My Last School Week--Reading Summaries

(Sorry; didn't have time to post anything earlier! This was for last week.)
I've read four different books this week (get the first two free!)--Antiquities of the Jews, by Josephus; Two Years Before the Mast by R.H. Dana; Keeping Food Fresh (lots of different authors here! :D), editor Claude Aubert; and Living Fossils, Evolution the Grand Experiment Vol. 2, by Dr. Carl Werner. Lots of reading, but all VERY interesting! Mum wants me to write 2-3 sentences about each chapter/portion that I read every day, so she can keep tabs on what I'm doing! So here's my thoughts on the books:

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First, I'll have...

Two Years Before the Mast Chapter Notes:

Chapter 1:
The MC (main character) boards the boat he is to sail on. He looks over the ship, and tries to get settled. He is confused with all the activity when they take off from shore.

Chapter 2:
MC begins to learn the ropes. They had a storm. And they saw a ship while they were going.

Chapter 3:
They had fine weather. He learns all about how the crew functions.

Chapter 4:
They passed another ship. They caught their first dolphin. They were threatened by a pirate ship, but were able to escape.

Chapter 5:
They were very close to Cape Horn. They saw SH (southern hemisphere) stars. They had a terrible battling to get around Cape Horn. Very violent weather. Got around Cape Horn safely.

Chapter 6:
They lost a man overboard. They spent most of the day looking for him, all to no avail.

Chapter 7:
They came to the island of Juan Fernandez. It was beautiful. He enjoyed his time there while they refilled water caskets.

Chapter 8:
They caught south-east trade winds, and made good headway toward California. He describes “tarring down”. They crossed the equator for the second time. They landed at Point Conception., then came to anchor in the bay of Santa Barbara.

Chapter 9:
They arrived in California in January (had set sail in August). They were enjoying the beautiful weather. They learned how to beach a boat.

Chapter 10:
A south-east wind blew, and they had a hard time battling it. They were finally able to come into port.

Chapter 11:
They went sailing again, and had a strong blow. Some of the masts were cracking. Some of the sails shredded. They landed safely in Monterey.

Chapter 12:
In Monterey, they traded with the local Mexican population. He learned the Spanish language.

Chapter 13:
They head down the coast again for Santa Barbara. They had another southeasterly. The seamen were discontent. It appears as though they may be at sea for three or four years.

Chapter 14:
The captain showed his ugly side, and flogged two men seemingly for no reason. He made them work very hard without any slacking off. The crew chose to suffer, rather than be branded pirates (if they got rid of the captain) or mutineers (if they refused to obey).

Chapter 15:
Half of the crew were allowed a whole day's freedom on Sunday to go on shore. They enjoyed their day immensely.

Chapter 16:
They took off again, after spending 2-3 weeks at the port (not sure of name). The second mate ran away, because he couldn't stand the pressure any more. They got underway for Santa Barbara.

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Let's see...next up,

Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews Notes:

(Only from Friday, since I didn't have time to take notes earlier in the week)

Friday, September 21, 2012

I read about a character name Joseph (who was famous for the way he taxed people, and he became rich), who had a smart son named Hyrcanus. Hyrcanus was even smarter than his brothers.

HOW JOSEPH GOT RICH:

“And when the day came on which the king was to let the taxes of the cities to farm, and those that were the principal men of dignity in their several countries were to bid for them, the sum of the taxes together, of Celesyria, and Phoenicia, and Judea, with Samaria, [as they were bidden for,] came to eight thousand talents. Hereupon Joseph accused the bidders, as having agreed together to estimate the value of the taxes at too low a rate; and he promised that he would himself give twice as much for them: but for those who did not pay, he would send the king home their whole substance; for this privilege was sold together with the taxes themselves. The king was pleased to hear that offer; and because it augmented his revenues, he said he would confirm the sale of the taxes to him. But when he asked him this question, Whether he had any sureties that would be bound for the payment of the money? he answered very pleasantly, "I will give such security, and those of persons good and responsible, and which you shall have no reason to distrust." And when he bid him name them who they were, he replied, "I give thee no other persons, O king, for my sureties, than thyself, and this thy wife; and you shall be security for both parties." So Ptolemy laughed at the proposal, and granted him the farming of the taxes without any sureties. This procedure was a sore grief to those that came from the cities into Egypt, who were utterly disappointed; and they returned every one to their own country with shame.

“But Joseph took with him two thousand foot soldiers from the king, for he desired he might have some assistance, in order to force such as were refractory in the cities to pay. And borrowing of the king's friends at Alexandria five hundred talents, he made haste back into Syria. And when he was at Askelon, and demanded the taxes of the people of Askelon, they refused to pay any thing, and affronted him also; upon which he seized upon about twenty of the principal men, and slew them, and gathered what they had together, and sent it all to the king, and informed him what he had done. Ptolemy admired the prudent conduct of the man, and commended him for what he had done, and gave him leave to do as he pleased. When the Syrians heard of this, they were astonished; and having before them a sad example in the men of Askelon that were slain, they opened their gates, and willingly admitted Joseph, and paid their taxes. And when the inhabitants of Scythopolis attempted to affront him, and would not pay him those taxes which they formerly used to pay, without disputing about them, he slew also the principal men of that city, and sent their effects to the king. By this means he gathered great wealth together, and made vast gains by this farming of the taxes; and he made use of what estate he had thus gotten, in order to support his authority, as thinking it a piece of prudence to keep what had been the occasion and foundation of his present good fortune; and this he did by the assistance of what he was already possessed of, for he privately sent many presents to the king, and to Cleopatra, and to their friends, and to all that were powerful about the court, and thereby purchased their good-will to himself.”

ABOUT HOW HYRCANUS WAS SMART (basically the whole selection):

"…And when this his [Joseph's] youngest son showed, at thirteen years old, a mind that was both courageous and wise, and was greatly envied by his brethren, as being of a genius much above them, and such a one as they might well envy, Joseph had once a mind to know which of his sons had the best disposition to virtue; and when he sent them severally to those that had then the best reputation for instructing youth, the rest of his children, by reason of their sloth and unwillingness to take pains, returned to him foolish and unlearned. After them he sent out the youngest, Hyrcanus, and gave him three hundred yoke of oxen, and bid him go two days' journey into the wilderness, and sow the land there, and yet kept back privately the yokes of the oxen that coupled them together. When Hyrcanus came to the place, and found he had no yokes with him, he condemned the drivers of the oxen, who advised him to send some to his father, to bring them some yokes; but he thinking that he ought not to lose his time while they should be sent to bring him the yokes, he invented a kind of stratagem, and what suited an age older than his own; for he slew ten yoke of the oxen, and distributed their flesh among the laborers, and cut their hides into several pieces, and made him yokes, and yoked the oxen together with them; by which means he sowed as much land as his father had appointed him to sow, and returned to him. And when he was come back, his father was mightily pleased with his sagacity, and commended the sharpness of his understanding, and his boldness in what he did. And he still loved him the more, as if he were his only genuine son, while his brethren were much troubled at it."

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Let's see...next, I'll do...

Keeping Food Fresh Notes:

Monday, September 17, 2012
I learned how the food industry conflicts with human nourishment now-a-days. How traditional food preservation techniques have slowly been lost as canning (bottling), freezing, and ultra-pasteurizing foods have taken their places. Also, how a lot of the recipes from this book came originally from France.

(If you're wondering why Tuesday isn't here; we went to a writing group that day.)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Today, I learned how canning or freezing with only a few exceptions are the only choices to have ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables out of season. And how there ARE different methods of preserving them.

Thursday, September 20, 2012
Now that I've gotten through the introduction from the last two days of reading, I finally got to Chapter 1! And that was; Preserving in the Ground or in a Root Cellar. Today, I got to learn about sixteen different vegetables that can be kept in the ground. Also, about how to do trenching (or heeling in). Basically, you dig trenches, and place the cabbage or lettuce plants in them!

Friday, September 21, 2012
Today, I read about preserving food in silos! I was amazed at all the different types; there are brick silos, dirt silos, trench silos, and washer or steamer silos. Fascinating!

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And now, for the last and my favorite one...

Living Fossils, Evolution the Grand Experiment Vol. 2!

Monday, September 17, 2012
The author begins to tell his story. He was raised a Catholic, and never questioned the teachings of the Bible until he got to his high school years. Then he learned about Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny, a principle created by Dr. Ernst Haeckel in the late 1800s, portraying that human embryos retrace the history of evolution in their embryonic stages. Years later, the author found out that the drawings demonstrating ORP were extremely inaccurate, and shown to be false even in Haeckel's time¹! And they're still in textbooks today—even though they were shown to be false 100 years ago.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Today, I learned about how the author, in the middle of his sophomore year of college, went out for a pizza with a classmate. While there, the classmate asked four important questions that would change his life. A seed of doubt was planted there, and he began researching to see if evolution was really true. From then on, he was on a life long quest to find out what the truth was.

Thursday, September 20, 2012
Today, I started chapter two: How Can You Verify Evolution? There were four evidences for evolution he gave that he believed when he started trying to find out what the truth was. 1) Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny, 2) Most scientists believe it, 3) Ape-men, and 4) Some fossil evidence of animals changing from one animal type into another. Then there were three evidences against Evolution: 1) Too many missing links, 2) The big bang theory does not work, and 3) Life could not begin spontaneously. It's getting VERY interesting!

Friday, September 21, 2012
Today, I read about how he studied everything about evolution he could for the next eighteen years. After that time, he began to start finding out things first-hand, rather than second-hand, as he was getting from books, articles, etc. He began to study living fossils in the “older” layers. And he took a trip out west.

¹Want to see the picture comparing Haeckel's drawings and the real things bigger? Go here. (just scroll down the page a little bit, and you'll see it). I found this study really interesting!

Today's Study: Bringing Food in/out of New Zealand

Today, I got to study bringing food into or taking food out of, New Zealand! It was interesting, because when we came to NZ, we had to throw away a lot of the extra snack food we hadn't eaten. So I found it interesting to read about some of the laws involving having to throw it away.

(Following from the New Zealand Government Food Website)

Overview

Restrictions apply to some foods you may want to bring in or take out of New Zealand. This includes food for personal or commercial use. These restrictions apply for both food you travel with and food delivered by postal or courier service.

We set policies, criteria and procedures to monitor the safety of imported food into New Zealand for human consumption.

Bringing food into New Zealand - for personal use or as a gift

Food may come into New Zealand using a variety of transport options and include those ordered over the internet or via the postal system.

We don’t regulate food brought into New Zealand for personal use. However, weight, volume and biosecurity restrictions do apply. You need to contact Biosecurity New Zealand before bringing in any food, even if it is for personal use or as a gift.

Biosecurity New Zealand lists the following food items as ‘risk goods’ for which restrictions apply:

• Meat and meat products
• Eggs and egg products
• Fresh produce
• Fresh fruit
• Dairy products
• Honey and bee products
• Seeds and plants or plant material
• Animal remedies
• Some Chinese medicines

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (External)

We regulate all food entering New Zealand for commercial purposes, regardless of the quantity imported. We also regulate all food entering New Zealand where food for personal use exceeds the permitted weight or volume restrictions.

The weight or volume of food you can bring into New Zealand for personal use:

• liquid food - up to 10 litres
• concentrated liquid food (not usually consumed as is) - up to 2 litres
• non-liquid food - up to 10 kilograms
• moisture reduced foods (not usually consumed as is) - up to 2 kilograms
• spices - up to 1 kilogram.

> > > Read More Here! < < <

Shining Arrows Survey {I took it}

Today, I'm sharing with you the latest survey I took! Here we go...

What is your first name (not second, for privacy reasons): Esther

What is your favourite food?: Chocolate, soups, salads, casseroles, deserts, and everything in-between!

How many siblings do you have?: I’ve got six wonderful brothers!

Who do you want to be most?: I want most of all to be like Jesus. But I do want to be a homemaker with lots of children one day.

How do you react to stormy/snowy/hail-ey weather?: I enjoy it. Love hearing the thunder rumble, watching the snow fall, and hail pummel the ground.

Any hobbies?: Blog designing, writing, reading, sewing, knitting, crocheting, photography, cooking, playing on the computer…just to name a few.

Read more at my friend's website! 

(and please be sure to take the survey! :D)

An Exciting Announcement

Hello, everyone! I've got a really, really exciting announcement (at least, to me!) for you today!

jewelsofjesus.blogspot.co.nz

You see, a friend and I have been talking about the Jewels of Jesus Magazine that she (Tiffany) and I (Esther) write, and thought it would be nice to have it's own special blog to post on to, instead of just announcing it on here or on her blog. So...we made one!

We're planning to (try) to post as often as possible, but writing for JOJ along with all the other writings (for school and other things) we have to do is sometimes hard. We're counting on you to help fill in the gaps! Contact us, and we'll find a place to fit it in. Thank you! (And thanks for your patience--this partly explains my silence over the past week or two!)

Please comment and tell us what you think! (I love knowing you visited!)

View Tiffany's Announcement!

Jet Lag {Science Project}

These past two science studies have been really interesting, especially since we've had to deal with some of this when we came to New Zealand¹, and in the experiences of people who've come to visit² us. Enjoy it like I did! :D

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First, we'll have a short explanation from MedicineNet.com about jet lag:

What is jet lag?

Jet lag, also called desynchronosis and flight fatigue, is a temporary disorder that causes fatigue, insomnia, and other symptoms as a result of air travel across time zones. It is considered a circadian rhythm sleep disorder, which is a disruption of the internal body clock.

What are other symptoms and signs of jet lag?

Besides fatigue and insomnia, a jet lag sufferer may experience a number of physical and emotional symptoms including anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, confusion, dehydration, headache, irritability, nausea, sweating, coordination problems, dizziness, and even memory loss. Some individuals report additional symptoms, such as heartbeat irregularities and increased susceptibility to illness.

Children can also suffer the same jet lag symptoms as adults.

What is a time zone?

A time zone is a geographical region which has the same time everywhere within it. The world has 24 time zones, one for each hour in the day. Each zone runs from north to south in strips that are approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) wide. (The actual width of each zone varies to accommodate political and geographical boundaries.) As the earth rotates, dawn occurs at a set hour in one time zone, then an hour later in the time zone immediately to the west and so on through the 24-hour cycle. Thus, in the U.S., when it is 6 a.m. in the eastern time zone, it is 5 a.m. in the central zone, 4 a.m. in the mountain zone, and 3 a.m. in the Pacific zone.

> > > READ MORE < < <

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How to prevent/minimize/overcome some of the problems coming with jet lag (namely, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, confusion, dehydration, headache, irritability, nausea, sweating, coordination problems, and dizziness. I've included all the things I could find information about):

Fatigue from flying:

Pre-Flight:
Take steps before your trip to ensure you'll get adequate sleep on the road.

1. Plan ahead. Packing your luggage, finishing presentations, family affairs, confirming flight and hotel reservations, printing your boarding pass, getting to the airport on-time ... a little planning goes a long way. Leaving things to the last minute increases stress and may cause a late-night bedtime, the last thing you need. You may also want time your flight to arrive in the morning when losing several hours of sleep to get that light cue to help re-set your clock.
2. Be sleep-ready. Get a sleep kit ready to go and leave it in your toiletry bag. Ear plugs, eye covers, some of your favorite soothing music, perhaps a vial of lavender oil -- they will come in handy on the plane or in your hotel.
3. Exercise and eat right the day before your trip to give yourself an edge for some sound sleep. (More on that below.)
4. Get some sleep. Don't start off on the wrong side of the bed. Make sure you are well-rested before you start your trip. It will pay big dividends.
5. Dress for success. Wear something comfortable, loose-fitting, and layered. You never know if it will be too hot or too cold on the plane.
6. Stress less -- expect travel delays. It's just the cost of doing business and it's beyond your control. So let go. If your expectations are in line with reality, you will be much less frustrated and upset. It is a good time to read that book that has been on your nightstand for the last few months.

In Flight:

Long flights, poor seating, flight delays, turbulence, missed connections, recycled dry air, and the occasional rude or incessantly talking seatmate can all make for a less-than-pleasant experience. Here are few things you can do to help:

1. Get comfortable. Get a pillow or two and blanket. Bringing along a C-shaped pillow that fits around your neck is also helpful, as it keeps your head from bobbing around or getting a stiff neck. Take off your shoes or at least loosen the laces to improve circulation.
2. Drink water. This will help counter the dehydrating effects of the dry, recycled air. Carbonated beverages may produce excess stomach gas.
3. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. They are diuretics, causing you to go to the bathroom frequently. This, along with the dry cabin air, will increase your chances of dehydration. Remember that one drink in the air can be act like two on the ground.
4. Relieve ear pressure. First, never fly with serious sinus/ear congestion, whether from a cold, allergy, or upper respiratory infection. If you do, you may experience severe pain and damage your eardrums. To get on the plane, you must be able to "clear" your ears by gently but forcefully exhaling against a closed mouth and nose. Antihistamines and decongestants may significantly help. While on the plane, chewing gum may help equalize your ear pressure as well. Pressure problems are generally worse on landing. So make sure your ears feel clear before you descend.
5. Nap carefully. Consider a short nap on a short flight and a longer one on a longer flight. On longer flights consider waiting until the latter portion of the flight. So when you wake and feel refreshed just as the flight as about to end. Do not snooze too long unless you have a long flight. Napping more than 30-45 minutes may put you into a deep sleep, making you feel more tired when you wake up. Also, close the window shade, if possible, or don your eye covers. Ear plugs will also help a great deal.

> > > read more on this topic < < <

Constipation as an effect of jet lag:

If you travel really far-and-away, jet lag is a big one;

• Cause-and-effect: Jet lag kicks in when you cross one too many times zones. Once half-way or down under, your body wants to move its bowels while you are counting sheep, and refuses to relieve itself while you are suffering from jet lag throughout the day because of all other factors discussed here.

Next is the general unease with using bathrooms outside of the home, especially by women;

• Cause-and-effect: The anxiety over using bathroom facilities, either over the lack of hygiene, privacy, or both, has spoiled a good number of honeymoons for brides and grooms still embarrassed by bathroom anxieties in the round-the-clock presence of their newly minted significant other! Obviously, the same problem extends into all other aspects of lodging with companion(s).

Just as common is traveler's diarrhea, because it disrupts stools and leads to the inevitable constipation;

• Cause-and-effect: Most people believe traveler's diarrhea is caused by contaminated food or water. That is, actually, not always true, especially when your companions aren‘t affected by eating and drinking from the same source. Actually, the most common reason for traveler's diarrhea is eating at the wrong time. What happens next is explained by the next reason…

Acute indigestion is also a frequent factor, because it disrupts the entire chain of mouth-to-anus digestive functions;

• Cause-and-effect: After stuffing yourself senseless with all-you-can-eat delicacies, particularly at the wrong time, your stomach fails to digest protein fast enough, and undigested proteins begin to rot. The byproducts of proteins rotting are extremely poisonous, and cause violent expulsion of bodily fluids from both ends — vomit on top, diarrhea at the bottom. This happening, of course, disrupts regular bowel movements for a good while — it may take 3 to 4 days, sometimes longer, to restore a normal pattern, so it may seem like you are constipated. The worst thing you can do — and most do in this situation — is to take any kind of laxative, which may start yet another cycle of violent diarrhea with all that follows.

> > > read more on this topic < < <

Travelers Diarrhea:

Traveler's diarrhea is an illness that affects 20-50% of travelers from developed countries who go to developing ones. People travelling from developing to developed countries rarely get it. It is defined as two or more loose stools in a 24-hour period, accompanied by stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting. The term "dysentery" simply refers to the more severe cases, usually much more prolonged and with blood and mucus in the stools.

Traveler's diarrhea usually develops on the third or fourth day of a trip and lasts 36-48 hours if untreated, 24-36 hours if treated. It becomes more common the longer one stays in a developing country, or if the stay is in the tropics, especially in rural areas. Despite all the warnings against "drinking the water", it is actually much more likely to be spread by contaminated food. The most common cause is bacteria but viruses and parasites also play a part. So do simple things like jet lag, fatigue and a change of environment. The more severe cases (dysentery) are apt to show up later, even after the trip is over, and are more commonly from the non-bacterial causes such as giardia and amoebas or something like typhoid.

"Tourista" is actually caused by a wide range of bacteria and viruses. Most of these are killed by the acid in the stomach. The higher the "dose" of germs, therefore, the greater the severity of the diarrhea. And if those germs happen to be typhoid or cholera germs, that can be quite serious. The usual dietary precautions often do not prevent "tourista". They do, however, reduce its severity so that one can stay out of the hospital or the clutches of a doctor while his body gradually builds up immunity. The corollary of this, of course, is that anything that decreases gastric acidity (antacids, Pepsid, gastric surgery, etc.) actually may increase the risk of a severe case of traveler's diarrhea.

Because all of the treatment methods have some associated dangers and side effects, the experts agree that the best treatment is prevention. Frequent hand-washing helps more than people realize. Avoid fruit and vegetables which cannot be peeled. Cooked foods should be served and eaten hot. Buffets, sometimes even on cruise ships, are notorious for their bacterial content. And food from street vendors is anathema. Water should be boiled or bottled, not just heated (look out for pre-opened bottles which may just contain tap water.) There are filters and resins which are almost as effective and chemical treatments help some (see our catalog) but nothing is as effective as boiling. Alcoholic beverages straight from the bottle are safe but it is a myth that alcohol kills the bacteria in ice cubes. (Alcohol does kill germs--but only after 24 hours, by which time I would presume the ice has melted!)

> > > read more on this topic < < <

Headaches as a result of jet lag:

Headaches are a common and unfortunate side effect of air travel. Israeli researchers at the Bnai Zion Medical Center estimate that more than 100 million people around the world suffer from flight-associated headaches annually, according to Reuters Health. Many people have experienced airplane-induced headaches first-hand, and there's no denying the general discomfort that accompanies most flights. While this problem does affect a significant percentage of the global travel population, several measures might prove useful in reducing and preventing symptoms.

Common Causes
On top of the stress of organizing a trip and navigating the airport, airplane cabin conditions also contribute to triggering headaches. The Bnai Zion Medical Center study cites some primary factors that produce headaches during flights, including poor air quality. Airline cabins tend to circulate very dry air, which can dehydrate the body and generate feelings of malaise. Air quantity is another issue. The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide asserts that at cruising altitude, most commercial airplane cabins have lower-than-normal oxygen levels. In fact, blood oxygen saturation during commercial flights can be 5 percent to 10 percent lower than normal, and this decrease in oxygen supply to the brain can set off headaches. Furthermore, changes in barometric pressure and altitude also produce headaches. The human body usually reacts negatively to abrupt changes in altitude and the slightly less-than-normal air pressure in airplane cabins doesn't help either. Add in the cramped seating arrangements and roaring engine noise and it's easy to see why so many people suffer from flight-related headaches.

Common Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic's list of symptoms associated with airplane-induced headache include aching head pain, sensations of tightness across the forehead and temples, tenderness on the scalp and tension in the neck and shoulders. Additionally, travelers often experience related symptoms, such as nausea, lack of appetite, insomnia and irritability. The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide mentions ear pain as another symptom associated with air travel. Changes in cabin air pressure, particularly during takeoff and landing, can disturb the balance of pressure around the eardrum and the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. This imbalance causes the painful pressure and occasional popping sensations felt in the ears during flights.

In-Flight Solutions
Air travelers can do several things to reduce their in-flight discomfort. The Mayo Clinic suggests taking pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen to temporarily treat symptoms. Sleep-aids such as Ambien and Lunesta can help passengers sleep through their flights. The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide recommends that travelers get up regularly to walk down the aisle to increase blood circulation. It's also a good idea to drink at least 8 oz. of water every hour and avoid alcoholic or caffeinated beverages during the flight.

> > > read more on this topic < < <

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. . . And I will stop there. I covered the ones that our family experienced with our jet lag (basically fatigue and headaches), plus a couple more. I think that counts. This post is sure long! WHEW!

¹ This is a collection of the writings in the journal Mum has kept and sent to friends ever since we first came here to New Zealand. What I've linked to is the first of the many weeks of journal she has sent out over our almost three years of living here (WOW! Has it really been that long?). She usually posts the posts by month.

² Scroll down to "May 12, Wednesday" in the link, and you can read about our first ever overseas visitors in New Zealand--a mere six months after we first set foot on this beautiful land!

P.S. I think I'm enjoying this new html I've found for putting footnotes in! :D Makes it a lot easier, and (I think) it looks more professional. :D

Ear Popping While Traveling {Today's Science Study}

This was an interesting study! Here's my findings. I'll share why it happens first, then share some of the things you can do to help relieve the problem. So here goes:

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WHY DO OUR EARS POP?

Your ears pop in air planes because the air high above the surface of Earth is less dense than air near the surface, because air near the surface has all the air above it pushing down.

Some air planes can fly so high they require oxygen masks or a pressurized cabin, so the pilot and passengers don’t pass out for lack of air. Even higher and air planes can’t fly because their wings require air to provide lift.

As you ascend in an airplane and the air pressure decreases, the air trapped in your inner ear will cause your eardrums to push outward. This expansion causes not only the discomfort you feel before your ears "pop," but also a decrease in hearing ability, because the pressure on your ears drums makes the sound harder to transmit.

Your body can equalize the pressure between your inner ear and the atmosphere by allowing some air from your inner ear to escape through the Eustachian tubes, two small channels that connect the inner ears to the throat, one on each side.

When they open, you feel the pressure release and you hear the change because it’s happening in your ear. This equalization of pressure is the "pop."

On the way down from an air plane flight, the air pressure increases, while your inner ear is still at the lower pressure it has adjusted to. Now, the extra pressure pushes the eardrums inward.

> > > READ MORE < < <

(Sorry, no fancy pictures this time. Don't have time to make them. You'll just have to click on the link.)

HOW DO WE PREVENT IT?

For most people, traveling by air causes uncomfortable, sometimes painful ear popping. This can also happen when climbing to or descending from a high altitude, or when diving underwater. If you travel with kids, ear popping can make the trip all the more frustrating. So here's the scoop on ear popping - what causes it, and how you can prevent it.

1. Understand what causes ear popping.
   Whenever the air pressure around you changes suddenly (when flying, climbing to or descending from a high altitude, or diving underwater) the pressure in the cavity inside your ear (behind the ear drum) is supposed to change with it, as well. But sometimes, this doesn't happen, and difference in pressure between the cavity and the outside of the ear can be uncomfortable. (Doctors call this barotrauma.) Then when you do something that opens up the Eustachian tube that leads into the cavity (like yawning), your ear will "pop" as the pressure difference is equalized.


2. Treat any congestion beforehand. Sometimes the Eustachian tube doesn't open by itself properly because of inflammatory conditions like allergies (the tube gets inflamed and swollen) or a cold. If you're feeling "stuffy" before changing altitudes or diving, use a nasal decongestant or antihistamine in preparation. 

• Gargle with warm salt water. 
• Take a decongestant, such as Sudafed, every 6 hours and continue for 24 hours after you land to shrink membranes in the sinus and ear. Follow the precautions on the label. 
• Use a pediatric-strength nasal spray once as directed. This helps open the Eustachian tube, without giving you more medication than you need.

> > > READ MORE < < <

Bible Study for the Past Few Days {School}

10th September, 2012.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Study God's miraculous provision of food in Luke 9:10-17.
2. Study Mark 8:1-9 and determine if you believe this is the same incident or a different one. Give reasons for your answer.
3. Study Matthew 14:14-21 and compare it to the two passages above.

LUKE 9:10-17:

Overview of the verses: It happened just after the disciples returned from their preaching. Jesus took his disciples to a desert place belonging to Bethsaida. The people followed them. Jesus told them about the kingdom of God, and healed those that needed healing. The disciples asked Jesus to send the crowds away, so that they could find lodgings and food. Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." -- forgetting or ignoring the disciples' thoughts about lodgings for the people. 

Their response: "We don't have any more than five loaves, and two fish!"

Jesus' response: "Make them sit down." Then the people got full, and there were twelve baskets left over! (About five thousand men there, plus women and children)

Mark 8:1-9: 

NOT THE SAME STORY.

                 SUPPORTING FACTS:

1. The crowds had been with Him for three days,
2. They had 7 loaves, number of fish not mentioned,
3. There were only 7 baskets of left-overs taken up,
4. There were only 4,000 men there, besides women and children.

Overall: Jesus was teaching the multitudes. He felt compassion for the hungry (spiritually as well as physically) people, and fed them!

Matthew 14:14-21:

Same story as in Luke 9:10-17.

Overview of the verses: Many crowds. Jesus felt compassion. There were five loaves, and two fish. There were twelve basket-fulls remaining. About five thousand men, besides women and children, ate.

11th September, 2012.

ASSIGNMENT: 

1. Study God's miraculous provision of food for the prophet Elijah as told in 1 Kings 17:1-16.
2. Study Yahweh's (Jehovah's) provision of manna for the children of Israel during the Exodus.

1 Kings 17:1-16.

Overview of the verses: God sent Elijah to tell Ahab that there would be no rain for three years. Elijah was then told to hide by the brook Cherith, where the ravens would feed him, and he would have water. Elijah had to stay at the brook until it dried up--not sooner, not later. Only after what seemed the source of life was gone (water), and only God was left to rely on, did He send Elijah elsewhere. This time, he was sent to a widow. Not just any widow--it was "the widow of Zarephath." She was the one that was to take care of Elijah, and she didn't have anything to give him. But God provided, once again. And they lived.

Exodus 16:1-31.

Overview of the verses: The Hebrews were complaining because the food they were eating wasn't as good as the food in Egypt. God told Moses that He would feed them by "raining bread from heaven." God gave them quails to eat at night, and bread to eat in the morning. The Hebrews called it "manna", which means, "What is it?" God told them to gather just enough for their families to eat in one day. When they didn't, and gathered too much, it went bad. The manna tasted like wafers made with honey, and looked white.

12th September, 2012.

ASSIGNMENT: Look up all Scripture references to the Phoenicians (called Canaanites in the Bible), probably the first nation to send out extensive explorations. (the word "Canaanites" highlighted for ease of finding)

Overview of the Canaanites: Enemies of the Israelites. They were uncircumcised, and the Israelites were not allowed to marry them according to the law of Moses. The Israelites were supposed to drive all the Canaanites away when they moved in, but they didn't, and they were a constant problem almost always for the Israelites.

Genesis 10:18, “And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.”

Genesis 10:19, “And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.”

Genesis 15:21, “And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Genesis 24:3, “And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:”

Genesis 24:37, “And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:”

Genesis 34:30, “And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.”

Genesis 50:11, “And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.”

Exodus 3:8, “And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”

Exodus 3:17, “And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Exodus 13:5, “And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.”

WANT TO SEE ALL 54 VERSES? CLICK HERE!

13th September, 2012 (today).

ASSIGNMENT: Study Bible references to the seafaring towns of Tyre and Sidon.

TYRE: 

Overview of Tyre: King David must have had a good relationship with the King of Tyre, Hiram. Hiram supplied David with cedar trees. Cedar trees were expensive. Cedar trees were used in the building of the temple--only the best kinds of things were used there.

Joshua 19:29, “And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:”

2 Samuel 5:11, “And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.”

2 Samuel 24:7, “And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.”

1 Kings 5:1, “And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.”

1 Kings 7:13, “And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.”

1 Kings 7:14, “He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.”

1 Kings 9:11, “(Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.”

1 Kings 9:12, “And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.” 

SIDON:

Overview of Sidon: The Sidonians were famous for their woodcutting skills. It was a trade city. Not considered very highly by the Jews.

Genesis 10:19, “And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.”

Deuteronomy 3:9, “(Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)”

Joshua 13:4, “From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:”

Joshua 13:6, “All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.”

Judges 3:3, “Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.”

1 Kings 5:6, “Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.”

Matthew 11:21, “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”

Matthew 11:22, “But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.”

Matthew 15:21, “Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.” 

WANT TO SEE ALL 36 VERSES ABOUT TYRE AND 19 VERSES OF SIDON? CLICK HERE.

P.S. I've got something really, really exciting to tell you soon. It involves a blog and a magazine. You might be able to figure me out, especially if you look at my profil---. Oops. Won't pop the secret yet! See you soon with an update.

History of the Railways in New Zealand

Today, I got to study the history of New Zealand railways! It was fascinating! Read what I've copied from New Zealand Herald below...

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The Government's re-nationalisation of the railways , buying the assets off Tranz Rail for $655 million, has rewound history.

A potted history of New Zealand railways:

1862 - first railway opens - a horse-drawn tramway from Dun Mountain copper mine to Port Nelson.

1863 - first steam railway opened on the Christchurch-Lyttleton line, via the Lyttleton tunnel.

1870 - with less than 100km of track operating, Prime Minister Julius Vogel calls for railways to aid economic development, and a narrow gauge is chosen to save money.

1873 - first train in North Island, Auckland-Onehunga.

1878 - first express trains Christchurch-Dunedin cover 370km in 11 hours.

1879 - possible to travel 600km from Christchurch to Invercargill by train.

1880 - Almost 1900km of railway open.

1886 - Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company opens line to Longburn, near Palmerston North, introducing gas lighting and dining cars. It was profitable for 22 years, until taken over by Government.

1908 - North Island main trunk line completed after 23 years work - the crowning achievement of the "railway age". First train carried MPs [Members of Parliament] on a junket to Auckland, in August.

1923 - West Coast line opens - its Otira tunnel, at 8.55km the longest in the British Empire and containing the nation's first electric railway.

1930 - Rotorua Limited introduced for tourists from Auckland, with observation car.

1936 - First successful railcars, Wairarapa route.

1945 - South Island main trunk from Christchurch to Picton completed.

1953 - the length of railway line operating hits its all-time peak - 5656km. Christmas Eve crash at Tangiwai kills 151 rail passengers.

{Click on the picture or on the text to read more}

Do you know what's neat about this picture? I've ridden through this area before--it's in the Arthur's Pass!

>>> Read More >>>

Today's School Subject: Continents and Oceans

The first thing I did for school today was... 

1. Math, 
2. then I did Diagramming, 
3. Memory Verses, 
4. and read all about Daniel in The Antiquities of the Jews, by Josephus. I finished Book 10, and started Book 11. In chapter 11 of Book 10, I read several interesting bits:
   
   1) the explanation of the handwriting on the wall--very much like in the Bible, but still interesting! "And he explained the writing thus: 'MANEH. This, if it be expounded in the Greek language, may signify a Number, because God hath numbered so long a time for thy life, and for thy government, and that there remains but a small portion. THEKEL This signifies a weight, and means that God hath weighed thy kingdom in a balance, and finds it going down already.—PHARES. This also, in the Greek tongue, denotes a fragment. God will therefore break thy kingdom in pieces, and divide it among the Medes and Persians.'"
   
   2) when Daniel was in the lion's den: "So Darius, hoping that God would deliver him, and that he would undergo nothing that was terrible by the wild beasts, bid him bear this accident cheerfully. And when he was cast into the den, he put his seal to the stone that lay upon the mouth of the den, and went his way, but he passed all the night without food and without sleep, being in great distress for Daniel; but when it was day, he got up, and came to the den, and found the seal entire, which he had left the stone sealed withal; he also opened the seal, and cried out, and called to Daniel, and asked him if he were alive. And as soon as he heard the king's voice, and said that he had suffered no harm, the king gave order that he should be drawn up out of the den. Now when his enemies saw that Daniel had suffered nothing which was terrible, they would not own that he was preserved by God, and by his providence; but they said that the lions had been filled full with food, and on that account it was, as they supposed, that the lions would not touch Daniel, nor come to him; and this they alleged to the king. But the king, out of an abhorrence of their wickedness, gave order that they should throw in a great deal of flesh to the lions; and when they had filled themselves, he gave further order that Daniel's enemies should be cast into the den, that he might learn whether the lions, now they were full, would touch them or not. And it appeared plain to Darius, after the princes had been cast to the wild beasts, that it was God who preserved Daniel [[1]] for the lions spared none of them, but tore them all to pieces, as if they had been very hungry, and wanted food. I suppose therefore it was not their hunger, which had been a little before satisfied with abundance of flesh, but the wickedness of these men, that provoked them [to destroy the princes]; for if it so please God, that wickedness might, by even those irrational creatures, be esteemed a plain foundation for their punishment."
   
   I also found an interesting bit in Book 11, Chapter 1:
   "In the first year of the reign of Cyrus which was the seventieth from the day that our people were removed out of their own land into Babylon, God commiserated the captivity and calamity of these poor people, according as he had foretold to them by Jeremiah the prophet, before the destruction of the city, that after they had served Nebuchadnezzar and his posterity, and after they had undergone that servitude seventy years, he would restore them again to the land of their fathers, and they should build their temple, and enjoy their ancient prosperity. And these things God did afford them; for he stirred up the mind of Cyrus, and made him write this throughout all Asia: 'Thus saith Cyrus the king: Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be king of the habitable earth, I believe that he is that God which the nation of the Israelites worship; for indeed he foretold my name by the prophets, and that I should build him a house at Jerusalem, in the country of Judea.'
   
   "This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which Isaiah left behind him of his prophecies; for this prophet said that God had spoken thus to him in a secret vision: 'My will is, that Cyrus, whom I have appointed to be king over many and great nations, send back my people to their own land, and build my temple.' This was foretold by Isaiah one hundred and forty years before the temple was demolished. Accordingly, when Cyrus read this, and admired the Divine power, an earnest desire and ambition seized upon him to fulfill what was so written; so he called for the most eminent Jews that were in Babylon, and said to them, that he gave them leave to go back to their own country, and to rebuild their city Jerusalem, and the temple of God, for that he would be their assistant, and that he would write to the rulers and governors that were in the neighborhood of their country of Judea, that they should contribute to them gold and silver for the building of the temple, and besides that, beasts for their sacrifices."
   
5. alright you're probably bored silly! :D The other thing I did for school this morning was write one page in my Israelite Girl story. (oh, yes...I did post the first part a while back, didn't I? So maybe I don't have to tell you about that?)

Okay, onto today's main school subject: Continents and Oceans!

The first thing I had to do was find the area of each of the world's oceans, and the total area of them all, telling it in square miles, square kilometers, and, finally, in acres. It was fun--and easy, thanks to this website! :D So here's what I came up with:

#1 Pacific 60,060,894 sq miles - 155,557,000 sq km - 38,439,000,000 acres

#2 Atlantic 29,637,974 sq miles - 76,762,000 sq km - 18,968,303,175 acres

#3 Indian 26,469,620 sq miles - 68,556,000 sq km - 16,940,600,000 acres

#4 Southern 7,848,299 sq miles - 20,327,000 sq km - 5,022,911,312 acres

#5 Arctic 5,427,052 sq miles - 14,056,000 sq km - 3,473,313,246 acres 

TOTAL OCEAN AREA: 129,443,838 sq miles - 335,258,000 sq km - 82,844,100,000 acres

The second thing I had to do was plot a graph to show the relative sizes of all the oceans and continents--easy enough!

Here's the info I entered (with square miles and acres added):

#1 Asia 17,212,048 sq miles - 44,579,000 sq km - 11,015,710,614 acres

#2 Africa 11,608,161 sq miles - 30,065,000 sq km - 7,429,222,967 acres

#3 North America 9,365,294 sq miles - 24,256,000 sq km - 5,993,790,000 acres

#4 South America 6,879,954 sq miles - 17,819,000 sq km - 4,403,170,518 acres

#5 Antarctica 5,100,023 sq miles - 13,209,000 sq km - 3,264,014,688 acres

#6 Europe 3,837,083 sq miles - 9,938,000 sq km - 2,455,733,097 acres

#7 Australia/Oceania 2,967,967 sq miles - 7,687,000 sq km - 1,899,500,000 acres

Yes....so that was my day! How did yours go?

[[1]] It is no way improbable that Daniel's enemies might suggest this reason to the king why the lions did not meddle with him and that they might suspect the king's kindness to Daniel had procured these lions to be so filled beforehand, and that thence it was that he encouraged Daniel to submit to this experiment, in hopes of coming off safe; and that this was the true reason of making so terrible an experiment upon those his enemies, and all their families, Daniel 6:21, though our other copies do not directly take notice of it.]

My Little Brother's a Musician!

I've got a little brother (Joe by name) who loves to sing! He sings everywhere. And about everything. The other day, I heard him singing, "I need a job, I need a job...." over and over! He also likes to play the piano. Here are a couple videos we've taken of him playing on the piano. Hope you enjoy!

When he was nine months old:

Just a few days ago (with his father and baby brother):

ALSO, OTHER NOTES:
I've almost finished filming the 3rd recipe (AKC [Across the Kitchen Counter]) video. Will post as soon as it's done.