How Do We Grow?

So what really happens when we grow up? Human growth happens in three ways, physically, emotionally, and mentally. We also can grow spiritually if we choose to. We all start as a single cell that starts to divide. Soon there are many cells that are basically exactly alike. Then something fantastic happens. The cells begin to differentiate. That’s a big word for they become different. There are signals that are controlled by the genes we have (our DNA) that cause some cells to change into heart cells, nerve cells, skin cells, brain cells, and a whole lot of other kinds. There are even genes called Hox genes that tell the cells where they are supposed to go. Imagine having brain cells in our feet. That just wouldn’t work! Once these different cells are in the right place they continue to divide. Soon there are millions of cells and the tiny human is starting to look like a baby.

Once the baby is born, it begins to eat and grow. Some cells stop dividing. The brain has all of the cells it needs. The bones continue to elongate by adding new cells to an area called the growth plate. Our skin keeps dividing and stretching to keep up. Our heart and other organs grow and mature. There are many hormones and other chemicals that help keep everything growing on schedule. One gland, located at the base of our brains called the pituitary gland is like the head guy. He tells all the other parts of the body when to grow, stop, or do their various functions. The pituitary gland is the one that secretes a hormone called growth hormone. Without it we would stay small. When we reach about 18-20, we may stop growing taller, but that doesn’t mean we are finished growing. Our brain’s keep developing. The cartilage in our nose and ears never really stops growing. If we get injured the body repairs itself by growing new cells.
We also grow emotionally. We learn how to relate to other people and solve problems. We can learn from our parents, our friends, and especially from reading the Bible. The more we experience and see how others adjust to situations, the more mature emotionally we can become. It may take some time and you will have to be patient.

We grow mentally by learning new things. We go to school. We learn skills from our parents and other relatives. One way we can grow mentally is to read. Books can teach us many things about nature, the world, and even ourselves. The greatest book is the Bible. It can help us grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. If we do all four we can become the person God intended us to be and be able to do all the good things he wants us to accomplish.

There’s a whole lot more to growing up that you will learn along the way, but I hope this helps!

Till next time!

Love Papaw.

Celebrating Easter in Other Countries

 This week the Musings and the Notes from Papaw collide. (It means they’re both the same.)

Have you ever wondered how other countries celebrate Easter? Easter is when we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In America, many go to a special church service, have a special Easter lunch with family, and decorate with flowers like the Easter lilies in this picture. Children often get Easter baskets with eggs that are supposed to come from the “Easter Bunny”.

Easter Around The World.

Here in America, it’s the beginning of Spring. For the Southern Hemisphere however, it’s turning to Fall. Things are getting colder. In Australia, many celebrate with hot cross buns - a spiced sweet bread marked with a cross. They think of rabbits as pests so there is no Easter Bunny. Instead they have the Easter Bilby, an endangered species that kind of looks like a rabbit. In Vanuatu, a South Pacific island, they like to have a sunrise service for worship. In Columbia, there are solemn processions in the streets during Holy week.

In Africa churches are adorned with butterflies, flowers and bright colors. The night before Easter morning they have a vigil that begins quietly but erupts into singing and dancing at sunrise.

In the Philippines, Easter morning begins with two separate processions. The men follow an image of Jesus, while the women follow one of his mother Mary. At the church, they encourage each other that Jesu has risen.

In India, there is not a very large percentage of Christians. Instead they have a Spring festival. They often purchase lavishly decorated egg for their children.

In Europe, there are many different fun traditions. Germany is the originator of the Easter egg. They even put them on Easter trees.  In Poland, families gather for Easter Sunday breakfast, which often includes a sweet bread called babka. In the French town of Bessières, people gather together to cook a giant omelet. It is said to go back to the time of Napoleon. I guess he really liked omelets!

Meals, festivals, and candy are all fun as long as we don’t forget What Easter really stands for. Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord was crucified, buried in a tomb, and according to the scriptures raised the third day to take His place in heaven as our mediator and High Priest before God. Enjoy the season; just don’t forget the sacrifice!

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Matthew 28:5-8

Until Next Week!

Most information is from https://www.wycliffe.org/blog/featured/how-easter-is-celebrated-in-countries-around-the-world

How Do They Make Nuclear Energy?

When you say nuclear energy, many people have some interesting ideas about how it works. Some people think you can just put wires into the fuel and get electricity. Others think it’s like magic. Some have no idea at all how it works. So today I’m going to try to simplify the process for you.

 Except for solar and bioluminescence, power plants uses turning magnets and coils of wire to create an electrical current. Wind power and Hydroelectric (water) plants use motion to move the magnets and coils. For everything else we use steam. Normally we just burn something to heat up water. The water turns to steam and expands. This turns a set of blades called turbine blades. The blades are connected to a shaft that turns the magnetic coils inside a machine called an alternator or generator. This produces the  electricity we use every day. We can burn oil, gas, coal, wood, or even trash. Geothermal power uses steam from the hot areas inside the crust of the Earth to run a turbine but we don’t have to burn anything.

For nuclear power, the heat source is made from an element called uranium. The fuel is made into pellets or rods, usually made of uranium oxide. The uranium atoms naturally fall apart in a process called fission (think division) and create a lot of heat. This heat finally gets transferred to water and creates lots of steam. The steam is what turns the turbine generator. The power plants have tall things that look like smoke stacks that are used to cool the water down before it leaves the plant. The white “smoke” is really just water vapor called steam. Because they use so much water, many nuclear power plants are built by rivers or by the ocean.

Nuclear power plants can run for many years using a small amount of fuel. The tough part is what to do with the fuel rods when they wear out. They are still radioactive (giving off lots of radiation) and can be very dangerous. Usually, the old fuel rods are sealed in watertight, very strong containers and taken to a special place to be buried.

Nuclear reactors are also used in aircraft carriers, submarines, and even satellites. They allow the ships, subs, or satellites to run for a long time without refueling. Here is a picture of a typical nuclear reactor.

 

I hope you learned something today. See you next time!

Love, Papaw.

What Do You Mean Radiation?!

 

When you hear the word radiation, what comes to mind? Does it sound scary? What is it anyway? Are there different kinds? Is it safe or dangerous? There are so many questions we could ask. Today I want to help you understand what radiation is, what it’s used for, and whether or not it is safe to be around.

Basically, there are two kinds of radiation: non-ionizing and ionizing. There are some who put sound waves as a third kind, also called acoustic radiation, but it needs a medium (something to move through) like solids, water, or air, to move through, so I will talk about it another day.

Non-ionizing radiation is a low energy radiation that can move atoms and molecules but not break the bonds between them. We see and use it every day. Visible light, infrared heat, radio waves, and microwaves are common examples. There are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. We can use light waves (the Sun), or heat waves to keep us warm. Microwaves help us cook things quickly. They cause the molecules to speed up, giving them heat energy. The thing to remember is that none of these make something radioactive. There is nothing dangerous left over when they are used. You could even use the Sun’s radiation to grow a plant or get a sun tan. We couldn’t live without it.

Ionizing Radiation has so much energy that it can break atoms apart. These include x-rays, gamma rays and alpha and Beta particles. There are many good uses for these as long as we are careful. X-rays (they use a very low setting) can help us see a broken bone inside our body. It can be used to sterilize equipment. I can kill cancer that cannot be reached with surgery. I is also used to create electricity. Aircraft carriers and submarines now have nuclear reactors that heat up water into steam to run turbine generators and make lots of electricity. Ionizing radiation can be very dangerous if not used properly. That’s why you need to be very careful and pay attention to warning signs. If you see this symbol, make sure and ask an adult if the area is safe. 

 Well that’s all for today. In another post I may explain how we use nuclear fuel to make energy!

Love Papaw.

Leprechauns!

I know many of you like to have an “Elf on the Shelf” at Christmas time. Have you ever heard of a leprechaun? They are kind of like elves, only Irish. Since March 17^th is St Patrick’s Day this year, I thought you might like to hear some “facts" about leprechauns.

Leprechaun actually means “small body" in Gaelic (one of the Irish first languages). I know the picture has one dressed all in green, but traditionally, they are described as wearing red jackets with seven buttons, and a top hat. They are described as being 1-2 feet tall with reddish beards. They are said to hid pots of gold at the end of rainbows. They are shoemakers by trade. Legend says that if you catch one, especially by the beard, they will grant you three wishes. But beware, since they are considered fairies, they are tricksters, and are known to vanish away immediately if you look away for even a second!

One of the reasons people wear green on St Patrick’s Day is that it is said to make a person invisible to leprechauns so they won’t pull a trick on you. They also like to give you a pinch!

One fun thing that some of my friend’s children are doing this year is making a Leprechaun trap. You can make one out of a shoebox. To lead them to the trap, you need to make a trail of shiny coins. It can even be the chocolate coins that are wrapped in gold foil. The shinier the better! They love it if you add pretty colors, especially rainbows! Be sure to cover up any logos like the Nike symbol on your boxes. If they see that you will scare them away.  

They can be simple or fancy. You can google lots of design ideas online. If you can really trick them, you might catch a leprechaun. Papaw hasn’t caught one yet but I will keep trying!.

 

 Here is a fun video about how to make a simple trap.

 Be sure to let me know if you catch one!

Love, Papaw.

Taken from Fun facts about leprechauns: https://www.garfieldrefining.com/resources/blog/pot-of-gold/

How Do Snakes Lay Eggs?

Here is another request from the grandkids. Well, at least one of them. I’m not sure everyone will like it. I’ve always liked snakes. My wife? Not so much. That’s why I have to keep them in my classroom. My students seem to like it. When things get boring, we can just feed a snake. There are quite a few of the staff that tend to avoid visiting. Oh well, their loss.

The question of “how do snakes lay eggs” is not as straight forward as it seems. First, not every snakes lay eggs. There are snakes that give birth to live young. The baby snakes are ready to go from the start. There are 2 kinds of “live bearers”, viviparous & oviparous. Viviparous snakes do not have eggs at all. The common garter snake and ocean-going sea snakes are examples of viviparous snakes. Oviparous snakes have eggs that hatch inside the mother shortly before birth. These include vipers, rattlesnakes, boas, and anacondas. https://wildlifeqld.com.au/viviparous-oviparous-snake-egg/ Many of these snakes live in colder climates and it is thought this can give the babies a better head start.

About 70% of snakes lay eggs. Some common egg layers are pythons, cobras, and the common rat snake. The eggs usually take about 60 days to hatch. The babies are born with a special “egg tooth” that they use to cut open the rubbery egg shell. It falls off shortly after birth.

So how do they lay their eggs? Underneath a snake you will notice that the scales are much larger than on their back. An inch or two from the tip of their tail, depending on whether it’s a male or female, you will notice a spot where the scales are different. This is called the vent. It’s used both for eliminating waste and for laying eggs. Chicken have the same kind of structure that they use to lay eggs also. Live babies also are born through the vent.

Many snakes lay their eggs in the leaf litter and leave them alone. Others can make nests and stay with them until they hatch. Mother pythons wrap around their eggs and can even warm up their eggs by shivering so they won’t get too cold.

Snake are pretty cool and fun to look at, but unless you are with someone with experience, it’s better to just watch them from a distance. Some snake can be cranky when they first wake up!

Here’s a video of a bay corn snake hatching. 

Hope you liked it!

Love Papaw.

Who Killed John F Kennedy?

 

I often ask my grandchildren what they would like me to write about. Usually it various cool animals like capybaras , snakes, and sharks. This time one of my grandsons, Dylan, who’s a history buff ask about who killed JFK. Not bad for a middle schooler eh? Since he’s all game for a good conspiracy theory also, I figured I’d try to give him the gambit. So this week, my Notes from Papaw will also be my weekly Musing. Hold on, here it goes.

A basic Google search will usually outline six or seven main theories.

1. The Lone Gunman

• ·       The Theory: Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository, killing President Kennedy and wounding Governor John Connally. Jack Ruby killed Oswald two days later on his own initiative.  Source: The Warren Commission (1964).
• ·       It is interesting to note that a majority of the American public reject this theory.

2. The Mafia Theory

• ·       The Theory: Organized crime orchestrated the assassination as retaliation against Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s aggressive crusade against the Mafia.
• ·       Jack Ruby may have had ties to the Mafia.

 

3. The CIA/Deep State Theory

• ·       The Theory: Elements within the CIA or the broader "military-industrial complex" killed Kennedy because they believed he was soft on communism, planned to withdraw from Vietnam, or was going to "splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces" after the Bay of Pigs failure.
• ·       The CIA did withhold evidence that they had Oswald under surveillance.

4. The Cuban Involvement Theories (Two Sides)

• ·       Pro-Castro: Castro retaliated after the CIA made multiple attempts to assassinate him. Oswald’s trip to the Cuban and Soviet embassies in Mexico City shortly before the shooting fuels this theory.
• ·       Anti-Castro: Cuban exiles, enraged by Kennedy’s refusal to provide air support during the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, killed him for "betraying" them.
• ·       It would be hard to prove it if only individuals were involved.

5. The Second Gunman on the "Grassy Knoll"

• ·       The Theory: Oswald was not the only shooter. A second gunman fired from a,knoll in front of the limousine, supported by analysis of the Zapruder film showing Kennedy's head moving backward and to the left.
• ·       Source: The 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA). The HSCA concluded that a "probable conspiracy" existed based on acoustic evidence suggesting four shots were fired, though that evidence has since been challenged.

6. The Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Theory

• ·       The Theory: Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson conspired to kill Kennedy to take the presidency and avoid being dropped from the 1964 ticket due to impending corruption scandals.

7. “Friendly Fire” Theory

• ·       The theory that a Secret Service agent accidentally killed President John F. Kennedy posits that in the chaos immediately following the first shots fired by Lee Harvey Oswald.
• ·       Agent George Hickey accidentally discharged his own weapon, firing the fatal headshot from the follow-up car.
• ·       There was a subsequent cover-up to protect the reputation of the Secret Service.
• ·       Source: JFK: The Smoking Gun: A 2013 documentary based on the work of Colin McLaren, an Australian detective, which popularized the theory.

To be honest, I do not think we will ever know the whole truth. I kind of lean toward the Friendly Fire Theory, but mostly because I really don’t want to believe that our government would be so brutal as to plan something like this. We do know they are good at cover-ups.

It kind of comes down to something one of my sons said. If the government can do all thses things, there not a lot that any one individual can do about it. So my advice to you is:

1. Trust God’s plan.

2. Be the best person that you can be.

3. Shine the light of truth to everyone you know.

4. Try to leave everyone who meets you better that they were before you came into their life.

That’s all I have this week. Later!

Love, Papaw