Nuclear disaster in japan

The nuclear disaster in japan may seem terrible outright, but be assured that the worst of this tradegy is yet to come. Since nuclear reactions produce heat, radiation and radioactive waste, when the reactor experienced a meltdown, this radioactive waste was spread into the atmosphere, the surroundig countryside, and the ocean of the coast of japan. This radiation consists of either electromagnetic waves or high energy subatomic particles, which, when they collide with the nucleus of a living cell, permanently alter the DNA that is present, which, depending on the stage of development the organism is in, can cause mutations and/or life altering disabilities. This mutated genetic information is then passed on to the organism's progenitors, leading to a plethora of mutated or disabled organisms. The most serious implication of this scientific fact is that this obviously applies to humans, and so any japanese citizens exposed to sufficient levels of radiation are liable to develop disabilities and/or have children who are likewise disabled. There is also the very pleasant possibilty of death by radiation sickness. It is my opinion that the reactor and waste need to be dealt with as quickly and as safely as possible, in order to prevent more serious human effects. However, since not all radiation can cleaned up or isolated, the aforementioned effects are still probable to occur. 

Reputation

Reputation is one of the most important factors in your relative success in life, because it can make or break you and mediates success/failure. A tarnished reputation could prevent you from getting the job that you desire, even though the negligent action that you had taken to damage your reputation happened years ago and you have since corrected your path to higher ground. It will always be your skeleton in the closet, something that is extremely difficult or impossible to get rid of or erase completely. The more well known you become, the greater the potential downfall if your reputation is irrevocably damaged. You will never again be able to achieve the success you once had, unless by some miracle you are forgiven by the entire population. On the other hand, a sterling reputation can carry you to great heights, perhaps higher than any amount of talent or hard work would do alone. Reputation will lift you up or tear you down.

The situation in libya

Today I watched a short segment on CNN about the rising conflict going on in the Northern African country of Libya. Due to the protest and subsequent resignation of the president in Egypt, uprisings have occurred and are spreading through Arab countries under an oppressive regime or into countries where the people are seeking civil rights and social justice. A prime example of this is Libya. The autocrat currently in power, Muammar Gaddafi, has been in ruling since 1969 and has committed numerous atrocities. Currently, there is an uprising in which civilians turned rebels are fighting government forces, hoping to overthrow Gaddafi and build a new government, one with the concerns of the people in mind. Gaddafi has now start a campaign of airstrikes on these people, effectively dropping munitions on his own people. A coalition of allied forces, consisting of France, the UK, the United States, Italy, and others, has committed fighters, bombers, strike aircraft, and submarine-launched cruise missiles to strike Libyan targets and prevent the massacre of Libyan civillians. The campaign has already been very effective, with many Libyan units taken out of the fight. The rebels are extremely thankful for the efforts of these nations. To wrap it up, I believe it is the duty of any free nation to fight for the rights of the oppressed, even though they may be 2000 miles away.

Springtime

Springtime has great significance to almost culture that experiences the four seasons that are so familiar to us. It symbolizes the ideals of rebirth, youth, and optimism. It was a time of celebration, for the perils of the blistering cold and dwindling food supplies of winter had passed. The snow would thaw, leaving a barren landscape that would eventually erupt with new life. The ground would thaw, and new crops would be sown into the earth. While most of these things probably don't concern your average american citizen, given that we have insulated homes to shield us from the cold and a stable, year-round food supply thanks to food preservation technology, a multi-climate nation, and international trade, the season of spring us still very important to most of us. It has been scientifically shown that to much time indoors, away from the life-giving star we call Sol, can actually decrease the mood and general feeling of happiness of a person. I believe that this go to show that no matter where you live or what qualitiy of life that you may enjoy, the spring season is still very much a part of the human psyche.

Respect

Respect is the foundation of organized society. It is what allows us to coexist with one another, even though we may not hold the same ideas or morals. If have the principle of respect, however, we will acknowledge another human's rights, no matter how much we may disagree. Religion, race, and creed all become secondary, and humanity takes priority. If we had no respect, then the concept of organized government would be futile, for without respect for authority, one cannot have a working, healthy government. Without respect, there wouldn't be a public education system, because no teacher would be able to maintain authority in the classroom (this already happens in some cases). Even the fact that im taking the time to write a blog entry has to to with respect. If I didn't respect my teacher, I wouldn't spend my time completing the assignments that I'm given. Granted, I do know that how hard I work in school will affect where I go in life, but respect is a definite factor at play here. Respect is what supports our everyday existence.

High School State Swimming Meet

On saturday I drove up to the twin cities with my dad to attend the Minnesota high school state swimming meet. The meet was an awesome experience, with the fastest, most amazing swimmers from all over the state going "for the gold." I wasn't very proud of my swimming season this year, so I came to the meet looking for some inspiration and pointers that would help me perfect my technique. I was especially amazed the freestyle sprinters. The state champion in the 50 freestyle swam a 20.61, and the champion in the 100 freestyle swam a 45.34. (All times are in seconds). For comparison, our high school records for the events, respectively, are 21.28 and 47.47. This may not seem much slower, however, in the sport of swimming, a half a second is an eternity. Many olympic races are won by a tenth or even a hundredth of a second. It has been an aspiration of mine to break the school record in the 100 freestyle, and now after seeing these great swimmers, I have more resolve than ever to become one of those larger than life swimmers standing on the podium, humbly receiving a medal around their neck.