Friday, June 3, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Paper VooDoo Doll
Cast a "spell" on a historical figure or event by creating an ORIGINAL design on your paper voodoo doll. Think outside the box. Avoid figures like Adolph Hitler. Due date: May 27 - Friday.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Japanese Concentration Camps: Guest Speaker
Ms. Judy Niizawa, speech therapist at Paly & Gunn, will be speaking to the U.S. H. classes on Feb. 24 (C & D classes), and the 25th (B-period) about the concentration camps for Japanese residents in America. Ms. Niizawa was born in one of these camps. Her knowledge of this disgraceful episode in American history comes from her older siblings, other family members, and her own research.
Ms. Niizawa would like for you to send her questions about this shameful event. Please send her 2-3 thoughtful questions which she will answer during her presentation.
Send your questions to jniizawa@pausd.org and "CC:" me - msanderson@pausd.org. Send her your questions by or before February 17.
Ms. Niizawa would like for you to send her questions about this shameful event. Please send her 2-3 thoughtful questions which she will answer during her presentation.
Send your questions to jniizawa@pausd.org and "CC:" me - msanderson@pausd.org. Send her your questions by or before February 17.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
January 7 - Last Day for "Missing" Assignments
Got missing assignments? Last day to hand in assignments to me is by or before Friday, January 7.
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Arsenic Monsters!!!
Journal: Science Express
Date: December 2, 2010
Length: 5 pages
Title of Article: A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus
Summary By: Anastasia
Article Summary:
All living things are mostly composed of 6 major elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorous. No organisms have been found that don't follow this rule - until now, that is. NASA scientists have recently discovered a bacterium that can replace the phosphorous in its cell body with arsenic, an element that, while similar to phosphorous in structure, is nevertheless toxic to most living things. The environment where these little arsenic monsters live (Mono Lake, CA) has little phosphorous, but a very high concentration of arsenic. The bacteria have taken advantage of this by evolving the ability to incorporate arsenic into those structures in their cells that would normally require phosphorous. This by itself is not surprising; around 20 other types of bacteria can do this. What makes these bacteria from the Halomonadaceae family special is the fact that they can live entirely on arsenic, without using phosphorous at all. It is the only known organism that can do this.
Scientists discovered this organism's special secret by isolating it from the mud on the lake's bottom and growing it in a petri dish. Gradually, they gave the bacterial less and less phosphorous and more and more arsenic, until, eventually, there was no phosphorous in the dish at all. They were surprised to find that the bacteria were still able to thrive in these circumstances.
Conclusion:
This discovery is important not only in a biological sense, but also in the context of space science. Many planets have different ratios of elements than we do here on earth. Previously, those planets that did not contain large amounts of the 6 elements vital for Earth life were dismissed as unsuitable for any life forms. However, these arsenic-munching bacteria prove that it is possible for organisms to do without at least one of these 6 elements, raising new possibilities and hopes in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Date: December 2, 2010
Length: 5 pages
Title of Article: A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus
Summary By: Anastasia
Article Summary:
All living things are mostly composed of 6 major elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorous. No organisms have been found that don't follow this rule - until now, that is. NASA scientists have recently discovered a bacterium that can replace the phosphorous in its cell body with arsenic, an element that, while similar to phosphorous in structure, is nevertheless toxic to most living things. The environment where these little arsenic monsters live (Mono Lake, CA) has little phosphorous, but a very high concentration of arsenic. The bacteria have taken advantage of this by evolving the ability to incorporate arsenic into those structures in their cells that would normally require phosphorous. This by itself is not surprising; around 20 other types of bacteria can do this. What makes these bacteria from the Halomonadaceae family special is the fact that they can live entirely on arsenic, without using phosphorous at all. It is the only known organism that can do this.
Scientists discovered this organism's special secret by isolating it from the mud on the lake's bottom and growing it in a petri dish. Gradually, they gave the bacterial less and less phosphorous and more and more arsenic, until, eventually, there was no phosphorous in the dish at all. They were surprised to find that the bacteria were still able to thrive in these circumstances.
Conclusion:
This discovery is important not only in a biological sense, but also in the context of space science. Many planets have different ratios of elements than we do here on earth. Previously, those planets that did not contain large amounts of the 6 elements vital for Earth life were dismissed as unsuitable for any life forms. However, these arsenic-munching bacteria prove that it is possible for organisms to do without at least one of these 6 elements, raising new possibilities and hopes in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Prop. 8: Judges question whether gay-marriage foes have legal standing
Name: Adrian
Blog Posting #2
Topic: Political
Title: Prop. 8: Judges question whether gay-marriage foes have legal standing
Writer: Jessica Garrison
Publication name: Los Angeles Times
Date of publication: Dec 6, 2010
length:~733
Main Idea
The Supporters of prop 8 are trying to repeal the walker decision that said that prop 8 is
unconstitutional. This Morning Monday December 6 the lawyers that want prop 8 to be upheld
and don’t want same sex marriages are fighting in court. The court has gone back and forth on
this issue since 2008.
• May 15 2008 the judges ruled that same sex couples have the right to marry.
• Proposition 8 was passed in the November 2 Elections. Said that only men and women can
get married.
• August 4,2010 Judge Vaughn Walker said prop 8 is unconstitutional
Conclusion
Currently same sex marriage is illegal but later in maybe years from now to say what is
constitutional and what’s not. The case will eventually end up in the California supreme court
Blog Posting #2
Topic: Political
Title: Prop. 8: Judges question whether gay-marriage foes have legal standing
Writer: Jessica Garrison
Publication name: Los Angeles Times
Date of publication: Dec 6, 2010
length:~733
Main Idea
The Supporters of prop 8 are trying to repeal the walker decision that said that prop 8 is
unconstitutional. This Morning Monday December 6 the lawyers that want prop 8 to be upheld
and don’t want same sex marriages are fighting in court. The court has gone back and forth on
this issue since 2008.
• May 15 2008 the judges ruled that same sex couples have the right to marry.
• Proposition 8 was passed in the November 2 Elections. Said that only men and women can
get married.
• August 4,2010 Judge Vaughn Walker said prop 8 is unconstitutional
Conclusion
Currently same sex marriage is illegal but later in maybe years from now to say what is
constitutional and what’s not. The case will eventually end up in the California supreme court
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