Middlesex+(Entry+8)

Spatial Orientation - Spatial orientation is the ability to interpret aircraft altitude or speed in relation to the Earth or another point of reference. This is a condition when the pilot's perception does not agree with reality. This is generally a temporary condition resulting from flight into poor weather conditions with low or no visibility. A pilot may be deprived of an external visual horizon. This visual horizon allows pilots to differentiate between up and down while flying. Spatial orientation is the ability to maintain the body in relation to the surrounding environment. Humans have evolved in a way that allows us to achieve spatial orientation while on the ground. However, when flying, humans tend to lose sense of spatial orientation. After suffering another stroke, Lefty begins to suffer spatial disorientation; however, I think his was on the ground, not even in the air. []
 * Pages 271-290**
 * Definitions, Term Hermaphrodite, Quote Lines**
 * Definitions**

The Mediterranean Diet - The Mediterranean diet is a recommendation based on traditional dietary patterns of Italy, Crete, and Greece during the 1960s. The principal aspects of this diet include high olive oil consumption, high consumption of legums, high consumption of unrefined cereals, high consumption of fruits, high consumption of vegetables, moderate consumption of dairy products, moderate to high consumption of fish, low consumption of meat and meat products, and moderate wine consumption. Olive oil is of a particularly high consumption during the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil contains a very high level of monounsaturated fats which may be linked to a reduction in coronary heart disease risk. []

What does the term hermaphrodite mean to you? Do you know the definition? What associations do you have about the word? What about transsexual?
 * Question**

The term hermaphrodite really doesn't mean anything specific to me. I didn't know the exact definition before I looked it up. My definition was a human being with both female and male sex organs. However, the dictionary.com definition is "an individual in which reproductive organs of both sexes are present." I don't exactly have associations about the word. I am not positive, but I do not think that anyone I know is a hermaphrodite. Also, I believe that people view hermaphrodites as strange people since statistically, there is only 1 hermaphrodite for every 1000 people. People view hermaphrodites as weird, but the thing is I think hermaphrodites themselves view themselves as weird because people often receive surgery to make themselves one gender. However, this could be the result of people wanting to fit in. Unlike hermaphrodites, transsexuals are people that are born one gender, but end up wanting to be the opposite gender. These people receive surgeries to become the opposite gender. Like hermaphrodites, I do not think I know any transsexuals. I think people find transsexuals strange because people find it hard to understand why someone would want to change the way they were born. In my opinion, transexuals are people that try to change their fate, which is frowned upon in many societies.

"Calliope feels gypped, cheated. 'Remember me?' she says, to nature. 'I'm waiting. I'm still here'" (286).
 * 4. Quote Lines**

This quote really just summarizes the way Cal feels about his adolescence years. I believe that he finally realizes that he got the short end of the straw throughout his early years in life. Hear, Cal is recalling how there was a bunch of holding hands and sometimes even kisses being exchanged during recess, but Cal was never a part of it. Cal felt left out. Cal realizes that he is not normal, but he did not bring it upon himself. I find it depressing that this little boy is so different from anyone else. However, Cal is not to blame. It is not his fault that for some reason the gene decided to show up all of the sudden. Cal definitely does not deserve this feeling of inferiority.