VisionLearning.com

I enjoyed the visionlearning.com link the best. Honestly, the flash animations were quite nice, easy to follow and understand. I also appreciated that there was just enough information about the bonds to get a good grasp of the concepts without feeling overwhelmed.

Primo Levi

"Every two hundred years, every atom of carbon that is not congealed in materials by now stable (such as, precisely, limestone, or coal, or diamond, or certain plastics) enters and reenters the cycle of life, through the narrow door of photosynthesis."

It is clear to me that Primo Levi understood the importance of a good story and that one could be found in even the tiniest of places. I find his outline of the carbon life cycle fascinating and beautiful. It makes the sometimes cumbersome concepts of chemistry digestible and exciting when packaged in such a creative narrative.

Weaved throughout this story of the carbon atom are key chemical concepts and a lovely story of the adventure of life, bringing us to the truth of absolute interdependence down to the smallest parts.

Its funny to read a story about a tiny particle that exists in such abundance around me and to get lost in its travels from earth to sea to water and so on. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks Primo Levi!

Transition Metal of the Week: Manganese

The symbol for Manganese is Mn, its atomic # is 25 with an atomic mass of 55. Manganese is a required trace mineral for all known living organisms. Manganese is an antioxidant and also contributes to many health promoting activities such as wound healing, metabolism and bone development. Manganese helps the body absorb key nutrients as well as helps to synthesize fatty acids and cholesterol, maintain a healthy thyroid and healthy nerves. It also helps maintain normal blood sugar levels.

On the other hand, Manganese can be toxic at high levels, especially if inhaled directly. When this occurs over time (as in mines), the person can develop symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease with cognitive and motor impairments which are often irreversible. Manganese when inhaled goes directly to the brain which surpassing the important metabolic processing that is required by the liver in normal functioning. Individuals with impaired liver function due to diseases like cirrhosis may lose some ability to metabolize manganese and it can build up in the body.

Good sources of manganese in the diet are pineapple, whole grains, nuts and leafy vegetables. You can find more information about the merits of manganese here at the Linus Pauling Institute.

Atomic Properties Menu

I enjoyed the Atomic Properties Menu, found it easy to find my way around and best of all- in simple language I could easily digest!

Ozone

So far I have only asked my boyfriend the ozone question. He kind of looked at me sideways as if I was quizzing him and expecting him to know the answer (such a seemingly random thing to ask somebody- Hey, whatya think ozone is?). After some reassurance he stated that "ozone makes up the atmosphere and when there is a hole in it ultra-violet rays get in and that's not good." I thought that was a good answer!

I'll keep posting answers as I go along.

Platinum!

I chose my element of the week Platinum by closing my eyes and pointing my finger at the periodic table. Platinum is a precious metal that is quite rare here on earth taking up only .003 part per billion of the Earth's crust. It has an atomic number of 78 (thats 78 protons and 78 neutrons!) and an atomic mass of 195 (rounded). Platinum does not oxidize at any temperature and has a melting point of 3,215 degrees Fahrenheit. It has such a high melting point that you can melt away virtually all impurities out of platinum when processing it. Platinum exists in higher amounts on the moon and in meteorites. We believe the largest platinum reserve in the world (located in South Africa) was a result of a meteor crashing into earth.

Platinum is a symbol of prestige around the world. We are all familiar with Platinum memberships, platinum credit cards, platinum albums, wedding rings, etc..etc... This is due to its rarity, its durable chemical structure and its luster. There are many attractive things about platinum. However, it's most common use is as a catalyst in chemical reactions which is right behind watches, rings, the Queen's crown and other adornments. Platinum is ranked above silver, gold and bronze and just below diamond.

The Pharmaceutical Industry: Should there be more effective control?

Very simply, yes. First off, drugs should absolutely not be marketed toward patients. In many countries it is illegal to do so for very good reason. Second, Pharma Reps should not be allowed to target doctors in the way that they currently do, using slick sales and marketing campaigns. Doctors should not be allowed to make money producing papers, essays or testimonials for drug companies. Lotsa "should nots" here already, based on what we discussed in class we all know too well what the reality of this situation is and it is downright shameful.

I bristle every time I'm in my doctor's office or some other medical complex and there they are-the slick attractive Pharma Rep rolling their little suitcase full of pens, stationary and sample drugs. A couple of years ago I stopped one in the waiting room of my doctor's office and asked her some questions about what it takes to be a rep. "Oh my god, we have to learn so much about drugs and medicine, you wouldn't believe it. I was hired and after three intense weekend seminars I had my territory." Oh yea, how do you like it? I asked. She said the loves it and "makes so much money, but it all depends on the drug you rep. There is a lot of money right now in asthma meds."

Interesting.

Ridiculous.

Basically all I see is a marketing campaign and the tactics of high end manipulation being deployed in the name of profit. This is an industry that orbits itself around dollars, not patients. Its sick and sad and wrong.

Here is one of the best journalistic interviews with Bill Moyers interviewing Melody Peterson on this subject.

"Carbon Neutral" what does this signify for our planet?

Carbon Neutrality is an honorable and practical goal for earth communities. Striving to neutralize and/or offset carbon dioxide emissions is a good starting formula for cleaning up some of the mess we are creating here on our little blue ball. Perhaps it is too simple a goal, perhaps it poses some challenges to those communities who pledge to go this route, but we need to start somewhere. As one of my favorite Zen monks says, "Everything you do matters, even if its just making your bed in the morning, it matters."

There are already a few countries pledging carbon neutrality. In class we learned about a small town in Scotland called Biggar, but included in the carbon neutral pledge is Norway, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Maldives and several others. Yes, it seems these are small countries but perhaps they can set an example for the rest of the world to follow?

Some questions I would like to ask are, what does it mean to be carbon neutral, I mean, really? Does it mean that the entire system that produces carbon emissions is to be re-ordered in such a way that we will still be producing carbon emissions and offsetting these emissions with the planting of trees or some other such method? Kinda like a version of sinning all week and going to church on Sunday to absolve thyself?

I'm not saying to not plant trees. But just like I have seen the word "organic" go from meaning something to more of a brand, I have to let my critical mind loose on this one. I don't think going carbon neutral will mean much if we don't keep a close watch on our politicians and how this term could possibly be used or abused. I would like to see carbon neutrality as a whole-hearted effort to not only offset but reduce emissions entirely using different methods of harnessing power. I think some kind of economic initiative to promote new systems along with penalties for polluting the environment should be put into place.

Who am I?

Hi, my name is Amy and I, as Walt Whitman said, contain multitudes.

I'm a wood tiger piscean with a cancer moon and taurus rising. Someone told me once my vedic sign is Gemini. Not sure. That said, I believe in the power of metaphor and love a quote by Carolyn Myss who said, "When you lose power the text will speak to you literally." Amen. So, this whole wood-tiger-pisces-cancer-taurus thing means I can be moody, fierce, courageous, loving, sensitive, inquisitive, mothering, hermetic, opinionated and stubborn. But I try not to take myself too seriously or literally. It can be hard. But I try.

I live with two sweet, loving cats and one sweet, loving(and sometimes neurotic) boyfriend named Jason. I've been a student at AIMC for going on 3.5 years and I intend to finish fairly soon. TCM school can be grueling and long so early into the program I decided to pace myself a bit and let the information seep in and marinate. That said, I think almost 4 years in, I'm just starting to "get it." I am a bona fide political junkie with a 24-hour new cycle addiction (ugh!). Someone once said to me, "all that stuff is just somebody's opinion." Ok sure, but that is part of why I love it. My favorite founding father is probably John Adams (such a moody stickler of a man who never gets any credit but had quite a respectable amount of integrity, including having an awesome wife). I also absolutely love science and Larry's last class really sealed this deal for me. I am a rabid reader (yes, even in TCM school) and I have picked up quite a few books on physics and other various topics lately that excite me tremendously- right now I'm reading "The Secret History of Dreams" and a wonderful biography on Einstein.

I love Chinese Medicine. That said, I think there is too much of it in our curriculum. Some people will think perhaps I am nutso for saying this but maybe after a few years you will agree with me (or not). I have much appreciation for other acupuncture systems (French, Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc....) along with some more western "style" bodywork theories that align well with acupuncture (Travell's Trigger points, Gunn, Chaitow) and will strive in my practice to source from those systems that resonate and make them my own into a hodge-podge of what I deem a new American Acupuncture style (I stole that term from Mark Seem who is a practitioner out of NY and someone I respect for his work and all that I have gleaned from his books).

For more on why I chose tcm, check this out:

http://woodtygerburningbright.blogspot.com/2009/09/week-one.html

Thanks for reading!