Evolution vs. Creationism

So in evolution we watched a little clip on youtube about a guy who is a devote creationist--a person who is firmly against evolution. He was funny, and I was midly impressed by him until he made a snide comment towards Mormons. At first it was funny, he was saying how "the Mormons" believe that we can become Gods, specifically saying that we "took that bait, hook, line, and sinker." It was kinda funny, but I blew it off because obviously he didn't understand just how cool that would be. Why settle for less than a God? I'd rather become a God and create worlds than do nothing but play a harp and sit on a cloud all day. But, I forgave that evangelical christian speaker for his ignorance.

However, I did not like his next little poke at "mormonism". He said that mormon women are going to be pregnant and produce little spirit babies for all eternity when they become Gods. That made my respect column towards him plummet. That was a very pessimistic view of such a wonderful thing, and I was mad! That is not what women are going to do for all eternity. No wonder why women are so degraded in modern society! Sheesh, when I become a goddess, you will see me right next to my godly husband, making worlds and animals and people! Some people's kids!

And that wasn't the only thing, his little speech was pure opinion and little fact. The one thing I so wished that I could ask him about in person was nebulas. He was talking about the Big Bang Theory and he asked "If planets were made that way, then why do we not see them being created now?" Well, Mr. Creationist, there's two things.
1--Nebulas: they are clouds of dust were stars are born (he did not even mention these, he just talked about how we only see stars and planets being destroyed by supernovas)
2--It takes thousands of years for planets to form. There is some order in that seemingly chaos. Any astronomer can tell you that!

He even asked how we knew the earth was about 4.5 billion years old! Sheesh!!! It's called radiometric dating!! New technology=New discoveries, and one of those discoveries is finding the age of rock, bone, and (guess what) FOSSILS!!! Especially ones that pre-date the flood. . . .

I never thought I would get worked up over something like this, but he bugged me. I have my own little opinions on how the Creation account in the bible and how evolution all fit in, but this guy. . . .He needs to get more support and do more research if he's going to debate this issue. He had just a lot of holes in his little speech, and that's saying a lot considering my limited knowledge obtained from high school and two years of college.

Some people's kids!

Anywho, sorry for all the sciency jargon. A lot of things have been coming up with these two classes, so I apologize if you don't understand some of it. *pats heads* It's okay. This is the horror life of a biologist. It's so unfortunate that I have to deal with idiotic zealous preachers in this line of interest. Sheesh, you can be Christian and a scientist. Science is not completely random (and neither is evolution, by the way, the only random part is the occurence of mutations but even those can be controlled).

Gah! Some. Peoples. Kids!!

Weekend update

So, that test I was freaking out about for no apparent reason, it wasn't so bad. Sure, there was one problem I didn't do, but that was because I couldn't remember how to do it so I didn't even bother with it. Another problem though did stump me and I spent the remainder on my time on that one problem trying to figure it out (yep, not counting those two problems, I finished with five minutes to spare!!!). It's now going to bug me how that problem works out, becuase it's supposed to be a reaction that only occurs under certain conditions, but the reactant and solvent are such that they won't occur under those conditions. It was driving me crazy, becuase I could see no way how it would work out.

If you're wondering, it's a reactant and solvent that undergoes SN1 (substitution nucleophile monomial--or to the first order) but I was so confused because it couldn't undergo SN1. SN1 requires a carbocation to be formed and carbocations are not formed on primary carbons. The reactant was an ether and so I had a suspicion that the oxygen stabilized that cation through resonance, but then I didn't have enough time to push the electrons and figure out how it would all work out. I was so confused. The entire problem shouted SN2 (substitution nucleophile binomial--or to the second order), not SN1.

Biology exam was same as usual. Easy, not too worried about that, plus he drops our lowest test score so I'm not afeared of that.

On a plus side, my roommate says the funniest things that make me want to write a short story on. Two things she said was:
"AAAh! This is a murderous hairdryer!"
"I think my computer is trying to seduce me. It's freaking me out."

That last one, I think, I will have so much fun with! A seducing computer. . .ha ha!

Signing off much happier, Jekka G. Senoj

Looming Test

Some textbooks should be rewritten.

I have a looming chemistry final on Friday, and I feel like I know the material. I understand it perfectly in class, but then I go and do the problems in the book and I get confused. Okay, so not confused, but I see the questions their asking as meaningless and pointless. It's like: In the long run, if I ever made O-Chem my life and career, this kind of stuff will not help me whatsoever. When I go to do a synthesis, I won't need to know the definition of Zaitsev's rule or Hammond's postulate (don't even ask what they are because I don't even know). I feel like I can't do the problems in the book, but I can do the problems my teacher gives us to practice. And they're not easy! He gives us difficult ones.

As such, I feel stressed about this upcoming test, but, I'm trying not to stress. Stress=test anxiety=making stupid mistakes=unhappy score. What even makes me stress out more is that the tests have so much on them that one hour is not enough time to finish it! I like finishing my tests, not because of the greater chance of actually getting more points, but because I can't walk away from something that isn't finished.

However, I'm going to try to keep calm, try not to let this anxiety take over, and not worry about the time limit. Jenni, I hope what happened to you with the "eternal present moment" will happen to me. That would really help me maintain the calm I need to focus and do my best. I understand the stuff, it's just that I start second-guessing myself and doing stupid mistakes.

Why am I even so nervous? I have not been this nervous for all the other tests! What's wrong with me?! What's so different about this one than all the others? If anything, IT SIMPLIFIES ALL THAT I'VE PREVIOUSLY LEARNED!!!

Man, I've never realized how bad I get test anxiety!!! Help!!

*grabs paper bag and starts breathing into it*

Is it Thanksgiving yet?

New Changes and Additions

So, I got sick of staring at a list where the only exciting critter on it was the Elvish Pirate Gypsy Minion Fiend turned snow goon, so I decided to do a different list.

Dates of Fun Things!

Because I just love knowing when things are happening, so I decided to do this. If you have any realease dates of books, or other good movies, or fun events that'll happen, please email them to me or leave a Jeka Bird. I have them in order of the current month (Like November, december, and January of 2008). So, feel free to tell me of fun things that are coming out or are going to happen (like concerts, or birthdays, and whatnot).

Enjoy!

The Dark is Rising

Man, after reading that book I'm now seeing crows and ravens all around. But not in flocks, no no, just alone. I'll be walking to class and I'll hear this "caw!" I'll look around and there's a crow, sitting at the top of the tree, building, or car, and it'll be watching me. And it never flies away! It just sits there and watches me walk by!

The Dark is Rising, my friends, time to get out that scripture power!