Americans loose their ability to think!

Yes! To an extent. I think that the modern world has lead to a decline in critical thinking, yet has not destroyed our skills completely. After reading Stephen Johnsons’ book “Everything Bad Is Good For You”, I have rethought my initial beliefs concerning this issue. You can read any magazine or Psychology book today and be told the same thing, technology in to too much quantity is bad for you. Current research state that our children should have no more than an hour of video game play or television time a day. 

However if you were to have read Johnsons book you would find that he explores the other side of that argument in great detail. As a matter of fact, video games actually help our children to develop different parts of their brains to problem solve the game dynamics. Also, television and current movies are more complex in their plot lines and require the viewer to use more thought in viewing the plot line. If you compare modern television to television fifty year ago you will see exactly what I’m talking about.  

So in essence games and modern media are good for us in appropriate quantities. Which is the same for anything, food, beer, exercise, etc. It basically comes down to the individual and their discipline. 

I do not think that there will ever be a time when we burn our books and say goodbye to our history. I do believe that they may be damaged in the next Civil War, or maybe even 2012, but that is a whole other discussion. 

S.B.1070 Blog Assignment #2

I’ve decided that this would be a better subject as I can relate it to some modern issues. For this blog were going to review the argument of Arizona Senate Bill 1070, signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer on April 23rd 2010. Since the laws creation there have been opinions in favor and in opposition. There have also been many rally’s and demonstrations. The law basically requires immigrants to have their identification on them at al times. This would require the relocation of many of Arizona's illegal immigrants that have resided here in Arizona for years, some even generations. 

Supporters of the bill insist that it’s passing and enforcement will benefit the law abiding citizens and or residents by balancing out our budget crisis and curving the demographic shift of illegal aliens in Arizona. The bill saw some major support with the killing of a local rancher in Arizona, the killer was alleged to be a illegal alien crossing the border. There are numerous other reasons to support the bill, all can be linked to the large influx of aliens in Arizona. Many of the supporters believe that the enforcement of the bill will resolve many of our illegal drug trafficking issues, employment issues and more.

Proponents however, are worried that the passing of S.B. 1070 will lead to racial profiling and harassment by officers. They also worry about the issues related to family and the sudden upheaval and movement of families back to Mexico. Examples of this are already happening to families now. 

Personally I am torn between both sides of the argument. On the supporters side I agree that something does need to happen to slow the influx of illegals in the U.S. Starting at our borders is a great place to start as it is well known by many as a weak spot. Also, I’ve worked construction and seen and felt first hand the devaluing effect of a large number of personal willing to work for less wages. However, I also happen to be an Arizona native and have made many hispanic friends during that time, some of them are illegal aliens. I would know first hand the effect of them being torn from their families for fear of legal ramifications. I also, understand their worries of profiling. 

Bottom line the unchecked influx of illegals into the U.S. Must be stopped and perhaps this is the way to do it, drastic as it may be. It may be what needs to be done. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf

Reasoning Skills in Primary Schools?

 This post will be a discussion on the teaching of reasoning skills in primary schools and it's positive and/or negative outcomes. Initially I feel that yes, we should introduce reasoning skills to our children at a younger age. There are benefits to this in many different aspects. For one our children will be exposed to a higher level of learning sooner therefore, enhancing their education and increasing their comprehension sooner in life. Then there is the expansion of their young minds. However we have to consider the children's youth when deciding to more of a workload on them at such a young age. Personally I all for it, to an extent. As long as we don't overload the children with excessive responsibilities. Now that we've heard my opinion lets review some facts on the issue, and other arguments.

 By definition Basic Reasoning skills are those processes basic to cognition of all forms. As you have hopefully read in the link above there are some appealing learning outcomes that could come from the teaching of reasoning skills. However what can we as parents do out side of the school environment to help our children develop their reasoning skills? Lets look at the link here! According to PBS we can influence our children's learning dramatically at home.

 I really can't see where there is much argument for the opposition of broadening our children's development with more advanced teaching styles. Therefore, this will be a short post. Ultimately I agree with the introduction and teaching of reasoning skills to our children. Perhaps we should also take a closer look at the Montessori approach as well, this approach is a more natural approach that uses the teachers as facilitators instead of teachers. In the future that we are currently heading towards with evolution going to the technical age, we should be looking at ways to advance our children's ;earning in order to meet the challenges for which we have left them.

Modern Medicine!

  Modern technology has affected our lives in all aspects from social networking to consumer spending, to Medicine. The recent advents of medical research and development have helped to save countless lives, many would call these life saving events a miracle, others would call it unethical. Today we will look at both sides and discuss the technology behind Therapeutic Hypothermia.

Therapeutic Hypothermia is a procedure in which following what would normally be a potentially fatal dysrythmia (irregular heartbeat) the patient is medically cooled to a temperature in which the bodies detrimental processes are suspended. By doing this, those detrimental processes are stalled long enough to be treated by Doctors and lessen the impact that those processes have on the organs and the body.

  Several patients have already been given a new lease on life following this treatment. The American Heart Association adopted this procedure in 2005, since then the statistics have been overwhelming.

As you can see from the above chart, published by the American Heart Association, the results are amazing. However, amazing the results are, there are still some basic assumptions that must be addressed.

  First, does the person being saved at this extra expense, process, procedure, whatever you want to call it, want to be saved? Dependent upon their age, medical condition, or point in life they may not wish to prolong the inevitable. Perhaps they have another terminal disease process and have finally come to terms with their fate. Second, does their religion allow for such radical procedures to be done? Third, is there chance that after the procedure is done they may live, but have some drastic deficits which would leave them crippled or disabled for the rest of there new found life?

  Not only are the above questions assumptions that must be addressed but they are also questions that are raised in opposition of this procedure. You’ll notice in the included link that there is also discussion on this procedures use in pediatric patients with debilitating brain disorders. What is the extended outlook for these patients? Currently we are only 5 years into this new procedure being used on humans. When we address the above mentioned questions there are procedures in place to avoid these problems.

  Those patients who have reached a point in their life where they have made a decision about what they want done in the event of their life's end, can file a living Will or a Advanced Directives order known as a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) which is signed by their Doctor and states what advanced procedures if any they want done when the time comes. However, when Paramedics arrive at their side when they have the “big one” the document must be clearly posted so that they may find it, or they must have the document on them at all times and the Medics must know about this documents existence on the person. Due to legal ramifications, if the document is not signed or presented to the Paramedics they will proceed with life saving interventions despite whatever bystander or relative may voice in opposition. Then you have potentially saved a person who did not want to be saved.

  When it comes to Religious beliefs we have to look at all Religions and whether we have to look at what the patients beliefs would have wanted or allowed. There are several articles available online that show how extreme Religion may play a part in peoples lives.

The final argument that we will discuss is the possible long term effects that this procedure may have on the body. When someone goes into cardiac arrest their heart is not properly perfusing the rest of the body, more importantly the brain. The brain requires oxygen to live which is transported via the blood stream, when the heart fails the brain starves. The brain cells will start to die within four to six minutes after deprivation of oxygen. The average response time goal for First responders is four minutes. Then they start their interventions, CPR,CCR, etc., and this is  assuming that there were no delays due to traffic or any other problems during their response. For the patients that are alone when they go into cardiac arrest we would have little idea of how long they have been down, there are of course ways that the hospital can check for brain activity but how much is enough? When do we decide that this person should have another go at life with their current health?

These are all valid concerns, however being as I am in the medical profession I have seen the results of therapeutic hypothermia first hand, and I’m all for it. It works! Along with the new advances in CCR (Cardio Cerebral Resuscitation) and the publics awareness of CPR, lives are being saved. When you educate the public we have someone there before first responders to start circulating that oxygen rich blood which is still in the patients vascular system. They provide the pump, then when the first responders arrive they start working a viable patient.

In my opinion the risk of offending someone's final wishes when there is no one there to speak for them is worth it, if I don’t see or cannot be given proof of Advanced Directives or a valid DNR, I am not going to postpone life saving procedures.

In closing I would like to invite all who are interested to the CPR Across America training at Tims Toyota Center on October 25th there will be food and drinks and you will be a learning the tools needed to save a life, free!

Sociology 101

Today I'm working on another classes homework and I find it interesting the perspectives and the way that they concur and oppse each other. I’m not much for words but it is noticeable. For example, there’s an awsome book called Outliers that 'I’m reading that describes extraordinary

people or better yet extraordinary events that lead to them being extraordinary. It’s pretty interesting I suggest you give it a look.

P.S. You gotta see this video, try not to let the estrogen erupt from your veins!

Obama!

Despite being egual and fair, this is my Blog so my opinion matters and is mine to state, right? Okay so today was a day that will be remembered in history as Obama finally did something. Thank God their coming home. Thats it for the day.

Critical Thinking

Okay so Critical Thinking, what do you think it is and what does it mean to you? To me it's all about considering every aspect of an event or situation before coming to a conclusion or reaction. openminded used to be the word to describe that but as Pop Culture has violated the word and now it's Critical Thinking. Sometimes I find that I over critically think situations and underact to the situation (Not from Jersey Shore) and should have responded by my initial emotional response instead. Do you react the same way? Let me know!