DNA and a short statement on belief.

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid.

Between 2.2 and 2.6 nm wide.  A double helix--a twisted ladder.  Alternating sugars and phosphates as the outside of the ladder with four base-types connected in the middle with hydrogen bonds, thus making the rungs of the ladder.

 The bases in the middle are Adenine h-bonded to thymine or guanine h-bonded to cytosine--always a purine attached to a pyrimidine. 

Use and Storage of DNA

So, how does this DNA stuff work?  Well, basically the pattern of the four bases designate certain sequences as genes; the basic function of a gene is to produce proteins.  So basically, DNA guides development by dictating the proteins that are produced by cells.

Most of DNA is dormant--simply in-between sequences that are not used as genes at all.  So, how is DNA used?  Well, DNA is used to create RNA, which is used to create proteins.  In this process, RNA copies and translates DNA through a process called transcription.  So, if the nucleus of the cell is like the hard drive of a computer, then DNA is all of the little data files that designate what actions a computer takes.

So, how is DNA kept? Like, does the cell have a refrigerator or pantry or something?  Basically, DNA is kept in the nucleus in conglomerations called chromosomes.  The double helix, DNA, is again about 2 nm in length.  It is wrapped around a set of proteins called histones.  There are basically 5 histones.  Histone 1 (which is not actually necessary for DNA to function properly and is only used to help compact DNA), histone 2A, histone 2B, histone 3, and histone 4--here referred to as H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Two units of each of the four H2-H4s combine to form a structure called the nucleosome.

When DNA is not compacted (when the cell is not undergoing mitosis), DNA is generally not visible.  Sometimes, though, it can be seen under the microscope as what appears to be beads on a string.

In this form, the DNA strings (including the nucleosome beads) are about 10 nm in width.  During mitosis, DNA is more compact.  It is still in a string form, but the strings are folded in a certain way.  It is not known for certain how the nucleosome string packs together, but when it does, it is about 30 nm wide.

These 30 nm fibers make up the coils of the condensed chromosome.  When chromosomes are in their condensed form, they look like an X, which will be broken apart during mitosis as the chromosome is broken into two sister chromatids.  The final chromosome is about 1400 nm, each sister chromatid being about 700 nm in width.

Here is a summation of the structure of the chromosome:

Belief

I believe in the decency of man. I believe in peace. I believe in equality. We as humans only have this one existence. Let's use it, explore it, love it.

(BTW, I wrote all of this. I took the images from wikipedia or a google search. So. Hope it was coherent and that you liked it.)

Meaning of Life Number 2

Ok, Bros (I'm only talking to one bro, though--maybe with a ho thrown in--since only one bro actually reads this and comments), so what I want to talk about today is the meaning of life.  A while back, one of my friends took off with an idea that another friend had about a lot of people writing down the meaning of life, and then putting it together in book form. Well, he kind of put it on hold for a while and never really started back up, but still, the intent was there. So, the meaning of life.

Well, as you may have guessed, the only objective meaning that can be found is "to die". As far as subjective meaning goes, that varies from person to person because it is a personal opinion.  So guess what! I'm gonna tell you my updated version of "meaning of life" (for the original one, go here).  Ok, so there are two contributing factors and then a final product, a final meaning.

Factor 1: Struggle. To do anything in this world, you have to fight. You have to consider, attack, and defeat.

Factor 2: Peace. At the same time that you are struggling, you must be at peace. That may seem like an oxymoron or a contradiction, but it's not.

Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.

If you realize that you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the center
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.

From Tao Te Ching, Chapter 33
As translated by S. Mitchell, 1995

So what is the result? What is the meaning there? The meaning is in the fact that you have completed a quest. You have sought and found. Ultimately, the combination of struggle and peace should give you at least some sense of success in whatever you do. The individual meaning will be individual and specifically different for all of us.  I'm not even sure what my end goal is in life. I read somewhere that you are supposed to be able to look back on your life when you are old and smile at the memories (One of those motivational posters).

I have an idea, but it is not quite concrete, though I will attempt to give you a concrete end-goal: I want to be satisfied. I want to be semi-wealthy. I want to have a sense that I have made a difference--not on the world--but on lives. I want to help people that are like me--thereby helping myself. I want the affliction of people like me lifted. There is little purpose for it besides the sadism of an unfair universe.

So, I intend to lift that sadism from the lives of, at the least, a few decent souls.

Gay Bar

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Frickin' Hilarious and AWESOME SAUCE. :3

Mon pere

The other day my dad made a joke that a man at our church is a failure because his son turned out gay.  And I think that irony is hilarious--however awfully bigot-ish in nature the remark was.

School in 1984

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First day of my high school final year tomorrow! I'll be a senior!! Kind of excited. Also, 1984 is a rather technical book.

Anyway, enjoy your life!

More experience

I had vodka this time; it is by far my favorite. It did not taste nearly as much like medicine without the added flavor as did the whiskey. It was not as nasty-ass terrible as the wine. And it does not smell like beer does. I still would not choose to have it as a pleasure drink--it's purpose is explicitly to be drinking alcohol. But it's not too bad.

This time, I also tried weed. As one of my compatriots called it, "mary jane". I think I did it wrong. But whatever. I was told that the first time I wouldn't feel anything. And it was no lie. I felt nothing under my layer of alcohol. But again, could have been because I did it wrong. Whoooooo knowwwwws?

And now I introduce two glee videos that I like. One because it is a rather unique cover of a pop hit of a great artist, the other because it is the best version of the song I can find online.

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Next time, I'll try the rum. And if we happen to run out, I will Jack Sparrow it up. Sorry for just a physical update. I can't think right now because I'm reading this book called "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" whilst attempting to perform a research experiment and think about college. It's draining me mentally. So I will see you next time. I'll have a couple more youtube song videos and then I'll update again. YAY. These music posts are like my favorite songs. (I am a super fan of all the music on this blog; the times haven't changed me too much)

Paper Wings

100 Goals to Accomplish before Death

1. Get fucked, Bitch
2. Fuck some bitches, hoe
3. Have an awesome (lazy) morning after scene
4. Cosplay
5. Flash mob of “Time Warp”
6. Drop a ring in a volcano
7. See all 7 Harry Potters in a row (w/ friends, theatre style)
8. See all 4 tLotR movies in a row (w/ friends, theatre style)
9. See/read the end of Naruto
10. Conquer Mount Midoriyama (Ninja Warrior)
11. Be a part of an ‘80s dance scene (Flowers for Algernon)
12. Go to some event in an all-black suit w/ a black guy in an all-white suit
13. Enter a church service w/ some ghetto atheists and “Hallelujah!” it up
14. Learn French completely
15. Learn Spanish completely
16. Learn Japanese completely
17. Learn to play all the instruments
18. Eat all the things
19. Ride a Totoro Catbus
20. Start a way-house for gay kids that have been thrown out of their homes
1. Cooperate with schools and state to contact kids
2. Funding (personal and professional)
21. Have a kick-ass, sound-proof music room
22. Fund Gay-Straight-Alliance clubs at schools
23. Pay back family ASAP
24. Career plan: Go to good tech college, get bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, work in industry, have them pay for my master’s degree, work for years and get rich-ish, go back to school and get Ph. D./ doctoral degree and teach or sth
25. Design speeches/presentations/talks to give in regard to homosexuality

How lame, I only got to 25/100.

Total Eclipse of the Heart Glee

Guys, I need y'all so much.  like a whore in heat.  Right now, I'm pretty much a sorostitute.  GLEE RACHEL BERRY FINN I DON'T KNOW HIS LAST NAME PUCK JESSIE DON'T KNOW LAST NAMES.

I just don't understand the human need for drama.  Are we really so selfish as to be bored?

Bright Eyes

Glee and other Adventures

I am officially a gleeek.  I've watched 17 42-45 minute videos of the show--that's 12 hours of video (not counting loading time).  Wow, BITCHES.  Think of how much time you spend doing the mundane--eating, cooking, doing up the personal hygiene.  Then think of how much time you spend sleeping.  Like, seriously, 1/3 of your life is spent basically dead.  WTF?

Ok, so bros, I'll now go into an analysis of some of the characters I've seen so far.

Like, first off, RACHEL BERRY (trying to get web hits... LOL).  dah duh dah duh dah.  Um, so far, they are showing her as the super-talented but annoying and socially inept dreamer singer.  And uh, that's cool.

And like, KURT HUMMEL--super gay, bitches.  It's almost not even acceptable how fabulous he wants to be.  I love his role in the show, though it is intimidating that that is how many people might now see gay people.  Like, we're not all that fabulous!  Most of us are pretty simple--swimming in a sea of other simple people.  It's just that our... PREFERENCES are more sophisticated.

HAHAHAHAHA FANFICTION WITH A CHARACTER THAT HASN'T BEEN INTRODUCED ON THE SHOW IN WHAT I'VE WATCHED SO FAR!!!  http://kurtandblaine.com/ CHA BITCHES!!

So like, those are my two favorite so far.  Baby drama is just annoying.  I realize that the point of GLEE is to be way over the top about DRAAAAAMA but ya know, I can only handle so much.  ESPECIALLY when I'm not habin no babies, brah!  SOOOOOoooooo,,,,,........ . . . . . .   .    .        . AHA I FEEL HYYYYGH!!!

Um, so like, I had my first drink of poison a couple weeks ago.  Decided to call it quits at the equivalent of only 6 shots on my first go, though.  The wine just started tasting terrible--LIKE MEGA-SUPER ULTRA-DUPER UBER TERRIBLE.  In fact, all of it tasted horrible.  But the wine was the worst.  Here is a short list of my escapades:

• Cinnamon WHISKEY (legit tasted like a fireball--the hot spicy gumball-like not-gum candy)
• Normal WHISKEY (blegh)
• Nasty-ass honey WHISKEY (blegh-er)
• White WINE (OMG had to have a cherry powerade chaser)
• BEEEhEEEhEEEhEEEEEEER (NOTE: drink dis-here d'after drinking da d'harder d'liquor--not before)
• I was told that the RUM was horrible
• And as a P.S. in the middle of the S., Some of the whiskey was downed in a limeade-sprite-whiskey mix

I was hoping that the ALCOHOL would get everybody a little bit out of mind, but, ugrjh,  no dice.  It just made everybody feel swimmy.  LOL we were like swinging our heads back and forth looking at the stars 'cus it was just plain fun.  And bitches, it was fun.  One of my friends, MR. FUN TO LOOK AT--the one that allowed us to get close to this forbidden fruit--is a notorious drunk stripper.  BUT DAYUM bitches, he only downed the shorts once--AND ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS.  TWAS DISHEARTENING.  I'm really strung out over it. OH pshaw grannies, he had boxers on.  We didn't see the fruit of his loins.

Ok so like, school starts in what? TWO WEEKS?  UGH summer, I'm almost going to miss you--though I can't wait to be stuck with my friends for hours everyday.  MUAHAHAHAHA ITS THE SHY MAN'S PARADISE!!!!

THE WINE WAS SO NNNNNN - NNNNN - NNNNN - NNNNNAAAAASSSSSTTTTTYYYYYYYY!!!