Vocab Blog Numero 4

Coming up in a few weeks is the science symposium at our school! I am very excited because I finally get to show off my experiments that I've been working on all year in my Research in Molecular Genetics class. Teachers and students are paying homage to our dedication throughout this year that has basically gone unnoticed. I just love the milieu because everyone seems so impressed with your work and are greatly appreciative of it. In the past science fair at Rutgers I constantly mispronounced large words that had to do with my project because I didn't rehearse it enough, so this time I am going to rehearse a dozen times at least so I don't say any malapropisms. The Rutger's science fair was actually awesome. I couldn't believe that many people performed their own experiments and did such a good job! Personally I was a little scared because I had never participated in a science fair like this and I was afraid it was going to be as geeky as it sounds. I filmed fruit flies for my experiment and somehow I managed to organize my paraphernalia, which included my video tapes, laptops, poster, and video camera so that my station looked extremely professional. One person at the fair created a song from a laser! He could move the laser in such a way to make music. It was very cool, and could create a euphony with light! Maybe it's just me but I can't seem to comprehend this. Moreover, the judges were tough though, some even argued with you. For instance, one person told me I should have analyzed my data using a different statistical test, but Mr. Wieland told me that test wouldn't work. We reached animpasse because of the two different opinions between statisticians, and the judge just left with a bad look on his face. For the most part though the judges were equitable and treated every candidate fairly because I heard one judge ask the same questions to me as they did to my friend. Talking to judges all day was not easy. We had to stand on our feet for 3 hours! luckily I got a chair so it wasn't horrible, but I was standing for about 2 hours. Thinking about their questions was also draining, and by the time I got on the bus I was enervated and fell asleep immediately. But before I went on the bus to go home, we had an awards ceremony. At first no one from our school was getting called up to win any prizes, but eventually someone did. IT WAS ME! I was the first person to get an award. I won second place in my category. It took long enough! My friend who is a senior didn't get any awards, and he worked so hard on his project. I felt really bad because his face looked lugubrious and that he was personally unhappy with the results.

Vocab Blog Numero 3

The other day was a scary day! I had to go to a gastroenterologist the two days ago to get an endoscopy. Well this wasn't just a random endoscopy, it's actually because this past summer, on July 4th (yes I know the exact day, it was a pretty memorable one) I choked on a piece of filet mignon. I didn't need the heimlich or anything because I could still breathe, I just couldn't swallow anything, not even spit unfortunately. MY LIFE WAS IN JEOPARDY! It wasn't actually in jeopardy, but it was scary! And as a result, I went to the ER and after 8 hours of waiting, and still not being able to swallow anything, I had my first endoscopy to remove it. They sent me to a gastroenterologist which then suggested I get another one to take biopsies to see what was wrong. The gastroenterologist was my nemesis because he thinks he spells his name right, but it's actually wrong. Margulies, doesn't even sound right! Margolis is the correct spelling. Even though we have "beef" with each other, we have an intimate relationship. I mean who else has seen the inside of my throat before? His prognosis after performing the endoscopy was that I most likely had EE, eosinophilic esophagitis, and to cure it I have to see an allergist. My mom was a critic of all of this because she thinks the doctors are just trying to make money off me. But there was nothing we could do. Within the past few weeks these doctors have been harassing us by calling the house asking to confirm our appointment. It is overwhelming. And to make it worse, each doctor makes me give them a vignette about the incident that happens so they understand the situation. But I feel like it has helped me in some ways. I have met an eclectic group of doctors, all of which gave me insight into different areas of study. I want to be a doctor when I'm older, so that is why it is helpful. So far the doctors have eschewed from any drugs or medication to prevent this from happening again, but instead trying to manage my diet. I don't really enjoy it, but it's something I have to do. lately, in an article I have found out that this condition is becoming ubiquitous, and that more and more people are being diagnosed with EE.

Vocab Blog Numero 2

We have been reading Othello in class and it is tacit that we know all Shakespearean language, but I find it hard to understand. I don't think I'm the only one, but I just wanted to let everyone know that haha. From Othello, I have noticed that Iago wanted to savor every moment that he got a little closer to taking over for Othello. Othello is in control of an expansive area and is a very powerful man so I can understand why Iago would be so happy to control this, but his way of going about it is all wrong. He is a malevolent man and his actions are absolutely insane. He tells his wife and others to do his dirty work for him. For instance, he told his wife to steal Desdemona's handkerchief she gave to Othello. He also told Roderigo he could set him up with Desdemona but simply stole his money and killed him. When we were reading the play I was actually transfixed sometimes when I heard of the things he did, and also the sexual connotations the play had. I remember when Mrs. Abrams told us about a dirty beard or something or other, it was extremely disgusting. But the play made that reference for a reason so it should be mentioned. Dont worry Mrs. Abrams you didn't do anything wrong! To be honest though the movie kind of had the adverse effect on me. Maybe it was just because it was 8th period, and I was tired, but the movie had a soporific effect on me. I kept wanting to go to sleep, even though I knew the ending was exciting. I ended up just dozing for a minute, but of course that minute was when all the action happened. But I read the end of the play online so no harm was done. If Iago had taken over for Othello and would subjugate over the people of Venice I would have been so upset. He definitely shouldn't be allowed to rule over anyone especially because of the way he got some of his power. During this whole play I wonder what I would have done in their situations. Like what would I have done if I witnessed one of these events. I would have probably given all of these government officials impunity because they are defending out country, even though killing still isn't morally correct. I also would have given people pseudonyms so that their true identity couldn't be found out and they would be safe from getting killed. I feel like I have talked about enough bunkum in Othello to last a lifetime now so this is the end of this post.

Vocab Blog Numero 1

My cousin, Ben, just got back from his two month visit to Nepal and his one month voyage to India. Nepal is a relatively small country in between China and India. He graduated early from Johns Hopkins University in December and before entering Medical School he decided to take some time off. He thought it would be fun and exhilarating to help out in an orphanage in Nepal. It was actually an august orphanage because it was subsidized by the government. Before he went he had to be inoculated with a bunch of shots in order to stay healthy for his entire voyage. While he was at our grandparents he was telling us about the exorbitant prices that we pay. He told us that in Nepal and India, he would not pay over the equivalent of $2 for anything! Ben also told me that people imbibe ALL the time. They will start drinking at like 6 AM. He said they also smoke a lot, which is very unhealthy. As the only white person in this small little village in Nepal, my cousin seemed like a celebrity. He was surrounded by an entourage of people when he went into town because he had a lot of money according to their standards. I have learned a lot about third world countries from my cousin. He told me in Katmandu there is garbage lining the streets, and that stray cows roam the streets and eat it. Because of this, the smog in Nepal, specifically Katmandu, is very bad. Also, it causes the city to be noisome and the stench is so bad at times people need gas masks to breath.

My cousin after staying in the orphanage for two months then decided to travel all over India. He assured me that he would buy me something form the Taj Mahal, but of course never did :(. He also told me that the Taj was extremely tortuous inside and you can't even climb up any stairs in it because you would fall. Looking back on the Taj Mahal the builder of it was ingenious. The architectural ability that one most have to be able to do such a thing is incredible. I would not be able to even think of designing a building of that magnitude. Just to show its importance, it is the mecca for Hindus. In Islam, Muslims make a Hajj to Mecca once in their life time, but in Hinduism, people are supposed to make a Hajj to the Taj, or at least I believe so. Anyway that is all the information that I can remember about my cousins trip to Nepal and India and I hope you enjoyed.

Vocab #4

Right now I don't know what to do a blog post on, so I'm going to make one up. This past Friday, my father was indicted for stealing. He stole my neighbor because he wouldn't give my dad back his lawn mower. Yes, I mean my dad stole my neighbor! He literally put him in the guest room (nothing too rash). His son, John, now acts aloof and hostile toward me and my family, simply because my dad kidnapped his dad. His daughter, Mary, is very stoic however, and doesn't show much emotion. She always has a very stern face, and never seems to be having fun. Personally, if my dad was kidnapped I would have a grudge on the person who did it. Everyone is different though. After going to court for a gruesome seven months, the judge acquitted my father of kidnapping because he treated our neighbor with such hospitality and offered him so many luxuries. Another thing that helped my father was that he only kidnapped my neighbor because he wouldn't give back our lawn mower. So in actuality my neighbor was the antagonist, while my father was the protagonist because he lent out our law mower in the first place. The government as a result rescinded the law that kidnapping is a federal offense because of my father's actions. My father and our neighbor are now friends (even better than before) and we have constantly gone over for family BBQ's.

Vocab #3

In an attempt to write these blogs I noticed the word cajole. Ordinarily I would not know what this word meant but I learned that it more or less means to persuade. This probably isn't important to you but I thought it was. After learning the definition of this word I thought about the ways my friends (who aren't the sharpest tools in the shed) try to cajole me into doing certain things. For instance, the other day my friend tried to convince me into going "ice skating" on this frozen pond that we pass everyday as we walk home. I scrupled to agree to walk on this pond because I always fear like I'm going to fall through, and a behemoth or some creature like the Loch Ness Monster is going to grab me and then kill me. Anyway that is not the point of the story. The main point of the story is that the way my friend convinced me to go ice skating was just by repeating himself over and over and over and over again. Finally, I got to the point where I was just so tired of hearing him plead his case that I reluctantly agreed to go ice skating. His plan was extremely overt he knew that by annoying me enough he would eventually get me to give in. There was no doubt in his mind that he was simply doing this by accident. Personally, I persuade people through other means. I like to be suave and make the other person trust me enough that they will do what I want them to do. Neither strategy is right or wrong, but they both prove to be effective.

Vocab #2

So today was the first time I saw MY movie trailer for MY movie that I'm starring in. Valentines Day, with a ton of actors, was my premiere film. It was an opportunity that I will never forget. My talent agent called my house and said that the director was in dire need of a starring actor and I was just who he needed. This is only how I wish the story went. The actual story is still funny though. I was in Hollywood, CA this summer on a family vacation, and as we were walking through the city, we see Jamie Foxx and a bunch of people around him and very old car. My dad and I were walking up ahead of my mom and sister and were just admiring the movie industry. And from out of the blue, someone came up to us and asked if we were extras, OBVIOUSLY, we said yes and we moved over to the side. After waiting for about 30 minutes, we filmed one shot and just went on with our vacation. It was something I will never forget though. Of course I had to tell my friends and everyone I knew that I was in the movie, when in reality I probably wasn't. Now back to my daydream. The critics appraised my acting as one of the best they have ever seen. Isn't it impressive for my first acting job? It was hard to believe that the director had to terminate my contract for the movie after that one scene though? One would think I would have the potential to star in all his movies! Nonetheless my laconic role in the movie probably was the "make or break" deal in the movie, no big deal. A lot of people didn't believe that I was a movie star at first, but they became credulous when they saw my face in the trailer.