Blog #7

1) Post your favorite lyrics, poem, or quote for this week.

Of the two songs I wrote this week, this is the more meaningful:

"The Meaning of Life"
Life is a series of inconsequential thrills
And not a tedium to be forgotten.
Life is more than the simple quest for dollar bills
To be wasted on material possessions.
Life has a meaning, that is, if you can find it.
Life is even kinda cool if you don't mind it,
And by that I mean the everyday nonstop shop-till-you-drop
Barrage of pointless bullshit that life'll throw at you, but
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.

2) Develop two reflection questions that you would ask your students at this point in the course if you were a UN100 Professor.

1. Describe your eating and sleeping habits, and how these might affect your grades.
2. Describe your study habits and behaviour in class, and how these might affect your grades.
3. How about them Lions!?

3) What are you passionate about? Why?

I'll play you a song in explanation.

4) How are you going to finance your three years of the Radiology program? If you will be in debt from student loans at the end, calculate roughly how much you will owe upon graduation.

I am enrolled in a program through Michigan Works! called No Worker Left Behind. One of the seventeen occupations offered is the RAT program; if I pay for the first year and successfully get accepted into MGH's program, the state will pay for the last two. It's looking like I'll be about $6K in debt by the end of this year.

5) Have you changed your mind or do you have any new concerns about your program of study after our guest speakers today (Dr. Foley & Joanne)? Are you thinking of a different major or are you dead set on Radiology? What behavior(s) will you maybe have to change in order to keep up with and make the cut?

I know what I want to do with my life. All I have to do is not slack off and let the crap life's thrown at me the last two weeks affect my ability to study or do my homework.

6) FAST FOOD NATION (You should be reading through Chapter 7 at this point)

Reflect upon the opening lines of Chapter 7:

"You can smell Greeley, Colorado, long before you can see it. The smell is hard to forget but not easy to describe, a combination of live animals, manure, and dead animals being rendered into dog food."

Good imagery. What else is there to say? Drive towards Gary, IN and smell as you approach the ancient stankiferous beast that is the former industrial juggernaut turned urban plight.

-Have you ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair? If so, how does it relate to FFN?

No, I have not.

-How high is the employee turnover rate in the meat industry and why don't the packing plants see this as a problem?

I'm in the mood to eat some lard.

People are merely "cogs in the great packing machine", easily replaced and entirely disposable. You can teach someone who doesn't even speak the main language to take apart a cow and put it in a grinder, wrap it and put it in a box.

We discussed captive supplies of cattle versus regular farming. Reflect upon this quote from page 150:

"To supply the beef slaughterhouse, ConAgra operates a pair of enormous feedlots. Each of them can hold up to one hundred thousand head of cattle..During the three months before slaughter, they eat grain..The grain fattens the cattle quickly, aided by the anabolic steroids implanted in their ear."

I'm getting visions of the video for The Wall.

-Do you think that these animals' emotions (fears, stress, anger) affect the meat we eat derived from them? How?

Happy cows make happy meals. :)

The hormones that circulate through the body (dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, etc.) circulate not just through the brain but through all the muscles and such too. Since we eat the muscles of these animals, we ingest whatever concentrations of hormones are in their bodies as well. Happy cows will have high levels of dopamine and other happy hormones, which in turn will process in our bodies as happy hormones and translate into improved mood.

-How do you feel about eating steroids via consumption of "USDA Inspected" beef?

My arms are bigger, my penis is smaller and I'm even closer to cancer. Gotta love our government!

Viking Acrostic

SLTPHCTT

Scandinavian Vikings sail o'er
Luminated oceans
Trickster Loki toys with Erik's
Pissed off emotions.
Hands on deck, they long for Vinland's
Captivating eastern shores;
Trapped by Loki's deceiving ways, and
Trapped in the Norsemen's lustful mores.

Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform
Hamate, Capitate, Trapezoid, Trapezium

Heh.

So apparently I have more studying to do. I just gave myself an Anatomy exam for the unit based off of my notes, and I got a 39/52. Here's my quiz: Feel free to erase my answers and take it yourself!

QUIZ

1. Seven qualities by which muscles are named:

Size (magnus)
Direction (rectus)
Relative to Axis
Shape (trapezius)
Function (adductor)
Location (brachii)
Origin
Number of origins (biceps)

2. Myofibers are _multinucleated_; they're positioned peripherally. Cardiac fibers are _uninucleated_; it's in the center.

3. Myofibers are composed of _thick_ and _thin_ myofibrils, which comprise _myosin_ and _actin_ respectively.

4. SR = sarcoplasmic reticulum
a. stores calcium

****5. Structure of the Sarcomere.
M line:
Z line:
H Zone:
I band: isotropic
A band: anisotropic

6. Actin comprises:
F Actin stands for: filament
G actin stands for: globular

7. Covers active sites: tropomyosin

8. Holds #7 in place: troponin

****9. 7 kinds of muscle movement:
abduction
adduction
rotation
flexion
extension
circular movement of arms

10. Shaped like golf club: myosin
Head: heavy chain
Tail: light chain

11. Two movements of wrist: supination and pronation
****12. Two movements of ankle:
****13. Two movements of foot: plantar flexion
14. Three movements of head: right rotation, left rotation, flexion

15. Smooth muscle fiber is not _striated_ and therefore is not organized into _sarcomeres_.

****16. Corresponds to Z lines in cardiac muscle:

17. Regulates calcium: calmodulin
****18. Activated by #17: enzymes, fuck!
Does what (P)?
****19. Undoes effect of #18:
Does what?

20. Corresponds to Z lines in smooth muscle: Dense bodies

21. Three components of CV system: arteries, veins, lymphatic

22. Four parts of heart: right atrium, left atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle

23. Heart is cone shaped, and the _apex_ points down and left, _base_ points up and right.

24.

The _right atrium_ receives O2 poor blood, which is pumped into the _lungs_ via the _right ventricle_. _Oxygenation_ occurs in the lungs. O2 rich blood is then pumped through the _left atrium_ into the _left ventricle_, which pumps the blood out to the body.

25. Homeostasis: equilibrium of fluid

26. Membrane surrounding the heart and its two halves: visceral (inner) and parietal (outer) pericardium.

Between two halves: pericardial cavity

27. Musculature of heart = myocardium

28. The atrial walls are known as: auricles

29. Deep groove separating...
the auricles: coronary sulcus
atrium and ventricle: atrioventricular (AV) sulcus
the ventricles: interventricular (IV) sulcus

30. Valves on:

Right side: tricuspid
Left side: bicuspid

31. Three vessels emptying into RA: coronary sinus, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava

32. Fibrous CT ring in heart is called: annulus fibrosis

33. Valve between RA and RV: tricuspid

****34. Valves are controlled by _________ _chordae_ and those are controlled by _papillary_ muscles.

****35. Fleshy columns that allow for contractions in all directions:

****36. Unique funnel to RV:

37. Semilunar valves lack: chordae and papillary muscles

38. Valve between LA and LV (two names): bicuspid, mitral

39. Generic name for valves #33,#38: atrioventricular (AV) valves

40. Three parts of the conducting system:
SA node:
aka: pacemaker
AV node: backs up the SA node
AV bundle of _His_

****41. Muscle fibers that look like nerve fibers, that come down from AV node to IV septum:
...does what?

42. Three components of blood vessels: Tunica interna (intima), tunica media, tunica externa (aventura)

****43. Circulatory system has its own circ system. The vessels are called: vaso vas...

44. Three types of arteries: axial arteries, medium arteries, arterioles

45. Three types of veins: large veins, medium sized veins, venules

46. Tunicae in arteries have this which veins lack: elastic membranes

47. Blood vessel expansion and constriction: vasoconstriction and vasodilation

48. Analyze 120/80 blood pressure:

****49. Openings in the capillaries: F

50. Capillaries are guarded by the _precapillary_ sphincter.
This is big enough for red blood cells to go through in: single file

51. When #50 closes, blood flows through a preferred channel: metarteriole

52. Bypass for blood if its not needed in capillary bed: arteriovenular anastomosis

So yeah. I have more studying to do, cuz that's a C. I can do better than that, and I will because I'll be studying my little Irish balls off tomorrow! Glad there's a study group tomorrow! Hope to see you all there!

And I'll still be cool and send you my notes if you hit me up for them. Shoot me an email.

Dave

A song of relevance.

I expect that Sol Brew will be covering this song at the Co-Op on Saturday morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0hTJF7xqV0

Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body

I want to live where soul meets body
And let the sun wrap its arms around me
And bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing
And feel, feel what its like to be new

Cause in my head there’s a greyhound station
Where I send my thoughts to far off destinations
So they may have a chance of finding a place
where they’re far more suited than here

And I cannot guess what we'll discover
When we turn the dirt with our palms cupped like shovels
But I know our filthy hands can wash one another’s
And not one speck will remain

And I do believe it’s true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes
But if the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too
So brown eyes I hold you near
Cause you’re the only song I want to hear
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere

Where soul meets body
Where soul meets body
Where soul meets body

And I do believe it’s true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes
But if the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too
So brown eyes I hold you near
Cause you’re the only song I want to hear
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere

Another Observation of an Amateur Sociologist

On the topic of social norms and the behaviour of normal everyday college students.

I'm actually being very quiet, chilling in a chair in the corner of Starbucks, listening to my Ruckus and not making any sound other than the clickety clack of my laptop keyboard.

Not that anyone would hear it if I were singing. There's about 70 people in the commons right now, all trying to behave as normally as possible, trying to ignore the RIDICULOUSLY FREAKING LOUD JACKHAMMER NOISES where workers are working on the ventilation systems adjacent to the building. Of course, the wall is nothing but single-pane glass and forced air vents (both of which amplify ambient sound!) The jackhammering sounds (I'm assuming it's a drill or something) have to be at least 50dB, if not louder. There are people trying to study! This poor bastard across from me is slaving away trying to study his physiology, without the aid of earphones. His face looks like he's finally giving up. He's been here at least as long as I have, around 30-35 minutes.

People are carrying on as usual, and listening to the conversations it seems like everyone's acting casually and not talking about the elephant (sized sound) in the room. Starbucks' business ain't hurtin' none.

I don't know how anyone can study in these conditions though. Seriously, I have a hard time studying around my four housemates, let alone 50-150 people in a public place. And to have flagrantly distracting construction noises echoing in the room? Ha, I don't know how anyone can focus in here.

My observations are telling me that the norm right now is to ignore the construction to the best of your ability, and carry on as if Starbucks was its usual sanctuary for "free"-thinking hippies to consume their double shot espressos and mocha lattes and ...

Dude's packing up his physiology and laptop and heading for the door. He can't take it no more. The look on his face is one of a recently onset migraine (one's developing on my end too, lol).

...anyway, as if Starbucks were its usual sanctuary for "free"-thinking hippies to consume their ridiculously overpriced beverages and do their homework and talk about politics and environmentalism.

Needless to say, it's impractical to carry on a conversation with jackhammers going. People are talking very loudly about their particular nothings, and that even further exacerbates the situation.

*shakes head* But they're still here, pretending everything's fine.

...However, were I to start playing my harmonica in here, I'd get dirty looks and other negative social sanctions.

What does this say about society?

To me, it says that a majority of people are willing to tolerate large distractions - things that they feel they have no control over (such as adverse living conditions) - but they will take on each other one-on-one where people are par or better on the power scale.

...Conflict theory. ^_^

In the last two minutes, the jackhammering has increased in loudness by 15-20dB - it's now to the point where it's interfering with my headphones on maximum - and people are starting to clear the room. We're down to maybe 30 people in here.

Why couldn't they do this at night? Are they intentionally trying to make life abnormally difficult for college students? Is this a challenge that people are to overcome, to teach them a lesson not to rely on Starbucks for studying? Hmm.

2) Reflect upon one tactic we discussed in class this week concerning Procrastination, Study Habits, Retainment, or Test-Taking/Anxiety. (Choose something that you will probably try and discuss why).

I suppose I could try procrastination. ;)

The tactic I should try is proper sleeping. I tend to go to bed around 3-4AM when I'm not in school; going to sleep at 11pm is pretty much impossible for me. But I'm making a point of going to bed before midnight whenever possible (the nights I close I can't go to bed until at least 1-2AM as long as I take a hot tub to unwind) - it's starting to work. Because whenever I only get <4hr>6hr, I actually have the ability to work to the best of my ability.

Bad habits are hard to quit, and staying up late is one of them.

Blog 5

What do you feel this course (UN100) should focus on? What do you need help in, specifically?

I find it ironic that I have more homework in freshman seminar than I do in all my other classes combined! UN100 is meant to be a support structure, where you learn how to adapt to college life. In my previous stab at college and this attempt, I have learned that most classes do not have homework, they are exam-only unless it is English, math, graduate course or something else with a relatively small class size and intensive workload.

Between going to school full time and working full time, I find it difficult to manage my time properly (although not impossible); I not only have to study my ass off in biology (lab moreso than lecture!), the coloring book, studying in sociology, chem lab reports, and seminar homework, but I also have to split wood for the winter and other myriad things that comprise real life, including my girlfriend, friends and music.

I'm not whining about homework (well, some may see it that way), since I seem to be able to manage it this time around, but aside from my chemistry lab report and my anatomy coloring book, UN100 is the only class I have where I have any actual homework assignments in the high school format, and it is by far the class in which I have the most homework. If I lived in the dorms and didn't have to pull my own weight, I'd have much more time to dedicate to it, but having to pay rent, car payment, insurance, etc. requires I work full time to stay afloat.

I just flew in from Denver, and boy are my arms tired.

I'd like to end with a quote, from our own Heather Curry, referring to exams: "I feel like i walk in knowing it all and walk out knowing nothing." Amen, sister!

Amateur Sociological Observation

So I'm sitting in the 3rd floor atrium of the NSF waiting for my Chemistry lab.

There are 17 people here, including myself, about eight of which are in my Chem lecture and also came from an exam.

Six girls came in a group (funny how they do that). One heads for an empty chair, the other five sit in a circle in the center of hte floor (but not in the patterned square, they picked the exact center of the atrium).

The one sitting donw in the chair looks back at the other five and goes "Losers!", and the others give her a dirty look, negatively socially sanctioning her for her smart-aleck comment. She mutters "just kidding, you guys" under her breath, obviously feeling bad for giving them shit for abandoning her. She's now lost in Facebook, trying not to care.

The five in the center are excluding the girl sitting in the chair; four or them are rushing through last week's lab assignment due in 10 miunutes, the other is playing a computer game.

Peoplewatching fascinates me; I never cease to get a kick out of the way people behave, especially in groups. Wow, teenage girls are vicious. :P