SQUID

Now this article is a bit bittersweet for me. I LOVE squid. I grew up watching my very Italian father tearing apart raw squid in our sink, battering it with delicious spices and fryin' it up for my eagerly awaiting mouth... Calamari is a welcomed food in our home. Simultaneously I felt a pang of guilt and sadness seeing the picture of this beautiful, enormous squid getting slaughtered aboard a fishing vessel. At least he was almost dead upon arrival, and was taken to a research institute providing education and such. Colossal beings do exist and should remain in existence, not filtered via nets, from decimated forests, and pillaging land (buffalo). I wish they were just let to 'be'.

Chimps: Making Tools

Seems to be a reappearing theme in our Biology class: the glorious chimpanzee. I love it, I'm glad for the education because clearly they are our ancestors and have exemplified evolution on so many levels. This is further illustrated in the 'making of tools' as discussed in our article. These sorts of studies continue to support the genetic connection of chimps and human species, I am therefore not entirely surprised that this article suggests humans picked up these skills via chimps. Can we all say evolutionary development? We had to learn somewhere, from someone, something at some time... so why not the chimpanzee? I'm down.

Vaccinations being compulsory?

I don't believe vaccinations should be compulsory, though I am a proponent of vaccinations... one should be able to choose what goes into their body (or their child's), how one wants to protect their body, and 'live' with their body. Individuals are capable of making their own decisions, and I would certainly not be for legislation which demanded vaccinations for anyone. Though I would hope most would make educated decisions about that process, and I imagine, most do.

Parents taking active role w/ immunizations

Yes, I do believe parents should take a more active role in designing their children's immunization schedule. However, this takes participation of not only parents but also pediatricians, nurses, and medical professionals who have information and access to the vaccines. There must be mutual agreement to discuss such options, both parties equally involved. And from the point that the professional has provided appropriate education, the parents may move forward and make an educated decision and map out vaccines as they see fit.

Dealing with the global crisis in diet

With a great many resources I would deal with the global crisis in diet by incorporating massive amounts of education into society, including schools, hospitals, homes, and anywhere I could fit it! I prefer to work on the micro-level of social systems, being more ingrained and active versus negotiating with large corporations. But since I have access to so many resources- I would pay people a lot of money to get in there and tell the evil companies how to better products, in order to better health for all.

Carbon offsets

I have hope those who travel abroad for political reasons do take into consideration the massive amounts of carbon emissions and how this affects the environment. These sort of negotiations are important to the extent that they continue education, conversation and exposure about environmental issues. Will it go beyond the discussion and actually change policy? Will the government officials take note and change their travel itineraries? Such questions are difficult to know answers to, but I'm curious to see how things have changed, two years later... (since this was published two years ago).

Laughter IS THE BEST MEDICINE.

I must be honest in saying that I've actually not read this article yet (excuse my absence fellow classmates, I had to prioritize some make-up hours for clinic), but I feel so passionately about laughter and it's value as medicine. Laughter is a medicinal substance. We cannot feel it, or see it, it's not swallowed or taken at the same time each day- but it is most certainly a potent drug. I have actually made a deal with myself: to laugh everyday. I don't care how it happens, I don't plan it or look for it- I just laugh, at myself usually, cause that's always fun. And inevitably, the laughter makes life better. I believe it heals on a cellular level as well, I think it rejuvenates damaged cells, tissue, muscles, aches and pains. The body responds positively to positive behaviors, and laughter is one of those things that goes a long way in healing. It can also provide a much needed distraction when life gets too serious, or mundane. I have laugh triggers as well... if it seems I'm not going to laugh soon enough I recall certain incidences, stories, pictures, memories- anything that made me laugh before, ideally a hysterical event, and I will laugh again. Try it. Laugh everyday and your body will smile back at you, with you...