E-mail, Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms: The New Letter? Essay

E-mail, Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms: The New Letter? Personal communication over distance used to be laborious – considerable physical impediments slowed the process. In the 1800’s, an aristocratic gentlemen hand-penned a letter with a quill pen and bottled ink, sealed the envelope with melted wax, and sent a footman to hand-deliver the missive to his faraway love; in the midst of battle, foot-soldiers ran relays across hostile territories, rushing battle plans to waiting troops; news of the California gold rush galloped across America by horseback. Even our modern postal service takes at least a day – with numerous people, and ground and air transportation involved – to move a letter from point A to point B. In years past, knowing a personal letter could take weeks to reach its recipient increased its significance. The writer thoughtfully chose paper, pen and ink, taking time to consider the message. Guided by historically-evolved etiquette and a sense of social propriety, he created an artful object by combining written thoughts with an individualized medium that reflected personal style (Landow 221). Sherry Turkle writes in Virtuality and Its Discontents â€Å"the (letter bears) the trace of the physical body of the person who sen(ds) it† (481). A written letter has meaningful form and content. You know the recipient either personally or by public reputation, and you know their residence or workplace. Enter the personal computer: today, a dude clicks away, instant-messaging his favorite chick; complicated war strategies are instantly e-mailed across secure computer networks; chat rooms create never-ending global cocktail parties. Two PC’s with Internet connections equal instant communication, instant gr... ...igital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 62-74. Bob Dylan Website. www.bobdylan.com. Assessed 1 August 2004 Landow, G. â€Å"Twenty Minutes into the Future, or How Are We Moving Beyond the Book?† 1996. Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 214-226. Stevens, M. â€Å"Complex Seeing: A New Form.† 1998. Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 418-442. Tribble, Evelyn B. and Trubek, A. Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. New York: Longman, 2003 Turkle, S. â€Å"Virtuality and Its Discontents.† 1995. . Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 477-499. E-mail, Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms: The New Letter? Essay E-mail, Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms: The New Letter? Personal communication over distance used to be laborious – considerable physical impediments slowed the process. In the 1800’s, an aristocratic gentlemen hand-penned a letter with a quill pen and bottled ink, sealed the envelope with melted wax, and sent a footman to hand-deliver the missive to his faraway love; in the midst of battle, foot-soldiers ran relays across hostile territories, rushing battle plans to waiting troops; news of the California gold rush galloped across America by horseback. Even our modern postal service takes at least a day – with numerous people, and ground and air transportation involved – to move a letter from point A to point B. In years past, knowing a personal letter could take weeks to reach its recipient increased its significance. The writer thoughtfully chose paper, pen and ink, taking time to consider the message. Guided by historically-evolved etiquette and a sense of social propriety, he created an artful object by combining written thoughts with an individualized medium that reflected personal style (Landow 221). Sherry Turkle writes in Virtuality and Its Discontents â€Å"the (letter bears) the trace of the physical body of the person who sen(ds) it† (481). A written letter has meaningful form and content. You know the recipient either personally or by public reputation, and you know their residence or workplace. Enter the personal computer: today, a dude clicks away, instant-messaging his favorite chick; complicated war strategies are instantly e-mailed across secure computer networks; chat rooms create never-ending global cocktail parties. Two PC’s with Internet connections equal instant communication, instant gr... ...igital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 62-74. Bob Dylan Website. www.bobdylan.com. Assessed 1 August 2004 Landow, G. â€Å"Twenty Minutes into the Future, or How Are We Moving Beyond the Book?† 1996. Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 214-226. Stevens, M. â€Å"Complex Seeing: A New Form.† 1998. Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 418-442. Tribble, Evelyn B. and Trubek, A. Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. New York: Longman, 2003 Turkle, S. â€Å"Virtuality and Its Discontents.† 1995. . Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 477-499.

Psychological Stress Essay -- Health Impact Psychological Stress

Psychological stress is a result of many factors and should be dealt with very carefully. Stress can be defined as â€Å"An excess of demand made upon the adaptive capabilities of the mind and body†.(Joseph 1). Another way of putting it, is that there are some things that put certain demands on us. The effects of stress should not be limited to unpleasant emotional states. Many studies have concluded that the effects on our physical health from stress can be extremely detrimental. These adverse physical effects include heart disease and formations of cancer. There are also some societal issues that psychological stress can hamper. There are numerous elements that trigger the effects of psychological stress. Frustration is one of these elements that will trigger stress. Frustration is one of the most prevalent sources of stress in my life at this moment. A lot of different events will cause frustration. Frustration occurs from something blocking our attainment of certain goals or needs (Corey 207). All of the little things that frustrate us include waiting in lines or traffic, sense of failure or inadequacies, bad relationships, deaths, and loneliness. Self-defeating thoughts are a way in which we almost deliberately block attainment of our needs. If in our heads, we have this preconceived notion that we are incapable of obtaining something that we want or that others could not possibly love us, we create a self-fulfilling prophecy. I used the word "deliberately" in describing self-doubt because we have the ability to change these misinformed thoughts. Major life changes whether it be positive or negative can lead to very stressful situations. In our society, many people fall into a rut of everyday life and fear change to their daily routines. When any kind of change occurs it is very traumatic. There are many changes in ones career that can cause stress. Starting a new career or getting a new job is a major change that will produce stress. The feeling of being accepted in the organization and learning the companies ways of doing things are stressful. Other changes in one’s life resulting in stress include a change in a personal relationship or financial changes. You might think that hitting the lottery and being a multi-millionaire would relieve any possible stress in one’s life. The fact is that it is a major change and you are going to have many differe... ...tion many of the beliefs that this country has instilled in us. Many people believe that work and money are the most important things to obtain through life. People have got understand the importance of leisure time and rest. Developing a sense of humor goes a long way in dealing with stress. Proper time management is something that I, in particular, must employ to remain less stressful. I must also continue my old eating habits. Food can give us the energy needed to deal with stress. Exercise is a very important part of reducing stress. There is actual physical evidence that exercise helps people recover from stress. According to Professor Kubitz of Kansas State University, stress releases hormones that cause the heart to beat faster. If we exercise, our heart will become stronger and will be better able to deal with stress (geocities). Works Cited Joseph, Russell. Stress Free Teaching, A Practical Guide to Tackling Stress in Teaching, Lecturing and Tutoring. London: Kogan Page Limited, 2000. I Never Knew I Had a Choice, 6th ed. Gerald and Marianne Corey. Brooks/Cole Publishing 1997. www.apa.org www.cancernet.com www.geocities.com www.swin.edu

Action and Observation in Shakespeares King Lear Essay -- King Lear E

Action and Observation in King Lear      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Auden once asserted that Shakespearean tragedy is necessarily parabolic, pertaining to the only myth that Christianity possesses: that of the 'unrepentant thief'. We as the spectators are thus implicated in the action since each of us 'is in danger of re-enacting [this story] in his own way'.1 The sufferings of the hero could be our own sufferings, whereas in Greek tragedy, such a notion is precluded precisely because the misfortunes of a character can be traced back to the discontent of the gods. Hippolytus is not a moral agent; Hamlet is. The aesthetic of Shakespearean tragedy is therefore dynamic, with an audience that, to a certain extent, are also participants. Auden proposes a model of observing based upon an Aristotelian conception of drama, one that involves the spectator in an emotional relationship with the characters on stage. King Lear too, offers the audience several quite distinct paradigms of both observation and action, and crucially, it is on the var ying successes of these models that the tragedy hinges.    One does not need to look far in King Lear for a figure that might fit Auden's mould. Kent surely embodies that which Schlegel termed the 'science of compassion' in the play.2 He is publicly traduced and humiliated by Lear in Act I, Scene 1, and yet, in the guise of Caius, risks his life in order to serve his king still. Kent observes Lear's 'hideous rashness' (I.i.153) and he is motivated into participating in his master's sufferings:    I have a journey, sir, shortly to go; My master calls me; I must not say no. (V.iii.323-324)    The simple rhyme, metric balance, and monosyllabic plainness of this couplet infuse the lines with a sen... ...onathan Bates, Penguin 1992, p. 381 3 Samuel Johnson, Johnson as Critic, ed. John Wain, Routledge & Kegan Paul 1973, pp. 216-217 4 John Willet, The Theatre of Bertolt Brecht, Methuen 1964, p.170 5 Ibid, p.172 6 Euripides, Alcestis and other plays, trans. John Davie, Penguin 1996, p.80 7 The Romantics on Shakespeare, ed. Jonathan Bates, Penguin 1992, p. 390 8 Kiernan Ryan, 'King Lear: The Subversive Imagination' in New Casebooks: King Lear, ed. Kiernan Ryan, Macmillan 1993, p.80 9 A. C. Bradley, Shakespearian Tragedy, Macmillan 1908, p.55 10 W. H. Auden, The Dyer's Hand and Other Essays, Vintage New York 1989, p.201 11 Harold Bloom, Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, Fourth Estate 1999, p.481 12 William Blake, 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' (plate 3 lines 11-12) in The Complete Poems, Penguin 1977, p.181    Action and Observation in Shakespeare's King Lear Essay -- King Lear E Action and Observation in King Lear      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Auden once asserted that Shakespearean tragedy is necessarily parabolic, pertaining to the only myth that Christianity possesses: that of the 'unrepentant thief'. We as the spectators are thus implicated in the action since each of us 'is in danger of re-enacting [this story] in his own way'.1 The sufferings of the hero could be our own sufferings, whereas in Greek tragedy, such a notion is precluded precisely because the misfortunes of a character can be traced back to the discontent of the gods. Hippolytus is not a moral agent; Hamlet is. The aesthetic of Shakespearean tragedy is therefore dynamic, with an audience that, to a certain extent, are also participants. Auden proposes a model of observing based upon an Aristotelian conception of drama, one that involves the spectator in an emotional relationship with the characters on stage. King Lear too, offers the audience several quite distinct paradigms of both observation and action, and crucially, it is on the var ying successes of these models that the tragedy hinges.    One does not need to look far in King Lear for a figure that might fit Auden's mould. Kent surely embodies that which Schlegel termed the 'science of compassion' in the play.2 He is publicly traduced and humiliated by Lear in Act I, Scene 1, and yet, in the guise of Caius, risks his life in order to serve his king still. Kent observes Lear's 'hideous rashness' (I.i.153) and he is motivated into participating in his master's sufferings:    I have a journey, sir, shortly to go; My master calls me; I must not say no. (V.iii.323-324)    The simple rhyme, metric balance, and monosyllabic plainness of this couplet infuse the lines with a sen... ...onathan Bates, Penguin 1992, p. 381 3 Samuel Johnson, Johnson as Critic, ed. John Wain, Routledge & Kegan Paul 1973, pp. 216-217 4 John Willet, The Theatre of Bertolt Brecht, Methuen 1964, p.170 5 Ibid, p.172 6 Euripides, Alcestis and other plays, trans. John Davie, Penguin 1996, p.80 7 The Romantics on Shakespeare, ed. Jonathan Bates, Penguin 1992, p. 390 8 Kiernan Ryan, 'King Lear: The Subversive Imagination' in New Casebooks: King Lear, ed. Kiernan Ryan, Macmillan 1993, p.80 9 A. C. Bradley, Shakespearian Tragedy, Macmillan 1908, p.55 10 W. H. Auden, The Dyer's Hand and Other Essays, Vintage New York 1989, p.201 11 Harold Bloom, Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, Fourth Estate 1999, p.481 12 William Blake, 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' (plate 3 lines 11-12) in The Complete Poems, Penguin 1977, p.181   

Brain & nervous system

Brain is the part of the nervous system that is enclosed in the skull. All vertebrates have well-developed brains; most invertebrates do not have true brains. Instead, they have groups of nerve cells called nerve nets, nerve cords, or ganglia. The human brain is an extension of the spinal cord, and with it makes up the central nervous system. It contains billions of neurons, or nerve cells, each with more than 10, 000 synapses, or connections to other neurons. No two brain cells are alike. The brain cannot regenerate new brain cells but it can bypass dead or damaged cells to form new synapses between existing cells.The brain receives information from all parts of the body and sends out instructions to the body’s various organs and systems. The information and instructions travel through the brain in the form of nerve impulses, electrical signals that elicit chemical changes. The impulses travel along the neurons and move from one neuron to the next across the synapses by means of chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is through nerve impulses that the brain controls such activities as voluntary and involuntary movement (Zoeller, 2003).The brain is connected with the sense organs, muscles of the head, and internal organs of the body by 12 pairs of cranial nerves. Some of the cranial nerves, called motor nerves, carry impulses from the brain to various parts of the body. Others, called sensory nerves, carry impulses from the body back to the brain. Most pairs of cranial nerves contain one motor and one sensory nerve; a few pairs contain sensory nerves only. The brain consists of two types of tissue: (1) nerve cells, or gray matter; and (2) sheathed nerve fibers, or white matter. The sheath is composed of myelin, a fatty protein that protects and insulates the fibers.A large number of blood vessels carry nourishment to the brain. The brain extracts certain substances from the blood and metabolizes them (that is, produces chemical changes in them) to produc e energy. Glucose, its main source of energy, is metabolized by a chemical reaction with oxygen carried in the blood. The human brain is more complex and has more functions than the brain of any other animal. It is the seat of consciousness and the coordinator of the nervous system. Thought, memory, imagination, and other mental processes are functions of the brain.Specific areas in the brain are responsible for language and emotions. The brain is the seat of sensations. All voluntary and some reflex muscular movements are initiated and regulated by the brain (Colzie, 2006). In addition, various parts of the brain control such automatic functions as heartbeat, temperature regulation, digestion, and breathing. The brain of the average human male weighs about 3 pounds (1. 4 kg); the human female, 2. 7 pounds (1. 2 kg). At birth, a baby’s brain weighs only 11 to 13 ounces (310 to 370 g), but it grows rapidly during the first years of life.By the age of seven, a child’s br ain has reached nearly its full weight and volume, after which its growth is slow. The brain of a human male is fully grown by the 20th year, that of a female somewhat earlier. After the age of 20, the brain loses about one gram (0. 04 ounce) of weight per year (Spear, 1995). This study discusses the brain development and how it functions. II. Discussion Brain tissue is very soft and easily injured. It is well protected, however, by the skull and by three membranes of connective tissue, collectively called the meninges, between the skull and brain.The outermost membrane is thick and tough, and fits closely to the inner surface of the skull. This membrane is called the dura mater, which is Latin for â€Å"hard mother. † The innermost membrane is the pia mater, Latin for â€Å"tender mother. † This thin membrane contains a network of blood vessels. These blood vessels supply nourishment to the brain, and carry blood from its interior back to the heart. The pia mater conf orms exactly to the outer surface of the brain itself (Cynader, 1994). Between the dura mater and the pia mater is the arachnoid, or â€Å"spider-like,† membrane.It is a soft, delicate, transparent tissue. The subarachnoid space, between the arachnoid membrane and the dura mater, is filled with cerebrospinal fluid, a clear, colorless liquid composed of protein, glucose, urea, and salts. It moistens the tissues of the brain and protects them from injury. The brain is also protected by the blood-brain barrier, a network of tightly meshed capillaries (tiny blood vessels) that selectively filter out harmful chemicals and waste products while permitting other substances, such as nutrients, to pass directly into the brain (Zoeller, 2003).This barrier prevents harmful compounds in the blood from being absorbed by brain tissue. A. Parts of the Brain The brain itself consists of three main parts: a large forward part called the forebrain; a narrow middle portion called the midbrain; a nd a rear part, called the hindbrain. It contains four cavities (hollow spaces called ventricles). The Forebrain, which is made up mainly a mass of neurons called the cerebrum, occupies most of the skull cavity and accounts for 90 percent of the weight of the entire brain. The surface of the cerebrum is a layer of gray matter called the cerebral cortex.It has many folds, or convolutions, which greatly increase its area. The longitudinal fissure, a deep cleft running from front to back, partially divides the cerebrum into right and left hemispheres. A central band of nerve fibers called the corpus collosum connects the two hemispheres. It contains bundles of nerve fibers called nerve tracts that carry information between the two hemispheres. The corticospinal tract carries impulses from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. Its fibers cross each other at the region where medulla oblongata (an area in the hindbrain) meets the spinal cord (Sousa, 2006).Thus, the left interprets the s ensations of the right side of the body and vice versa. Each hemisphere performs unique tasks. The left hemisphere is responsible for logical thought, writing, and mathematical skills. The centers of language are also located here. Broca’s area, situated in the frontal lobe (the forward section of the hemisphere), is responsible for the production of language. Wernicke’s area, situated in the temporal lobe, a section above the ears, is responsible for the comprehension of language. The two areas are connected by a bundle of fibers called the arcuata fasciculus.Damage to these fibers will cause speech impairment. The right hemisphere is responsible for intuition, musical and artistic ability, and analysis of visual patterns. Although each hemisphere is responsible for different functions, one can take over for the other in the event of localized brain damage (Puckett, 1999). The cerebral cortex contains two specialized areas: the somatic sensory cortex and the motor cor tex. They are separated by the central fissure, a deep cleft perpendicular to the longitudinal fissure and extending across the roof of the brain.The somatic sensory cortex receives sensory signals from the skin, bones, joints, and muscles. The motor cortex controls the voluntary movement of muscles. Almost every part of the human body has a specific region controlling it in both the somatic sensory cortex and the motor cortex. Body parts that perform intricate movements, such as lips, hands, and legs, are controlled by large parts of the cortex. Body parts that perform gross movements, such as the shoulders and trunk, are controlled by smaller areas. Adjacent regions in the brain control adjacent body parts (Spear, 1995).The cortex of each cerebral hemisphere is divided into four sections, called lobes: 1. The Frontal Lobe, the forward, upper part of the cerebrum, includes the areas concerned with intelligence, judgment, emotional reaction, and the movement of skeletal muscles. 2. The Parietal Lobe, in the upper, back area of the cerebrum, receives and interprets the sensations of pressure, temperature, and position. 3. The Temporal Lobe, above ears, is concerned with hearing, memory, and understanding of speech. 4. The Occipital Lobe, in the back part of the cerebrum, is concerned with vision and the interpretation of objects that are seen.Each hemisphere contains a mass of nuclei called the thalamus (plural: thalami). It consists of gray matter that integrates a wide range of sensations from the visual and motor cortexes. It also plays a role in emotions. Above each thalamus are two basal ganglia, clusters of neurons that help regulate body movements (Cynader, 1994). Beneath the thalami is the hypothalamus, a mass of nerve cells and fibers that controls the reaction of the body of stress and to strong emotion. It also regulates the body’s water balance, temperature, appetite, sleepiness, and heart rate.Below and in front of the hypothalamus is the pi tuitary gland, which is partially controlled by the hypothalamus (Colzie, 2006). The pineal gland, or epiphysis, is a coneshaped organ located beneath the corpus callosum. It is connected by nerves to the eyes and is extremely sensitive to light. In response to darkness, it secretes melatonin, a hormone that is believed to induce sleep (Sousa, 2006). The olfactory bulbs, which govern the sense of smell, are located on the undersurface of the hemispheres. Nerves run from the nose through these bulbs to the cerebrum (Sousa, 2006).The Midbrain contains tracts (bundles) of nerve fibers that connect with other parts of the brain and with the spinal cord. The midbrain also has centers for auditory and visual reflexes, such as the contracting of the pupils (Sousa, 2006). The Hindbrain consists of three parts: (1) the cerebellum, behind and beneath the cerebrum; (2) the pons, beneath the midbrain and opposite the cerebellum; and (3) the medulla oblongata, attached at its base to the spinal cord (Sousa, 2006). The cerebellum, like the cerebrum, has a convoluted surface. The chief function of the cerebellum is to coordinate and regulate movements of the skeletal muscles.(The movements, however, are initiated and controlled by the cerebrum). When the cerebellum is damaged, ordinary movements directed by the cerebrum cannot be carried out. Limb movements become slow and jerky, and speech may become slurred. The pons is a smooth-surfaced bulge between the midbrain and the medulla oblongata. It contains tracts that connect the two sides of the cerebellum, and tracts that connect other parts of the brain with each other and with the spinal cord. Many of the cranial nerves pass through here. The pons controls the motor and sensory nerves to the eyes, jaw, face, and muscles.Together with the cerebellum, it regulates posture and balance (Puckett, 1999). The medulla oblongata is smooth, without convolutions. It contains three important nerve centers: one affects the rate of hear tbeat; one controls breathing; and one produces the constriction of blood vessels to control the volume of blood supply to the tissues. It is also the site where the nerves from the left hemisphere cross over to control the right side of the body and vice versa. Reflex centers of vomiting and swallowing also lie in the medulla. The midbrain, pons, and medulla, oblongata together form a structure called the brain stem.Deep within the brains tem, extending from the medulla to the midbrain is a network of nerve cells and fibers called the reticular formation (Cynader, 1994). The reticular formation regulates the amount and speed of electrical activity in the cerebral cortex. Many sensory nerves feed into it. It is believed to be the seat of consciousness. Ventricles. There are four ventricles within the brain. These cavities are connected to each other and to the hollow core of the spinal cord. The largest cavities are the two lateral ventricles, located in each hemisphere of the cereb rum.Beneath the lateral ventricles is the third ventricle and under it is the fourth. Cerebrospinal fluid is formed and stored in the ventricles (Cynader, 1994). Within the lateral ventricles is the limbic system, a group of structures that controls emotions and behavior, stores memories, and is involved in learning. It contains two masses if gray matter: the amygdale and the hippocampus. B. Chemistry of the Brain Since the early 1970’s, researchers have discovered that the brain contains more than 50 neurotransmitters, chemical substances that facilitate the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons.They interact with specific receptor sites in the brain to elicit chemical changes. Some circulate throughout the body (Spear, 1995). All neurotransmitters have chemical precursors. These are substances, composed of glucose and amino acids, which are produced elsewhere in the body and are carried in the bloodstream. The precursors are able to cross the blood-brain barrier in to the brain, where they are eventually converted into neurotransmitters (Spear, 1995). The quantities of neurotransmitters in the brain are affected by the consumption of certain foods and also by strenuous exercise.Endorphins make up a family of neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers. They moderate the amount of pain an individual feels. They are composed of chains of amino acids called peptides. Narcotic analgesic drugs, such as heroin or morphine, effectively reduce pain by occupying the same receptor sites and producing the same interactions as endorphins. These drugs are often prescribed for severe pain or when there is a delay or malfunction in the release of the natural painkillers (Zoeller, 2003). Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that functions in storing memories, regulating moods, and controlling body movements.Consumption of such foods as eggs, soybeans, and liver increases its production. All of these contain lecithin, which is converted into choline in th e liver. Choline is a chemical precursor that is converted into acetylcholine in the brain. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter found only in the hypothalamus and midbrain, relieves depression, reduces sensitivity to pain, and induces sleep. Its chemical precursor is tryptophan, which is found in the protein in meat, fowl, and fish. Norepinephrine is another neurotransmitter that helps relieved depression (Zoeller, 2003).Its precursor is tyrosine, which is also found in protein. Strenuous exercise increases the production of endorphins and norepinephrine. It is this increased production that causes â€Å"runner’s high—an increased tolerance to pain and a state of euphoria experienced by many long-distance runners. III. Conclusion In conclusion, as I study this subject I have discovered one thing and that is— brain is like your computer’s body. It receives information from the internal organs such as the heart, intestines and from the sense organs—the ey es, the ears, the tongue, the skin and the nose.It makes me think that the brain is the control center of the body. It receives all messages from different parts of the body, interpret them, and tell the parts what to do. Moreover, as what I have understood from the research I conducted, it gives me an idea that the brain is not completely developed even in full-term newborn infants. A great deal of brain development takes place in the first few months of postnatal life; and, in fact, brain growth continues at least until adolescence, and perhaps in adulthood. Some nerve fibers in the brain develop myelin sheaths.Many of these nerve fibers have not become myelinated by the time of birth. The process of myelination continues for years, especially in the reticular formation and parts of the forebrain. Reference: 1. Colzie, Lakesha (2006). The First Three Years and Beyond: Brain Development and Social Policy. Childhood Education, Vol. 82. 2. Cynader, Max S. (1994). Mechanisms of Brain Development and Their Role in Health and Well-Being . Daedalus, Vol. 123. 3. Meltzoff, Andrew N. (2002). The Imitative Mind: Development, Evolution, and Brain Bases. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, England. 4.Puckett, Margaret (1999). Examining the Emergence of Brain Development Research. Childhood Education, Vol. 76. 5. Sousa, David A. (2006). How the Arts Develop the Young Brain: Neuroscience Research Is Revealing the Impressive Impact of Arts Instruction on Students' Cognitive, Social and Emotional Development. School Administrator, Vol. 63. 6. Spear, Norman E. (1995). Neurobehavioral Plasticity: Learning, Development, and Response to Brain Insults. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Hillsdale, NJ. 7. Zoeller, R. Thomas (2003). Thyroid Toxicology and Brain Development: Should We Think Differently? Envir

Apology Paper

Apology Paper In the Apology by Plato, the scene is set up on the jury; Socrates is standing in front of his accusers, Meletus, Lycon and Anytus. He is defending for himself against the four charges brought by the accusers. Socrates is charged with inquiring the heaven and searching things beneath the earth, a Sophist, not believing the god of Athens, and corrupting the youth. Therefore, surrounding him was a group of wealthy young audiences. In the Apology, Socrates is defending for himself as well as prophesies to those who condemned him.Although Socrates died, but he never convicted of his charges; even at the last moment, he warns the condemners and accusers will soon be punished by his son. In my opinion, if I were on the jury, I would also find Socrates as not guilty. Socrates violates none of the four charges, and by his eloquence, he embarrassed his accuser in front of the public, especially the wealthy young group of people and leading the defense on the jury and trap the ac cuser. According to the four charges on Socrates, the first one is Physicist, which is inquiring in the heaven and searching for things beneath the earth.Socrates uses two points for his defense, the falsehood that Socrates is a Physicist and Aristophanes. In the Dialogue, â€Å"and took possession of your minds with their falsehoods† Socrates thinks that the jury is judging unjustly for his charge, for those people who are being told that he is a Physicist since child. By default, those people are tended to think of the Physicist side. The word â€Å"default† means the natural tendency of thinking him as a Physicist in the first place.Later in the dialogue, Socrates furthers his defense by using Aristophanes’ comedy as an example. Aristophanes, also known as the father of comedy, he has been said to recreate the life of ancient Athens more convincingly than anybody else. With such a great name being mentioned in front of the public, it is far more convincing th at Socrates is not in the charge of Physicist, since Socrates treats the charge as watching a comedy which tells nonsense theory. Therefore, Socrates on the jury claimed that Meletus could not charge him for that. O Athenians that I have nothing to do with these studies. † The above statement shows the denial of Socrates of being a Physicist, he did not inquiring the heavens and below the earth. In my opinions, Socrates is obviously not guilty for the charges. He never was a Physicist, and even if he is, he would have search for explanation of the God, and knowing the cause of some Myths and use scientific approach to find the answer. The most important fact about Physicist is that they don’t believe in God, they believe in evidences and proofs instead. But Socrates does believe in God.Besides, I found no sign of Socrates in doing anything scientific. Instead, he is trying to call out the people who he met are present here to witness the truth. The second charge against Socrates is he making the worse argument into the better argument, this charge identified Socrates with the Sophists, a Sophists is a tutor who charged for tutoring the youths for a career in politics by teaching them how to make a convincing arguments and travelled from city to city to teach the youth. If I were on the jury, I would give a vote for him for not guilty.First of all, Socrates in the dialogue seems to separate him from the Sophists group, he jokes about if he able to teach, he would honor his student to pay him. Later he quotes other great philosopher as his argument, he is honoring those great people have the knowledge to persuade the youth to leave their own citizens, with such privilege that is certainly worth some money. Also he told the story of Hipponicus’s son and the way he interprets is convinced that Socrates lacks any knowledge in teaching other people. â€Å"My poverty is a sufficient witness. Furthermore, Socrates is using his poverty level as a p roof and a strong argument against Sophist, yet if he is charging fee for exhortation, it would if brought him out of poverty and living in luxury. But throughout the dialogue, there are plenty of places where Socrates stated that he have no money, â€Å"But you see that I have none, and can only ask you to proportion the fine to my means. † If he have the money, he would if volunteer to make an offer for the proposal for the sentence, instead of keep saying he have no money.As a conclusion, Socrates never travelled nor charged people money and living the life of poverty. It is very hard for me to think of Socrates doing the same as the Sophist, therefore I would brought in a verdict of not guilty for Socrates. The third charge for Socrates is corrupting the youth, â€Å"what evil does he practic or teach? They do not know, and cannot tell. † Socrates introduced his defense but saying group of wealthy young men came across him and getting angry with him for finding out that they really know nothing and call him the misleader of youth.But they can’t even point out what particular thing that Socrates had corrupted them, his argument was how he corrupted the youth when nobody can tell what Socrates teach. Furthermore, Socrates uses his eloquent brilliantly to embarrass his accuser Meletus. Socrates brought out Meletus and constantly ask him question and set him up to step on the trap. The tricks that Socrates is trying to do is to make Meletus contradicts himself. From the point of the jury, I would say he is not guilty for corrupting the youth.On the jury, Socrates pretends that he is the corrupter and asks for the people who he have given them advice to be his accusers, then he followed by a long list of names that he come across with. Besides, Socrates uses the word â€Å"produce† to emphasize his argument that Meletus should have â€Å"produce† some of witness that Socrates had gave them bad advice and Socrates even voluntee r to make way them. Judging from this point, I certainly know that Socrates is telling the truth and he is confident that he is not corrupting the youth.Besides, I also think that the charge of corrupting the youth is linked with other charges, like the Sophist charge, the Sophist were very distrusted by Athenians, if Socrates is found guilty for Sophist, he is certainly corrupting the youth too, vice versa. Besides, the analogy of the training of the horse is a convincing point, yet the young men also require training by a skilled teacher, and most people cannot do it, unless those youth are same as the horses. Therefore, he is found not guilty for corrupting the youth.The last charge against Socrates is not believed in the god of Athens, this charge is probably a follow-up of the first charge, Physicist. If you do not believe in the god of Athens, than you must be worshipping other god, therefore, Socrates’ accusers think he is inquiring the heaven and searching for thing b eneath the earth. In order to defense against he, Socrates further asks Meletus question by interrogating him to what extent is mean by not the same gods which Athens recognizes. Later Socrates regards the sun as stone and doubt about if Meletus is accusing Anaxagoras instead. â€Å"You really think that I do not believe in any god? This quote clearly shows Socrates’ argument, as Socrates are being accused on the jury, he defend himself by questioning Meletus of not knowing his belief. Socrates’ horsemanship and flute-playing is definitely dubious for Meletus, as he did not answer the question but get up an interruption. For the judgment here, I would say Socrates is not guilty for not believing the god of Athens as he does believe in gods of Athens. In his defense, Socrates admitted that he do believe in divine beings, it must be spirits or demigod and he claims and make Meletus to say that Socrates is an atheist who believes in spiritual agencies and demigods.Socrat es here successfully lead his accuser to admit that he have made a false accuse and have made up one just for charging Socrates. Without a valid accuse, how can Socrates be found guilty of not believing in the god of Athens? And yet Socrates is believes in the god of Athens. To conclude, if I were on the jury, I would found Socrates not guilty for the four charges. Nevertheless, the jury never wanted Socrates to die; it is Socrates would fain lose his life. Truth is always the truth, if you endeavor to defense, someday you will success.

The Four Primary Symptoms of Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep at any place or time. After a 10 or 15 minute sleep attack, the person feels rested only brief period of time, then returns to an uncomfortable feeling of intense sleepiness. Many narcolepsy patients describe attempting to stay awake during the day like trying to stay awake after 3 days without sleep. Attacks may occur while driving, talking, or working. The central nervous system is involved. This disorder begins in adolescence or young adulthood and continues throughout life. Narcolepsy is a potentially disabling, life-long condition estimated to afflict about one in every one thousand people in the United States. Although it is not uncommon, narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed, or diagnosed years after symptoms first appear. The four primary symptoms of narcolepsy are excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and cataplexy. People with narcolepsy are unable to resist the temptation of falling asleep and do so regardless of the number of hours slept the previous night. The excessive daytime sleepiness experienced by people with narcolepsy has been described as being like trying to stay awake after going several days without sleep. Frequently, people with narcolepsy fall asleep at inappropriate times, for example while eating or in the middle of a conversation. These moments often frequently occur during periods of intense emotion such as surprise, laughter, anger, or excitement (even in some of the most passionate situations). Cataplexy is the sudden loss of strength in voluntary muscles triggered by these intense emotions. The cataplectic attack can range from partial muscle weakness in a few muscle joints to almost complete loss of muscle control and last for several minutes. Sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations are also extremely common among patients afflicted with narcolepsy. Although these four symptoms are considered the four key symptoms of narcolepsy, all four symptoms only occur in small portion of the patients most other patients experience some combination of the four symptoms. A. Extensive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) This is probably one of the most persistent and disabling conditions that can be experienced by someone with narcoleopsy. This feeling typically lasts the entire day and occurs on a daily basis. When a patient with narcolepsy experiences a period where they do fall sleep it is more tan likely due to a failure to resist sleep instead of a sudden attack of sleepiness. Although this strong desire to sleep is constant, recent prior sleep does seem to relieve for momentary periods of time. Other factors that appear to prevent a sleep attack are physical activity and stimulants, but it also prolongs the period of feeling sleepiness. EDS has had a rather significant negative affect on narcoleptics' job performance at school and at the workplace. Narcoleptics experience severe problems with and are typically unable to work with automobiles and dangerous equipment. Narcoleptics are more impaired than epileptic patients in terms of job performance and how prone they are to accidents. Narcoleptics lack many physical, emotional, and family supportive needs, even when compared to patients with cerebral palsy and alcoholism. Cataplexy is the condition in which the skeletal muscles experience extreme muscles. This can vary from paralysis in one limb or throughout the entire body. During an attack, the person is conscious and aware of the environment surrounding him or her and if the paralysis is only partial maybe capable of carrying on a conversation. After the attack, the patient is fully conscious and experiences no confusion. This nearly always triggered by some form of emotional stimulus. The occurrences of attacks vary from patient to patient; it can happen daily or happen only once in a patient's life. These are realistic dreamlike hallucinations that occur either from consciousness to sleep or sleep to consciousness. The hallucinations are typically visual with occasional auditory or other sensory components. It often occurs in conjunction with sleep paralysis (see below). One of the most common hallucinations is to get out of bed and moving about while simply lying in a bed and not even moving a leg. Other hallucinations are more threatening as if a possible attacker enters the room and the patient is unable to move. This is form of paralysis that is the failure to move any skeletal muscle during the period from transition of consciousness to sleep or sleep to consciousness. This occurs frequently to narcoleptic patients. These experiences are extremely traumatizing to a patient and make it difficult for the patient to breathe. The attack usually lasts about 5 minutes but can be broke either by an extreme effort by the patient or external force such as being spoken to or touched. The precise factor that causes of narcolepsy is not clearly understood. Narcolepsy seems to be a biological problem, possibly involving abnormalities of brain chemistry. Narcolepsy or a predisposition to it may run in families suggesting a genetic influence. However, the way the predisposition might be inherited remains unknown. There is no evidence for a psychological basis for the disorder. The most accepted theory is that there is something disturbing REM sleep. The impaired REM system is the theory that explains EDS as well as cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. This was based upon the similarities between cataplexy and REM sleep. In both cases, skeletal muscles experience impairment, due to motor neuron blocking. This blocking of motor neurons occurs along the spinal causing excitation of the neuron in the spinal cord.. Cataplexy occurs when this inhibition of mental neurons are blocked during consciousness. Sleep paralysis may occur when motor neuron occurs prior to actual sleep or extends beyond the waking up period. Hypnagogic hallucinations occur when shifting between REM and wakefulness, this results in the unusual hallucinations experienced during hypnagogic hallucinations. The precise neurological abnormality that causes the symptoms of narcolepsy. The symptoms of narcolepsy are usually first noticed during teenage or young adult years although it can strike at any age. Most often the initial symptom to appear is excessive daytime sleepiness. Later, after several months or even years, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, or sleep paralysis typically develop. Different individuals experience wide variations in both the developments, the number and the severity of their symptoms. Family, friends, educators, employers and even those with narcolepsy often have a hard time understanding the problem and just what is happening. There is no known cure for narcolepsy. Narcolepsy symptoms can be treated with varying degrees of success with medications and adjustments of life-style and educational. Treatment is primarily intended to cope with the symptoms of narcolepsy. Stimulants are often given to promote alertness and to cope with EDS. The two stimulants that are prescribed the most frequently are methyphenidate and pemoline. Dosage is usually scheduled to promote alertness at the most crucial times. The one difficulty is that tolerance can rapidly develop to stimulants so it is recommended that stimulants be used only when truly needed. Adapting your work schedule to provide for naps at the time most crucial times of the most intense sleepiness can help prevent some of the affects of EDS. This also reduces the need and possible dependency upon medication. Funds for research are needed to advance knowledge about narcolepsy and test the effectiveness of methods of treatment and management.

Ethical dilemmas can international psychologists

The list below though not exhaustive but have been potential dilemmas that international psychologists ace during the execution Of their services in a culturally diverse population: Linguistic competencies- A case in point of such a situation is where immigrants travel in host community and want to use the health opportunities of that community. The medium of exchange for the host community is mainly English and say the immigrant is from a Chinese background.The children of most immigrants tend to adjust quickly in terms of linguistic abilities and therefore are most often interpreters for their parents. A parent of such cultural background seeking mental health services ill rely on the children to interpret for them. The dilemma here is the international psychologist is bound by law not to expose a patient's sensitive document to a third party and also how can the international psychologist ascertained that the patient clearly understood the informed consent interpreted by the child .The steps taken in such a scenario is the need for bilingual staff to facilitate the care of culturally diverse patients (Congress, 2004). Practitioners legal obligation versus workplace policies- Davidson, (201 0, up. 70) reported that workers within the social services will be unfrosted by the dilemma between acting in the ethical best interest of direct service recipients and acting according to the law.For instance, an international psychologist working with an organization in a culture where children or minors work to fend living for their parents will be faced with a dilemma as to whether he is legally obligated to report this illegal activities of the organization or has an obligation to the organization to report. Using individual participants to represent the whole population- In his voice thread, Dry. Larsen (2014) noted that most hypothesis used in testing cross cultural research uses individual participants as a unit of analysis to aggregate an overall score for each cu lture.We are cautioned by the video on cross cultural competence that when working with culturally diverse population, we should delve into the demographics and composition of the group so that at the end all benefits and risk should be proportionately distributed. The ethical issue that arises when we stereotype or generalize the attribute of one culture to encompass the whole is that relationships among the measured rabbles in one culture will not necessarily translate to the same relationship in another culture.