as the predominant focus of comparison between other countries and ourselves, music will seldom be a front-runner in that race (“Saving the Music”). Even so, music has scientific validity as being very beneficial during the early stages of life. Researchers have discovered links between children who have received musical training in their progressive years and an increase in cognitive, verbal, and emotional development, advanced comprehension of general academic areas such as reading, mathematics, and science, and improved memory and spatial awareness (“The Argument for Music Education”).

According to a Canadian research group who published their findings in Science Daily Magazine, a great deal of evidence exists showing a correlation between musical training in childhood and cognitive proficiency. They measured changes in brain responses to music in children aged 4 to 6 and discovered that children who took Suzuki music lessons had greater improvements in IQ scores (“Musical Training Affects Brain Development”). Northwestern University also conducted a study, which suggests a significant relationship between music training and enhanced verbal proficiency (“Specialized Brain Systems”). However, the most compelling effect of music on the brain is its development of emotional intelligence. Latest research shows that music training sharpens an individual’s ability to recognize emotion in sound, an ability that goes a long way in terms of developing sensitivity to emotional cues and intuitive understanding of social contexts, two skills critical to emotional intelligence. Music training fine-tunes an individual’s perception of the emotional landscape at hand, allowing one to have greater flexibility in dealing with human relationships (“Biological Advantage”). On the other hand, many are requesting a “back-to-basics” movement in which education reform calls for a return to basic subjects only, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic (“Saving the music”). Given the extensive amount of evidence supporting the direct correlation between advanced abilities in many “back to basics” subjects and training in music, it seems rather fitting some opponents to early childhood music education are finding their argument to be somewhat flat and under pitched.

As stated in the “No Child Left Behind Act” of 2002, “The term 'core academic subjects' relates to English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography.” (“Success in School”). Any musician, music teacher, or parent of a music student would agree with the NCLB Act and be capable of calling to mind personal anecdotes about the effectiveness of music study in helping children become better students. Many of the skills obtained through the discipline of music, as these stories commonly point out, transfer to study skills, communication skills, and cognitive skills useful in every part of any curriculum (“Success in School”). Neurological Researchers conducted a study of 237 second graders who were given piano keyboard training and newly designed math software to demonstrate improvement in math skills. The group scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children that used only the math software (“Success in School”). In addition, students with coursework and/or experience in music performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT. Students in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal and 41 points higher on the math and students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on the math, than did students with no arts participation (“Success in School”). However, some argue that if music is brought to a place of core importance, proficiency requirements in the subject will eventually follow. This, they say, would be neither realistic nor beneficial, since not every child has inborn musical talent and required participation in music programs will kill any enjoyment of the subject (“Music Education”). If this argument can be made for music as a core subject, then it must also be made for English, math, or any other required subject. In fact, we could extend it to all education itself, and protest compulsory education on the grounds that students find no pleasure in coming to school since they are forced to do so. Additionally, we must keep in mind that not all people are born with innate abilities in mathematics, sciences, or history: areas in which we nonetheless require proficiency (“Music Education”).

Pablo Casals once said, “Music fills me with the wonder of life and the incredible marvel of being a human.” (“Success in Life”). Music has so many effects on us: from improving self-discipline to helping young people find the confidence to express who they are; but researchers have recently discovered a scientific connection between music and increased memory and spatial awareness (“Developing Intelligence”). A McGill University study found that pattern recognition and mental representation scores improved significantly for students given piano instruction over a three-year period. Furthermore, a University of California (Irvine) study showed that after eight months of keyboard lessons, preschoolers showed a 46% boost in their spatial reasoning IQ (“Developing Intelligence”). Amid the slough of data presenting the positive effects of music on children, there are equally as many people who would prefer children to focus more rigorously on math and science course in order become more competitive in a global technological market. (“Teaching Math and Science”). They hold fast to the belief that in order to keep America’s place atop of the list of innovative discoveries made in the world, we must give prime importance to the math and sciences and second-class recognition to other subjects: specifically music (“Teaching Math and Science”). However, if this belief is to be legitimized we must take into account the fact that both science and math are used a great deal in the discipline of music. The sight-reading/pitching of a specific key and the interval changes between the notes of that key requires proficient math and science skills, so wouldn’t the placing of equal importance to train students in music essentially kill two birds with one stone, so to speak (“Teaching Math and Science”)?

Former President Bill Clinton, who happens to play several instruments, but is widely acknowledged for his superb saxophone skills, once declared, “Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and, by studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective.” (“Success in Life”) The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling training the brain to become incredibly capable of organizing and conducting numerous activities at once. Dedicated practice of this orchestration can have a great payoff for lifelong attention skills, intelligence, and an ability for self-knowledge and expression (“Developing Intelligence”). The need for music education is apparent and the resources are not as hard to come by as they may seem. Although some believe music education takes away from the core subject curriculum, cannot be privy to assessment, and is not worthy of comparable statistics among other countries, the evidence of its benefits far out-weight the arguments for its detriment. Students who are not given strong musical training are robbed of a highly valuable part of their education. Music should not only be taught in school, but be treated as a core subject, essential to the whole development of the student (“Music Education”).

Works Cited

Aristotle. Politics. Cosimo, Inc. P.O. Box 416 Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY.1905.

Print.

“Erik Satie.” Erik Satie Homepage. Web, November 5, 2010 .Nicholas Fogwell in

co-operation with Archives Erik Satie, Paris. March 1996. http://www.af.lu.se/~fogwall/satie.html

 “Music Education: Essential or Expendable?” Lifestyle. Web, November 2,

2010. L.M. Henderson. July 16, 2007. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/288195/music_education_essential_or_expendable.html?cat=4

“Musical Training Effects Brain Development.” “Biological Advantage.” Science Daily. Web, November 3, 2010. Science Dailey, LLC. 1995-2010.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060920093024.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090303161427.htm

  “Saving the Music.” All Academic Research: Stapleton, Katina. and Walton, Matthew.

The Midwest Political Science Association, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois, Apr 15, 2004. Web, November 4, 2010. http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p83765_index.html

“Specialized Brain Systems.” Northwester University. Web, November 6, 2010. Swets and Zeitlinger, Inc. 2010.

http://communication.northwestern.edu/departments/csd/research/developmental_cognitive_neuroscience/documents/Papers/BoothBurman-CN-2001.pdf

 “Success in School.” “Success in Life.” “Developing Intelligence.” Benefits of Music Education. Web, November 1, 2010. Children’s Music Workshop. 2006.

http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/benefits.html

 “Teaching Math and Science” CQ Researcher. Web, November 7, 2010. CQ Press. September, 6, 2002-2010. Volume 12, Number 30.

http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2002090600&type=query&num=Science+and+Math+Comparisons+between+the+US+and+other+countries&

“The Argument for Music Education.” Suite 101.com. Web, November 6, 2010. Diane Laney Fitzpatrick, Inc. http://www.suite101.com/content/the-argument-for-music-education-a59271

Prop H8 Final Draft

Desmond E. Bing

Professor Kerr

English 101-H4

October 20, 2010

Prop H8

        The Declaration of Independence states:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

        Equality for all has been a struggle waged since the beginning of recorded time. The word “struggle” (in relation to finding one’s Creator) established its origins in the Arabic language by defining itself as “Jihad.” That word, jihad, has now been mutated into something much more negative than the initial purpose intended. Now, the struggle to identify the word “marriage” has resurfaced and in doing so, placed it under threat of being altered in similar fashion by denying a particular group of people their unalienable rights. In the fall of 2008, California residents received the chance to circumscribe this topic by voting on Proposition 8. According to Hub Pages, a San Francisco based political Internet publishing company, Proposition 8’s sole purpose for existing is, “To define marriage as being between a man and a woman only.”(“California Proposition 8”). Opponents to Prop 8 say legal recognition of gay marriage will promote stable relationships for same-sex couples, benefit children in same-sex families, and have no effect whatsoever on opposite-sex marriages (“Gay Marriage Showdown”). A widely accepted prerequisite for marriage is love and love can be defined as a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. Person is the word that speaks volumes; not man, or woman, but a person. The passing of Proposition 8 can be examined in terms of Right-Wing Christian efforts to further theorized agendas, false promises made by the Barack Administration, and Voter Confusion/Campaign Shifts.

            Given the scores of Christians invested in the belief that the pope has authority to speak infallibly on matters of faith and morals, it’s rather alarming that he was recently quoted in New York Media Magazine referring to Gay Marriage as “one of the most insidious and dangerous threats to the Common Good of today.”(“Pope on Gay Marriage”). Statements like that seem better off left to one whom works in the field of law enforcement. Nevertheless, many right-wing Christian leaders tend to hold these types of biased ideas on any subject that does not directly correlate to what many believe their real agenda to be: enlarging the number of followers behind their dogmatic beliefs in order to increase the size of the endowments available at their disposal (“Religion”). The Huffington Post, a non-profit Internet blog, video, and newspaper site, stated that spending for and against Prop 8 reached $74 million dollars, making it the most expensive social-issues campaign in U.S. history, and the most expensive campaign this year outside the race for the White House. Forty percent of the campaign funding for the passing of the amendment can be linked directly back to church groups who argue gay marriage goes against tradition, nature, and the teachings of the Bible (“Prop 8”) (“Religion”). However, The Mormon Church seems to be front-runner in the race to stop the legalization of gay marriage by allegidly providing more than half of the money allotted towards the bills passing. In the mid 1990’s, the Church was reportedly receiving over $5 billion in tithes per year. Today, with an almost 14 million-member congregation who has an obligation to donate 1/10 of their income and a total of assets that are reportedly worth at least $30 billion, it’s no wonder the Mormon Church was more than capable of producing a majority of the forty percent of funding used by church groups to aid in the passing of Prop 8 (“Religion”). It seems as though, ironically enough, that in one of the most liberal of states, many of the same people who turned out to elect America's first black president also voted against gay marriage.

Regardless of the view one may hold of our current president, it’s fairly accurate to declare that many of the promises uttered during his campaign for the Presidency would be in need of an archeological team to be found at present. Culturally, we can see a huge increase in the acceptance of gays and lesbians. Specifically in the federal courts, there is for the first time a willingness to embrace the Constitution as a vehicle for securing equality for gay people. Yet in our nation's politics, we see essentially the opposite (“Gay Marriage Issue”). Barack Obama’s presidential campaign website posed that “he supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples,” but many feel that President Barack has held somewhat of a panderly view on same-sex marriage. "My religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman," Obama was quoted as saying during his 2004 Senate campaign in Illinois (“Gay Marriage Showdown”). Richard Socarides, a former Clinton White House adviser on gay rights, was quoted as saying that “President Barack Obama has failed to deliver on his pledges to gays regarding marriage recognition.”(“Gay Marriage Issue”). According to Socarides, it seems as though President Barack made a conscious decision coming into office that these were second-and third-tier issues. People were very excited by him, but he over promised and under delivered. (“Gay Marriage Issue”).

Ninety-five percent of precincts in California reported the ban of gay marriage had 5,125,752 votes, or 52 percent in favor, while there were 4,725,313 votes, or 48 percent opposed, but many feel this may not be the most accurate measure of how the Golden State thinks about the controversial idea (“Prop 8 Voters”). Researchers have been trying to figure out if confusion over Prop 8 may have thrown off some voters. Many people were perplexed by what a vote for “yes” or “no” meant; voting “yes” supported passing the proposition, and thereby a ban on same-sex marriage, while voting “no” was a vote to strike down the measure and allow gay couples to marry (“Prop 8 Voters”). Another big question posed after the election: Who shifted? Six weeks before the vote, Proposition 8 was too close to call. However, in the final weeks, supporters pulled ahead, and by Election Day, the outcome was all but certain (“Gay Marriage Showdown”). The “Yes on 8” campaign targeted parents in its TV ads. "Mom! Guess what I learned in school today!" were the cheery-frightening first words of the supporters' most-broadcast ad. They emerged from the mouth of a young girl who had supposedly just learned that she could marry a female when she grew up. In the last six weeks, when both sides saturated the airwaves with television ads, more than 687,000 voters changed their minds and decided to oppose same-sex marriage. More than 500,000 of those voters, the data suggest, were parents with children under 18 living at home. Now, because the proposition passed by 600,000 votes, this shift alone more than handed victory to proponents (“Behind the Numbers”). This data presents a clear picture that supporters of same-sex marriage have many obstacles to overcome before they return to the ballot, but that work is already underway, and hopefully, now true comprehension of how to illuminate this issue to all can underpin any efforts in order to avoid confusion or shifts in the future (“Gay Marriage Showdown”).

Pertaining to the fight for equal rights for all, Martin Luther King wrote:

“When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note and given the citizen of its country a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."”(“I Have a Dream”)

Dr. King couldn’t be more precise. These rights were a guarantee to every American, without stipulation of sexual orientation, and it seems as though the time has come to send back this bad check and collect the money that rightfully belongs to every citizen of this country. A San Francisco judge appeared to be in alignment with this movement in the case of Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, partners celebrating the over-turning of Prop 8 in there home state and a ten year anniversary all in the same week, by writing "Proposition 8 singles out gays and lesbians and legitimates their unequal treatment.”(“Prop 8”). This is a milestone case; but the causes of the Right-Wing Christian efforts to further theorized agendas, false promises made by the Barack Administration, and Voter Confusion/Campaign Shifts, which lead to the passing of this bill, still seem to be unresolved. Hopefully, someday America will not only live up to the covenant enacted by our four fathers many years ago, but create a way for no one to have the opportunity to use this sacred pact for any other means than the specific goal intended: freedom for all.

Works Cited

“Martin Luther King Jr., “’I Have A Dream.’” American Rhetoric. Web, October 27,

2010. Intellectual Properties Management, Auburn Avenue NE Atlanta, GA 30312. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

“Religion.” BBC News. Web, October 18, 2010. British Broadcasting

Corporation. Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/

“Gay Marriage Showdowns.” CQ Researcher. Web, October 15, 2010. The CQ Researcher, September 26, 2008, Volume 18, Number 33. CQ Press, a division of SAGE publications, 2010. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2008092600&type=query&num=Prop+8&

“California’s Proposition 8.” Hub Pages. Web, October 18, 2010. Hub Pages, Inc. 2010

http://hubpages.com/hub/Californias-Proposition-8

“Prop 8.” The Huffington Post. Web, October 16, 2010. Huffington Post.com, Inc. 2010

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/prop-8

“Behind the Numbers of Prop 8.” LA Times. Web, October 15, 2010. Los Angeles Times, 202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, 90012, 2010.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-fleisher-gay-marriage-20100803,0,7125032.story

“Did Prop 8 Voters Know What They Were Voting For?” Newsweek. Web, October 12,

2010. Harman Newsweek LLC, 2010. http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/08/03/did-prop-8-voters-know-what-they-were-voting-for.html

“Pope on gay marriage.” New York Media. Web, October 17, 2010. New York Media

LLC.2010.http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/05/pope_gay_marriage_one_of_the_m.html.

“In States Races, Gay Marriage Resurfaces As Issue.” NPR News. Web, October 18, 2010. NPR and PBS 2010. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130625231

Works Cited for Essay #3

Works Cited

“Martin Luther King Jr., “’I Have A Dream.’” American Rhetoric. Web, October 27, 2010.

Intellectual Properties Management,

Auburn Avenue NE Atlanta, GA 30312

. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

• I believe this source to be credible and valid based on the information I gained from the website and the doucumentation provided to solidify the validity of the information given. There was an adress, it was coprywrighted by a company, and this is a well known speech to begin with. I would use this source for further research projects.

“Religion.” BBC News. BBC News: Web, October 18, 2010. British Broadcasting

Corporation. Broadcasting House,

Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA

2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/

• The BBC is a very credible and reliable news source that has publishing articles since the 1920's. The articles published by BBC News are written by well qualified journalists and reporters who have won and or been nominated for numerous writing awards. I would definitely use this source for other research assignments.

“Gay Marriage Showdowns.” CQ Researcher.. Web, October 15, 2010. The CQ Researcher,

September 26, 2008, Volume 18, Number 33. CQ Press, a division of SAGE publications, 2010. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2008092600&type=query&num=Prop+8&

• The CQ Researcher is a credible source that was given to me by the head of the FCC library. Being that its a secure website, information must go through a screening process before it is made availbale for reasearch use. I would use the CQ Researcher again.

“California’s Proposition 8.” Hub Pages.. Web, October 18, 2010. Hub Pages, Inc. 2010

http://hubpages.com/hub/Californias-Proposition-8

•  Although there are personal blogs on this new website, I found most of the articles to be written very well and documented properly. I would maybe use this source again.

“Prop 8.” Huffington Post. Web, October 16, 2010. Huffington Post.com, Inc. 2010

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/prop-8

• Huffington Post was a really good source with well written articles by decorated journalists. I would use the Huffington Post for further research.

“Behind the Numbers of Prop 8.” LA Times. Web, October 15, 2010. Los Angeles Times,

202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, 90012, 2010.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-fleisher-gay-marriage-20100803,0,7125032.story

• LA Time has very well written articles by reporters who use very well doucumented sourcing techniques so I trust the information that was provided to me. I would use this source again.

“Did Prop 8 Voters Know What They Were Voting For?” Newsweek. Web, October 12,

2010. Harman Newsweek LLC, 2010. http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/08/03/did-prop-8-voters-know-what-they-were-voting-for.html

• Newweek is a reliable source with well written, doucumented articles. I would use them again.

“Pope on gay marriage.” New York Media. Web, October 17, 2010. New York Media

LLC.2010.http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/05/pope_gay_marriage_one_of_the_m.html.

• New York Media Magazine may be a company that writes articles well, but I think some of the articles may have some bias to them. I probably wouldn't use it again.

“In States Races, Gay Marriage Resurfaces As Issue.” NPR News. Web, October 18, 2010.

NPR and PBS 2010.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130625231

• NPR is a very valid source and its partner co and copywrite source is PBS. The articles were well documented and well written. I would use this source again.

A Dream Diferred

A Dream Diferred

While most fifth graders in the mid 90’s were playing sega genesis and collecting pogs, I was busy holding fervent discussions with my father as to whether or not Neurology was the field of medicine best suited to my disposition. I have always had a knack for helping people. I wouldn’t say science came naturally to me, but I worked hard and had great teachers, so those factors made my fondness for it grow each day.

After my father past away, the dream of one day being known as “Dr. Bing” soon became a painful memory of my past. Nevertheless, I, by no means, lost sight of my main objective: to help people. I decided that I wanted to explore the artist in me so I examined how I could achieve my objective through the discipline of theatre, which many people may say is useless, but I would have to disagree. I’ve learned a great deal about myself and about how people interact with one another. Furthermore, I’ve learned how to stand by my commitments and give my all, no matter the endeavor. However, the most important thing obtained during my search was a love for knowledge. It was fostered by copious amounts of distinguished faculty members and classmates who represented all walks of life, which has given me the ability to connect on a basic human level with pretty much any and everyone I meet.

At present, it seems as though the occurrence of a person who has had the good fortune of encountering a doctor who provided exceptional care is roughly equivalent to the odds projected for one winning the lottery. I have met some amazing doctors throughout my life, mostly due to the fact that both of my brothers were in and out of hospitals while we were growing up because of sickle cell anemia, but those were rarities. Most doctors I’ve come into contact with have been clinicians; able to diagnose a disease but not really capable of internalizing the fact that they are members of a distinct sect of the populace who is responsible for sustaining human life and that fact alone touts a prerequisite for something more-something greater than just a clinician.

Personally, I want to go in pediatrics; specifically cardiology. I’m extremely fascinated by the recent breakthroughs that have occurred in that branch of medicine, particularly the research pertaining to Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. I recently read that Dr. Kenneth R. Chien’s research laboratory at Harvard discovered a "master" cardiovascular stem cell that can give rise to all three major cell types in the heart: cardiac, smooth muscle, and endothelial . It is unbelievably amazing to me that, potentially, a human heart can be created and given to a little girl with no hope of living past the age of nine so that she can one day know what it’s like to go to prom or kiss a boy.

Everyone has been telling me to choose a path. They say, “You can’t do both Desmond! You can’t be a doctor and an artist.” I’ve decided that I’m not going to choose. My background in the arts will only contribute to my quest for knowledge by making readily available a multitude of creativity and warmth, which can be utilized in fully in the position I’m choosing to pursue in the medical field. To give people the comfort of knowing that you’re on their side and willing to do any and every thing in your power to help them is the first and, I believe, most important job of the doctor. Doctors save lives; and that is probably the coolest thing anyone can ever be a part of. All I ask of you is the opportunity to explore another side of myself and, hopefully some day, help people all over the world. Langston Hughes once posed the question, “What happens to a dream deferred?” I think an appropriate answer to that would be, “Whatever you want to happen to it.”

Eye to Eye Final Draft

Desmond E. Bing

Professor Kerr

English 101-H4

October 7, 2010

Eye to Eye

It is generally accepted that cats and dogs are colorblind due to a sensitivity they have to specific colors. Snakes have employment of two sets of “eyes” so to speak: one set during the day, by which vision is carried out solely through the movement of an object and the other set for night, which utilizes infrared heat signals to help snakes identify their surroundings. Most insects have compound eyes, made up of hundreds or even thousands of tiny lenses placed together in a honeycomb pattern creating a jigsaw or puzzle like scope to their vision (Vision and Health Resources). Vision and Health Resources, an online directory that aids one in the finding of a local eye doctor and provides information and statistics on the eyes of humans and animals, states that  how one views their world can be determined by a multitude of factors. Not all animals, be they big or small, see the world as humans do. For many animals, the world is seen in fuzzy shades of gray or washed out “pale” colors. On the other hand, for some, living in perpetual darkness has given way to colors beyond our wildest dreams; shades that cannot be seen by humans on the color spectrum. Others can use binocular vision to spot prey thousands of feet away (Vision and Health Resources). The human and animal eye can be observed in order to find the differences and similarities between the placement of the eyes, the depth of the visual spectrum, and the diseases that can occur to the eyes.

           Every animal species, including humans, has evolved eye placement that best ensures its survival. The location of the eyes on an animal's body determines how that particular animal receives visual information. Most animals have eyes that are either on the front of the head, like humans, or the side of the head, but in some rare instances such as with Crocodiles and Alligators, the eyes can often appear on the top of an animal’s head. Eyes in the front of the head provide binocular vision and excellent depth perception, which is why humans have the capability of seeing intricate patterns and abstract colors (Human vs. Animal Eye). Most predators, as with the example of tigers, wolves, and hawks, have eyes in the front of the head that allow them to stalk and chase fleeing prey. Although this evolutionary trait can create excellent hunters, there are strong disadvantages that accompany binocular vision such as large blind spots and limited peripheral vision, which make it easy for prey to hide. Conversely, an animal with eyes on the side of its head has a wide range of vision. For example, deer, rabbits, and many other herbivorous prey animals have eyes on the side of their heads, allowing them to see predators at any angel while grazing. The only drawback to this attribute is that eyes on the side of the head can often create a blind spot directly in front of the animal; but a strong sense of smell helps to overcome this handicap (Human vs. Animal Eye).

            The sun emits energy at different wavelengths, and visible light comprises just a tiny part of the solar color spectrum. Visible light is capable of penetrating the earth’s surface quite easily and is actually part of the electro-magnetic spectrum, which is why every animal on earth sees at a slightly different spectrum (Art and Science of Vision). Color Wavelengths can be categorized by long or short. At the long end, some fish and butterflies see a little into the infrared, which gives them extra visual sensations at dawn and dusk.  Humans can see a sufficiently powerful infrared source, as vision pioneer George Wald discovered while developing infrared-based viewing devices for the US Board of Army Engineers during the Second World War, but only with the use of special equipment because the human eye is not normally able to see infrared wavelengths (Art and Science of Vision). The short end is dominated by ultraviolet rays. While ultraviolet rays pose a threat to most mammals that are active during the day, humans have evolved a unique pigment in the lens that absorbs ultraviolet rays almost completely. Squirrels have also developed an anecdote to ultraviolet rays. The lens of the squirrel has a yellowish tint to it creating a barrier for the eye against the harmful rays (Art and Vision of Science).

            The eyes are one of the smallest and most complex systems working in the human body, which makes them prone to many types of diseases that can affect their productivity. Although it is only about the size of a pimple, a sty can be extremely annoying and painful. This inflamed or infected swelling can be the result of an infected follicle or a blocked gland in the eyelid. Sties are sometimes, but not always, related to blepharitis, which can only occur in the human eye (Vision and Health Resources). Blepharitis is an inflammation of the edges of the eyelids, causing redness and thickening. The disease is common, especially in children, and often affects the upper and lower eyelids of both eyes. There are two types: ulcerous and nonulcerous. Infection of eyelash follicles and oil glands cause ulcerous blepharitis. The nonulcerous variety, which is more common, can be caused by an allergy or seborrheic dermatitis, which is an inflammatory scaling of the scalp, eyebrows, or ears (Discovery Health). A common disease that attacks primarily domesticated animals is having a detached retina. Normally, the retina is firmly attached to the choroid, an underlying layer of tissue that is rich in blood vessels. If sufficient blood or other fluid collects between the retina and the choroid, the retina can become partially or totally detached (Vision Health Resources). A disease that can occur in both animal and human eyes is known as Conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis, also called pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a delicate membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the exposed surface of the eye. Bacteria and viruses are the usual causes of conjunctivitis. Allergies, chemicals, dust, smoke, exposure to chlorine in swimming pools, and foreign objects that irritate the conjunctiva may also lead to this condition (Discovery Health).

            Animals develop behavior to respond to the information that is being given to them in a specific instance. Unlike humans, they tend to focus on the act of seeing rather than what is being viewed in order to sustain survival. Humans enjoy the magnificence of consciousness. We can appreciate seeing for its own sake and tend to assume that the eye is simply a window on the world (Art and Science of Vision).  Both human and animal eyes, in terms of their placement, depth of the visual spectrum, and proneness to disease, paint a picture that has yet to be completed. We have no inkling of the future holds for our eyes; will humans always be able to filter harmful rays? Will certain animals ever be able to see colors as we do? Moreover, what we will be able to see if our eyes develop the ability to view more than we ever dreamed possible? Our eyes, human and animal alike, give us the possibility of creating a world without boundaries or limits.

           

Works Cited

Ings, Simon. A Natural History of Seeing: The Art and Science of Vision. W.W.

Norton & Company. New York, NY. London, England, 2008. Print.

Eyesandvision.com. Vision Health Resources. Web, October 3, 2010. Vision Health

2006- 2010 http://www.eyes-and-vision.com/how-animals-see-the-world.html

eHow. Human vs. Animal Eye Location. Web, October 4, 2010. eHow, Inc. 1999-2010

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5732079_human-vs_-animal-eye-location.html

Discovery Health.  Eye Care. Web, October 2, 2010. Discovery Health, Inc. 2010

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/beauty-hygiene/how-to-care-for-your-eyes4.htm

Final Draft of Videre

Desmond E. Bing

Professor Kerr

English 101-H4

September 22, 2010

Videre

In Simon Ings’ book, A Natural History of Seeing: The Art and Science of Vision, he writes:

“Human beings arise not from dust, but from stuff hardly more edifying: a gelid spittle. How, from this unpromising material, anything beautiful emerges-let alone anything that comprehends and communicates something of the world beyond itself is a mystery to big to be encompassed by just one version of events.” (“The Art and Science of Vision” 2)

The words of Mr. Ings, a well respected science writer and author of over ten novels, could not be a more accurate description of the struggle we now seem to find ourselves in. There are countless theories on how the human race “came to be” but the distinct theme that remains a constant in every story is the importance placed on one body part in particular: The eyes. From Roman mythology to Egyptian Pantheon, almost every civilization in some way seems to lend itself to the idea that the eyes are both windows and beacons for the mind, body, and soul. They provide vision-our most precious sense; but they also transmit signals to others-signals of anger, lust, fear, and compassion. Eyes can desire or violate; they can even reflect our innermost thoughts (“World of Body: Eyes”). The human eyes, for their physical, spiritual, and symbolic concepts, have been seen throughout the world, past and present, as one of the most revered aspects of our body.

The first recorded physical scientific study of the human eye was the work of Greek physician Herophilus (335-280 B.C.). He used a unique analogy to describe the anatomy of the eye. He formulated that the eyeball was much like layers of clothing. Working inward, he described the components of the eyeball just as one might describe what some one is wearing (“The Art and Science of Vision”). Beginning with the conjunctiva there are 15 other mechanisms that make up the eye. The collagen based cornea, the ciliary muscle, and the iris, the pupil, and the lens make up most of the front parts of the eye. The aqueous humor, the suspensory ligament, and the sclera, which is the white of the eye, help to incorporate the mid-section. These are then followed by the choroid, the retina, and the vitreous humor, leaving the macula, the fovea, the blood vessels and the optic nerve to comprise the last four mechanisms of our eyes (“The Art and Science of Vision”). This is the structure of the human eye, but even infinitely more fascinating is how vision actually occurs. According to research done by Sightsavers USA, an international nonprofit that works to restore the sight of blind people and provide medical care to prevent blindness, the images we see are composed of light reflected from objects. This light enters the eye through the cornea. Now, because this part of the eye is curved, it bends the light, creating an upside-down image on the retina, which is eventually put the right way up by the brain. The retina is a complex part of the eye, but only the very back of it is light-sensitive. This part of the retina is packed with photosensitive cells called rods and cones, which allow us to see images in color and to see at night, respectively. Sightsavers USA researchers found that cones are the cells responsible for daylight vision and contain three different types of structures-each responding to a different wavelength of light: red, green and blue. The cones also allow us to see in detail, while rods are responsible for night vision and sensory depth awareness. The lens aids in the clarity of an image and allows an object to change shape as well as bringing into focus objects at different distances. Once the image is clearly focused on the sensitive part of the retina, energy in the light that makes up that image creates an electrical signal. The nerve impulse then carries the information about that image to the brain through the optic nerve and, hence, you have vision (“Sightsavers USA”). The Latin word for vision is videre. It literally means to see. There is validity, academically of course, to the fact that our eyes are not the only assets we use for vision.

Throughout history, mankind has often alluded to the fact there is more to our world than meets the eye. Speaking from a spiritual perspective, they are many examples of how this thinking has influenced different cultures. In Christian scriptures alone, there are thousands of passages that equate the significance of the eye to “the creator,” “The light of the body is the eye if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light; but if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.” (“Matthew 6:22, 23; Luke 11:34”) Then there is the Hamsa (which means, “I am that”): a Middle Eastern protection spell against the evil eye whose origins date back to more than 1500 years B.C. (“The Hamsa Hand Symbology”) Hinduism is also full of links between the eyes and the creator, “Thou canst not!—nor, with human eyes, Arjuna! Therefore I give thee sense divine. Have other eyes, new light! This is My glory unveiled to mortal sight!” (“Symbolic Meanings of the Eye”) The idea that when one sees with more than just their physical eyes (meaning that they have shed some sort of characteristic of themselves in order to gain a genuine connection to the divine) is known as seeing with “true eyes”, and has been prevalent throughout most cultures since the beginning of recorded time. Many ancient esoteric scriptures give way to the belief of an invisible eye. This “third eye,” commonly referred to as the spiritual eye or the soul of the eyes, is thought to be the domain of focus, clarity, vision, prophesy, and awareness. It is associated with the Brow chakra (or Ajna chakra) which facilitates intuition and extra sensory perception, and is symbolic of the inner eye that sees all things within a cosmic perspective. (“Spiritual Meanings of the Eye”) This branch of thinking has led certain cultures to create symbols that play a key role in how the eye/god relationship assimilates into each individual’s society.

Symbolism has been useful in describing the connection between the eyes and the progress of humanity. In Christianity, the eye of God is depicted as hovering over a tent, which is symbolic of the Tabernacle-the temple of the faithful. The eye here represents the omni-present spirit of God peering into the soul of the faithful-ever watchful over those who serve (“Bible Meanings”). In Egypt, we see “The Eye of Horus,” who during his battle with Set, had it ripped out and torn to pieces. Thoth, however, was able to save Horus’ eye by invoking the magic of the falcon. In this context, the eyes are a symbol of protection and life. Numerous Yogis and Swamis of the Far East believe that in dreaming, the meaning of eyes indicates an opening into a new dimension. This is symbolic of one’s vision clearing and focusing in on a new direction. It may also indicate one’s ability to see past what is common and spiritually arrive to the point where one’s inner vision perceives all things in their divine glory; even the simplest of things become imbued with an exquisite quality inherent in all nature (“Autobiography of a Yogi: Pramahansa Yogananda”) (“Symbolic Meanings of the Eyes”).

Our eyes provide the framework for a considerably large part of who we are and who we can become in life because it is through these lenses one can begin to understand the facets of our world. Our eyes tell the story of our humanity; of the physical, spiritual, and symbolic meanings of one of the most important human body parts. It is how we have come to interpret “eyes” that has led to the on-going allure of the questions; but if one theme is capable of unvarying dominance between people from so many different sects of life, then shouldn’t that provide evidence of its value and be something worthy of further investigation? Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize winning author and playwright, wrote:

“We want more life. We can’t just stop. We’re not rocks-progress, migration, motion is modernity. It’s animate, it’s what living things do. We desire. Even if all we desire is stillness, it’s still desire for.” (“Angels in America” 5.5.264)

Our earnest desire to know ourselves, eyes and all, is assisting in informing the questions to which we all seek answers.

Works Cited

Answers.com. World of body: Eyes. Web, September 5, 2010. Answers Corporation, 

2010.http://www.answers.com/topic/eyes-4

Ings, Simon. A Natural History of Seeing: The Art and Science of Vision. W.W.

Norton & Company. New York, NY. London, England, 2008. Print.

Jewish Gift Place. Hamsa Hand Symbology: What is the Hamsa Hand? Web, September

7, 2010. Long Island, NY, 2010.

Kushner, Tony. Angels in America. Theatre Communications Group, Inc., 520 8^th Ave.,

New York, NY, 1995. Print.

Sightsavers USA. How We See. Web, September 5, 2010. Sightsavers International,

Inc., Chapel & York Limited, 1000 N West St, Suite 1200, Wilmington, DE, 2010.

Swedenborg, E. and Thompson, I.J. Bible Meanings. Web, September 5, 2010, February

2002.http://www.biblemeanings.info/Words/Body/Eye.htm.

Symbolic Meanings of the Eye. Web, September 5, 2010.

Yogananda, Pramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi. International Publications Council

of The Self-Realization Fellowship. Los Angeles, CA, 2007. Print.

Real Thing

What makes something real?
How does one know that they're had a real experience?
Does or can the Theory of Relativity provide further answers?
How do you know if someone is being real with you?
How do you know when you're not being real with youself or others?

Slow Motion

What is slow motion?
What is motion?
How does slow motion occurr?
What rate does something have to be going to be considered in "slow motion"?
What is the rate at which "motion" is evaluated?

Videre

Desmond E. Bing

Professor Kerr

H. English 101

September 15, 2010

Videre

      In Simon Ings’ book, A Natural History of Seeing: The Science and Art of Vision, he writes:

“Human beings arise not from dust, but from stuff hardly more edifying: a gelid spittle. How, from this unpromising material, anything beautiful emerges-let alone anything that comprehends and communicates something of the world beyond itself is a mystery to big to be encompassed by just one version of events.” (“The Art and Science of Vision” pg.#2).

The words of Mr. Ings, a well respected science writer and author of over ten novels, could not be a more accurate description of the struggle we now seem to find ourselves in. There are countless theories on how the human race “came to be” but the distinct theme that remains a constant in every story is the importance placed on one body part in particular: The eyes. From Roman mythology to Egyptian Pantheon, almost every civilization in some way seems to lend itself to the idea that the eyes are both windows and beacons for the mind, body, and soul. They provide vision-our most precious sense; but they also transmit signals to others-signals of anger, lust, fear, and compassion. Eyes can desire or violate; they can even reflect our innermost thoughts. (“World of Body: Eyes”) The human eyes, for their physical, spiritual, and symbolic concepts, have been seen throughout the world, past and present, as one of the most revered aspects of our body.

The first recorded physical scientific study of the human eye was the work of Greek physician Herophilus (335-280 B.C.). He used a unique analogy to describe the anatomy of the eye. He formulated that the eyeball was much like layers of clothing. Working inward, he described the components of the eyeball just as one might describe what some one is wearing. (“The Art and Science of Vision”) Beginning with the conjunctiva there are 15 other mechanisms that make up the eye. The collagen based cornea, the ciliary muscle, and the iris, the pupil, and the lens make up most of the front parts of the eye. The aqueous humor, the suspensory ligament, and the sclera, which is the white of the eye, help to incorporate the mid-section. These are then followed by the choroid, the retina, and the vitreous humor, leaving the macula, the fovea, the blood vessels and the optic nerve to comprise the last four mechanisms of our eyes. (“The Art and Science of Vision”) This is the structure of the human eye, but even infinitely more fascinating is how vision actually occurs. According to research done by Sightsavers USA, an international nonprofit that works to restore the sight of blind people and provide medical care to prevent blindness, the images we see are composed of light reflected from objects. This light enters the eye through the cornea. Now, because this part of the eye is curved, it bends the light, creating an upside-down image on the retina, which is eventually put the right way up by the brain. The retina is a complex part of the eye, but only the very back of it is light-sensitive. This part of the retina is packed with photosensitive cells called rods and cones, which allow us to see images in color and to see at night, respectively. Sightsavers USA researchers found that cones are the cells responsible for daylight vision and contain three different types of structures-each responding to a different wavelength of light: red, green and blue. The cones also allow us to see in detail, while rods are responsible for night vision and sensory depth awareness. The lens aids in the clarity of an image and allows an object to change shape as well as bringing into focus objects at different distances. Once the image is clearly focused on the sensitive part of the retina, energy in the light that makes up that image creates an electrical signal. The nerve impulse then carries the information about that image to the brain through the optic nerve and, hence, you have vision. (“Sightsavers USA”) The Latin word for vision is videre. It literally means to see. There is validity, academically of course, to the fact that our eyes are not the only assets we use for vision.

Throughout history, mankind has often alluded to the fact there is more to our world than meets the eye. Speaking from a spiritual perspective, they are many examples of how this thinking has influenced different cultures. In Christian scriptures alone, there are thousands of passages that equate the significance of the eye to “the creator”, “The light of the body is the eye if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light; but if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.” (“Matthew 6:22, 23; Luke 11:34”) Then there is the Hamsa (which means, “I am that”): a Middle Eastern protection spell against the evil eye whose origins date back to more than 1500 years B.C. (“The Hamsa Hand Symbology”) Hinduism is also full of links between the eyes and the creator, “Thou canst not!—nor, with human eyes, Arjuna! Therefore I give thee sense divine. Have other eyes, new light! This is My glory unveiled to mortal sight!” (“Revelation of the Supreme”) The idea that when one sees with more than just their eyes (meaning that they have shed some sort of physical aspect of themselves in order to gain a genuine connection to the divine) is known as seeing with “true eyes”, and has been prevalent throughout most cultures since the beginning of recorded time. Many ancient esoteric scriptures believe there is also an invisible eye. This “third eye,” commonly referred to as the spiritual eye or the soul of the eyes, is believed to be the domain of focus, clarity, vision, prophesy, and awareness. It is associated with the Brow chakra (or Ajna chakra) which facilitates intuition and extra sensory perception, and is symbolic of the inner eye that sees all things within a cosmic perspective. (“Spiritual Meanings of the Eye”) This branch of thinking has led certain cultures to create symbols that play a key role in how the eye/god relationship assimilates into each individual’s society.

Symbolism has been useful in describing the connection between the eyes and the progress of humanity. In Christianity the eye of God is depicted as hovering over a tent, which is symbolic of the Tabernacle-the temple of the faithful. The eye here represents the omni-present spirit of God peering into the soul of the faithful-ever watchful over those who serve. (“Bible Meanings”) In Egypt, we see “The Eye of Horus”, who during his battle with Set, had it ripped out and torn to pieces. Thoth, however, was able to save Horus’ eye by invoking the magic of the falcon. In this context, the eyes are a symbol of protection and life. Numerous Yogis and Swamis of the Far East believe that in dreaming, the meaning of eyes indicates an opening into a new dimension. This is symbolic of one’s vision clearing and focusing in on a new direction. It may also indicate one’s ability to see past what is common and spiritually arrive to the point where one’s inner vision perceives all things in their divine glory; even the simplest of things become imbued with an exquisite quality inherent in all nature. (“Autobiography of a Yogi: Pramahansa Yogananda”) (“Symbolic Meanings of the Eyes”)

I am just in saying that our eyes provide the framework for a considerably large part of who we are and who we can become in life because it is through these lenses one can begin to understand the facets of our world. Our eyes tell the story of our humanity; of the physical, spiritual, and symbolic meanings of one of the most important human body parts. It is how we have come to interpret “eyes” that has led to the on-going allure of the questions; but if one theme is capable of unvarying dominance between people from so many different sects of life, then shouldn’t that provide evidence of its value and be something worthy of further investigation? Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize winning author and playwright, wrote:

“We want more life. We can’t just stop. We’re not rocks-progress, migration, motion is modernity. It’s animate, it’s what living things do. We desire. Even if all we desire is stillness, it’s still desire for.” (“Angels in America” 5.5.264)

Our earnest desire to know ourselves, eyes and all, is assisting in informing the questions to which we all seek answers.

Works Cited

Answers.com. World of body: Eyes. Web, September 5, 2010. Answers Corporation,  

2010.http://www.answers.com/topic/eyes-4

Ings, Simon. A Natural History of Seeing: The Art and Science of Vision. W.W.

Norton & Company. New York, NY. London, England, 2008. Print.

Jewish Gift Place. Hamsa Hand Symbology: What is the Hamsa Hand? Web, September

7, 2010. Long Island, NY, 2010.

Kushner, Tony. Angels in America. Theatre Communications Group, Inc., 520 8^th Ave.,

New York, NY, 1995. Print.

Sightsavers USA. How We See. Web, September 5, 2010. Sightsavers International,

Inc., Chapel & York Limited, 1000 N West St, Suite 1200, Wilmington, DE, 2010.

Swedenborg, E. and Thompson, I.J. Bible Meanings. Web, September 5, 2010, February

2002.http://www.biblemeanings.info/Words/Body/Eye.htm.

Symbolic Meanings of the Eye. Web, September 5, 2010.

Yogananda, Pramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi. International Publications Council

of The Self-Realization Fellowship. Los Angeles, CA, 2007. Print.

Infinitely

What is the infinite?
Why do most people associate some sort of divinity with the inifinte?
What is the literaly translastion of the word "infinitely"?
How do other cultures deal with the question of the inifite?

My biggest fear

What is my biggest fear?
What is your biggest fear?
What is fear?
Do people tend to fear the unkown as opposed to the known?
Is the only thing to fear, really fear itself?
What causes one to feel fear?
What are the chemical processes that tell us that we are afraid of something?
What occurs in the body when one is afraid?

Worth the fight

What makes something worthy of fighting for?
What are the lengths to which one has gone to fight for something they believed in?
What's "worth the fight" to me?
What's "worth the fight" to you?
Would you give something up for a worthy cause?
Would you give your  life, if necessary, for something deemed worthy?
Can worth be measured?
What are the different types of worth (i.e. physical, emotional, spiritual, symbolic, etc.)?

Alive

What does it really mean to be alive?
What is life?
Where does it begin/end?
What are some different cultural perspectives on life and the after-life?

Eyes

What are eyes?
What do they do (purpose of the eye)?
Why do we have eyes?
What mechanisms make up the eyes?
How does vision occur?
Hamsa Hand Symbology
What are some cultural perspectives on the meaning behind our eyes?


Physical Components of the Eye

"In this illustration from La Dioptrique (1637), René Descartes shows fairly accurately the way in which the optics of the eye form an inverted image in the plane of the retina (seen here through a window cut in the back of an ox eye). The Jesuit astronomer Christopher Scheiner (1573-1650) was the first to observe the image in this way, although Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) had already geometrically deduced its likely organization. Before this time, most philosophers had imagined the lens to be the point of focus of light."

  

• "Eyes are both windows and beacons for the mind. They provide vision — our most precious sense. But they also transmit signals to others — signals of anger, lust, fear, compassion, happiness. Eyes can desire (‘A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blind’; Shakespeare, Love's Labours Lost 1595) ; but also violate (‘They rape us with their eyes’; Marilyn French, The Women's Room 1977) ; and eyes can reflect our innermost thoughts (‘Her eyes are homes of silent prayer’; Alfred, Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam A. H. H. canto 32, 1850). Gaze is arguably the most powerful component of body language."

• "An eye is a part of the body specialized for catching light and translating it into nerve impulses. Defined in such basic terms, eyes have been around for a very long time. The fossils of primitive arthropods (ancestors of insects, crustaceans and spiders), 530 million years old, show clear signs of eyes, and the first eye-like organs probably date back to the very beginning of multicellular life, 600 million years ago. In the depths of the ocean, in underground rivers, inside the bodies of other animals, there are creatures without eyes. And organisms such as corals and sea anemones, which simply stay still and grow, have no need of eyes. But wherever there is light and a reason to move around, animals have eyes."

•  "The most essential feature of a true eye is a mechanism for catching the energy of light and using it to trigger a chemical reaction. This is achieved in all eyes by substances called photopigments. Every photopigment consists of a derivative of vitamin A (retinal) linked to a protein molecule called an opsin. Here again is evidence of the antiquity of seeing: opsins are similar in structure and are encoded by very similar, conserved genes throughout the animal world. Even certain bacteria have photopigments in their membranes. The capacity to catch light was one of the first tricks discovered in the story of life."

• The images we see are made up of light reflected from objects. This light enters the eye through the cornea. Because this part of the eye is curved, it bends the light, creating an upside-down image on the retina which is eventually put the right way up by the brain.

• The retina is a complex part of the eye, but only the very back of it is light-sensitive. This part of the retina has roughly the area of a quarter coin, and is packed with photosensitive cells called rods and cones. These allow us to see images in color and detail, and to see at night. Cones are the cells responsible for daylight vision. There are three kinds - each responding to a different wavelength of light: red, green and blue. The cones allow us to see in color and detail. Rods are responsible for night vision. They are sensitive to light but not to color. In darkness, the cones do not function at all.

• The lens focuses the image. It can do this because of its adjustable nature. It uses muscles to change shape and help us focus on objects at different distances. The automatic focusing of the lens is a reflex response and is not controlled by the brain.

• Once the image is clearly focused on the sensitive part of the retina, energy in the light that makes up that image creates an electrical signal. Nerve impulses then carry the information about that image to the brain through the optic nerve.
   

Symbolic Meanings of the Eye

A quick list of attributes on the symbolic meaning of eyes:

Focus

Clarity

Vision

Prophesy

Omniscience

Presence

Intelligence

Perception

Observation

Opening

Awareness

• "In Christianity the Eye of God is depicted hovering over a tent which is symbolic of the Tabernacle - the temple of the faithful. The eye here represents the omni-present spirit of God peering into the soul of the faithful - ever watchful over those who serve."

• "In Egypt we see the Eye of Horus (a.k.a. the eye of Ra, and also referred to as a wedjat or a udjat). In this context the eye is a symbol of protection and life. During his battle with Set, Horus' eye was ripped out and torn to pieces. Thoth, however, was able to save the eye and restored it by invoking the magic of the falcon."

•  "It's interesting that in Egypt and Western occult traditions the left eye is considered a lunar trait and a symbol of northern direction. The right eye is a solar symbol and represents southern direction."

• "The "third eye" is referred to as the spiritual eye, the intuitive eye, or the eye of the soul. It is associated with the brow chakra (or Ajna chakra) which facilitates intuition and extra sensory perception. The third eye is depicted on the forehead of Shiva, and is symbolic of the inner eye that sees all things within a cosmic perspective."

•  "In Dreaming the meaning of eyes indicates an opening into a new dimension. This is symbolic of your vision clearing and focusing in on a new direction. It may also indicate your ability to see past what is common and spiritually arrive to the point where your inner vision perceives all things in their divine glory - even the simplest of things become imbued with an exquisite quality inherent in all nature. The symbolic meaning of eyes also carry a message of prophesy - literally seeing "a vision of the future." This translates well with ancient alchemists and astrologers speaking of eyes of the sky foretelling certain events as they chart the stars in certain patterns to ascertain various outcomes."

• "Many ancient esoteric as well as earth-based philosophies consider the eye as a channel or a passageway into a new dimension. Here the eye is not a physical symbol but rather a ethereal one in which consciousness may enter into a gateway of infinite expanse. This journey is traversed through the pitch-black channel of being-ness (represented by the black of the pupil). Once the threshold is crossed, one is said to obtain higher knowledge - a glimpse of heightened epiphany - comparable to enlightenment."

Spiritual (i.e. Bible) Meanings of the Eye

• "The light of the body is the eye if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light; but if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness; if therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness (Matthew 6:22, 23; Luke 11:34).

• "If thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee (Matthew 5:29; 18:9).
  -The left eye is the intellectual, but the right eye is its affection. The right eye is to be plucked out means that the affection is to be subdued if it causes stumbling."

• "Jesus said to the disciples, Do ye not yet perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? having eyes see ye not? and having ears hear ye not? (Mark 8:17, 18);
  -where it is manifest that not to be willing to understand and not to believe, is to have eyes and not see."