Senior Project Update

I have gathered some print materials for both my paper and project. These books are on natural medicine, herbs and their benefits and side effects. I also had myself cleared for over 18 classes offered at Kaiser through Health Education since I am working on a project. While I have yet to find a mentor I do have a couple in mind but I am concerned on approaching them. I have not started my paper but I do need more research before I begin to grasp the approach I want to take.

Drugs

While I do believe that man has a right to do what he wants as long as he does not interfere, I don't believe legalizing drugs falls into that category. Because I do believe that people with access to drugs are a threat to neighbors. I personally would not be comfortable knowing that the next door neighbors bought cocaine occasionally, especially if I had kids. Now some people might counter this with alcohol and as Vidal used, Prohibition, but I will again disagree. There are laws against underage drinking and many other substances have alcohol (wine jelly). A little alcohol will not affect a person, but a little cocaine would. A little heroin would. And back to the recipes, no one uses 'add a dash of strawberry cocaine for a little crunch'.

Now alcohol is addictive. There are Alcoholics Anonymous. But even with the illegal status of heroin, speed, cocaine Anonymous groups are just as rampant (Cocaine, Marijuana). Furthermore, the legalization of drugs essentially gives an 'okay' for kids to try it. As long as they are old enough, responsible enough they can buy heroin. No. I am not okay with that. I have seen people's lives ruined by just a little taste of such substances. Alcohol not as much (by that I mean with just a little taste). I would not be comfortable having my children say, "I snort some speed when I'm stressed." I understand these are extremes but in some cases these could be realities.

Banneker to Jefferson Essay

shlavery!?

Politics and the English Language

Orwell discusses the use of language with the precision his examples did not possess. Since it is an election year and we as young adults who are on the cusp of being of age to take part in our country's political system, I find that what Orwell says is extremely relevant (despite some of the dated examples). We are victims of constant bombardment of information/news. Despite this and the easy access we possess as a society, we tend to...how do I say this? Exactly that. What I just did. We use euphemisms, expressions, metaphors (as Orwell discusses) and intentionally avoid saying what we truly want to say. We live and communicate through implying.

When it comes to politics, it's all about language. The way we say it and the words we use. Politicians need to win elections, get votes. We see this in the election this year between Obama and Romney. During the conventions, the candidates' speeches are torn apart. And while their delivery is flowery and sounds good, we fact check because we no longer trust the words that they said.

A Shocking Research

1. I want research the use of electroconvulsive therapy and whether or not it should be used as opposed to therapy and medication
2. Many people are not aware of this type of treatment and others campaign against it since ECT causes seizures. Others support it because there is some health value.
3. Resources are medical journals, medical textbooks, my mother who worked with ECT before
4. I am very drawn to the medical field but have never explored psychiatry. This will be a personal exploration as well. The paper itself will help me understand whether or not if I can look at a medical treatment at both sides, pick a side and still be professional
5. I don't believe this has been done before, even if it has I will be approaching it from my point of view so it will be different because I do not have a formed opinion yet. I am unbiased as possible coming into this.
6. What other resources could I use or access?

Women of the Bible Pt. 2

Throughout the Bible, women play a vital role due to their influence on men. In those times for the Jewish nation, society was incredibly patriarchal, women playing a secondary role. The number of male prophets to female prophets are overwhelming, the men always having a bigger part in the course of history. But the men of the Bible usually have a woman by their side, their wife or wives. In the Bible, men who take more than one wife always face trouble in their own household and the tension between sharing a husband becomes more than just a problem. In a society where producing sons was key to security, women have fought over their husbands and children. Here are women of the Bible who have made their mark, especially over sharing husbands.

1. Hagar and Sarah (link to King James Version of the story told)

Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation. Alongside Abraham was his beautiful but barren wife Sarah (name meaning queen). God had promised Abraham that his descendents would outnumber the stars but Sarah could not have children. On a trip to Egypt Abraham lied to the pharaoh, presenting Sarah as his sister. This was for protection because men would have killed Abraham to marry Sarah for her great beauty. Eventually the truth was revealed and the pharaoh sent Abraham away. He did not let them go empty handed. The pharaoh had liked Abraham and sent food and luxuries to him. Among these 'items' was Hagar (name meaning stranger) who became Sarah's handmaid.

Because Abraham and Sarah did not trust God to give them children naturally, plans to have children another way were made. Hagar was to become a secondary wife and give birth on Sarah's knees, effectively giving up her child to Sarah. Abraham's first born Ishmael was the result.

(Hagar and Ishmael)

Ishmael was treated like a prince and Hagar's mentality from Egypt (believing whoever produced a son was better than the other wife) rose and affected her relationship with Sarah despite the fact that she was still her handmaid. Sarah was still first wife and Ishmael was her 'son'. But then, one day three men came to Abraham and told him that Sarah would have a child. Overhearing the three strangers say this, Sarah laughs. "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" one of the men asks, cuasing Sarah to deny her laughter.

Sarah gave birth to Issac (meaning laughter in Hebrew) a year later. Now that she had her own son, Sarah believed Issac to be the rightful heir of Abraham and demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. Abraham consented and sent Hagar and his firstborn from their camp. Hagar and Ishmael survived and tradition holds it that Ishmael is the ancestor of the Arabs. Issac grows to be a faithful patriarch, fathering Jacob and becoming the grandfather to the twelve sons of Jacob. Out of these sons are the twelve tribes of Israel and the entire Jewish nation.

2. Bathsheba (link to King James Version of the story told)

Bathsheba, the subject of Rembrandt's Bethsheba at Her Bath (warning: nude painting), is known throughout history as the woman of captured King David's heart by bathing on a rooftop.

(David watching Bethsheba)

Bathsheba was the daughter Eliam/Ammiel, one of King David's elite thirty soldiers, and wife of Uriah the Hittite, also a soldier. As most women in these situations Bethsheba was very beautiful and many men desired her, including King David. King David had her brought to the palace where he and Bathsheba spent the night. Her husband Uriah was away on military duties, fighting a war. As a result, Bathsheba concieves and in an attempt to protect her honor King David sends Uriah back home to sleep with Bathsheba so the child will be thought of as Uriah's.

But Uriah was true to his role as a soldier and it was common practice to abstain from sexual intercourse during duty. Uriah did not go home to his wife, insisting to be sent back into battle. King David then sends Uriah back-with a letter. This letter was to be given to Joab, a general in the army. It ordered for Joab to place Uriah at the front of the battle so that Uriah would die. The plan worked and Bathsheba became a widow. When the time of mourning passed King David sent for her and married her.

Bathsheba gave birth to a son but King David was not right with the Lord. Committing adultery and killing a man to marry his wife caused the prophet Nathan to appear to King David. Nathan told David a story about a rich man killing a poor man's sheep to feed his (rich man) own guest. Exciting a response from David, commanding the man die. "And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man." 2 Samuel 12:7

(Nathan admonishing King David)

Nathan declares that King David and Bathsheba's lives would be spared, but not the life of the child. David fasts and lays on the ground for days pleading with God but on the seventh day the child died.

After recovering and mourning, King David and Bathsheba have another son: Solomon, who later becomes king, the wisest king.

(King Solomon)

3. Leah and Rachel (link to King James Version of the story told)

The story of the two sisters who married the same man was a precursor to the story of Joseph and the conflict with his halfbrothers (who became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel). But the conflict started with their mothers, Leah and Rachel.

Leah was the older of the two and is described as "tender eyed" (Genesis 29:17). Rachel on the other hand is "beautiful and well favoured" (Genesis 29:17). Jacob, the son of Issac, goes to visit his Uncle Laban (Leah and Rachel's father) and falls in love with Rachel. He asks for her hand in marriage and in exchange he must work for Laban for seven years. During those seven years, Laban's flocks and fortunes increased because Jacob was a faithful servant to God and God blessed him with such wealth. In an effort to make Jacob stay, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah due to the 'oldest marries first' custom in their land. Jacob demands for Rachel's hand and Laban agrees to marry her to Jacob for another seven years.

(Jacob and Rachel)

Leah and Rachel do not have equal footing with Jacob. Jacob loves Rachel but even wth her great beauty, Rachel cannot concieve. "And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren." (Genesis 29:31). Leah gives birth to four sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah). Rachel becomes jealous and gives Jacob her maid Bilhah (much like Sarah and Hagar's situation) who has two sons Rachel raises, Dan and Naphtali. Leah follows suit, giving Jacob her maid Zilpah who gives birth to Gad and Asher.

At this point Rachel has not given birth to a child of her own. Leah, however, has more sons of her own: Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. God opens Rachel's womb and it is then that Rachel has Joseph. Joseph becomes a favorite of Jacob and is treated as the first born (even over Reuben) because he is Rachel's child. 

The women, the wives of the Bible faced pressure to have children. That was their success in life. And in a patriarch world and a male dominated sacred text, it is refreshing to see how the women earn their place in the Bible.  These women are strong, they are fighters and whether or not they were right in their actions is irrelevant because they have made an impact. It is their beauty, their importance to the men of the Bible that can make or break a situation. They deserve such recognition.

Anak (Girl)

Do this do that

I Want a Husband

In a society where finding a partner is viewed as an accomplishment and fulfillment in life I am one of millions of females who are currently in a search for a husband. But upon looking for a husband, one must know what type of husband to look for.

In terms of background I want a husband who is an orphan or at least an only child. My husband must integrate himself in my large family. I have no interest to join another large family and therefore require my husband free of attachments. Because of this I want a husband who wants a big family and will happily join mine with no reservations. My husband must be enthusiastic about learning my culture while maintaining respect for his own. I want a husband who is unafraid of learning my parents' native language, who is not embarrassed of his own mistakes and who will encourage our children to learn.

My husband must be educated and I expect him to be smarter than me. He will keep work separate from home and have a dreadfully ugly older secretary. I want a husband who will make so much money it will not be needed for me to work. But I will still work and my husband will respect that. I want my husband to take care of the bills, the paperwork and who will only tell me about such things if I am needed. He will not touch my personal bank account unless it is to add to its balance. I want a husband with wanderlust and with the means to do so. He will share my tastes, preferring Finland to Costa Rica. On these trips he will take care of the tickets, accommodations, sight seeing. I will gladly take care of packing and the children but I want a husband who will offer to help.

I want a husband who is healthy. He must be fit, not overly large, but never skinnier than me. I want a husband who is a vegetarian or at least will respect my vegetarian diet. My husband will never chastise me whenever I stuff junk food in my mouth and who will listen as I rant about incompetent coworkers. He will cook (or hire a cook) so I will have no such burdens. He will allow the kitchen to be my domain but by no means ever try to keep me there. My husband will love my sandwiches and ask for them lovingly. I want a husband who will be sensitive to my femininity, who loves that I am a lady. He will be masculine. My husband will be a Yankees fan (it will never work if he is a Red Sox fan) and root for Germany's football team in international games.

In the end I want a husband who loves me but who will only declare such sentiments on the rarest occasions. He will share my passions, challenge me, and encourage my ambitions because he has such ambitions of his own.

But Anderson Cooper is gay so....

P.S. heres the link to my tumblr of all things i tagged husbands, as you can see i've been mulling this over for ages.