The Mighty Mitochondria

[a mitochondrion]

The mitochondrion is an organelle, or in other words a tiny machine, found in every one of our cells. They range from 0.5 to 10 micrometers (μm) in diameter. Mitochondria are sometimes described as "cellular power plants" because they generate most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.

The method used by the mitochondria to produce energy from oxygen, carbohydrates, fats and protein is called the citric acid cycle. This was discovered primarily by Hans Krebs in 1937.

Below is a diagram describing the cycle.



It's mind-boggling to consider that hundreds of trillions of these incredibly complex, incredibly tiny machines are working in our bodies each moment of our lives, making all other functioning possible. Thanks to modern science, we are able to appreciate even more deeply the infinite wisdom of our Creator. Our hearts should burst with love for Him.

A New Career and New Inspirations

[Nurse Jackie - the future is health care]

Thanks to the lack of technology jobs and the relative abundance of health care jobs in the American economy today, I have decided to change careers. I am leaving computers behind and I am currently studying in nursing school.

I find the anatomy lessons to be not only informative but also very inspiring. The infinite wisdom exhibited by the human body is a remarkable testimony to the greatness of our Creator.

During the first anatomy lesson, the first thing the teacher did was to list all the vital organs of the human body. The only one she mentioned which surprised me was the pancreas. The pancreas weighs about 80 grams and lies between the stomach and spine. It is about 18 cm long and 4 cm wide. Apparently it is the smallest of our vital organs.

The pancreas does two different things: it secretes hormones into the bloodstream, such as insulin, and it secretes enzymes into the intestines which assist in digestion.

The pancreas is working away silently and invisibly every moment of our lives. If a person's pancreas were to be removed or to fail, death would soon follow, unless pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and insulin injections are provided. Factories are needed to do what this little unsung hero does for us.

The Good Side of Wickedness

[a new restaurant catering to the wicked]

One interesting question is: Since God knows the future, and therefore He knows who will be righteous and who will be wicked, why doesn't God simply create the righteous and not bother creating the wicked? The wicked, after all, are merely destructive and after damaging themselves and others they will end up burning in hell. So why bother with them all together?

The answer is contained in the Talmud: "according to the effort is the reward".

The presence of wicked, evil people creates immense temptations for the righteous, and specifically because the righteous make immense efforts and successfully overcome those temptations, their reward is immensely greater.

We daily pray that God should not bring us to temptations; temptations are very dangerous and who knows if we will succeed of fail. However, on the other hand, we must realize that with no pain there would be no gain.

The wicked play a huge and very beneficial role in this world. It is only thanks to the wicked, with all their horrendous bad influence and attacks, that the righteous are so much greater.

In Loving Memory of the Victims of 9/11

Don't burn the Koran. Burn the Muslims.

For every American killed by Muslims, 1,000 Muslims in the Middle East should be killed by America. I think this would quickly put a damper on holy warriors.

In the Beginning

The existence of the universe proves the existence of God.

The reason why is because everything which happens is caused by something else. However this cannot continue infinitely. At some point there must have been an uncaused cause. This was God. God is eternal. He has no physical form and His nature is entirely beyond our comprehension.

God, Himself unexplainable, explains how everything else can exist.