Problematic Technology

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For the first seven years of my life, I lived in China, and while living there I went through the Chinese education system, which is very different from what we do in Canada. Teachers would force students to copy entire sections and pages from textbooks to make them remember the information. This article I chose talks about how a Chinese girl uses a robot that mimicked her handwriting to cheat the system, which caught my eye because I can see myself in her shoes doing the same thing. The authors, Daniel Victor and Tiffany May, kept the information simple and showed many different opinions on the subject from different people. They also pointed out how it’s ironic that writing out texts repeatedly is a form of punishment in China, even though it’s supposed to help us learn. Although the robot that mimics handwriting was only created not too long ago, people have still found ways to cheat the Chinese education system before. Take me for example, when I was forced to copy phrases, I used to tie two pencils together to write twice as fast as one. This reveals the universality of this article, and how people may find even more ways to cheat in the future. Our world is becoming more and more dependent on technology and this article demonstrates how machines can be used to cheat. Personally, I don’t think the girl is doing the right thing by cheating, although I may do the same; but at the same time, Chinese education seems a bit extreme by going to such lengths forcing students to copy phrases over and over.

What Darwin Never Knew

Image result for evolution Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who is famous for his work on the theory of evolution. There was no proof that his theory was correct during that time, until the discovery of DNA came along and proved his theory true. While travelling on the ship called the HMS Beagle, Darwin noticed many features about the animals. He learned that even though the birds from the different islands are the same, they had different beaks because of the different environments that they lived in. Not only that, but the tortoises that had different patterned shells and colours depended on which islands they lived on. Thus, Darwin created a new theory called natural selection, meaning that organisms will evolve by gaining traits that fits them into their environment to survive.

The discovery of DNA allowed us to study the different organisms and how they are descendants from other organisms. This showed that different organisms were similar at one point until they adapted to the different environments that they lived in. For example, the bones inside a human ear are developed from fish gills, showing the little changes in the DNA bases can create large changes in different species. Nowadays, scientists know that there are parts of DNA called switches that turn on and off specific genes. This is how all forms of life are related in their early stages of life, but evolves to be different if put into different environments. This proves that it is possible for more complex organisms to be related to simpler organisms.

DNA showed us how organisms evolve and adapt, and with DNA, we can check the ancestry of organisms. In the future, we can use DNA to keep and get rid of specific genes. The more knowledge we find from DNA, the more knowledge we have on life and evolution.

 

Foods 11 Reflection

Foods 11 Reflection

In this month of foods 11, I learned about the different types of waste and the different places they end up. What surprised me was how much damage wastes would do to our environment if they are not taken care properly. During the different labs, I learned about the different types of flour mixture and how they effect the product. The leavening agents play a big role on how the product rises, while the fat and other ingredients allow the product to have their unique texture and flavour. Liquid ingredients, like water and milk, are used to form the structure of the product. While knowing the different mixing methods, I had no idea on what role they play in creating the product. The mixing method is important in creating the product’s texture and how it rises. Many kitchen disasters can be caused by fires. The fireman taught me the different types of kitchen fire and how to put them out, and the danger it causes if not taken care of properly. Learning how to put out a fire is very important since you can prevent deaths and massive amounts of damage. There were also many other safety precautions to keep yourself safe in the kitchen that I learned. Besides kitchen safety, there were many food choices that affect your health, and many factors that influence your food choices. Being responsible for what you eat is important to keep a healthy lifestyle. Overall, I learned many methods on baking, and how to keep myself while cooking. The labs were fun and cooperation and consideration with your group members are important to get the job done.

6 Kingdoms

Animalia

Image result for Blobfish

Blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) is a deep sea fish that looks like a gooey mess. It is able to swim and feeds on edible matter around it; therefore, putting it under the animalia kingdom.

Image result for thorny dragon

Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) is an Australian lizard that has spikes covering its entire body. It is able to hunt for ants as its diet and reproduce sexually, which puts them under the animalia kingdom.

Plantae

Image result for Mimosa pudica

Shy Plant (Mimosa pudica) is a plant that reacts when it’s touched. It is multi cellular and goes through photosynthesis, which puts them under the plantae kingdom.

Image result for Rafflesia arnoldii

Corpse Lily (Rafflesia arnoldii) is a flowering plant that produces the largest individual flowers in the world. The flower pollinates and goes through photosynthesis, which puts them under the plantae kingdom.

Fungi

Image result for Mycena chlorophos fungi

Green Pepe (Mycena chlorophos) is a fungi that glows in the dark. It is multi cellular and obtains food from parts of plants that are decaying in the soil, which puts them under the fungi kingdom.

Image result for Chicken of the woods fungi

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus) is an edible mushroom that is found commonly around the world. It is multi cellular and obtains food from parts of plants that are decaying in the soil, which puts them under the fungi kingdom.

Protists

Image result for Marimo

Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) are moss balls found mostly in lakes. They are eukaryotes and prefer aquatic environments, which makes them protists.

Fucus vesiculosus Wales.jpg

Bladder Wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) is a seaweed commonly found on different sea coasts. They are eukaryotes and prefer aquatic environments, which makes them protists.

Eubacteria

Image result for Cyanobacteria

Blue-green bacteria (Cyanobacteria) are cyan coloured. They are prokaryotes and have a rigid cell wall, which makes them eubacteria.

Image result for Spirochaete

Spirochaetes are prokaryotes and have a rigid cell wall, which makes them eubacteria.

Archaebacteria 

Image result for Euryarchaeota

Euryarchaeota are prokaryotes and reproduce asexually, which makes them archaebacteria.

Image result for Thaumarchaeota

Thaumarchaeota are prokaryotes and reproduce asexually, which makes them archaebacteria.

Image Links
http://mentalfloss.com/article/88111/7-unattractive-facts-about-blobfish
https://haydensanimalfacts.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/thorny-devil.jpg
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjD6O7Gy7bdAhWSFzQIHV8oBEIQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.in%2FTOUCH-NOT-SHAME-PLANT-MIMOSA-PUDICA-LIVE-PLANT%2Fdp%2FB071YRCQKF&psig=AOvVaw3dpRjorApfi_CO9Z3m-ngK&ust=1536880294886708
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi0isSGzLbdAhWTN30KHaxfCs4QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2FWhats-the-worlds-largest-flower&psig=AOvVaw2l4ugLkapCtEEZ9j6Mu-JK&ust=1536880452832151
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjD_bylzLbdAhWaCTQIHQx9AMwQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Falchetron.com%2FMycena-chlorophos&psig=AOvVaw2ank6c6VZ8iIGv3cCvNKpq&ust=1536880531409418
https://blog.mycology.cornell.edu/2006/10/31/eating-the-chicken-of-the-woods/
https://plantsforpets.com/products/nano-marimo-moss-balls
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucus_vesiculosus#/media/File:Fucus_vesiculosus_Wales.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria#/media/File:Tolypothrix_(Cyanobacteria).JPG
http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/spirochaete.html
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/762535547766833154
https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/98139.php

 

Synthesis Essay Reflection

This essay wasn’t easy since I was behind on most of the work from missing school. Things that I think I did good with are applying the transition words and using the semicolons that I learned. I wanted to make the essay easy to read and understand because that’s what I would want to look for in an essay. I didn’t add enough evidence for my points and that was the biggest downfall of my essay, but overall I think I did a decent job.

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How Could Black Holes Destroy Our Universe?

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  1. What questions did you need to research in order to research your topic?

 

I first needed to find out what black holes are, and what they are capable of. I found out that they can destroy information, which I researched about and found out more information related to that.

 

  1. What new or familiar digital tools did you try to use as you worked through this project?

 

I used the internet and PowerPoint. I tried using the school library but I just find that more troublesome to use. I mainly used the NASA websites to find information.

 

  1. What was the process you used to investigate the topic?

 

I needed a topic, my first topic was going to be about flat earth, but that won’t work. I decided to do something about black holes since everyone is doing it and seems interesting. I found out that black holes are the most powerful things in the universe, and I thought if they can destroy its own creator.

 

  1. How did you verify and cite the information you found?

 

The sites were mostly NASA websites and had .gov which are trustable sites.

 

  1. How did the process of completing this challenge go? What could you have done better?

 

The process didn’t take too long and I found trustable information quickly. I could have explained deeper components of this topic, but that would take up too much time to present.

The Earth is Flat

I had some troubles making this rant. First, I didn’t know what topic to do, like every year, but after going out and thinking for a bit, I came up with this. I know it isn’t the best topic, since there isn’t scientific evidence, but I thought it would be fun to make something lighthearted. Two things I would change next year would not do this on the last night, and go over my rant a couple times so I know how I’m going to present it.

IMG_4220-pr5u4d

Omurice Take Home Lab

Sombrero Pasta Salad

Course: Main/side

Servings: 10

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 package (16 ounces) spiral pasta
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 178ml cup water
  • 1 envelope taco seasoning
  • 454g of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 large green pepper, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 medium tomato, chopped
  • 2 cans of sliced ripe olives, drained
  • 455g Catalina or Western salad dressing

I wanted to try this dish since I’ve never tried a western dish before, and I never tried a noodle salad. This dish seemed like a fun dish to make for friends and families.

Indian Rice Pilaf

Course: Main

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 60ml water
  • 1 can of chicken broth
  • 340g of long grain rice
  • 4g of curry powder
  • 2g of garlic powder
  • 1g of ground cinnamon
  • 5g of paprika
  • 2 pinches ground cloves
  • 1 small onion

I want to make this dish since I’m a big curry fan, I enjoy eating and making curry. This is a rice curry dish, and I wanted to try making something new.

Omurice

Course: Main Course

Servings1

Ingredients

  • ¼ onion
  • 4 mushrooms
  • 4 slices ham
  • 1ml of neutral flavor oil (vegetable, canola, etc)
  • 12g green peas
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 1 cup of white rice
  • 15ml of butter

Tomato Sauce (I only used ketchup)

  • 20ml ketchup
  • 20 tomato paste
  • 15ml water

Egg Mixture

  • 2 large eggs
  • 15ml milk

 

 

Making the Rice

Slice mushrooms, onions, and ham into small pieces.

Add 15ml off oil into a frying pan and sauté the onions.

Add green peas, mushrooms, and ham, season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.

Add rice, break big chunks into small pieces.

Combine well, add 15-30ml of tomato sauce (I used ketchup).

Making the Omelette and Putting It Together

Crack 2 eggs in a bowl and whisk together with 15ml of milk. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add 15ml of butter, add beaten egg. Quickly swirl around with chopsticks.

When the mixture is set but still runny, add the ketchup rice in the middle.

Wrap the rice both sides with egg omelette, doesn’t have to be perfect, just create an edge around the rice.

Place the serving plate and flip the pan to transfer the omurice. Place a piece of paper towel and gently shape the omelette into a football shape.

When serving, garnish the omurice with parsley and drizzle with tomato sauce (I only used ketchup).

 

 

I chose this dish because I saw a Youtube video on a chef making it. The dish looked amazing and I decided to try it out since I was told that the dish is difficult to make. It’s a western influenced Japanese dish that is popular among many.

Making this dish didn’t take me too long. I halved the ingredients to make one serving, since the recipe was supposed to make two. I also replaced the tomato sauce with only ketchup, since it was late at night and I couldn’t go out to buy the missing ingredients. The only difficult part of making this was flipping the omurice, I felt like I tried to curl the edges too early and I was worried that the omelette might rip, but it turned out okay.