Discovering the Undiscovered

The rewards of such a voyage could be promising if I discovered a new species of plant/animal or if I found a new planet that humans could inhabit. The risk involved could be significantly high, considering that it's an unknown area, but my theory is: if no one else will do it, go for it! Some of the risks could include: getting stranded in space due to a malfunction in the ship's system, or getting eaten alive by some alien creature... I think I would go, despite the risks, because I'd have the chance to make an amazing discovery. In economical terms, I could also make a considerable amount of money doing so. :)

The Printing Press and the Internet

During the Dark Ages, times were literally dark. The literacy rate was about 1% out of the entire population, and those who could read or write were usually church officials. However, after the growth and decay of the bubonic plague, times changed. The Renaissance began and the Europeans began to believe that literacy and knowledge were crucial to living a good life. One man who took matters into his own hands was Johann Gutenberg, who changed the way books were made forever. He took the slow, painstaking moveable type method and created a printing press, which dramatically increased the speed of which books could be made. Because of this, the prices of books dropped significantly and because of the affordable price, the literacy rate skyrocketed. Thanks, Gutenberg! :)

The printing press. Yay!

The internet is an invention that has greatly changed the way we live today and the amount of information we can browse. It contains millions of private and public, academic, business, and government networks that enable communication, work, and education. Before the internet, books were relied on to convey knowledge (thanks again, Gutenberg!) While books are still used, the internet is much faster and more user-friendly. The biggest influence it has had is in the education field. It has provided faster, more up-to-date information for students to learn and study. It’s even provided the necessary information for me to write this paragraph! :)

This is a visual depiction of one portion of the internet's network. Amazing, eh?

Carpe Diem?

"Pluck the Day"

I agree with this saying 95%. (The other 5% I'll explain shortly.) I believe in living every day to the fullest and to savor every moment, good or bad. I especially try to acknowledge the bad moments because then I can enjoy the good ones even more. I am definitely one to try and understand how I'm feeling every at different moments, to better understand myself. I also think that practicing this type of gratitude can help you be more appreciative of the little joys in life.

Now, the reason I slightly disagree is because completely ignoring the future can be foolish in some situations. To some degree, I like to think about the future and imagine what I'd like to be doing in it. At the same time, that sometimes leads to worrying too much, which brings me back to remembering to enjoy the moment I'm in.

It's a cycle. :)

Impressions from Local Religious Centers

At the Al Huda, the first thing I noticed was that it was small but cozy inside. It had a very quiet and placid atmosphere. I really enjoyed Dr. Rasheed because he was very polite and kind, and he explained himself thoroughly so we could understand everything well. One thing I was really pleased to discover was the reason that Islamic women wear the cloths to cover themselves. At first, I had misunderstood this concept, but I learned that they do it to be modest and to prevent any rivalry or jealousy. It contributes to the overall goal of all Muslims: to be equal. Another thing I learned was that the Five Pillars of Islam were created by Allah, not by Mohammed.

At the Congregation of Children of Israel, I was in awe of the absolute beauty of the place. Everything had a very regal feel to it. I especially liked the sanctuary. It was gorgeous! I was very interested to learn about Jewish culture because that was one religion I didn't know much about. One thing I became clear on was Sabbath, which is a weekly day of rest for the Jewish. I was also very interested to learn about Jewish funerals. Unlike Americans, when someone dies in the Jewish culture, they bury the person fairly soon and have a set period of time (seven days) to grieve before they return to regular life. I think that makes more sense because it often takes a long time to recover from a loss and going right back to a social life can be difficult if rushed.

At St. Joseph's Catholic, I was again struck by the beauty of everything. I especially liked the Sanctuary where I found the stained glass windows to be absolutely beautiful. It was interesting to see the different stations of the bible all along the walls, but it was informative. Also, the fact that the church had created a little area for the Hispanic members to worship was very thoughtful and accommodating. Since I am most familiar with Christian culture than any others, I didn't learn anything specific that I didn't already know.

(St. Joseph's)