Into the Abyss

Next month or so are going to be intense for me, so going to drop off the radar for a while and give it my all. See y'all on the other side!!

Peace!

Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders

I picked up this book from the library today, Hope in Hell by Dan Bortolotti. The book offers an insiders look into the world of doctors without borders, a organization I admire strongly and may one day be a part of. I wanted to share a potion of the back cover of the book.

"Doctors Without Borders sends more than 3,000 volunteers annually to conflict zones, refugee camps and anywhere else in the world where medical care is desperately needed.

Volunteers often work in poor and dangerous places. Some are traumatized, kidnapped, even murdered. many watch their idealism become disillusionment, their friends become strangers. Others feed on the adventure, fall in love, or find the family they never had."

Yikes! This is definitely not an undertaking for the faint of heart. I can't wait to dive into this one and get a better idea of my aspirations for the future. Expect updates and reflection in the coming weeks.

An Appreciation for the Scale of Things

As an aficionado of the sciences, I have grown to appreciate the size of the molecular world and all that's in it. And its amazing to see how different microscopic organisms and molecules relate to each other. However at times that may become difficult when your dealing with units like nanometers. I mean how in the world do you relate to a nanometer! (yes I know its 10^-9 meters), but most of us lack any intuitive sense of what it is.

So ever wonder how the size of an atom compares to say a hemoglobin, or even a chromosome to a blood cell? Egg to a sperm? Well wonder no more.

The Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah put together this amazing model on the relative size and scales of the microscopic world. Cell Size and Scale

Even more so, check out:

Inside a Cell
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/insideacell/

The Sympathetic System (Fight of Flight Response)
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/cellcom/

Cell Communication
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/signals/

Wondering how they look in real life?

Red Blood Cells (above) and Purkinge Neurons (below)- Courtesy of Wellcome Images

Surronded by Books

The only thing better than spending every waking hour surrounded by books, is being able to spend it outside writing your own story.

In the Pursuit of Knowledge

"Acquire knowledge, it enables its possessor to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to heaven. It is our friend in the desert, our company in solitude and companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery, it is an ornament amongst friends and an armor against enemies." Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)

Sand Mandalas: The Neverlasting Art Piece

Found this interesting! I'd hate to thing what would happen if you mess up while making it.

Warren Buffet & Bill Gates: Keeping America Great

What is in a Name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell just as sweet."
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet act II, sc. ii

Recently I've realized that my name is not as unique as I once thought it was. It's still strange to most westerners and even easterners, but no uncommon. The same mispronunciations, questions, awkward award ceremonies..... all these things I had come to know with my own unique name was no longer exclusive to me; I now shared those experiences with a number of other individuals, one of whom just happened to take my place as I left UCLA. Contemplating my own now shattered uniqueness, I was led to realize a name is only outward label. Who you are and what defines you as a unique individual, is not defined by a name, but it's who you are inside, how you carry yourself, your past experiences, dreams and aspirations and beliefs. These are the things that really define you as an individual and contribute to your unique place in history.

3 Points: McGrady's journey to Darfur

In 2007, Houston Rockets Shooting Guard, Tracy McGrady traveled to Darfur with an organization called Enough Project. His experience was documented in this documentary.

Westwood Homeless, Brilliant Painter

A familiar face to many of the students attending UCLA living in Westwood village. William Laga, characterized as a tall, slender, and shabbily dressed homeless man, could often be found at the corner somewhere by CPK, strolling about and often mumbling to himself. The schizophrenic man, who has lived on the streets for more then three decades, finds peace for his shattered mind on a blank canvas with an array of colors. He makes a weekly trek of 16mi to Pierce College to sit in on art classes and take a weekly shower at their gym. However, his story remained unknown to the countless bystanders about him.

On Christmas Eve of last year, art patron, Marcelle Danan, stumbled across him as he sought refugee from the rain. Seeing his innate talent she brought him to her house, and for the next few months supplied him with art supplies to fuel his passion. With the help of Danan, Laga has begun to sell his paintings and is becoming a internationally recognized painter. He is currently working in Paris, France. The story originally aired on KCAL 9.

A Touching Story: Amazing Painter, Homeless Man

Homeless Painters First Art Show

Texting while Driving

Many states have passed laws against talking on a cell phone while driving, but many are yet to enact a law against texting while driving. Only 10 states and the District of Columbia have bans on texting while driving, and ten more are set to join this coming January. California enacted the law earlier this year, prohibiting any texting by any age driver. Other states have criteria of age and place in regards to texting.

Nonetheless, texting while driving seems like a absurd thing to do, however it happens often enough (I've done quick texts in standstill traffic). But many opponents argue how is it any different from digging something out of the dashboard or even the all to famous girl doing her makeup behind the wheel, all having the same potential of being as disastrous as texting. However, statistically speaking according to the National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration, in 2002, 955 deaths could be attributed to drivers on their cell phones and a study at Virginia Tech reveals there is a 23x greater chance of getting into an accident while driving compared to a driver focused on the road.

There is also the issue of enforcement. How can officers enforce a law that involves a discrete action. The use of cell phones are hardly limited to texting. And most often the case is the driver doesnt text in an officers face while driving. It is a subtle act, that often times is never intended. However, I think it boils down to a moral obligation. Texting while driving is not only putting yourself in danger, its potentailly putting the people around you at risk, and endangering countelss of innocent lives.

Whatever the outcome of future debates, texting while driving is no lesser of an evil than driving under the influence. The UK released a PSA to deter teens from texting. Note it is a reenactment, but nonetheless a horrifically staged depiction, especially when considering the human toll in real situations.

A White House Iftar- Obama Style

Today, September 1st, President Obama hosted an iftar dinner at the White House, in recognition of the holy month of Ramadan. Each year millions of Muslims mark this holy month with increased spirituality and fasting, in keeping with the traditions of Prophets. Obama's recognition and active participation is a far more welcoming approach than his predecessors. But it leads me to wonder, is there any genuity in his actions or is it all just part of the PR campaign. I hope its just a bit a both. It sure would be cool to be invited to break fast in the White House with the president (I wonder if he fasted too...)

Read the Article Here at the Associted Press.

Signs Amongst Us

Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the Night and the Day; in the sailing of the ships through the Ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which Allah sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth;― (here) indeed are signs for a people that are wise. (2-164)

This verse from the Qur'an is an amazing reminder of the signs all around us. Everywhere you look, from the highest frozen peaks to the crushing ocean abysses, from the not so barren desserts, teeming with life to the lush tropical forests, even gazing into the far stretches of deep space, there are abundant signs of a higher order of intellectual proprietorship, far surpassing our own crude understanding. This is one my favorite verses, because it is a constant reminder of the greatness within life and all that surrounds it. We truly do live among signs..... It's just a matter of opening your eyes and ears around you.

MCAT

Why We Need Health Care Reform

By Barack Obama

Published: August 15, 2009 NY Times

OUR nation is now engaged in a great debate about the future of health care in America. And over the past few weeks, much of the media attention has been focused on the loudest voices. What we haven’t heard are the voices of the millions upon millions of Americans who quietly struggle every day with a system that often works better for the health-insurance companies than it does for them.

These are people like Lori Hitchcock, whom I met in New Hampshire last week. Lori is currently self-employed and trying to start a business, but because she has hepatitis C, she cannot find an insurance company that will cover her. Another woman testified that an insurance company would not cover illnesses related to her internal organs because of an accident she had when she was 5 years old. A man lost his health coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because the insurance company discovered that he had gallstones, which he hadn’t known about when he applied for his policy. Because his treatment was delayed, he died.

I hear more and more stories like these every single day, and it is why we are acting so urgently to pass health-insurance reform this year. I don’t have to explain to the nearly 46 million Americans who don’t have health insurance how important this is. But it’s just as important for Americans who do have health insurance.

There are four main ways the reform we’re proposing will provide more stability and security to every American.

First, if you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of high-quality, affordable coverage for yourself and your family — coverage that will stay with you whether you move, change your job or lose your job.

Second, reform will finally bring skyrocketing health care costs under control, which will mean real savings for families, businesses and our government. We’ll cut hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and inefficiency in federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid and in unwarranted subsidies to insurance companies that do nothing to improve care and everything to improve their profits.

Third, by making Medicare more efficient, we’ll be able to ensure that more tax dollars go directly to caring for seniors instead of enriching insurance companies. This will not only help provide today’s seniors with the benefits they’ve been promised; it will also ensure the long-term health of Medicare for tomorrow’s seniors. And our reforms will also reduce the amount our seniors pay for their prescription drugs.

Lastly, reform will provide every American with some basic consumer protections that will finally hold insurance companies accountable. A 2007 national survey actually shows that insurance companies discriminated against more than 12 million Americans in the previous three years because they had a pre-existing illness or condition. The companies either refused to cover the person, refused to cover a specific illness or condition or charged a higher premium.

We will put an end to these practices. Our reform will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage because of your medical history. Nor will they be allowed to drop your coverage if you get sick. They will not be able to water down your coverage when you need it most. They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or in a lifetime. And we will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. No one in America should go broke because they get sick.

Most important, we will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups, preventive care and screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies. There’s no reason that we shouldn’t be catching diseases like breast cancer and prostate cancer on the front end. It makes sense, it saves lives and it can also save money.

This is what reform is about. If you don’t have health insurance, you will finally have quality, affordable options once we pass reform. If you have health insurance, we will make sure that no insurance company or government bureaucrat gets between you and the care you need. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. You will not be waiting in any lines. This is not about putting the government in charge of your health insurance. I don’t believe anyone should be in charge of your health care decisions but you and your doctor — not government bureaucrats, not insurance companies.

The long and vigorous debate about health care that’s been taking place over the past few months is a good thing. It’s what America’s all about.

But let’s make sure that we talk with one another, and not over one another. We are bound to disagree, but let’s disagree over issues that are real, and not wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that anyone has actually proposed. This is a complicated and critical issue, and it deserves a serious debate.

Despite what we’ve seen on television, I believe that serious debate is taking place at kitchen tables all across America. In the past few years, I’ve received countless letters and questions about health care. Some people are in favor of reform, and others have concerns. But almost everyone understands that something must be done. Almost everyone knows that we must start holding insurance companies accountable and give Americans a greater sense of stability and security when it comes to their health care.

I am confident that when all is said and done, we can forge the consensus we need to achieve this goal. We are already closer to achieving health-insurance reform than we have ever been. We have the American Nurses Association and the American Medical Association on board, because our nation’s nurses and doctors know firsthand how badly we need reform. We have broad agreement in Congress on about 80 percent of what we’re trying to do. And we have an agreement from the drug companies to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. The AARP supports this policy, and agrees with us that reform must happen this year.

In the coming weeks, the cynics and the naysayers will continue to exploit fear and concerns for political gain. But for all the scare tactics out there, what’s truly scary — truly risky — is the prospect of doing nothing. If we maintain the status quo, we will continue to see 14,000 Americans lose their health insurance every day. Premiums will continue to skyrocket. Our deficit will continue to grow. And insurance companies will continue to profit by discriminating against sick people.

That is not a future I want for my children, or for yours. And that is not a future I want for the United States of America.

In the end, this isn’t about politics. This is about people’s lives and livelihoods. This is about people’s businesses. This is about America’s future, and whether we will be able to look back years from now and say that this was the moment when we made the changes we needed, and gave our children a better life. I believe we can, and I believe we will.

Ikea Jerker Desk

I really want to sell my desk. I love it. It is spacious but not obscenely large. It is extremely versatile in function; the top shelf doubles as a bookshelf. All around it's a great desk. But I have to part with it. I'm selling it for $100. I'm also going to throw in a wire rack and pull out keyboard shelf as an added bonus. If your in or around Westwood Village or UCLA I can help with transportation.

Dress Code

— In France a law was passed in 2004 banning pupils from wearing "conspicuous" religious symbols at state schools, a move widely interpreted as aimed at the Muslim headscarf

— In Turkey where 99 per cent of the population is Muslim, all forms of Muslim headscarf have been banned in universities for decades under the secular government. In June 2008 the country's Consitutional Court overruled government attempts to lift the ban, prompting protests

— In Britain guidelines say that the full Islamic veil should not be worn in courts, but the final decision is up to judges. Schools may forge their own dress codes and in 2006, courts upheld the suspension of Aishah Azmi, a Muslim teaching assistant who refused to remove her veil in class

— German states have the option of choosing to ban teachers and other government employees from wearing Muslim headscarves; four have done so

—The Italian parliament in July 2005 approved anti-terrorist laws that make hiding one's features from the public — including through wearing the burla — an offence

— Tunisia, a Muslim country, has banned Islamic headscarves in public places since 1981. In 2006 authorities began a campaign against the headscarves and began strictly enforcing the ban

— The Dutch Government said in 2007 that it was drawing up legislation to ban burkas, but it was defeated in elections in November and the new centrist coalition said it had no plans to implement a ban

Source: Times database

The Plight of the Rohingya: Ethnic Muslim Minority Group Faces Persecution

On Jan. 28^th a ravaged group of Rohingya refugees adrift at sea were rescued by Indonesian fishermen, after a tumultuous and harrowing voyage from their persecuted homeland of Myanmar led them to Thailand, where military officials further persecuted the boat people and left the forsaken boat far into the Indian Ocean. The Rohingya people, a small ethnic Muslim minority group from the former Arakan State in north western Burma, have been subjected to continuous human right violations under the Myanmar military government since 1978, according to Amnesty International. And consequentially has caused hundreds of thousands to flee to neighboring countries of Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia as well as countless other countries in the region.

Al-Jazeera reported that the group of 585 Rohingya in five boats took off to sea in search of work to support their families, only to be intercepted a few days later by the Myanmar Navy. The Myanmar soldiers boarded their boat and beat them, and ordered them never to come back, furnishing them with provisions and fuel.

Twelve days later they were found off the Surin Islands near the Thailand Andaman coast. There they are reported to have been taken inland by the Thai army where they received severe beatings, and as one refugee, Noor Muhammad accounts "they were lined up and stripped down to the waist. And one by one pummeled and taunted, with some officers scoffing at them for being Muslim and threatening to burn their traditional beards."

The few that were released were towed out to sea for a day and a night and left engineless, a common proceeding with migrants. A naval officer with the Thai Navy told Al-Jazeera reporters "We have to take the engines off the boats or they will come back. The wind will carry them to India or somewhere." Of the 192 left at sea, a group of them including Noor Muhammad, were found by an Indonesian Fisherman and were brought to Indonesia for treatment. They now face possible deportation back to Myanmar but they plead to rather be killed then sent back.

In Thailand, another 66 Rohingya face criminal charges for illegally entering Thailand. The Thai government contends that the migrants don't qualify as refugee status because they fled for economic reasons. However according to the Associated Press, Human right agencies and the US government have long asserted that the Rohingya People face "gross discrimination and are denied citizenship in their homeland of Myanmar because they are Muslims."

Kitty McKinsey, a U.N. High Commissions for Refugees, or UNHCR spokeswoman said "UNHCR is opposed to anyone being forcibly returned to Myanmar" given its human rights record. The UNHCR is currently investigating the situation and is calling for access to the detained Rohingya people.

Flobots- There's A War Going On For Your Mind

There's a war going on for your mind
Media mavens mount surgical strikes from trapper keeper collages and online magazine racks
Cover girl cutouts throw up pop-up ads
Infecting victims with silicone shrapnel
Worldwide passenger pigeons deploy paratroopers
Now it's raining pornography
Lovers take shelter
Post-production debutantes pursue you in Nascar chariots
They construct ransom letters from biblical passages and bleed mascara into holy water supplies

There's a war going on for your mind
Industry insiders slang test tube babies to corporate crackheads
They flash logos and blast ghettos
Their embroidered neckties say "stop snitchin'"
Conscious rappers and whistleblowers get stitches made of acupuncture needles and marionette strings

There is a war going on for your mind
Professional wrestlers and vice presidents want you to believe them
The desert sky is their bluescreen
They superimpose explosions
They shout at you
"pay no attention to the men behind the barbed curtain
Nor the craters beneath the draped flags
Those hoods are there for your protection
And meteors these days are the size of corpses

There's a war going on for your mind
We are the insurgents

The Prayer- Kid Cudi

My heart thump not from being nervous
Sometimes I'm thinking God made me special here on purpose
So all the while 'til I'm gone make my words important so
If I slip away, if I die today the last thing you remember won't
Be about some apple bottom jeans with the boots with the fur
Baby how I dream of being free since my birth
Cursed but the demons I confronted would disperse
Have you ever heard of some shit so real
Beyond from the heart, from the soul you can feel

And if I die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take
But please don't cry, just know that I have made these songs for you
And if I die before I wake I pray the lord my soul to take
'Cuz I'm ready for a funeral

My mind runs I can never catch it even if I got a head start
God please tell me I am feeling so alone way
I don't need to worry 'cuz I know the world'll feel this nigga
Blessing in disguise but I am not hiding who I am open your eyes bro
If I ever met you, I appreciate the love yo
Girls that I dated, it's ok I am not mad yo
Unless you stabbed me in the heart, no love ho, this shit is so I'll
Play it back from the top if you recognize real

And if I die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take
But please don't cry, just know that I have made these songs for you
And if I die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take
'Cuz I'm ready for a funeral
And if I die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take
So please don't cry, just know that I have made these songs for you
And if I die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul take
'Cuz I'm ready for a funeral (I'm ready for the funeral, I'm ready for the funeral)