tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43520482400135034902024-03-05T18:43:22.702-05:00The Body BlogExploring the body through science and culture.Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-9223685492935281552015-07-31T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T08:26:32.987-05:00Soul Searching...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBedxh233sNHxUi7Ld3jLYgpWj7Y05lt0i-Ra-TKnCLw1Wg5Dalf4qneIOyntfeqU3zA3W3dtgacAm1p_RMEpxDFJQDGgtWvWenKRdCax6X_bfm5DBprpqbslaCnopK_yPMNYp4u6mdI/s1600/soul-rise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBedxh233sNHxUi7Ld3jLYgpWj7Y05lt0i-Ra-TKnCLw1Wg5Dalf4qneIOyntfeqU3zA3W3dtgacAm1p_RMEpxDFJQDGgtWvWenKRdCax6X_bfm5DBprpqbslaCnopK_yPMNYp4u6mdI/s320/soul-rise.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">In the two years since I’ve been writing this blog, we’ve explored just about every aspect of our
anatomy, from the beautiful intricacies of its form and function to the bizarre
ways we modify and even mutilate our bodies. So as this writing endeavor draws to a close and I focus on other projects, I thought I'd end by discussing</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> an aspect of the body that has eluded scientists
and philosophers for centuries – the quest for the human soul.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PErzThL1JAD9qZgbeBedUYBSuJDEDBvsZdMMflssJmU_zurfzQ6pi6M0qYte0aEVgWniXqGxDHBjviGML10azOTOFhchi_n2uJ8feF57E7S4MO7K8jROzZeBvbmWYlav6Quy8M1xJ3w/s1600/soul+egyptian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PErzThL1JAD9qZgbeBedUYBSuJDEDBvsZdMMflssJmU_zurfzQ6pi6M0qYte0aEVgWniXqGxDHBjviGML10azOTOFhchi_n2uJ8feF57E7S4MO7K8jROzZeBvbmWYlav6Quy8M1xJ3w/s320/soul+egyptian.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Throughout
history, the soul has been part of our search for understanding how the human
body works. Ancient terms to describe the soul – from Latin’s <i>anima</i> to the Greek <i>psyche</i> – usually refer to the vital forces within the body, be they
motion, movement, or breath. And since the presence of the soul was believed to separate the
living from the dead, it seemed only logical that it should
reside somewhere in the body. All we had to do was find it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Some of the
earliest references to the soul go back over five thousand years to the Egyptians, who
believed the soul was composed of five parts, the most important of which
resided within the heart. The heart was believed to be the animating life force,
the source of our feelings, thoughts, and will. In fact, the weight of the
heart at death determined the soul’s destiny. If the heart was considered too
heavy, it would be consumed by a demon, subsequently ending one’s bid for the
afterlife. This cardiocentric view of the soul persisted throughout much of
history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnQlrdsVljOToGbqDhXOzJ6uJI35tQ3TjJLK04xbWkaYvnc6G1FfgA0YVZNQFefk2_NeEmWx6xW7VJA9s1607liUbaVyvjmv0VVEV7lnMpGtX3Jhos3CG3TfcZ3kyln0500B1bsIqczY/s1600/soul+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnQlrdsVljOToGbqDhXOzJ6uJI35tQ3TjJLK04xbWkaYvnc6G1FfgA0YVZNQFefk2_NeEmWx6xW7VJA9s1607liUbaVyvjmv0VVEV7lnMpGtX3Jhos3CG3TfcZ3kyln0500B1bsIqczY/s320/soul+painting.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Fast forward a few
thousand years to the Greek poet Homer, who claimed there were two types of souls.
The first, which resided somewhere in the chest, controlled our emotions,
everything from joy to reason to rage. The second type of soul was tied to a
person’s individual identity and appeared only in dreams. It had no specific
location within the body, but served as the animating life force. Homer
believed it was this aspect of the soul that fled the body at the time of
death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The foundations of
Western philosophy, forged by the likes of Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato, also contemplated the riddles of the soul. Plato considered the soul to be of
celestial origin, the immortal essence of a person that was divided into three
parts. The rational aspect, which controlled reason, was of primary
importance and thus located within the brain. The spirited aspect, responsible for
courage, resided in the chest, and the appetitive portion, which governed love
(of food, drink, and “loving delights”) was located in the abdomen. The goal
of life was to achieve a balance within the soul, especially regarding spirits
and appetites; a human struggle that continues to this day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw56Dk_k8iPRxGg9MlMq3Afu22N1vm63AMpL76I5Byo6SmiVV1VlFHKOfdAqzeHB9yZfce3Zq1oIUZz8LkspLvwgYGZIOsZuOX02Z8UD69Lfchpe6Jao2reUFaXriEt59yQM6LZWHyWvY/s1600/soul+eye+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw56Dk_k8iPRxGg9MlMq3Afu22N1vm63AMpL76I5Byo6SmiVV1VlFHKOfdAqzeHB9yZfce3Zq1oIUZz8LkspLvwgYGZIOsZuOX02Z8UD69Lfchpe6Jao2reUFaXriEt59yQM6LZWHyWvY/s320/soul+eye+crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Plato’s student,
Aristotle, stoked his own ideas about the soul. He agreed the soul formed the
essence of an individual but, unlike Plato, Aristotle believed the soul could
not be separated from the body. So much for its immortality… He too divided the
soul into three parts but, in his view, the soul controlled bodily functions
and was therefore defined as such: the vegetative function (nourishment and
reproduction); the sensitive function (sensation and movement); and the
intellectual function (cognition and deliberation). Aristotle also believed
that all animals possessed a soul, although the intellectual functions were
confined to humans. And like the Egyptians of long ago, Aristotle believed
the heart served as keeper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp7vccMx8tR921tXzjFPoI4k9rH5jGtjIu-ytEXnwWFpab8Mwk0RE4hws0SvBSz2I5QFTaQ54OH9lFoY38u58rpYfjIz0qKWe_8nJvxUCn1GkkkVxt0LuSkN9ND_u3Y0t8tibnvM2HMQ/s1600/soul+fetus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp7vccMx8tR921tXzjFPoI4k9rH5jGtjIu-ytEXnwWFpab8Mwk0RE4hws0SvBSz2I5QFTaQ54OH9lFoY38u58rpYfjIz0qKWe_8nJvxUCn1GkkkVxt0LuSkN9ND_u3Y0t8tibnvM2HMQ/s320/soul+fetus.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Early Christians
took a broader view. The soul not only gave form to the body, but could be
found in every aspect of our anatomy. It was believed the soul entered the body
only after the fetus was fully formed. “Delayed ensoulment” coincided with the
“quickening,” thus once the mother felt the baby move, the soul was
considered to have arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Around the seventh
century AD, as the Dark Ages blanketed humanity, the belief in delayed
ensoulment persisted. The Roman Catholic Church decreed abortion acceptable as
long as it was carried out before the soul arrived, and this was upheld well
into the 19<sup>th</sup> century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">With the blossoming of the Renaissance in the 1300s, Leonardo da Vinci incorporated the search for
the soul in his anatomical studies, declaring the middle ventricle of the brain
as the most logical spot. René Descartes took up the banner a few hundred years
later, agreeing with Leo on the general location of the brain, but claiming the
pineal gland was a more likely location. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOWm4ogRpEoT5bMsK4i1s-hnTk8FjP40RLdauo-50RpcuqWFX6FIZkzC5mvvLaAwWZWBWy0II12A29s8mIAXyTpZ7BfLQVZFvH_bVofvVYVIvL1-66qsrR_odIFyqAykALHGl1wHDEag/s1600/soul+brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOWm4ogRpEoT5bMsK4i1s-hnTk8FjP40RLdauo-50RpcuqWFX6FIZkzC5mvvLaAwWZWBWy0II12A29s8mIAXyTpZ7BfLQVZFvH_bVofvVYVIvL1-66qsrR_odIFyqAykALHGl1wHDEag/s320/soul+brain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As scientists
learned more about the inner workings of the brain, belief in a craniocentric soul persisted, well into the 20<sup>th</sup> century. It seemed only natural
that the seat of consciousness should also house the soul. But as science advanced
and our understanding of the human body crystalized, the soul as animating life
force slowly fell away. The mystical realms of life could now be understood in
terms of biochemistry, neurology, and genetics, and issues of the soul were
gradually relinquished to the theologians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRirxJmJaI2WGE6-tICSBGrSR-VUnA6IHMzID8AL5y25rJpyU2QseNj7oPRNngKZ3vNAd4qmWRkCAnR9ZsGhjHmdNosvFxlbe5z8VFJQVD6OnHBbazMJf2zGhOohjqgmTyQy3g2Fb8E-A/s1600/soul+skull+in+jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRirxJmJaI2WGE6-tICSBGrSR-VUnA6IHMzID8AL5y25rJpyU2QseNj7oPRNngKZ3vNAd4qmWRkCAnR9ZsGhjHmdNosvFxlbe5z8VFJQVD6OnHBbazMJf2zGhOohjqgmTyQy3g2Fb8E-A/s320/soul+skull+in+jar.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">If you ask me if we possess a soul, I'd have to say I don’t know. The scientist in me embraces the tangible explanations for
what constitutes a living body and I’m far more comfortable discussing cellular
respiration than arguing the validity of delayed ensoulment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But that in no way
diminishes my fascination with life or the wonder I feel when I contemplate the
intricacies of our anatomy. Regardless of our beliefs, we can all agree the human body is a truly astounding machine, one that not only sustains us but
enables us to experience our world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As for the ghost
in the machine... I’ll leave that to the theologians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Thank you so much
for reading.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Rachel</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1vHnErFTogRqtdHelaXXkZQTfsnrHKa8WKfhKcwRXODfQ4DZB2cXcn-o5dD7bmURVbWZ0uqB6_f93iRHm7P5UyD31FZ0HQxXX_yR73tddf2c5Af_7YATZaASm6xN-c4wfZA1lIKUQm0/s1600/soul+handds.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1vHnErFTogRqtdHelaXXkZQTfsnrHKa8WKfhKcwRXODfQ4DZB2cXcn-o5dD7bmURVbWZ0uqB6_f93iRHm7P5UyD31FZ0HQxXX_yR73tddf2c5Af_7YATZaASm6xN-c4wfZA1lIKUQm0/s1600/soul+handds.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-57630621919651390872015-07-24T06:00:00.000-04:002019-06-17T15:31:03.396-04:00The Fear Factor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ9sYrEEWX_1BQqstbPGIoloJE5f3THDcFY5BajDqxwXRtptO2ZDP1JjLt44iOgWtQYxN9gMvJo1-uNEpIjWQ4TygI2HKdZpUAMjDHHhfKxB8FEnxJs3W7EdQzfT3J1M6Ow-cRuvLY2M/s1600/fear+factor+main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ9sYrEEWX_1BQqstbPGIoloJE5f3THDcFY5BajDqxwXRtptO2ZDP1JjLt44iOgWtQYxN9gMvJo1-uNEpIjWQ4TygI2HKdZpUAMjDHHhfKxB8FEnxJs3W7EdQzfT3J1M6Ow-cRuvLY2M/s400/fear+factor+main.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you had to list the things that scare you the most, what would
your list include? Human fears run the gamutt, from the insignificant (spiders
and heights) to those that haunt us in the wee hours of the night (loss of a
loved one, inevitable death). Fear, like other emotions, is a visceral aspect
of humanity. But it goes even deeper than that, for fear transcends the
boundaries of humanness. It’s part of our evolutionary heritage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UVTTNk1XywDVhiJdCB9Zx8DF6q2d-HGpSsWFkGWEhrqa9uGBc4LqsfokPcbDAaF0JkB3M5kH7CK4ILrkyxSJoC5sesX7p-hz6-5aw5Dw4QcxL40rWxo5VQGZ_D6YbYASP067AcPks9k/s1600/fear+factor+chimp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UVTTNk1XywDVhiJdCB9Zx8DF6q2d-HGpSsWFkGWEhrqa9uGBc4LqsfokPcbDAaF0JkB3M5kH7CK4ILrkyxSJoC5sesX7p-hz6-5aw5Dw4QcxL40rWxo5VQGZ_D6YbYASP067AcPks9k/s320/fear+factor+chimp.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Want to scare a chimp? Place a plastic snake next to an unsuspecting
primate (humans included) and you’ll probably witness pure, unadulterated fear.
That’s because the fear of snakes appears to be <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/10/29/241370496/eeek-snake-your-brain-has-a-special-corner-just-for-them" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">hardwired</span></a> into many primate
brains; a deep-seated phobia that may have evolved to keep us safe. Since many
snakes possess the ability to kill, it seems only logical that animals that avoid
a close encounter might have an evolutionary edge over the less cautious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But where does fear reside? And what actually happens when we
are scared? Like any emotion, it all begins in the brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many parts of the brain are activated during the fear
<a href="http://discovermagazine.com/2003/mar/cover" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">response</span></a>. And the majority of them are located deep within; a testament to
their ancient origins. Yes, our fancy cortex also plays a role in fear, but the
rest of the hardware we share with other animals, since critters lacking fear
would stand little chance of surviving in our dangerous world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s a quick glimpse at the brainy bits responsible for <a href="http://psycheducation.org/brain-tours/fear/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">processing</span></a>
fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQx60jaXR422tgb1Z7f5h5cXFikktrUdQYCBj8zx4eCLGc3LNk9ESMfw3HTQoxYYlPSaFnmaIwXrTnbtqN1kqHKmZaky65cSUYfjxYw8MJnJmbSjIthUENvtECXVIUdZsOSnxVPbRc3U/s1600/fear+factor+brain+diagram.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQx60jaXR422tgb1Z7f5h5cXFikktrUdQYCBj8zx4eCLGc3LNk9ESMfw3HTQoxYYlPSaFnmaIwXrTnbtqN1kqHKmZaky65cSUYfjxYw8MJnJmbSjIthUENvtECXVIUdZsOSnxVPbRc3U/s1600/fear+factor+brain+diagram.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our sensory cortexes interpret what we see, hear, smell, and
feel. The information is whisked to the thalamus, which decides where to
shuttle the data, and the hippocampus then places the data in context. The
amygdala decodes the data and determines if a threat exists. And if the threat
is real, the hypothalamus activates the <a href="http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/12/04/whats-the-purpose-of-the-fight-or-flight-response/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">fight or flight</span></a> response, which kicks
the body into high gear to respond to the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course, these reactions happen with lightning speed and, in
many cases, the body simply responds as if threatened, even if the threat turns
out to be benign. It’s better to gear up than to sit back and contemplate. A
momentary hesitation could spell death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf7ZijKXREWMV0UNjl13xmkuImmMvi6EF_29-mItdleWBZzYo7qlMORQINFjz7bBRIu1hl0DMiTquMzMNIMJ8ra8UvyuS4l0FdK4hqKsSW1rQtQnS33t2LH50ovhBrK5jeaJb9LTwzus/s1600/fear+factor+man+and+bear.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf7ZijKXREWMV0UNjl13xmkuImmMvi6EF_29-mItdleWBZzYo7qlMORQINFjz7bBRIu1hl0DMiTquMzMNIMJ8ra8UvyuS4l0FdK4hqKsSW1rQtQnS33t2LH50ovhBrK5jeaJb9LTwzus/s320/fear+factor+man+and+bear.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The hypothalamus activates two separate systems when it
launches the “fight or flight” <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/fear2.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">response</span></a>. The sympathetic nervous system
activates stress hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are dumped into
the bloodstream. As they circulate, they increase heart rate and blood
pressure, which explains the thumping in your chest that accompanies a scary
jolt. At the same time, the pituitary gland gets involved by secreting
a hormonal cascade that primes the body for action. Pupils dilate (to improve
visual acuity), blood vessels in the skin constrict (to shunt blood to the
major muscles), and muscles tense for action (which explains the goose bumps).
While the essential functions are enhanced, nonessentials, such as digestion
and immunity are sidelined. That way, the body can focus on the immediate
threat and conserve energy in the process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmt5fqGI1ISf6XVszTGM_tDOqQw5o5NFhM-_dyNDDvR1OhwVbYjEubMD91y4T7F06S-LtRSXalnURLihtnTwi3EkZB619rJ_HWXKrnTEklf1Oyo6XlNI65IgDU5lbx-e8Ro2Y3m_0Amo/s1600/fearfactor+dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmt5fqGI1ISf6XVszTGM_tDOqQw5o5NFhM-_dyNDDvR1OhwVbYjEubMD91y4T7F06S-LtRSXalnURLihtnTwi3EkZB619rJ_HWXKrnTEklf1Oyo6XlNI65IgDU5lbx-e8Ro2Y3m_0Amo/s320/fearfactor+dogs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But if fear evolved to improve survival, why is it so many of
us love a good scare? I admit, I’m an adrenaline junkie, much of which I blame
on the years I spent as a firefighter. Once you’ve rushed headlong into a
burning building, daily life can seem a bit monotonous, which probably explains
my love of rollercoasters, skydiving, and scary movies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But the reason many of us love a good scare is because the fight-or-flight response involves many <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.neurogistics.com/TheScience/WhatareNeurotransmi09CE.asp" style="color: red;" target="_blank">neurotransmitters</a>, </span>namely endorphins,
dopamine, and serotonin, that are also responsible for a rush of pleasure (think orgasms). That is why a momentary scare is followed by a blissful blast
of relief. Once our brain realizes the fear isn’t real, our body can simply
enjoy the rush, which is why screaming is often trailed by nervous giggles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGws-w6i4n01dSK1UkjI13NLFDOjNeqko6ptMExm6d7PvxmF701ZRnBAVTUa9HM9mvPS8ZyjdeEmf46GNXfrr_aaPFRuk1VHxmWb5ZKJYBdZn_LZKYg6YRz_KA7-zVo6ZIHQFXnVHIiVg/s1600/fear+factor+cartoon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGws-w6i4n01dSK1UkjI13NLFDOjNeqko6ptMExm6d7PvxmF701ZRnBAVTUa9HM9mvPS8ZyjdeEmf46GNXfrr_aaPFRuk1VHxmWb5ZKJYBdZn_LZKYg6YRz_KA7-zVo6ZIHQFXnVHIiVg/s320/fear+factor+cartoon.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But humans can do something no other animals can: they can conjure
fear. Our sophisticated brains enable us to do some amazing things. But they
also come at a price, for although we are gifted with imagination, much of our
imagining can evoke fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fear of the future, fear of loss, fear for the ones we love…
there are a million ways we torment ourselves by conjuring fear. But it is
worth noting that, however much we languish in fear, it has little effect on
outcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So keep your fear in <a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">check</span></a><span id="goog_357738686"></span><span id="goog_357738687"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> and save it for life’s true
emergencies. The next one could be right around the corner…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ4cjeI4heCkW76tYipjotmWrndq2osTiFJewGLOU3rdus7XAw5QEUlE9Q2xjbPrH31NsU1f-ADwPprDGdyyxt4sWwTjlEPBA0RoxexlfraDsJi8Nl7EhoVvdg0P_ibDTK5ri18F5my8/s1600/fear+factor+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ4cjeI4heCkW76tYipjotmWrndq2osTiFJewGLOU3rdus7XAw5QEUlE9Q2xjbPrH31NsU1f-ADwPprDGdyyxt4sWwTjlEPBA0RoxexlfraDsJi8Nl7EhoVvdg0P_ibDTK5ri18F5my8/s320/fear+factor+quote.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-28589651302116302372015-07-17T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T08:44:10.285-05:00Playing Defense<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDpSuiIPWDAmk96yvealyD_VrbB3mEXcyalknpyE-B6CSE5DVqMnw2VOFG-jMTEfa7C4CLq0tt1GG_zANkHzkpq_TYAFgp6s4hN-LaHHTv5_zq0X5oFPb98W9qMNkQBVFrx9g10kybWc/s1600/football-hunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDpSuiIPWDAmk96yvealyD_VrbB3mEXcyalknpyE-B6CSE5DVqMnw2VOFG-jMTEfa7C4CLq0tt1GG_zANkHzkpq_TYAFgp6s4hN-LaHHTv5_zq0X5oFPb98W9qMNkQBVFrx9g10kybWc/s400/football-hunk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Last
week, my body came under attack. In an ironic twist following last week’s post
on contagious pathogens, I picked up a nasty bug that for the past seven days has
wreaked havoc on my immune system. Fortunately, whatever I caught was confined
to my northern regions – primarily my throat and chest – rendering me febrile,
voiceless, and with a bone-rattling cough that could give any tubercular a run
for his money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX81yavZ1rsPwkPFV2As8Jd__tFvCn3ZE8vDLYwGNts7GWBxkraorq5mzcpw-OBSkpxHflACyi5q-1Hb3mYJVMfW3PnViwpcpL1RivQod6sNBfx5ZwveIu__Daub4_zmaxrEqCRqpYQ4/s1600/defensive+ends+castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX81yavZ1rsPwkPFV2As8Jd__tFvCn3ZE8vDLYwGNts7GWBxkraorq5mzcpw-OBSkpxHflACyi5q-1Hb3mYJVMfW3PnViwpcpL1RivQod6sNBfx5ZwveIu__Daub4_zmaxrEqCRqpYQ4/s320/defensive+ends+castle.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I’m
happy to report that I am now on the mend, but it got me thinking about the
immune system and the vital<span style="color: red;"> <a href="http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/immune-disorders/biology-of-the-immune-system/overview-of-the-immune-system" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">role</span></a> </span>it plays in keeping us safe. Naturally, I
thought I would elucidate its magical machinations, but I found myself
resorting to boring military metaphors traditionally employed for such
discussions. The trusty lymphocytes that serve as armed forces, always on high
alert and ready to mobilize should a foreign invader appear on the horizon. Pathogens, those dangerous usurpers who are just waiting for the opportunity to bust
through our protected borders. Blah, blah, blah. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So
instead of the usual immunity song and dance, I thought we’d explore the more perceptible means of defense, for our bodies have evolved numerous nifty
ways to rid themselves of unwanted guests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYcoB7zOY86ej5p4bPoMTtkdyjcPg8XKSPTeb__8sRxcfA7F1WmAF6ETYZ68MC0ffxP0EIkz0VG3fUrZYHhBFS_gkNpbyQ10Jzp4YRiC5pYn_feuHDKnhqJPrfa_9vZ03OHonH9Vgku0/s1600/defensive+ends+man+and+pathogens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYcoB7zOY86ej5p4bPoMTtkdyjcPg8XKSPTeb__8sRxcfA7F1WmAF6ETYZ68MC0ffxP0EIkz0VG3fUrZYHhBFS_gkNpbyQ10Jzp4YRiC5pYn_feuHDKnhqJPrfa_9vZ03OHonH9Vgku0/s320/defensive+ends+man+and+pathogens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">First
and foremost is that largest of organs, the skin, which accounts for around sixteen percent of our body weight. Skin serves as a protective <a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/daily/tips/maintain-a-skin-barrier1.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">barrier</span></a> against our
pathogen-infested world and it does this not only through its layered
<a href="https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/for-kids/about-skin/the-layers-of-your-skin" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">arrangement</span></a>, but also by producing specialized peptides that annihilate
microbes and sound the alert when danger approaches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
there are two problems when it comes to skin’s defenses. First, skin tears. And
once it is torn – whether through an injury, an insect bite, or on purpose, through surgery, it allows entry to all sorts of dangerous organisms, from bacteria,
to viruses, to parasites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
second problem concerns topography: although our skin is one large organ, it
varies from surface to surface, and some of our most vulnerable surfaces are
those that house our mucous membranes. For example, the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8142/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">respiratory tract</span></a>. The
moist, gooey surfaces of our respiratory system provide the perfect portals for
pathogens. Each time we put a hand to our mouth, pick our nose, or simply take
a breath, we can usher in a suite of infectious organisms that would love to
plant their flag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC0WCqcW_R8V2zVSOvReTSmEZjIe4WQi1pWs6GYvLmy_cnk2dsGB822rFlWAMgqePEi9Wa56hP-oMritLS8Q4oZZ3NOdKvPfw0rH7vdlzgXF9n5kbI3hbxywvbdRxe7gyU9mGkAkOm5I/s1600/defensive+ends+sneezing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC0WCqcW_R8V2zVSOvReTSmEZjIe4WQi1pWs6GYvLmy_cnk2dsGB822rFlWAMgqePEi9Wa56hP-oMritLS8Q4oZZ3NOdKvPfw0rH7vdlzgXF9n5kbI3hbxywvbdRxe7gyU9mGkAkOm5I/s320/defensive+ends+sneezing.jpg" width="312" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Fortunately,
our respiratory tracts have devised a few clever ways of ridding themselves of
pesky pests, which explains why we cough, sneeze, dribble, and blow. Our lungs
also sport a thin layer of microbe-fighting proteins, which defend against
any bugs that manage to weather the snotty storm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
pathogens are crafty. Some, like influenza, actually attach themselves to our
bronchial membranes to prevent their quick expulsion. Others, such as measles
and whooping cough, render our cilia inoperable. Those small, hair-like
<a href="http://www.ciliopathyalliance.org/cilia/structure-and-function-of-cilia.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">projections</span> </a>are designed to usher pathogens up, up, and away from our lungs, and
when they are knocked off-line, bugs can simply run rampant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP4XkqfYqjyhp-205fLb9221ubAPKTtuvIRkfDkBAQELe84N_MHkfMOaJlkTsjzJ86kY03zdWDm_BCHH3o0a_qvh6QGh8fUD5zKUdyf4iJ3YmL3BkabNBqQZR2OqbsJ3p-rukrW0jmtA/s1600/defensive+ends+vomiting+cartoon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP4XkqfYqjyhp-205fLb9221ubAPKTtuvIRkfDkBAQELe84N_MHkfMOaJlkTsjzJ86kY03zdWDm_BCHH3o0a_qvh6QGh8fUD5zKUdyf4iJ3YmL3BkabNBqQZR2OqbsJ3p-rukrW0jmtA/s320/defensive+ends+vomiting+cartoon.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
respiratory tract is but one of many portals for pathogens. Our stomachs are
prime targets for many food- and waterborne bugs, which cause a wide range of
misery, illness, and death. Luckily, our stomachs make for fairly acidic
accommodations, with an average pH of about 2 (which you science nerds will
recognize as pretty darn acidic). And just like our respiratory tracts, our
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7670/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">gastrointestinal</span></a> plumbing has devised a couple of rapid evacuation methods, namely
vomiting and diarrhea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And
speaking of acidic body parts, let’s not forget the vagina. This <a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/womens-health-pictures/hygiene-rules-for-a-healthy-vagina.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">acidy</span></a> little
tube sports a pH of around 4, which is ideal for warding off bacterial and
fungal invaders - not to mention sperm, which explains their desperate
swimming. Not so, our urethras, which is why urinary tract infections are so
common. Especially in women, for not only do our urethras lack defenses, but they
are positioned dangerously close to the anus, which as we all know is a virtual
playground for pathogens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_WH-IzpLaQfaTm0g4ANlhasLTbzqqBWl9LPK7INYHymqS35R0klt1tLRAEanxOvrk4R4w2xA-gD-cNoomYGPXCdU3tWqnnRLe1umCTPn_l1xM-GUcjj79t_HOX9kazVOd9x9GvJR7jw/s1600/defensive+ends+safe+sex.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_WH-IzpLaQfaTm0g4ANlhasLTbzqqBWl9LPK7INYHymqS35R0klt1tLRAEanxOvrk4R4w2xA-gD-cNoomYGPXCdU3tWqnnRLe1umCTPn_l1xM-GUcjj79t_HOX9kazVOd9x9GvJR7jw/s1600/defensive+ends+safe+sex.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And
speaking of that other southerly portal… The <a href="http://www.healthcommunities.com/anal-health/index.shtml" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">anus</span></a>, like the urethra, is also ill-equipped
to ward off infection. And what makes it even more dangerous is that, unlike
the vagina, the anus lacks any natural lubrication. So if you’re going to use it for
recreational purposes, do yourself a favor and lube up. It will prevent tissue
tears, which are great access points for infection. And don’t forget the
condom!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So the
next time you find yourself sneezing, coughing, vomiting, or worse, take a
moment to appreciate the fundamental necessity of such functions and know that
as miserable as these symptoms are, they serve a vital role in the fight
against pathogens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>Related Posts</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/fecal-foes_24.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Fecal Foes</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/from-oral-to-anal-gastrointestinal.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">From Oral to Anal: A Gastrointestinal Journey</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-unseen.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Unseen</span></a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
A deep read on the subject:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngdlHvLFgDmHC0GVShwGiyAm2QYSsdesnPWGsoTSFUVnwASj4lJk-w7zcL05s_I367mxYyft2iUi7zbAIKs0dhxQOxDzz0gyGzi-W5YN7jcMTEjHQbAtG64w6nq-5GDR5y35ii25V2-w/s1600/defensive+ends+pathogens+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngdlHvLFgDmHC0GVShwGiyAm2QYSsdesnPWGsoTSFUVnwASj4lJk-w7zcL05s_I367mxYyft2iUi7zbAIKs0dhxQOxDzz0gyGzi-W5YN7jcMTEjHQbAtG64w6nq-5GDR5y35ii25V2-w/s320/defensive+ends+pathogens+book.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-16713196441235335192015-07-10T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T08:50:58.535-05:00Fire Down Below<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrHv7-p3V6HtrfRs4qkFjuxMvIxqy8DbkKqXo4jHssPTSSzBBhwf3Eqb4E_THTC4CxhM_Th0GqtsbvRmHeIfnCzL33h3LjwHX50k9lVE7BPBY5w2NE6ZcRHTGJfphB4Z8KOrPOoxPdHs/s1600/fire+down+below+syphilis.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrHv7-p3V6HtrfRs4qkFjuxMvIxqy8DbkKqXo4jHssPTSSzBBhwf3Eqb4E_THTC4CxhM_Th0GqtsbvRmHeIfnCzL33h3LjwHX50k9lVE7BPBY5w2NE6ZcRHTGJfphB4Z8KOrPOoxPdHs/s320/fire+down+below+syphilis.jpeg" width="257" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Last
week, we took a brief glimpse at the long and convoluted history of
prostitution, so I thought it only natural to follow up with an infectious postscript. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVppzOAvxyQ-IsHBbtlIGszED-Vjs1P78QU5jBXvsiF86SQsplGGq4TzLntu5tBNHJ6xcruCvzOXhVtDU13PAnWkbFV0DhXsKr5IZ5Sw1xyXKhDe70pOacKpaDCOwpyao_borG_FjvUrU/s1600/fire+down+below+couple.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVppzOAvxyQ-IsHBbtlIGszED-Vjs1P78QU5jBXvsiF86SQsplGGq4TzLntu5tBNHJ6xcruCvzOXhVtDU13PAnWkbFV0DhXsKr5IZ5Sw1xyXKhDe70pOacKpaDCOwpyao_borG_FjvUrU/s320/fire+down+below+couple.jpeg" width="291" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">For as
long as humans have been exchanging bodily fluids, pathogens have been part of
the mix. And when it comes to bumping genitals, there are a whole slew of
contagions getting in on the action. Because a comprehensive overview is beyond
the scope of this blog (not to mention my short attention span), we’ll stick to
the highlights while we explore the dark and daunting world of STDs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">First,
let’s clarify the terminology. You may have noticed that the term STD has lately
been supplanted by STI. What differentiates a sexually transmitted <i>disease</i> from a sexually transmitted <i>infection</i> is the presence of symptoms.
However, since some STDs aren't accompanied by symptoms, it’s really splitting hairs. So
for the sake of today’s post, we’ll stick to the tried and true acronym, STD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Sexually
transmitted diseases most likely evolved along with humans and historians have
been chronicling their presence all the way back to the Bible. The Old
Testament refers to “the running issue,” referencing the “clothing needing
washing as did the man himself,” most likely referring to gonorrhea, which
causes that telltale discharge from the penis. And it wasn’t until the Middle
Ages (around AD 1200) that the disease was finally linked to sex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRkEWZzdBFF9y5lE2cBJ5N-PyZLQT212Mt7hRjE9kxTmO3lh9j8KI2YWHaVpe56CiZWOfIoCzTHtXn666kMYjoNnr0wLqT2ihcCjk1rCqKzOCWzxbzJgydEoqx4FKhvf3sVqYWnyXF80/s1600/fire+down+below+germs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRkEWZzdBFF9y5lE2cBJ5N-PyZLQT212Mt7hRjE9kxTmO3lh9j8KI2YWHaVpe56CiZWOfIoCzTHtXn666kMYjoNnr0wLqT2ihcCjk1rCqKzOCWzxbzJgydEoqx4FKhvf3sVqYWnyXF80/s320/fire+down+below+germs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
gonorrhea is only one of <a href="http://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">many</span></a> STDs plaguing humans, for the list of potential
pathogens is long and varied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">STDs
come in three basic <a href="http://www.pamf.org/teen/sex/std/std/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">varieties</span></a>: bacterial (gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia,
to name a few); viral (Hepatitis B and C, Herpes, HPV, and HIV); and parasites
(such as trichomonas, a pesky protozoan that thrives within urethras and
vaginas). And it’s the type of pathogen that determines the treatment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Since
the advent of antibiotics, the bacterial bugs can usually be wiped out with a
simple prescription, as can trichomonas. Unfortunately, the viral pests are not
so simple. Once a person is infected, herpes and HIV are here to stay, and one can only
mitigate the symptoms. Hepatitis, however, forms a mixed bag. With Hepatitis B, most people can be cured, although a minority will become carriers for life. Hep
C holds a more dismal future, as a majority will suffer long-term infection
with chronic liver disease on the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLvfNP0nRzdClml4kCGaoXECfcbVFocV5Vz8og3L_5uBzLsvonLUIM1vEN0m9xxUhdPeTdPVgXCIrHscLP-uPFCSmcn8PkX-NBFoI-EiOON1i1fzbYdVI8I7T_M3XEDuxvBUiWjn3Mco/s1600/fire+down+below+PestDoktorPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLvfNP0nRzdClml4kCGaoXECfcbVFocV5Vz8og3L_5uBzLsvonLUIM1vEN0m9xxUhdPeTdPVgXCIrHscLP-uPFCSmcn8PkX-NBFoI-EiOON1i1fzbYdVI8I7T_M3XEDuxvBUiWjn3Mco/s320/fire+down+below+PestDoktorPic.jpg" width="271" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But try
to imagine what these maladies must have been like before the advent of modern
medicine. So to keep things in perspective, let’s peruse some of the ancient
treatments that were once believed to cure the “fire down below.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
ancient Greeks were some of the first to record the treatment of venereal
disease. In fact, the term “herpes” originates from the Greek, meaning “to
creep or crawl.” And how did they attack the creepy-crawlers? By burning off
the lesions using hot irons. Despite their torturous treatments, they get kudos
for instituting public policies aimed at reducing the spread of herpes,
although their “no public kissing” rules probably did little to curb the virus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">By 1746,
London’s Lock Hospital was the first to establish public treatment programs for
the infected. And the 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> centuries saw the
use of mercury, arsenic and sulphur as the primary remedies, although these
dangerous regimes caused serious side effects, even death. Despite the danger,
arsenic, in the form of salvarsan, was used to treat syphilis well into the 20<sup>th</sup>
century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEcjyT7hd-5Bg94lEWcNr0IPxhlZ-K6-oc7MIbet-FGp9GIwn3makbtRlUpmZfAVF0gzr3ZoUt33uSMaY1AZot7ZI2pqAoZ0TQOjW4v0zmBDrn-Usm_0gvQpOrYcnW8-acoFbuKQkuCE/s1600/fire+down+below+postcard.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEcjyT7hd-5Bg94lEWcNr0IPxhlZ-K6-oc7MIbet-FGp9GIwn3makbtRlUpmZfAVF0gzr3ZoUt33uSMaY1AZot7ZI2pqAoZ0TQOjW4v0zmBDrn-Usm_0gvQpOrYcnW8-acoFbuKQkuCE/s320/fire+down+below+postcard.jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And as
scary as these diseases can be, what scares people even more is the <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-new-teen-age/201007/stds-are-normal" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">social stigma</span> </a>attached to them. However, for those of you harboring an STD, take
heart. You are hardly alone in your affliction. Here are a few statistics to
bring it all home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">According
to the </span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">CDC</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">, there are over three hundred million new cases of STDs in the world each
year. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is now the fastest growing STD and nearly all sexually active folks will contract it at some point in
life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEjIC2pVp8Pe62R8UQp2b-0-zeO3D1VIvv934IOQ16YB7U8GbNQhDkPscGMUcpzkVeSoRQzcANFav0Z5MVCgyIsXkqiygNcoJp6GzGNuPF56X6VAPnL8_hjRqQbSyFGZ01wDGR5u2QwU/s1600/fire+down+below+VenerealDiseases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEjIC2pVp8Pe62R8UQp2b-0-zeO3D1VIvv934IOQ16YB7U8GbNQhDkPscGMUcpzkVeSoRQzcANFav0Z5MVCgyIsXkqiygNcoJp6GzGNuPF56X6VAPnL8_hjRqQbSyFGZ01wDGR5u2QwU/s320/fire+down+below+VenerealDiseases.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">About
one in five Americans has genital herpes, yet about ninety percent of them don’t know they have it. And health officials warn that by 2025, up to forty percent of men and almost
half of all women could be infected with this permanent virus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And of
course, HIV is still rampant, still spreading, and still deadly. As the sun
sets in South Africa, another fifteen hundred new infections will have taken place today.
Yes, I said fifteen hundred <i>per day</i>. And that’s
the conservative end of the statistic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Let’s
face it, STDs are scary, and the emotional toll they incur can be as burdensome
as their symptoms. But pathogens, like us, are thriving members of the biome and
will forever be a part of life on our planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So stay
<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexuallytransmitteddiseases.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">informed</span></a>, stay healthy and, for god’s sake, use a condom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<i>Related Posts</i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-seeds-of-syphilis.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Seeds of Syphilis</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-syphilitic-sequel.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">A Syphilitic Sequel</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-tale-of-two-condoms.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">A Tale of Two Condoms</span></a></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-90731375566650631322015-07-03T06:00:00.001-04:002021-07-07T08:35:10.503-04:00Hooking through History<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhxaebBQOIVdS5RExdMb3x5kvG6ph-AI9zeRvpiM4AVaCPmSnz2o4yBDsN9yVPHtsq1-Ut6L1hX9OUcNtoeLjNC4Y8cVpD5CQdDma_qR3CSH7Z4j0pibaHJoM1ZtBiyc0FJABQPMAibM/s1600/prostitution+picasso.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhxaebBQOIVdS5RExdMb3x5kvG6ph-AI9zeRvpiM4AVaCPmSnz2o4yBDsN9yVPHtsq1-Ut6L1hX9OUcNtoeLjNC4Y8cVpD5CQdDma_qR3CSH7Z4j0pibaHJoM1ZtBiyc0FJABQPMAibM/s1600/prostitution+picasso.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">No
exploration of the human body would be complete without a brief glimpse at that
most ancient of professions, prostitution. How can we possibly explore the body
without contemplating the sale of said body? So let’s go back in time and trace
the evolution of this infamous trade.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cRInCsM2SGJBGzDFOLiwJHHOGd7k7jF7GA2DlXwTnHsp1BWv0uujw1zKg2IkFxT-zQ4cchRxG7EZ6BReI4vkBSL1go6Ae_rpnkQkTdMVvpRBpsWd1Jugn7RC0XwbTLGB6OnmSp0XfoM/s1600/prostitution+painting.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cRInCsM2SGJBGzDFOLiwJHHOGd7k7jF7GA2DlXwTnHsp1BWv0uujw1zKg2IkFxT-zQ4cchRxG7EZ6BReI4vkBSL1go6Ae_rpnkQkTdMVvpRBpsWd1Jugn7RC0XwbTLGB6OnmSp0XfoM/s320/prostitution+painting.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As long
as man has wandered the planet, I’m sure some form of prostitution has been in
place. It comes down to simple supply and demand. I can just imagine a
consensual agreement involving sex in exchange for a juicy mastodon shank or
some handy work around the cave, for we all know a way to a man’s heart is not
necessarily through his stomach. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Prostitution
has many euphemisms; more so for women than for men. Male prostitutes are
typically gigolos or hustlers. Females, on the other hand, sport a rash
of labels, most of which are hardly flattering. Hooker, streetwalker, whore, and skank are among the most common. In the days of yore, prostitutes were known as
strumpets, trollops, harlots, or courtesans. But regardless of gender, history
is riddled with accounts proving tricks have been turned for thousands of
years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">In the
ancient Near East, the Sumerians (conveniently) wove prostitution into their
religion. Religious prostitution in Babylon required women to venture forth to
the sanctuary of Militta at least once in their lives to have a conjugal
confrontation with a foreigner; all in the name of hospitality, of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZEB3XF3SBbBJfLOJY10zZCW_o7nE-FtkUXZwEQpndBP2qAXYMkGu9STj7k0HZ2eap6_0qM7BJWrfB49Q1q7YGLYDIba8JGL659DJ2RFOQiCTql32Ovu-VKTJY2C0oomGHm2y31DrgkQ/s1600/Prostitution+greek.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZEB3XF3SBbBJfLOJY10zZCW_o7nE-FtkUXZwEQpndBP2qAXYMkGu9STj7k0HZ2eap6_0qM7BJWrfB49Q1q7YGLYDIba8JGL659DJ2RFOQiCTql32Ovu-VKTJY2C0oomGHm2y31DrgkQ/s320/Prostitution+greek.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Prostitution
among the Greeks was common among women and young boys. In fact, the Greek word
for prostitute is <i>porne</i>, which is
derived from the word meaning, “to sell,” laying the groundwork for what
thousands of years in the future would become a thriving industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
first Greek brothel was opened in the 6<sup>th</sup> century BC, with earnings
going toward building a temple dedicated to Qedesh, the patron goddess of
commerce. They even had categorical names for the various types of prostitutes,
depending on where they worked, be it on the streets, in houses, or near bridges (don’t ask me). As for male prostitutes, they were quite
popular among the Greeks, and the profession was usually taken up by adolescent
boys, slaves and free alike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGq6re0uOrbQCWmt199IOZEpZGdzuRjvnJeCQ2LiBDxZWvYQKhXTiT-hTtY90JLFp0X2S0oWq_tFIdVTAudCOWZl5MoUO1CyfDxZqEcKGkHvYEifBSaHQpu6V5muLE-zcXdpqCGwnfKc/s1600/prostitution+historic.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGq6re0uOrbQCWmt199IOZEpZGdzuRjvnJeCQ2LiBDxZWvYQKhXTiT-hTtY90JLFp0X2S0oWq_tFIdVTAudCOWZl5MoUO1CyfDxZqEcKGkHvYEifBSaHQpu6V5muLE-zcXdpqCGwnfKc/s320/prostitution+historic.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
Romans believed in farming their prostitutes and would round up abandoned
children and raise them for future sale. Slaves were also captured in battle or
purchased for the sole purpose of prostitution, and sex for sale was even used
as a form of legal punishment for women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">By the
Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was on a rampage to tamp down the trade
in Europe, although it received blowback from those who believed the service
helped prevent rape, sodomy, and (god forbid!) masturbation. Most brothels were
left to their vices, as long as they resided on the outskirts of the village.
That is, until cities caught on to the popularity of red light districts, where
clients could window-shop for whatever touched their fancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPiQcC4vNcUGUX3HD_YvtvFdZjN2QVqnha_Y9AkeV56s0fvpfldB9ha5dkqP5wVf_iI-m4nqwURcF1nxt0oJHEajWkWwUsR22sJiy1br97jtYd50iJac1hQzvQqJYREd0nsH9_dZoGeA/s1600/prostitution+slave+market.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPiQcC4vNcUGUX3HD_YvtvFdZjN2QVqnha_Y9AkeV56s0fvpfldB9ha5dkqP5wVf_iI-m4nqwURcF1nxt0oJHEajWkWwUsR22sJiy1br97jtYd50iJac1hQzvQqJYREd0nsH9_dZoGeA/s320/prostitution+slave+market.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
things changed in the 1490s following the return of Columbus’ voyages to the
New World, for hidden aboard his cargo lurked a deadly stowaway: syphilis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Syphilis
became widespread throughout Europe, with prostitutes serving as popular hosts
for the bacterium. This only added fuel to the fire of reformationists bent on
tearing down this illicit trade. And even though folks were experimenting with
various types of condoms, from catgut to sheep bladders, those rudimentary
rubbers were no match for the “pox.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">By the
19<sup>th</sup> century, France, followed by the U.K., passed laws to ensure
regular medical examinations for their prostitutes. The Contagious Diseases Act
mandated regular pelvic exams for their “pros” – not only on home turf, but in their colonies abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncbqwOm8uLoFgl1q5QAl_7epEOslZFGx_w-JGCluQXRyXxR0b0LukH_wEbVP2iiZUNZRioZaZnT_cu90BmqDVby5qQiNLXIbPbS14s8Ad6bnHDAbIX4-6qlm-xhUjqGtyWTtt7yZxttw/s1600/prostitution+wild+west.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncbqwOm8uLoFgl1q5QAl_7epEOslZFGx_w-JGCluQXRyXxR0b0LukH_wEbVP2iiZUNZRioZaZnT_cu90BmqDVby5qQiNLXIbPbS14s8Ad6bnHDAbIX4-6qlm-xhUjqGtyWTtt7yZxttw/s320/prostitution+wild+west.jpg" width="172" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Of
course, around this time in America, prostitutes were as common as cattle among
the dusty plains of the Wild West (and treated equally as well).
Whoring was one of the few professions available to women of the period and, as
America spread westward, so did prostitution. Wherever a new town popped up, so
did a brothel that would set to servicing the menfolk, lickety-split. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But by
the early 1900s, the buzzkill organization known as the Woman’s Christian
Temperance Union marched in and quashed not only brothels, but alcohol, to
boot. And by 1917, even New Orleans’ famous Storyville district - sixteen blocks of
unfettered frolicking named after the councilman who established it – was
closed down, despite public outcry from the locals. One had to travel all the
way to Alaska to buy a legal poke in those days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Today,
Nevada is the sole host to legalized prostitution in the US. About thirty brothels
support around five hundred prostitutes who work as independent contractors, most without
the need for a pimp. As for the rest of the world, it’s a patchwork of legal
and illegal selling. In a <a href="http://prostitution.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000772" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">survey</span></a> of one hundred countries, prostitution was illegal in thirty-nine, somewhat legal in twelve, and legal in forty-nine others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtutm8CBCcFuW9ov2H0FBnE31uEKWle535FneTllJDXojRMhA0OJTWbpklZBzFxEEMHAjhqKv8mBGNXkxqKdMKrPCk_v-kC6bpUErKOm1xoPA7z0aQTBRXBjCZWwhQXHeH8g1R7po1TI/s1600/prostitution+shop+window.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtutm8CBCcFuW9ov2H0FBnE31uEKWle535FneTllJDXojRMhA0OJTWbpklZBzFxEEMHAjhqKv8mBGNXkxqKdMKrPCk_v-kC6bpUErKOm1xoPA7z0aQTBRXBjCZWwhQXHeH8g1R7po1TI/s320/prostitution+shop+window.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And
fierce <a href="http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-prostitution-be-legal" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">debates</span> </a>abound about whether or not it should be a legalized profession,
with advocates claiming legalization protects its practitioners, and women’s
rights groups claiming it is inherently abusive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Despite
its legal status, prostitution is part of human culture and, as history goes to
show, wherever there's a demand for sex, there will always be someone
peddling it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-18027251871346492982015-06-26T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T09:02:27.217-05:00Eight-Legged Envy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tQyH7AGV9Kszbq6BAlJ0LGnBHIT8LrjsHAnYItBoANywT9oEDP4LIRMVeO7TD6h4Aa4uTWkBbxmAxFdISn6yIKLEqfudVhdryUoInd3VkEvKq8N0uJshej3La_C7YTdZAJasYDLYIRc/s1600/eight+legged+main.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tQyH7AGV9Kszbq6BAlJ0LGnBHIT8LrjsHAnYItBoANywT9oEDP4LIRMVeO7TD6h4Aa4uTWkBbxmAxFdISn6yIKLEqfudVhdryUoInd3VkEvKq8N0uJshej3La_C7YTdZAJasYDLYIRc/s320/eight+legged+main.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">This morning, on
my way to my car, I walked through a gargantuan spiderweb. A diligent arachnid
had been hard at work, industriously spinning his beautiful web, only to have
some bumbling human destroy it in one fell swoop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmpNF_E_tGi9Kysf9ewZpoI3ZmrJp34cSRTTAy2oA9mbQ9i68R2mfFBtgbyud9OkdEE5B6TM5jv00ViQfFhS-yqzfWS8xIb1PNljGncCcGH_d80WH3lJHljyZ-OpyWVubQYrOIdkuSaw/s1600/eight+legged+cartoon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmpNF_E_tGi9Kysf9ewZpoI3ZmrJp34cSRTTAy2oA9mbQ9i68R2mfFBtgbyud9OkdEE5B6TM5jv00ViQfFhS-yqzfWS8xIb1PNljGncCcGH_d80WH3lJHljyZ-OpyWVubQYrOIdkuSaw/s1600/eight+legged+cartoon.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Of course I had my
hands full, since these incidents never occur when one is unencumbered. I tried
swiping the web from my face, only to realize its owner had conveniently
hopped aboard my person. I suddenly became aware of a chunky spider the size of
a malt ball taking a leisurely stroll down my arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Despite the burden
of my computer, a coffee mug, and my purse, I managed to flail my limbs with enough
vigor to dislodge him. He gracefully sailed down his web, landing gently at my
feet and then scampering off into the undergrowth. After giving myself a
thorough rubdown to ensure I wasn’t toting a giant egg sack on my back, I
gathered my belongings and went on my way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I’m not
particularly afraid of spiders. I hold them in the same regard I hold snakes: cautious
respect and deep admiration for the way they ambulate. Image what humans would
be like with eight legs instead of two? It would probably render automobiles
obsolete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnymlm9jeJAi5RRbKu6xIQ2631dQBBa14Sb7QjOTWxMDAoVNxIRC78XmALIhT8MKZ5qdbfIJbkTqfr8obe-kBft-NsQxJVGbRtwnjaPhxi4IHj23iHCWrI7V69D9Ie7fXceIu3ri6RbU/s1600/eight+legged+Kangaroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnymlm9jeJAi5RRbKu6xIQ2631dQBBa14Sb7QjOTWxMDAoVNxIRC78XmALIhT8MKZ5qdbfIJbkTqfr8obe-kBft-NsQxJVGbRtwnjaPhxi4IHj23iHCWrI7V69D9Ie7fXceIu3ri6RbU/s320/eight+legged+Kangaroo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">My eight-legged
encounter got me thinking about our own mode of locomotion. In the animal
kingdom, walking on two legs (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1571302/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">bipedalism</span></a>) is pretty unique. Only two other
bipeds readily come to mind – penguins and kangaroos, both of which have
devised their own strategies for getting around. Penguins have sacrificed
efficient walking for swimming, and kangaroos took to hopping, which sure beats
walking across the Australian bush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So why did humans
evolve such an unusual <a href="http://humanorigins.si.edu/human-characteristics/walking" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">gait</span></a>? Perhaps we should first ask, "when?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Ancient fossils
are hard to come by. The older they are, the less chance they have of being preserved intact. But there are <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/evolution/fossil-evidence-bipedalism.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">clues to bipedalism</span></a> among the fragmented
remains of our earliest ancestors, and some of the best evidence has nothing to
do with legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ0N0n7sOuREXqyKUWX9psj7bdqwPkxr5cABCIjn0uucpM2EONWvRTJq4bymr7y5hrBfM5mu9ky-kIoBSAlf6wbPAy8_Hmy9Z9M0bawi1JcIKcNN810G1BA2QlOFzWSzjHolXduvgmGg/s1600/eight+legged+Foramen_magnum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ0N0n7sOuREXqyKUWX9psj7bdqwPkxr5cABCIjn0uucpM2EONWvRTJq4bymr7y5hrBfM5mu9ky-kIoBSAlf6wbPAy8_Hmy9Z9M0bawi1JcIKcNN810G1BA2QlOFzWSzjHolXduvgmGg/s320/eight+legged+Foramen_magnum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The hole in the
base of the skull where our spine enters is called the foramen magnum. And it’s
the <a href="http://carta.anthropogeny.org/moca/topics/placement-foramen-magnum" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">position</span></a> of this hole that provides a clue to upright walking. When it’s
oriented at the base of the skull, it shows that the creature stood upright. If
the hole is located toward the back of the skull, it indicates a quadruped
(think about your dog or cat). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And it turns out
our bipedal gait evolved much earlier than once believed. It was once thought
that walking on two legs evolved in concert with our large brains. But what
we find in the fossil record is that bipedalism was in place millions of years
before our big <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://humanorigins.si.edu/human-characteristics/brains" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">brains</span></a> </span>arrived on scene. Even the seven million-year-old <i><a href="http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/sahelanthropus-tchadensis" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Sahelanthropus tchadensis</span></a></i>, unearthed by
a group of French paleoanthropologists in 2001, is believed to have been
bipedal, based on his foramen magnum. Although scientists are still quibbling…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBqK3e9oDciDnJKYYJbARkNyokATicmDXT_BOKbib3MBBJOTzmvqo1WuFFSFG_Rrb6aGFdlx6T-sAvPDoVRjbmkbgwbVnwPyo_kkMi6Axu_T0FmUhyphenhyphensy6h5ZBp7tBFGS7g9shLZVCBp8/s1600/eight+legged+bipedalism.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBqK3e9oDciDnJKYYJbARkNyokATicmDXT_BOKbib3MBBJOTzmvqo1WuFFSFG_Rrb6aGFdlx6T-sAvPDoVRjbmkbgwbVnwPyo_kkMi6Axu_T0FmUhyphenhyphensy6h5ZBp7tBFGS7g9shLZVCBp8/s320/eight+legged+bipedalism.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But the bigger
question is <i>why?</i> Why did humans
switch from four to two legs?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/becoming-human-the-evolution-of-walking-upright-13837658/?no-ist" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Theories</span></a> of
bipedalism go all the way back to Darwin, who believed the freeing of our arms
allowed us to concentrate on the production of tools and weapons. This makes
sense until you take into account that stone tools don’t show up until many
millions of years after we started scooting around on two legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Others believe
climate change had a hand in it. Perhaps humans took to walking as their
forests were reduced and food became harder to come by, prompting males and
females to partner up for provisioning. Males could gather food (in their arms,
of course), and provide for their female and offspring, which would cement
their bond and benefit both parties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunWB8Y2tWt_ESfZxQCDKuS2eytuV1pWxfjq9P13TRnCIqVRC9S2ljFb4NQp3wtHcaoRotp1_glGO6sU0IPIT4qUd9-VipcpypJSzL_nsPehhMmCI61wKoRxBCbVyyLk2epiF62MR-HYY/s1600/eight+legged+australopiths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunWB8Y2tWt_ESfZxQCDKuS2eytuV1pWxfjq9P13TRnCIqVRC9S2ljFb4NQp3wtHcaoRotp1_glGO6sU0IPIT4qUd9-VipcpypJSzL_nsPehhMmCI61wKoRxBCbVyyLk2epiF62MR-HYY/s320/eight+legged+australopiths.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Or perhaps the
reduction in forests required our ancestors to traverse longer distances.
Walking upright, or better yet, running, has been <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070716/full/news070716-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">shown</span></a> to be more energy
efficient than the knuckle-walking of our primate cousins, and there’s a whole
new line of research examining the role running may have played in the
evolution of humans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Whatever the
reason, we humans wouldn’t be human without our unusual gait. Sure, spiders
have it made, what with their eight legs and their ability to walk on water. But
it’s hard to imagine how humans could have accomplished all we <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evolution-cultural/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">accomplished</span></a>
if we were still ambling about on all fours. Stone tools, pottery, weapons, and
art would have been quite a challenge without free hands, as would carrying,
whether it be food, firewood, or children.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So you can keep
your eight legs, Mr. Spider, and I’ll stick with my two. Your arachnid
abilities may grace you with unusual gifts, but it only takes one of my two
feet to squash you like a pancake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Post Script - I would never dream of stepping on a spider...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">In case you didn't get enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp81pCI-UKDjdQGhdjpNAB0hNbyLoKUnv1vWbhzh3DAqV2KiKOOIWF2DdgIn3_r2ZgVWHYRvr663Pn3z2MOx1nZClYhUPQvU85tDh2LqEU7jZiTsaDEVMyAQeVqlaoILJjpP1NKYPCRVg/s1600/eight+legged+book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp81pCI-UKDjdQGhdjpNAB0hNbyLoKUnv1vWbhzh3DAqV2KiKOOIWF2DdgIn3_r2ZgVWHYRvr663Pn3z2MOx1nZClYhUPQvU85tDh2LqEU7jZiTsaDEVMyAQeVqlaoILJjpP1NKYPCRVg/s320/eight+legged+book+cover.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-28397869724984747502015-06-19T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T09:05:02.433-05:00My Father's Daughter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzqf_SYrBQvA037p6dIns9btPSINvtfx9LhUPfcQFFZec5BoOsSsAioJJEExPgM9kQS9Jdj9jlXNZft5b3HnAmwWeJkgulAzFBeAgsth8X4nAI9ZF1HKCKCwP-7KSfZzB-ar3WQQqE40/s1600/father+and+infant+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzqf_SYrBQvA037p6dIns9btPSINvtfx9LhUPfcQFFZec5BoOsSsAioJJEExPgM9kQS9Jdj9jlXNZft5b3HnAmwWeJkgulAzFBeAgsth8X4nAI9ZF1HKCKCwP-7KSfZzB-ar3WQQqE40/s1600/father+and+infant+hand.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Here’s a
thought: if the sperm that created you had come in second in the race to the
egg, you would be an entirely different person. Think about it. Among the
million or so sperm vying for that egg, the one that contained the recipe for
you won, and if any other tadpole had gained entry, you would not be who you
are. Quite a gamble, procreation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RUoCIr8e-0xi2RsMkTRLNceqbyenqOj6M1mgy5n2KHLujgv3fcnEgXxrpehciT8qXvn2rYczeUFcNWwQoZ2BncWDnwA63WZjp8i82ooCHswSD8_h_3lWH_VBsTj4Kc_NnJECKGxr90o/s1600/father+handholding.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RUoCIr8e-0xi2RsMkTRLNceqbyenqOj6M1mgy5n2KHLujgv3fcnEgXxrpehciT8qXvn2rYczeUFcNWwQoZ2BncWDnwA63WZjp8i82ooCHswSD8_h_3lWH_VBsTj4Kc_NnJECKGxr90o/s320/father+handholding.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As
Father’s Day approaches, we naturally think of our dads. Which got me thinking
about the process of conception and the traits a father passes on to his
children. Man, was I lucky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">First
and foremost, there’s the brain. I was fortunate to have a very intelligent
father, and he exploited his intelligence to achieve great things. He was born
and raised in Mississippi, the son of a prominent architect. But when he was
still a boy, his father left to start a new family, leaving him and his mother
behind. So he dropped out of school and went to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpc5C80P8JEIwdyJxjnG_v1sMgdAfPlib1cLUSHp67DSFQc8HDU-v0rY4mIjrhrCRhX1xrENHsJo-SMik99Wh6G7C8jSEjRVKNipKoZbNeHZ-H_bJDgyib5vKZK7hnAEmbm7DEkEFW-Y/s1600/father+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpc5C80P8JEIwdyJxjnG_v1sMgdAfPlib1cLUSHp67DSFQc8HDU-v0rY4mIjrhrCRhX1xrENHsJo-SMik99Wh6G7C8jSEjRVKNipKoZbNeHZ-H_bJDgyib5vKZK7hnAEmbm7DEkEFW-Y/s1600/father+painting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Realizing
the grim future in store for a Mississippi kid with a ninth grade education, he
enlisted in the Navy when he was just sixteen. And once he left the south, he never looked back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">That
young, uneducated sailor went on to travel every corner of the globe, complete
a master’s in theology from Northwestern University, and achieve the rank of
Captain. All of it through sheer force of will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">He is
the reason I pushed on for a PhD. In fact, he’s the reason for much of what
I’ve done in my life, for he represented the pinnacle of success, the example
of what hard work and hard-headed determination can achieve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeE2eisTkas-kKrqp-GLwnm01U8YitJe5K6V2Jt5doveYXLb4nvkGehysVnYecPlzDQgQv64Q71KMTcd7dR_5b8TrBbMsmcWtsEjGq28U5j6-BmixxERudQZ-ilQouJt8uM9bnwCLJjw/s1600/father+military.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeE2eisTkas-kKrqp-GLwnm01U8YitJe5K6V2Jt5doveYXLb4nvkGehysVnYecPlzDQgQv64Q71KMTcd7dR_5b8TrBbMsmcWtsEjGq28U5j6-BmixxERudQZ-ilQouJt8uM9bnwCLJjw/s320/father+military.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
conception is like life; we must take the bad with the good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Aside
from determination, he also passed on some less-than-desirable traits. For
instance, that same hard-headedness, which can border on stubborn; a deep and abiding love
of gin; and above all else, a temper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">My
father’s temper could go from zero to sixty in a matter of seconds; a trait
which in my case has fortunately mellowed with time. Although my father was a
chaplain and a man of God, he could swear like any seaworthy sailor. Politics,
the economy, or criminal activity would set him off and he would launch into a
tirade, cursing all of civilization, damning human weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFomJO9zmz6U_lhueWd944FALAVnExUml-6wC0nt46gXpW_HkSShsLNfRyxI4hEoCF3hRNikYYzgI57crp6E_r_KOSkshlwhmFx-KwfnpP1fHJqVqpMVkQrEtOJ0vuEzKd0yJnfpfe0c/s1600/father+golfing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFomJO9zmz6U_lhueWd944FALAVnExUml-6wC0nt46gXpW_HkSShsLNfRyxI4hEoCF3hRNikYYzgI57crp6E_r_KOSkshlwhmFx-KwfnpP1fHJqVqpMVkQrEtOJ0vuEzKd0yJnfpfe0c/s320/father+golfing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But he
was also one of the funniest individuals I’ve ever known. He loved to laugh and
my fondest memories are of sipping martinis and listening, enthralled, as his stories unwound. Like when his ship was torpedoed, plunging him and his crew into
the dark depths of the Pacific. And how his commander had silenced him with,
“SHUT UP SAILOR, WE’LL GET TO YOU!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Dad was
also a philosopher. His world view was an intriguing blend of religion,
philosophy, and the hard life lessons of his youth. He had several famous
sayings, such as, “<i>If it’s worth doing, it’s
worth overdoing,”</i> a creed he employed whenever he ordered Chinese takeout.
Or his other motto, <i>“Why do today what
you can put off until tomorrow?”</i> which is ironic, considering all he
achieved in his lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrK41kSoxKyOBD-soIKjY8X-siTRHJmsb19kSt5yFt8TUAaDk4ED-L8tzjhrPAhSradifViGJj5bt_9hasFN7PQ1l-2hJ31A73YI7l2sSoWo3-v5y1cQvdB1r6R_8OXmK_gSnK4TVOnOU/s1600/father+on+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrK41kSoxKyOBD-soIKjY8X-siTRHJmsb19kSt5yFt8TUAaDk4ED-L8tzjhrPAhSradifViGJj5bt_9hasFN7PQ1l-2hJ31A73YI7l2sSoWo3-v5y1cQvdB1r6R_8OXmK_gSnK4TVOnOU/s320/father+on+beach.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">He spent forty-two years in the Navy and survived two wars – a feat no man can endure without
being forever altered. But his cynicism was balanced by a love of laughter, a
warmth of spirit, and a clever mind that never failed to see the humorous side
of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">My
father is gone now. A slow-growing tumor bloomed deep within his frontal lobe,
dimming and eventually snuffing out that most vibrant of personalities. I still see
him in the mirror. I share his eyes, the shape of his face, and his strong, white
teeth. But his most important traits reside within me, for he graced me with a
curious mind, steely determination, and a will that has sustained me through
every crisis in life – one of the hardest being his death. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">To all the fathers out there, I wish you a warm and wonderful Father's Day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZv5TZ4YvnCL566gXl4Dv-3EqRXZJrd1TF6Wy1JW_QYMnOEWAd9J5FcfMFWKnY5Pu9RtN3WZLuTm1JytO_57N99Ehtf9VoCrrK4e6leS-Cj2DCaWC1m9wLyJ63PN6l41bf1Ik2O5NSt4/s1600/Father-and-son--beach--sunset-jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZv5TZ4YvnCL566gXl4Dv-3EqRXZJrd1TF6Wy1JW_QYMnOEWAd9J5FcfMFWKnY5Pu9RtN3WZLuTm1JytO_57N99Ehtf9VoCrrK4e6leS-Cj2DCaWC1m9wLyJ63PN6l41bf1Ik2O5NSt4/s320/Father-and-son--beach--sunset-jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-89609114876513939302015-06-12T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T09:08:25.487-05:00I See Dead People...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiXzhAjfjCIo__Nk6cSCmC_HTQFtsEcFQ1KDM6K283Qemc_HclUzWL4TFH_PA99n1IwfhyZCTet7lP75UYcJTWuF6RjzBlhJ_RwITZjsI_H6u4rnrOsH9-0SeLKKXRkiI7-7yRyhqdMg/s1600/seeing+dead+hands+shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiXzhAjfjCIo__Nk6cSCmC_HTQFtsEcFQ1KDM6K283Qemc_HclUzWL4TFH_PA99n1IwfhyZCTet7lP75UYcJTWuF6RjzBlhJ_RwITZjsI_H6u4rnrOsH9-0SeLKKXRkiI7-7yRyhqdMg/s320/seeing+dead+hands+shadow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">It happens as it
always does, whenever I pass through that particular intersection. As I cross
the lanes of traffic, I think about the dead girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I’m in Orlando for
the weekend, visiting family and friends, returning to all the places I love in
the city where I’ve spent so much of my life. I moved here when I was twelve,
left when I was thirty-six, and spent thirteen of those twenty-four years as a
firefighter/paramedic before moving on for a PhD. And I find when I come home, the
city is haunted with the ghosts of my past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXLI2ILgrD2CBsUxSBynAwK8gf3bPKqlMjBdLHiBfw0GV4iARfPCXh-ZD9ustzRAhxE3D1YMNrC3orZbQ_Xyec3vCSpEMJVZCiLvrxdq3DZYFd3cmx5NR7HXAtvKyNj4PKqPvNb2vZEw/s1600/seeing+dead+ghost+on+pole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXLI2ILgrD2CBsUxSBynAwK8gf3bPKqlMjBdLHiBfw0GV4iARfPCXh-ZD9ustzRAhxE3D1YMNrC3orZbQ_Xyec3vCSpEMJVZCiLvrxdq3DZYFd3cmx5NR7HXAtvKyNj4PKqPvNb2vZEw/s320/seeing+dead+ghost+on+pole.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As I navigate the
city’s streets, scenes from my life as a medic flash before me in vivid detail.
For instance, that intersection I mentioned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I was a new medic,
working grueling hours on the ambulance, when a young pedestrian tried to cross
the many lanes of traffic, only to be taken down by a semi. Her body was
defleshed from the waist down, a condition known as “<a href="http://www.acellvet.com/wound/degloving_injuries.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">degloving</span></a>,” and I can still
remember the heat radiating off the pavement, the stench of the truck’s
smoldering brakes, and the roar of nearby traffic as we wrapped her shredded
limbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89GkgTNtLsCfWyRMRqGq9XqPTYCaBGiq7pauq-5X5INPJ0Frir8shItLjFtoxj5pLWdqL-J31lajDN-jbv3G6GTX_yvOiXsrbrr_JlEbHnrP0lEoGl_8TZ-omPuHVP9BFg__rSDU3LJo/s1600/seeing+dead+scary+faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89GkgTNtLsCfWyRMRqGq9XqPTYCaBGiq7pauq-5X5INPJ0Frir8shItLjFtoxj5pLWdqL-J31lajDN-jbv3G6GTX_yvOiXsrbrr_JlEbHnrP0lEoGl_8TZ-omPuHVP9BFg__rSDU3LJo/s320/seeing+dead+scary+faces.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">There’s the
schoolyard where my partner and I performed CPR beneath the gawking gaze of
schoolchildren. The sidewalk where I tried in vain to staunch the flow from a
suicidal gunshot wound to the head. The strip mall, where the young man set
himself on fire. And the trauma center to which I delivered countless patients, victims
of the city’s unrelenting violence. My brain is a virtual card catalog of
tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I know <i>why</i> this happens. These memories are
part of my past, forever etched into my psyche. The bigger question is <i>how</i> it happens. How does the brain pull
forth <a href="http://www.human-memory.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">memories</span></a> buried deep within the subconscious? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">It turns out
neuropsychologists have been hard at work studying the processes involved in memory
retrieval.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">It all starts with
<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/a/memory_retrival.htm" style="color: red;" target="_blank">retrieval cues</a>:</span> clues or prompts that trigger the brain to recall information.
But it’s the type of retrieval cue that determines just how the brain pulls
forth long-buried events. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomHSMABfcPVIsWHrgETetnP4b7iHx8n7se7sdeVT33-GO1HmF513JmZf7jggAcj7z_Ok1vz40nggTGn0zyxFo2e6-8cE1Bt8m3-RUiu67LF-jO6DzDNL01AHx4Wg4FQ5NsuoP-ERj2Ac/s1600/seeing+dead+skulls+in+shrouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomHSMABfcPVIsWHrgETetnP4b7iHx8n7se7sdeVT33-GO1HmF513JmZf7jggAcj7z_Ok1vz40nggTGn0zyxFo2e6-8cE1Bt8m3-RUiu67LF-jO6DzDNL01AHx4Wg4FQ5NsuoP-ERj2Ac/s320/seeing+dead+skulls+in+shrouds.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Recall </span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">involves the straightforward retrieval of information, such as
answering a simple question. There’s little work involved and the information
simply pops up when prompted. <i>Recollection</i>
requires a bit more effort. Your brain reconstructs the memory by pulling
together bits of information, such as clues or partial memories, reassembling
them into a greater whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Recognition</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> retrieval occurs when your brain latches
on to something familiar, like selecting your favorite dish from a menu. And
finally, <i>relearning</i> is just as it
sounds – retrieving information you have learned on some previous occasion,
which often results in stronger memories that are easier to recall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But where do these
memories reside? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIfflg-LBsYxDewPoRY-7Dj_LG9wSoWyYHmkezzwgoE2HOAD4mbx06zg0l1JTTJNMr_0Da8VCXfKoDuS-FzsElelGV_JCNnyzues8bCBE7gZ85Fb_qMK2Bzwo-bqOBPLB97y54pn2gTY/s1600/seeing+dead+single+skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIfflg-LBsYxDewPoRY-7Dj_LG9wSoWyYHmkezzwgoE2HOAD4mbx06zg0l1JTTJNMr_0Da8VCXfKoDuS-FzsElelGV_JCNnyzues8bCBE7gZ85Fb_qMK2Bzwo-bqOBPLB97y54pn2gTY/s320/seeing+dead+single+skull.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The brain <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/human-memory2.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">stores memories</span> </a>in one of two ways. Short-term memories are processed in the
prefrontal lobe, that clump of brain located just behind your forehead. The
short-terms are translated into long-term memories in the hippocampus, a small
horseshoe-shaped structure within the limbic system that rounds up memories
from various sensory regions in the brain and binds them into a single memory
episode. Over time, the neuronal connections associated with that memory become
fixed and can be replayed at will. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The <a href="http://psycheducation.org/brain-tours/memory-learning-and-emotion-the-hippocampus/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">hippocampus</span></a> also helps solidify the connections that form our memories and each memory serves as
an index for our recorded thoughts and sensations. Through <a href="https://uonews.uoregon.edu/archive/news-release/2009/2/decoding-short-term-memory-fmri" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">functional MRI</span></a>,
scientists have been able to observe the brain as it reconstructs memories. And as each memory is recalled, different regions of the brain light up as various
sensations and thoughts are replayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LNv3Gl1XklqU5S5eMMwZJCPPeHPNN_e3BZsh4_67vunysbHqvY5Lx6pKXrF6ZH4jZ62dTNxUXIIrRPVArXLEMj8eWqWZ3pksU7L8jaEYmgJw2UCgaeM0-oPUbyTIklDAyxk_ZZ0Fyjc/s1600/seeing+dead+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LNv3Gl1XklqU5S5eMMwZJCPPeHPNN_e3BZsh4_67vunysbHqvY5Lx6pKXrF6ZH4jZ62dTNxUXIIrRPVArXLEMj8eWqWZ3pksU7L8jaEYmgJw2UCgaeM0-oPUbyTIklDAyxk_ZZ0Fyjc/s1600/seeing+dead+trees.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So when I return
to Orlando, memories of my patients reemerge, triggered by the sights, sounds,
and smells of the city. I recall their faces, their injuries, and their pain, and once
again I experience the intense emotions they evoke whenever they resurface in
my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">These memories are
relics from a previous life, carved into my subconscious, and forever part of
who I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><span style="color: red;">"Memories are bullets. Some whiz by and only spook you. Others tear you open and leave you in pieces."</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><span style="color: red;"> - Richard Kadrey, Kill the Dead</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-70871875439605881792015-06-05T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T09:18:07.997-05:00Body Double<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepyJUIqRVwmR2psF8M3Lf6hzRO5l7z6qa6Omy_JBEbVz9l778WmKJuQCZBKeeUhah6302WTsKIBTU8h7Vw_NwpCVz5Yz-CMTZOewd8ITMO_TF0vi6FapP9WmA9sKyb_VszPguXKC_aFY/s1600/conjoined+in+jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepyJUIqRVwmR2psF8M3Lf6hzRO5l7z6qa6Omy_JBEbVz9l778WmKJuQCZBKeeUhah6302WTsKIBTU8h7Vw_NwpCVz5Yz-CMTZOewd8ITMO_TF0vi6FapP9WmA9sKyb_VszPguXKC_aFY/s320/conjoined+in+jar.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Imagine, for a moment, what it would be like to be
attached to another human being. Think about it… every day, every night, every
moment spent linked to another person. I’ve always been fascinated by conjoined
twins. I remember seeing pictures of them when I was a child, marveling not
only at the day-to-day logistics of such a setup, but that nature could
actually produce something so spectacular. So let’s take a look at this most
unique phenomenon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClgOgRS4CsyLEl6ASedD17Y0lbkGRR49BoNgenQdpFCUkF0zo737X8hPPy_cjqSWqDw3DTUbyjVcFexQaBwbQNWMAuTHDhKCZEUGVryRnpjISn4YURwbaCyybIGsUNlEhHDMVIxD7C2g/s1600/conjoined+twins.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClgOgRS4CsyLEl6ASedD17Y0lbkGRR49BoNgenQdpFCUkF0zo737X8hPPy_cjqSWqDw3DTUbyjVcFexQaBwbQNWMAuTHDhKCZEUGVryRnpjISn4YURwbaCyybIGsUNlEhHDMVIxD7C2g/s200/conjoined+twins.png" width="158" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Conjoined twins are rare. They occur about once in
every two hundred thousand live births and around half are born dead. Of those who are born
alive, about a third survive for just one day. It’s a small minority who live
on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Girls have a better chance of surviving than boys.
Doctors are not sure why. Although the chance of twinning is higher among
males, females are about three times more likely to survive than boys. Thus,
females make up about seventy percent percent of all living conjoined twins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
So how does it happen? How are conjoined twins
made?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWky_unJvcRkwUkC-kYX1vO8HN7PFvDSRRC4BGIPqo6Je5Ns2gwyk0lrhM1KwUWZ2VbCHTFUwWJjmEYYkAE5RMPgkma8_HKeFYixAiaXdYzzjqCJwx3A1DEEfkskyZCypk3y9oVZNWlyI/s1600/conjoined+two+heads+radiograph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWky_unJvcRkwUkC-kYX1vO8HN7PFvDSRRC4BGIPqo6Je5Ns2gwyk0lrhM1KwUWZ2VbCHTFUwWJjmEYYkAE5RMPgkma8_HKeFYixAiaXdYzzjqCJwx3A1DEEfkskyZCypk3y9oVZNWlyI/s1600/conjoined+two+heads+radiograph.jpg" /></a><a href="https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/conjoined-twins" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Conjoining</span> </a>occurs when a single fertilized egg
fails to divide completely during the first week of conception. The process
that would normally produce two identical twins is halted for some reason, and
the partially separated egg continues on its developmental pathway. The result?
Two bodies, fused as one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
And the fusion can occur anywhere on the body,
resulting in an array of amalgamated individuals. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The most common are joined at the chest. "<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3099464/" style="color: red;" target="_blank">Thoracopagus</a>"</span> twins make up about forty percent of the conjoined and usually share
a heart, which can make surgical separation tricky. Another common form is those connected from the waist to the breastbone. "<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1469-0705.1999.14060434.x/pdf" style="color: red;" target="_blank">Omphalopagus</a>"</span> twins are
similar in design to thoracopagus and account for about a third of all twins.
The number of shared organs can vary, depending on the degree of conjoining,
but it’s not unusual for them to share livers, digestive tracts, and
genitourinary systems.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq2TgtKt_hSBswwYbBDwfDPNEocUbQyRGYbpl-oGL0RT8v1mtxUU9RBTF3w6hcfbeJIQjiJURb9crw_CkDkaAceBKjxReO3DsxXTJEak2YBvU2jF7kFxRMd-sGtxzmwmRhO_X1-2Z-ZI/s1600/conjoined+skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq2TgtKt_hSBswwYbBDwfDPNEocUbQyRGYbpl-oGL0RT8v1mtxUU9RBTF3w6hcfbeJIQjiJURb9crw_CkDkaAceBKjxReO3DsxXTJEak2YBvU2jF7kFxRMd-sGtxzmwmRhO_X1-2Z-ZI/s320/conjoined+skull.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">"<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4064765/" style="color: red;" target="_blank">Parapagus</a>"</span>
</span>twins share a body and sport two heads; a condition most intriguing when you think what it must be like to share a single body. And then there are the</span> "<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/brain/129/5/1084.full.pdf" style="color: red;" target="_blank">craniopagus</a>"</span> twins. These individuals are joined at the head and this range from superficial attachment (bone and tissue) to the sharing of a single
brain. They make up a very small percentage of conjoined twins, but arouse the
most fascinating contemplation. What would it be like to share a brain?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Take Krista and Tatiana Hogan, two eight-year-old
brunettes who are joined at the head. As craniopagus twins, they are unique.
Only a fraction of this type survive, yet not only are they remarkable as
twins, they are also remarkable for the manner in which their heads are
attached.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRx8jrnaH3tVGPRhrnyJLOlQr0XXVZ0dkXdNwsNRYo2eEOoPOh-S66VK2tBIKS8t0kXhyphenhyphent8xOKZ7tzC_nX5oP-R2ZunLPi94Z28sHefU5p8njEuGvwEgmlxaGS8hzC10zpQd1rO21yzY/s1600/conjoined+tailbone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRx8jrnaH3tVGPRhrnyJLOlQr0XXVZ0dkXdNwsNRYo2eEOoPOh-S66VK2tBIKS8t0kXhyphenhyphent8xOKZ7tzC_nX5oP-R2ZunLPi94Z28sHefU5p8njEuGvwEgmlxaGS8hzC10zpQd1rO21yzY/s320/conjoined+tailbone.jpg" width="320" /></a>The conjoining of their brains has produced an
unusual condition: the girls share a thalamus. T<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">he</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><a href="http://biology.about.com/od/anatomy/p/thalamus.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">thalamus</span></a> is a lobed organ within the brain that processes the bulk of the
sensory signals received by the brain. It plays a role in controlling the motor
systems responsible for voluntary movement and coordination, but it is also an essential
aspect of consciousness. And this is where things get truly interesting when
we’re dealing with craniopagus twins.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Doctors who have <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/magazine/could-conjoined-twins-share-a-mind.html?_r=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">studied</span></a> </span>Krista and Tatiana
believe their unusual neurological arrangement enables them to share sensory input
through what the docs have termed a “thalamic bridge.” And what this allows the
girls to do is share sensations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
For instance, if one of the girls takes a sip, the
other is compelled to swallow. If one is pricked in the finger, the other
grimaces in pain. A pacifier in one mouth has a soothing effect for both. The
list goes on and on…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcNl_2UTB5hgesmCxDw858z3JE0GNsIXQ-uN9EAuiHZ7_T9TSYtmhPIIzWGlNQ5p0Q6kUXe8eHfo7GYP_mL8xZytdgsXqFEd8LuKfNoeRf_obCKkFKf7hGwcDEopkwN_gKRtWwZj3cr4/s1600/conjoined+ultrasound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcNl_2UTB5hgesmCxDw858z3JE0GNsIXQ-uN9EAuiHZ7_T9TSYtmhPIIzWGlNQ5p0Q6kUXe8eHfo7GYP_mL8xZytdgsXqFEd8LuKfNoeRf_obCKkFKf7hGwcDEopkwN_gKRtWwZj3cr4/s320/conjoined+ultrasound.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Throughout <a href="http://www.babymed.com/strange-pregnancies/conjoined-twins" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">history</span></a>, conjoined twins have evoked curiosity,
fear, and even scorn. The 16<sup>th</sup> century French surgeon, Ambroise <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paré</span>,
believed conjoined twins were the result of God’s anger and the Devil’s influence.
But his notions were cloaked in the ignorance of his time.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
For me, conjoined twins reflect the remarkable
range of human expression, the amazing variability of embryological
development, and the beautiful complexities of nature.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
Here's a great <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNQc4NziUWc" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">video</span> </a>on parapagus twins, Abigail and Brittany Hensel, and how they cope with the day-to-day challenges of being conjoined.<br />
<br />
<br />
Related Posts<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/04/disfigured.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Disfigured</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-sideshow.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Sideshow</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/08/unintelligent-design.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Unintelligent Design</span></a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-3480721361381221262015-05-29T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T09:26:40.769-05:00Bald and Badass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAB5BoRzdGvkk5XEOg5mHs9_Tee6mjyb8Q6ZSixFNPMWcDdrIugdDnmbLWsf4bdxJilZK-K_Se3ZkWJ8_IUKUVr-DGMtMLc8LNxxJd892Zsoo01SdzDCqKgxXG6Kb0uCvfisa5c9WQkVI/s1600/bald+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAB5BoRzdGvkk5XEOg5mHs9_Tee6mjyb8Q6ZSixFNPMWcDdrIugdDnmbLWsf4bdxJilZK-K_Se3ZkWJ8_IUKUVr-DGMtMLc8LNxxJd892Zsoo01SdzDCqKgxXG6Kb0uCvfisa5c9WQkVI/s320/bald+man.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I grew up
the daughter of a bald man. The funny thing is, I didn’t realize he was bald
until one of my elementary schoolmates pointed it out. To me, he was just
“Dad.” His hair was irrelevant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtFEgq-iTaOjUGI9qoY4fVpUp9v18KiPQWfW7-bXSkQ6HsSxc_0EZyWCHd6nUjC3ydOkca_JI1CEfRBleiXqGh9XTrskmepWZps7SjxaMrBc-H2cNAmkluKnVjTkb-UHAk5bddQlDATg/s1600/bald+patrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtFEgq-iTaOjUGI9qoY4fVpUp9v18KiPQWfW7-bXSkQ6HsSxc_0EZyWCHd6nUjC3ydOkca_JI1CEfRBleiXqGh9XTrskmepWZps7SjxaMrBc-H2cNAmkluKnVjTkb-UHAk5bddQlDATg/s320/bald+patrick.jpg" width="280" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">My
father started losing his hair when he was very young. I’ve seen pictures of
him in his twenties and, even back then, the balding was well underway. But he
never seemed to mind. In fact, I cannot recall him ever griping about his
baldness. What remained of his hair he kept tightly clipped. He wasn’t one for
drastic measures. No ridiculous comb-over, no magic potions. As a Navy captain,
he had more important things on his mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Baldness
is a big issue among men, probably because about sixty percent of them will lose their hair.
You’d think, over time, they'd simply accept it and move on. But telling a
man to disregard his baldness is like telling a woman to ignore the aging
process. Impossible. We are culturally programmed to lose sleep over such
issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So let’s
take a moment to explore the realm of <a href="http://www.dermnetnz.org/hair-nails-sweat/pattern-balding.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">androgenetic alopecia</span></a>, aka, male pattern
baldness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU64x2tM4mgx24ekETN1vv5-JifIzU3UW2URGVVl-TZV6d07ycL-GjLhYSjjHMHtSHOnsdYvXlcMpgkX7lPdH-W_txcdR4ATent3gIwO-lHyXxmeWmEHhOsJiYoc3pFuiBD4iUcM9EBU/s1600/bald+m+jordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU64x2tM4mgx24ekETN1vv5-JifIzU3UW2URGVVl-TZV6d07ycL-GjLhYSjjHMHtSHOnsdYvXlcMpgkX7lPdH-W_txcdR4ATent3gIwO-lHyXxmeWmEHhOsJiYoc3pFuiBD4iUcM9EBU/s1600/bald+m+jordan.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Aside
from certain medical <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003246.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">conditions</span></a>, if you’re losing your hair, you probably have
your <a href="http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/androgenetic-alopecia" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">genes</span></a> and hormones to blame. And unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot you
can do about either one. You are what you are and your genotype was
predetermined before you ever shot from the womb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As for
the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/68082.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">hormones</span></a>, here’s how they work. Male pattern baldness (MPB) occurs in men
who have a predisposed sensitivity to the hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
I’m sure you recognize the “-testosterone” base of that term. That’s because it’s
a form of male sex hormone. In men with sensitivity, the DHT acts like a toxin
on the hair follicles, starving them of nutrients, causing them to shrink, and
eventually shutting down the hair’s growth phase. And the areas most affected?
Those on the top and sides of the head, resulting in the characteristic “horseshoe”
pattern of MPB.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8Ksiufzg5Ov0ulTEv4nVEuGeu_o9P8X5o7O3pMNgN3inhf9sW0_QfRanpajz8FkUoy4ijmN96qmQHpsUJLLAejFtYIKEnNz9HDeuTaFalzXnGlxgJDtTJwB2voQQePzLkWAa_HUNmJo/s1600/baldMark+Kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8Ksiufzg5Ov0ulTEv4nVEuGeu_o9P8X5o7O3pMNgN3inhf9sW0_QfRanpajz8FkUoy4ijmN96qmQHpsUJLLAejFtYIKEnNz9HDeuTaFalzXnGlxgJDtTJwB2voQQePzLkWAa_HUNmJo/s320/baldMark+Kelly.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So
what’s a guy to do? There are probably as many home <a href="http://www.homeremedyshop.com/50-home-remedies-for-baldness/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">remedies</span></a> as there are bald
heads on the planet. Most of them involve some sort of herbal concoction you
massage on your gourd. There’s licorice root, aloe vera, onion juice, and
fenugreek (whatever the hell that is). If you have a sweet tooth, you can use
honey, yogurt, banana, or cinnamon powder. Or, if you’re a manly man, you can choose
castor oil, black pepper, camphor, or snake gourd. I’m pretty sure the results
will be the same…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
instead of reaching for a remedy, perhaps you should consider the razor. It
turns out, a shaved head says a lot about the man underneath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">First,
let’s take a peek at a few of the cultural manifestations of shaved heads.
There are many situations associated with head shaving – not all of them good.
But I like to accentuate the positive, so we’ll breeze past the contexts of
prison internment, lice infestation, and Nazi punishment, and instead, focus on
the finer aspects of baldness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc91Bh9HtRlLGqgflbr6EwCccBtQVWotoDK5DrHTKKNCNIJ-dzXVXHvgsUGHfieT3hJUNEgfTp7f2BwB5wX7xgoap3ArOnO0LFtOLsANGT0SzhailGzdxXOF5-iQhnU3eYIRN2JBcDYkg/s1600/bald+agassi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc91Bh9HtRlLGqgflbr6EwCccBtQVWotoDK5DrHTKKNCNIJ-dzXVXHvgsUGHfieT3hJUNEgfTp7f2BwB5wX7xgoap3ArOnO0LFtOLsANGT0SzhailGzdxXOF5-iQhnU3eYIRN2JBcDYkg/s1600/bald+agassi.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">In many
cultures, shaving the head is a rite of passage, especially when it comes to
religion. Buddhist monks prepare for the priesthood by having their heads
shaved, a symbolic commitment to the Holy Life. Hare Krishna do the same as a
way of renouncing materialism, although they may leave a tiny tuft on the back
to distinguish themselves from their Buddhist brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Many
branches of the military require shearing of recruits and even the ancient
Romans sported bald heads, although they tended to pluck instead of shave. (Ouch!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS9oNMrACuPC7Soc5wDy_LpVmNOsA6KMPRtuvcFXGtD010TfiRpwEdvLH6lKM3XxFpREBCz7ll5jjbb1xtuRgi4sBJ41h8WBaP2kXS1v43l2HSzAxvgmlxc1dCLH7kKfIIi9lLmPAw18/s1600/bald+Dwayne_Johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS9oNMrACuPC7Soc5wDy_LpVmNOsA6KMPRtuvcFXGtD010TfiRpwEdvLH6lKM3XxFpREBCz7ll5jjbb1xtuRgi4sBJ41h8WBaP2kXS1v43l2HSzAxvgmlxc1dCLH7kKfIIi9lLmPAw18/s320/bald+Dwayne_Johnson.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But the
best news for bald men comes from a recent <a href="http://opim.wharton.upenn.edu/DPlab/papers/publishedPapers/Mannes_2012_%20Shorn%20scalps%20and%20perceptions%20of%20male%20dominance.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">study</span></a> out of the University of
Pennsylvania. The folks at the Wharton School experimented on people’s
perception of the shaved head, and the overwhelming response was that men with
shaved heads were perceived as stronger, taller, more confident, more
masculine and, finally, more dominant than their hairy counterparts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So if
you’re losing your hair, try embracing your baldness. It certainly worked for
my father. Regardless of his baldness (or perhaps because of it), he was a
singular badass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrhFBjmgZBlPeArVa41prz-1aHzXHAD9eQkWDy7UEpZTXYKed5_yQY6BczS9hkqvBA028cY8skQQ07td1qS-yXPgacXE1GIrmLJBdWWLdeazBO6nXdfxMyoPFmmXI1Hhxn4FK1FHJV38/s1600/bald+gandhi-quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrhFBjmgZBlPeArVa41prz-1aHzXHAD9eQkWDy7UEpZTXYKed5_yQY6BczS9hkqvBA028cY8skQQ07td1qS-yXPgacXE1GIrmLJBdWWLdeazBO6nXdfxMyoPFmmXI1Hhxn4FK1FHJV38/s400/bald+gandhi-quotes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.menshealth.com/grooming/should-you-shave-your-head" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Here's</span></a> a nice article on the subject...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Related (manly) Posts</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/hairy-beasts.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Hairy Beasts</span></a></i></span></div>
<div>
<i style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-art-of-man.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Art of Man</span></a></i></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-natural-history-of-penis.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">A Natural History of the Penis</span></a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-31121202468313745982015-05-22T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T09:32:04.668-05:00A Meditation on Decapitation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyO1lFZnr6SdIVxnou-84exiexcJLknVYj3fQQf3rXMvOoS5Z2uxh5QTs9vwP0n5PlOXvVBFPOtjA6TSnii30WyMVlwuHg3bWGvN24qIdPtl9Of0eHFQcq4UYcKplPoNaIxSDQHFIkks/s1600/decap+old+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyO1lFZnr6SdIVxnou-84exiexcJLknVYj3fQQf3rXMvOoS5Z2uxh5QTs9vwP0n5PlOXvVBFPOtjA6TSnii30WyMVlwuHg3bWGvN24qIdPtl9Of0eHFQcq4UYcKplPoNaIxSDQHFIkks/s320/decap+old+man.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As a
natural extension of last week’s piece on <a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-circumcision-decision.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">circumcision</span></a>, I’ve found myself thinking
about decapitation. During my years as a medic, I never had the opportunity to see
a decapitation, although I glimpsed gory photos taken by comrades in the field: horrific wrecks in which the car and driver were transformed into convertibles; the motorcyclist who inadvertently raced his cycle beneath the hidden guide
wire. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">There
are many dangerous ways to lose your head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhMsAWF-yLmOsOnjIr4izW7rglpbSQFgn6X2ZmBxhiPu7oe3PU1pSvIYjtlBqn7gy5e8viIJpVrdG4Lq_cNpFe62-rBxhhVodZ1FpOvQaT76t1b6UeV-0X88bEjCUqpGZpfzcnzOMgYI/s1600/decap+john+the+baptist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhMsAWF-yLmOsOnjIr4izW7rglpbSQFgn6X2ZmBxhiPu7oe3PU1pSvIYjtlBqn7gy5e8viIJpVrdG4Lq_cNpFe62-rBxhhVodZ1FpOvQaT76t1b6UeV-0X88bEjCUqpGZpfzcnzOMgYI/s320/decap+john+the+baptist.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Thoughts of decapitation get the philosophical juices flowing. Does the person
feel pain? Is he aware of his surroundings? I’ve often wondered what the
victim experiences once the head has been separated from the body. Perhaps
nothing. But for the sake of argument, let’s imagine for a moment what it feels
like to be beheaded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">First,
let’s tackle the pain factor. Although there are over three million pain
<a href="http://www.riversideonline.com/health_reference/Nervous-System/PN00017.cfm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">receptors</span> </a>throughout the human body, there are none within the brain. Thus, the
brain itself cannot feel pain, which is why surgeons are able to perform brain
<a href="http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/neurosurgery/patient-stories/anna.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">surgery</span> </a>on conscious patients. But that doesn’t mean a decapitation isn’t
painful, since there are plenty of pain receptors in the neck (ask anyone who’s
ever suffered whiplash). So the decapitation would certainly elicit a painful
response. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCMDenWMaNIs5KHgdd9a6VgdAUyb0l3FYmhnhYmHiBiYh6CKtexirY9Z0FQdEYucycvL-2lneC-mnjXU7swR8oxUQHUbct15HYarbgUApxyXrcM6_zs4zhOTKF5kukuZCCIdNi_Utwy8/s1600/decap+goliath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCMDenWMaNIs5KHgdd9a6VgdAUyb0l3FYmhnhYmHiBiYh6CKtexirY9Z0FQdEYucycvL-2lneC-mnjXU7swR8oxUQHUbct15HYarbgUApxyXrcM6_zs4zhOTKF5kukuZCCIdNi_Utwy8/s320/decap+goliath.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
would the person be aware of the pain? That’s where consciousness comes in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">At its
most basic, <a href="http://www.livescience.com/47096-theories-seek-to-explain-consciousness.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">consciousness</span></a> is defined as the state of being aware of one’s
surroundings. Let’s not digress into the philosophical theories of
consciousness, for philosophy is like a wormhole: who knows where we’ll end
up. Let’s stick to physiology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">There
are several <a href="http://www.healthblurbs.com/causes-of-unconscious-unconsciousness-loss-of-consciousness-blackout/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">conditions</span> </a>that cause unconsciousness: low blood sugar, psychological
stress, and abnormal heart rhythms. But if we’re talking about decapitation, we’re
strictly concerned with blood loss, for if the head is detached from the body, blood flow is no longer an option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Although
the <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/brain-death1.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">brain</span></a> can survive for up to six minutes after the heart stops beating,
consciousness is another story. Since the brain cannot store oxygen, rapid
blood loss means unconsciousness occurs in seconds. That’s why you feel
lightheaded if you stand up too quickly. The brain picks up on that drop in
blood pressure and, as a result, you get dizzy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEp7MAMHllGJAlSPeKcetePGKqN338fzAAgn3ReYcLKV43p8qVwV99Lizdfee52Yuj2T4uv_KRhCIYl1cg0FgZJ3MO84xKHPJtsMNwHWJAs33nI_odsfU_ZzFVzs8SXL0osk9Zb1jx-s/s1600/decap+italian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEp7MAMHllGJAlSPeKcetePGKqN338fzAAgn3ReYcLKV43p8qVwV99Lizdfee52Yuj2T4uv_KRhCIYl1cg0FgZJ3MO84xKHPJtsMNwHWJAs33nI_odsfU_ZzFVzs8SXL0osk9Zb1jx-s/s320/decap+italian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So maybe
decapitation causes such an immediate loss of blood that unconsciousness is
instantaneous. Then again, maybe not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I’m
hardly the first to wonder about the state of mind of the decapitated. The
scientific literature is dotted with anecdotal evidence of eyewitness accounts
describing facial grimacing, blinking eyes, moving lips, or a wandering gaze.
Whether these are conscious movements or simply remnant neuromuscular
twitching, we’ll never know. But let’s review the scant evidence, just for
argument’s sake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns59GCqoWDTAVjc2MfQ8dnpyaAZuOdUD43MCqqgql1QpzAt4xFgYwdnsyGJ1NUcwW1EcWYRkSocl5dhFvTWDDLfAR-iWVCQFtfgfipgQ-M-2eWFoWbvB8G5M-qwKpsVSX6zd8TpfgvkE/s1600/decap+head+on+platter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns59GCqoWDTAVjc2MfQ8dnpyaAZuOdUD43MCqqgql1QpzAt4xFgYwdnsyGJ1NUcwW1EcWYRkSocl5dhFvTWDDLfAR-iWVCQFtfgfipgQ-M-2eWFoWbvB8G5M-qwKpsVSX6zd8TpfgvkE/s320/decap+head+on+platter.jpg" width="236" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Back
when the French were still enamored of the guillotine, there was a natural
curiosity about the experience of the beheaded. It is said that many of those
sentenced to death were asked to blink, if they were able, once the guillotine
had performed its duty, and there are supposedly reports that some did just
that, for up to 30 seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The most
famous case is that of the criminal, Languille, who was sentenced to the
guillotine for murder. A Dr. Beaurieux observed Languille’s facial expressions immediately
following his beheading, which the doctor then recorded in <i><a href="http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/002239525" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Archives d’Anthropologie Criminelle</span></a></i>. They included the blinking of
eyes and the movement of lips, which lasted for several seconds. When Languille’s
face relaxed, Beaurieux yelled his name and the eyelids slowly rose. Languille
focused his gaze on the good doctor before his eyes slid closed again.
Beaurieux repeated the exercise and was rewarded with one final, purposeful
stare before the eyes glazed over and Languille was declared dead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEgj0DcWS4Y_6_ogju16HKUbLD4z6ASJz-dgUmDxfOTXLwxg4cgbgLp7hejh4FlbrODURBqN7lQewH_sneL3IO050JIS_T0xZDxkvTxKYDsrQlVwXCg2nQgznqnm6UtSrgRNWIv-kfGg/s1600/decap+islamic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEgj0DcWS4Y_6_ogju16HKUbLD4z6ASJz-dgUmDxfOTXLwxg4cgbgLp7hejh4FlbrODURBqN7lQewH_sneL3IO050JIS_T0xZDxkvTxKYDsrQlVwXCg2nQgznqnm6UtSrgRNWIv-kfGg/s320/decap+islamic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Now that
beheading has gone the way of the firing squad, we may never know if the
decapitated are aware. Of the few beheadings that still take place – namely the
barbaric displays by terrorists – we can’t help but wonder about the victims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Certainly
they feel the pain of the blade, for the methods employed are hardly humane.
But once the head is severed, are the victims still aware? Do they experience a fleeting sense of the barbarian standing over them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">God, I
hope not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDHOZXtyGhMVZJBlkEkT7fkwFV6NKF7S8L7wtpdg62zW6ZQZWy-MuCZCzt3I8dg26lBnpP1gIpmXSxJqKnnSzrSQ0vV_Qox5TKXsTkIwR4zIlSRpf9iWZuiHWg0_APSNXLHlHsWN35a4/s1600/decap+lady-jane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDHOZXtyGhMVZJBlkEkT7fkwFV6NKF7S8L7wtpdg62zW6ZQZWy-MuCZCzt3I8dg26lBnpP1gIpmXSxJqKnnSzrSQ0vV_Qox5TKXsTkIwR4zIlSRpf9iWZuiHWg0_APSNXLHlHsWN35a4/s320/decap+lady-jane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
One of my favorite paintings, that hangs in London's National Gallery - The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, by Delaroche.</div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-60695189260955582742015-05-15T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T09:39:45.444-05:00The Circumcision Decision<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs1RiSvTdV3AkheKAh5XLDhYK4E2-a8MVfh-WrJ-gww73QTBcUO11hyxDiic-pqfdHz8nZEAyCGoeYNCgMHMbOwsB0uDKKKEUB0_POQCv8fDz6sN2yFOJ9FTC3u0MWQzZkuHq9O3v_PQ/s1600/circumcision+banana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs1RiSvTdV3AkheKAh5XLDhYK4E2-a8MVfh-WrJ-gww73QTBcUO11hyxDiic-pqfdHz8nZEAyCGoeYNCgMHMbOwsB0uDKKKEUB0_POQCv8fDz6sN2yFOJ9FTC3u0MWQzZkuHq9O3v_PQ/s320/circumcision+banana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Back when I was a new paramedic, I worked at
a Level 1 trauma center. As an inexperienced medic, I was relegated to the most
menial of tasks: drawing blood, monitoring vital signs, and patrolling bodily
fluids. But my least favorite chore was catheterizing patients.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouV5DYAGZTfPTyIzJmtClOKeP-2Y14YFFwQqbZQqwd2qmzpvHxyb2hNunTff-mVbvOBshkS0mNcat1SMz4SpSf1Ska5U_bRfcwl9ux6iWS4hvyRRKh_l7LU-vc1abJz1OJIZHw2werD0/s1600/circumcision+RUBBER-GLOVE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouV5DYAGZTfPTyIzJmtClOKeP-2Y14YFFwQqbZQqwd2qmzpvHxyb2hNunTff-mVbvOBshkS0mNcat1SMz4SpSf1Ska5U_bRfcwl9ux6iWS4hvyRRKh_l7LU-vc1abJz1OJIZHw2werD0/s320/circumcision+RUBBER-GLOVE.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
After a few trial runs, however, I became quite proficient.
I could cath a patient in the blink of an eye. One evening, a frail, elderly
man wandered into our ER, complaining of urinary discomfort. As the catheter
specialist, I was summoned. I prepped my equipment, explained the procedure,
and then discreetly exposed his genitalia. And as I took hold of his member, I
paused for a moment of awe. For the first time, I found myself face to face
with an uncircumcised penis.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I steadied my poker face as I recalculated my
strategy. There was a lot more skin than I was used to, and it took me a few
seconds of floundering before my cath found its mark. As I advanced the tubing (imagine stuffing a straw through a sausage), I found myself
mesmerized by his unusual appendage. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Little did I know, the uncircumcised are hardly
unique. Like most things, it all comes down to culture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdJQlMyxGi1vDlJeZUK5sch_bGClvb6IU_8IURCOSbNhZM6dPrCbpM1AqlRKOViwNjDcPvbxjDpjucGXEWimXw5x_QM-05evMHEt303glj_mDkQ3FcIzNI1ll91I2ZpDjXAytksoKrM4/s1600/circumcision+egypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdJQlMyxGi1vDlJeZUK5sch_bGClvb6IU_8IURCOSbNhZM6dPrCbpM1AqlRKOViwNjDcPvbxjDpjucGXEWimXw5x_QM-05evMHEt303glj_mDkQ3FcIzNI1ll91I2ZpDjXAytksoKrM4/s320/circumcision+egypt.jpg" width="320" /></a>Male circumcision goes back thousands of years. Historians
still <a href="http://www.cirp.org/library/history/dunsmuir1/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">debate</span></a> its origins, but most agree it probably had its roots in rituals
surrounding purification. Since many cultures view sexuality as sinful, removing the foreskin may have served to rein in a man’s sexual proclivities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The most ancient examples come from Egypt, where
historical accounts dating to over five thousand years ago describe the ritual. The procedure
is also recorded in bas relief and found in evidence on mummified remains.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRce7LGIPPdP9RHgZ8vO7q0zRjKqEdCrlJx46zxPsXzyI3SofP3QiAK4CCHKIcLZ-HxNNDPfrgLeaOCdGOf9yYPfFZZE1gwqlJT-Sd2Jc0g1gnHchyF7AomkX94toWgmbeNlDhHAXEJk/s1600/circumcision+baby.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRce7LGIPPdP9RHgZ8vO7q0zRjKqEdCrlJx46zxPsXzyI3SofP3QiAK4CCHKIcLZ-HxNNDPfrgLeaOCdGOf9yYPfFZZE1gwqlJT-Sd2Jc0g1gnHchyF7AomkX94toWgmbeNlDhHAXEJk/s320/circumcision+baby.bmp" width="240" /></a>Although Jews adopted the practice early on, the Romans
were rather fond of their foreskin, and passed laws to protect their precious
prepuces. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In many cultures, there is great ceremony surrounding circumcision. The Jewish <a href="http://judaism.about.com/od/lifeevents/a/britmilah.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Bris</span></a> (technically called a “Bris Mila,”
meaning “covenant of circumcision”) is symbolic of God’s promise that the
Jewish people will live on; thus its focus on that imperative male organ. It is
traditionally performed by a <i>mohel</i>, someone
specially trained in wielding a knife. Once the baby has been snipped, the
guests are free to gorge themselves on the Seudat Mitzvah (aka, religious
feast). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
But circumcision is hardly restricted to the Jews.
It is found all over the globe in varying frequencies; about one-third of all
males worldwide. In the US, circumcision first became a medicalized practice
around 1870 and, as hospital births became the norm, it became part and parcel
to the medicalization of birthing, as well as a symbol of status. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-KeWhch2dTISIYIkdKIsA-zrxB-0vJfk-PARt-NfIh-7wADTgLFA5_vSBNsvh0qoUN-H86rsz0g9WC3HoWjwlID_9jfZGOsEbqXtYNT7-A_v3HvAEcB17VeCdDdXUl40WoC-z0NcIGI/s1600/circumcision+diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-KeWhch2dTISIYIkdKIsA-zrxB-0vJfk-PARt-NfIh-7wADTgLFA5_vSBNsvh0qoUN-H86rsz0g9WC3HoWjwlID_9jfZGOsEbqXtYNT7-A_v3HvAEcB17VeCdDdXUl40WoC-z0NcIGI/s320/circumcision+diagram.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In America, the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/circumcision_2013/circumcision_2013.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">rate</span></a> stands around sixty percent, with
slight variations based on race and ethnicity. In the UK, about half of all male
Londoners are circumcised, and the same holds true for Canada. In the Land Down
Under, sixty-nine percent of Aussie-born males are circumcised, yet in nearby New Zealand,
it’s only around forty percent. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the overall rate is around sixty-two percent, and
many circumcisions are performed later in life. The same goes for the
Philippines, where over half of those circumcised are put under the knife in
their teens.</div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRHkbanuS9RTV-jGGcIkq1es9EcYL9FcliNZsmJXJ6AtDMcK6L6gAAugvU7yqG4zZYjSSwspjvq8z5e6rPYxyvb9zmNJm6uDqIrOPbIq483dFB8tDn_ajg5Xf6Ay4nYmfeMFD3OJCEwQ/s1600/circumcision+adult+ritual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRHkbanuS9RTV-jGGcIkq1es9EcYL9FcliNZsmJXJ6AtDMcK6L6gAAugvU7yqG4zZYjSSwspjvq8z5e6rPYxyvb9zmNJm6uDqIrOPbIq483dFB8tDn_ajg5Xf6Ay4nYmfeMFD3OJCEwQ/s320/circumcision+adult+ritual.jpg" width="320" /></a>But circumcision is falling out of favor, at least
here in America, despite the fact that it affords certain health benefits.
According to the <a href="https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/newborn-male-circumcision.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">American Association of Pediatrics</span></a>, a circumcised penis is
less prone to STDs such as herpes, HPV, and syphilis; there’s a markedly
lower risk of acquiring HIV; and it reduces the incidence of urinary tract
infections and certain rare forms of cancer. Most of this comes down to
hygiene. The less skin there is, the easier it is to keep clean. So if you
sport foreskin, be sure to scrub up. And regardless of your foreskin status, be
sure to always glove up!<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p> </o:p>The decision to circumcise is not only based on
medicine, it is also highly social. Like many aspects of culture – what you eat,
what you wear, the traditions you follow – circumcision has much to do with the
group to which you belong. If the majority of men around you are circumcised,
chances are you will be too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As for which is more attractive, it really comes
down to personal preference. And just as we discussed in last week’s <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-eye-of-beholder.html" style="color: red;" target="_blank">post</a>, b</span>eauty is in the eye of the beholder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p> </o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC8Rcbaale63EGwWJbu26DoQbJd-qOoyIcFJQjxTBhSijKVCxBC5PaUvfYiHGIP_J9ZF7LrlkoX6JfPrXPWpqvvKnC5Tl0Ks86SVRtOqJFiNPA4FylxLSbE0I_QKiSLNjDaQJ48BsA7c/s1600/circumcision+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC8Rcbaale63EGwWJbu26DoQbJd-qOoyIcFJQjxTBhSijKVCxBC5PaUvfYiHGIP_J9ZF7LrlkoX6JfPrXPWpqvvKnC5Tl0Ks86SVRtOqJFiNPA4FylxLSbE0I_QKiSLNjDaQJ48BsA7c/s320/circumcision+cartoon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-10713856602760721762015-05-08T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T10:03:58.174-05:00The Eye of the Beholder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgByp9qi3IOnj1kePg5mLneaDqgCmumzTrDFNa2WUrsrs84B2f6SXMZjgO7M7I2qkUTzcXLQcGRH2cQOOTHbDeeNpCkYNIdJBoNLIIZ0sXjZy0ejYj4Iq_pa5zBaojfDC3rUHgREC6XzA/s1600/Eye+main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgByp9qi3IOnj1kePg5mLneaDqgCmumzTrDFNa2WUrsrs84B2f6SXMZjgO7M7I2qkUTzcXLQcGRH2cQOOTHbDeeNpCkYNIdJBoNLIIZ0sXjZy0ejYj4Iq_pa5zBaojfDC3rUHgREC6XzA/s320/Eye+main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I want
you to take a moment and imagine a beautiful human. Since this blog is read around
the world, I’m betting the range of faces that come to mind is staggering. That’s
because beauty can be an elusive concept, and what constitutes it varies from
place to place. It really comes down to culture.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Bj-WVNVBETFMbg64FBlRRW2zPgk2lTO-oUGuJdegMQFS4ddnn92lLUgfT5cZLPkIydSwt3mLSv952m9ciXmFf66FzlQPrkNp4Hd0rShnTfT7B1hvx73hruIc959rKFzDUNO5B7DRQSs/s1600/eye+nat+geo+girl.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Bj-WVNVBETFMbg64FBlRRW2zPgk2lTO-oUGuJdegMQFS4ddnn92lLUgfT5cZLPkIydSwt3mLSv952m9ciXmFf66FzlQPrkNp4Hd0rShnTfT7B1hvx73hruIc959rKFzDUNO5B7DRQSs/s1600/eye+nat+geo+girl.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Last
week’s <i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/model-behavior.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Model Behavior</span></a></i> got me thinking
about the concept of beauty and I found myself flashing back to my childhood. I
grew up reading <i>National Geographic</i>, flipping through its glossy pages, entranced
by the exotic people staring back at me from those beautiful photographs. It
taught me early on that humans come in a wide range of colors, practice
radically different customs, and do some amazing things with their bodies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But my
adolescent brain was confounded. Why would people poke giant holes in their
earlobes, chisel scars across their flesh, or insert pins in the least likely
places? (My first glance at a penis pin nearly knocked me out of my chair!) Fortunately,
as I matured and accumulated a few degrees in anthropology, I came to
appreciate the fact that humans manipulate their bodies for various reasons, sometimes religious or symbolic, but mainly in their quest for beauty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1s1GouSbp57d2iO-QPGfnts3uFY3scZ3xn_WandymokDGYYFU-1QyyjEij7HwPra3nLSZypTBanjsxzJfQzLJGD1zwswRiMBjIhEkbmCjjKJGH30orbDXsbwhXQ6sLwdH8HQopqfr4U/s1600/eye+scarification.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1s1GouSbp57d2iO-QPGfnts3uFY3scZ3xn_WandymokDGYYFU-1QyyjEij7HwPra3nLSZypTBanjsxzJfQzLJGD1zwswRiMBjIhEkbmCjjKJGH30orbDXsbwhXQ6sLwdH8HQopqfr4U/s320/eye+scarification.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Take
those scars, for example. In the US, we go to great lengths to minimize, erase,
or conceal our scars. Yet if we take a quick trip across the globe, scars take
on a whole new <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0728_040728_tvtabooscars_2.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">meaning</span></a>. Among the Karo of Ethiopia, men sport scars to
represent their warfare prowess. Karo women, on the other hand, do it merely
for esthetics. These intricate etchings are considered alluring and represent a
woman’s sensuality. And Ethiopians are not alone, for scarification is found in
many parts of the world, from the dusty Australian Outback to the lush island
of New Guinea. The custom has even found its way into the U.S. for, it seems, tattoos are now only for the faint of heart . For the more daring among us, the needle has been supplanted by the
blade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-NWobGUs_OoOsaB3PpO556BU605ljo-CwzBYV13FeEj31bbdxnTm8vz-PLnQrCkdr-4j1WUcITF3kddLITJwnwCwoevatXy-MyKThfirFxzAoJnpU6_dhfRdQayngG_Z-dQRF6_Jqc8/s1600/eye+maori+facial+tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-NWobGUs_OoOsaB3PpO556BU605ljo-CwzBYV13FeEj31bbdxnTm8vz-PLnQrCkdr-4j1WUcITF3kddLITJwnwCwoevatXy-MyKThfirFxzAoJnpU6_dhfRdQayngG_Z-dQRF6_Jqc8/s1600/eye+maori+facial+tattoo.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Other
forms of superficial beautification include <a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/06/body-art.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">tattoos</span></a> and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1127091/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">piercings</span></a>, widespread
customs believed to enhance the appearance of their hosts. Among the Maori of
New Zealand, facial tattoos, known as “moko,” not only represent tribal
affiliation (and scare the bejesus out of </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">their foes), but emphasize a woman’s
desirability. Like tattoos, piercings come in all shapes and sizes and can be
placed just about anywhere on the body. Extreme piercings, such as ear spools,
have been worn for over five thousand years, from China to Africa to the Americas, as status symbols. The women of Borneo have taken it one step further.
By adorning their ears with weights, they stretch their lobes to unimaginable
lengths. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And they're hardly alone, for ear stretching has shown up in some surprising places, from Egypt's King Tutankhamen to Otzi, the five-thousand-year-old frozen Alpine mummy. Even the statues of Easter Island sport elongated earlobes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEdJSfSrh0CGNsLli0d10LoS3l2DLav9lVbNLHaqSoV4sBzhV8kxz2zEv4sVPgBU22HwpXhzzshs1GLV5nsvq7IkT1hDm2MnvRCLvKV2Ljy1jly2nM7dUiLcNHLQY7fGdYIngBCb0lZs/s1600/eye+stretched+earlobes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEdJSfSrh0CGNsLli0d10LoS3l2DLav9lVbNLHaqSoV4sBzhV8kxz2zEv4sVPgBU22HwpXhzzshs1GLV5nsvq7IkT1hDm2MnvRCLvKV2Ljy1jly2nM7dUiLcNHLQY7fGdYIngBCb0lZs/s1600/eye+stretched+earlobes.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Earlobes
aren’t the only body part that is elongated for the sake of beauty. Don’t get
excited, boys, I’m referring to </span><a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/taboo/videos/neck-rings/" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">neck rings</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">. Probably the best known
practitioners are among the Kayan of Northern Thailand. Known affectionately as
the “giraffe” tribe, Kayan women strive for beauty one ring at a time. The
process begins around the age of five and continues into adulthood. Length is
achieved not by stretching the neck but by flattening the collarbones, making
the neck appear longer than it actually is. Like many forms of beauty, it is but
an illusion.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq_wTarkCfQMeuKemLN71IRC7roXYITs-49s9CDqbnkgKXSidDrkbhEn6FOghnd7s2Sa1n0r5wDOjXA9b41-j7Elu2ywbjRmlxgnM1cKJzT_3-s5lR5FHAnF3mw3tJFY_lAf2S_beJu8/s1600/eye+neck+rings+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq_wTarkCfQMeuKemLN71IRC7roXYITs-49s9CDqbnkgKXSidDrkbhEn6FOghnd7s2Sa1n0r5wDOjXA9b41-j7Elu2ywbjRmlxgnM1cKJzT_3-s5lR5FHAnF3mw3tJFY_lAf2S_beJu8/s320/eye+neck+rings+child.jpg" width="274" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Evolutionary
psychologists have been <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/02/health/mental-health/beauty-brain-research/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">arguing</span></a> about the basis of beauty for decades. The
universalists concede that culture plays a role in the perception of beauty,
but they argue there are certain underlying fundamentals, such as facial symmetry,
a clear complexion, and large eyes. In the opposite corner stand the
relativists, who believe beauty, like other aspects of humanity, is a
culture-bound phenomenon. How else to explain the bizarre expressions seen
around the globe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">To me,
it’s something deeper. Sure, it helps if both sides of your face match, and big
eyes and clear skin are always a plus. But there are some who lack all of these
attributes, yet are still astoundingly beautiful. I guess it comes down to
what’s inside.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/07/02/global_standards_of_beauty_esther_honig_asks_25_countries_to_make_her_beautiful.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Here's</span></a> a fascinating article on the cultural concept of beauty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Related Posts</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/05/selecting-for-sex.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Selecting for Sex</span></a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/biting-bling.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Biting Bling</span></a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-beauty-of-feet.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Beauty of Feet</span></a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-2927247859025649072015-05-01T06:00:00.000-04:002018-12-21T12:50:47.514-05:00Model Behavior<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A4iyl-sSMbPibjzKS3d5S5thiRQQfmXN0ECTdTTVewVw_Stc210fs-1E9dD3f2M-uvfVke_lgIpZ2J_PSCj3HX2BSaDLnGwAPQ3SipG1l0sRaWrGhOYsRdAgqkLL558edxNBvR4wHh0/s1600/modeling+main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A4iyl-sSMbPibjzKS3d5S5thiRQQfmXN0ECTdTTVewVw_Stc210fs-1E9dD3f2M-uvfVke_lgIpZ2J_PSCj3HX2BSaDLnGwAPQ3SipG1l0sRaWrGhOYsRdAgqkLL558edxNBvR4wHh0/s1600/modeling+main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">This may
sound preposterous, but long before I became an archaeologist and, before that,
a firefighter, I dreamt of being a model. Like many teens, I devoured the
fashion magazines – Vogue and Elle were my bibles. But for me, it wasn’t so
much the fashion, it was more the amazing photographs of those beautifully
svelte women. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Their body proportions were astounding: they were tall, lithe, and, most importantly, incredibly thin. Everything a young girl aspired to be.
So as I prepared for high school, I dieted like a fiend, losing the subtle
layer of baby fat I had been toting since childhood, transforming myself into a
willowy wisp of an adolescent. I was ready.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCqdidfh0BZDidBfNG4cFNQ5fNTxTxuMDuwAt8h1rAnbHjn4xXRjvC6XuZpnNsihTLFmjP3yfv0SwOVk0gR_V2k6wiKcu6_O1nFtAqDSnvpMzOS7qzUV7LFOVxW17Z1RtGQMmhiB7F-g/s1600/Modeling+2+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCqdidfh0BZDidBfNG4cFNQ5fNTxTxuMDuwAt8h1rAnbHjn4xXRjvC6XuZpnNsihTLFmjP3yfv0SwOVk0gR_V2k6wiKcu6_O1nFtAqDSnvpMzOS7qzUV7LFOVxW17Z1RtGQMmhiB7F-g/s1600/Modeling+2+cropped.jpg" width="177" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Despite
sprouting to a meager five feet seven inches, I was signed by a top local agency and finally got
a taste of my dream profession. But after several shoots and shows, I soon
discovered that life as a model fell short of my visions of grandeur. Don’t get
me wrong, there was nothing like the thrill of the catwalk and the money was
ridiculous, considering what little effort went in to strutting around in
designer wear. It’s just that it lacked purpose. Fortunately, college led me to
paramedic school, which led me straight into the fire service. The only problem
was, it required another bodily transformation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3nLLJ0-Ii8gmIY9ixqv22aJRFURDCj1DcWKxrVlcxuKZbXe3uFPKKX8XRGqc0pAyAdr8dDwcH8gMQv2Y6rudUYny8ed2jOtT4F4HB7UGmYKHGYbb7285S1mkRRE6TCi9bc4J0mxUMj8/s1600/model+marge+simpson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3nLLJ0-Ii8gmIY9ixqv22aJRFURDCj1DcWKxrVlcxuKZbXe3uFPKKX8XRGqc0pAyAdr8dDwcH8gMQv2Y6rudUYny8ed2jOtT4F4HB7UGmYKHGYbb7285S1mkRRE6TCi9bc4J0mxUMj8/s1600/model+marge+simpson.jpg" width="171" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The thin
frame I acquired for modeling was ill-equipped for the rigors of firefighting,
so I set to work, running, lifting, and pumping my way to a muscled physique.
And it’s a good thing I did. It turns out maintaining the body of a model, in
all its emaciated splendor, is anything but glamourous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Let’s
start with what a healthy body looks like. The average woman should be <a href="http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/normal-ranges-of-body-weight-and-body-fat" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">composed</span></a>
of about twenty-two percent body fat. That’s because fat plays a fundamental <a href="http://www.newhealthguide.org/Function-Of-Fats-In-The-Body.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">role</span></a> in the
body’s metabolism. It provides a backup energy source when carbohydrates are
scarce, it absorbs vital nutrients, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K; and it
helps maintain proper body temperature. So you can imagine what happens to an
individual who lacks the necessary fat stores. And the situation is only
compounded by the extreme dieting most models undertake in order to maintain
their fat-free physiques.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The most
serious culprits are those strutting the catwalk. Let’s face it, clothes look
best on tall, thin frames. That’s why the average size on the runway runs
between 0 and 2 – hardly your typical body. So for a model to compete, she must
maintain a frame that fits the bill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96HuHrQOwx3D4z3jX3vC9_PyrBY-sfNHn6nOO42EPl_dUu4i4g5YqBOPwGfu2FumGWaHcZ4V8GTStOzT1dSSCLxPar0WJD6kVuC8kXKy1rMiQxHT6ltxTUkmMwd95BhJST7iUcAU_FJM/s1600/alex-perry-model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1147" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96HuHrQOwx3D4z3jX3vC9_PyrBY-sfNHn6nOO42EPl_dUu4i4g5YqBOPwGfu2FumGWaHcZ4V8GTStOzT1dSSCLxPar0WJD6kVuC8kXKy1rMiQxHT6ltxTUkmMwd95BhJST7iUcAU_FJM/s320/alex-perry-model.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Those
skeletal silhouettes are achieved through <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/models-eating-disorders/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">extreme</span></a> measures, from drugs such as
amphetamines, to the use of colonics and juice diets, to the tried-and-true
method of simple starvation. And the older the model, the harder it is to keep
the weight off. That’s one reason the industry preys on youth – prepubescents
come in smaller, lighter packages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But this
industry not only harms the models, it wreaks havoc on the psyches of girls
everywhere. The result? An epidemic of eating disorders, driven by the
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2533817/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">marketing</span></a> of unrealistic body types.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Eating
disorders affect around seventy million people worldwide – twenty-four million of those in
the US, alone (and this statistic is from 2002!). Ninety percent of women with
eating disorders are between the ages of twelve and twenty-five and, in a ghoulish survey, half the women questioned said they would rather be hit by a truck than be fat. Come
on!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrBouYHNRy1iAHq59yqa_BUAcM57s7Ef_IjVyR4JyP9lmPHtPFejs8svG7rwvlCpU894BatAXkdQrASCcsjBK7Uwx3g3aILbczMO3YOlxL833WtbcNgjHLJH9Zz29DzTYa1zVfxhPQ7E/s1600/model+young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrBouYHNRy1iAHq59yqa_BUAcM57s7Ef_IjVyR4JyP9lmPHtPFejs8svG7rwvlCpU894BatAXkdQrASCcsjBK7Uwx3g3aILbczMO3YOlxL833WtbcNgjHLJH9Zz29DzTYa1zVfxhPQ7E/s1600/model+young.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/anorexia-nervosa" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Anorexia</span></a>
is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents, which is
frightening, considering that same anorexic is about twelve times more likely to
die an early death. In fact, about twenty percent of people suffering from anorexia will
die prematurely due to complications that accompany this syndrome; typically, cardiac abnormalities or suicide. And the body issues that drive this disorder
are creeping into an ever-younger age group. According to a study in the <i>Journal of the American
Dietetic Association</i>, eighty-one percent of ten year olds claimed they were afraid of becoming
fat and over half the nine and ten year olds surveyed said they felt better about
themselves when they were dieting. <i>Time Magazine</i> reported that eighty percent of all
children have been on a diet by the time they reach the fourth grade!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/nutrition_&_eating_concerns/body_image.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Body image</span></a> is a complicated issue, driven by many factors, most notably the media. Fortunately,
the fashion industry is taking note. The Council of Fashion Designers of
America has developed <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/cfda-health-guidelines-for-models_n_1236213.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">guidelines</span></a> to address the issue of underweight (and underage)
models on the catwalk. So perhaps there’s hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I guess
I was lucky. By trading couture for a bunker coat, I avoided the mania of
modeling and was rewarded with a fulfilling career as a firefighter. And now
that I’m a bioarchaeologist, my build is truly irrelevant. The skeletons I work
on couldn't care less what size I am.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLg6qOZ2zvdLIi4SORGwMsHbyV5NRbgN4DjgTwiukMmBgplFeoKPIxQ8C9vxXJyzjDeVLsQsmkJG9TmAqHUS-meRA1qcSVapAuSrheX8He8RXfk6ltmj5HXuKigEKpqgxAT-7NBRVybk/s1600/Ra+tri+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLg6qOZ2zvdLIi4SORGwMsHbyV5NRbgN4DjgTwiukMmBgplFeoKPIxQ8C9vxXJyzjDeVLsQsmkJG9TmAqHUS-meRA1qcSVapAuSrheX8He8RXfk6ltmj5HXuKigEKpqgxAT-7NBRVybk/s1600/Ra+tri+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Related Posts</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/11/size-matters.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Size Matters</span></a></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/killer-culture.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Killer Culture</span></a></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/05/selecting-for-sex.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Selecting for Sex</span></a></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-36111696469584847082015-04-24T06:00:00.001-04:002021-03-15T10:32:19.305-04:00How to Stop a Bullet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPafZvhDtOWaaG6eOaTdWi2VVm-f9DDO60Yg_wrqXcxkiWAQFHlb-_g8PUo3d3VH9gbpVS0VOqUxU8zEsR6EfXI-KaziUqpR3SplyHY_DFZ14ISsqlgykkZa_XCdM6cRK-NZRJUtXKyM/s1600/bullet+shooting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPafZvhDtOWaaG6eOaTdWi2VVm-f9DDO60Yg_wrqXcxkiWAQFHlb-_g8PUo3d3VH9gbpVS0VOqUxU8zEsR6EfXI-KaziUqpR3SplyHY_DFZ14ISsqlgykkZa_XCdM6cRK-NZRJUtXKyM/s1600/bullet+shooting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Americans
sure love their guns. Nothing says the “US of A” like the stars and stripes, Mom’s apple pie, and an AR-15. The latest <a href="http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/united-states" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">tally</span></a> boasts around three hundred thousand guns in the United States – and that’s just handguns. If you throw in their cousins, the
rifles and shotguns, the numbers soar to the millions (110 and 86,
respectively). Yes, Americans sure love their guns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I must admit, I’m a gun owner. I keep a .357 at my bedside (to
scare off unwanted midnight callers), and a .22 hidden in the kitchen (to ward off a
baking ambush). When I moved away from home, the first thing my father handed
me was a gun. He came from a long line of responsible gun owners and, to tell
you the truth, as a female living alone, I don’t feel safe unless there’s a gun
within easy reach. I admit, it’s a sickness…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqRG2SO7XEcLSNRTAIm9o02YNcxGQ-Aw9Tv7jpjq-afdxOrHQmitJHlKs7Lf1ll5NDYc_-y2b3t5DkBVSJwFFWK7LD_1FOV_88Dt96YIxnjCkeDsvjHFdDFmPXgI5G73blauZOU_qnX8/s1600/bullet+amer+flag.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqRG2SO7XEcLSNRTAIm9o02YNcxGQ-Aw9Tv7jpjq-afdxOrHQmitJHlKs7Lf1ll5NDYc_-y2b3t5DkBVSJwFFWK7LD_1FOV_88Dt96YIxnjCkeDsvjHFdDFmPXgI5G73blauZOU_qnX8/s1600/bullet+amer+flag.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But gun ownership
has taken on frightening dimensions in the US. The latest craze (Freudian
slip) is <a href="http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/criminal-offense/when-its-illegal-to-own-a-bullet-proof-vest" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">personal</span></a> body armor. Gun enthusiasts are no longer satisfied with owning
assault rifles, now they want to sport Kevlar vests, to boot. Seriously??... I
know life can be dangerous, and everyone has the right to protect himself,
but if you feel the need to wear a vest, perhaps you should consider a new
hobby, move to a better neighborhood, or seek counseling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Today’s
body armor is a manufacturing marvel. These high-tech vests sport state of the
art materials and light-weight construction, and can be easily concealed beneath
clothing. But this wasn’t always the case. Body armor, like the weapons it protects against, has evolved through the ages. Let’s take a quick tour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYCj7XjnDxBIymQSiyjYPUfJJVIu53SA9tMjbVSsp0SZN1NffMlAsmWZQHkHLCHYdNFJ6NoFFXuBSmFqXgLXScg1hVr4fSKlPa5gBf-uiYNLRjrZN7YDuoNGFO6VaQGeFIRpaowkE8Cg/s1600/bullet+chinese+armor.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYCj7XjnDxBIymQSiyjYPUfJJVIu53SA9tMjbVSsp0SZN1NffMlAsmWZQHkHLCHYdNFJ6NoFFXuBSmFqXgLXScg1hVr4fSKlPa5gBf-uiYNLRjrZN7YDuoNGFO6VaQGeFIRpaowkE8Cg/s1600/bullet+chinese+armor.jpg" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
earliest forms of protection were animal hides. Over two thousand years ago,
the Chinese prepared for battle by strapping on the skins of rhinos, which not
only protected against clubs and arrows, but would have also doubled as top-notch
rain gear. Pacific islanders wove coconut palm fibers into protective garbs,
since rhinos were in short supply and coconuts plentiful. The clever Greeks
carried bronze shields into battle, while warriors in Central America wore
quilted armor, which protected them from weapons, but unfortunately was no match for <a href="http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/variables/smallpox.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">smallpox</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As
metallurgy <a href="http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa89" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">evolved</span></a>, so did our means of protection. Chain mail, linked rings
or wires made from a variety of metals, was developed around 400 BC in the present-day region of Ukraine. The trend quickly spread and before long, these metallic garments were seen throughout Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Scale
armor was also in vogue. These overlapping plates were made from metal,
leather, horn, or bone and were as effective as the rhino gear, minus the
ticks and stench. But the pinnacle of armor emerged around the 14<sup>th</sup>
century when the invention of the crossbow necessitated a bit more protection. Thus, full body armor was born, and these well-protected combatants, decked out
in their fancy tin cans, clanked their way to victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7VGk1x4RqB7rrgMfS7iyQ61ZaDwinPsRexPW6zvLTw6VcdpaXvGO0ns6NVKcLjJBL8HY0s6oA_rpNBXHCt0V9HSdhGbX6nYbd5IvjgEyI7SRruW30wxWNbzcJ_1kPqd9SnTj10f82xc/s1600/bullet+gunpowder.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7VGk1x4RqB7rrgMfS7iyQ61ZaDwinPsRexPW6zvLTw6VcdpaXvGO0ns6NVKcLjJBL8HY0s6oA_rpNBXHCt0V9HSdhGbX6nYbd5IvjgEyI7SRruW30wxWNbzcJ_1kPqd9SnTj10f82xc/s1600/bullet+gunpowder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
everything changed with the introduction of <a href="http://www.livescience.com/7476-gunpowder-changed-world.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">gunpowder</span></a>. It began in 9<sup>th</sup>
century China, where clever alchemists mixed saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur
into an effective concoction to treat skin infections. The fact that it also
exploded was a serendipitous sidenote (although not so much for the patient). Its
healing properties aside, this magical mixture was quickly adopted by armies,
who packaged it in bombs and mines and merrily blasted their way around the
globe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/who-invented-the-first-gun.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">first</span></a> “hand cannons,” as guns were then called, were used in 1364. A
wick was set ablaze, which touched off the gunpowder, which finally launched
the projectile – in those days, a small but lethal metal ball. These were
cumbersome weapons, requiring reloading each time they were fired; a difficult task amidst the frenzy of combat. Regardless, they spread quickly throughout Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But as
civilizations <a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-antiquity-of-aggression.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">fought</span></a> their way to power, weapons <a href="http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/technique/gun-timeline/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">evolved</span></a> to keep pace. Within a
few hundred years, through the invention of flintlock ignitions, rifles, and, later, Samuel Colt’s revolutionary revolver, guns were everywhere, especially
in the New World. There they quickly subdued native populations (albeit
assisted by some pretty lethal <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071659/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">pathogens</span></a>) and ushered in that most gun-worshiping period in American history, the Wild West.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiBuJoBEjPf8MmvrhyuOJnpYhMTD2ddKG2xAI-YrvGZ_f3gFeA4nMF2jGUtUHk4zzpSA6MXn3xheOaBUqV3M2J9jPpgWo48iQXfnnDpDQNb5itkjEcojkL3qPlsxAyHJTAHJ2pR2z-NE/s1600/bullet+historic+photo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiBuJoBEjPf8MmvrhyuOJnpYhMTD2ddKG2xAI-YrvGZ_f3gFeA4nMF2jGUtUHk4zzpSA6MXn3xheOaBUqV3M2J9jPpgWo48iQXfnnDpDQNb5itkjEcojkL3qPlsxAyHJTAHJ2pR2z-NE/s1600/bullet+historic+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">That
Wild West mentality remains engrained in the American psyche, for guns have
become a symbol of freedom, independence, and, (according to many Republicans),
the epitome of American culture. And with the proliferation of guns comes the need
for better protection, especially for law enforcement officers tasked with
patrolling our gun-laden streets. <a href="http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/Body_Armor.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Today’s lightweight vests</span>,</a>
which combine high-tech polymers, typically <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.explainthatstuff.com/kevlar.html" style="color: red;" target="_blank">Kevlar</a>,</span> woven together into materials
five times stronger than steel, provide a vital layer of protection against a
criminal’s bullet. And since cops should be entitled to a technological edge
when it comes to fighting crime, bulletproof vests should be restricted to crime fighters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">We often
speak of the “evolutionary arms race” - that process that fuels natural
selection, ushering in novel adaptations as species struggle to survive. That
race is run not only by our genes, but by the cultures that define us. And as weapons evolve, so too do our defenses. Let’s just hope common sense can
keep pace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADUzflnzfS4F3nczXRRGVq_nZVG_zVNU9mQN7DpnD4A3eoEcyM_HWhWDTzc3QCoI7ESIcI8Q-pANDzf3mW4-fW5hSw5fpy0HRbf5TKnty-Pk0qLfY1pYqx2leRKpkpIXzUx_ByKTyYa0/s1600/bullet+gun+and+finger.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADUzflnzfS4F3nczXRRGVq_nZVG_zVNU9mQN7DpnD4A3eoEcyM_HWhWDTzc3QCoI7ESIcI8Q-pANDzf3mW4-fW5hSw5fpy0HRbf5TKnty-Pk0qLfY1pYqx2leRKpkpIXzUx_ByKTyYa0/s1600/bullet+gun+and+finger.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Catch you next week!</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-90963700259123150152015-04-17T06:00:00.001-04:002021-03-01T10:02:51.796-05:00Beat It!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv1jpP8XOMhMx2E77Wj7oJi_fWPD7T318vDZM7_kESAeSalJuu-rAifSiAM9EonzdhoZ9JQAoL1zQdUTULOdduyTBOLQsYQySS7G07rDAz1btBXn7jmyH09WQ8YwKUuMi0rxcBSB8opE/s1600/drumming+Kodo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv1jpP8XOMhMx2E77Wj7oJi_fWPD7T318vDZM7_kESAeSalJuu-rAifSiAM9EonzdhoZ9JQAoL1zQdUTULOdduyTBOLQsYQySS7G07rDAz1btBXn7jmyH09WQ8YwKUuMi0rxcBSB8opE/s1600/drumming+Kodo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">If you’ve
ever had to hunt for a parking space on a college campus, you know what a
hellish nightmare it can be. The other day, I scored a primo spot, tucked
beneath the shade of a giant oak, just outside the College of Music. I cranked
down my windows and was reviewing my lecture, when suddenly I noticed a gangly
little dude with a snare drum setting up shop in front of the building. The drumming
quickly commenced and within minutes, his incessant <i>Rat-a-Tat-Tat</i> attracted a second band member – of all things, a
cymbals player. Together, they banged and clanged their way across my last
nerve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mPA_z-UBLQ9UlR1nrn9pTmdm57sOuQDj_jHhZZUjuaEBGSPZeQHL71iq7hSQ30peNONN19afVS8CQG4s6HVCccV5V9UX0zRX4QibuGVKVclkhLM0U1sFpDMQAGmAN70foCpiSN41OIs/s1600/drumming+taiko_drum.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mPA_z-UBLQ9UlR1nrn9pTmdm57sOuQDj_jHhZZUjuaEBGSPZeQHL71iq7hSQ30peNONN19afVS8CQG4s6HVCccV5V9UX0zRX4QibuGVKVclkhLM0U1sFpDMQAGmAN70foCpiSN41OIs/s1600/drumming+taiko_drum.jpg" width="224" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Despite
their annoying performance, it got me thinking about drumming. What
is it about the banging of drums that gets our blood pumping? Imagine music without
drums (OK, classical music aside). Tough to do, because drums play a critical
role in the way music stimulates our bodies and, more importantly, our brains. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And what
blissful stimulation it is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Drums
are one of our most ancient musical instruments. Think about it… It doesn’t
take much to produce a drum (or drummer, for that matter. I’ve seen chimps
pound out a decent rhythm with nothing but twigs and a coconut). Just about
any surface can be transformed into an instrument. Wood, metal, skins, or gourds
all produce their own distinct sounds. And whether they are played with sticks
or hands, drums form the backbone to music, setting the tempo, tone, and ambiance
of a song. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But it’s
that rhythmic beat that our brains find irresistible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu-qIU5lR6A8zFH5TieCOaCyGrnT1ViKHg3WIYUGLbpsRmh6HF12ux52DMaU_wPKWS7UYZfkpn7mUQeOvwD5VKhRwIsLnaH6I6EIvFh2yqvB4Bfijjm2uzthuwwn70qf_znniYc3xvE0/s1600/drumming+african.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu-qIU5lR6A8zFH5TieCOaCyGrnT1ViKHg3WIYUGLbpsRmh6HF12ux52DMaU_wPKWS7UYZfkpn7mUQeOvwD5VKhRwIsLnaH6I6EIvFh2yqvB4Bfijjm2uzthuwwn70qf_znniYc3xvE0/s1600/drumming+african.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Neurologists have <a href="http://news.stanford.edu/news/2006/may31/brainwave-053106.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">discovered</span></a> that rhythmic beats actually cause our brain waves to match
tempo. A fast, pulsing beat drives our brain waves to keep time. A slow,
methodical rhythm lulls the brain, which is why drums are used to induce
meditative and trancelike states. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">It turns
out this wave-altering mechanism may be just the trick for <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/features/2011/08/29/adhd/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">treating</span></a> conditions
such as attention deficit disorder (ADD). In fact, scientists used rhythmic
sound and light stimulation on a group of young ADDers and found it to be just
as effective as medication in improving concentration and elevating
intelligence scores (although ADD and a drum set could make for a lethal combination,
at least for the parents).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo40Kmv3_TXD4HQS3YuYqz7BjkYQ6Ta9y2PdREZBTDhZHgNDA2rbOZDz5Rp0QoQT80PFx-xbqJfirgf2kfd6yDQscxVHBQlLaxPvlwnkA-zNXSt41Eq9DGMGSGWLrt8AnSLPadwrc6FxI/s1600/drumming+burundi.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo40Kmv3_TXD4HQS3YuYqz7BjkYQ6Ta9y2PdREZBTDhZHgNDA2rbOZDz5Rp0QoQT80PFx-xbqJfirgf2kfd6yDQscxVHBQlLaxPvlwnkA-zNXSt41Eq9DGMGSGWLrt8AnSLPadwrc6FxI/s1600/drumming+burundi.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And
speaking of drums and brains… It turns out <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-musical-self/201103/drumming-development-how-drumming-helps-children-special-needs" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">kids</span></a> who play drums may have a
leg up when it comes to intellect. Little drummers were shown to have improved
IQ scores following a series of lessons. And the same holds true for adult
percussionists. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1895839/Drummers-are-natural-intellectuals.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Studies</span></a> have found correlations between intelligence and
rhythmic ability. Those with the best rhythm tend to score better on
intelligence tests, for it turns out the parts of the brain used for rhythm are
also employed for problem solving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Rhythmic
<a href="https://www.stronginstitute.com/resources/a-study-for-improved-concentration-by-acoustic-drum-rhythms-music-medicine-therapy.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">therapy</span></a> may also improve cognitive function in the elderly and folks with brain
injuries. The stimulating effects of rhythm actually increased blood flow to the
brain, which improved cognitive scores among a group of senior subjects and therefore
may have application for victims of stroke and head trauma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLVqbkCgrenrOqycO21LmrRfRjR1V0n9tliPgQbW6FuL0i-l-kB5Ffw48H77mO14t5QdgsI77a4IzCVH7I-AMcVAqUL5D-bKMhjm-xcobBGH8Kz_oComUqa-8ZPO2DAWQeazMqRRuvig/s1600/drumming+native+american.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLVqbkCgrenrOqycO21LmrRfRjR1V0n9tliPgQbW6FuL0i-l-kB5Ffw48H77mO14t5QdgsI77a4IzCVH7I-AMcVAqUL5D-bKMhjm-xcobBGH8Kz_oComUqa-8ZPO2DAWQeazMqRRuvig/s1600/drumming+native+american.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But the
positive <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447805/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">effects</span></a> of drums go far beyond the individual. They are an essential
part of the human experience, a fundamental aspect of culture. Drums served as
efficient forms of communication among many African cultures, and were effective
means of transmitting messages over long distances. And drum circles are an
ancient tradition spanning the globe, drawing people together for ceremony,
celebration, and socialization. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a
culture that doesn’t include some form of drumming. And what a boring and monotone
culture that would be...</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1jTMnQ4EekphyNz_zYfCObK_lUNQjzw2STLfIjU1zVkzZVEUCaUzuiPFUwMkrLrwghvu-Al9T8_ipPcBCqzrP6V8yDfLf3siGGJtVx1T1b8S1qsSf6CuDOMLYbx1P0CLMqPqArSMw2g/s1600/drumming+modern+drums.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1jTMnQ4EekphyNz_zYfCObK_lUNQjzw2STLfIjU1zVkzZVEUCaUzuiPFUwMkrLrwghvu-Al9T8_ipPcBCqzrP6V8yDfLf3siGGJtVx1T1b8S1qsSf6CuDOMLYbx1P0CLMqPqArSMw2g/s1600/drumming+modern+drums.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Drums
are part of our human heritage. They allow us to communicate in a universal
language; one that lifts our spirits, moves our bodies, and even manipulates
our brains. So perhaps that annoying snare drum player was simply indulging in
a force greater than himself. If so, then rock on, little dude! </span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxOKvcHHWl1PVzjSsez7fkpbXn0dFD81y7VwQ-GbAkQGmWOykFUDSO_6Y2IK2S4XSoHQvJjy7l7Jnq9aZrD3BmEpZ7zoWWjqLmao41g4qp3jBJNw7MMdwghyphenhyphen-Je05W6iYDE_H02F8UkI/s1600/drumming+quote.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxOKvcHHWl1PVzjSsez7fkpbXn0dFD81y7VwQ-GbAkQGmWOykFUDSO_6Y2IK2S4XSoHQvJjy7l7Jnq9aZrD3BmEpZ7zoWWjqLmao41g4qp3jBJNw7MMdwghyphenhyphen-Je05W6iYDE_H02F8UkI/s1600/drumming+quote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-58868866456587193032015-04-10T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T10:27:50.316-05:00The Antiquity of Aggression<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpWoZcrH592Ol2aFu6_54w53Xb8GA0_SGu7o6VXRR0aGj2NSb0HecAQAh_7eEYrRe1BF7_RZeptBzXBrjFdizJFb2_NXaSGwzSUSQVQXJZB2uW14YwQn9Mw5WKnJwpEQC6GiKKdAdDzU/s1600/brain+on+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpWoZcrH592Ol2aFu6_54w53Xb8GA0_SGu7o6VXRR0aGj2NSb0HecAQAh_7eEYrRe1BF7_RZeptBzXBrjFdizJFb2_NXaSGwzSUSQVQXJZB2uW14YwQn9Mw5WKnJwpEQC6GiKKdAdDzU/s1600/brain+on+fire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">At some
point in our lives, each of us will have the urge to strike another human
being. Ironically, for me, that moment occurred when I was attending a
symposium on the evolution of ethics. The symposium was hosted by the weird and
whacky folks in the philosophy department and featured an array of papers on the
evolutionary basis of moral behavior. It was fascinating. That is, until a particularly long-winded academic began spewing jargon-laden oration
like a linguistic volcano, some of which he admittedly concocted for the purpose
of his argument. As he unsuccessfully defended his theory, I sat amidst his
bewildered colleagues and all I could think about was punching him in the face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPg8MiOhz6a8_TGLBO4NU6bY702F9xT8BHFeT6F8MsCb6Lfl4xWhugwZCm402VvOnYu71uPUcCeq1GYk9NR26COewGa23gq_El77t-kpbBrq_87skiKmWwIsQmd5rQxqqVRY4Jtf1pcw/s1600/aggression+female+warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPg8MiOhz6a8_TGLBO4NU6bY702F9xT8BHFeT6F8MsCb6Lfl4xWhugwZCm402VvOnYu71uPUcCeq1GYk9NR26COewGa23gq_El77t-kpbBrq_87skiKmWwIsQmd5rQxqqVRY4Jtf1pcw/s1600/aggression+female+warrior.jpg" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Later,
when I had cooled down (aided by a hefty dose of gin), I got to thinking about
my irrational reaction, which got me thinking about aggression in general. Why
are we aggressive? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we were all
peace-loving, tree-hugging, tofu-munching hippies? Maybe. But then again,
perhaps aggression played a critical role in humans becoming human. Let’s
explore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.livescience.com/5333-evolution-human-aggression.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Aggression</span></a>
is part and parcel of the range of emotions displayed by humans. Anger,
happiness, sadness, and empathy aid us in navigating our social spheres and are
critical components of human interaction. But aggression was fundamental to humans’ eventual domination of the planet, for without a bit of
aggression, we may never have achieved complex civilization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwEzRtmRawDxHywYvnpIr0yelu_Kc2INYYp5LMGkP5gBOyqn0WBmzvUvIkBhuajwGoVtLUtPWqg3wwtGBJL4__mR1rkeKSBl_r-7Ktv_YZncdvU_H-UpnQJdtg-pG5tiOkqnzQj28hs8/s1600/aggression+ancient+humans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwEzRtmRawDxHywYvnpIr0yelu_Kc2INYYp5LMGkP5gBOyqn0WBmzvUvIkBhuajwGoVtLUtPWqg3wwtGBJL4__mR1rkeKSBl_r-7Ktv_YZncdvU_H-UpnQJdtg-pG5tiOkqnzQj28hs8/s1600/aggression+ancient+humans.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">All of
nature competes to some degree. The phrase, “survival of the fittest,” coined by
<a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spencer/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Herbert Spencer</span> </a>but often mistakenly attributed to <a href="http://anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/evolve_2.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Darwin</span></a>, was a simplistic way
of saying that those who compete more successfully (thereby leaving behind more
offspring) will most likely nudge out their less successful counterparts. And
humans are no different. We, like other animals, have struggled to survive
throughout our evolutionary history. Fortunately, through a series of lucky anatomical
and physiological twists, we evolved a bigger brain, which gave us an
unprecedented edge over our competition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZpIPUW8ZYxm4fNYzHLl38EvlKsgq-TmblAuEZdr8SKi7VdIICTnlcFhsIyN9GAmdmL2vfnPwA0x9z5HhAp35yvuXG21_xE9gi_qGNsfNr_UUKEHDpwiaMaRG3Vj8_McFs6pKdNSg0Ng/s1600/aggression+viking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZpIPUW8ZYxm4fNYzHLl38EvlKsgq-TmblAuEZdr8SKi7VdIICTnlcFhsIyN9GAmdmL2vfnPwA0x9z5HhAp35yvuXG21_xE9gi_qGNsfNr_UUKEHDpwiaMaRG3Vj8_McFs6pKdNSg0Ng/s1600/aggression+viking.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">When we
first stumbled upon the nutritional benefits of <a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2015/03/carnivore-kin.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">meat</span></a>, it was most likely as
timid scavengers, fighting for the best scraps. As our technology progressed,
those simple clubs used to fend off fellow carnivores developed into efficient
weapons that not only protected us from said carnivores, but allowed us to add
them to the menu. And the more aggressive we were as hunters, the more meat
there was to go around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Our
aggression would have naturally been directed toward each other. <a href="http://www.zoologi.su.se/research/tullberg/papers/11-Aggression.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Competition</span></a>
for resources, be they hunting territories, water holes, or mates would have
compelled humans to compete. Let’s face it, you’re not going to get the girl by
simply squatting outside your cave, hoping she wanders by. Aggressive males
would have had more opportunities to mate (as they do today), thereby
out-breeding their docile comrades. But aggression wasn’t restricted to males.
Aggressive females would have been more successful at protecting their young,
attaining provisions, and going after those aggressive males - nothing is sexier than the alpha male.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjjt271YT4YhuNiCX1RUlEs40W0-wrH51I_8b3dOKX5hqhN79fk9SPKaZbHuMDLCae5-vI7SkemEfWFsGx6Qep2W30FBIGRbhDVG3XnJPwQU_Ri6TQB_CQnCyzOHFUivne7zffnw2j6o/s1600/aggressionRoman_Soldier.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjjt271YT4YhuNiCX1RUlEs40W0-wrH51I_8b3dOKX5hqhN79fk9SPKaZbHuMDLCae5-vI7SkemEfWFsGx6Qep2W30FBIGRbhDVG3XnJPwQU_Ri6TQB_CQnCyzOHFUivne7zffnw2j6o/s1600/aggressionRoman_Soldier.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As
populations expanded and communities gained complexity, aggression enabled some to rise to <a href="http://www.livescience.com/640-peace-war-early-humans-behaved.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">power</span></a>, others (the docile) to occupy the lower strata.
As societies grew, so did their need for resources, and the best way to acquire
resources is by conquering your neighbors. Once again, aggression wins. This
pattern not only held for the ancients, it still holds today. Human history is
littered with the corpses of the conquered and the powerful have never achieved
power as shrinking violets. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">They do it through sheer force.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Aggression
may even be hardwired, for w</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">e know it originates in the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/amygdala.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">amygdala</span></a>, that
small clump of neurons located deep in the brain that also plays a role in fear and pleasure. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.livescience.com/2231-humans-crave-violence-sex.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Experiments</span></a> have shown that our good friend, dopamine –
that lovely biochemical that rewards us during sex – is also triggered during
aggression. Like they say, it’s a thin line between love and hate…</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWz3tq67aFdAdV8ihyphenhyphenYioyb5rFQhVbDqrSb9i1LTEu2utrS2vns-s0_i6BY5ARL7pQHW7nj8X954WI7p1keegscueKiOEijr6eE3HJhfLz6YvbLzlSIIMt5ekNowdFPdbBD2hzeXFM8k/s1600/aggression+NAVY-SEALS-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWz3tq67aFdAdV8ihyphenhyphenYioyb5rFQhVbDqrSb9i1LTEu2utrS2vns-s0_i6BY5ARL7pQHW7nj8X954WI7p1keegscueKiOEijr6eE3HJhfLz6YvbLzlSIIMt5ekNowdFPdbBD2hzeXFM8k/s1600/aggression+NAVY-SEALS-facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Scientists
are still trying to tease out the complex <a href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/aggression_violence.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">relationship</span></a> between the brain, its
neurotransmitters, and the genes responsible for human aggression. But one thing is certain: without aggression,
you probably wouldn’t be sitting here, reading this blog. The culture in which
you live, the society in which you thrive was built upon the shoulders of aggressors.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The meek
shall inherit the earth?? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I don’t think so…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Related Posts</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/07/how-we-kill.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">How We Kill</span></a></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/killer-culture.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Killer Culture</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/fecal-foes_24.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Fecal Foes</span></a></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> If you haven't read this yet, put it at the top of your list.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZBb1ff0tNomOTTO2yuKYyCdra5ZGliW3YQgP7jGXppT2NwG1hINqmjIO1fUFAEvKXJxm_u0R_5VKx10GLcXMKR3aKFYVxVz4t5375YTIh-sWK9GTHbON5NknTlE3ZQrfnk0r1tQsOCw/s1600/aggression+guns+germs+steel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZBb1ff0tNomOTTO2yuKYyCdra5ZGliW3YQgP7jGXppT2NwG1hINqmjIO1fUFAEvKXJxm_u0R_5VKx10GLcXMKR3aKFYVxVz4t5375YTIh-sWK9GTHbON5NknTlE3ZQrfnk0r1tQsOCw/s1600/aggression+guns+germs+steel.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-53787594929136058872015-04-03T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-08T10:35:56.588-05:00Our Symbolic Skulls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtp7pRpiRvMzVgnOYAWRkyKcJ0dNOdd8P8LqwazjQBPl5CcXU4b0b0tomngejM7Q0Di0wF9-Lx-v5HBymeC1vbjttYUoH_CUBHUk5DgYLb9fa5fHm4Y1yys7AjDX5jQBEBVpxc69GibQ/s1600/symbolic+skulls+main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtp7pRpiRvMzVgnOYAWRkyKcJ0dNOdd8P8LqwazjQBPl5CcXU4b0b0tomngejM7Q0Di0wF9-Lx-v5HBymeC1vbjttYUoH_CUBHUk5DgYLb9fa5fHm4Y1yys7AjDX5jQBEBVpxc69GibQ/s1600/symbolic+skulls+main.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
If you had to name your favorite bone, which would
it be? (Perverts, keep your response to yourself.) I’m betting most of you would
name the skull. Let’s face it, when we think of bones, the skull naturally
comes to mind (despite the fact that it's actually twenty-plus <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/skull/skull.shtml" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">bones</span></a>). There’s not much regard for the limb bones, although I’m
personally enamored of the femur. The patella gets little attention, probably
because of its close resemblance to horse dung. And you hardly even notice your
little coccyx, unless you happen to fall on your butt (who knew such pain
could arise from such a tiny clump of bones?).<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The skull is iconic. Not only for signifying the
skeleton in general, but as a <a href="http://symboldictionary.net/?tag=skulls" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">symbol</span></a> that has infiltrated our culture. So I
thought it would be fun to explore how our skulls crop up in everyday life and
the quirky history of this popular emblem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYWeKAPGJmL_9QNVNDjIL4_l7920VDQg7JpIfRQEywuCj8P97hYaSLJbHEl03_zMrSkiS0irINtnsRbHrz26PZ5DagtjnARwoNbYzsF5hyebiHjwS1YDlloK_bpIEsE6ig4Joyz3tDCM/s1600/symbolic+skulls+jade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYWeKAPGJmL_9QNVNDjIL4_l7920VDQg7JpIfRQEywuCj8P97hYaSLJbHEl03_zMrSkiS0irINtnsRbHrz26PZ5DagtjnARwoNbYzsF5hyebiHjwS1YDlloK_bpIEsE6ig4Joyz3tDCM/s1600/symbolic+skulls+jade.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
Long before the mass production of art, our
ancient brethren used actual skulls on which to exhibit their <a href="http://www.pbs.org/howartmadetheworld/episodes/death/skulls/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">artistic</span></a>
tendencies. Skulls were decorated with precious stones, etched with geometric
designs, or replicated in intricate carvings. And we can’t leave out the famous
crystal skulls that have been attributed to the Maya, the Aztec, and even artistic aliens before finally being debunked as modern <a href="http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/crystal-skulls/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">hoaxes</span></a>. Apparently our
fascination with blinged-out skulls is a universal phenomenon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Most of you will naturally associate the skull
with its close cousin, the Jolly Roger. This emblematic <a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/2014/09/19/why-did-pirates-fly-the-jolly-roger/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">flag</span> </a>sports a skull
hovering above two generic bones (what the hell are they, anyway?) and is meant
to instill fear in the hearts of those who cross paths with a pirate. And what
fate awaits their victims? A little thievery, a bit of rape, and a likely stroll
down the plank.<br />
But hey, everyone loves a pirate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOD28n4hCzlVaYzjsOlRAqUvYdpNKK9Wwv43-iJWCq3wiJfMRfxI3tKB_eHWeXlXdhtzdm4xKDScwSv9z2PzLZ7yxFLTFFqiTm7PhPrw-tOj4SwtKu6FR-wS7NbFVePWxw8OT66A5fZM/s1600/symbolic+skulls+pirates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOD28n4hCzlVaYzjsOlRAqUvYdpNKK9Wwv43-iJWCq3wiJfMRfxI3tKB_eHWeXlXdhtzdm4xKDScwSv9z2PzLZ7yxFLTFFqiTm7PhPrw-tOj4SwtKu6FR-wS7NbFVePWxw8OT66A5fZM/s1600/symbolic+skulls+pirates.jpg" width="320" /></a>In reality, many a pirate ship sported a plain black
flag, but the Jolly Roger has become the mainstay in pirate ship symbolism,
which is understandable - it’s a whole lot more interesting than your basic
black and there’s something extra creepy about the blank stare of a skull. Plus, it pays to have a catchy calling card when establishing your reputation as a
first-class pillager.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The <a href="http://www.ehow.com/about_4600218_meaning-skull-crossbones.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">skull and crossbones</span></a> has also served as
warning for many a poison. Just seeing that symbol on a bottle evokes fear in
the hearts of consumers. Be it rat poison, arsenic, or some backwoods, toxic
moonshine, slapping a skull on the label is a surefire means of warning the
thirsty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsHiWjN0KudLeb2PDwuBBXWQnjPsgjHowF3P9vwLDWsD2XapEPCoqsak3sZu3vjs_C76VCmxZd1mpKH2BW-T5c-HoRWxifHnTTapa-TfiBUS5dcP-LDVNw2uurBiVv1LAwTpTjWwnDOg/s1600/symbolic+skulls+biker+tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsHiWjN0KudLeb2PDwuBBXWQnjPsgjHowF3P9vwLDWsD2XapEPCoqsak3sZu3vjs_C76VCmxZd1mpKH2BW-T5c-HoRWxifHnTTapa-TfiBUS5dcP-LDVNw2uurBiVv1LAwTpTjWwnDOg/s1600/symbolic+skulls+biker+tattoo.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
The skull has also come to symbolize the badass.
After chasing down pirates for a few hundred years, the military adopted the
symbol, sporting it on flags, ships, and tattoos to signify their fighting
prowess. The trend quickly caught on among the public, especially within the
biking community, and today it’s hard to find a biker who doesn’t sport a skull
somewhere on his person. From <a href="https://info.publicintelligence.net/CBSA-TattooHandbook.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">tattoos</span></a> to tee shirts to leather jackets,
bikers simply love the skull, which is ironic when you consider how many of
them refuse to wear helmets. Perhaps it’s time they design their own bony emblem
– a skull with a hideous crack down the middle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Skulls were also used to mark the entrance to
ancient cemeteries. In the days of Yore, when literacy was in short supply, the
skull was a handy means of saying, “Enter at your own risk,” for many a
goblin was known to hang out in cemeteries. The skull served as a ghoulish
reminder of the inherent dangers of the dead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBYQK2uoZCPLtU3wD_xGXFlQcwI92BwsxHXbuj8Uay7u5vuEaJHt2a5xQ-beDuR44aaI5uDt7Sj1I-MMs3iVND5-ES2hVq9QJiffrJLszHmPoGqkEHSXNTISHcJe3LyyWBedvUAlEvQI/s1600/symbolic+skulls+computer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBYQK2uoZCPLtU3wD_xGXFlQcwI92BwsxHXbuj8Uay7u5vuEaJHt2a5xQ-beDuR44aaI5uDt7Sj1I-MMs3iVND5-ES2hVq9QJiffrJLszHmPoGqkEHSXNTISHcJe3LyyWBedvUAlEvQI/s1600/symbolic+skulls+computer.jpg" width="320" /></a>But the cultural fascination with our skeletons is
not limited to our skulls. Bones have worked their way into our language,
cropping up in sayings, slang, and nursery rhymes. Bone idioms (from the Latin,
<i><a href="http://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/idioms-meaning.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">idioma</span></a></i>, meaning a special phrase or
expression) are widespread in English. And as someone who specializes in the human skeleton,
these sayings give me great joy. So I thought I’d share a few with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Got an argument to make? Then you have a "bone to
pick." Still disagree? It becomes a "bone of <o:p></o:p><br />
contention." You can be "cut to the
bone," "chilled to the bone," "feel it in your bones," or "work your fingers to the
bone." You can possess a "funny bone," a "jealous bone," a "crazy bone," or be a "bag of
bones." Someone can "break your bones," "throw you a bone," or (if you’re lucky!) "jump your bones." And speaking of sex, we can’t leave out that most common of
usages, the ultimate: "boner."</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWRTtzDGSc-56zp46hPfFFyCGohXTS3mYHFDM-OotNWJGUEbmblbQ_ywcb7eZd7ppY2KEw98EMSJrvv1kYQZrpOuj-_QcKfhxi4hbJb2dKwFWLNLeQAs8LZ4U7ThYIIxNah8dCzM5dGI/s1600/symbolic+skulls+grim+reaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWRTtzDGSc-56zp46hPfFFyCGohXTS3mYHFDM-OotNWJGUEbmblbQ_ywcb7eZd7ppY2KEw98EMSJrvv1kYQZrpOuj-_QcKfhxi4hbJb2dKwFWLNLeQAs8LZ4U7ThYIIxNah8dCzM5dGI/s1600/symbolic+skulls+grim+reaper.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
Let’s face it, our bones are some of the coolest
parts of our bodies, so it’s no wonder we have woven them into our culture. Whether
they’re warning us of danger or painting a verbal picture, make "no bones about
it," skeletons rock!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Catch you next week.<br />
<br />
Related Posts<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/killer-culture.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Killer Culture</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/biting-bling.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Biting Bling</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/06/body-art.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Body Art</span></a></i><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-90021644807875249302015-03-27T06:00:00.001-04:002021-03-27T19:03:25.139-04:00Fire It Up!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi00eWvlXVoBMbLTP1Hl3HV8ttyKlL-ju1X3XV72VYZojirhavY_e2ks61F6S0WIJChPOdoai3TFeCTRYyi0tYZ8przKbXOmBez6Akb6KmTbkrWmtHPrZIUqlaoL_20-gL6SKG-PtQS5o/s1600/fire+it+up+man.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi00eWvlXVoBMbLTP1Hl3HV8ttyKlL-ju1X3XV72VYZojirhavY_e2ks61F6S0WIJChPOdoai3TFeCTRYyi0tYZ8przKbXOmBez6Akb6KmTbkrWmtHPrZIUqlaoL_20-gL6SKG-PtQS5o/s1600/fire+it+up+man.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">In the
mood for a revelation? Ask firefighters how they feel about fire. Their
response may surprise you. Firefighters spend their entire careers laying their
lives on the line. Whether they’re battling ripping house fires full of toxic
combustibles, hiking mile after treacherous mile to combat raging wildfires, or
sacrificing it all amidst the horror of a terrorist attack, firefighters are on
the front line when it comes to battling the lethal force that is fire. So you
might find it curious that firefighters actually love fire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKIp2xvvZwAtLyaAvF_pug0Yye-IpUr0REcNfe_IyBHOFgk3djfV_JbSCXarcpqh0VFjfzaFE1Z2fi5Exm3WuJ_RaOaED3wePtLrYo0XbCWwzH7UzazzA_to59qTAGjlMhAxqU5eUF3s/s1600/fire+it+up+firefighter.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKIp2xvvZwAtLyaAvF_pug0Yye-IpUr0REcNfe_IyBHOFgk3djfV_JbSCXarcpqh0VFjfzaFE1Z2fi5Exm3WuJ_RaOaED3wePtLrYo0XbCWwzH7UzazzA_to59qTAGjlMhAxqU5eUF3s/s1600/fire+it+up+firefighter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Are they
crazy? (Yes.) Are they obsessed? (Most definitely.) Or are they simply adrenaline
junkies? (C. All of the above.). Firefighters are an unusual breed. Think about
it - cops aren’t infatuated with the criminals they cuff. Oncologists aren’t enamored
of the cancer they annihilate. So how can firefighters love what they spend
their whole lives fighting? The answer: because they are human. And there’s
something about fire that humans simply adore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As a
firefighter-turned-archaeologist, I’ve spent a lifetime preoccupied with fire. As
a firefighter, I saw its lethal side. I waded through charred wreckage, broke
the news to grieving loved ones, and saluted the caskets of fallen comrades. As
an archaeologist, I’ve explored fire’s positive dimensions: its deep human history,
the fundamental role it has played in culture, and the visceral connection we have with
this phenomenal force.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgIy6CvybH01tcfrAlTcB24k7ZgK_X2ja4lhAEWfQkF-cwPPBh2Sx9LTEiwxxnLU3JebOD-dIlOEvCW6cHusYDyhBwy12-wsH9Yp-u-mh7MUDcMIObtJCCJJiJb5FSN3i9C0L-38NI30/s1600/fire+it+up+prehistoric+campfire.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgIy6CvybH01tcfrAlTcB24k7ZgK_X2ja4lhAEWfQkF-cwPPBh2Sx9LTEiwxxnLU3JebOD-dIlOEvCW6cHusYDyhBwy12-wsH9Yp-u-mh7MUDcMIObtJCCJJiJb5FSN3i9C0L-38NI30/s1600/fire+it+up+prehistoric+campfire.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Perhaps
it’s our ancient association with fire that has so ingrained it in our psyche.
<a href="http://www.pri.org/stories/2012-04-02/evidence-early-use-fire-found-south-africa-cave" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Evidence</span></a> for its use goes back almost a million years, far longer that our
species has roamed the earth. <i><a href="http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-erectus" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Homo erectus</span></a></i> appears to have been the first to habitually use fire, and we find
their ancient campsites, replete with butchered bones and beautiful stone
tools, dotting their primordial landscapes. Fire provided warmth for our
ancestors, despite the frozen grip of repeated ice ages, and gave them protection
against predators stalking their primitive campsites. Fire provided light
during their primal nights and formed the nucleus for social gatherings, where
they exchanged information, manufactured tools, created art, and told stories.
Fire was a catalyst of human culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As
modern humans arose in Africa some two hundred thousand years ago, venturing forth to lay
claim to the globe, they adopted fire, making it one of the most essential
tools in their prehistoric toolkit. But the most important application for fire
predated the arrival of <i>Homo sapiens</i>.
In fact, we moderns may have never evolved had it not been for the <a href="http://www.livescience.com/2650-outdoor-bbq-700-000-year-ritual.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">invention</span></a> of
fire’s most essential role: cooking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl340RfQjzPc2DvIKuOyYQswjvMjDxmzAUAKSQYjEX5NsxAvDyBqUgouvvO6w36D7jEVAULTGSosTUDl3QwxBDx8O3Jpi-oIZtHshCYctXYpHZtlkiZLQc6RifjSOg1Z9PBaonIWD3TUg/s1600/fire+it+up+evol+cartoon.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl340RfQjzPc2DvIKuOyYQswjvMjDxmzAUAKSQYjEX5NsxAvDyBqUgouvvO6w36D7jEVAULTGSosTUDl3QwxBDx8O3Jpi-oIZtHshCYctXYpHZtlkiZLQc6RifjSOg1Z9PBaonIWD3TUg/s1600/fire+it+up+evol+cartoon.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-fire-makes-us-human-72989884/?no-ist" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Cooking</span></a>
transformed us. The advent of cooking, especially of <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2015/03/carnivore-kin.html" style="color: red;" target="_blank">meat</a>,</span> was pivotal in the
evolution of our species. Meat provided the valuable nutrients necessary to
fuel our ever-expanding brains, but it was the cooking of meat, along with
plants, tubers, and anything else our ancient brethren happened to toss on the
barbie, that streamlined our digestive tracts and fueled our giant brains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Cooking
transformed humans because cooking <a href="http://www.radiancenutrition.com/tag/benefits-of-cooking-food/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">transforms</span></a> food. If you don’t believe
me, hack off a hunk of raw sirloin and give it a chew. When you’re finally able
to swallow (about twenty minutes from now), I’m betting you’ll be requesting the
rest of that steak “medium well.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrgQ-w8hJbzA_qlj17hB-jTH0yzR9tBipzaxd2nYDxCnERJtBarrg25SDlfL19zXq_kG86lvX9as16qBT__kIUTZEw8W8MmnhLM5GYwGcViPoFEcPMBwXStaDoyyPhmHgXgDGbX69FM4/s1600/fire+it+up+steak.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrgQ-w8hJbzA_qlj17hB-jTH0yzR9tBipzaxd2nYDxCnERJtBarrg25SDlfL19zXq_kG86lvX9as16qBT__kIUTZEw8W8MmnhLM5GYwGcViPoFEcPMBwXStaDoyyPhmHgXgDGbX69FM4/s1600/fire+it+up+steak.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Cooking
jump starts digestion. In <a href="http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/11/why-cooking-counts/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">meat</span></a>, it does this by breaking down the muscle fibers.
Cooking also makes meat safer. The heat of cooking kills off pathogens, such as
<i>Clostridium</i> and <i>Staphylococcus</i>, which hide out in undercooked meats just waiting for
the chance to sabotage your gut. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Cooking
also releases nutrients and calories – not only in meat, but in vegetables, as
well. And aside from the nutritional benefits of cooking, most foods simply taste
a whole lot better when cooked. Which would you prefer? A raw potato eaten
apple-style or a steaming baked spud covered in butter and sour cream? (OK, I’d
eat my shoe if it were covered in butter and sour cream, but you get my
point.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ps57jaiC6-cSsc8FgkE4de-8xjg8NlcBP5-Ysngz4z9xFHruelXqcSJ3iRENttFhptvQnu78QGt0GejUWSY2RZUYQfcire7g6T-r1vuLLY9B4Uexl4Ez_XngeQafReZxIkS9i554dzM/s1600/fire+it+up+ff+eating.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ps57jaiC6-cSsc8FgkE4de-8xjg8NlcBP5-Ysngz4z9xFHruelXqcSJ3iRENttFhptvQnu78QGt0GejUWSY2RZUYQfcire7g6T-r1vuLLY9B4Uexl4Ez_XngeQafReZxIkS9i554dzM/s1600/fire+it+up+ff+eating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Cooking,
like fire, drew people together. Even today, humans love to congregate and
cook. What’s more fun than hovering around the grill, surrounded by the silky
fragrance of cooked meat and wood smoke, or assembling in the kitchen on
Thanksgiving, as that golden-brown turkey emerges from the oven?
Cooking brings us together, forges social bonds, and encourages sharing – all
<a href="https://edge.org/conversation/the-evolution-of-cooking" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">traits</span> </a>necessary for human society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As for
firefighters, the opportunity to sit down at the end of a busy day and swap
stories over a hearty dinner plays a fundamental role in the cohesion and
morale of a fire station. And ever since I traded my helmet for a trowel,
dinner just hasn’t been the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Stay
safe out there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Fire-Cooking-Made-Human/dp/0465020410/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1427223848&sr=8-4&keywords=catching+fire" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Here's</span> </a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">an excellent read on the subject!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMnrwKNX20EwYAplxmMMayaheiaCm1Pr8kBg1p6crXedjl66mvglA1lbJSzlfUvj-o92pE8UCU-6QIdSL0OWyWQ44K9JtMK1E0HvqL4Led-kVxXgWD7vApYFb0PNwyczU4UBBgHhpMlU/s1600/fire+it+up+book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMnrwKNX20EwYAplxmMMayaheiaCm1Pr8kBg1p6crXedjl66mvglA1lbJSzlfUvj-o92pE8UCU-6QIdSL0OWyWQ44K9JtMK1E0HvqL4Led-kVxXgWD7vApYFb0PNwyczU4UBBgHhpMlU/s1600/fire+it+up+book.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-24574890823658320192015-03-20T06:00:00.002-04:002021-03-24T08:04:16.396-04:00Carnivore Kin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbf9kMyqfwZp0lNBtfeMVsKT_QDiiJkErqxB8pqunQ6Pe2XcoFtayZhM9KCVm8G8zBLxbOr6FoZbW7I_8a4iUDvQb8ye5pffVfTcyTrq00OpOfwMugctQp_Q06nIYAhbFv5FxTj617vQ/s1600/carnivore+rock-art.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbf9kMyqfwZp0lNBtfeMVsKT_QDiiJkErqxB8pqunQ6Pe2XcoFtayZhM9KCVm8G8zBLxbOr6FoZbW7I_8a4iUDvQb8ye5pffVfTcyTrq00OpOfwMugctQp_Q06nIYAhbFv5FxTj617vQ/s1600/carnivore+rock-art.png" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Is there
anything more annoying than a vegan? Since
when did eating a chunk of cheese spell the demise of civilization?
Don’t get me wrong, I stand with the v’s on their animal rights platform and
abhor the trend in industrial farming. In fact, my precious niece and her
lovely wife are vegans and, although I admire their integrity and
applaud their dedicated activism, I have a distinct urge to stuff an
egg down their throats. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I just don’t get the vegans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNAQ7K7ia2zOV2FskmTuLE06pYOQz-55mXihU9VYtkopGPNFrOG9lt9dNrefnOS2Px5eB-KNyUTJOfVZPOUhyphenhyphenfBB9Cu74fg4WQEm0JgteuFaNswr4pdEkswnraLJbbriwEeFcunBEe0Q/s1600/carnivore+human+teeth.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNAQ7K7ia2zOV2FskmTuLE06pYOQz-55mXihU9VYtkopGPNFrOG9lt9dNrefnOS2Px5eB-KNyUTJOfVZPOUhyphenhyphenfBB9Cu74fg4WQEm0JgteuFaNswr4pdEkswnraLJbbriwEeFcunBEe0Q/s1600/carnivore+human+teeth.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As a
committed carnivore, I must stand up for the meat eaters. We humans evolved to eat meat. Don’t believe me? Reach over and pry open the jaws of
the person next to you. What you’ll see is living proof that we are meant to
consume a wide range of foods – many of which had parents. The proof is in our
teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">You can
tell a lot about a critter from its teeth. From <a href="http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/backyard-dinosaurs/faq.cfm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">paleontology</span></a> to <a href="http://anthropology.msu.edu/iss220-fs12/files/2012/08/understanding_humans_ch08.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">paleoanthropology</span></a>,
teeth afford a handy way of identifying fossils, be they archaeopteryx or
australopithecines, for teeth say a lot about how an organism lived, and, most
importantly, what they ate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtXgzzuPemecgP7B-MfGfHc0cqphmB2licgi2tb7w9rQA5JxJMGUXd6P7JUDjML7lR0zm9GBPpK2KMlXsacA3KLOVP-RZAJSG9aKD6uQZ5SVIvglm5nrYwY3V4ZrWIMtrXDMhANOx0GY/s1600/carnivorecrocodile.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtXgzzuPemecgP7B-MfGfHc0cqphmB2licgi2tb7w9rQA5JxJMGUXd6P7JUDjML7lR0zm9GBPpK2KMlXsacA3KLOVP-RZAJSG9aKD6uQZ5SVIvglm5nrYwY3V4ZrWIMtrXDMhANOx0GY/s1600/carnivorecrocodile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Close
your eyes and picture a crocodile, preferably with its mouth open. What you should
see in your mind’s eye are teeth that vary in size but are all the same shape.
The <a href="http://www.mapoflife.org/topics/topic_390_Reptile-dentition-convergence-on-complex-occlusion/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">homodontous</span></a> dentition of a croc is designed for one thing: grabbing flesh,
which they do with lethal precision. Crocs don’t chew, thus they have no need
for molars. They simply grab hold of that wildebeest, crush and tear what they
can, then swallow as big a chunk as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMirph7SfnghRrwtxfijOafRh43h1Vbx541uvgmGkpIjSskSkprB13DJ3xuQYMNcG4gXS4V9YxNV-CzLDtJDu8KPBjnLZ1KofILrCWrvV3A8C3NzxI51vzCmQ-Rg8cqYJp-gdIrNe4u0w/s1600/carnivoreTeethRevealDiet_L.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMirph7SfnghRrwtxfijOafRh43h1Vbx541uvgmGkpIjSskSkprB13DJ3xuQYMNcG4gXS4V9YxNV-CzLDtJDu8KPBjnLZ1KofILrCWrvV3A8C3NzxI51vzCmQ-Rg8cqYJp-gdIrNe4u0w/s1600/carnivoreTeethRevealDiet_L.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Now
picture your own teeth. They come in an array of shapes and sizes, for they
have various functions. Our incisors and canines are for biting and tearing,
our molars, for chewing. As omnivores, our <a href="http://www.earthlife.net/mammals/teeth.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">heterodontous</span></a> array opens us up to myriad foodstuffs, from seeds and nuts to plants and the all-important meat. And
when I say meat is important, I don’t just mean for today’s burgermunchers. The
consumption of meat played a <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120420105539.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">critical role</span> </a>in human evolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Some of
the earliest <a href="http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/evidence-for-meat-eating-by-early-humans-103874273" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">evidence</span></a> for meat eating comes from the dusty plains of Gona,
Ethiopia, where butchered animal bones dating back to over two and a half million years ago were
discovered in 1994. Carnivory was pushed back another million years by a discovery
a few years back in nearby Dikika, where a goat-like critter was butchered
almost three and a half million years ago. And what benefit would meat eating incur? None, really, unless you’re interested in evolving a giant brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCW6PTYokKz13lOBoFpPtb88UeSuZzYzdaXneKeywzqIsqKPW_RblTeRWJl6S41HHnSXce4dTCX1tIbJ6epOgVrdfk6LC4B-wO2sHWMscQqQoVQC3PJlorVPmI5U3z89VpO6EPpJxy6s/s1600/carnivore+brain+size.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCW6PTYokKz13lOBoFpPtb88UeSuZzYzdaXneKeywzqIsqKPW_RblTeRWJl6S41HHnSXce4dTCX1tIbJ6epOgVrdfk6LC4B-wO2sHWMscQqQoVQC3PJlorVPmI5U3z89VpO6EPpJxy6s/s1600/carnivore+brain+size.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Meat
eating meant a valuable source of protein for our <a href="http://archaeology.about.com/od/hterms/g/hominin.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">hominin</span></a> ancestors, which is critical
for certain bodily functions, especially a metabolically demanding brain. Our
brains consume about twenty percent of our overall energy intake. By exploiting
high-quality foods like <i>meat</i>, our ancestors were able to <a href="http://www.livescience.com/24875-meat-human-brain.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">supply</span> </a>their expensive brains
without spending the majority of their day grazing like gorillas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaVUySPJVfs2eFItrr2f29rhNmqRPGqERE5kPVzzOxaM1ao0wWVPqUlql6uV8iUyWueywU3w3_2n9PFZzKzisvpVWN4Ehu2MQkslX5BqyjZWUC7exXoOTOWX2v-g_KA_NJ15B-eeZrwo/s1600/carnivoregorilla-eating-grass.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaVUySPJVfs2eFItrr2f29rhNmqRPGqERE5kPVzzOxaM1ao0wWVPqUlql6uV8iUyWueywU3w3_2n9PFZzKzisvpVWN4Ehu2MQkslX5BqyjZWUC7exXoOTOWX2v-g_KA_NJ15B-eeZrwo/s1600/carnivoregorilla-eating-grass.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Our gorilla
cousins are forced to spend endless hours munching their way through the forest
in order to obtain the nutrients required for survival. And to process all that
vegetation requires an enormous gut, thus their Buddha-like physiques. For the
hominins, better foodstuffs meant a reduction in our guts. And since all of
evolution is a tradeoff, smaller guts requiring less energy may have <a href="http://references.260mb.com/Paleontologia/Aiello1995.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">freed up fuel </span></a>to grow our bigger brains. Not only did our guts get smaller, so did our
teeth. As our teeth got smaller, so did our faces; thus we lack the forward-jutting snouts of our ancestors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">More
meat meant more people. A higher-quality diet, combined with the benefits of cooking (which boosts nutrients and kills pesky pathogens), would have enabled earlier
weaning of infants, allowing women to have more babies more often, thereby
spreading the human race far and wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2LR914F6tUNBltkImdN7sFvbk_skgC7Ba5y4elP6pSQdDxXYq4XE577Y_NX7j4Jgely3VLYc8NJiwAxnro6P3fYBBziH5pnWMzGoX4xXmKbOp_wWveiT99D3dhmOlaCWmS36O9U-nuk/s1600/carnivore+human+evolution+(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2LR914F6tUNBltkImdN7sFvbk_skgC7Ba5y4elP6pSQdDxXYq4XE577Y_NX7j4Jgely3VLYc8NJiwAxnro6P3fYBBziH5pnWMzGoX4xXmKbOp_wWveiT99D3dhmOlaCWmS36O9U-nuk/s1600/carnivore+human+evolution+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Meat
also fueled our social evolution. Communal hunting instilled cooperative
behavior and communication. As populations got bigger, meat on the hoof would
have become scarcer, thus the <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v418/n6898/full/nature01019.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">domestication</span></a> of animals provided a steady supply
without the need to hunt. A steady supply meant populations could grow even
larger, ushering in complex society, social stratification, and, eventually,
industrialization; all made possible because of our love of meat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So the
next time you are enjoying a juicy steak and some disapproving vegan gives you
the stink-eye, take heart. If it weren’t for our carnivorous ancestors, we’d still be wandering the African plains with our dinky brains and a
fistful of tubers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Hurray</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> for the carnivores!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOGBW3Z7EWhQToQOskMs8QPgWHIOOYDCmkrbPAfuBBg8F9MVUZV1znO7BnLAGVH0ZlzizEr-Gh8VWvrP6PKH_2K9ZORsSnXxCDuYqx6nIgveyz-4HoftZbg_ZUVyaZ2ljvKIFpo9ukvI/s1600/carnivore+cartoon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOGBW3Z7EWhQToQOskMs8QPgWHIOOYDCmkrbPAfuBBg8F9MVUZV1znO7BnLAGVH0ZlzizEr-Gh8VWvrP6PKH_2K9ZORsSnXxCDuYqx6nIgveyz-4HoftZbg_ZUVyaZ2ljvKIFpo9ukvI/s1600/carnivore+cartoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-humans-eat-meat-excerpt/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Here's</span></a> a great read on the environmental repercussions of meat eating (a nod to my favorite vegans!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Join me next week when we explore another "hot" topic in human evolution. Stay tuned! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Related Posts<br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/03/eating-our-own.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Eating our Own</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/08/eruption-in-your-mouth.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Eruption in Your Mouth</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/11/humans-tasty-tasty.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Humans... Tasty, Tasty</span></a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-10802404397277293692015-03-13T06:00:00.000-04:002016-02-09T09:20:52.363-05:00The Climb of Your Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFSRZXsBj7HUd3e2suQ7wAkBE_kgCmkivmjlZ-VIPFS33b2_FDwBOvkS-C3s2Ajeq7_W2ETY3rm4IWZgagQsNGYJxtG-AuRUbw2K2TdsMzEtTe4RCZawDMzSSGKR8gX21UGogI-r0-yc/s1600/Climbing-ladder+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFSRZXsBj7HUd3e2suQ7wAkBE_kgCmkivmjlZ-VIPFS33b2_FDwBOvkS-C3s2Ajeq7_W2ETY3rm4IWZgagQsNGYJxtG-AuRUbw2K2TdsMzEtTe4RCZawDMzSSGKR8gX21UGogI-r0-yc/s1600/Climbing-ladder+hands.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">This
morning on the radio, I heard one of my favorite songs, Edwin McCain’s <i>I’ll Be</i>, which has a great line in it: "<i>I’ll be better when I’m older…" </i> It got me
thinking about age and perspective. It seems throughout early life, all we wish
is to be older. It’s as if we are climbing a ladder and life will truly begin once
we reach that next rung. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So I want you to perform a thought experiment: climb
down the ladder and go back in time. Try to recapture your perspective as you
ventured forth on your ascent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HTvIMo9DEhM8cioVRR4C7AdT8Zl5WLbNpILDb5KqR6QlKZBBrRU2kbOdSlyD31XV_Qua4P2Vaib0UWIXZ9XAkq4Sswb4diR-gJOVyECVLOrpEbY9B65DUgH9vzIHh9aNFDCchmciioA/s1600/climbing+ladder+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HTvIMo9DEhM8cioVRR4C7AdT8Zl5WLbNpILDb5KqR6QlKZBBrRU2kbOdSlyD31XV_Qua4P2Vaib0UWIXZ9XAkq4Sswb4diR-gJOVyECVLOrpEbY9B65DUgH9vzIHh9aNFDCchmciioA/s1600/climbing+ladder+child.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">When
we’re small, all we want is to be big. And the way to get bigger is to
accumulate birthdays. That’s why kids will never respond with “four” or “seven” when
asked their age. They are “four and a half” or “seven and three-quarters!” Ask any kid and I bet they tack on
that imperative fraction. But childhood is not a time to rush. Important things
are happening in our little bodies. Although our <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">growth</span> </a>rates are no match for
the rapid development of <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandnewborndevelopment.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">infancy</span></a>, we will still chalk up about two inches per
year until we hit adolescence. Aside from growing, our bones are <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/bonegrowth/femur.shtml" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">fusing</span></a>, our
teeth are <a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/08/eruption-in-your-mouth.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">erupting</span></a>, and our <a href="http://www.eohu.ca/segments/topics_e.php?segmentID=8&segment_subID=10&topicID=338" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">brains</span></a> are making critical connections that will
help us read, write and express ourselves throughout our lifetimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgEj7OBcnrVFxf_GUbAO1FK7sFuNrbwPSzOZRYAKt4QfpWW8CG5I_rKfNJRcHzKQBQyCssxQai4gPgF14d1YHoVNxFPlVQYVSh9lpylDXVaZKVwMaCGiFzw4rl2bKSqE7UIuYbOK4IrE/s1600/climbing-Ladder+FF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgEj7OBcnrVFxf_GUbAO1FK7sFuNrbwPSzOZRYAKt4QfpWW8CG5I_rKfNJRcHzKQBQyCssxQai4gPgF14d1YHoVNxFPlVQYVSh9lpylDXVaZKVwMaCGiFzw4rl2bKSqE7UIuYbOK4IrE/s1600/climbing-Ladder+FF.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Then
comes the day our birthday cakes boast double-digit candles. It’s a magical time,
<a href="http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=the-growing-child-adolescent-13-to-18-years-90-P02175" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">adolescence</span></a>. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2005/mar/03/1" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Hormones</span></a> are raging, new hair is sprouting, and suddenly our
bodies possess strange and wonderful <a href="http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/adolescent-development" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">abilities</span></a> (especially if you sport a
penis). And how do we respond to these mystical metamorphisms? By wanting to be
a grownup, so we can take them out for a test drive. As teens we crave
independence, the chance to make our own decisions, to be taken seriously as adults.
We long to be part of adult society: by voting, serving in the military, and buying
beer. As for our bodies, growth is winding down, the last of our molars are
settling in (or being yanked by a dentist), and our reproductive capacities are
given their final tweaks in preparation for parenthood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuxtN33RaDNMIUIrWnFrC7DTRPyURq8CYzs4lVPRwT2r24YzW9EYMO8Cy5wGX_q4JD-4KJWbQ9rj7Fhdl9JhK0T01fkeswPT6TGUdlIoVj5J_PWzYcvnXBKqM_NBrNnTBuV2RQ_spp8U/s1600/climbing+ladder_crossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuxtN33RaDNMIUIrWnFrC7DTRPyURq8CYzs4lVPRwT2r24YzW9EYMO8Cy5wGX_q4JD-4KJWbQ9rj7Fhdl9JhK0T01fkeswPT6TGUdlIoVj5J_PWzYcvnXBKqM_NBrNnTBuV2RQ_spp8U/s1600/climbing+ladder_crossing.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">When we
finally make it to our twenties, a strange thing happens. Suddenly, the climb
accelerates. Those rungs on the ladder go slipping by, greased by some unseen
hand. You barely enjoy the freedom of <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003998.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">maturity</span></a> before thirty rears its ugly
head. You are shocked to find yourself a parent and can’t quite
remember how you got here. You’re saddled with a job, a spouse, and a mortgage,
and before you know it, <i>Hello, forty!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Forty
arrives and you take a look around from your lofty perch and can’t believe
how high you’ve climbed. The air is cooler, it’s easier to breathe, now that
you’ve gained some <a href="http://healthmatters.sg/10-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-a-mid-life-crisis/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">perspective</span></a>, and many of those imperative life decisions are
behind you. Think of all you’ve learned! You look back with wonder at the
antics of your youth: the foolish stunts you pulled, the poor judgment you
exercised. It’s a wonder you made it this far. And just as you’re settling into this comfy locale, fifty arrives and practically knocks you from your rungs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">How can I be half a century old?</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> you ask yourself. <i>Impossible! Why, just yesterday, I was graduating from high school. How
could this much time elapse without my noticing? </i>And as for that view from
the ladder - we’re talkin’ nosebleeds! The horizon stretches before you in a
hazy blur, the objects on the ground, miniscule. You think back to your
previous ideas of fifty and realize you were wrong all along. <i>Fifty's not old! </i>you tell yourself<i>. Sixty, maybe, or seventy, if I’m lucky to make it that far. Besides, if I
live to be one hundred, I’m only halfway there!</i> Take a deep breath…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiM4llVw3VW1PxVYtxyrF1nfuJx6T90akc5iD_AfM2ouoal1eJG53gCs8Yg25-9NH1gNCmN0uBZj81XvfkEfOuMeMFcJMqr7MSxrGUyacroaaMV68Gr-9Amom4kPpeTydaBMSZQsODNc/s1600/Climb+Ladders-of-Success.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiM4llVw3VW1PxVYtxyrF1nfuJx6T90akc5iD_AfM2ouoal1eJG53gCs8Yg25-9NH1gNCmN0uBZj81XvfkEfOuMeMFcJMqr7MSxrGUyacroaaMV68Gr-9Amom4kPpeTydaBMSZQsODNc/s1600/Climb+Ladders-of-Success.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">As
someone who recently bid farewell to her forties, I cannot lend further
perspective on the ladder of life. I’m still climbing, careful as I go. The
best advice I can give is to enjoy each and every rung. Yes, you’ll be
challenged along the way, by love, loss, and hardship, but the higher you go,
the luckier you are. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Although the rungs of our youth grow small beneath our
feet, always remember: the view from the top is mighty fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I’ll be your crying shoulder<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I’ll be love’s suicide<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I’ll be better when I’m older<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">I’ll be the greatest fan of your life….<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> Edwin McCain</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnRXBsbRpZLcpKC3-l9EE00xzLVf2uWxeMUXTbjfHhLYPKWNfV8Xbm7q7J2-dUbOnfF_4GuTw3So9IWFdXmAJbmCmG1lktobzPQFoNLREiEEh-mDt_71NDyXRr4_BfX0zmtZWTrGLwqM/s1600/climbladder+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnRXBsbRpZLcpKC3-l9EE00xzLVf2uWxeMUXTbjfHhLYPKWNfV8Xbm7q7J2-dUbOnfF_4GuTw3So9IWFdXmAJbmCmG1lktobzPQFoNLREiEEh-mDt_71NDyXRr4_BfX0zmtZWTrGLwqM/s1600/climbladder+art.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.senescence.info/gerontology.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Here's</span></a> </span>a wonderful article on the evolutionary process of aging, if you're in the mood for a little light reading!</span></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-77990273677633843302015-03-06T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T09:24:25.921-05:00Welcome to the Gun Show<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7FRoCUrrrbctjQeJOkqL4tqMi3hxyQd_TElBVS52P52byNweY1YcywZNTw14zh42_3AH9pOun6ee8WPs-FdPZPG5rLDZoRhwf0K7-SzG5vgmpzH4X818UsJYYTF2JfckBVyYcibwsKU/s1600/muscles+main+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7FRoCUrrrbctjQeJOkqL4tqMi3hxyQd_TElBVS52P52byNweY1YcywZNTw14zh42_3AH9pOun6ee8WPs-FdPZPG5rLDZoRhwf0K7-SzG5vgmpzH4X818UsJYYTF2JfckBVyYcibwsKU/s1600/muscles+main+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">There's nothing more striking than well-defined muscle. The firm bulge of biceps, the
ropey thickness of quads, the ravishing ripples of six-pack abs. Few things compare
to the beauty of lean muscle. In fact, I’m willing to overlook certain
character flaws (kleptomania, bizarre fetishes, or – god, forbid – an aversion
to hockey) in exchange for a ripped physique.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf05XQBZQPHaB4S-kiXVo2LmK1Mu7szAjkbzd7OCLPPQl27rNrHaaK1MuzlAsAjEfeg1dYWL5F9hFZ6MWkjfP-Dls2yxse3JZ2zECaAdwvLHuaw-NSCQ7HAyWOrTfCHdTsqP18rYBgmc/s1600/muscles6-pack-abs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf05XQBZQPHaB4S-kiXVo2LmK1Mu7szAjkbzd7OCLPPQl27rNrHaaK1MuzlAsAjEfeg1dYWL5F9hFZ6MWkjfP-Dls2yxse3JZ2zECaAdwvLHuaw-NSCQ7HAyWOrTfCHdTsqP18rYBgmc/s1600/muscles6-pack-abs.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Not only
is muscle beautiful, it’s also delicious. You may not give it much thought, but
each time you bite into a juicy burger, feast on a platter of wings, or tear
into a pile of chops, you’re ingesting the muscle of some critter, be it beef, bird,
or swine. Let’s face it, muscle rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So to pay homage to the magnificence of muscle, let’s explore these wondrous tissues and the
many roles they play in our bodies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Were we
to inventory the 600-plus <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.innerbody.com/image/musfov.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">muscles</span></a> </span>that make up the human body, it would take
the better part of the day. That’s because muscles come in an array of forms and
sport tongue-twisting names based on their characteristics. Some are named for
their size, such as the largest in the body, the gluteus maximus, which you are
probably sitting on. Some are named for their shape, like the deltoid, because of its triangular
silhouette. And some derive their name from the direction in which they run, like the beautiful rectus
abdominus that extends vertically along the belly, forming those lovely little
cans within the six pack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ4jj_kmvqBYVoBG1eATNNs9E5pIrG5vyGJl1T3RfGOUukAPa6MiioRTnkAq5bX57jQfc2J79GuB1hN_VcLzC6eheipFcLsyyp1xyfnF8wnX7l0YrFhiz2J9o0WQ5hsxyyRohX8k_Otg/s1600/muscle+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ4jj_kmvqBYVoBG1eATNNs9E5pIrG5vyGJl1T3RfGOUukAPa6MiioRTnkAq5bX57jQfc2J79GuB1hN_VcLzC6eheipFcLsyyp1xyfnF8wnX7l0YrFhiz2J9o0WQ5hsxyyRohX8k_Otg/s1600/muscle+drawing.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The body
contains three different <a href="http://www.livescience.com/39024-human-body-system-musculature-infographic.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">types</span></a> of muscle. <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/musculoskeletal/muscle1.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Skeletal</span></a> </span>muscle is what gives the
body its beautiful design. These voluntary, striated muscles move our bodies by
manipulating our skeletons. By pulling on bone, skeletal muscle enables us to
walk, run, blink and smile, swivel our heads, rotate our arms, and contort our
bodies in myriad ways. Every movement is made possible through the
contraction of these amazing fibers. And the anchor points for many of these
muscles sculpt our skeletons, for wherever you have muscle pulling on bone, you
have a bony prominence on which the muscles gain purchase. The larger the
muscle, the larger the attachment site. So as you work out, you’re not only
building muscle, you’re building bone, as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Just as
skeletal muscles move our skeletons, <a href="http://faculty.harford.edu/faculty/WRappazzo/bio203/Muscle%20tissue/smooth%20muscle.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">smooth</span></a> muscle, otherwise known as visceral
muscle, also plays a role in movement, but on a much finer scale. The blood
coursing through our vessels, the food moving through our digestive tract, the
air entering our lungs – each movement is dictated by our brain, coordinated
through our nervous system, and carried out involuntarily via these rarely
contemplated, seldom seen muscles. Smooth muscles lack striations and are
relatively weak. But although skeletal muscles get all the attention, smooth
muscles are the true “movers and shakers” of our body systems. They deserve a
bit more respect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8g6lzJuKtcOS9HWTZjUd-z8htevJDwiJev7K3W_nbllemorN77_oEeKknWZumlL5x1AXy2Gvh3YMcm89XO7xEUwe19Z9bs6U5WAtyWwvlG1Tw_-s1ZCDxpHDj8ZcooVtZlcqzqNJpAY/s1600/muscle+heart+sketchl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8g6lzJuKtcOS9HWTZjUd-z8htevJDwiJev7K3W_nbllemorN77_oEeKknWZumlL5x1AXy2Gvh3YMcm89XO7xEUwe19Z9bs6U5WAtyWwvlG1Tw_-s1ZCDxpHDj8ZcooVtZlcqzqNJpAY/s1600/muscle+heart+sketchl.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
third type of muscle drives the core of our being: the heart. <a href="http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-cardiac-muscle.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Cardiac</span></a> muscle is
a bit of a hybrid. It shares some similarities with skeletal muscle, some with
smooth. It has striations (like skeletal muscle) and is controlled
involuntarily (like smooth), but cardiac muscle can do something no other
muscles in the body can do: generate a pulse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Specialized cells within the
heart generate electricity, causing the cardiac muscle to <a href="http://www.cytokinetics.com/cardiovascular_program" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">contract</span></a>. Cardiac
muscle cells are arranged so that they overlap, forming a continuous web
through which the electrochemical signals can pass. This causes the muscle to
contract in a <a href="http://www.mydr.com.au/heart-stroke/heart-how-your-heart-pumps-blood-around-your-body" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">wave</span></a>, drawing blood in, pushing blood out. And it’s this
beautifully synchronous motion that produces the apex of all life sounds: the
heartbeat. Your heart will beat on average one hundred thousand times per day, thirty-five million
times per year, and more than two and a half billion times during your lifetime (depending
on your longevity, of course). That’s a lot of pumping, which explains why a
heart can wear out and why it’s so important to keep it healthy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIZd2j9v12-2uU75m3uWLJig_fBw_c1xn_WF97hIB5SpFYrj4LLL8LesANGDU9a5n5P2F-ktAHFZKJffzwGLkyK1XAmc0Fl8RmhEX0iJ0A8-RnrD-5dmg4aPDpUuxxFCv9LOQ9dBR6Tw/s1600/muscles+bodyworld-runner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIZd2j9v12-2uU75m3uWLJig_fBw_c1xn_WF97hIB5SpFYrj4LLL8LesANGDU9a5n5P2F-ktAHFZKJffzwGLkyK1XAmc0Fl8RmhEX0iJ0A8-RnrD-5dmg4aPDpUuxxFCv9LOQ9dBR6Tw/s1600/muscles+bodyworld-runner2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
muscles in your body make up about half your overall weight. And because they
are </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">denser than fat, a fit individual can </span><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/392136-can-gaining-muscle-make-you-gain-weight/" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">outweigh</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> his unfit counterpart (and
look a whole lot better doing it). And for those of you who have recently
fallen out of the habit of working out, take heart: it takes twice as long to
lose muscle as it does to gain it, so get up and get lifting! Muscles are fast
learners with great memories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Although
our skeletons form the scaffolding on which our body systems are built, it’s
the muscles that bring our skeletons to life. Muscles move us, sustain us, and
enable us to express ourselves in numerous ways, from simple gestures (a touch,
a wink, a smile) to wondrous physical feats (walking, running, and lifting). So
treat your muscles as you do your favorite pet: <a href="http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/kids/healthy_muscles.asp" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">nurture</span></a> them, nourish them, and
give them plenty of exercise. They’ll repay you with a lifetime of
unconditional love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUugQvUm92J-hCXBEk0PmMy-b6qE_UCsL3iOkAMVpCLeLYU486qBZYyPZdooU2HuWjx3l6I3ZDiBmBeXdEAEpIdkSv3N9dGmiPOyWWDaSmc9FlovNJAoXDk7ettAoGJU0yawEOSJURvnw/s1600/muscles+infant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUugQvUm92J-hCXBEk0PmMy-b6qE_UCsL3iOkAMVpCLeLYU486qBZYyPZdooU2HuWjx3l6I3ZDiBmBeXdEAEpIdkSv3N9dGmiPOyWWDaSmc9FlovNJAoXDk7ettAoGJU0yawEOSJURvnw/s1600/muscles+infant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Related Posts<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/07/bodies-in-motion.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Bodies in Motion</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/11/size-matters.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Size Matters</span></a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/07/hot-and-cold.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Hot and Cold</span></a></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-40647542117964072092015-02-27T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T09:28:34.875-05:00The Human Touch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHPb8mM3E6oG8lWboO-YcGhF0fCziYu68-38N6nPf5C_kY0xU49AfzFSQ29etbk4PtFvv76oGa6B6I9hrenStsd6qn6zzRzGd5I2tUqe2EdjQZXqO9rT3sQoU3_QUP4hEkf7_YqOZxMw/s1600/human+touch+goalie+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHPb8mM3E6oG8lWboO-YcGhF0fCziYu68-38N6nPf5C_kY0xU49AfzFSQ29etbk4PtFvv76oGa6B6I9hrenStsd6qn6zzRzGd5I2tUqe2EdjQZXqO9rT3sQoU3_QUP4hEkf7_YqOZxMw/s1600/human+touch+goalie+kiss.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">God, I
love hockey. As you may have read in November’s <i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/11/size-matters.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Size Matters</span></a></i>, I’m a devoted hockey </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">fan. (Go Lightning!) I love the
speed, the strength, and the beautiful biomechanics of this amazing sport. I also
love the rituals following each goal. Here’s how they unfold: the puck hits the
back of the net, the shooter raises his stick in triumph, and the team then consummates their achievement with a massive group hug. Fellow teammates pile on in what can only be compared to an anaconda mating ball. It’s
a raucous love fest, which is all the more ironic considering the brutal
physicality of the sport.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLggwh3Rjt4TUQTiGMpj7L29Qc2QWiZSomQ7KrBBag4nB52Uvh0jPs-ZKPb3RiKJroxNutlqL_2a59nh6Z8XiTTr5shb82lai1zcDqzHNhjrplKuZ4-OghOlNgMefT5hnIFt5ANhbD60w/s1600/human+touch+hockey+hug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLggwh3Rjt4TUQTiGMpj7L29Qc2QWiZSomQ7KrBBag4nB52Uvh0jPs-ZKPb3RiKJroxNutlqL_2a59nh6Z8XiTTr5shb82lai1zcDqzHNhjrplKuZ4-OghOlNgMefT5hnIFt5ANhbD60w/s1600/human+touch+hockey+hug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
celebration doesn’t end there. Once the bro-bundle disassembles, the shooter and his line then glide over to tap paws with their benched teammates. But
the pinnacle of all hockey celebrations comes at the end of the game when the
winning team congregates for what I call “the goalie kiss.” The victors line up
in front of their goalie and one-by-one touch helmets, a means of acknowledging
his skill. It’s the closest thing to a man-kiss you’ll ever see in American sports.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Hockey
is not the only sport that involves teammate touching. In fact, most team
sports involve some degree of touch, whether to celebrate an achievement, allay a mistake, or simply encourage one another. A team’s touchability has
even been <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443991704577579403792119384" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">linked</span></a> to their ranking: the more successful the team, the more they
tend to touch (although it’s the chicken-or-the-egg conundrum as to which comes
first). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And why
do they do this? Because touch is an integral part of human communication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgM3dHZ0hJ4-SzXtUMfUCXZRsRJ0EKTTBKGCpV5RLm4S7Qbc82e4TsGGpoEyuqyqfZPHRjrVGsFLxmyexS9BUghg6UxeShZpeZlKpEJjZC3jX2rh4Bpz3r5BxwHEx2OdnypKjq5wObAo/s1600/human+touch+brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgM3dHZ0hJ4-SzXtUMfUCXZRsRJ0EKTTBKGCpV5RLm4S7Qbc82e4TsGGpoEyuqyqfZPHRjrVGsFLxmyexS9BUghg6UxeShZpeZlKpEJjZC3jX2rh4Bpz3r5BxwHEx2OdnypKjq5wObAo/s1600/human+touch+brain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Our
sense of touch begins in our <a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/twopt.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">skin</span></a>. Nerve endings that originate in our dermis
send messages via our spinal cord to our brain, where the <a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/cranial.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">information</span></a> is
processed. Our brain has evolved two separate pathways to analyze touch. The
primary <a href="http://www.alinenewton.com/neuroscience.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">somatosensory cortex</span></a> deciphers the fundamentals of touch: pressure,
texture, vibration, and location, which is critical for navigating our world.
But the second pathway is just as critical, for without it, we would respond to
external stimuli like automatons. I’m talking about the emotional aspect of
touch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Our
complex brain performs a remarkable sensory feat each time we engage in touch: it
places that touch in context. It does this by utilizing particular sensors in
the skin, which trigger regions of the brain associated with pleasure, <a href="http://www.brainfacts.org/Sensing-Thinking-Behaving/Senses-and-Perception/Articles/2012/Touch-and-Pain" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">pain</span></a>,
and social bonding. And it’s the brain’s dual pathway that explains why the
same type of touch can be perceived in widely disparate ways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Imagine
the touch of a loved one: the reassuring pat of a parent, the warm hand of a
child, or the sensual stroke of a lover. These contexts engage sensory fibers
that trigger emotional bonding reflexes within our brains. Now compare that to
the eerie touch of a drunken stranger who sidles up to you at a bar. Same
touch, very different scenario. Our reactions to touch are based on the
emotional interpretations produced in our brain. And when it comes to touch, it’s
all about context.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG5yoCFqzZpsHOLoJVY_-I1aJQgdR63EEmcA0WZKR-AyOyaHbuHgaaqCQ41SdGCh2kG3fBFfkc8FPgfmYCefGZpfqlSvUHBISA9-S1HWqu1ePjNUrusAKrh55tSkHgGKHZDBVqjYy3t0/s1600/human+touch+infant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG5yoCFqzZpsHOLoJVY_-I1aJQgdR63EEmcA0WZKR-AyOyaHbuHgaaqCQ41SdGCh2kG3fBFfkc8FPgfmYCefGZpfqlSvUHBISA9-S1HWqu1ePjNUrusAKrh55tSkHgGKHZDBVqjYy3t0/s1600/human+touch+infant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Touch is
more than a means of engaging our world, it is fundamental to our emotional
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2865952/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">development</span></a>. Children deprived of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/02/science/the-experience-of-touch-research-points-to-a-critical-role.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">touch</span></a> not only suffer emotionally, its lack affects
their immune response, digestive health, and their ability to integrate in
society. That’s because touch forges trust; a response rooted in the chemicals
within our brains. In the proper context, touch triggers the release of
<a href="http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/oxytocin.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">oxytocin</span></a>, a hormone closely associated with our sense of trust, which explains
its role in sex, birth, and breastfeeding. A warm touch also reduces stress by
tamping down one of the key stress hormones in the body, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/cortisol-level/overview.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">cortisol</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And it’s
these positive benefits that drive much of the recent research on touch. At the
<a href="https://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/About.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Touch Research Institute</span></a> (yes, there is such a place) at the University of
Miami, scientists are hard at work exploring the emotional benefits of touch.
According to their research, touch, in the form of therapeutic massage, can
alleviate headaches and anxiety, help with muscular and <a href="http://www.massagemag.com/massage-for-spinal-cord-injury-3464/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">spinal cord injuries</span></a>,
and reduce stress and pain. The Institute is even exploring how regular massage
can ease <a href="http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1962031,00.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">postpartum depression</span></a>. It turns out that massaging an expectant mother
reduces stress and depression during and after pregnancy, but also benefits the
baby by lowering the incidence of premature births and low birth weight among
tots. So if your significant other is expecting, be a dear and give her a rub.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcKmVrfParjDSo5L0ygW6hQQ_pXvSmol7scp6vlJ7-CYrO9N8WH2krHnZIFSGUYNLWiBo4PSDMKDcF_0ywN8oK3tEJWaNEuVVqHYdpTStB5Us0sq_z-ha5tcegREck0pRTptPpfVpEUw/s1600/human+touchcavepainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcKmVrfParjDSo5L0ygW6hQQ_pXvSmol7scp6vlJ7-CYrO9N8WH2krHnZIFSGUYNLWiBo4PSDMKDcF_0ywN8oK3tEJWaNEuVVqHYdpTStB5Us0sq_z-ha5tcegREck0pRTptPpfVpEUw/s1600/human+touchcavepainting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">They say
a picture is worth a thousand words. The same can be said of touch, only the
language of touch goes beyond mere words. Touch speaks to us on a visceral
level, stirring emotions that drive us as human beings. Trust, desire, security, and well-being can be relayed without uttering a sound. All it takes is the
right touch.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Science-Hand-Heart-Mind/dp/0670014877/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424811760&sr=1-1&keywords=touch" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Here's</span> </a>a fascinating read on the subject.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /><br />
<i style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Related Posts</i><br />
<i style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/06/why-we-kiss.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Why We Kiss</span></a></i><br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-mothers-touch.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">A Mother's Touch</span></a></i><br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/hurts-so-good.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Hurts So Good</span></a></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-92119093359606356812015-02-20T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T09:40:31.717-05:00Picturing the Dead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBlSxBYDHtPRs4pNF25oMocBzzxP6gGSvf5DhNszuvDrtpeHbP02ifj1Am3bzm3lgBisJRWpGUClfeFeKZYjygzkcsBnJr2N-jEljNtq-V_X1XE7lOwRp1aRszVsSqcuhDaOwI_j8JwI/s1600/picturing+death+mother+and+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBlSxBYDHtPRs4pNF25oMocBzzxP6gGSvf5DhNszuvDrtpeHbP02ifj1Am3bzm3lgBisJRWpGUClfeFeKZYjygzkcsBnJr2N-jEljNtq-V_X1XE7lOwRp1aRszVsSqcuhDaOwI_j8JwI/s1600/picturing+death+mother+and+child.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">hink
back to the funerals you’ve attended, particularly the open casket affairs. Do
you remember details of the deceased? Their expression, the tone of their skin,
the contours of their face? One final question: did you take a picture?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">In
today’s photomaniacal culture, we take pictures of everything: our pets, our
food, and most often, our body parts. But we still tend to shy away from taking
pictures of our dead. I find this curious, for it wasn’t always so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">For
thousands of years, burials – at least of elites – have been accompanied by
some sort of remembrance. Long before photography, this came in the form of
<a href="http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/C0770/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">death masks</span></a>. Made from an array of materials, wax, plaster, or in some cases,
precious metals, these masks memorialized the dead as they appeared in life
(minus the pulse, of course). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10cXGC3fF879hrk4jOEcXb0QvsN25Ve0fL1CMxJrAjEvK0y_PuFUD5ieWqk_HODhw_oEYt26fKgL4-x5c4g3roIxPLIiINx3Tr-3bht8c4e256QYM9T7f6bs4hxz6ZMV8MivrnRDTz9I/s1600/picturing+death+tut+mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10cXGC3fF879hrk4jOEcXb0QvsN25Ve0fL1CMxJrAjEvK0y_PuFUD5ieWqk_HODhw_oEYt26fKgL4-x5c4g3roIxPLIiINx3Tr-3bht8c4e256QYM9T7f6bs4hxz6ZMV8MivrnRDTz9I/s1600/picturing+death+tut+mask.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">One of
the oldest and most famous was that of King Tutankhamen. The young king, who
died around 1400 B.C., was interred with a splendid gold <a href="http://www.touregypt.net/museum/tutl18.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">mask</span></a> weighing a
whopping twenty-four pounds, although the accuracy of the mask is debatable. Since Tut’s
time, death <a href="http://www.biography.com/news/famous-death-masks" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">masks</span></a> have been a common means of memorializing the dead. From
<a href="http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/C0770/ex4289.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Mary</span></a>, Queen of Scots in the 1500s to Sir Isaac <a href="http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/C0770/ex38.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Newton</span></a> in the 1700s and, closer to home,
Civil War hero and president, Ulysses S. <a href="http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/C0770/ex48.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Grant</span></a> in the 1800s, these masks capture
intricate details of the deceased, as they appeared prior to interment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But all
this changed when photography burst on the scene…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkaKFjEr-kT9q-YnIhnVlE2e_XJ1aL9FmDy8dcDoEk0CxpGqFwZ9qW35z-qrmOq5oQawAVP3rw0AP_50jt5RA_wJyIwZ5dm9F8dZ2VTUOWg_PrcPF1KMA173MUHZE81NtU9LZn7jebtU/s1600/picturing+the+dead+dag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkaKFjEr-kT9q-YnIhnVlE2e_XJ1aL9FmDy8dcDoEk0CxpGqFwZ9qW35z-qrmOq5oQawAVP3rw0AP_50jt5RA_wJyIwZ5dm9F8dZ2VTUOWg_PrcPF1KMA173MUHZE81NtU9LZn7jebtU/s1600/picturing+the+dead+dag.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">In 1837,
Frenchman Louis Daguerre, using a concoction of silver-plated copper, silver
iodide, and mercury, was able to create the first permanent image. Referred to
as <a href="http://daguerre.org/resource/history/history.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Daguerreotype</span></a>, this early photographic technique, like most new trends,
began as an expensive luxury. Louis’ early photograhy captured images of family and
friends and was more expedient and practical than hiring a portrait artist. Parents
finally had a means of recording their broods for posterity. The only problem
was, many broods did not survive to adulthood. Combine newly developed photo
ops with high child mortality and you have a recipe for a morbid yet practical new
Victorian fad, postmortem photos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh3gJEip55V5eZn6Nurf0eSy_i-mdnvZ6JMlKQpCvJuTzlGfmfkeDm3XTo6h4uHDASD4swnPNmVD4K8tgjBL4YQE5YJx4lI7PkaEBhup5GZIFUpHTzpfh5a_Y6g2UmRCyf8G7c4KOSbI/s1600/picturing+death+main.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh3gJEip55V5eZn6Nurf0eSy_i-mdnvZ6JMlKQpCvJuTzlGfmfkeDm3XTo6h4uHDASD4swnPNmVD4K8tgjBL4YQE5YJx4lI7PkaEBhup5GZIFUpHTzpfh5a_Y6g2UmRCyf8G7c4KOSbI/s1600/picturing+death+main.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Known in
Latin as <i><a href="http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/terminals/meinwald/meinwald3.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">memento mori</span></a></i>, these ghoulish
keepsakes became fashionable on both sides of the pond. At a time when family
photos were a desirable commodity, capturing images of the deceased, especially those of children, took on a whole new
meaning. The death of a child meant little time to record the child’s image, so
when death came swiftly, so did the postmortem photographer. The child was
traditionally posed in lifelike manner, sometimes alongside favorite
toys or cascades of flowers, or tucked among living family members. Over time,
as new techniques made photographs easier and less expensive, even those of
modest means could capture images of their dearly departed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBzbmZYKYifmDBt7yXlw10FCU1RDZAcSfTLyHaUsZ5TPygV76Ehyphenhyphen_rW04T9oSqkWcHLCYPqVfxNpoeFRRGr_HkokuXwVBB8nevB6wsOWEPRD6FKMvwJy91fcDkxoDN5C9fiaXBNY9Pbw/s1600/picturing+death+dalton+gang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBzbmZYKYifmDBt7yXlw10FCU1RDZAcSfTLyHaUsZ5TPygV76Ehyphenhyphen_rW04T9oSqkWcHLCYPqVfxNpoeFRRGr_HkokuXwVBB8nevB6wsOWEPRD6FKMvwJy91fcDkxoDN5C9fiaXBNY9Pbw/s1600/picturing+death+dalton+gang.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Postmortem
photos also accompanied the taming of America’s Wild West. What better way to
publicize the death of infamous outlaws than to exhibit <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/braindribble/outlaws-and-lawmen-of-the-old-west/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">photos</span></a> of their corpses?
From the Dalton Gang (whose bank robbing was cut short when the docile
townsfolk of Coffeyville, Kansas, gunned them down), to Jesse James (same
business, same bloody end), to George “Bittercreek” Newcomb (former member of
the Dalton Gang who was offed by his amigos in exchange for a fat bounty),
photos of dead outlaws served as proof of the inherent dangers of criminality on
the frontier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbc7x9Q7OczneaEfyW66veKxJNNqUULK9nKK4OgNTPKXdNOx-uhQ4RgEIxsy87CSyeYwZGSO4avBo9xgfVssdropfrF17At6IkMZD9Hq7xel91LOol2pdW02_kuSFoO2XQiU0kZDbpLDQ/s1600/picturing+death+elvis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbc7x9Q7OczneaEfyW66veKxJNNqUULK9nKK4OgNTPKXdNOx-uhQ4RgEIxsy87CSyeYwZGSO4avBo9xgfVssdropfrF17At6IkMZD9Hq7xel91LOol2pdW02_kuSFoO2XQiU0kZDbpLDQ/s1600/picturing+death+elvis.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">In
today’s modern culture, postmortem photos fall into a singular category accepted,
even coveted, by a morbid public: the dead celebrity. We seem to crave photos of
the famous who have met their ends. There are even websites dedicated solely to
dead celebs. <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.celebritymorgue.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Celebritymorgue</span></a>.com</span> sports photos of an array of famous corpses, from
loveable dictators like <a href="http://www.celebritymorgue.com/benito-mussolini/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Mussolini</span></a> and <a href="http://www.celebritymorgue.com/josef-stalin/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Stalin</span></a> to ghastly morgue shots of <a href="http://www.celebritymorgue.com/marilyn-monroe/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Marilyn</span></a>
and <a href="http://www.celebritymorgue.com/tupac-shakur/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Tupac</span></a>. Even nonhuman notables have made the cut: P.T. Barnum’s prize-winning
elephant, <a href="http://www.celebritymorgue.com/jumbo/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Jumbo</span></a>, was memorialized in a postmortem photograph after he was inadvertently
struck by a train while moseying across the tracks (poor Jumbo).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Postmortem photographs have evolved through the ages. What was once a respectable, albeit macabre, means of memorializing the dead has morphed into a tool for
gawkers and sensationalists. But even in its current twisted state, postmortem
photography has a way of satisfying a visceral desire in all of us: the chance to
look death in the face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celebrations-Death-Anthropology-Mortuary-Ritual/dp/0521423759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424209117&sr=1-1&keywords=mortuary+rituals" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Here's</span></a> a good read on mortuary customs around the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfT0BosQf_Y2tAjEMWWDZeCo1kQ-SVY7oAr9-54vMLWMR9erWLzejtmd6_GyK9Rbd2vcPKsg1H6MbtuJrc78UIPTreblAuhBKOvqhQHAUgqrCw0eel8Ot2bMCg977jt8neQ_V8ZkLhMU/s1600/picturingdeath+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfT0BosQf_Y2tAjEMWWDZeCo1kQ-SVY7oAr9-54vMLWMR9erWLzejtmd6_GyK9Rbd2vcPKsg1H6MbtuJrc78UIPTreblAuhBKOvqhQHAUgqrCw0eel8Ot2bMCg977jt8neQ_V8ZkLhMU/s1600/picturingdeath+book.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> <i><span style="color: red;">Related Posts</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-to-cure-corpse.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">How to Cure a Corpse</span></a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2013/11/body-bandits.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Body Bandits</span></a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="color: red;"><i>Dead and Lovin' It</i></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4352048240013503490.post-81569442278040174572015-02-06T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T09:44:02.015-05:00Thumbs Up!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUblNDU32C3LWJUX29qkkvcdAdBSgVD8u4iYoOy8O2eM17CYWTLufkhrcN469WNsj29RpqOan1OELHiAwtj7WlDg8q-GmPMrjGg9uBl33xzecJ14au_7p92S12IzqFHUjMT95FftKlUw/s1600/thumbs+up+xray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUblNDU32C3LWJUX29qkkvcdAdBSgVD8u4iYoOy8O2eM17CYWTLufkhrcN469WNsj29RpqOan1OELHiAwtj7WlDg8q-GmPMrjGg9uBl33xzecJ14au_7p92S12IzqFHUjMT95FftKlUw/s1600/thumbs+up+xray.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Here’s an
experiment: try going fifteen minutes without using your thumbs. Bet you can’t do
it. We may not give them a second thought, but life would be very difficult
without thumbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Last
week, my left thumb was knocked out of commission after I sustained a painful
bite from one of my lovebirds (they really deserve a more appropriate name…
devil birds, perhaps). I introduced you to my birds, Tuukka and André, in last
February’s <i><a href="http://rachelwentzbooks.blogspot.com/2014/02/birdbrains.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Bird Brains</span></a></i>. Well, a few
days ago, in an attempt to prevent their close encounter with the ceiling fan, I
was trimming their wings. I had Tuukka wrapped in a towel and turned on his
back, but even with the protection of the towel, he managed to swivel his evil little
head and take a hunk out of my thumb. To make matters worse, he tore off a small
chunk of skin that for the next few days caught on everything I came in contact
with. Putting on socks, toweling off from the shower, getting ice from the
freezer – every simple task became a painful ordeal as I tried to manipulate my
maimed thumb. It got me thinking about our dependency on thumbs and the crucial
role they have played in our evolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_gsd_WIjdkE4b6jrb2EPCas2ubxpE3jCouhR8e94Trnm-KyjH1vy07wGYBKYHw2MbKd1h1om0lR9Jm1jQj-Jbnyko8rUGQnXbozU2fa4O-hTAI2e3JvJmjCYsJr6DTvmM-A7VgPpl9g/s1600/thumbstetrapoidenEngels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_gsd_WIjdkE4b6jrb2EPCas2ubxpE3jCouhR8e94Trnm-KyjH1vy07wGYBKYHw2MbKd1h1om0lR9Jm1jQj-Jbnyko8rUGQnXbozU2fa4O-hTAI2e3JvJmjCYsJr6DTvmM-A7VgPpl9g/s1600/thumbstetrapoidenEngels.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">First we
must start with the hand in general. Although we now walk on two limbs, we
evolved from four-legged stock, thus we are tetrapods at heart. And the
majority of <a href="http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evograms_04" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">tetrapods</span> </a>sport <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/04/2/l_042_01.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">limbs</span></a> with five (or fewer) digits. Yes, many a
tetrapod has lost a digit here or there. Bat fingers still come in fives but are
draped in a leathery wing. Bird fingers come in a bizarre array of digits,
depending on the species. And horses’ feet have been whittled down to a single
lonely toe. But we humans have maintained the standard five and boast an
especially talented member, the fully <a href="http://carta.anthropogeny.org/moca/topics/opposability-thumb" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">opposable</span></a> thumb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEstzpo3WJ6Ng5Jyg8Yxt9A2SJu9jqRxrS8hmnm2QqRs-aeifEqMZnGvc4FHlWX4-OJYeqkJKI0tPH4CmYkq6I0EUODP572tWS7N_iXJmoKSNaRTDfE7pJLvhmm1aByKHszsdUaOdQVU/s1600/thumbsape-human-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEstzpo3WJ6Ng5Jyg8Yxt9A2SJu9jqRxrS8hmnm2QqRs-aeifEqMZnGvc4FHlWX4-OJYeqkJKI0tPH4CmYkq6I0EUODP572tWS7N_iXJmoKSNaRTDfE7pJLvhmm1aByKHszsdUaOdQVU/s1600/thumbsape-human-02.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Although
our hands and those of our closest relatives, the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080773/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">chimps</span></a>, are similar in
structure, our hands – especially our thumbs – have several key advantages. Our
thumbs are longer, stronger, and more maneuverable than those of our primate
cousins, whose thumbs lack the musculature of our mighty first digits. And
because they are so short, the chimps’ puny thumbs cannot “oppose” their other
fingers, and we all know how vital opposable thumbs are. That’s why you’ll
never catch a chimp “in a pinch.” They simply lack the ability. Instead, they
are forced to press their miniscule thumbs against the sides of their index
fingers when picking up small twigs or snatching bugs from the forest floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ybw_OWq5lq66yUwMn9w2qb_VCiNiAwKCblih-6CzkhqQ51ZybabhV1Lt4TbFh1AKq43LdmQX8hcDUM3bhgGXz4QGcrUMsjWq8n1TWuaqf81N0SOtWXuhSn318225NPHWBxS0OkQ7BZE/s1600/thumbs+power+grip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ybw_OWq5lq66yUwMn9w2qb_VCiNiAwKCblih-6CzkhqQ51ZybabhV1Lt4TbFh1AKq43LdmQX8hcDUM3bhgGXz4QGcrUMsjWq8n1TWuaqf81N0SOtWXuhSn318225NPHWBxS0OkQ7BZE/s1600/thumbs+power+grip.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Our
opposable thumbs allow us to grip; a crucial skill in making and utilizing
tools. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1571064/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Scientists</span></a> claim the evolution of our “power grip” was crucial to
wielding clubs and throwing stones; tasks that would have come in handy when
warding off predators and taking down prey. The evolution of the “precision
grip,” also made possible by a strong, flexible thumb, would have enhanced toolmaking, allowing our ancestors to construct the <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://humanorigins.si.edu/human-characteristics/tools-food" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">intricate objects</span></a> </span>that would
accompany the rise of <i>Homo sapiens</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Powering
our thrifty thumbs are three <a href="http://www.innerbody.com/image_skel13/ligm27.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">muscles</span></a> lacking in the chimp hand. These muscles
provide strength and control and the small saddle joint on which our thumbs sit
is key to its full opposability. So, unlike chimps, we can pinch, pluck, and
snap to our hearts' content. In fact, scientists are now examining the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140910102914.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">role of thumbs</span></a> in human evolution and, it turns out, those with stronger, more agile
thumbs may have had an evolutionary edge over their weaker-thumbed cohorts. The
ability to produce more effective tools in greater numbers may have edged out
the competition among our <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2409099/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">hominin</span></a> ancestors, which makes sense… Gals usually
go for the bigger, better tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrKCPdLX2XJe3rRckijMJC9NTpnN0etNRIrjBclnkk9qGxGx9iizaPHBms0NHjPkL3jzDOoi_hetyIZ9dQk-xlU_rRwpJq5jC9NSz6NN9yDxKcgaX9ZqliHqoEtnoGCubwfGxVbZ_aIA/s1600/thumb+xray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrKCPdLX2XJe3rRckijMJC9NTpnN0etNRIrjBclnkk9qGxGx9iizaPHBms0NHjPkL3jzDOoi_hetyIZ9dQk-xlU_rRwpJq5jC9NSz6NN9yDxKcgaX9ZqliHqoEtnoGCubwfGxVbZ_aIA/s1600/thumb+xray.JPG" width="250" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But what
about in today’s modern society, where tool production has fallen by the
wayside? Fewer folks actually produce their own tools, much less make their own
clothing, build their own houses, or grow their own food. Do our thumbs still
present an evolutionary advantage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Perhaps
if you’re a habitual gamer. Just ask gamer the importance of thumbs
and I’m sure they’ll present a litany of benefits their nimble thumbs afford. Whether
they’re blasting their way through Doom, leading expeditions across Monkey
Island, or taking down foes in Mortal Kombat, the faster the thumb, the better
their chances of conquering the universe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Unfortunately, this nerdy set of
skills probably doesn’t confer much of an evolutionary advantage. If history is
any indication, I doubt the gamers will be outbreeding the rest of us anytime
soon. They aren’t exactly renowned for their sexual prowess… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Catch
you next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS6Qum4YP4lC7VF6C2qgw-BcTo01hXXTQGwYcQBOSxtmjz4uwRiaREF3Mq258t0J-TVExRLqNymIFusG3_S13TbseYybwGbGPHWce7Rqpb26orIs0VQpYw-qnZua6e83olxGh2OmcID0/s1600/thumbells_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS6Qum4YP4lC7VF6C2qgw-BcTo01hXXTQGwYcQBOSxtmjz4uwRiaREF3Mq258t0J-TVExRLqNymIFusG3_S13TbseYybwGbGPHWce7Rqpb26orIs0VQpYw-qnZua6e83olxGh2OmcID0/s1600/thumbells_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
</div>
Dr. Rachel K. Wentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00883117606543287419noreply@blogger.com