We, as students, as scholars, and as active participants in our society, have created Off Topic as an outlet to share our experiences with informal education. In an attempt to broaden our cultural experience as university students, we took advantage of the university sponsored events as a way of informally education.
Informal education is described in two different ways. It is what we experience and learn from in everyday life when we respond to a situation that arises. It can also be facilitated by our attempt to directly seek out knowledge pertaining to what interests us as an individual. Both of these definitions of informal education can be an integral part in social participation with others, as we can communicate our own interests and help in the facilitation of the education of others, simply through informal interaction.
Writing about and sharing interest and experiences in our own course of informal education leads to the furthering of the informal education of those with whom we communicate. In reading these exchanges of experience, we hope that it will have a positive influence on the way you view your informal education. We hope that you become more aware of the important learning that takes place in your life outside of the classroom. It will shape your values, thoughts, and actions, thus creating an impact on your life and those around you that see your example in spontaneous education through a broader experience.
The importance of and interest in an issue shape the greatest changes in the world. Tim Berners-Lee, known for inventing the World Wide Web, saw a new realm of possibilities for information management in his proposal in 1989. We now use the Internet, a world-wide database of information, for just about anything and everything, especially learning.
As students, we are both formally and informally educated. However, in this online magazine, we share our experiences outside of the classroom, in informal and self-directed settings, so that we may serve you, our readers, as informal educators and facilitators in the direction of inquiry that you choose. We hope that our example if broadening our understanding of how these experiences affect ourselves, as scholarly individuals, and also our fellow students, friends, and families in bringing new and relevant information to light. First and foremost, we strive to feed our own interest, but we also aim to make the knowledge and insight gained available to others.
As a class we were instructed to research a current scientific topic. It did not have to be a popular one, or even necessarily important. Our job was simply to bring the facts to light in an APA formatted paper. With the assistance of the extremely helpful Emerson Library staff and several online resources and databases, we have produced a broad selection of science writings for your reading pleasure. As a learning community we have collectively tackled issues from the burgeoning field of modern, mind-controlled prosthetics, to the inner-workings of a serial killers’ brain. These essays have been altered slightly from their original format for readability in an online format and for the benefit of the magazine. Bibliographies are available below the “Read More” break, and will provide you with an APA formatted list of all of the sources the authors used in pursuit of the facts surrounding their respective topics.
Murder. The one thing that trumps all crime. It is a crime deserving of the death sentence and yet one of the most mysterious of all. The news comes on and one cannot help but ask why a person commits a crime. What turns their brain to do clearly the wrong thing?
The Merriam- Webster Dictionary defines murder as “the crime of deliberately killing a person.” In other words, a thought-through action of ending someone’s life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of homicides in 2010 was 16,259 and this number is only increasing.
So taking two case studies maybe it’s possible to dive deeper into the mind of a murderer. The first is that of Jared Loughner who killed 6 people at a Safeway and wounded 14 others. Loughner seemed to grow up a normal child and there’s no way to “[pinpoint] the precise moment a mental illness takes root.” Others did, however, see a dramatic change in his personality and his action before he committed the murders. He dropped out of high school, started taking drugs and began his obsession with lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is a “dream that you can have when you’re half asleep” (Cloud). Loughner began to write down these dreams of his and as that transformation occurred he changed for the obvious. At his community college, Loughner would let out hysterical laughs to himself randomly and almost “scared [one lady] to death” (Cloud).
The drugs were not the only thing that changed Laughner, either. Laughner developed schizophrenia. Laughner lived in a non-reality. Professor Jeffrey Swanson at Duke states, “For the person with impaired perception of reality, [something mildly threatening] can get exaggerated to the point of being incredibly threatening." Laughner clearly perceived something as threatening as displayed when he frequented a gun store until he bought the gun he killed those 6 people with. His schizophrenia, clearly, played a part in his crime.
Mental illness also played a huge part in the murder of Annette Buower. Annette was killed by her husband Colin Buower through an elaborate plan where he slowly fed her glucose lowering pills in her food. This action, alone, may not prove mental illness but his constant reference to her impending death did. When talking to others he would comment on how his wife was terminally ill, even before she was. Buower had developed psychopathy.
“The core of psychopathy seems to be emotional dysfunction” (Elliot). Psychopaths have no guilt or empathy. Serial killer, Ted Bundy, after being caught said, “I don't feel guilty for anything. I feel sorry for people who feel guilt” (Brogaard). Brain scans of criminals, during a study at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, display that in criminals there seems to be “reduced connectivity” between the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (Brogaard). Because of this low connectivity, negative feelings such as guilt and embarrassment are not felt.
The causes of psychopathy are unknown, however, we do know that it is 60% heritable. So maybe finding that change in the brain could allow for preventative measure to be taken before a murder occurs. Elsa Elmer and Kent Kiehl believe that there is a way to train a psychopath to correct their thought processing. Using hallucinogens such as psilocybin, they can be artificially taught to associate negative feelings with morally wrong actions (Brogaard). Using this method, homicide ratings could, potentially, be decreased dramatically.
So maybe it’s possible to train a killer not to kill. Even with this solution, the problem still remains that a person isn’t known to be a psychopathic killer until they have already killed.
By Mia Powell
Gonzalez, Justin A. (2009). Modern medicine, murder and the mind: The disparity between advances in medicine and the criminal law. The Journal of Legal Medicine, 30, 529-543.
Cloud, J., Calabresi, M., & Thompson, M. (2011). A mind unhinged. Time, 177, 32-35.
Elliott, C. (2010). Mind game. New Yorker, 86, 36-43.
Brogaard, Berit (2012, December 7). The Making of A Serial Killer. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201212/the-making-serial-killer.
The art’s section contains articles written by Scholars students on arts events. As part of the seminar, we were instructed to attend a variety of arts events including: a film, play, music performance, lecture and gallery. We then wrote an essay on one of the events we attended. The essays were to be a magazine style review of the specific events. The events covered in this online magazine range from the performance of Cabaret by the Repertory Theater to a lecture by Brian Chilson on his exhibit, “Chasing the Light.” So enjoy the articles, soak in their beauty and revel in their intelligence.
Alzheimer’s disease is not something we often think about in our day-to-day lives as college students. It’s a disease affecting older people, like our grandparents, and not us. If studies are correct, however, this way of thinking is wrong. Alzheimer’s could already be in our DNA. Alzheimer’s, or AD, is the most common form of dementia and the sixth leading cause of death. Approximately five million people are currently living with this illness, and by 2050, that number is projected to double (Alzheimer’s Association, 2013). Our knowledge of this disease so far has us asking two leading questions: what is this disease, and howdo we cure it?
Research has made scientists believe hard plaque comprised of a certain protein called amyloid beta cause Alzheimer’s disease. Basically, the amyloid beta group together in small clusters; in turn, these clusters can bind to nerve cells and cause the cell to erode its synapses with other nerve cells. These synapses are the connections, or communication, between the nerve cells – they are vital to controlling our memories, thoughts, and the brain’s ability to send signals to the body to produce movement. Without the communication between nerve cells, the diseased brain causes the body to lose the ability to function over time (Goldman, 2013).
Recently, scientists found a rare protective mutation, which protects the brain from Alzheimer’s disease. A study done by Dr. Richard Mohs shows the mutation decelerates the development of beta amyloids (Kolata, 2012). This finding could possibly help scientists develop a drug to treat AD. However, it is still unknown whether or not amyloid beta is the sole cause of the disease. Whether this development will help in the fight against AD is a question that won’t be answered without more thorough investigation.
Something that might help supplement this finding is a recent study by Washington University in St. Louis. This analysis has found evidence that although plaques are necessary to Alzheimer’s, they are not sufficient (Strait, 2012). Amyloid beta is always present in the brain of people who suffer from the disease; nevertheless, the researchers have established certain people can function normally even though their brains contain the plaque. This research has enabled them to find it might not be the plaque causing AD, but smaller, dissolved molecules of amyloid beta found in the fluid of the brain named “oligomers” (Strait, 2012).The only problem with this study is oligomers are very difficult to count while the Alzheimer’s patient is alive, so they have no way of knowing whether they develop before or after death. Although this leaves the scientists with more questions than before, this significant study brings them closer to finding a cause, and hopefully, a cure.
Another speculation is an unhealthy diet causes this ailment. This past August, a study was released in which scientists at Washington State found higher blood glucose levels are linked with a larger risk of dementia (Span, 2013).Although this study can’t confirm the supposition that everyone who has higher glucose levels will have a greater risk of dementia, it does provide evidence that high blood sugar can damage the brain. Diabetes alone has a negative impact on the body, one of those influences being the brain becoming insulin-resistant. This can cause loss of memory and personality changes, very similar to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, leaving researchers asking the question, “Is Alzheimer’s type three diabetes?” (Bittman, 2012). Once again, all the pieces of the puzzle aren’t present to answer the question. However, a diet such as one resulting in diabetes can’t be helpful in a personal battle against AD, which is why doctors suggest people who have a higher risk of having AD exercise their minds and bodies regularly, and eat a healthy diet. In the meanwhile, current and at-risk patients, wait for answers.
For me, Alzheimer’s is more than just a research paper topic. My grandmother and her mother both suffered from it. I have also had the experience of working in an assisted living environment where I have seen the face of Alzheimer’s. I’ve observed the effects of the disease, and have watched it take lives. More importantly, I’ve seen family and friends suffer in the wake of Alzheimer’s destruction. This disease is not a part of normal aging (Alzheimer’s Association, 2013).
My father is fifty-seven years old. He, and the rest of his six siblings, could currently have the beginnings of AD. Families and victims of Alzheimer’s should not be left to suffer from this dementia without any hope of survival. Science has brought us so far in terms of finding cures, vaccines, and revolutionary advancements in surgery. Now, faced with a race against time, people like me are anxiously waiting for answers.
By Sarah Boudreau
Alzheimer’s Association (2013) 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Retrieved
from http://www.alz.org/downloads/facts_figures_2013.pdf
Bittman, M. (2012, September 25) Is Alzheimer’s type 3 diabetes? Retrieved from
Goldman, B. (2013, September 19). Scientists reveal how beta-amyloid may cause Alzheimer’s. Retrieved from http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2013/september/alzheimers.html
Kolata, G. (2012, July 11). In Preventing Alzheimer’s, Mutation May Aid Drug Quest.
Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/health/research/rare-gene-mutation-is-found-to-stave-off-alzheimers.html
Span, P. (2013, August 9). High Blood Sugar Linked to Dementia. Retrieved from
Early Detection of Autism through Eye-Tracking Technology
As autism rates have been increasing, from one in 150 to one in 88, early detection has become crucial in treatment and therapy (Belluck, 2013). Because of modern technology, scientists have been able to use eye-tracking technology to determine where infants and toddlers focus on a person. In one experiment, infants were shown clips of actresses looking directly into to the camera. Researchers found that those who would go on to develop autism looked at the mouths and healthy babies looked at the eyes (NIMH, 2008). Babies without autism are known to keep the focus on eye contact from nine months on, while those with autism or other developmental disabilities tend to look away from the eyes and even look towards objects instead (Belluck). Eye contact in babies with autism has been known, through these types of tests, to diminish as soon as the first months of life (Briggs, 2013). However, this difference in eye contact is not present at birth, suggesting that there is a window of opportunity to slow or stop altogether the progression of autism (Belluck, 2013).
One reason that this research is so important is because we learn social cues from observing other people. When children focus only on objects and ignore features such as the eyes, there is a decrease in learning. Such things as facial expressions and gestures can be lost to a baby looking only to objects. These developments are the earliest known age for detecting social disabilities (Belluck, 2013). Dr. Deborah Riby, from the psychology department of Durham University, backed up this claim: “The earlier we can diagnose a child who has one of these disorders…the earlier we can provide intervention and development.” Riby also went on to explain that, because of these tests, scientists now have a greater idea of when any sort of “atypical social attention” would develop (Briggs, 2013). However, there are no therapies available yet for children under a year old (Belluck, 2013).
However, this type of research is just the beginning. The eye-tracking technology is highly specialized and can only be done outside of an autism clinic. Parents cannot diagnose from watching the eyes of their children. If they want results concerning eye contact and autism, they would need to get them tested, and even then, the results are not conclusive. Research is still being done and there is merely a correlation between the two (Briggs, Belluck, 2013). There is still no easy answer to autism, whether it is early detection or defining the cause that has alluded scientists for decades. However, this research forms the basis for improvement and for earlier detection. This technological development has the potential to revolutionize autism treatment, since most people are diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 5 (Belluck, 2013). If parents could have a diagnosis as soon as six months, they could begin therapies much, much earlier.
Because of developments like these, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be diagnosed much earlier in life. If treatment began early in childhood, the effects of autism could theoretically be “halted or slowed.” Those with a more severe form of autism, signified by a more dramatic dropping off of eye contact, could be treated earlier (Belluck, 2013). With advancements such as these and an earlier introduction into therapy, those with autism could grow to live up to a greater standard of living. Those with higher functioning autism, Asperger’s Syndrome for example, could grow to live more independent and social lives. If treatment was introduced as early as the eye-tracking technology suggests it can be, individuals can have a greater understanding of social cues. For those treated for nearly their whole lives, they could have opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise. There could be a greater sense of independence, of social competence. Increased skill in areas such as these can offer up possibilities in everything from education, the competitive workforce, and economic stability. With greater social skill would come a better overall standard of living. Furthermore, by detecting ASDs earlier, scientists can look for clues to the cause of autism. By finding out that children with autism develop symptoms in the first months of life, it points to the fact that these symptoms are not present at birth (Belluck, 2013).
By Katie Erbs
Belluck, Pam (2013, November 6). Baby’s Gaze May Signal Autism, A Study Finds. Retrieved from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/a-babys-gaze-may-signal-autism-study-finds/?_r=0
Briggs, Helen (2013, November 8). Autism Signs ‘Present in first months’ of life. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24837462
National Institute of Mental Health (2008, October 23). Lack of Eye Contact May Predict Level of Social Disability in Two-Year Olds With Autism. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2008/lack-of-eye-contact-may-predict-level-of-social-disability-in-two-year-olds-with-autism.shtml
Space-Junk vs. Space Exploration: An Analysis of Satellite Technology and The Kessler Syndrome
Between the dates or November 16th and 18th, flaming chunks of satellite plunged through the atmosphere. This astronomical debris was once the European Space Agency’s Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer, or GOCE. The GOCE plummeted to Earth in approximately 25 to 45 pieces, the largest of which weighing 200 pounds before diminishing in size in the atmosphere. The chances for even one of these fragments striking anywhere in the St. Louis area is very small (just under a one in three million chance). The chance of anyone being hurt is even smaller. In fact, there are no known incidents of human injury or death due to artificial satellite debris. Dr. Floberghagen, mission manager for the European Space Agency, suggested that the debris would endanger about 20 yards of the Earths surface. Endangering 20 square yards per satellite doesn’t seem like a big issue. That’s good, isn't it? The issue is with all of the space-junk in the skies.
When satellites are decommissioned, they have one of three fates: being de-orbited, staying in the current orbit, or being banished to a graveyard orbit. De-orbiting is literally taking a satellite out of orbit altogether. The definition is flexible, but this process generally ends with a crash landing to Earth and purposefully being flung from the planet. If satellites stay in the current orbit, they get in the way of other satellites. And therein lies the problem: space junk and space pollution. That is where the Kessler Syndrome, proposed by astrophysicist and creator of the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office, Don Kessler, comes into play. According to this syndrome, every crash, deactivated machinery, or any piece of debris in the midst of the geostationary (Operational satellite) orbit will create a cloud of debris. This cloud could populate the orbit and trigger a chain-reaction of collisions, making even more debris. This cascading effect will eventually lead to space exploration to be difficult or even impossible for us and for future generations. That’s why, in 2002, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set up guidelines for spacecraft to be put into a graveyard orbit. This way, there would be an altitude that is reserved for functioning orbital spacecraft, with 250 kilometers between the working satellites and the dead ones, thus avoiding the Kessler effect.
But that doesn’t really solve the problem. It is true that alternatives are not feasible. Forcing machines out of Earth’s orbit, especially nearing the end of their mission with little fuel, is nearly impossible. And the general public would not appreciate frequent satellite showers. Thinking in accordance with “out of sight, out of mind” may solve one problem, and it subsequently causes another. The main issue is that the problem is just being moved farther away, and on an astronomical scale, it is a very small difference. The Kessler Syndrome does not typically exist in the geostationary orbit, so a super-fast phalanx of orbiting shrapnel isn’t a threat to the 1,000 or so operational satellites. Satellites are so frail that anything larger than a few kilograms can destroy them or alternate their orbit in dramatic way, meaning that not only dead satellites, but any other space debris is potentially harmful to satellites.
Mankind has been shooting things into space since Sputnik in 1957. Fraser Cain of Universe Today reports that, in the 56 years since, there are more than 21,000 objects large enough to be fatal for satellites. It’s estimated that there are about 500,000 more fragments of smaller, less dangerous sizes in space. So we’re averaging at a little less than 1,000 bits of space junk a year, ranging from dead satellites to spent boosters, even to misplaced gloves. In terms of our progression in space, though, that’s a disgusting amount of litter. If interplanetary or human exploration of the galaxy will ever happen, it won’t be for at least 50 years, considerably more without adequate funding and research. At this rate, humans won’t be able to orbit Earth, much less leave it. The International Space Station has regular emergencies with avoiding harmful bits and pieces already, and Earth’s cluttered atmosphere is only getting worse.
So what does this all mean? First, it means that further suggestions for disposing of space junk should be explored. Pushing satellites further from Earth, and eventually out of Earth’s orbit, is not “cosmos-environment friendly,” but may have its merits if done responsibly. For example, flinging our garbage into the Sun might seem like a decent idea. That has its flaws: after flinging a dead-satellite, we have little control over where it goes. Accidentally hurling garbage into space is not a good idea. Especially since, if you believe in extraterrestrial life, it is generally good form not to throw your trash at them. Therefore, an ideal solution for companies launching satellites is to de-orbit as long as the impact is planned and controlled. From the point of view of the general populace, though, this probably won’t be accepted as a “good idea.” Government-controlled, high-speed space junk plummeting to Earth would probably set some people on edge, myself included. The bottom line is that this process needs to be evaluated. If our progeny is ever expected to explore the stars, our generations can’t increase the minefield of space junk orbiting our planet.
By Kenyatta Asante
Cain. F. (October 2013). How Many Satellites are in Space?. Retrieved November 14, 2013, from
Chang, K. (November 2013). Satellite Falls to Earth. The New York Times. Retrieved November 10,
2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/science/space/satellite-will-fall-to-earth- but-no-ones-sure-where.html?ref=science&_r=5&
Donald, K. J. (March 1982). Junk in Space. Natural History, Vol. 91 Issue 3, 12 - 15.
Gini, A. (April 2012). Don Kessler on Envisat and the Kessler Syndrome. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/2012/04/25/don-kessler-envisat-kessler-syndrome/
Lemonick, M. D. (July 2010). Clearing Space. National Geographic, Vol. 218 Issue 1, 30-33.
Selding, P. (2007). FCC Enters Orbital Debris Debate. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from,
“Life is a cabaret, old chum, only a cabaret, old chum…” says the Emcee of the Kit Kat Klub, welcoming the audience into the heart of the Berlin subculture of fantasy, mystery, and romance. The Repertory Theater production of Cabaret was an incredible musical that is definitely worth seeing at least once. Luckily, I got the chance to go to a show with my German language class and had a truly transporting experience.
Cabaret touches on the emotional stings of love and how it is affected by the fight-or-flight feeling when confronted with a tough choice or immediate danger. Clifford Bradshaw, an American novelist visiting a pre-WWII Berlin, becomes fast friends with a very likeable man who he does not understand is affiliated with the Nazi party. This friend, Ernst, introduces him to the wonderful world of the cabaret, and in turn Clifford comes to know Sally Bowles, a lead act at the Kit Kat Klub. The pair has an instant connection and become wrapped up in each other’s lives and, in turn, each other’s problems. This can only lead to an intensely emotional separation as the rising Nazi Party affects everyday life in Germany. Clifford’s landlady also has the same tangling and heartbreaking experience as she becomes engaged to a German-born Jewish man, and allowed a mild, but extremely real and frightening glance into the destruction the Nazi Party is capable of inflicting on people’s lives.
The musical gives a very clear insight into the emotionally entrancing cabaret life of the time period, but also gives the audience a chance to connect and empathize with the effect of the changing political stability in Eastern Europe in the years before World War II. This connection the actors’ establish with the audience is made possible by their palpable energy and stage presence, the onstage lighting that highlights the solitary feelings evoked from the characters’ situations, as well as the set that portrays the classy and extravagant style of the era.
The actors that give life to the two main couples, Clifford and Sally, and Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz, create a very relatable connection with the raw emotion that is visibly present in their performances. Clifford’s confident yet naïve persona played against Sally’s wild and unpredictable attitude toward having a good time creates a very tense situation to begin with, not to mention the extra stress that an accidental pregnancy coupled with the imminent threat of Nazi brutality puts on the grand difference in their reactions. The same goes for and Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz, whose genuine love for one another is ended for the fear of safety in a changing world. The actors portray this conflicting energy between the two couples perfectly; the emotion is palpable and creates an atmosphere of intense love torn by difference in societal ideals that tugs on the heartstrings of the audience.
The spotlights placed on the actors in time with their characters’ periods of self-doubt or realization about society intensify the solitary moments of epiphany experienced, and exaggerate the feelings of isolation and trouble each feels upon their gaining insight. This is especially true for Clifford as the naive lead character in the musical, who has many more important moments of new understanding about the reality of society and shifting political control. The sudden shift from the entire stage being lit and the entire cast of characters interacting with one another to a bright spotlight on Clifford and little to no movement in the darkness around him emphasizes the haunting importance and reality of these small moments in his life in Berlin. Clifford’s isolated moments of self-realization create a very somber mood for the audience to latch onto and feel as if they are a part of the events in the musical.
Also adding to the very relatable and real aspects of the play, the set in which the characters live and react is very stylistically accurate. The musical is set in the early 1930s, where extravagance and sophistication were expected and embraced in society. The relatable rhythm that the props and the onstage set provide for the play is very upbeat and comfortable, which lend to the authenticity of the atmosphere in the theater as the tragic story of the two couples in Germany unfolds before the audience.
Taking in everything that this Cabaret show has to offer definitely created a very moving and emotional experience for me and the rest of the audience, as well. The musical was a great success and the cast accurately portrayed the intense feelings of isolation and the struggle that were very present in Berlin during the pre-World War II years.
It has long been established that breast-feeding is by far the healthiest way to feed a baby because it holds several benefits for both mother and child. Recently, however, concerns have been raised about breast-feeding as breast milk being bought and sold via the Internet has occasionally been found tainted by various tests. The increase in chemicals, both harmful and well-meaning, can lead to a shift in chemistry in human breast milk that may give rise to worry. In the end, it seems that however our changing environment affects the baby’s first meal, breast milk is still by far the healthiest thing for them, serving as both food and medicine.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, breast-milk contains fats essential for brain development, vitamins in amounts directly related to the mother’s intake, carbohydrates, including lactose, and proteins, including whey and casein, which help fight infection (2013). These promote healthy gut bacteria growth in beings that have no experience with bacteria until exiting the womb. Florence Williams described this “bacterially naïve” state in a 2013 NPR interview:
“…bacteria start to sort of invade and colonize the infant. It's sort of a creepy thought, and it sort of makes sense, then, that the first substance you could give the child would be to help it, you know, regulate this onslaught and be able to manage it. And so that's why there are so many substances in breast milk that are able to fight pathogens that are able to, for example, kill E. coli on contact. The good bacteria comes in, following this breast milk, and it can out-compete the bad bacteria.”
The American Pregnancy Association has also found that long-term benefits for babies that have been breast-fed include lower rates of obesity, diabetes, and asthma (2013). Mothers’ benefits from breast-feeding are both mental and physical. Breast-feeding can stem the bleeding following delivery by helping the uterus contract. Moreover, “breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and also provides a great way for mothers to bond with their babies” (American Pregnancy Association, 2013).
Most people are comfortable accepting these facts about breast milk and praise its health benefits, but worries arise when said people learn about the purchase of breast milk online. In the US it is considered a food instead of a body liquid, so sales go completely unregulated by new mom entrepreneurs making ends meet (Dutton, 2013, p. 145). Nonprofit milk banks screen donors for various diseases that might travel in breast milk such as HIV, but those tests cost time and money. The pasteurization process is also costly because milk banks strive to create a standard level of nutrients in all of the milk they receive as donations. This milk is then sold to hospitals for “hospitalized newborns, at a cost of $135 per baby, per day.” (Dutton, 2013, p.147). When a new mom with an excess of breast milk could just hop on a craigslist-esque website like Only The Breast and be paid immediately for her goods, the less regulated option starts to look very attractive. It is in these unregulated corners of the Internet that a woman can make up to $20,000 a year selling breast milk (Dutton, 2013, p. 146).
This grassroots movement of sorts is eyed with speculation from curious parties, Florence Williams among them, as well as skeptics with disturbing scientific findings. When tested, breast milk purchased online has been found to harbor harmful bacteria like salmonella and chemicals in amounts high enough to make an infant seriously ill (Bakalar, 2013). When Williams sent her breast milk to a lab in Germany, she was surprised to find things such as: “high to average levels of flame retardants in my breast milk, as well as trace amounts of pesticides, trace amounts of dioxin, which is a known carcinogen, and trace amounts of a jet fuel ingredient” (NPR, 2012). She goes on to explain that in her research, she found the breasts function much like a sponge, absorbing any and all chemicals they are exposed to, especially fat-loving ones, which is how the jet fuel ingredient ended up in her breast milk. The flame retardant, the pesticide DDT, was found in her couch. But these harmful substances are not only being fed to babies via breast milk, they are also exposed to them in the womb through the umbilical cord. These chemicals surround us in our daily life, and although a detox of these things might lower levels of harmful chemicals in breast milk, the question arises as to whether or not the chemicals, the detox or breast-feeding in general, is worth it.
Overall, the benefits of breast-feeding outweigh the frightening artificial bits breasts have absorbed over time. Complex proteins that formula companies haven’t been able to replicate should be a major motivator for breast-feeding. And it obviously is, even for mothers that are not able to do so. Although tainted breast milk is a huge risk, if both the buyer and seller are confident, the practice of buying and selling milk is no different from our past. Mothers would nurse each others’ newborns when the other was busy, no big deal. (Dutton, 2013, p.162) For this practice to be translated into the 21st century should be no surprise.
By Myra Nelson
Bakalar, N. (2013, October 21). Breast milk donated or sold online is often
tainted, study says. New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2013,
from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/health/breast-milk-donated-or-sold-online-is-often-tainted-study-says.html
Dutton, J. (2011, May). Liquid gold: the booming market for human breast
milk. Wired, 19.06, 144-149,162.
(2012, May 16). Fresh Air [Radio broadcast]. Washington DC: NPR.
What’s in breast milk?. (2013, January 1). American Pregnancy
The Advancement of Prosthetics: Mind-Controlled Movement
Until recently, prosthetic limbs were made out of wood or plastics, which were clumsy and not easy to use. Bethany Brookshire recalls her friend from high school who had to use a prosthetic limb on a hike when his crutches failed, and "he’d have to swing the whole side of his body forward, heaving the leg along . . . it was clearly uncomfortable, slow and took a lot of effort to use" (2013). Now research is headed toward making robotic prosthetics, which can respond to the wearer's mind and move more naturally with the body. This development in prosthetics goes along with the growth of technology concerning computers and smartphones because similar parts, such as computer processors and lithium batteries, are more available and also making advancements (Midownik, 2013).
Robotic hand prosthetics have already reached the point of being controlled by the mind, with which other prosthetics are still struggling. The next step for robotic hands is the issue of touch. Force feedback, Mark Midownik said, is important to humans because it is important for users of prosthetic hands to be able to hold a glass or hold someone else's hand without crushing them. Mark Midownik rationalizes that the best way to advance the possibility of touch would be to look at the technology smartphones use for touch screens. Smartphones use a "transparent conducting layer made of indium tin oxide, which is continuously monitored by the chip" to detect and react to motion (Midownik, 2013). Struggles with using this technology for prosthetic fingers include making it work for the multiple small, curved surfaces of fingers instead of a single flat surface. The voltages also need to be plugged into the nervous system so that the brain can interpret these signals as touch. Though difficult, this is not impossible. A Chicago University research group was able to replicate physical pressure in a monkey's hand via electrodes attached to the monkey and manipulating voltages to the hand. The monkey responded to certain signals as if it were holding something, showing that the brain can interpret electric signals as sensations of touch.
Michael Goldfarb, along with colleagues from the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Nashville, Tennessee addressed problems with outdated prosthetic legs, similar to what Brookshire's friend dealt with, when developing their robotic leg, which uses a controller that coordinates all the information for the limb’s movements (Brookshire, 2013). Prosthetic limbs now have their own motors, sensors, and controllers to make mobility more natural. Scientists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) produced a bionic leg that can switch between two modes of movement: walking and going up stairs. Zac Vawter, who tested the leg, stated, "The bionic leg listens to the various signals from my nerves and responds in a much more natural way" (Mantel, 2013). This specific leg is made up of mechanical sensors, two motors, complex software, and electrodes that pick up electrical signals that muscles generate. In order to create a leg that could react to the user's thoughts, scientists implemented a complex pattern recognition software that could interpret the signals received from the brain, "figures out what Zac is trying to do" and moves accordingly (Mantel, 2013). The difficulties concerning prosthetic legs versus prosthetic hands is that the technology must be safe so that people who depend on the prosthetic will not fall. The lead author of RIC, Levi Hargrove, states that "if there is a mistake or error that could cause someone to fall, that could be potentially catastrophic, and we want to avoid that at all costs" (Mantel, 2013).
A further advancement of prostheses concerns the University of Houston, where Jose Contreras-Vidal's lab focused on creating a machine completely controlled by the brain that would help paralyzed people, especially those who have very little muscular control, walk. Steve Holbert, who suffered a motorcycle accident and lost muscle movement from the chest down, tested this machine. Unlike other brain-controlled interfaces, it only takes someone a few minutes to "train" and prepare the machine for use. The user wears electrodes that rest above the motor cortex and pick up electrical signals when the user imagines moving parts of their bodies, which sends different signals. Researches connect these signals to commands on the machine so that when the user thinks about a specific movement, the machine knows how to move (Rosen, 2013). While the machine is still clumsy, Holbert reports that he is thankful for the mobility the machine gives him.
Perhaps the most concerning issue about robotic and biotic prostheses is the cost. While Chicago scientists estimate that "a version [of the biotic leg] could be available to the more than one million Americans with leg amputations within three to five years," the cost could range between from $20,000 to $120,000 (Mantel, 2013). The brain-controlled machine also needs to become more efficient, and even when it becomes available for everyday use, the cost could be exponentially higher than the bionic leg. Another issue that arises is whether or not the military will be able to afford these advanced prosthetic limbs in a few years for veterans who were immobilized in action or suffered an injury that resulted in amputation. Everyone will want veterans to be compensated for injuries they suffer while serving the country, but the cost of these prosthetics will most likely remain steep. Considering how soon this technology will be available to people, prospective engineers or researches in this field should focus on cheaper, more efficient ways of creating these hands, legs, and machines to make them easier to use. Even with the latest experiments with the biotic leg, people cannot risk falling, losing their balance or injuring other joints due to long-term use of prosthetics (Brookshire, 2013).
Someone wearing a prosthetic limb today can still be seen as strange, since these advanced robotic limbs do not at all resemble human skin. There is no doubt that these prostheses work better than those in the past, so people should grow used to the idea of people walking in public with robotic parts. As the bionic leg demonstrates, scientists are developing limbs that move more naturally so that both the user and people around them will not have to struggle moving around and interacting with one another. Perhaps the more natural people appear using these prosthetics, the more comfortable these developments will be for critics who think people are becoming too dependent on technology.
By Jennifer Deutchmann
References
Brookshire, Bethany. (2013, November 7). The future of the robotic leg. ScienceNews. Retrieved
from https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/scicurious/future-robotic-leg
Mantel, Barbara. (2013, September 25). First mind-controlled bionic leg a 'groundbreaking'
advance. NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/health/first-mind-controlled-bionic-leg-groundbreaking-advance-8C11257732
Midownik, Mark. (2013, October 26). The technology that puts the human touch into prostheses.
The Observer. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/27/ technology-human-prostheses-artifical-limbs?msource=MAG10
Rosen, Meghan. (2013, November 1). Mind to motion. ScienceNews. Retrieved from
I can’t dance. I have about 11 years of formal dance experience. It does not make much sense, but that is the lens that I look through when I watch dance performances. I’m not blessed with any skill, but I have all those years to hone a fine appreciation for what it takes to dance well. And with that background, on the 10th and 11th of October, I went to The Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Department of Dance’s presentation of the New Works: Alumni Showcase. I can easily say that it was my favorite Webster event that I have attended thus far.
Communication is integral in nearly all performance-based art. The message that you’re sending to the audience, whatever it is, has to be conveyed in a creative, interesting way in order to hold attention. However, it must be simple enough that people can understand it. The Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Department of Dance excels at teaching students how to communicate with their bodies. Dance performances are enjoyable when the music is joyous and the dancers are having fun. With a background in African drum and dance, that was the majority of my performance. That ingrained in me an ever so incorrect assumption: all dance should convey happiness and celebration. Even worse is that this opinion is popular. A friend I came with left after the second dance because the upcoming one was a solo. As a rule, solos are rarely happy, joy-filled endeavors. However, the Department of Dance presented a performance that I had no trouble enjoying all of the pieces.
The New Works: Alumni Showcase premiere, featured works by alumni, faculty, and current students. There were seven total performances, two of which were B.A or B.F.A. performances. And what performances they were! The first dance, Kashira, was choreographed by a 2003 alumna, Alicia Jones. The music, by Kodo, was upbeat, and ethnic and energetic. It was a great way to get the audience’s interest and I even saw a few members moving to the music. The dancers themselves smiled and enjoyed themselves, moving in and out of sync easily. I even noticed a few moves or steps that are based in African dance. Honestly, it got me unfairly excited for the rest of the performances. Similarly, the dance called Home, choreographed and performed by Jennifer (Alumna, 2004) and Omar Olivas, was adorable. The newly married couple circled and played with each other, intertwining briefly, and then separating. It was very flirtatious. It was implied that their respective “Homes” were with each other, and their motions and expressions communicated that. I had a vigorous internal battle as I kept from “aww”ing them as they did their final bow. These dances were great examples of what people generally consider entertaining.
The next two are what I would consider unconventionally entertaining. The first, Poised, choreographed and performed by Meredith McLaughlin, was a B.A. piece, in which McLaughlin struggles to stand and strike a poised or refined dancing position, and continuously fails. The dance itself was not the most fun thing to look at. It was obvious that McLaughlin tried very hard to resemble a fawn or giraffe taking its first steps. She rose and stumbled and fell in the most unnatural ways. She deserves merit for the sheer physical skill it must take to do some of those things without hurting herself. Yet, I was still entertained! I still found it beautiful, and noticed about half way through that I was mentally cheering for this poor creature to succeed. By the end of the performance, she manages to make that pose, but the theater is plunged into darkness just before she stops moving. I was surprised to find myself literally on the edge of my seat, tense and breathless. The other dance, Worn, was choreographed and performed by Jessica Manker as a B.F.A. performance. Her partners for her duet changed per night between Sam Mitchell and DJ Duncan. Worn shows the main dancer, Manker, exploring and longer for the intimacy of two different relationships. The first, an inanimate stool, represents a static, stable entity and provides comfort and certainty. The second, Mitchell or Duncan, represents a fluid, romantic, exhilarating entity that in turn interacts with her. Both relationships also seemed more than a little unhealthy, as Manker is show to not have much power in controlling either relationship. The stool’s power obviously cannot be conveyed by a stool, so Manker had to show enough emotion in their relationship for the both of them. This is all conveyed without speech! The empathetic link I felt with both performances was strong.
Neither Poised nor Worn were followed with much happiness as with Kashira or Home, but they were my favorite two performances. The difference was not in any level of skill or enjoyment, as I would happily watch any of these again. However, Poised and Worn were for the most part rather depressing. They celebrated plights that humans have, and left very little joy in their wake. I am ever impressed when that can be accomplished in a dance setting. Acting, poetry and song are all oral-based performance arts: communication usually isn’t an issue. We are pros at using the mouth to convey sadness, but the body? And not only sadness, but lamentation, wanting, failure, lust (well, maybe not lust) are so much more difficult when you are forced to be mute.
I would highly recommend any performance The Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Department of Dance has in the future. The sheer level of talent is awe-inspiring. As a student, seeing your peers on stage in such a fashion is fun and impressive. I can assure you that you will see me in the audience, gaze fixed to the stage, absorbed in the world that the dancers paint for us with their bodies.
Stories are an integral part of humanity. The best stories are those so beautifully written that they resonate to young and old, speaking to all seasons of life, not just applying to a finite fracture of time or a specific group. The Conservatory at Webster's recent production of Alice in Wonderland is a reminder of one such elegant and timeless tale.
Perhaps, the most special aspect of the production is that it is a Webster original adaptation, created by Webster faculty director Doug Finlayson with the help of assistant director Daniella Wheelock ('16) and dramaturg Alex Glow ('16). It follows a plot closely tied to Carroll's original children's story, featuring dialogue taken directly from the text. Another commendable aspect about the adapted script is that the plot has obvious purpose. While Alice is discovering the joys and oddities of Wonderland, she's also figuring out how to balance the tension of being 'big' and 'small', or an adult and a child. It is an adaptation that Lewis Carroll himself would find enjoyable and authentic.
The set, inspired by organic sculpture, is simple and functional. It provides an easy canvas for the cast to enter and exit, bringing in various props to symbolize all the well-known locations in Wonderland, including the various locked doors, Queen's courtyard and the White Rabbit's house. Furthermore, the Emerson Studio Theatre serves as the ideal playing space for such an energetic and quickly transitioning production. Ultimately, the cast uses this tennis court style playing space to their advantage. It is intimate and allows the actors to be engaging and personal, but not overtly interactive with the audience. Characters are constantly moving to all parts of the space, without Not to mention, every audience member views the performance from a unique angle. In other words, it is a positive experience for both children and adults.
The costumes are predictable, but in a sentimental, feel-good way. Often, modern productions of extremely well-known shows should strive to venture into the unknown, push boundaries and bring originality through mediums such as clothing, but for this particular production, the expected costumes fit perfectly. It made the characters all the more recognizable and definitely appealed to the younger audience members. For example, Alice wears a modest baby-blue dress with a white pinafore, the Mad Hatter dons a velvety, extravagant top hat hiding bushy, exaggerated brows and the Caterpillar slinks around in a puffy, segmented dress with a hookah.
The lead role of Alice is played by August Stamper ('15). Besides having brunette hair, she is (perhaps, purposefully) a very recognizable and typical Alice complete with a British accent. She is a little girl, around the age of ten, growing up in Victorian England, an era where adolescence hardly existed. Suddenly, her calm and proper world spins wildly out of control and she enters the whimsical, strange world of Wonderland. On a surface level, it appears that she is merely exploring the strange world she has found herself in and pursuing the frantic White Rabbit. Of course, it is true that little Alice wants to find the White Rabbit, however, one could argue that Alice is also searching for answers concerning how she is to relate to society. Wonderland is a topsy-turvy dreamlike place that causes Alice to consider and question everything that seems normal or expected in her world. While she may not reach a definite answer in the play, she does learn how to ask questions and use her imagination. For young children, the play's themes will be vague, but nonetheless, fantastical and exciting. For older children and adults, the themes presented are sure to be thought-provoking and reminiscent of personal coming-of-age experiences.
Overall, the casting decisions and acting present in the production was smart and believable. Each of the supporting characters maintain the odd, mysteriousness needed to prove that Wonderland is otherworldly and attractive to Alice's curiosity. The facial expressions are exceptional and definitely entertaining. The Queen of Hearts, played by Lara Dohner ('15) is deliciously tyrannical with a bold voice and wild, angered eyes. Alicia Smith ('14) who plays the White Rabbit embodies the frenzied, frantic animal, often assumed to be a male character, with grace and poise. Other characters to notice include the Mad Hatter, played by Ari Axelrod ('16), the March Hare, played by Jimmy Betts ('14), and the Duchess, played by Carrie Vaughan ('14).
In short, Webster Conservatory's production of Alice in Wonderland is a fantastical, whimsical and experimental piece of theatre. It is entertaining for a wide variety of audiences because it ties in the cherished moments of a classic story with subtle, new twists. Ultimately, this production is a celebration of Lewis Carroll's timeless, elegant and fantastic story that resonates with audiences of all ages, in every era of time. Just like the Mad Hatter's famous words, "it's always time for tea!", Webster Conservatory's most recent production reminds us that it is always time for Alice in Wonderland.
Former Webster University graduate, Brian Chilson, held a lecture on September 27, 2013 titled, "Chasing the Light." Chilson began with a brief personal background. He graduated from Webster University in 1987 with a degree in print journalism. He had always wanted to pursue photography, so he traveled around the country for a while before settling in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is currently the sole photographer for the Arkansas Times and sometimes picks up other jobs from other newspapers. Although I have no desire to pursue photography, I admire Chilson's dedication. He said that he's nearly always busy and holds immense responsibility, but because he's passionate about photography, the workload doesn't bother him.
After his introduction, Chilson's lecture consisted of about one hundred photographs in iPhoto, which were also featured in the gallery, with some background information and memories associated with each of them. This part of the lecture kept my attention at first, but later bored me, and it didn't seem like Chilson planned it very well. He imported the photos at the beginning with no real structure, and there were even some duplicates near the end of the slideshow. Photos of athletes and musicians were mixed with President Clinton and other local events. Despite the disorganized structure, two types of photos stuck to my mind as Chilson talked about his job preferences. He prefers taking photographs of sports and music as opposed to people simply standing or posing because taking a good shot of someone playing football is a challenge: he has to time his shot perfectly to get a usable photo. For one event, he took photos at a boxing match, and he researched how to get a good shot on the Internet before going. Thanks to his research, he got a photograph of the moment when one boxer's glove was about to hit the other person. About a third of his photographs were of sports, mainly football, and musicians playing at concerts.
Other events are extremely boring to Chilson because he has to stand unmoving in one spot, one such picture being one of President Clinton. Although he got a good shot of Clinton shaking hands with someone, Chilson recalls having to stand in one spot throughout Clinton's speech and having nothing else to do. Although he enjoyed taking photographs of local events in Arkansas, Chilson admits the pictures, which reflected everyday life and accomplishments, were not as fun to capture.
One photograph in particular had a specific story behind it. Chilson had to take photos on an article about Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine students being integrated in Little Rock High School in 1957. He called an old contact of his to help plan an appointment with Eckford. Then, he spent some time with Eckford, learning bits about her past as they took photographs for the newspaper.
His photographs of sports and musicians certainly were the more visually appealing and energized ones of his collection, and they are definitely worth seeing. While Chilson's voice remained monotone and his background information repetitive, I enjoyed the lecture and his photographs. His dedication to photography is truly admirable, and the amount of effort he puts into his work is reflected in his stunning photos.
It’s a hot eighty degree day in October and it’s a packed room. Rows upon rows of chairs are jammed into Room 2 of Pearson House. They’re filled up from back to front with students, faculty, and patrons. Someone stands to the left with a camera set up on a tripod to record the event. Up front there’s a podium. Behind that, a door that people try to keep open to let in a draft. It doesn’t quite work. More people squeeze in, bumping into legs and pushing bags and purses under chairs. A fellow student snaps photos, the click-click of the shutter. There is the incessant chatter of multiple conversations.
And then, when a man stands up behind the podium, the chatter comes to a resounding halt.
Kevin Stein: poet Laureate of Illinois, English professor at Bradley University, and native of Peoria. And yet, he looks like he could be anybody with his lush mustache and the way he slings his blazer over the back of a chair. He takes out copies of his books with weathered spines and worn pages, with wrinkled post-its sticking up from the top.
He introduces himself with ease and talks to the crowded room in an intimate way that feels like he’s just having a conversation. He talks about his students and the how hot is it in the room.
And then he begins.
As a lover of all poetry, I have not had the chance to ever attend a poetry reading before. I had no expectations or assumptions beyond an inherent love for verse. I had never heard of Stein or his work, so I didn’t quite know what to expect.
And yet, when Stein began to speak, catapulting words like weapons into the heat of the crowded room, it was remarkable. He made poetry out of the modern day. He read with fluidity and dramatic pauses, holding the audience’s rapt attention.
Stein’s poetry is a strange but pleasing blend of history and the modern day. He has poems devoted to what it was like to be a Nielson family and the pressure to watch highly important television. Poems about the simplicity of the Slinky, a toy invented on the same day that the US dropped the atomic bomb. Poems on the confusion of youth and longing in the era of Rock n Roll. Poems influenced by Eastern philosophy and the late night industrial work-force. Stein calls upon the past to make sense of the present. He points out the inconsistencies in our lives with a whirlwind of humor and grief.
That day Stein read selections from two of his collections, Sufficiency of the Actual and Wrestling Li Po for the Remote. The latter is a reference to the eighth century Chinese poet. Through both of these collections Stein uses history, such as the figure of Li Po, to elevate and reflect on the world today.
One such poem that I found particularly striking was his poem, “Blue Tuesday.” This poem takes on the historical paradox of the Slinky. He comments on the uselessness of both the Slinky and the atomic bomb, suggesting that the men in charge of the bombing of Japan were merely toying with weaponry and lives. The poem is startling and beautiful when read aloud, but it is also is wrought with guilt and embarrassment at the bombings.
Overall, Stein was a transfixing figure and his poetry is as beautiful as it is unsettling. His postmodernism is startlingly relevant in today’s society and he gives significance to everyday things like TV remotes, kid’s toys, and crickets.
When I walked out of that room and into the sultry October air, I felt the added weight of verse, the significance of the everyday. Never one for contemporary poetry, I was still transfixed by Stein’s view of the world. His poetry reminded me of the beauty and paradox of life especially in today’s modern society. The next day I walked down to the bookstore and bought a copy of his book. I recommend that everyone has the chance to appreciate the singularity of the Slinky or the gritty life of the union worker through Stein’s effortless verse.
