I was browsing through Eichlers today and came across "The DNA of Tradition" by Rabbi Yacov Klienman and was immediately hooked. The author has been doing genetic research and postulates that since all Kohanim come from the same ancestor which is Aaron they must share the same genetic marker. From doing research with various scientists his studies came to fruition as his hypothesis was proven.
To read more about this subject check out this link.
I think this is another scientific proof of the validity of the Bible.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Searching for a Hobby
That was 3 months ago and I still haven’t attempted to draw comic book illustrations. Thus goes the story of my life. I am always starting new projects but never finish them. It took my artist prodigy nephew to call my attention to this book as he wanted to attempt to duplicate the figures.
Drawing for me is episodic. It’s not something I do consistently unless you count the doodles that grace the margins of my notebooks. It is something that comes when I am inspired. Enthused by what I do not know. It’s like my subconscious lulls me to fetch out my charcoals and drawing pad and began sketching whatever comes into my head.
Yet you’ll only catch me doing this every couple of months. But some of the stuff is pretty good. If I had the patience to actually take lessons I might have the potential to be great. But alas that’s not my passion.
Yet I do want a hobby. One of my friends is taking Salsa dance. I also need some sort of outlet to let out my creative side. Learning and intellectual stimulation is all good for the brain but I feel I need to unleash stress and tension that comes along with school and I guess life.
Any ideas of hobbies I can pursue would be greatly appreciated.
Hiliarious Grey's Anatomy Moment
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Ayn Rand and Objectivism
I just discovered Ayn Rand and her philosophy and I am captivated. While I disagree with some of her ideas pertaining to G-d and spirituality I agree with her ideas pertaining to politics specifically capitalism and her rational approach to life.
I came across her today while reading New York magazine. The author sketched a brief biography and painted her in a rather harsh light. However despite the arguments that the author used against Ayn Rand and his negative portrayal of her character I found myself completely enraptured with this women and her philosophy of Objectivism.
She was an intense, opinionated, argumentative, and persuasive women. She detested emotionalism and was very rational. She rejected the ordinary and superficial. These are all characteristics I admire. For it is the passionate and logical that get one far. Because listening to our emotions and being swayed by moods is what sets us up for disaster. You have to have a clear and concise goal in mind. Logic is usually accurate and setting your mind to something is more reliable than setting your heart to something. Because emotions change and logic is eternal.
I came across her today while reading New York magazine. The author sketched a brief biography and painted her in a rather harsh light. However despite the arguments that the author used against Ayn Rand and his negative portrayal of her character I found myself completely enraptured with this women and her philosophy of Objectivism.
She was an intense, opinionated, argumentative, and persuasive women. She detested emotionalism and was very rational. She rejected the ordinary and superficial. These are all characteristics I admire. For it is the passionate and logical that get one far. Because listening to our emotions and being swayed by moods is what sets us up for disaster. You have to have a clear and concise goal in mind. Logic is usually accurate and setting your mind to something is more reliable than setting your heart to something. Because emotions change and logic is eternal.
So excuse me while I got to the library and take out The Fountainhead and other books by Ayn Rand. I suggest you do the same.
Musing Over English Class
Today in English class we spend 45 minutes going over vocabulary. Upon entering the class one would think that we're in high school or something. It's college for goodness sake and therefore vocabulary shouldn't be in the curriculum. I mean I think my classmates are at the point in their lives when they can look up words in a dictionary. Instead of wasting time with high school like procedures we can be analyzing the course material.
I mean isn't that what an English class is all about? To delve into the reading? To dissect, analyze, and mull over the text? To discuss and try to figure out the crux of what the author is trying to say? To know the characters? To experience and question the motives of the author or characters?
Instead of doing the above the professor wasted time trying to explain meaning of words to students who just didn't do their homework. To students who couldn't give a crap and make me wonder why they're there in the first place. I personally start to question myself as to why I take everything so seriously when the people around me just text or daydream.
I spoke to my friend about it and she told me that in her English class they actually spent class time reading to themselves the book they were assigned. That's preposterous. I thought you're supposed to read at home. After all what's the point of class then? You don't need a professor to proctor you while you read! I mean does he critique your posture? Is he supposed to admonish you on the pace that you read? Is he there to make sure don't read upside down? I mean what the heck! When you come to class you discuss the reading. I don't know why these professors kowtow to lazy and unmotivated students.
Again, we're in college. Supposedly you come to college on your own because you want to learn and eventually get certified in something. High school is over. Parents forcing their kids to do homework is long gone. Now I think the professors should expect a little more from their students.
This spoon feeding is just not helpful to anybody.
I mean isn't that what an English class is all about? To delve into the reading? To dissect, analyze, and mull over the text? To discuss and try to figure out the crux of what the author is trying to say? To know the characters? To experience and question the motives of the author or characters?
Instead of doing the above the professor wasted time trying to explain meaning of words to students who just didn't do their homework. To students who couldn't give a crap and make me wonder why they're there in the first place. I personally start to question myself as to why I take everything so seriously when the people around me just text or daydream.
I spoke to my friend about it and she told me that in her English class they actually spent class time reading to themselves the book they were assigned. That's preposterous. I thought you're supposed to read at home. After all what's the point of class then? You don't need a professor to proctor you while you read! I mean does he critique your posture? Is he supposed to admonish you on the pace that you read? Is he there to make sure don't read upside down? I mean what the heck! When you come to class you discuss the reading. I don't know why these professors kowtow to lazy and unmotivated students.
Again, we're in college. Supposedly you come to college on your own because you want to learn and eventually get certified in something. High school is over. Parents forcing their kids to do homework is long gone. Now I think the professors should expect a little more from their students.
This spoon feeding is just not helpful to anybody.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Stem Cells and The Golem
(The Maharal of Prague created the Golem to help him protect the Jews from the pogroms in the 16th Century.)
Aside from the spiritual creation I wonder if there was any reproductive technology involved in the process.
Could the Golem have been made from stem cells? How can the Golem help us in the field of robotics or artificial intelligence?
I thought of these connections and was wondering if there is more to be learned from the Golem in the scientific/biotechnological world.
Aside from the spiritual creation I wonder if there was any reproductive technology involved in the process.
Could the Golem have been made from stem cells? How can the Golem help us in the field of robotics or artificial intelligence?
I thought of these connections and was wondering if there is more to be learned from the Golem in the scientific/biotechnological world.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Chasing Your Dreams
We all have dreams of what we want to be when we are older. Young boys playing with their fire trucks dream of one day being part of a fire crew. Little girls dream of being princesses. And some of us dream of more practical things that stay with us forever.
Personally, I've switched my dreams five times over. I used to want to be a detective. This was spurned on by my collection of Nancy Drew books. Next I wanted to be a criminologist, Intelligence analyst,lawyer,neuropsychologist,nurse,doctor and now present day switching from being a nurse to a doctor.
Yet what if your dreams go against your priorities. What if your dreams involve breaking away. What if your dreams mean giving up certain things like moving away from family? Do you still pursue those dreams? Or do you forget about them and bury them in the deep recesses of your heart only to resurface in your daydreams?
This is what I contemplate. I dream of living in Boston and being a top notch doctor/surgeon/researcher working at Mass General and/or the other great hospitals in Boston. Maybe on the side I'll lecture at Harvard Med. I'll be among a beautiful and intellectual city that is a beacon of intelligence proudly hosting many universities. I'll be in a place that I fell in love with the first time I've been there. A city that has a beautiful Jewish community, a community I wouldn't mind raising my kids in.
Yet at the same time I want my kids to grow up near their grandparents.I want them to have their cousins nearby. And I personally want to be close to family. Above all, I don't want to disappoint my parents by leaving them.
So which road do I take? The path that follows my dream but requires some sacrifices? Or do I do the right thing by staying with my family? Is the decision I make based on what my priorities in life are? Do you do the "right" thing?
I guess time will tell and see how my life unfolds. Because man plans and G-d laughs.
Personally, I've switched my dreams five times over. I used to want to be a detective. This was spurned on by my collection of Nancy Drew books. Next I wanted to be a criminologist, Intelligence analyst,lawyer,neuropsychologist,nurse,doctor and now present day switching from being a nurse to a doctor.
Yet what if your dreams go against your priorities. What if your dreams involve breaking away. What if your dreams mean giving up certain things like moving away from family? Do you still pursue those dreams? Or do you forget about them and bury them in the deep recesses of your heart only to resurface in your daydreams?
This is what I contemplate. I dream of living in Boston and being a top notch doctor/surgeon/researcher working at Mass General and/or the other great hospitals in Boston. Maybe on the side I'll lecture at Harvard Med. I'll be among a beautiful and intellectual city that is a beacon of intelligence proudly hosting many universities. I'll be in a place that I fell in love with the first time I've been there. A city that has a beautiful Jewish community, a community I wouldn't mind raising my kids in.
Yet at the same time I want my kids to grow up near their grandparents.I want them to have their cousins nearby. And I personally want to be close to family. Above all, I don't want to disappoint my parents by leaving them.
So which road do I take? The path that follows my dream but requires some sacrifices? Or do I do the right thing by staying with my family? Is the decision I make based on what my priorities in life are? Do you do the "right" thing?
I guess time will tell and see how my life unfolds. Because man plans and G-d laughs.
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