The Human Brain in Love

It is obvious that both men & women experience positive reactions in forming relationships; however, the opposite can occur when these relationships dissolve.

When a woman & a man fall in love, their brain circuits are under major reconstruction. The sex hormones released cause the individual’s brain cells to grow and sprout extensions, that would take several years to form structurally sound connections. According to Dr. Louann Brizendine’s, The Female Brain, the male & female brain of a romantically involved couple produces the most irrational behaviors & promotes illogical thinking (Brizendine, 66). The brain of an individual in love is in a state that is comparable to that of a drug addict. (Brizendine, 66) Turns out Kesha's hit song, Your love is my drug, is more than just a catchy jingle. The withdrawal effect resulting from a breakup is comparable to that of a drug abuser's withdrawal symptoms. In fact, when a relationship dissolves, the individuals can experience physical pain equivalent to those accompany a sobering addict (Brizendine, 75). Statistics show that men are more likely to commit suicide after a breakup, while women are more likely to fall into depression. One explanation is that women may have a larger social network to fall back on after a relationship goes sour. In contrast, the male may not allow himself to open up to many people; hence, he may have more difficulty recovering from the breakup than his former partner.

The main point is that the withdrawal effect that occurs after a breakup can cause physical pain. Recent brain-imaging studies have shown that social rejection triggers the same circuits of the brain that physical pain does (Brizendine, 75). This can explain some of the irrational behaviors observed in both women and men during and after an intimate relationship.

The verdict is still out on love: The purpose of love has perplexed scientists & laymen alike. However, the biological explanation for relationships & love is simple; it is nature’s way of preserving the human race (Brizendine, 87). When a female sees a man that she is most likely to reproduce with, her brain releases chemicals that alert her of this attraction for the male & vice versa in the male's brain. Dr. Brizendine states, “Mother nature uses everything at her disposal to make sure couples get together and make babies… The sexual desires trigger for both genders is androgen testosterone” (Brizendine, 89). Whatever you choose to believe one thing is for certain, love has inspired men & women alike to produce masterful works of art, writings, novels, movies, & more. Therefore in conclusion, I'll leave you with Henery David Thoreau's famous quote, "The only remedy for love, is to love more..."

"Discretions"

Eager to show you off

I dragged you everywhere

Even when unnecessary

Your presence filled the air

Others never questioned

Because they never knew

Still, we cannot fault them

For believing you as true

Yet, you never were

& there is only one to blame

Me, myself, & I

Is the reason that you came

The devastation of your destruction

Confirms that you must die

So from this day forward

I will not speak another lie

"The End of Time"

Where does the time go

Since it so rapidly slips away

Once it's gone, it's gone for good

Leaving me wishing it had stayed

The challenge is then to endure

It's ever-lasting fleet

So cherish every moment

& Exploit every opportunity

This proves to be more difficult

When dreams dissolve in thin air

It seems freedom is more restrictive

Than others are made aware

Therefore, it takes a tenacious person

Brave enough to tackle a wall

Just when it was suppose to shatter

The wall proved it refused to fall

Equally headstrong & tormented

You vowed to forever pursue

This obsession with my confinement

Was ultimately the end of me & you

Thus, when you declared forever

it appeared to be a lie

But I realize now more clearly than ever

That it is simply the end of time

Weezy is free... For now

The conditions of Lil Wayne’s probation appear impossible for the rapper considering his pre-prison stint reputation. The rapper signed a plea deal recently that restricts him from associating with anyone engaged in criminal activity or who have a criminal record without prior consent of the probation department. Therefore, it seems Lil Wayne is going to need approval for a good majority of the Young Money record label’s staff and crew. The probation terms also require that Lil Wayne may not possess or consume any drug or alcoholic substances for the next three years while randomly submitting to drug test within the duration of this time. If he violates any of the terms of his probation he could be sent back to prison to serve out the remainder of his term. (However, I suspect his attorney will reduce this to some lessened amount of time in a rehabilitation clinic.)

Personally, I don’t think Lil Wayne’s return home will be for very long. I expect the “Free Weezy” campaign to commence again very soon. After discussing this matter with a friend, I found his answer worth repeating. Since these conditions seem impossible for the rapper, what will Lil Wayne do? Produce more coherent music? Possibly, or he could very well succumb to the temptations presented at his welcome home party at the king of Diamonds Strip Club in Miami on Sunday. Only time will tell.

Verdict: Lil Wayne is a very talented and popular rapper in his own right. I hope the Judges who handle these types of cases carefully examine the damage done by the individual rather than the media circus that a high-profiled celebrity’s court appearance can produce. Judges have a lot of power and they are only human. It is easy for judges to allow their own beliefs to interfere with properly interpreting the law even though this is prohibited in our justice system. (still, it is occurring more and more) People who suffer from drug and alcohol addictions need serious help that a prison sentence cannot provide. Furthermore, is it the government's responsibility to protect us from ourselves? Absolutely not! Legislation that tries to do so is a waste of the taxpayers money and a distraction from the more serious problems that our country needs to resolve.

Consider the Source

Although I am happy with the outcome of the recent election, this Closing Argument’s timing is terrible. Nonetheless, its inspiration came from my more frequent use of twitter as of late. As the semester creeps closer to finals, Twitter makes the perfect distraction from studying. My compulsive twittering has produced both positive and negative results. The negative, I am wasting precious study time scaling through the twittersphere and my tweets really do not contribute any benefit to society whatsoever. In contrast, I mostly only follow economic, political, news, and science outlets and I enjoy reading all articles posted by those I follow. Therefore, neglecting my studies to tweet has not been entirely bad. After all, I am broadening my knowledge, right? Well, I guess that all depends on the credibility of the source. Thus, this Closing Argument’s intension is to “consider the source”, so to speak, and to express the importance of general knowledge dispersed among the citizens of this fine country.

Normally, when I am presented with an issue, I typically study the problem intensely and will quickly form a stance or solution on how [I think] it should be resolved. However, when I take my newfound knowledge to the streets hoping to find another apprehensive citizen to discuss these current issues with they either have no idea what I am talking about or they simply do not care. The most appalling behavior I could ever fathom was a girl at a tailgate recently who admitted to NEVER voting because she “didn’t see the point”. Although, at that time I felt compelled on behalf of Susan B Anthony, Lucy Stone, and other heroic women in history, to punch this young woman in the face. I refrained from violence because I am actually grateful that this girl does not vote. She obviously is clueless and she would merely cancel out the vote of someone who actually gave it some thought.

Today, many people agree that it is in fact pointless to vote. To these people, I would like to make one thing clear; it is only pointless if you do not know of whom you are voting. That is to say, that you did not give it any prior consideration, really research the candidates, and make an educated decision based on your beliefs and situation. I am sure there are many people who disagree with me and believe everyone should vote no matter what. However, for those individuals who look for the “R” or the “D” on the ballot and refuse to give it any more consideration than this, you are just wasting your time and hindering the voices of those who actually are passionate about the outcome and direction of our country.

Sidebar: If you are guilty of these actions (described above) then by giving up your right to vote you are also giving up you right to complain about our current economic state or anything else for that matter. By refusing to vote, you are allowing the fate of our country to reside in the hands of others.

If you are a regular voter, then I encourage you to forget about the beliefs of your heritage, the past, and all news/ media outlets, and conduct your own research on each candidate or proposition that will be presented. Know before you go! Take the time well before Election Day to understand everything that will appear on the ballot and decide in advance how you will cast your vote. Today, we have the resources to conduct this type of search within minutes, so it really isn’t as time consuming as you may expect. Don’t have a computer? Well, your local library should so make the extra effort, especially if you intend to vote. Most importantly, media sources can and do push their own beliefs and agendas so when you conduct your research make sure it is from a creditable source. A prime example of this is many of the tea partiers and candidates like Sarah Palin [come to mind]. Whether you like Sarah Palin or not, a lot of what she says is taken out of context and this is more outrageous to me than anything else. By taking her [or any politicians] words out of context people are being misled of their true intellect.

Verdict: Do not believe all that you hear/read and conduct your own research. It is sad, but sometimes we have to find sources outside of our own country to understand what is really going on within it. In the 2008 election, Obama’s campaign was ran beautifully and I am not surprised at all, he won. However, the vague terminology of “hope” and “change” were widely endorsed without any actual knowledge of what kind of “change” he was referring to. Always remember John Adams famous quote based on the structure of our government: “Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people.”

******Know Your Rights*******

Dealing with law enforcement officers can get tricky. The purpose of this closing argument is to outline the proper police interaction protocol. I am very tired right now so please disregard any misspelling or punctuation errors. Moreover, I should definitely be working on other (more important) projects. However, this issue is very important [to me] because every time I watch the show, Cops, I get in a screaming match with the TV. So here it is. A short summary of your rights as an American citizen of these United States. Enjoy. *Picture courtesy of Scroggins Design

When stopped by police, it is important to remain calm and always be polite. If you are rude, the officer can make your life very difficult. You never have to answer any questions if you do not want to. (Except your name in some states) You can simply say, “I do not want to talk to you.” and walk away. Never run! Law enforcement officers may try to make you feel pressured to comply and many have been known to resort to trickery to get your confession. If you do not feel comfortable walking away, ask if you are free to go. If the answer is yes, you should consider just walking away. However, if the officer says you are not under arrest but you are not free to go, then you are being detained.

Sidebar: Being detained is not the same as being arrested, although an arrest could follow. It is important that you utilize your rights to remain silent and request legal representation.

No one is perfect and certainly nothing government run. Police can and do make mistakes. If you are being detained, the police officer can pat down the outside of your clothing only if they have reasonable suspicion, an objective reason to suspect that you are armed and dangerous. If they search anymore than this merely say, “I do not consent to a search.” If they continue to search, you should never physically resist them. Remain calm and remember you do not have to answer any questions whether you are being detained or arrested. Ask for legal representation and wait for their arrival.

If you are arrested, the officer must advise you of your constitutional rights to remain silent, to an attorney, and to have an attorney appointed if you cannot afford one. These are known as your Miranda rights. If an officer fails to read you these rights, you should inform your attorney so they can motion for mistrial.

Finally, if you are ever treated badly by a law enforcement officer, there are a few things to remember. First, take down the badge number, name, and any other identification information. You have the right to inquire about this information so the officer has to give it to you. Second, try to find as many witnesses to the incident and get their contact information as well. Third, report a complaint to the law enforcement responsible for this treatment. This is essential if you plan to press charges. (In fact, if you do all of this it may just be an open and closed case, not to mention your attorney will love you because you have done all the work) Fourth, if you are injured, seek medical attention immediately and take pictures of your injuries. Lastly, call a lawyer or contact your local ACLU office.

Verdict: You should exercise all of these rights while dealing with law enforcement officials. If you are arrested, you do not have to answer any questions or divulge any information. Ask to speak with a lawyer immediately and repeat this question to any officer who tries to talk to you.

"The Truth"

Slipping into depression

How shall I climb out

Engulfed in darkness

Still, I can hear them shout



They seek my lost soul

But it's been missing since birth

I have never known a conscience

which was perfect for evading hurt



Such a specimen is peculiar

Narcissists, we feel no pain

Even tears in a lovers eyes

Would cause no dismay



I once counted this as a blessing

But now I see the truth

It was my fault all along

I apologize if you thought it was you



So now that I understand this feeling

I realize I should have never been afraid

because the renditions of a heavy heart

Is a spiritual growth experience I would never trade



So if there are heavens

I thank them for my tears

Because it is better to have loved and lost

then to never have faced my fears