I hate America.
No, really. Sometimes I'm ashamed to admit to myself that I live in a country so full of hypocracy and secrets. Actually, this is true most of the time.
Our country preaches about equality, opportunity, and freedom. And yes, the benefits of being an American outweigh the benefits of most other countries.
But in this case, the knowledge that I am an American makes me want to throw up.
I fully believe that the outcome of the Abu Ghraib Prison Story is completely the fault of the American soldiers and the concept of mass hysteria. The soldiers were so full of prejudice against the Iraqui people, and rightly so for what they had seen in their line of duty, but they acted on their prejudice in ways that are unimaginable. No human being should ever have that much power over another life.
Ever.
It was estimated that 90% of the prisoners were discovered innocent after the fact. 90%!
9 out of 10 of the abused, humiliated, tortured human beings in that prison had no more of a connection to our enemy than you or me. That is disgusting.
If there had been more supervision over the soldiers, this would have never happened.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Influence
Webster Young Life has made a HUGE impact on my life and who I am today. I have met some of my best friends through young life, had some of the best experiences at young life, and it is a safe place to express my faith.
I first attended on accident in 8th grade when it was at my neighbor's house, and have been involved ever since. We meet every tuesday night, and sometimes Friday mornings. Allow me to explain.
There are two different aspects of Young Life- Campaigners, and Club. Campaigners is basically a bible study, and Club is music, games, fun, and a little bit of the Word. When club is Tuesday nights, Campaigners meets Friday mornings.
I've been going to Young Life camp every summer for the past 3 years, and it is truly the best week of the year each time.
Currently, I'm training to become a Young Life Leader when I go to college. I go to Leadership every Friday night, along with Young Life on Tuesdays, and its a lot of fun. :)
Monday, September 22, 2008
New Knowledge?
Question:
Now that you understand the basics of our memory systems, what can you (could you, will you) do with this new knowledge? This should be done in class. For homework, you are to comment on someone else's blog entry to this question.
Answer:
I would love to use the information I know to learn more about my sister and her condition.
After being alive and healthy for only 5 days, a germ travelled up her left side into her brain, causing most of her right functions to become sub-normal (officially diagnosed at Meningitis). She had a patch over her left eye for a couple years in order to strengthen the vision in her right, she lost most fine motor skills in her right hand, and she is very much a left-brained person.
She loves to read and write and draw. She is one of the most creative people I know, and I want to know more about why this happened and why when one side of the brain is directly affected, the long-term effects are on the right.
She has a lot of problems with her short term memory. She won't remember to do simple things like wash her hair, or brush her teeth. My family has "assigned" seats at the dinner table, and she never remembers where she sits. These are only a few examples.
She also has a few learning disabilities resulting from her condition, OCD and ADHD to name a couple.
Most people can't really tell anything is wrong with her, and that is owed mainly to her medicine. When she forgets to take it, its a pretty scary experience. :)
I love my sister more than anyone, so I'm fascinated to learn about why she is how she is.
Now that you understand the basics of our memory systems, what can you (could you, will you) do with this new knowledge? This should be done in class. For homework, you are to comment on someone else's blog entry to this question.
Answer:
I would love to use the information I know to learn more about my sister and her condition.
After being alive and healthy for only 5 days, a germ travelled up her left side into her brain, causing most of her right functions to become sub-normal (officially diagnosed at Meningitis). She had a patch over her left eye for a couple years in order to strengthen the vision in her right, she lost most fine motor skills in her right hand, and she is very much a left-brained person.
She loves to read and write and draw. She is one of the most creative people I know, and I want to know more about why this happened and why when one side of the brain is directly affected, the long-term effects are on the right.
She has a lot of problems with her short term memory. She won't remember to do simple things like wash her hair, or brush her teeth. My family has "assigned" seats at the dinner table, and she never remembers where she sits. These are only a few examples.
She also has a few learning disabilities resulting from her condition, OCD and ADHD to name a couple.
Most people can't really tell anything is wrong with her, and that is owed mainly to her medicine. When she forgets to take it, its a pretty scary experience. :)
I love my sister more than anyone, so I'm fascinated to learn about why she is how she is.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Experiments
Be a Juror
Task: To imagine that you're part of a jury. I was asked to make a judgement about a case as though i was on the actual jury.
Conclusion: I do not this the suspect could have been proven guilty, based on the evidence given. There is too much coincidence and not enough solid proven fact offered as evidence. I would need to see proof that he earned the money, proof that the ammonia was from his job, and a better eyewitness.
I think this was a test of memory and deduction skills. Maybe? Honestly, i had no idea what this had to do with Psychology.
Word Recognition
Task: Stare at the pulsing +. Then, a word appeared to either the left or the right, and the goal was to remember the word and write it down.
1. Tower- .09 seconds
2. Booth- incorrect
3. Aisle- .09 seconds
4. Debit- .09
5. I blinked. Whoops.
6. Waltz- .09 seconds
7. Mulch- .09 seconds
8. Bulge- Wrong
...etc, etc, etc...
I tried bulge like 5 times, until i realized it was Bugle at .16 seconds.
This could have been a test of my ability to retain information. Or some sort of eye test.
Task: To imagine that you're part of a jury. I was asked to make a judgement about a case as though i was on the actual jury.
Conclusion: I do not this the suspect could have been proven guilty, based on the evidence given. There is too much coincidence and not enough solid proven fact offered as evidence. I would need to see proof that he earned the money, proof that the ammonia was from his job, and a better eyewitness.
I think this was a test of memory and deduction skills. Maybe? Honestly, i had no idea what this had to do with Psychology.
Word Recognition
Task: Stare at the pulsing +. Then, a word appeared to either the left or the right, and the goal was to remember the word and write it down.
1. Tower- .09 seconds
2. Booth- incorrect
3. Aisle- .09 seconds
4. Debit- .09
5. I blinked. Whoops.
6. Waltz- .09 seconds
7. Mulch- .09 seconds
8. Bulge- Wrong
...etc, etc, etc...
I tried bulge like 5 times, until i realized it was Bugle at .16 seconds.
This could have been a test of my ability to retain information. Or some sort of eye test.
Mike the Amnesia Man
Main Ideas:
Mike suffers from Amnesia, resulting from a car crash in his Junior year of high school. Before his accident, he was an A-B student, was the president of his class, and was very involved in sports. During the accident he fractured his back, and 4 months after he went through a series of comas, seizures, and awake periods. Through rehabilitation, his cognitive functions returned to normal, but his memory never returned in full. He remembers everything prior to his coma, but nothing after.
Vocab:
Cerebral cortex: the furrowed outer layer of gray matter in the cerebrum of the brain, associated with the higher brain functions, as voluntary movement, coordination of sensory information, learning and memory, and the expression of individuality
Long term potentiation (LTP): is the long-lasting improvement in communication between two neurons that results from stimulating them simultaneously.[1] Since neurons communicate via chemical synapses, and because memories are believed to be stored within these synapses,[2] LTP and its opposing process, long-term depression, are widely considered the major cellular mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hippocampus: a complex neural structure (shaped like a sea horse) consisting of grey matter and located on the floor of each lateral ventricle; intimately involved in motivation and emotion as part of the limbic system; has a central role in the formation of memories
Temporal lobe: The lower lateral lobe of either cerebral hemisphere, located in front of the occipital lobe and containing the sensory center of hearing in the brain.
Mike suffers from Amnesia, resulting from a car crash in his Junior year of high school. Before his accident, he was an A-B student, was the president of his class, and was very involved in sports. During the accident he fractured his back, and 4 months after he went through a series of comas, seizures, and awake periods. Through rehabilitation, his cognitive functions returned to normal, but his memory never returned in full. He remembers everything prior to his coma, but nothing after.
Vocab:
Cerebral cortex: the furrowed outer layer of gray matter in the cerebrum of the brain, associated with the higher brain functions, as voluntary movement, coordination of sensory information, learning and memory, and the expression of individuality
Long term potentiation (LTP): is the long-lasting improvement in communication between two neurons that results from stimulating them simultaneously.[1] Since neurons communicate via chemical synapses, and because memories are believed to be stored within these synapses,[2] LTP and its opposing process, long-term depression, are widely considered the major cellular mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hippocampus: a complex neural structure (shaped like a sea horse) consisting of grey matter and located on the floor of each lateral ventricle; intimately involved in motivation and emotion as part of the limbic system; has a central role in the formation of memories
Temporal lobe: The lower lateral lobe of either cerebral hemisphere, located in front of the occipital lobe and containing the sensory center of hearing in the brain.
Clive, Part 2
This was Part 2 to Clive's story. Equally as fascinating, and judging by the change in his wife's appearence, it must have took part a few years after the first one.
Main Ideas:
This video focused more on making Clive comfortable, acting on the fact that he gets extremely emotional in unfamiliar circumstances, as addressed in the first movie. When he is put into strange situations, there is more stress to his memory, causing more emotion. When he stays somewhere familiar, there is less demand on him to remember, and he stays calm. His wife Deborah is also more involved in this video.
I found it particularly interesting when she was asking him what month it was, and he guessed correctly, and then knew that next month was his birthday, and his brothers.
Vocab:
Neuropsychology: The branch of psychology that deals with the relationship between the nervous system, especially the brain, and cerebral or mental functions such as language, memory, and perception.
Cognitive: of or pertaining to the mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional and volitional processes.
Episodic memory: memory for episodes in your own life
Coronal: Of, relating to, or having the direction of the coronal suture or of the plane dividing the body into front and back portions.
Amygdala: a ganglion of the limbic system adjoining the temporal lobe of the brain and involved in emotions of fear and aggression.
Main Ideas:
This video focused more on making Clive comfortable, acting on the fact that he gets extremely emotional in unfamiliar circumstances, as addressed in the first movie. When he is put into strange situations, there is more stress to his memory, causing more emotion. When he stays somewhere familiar, there is less demand on him to remember, and he stays calm. His wife Deborah is also more involved in this video.
I found it particularly interesting when she was asking him what month it was, and he guessed correctly, and then knew that next month was his birthday, and his brothers.
Vocab:
Neuropsychology: The branch of psychology that deals with the relationship between the nervous system, especially the brain, and cerebral or mental functions such as language, memory, and perception.
Cognitive: of or pertaining to the mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional and volitional processes.
Episodic memory: memory for episodes in your own life
Coronal: Of, relating to, or having the direction of the coronal suture or of the plane dividing the body into front and back portions.
Amygdala: a ganglion of the limbic system adjoining the temporal lobe of the brain and involved in emotions of fear and aggression.
That Clive Guy, Part 1.
I was so fascinated by this guy's story. I can't even imagine not being able to remember something I had just experienced less than a minute before. That's crazy. And I absolutely LOVED how he remembered his feelings for his wife so strongly. He can barely remember who he is, and he can't remember his passion for music unless he's at a piano, but he instantly recognizes his wife.
But anyway, onto the assignment.
Main Ideas:
This video was a demonstration of how fundamental memory is to our daily lives. Clive had a full working memory all of his life, until he experienced an everyday headache. And everything went downhill from there. He weaves in and out of his life, and only remembers moments. No past, just moments. He's constantly checking his watch and recording what is happening, because he knows he'll forget. His condition also causes him to repeat everything he says, and become extremely emotional when he can't remember what he was doing or talking about, or where he is.
Vocab:
Temporal lobe: The lobe of each cerebral hemisphere lying to the side and rear of the frontal lobe. The temporal lobe controls hearing and some aspects of language perception, emotion, and memory.
Hippocampus: a complex neural structure (shaped like a sea horse) consisting of grey matter and located on the floor of each lateral ventricle; intimately involved in motivation and emotion as part of the limbic system; has a central role in the formation of memories
Memory: the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, etc., or of recalling or recognizing previous experiences.
But anyway, onto the assignment.
Main Ideas:
This video was a demonstration of how fundamental memory is to our daily lives. Clive had a full working memory all of his life, until he experienced an everyday headache. And everything went downhill from there. He weaves in and out of his life, and only remembers moments. No past, just moments. He's constantly checking his watch and recording what is happening, because he knows he'll forget. His condition also causes him to repeat everything he says, and become extremely emotional when he can't remember what he was doing or talking about, or where he is.
Vocab:
Temporal lobe: The lobe of each cerebral hemisphere lying to the side and rear of the frontal lobe. The temporal lobe controls hearing and some aspects of language perception, emotion, and memory.
Hippocampus: a complex neural structure (shaped like a sea horse) consisting of grey matter and located on the floor of each lateral ventricle; intimately involved in motivation and emotion as part of the limbic system; has a central role in the formation of memories
Memory: the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, etc., or of recalling or recognizing previous experiences.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Number One
Hello!
I'm Kelsey.
I don't really know what to say about myself.
I'm the oldest of three girls. My youngest sister is in 8th grade, I kind of can't stand her, but I hope as I get older she won't be as annoying. My other one is in 10th grade, and she has special needs. I love her more than anything. My parents hold me on a pretty tight rope, they like to pretend. But they really do trust me and my decisions, and there isn't any reason they shouldn't.
I'm one of those weird kids that gets bored with summer and can't wait to go back to school. I'm in mostly advanced classes, except for math, and my teachers are my greatest role models.
I never want to really leave high school, so I hope to come back as an art teacher.
I also can't be happy unless i'm stressed, because i'm weird. I do way too many things at once, including Speech and Debate, the Morning Show, voice lessons, and every school play that has occurred since I started high school. I've been in 10 so far, am currently involved in my 11th, and hope to have done 13 before I leave.
And thats basically it.
I'm Kelsey.
I don't really know what to say about myself.
I'm the oldest of three girls. My youngest sister is in 8th grade, I kind of can't stand her, but I hope as I get older she won't be as annoying. My other one is in 10th grade, and she has special needs. I love her more than anything. My parents hold me on a pretty tight rope, they like to pretend. But they really do trust me and my decisions, and there isn't any reason they shouldn't.
I'm one of those weird kids that gets bored with summer and can't wait to go back to school. I'm in mostly advanced classes, except for math, and my teachers are my greatest role models.
I never want to really leave high school, so I hope to come back as an art teacher.
I also can't be happy unless i'm stressed, because i'm weird. I do way too many things at once, including Speech and Debate, the Morning Show, voice lessons, and every school play that has occurred since I started high school. I've been in 10 so far, am currently involved in my 11th, and hope to have done 13 before I leave.
And thats basically it.
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