Diversity Party Big Hit

The Diversity Party hosted by Rainbow Union was held on November 30. Also usual the party was a huge hit. The crowd cheered as the drag queens came out on the stage and preformed. Songs were heard throughout the night. Justin Bieber, Die Young, Call Me Maybe, Lady Gaga, and Usher were some of the songs and artists that were heard. The performers had some crazy outfits yet cool outfits. A short interview was conducted with one of the hosts of the night.

What is your name?
DeeDee Dubois

Why did you want to be a drag queen?
For the attention and to make people laugh.

Do you travel across the country to do shows?
No not across country just in the Rochester Area.

What kind of high do you get by dressing like a woman?
I don’t really get a high. I just love making people laugh and smile.

How long have you been doing shows?
13 years

Organic

      Organic foods are a very up and coming item.   There are many pros to using organic versus non-organic foods.  Organic foods use no chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, additives or preservatives.  Farmers that grow organic do not participate in GM (genetic modification) programs.  Research indicates that organic foods contain more nutrients, taste better, are more satisfying and contains no hydrogenated fat which can contribute to cardiac disease.  Organic foods have been proven to be more environmental friendly and are healthier for the people and animals that are ingesting the foods.  

       Organic means that the food has been grown on land that has been chemical free for at least three years without the use of pesticides and they must be processed and packaged without the use of artificial preservatives, colorings or any other additives. Organic farming does not pose the threat of pesticide and chemical run-off which may contaminate watersheds and drinking water. These farms tend to maintain richer, more sustainable soil through the use of cover crops, crop rotations, composts, have slowed soil erosion and vary the nutrient demands on the soil. The food has more nutritional value than non-organic food and contains lower levels of heavy metals.

      Despite the increased nutritional value of organic foods, there are some cons to consuming organic foods. Manure used in organic compost may be more harmful than the health risks related to pesticides and chemicals used on non-organic farms. Manure often contains E. coli bacterium, which can spread harmful animal diseases to humans. Furthermore, organic foods are not producible at the same rate as non-organic foods. Organic farming methods often produce lower yields than modern intensive methods. This is why food grown organically can often cost twice as much as food grown on non-organic farms and have increased spoilage rates. If large farms started replacing modern farming methods with organic methods, the world may see a food shortage emerge. Because of the lower production rate, increased spoilage rate and increased cost organic foods may not be affordable for many family budgets.

      My concern about organic foods is some products may be sold as organic when they have not been raised organically. The USDA does certify organic foods, but the product is not ensured to be chemical free and the grower must be honest in their farming techniques. My personal preference is go organic because it’s better for the environment.

Reade, Candis. Ezarticles.com, 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. .

Breasts

Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. Hormones are the chemicals that travel through the blood stream. These hormones can regulate body functions such as temperature, thyroid activity, growth during childhood, urine production; testosterone, estrogen and progesterone just to name a few.  Two endocrine glands that work together are the hypothalamus gland and the pituitary gland in the stimulation of hormones. The pituitary gland secretes eight different hormones.  These hormones affect many different parts of the body for example the mammary tissue. 

Mammary tissues, also known as breasts, are located in the male and female body. The pituitary gland plays a very big role in the changes in function, particularly in females, when secondary sexual characteristics occur. These hormones regulate the body's growth, metabolism, sexual development and function. Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary that has specific target cells.  The target cells for oxytocin are located in the female uterus and breasts.  A high level of oxytocin is secreted during childbirth to aid in uterine contractions and milk production. A transfer of information from one set of cells to another is coordinated. There are 15 to 20 lobes that contain mammary glands. Oxytocin circulates by a neuroendocrine reflex that causes contraction of the smooth muscles that ejects milk. The milk produced by a lactating female is produced within the mammary alveoli. Breast milk is secreted into a network of mammary ducts which receive the milk from the mammary alveoli. Near the nipple the duct expands to allow the flow of milk. The milk leaves the body from the tip of the nipple. The circular area around the nipple that contrasts in color is the areola. These glands increase secrete of fluids during lactation.  Although males do not bear children or breast feed, their bodies have oxytocin hormone as well.  The presence of the hormone in the male contributes to their sexual arousal and satisfaction.

http://www.medicalook.com/human_anatomy/organs/Mammary_glands.html 2012

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1093.htm

Updated by: Shehzad Topiwala, MD, Chief Consultant Endocrinologist, Premier Medical Associates, The Villages, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.

 http://www.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/minc/skullbase/pituitary/index.html

2001-12 Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh.]

Unfaithful

The second counseling session I think went ok, but it was harder this time even though I maintained good soler skills. I showed interest in what my client was saying while maintaining fantastic eye contact without appearing too intense and I was somewhat relaxed. In the beginning of the session I greeted the client and attempted to make him feel welcome. I felt this would make me less threatening to him and show to him that I am a person with interests. I then asked very casually “what would you like to talk about?” This was an attempt to end chit chat, get down to the business at hand and give control of the conversation to him.

I used direct leading by saying “what do you want to talk about today?” I asked closed ended questions to gather information such as “are you in college and do you have a family?” I used indirect leading by asking “tell me more about the relationship before you found out about the affair?” During the session I kept thinking how I can relate to the client’s situation. I used an empathetic voice toned statement when I said “you feel scared because he threatened you.”  I used open ended questions “do you think you could survive on your own without your husband”? I am not really sure and I did take accountability for this by stating that I was not sure and that I did not have the answer to everything. I have never experienced anything in my personal life like this situation so I felt that I had no bias, but on the other hand was not really prepared for the situation because I had never given such an issue any thought.  I feel that this message of no bias to his situation was indicated when I showed no facial expression that would convey negativism. I did not try to out talk or over talk my client and gave him sufficient time to express himself.  In the interview I noted that by doing this technique he sometimes would hesitate and then go on and elaborate without any further encouragement. I do know there were a couple of times during the session that I hesitated too long with a period of silence that could cause feelings of awkwardness.  I realize that timing and keeping pace in the session is important. 

 I tried to be empathetic toward the client but I found it difficult because I have never been married nor had a partner that was unfaithful. I have had some experience through my sister who was married for seven years and found out that her husband was cheating.  She made the decision to file for divorce and now is very happy with a new partner. Divorce in my family is acceptable, if necessary, but for my client and her family, divorce is not to be considered. I can somewhat relate to this client’s issues because of my sister’s experience, but otherwise I can only offer support and empathy because I wasn’t sure what was the true root of the problem.

                              The presenting problem was my client being cheated on by her husband of nine years. The working problem is that she was scared, threatened and she wanted out of the relationship, but didn’t want to disappoint her family by getting a divorce.  I used minimal encouragers by nodding my head and saying ok to encourage her to continue and I summarized the main themes.   My plan of action was to find out what the problem was and help the client sort out the issues.  I had difficulty initiating the flow of the session a few times and I was aware that my pauses were too long while I searched for what action to take next. I used silence hoping that the pause would probe the client to go further into the discussion.

                  I provided no feedback and was unable to indicate how the client was progressing because I had met the client for the first time and felt that I did not know her well enough.  I felt the client’s behavior did not affect me because I stayed neutral with the issues presented and I was able to accept her viewpoints. I did not provide immediacy which is a type of feedback that refers to the present, outside of the session, that is not directly related to the session. I did not explore with the client outside situations that surround the current issue. I felt the session maintained momentum and had direction, there was no physical distance between myself and the client, trust was not an issue, there was no power struggle and I felt no sexual tension. I did not offer information or confront the client because it was our first meeting and the details she shared seemed consistent.   Because she did not show inconsistencies during the session I did not probe deeper into the issues that she presented, but would plan to do so in a future session.

                 I did not set any goals with my client. I never really got under the surface to determine the reason for the problem. She led me to believe that the marriage was great and there were no other issues except her husband cheating with multiple women. I never determined the cause for the infinity and it was obvious that she wanted to leave the relationship, but felt constraints due to her family values and children. I was frustrated as a counselor because I did not know how to help her figure out what to do because I did not know.  I hope that talking it through with me helped her organize some of her own thoughts.

            I feel more comfortable doing the counseling sessions but I really do not like to role play. I feel I do a better job being the counselor than when I am being the client. Even though I was the counselor during this role play I found this session was difficult for me. I really felt that I did not know what to ask or how to go deeper into the issues. I wanted to give her advice but I should not offer my opinion and I found it hard to hold back. I was confused about what to say because she had conflicting values. I felt a little more comfortable with the role play, but I feel that I have not demonstrated improvement in my techniques and by watching this session I realize how much improvement I need. I have gained a lot of skills from both video tapes. I have learned about myself and what I am good at.

Outdoor Recreation Club
 Rock Climbing Extravaganza

                                                      by: Lynnette Lockwood



The weekend of September 21st 2012 the outdoor recreation club went on a trip to Portersville, Pennsylvania for rock climbing. After arriving at the campsite base camp was set up and then tents to spend the night. The next morning the campers woke up to the smell of bacon, pancakes, and sausage. After breakfast the campers took a beautiful hike in the McConnell’s Mill State Park and some of the campers went kayaking. This park is located in the Slippery Rock Area and is 49 miles long and full of slippery rocks. It is believed that an Indian trail was formed by the creek at a shelf of sandstone near a natural oil seep, which made the rock exceptionally slippery. Because of this natural occurrence a creek, a town, a university, a rock formation and many local businesses were named after the rock. In the late 1800s, oil wells briefly flourished in the valley, but the oil was swiftly invaded by groundwater and the wells were abandoned. The oil wells drained the oil seep and the Slippery Rock is no longer covered in oil. The Slippery Rock Gorge Natural Area was made a national landmark in 1974 and became a state park in 1998. The steep-sided gorge contains numerous rocky outcrops, boulders, old growth forest, waterfalls and rare plants. After the hike the campers were led to another area of the park where they went repealing which is a form of rock climbing only backwards. There was a small repeal that was about 40 ft. and the large repeal that was about 100 ft.

The next day the campers packed up everything and went to Ellicottville for the high adventure course. The adventure course challenged all the campers not only physically but emotionally as well. A great educational and fun time was had by all.

Rod Steater

Rod Streater Raiders vs. Chargers game


By: Lynnette Lockwood

Monday, September 10th 2012 Alfred State College had a fun night in the Orvis Auditorium. The Raiders vs. the Chargers football game played for the students to enjoy. Dennis Allen who is 39 years old and the Raiders head coach made his debut Monday. Wide receiver Rod Streater became the first rookie receiver for the Oakland Raiders. Rod is a proud Alfred State graduate. He accomplished four passes in 27 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown reception and a two-point conversion catch late in the fourth quarter. The Raiders recorded three plays of 20 yards or longer against the Chargers on Monday night.

Levels of organization

Discuss human biological levels of organization from atom to organism.  Discuss each level in detail and describe how each contributes to homeostasis by giving specific examples.

          Biology is a life study that defines the difference between living versus nonliving organisms.  The world of living matter consists of levels of organization.  Each level is important in the function of human beings.  The levels are atom/molecule, cell, tissue, organ, organ systems and organism (Miller & Levine 13).

           All living organisms begin with an atom defined as a unit of matter.  To be considered matter it must contain the 4 characteristics of weight, volume, mass and density. An atom is microscopic in size, consisting of protons that have positive charges and neutrons with no charge which form the nucleus or center of the atom.  Outside the atom circulate a variety of electrons which help define the abilities of that atom.  Each atom, based on its structure, makes up different elements of matter.  A single atom or element can combine with other atoms to form a molecule.  Humans are made up of billions of atoms (Miller and Levine 28).  

         Even though each element begins in a pure state cooperative binding must occur for the building of a new structured matter.   Any disruption in the binding process or introduction of other elements, or an unstable environment can change the outcome.  For instance there is a presence of an atom of pure oxygen (an element required to be present for all living organisms that are aerobic in nature) in the environment.  Inject the pure element of carbon and the atoms will bind forming a strong triple co-valent bond and create a new compound called carbon monoxide, a totally different form of matter (Miller and Levine 31).  Carbon monoxide biologically can be the by-product of hemoglobin breakdown within the human body, but if found in large quantities can be a dangerous, toxic gas (Miller and Levine 800).  Take the same two atoms of carbon and oxygen and add one more oxygen atom to the compound and a new compound is formed called carbon dioxide.  Large quantities of carbon dioxide can drastically affect the homeostasis within a living body.   When the organism is balancing carbon dioxide correctly it is a natural by-product of respiration (Miller and Levine 799). 

         Some molecules are more stable than others but can join together to eventually form a single cell. All living organisms consist of the basic unit of life known as a cell. Cells are complete in nature but some living things remain in a unicellular state all of their life cycle while other organisms have more and more cells that become when combined as complex as the human body. The human body is the most complex form of life (Miller and Levine 160).

           Living organisms have several characteristics that make them common in nature and they must have these to be considered living.  These characteristics and functions are beginning with a basic unit cell, universal genetic code (heredity) ability, obtaining and using materials and energy, able to grow, develop and reproduce, respond to their environment, maintain a stable internal environment (homeostasis), and change overtime (evolution). Cells are generated from other pre-existing cell matter so the ability of reproduction is essential (Miller and Levine 160).    

         When considering the living species of human cells scientists classify these cells as eukaryotes.  To be able to have this classification the cell must have the three basic structures present; a plasma membrane, nucleus and cytoplasm. These structures contained within a single cell maintain its existence and survival.  The plasma membrane is the outside wall of the cell, the nucleus contains the genetic matter and communication, and the cytoplasm contains other structures that help the cell change food into energy.  The human cell works much like a sport team and each part has their own vital function, must communicate within, must send and contain receptors to receive messages through the effective use of chemicals. There are several stages that a cell goes through to multiple.  Each phase is critical, but DNA damage during division is the reason the cell cycle and cell death will occur because a homeostatic state has not been maintained to assure survival (Mader 164).

         When the cell does complete its phases and survives risk continues.  For example within the human body viruses can invade the body that contain proteins surrounding the cell wall that has the ability to bind to the protein receptors of the human cell allowing entry through the human cell wall.  In the HIV retroviruses the virus robs the human cell of its own genetic information by copying RNA to DNA and then replicates causing the virus to spread into the cells that specifically fight infection.  When this occurs homeostasis is disrupted within the human body and can lead to the drastic life threatening HIV (Miller and Levine 484). 

         The grouping together of cells forms human tissue and works in harmony to maintain homeostasis (Mader 607).  There are 4 primary tissue types in the human body; epithelial, connective, muscle and nerve (Mader 598).  Epithelial tissue lines organs and provides protection from abrasion and dehydration (Carpi).  Muscle tissue accomplishes hematopoietic tissue that manufactures blood cells helping the body maintain homeostasis with assistance in blood production.  Nerve tissue transmits impulses and provides physical support for the neural tissue, controls tissue fluids around the neurons, and helps defend the neurons from invading organisms (Carpi).

          Organs are the next level of organization in the body.  An organ is a structure that contains at least two different types of tissue working together for a common purpose (Carpi). There are many organs that perform as a system such as the heart, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal, respiratory and even the skin, with the skin being the largest (Carpi).  There are three layers of the skin; the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous.  The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin and works as a barrier between the outside environment and the inside of the body.  The dermis contains blood vessels that nourish skin cells and contains nerve tissue that provides blood supply, temperature, and sensations (Carpi).  The subcutaneous layer contains mostly connective and adipose tissue.  Adipose tissue known as fat helps cushion the skin and provides protection from the cold (Carpi).  Homeostasis for the body is maintained by protection, nerve impulses and circulation.  Homeostasis is disrupted anytime there is a break in the skin allowing potential for viral or bacterial invasion and body infection.

            Each organ and organ system must work together to maintain homeostasis.  The perfect balance of homeostasis does not permit the body to under work or overwork and each organ facilitates each other (Beers).  The nervous system is very complex and has the ability for the human body to survive, but it is dependent upon the ability to monitor internal and external conditions and making appropriate changes as needed.  A loss of homeostasis becomes evident in nervous system diseases such as Lou Gehrig Disease (Beers).  The heart and circulatory system move materials to and from body tissue very efficiently and loss of homeostasis occurs with coronary artery disease and disruption of blood supply (Beers). The digestive system takes in and digests food, and provides nutrient molecules that enter the blood and replace the nutrients that are being used by the body with the inability to eat causes death in the organism (Beers).  The respiratory system adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the body and loss of homeostasis occurs anytime when ph imbalance occurs (Miller & Levine 799).  The liver and kidneys work together to maintain homeostasis by regulating blood glucose levels.  When the glucose enters the blood stream it is filtered out by the liver and stored as glycogen and then broken down at a later time as needed  by the secretion of insulin from the pancreas (Miller & Levine 39). The kidneys regulate the balance of water in the blood maintaining blood volume and blood pressure while excreting waste, salts and substances that regulate the PH of the blood to maintain homeostasis (Mader 695).

        Homeostasis is controlled somewhat by body hormones but it is ultimately controlled by the nervous system with the assistance from the brain by using negative feedback (Mader 608).    Negative feedback is a mechanism that maintains homeostasis and is regulated by a sensor and control center (Mader 608). The sensor detects imbalance in the internal body and the control center brings about change and when homeostasis has been restored the organ involved stops its’ action (Mader 608). Negative feedback works well for example with regulation of blood glucose and body temperature.

         Homeostasis is controlled as well with a positive feedback system.  This system is useful to maintain homeostasis in situations such as childbirth, blood clotting, and gastro intestinal breakdown of protein (Mader 609). A situation such as childbirth is a temporary change in the body’s environment.  Positive feedback is stimulated by the nerves, the brain, and pituitary gland to assist in the delivery process and eventual return to a pre-pregnant homeostatic state.

       The body can tolerate slight fluctuations within certain limits, but when homeostasis is outside the limits organ systems begin to work to re-regulate the situation.  Any lack of response by organs in a timely manner can cause long lasting effects on the body as a whole.  For example, when nutrients enter the body and glucose enters the blood stream, if the stimulation of insulin in the correct amounts does not occur it can give rise to a long lasting disease such as diabetes mellitus that can have very harmful effects on the body.  This disease is an example of the body’s struggle with maintaining homeostasis that will eventually affects every body system.
         “If life is to continue, temperature, moisture level, acidity and other physiological factors must remain within the tolerance range of the organism” (Mader 4). The miracle of survival of the organism is possible when homeostasis is maintained by body systems working together to routinely monitor internal conditions and make indicated adjustments without the conscious awareness of the organism.

Immune

The immune system maintains homeostasis by responding to foreign microbes that enter the body and eliminate them. Several regulatory mechanisms function to terminate responses to foreign antigens, returning the immune system to a basal state after the antigen has been cleared, and to maintain unresponsiveness, or tolerance, to self-antigens. In this way there is a constant harmony maintained between the body tissues, its immediate immune response and the white blood corpuscles (WBCs) in protecting our body from invasion by external bacteria and viruses that are causing illness and thus attempting to reestablish homeostasis.

There are many ways to strengthen an immune system through eating lean proteins, fruit and vegetables, exercise, regulating vitamin D, stress management, using certain cooking oils, limit alcohol intake and safe health practices.

You can maintain a healthy immune system by eating a well balanced diet. Cutting most of the junk foods from your diet and eat moderate portions from all major food groups at least 3 or 4 times per day is an excellent start. A diet high in protein is beneficial because lean protein red meats actually contain minerals (zinc) for production of wbcs to add in fighting infections.

Including adequate servings of fruit and vegetables is desirable by boosting vitamin C, A and E intake. Approximately 5 cups of fruits and vegetables a day is recommended. Supplementing with multivitamins or mineral supplements can be helpful under the supervision of a physician.

Exercising regularly can do a number of things for the immune system including: excreting infectious organisms from the body through urine and sweat, slows down the release of the stress hormone cortisol and increases blood flow to warn the body of threats to the immune system.

Research indicates that monitoring vitamin D levels can be beneficial. Higher levels of vitamin D boost the immune system and research indicates that lower levels of vitamin D increases the risk for the common cold and seasonal flu. Vitamin D supplements and sun exposure can be helpful.

Stress management is a very important way to enhance the immune system by getting adequate rest, doing light exercise, yoga and/or meditation, playing music or playing with a pet. Stress can affect the wbc counts making the potential for disease more likely. Adequate sleep is important. Inadequate rest can weaken the immune system because the body rebuilds during sleep.

Cooking foods with healthier oils is helpful. It is recommended that canola and olive oil are the healthiest type of oils to use and therefore boosts the immune response. Caution with the quantity of oils is always recommended to reach a good balance.

Limiting alcohol is another way to boost the immune system. Excessive alcohol intake is toxic to the immune system cells and can weaken the body’s ability to fight infections.

Practice safe sex. Sexually transmitted viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis and herpes simplex can dramatically lower the body’s ability to fight off infections because these diseases attack the cells that maintain homeostasis in immunity and use of white blood cells. Practicing safe sex or abstinence can help reduce your chances of contracting these diseases.

Cardiac Improvement

There are four major areas that help maintain and strengthen the cardiovascular system which include exercise, health diet, no smoking and avoidance of excessive alcohol.  There are a variety of exercise regimes that can be done such as duration, intensity and interval exercise.  The main principle behind an exercise causes the muscle in the body to need more oxygen.  In response to the exercise the heart responses by increasing its rate, increasing blood pressure and redirecting blood to maximize the amount of oxygen that circulates.  A minimum of 30 minutes per day is generally recommended.

Eating a health, well balanced diet is important.  It should include low fat, low salt and high fiber.  These types of foods help control weight, cholesterol levels, muscles strength and provide vitamins and minerals. 

No smoking is a definite necessity.  Smoking greatly harms the cardiovascular system by forming blood clots, causing stroke, increasing blood pressure and therefore decreases the ability to exercise properly. Smoking increases the risk for heart attack by 2 times.

Avoiding excessive alcohol also strengthens the cardiovascular system.  Excessive use of alcohol can cause cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), coronary disease, stroke and hypertension.  It is recognized that 5 ounces of red wine for women and 2 5 ounces of red wine for men be helpful for the cardiac system.

Managing other health issues such as diabetes can slow the destructive process to the cardiovascular system.  Avoidance of stress or good stress management helps as well.

Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by a bacterial infection clostridium tetani. The spores of this bacterium in a dormant state are found in soil, dust, surgical wounds, dental work, therapeutic abortions and animal bites, scratches and feces. There are many sources besides the commonly thought of rusty nails. Infection is caused by a puncture wound to the body where the bacterium is introduced but grows in only an environment that is anaerobic (without oxygen). Tetanus is rare but can be fatal by causing muscle spasms that can lead to respiratory paralysis. It especially affects the muscles in the jaw and the neck causing spasms called lockjaw. Prolonged muscle action can sudden, powerful, painful contractions called tetany. This can cause muscle tears, fractures, drooling, excessive sweating, fever, hand and foot spasms, irritability, trouble swallowing, uncontrolled urination and defecation, headache, drooling, seizures, irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest, and pneumonia. Tetanus can be in the body for several months but it usually lasts about eight days. Spasms can cause stiffness of the neck, elevated blood pressure and rapid heartbeat. Tetanus is uncommon in the United States but risks do increase if the person has not immunized, are an IV drug user, 50 years or older, have skin sores, wounds, or burns and or had exposure of open wounds to soil or feces (lifeline.com).

Muscle spasms from tetanus painted by Sir Charles Bell in 1809 (Wikipedia)

I was interested in tetanus because years ago my father had a fractured jaw and it was wired. Because his last name is Lockwood his male friends nick named him “lockjaw” as a joke. Remembering this story being told that happened years before I was born I was interested in learning more about what lockjaw really meant.

Skin

The integumentary system is a very important system for the human body. It is the largest of the body’s organs consisting of about 12% to 15% of the total body weight. It protects the body from injury, infection, dehydration and receives sensory input from the body’s external environment. This system acts as a cushion to protect the deep tissues and organs within our body. Sebaceous glands in the skin are oil gland that will secrete an oily fluid that moistens and softens hair. A sweat gland regulates body temperature and protects against bacteria. It helps to excrete wastes by perspiration, and uses sensory receptors to detect pain. It regulates the body from abrupt changes in the temperature, sensations, and pressure. The blood supply gives nutrients to the epidermis and dermis, and facilitates heat loss when the body is too hot or too cold. Sensory nerve endings detect the heat, cold, light touch, deep pressure, and vibrations. The integumentary system guards the body from infectious organisms, sunburn, and generates vitamin D. Included in this system is the ability to store water, fat, and glucose. Smooth muscle helps to contract when the person gets freighted or cold. Skin aids in the formation of new cells to repair small injuries and aids changes to the skin color which can indicate illness or medical conditions. The skin has melanocytes which creates a dark pigment called melanin. This protects the body from the sun’s rays and causes people to suntan. Keratinocytes are a tough, waterproof protein called keratin that protects living cells below the skin and rapid replacement of these cells allow the skin to heal quickly after an injury. Adipose tissue is fat storage in the skin that provides insulation. The skin helps to maintain homeostasis by negative feedback. Negative feedback has two areas that help to maintain homeostasis and they are controlled variable which is physical or chemical property that must be controlled and sensors that sends information to the control center. The activity of the cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems are carefully watched to keep changes to the body within acceptable limits.

Nucleus

I think that the nucleus is the most important organelle in the cell. This is the information center of the cell. Genetic material is stored here, proteins are formed here that transform into chromosomes. The nucleus controls the functioning of the DNA. DNA is necessary for reproduction, growth and the metabolism in the organism as a whole. The nucleus makes the transfer and replication of hereditary molecules easy and makes sure that genetic material is copied correctly. Without the nucleus the cell could not perform the cells function.

Bones

There are a total of approximately 206 bones in the human body making up a very important structure in the body that performs five essential functions. The bones provide shape, protection, movement, red blood cell production, and mineral storage. While the bones give our bodies shape they also support our body and contain enough strength to support our entire weight. They provide protection acting as cushioning for our internal organs, particularly if we fall. The skull protects our brain, and the rib cage helps to protect the heart, liver, lungs and the spleen. The pelvis helps to protect the bladder, intestines and reproductive organs. Because bones are attached to muscles they provide a variety of movements for the body making ambulation, work and play possible. Bone marrow located within the inner structure of the bone has the ability to make red blood cells. Red blood cells circulate with in the blood stream carrying oxygen from the lungs to each body tissue and they are a key player in getting the waste carbon monoxide to the lungs where it can be breathed out. The last function is mineral storage. The minerals that are stored are calcium and phosphate which can be utilized by the body when it is necessary. Calcium is used in the body to make our bones stronger so they don’t become brittle. Phosphate is used to help repair the bones and teeth, contribute to nerve function and help the muscles contract. The human skeletal system has many talents and is a vital player in maintaining homeostasis.

Julia Cameron

Julia Margaret Cameron was born on June 11th 1815 in India. She was the second of seven daughters. Her father, James Pattle, was an Englishman, and her mother Adeline Pattle was of French descent. In 1838 she married Charles Cameron. She was educated in France and England traveled to South Africa with her parents, returned to India with her husband, and then took her family to England after her husband’s retirement in 1848.
Julia Margaret Cameron was among the most original British photographers of the 19th century. Ms. Cameron was very distinguished in contrast of her sisters due to her generosity, ardent enthusiasms and artistic talents. When Julia was 48 years old her daughter gave her a camera as a gift and consequently she started photography very late in her life. She found that photography was an ideal outlet for her creative talents. She produced most of her work from home and she developed her own darkroom. Most of the people that she photographed were from her own family, personal social circle and many prominent figures in the community. The collection of her works indicated the ambition of an artist whose career lasted little more than a decade. In less than ten years she was able to produce a collection of art contributing significantly to the world of photography.
She photographed people, historical scenes and literacy works. She experienced her inspiration from literacy works and paintings by Raphael, Giotto, and Michelangelo. Her photography was unconventional and she consistently created a blue hue due to exposure time that was too long. The subject would move and she would leave the lens out of focus purposely. She used the soft-focus lens and very dramatic lighting effects. She was more interested in the spiritual depth of her art, than in technical perfection. Her technical ability was often criticized, but her portraits were considered exceptional in quality. She remains known for her unique portraits of famous men and romantic, allegorical images of women. She quickly gained mastery of the art of photography and developed into one of photography’s most noteworthy pioneers and innovators.
I love this photo by Julia Cameron. It’s so intriguing. Even though the lighting is a little dark the details, with such a contrast of light and shadowing, gives the photography a 3 d effect. The way that the young lady is resting her head on the background is phenomenal. The background is interesting but not overwhelming to the photo’s main subject. Looking at her holding the necklace with her hand gives me insight that maybe she misses someone or she is waiting for someone to come for her, a lover perhaps. The young lady and her dress are very beautiful and I feel that Ms. Cameron really captured her beauty and the emotions that the girl is experiencing.

Groups History

1) Johannes Gutenberg:
Johannes Gutenberg was an inventor, blacksmith, goldsmith, stonecutter, printer and publisher. He is most famous for the invention of the movable printing press. Before the printing press was invented; manuscripts, documents and books had to be written out by hand. Consequently there were poorly kept records. This was a very time consuming and tedious task. For example stories and songs were passed from generation to generation verbally and became changed over time. The printing press could be used and reused. The individual letters were easily movable and they were brought together to make a page. Since letters could be arranged into any format, an infinite variety of texts could be printed with limited man power and considerably improved speed. Without the invention of the movable type printing press the world would not be the same today. Gutenberg’s press was a slow and tedious process but made a major impact on the future production of the written word.

2) The Medici:
The Medici family lived in Florence, Italy during the 14 century. They were a wealthy family that gained power through the Medici Bank. They developed the double entry bookkeeping system that kept records that tracked credit and debts. The most important accomplishments of this family were through the sponsorship of the arts. The Medici family wanted to finish the dome of the cathedral in Florence to enhance art and gain more political power. This type of architecture had never been attempted before and the people of Florence thought that it would fail. The dome was successfully finished and the Medici family became recognized as the most powerful family in Florence, Italy. The Medici dome served as a model for western architecture. Many buildings were inspired by this design like the US capital in Washington, DC. The capital in Washington, DC became an inspiration for some of the 50 states in America. Domes are an important symbol of the United State’s government. The Medici family’s ideal of how to communicate the whole concept of strength, power and prestige by the use of architecture was obviously historically influencial. This message of power by use of a unique dome has gone down through history as being significant and demands attention for generations long after its creators have been gone.

3) Christopher Columbus:
Historically Europeans had used the route known as the Silk Road a passage between China and India. The land route to Asia became very dangerous and difficult to travel because there were pirates and bandits. Consequently Portuguese explorers and King John the II sought to reach Asia by going around Africa in 1488. India was the source of precious spices and other rare goods, but reaching it by sailing east was difficult, because Africa blocked the way. During this time Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer and a navigator and he disputed the myth that the world was flat and he felt that he could reach India by sailing west. Columbus convinced Queen Isabella that he could find a better way to reach Asia. Queen Elizabeth granted him permission to go provided him with money and three sailing ships. He was appointed admiral of the seas by the queen and promised he would receive some of the profit if he agreed to bring back valuable goods for Spain. On August 3rd 1492 he made his first voyage across the sea reaching the Bahamas and he thought that he was in Asia. Columbus accomplished two more voyages which included the discovery of America. The Vikings had discovered America long before Columbus but he is important because his explorations made Europeans more aware of the new world and helped to encourage more explorations of North and South America. He enlarged the known world by inspiring other explorers to discover additional parts the world.

4) Napoleon Bonaparte:
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader who rose to power during the French Revolution. He rose to prominence under the French First Republic. His legal reform, the Napoleonic Code was a major influence on civil law jurisdictions worldwide. The Napoleonic Code refused privilege based on birth rank, allowed freedom of religion, and specified government jobs were to be held by the most qualified people. This code remains a basis of European Continental law to this day. He is most remembered for his role in the wars that was led against France by a series of coalitions called the Napoleonic Wars. In 1799, he staged a coup and elected himself as the first consul and then the French Senate proclaimed him emperor. He established term hegemony which is authority or control or dominating influence by one person or group especially by a political group over a society. He consolidated the imperial monarchy of the Regime. Napoleon’s reputation has survived generations. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest military commanders of all time and his campaigns are studied at military academies throughout much of the world even today.

5) The Renaissance:
The Renaissance was a movement during the 14th and 17th centuries. Renaissance means rebirth in knowledge. Science and the arts were becoming more significant. It began in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe. As a cultural movement, it encompassed Latin and vernacular literatures, the development of linear perspective and other techniques such as more natural reality in paintings. In politics the Renaissance contributed the development of the conventions of diplomacy. In science there was an increased reliance on observation. This period is best known for artistic development. Secular music is non-religious music and it was becoming more popular during this time with a rise in instrumental music and dance music. The printing press was invented during this time and people considered the printing press to be the most important contribution to civilization in the last one thousand years. The printing press allowed music to be printed quickly. Before the Renaissance the music had to be copied by hand. The Renaissance was important because it awakened the world from a very long sleep. The Middle Ages had ruined people's dreams and forced them into an meaningless pattern of life. The Renaissance period brought progression, change, and beauty. The Renaissance was an important turning point in Western thinking and cultural tradition. All of these changes centered on the idea of Humanism in which, people became less "God Centered" and more "Human-centered". The scientific advancements and the music and art created are still enjoyed today.

1) Causes of WWI:
World War I was started by the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia of Austria in 1914 and than the war continued until 1918. This war was between the allied powers France, England, Russia and the United States of America and the central powers of Germany, Austria-Hungry and Turkey. The German government had sided with Austria and had agreed that they would support Austria. The political leadership in Germany didn’t really desire to be involved in the war but was pulled in by their pre-war alliance to Austria but other factors that influenced Germany’ participation were nationalism, imperialist competition, and militarism.
Nationalism was a product of unified Germany that occurred around 1871. Under Otto Von Bismark’s leadership he accomplished major architect building of a nation by the creation of a united Germany. His accomplishments were a mammoth success in land growth. This was a period in Germany’s history where a dramatic nation building was accomplished by unifying multiple territories and states using military force. Germany had been transformed into a major continental power. Consequently people of various political beliefs agreed that national unity was the ultimate goal and Germany was high on success and felt invincible.
On the home front the German citizens supported and glorified war and consequently welcomed war and cheered about it under the premise of nationalism. The feelings for the need to expand national unity were strong and people thought that war would make them even greater and all agreed that Germany could not forfeit any land. To date Germany had never lost a major conflict and many of the populous had been raised with strong feelings of nationalism. The German government had spread propaganda that the war would not last very long. The German people did not recognize the inability of their emperor Kaiser William to lead with military savvy as past leaders had done.
The government, with the support of the German people’s encouragement, recruited young, under educated boys from schools and universities. They told the boys that it was their duty to serve for their country and that if they accepted and conscripted, the war would be a very beautiful and glorious opportunity for them and if they died for their country they would be considered national heroes. These young men were usually between the ages of 18 and 19 and had no idea what war was all about. They joined the German army quickly because they were naïve, excited, and sought adventure. Germany’s participation in WWI was the precursor for WWII. Historically Germany has a lingering reputation of the desire to rule others and has become famous for outstanding war atrocities.

2) Lenin:
Vladimir Lenin was born a Russian in 1870 and lived until 1924. He is well known as a Marxist revolutionary and he became a strong communist leader in Russia. Europe was in the chaos of WWI and Russia was on the brink of national chaos. Its people were demanding the end of war, land reform and the end of shortages of goods. Lenin had been exiled from Russia for his radical views. The Tsar of Russia, Nicholas Romanov II was overthrown by Lenin, the leader of the political party known as the Bolshevik’s in 1917. By initiating the Bolshevik Revolution Lenin seized control of the government. He created a communist country that is called the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic which was later renamed the U.S.S.R. Since his death in 1924 he has been idolized by the Russian people as a genius, leader and teacher of people of the world. Historically Lenin is arguably the most significant person in the world of Russian politics.

3) The League of Nations:
The League of Nations was the first international organization, established in 1919, whose goal was to maintain world peace. The League of Nations headquarters was in Geneva. The League of Nations was replaced by the United Nations in 1945. The United Nations headquarters is in NYC and it sits on international land. The United Nations helps to prevent wars, disarmament, helps to settle disputes between countries, make treaties, have just treatment of native people, help to control human and drug trafficking, arms trade, global health, prisoners of war, and protection of minorities in Europe.
One of the great achievements of the United Nations is the creation of a comprehensive body of human rights law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone is born free and equal, everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the security of a person, that no one should be in slavery, that slavery is prohibited and no one should be subject to torture, or cruelty. Everyone has the right to recognition as a person; no one should be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. This law says that everyone is entitled to a fair public hearing; and in a penal offence they have the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law attacks, the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state, the right to nationality, the right to seek and to enjoy life, and everyone has the right to marry and start a family. Everyone has the right to own property, the right to freedom of thought, the right to freedom and expression, the right to a peaceful assembly, the right to participate in government, the right to social security, the right to work, the right to have rest and leisure, the right for adequate living, the right to education, the right to freely participate in cultural life, and are entitled to the social and international order.
The UN has developed effective mechanisms to protect human rights, benefiting people all over the world. Currently there are 193 countries in the world that have membership in the United Nations working toward understanding and improving communication to decrease world dissention.

4) Containment:
Containment was a United States policy immediately following WWII with the focus to prevent the spread of communism. The policy was first established by George F. Kennan in 1947. This policy was a response to a series of moves by the Soviet Union to enlarge the communist influence on Eastern Europe. Containment stated that communism needed to be contained or it would spread to neighboring countries. This spread would be very rapid and cause the Domino effect. The Domino effect is that if one country fell to communism, then each surrounding counties would fall as well, like a row of dominoes. During this time President Harry Truman warned of the evils of communism threatened the democratic freedom of its people. The Soviet Union wanted a world modeled on their own country’s society and values. Even though the Soviets claimed they provided all citizens with economic and social rights, the US saw communism as a slave state that control the private life and thoughts of its citizens. The threat violated both the democratic rights and civil liberties of its citizens. Therefore this threat required the continued efforts by the United States to make sure that it did not spread to the homeland and other nations that had not moved politically towards communism. As such, this Policy of Containment stated that the US would try to stop (contain) the spread of Communism by creating strategic alliances or support to help weak countries to resist Soviet advances. Currently many countries of the world continue to be concerned toward the threat of not being able to contain communism.

5) The Paris Peace Conference:
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of Allied victors following the end of WWI to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities. They met, discussed various options and developed a series of treaties called the Paris Peace Treaties. These treaties reshaped the map of Europe with new borders and countries, imposed war guilt and had stiff financial penalties. Germany and Russia were not invited to attend because of their aggressions during WWI. For six months Paris was effectively the center of a world government. The results included a peace treaty that declared Germany guilty, weakened its military, and required them to pay all the costs of the wars to the Allied Powers, Great Britain, Russia, France and Belgium. Unsatisfied with these results the United States returned to pre- war isolation, never ratified the Treaty of Versailles, never joined the League of Nations, and signed separate peace treaties with the three countries it had declared war against. Historians state that with the agreed division of property into states they became rivals to each other and were politically and economically weak. The main concerns by all countries involved after the Paris Peace Conference were economically hardships and maintenance of world peace. These issues reached far into the future for all countries concerned

Odd Rod

On April 4th 2012 Odd Rod came to the Corning Community College triangle lounge. The room was filled with cheering as he showed everyone his incredible talent. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He grew up in poverty, his mother was addicted to drugs and his dad was not in the picture. Through his experiences of being a kid and his pain and suffering he discovered that he had a natural talent for poetry. He sat down and just started writing. He said that he is a people poet. He doesn’t use big words to express his feelings. He spoke the poetry from his heart and he uses simple, easy to understand words to get his message across. He now travels around the country to colleges and speaks his poetry to encourage the talents and college students to not be afraid to be “odd” in their own way. An example of his work exactly as he wrote is:

“Priceless
On everything I believe and everything I say
I know I won’t be half the man that I have become today
If momma hadn’t been on drugs and daddy hadn’t strayed
I probably would’ve took less thoughts about the choices that I made
I’ve watched my piers throughout the years (who had both parents home)
Get everything they’d want as kids but suffer when there’re grown
I didn’t have that much back then I used to dream a lot
Those dreams had reached realities I’m blessed with what I got
I mean no harm in what I say I’m not the type to brag
It’s just I appreciate the times when “times were bad”
I appreciate the poverty I am thankful for the pain
I know I’ll defeat them both if they returned again
I am stronger than the average man in fact, I am more unique
I speak with good intentions but I’ll show I’m from the streets
So when you see the fancy wheels the latest jewels or clothes
Know I care less for them my past is valued most
My struggle turned to be a gift it made a man of me
For if I hadn’t gone through that I’m not sure who’d I be”

He was an uplifting, extremely enjoyable, educational experience.

Locus of Control

The locus of control theory explains that the level of control that a person thinks that they have determines the outcome of their life. The locus of control can be internal where they believe that they can control their life or external where they think that the environment or a higher power controls their life and they can do nothing to alter its course. The locus of control shows how people view the world and their roles in determining the outcome of heir life. People who believe in internal locus of control feel more empowered and positive about their life versus people who believe in external control feel helpless and more like a victim.

People who have a strong internal locus of control emphasize achievement, strive for things that will improve their situation, work hard to develop knowledge, skills and abilities, are inquisitive, take note of information they gain from experiences and use it to make positive outcomes in the future, and have a more participant management style. For example if a person was in a car accident a person with an internal locus of control would say that they hit the tree because they were driving too fast and that they should drive more slowly next time. A person that has an external locus of control would say that they hit the tree because God made them swerve off the road and hit the tree and they can’t do anything to change the fact that God wanted to warn them about their sins and He may not be so generous next time.

All Quiet On the Western Front

World War One was started by the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia of Austria in 1914 and than the war continued until 1918. This war was between the allied powers France, England, Russia and the United States of America and the central powers of Germany, Austria-Hungry and Turkey. The German government had sided with Austria and had agreed that they would support Austria. The political leadership in Germany didn’t really desire to be involved in the war but was pulled in by their pre-war alliance to Austria but other factors that influenced Germany’ participation were nationalism, imperialist competition, and militarism.
Nationalism was a product of unified Germany that occurred around 1871. Under Otto Von Bismark’s leadership he accomplished major architect building of a nation by the creation of a united Germany. His accomplishments were a mammoth success in land growth. This was a period in Germany’s history where a dramatic nation building was accomplished by unifying multiple territories and states using military force. Germany had been transformed into a major continental power. Consequently people of various political beliefs agreed that national unity was the ultimate goal and Germany was high on success and felt invincible.
On the home front the German citizens supported and glorified war and consequently welcomed war and cheered about it under the premise of nationalism. The feelings for the need to expand national unity were strong and people thought that war would make them even greater and all agreed that Germany could not forfeit any land. To date Germany had never lost a major conflict and many of the populous had been raised with strong feelings of nationalism. The German government had spread propaganda that the war would not last very long. The German people did not recognize the inability of their emperor Kaiser William to lead with military savvy as past leaders had done.
The government, with the support of the German people’s encouragement, recruited young, under educated boys from schools and universities. They told the boys that it was their duty to serve for their country and that if they accepted and conscripted, the war would be a very beautiful and glorious opportunity for them and if they died for their country they would be considered national heroes. These young men were usually between the ages of 18 and 19 and had no idea what war was all about. They joined the German army quickly because they were naïve, excited, sought adventure, wanted to travel and thought they would miss out on something if they didn’t go right away because the war would be short lived. In the end they would all find out that war is not glorious, that they had been misled and that they would be exposed to the most horrific horrors and 2 million would die.
After returning from the war front in 1929 Erich Maria Remarque wrote the novel All Quiet on the Western Front. Remarque was a German citizen who had experienced the war first hand and was angry about being a part of it. Remarque a young German man was enticed to join the war through propaganda. He like many others was young and left school to join in the cause due to the encouragement from others. The war novel is seen through the eyes of 19 year old Paul Baumer and his classmates. The young men in the novel would find out quickly that war was not a glorious event. The war was a nightmare and there was no way out of their dilemma. “All at once everything seems to me confused and hopeless. Kropp feels it too. It will go pretty hard with us all. But nobody at home seems to worry much about it. Two years of shells and bombs-a man won’t peel that off as easy as a sock” (Remarque 87).
They would fight everyday without really knowing who or why they were fighting. The young men wanted to go home and had a better solution to war than having men fight. “Kropp on the other hand is a thinker. He proposes that a declaration of war should be a kind of popular festival with entrance-tickets and bands, like a bull fight. Then in the arena the ministers and generals of the two countries, dressed in bathing-drawers and armed with clubs, can have it among them selves. Whoever survives, his country wins. That would be much simpler and more just than this arrangement, where the wrong people do the fighting” (Remarque 40).
The western front was formed by the Germans as they continued to advance into France. The front itself really consisted of deep trenches that the men dug out, lived, built close relationships, hid and fought from for days at a time, hence the name of Remarque’s book “I listen; the sound is behind me. They are our people moving along the trench. At once a new warmth flows through me. These voices, these few quiet words, these footsteps in the trench behind me recall me at a bound from terrible loneliness and fear of death by which I had been almost destroyed. They are more to me that life, these voices, they are more than motherliness and more than fear; they are the strongest, most comforting thing there is anywhere: they are the voices of my comrades” (Remarque 215).
He wrote about how the soldiers would march for miles and food was very scarce. “We bagged five tins altogether. The fellows over there are well looked after; it seems a luxury to us with our hunger-pangs, our turnip jam, and meat so scarce that we simply grab at it. Haie has scored a thin loaf of white French bread, and stuck it in behind his belt like a spade. It is a bit bloody at one corner, but that can be cut off” (Remarque118). At night they couldn’t sleep because of the constant bombing outside and rats. They would dream of when they would be home again. Some of the men in the company had wives and children and farms they wanted to see again. But Paul and his friends didn’t feel that they really had anyone or anything to go back to but Paul dreamed of falling in love. He stated that “Between the glowing columns of the cloister is the cool darkness that only churches have, and I stand there and wonder whether, when I am twenty, I shall have experienced the bewildering emotions of love”(Remarque119). He was a romantic man and wanted to experience love like older men in his company had but he would never get the chance because at the close of the novel he is killed in action.
The war progressed on and bankrupted the German government. Because Germany depended upon outside trade there were no guns or ammunition and they resorted to hiring chemists to help alleviate lacking war supplies by substitution. The war lasted much longer than the German government had promised. The farmers lacked laborers to work the lands because many of the young men were dying in battle. Consequently there was a massive food shortage and many of the German people died from starvation. They had lost 50% of their milk supply and had no potatoes for the winter and experienced in 1916-1917 winters of the turnips, a food previously feed to animals, just to survive.
After the war the streets were not safe because the German government had been so disorganized that they had no system to disarm the soldiers and the streets were full of wandering, armed and disillusioned soldiers when they returned home. If the soldiers survived the war they came home to food shortage and many would die from weakness, disease or starvation. 750,000 people died after the war because of starvation.
The German people could not accept losing the war. They blamed their weak politicians for their defeat. Consequently they forced their emperor Kaiser William II out of power. The war brought with it severe economic disaster, a serious loss of manpower, traumatized civilians, and protests that included previous soldiers. The whole country was especially angry over the Treaty of Versailles. The German government and people were forced to forfeit already acquired lands and were subject to huge war debts.
Consequently when Remarque wrote his novel one can understand the tone of the book. Many have classified this book as an antiwar book, but it is also a book about the perilous of war done under an unnecessary and false rationalization. He wrote the book in 1929 exposing within his literature the bare, gruesome facts of an unsuccessful endeavor. His book was accepted by the German people and they could not dispute his explanations and human reactions. The German people had suffered a plight too by being deceived and suffered the consequences in a variety of ways. It becomes very clear why the German people were so ripe to accept the mad screaming propaganda of promises made by Adolph Hitler. As Hitler gained strength Remarque’s book came into major dispute. Hitler ordered all the books of All Is Quiet on the Western Front burned in 1933. Remarque escaped Germany with his family to America and lived out his days. However his sister remained in Germany and was eventually captured, tortured and killed by Hitler’s new regime as a substitute for Remarque. By destroying anyone or anything that disputed him, Hitler was preparing the German government for a new leadership, a promise of renewed power and recognition as a force to reckon with.

Works Cited
Remarque, Erich. All Quiet on the Western Front. Boston: Little Brown and Company. 1928. Print

Hunt, Lynn et.al. The Making of the West. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin. 2007. Print

Lualdi, Katharine. Sources of the Making of the West. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin. 2010. Print

Coping Styles

Coping styles vary differently from males to females. Females use the tending and befriending coping style. Women respond with nurturing activities that are designed to protect themselves and others from a potential threat (the tending) and create social networks that provide protection from potential threats (the befriending). The nurturing helps to lower stress and improve immune system functioning. The befriending creates close ties between women when they use social support as a coping skill. Befriending will help women to exchange resources and watch out for predators and support each other to provide childcare.

Men are more likely to use the fight or flight coping style. They consciously make a decision as to whether they will stay and fight or leave the situation to cope. Men are more aggressive and competitive than women and they generally do not care for children as much as women do. The fight or flight response doesn’t work as well with women because of their home duties and personalities. Women attempt to avoid aggressive behaviors due to danger during pregnancy and their participation in the care required for the children.

Social support perceives others to be responsive and receptive to one’s own needs and is useful in both males and females. Social support helps to improve mood, reduce fear and lengthen ties. Studies have shown that persons who have a life threatening disease such as cancer are less stressed and their immune systems functioned more properly than persons without a strong social support system. The research does indicate, however that the social support must be positive in nature.

These gender differences occur because women are more nurturing than men by nature. Women are more emotional in reaction to events than men. Men use a different coping style and many times demonstrate being aggressive because they try to outdo one another and society views this as an expected reaction.

There are health implications that come with different ways that people cope. One of the best ways to decrease a health problem when experiencing traumatic events is journaling.
Journaling is a very good way to release tension and stress. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur in people if they don’t seek an outlet for traumatic events that they have experienced. PTSD is a frequent occurrence in ordinary people’s lives that have experienced extra ordinary events that traumatized them. When someone journals it can lead to feeling better, cause them to think through their feelings, reflect about the event and feel more relieved.

Although I have never experienced anything that has caused me PTSD I have kept a journal for many years. Since I was in 2nd grade I have kept journals in composition books. I love to write so I started journaling and found that I love it. Journaling is a very good documentation of events that occurred in someone’s life. I love to re-read my journals every once and a while to remember my experiences and how I felt at that time in my life. Rereading events in your life that maybe were a big deal or causing stress for you at the time, can be are viewed differently when you read it later. It helps you realize that you have made it through and everything can work out and be ok.

Chapter 24 Connection War and Journaling

1) The war affects children by causing them to be unable to go to school, play, limited food and water available let alone eat what foods they prefer and makes their childhood stressful and frightening. The children in the war torn country are scared about what they loose on a daily basis, staying alive and if they will ever see their families again.
2) When the war is approaching her city she is calm and not very worried. But then she hears about how they are going to bomb Sarjevo and she get nervous and starts to freak out.
3) I don’t think that Zlata knows anything about the politics that started the war. Politics is a hard concept to understand and takes maturity. Many people never reach a level in their life where they are well informed about their government and political actions.
4) Zlata used to have a happy childhood with friends and play but now the war has taken everything from her. War is very disgusting and ugly experience for anyone but especially the children. War has become more and more technical and sophisticated, but the human effects and losses basically go unchanged regardless of the time in history.
Zlata is journaling her experiences when the war is unfolding. She and her family try to have a normal life but as time goes on they are unable. Recently in my social psychology class we learned about aggression. Journaling was brought up as a positive way to reduce aggression because it lets people’s feelings out on paper. It has also been studied as a good psychological method for reducing or management of PTSD post traumatic stress disease. PTSD is a frequent occurrence in ordinary people’s lives that have experienced extra ordinary occurs that traumatized them. When people journal it leads to them feeling better and relieved.
Although I have never experienced anything that has caused me PTSD I have journeyed for many years as well. Since I was in 2nd grade I have kept journals in composition books. I love to write so I started journaling and found that I love it. I love to re-read my journals every once and a while to remember my experiences and how I felt at that time in my life. They are a very good documentation of events that occurred in someone’s life. I recommend journaling to everyone. Journaling also helps you reread events in your life that maybe were a big deal or causing stress for you at the time, but when you read it later it helps you realize that you made it through it and everything is ok.

Money Happiness

Happiness is defined as an emotional state of positive and pleasant emotions that create intense joy. After the basic necessities of life are accounted for the material possessions of happiness can be achieved. People usually think that people that are rich and live in mansions have more happiness but that is not the case. Rich people are actually less happy than non rich people because they have less satisfying social relationships. Having more meaningful social relationships is what people strive for. People can achieve happiness by setting meaningful goals and helping out others. Helping others can help people to connect with other people, enhance social relationships and they can view themselves in a more positive light. When a person becomes engaged in doing something that they enjoy and making progress they are happier. People become happier when they are engaged in the flow of a task that is challenging like writing, performing, or composing. Flow makes people loss track of time and where they are. Flow is a very pleasurable and absorbing state. Money doesn’t help people become happier.

A real life situation that really defines this concept is the life story of Stephen King the famous author of horror. Steven taught in a high school, but really desired to write professionally, but he had a family to support. He was able to get by on a teacher’s salary, but desired more from life and wanted to utilize his talents at a higher level. The rest of his life is history as far as his tremendous success goes, but did he find happiness. He experienced all the frustrations and threats to himself and his family’s safety as the public pushed into his personal life as he became more and more famous. He was discovering that being extremely rich did not bring with him happiness. He decided that besides the flow of his daily writing he would branch out into other areas to bring him satisfaction. He was able to discover that his small town was in drastic need of a little league field and park. His son wanted to play baseball and really had no where to do this activity. Mr. King bought property and paid to have a beautiful little league field and complex built in the rural state of Maine where he lives with his family. After these accomplishments he realized that this did bring him happiness and he was able to write better and feel more secure in his surroundings. Mr. King then heard that the only radio station in the area was going bankrupt and was on the brink of closing. Mr. King set out to change the course of the business and purchased the radio station. Today it remains running and successful because he pays for the total support of it and hires people to run it to make sure that the small town keeps their radio station. Mr. King is a real life experience of rag to riches story, but than the dissatisfaction with the wealth and how a person can change the course of their own life to reach a level of happiness by helping others.