Thursday, September 4, 2008

SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY in LIFE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY affect man and his way of life. It has changed the kind of clothes people wear, ways of getting food, types of dwelling they live in, even their ways of communicating. Never before has so may possibilities opened up before man, daring him to surpass his most recent achievement or inventions.
As you have observed the world has changed. Everything has changed from small things to big ones or vice versa. The world has become smaller through technology.
However, inspite of many advances that science has brought about there are still many Filipinos who stick to old practices, handed down from their ancestors. Filipinos are unique not only because of the culture, tradition and religion but because of their superstitions. some Filipinos don't ask for explanations on certain phenomena of nature but merely act on impulse, follow his "feeling" or "conscience" or follow habits and practices of their ancestors otherwise they will "get trouble" or suffer bad luck.
In order to take advantage of the good things, science has brought about it and let us therefore identify or differentiate between science and superstitions and know the advantages and disadvantages of the two

S U P E R S T I T I O N

A scientific mind acts from the sound reasoning based on observations and experimentations to find explanations of the phenomena of nature. But superstitions people merely follow his impulses, feeling , conscience, or what our ancestors told.
Filipinos are unique not only because of their cultures, traditions, and religions but also because of their superstitious belief. According to our ancestors, some of the superstitions were true. Whenever they see or feel something they always put meaning into it. They believe that they will suffer or get into trouble if they don't follow or obey theses beliefs. Although some of these belief and practices have scientific basis, but most are merely superstitions in nature and have no scientific value at all.
Consider one common belief :"when you break a mirror, you are sure to have years of bad luck". This belief has absolutely no scientific basis. Accident may come and go, and no one knows when this accident will happen.
One old common practice was placing a metal spoon in a glass before pouring hot water into it. People believe that in doing so, one prevents the actual breaking of a glass. This belief has a clear , concrete and logical explanation. Metals absorb and conduct heat faster. Metal is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Even hot water is poured into a glass with a spoon or fork in it, heat is absorbed by the spoon or fork and is conducted away from the glass. This prevents the breaking of the glass. This also explains why a metal handle used in cooking easily gets hot and should therefore be provided with a rubberized or plastic covered handle.


COMMON SUPERSTITIONS
  • Friday the thirteenth is an unlucky day
  • A rabbit's foot brings good luck
  • An apple a day keeps the doctor away
  • To find a four-leaf clover is to find good luck
  • If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck
  • If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck
  • To break a mirror will bring you seven years bad luck
  • To open an umbrella in the house is to bring bad luck
  • To find a horseshoe brings good luck
  • Step on a crack, break your mother's back
  • You can break a bad luck spell by turning seven times in a clockwise circle
  • Garlic protects from evil spirits and vampires
  • Our fate is written in the stars
  • At the end of a rainbow is a pot of gold
  • Clothes worn inside out will bring good luck
  • Wearing your birthstone will bring you good luck
  • If you blow out all of the candles on your birthday cake with the first breath you will get whatever you wish for
  • To have a wish come true using a wishbone, two people make a wish, then take hold of each end of the bone and pull it until it separates. The person with the longer end gets his or her wish
  • An itchy palm means money will come your way
  • A beginner will always have good luck: beginner's luck
  • A cat has nine lives
  • Eating fish makes you smart
  • Toads cause warts
  • A cricket in the house brings good luck
  • Crossing your fingers helps to avoid bad luck and helps a wish come true
  • It is bad luck to sing at the table
  • It is bad luck to sleep on a table
  • After receiving a container of food, the container should never be returned empty
  • A lock of hair from a baby's first haircut should be kept for good luck
  • A bird that comes in your window brings bad luck
  • To refuse a kiss under mistletoe causes bad luck
  • Goldfish in the pond bring good luck
  • Goldfish in the house bring bad luck
  • For good luck, wear new clothes on Easter
  • An acorn at the window can keep lightning out of the house
  • If the bottom of your feet itch, you will make a trip
  • When a dog howls, death is near
  • It is bad luck to chase someone with a broom
  • A sailor wearing an earring cannot drown
  • To find a penny heads up, brings good luck
  • To cure a sty, rub it with a gold wedding band
  • Animals can talk at midnight on Christmas Eve
  • A drowned woman floats face up, a drowned man floats face down
  • A person cannot drown before going under three times
  • To drop a fork means a woman will visit
  • To drop a knife means a man will visit
  • To drop a spoon means a child will visit
  • To drop a dishcloth means bad luck is coming
  • If you shiver, someone is casting a shadow on your grave
  • To make a happy marriage, the bride must wear: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
  • The wedding veil protects the bride from the evil eye
  • Washing a car will bring rain
  • You must get out of bed on the same side you got in on or you will have bad luck
  • Evil spirits cannot harm you when you are standing in a circle
  • A cat will try to take the breath from a baby
  • Warm hands, cold heart
  • Cold hands, warm heart
  • It is unlucky to rock an empty rocking chair
  • To kill an albatross is to cause bad luck to the ship and all upon it
  • Wearing an opal when it is not your birthstone is bad luck
  • Smell dandelions, wet the bed
  • To give someone a purse or wallet without money in it will bring that person bad luck
  • A forked branch, held with a fork in each hand, will dip and point when it passes over water

APPLICATION:

Do you consider the following practice scientific?

" Treating a cold with a herbal juice because it was recommended by a friend". EXPLAIN you reasoning.



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