The Native Americans were better at maintaining their environment than the settlers that arrived later. They did this by their use of environmentally sound agricultural methods. They did not have the technologies that are used now, however they did better at making it so that they did not destroy their dwelling. The Spanish that arrived later in the history of the mesoamerican empires managed to destroy and burn much of the native cultures. There are still some remnants of these natives such as the terraces in the Andes and the milpas and chinampas of the Yucatan. The nature and wildlife thrived while under the rule of the natives, and this is why they did not have so many of the environmental concerns that plague the biosphere such as the atmosphere and soil erosion.

Castile was one of the original kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula. There was also Portugal, Aragon, and the kingdom of Navarra. These kingdoms rivaled each other in terms of power and prestige. There was also a myriad of French kingdoms to the north. These kingdoms posed significant threats to the kingdoms in the peninsula because they were a major rival to Castilian trade and military interests. Castile was the by far the largest and most powerful monarchy among the others in the peninsula. They held the most power and royal fame with the other kingdoms and the Catholic rulers. It was to be Castile to start the seafaring expeditions and to settle settlements on the Caribbean coasts of islands and archipelagos.

The Spanish Empire was first the kingdom of Castile. Queen Isabella I was the ruling monarch of Castile, and was also the ruler who commissioned the initial voyages of Christopher Columbus. Castile was a larger kingdom of its time and fielded one of the largest armies. Many victories on the battlefields led to the gain of southern Italy, Sicily, and the Netherlands. Furthermore, the Reconquista was taking place and Castile had finished the campaign with the conquest of Granada, a Moorish kingdom to the south of Castile. After the Reconquista was over, Aragon, a monarchy that rivaled Castile in terms of strength and prestige, joined forces with Castile by way of a royal marriage between the king of Aragon, Ferdinand II, and Isabella I, the Queen of Castile. This confederation of reigns led to the formation of what was then the Spanish Empire.

With the Spanish Empire formed, the kingdom of Spain was now looking for new ways to increase their royal prestige and attain more wealth. The Hapsburg dynasty controlled the kingdoms of Austria and the lands in Belgium that were before French controlled. They had a lot of financial power to fund expeditions into the oceans. They were on the search for an alternative path to India and the Spice Islands. The original path had traders sailing around the coast of Africa until they reached India, for they had the resources that traders could sell. These were different kinds of spices, dyes, perfumes, exotic animals, and silks. These resources could strike a fortune for those who were mighty enough to get to them. Therefore, it was obvious to the feudal king of Spain to start establishing expeditions to find a new route by sea that they could monopoly.

Off the coast of Morocco, there was a string of islands that the Spanish would colonize as a preliminary venture before their main colonial settlements in the west. These islands were called the Canary Islands, and they were important for the Spanish as another dock for their boats and caravels to leave from. The main port that Columbus set off from, and the port used for importing the goods and resources was from Andalusia. Columbus first discovered the island of Hispanola. The Taino people he found there were not the Indians he was looking for, but he brought some of them with him on his voyage back to Spain. Eventually, other nations started to send explorers and expeditions to the newly discovered lands as well. This led to the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the Spanish claims from the Portugese claims, and made it so Brazil was the only land the Spanish Empire was not allowed to colonize.

The Spanish were not known for their tolerant treatment of the natives they encountered. They would take over many native lands and empires. The Aztecs were a large empire in the Mexican mainland that the Spanish would destroy and take over. There was also Spanish Florida, inhabited by the Seminole Indians, that the Spanish would take over. Then, among the different Caribbean Islands, there were several that the Spanish controlled. Hispanola, which later the second half of the island would be French controlled, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and some of the islands of the Antilles, would end up being controlled by the Spanish Empire. The Spanish Empire would then control over half of the southern continent of the Americas, Central America, and a part of Texas and California.

Among the many different settlements and colonies in Spanish America were various wealthy assets that were collected and traded by merchants and the Spanish crown. There were new natural items that could be sold and taxed such as tobacco, gold, silver, sugar, and spices. Since these new settlements were subject to taxation by the Spanish crown, rebellious sentiments and much later in the timespan of these colonies revolts would happen. Spain built an empire from the gold they were getting from the native populations and the land upon which they settled. Their treasury was filled with millions of pesos worth of revenues and taxes. According to Herbert Klein’s book, The American Finances of the Spanish Empire, “It was obvious that in this case, as with so many other royal institutions transplanted to America in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the crown tried to create a more modern and rational structure than existed in Spain itself.” It is clear from this excerpt that the viceroys and bureaucratic policies utilized by the tax collectors and other merchants were essential to the accumulation of wealth by the Spanish Empire.

There were many native American civilizations that existed before the arrival of the Spanish explorers. A notable civilization was called Inca, others were the Tupi, the Taino, and the Aztecs. These cultures were around for hundreds of years and thrived in the jungles and tropical regions in the Americas. For example, the Incas were settled in the mountainous Andes, surrounded by desert and tall, red mountains. They lived off of terraces which they farmed crops off of. According to Susan Niles’ book, The Shape of Inca History, there “…were systems of terraces which were devoted to the production of maize.” (208) The Inca were thus a far advanced civilization with there own agricultural system.

The Inca were in control of a large empire, rivaling that of the Aztec Empire and the Mayan culture. They had agrarian and agricultural marvels that inducted themselves as terraces and farm lands. The Inca Empire took over many different kingdoms that were in the Andes too. The Chimu was a kingdom that was next to the Inca kingdom. They were conquered along with many other smaller kingdoms that inhabited the lands of the Andes. The Inca were intent on magnifying their political influence to conquer as many neighboring kingdoms as they could. This would lead to more wealth and power to bolster their prestige as an empire.

The Inca were ruled by a multitude of rulers and kings, each of them ordained and privileged to be ruler by divine right. Huayna Capac was the most famous of the rulers; the king was ruler during the explorations of the Spanish conquistadors. “He assumed control of an empire that had been, for the most part, carved out in the lifetime of his grandfather Pachacuti and his father, Topa Inca.” (85) There are a few narratives that tell of what Huayna Capac accomplished during his reign. He was able to expand the territory of Inca to its greatest extent, and quelled many rebellions which threatened his rule. He lived in total splendor, and his estate was lavishly adorned with gold and fountains. His palace would be pillaged by Spanish conquistadors later after they had been conquered.

When the Spanish explorers found the Inca, they may have been astonished at the empire which they had befallen. As the new land had been claimed to the throne of Spain, the Spanish were quick to overthrow this empire as soon as they could. They enlisted the help of one of the factions that opposed the reigning leadership, as well as as many of the minor native kingdoms as they could. With these forces and the advantage of their superior weaponry and military tactics, the Spanish would topple the Incan hegemony and claim the empire for Spain.

Most of the history of the Inca was destroyed by the Spaniards when they arrived, but some exists as quipus, which were mnemonic devices used by the Incans to record their history and mythical stories. Quipucamayo were the keepers of these quipus, and were the ones who could decipher them. “We assume the quipus were organized mnemonically, in a system where the size, style, and grouping of knots were meaningful, as were the colors and relationship of cords to one another.” (5) The different fibers and the directions the knots were tied all had a significant impact on what the quipu was about. When the Spanish arrived, they had to get the quipucamayos to read off the tribute figures so that they could understand what kind of historical data the Inca were keeping.

The Incan lands were rich in gold, sugar, corn, and livestock. Their rich culture was adapted by the Spanish settlers. Later there would be a revolutionary rebellion of this land to the Spanish Empire. Countries such as Gran Colombia, Venezuela, and Paraguay would demand their independence from Spanish rule. Before this happened, however, the Inca Empire would serve as an example of an empire that was supplying itself with sustainable, substantive harvests and efficiency.

There are many accounts from the Inca as to what kind of festivals and celebrations they had. For example, the victory dance that lasted for six days, called the cantar by the Spanish, was one of the largest. “After this canto giving praise and thanks to the Sun and also to Inca Yupanqui, greeting him as the Son of the Sun, they sat down again and began to drink the corn beer that they had in great abundance. Then they were brought much coca which was divided among them, and, this done, they arose again, and again performed their canto and dance. This celebration went on six for days.” (11) This is an example of how the Inca would celebrate after a victory in a war or some other great conquest.

The Spanish explorers were in the jungles searching for treasure and resources. They instead found a native empire in the jungles and deserts of the mountainous Andes. They were flourishing in their environment, with stone terraces and fountains dotting the vast landscape. The viceroyalties of the Spanish crown were intent on claiming the Incan territory for the glory of the Spanish empire, and so much battling and strategies would ensue. But where would the Incan empire be if the Spanish had never found them?

The Amerindians were superior in their knowledge of agriculture and irrigation. According to Michael Schuman’s book, Mayan and Aztec Mythology, “Mayan farmers grew maize in small garden plots called milpas (MIHL-pahs), which they cultivated in the middle of raw jungle terrain… Mayan workers purposely stopped farming each milpa after working it for only a few years. This conservation method prevented the soil from being overworked, which would have made it barren and useless for the future cultivation of plants.” (14–15) This meant that the techniques implemented by the Native Americans would have been better overall for the environment, not like the settlers who overworked the soil that resulted in crises such as the dust bowl. The Aztecs and their chinampas were a prime example of environmentally friendly agricultural practices. “Made of layers of silt and reeds, they were held in place by tree roots. On the chinampas, Aztec farmers grew squash, corn, grains, and beans, and for religious ceremonies, flowers.” (18) By using their natural environment to their advantage, the Native Americans were able to thrive off the land yet were able to do so without depleting the soil or using chemicals.

There were native Apache and native Cherokee indians that lived in tepees made of the hides of buffalo and other animals. These tent villages made for a negligible impact on their environment. It was methods comparable to this that enabled the natives to preserve their environment for future use. The milpas are a superb example of what the natives did not only for their own sustainment, but also to maintain the ecosystem. The chinampas of the Aztecs were also a good farming technique that allowed them to not only feed an empire, but to also be in harmony with the environment. These ecology systems were preserving to the land and effective in their provision of the natives, aside from their prowess at hunting animals and garnering materials.

The Native Americans could make temples and courtyards in the middle of the jungle. “They crafted immense pyramids, some of which were two hundred feet high, from stone, earth, and rubble.” (13) Although some of them lived in thatched roof cottages made of clay, members of nobility and tribal kings were owners of their own estate which could be a royal palace. When Cortez arrived the Aztecs were already a vast empire. The Aztec ruler, Montezuma II, feared the new arrivals, and requested that the Spanish explorers not enter their land. But the conquistadors ignored these requests. “In fact, many Aztecs welcomed Cortez, whom they thought to be the god Quetzalcoatl because the feathered serpent god had always been assumed to have fair skin and a beard. Cortez and his army took advantage of this supposed resemblance to the Aztecs’ important god, helping themselves to the Aztecs’ gold and other material riches.” (19) When Cortez and his well-armed forces entered the Aztec land, the Aztec commoners welcomed them.

This eventually led to the Aztec empire being destroyed, along with many of their cultural artifacts. But they were a thriving empire before the Spanish conquistadors arrived. This leaves the question, if the Spanish explorers had not found the Aztecs, or any of the Mesoamerican cultures, where would they be now? Their efficiency at inhabiting the jungle terrain and not eliminating the overgrowth around them was far better than what the settlers who arrived afterward did. In the end, it would appear that in the modern world, if the land were settled the way the Native Americans did, it would do well for the environment.

The Native American Environmental Theory was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

What are the benefits?

Have you ever wanted to gain the competitive edge on the competition? How about healing yourself psychologically? What about harnessing your inner creativity? Well lucid dreaming can help to answer all of these questions. Once you become consciously aware in your dreams, you can become more consciously aware in your life. You can live lucidly through the benefits of lucid dreaming.

Benefit # 1 : Performance enhancement

Imagine being placed in a virtual realty simulator where you can practice any sport or exercise without ever having to worry about making a mistake or hurting yourself. You are not bound by any limitations, free to practice or train what ever you please. The price to use this simulator must be astronomical and completely out of your means, right? Wrong. It’s actually free and you can do it in your mind while you sleep at night. Charlie Morley’s guide to lucid dreaming explains that “training while in the lucid dream state creates neural pathways that will carry over into that waking state.” Morley reports that “scientists say that the reason we can increase our performance through mental practice is that ‘the peripheral activation of the supplementary motor areas that occurs when we imagine engaging a motor action leads to kinaesthetic feedback from the muscles and builds the basis of the learning mechanism’, even though those muscles aren’t moving.” So you can practice landing that 360 or serving that perfect pitch in your lucid dream and “gain new sensory-motor skills” as the research from the book quotes.

Lucid Dreaming Plain and Simple by Robert Waggoner and Caroline McCready gives an account of a sports science student who wanted to become a better swimmer. He used his lucid dreams to train and gain the skills to achieve his goal. While lucid, the student would change the consistency of the water, transforming it into thick honey in order to build endurance from the resistance. He could position himself outside and above his physical body in his dream. This allowed him to watch himself swim and correct his technique with his second set of eyes. He could change his perspective more readily in his lucid dreams and improve his over all skills as a swimmer in the waking world.

Benefit #2: Psychological healing

Lucid dreaming has helped those with addiction, post — traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even overcoming fears and phobias. Morley says “a lucid dreamer might implant a beneficial suggestion once lucid” to break an addictive behavior. So, say your a smoker who wants to quit smoking or a nail bitter who wants to fight the urge to bite your nails. Once you become lucid you can suggest to yourself that you will be happier and healthier if you stop smoking or biting your nails. The suggestion will then be implanted in your unconscious. This “self-inception” as Morley calls it, can alter our actions in real life and “implant a new habit pattern in our minds.” Hypnotherapists use a similar method to help patients discover the underlying meaning of their addictive behaviors.

Lucid dreaming creates a space for those who have certain fears or suffer from PTSD to explore what is troubling them. Again, imagine you are in a virtual realty simulator and know that nothing can harm you. Since you are lucid and aware that you are only dreaming, you can give yourself “gradual exposure” as Morley says, to what scares or troubles you. For example, if you have a fear of water, you could slowly submerge yourself in an ocean or in a lake during a lucid dream to overcome your fear. According to Lucid Dreaming Plain and Simple, “It appears that lucid dreaming allows for a new type of desensitization, inasmuch as lucid dreamers can realistically engage fear on multiple sensory levels in the virtual realty of the lucid dream.” In the case of someone who has reoccurring nightmares as a result of PTSD, lucid dreaming presents the opportunity to seek out what is causing the nightmares and come to terms with it. The causes are usually repressed feelings or memorizes that the dreamer must confront in order to heal. Once the dreamer has come to terms with the nightmare they can start to engage in a more regular sleep pattern.

Benefit #3: Harnessing your inner creativity

Lucid dreaming can be the gateway to finding your inner creativity. Many have used lucid dreaming to tap into their creative core to compose music, construct art and even experiment with math and science. Our creative streak comes from the right hemisphere of our brain. When you become aware in your dreams you gain more access to this inner creativity. “Lucidity brings a strand of left-brain cognizance into the dream, meaning that we can intentionally engage the dream’s right-brain creativity,” says Morley. So, when you become lucid while dreaming you open yourself to the opportunity of asking your unconscious to help you with any block in creativity. You can even ask your dream a direct question concerning your creative motives and the unconscious can reveal a solution in your dream. According to Shirley S.Wang of The Wall Street Journal, a study done by the University of Lincoln in England found that people who lucid dream frequently are better at problem-solving. Once you hit the nail on the creative head in your dream, you can apply those problem-solving skills in real life.

Lucid living

Lucid dreaming can ultimately lead you to lucid living, the notion that becoming aware in your dreams can make you more aware in you waking life. We all have one life to live, but are we truly living it? Do we have a real inner awareness of ourselves and the world around us? All of these benefits help to ensure lucid living and to gain better inner awareness. So tell me, how aware are you?

Lucid Dreaming was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish explorers and their eventual conquest of the Mesoamerican empires, there was a lot of environmentally friendly agricultural practices being implemented by the natives. They could farm the land without depleting it of nutrients as well as do so without the use of harmful chemicals. They were able to feed scores of people that were increasing in population consistently. It brings forth the question, if the Native American empires were never found, where would they be now both technologically and politically. If we progressed at the rate of the Native Americans, we would be better off environmentally and not have a lot of the dilemmas that there are today.

The Amerindians were superior in their knowledge of agriculture and irrigation. According to Michael Schuman’s book, Mayan and Aztec Mythology, “Mayan farmers grew maize in small garden plots called milpas (MIHL-pahs), which they cultivated in the middle of raw jungle terrain… Mayan workers purposely stopped farming each milpa after working it for only a few years. This conservation method prevented the soil from being overworked, which would have made it barren and useless for the future cultivation of plants.” (14–15) This meant that the techniques implemented by the Native Americans would have been better overall for the environment, not like the settlers who overworked the soil that resulted in crises such as the dust bowl. The Aztecs and their chinampas were a prime example of environmentally friendly agricultural practices. “Made of layers of silt and reeds, they were held in place by tree roots. On the chinampas, Aztec farmers grew squash, corn, grains, and beans, and for religious ceremonies, flowers.” (18) By using their natural environment to their advantage, the Native Americans were able to thrive off the land yet were able to do so without depleting the soil or using chemicals.

The Native Americans could make temples and courtyards in the middle of the jungle. “They crafted immense pyramids, some of which were two hundred feet high, from stone, earth, and rubble.” (13) Although some of them lived in thatched roof cottages made of clay, members of nobility and tribal kings were owners of their own estate which could be a royal palace. When Cortez arrived the Aztecs were already a vast empire. The Aztec ruler, Montezuma II, feared the new arrivals, and requested that the Spanish explorers not enter their land. But the conquistadors ignored these requests. “In fact, many Aztecs welcomed Cortez, whom they thought to be the god Quetzalcoatl because the feathered serpent god had always been assumed to have fair skin and a beard. Cortez and his army took advantage of this supposed resemblance to the Aztecs’ important god, helping themselves to the Aztecs’ gold and other material riches.” (19) When Cortez and his well-armed forces entered the Aztec land, the Aztec commoners welcomed them.

This eventually led to the Aztec empire being destroyed, along with many of their cultural artifacts. But they were a thriving empire before the Spanish conquistadors arrived. This leaves the question, if the Spanish explorers had not found the Aztecs, or any of the Mesoamerican cultures, where would they be now? Their efficiency at inhabiting the jungle terrain and not eliminating the overgrowth around them was far better than what the settlers who arrived afterward did. In the end, it would appear that in the modern world, if the land were settled the way the Native Americans did, it would do well for the environment.

Native American Agriculture was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I love video games. No, actually, I love video games. The thought of playing them is what pulls me out bed every morning, and more often than not, they’re what’s on my mind as I drift off to sleep. My room’s walls are plastered with posters of my favorite gaming franchises, my iTunes library is filled with nothing but the best gaming has to offer, and I own more amiibo figures then there are members of the European Union. You can call it childish if you’d like, but I doubt I’ll ever be ashamed of my passion for games. I don’t think anybody would argue that I don’t sincerely love video games. Unfortunately, that makes what I’m about to write so much more difficult to admit: video games are leaving me behind. And that’s okay.

Story time. I’ve got this cousin named Adam. Like most four-year-olds, he’s cute as a button, and loves Darth Vader, Spider-Man, and, you guessed it, video games. We had our last family get-together around half a year ago, and it didn’t take him long to notice that the game I was playing was different from what he had. You see, Adam had an iPad loaded with the usual suspects: Angry Birds Star Wars, Temple Run, and so on. I was equipped with my Nintendo 3DS, of course (I can’t imagine leaving home without it). As soon as he caught a glimpse of the glory that is Super Mario 3D Land, he knew that he had to give it a shot. Impressed with his refined taste in gaming, I passed my 3DS over and prepared to savor watching him get his first taste of Nintendo magic.

He couldn’t use the buttons. I tried to explain it. He couldn’t use the buttons, again. I tried to explain it, again. He got bored and went back to his buttons-free iPad. He didn’t ask to try my games again. At the time, I was pretty dejected, but the full implications of this exchange would not dawn on me for some time. The fact of the matter is that the landscape of the gaming industry is one that is perpetually in flux. Success is never guaranteed. What is popular today will not be popular tomorrow. Look no further than the stories of Sega and Nintendo for proof positive of this sentiment.

During the early 90's, Sega and Nintendo were kings of the video gaming world. Locked in a bitter rivalry, they brought out kickass game after kickass game in an attempt to one-up the competition. In an era where Nintendo was thought to be untouchable, Sega managed to put up one hell of a fight. And yet only a decade later, Sega officially left the gaming hardware business following the commercial failure of its Dreamcast system. It’s not even like the Dreamcast’s games were bad, either! In fact, its library is lauded among enthusiasts as one of the finest in history (I dare you to find a game cooler than Jet Set Radio). So, what went wrong? Most accept that it buckled under the pressure of Sony’s PlayStation 2, which was more powerful and had more features (such as DVD playback.) Just as quickly as Sega rose to prominence, so did they fade back into relative obscurity.

Ominously, the tale of Sega has many parallels to this issues Nintendo faces today. After a string of massive successes in its Wii and DS systems, Nintendo’s current flagship machine, the Wii U, has seen dismal sales in the battle against its technologically superior competitors. The Wii U’s performance will assuredly stand as a testament to the idea that Nintendo can no longer rest on their laurels if they wish to stay in the game. While its portable 3DS has fared better than the Wii U, its sales still pale in comparison to its predecessor, the DS. This is to say nothing of the threat mobile gaming (what you’d play on your tablet or your phone) poses to Nintendo’s handheld market (Hint: the mobile gaming market is huuuuuge). Don’t believe Nintendo sees mobile games as a threat? Look no further than the fact that, despite having maintained for years that they would not develop games for phones, Nintendo ultimately did cave to the pressure.

For me, Nintendo has always represented the best gaming has to offer. Their games are, with few exceptions, bright, colorful, and above all else, fun. Their commitment to innovation is apparent for all to see, what with their popularization of motion controls with the Wii and their introduction of not just two-screen gaming with the DS, but touch controls as well. Most importantly, they seemed incorruptible. Whatever trends dictated the development of Sony and Microsoft’s consoles seemed to have little effect on what Nintendo did. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I don’t appreciate these other types of games. Gears of War 2, one of the bloodiest Xbox games available, is one of the most finely crafted games ever created, and I will fight you in real life if you disagree. A new Kingdom Hearts game was recently released for smartphones, and my obsession with it is bordering on unhealthy. But, regardless of my feelings regarding these games or their contemporaries, I’ve always felt like I could rely on Nintendo being Nintendo. To me, they were immortal. This may no longer be the case. Depending on who you ask, Nintendo’s reversal on their mobile game stance could even be seen as an admission of defeat. It at least shows that Nintendo will change if it has to, and with the way things seem to be going for them, that time may be sooner than we think if they want to avoid Sega’s fate.

Memento mori is a Latin saying meaning “Remember death.” This phrase, meant as a reminder of our own morality, may initially seem somewhat morbid, but I believe that it’s also able to inspire a certain amount of optimism. If nothing lasts forever, then it’s all the more important to treasure what we have while we can. I cannot guarantee that the kind of games that I like will continue to be made in the future (Indeed, the once popular F-Zero is but one example of a series seemingly abandoned in the face of limited commercial viability). While I certainly hope that they pump them out for many years to come, I’m no longer content with whining about what I think the video game industry should look like. When so many mobile games are not only easily accessible, but free as well, it is difficult not to see why they’re so successful. And who am I to judge what people should or shouldn’t play? My cousin wasn’t wrong to prefer his iPad to my 3DS, just as I’m not wrong to like Mario more than I do Angry Birds. In the end, people will play what they think is fun. That’s what games are all about.

Video games may be leaving me behind, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Sure, it’s a little sad, but it’ll likely be quite a few years before any significant change occurs, so there’s not much to worry about in the meantime. Even then, the games that I already love aren’t going anywhere. The future of the games that I love today may be in doubt, but I can certainly preserve their past as best as I can. And hey, if there’s one thing I can say for sure, it’s that the video game industry is full of surprises. Who knows? Maybe my fears will ultimately prove unwarranted. Whatever happens, I promise you that I will always love video games. That’s one thing that will never change.

Memento Mori, Mario was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Support Groups

One way individuals can get through the burden of dealing with cancer is by being involved with cancer support groups. There are three different types of support groups: telephone, online and face-to-face support groups. These groups can provide a lot of mental and emotional support. They can help individuals feel better, hopeful, and not so alone. Support groups can also give them a chance to talk about their feelings and deal with practical problems, such as problems at work or school and even help cope with side effects of treatment. For instance, a patient name Sandy said, “I can’t tell you how nice it was to hear other cancer patients share the same fears, worries, and joys that I have. I can be completely honest with these people. I’d leave some of the sessions almost dizzy with relief.” Remarks such as the one given by sandy is a direct example of how important it is for individuals to have a good support system when dealing with a disease like cancer. In regards to family concerns support groups discuss role changes, relationship changes, financial worries, and how to support the person with cancer.

The living room is an example of online support website available to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis. It includes support groups, discussion boards, online chatting, calendars to input personal info, and even a inspirational quotes gallery to help keep spirits lifted. Join today →: http://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/online-support

Counseling

Counseling is another method and more private resource available to individuals who are learning how to cope with cancer. Individual counseling as well as family or relationship counseling is available depending on the needs of the person of family. These counselors may help individuals learn how to manage depression or anxiety related to their cancer, address relationship issues and discuss financial concerns that are causing distress. Counselors can even assist families with learning how to adjust to changes in their routine as a result of a cancer diagnosis. It all depends based on what type of counseling expert is chosen (psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, and family therapist) and the reason a person or family is seeing them. Consulting with your health care team and having a phone interview with counselors beforehand can assist individual with choosing the right professional.

Supportive Tips

Some important and great tips provided by the Mayo-Clinic to help cope with cancer is as follows:

· Review your goals and priorities

·Try to maintain your normal lifestyle

· Consider how your diagnosis will impact your finances

· Talk to other people with cancer

· Fight stigmas and determine how to deal with others behaviors towards you

· Develop comfortable coping strategies

· Get facts about your diagnosis

· Keep an open line of communication with loved ones and doctors

· Anticipate physical changes

· Maintain a healthy lifestyle

· Let friends and family help you

All in all coping with cancer can be difficult but there are ways to make the process easier and help everyone involved feel better. I know these resources and tips can be effective because they helped myself and family as we supported a good friend of ours through her journey with cancer. To be more specific, the open communication and daily assistance we provided for our loved one really helped her. We attended some counseling sessions with her to understand her feelings about her diagnosis and condition. Also, we were available to help her with things such as cooking healthy meals and remaining active. Overall, individuals should always be open to outside help, support groups, counseling, and any other resources that may make the journey of coping with cancer less worry-some.

If You Know how to Cope then there’s Hope. was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

As reported by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a UN sanctioned organization, the major proponent behind the loss of biodiversity is climate change. Granted, Earth’s history shows us that with climate change species and ecosystems tend to come and go, however, rapid and sudden increases in climate change deters the ability of the ecosystems’ and species’ to hastily adapt. This failure to adapt is the reason why our biodiversity continues to dwindle. Now the only questions left to address are: how are the specific effects of climate change causing this depletion in biodiversity and what can we do to help?

Temperature Increases

One well known cause of climate change is the increase in global temperature. In the event that the global temperature continues to increase, a plethora of different species will be affected tremendously. Take the Green Ringtail Possum of Australia for example. Biologically, the Ringtail Possum cannot regulate its body temperature when the atmospheric temperature rises above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In the event that Australia experiences a prolonged heat wave, the Ringtail Possums will be forced to adapt to these changing conditions, conditions that are biologically impossible, and if not, well, we all know how that story ends.

Furthermore, it is not only the atmospheric temperatures that climate change is affecting, but it is also the temperature of our oceans that are being targeted. Specifically, in the oceans, coral reefs are threatened. Rising oceanic temperatures are responsible for an event known as coral bleaching. This occurs when rising temperature cause the corals to abridge their symbiotic relationship with the algae Zooxanthellae. These algae are responsible for providing essential nutrients and support, in addition to displaying a wide range of colors that corals are known for. Once these algae are released, the coral takes on a white-ish appearance, hence, coral bleaching.

Intensified Natural Disasters

Extreme natural events are not only detrimental to humans, they are also destructive to our biodiversity. Increased intensity and frequency of natural events such as fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and more are as detrimental to humans as they are to our plants and animals. Events like droughts place insurmountable levels of stress on vegetation and animals that live in such environments. Not only are terrestrial species a target, but also marine species can be affected by such natural occurrences as well. For example, the extended heat wave during the summer of 2010 in Australia. The prolonged duration of warm temperatures forced many aquatic species, such as Manta Rays and Whale sharks, to migrate to areas of suitable conditions. This creates a plethora of issues within the oceans’ ecosystems and food web.

CO2

It is no secret that climate change is responsible for an excess of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, and being a major ingredient in photosynthesis, plants begin to experience rapid increases in growth rates. To the normal Joe it may sound as if that’s a good thing, bigger plants = more food = cure for global hunger, however, the world doesn’t seem to work like that. For instance, Koalas’ diets consist mainly of foliage which are different assortments of plant leaves. With increased levels of CO2, these plants begin to over-photosynthesize which results in a minimized nutritional value.

In addition, oceans have also been a victim of increased percentages of atmospheric CO2. Oceans have a tendency to absorb atmospheric CO2 , which results in the basifying of these marine systems. This decrease in pH targets the development of aquatic organisms’ skeletons, which in turn affects how coral reefs recover from coral bleaching.

Although it is quite evident that biodiversity continues to decrease on a daily, there are efforts we need to take as mankind to combat this discrepancy. You may think you are doing your part in helping the ecosystem by recycling that one piece of paper instead of throwing it in the trash (don’t get me wrong-it definitely helps), but a far greater effort is needed in order to save these endangered animals. Start by simply eliminating unnecessary driving trips. Instead of driving to the mailbox or to friend’s house close by, walk. Walking is not only beneficial to your health, it is also beneficial to help reduce air pollution, the same air that animals and human breathe. In addition, I cannot emphasize this enough, education. Educate, educate, educate! People do not know they have a problem on their hands….until they know they have a problem in their hands. Educating is both a free and a very effective way in calling for the help of others in this battle against global warming and extinction.

In the end, it is our responsibility to analyze the facts and observe the reality of the situation. The effects of climate change are real and have detrimental effects on our biodiversity. It is the job of mankind to stand up in unison and help counter climate change’s assault on our beloved biodiversity, or else we might just be forced to end observe these animals at a zoo instead of their natural habitats.

Dropping Like Flies was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Ted Williams, for those not familiar with the name, was a famous American baseball player from the early to mid-1900s. He is considered to be one of the all-time greatest hitters in history. Ted’s tie to cryonics rests on controversy, because unlike most who visit the cryonics institute, his visit was without consent. Ted William’s son wanted to fulfill his own dream of preserving his father’s remains — something Ted did not explicitly want. Ted would have lost his mind dealing with this ordeal that was determining his resting remains. Unluckily, Ted did get to lose his head, (and) literally, after the legality sided to his son after his passing.

Dying Wish

Ted originally wanted his body cremated when he died. “In 1996 Williams had signed a will stating that he wished to be cremated and his ashes be scattered. . .” but his son wanted his body cryogenically frozen, in hopes “to be able to be together in the future.”

When Ted was nearest to death — years after he had signed the will declaring how he wished to be honored — he decided to grant his son’s wish by allowing him the power of attorney over his net worth, or the legal rights to do as he pleases to his father’s remnants.

Greed

Prior to Ted’s death, a legal document surfaced stating he was on board with being put into biostasis rather than cremation. Where the discrepancy lies is that the document was not only dated years after his will had been written, but supposedly forged around an autograph he signed on blank sheet of paper. It’s important to note that Ted would sign his name differently when autographing over legal documentation, and this document had the autograph styling.

Ted passed away in 2002, and with this document stating he was a-ok with being preserved, his son decided his father was going into biostasis. His son’s obsession over the cryonics movement resulted in his arrogance and Ted’s arrival at the cryonics lab shortly after death. He had the body flown out to Alcor’s facilities for preparation and submersion. This obsession with cryonics spawned from reading literature and speaking to experts in the field, so his father’s timely death was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

Losing It

Now residing at Alcor’s facilities, Ted’s body was being prepped to undergo the preservation process. Where his procedure differs from the norm is after he had been prepared. Normally, the body stays intact with the head. For Ted, his son chose to do an alternative procedure, known as neuropreservation, which is usually reserved for those who are physically impaired or disabled. This alternative is used in hopes that when woken, science and medicine will be able to bring back functionality that’s been missing or been taken away. In Ted’s case, his handicap will skyrocket, because if he wakes in the future his body will no longer have an associated torso affixed.

Neuropreservation, as mentioned, is the removal of a person’s head for individual preservation, and is usually is done with precision, but in this case, the decapitation was done with significantly less. His severed head was also stored in a Cryostar — or a cooler not typically used to permanently house parts. Let’s just say, it’s a very unsuitable preserving bin. Ted’s body and head lay separated alongside his son — who had also passed by this time — and ironically, the only person lawfully able to control Ted’s remnants. What now awaits Ted? But, most importantly, when they wake, who is going to knock the other’s head off for what has happened?

Ted Williams Loses His Head was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Many believe that Alzheimer's disease is a disease that is hereditary, a disease that one may simply acquire. Many may also think “This disease will never get me, I will never be the one that is diagnosed with this terribly sad disease”. Well many are wrong and miss construed. What makes you exempt from Alzheimer’s disease? What makes you the special case?. Alzheimer's disease does not discriminate and neither should you. One way to keep Alzheimer’s disease away is by protecting your brain from the memory destroying monsters by watching what you consume. Nutrition plays a very important role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Will Your Future Brain Thank You?

Along with the 6 pillars that I spoke about in my previous essay, which includes having a social life, stress management practices, mental stimulation, having a healthy diet, and participating in regular exercise, there are three tips that should be considered. These three major tips dive deeper in understanding how to combat Alzheimer’s disease, these include Being aware of your intake of saturated fats and trans fats, consumption of plant based foods and vitamin B12 supplements. Alzheimer’s Disease kills more than Prostate and Breast Cancer combined, this is why it is very important for everyone no matter the age or gender to be educated on this disease.

What can I do you may ask? Below is a list of what could be watched or avoided when either cooking in your own home or eating at a restaurant. Following this will not only strengthen your brain and body but your future brain will definitely be thanking you.

Be aware of Saturated and Trans fats

Natural fats that come from food is superb for the brain. The brain relies on natural fats in order to support cell growth and maintain healthy cell membranes. The consumption of natural fats allows the cells to communicate as effectively as possible, which increases their strength and lifespan and decreases the occurrence of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Saturated and trans fats cause cellular destruction, which can cause memory loss and can also increase inflammation in the brain. Inflammation in the brain decreases the production of omega-3 fatty acids, which supports brain and cell function. In addition, high consumption of saturated and trans fats also decreases serotonin levels in the brain, serotonin is a neurotransmitter or a chemical that is responsible for balancing our moods. Serotonin levels are directly proportional to depression and stress, which can cause damage to brain cells and will increase memory loss. Lastly foods that contain natural fats include egg yolks, coconuts, olive oils and coconut oils. It is imperative that children, adults and the elderly check food labels for these fats. A study that was conducted on memory loss and fat consumption found that the intake of increased fried and processed foods contributes to the shrinkage of the brain which results in a decline in cognition.

Consume more plant based foods

The human brain is composed of 60 percent fat, which plays a very important role in cell and neurological function. It is important that plant-based fats are consumed rather than trans and saturated fats because they optimize cell function. Its smarter to lean towards the unprocessed, unrefined, non animal sources or fats. They not only contain more nutrients, but they are also much easier for the body to digest and absorb.

Trans and saturated fats increase inflammation while plant-based foods reduce-inflammation. Plant-based foods prevent the hardening of arteries and relieves pain and soreness throughout the body. They also boost serotonin levels, this helps prevent depression, anxiety and also allows increased REM sleep or deep sleep. In addition, nuts, seeds, olives and avocados also play an important role in preventing Alzheimer's disease due to their plant-based fat ingredient. These fats help with memory and learning by fueling neurotransmitters or chemicals in the brain that are responsible for communication, such as acetylcholine.

Vitamin B-12 Consumption

Vitamin B-12 has special effects on brain cell functions. Vitamin B-12 is responsible for the development of nerve and brain cells. It is also responsible for the myelin sheets that cover nerve cells, which is responsible for the communication between cells. This vitamin nourishes the myelin sheets and allows optimal communication in the brain. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can have many harmful effects, including brain inflammation, which is responsible for cell death. Those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are found to have a deficiency in vitamin B12, which also causes brain atrophy or brain shrinkage due to dead brain cells. In addition, this vitamin can be found in fish, some diary products and shellfish. It is recommended that people over the age of 65 take vitamin B-12 supplements because they have a harder time absorbing this vitamin. Those that are under the age of 65 do not usually have difficultly with the absorption but may consume the supplement.

To wrap this up…..

The consumption of fruits and veggies are very good for brain and cell health, but there are other things that should to be taken into account. The consumption of vitamins and brain healthy fats, such as plant-based fats, helps with preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Each vitamin and fat has a specific function in promoting cell growth and cell communication. With that being said, Alzheimer’s disease is currently the number 6th leading cause of death in the United States with someone developing Alzheimer’s disease every 66 seconds. It is important for all children, adults and elders to be aware of what should be done to combat this disease. No race or age is excluded, I hope that this essay serves as a means to educate everyone about Alzheimer’s disease. All should be aware and educated about this disease because it is developing in people of all ages by the second. Now I must ask this self examining question, Will Your Future Brain Thank You??

Many believe that Alzheimer's disease is a disease that is hereditary, a disease that one may… was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Earlier this year, I ecstatically began a part-time job as a tutor in mathematics and science. I love teaching and utilize this zeal to explain even the randomest of questions that my students come up with (if table salt is made with chlorine, am I going die? is a recent favorite). While my job definitely keep me on my toes, I sometimes worry that my students are not emotionally or academically prepared for their future course work. In particular, I am finding that many of my younger students are in the dark about their looming matriculation into college, as some are finishing up their junior and senior years of high school.

According to All Gov, 3 million students will attend some form of higher education. This is an increase of about 4.9 million since the fall of 2000. Despite this, it was found that the retention rates of college students may be plumeting. In particular, first-year students are a major concern in the increasing drop out rates, seeing as only 1 in 3 will not return for their following year, according to U.S. News Education. In a previous article, I explored where first-years students struggle academically and emotionally. This suggested that the personal attitude of a student is heavily correlated to their academic performace.

In reference to academics, many first-year college students find that they cannot handle the hefty workload that accompanies university classes. A major reason for this may be that students matriculate into college with the attitude that they can do well simply because they were successful in high school. However, college acadmics are vastly different from that of high school. For example, colleges tend to assign larger assignments in a shorter time frame in addition to expecting students to balance copious classes on top of work, extracurriculars, living expenses and more. Moreover, memorization and then regurgitating facts are all but a distant memory. According to academicinfo.net, first-year college students lack the ability to approach exams that require conceptual thinking. Although academics are frustrating for college freshman, these difficulties are amplified when a student isn’t emotionally ready for college. In particular, students lack the discipline they need to stay on track in their college courses. In other words, students are not ready to take on responsibility for their own coursework and may not even know how to balance it on top of other tasks.

Although some students may not be too fond of it, they need to alter their approach to college in order to safeguard their academic performance. In particular, they can follow advice from various college success books that have proven to be helpful to many oustanding graduates. For the most part, these will require academic discipline and even patience from students who do not already possess these habits. My top 10 favorite study habits come from Cal Newport:

1. Don’t do all of your reading
2. Create a Sunday Ritual
3. Start long-term projects the day they are assigned
4. Befriend a professor.
5. Study in fifty-minute chunks
6. Schedule your free-time
7. Study two weeks in advance
8. Don’t study in your room
9. Use three days to write a paper
10. Study with the quiz-and-recall method

Overall, transitioning into college is not always an easy feat. While it definitley is different in many aspects, a big challenge bestowed on college freshman is their ability to tackle school work successfully. Factors that may affect a student’s performance include their academic and emotional maturity levels. However, even if students do not harbor these skills prior to college, they are not automatically destined for failure. By following the advice listed here or from advisors and other college students, incoming freshman can ensure their own success when they enter university.

The Seed to Success was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I want to be as transparent as possible so let me start off by making a few things clear about what I believe. I have come to believe that the Tanach, commonly referred to as the Old Testament, and the New Testament writings are divinely inspired. I believe that they have constantly been accurate in predicting future events and revealing the Creator’s plan for Israel.

That being said, because of my belief in the scriptures, I am a Zionist, but only in the original definition of the word and not the current which holds that one must completely support the State of Israel. Zionism originally meant the belief in the “national movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland and the resumption of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel.” I believe HaShem, the Creator of the universe, has made a covenant promise with the children of Israel and given to them the land of Israel as an inheritance for all of their future generations. We can see how this promise has manifested itself throughout history.

Since the Jews conquered Canaan, there have been a few times that they have been exiled from the land due to divine punished but, miraculously, they have always been allowed to return after a time. The most recent of these returns began in the 20th century and is continuing today. Since the destruction of Jerusalem in the early 1st century, the Jews have been in diaspora around the world. While some Jews remained in the land, the majority did not. In the early 1900’s, the Jews began to migrate back to the land and eventually gained control of the land once again. (Here is a link to a more extensive timeline of the history of Israel). Now there are over 6 million Jews in the land, almost half of all the Jews in the world,and the number is growing everyday. I do not think that this is by chance. After two thousand years of exile, HaShem is restoring the promise He made.

As a side note, I am by no means completely against the state, in fact, I believe it has done many amazing things and I wish to become a citizen one day, but the country has many problems and has made many mistakes. The State of Israel has, so far, been the instrument by which HaShem has gathered the children of Israel back into the promised land.

So, if it truly is the HaShem’s will that the Jews are to be in and control the land of Israel, then there is nothing to stop it from happen. No matter how much people resist it, it will happen. But just because the ultimate destiny for Israel is set, that doesn’t mean that there is only one path to getting there.

As of now, it has been by bloodshed and war that the Jews have been able to gain control of the land once again — this is not to say that Israel has always been the one to instigate the fighting; both sides have been at fault — but it doesn’t have to be that way. There is nothing stopping all of the people in the land from living in peace but in order for this to happen, compromises must be made. The Israelis need to do what they can to find ways to sympathize with the Palestinians; they have now been in the land for a long time and deserve equal rights with the Jews living there. The Palestinians need to realize that HaShem has made a promise to the Jews and that they are there to stay, whether they want them there or not.

We, as people both inside and outside of Israel, must then do two things. The first is to continue to try to find compromise in such a difficult situation. While fate of Israel might be set, the path to the fate might not be. Let us strive towards the peaceful route, not the chaotic. The second is to not be on the wrong side of the will of HaShem. Although both Babylon and Persia were used as tools by HaShem in the first exile of the Jews from the Land, Babylon was punished for being the one to exile Israel and Persia was blessed for being the one to bring them back. Let us be like Persia and bless the people and land of Israel, and in doing so, be blessed ourselves (Genesis 12:3).

Israel-Palestine: The Promised Land was originally published in ENC 3310 Spring 2016 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.