Media Messages

With media constantly present in my everyday life, I believe that just one message or advertisement advocating my imperfections can, and does, instantly effect me in a direct and negative way. While I’m not implying that media is cynical as a whole, it can sometimes tend to lower the self-esteem and confidence inside of me. Many commercial and advertisements are inclined to display a stereotypical image of “pretty” that consists of a tall, slender woman/girl that has perfect teeth, tiny waist, and a flat stomach. Not only does this show the outside world that they do not have this “beauty”, it convinces girls and women to believe that to be pretty, they must encompass those qualities. 

I feel completely puzzled and disappointed with myself after a commercial tells me I’m beautiful just the way I am, but, my flaws can be hidden or non-existent with the use of a certain product that I could buy from their company. These messages make me question what the true meaning of beautiful is in the first place, is it to create a mask that hides and conceals the real me to deceive people into thinking that I’m “attractive”? 

What is the point of a real beauty campaign if the girls and women advocating it in advertisements are photoshopped and wearing heavy makeup?

How can these companies make people feel comfortable in their own skin if their own promoters aren't because photoshop and heavy makeup is greatly used in advertisements to sell their campaigns?

Why do they attempt to sell a product that goes completely against what they represent in the first place?

I feel that the display of only aesthetically pleasing figures in media not only lowers the self esteem of “normal” people, it sets standards of beauty that will never be met. Although the models in media look appealing and merry, the person inside could be experiencing immense pain from anorexia, bulimia and/or self harm. This is why I am completely opposed to the idea of real beauty because while I may define real beauty as something that is not materialistic, one might say that real beauty is being appealing to the eyes of the outside world. Beauty cannot be defined, and when it is attempted to be, only physical features are taken into account.

Based on the points I stated above, I am more inclined to like the idea of realistic beauty. Realistic beauty is something that doesn’t need to be seen physically, one can encompass it mentally. Realistic beauty doesn’t have a size, IQ, or race restriction. It’s there to show that normal people like me can be beautiful in their own way and not be compared to people that lead a completely different lifestyle. Realistic beauty shows that beauty is in anyone and everyone and to think otherwise, is false. Realistic beauty can’t be measured, it can only be felt. 

“Beauty isn’t worth thinking about; what’s important is your mind. You don’t want a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head.” 

Garrison Keillor

Who Can We Really Trust?

Flower Parts and Functions

Flowers are made of several essential parts.

Anther: Contains pollen, and is the male reproductive cell

Filament: Holds the anther

Calyx: The sepals of the plant

Sepal: Small leaves under the flower

Peduncle: Stem

Ovule: Reproductive cell that will become the seed when fertilized by pollen

Ovary: A part of the female reproductive cell

Style: A tube on top of the ovary

Stigma: Receives pollen during fertilization

Carpel/Pistil: Female reproductive cell of the plant

What is the purpose of each of these structures?

Anther: The anther is very key to the flower. It is essential for reproduction of the plant and pollination. The anther is a part of the stamen, which is the male reproductive cell of the plant. The stamen of the flower, is made of two parts, the filament and anther. When the anther opens, the pollen is caught on by bees and wind and is transported to other plants, which the plant pollinates, allowing for plant reproduction.

Filament: The filament of the plant is also a male reproductive cell. Like the anther, the filament builds the stamen of the plant. The filaments are small hair-like stalks of the stamen. The filament plays it’s part by supporting the anther of the plant. When the anther opens, it is easy to the filaments shooting up like stems inside the plant.

Calyx: When a plant is in its budding stage, the petals of the plant are covered with sepals. Sepals are green leaf-like, although thicker, structures. The sepals of the plant keep the bud and and interior structures safe as it blossoms. A group of sepals is known as a calyx.

Peduncle: The peduncle of the plant is a stem that holds the inflorescence, a cluster of flowers, or just the singular flower, and the fruit of a flower. The peduncle supports the plant and is sturdy in order to support the flower and or fruits.  

Ovule: The ovule of the flower is the structure that holds the female germ cell and when fertilized, turns into the seed of the plant. The ovule of the plant is important to reproduction of the plant as it contains the female reproductive cells. The ovule, when fertilized, produces new flowers as it is the seed.

Ovary: The ovary of the plant is in the base of the Carpel, and contains the ovules of the plant. The ovary will eventually mature to become a fruit of any consistency and will enclose the seeds of the fruit.

Style: The style is found within the flower. It is a long, slender structure that connects the stigma with the ovary of the flower. The stigma is located at the top of the style, and is the sticky platform where pollen is deposited. Together the stigma, style, and ovary build the carpel.

Carpel: The carpel/pistil is the female reproductive cell in the flower, and all three structures of the pistil work together to ensure progress of fertilization and plant reproduction. Pollen, which holds the male genetic cells, lands on the stigma of the plant and stays there due to the stigmas sticky surface. As the pollen germinates on the stigma, a pollen tube is created, which the pollen will use to burrow through the whole of the style. The pollen tube grows out of the pollen grain, and will create a tunnel reaching from the stigma to the ovary. When the pollen tube then reaches the ovary, two sperm cells are emitted from the pollen grain, and they are then allowed to go from the pollen grain down towards the ovary. Once the sperm cells have reached the ovary, they then fertilize the egg that is waiting in the ovule. After the egg has been fertilized, the ovule develops into the seed, and the ovary into the fruit. If the fruit is uneaten, the creation of a plant of the same species begins.

Hero's Journey Steps and Examples from Harry Potter

Hero’s Journey Step	Description	Example from H.P	Other
Call to adventure	The heroes journey begins here, when the hero becomes aware of the world outside of his hometown where the hero has lived his whole life in. His journey is usually given to him by a herald, who acts as a guide along the heroes journey	Hagrid comes and informs Harry that he is ready to go to Hogwarts
Refusal of Call	In some instances the hero may refuse the call, usually from from fear. Eventually the hero is on his way, either from encouragement, or an event that forces him to leave.	Harry is confused, and says “me, I’m not a wizard, I’m just Harry.” As well as the uncle and aunt are denying Harry’s entry into Hogwarts.
Supernatural Aid	As the hero continues his journey, he meet some aiding peers, usually an old man, a god/goddess or a messenger that will give him a weapon or supernatural abilities.	Hagrid gave Harry his money back, and allowed him to buy a wand, enabling Harry to perform magic, allowing himself to protect himself. Harry would also want to go to Hogwarts because his aunt and uncle+cousin are very mean and cruel to him.
Crossing the first threshold	This threshold the hero needs to cross separates the hero from the comforts of home, and an adventurous world filled with mystery and unknown dangers.	This event occurs when Harry enters platform 9 ¾. Also, Harry crosses over when he reaches Diagon Alley.
Belly of the whale	After the hero crosses the threshold he may find himself alone in the darkness, there he will discover the purpose of the journey and come out as a different person.	Harry finds his purpose after he enters the pub and is famous in this new magic world.
Road of Trials	The hero faces a variety of challenges, and quests to strengthen his or her character and skills.	When Harry is attending school, he is continuing to accept challenges and strengthen. When Harry becomes the first seeker to be in year one.
Meeting with the Goddess	The hero encounters a motherly figure that is known as either a queen or goddess and then has to return his or her rightful path. This is because the goddess has shown him/her what awaits at the end of his/her quest.	Harry meets Hermione and she always advises him to do the right thing. She always bosses him around and hates it when him and Ron break the rules.
Woman as the Temptress/Temptation from the True Path:	The meeting with a woman in the story can be either rewarding or degrading. In this step, the hero would have to return to his/her quest even though it is unappealing to his/her selfish desires.	This stage of the heroes journey was not displayed in the film “Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone” When the sorting hat tells Harry that he could do great things in slytherin but he still chose Gryffindor.
Atonement with the Fatherte	In the story, the hero will also encounter a fatherly figure(like the goddess) that has high authority. The fatherly figure can be portrayed as either a person that wants to help the hero or as someone that wants to take him down.	Dumbledore finds Harry looking at himself in the mirror of Erised and tells him that the only thing the mirror shows is lies. Dumbledore tells Harry that he should never go to the mirror again and go on and achieve greater things.
Apotheosis	In this part of the story, the hero starts viewing the world differently and this is because of a realization that he/she has. This realization either makes him/her think of his/her purpose or life. In this stage, the hero most likely turns into a selfless person that will put other in front of him.	When Harry Potter finds out that Dumbledore is gone to Europe and Harry realizes that he is not safe with him gone. This causes Harry to look at the world in a more heroic way and he has to make sure that his decisions result in positive things for all his loved ones.
The Ultimate Boon	During the Apotheosis, the hero will get some knowledge that he/she wants to share with the rest of the world. This knowledge changes the lives of others and the hero forever.	The Ultimate Boon was displayed in the film of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” through the philosopher’s stone and Harry finds out that the holder gets immortality.
Refusal of Return	The hero has finally finished his quest. It is time to go home back to the normal life he lived in before. The hero will feel unwelcome back to in the world because everything has changed.	When the year of Hogwarts is over, Harry is devastated and does not want to come back. This is because the family he lives with is very mean and cruel to him.
The Magic Flight	When the hero goes home, he has to flee from the people he has hurt and angered. This action is not performed alone, he is accompanied by his protector and he/she guides him safely back from the danger.	To return to the human world, Harry takes the train that takes him to the gate 9 ¾. He is accompanied by Hagrid, he makes sure that nothing disastrous happens to him.
Cross of Return Threshold	In this step, the hero tries to go back to the “normal world” but first, he must fight a gatekeeper or threat so he/she can return.	Harry does not have to fight any gatekeepers will exiting platform 9 ¾
Master of two worlds	The hero is home at last and comes to figure out that the “normal world” has not changed even though something big and different had happened. It must still be taken into account that the “big difference” occurred in the other dimension. Sometimes, the hero might realize that the big difference(in the supernatural world) is slowly creeping in the mundane world.	Harry knows everything is the same at “home”. He is still known as the loser Harry without any family. For the wizard world big news spread out that Voldemort is back. Harry is known as a celebrity and everyone knows that he the only one who can fix things.
Freedom to live	The hero is free at last to live his/her life in balance between the two worlds and himself. He can be in peace but still have to remember and know about the supernatural world.	When Harry destroys Voldemort for now and the school year is over and he can go home. Harry still has no freedom to live because the people he lives with are very cruel to him. He is taken away from the supernatural world for the summer.

Nitrogen and the Nitrogen Cycle

What is Nitrogen?
Nitrogen is a chemical element with no definite characteristics that builds up approximately 78% of our atmosphere. This gas is the lightest of the Nitrogen group with an atomic number of 7. The nitrogen gas is the seventh most abundant gas in the universe. All though it may not seem this way, pure Nitrogen can cause a risk to humans as it displaces available oxygen in the air.

What is the Nitrogen Cycle?
The Nitrogen cycle is the process of nitrogen being used by plants and animals then being released back into the atmosphere. First, plant and animal wastes decompose, this adds nitrogen into the soil. Next, the bacteria in the soil converts the nitrogen into a form that plants can use. After that, plant uses the nitrogen to grow. Finally, animals and humans eat those plants and the cycle continues.

Nitrates and Nitrites
Nitrates and nitrites are two different molecules that are made of oxygen and nitrogen. The chemical difference between the two is that nitrites have two oxygen atoms while nitrates have three. Both molecules have one nitrogen atom.

Health Effects of Nitrogen
Nitrates and nitrites oppose several health effects to humans. Some of these effects and issues include: Reactions with haemoglobin in blood, causing the oxygen supply capacity to decrease, decreased functioning of the thyroid gland, vitamin a decrease, the cause of nitro amines, which are known to be one of the highest causes of cancer. Along with being beneficial, Nitrogen can be destructive.

Why is the Nitrogen Cycle Beneficial?
All biotic organisms benefit from the Nitrogen Cycle. Nitrogen is found in the DNA of all living organisms and is also found in proteins that are vital to the lives of all breathing beings. It is important to understand how this cycle works so humans know not to take a crucial element such as this for granted.

Nitrates and Nitrites in the Nitrogen Cycle

 

Diagram of the Cycle Process

Death on Command

An Unlikely Friendship