A Possible Alternative

I just finished reading this article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=scientists-discover-childrens-cells-living-in-mothers-brain

"Scientists Discover Children's Cells Living In Mothers Brains" by Robert Martone.

The article describes how cells are transmitted between mother and child in utero; some of mother's cells migrate to fetus, some of fetus' cells migrate to mother.

This is not an uncommon occurrence, and happens in the animal world as well as in humans.

The connection Mr. Martone makes is that these cells can help or hinder the growth of certain diseases: cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis are all mentioned.  Mr. Martone draws the conclusion that women with cancer and Alzheimer's disease somehow allowed less microchimeric cells into their bodies than the average woman without cancer and Alzheimer's.  On the other side of the coin, it is thought that the presence of the microchimeric cells somehow contributed to the growth of Multiple Sclerosis.

I offer a contrary alternative to these conclusions.  Don't get me wrong, I am not offering myself as an expert in the field, just a differing opinion.

It is possible that when the microchimeric cells are faced with cancer and Alzheimer's cells, that they get used up, and are disposed as waste.  In my (laymans) way of thinking, I picture it like using a paper towel.  It is very useful, it has done it's job, but now it is nothing more than waste.  Thus, when the microchimeric cell has finished it's usefulness, it is thrown away, and that would be why the researchers failed to find as many as they may have expected.  In my hypothesis, the cancer and Alzheimer's in these cases were just more of a mess than the body had microchimeric cells (paper towels) to clean up with.

As for the case of the Multiple Sclerosis: the article stated that those with MS had more microchimeric cells than the average person without MS.  Perhaps the MS cells were not the kind the microchimeric cells could clean up.  Of course, it is possible that Mr. Martone was correct in the conclusion that microchimeric cells might somehow assist the MS cells in their growth.  Or, it might be that the microchimeric cells inhibited some other type of cell and the unintended byproduct of that inhibition was the growth of MS cells.

For now, we do not know, but this was a fascinating article anyway

Laura

The Cultural Defense

As part of my required reading for one of my courses, I read “When in Rome” by Nina Schuyler (1997) which describes an alarming trend in criminal defense concerning immigrants from other countries.  Defense attorneys are using the “Cultural Defense” to argue that since the person in question was raised in a different culture, that the individual should not have to be held accountable for breaking the law.

One of the examples given is that a mother left an infant in the care of a nine-year-old; the infant died.  “Charged with involuntary manslaughter, the mother argued that the childcare norms of the [culture from which she was raised] are different from those of the [current culture in which she lives]…” (Moulder, 2000: 15).

Another example was concerning the marriage of under-age girls (13 and 14) to adult men (28 and 34, respectively) on the basis of religious practices.  The defense in this case was that “The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion…They should be allowed to practice their religion in this country,” (Moulder, 2000: 14).  Let me see—that defense doesn’t work for the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in regards to their religious practice of polygamy, why should it work for this family?

Since this is such a problem in certain areas, maybe we should look at the process of immigration a little differently.  Maybe we should provide each adult immigrant with a pamphlet on our laws here as a country, possibly written in their native language, just to be sure they can read it.  Additionally (to make sure to not exclude the illiterate immigrants), a person with legal knowledge should be available to answer the questions such immigrants have, especially in the early years in their new homes. 

All of this would help to prevent the lag in what was acceptable in the previous culture and what is acceptable in their new culture, before these people commit a crime.  After all, if they decided to come here, they should accept their new culture.  I’m not saying they need to completely assimilate: they should be allowed to continue their religion, food preparation, language, etc., but such activities should not be allowed if they conflict with the law.

It is not ok to “mercy kill” your sister/ daughter because you think she is immoral for kissing her boyfriend.

It is not ok to force women to completely cover their bodies when outside the home.

It is not ok to keep your daughters home from school because you feel an education will lead them away from whatever religious upbringing you want them to attain.

It is not ok to kill your son because you suspect him of participating in homosexual activities.

We are a culture that holds dear the ideal of equality of all persons. We need to focus on attaining that ideal.

Starting a new semester

This week has heralded the start of a new semester for me, complete with four courses, comprising the required 12 credit hours to make me a full-time student!

Yay!

This has been quite the busy week, and it is only the end of Wednesday.

With most courses up until this time, I expect the first week to be filled with the preliminary organization tasks (read and print the syllabus, organize my folders on my thumb drive, tabulate my textbooks, and buy a new pack of highlighters, etc).  However, it seems I have chosen graduate courses for this semester: they require an actual assignment to be completed the first week (not just the expected "introduction" on the discussion board or email to the instructor).

By the way, in case you hadn't picked up on this little detail from my writings above, I am taking all of my courses online.  I highly recommend taking most of your college/ university courses online, with a few exceptions.  For me, those exceptions include mathematics courses (calculus, etc.) and science courses (biology, chemistry, etc.).  Oh, and that pesky communications course that requires you to speak in front of an audience of so many members.  I tried to do that one online, but I just didn't have access to an audience of at least 50 people at my beck and call, just waiting to hear me speak (and be video-taped for proof) on four separate occasions...Gee, I thought everyone had that kind of access! (lol)

Anyway, for those waiting on the edge of your seats waiting to know: I am taking "Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies" with professor McGonigal, "Social Problems" with professor Johnson, "Advanced Sociological Research" with professor Brinker, and "Grant Proposal Development" with professor Campbell.

I dropped the nutrition course I was going to take (yes, that would have meant 5 courses this semester) because I found that it wasn't going to be significantly different than the previous health and nutrition course I already passed.  I was hoping to find something more specific, but I suppose googling everything will have to do.

Back to the grind-stone...I have several chapters to read, powerpoints to watch/listen to, and a video presentation to watch...all before next week.

I love school!
;)

How I View "15 Things"

            I ran across this article: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/15-things-you-can-do-to-be-your-best-self-today/ by Nico Lang, to which I decided to add my own little interpretation.

1) “Try to have conversations with people you casually meet in everyday life.”

Actually, I do this every time I go out: I use people’s names when I speak to them, I smile, and I bid them “good day.” 

2) “Remind people in your life how much they love you and mean to you.”

I make sure to give my husband and children lots of love every day.  We give each other hugs, tell each other “I love you,” and frequently do little things to show love.  We have funny little words we use to tell each other we love each other, such as “bunkies,” and “gobs.”

3) “Text people back right away.”

Unless I’m driving, I text people back right away.  I feel that if that person has taken the time to attempt to contact me that I should respect them enough to respond.  It really doesn’t take that much effort, but that person might be waiting on my response.

4) “Ask yourself how you can be a better friend to people or better support them.”

At some point, everyone feels they are doing their best, but there is another point where everyone feels they cannot do any worse.  Hopefully, we can find a happy medium somewhere.  If we love our friends, and if our friends love us, we will all appreciate each other and forgive our mistakes.  If one of your friends is doing something you would like stopped (or if you would like that friend to do something) you really need to discuss it with that person.  Only communication will help in this situation.  You never know—that thing that has been driving you nuts might actually turn out to make sense, and you’ll learn to love it.

5) “Get up early.”

Well, I get up at 2 am most mornings.

6) “Smile more and laugh more.”

I smile when I feel happy, I laugh when there is something funny.  I frown when I am sad, and I cry when I am very sad.  I run the gamut of feelings.  I allow myself to feel, I allow myself the luxury of understanding my own feelings.  I think it is very sad that many people do not even know how they feel.  Many people don’t allow themselves to feel anything “negative.”  I think this is a mistake.  You cannot learn to fix whatever is “negative” if you don’t even know when you have those feelings.

7) “Do something you didn’t think you could or always wanted to do.”

I am studying Sociology at University, and will graduate by the end of Spring 2014 :D

8) “Learn how to apologize.”

I have to say, this one was difficult for me.  Learning to accept when I have made a mistake, learning to forgive myself, and learning to ask for forgiveness has been a process.  Sometimes I apologize without accepting my own apology.  Sigh.  We all have room for improvement.

9) “Let go of our anger, envy, and hatred.”

Wow—this one can be difficult as well.  There are times when I can be very angry, and not want to let it go for a while.  Sometimes I get angry that I feel anger.  Now *that* can be a vicious circle!

10) “Don’t use your iPod all the time.”

From this, I figure Ms. Lang includes all music playing devices: these can include MP3’s, portable CD players, or even (for those old schoolers) walkmen.  Also, from her text it is clear that Ms. Lang is advising all to listen to the natural sounds surrounding them. 

To this sentiment, I cannot add anything more.

11) “Complain less and make fewer excuses for yourself.”

Well, this assumes that the reader frequently complains, and makes excuses—that may be true, but should not be assumed.

That being said, those who do complain just might need to learn to appreciate more.  Also, those people might need to learn to accept responsibility.

From me, “appreciate the beauty around you, accept the responsibility that is yours, release responsibility for what is not yours.”

12) “Do something nice for someone else—the kind of favor you might not see returned.”

If you only do things for people because you will get a favor in return, you are missing out on many opportunities in life.  When you do something for the sheer purpose that it needs to be done (even without gaining recognition for it), you get a satisfaction you could never gain by only doing things with the purpose of a reward.

13) “Give someone a completely unsolicited compliment.”

I have always felt that the compliment doesn’t mean as much if I had to ask for it.  If the compliment wasn’t going to be given freely, I probably didn’t deserve it.

14) “Do something completely unexpected or spontaneous.”

Tattoos are cool ;)

15) “Try something new—just for the experience.”

Does blogging count?  I’m sure you can tell, I’ve only been doing this a few weeks.

Gruesome

                This morning, my husband and I were discussing a roadside memorial we had seen.  He thought it might be connected to a story in the local news lately, and talked about how the news casters had described the murder as “gruesome”.  And then he asked the question which started my mental gears in motion: “Is any death not gruesome?”  I answered, “Yes, dying in your sleep is quite peaceful.”  He came back with, “But isn’t that still gruesome?”  My response: “Define gruesome.”

                This brings me to this moment now.  I took the time to look up the definition of “gruesome,” a word I hear frequently in the news and elsewhere.  According to my favorite reference (and one of my top five most visited websites) dictionary.com, gruesome is defined as: 1) causing great horror; horribly repugnant, grisly; 2) full of or causing problems.

                1) Depending on the circumstances and the family and friends affected, you can easily define death as “causing great horror,” “horribly repugnant,” and even “grisly.”  [As an aside (because I am just that way), I looked up “grisly”: 1) causing a shudder or feeling of horror; 2) formidable; grim.]  Personally, I can see death as a welcome respite, a long sought-after friend, for certain cases, but I understand how others can see death as unwelcome, horrible, and feared, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the end of life.  The subject of death hits different people in distinct ways, but that is a subject for another post.

                2) Every death is potentially “full of or causing problems.”  No matter how much the individual or family has prepared for the eventuality of death, there always seems to be that one more thing that didn’t get done.  But even then, there is the subject of grief that must be dealt with.  No matter how much you have expected it, even waited for it, at the end, when it finally happens, the grief is real.  It must be dealt with.  It brings its own set of problems.

                My conclusion: yes, I can concede that every death is gruesome in one way or another.  This discussion just illustrates the ideal that you really do learn something every day—especially if you seek out that learning and allow yourself to absorb the new information.

Einstein's Riddle

I picked up this riddle off a Facebook post.  As a self-described math geek (who used to go through logic puzzle books for fun), I was intrigued:

Einstein (reportedly) wrote this riddle early during the 19^th century.  He said 98% of the world could not solve it.  It’s not hard, you just need to pay attention and be patient.

There are 5 houses in 5 different colors.  In each house lives a person with a different nationality.  The 5 owners drink a certain type of beverage, smoke a certain brand of cigar, and keep a certain pet.  No owners have the same pet, smoke the same brand of cigar, or drink the same beverage.

The question is: Who owns the fish?

*The Brit lives in the red house.

*The Swede keeps dogs as pets

*The Dane drinks tea

*The green house is on the left of the white house

*The green homeowner drinks coffee

*The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds

*The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill

* The man living in the center house drinks milk

*The Norwegian lives in the first house

*The man who smokes Blend lives next to the one who keeps cats

*The man who keeps the horse lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill

*The owner who smokes Bluemaster drinks beer

*The German smokes prince

*The Norwegian lives next to the blue house

*The man who smokes Blend has a neighbor who drinks water

As the instructions for this riddle are incomplete, I have to make a few assumptions.  The fact I have to make these assumptions make this riddle flawed; but since certain questions are not answered, one must start with some assumptions.  Because of these assumptions, there may be more than one accurate answer to this riddle.

My assumptions:

I assume the five houses are on one street; on one side of the street; that number 1 is on the left, that number 5 is on the right, and that they are sequentially numbered; that my position is from the street, and that all directions within the riddle are from my vantage point.

1) Yellow; Norwegian; Water; Dunhill; Cats

2) Blue; Dane; Tea; Blend; Horse

3) Red; Brit; Milk; Pall Mall; Bird

4) Green; German; Coffee; Prince; Fish

5) White; Swede; Beer; Bluemaster; Dog

Thus, the answer to the riddle: The German (who lives in the green house, drinks coffee, and smokes Prince) owns the fish.