The Cause of Disease

What is a virus? How does it affect the body? Is it deadly? A virus is a parasite made of protein and hereditary material. Viruses can only reproduce when they are inside a living cell called the host (Viruses, 2012). Viruses are the cause of disease and are very dangerous. Even the common flu is a virus. Many viruses can kill you, but there are many vaccines to help prevent from these devastating parasites. In order to be intact with a virus, it must be inside you first. Although viruses can be deadly, such as HIV, not all the time are they deadly, nor are they permanent, such as the common flu.

What are some interesting facts about viruses and things you should know? “The genetic information of viruses can be DNA or RNA; single or double stranded; one molecule or in pieces.” Did you know the name virus was coined from the Latin word meaning slimy liquid or poison? Did you know that Viruses are not alive? “They are inanimate complex organic matter. They lack any form of energy, carbon metabolism, and cannot replicate or evolve. Viruses are reproduced and evolve only within cells” (Ten cool facts about viruses, 2012).

On the other hand, Viruses are everywhere, but in order for them to take over/infect an organism, they must get inside it. First, they must invade a cell called the host cell so they can grow and reproduce, thus spread the disease throughout the body. Most Viruses are contagious, so it’s important to stay sanitary at all times. Viruses can enter the organism through the mouth, nose, or breaks in skin (Infections- bacterial and viral, 2012).  A virus is a microscopic one-celled organism called a microbe. Viruses are the most deadly of microbes and can cause death depending on how bad things may get and what virus you have caught (What is a virus? 2012).

Although, many diseases, such as Polio and Rabies, are very harmful to the organisms body and are dangerous as well to yourself and others. Polio is the main disease of paralysis. Polio has been around for a very long time. This disease starts by striking the nervous system. This disease was more common back in the old days, but now is more extinct in most parts of the world, but is still around. This disease is rare in most parts of the world, but still exists. Many patients who have had this disease have been paralyzed in different parts of their body, in some cases, the whole body. Polio is a deadly disease and can kill you. Amazingly, up to 95 percent of people infected with polio showed no symptoms and most others just faced your standard flu-like fare, but those numbers can be misleading (Sander, 1995-2007).

Furthermore, the disease Rabies is very dangerous as well as Polio. Foaming at the mouth is one of many symptoms that may occur if you have the virus know as rabies. Rabies are generally passed by saliva, usually through dog bites. Thanks to Louis Pasteur, we now have a vaccine for this deadly disease. Although, it isn’t as common as it used to be. Many humans used to get this disease all the time, but ever since we found out the vaccination, the percentage of people getting rabies from today to those before 1885 is tremendously lower. Many people do still get this disease though, and if it gets to your brain, you’re a goner (Sander, 1995-2007).

As you can see, this tells all about and proves how viruses are deadly and harmful to organisms. If possible, avoid viruses as much as possible. The best way to do this is to stay clean and be sanitary at all times. Surprisingly, one of the most common ways of catching a virus is by not washing your hands. By doing this, you are allowing these viruses to enter your body. Whenever you rub your nose, those viruses on your hands can get inside you. This is one reason why you should always stay sanitary. Viruses can kill you, keep this mind. Although viruses are deadly, they won’t always lead to death but can be dangerous so put this into consideration and be safe and stay clean.

 Bibliography

(London), D. S. (2004). Virus. Retrieved April 26, 2012, from Virus.:

http://www.homeoint.org/site/ahmad/virus.htm

Infections- bacterial and viral. (2012, February 17). Retrieved April 16, 2012, from Better

Health Channel: http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/virus.html

Sander, D. (1995-2007). Alphabetical List of Virus Names. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from

The Big Picture Book of Viruses: www.virology.net/Big_Virology/BVVirusList.html

Ten cool facts about viruses. (2012). Retrieved 4 23, 2012, from Virology blog:

http://www.virology.ws/2009/10/19/ten-cool-facts-about-viruses/

Viruses. (2012). Retrieved April 24, 2012, from Viruses:

http://www.ve.weber.k12.ut.us/05%205th/Reese/viruses.htm

What is a virus? (2012). Retrieved April 17, 2012, from DK Dialouge For Kids:

http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season8/viruses/facts.cfm

The Significance of Football

Authors Note: the Author’s purpose for writing this essay is to show how Football is an important aspect in America.

Do you have a favorite sport in your own opinion? I would think the majority of people do, and mine happens to be football. To me, football is the best sport in the world. It necessitates lots of mental and physical traits. It requires a lot of effort and must always have faith in you and your team and never let the other team to get to you. Hanging your head is an example of letting the other players gets to you. In order to win, you must be determined, ready to play, be outgoing, and leave everything you have in you on the field. A true football player needs these things in order to be good.  Although Without football, many people wouldn’t have jobs, and the world might be turned to chaos, and this is why football is the best sport ever.

            Speaking of which, without football the world wouldn’t be the same. Countless people have cable just for football, which would lead to cable company’s profits deflating such as Time Warner Cable, Dish, or even Direct TV. Some people spend their entire Sundays and or Saturdays (depending on the time football may be on) watching football, or having a party with friends or family. I can almost guarantee if you go to a party on Sunday or whatever day it may be, you’ll probably see some sort of football game for entertainment of some sort. If it was my choice, I would make watching football a law. I can just imagine myself in the NFL, lights as bright as the sun, a crowd roaring my name louder than waves crashing against the shore of a beach. That would be the life.

            On the other hand, for many people who work in the football arenas, Lots of people depend on their jobs working in the stadium or for the team staff in order to help support their families. No one in the NFL would be making the money they do now, well, most likely they wouldn’t be. Charity homes are often funded by football associates or foundations. All around the world, lots of people may know football as being a major sport of America. Football plays a major role in my life because not only is it my dream to go to the NFL, but it gives me something to do during my leisure time.

Furthermore, Football involves skill, effort, and much more. Football is not only good for those who make money, but it’s also a good way for kids and adults to get and stay active. Slightly over one third or 33.8% of American citizens are obese. If we could get those of which that are obese to join an athletic activity such as football, I think this percentage would decrease majorly over a certain period of time. Who knows, maybe you would find out your actually really good at this, or enjoy playing football or some other sport. Football may play a major role in many people’s lives such as it does to mine. This is one of few good ways to get people active.

As you can see, football is important because for many people, it’s a profession or it’s their passion. Also, without football, the world wouldn’t be the same. Getting active can be tough, but playing football is a great way to do it. It involves skill, effort, and more. It’s a great personal experience as well. Those of which that don’t participate in football or any other sport, I highly recommend you start. Just remember how big some things may mean to you, so don’t take them for granted. Football means a lot to me and it may be a one in a life time experience for me but I’m always going to respect and follow the sport until I die. Without football, many people wouldn’t have jobs, and the world might be turned to chaos, and this is why football is the best sport ever.

This is Just to say

I have ran

I have fought

In the woods of America

And which you were probably thinking

That this is but a task

I’m doing it for my survival

Don’t think that it is easy

Cause you aren’t me who runs all day

But this is me and it’s what I do

So back off before I kill you

Samuel is the main character in the story. In this poem it describes how he is currently in the woods and gathers a militia together and fights the British army. The tone of this poem is mellow, mischievous, and secretive. The audience is King George, and this relates to the book because he is alone in the woods trying to get his parents back and him and his militia defeat the British army and defeat King George.

Don’t Mess With the Best

I am so brave

I am so strong

Although I am little

I mean you no harm

I just want my parents

Then I’ll be gone

After I kill you

And battle till dawn

You may not like me

But that’s okay

I’ll kick your butt

Any day

Your army men

Will soon be mine

As I defeat you

In the blink of an eye

Now let this be a lesson

To all that might fear

You cannot beat

What you can’t even hear

Your days are done

You can’t compete

You’ll always remember

How it feels to be beat

I won the round

You fell to the ground

I will not try

But I will make you cry

Now that you know

How things might go

If you pick a fight

You better be right

Cause those you battle

You might not like

They’ll throw you down

With all their might

The Boy in the Woods

Authors note: the author's purpose for writing this is to describe the setting of a character and to show what he is like.

Have you ever thought about what it would be to live with a family where all you do is hunt for your family and live practically independently? Would you be able to live life like that? In the book “Woods Runner”, 13 year old boy Samuel spends his days in the forest, hunting for food for his family. He has long blonde hair that is as sleek as a tigers mane, he has blue eyes as dark and gleaming as the sea, his voice whistles in the wind as he speaks, and he is as tough as an ox. He has grown up on the frontier of a British colony, America. Samuel is not one to get scared easy, but when it comes to life or death, he grows stiff, as if he was frozen in a time capsule and couldn't move. Far from any town, or news of the war against the King that American patriots have begun near Boston. But the war comes to them. Although Samuel lives during war, he has many survival tactics, and must learn to live on his own after his parents were kidnapped.

Suddenly, on a cool windy night, British soldiers and Iroquois attack. Samuel’s parents are taken away as prisoners. Samuel follows, hiding, moving silently, determined to find a way to rescue them. Each day he confronts the enemy, and the tragedy and horror of this war. But he also discovers allies, men and women working secretly for the patriot cause. And he learns that he must go deep into enemy territory to find his parents: all the way to the British headquarters, New York City. Samuel soon finds out that being in a war is not like playing what some call it, “war” with friends, he figures out that this is the real deal. Samuel must beat the British to win the war. Samuel is not one to give up, he fights with all his might as if he was a mother bear protecting her cubs.

Solar Flares

Authors note: The author’s purpose for writing this piece is to describe the events that may happen and that did happen and what the effects theses events may cause for us.

Have you ever thought of how life would be without electronics? Do you think you could last through it easily, or would it be nearly impossible for you? Well this is completely possible because if the sun let off a solar flare, we could lose our electricity. A solar flare, known as a solar prominence is a large, bright feature extended outwards from the sun’s surface.  Prominences are anchored to the Sun’s surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun’s hot outer atmosphere, called the corona, NASA reported. Just recently we had a solar flare that just missed the Earth. It was big, very big. Although life may be difficult without electronics, it is very likely for this to happen one day and we must be prepared.

Recently, the sun has let off some heat this week in the form of an unusually strong class solar flares that blazed from the suns surface letting off a giant ball of solar material fly right past Earth. It started on Sept 6 when an M-Class flare erupted, followed by another on Tuesday, which came as a X2.1 class solar flare almost 4 times as strong as the first one. Another flare was unleashed at the same time reaching its peak strength eight minutes later. The flares are classified according to how powerful they are, as A, B, C, M or X, with X being the most powerful. The latest flare SDO detected was an X-class flare. If this solar flare had hit Earth, near all of our electronics could have been wiped out do to this catastrophe.

            According to NASA, there was a coronal mass ejection associated with all three flares, but none of them are expected to travel directly to earth. However, NASA computer models suggest that the latest Coral Mass Ejection may give a destructive blow to Earth eventually and may create some sort of aurora. The flares are seen first, as the light and radiation take only eight minutes to get to Earth. The Coral Mass Ejection moves slower and takes days to reach Earth, just like the way that thunder follows lightning. Lately, we have been having tons of solar activity.

The powerful blazes are a part of a larger pattern as solar activity has been more active over the past few months and as the sun is transitioning to a busier cycle. In 2013 scientists expect more solar activity in the next three to five years. The largest recent solar flare that hit the Earth was in December 2006, which measured X9 on the solar flare scale. A solar flare, known as a solar prominence is a large, bright ray that is produced outwards from the sun’s surface.  Prominences are anchored to the Sun’s surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun’s hot outer atmosphere, called the corona, recalls NASA. These flares aren’t to common but lately they have been growing greatly in reoccurrence.

Lately, a magnetic disturbance passed around the Arctic Circle during the waning hours of March 1st, creating bright auroras. "The show was stunning and amazing," says Thomas Albin, who sends this picture from Esrange, Sweden. He quotes, "There were three different colors visible and the dynamics of the lights were incredible!" These solar flares have been happen periodically more often in the past couple of months. Luckily, none of them have had the power to wipe out most corresponding satellites. Although, many large solar flares have just slightly missed the Earth saving us from huge disruptions and interruptions with everyday life, they could’ve shut down all our power judging by the size of the flare.

As you can see, this describes what and how solar flares happen. If we were to be hit by a massive solar flare, many of our satellites would be wiped out and life would be difficult for us. Maybe not all of our electricity would be gone, but the majority of it would be wiped out. Many people’s lives rely on electronics and without them there could be major disturbances with Earth. Life would be difficult for everyone and we would have to find ways to live without electricity. Although life may be difficult without electronics, it is very likely for this to happen one day and we must be prepared.

Ember Vs. Earth

Authors note: The author’s purpose is to show the main differences and similarities between Ember and Earth.

Have you ever wanted to explore a different place or something known as a new world? Have you ever wondered how life may be if you had to leave all your valuables and belongings behind? In the book “The City of Ember” Doon and Lina live in a small underground city with little supplies and lack of education. People were deported down here because of a war that was about to occur so that mankind wouldn’t be extinct. They have no idea theres another place besides Ember until Lina finds this note with instructions on how to evacuate the city. Although Ember might not be advanced technologically and have everything we do as of now, it still has people like we do, but lack of education, supplies, and utilities.

Although Ember has supplies in it, but it doesn’t have all the things you would need to acquire for an everyday life. Also, Ember doesn’t have all these high-en quality things like Earth does, they have very little resources and buildings and other sorts of resources. Ember is a small place unlike Earth, but it does have resources, just not as much. The town has very little color to it. It’s more of darker boring shades rather than fun colorful colors like Earth. There isn’t much activity in Ember and there is very little crime, but it’s much different in Earth because the habitat is so much bigger.

On the other hand, Ember lacks in education and many other common sense qualifications. In the story “The City of Ember” Doons father tells him, “The main thing is, pay attention. Pay close attention to everything, everything you see. Notice what no one else notices, and you'll know what no one else knows. What you get is what you get. What you do with what you get, that's more the point.” This means that maybe if Doon pays more attention to his surroundings, he might expand his knowledge in education and find a way to save Ember. If he had done this he might have found a solution to the pipes being in awful quality, or maybe even fix the generator.

Also, Ember and Earth do have their similarities with each other. Ember and Earth both still have people and everyone speaks the same languages. Ember still can have natural activities in it. Ember has a river flowing through the city and Earth has many rivers and natural activity in it also. Ember and Earth both have schools and mayors. Both of which get an education and keep the city under control. Ember has patrol and laws, as does Earth. These laws are enforced very much in Ember as well as they are in Earth. Ember has water supply and electricity in it just like Earth does. Every little thing matters in Ember and in Earth.

As you can see, this is how Ember relates to Earth as it is today. Without many things we have today, life would be very complicated just like it is in Ember. If we didn’t have all the things we have on Earth today, think of how life would be. It would be dull, boring, and completely different. I can’t even imagine living in Ember. Without all the technology we have today, life would be so different and it would be chaotic. Doon, Lina, and the rest of the people in Ember have it pretty hard. There isn’t much activity in Ember and there is very little crime, but it’s much different in Earth because the habitat is so much bigger.