Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Ketamine Abused Drug or Medical Miracle Professor Ramos Blog

Ketamine Abused Drug or Medical Miracle Ketamine: Abused Drug or Medical Miracle When the synthetic drug Ketamine first was synthesized it was mainly used on animals as an anesthetic. The reason it is used on animals is that it was found to have hallucinogenic effects on humans. Today ketamine is mainly used on humans by medical teams in small doses as an anesthetic, however it does have other uses in the medical field. As with many other synthetic drugs that can cause hallucinations, it has become popular for recreational use. I have seen ketamine used in different settings and I can’t help but wonder. Can Ketamine be used in a medical setting? When ketamine is abused what does do to the brain? How Ketamine Was Created Ketamine was synthesized from a chemical compound known as phencyclidine, this compound was previously tested on humans to treat schizophrenia. After more clinical studies â€Å"it became clear that phencyclidine was not suitable for human anesthesia† (Domino 679), because it caused hallucinations. Cal Bratton, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Pharmaceutical Research at Parke Davis stated that he â€Å"was convinced that a short-acting derivative would be useful† (Domino 679). Bratton consulted Calvin Lee Stevens on the matter after discussing with each other they decided to synthesize derivatives of phencyclidine. One of these compounds was known as CI-581, this compound was later named Ketamine. Trials on animals went well and soon began trials on humans. It was observed during human testing that ketamine worked extremely well for anesthesia and with little to no side effects. Edward F. Domino, M.D. helped with clinical trials of ketamine, after much research he and his colleague s decided it was time to publish their findings. â€Å"I mentioned that the subjects were â€Å"disconnected† from their environment. Toni came up with the term â€Å"dissociative anesthetic† (Domino 680). Ketamine is known as a dissociative anesthetic, this means that the user is generally â€Å"not all there† when they return from the anesthetic state. Today, the world knows ketamine as a medication that vets use on animals to put them to sleep for surgeries. As you can see the scientist who created ketamine had a completely different use in mind. They were searching for a cure to schizophrenia, they never imagined what it would become today. Medical Uses of Ketamine Ketamine research for various mental disorders has been done extensively. In almost all these cases it has shown that Ketamine has a profound effect on the brain when administered properly. The main mental disorder ketamine has been used to treat is depression. Research has demonstrated â€Å"improvement in 12 of 15 depressed patients (79%), which was maintained for 14 days† (Kraus, 7). Overall when used to treat depression ketamine shown very promising signs, â€Å"clinical trials demonstrate that †¦ ketamine is highly effective and rapid acting† (Kraus, 8). Kraus states that â€Å"in comparison with other treatments †¦ ketamine is less invasive †¦ ketamine does not need supervision by an anesthetist and can be performed in a controlled outpatient setting† (9). Ketamine can also be used to treat severe pain. The following information is based off findings from various hospital emergency departments. These hospitals include Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital and some research done at University of California, San Francisco, California. Terence L Ahern MD states that in his studies of ketamine for pain â€Å"38 patients were included with a median initial numerical rating scale pain score 9 of 10. At 10 minutes, the median reduction in pain score was 4† (1402). (see table 1). Table 1 This table shows pain rating of Emergancy Room patients from initial to 10 minutes to 60 minutes of treatment Source: Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion for Emergency Department Patients with Severe Pain: Pain Medicine, vol. 16, no. 7, July 2015, table 1. The ketamine was administered via IV most of the people who used it as a pain treatment were asked; â€Å"Would you have this medication again for similar pain? †¦ (84%) responded they would have ketamine again† (Ahern 1403-1404). As with all drugs ketamine does have side effects. The more common side effects are dizziness, blurred vision, nausea and poor concentration (see fig. 1). Fig. 1. Side effects of ketamine administration on infusion day and post infusion in percent from Murrough et al.; â€Å"Administration of ketamine for unipolar and bipolar depression†; International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice; pp. 7. As you can see from the chart above, the side effects are mild and uncommon. From my research I have learned that Ketamine can be extremely beneficial if used properly. It has effects on the brain and the body in positive ways, without major and long lasted side effects. Recreational Use and Effects of Ketamine Ketamine has a very large spike in recreational use recently due to the rise of club and rave cultures. Use is ketamine varies widely from person to person. Infrequent users generally use it while going to clubs, raves and other parties. Frequent users say they use it daily in ranges of one half to 3 grams. When someone is on ketamine the user feels disassociated from the world. I’ve have seen people on large dosages of ketamine (1-3grams) from what I can see the person would seem very confused on to what was going on around him. He could not hold a conversation, let alone a thought for more then a few seconds. The user would periodically â€Å"come back to reality† and be fully conscious, but this would last a max of 20 seconds. They would suddenly drift back into their disassociated state. After about 20 minutes they would be fully conscious again and able to hold conversation, but still slightly in their ketamine high. They would talk slow and slur their words. The brain is heavily affected by prolonged ketamine use, in most cases it destroys multiple regions of the brain. According to Chunmei Wang of the Brain Research Center, Institute of Chinese Medicine â€Å"the brain regions affected were prefrontal, parietal, occipital, limbic, brainstem and corpus striatum. The lesions affected both the gray and white matter† (5). (see fig. 2). Fig. 2.   The left shows a normal brain with no drug abuse. The right is an addicts’ brain who has done a half gram of ketamine each day for seven years. You can see that some sections of the brain almost looked smashed or caved in, this is where it has deteriorated from the usage of ketamine from Chunmei Wang et al.; â€Å"Brain damages in ketamine addicts as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging†; Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, vol. 7, no. 23, 2013; pp. 1-6 According to the report In and out of the K-hole: a comparison of the acute and residual effects of ketamine in frequent and infrequent ketamine users ketamine has a major effect on cognitive ability when abused. The research in this article includes different assessments that test areas of cognitive ability, there was a total of 37 participants. 18 of them were frequent users and 19 were infrequent. The assessment was done on the day of the usage and 3 days later. In all cases those who used ketamine frequently (about 20 times a month) scored much lower on the test then those who used it infrequently (once every two months). These assessments tested areas such as memory, speed of comprehension and verbal fluency. The memory assessment showed that â€Å"following an acute dose both groups scored similarly; however, on day 3, frequent users were still highly impaired† (Curran and Monaghan, 754). For the speed of comprehension assessment Curran and Monaghan states â€Å"this ta sk, reflecting poorer performance on both test days by the frequent users† (755). The group of infrequent users performed much better on both days. Verbal Fluency, the last assessment showed similar results to the speed of comprehension test. These tests prove that frequently using ketamine will impact the user on a larger scale for much longer. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ketamine can be used in a variety of ways both medical and recreational. There are great benefits to use ketamine in a medical setting and while having very little side effects. Ketamine can be used to treat mental disorders such as depression and be used to treat pain. However, ketamine can be abused in recreational settings. Therefore, ketamine is a schedule III drug in America, it has potential for abuse but still have medical use potential. Although it has medical uses ketamine is still illegal in the United States. When ketamine is abused, it damages the brain and causes severe cognitive disability. These negative effects are long lasting and in cases of the brain deterioration cannot be reversed. Ahern, Terence L., et al. â€Å"Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion for Emergency Department Patients with Severe Pain.† Pain Medicine, vol. 16, no. 7, July 2015, pp. 1402–1409. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/pme.12705. This article is based on a clinical research study of the use of ketamine for severe pain. In this study a total of 38 people were administered ketamine in small doses for various sources of pain. After 120 minutes the people were asked to rate their pain and if they would take it again. In most cases their pain was significantly lower, and 32 people said they would take it again for similar pain. I will use this in my report to show that ketamine can be used for more treatment of pain as well as depression. This is a very reliable source as the information is derived directly from test that were administered by the doctors who wrote the article. Domino, Edward F. â€Å"Taming the Ketamine Tiger.†Ã‚  Anesthesiology, 2010, pp. 678–680. This article explains how ketamine came to be. It teaches you that ketamine was derived from phencyclidine. Its purpose was to be used on humans for anesthesia, although today it is mostly used in veterinary clinics for that purpose. I am using this is my report to give a background on how ketamine came to be, I feel to understand this drug you need to know why it was created. The source is a first-hand experience from the man who created it, his name is Edward F. Domino M.D. PHD, was a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan for 50 years, in that time he has worked on many research projects with various chemical compounds. Curran, H.Valerie, and Lisa Monaghan. â€Å"In and out of the K-Hole: A Comparison of the Acute and Residual Effects of Ketamine in Frequent and Infrequent Ketamine Users.† Addiction, vol. 96, no. 5, May 2001, pp. 749–760. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/09652140020039116. This article is a study of recreational ketamine users. It studies the user’s ability to perform cognitive task before and after taking ketamine. They use several different tasks which target different areas of the brain. I plan to use this in my research to show the effects ketamine on the brain when doing normal everyday tasks. I find this research to be reliable as it comes from Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Sub-department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK. Kraus, Christoph, et al. â€Å"Administration of Ketamine for Unipolar and Bipolar Depression.† International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, vol. 21, no. 1, Mar. 2017, pp. 2–12. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/13651501.2016.1254802. This article is based on a clinical research study of the uses in ketamine to treat mild to severe depression.   The research in the article contains a total of 19 clinical trials that all had positive results. I will be using this in my report to show the possible use of ketamine for treating depression which is considered a mental health disorder. This research was taken from the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, it was written by the people who conducted the clinical trials and is based directly on their findings. Wang Chunmei, et al. â€Å"Brain damages in ketamine addicts as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging† Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, vol. 7, no. 23, 2013, pp. 1-6, doi:10.3389/fnana.2013.00023. This article is based on a study of ketamine addicts in the range of 0.5 to 12 years of ketamine addiction at various dosage amounts. It focuses on brain imaging to study the users’ brain and how it has been affected by ketamine. I will use this in my research to show the negative effects ketamine has on the human brain. I find this to be a reliable source because it is research produced by the Brain Research Center, Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Definition and Examples of the Bandwagon Fallacy

Definition and Examples of the Bandwagon Fallacy Bandwagon is a  fallacy based on the assumption that the opinion of the majority is always valid: that is, everyone believes it, so you should too. It is also called an appeal to popularity, the authority of the many, and argumentum ad populum  (Latin for appeal to the people).  Argumentum  ad populum proves only that a belief is popular, not that its true. The fallacy occurs, says Alex Michalos in  Principles of Logic, when the appeal is offered in place of a convincing argument for the view in question. Examples Carling Lager, Britains Number One Lager (advertising slogan)The Steak Escape. Americas Favorite Cheesesteak (advertising slogan)[Margaret] Mitchell enhanced the GWTW [Gone With the Wind] mystique by never publishing another novel. But who would be so churlish as to want more? Read it. Ten million (and counting) Americans cant be wrong, can they? (John Sutherland, How to be Well Read. Random House, 2014) Hasty Conclusions Appeals to popularity are basically hasty conclusion fallacies. The data concerning the popularity of the belief are simply not sufficient to warrant accepting the belief. The logical error in an appeal to popularity lies in its inflating the value of popularity as evidence. (James Freeman [1995), quoted by Douglas Walton in  Appeal to Popular Opinion. Penn State Press, 1999) Majority Rules The majority opinion is valid most of the time. Most people believe that tigers do not make good household pets and that toddlers shouldnt drive...Nonetheless, there are times when the majority opinion is not valid, and following the majority will set one off track. There was a time when everyone believed the world was flat and a more recent time when the majority condoned slavery. As we gather new information and our cultural values change, so too does the majority opinion. Therefore, even though the majority is often right, the fluctuation of the majority opinion implies that a logically valid conclusion cannot be based on the majority alone. Thus, even if the majority of the country did support going to war with Iraq, the majority opinion is not sufficient for determining whether the decision was correct. (Robert J. Sternberg, Henry L. Roediger, and Diane F. Halpern, Critical Thinking in Psychology, Cambridge University Press, 2007) "Everyone's Doing It" The fact that Everyones doing it is frequently appealed to as a reason why people feel morally justified in acting in less than ideal ways. This is particularly true in business matters, where competitive pressures often conspire to make perfectly upright conduct seem difficult if not impossible. The Everyones doing it claim usually arises when we encounter a more or less prevalent form of behavior that is morally undesirable because it involves a practice that, on balance, causes harm people would like to avoid. Although it is rare that literally everyone else is engaged in this behavior, the Everyones doing it claim is meaningfully made whenever a practice is widespread enough to make ones own forbearing from this conduct seem pointless or needlessly self-destructive. (Ronald M Green, When Is Everybodys Doing It a Moral Justification? ​Moral Issues in Business, 13th ed., edited by William H Shaw and Vincent Barry, Cengage, 2016)​ Presidents and Polls As George Stephanopoulos wrote in his memoir, Mr. [Dick] Morris lived by a 60 percent rule: If 6 out of 10 Americans were in favor of something, Bill Clinton had to be, too... The nadir of Bill Clintons presidency was when he asked Dick Morris to poll on whether he should tell the truth about Monica Lewinsky. But by that point he had already turned the ideal of the presidency upside down, letting arithmetic trump integrity as he painted his policies, principles and even his family vacations by the numbers. (Maureen Dowd, Addiction to Addition, The New York Times, April 3, 2002)

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Direct and indirect messages Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Direct and indirect messages - Assignment Example We felt fortunate for your company to install an iron gate for one of our business tenants at 921NW 23rd Ave., Portland OR 97210 six months ago; your workers were prompt and fast. Enclosed is a copy of the invoice for the said installation. However, we received a complaint on the said gate from our business tenant who complained of it struggling to open and close. Upon inspection by our management, we found out that the two doors of the gate have settled and do not march in height. The gate gets stuck, and takes too much force to open, close, and lock it.We were glad to transact with your company as it had provided us with a one year warranty for the gate should we encounter a problem with its operation. It is upon this backdrop that we kindly ask you to send your team to inspect the gate and remedy the problem as soon as possible. I would like to inquire for your rates on a retreat package for our staff on either of the following periods; January 12-16. We are a team of 55 marketing and media professionals who are interested in conference/retreat/vacation facilities for four days. They will be accompanied with their partners or significant others and thus he would like to find out if they can provide them with approximately 50 rooms. Kindly provide me with information regarding all the stated requests by September 15th and if you could offer us a discounted group rate since we might be visiting during peak times. Further, could you let me know if your hotel operates a shuttle to and from Jackson Hole airport?  

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Outline Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 13

Outline - Essay Example The advertisements through the media, the scenes in the movies, the access to sexual content on the internet, connectivity, and friendships that are easily faked on the social sites have subscribed to these challenges (Gurian, 4). As a result, there has never been a bad time of raising a daughter than today. Teenage is a most important stage of girls’ lives. When they try to experiment and experience the real world at this stage, their characters will be featured by resentment and aggression. However, telling people to stop raising a daughter is impossible. The greatest challenge is helping their daughters through to process of transition from the puberty to adolescent stage. Thus, telling girls information about the emotional and physical changes taking place in their bodies, creating curiosity, and encouraging adventure is the most important thing that every parents need to do to raise a daughter today. Magical thinking, imagination and fantasizing are the elements that characterize the state of mind of girls when they are teenager (Braun, 8). Therefore, helping them to base their thinking on reality of the world, and doing away with their wishful thinking and handling their highs and lows is an important aspect of raising the daughter (Stern, 24). Since the girls’ bodies and physical looks start becoming an important consideration for girls when they are at this stage. Parents should help them to understand what is happening to their body, their emotions, and hormonal changes. Also, parents should try their best to make the conversation appeared as well as normal. Also, avoiding any chance of them being informed on the same from bad company is crucial (McCarthy, 7). When girls are teenagers, their sexual activities and desires starts accelerating. Thus, protecting the girls from interactions and socializations is the difficult thing

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Inaugural speech Essay Example for Free

Inaugural speech Essay In the history of the United States, it has been a tradition that the President, makes an inaugural speech, when he begins his Presidential term. The first such inaugural speech was made by George Washington, on 30 April 1789. (Halsall Paul ). This essay makes an in-depth rhetorical analysis of one of the historic and important inaugural addresses- he one made by President John F. Kennedy, in 1961. He was he thirty-fifth President of The Unites States, and the youngest President to assume this prestigious office. He was the youngest president to die also. He graduated from Harvard University, and spent many years in the US navy. He was a very good writer also, and before assuming the Presidency, he was awarded the prestigious Pulitzer prize in history. ( John Kennedy) His education gave him the vision of a strong America striving for global peace, his naval background gave him the daunting spirit of challenging the enemy and his literal excellence helped in drafting an memorable inaugural speech in the history of the United States. His background is strongly reflected in his inaugural speech. This inaugural speech was delivered when world was at a very important juncture in its history. The dark clouds of the second world war had already vanished, the equations of power had changed, Germany and Japan were lying low, but USSR had risen to the level of a strong super power, always threatening the super power status of the USA. Great Britain, France, and China were as good as neutral not wanting to confront with either of the super powers. Both USA and USSR equated the power balance in such a way that neither can make an advancement. The rest of the world heavily relied on the aid of these to nations, to survive and sustain themselves. Globalization was an unheard word and each nation had its own independent economy. Markets of each nation were closed to foreigners. The cold war between the USA and the USSR for supremacy had just begun, when President John Kennedy made this address. In a narrow context this speech is intended for the Congress of the USA. However, in the broader context, President Kennedy wishes to address the Population of America, southern America in particular, because he takes the pain to make a special mention of them in his speech, and assures them justice and equality. The canvas of his speech is even larger, and crosses the boundaries of the United States. He seems to be addressing the entire population of this world. He cautions the strong nations to exercise restraint and assures help to he weaker ones to develop themselves. The government of the USSR is a special target of this speech. In a polite yet very stern and firm way, he extends an indirect warning to the USSR, to be cautious in their dealings with international affairs. President Kennedy intends to give three clear messages in his speech. One, he stresses on the freedom of every human being. He speaks of freedom not only at national level within the United States, but to all human beings. He clearly communicates his mind in one sentence, â€Å"And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. † Undoubtedly, Kennedy firmly believes that freedom is a basic right of human being, not given by the state, but by God. In other words, all men are born free and no state has any right to deny this basic right to anyone. He shows his commitment to this freedom to the natives of southern states, which have experienced a past full of cruelty and brutality. The second point he makes is on the subject of peace and aid to the weaker nations. Both at national level and at international level. â€Å" To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run†, (John F. Kennedy ) he remarks on the subject of international peace and says that. â€Å" To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required—not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. † ( John F. Kennedy ). On the subject of helping the weaker countries. His third point is a proposal to the ‘adversaries’ of the USA, namely, USSR, to strive for mutual co- operation which can benefit both he nations and the entire humanity. â€Å"Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. † ( John F. Kennedy ) He remarks. This speech has two important undercurrents. President Kennedy, though very polite, is fully confident. His confidence is evident from one sentence of his speech. â€Å"And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. † (John F. Kennedy). Second, while proposing mutual co-operation to the adversaries, he also indicates at some amount of suspicion towards their intentions. This is evident from the statement, â€Å"remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof â€Å". ( John F.Kennedy ). The structure of this speech is also very strong and has a natural flow. Beginning with the issue of freedom of Liberty and of all human beings, he switches over to the issue of helping the weaker sections of the American society and the poor nations of this world. He then makes a brief mention of the UN, and pledges American support in its endeavors. Quite surprisingly, a major portion of his speech is devoted to the issue of mutual co-operation between the two super powers. It is a clear indication of the importance Kennedy gave to this subject. But, the big question is, did this subject deserve that much of priority in the prevailing international scenario at that time? This should be a topic for historians to research into. He also reminds the citizens, with an authoritative tone, that they also need to fulfill their duties towards the nation. † From the linguistic point of view, this speech is just a master-piece of careful craftsmanship. It is not a very simple and a direct speech. The exterior gloss of politeness is filled with undercurrents of self-confidence and suspicion towards the attitudes and intentions of others. Figures of speech, namely repetition and metaphor are freely used throughout the speech, act as an ornament. One of his statements in this speech has become very famous, and will be remembered by all. This is, â€Å" And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. † ( John F. Kennedy ) President Kennedy fully succeeds in communicating the three main messages which he intends to pass over. He succeeds because of his style. A style which has nothing new to say, yet everything is new. The word ‘peace’ has great force to attract masses of humanity, and Kennedy has used this word very effectively in his speech. His commitment to peace and self pride for his nation, were, perhaps the reasons for his immense popularity, not within America but around the world. So powerful is the impact of his speech, that it can be safely concluded that Kennedy delivered this address not as the President of USA but as an international leader, to an international community. References : 1. Halsall Paul, [July 1998], History of inaugural addresses, Retrieved on 29 Sept 07 from: http://www. fordham. edu/halsall/mod/presidents-inaugurals. html 2. John Kennedy, The White House, Retrieved on 29 Sept 07 from: http://www. whitehouse. gov/history/presidents/jk35. html 3. Burton Grideon O. , Basic questions for rhetorical analysis, Brigham Young University, Retrieved on 29 September 2007 from: http://rhetoric. byu. edu/Pedagogy/Rhetorical%20Analysis%20heuristic. htm 4. John F. Kennedy, [ 20 February 1961] Inaugural address, Retrieved on 29 September 07 from: http://www. bartleby. com/124/pres56. html .

Thursday, November 14, 2019

To Dance with the White Dog :: White Dog Essays

To Dance with the White Dog    One Work Cited  Ã‚  Ã‚   Terry Kay writes a stirring novel called To Dance with the White Dog.   In the beginning of the novel, the main character, Sam Peek, loses his wife, Cora Peek, to a heart attack.   Soon after, Sam begins to see a mysterious white dog that hides from everyone, including his children. Kay never reveals if White Dog is in fact real or simply a figment of Sam Peek's imagination, but several plot elements lead a reader to believe that White Dog is in fact a real animal[b1].      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kay's use of flashback through journal entries, memories, and near climax moments allows the reader to understand Sam Peek's life story, the loneliness Peek experiences after his wife's death and question the reality of white dog. White Dog, who Sam refers to as a girl, seems to fill the void left by Sam's wife.   Sam tries to show White Dog to his children and they are unable to see her. A game ensues between Sam and his daughters concerning White Dog, which further leads to the question of White Dog's existence[b2].        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A key clue, that leads a reader to assume that white dog is real, comes in the form of a journal entry in which Sam remembers, "Cora and I had a dog that looked just like White Dog when we lived in Tampa, right after we were married. She also tired to hide from everybody but us (30[b3])."   In this case, the dog is real and would only hide from other people, just like White Dog tends to do with other people beyond Sam[b4].   Frosty's similarity to White Dog also implies White Dog's infallible realism.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another key instance, that solidifies White Dog's reality, occurs when the story creates a near climax with Sam's fall due to the infection in his hip.   When Sam's children bring him home, they finally see White Dog for the first time. "My God. Look at that. I told you, Kate said softly. I told you." (90)." Because someone other than Sam can see White Dog, therefore White Dog is real[b5].      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore through the use of journal entries, near climactic events, and the post traumatic experiences of Sam's family,

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Book review: Drew Magary’s PostMortal Essay

The Postmortal starts with whispers that an anti-aging cure has been discovered. This is similar to the human capacity enhancement proposal speculated in chapter 3 of Dickenson’s bioethics. Also, we see similar proposal play out in the chapters of More and Vita-More’s Transhumanist Reader, where technology is speculated to be used to stop aging process, enhance human intelligent, capability and agility. More even goes a step further to propose ‘the Posthumanist’ – overcoming the limitations that describe the less desirable aspects of human condition – a life devoid of disease, aging and death. However, the Postmortal cure does not prevent someone from getting sick, diseases or even dying from accident, rather it merely stops the body from ageing. That means a 27 year old that gets the treatment will have the same body and physical appearance and fitness until the day they die. The United States government instantly prohibits it for three decad es, providing them an ample opportunity to research it and comprehend the effects better. At this time, pro-cure and pro-death protesters were fighting more and more aggressively for and against the cure respectively. Just like the religious right fought against the stem cell research in chapter 6 of Dickenson’s bioethics in 2001, the religious devotees’ fight against the anti-aging cure and the Vatican issues a condemnation against it. Underground treatments known as black market cure were being perpetuated. Eventually John Farrell, the narrator got the cure at one of these underground markets. Within two weeks or there about, he convinced his friend to get the treatment and thereafter encountered a couple of tragic events associated with a mysterious woman that influenced his emotions throughout the story. Finally, the cure was legalized. The novel includes how things regarding love, marriage, and the law and government changes overtime. Marriage became endangered because the fundamental premise of marriage â€Å"till death do us part† has been considerably altered. John’s law firm devised a new form of marriage called ‘cyclical marriage,’ – a 40-year term marriage which involves an obligation to live together as husband and wife for 40 years, with an option to  separate (with evenly split assets) or to renew the marriage for another 40 years at the end of the contract. The cure nearly brought marriage to a halt and love undermined as most people believe there is a greater chance of separation for a new lover. Mr. Farrell prefers not getting married to his lover who is pregnant with his baby but only choses to take care of the child. As things change around the world, he continues to document his life experiences. A new form of worship is discovered whereby man is seen as the god of his own and ruler of the earth. A lot of people become outlaws and selfish; others become religious enthusiasts; while some others chose to refrain from getting the cure. Throughout the course of the book, the government gradually loses control over her citizens. Different laws are passed to expand death penalty to include giving â€Å"lee-way† to people who wish to die in a legal way without the need of committing suicide but which is of course morally wrong. The other detailed problems consist of jails, how to provide housing to people and basic necessities, as well as how to deal with countries that have become military powerhouses. Similar moral violation was seen in bioethics where executed Chinese prisoners’ kidneys are harvested for sale to wealthy westerners; the Tuskegee and Guatemala experiments by the US Public Health in chapter 7; and the surrogate motherhood and egg selling in chapter 2. All these practices, in one way or the other violate morality at the very least.  As the story continues to unfold in the book, Mr. Ferrell falls in love again which also results in another tragic incident. Over and over again he tries to find joy but has his hopes dashed, signifying the fact that the ‘cure’ for ageing is not really a great thing in many ways. As the United States becomes unsafe, Russia and third-world nations assume control of surrounding nations and Chinese starts acquiring nuclear weapons to get rid of certain populations. Pregnant woman are punished because people hate the idea of conception and child birth. A war over Antarctica begins and chaos sets in. Meanwhile in totalitarian societies like China and Russia, the government takes undue advantage of the looming prospect of an exploding and forever  young world population in the face of diminishing resources. Russia forms a strong and formidable army with eternally young soldiers; China cuts herself off from the rest of the world, while the United States plummets into widespread class warfare while terrorism is on the high side as people kill at will. It’s baffling how much of these are conceivable. At the end of the story, nuclear weapons are dropped on the coast of California where Mr. Farrell tries to elude the attack with his lover. But unfortunately the man is stabbed as they try to make their way to a safer ground. The injury is so severe that he bleeds so immensely and regrettably the end is here for him. Meanwhile as he gradually makes an inroad to a new world, he releases that there is no such thing as immortality. However, his lover is expected to survive. Nicholas Agar in his book, Humanity’s End, objected similar enhancement proposal. From my understanding of the chapters, many of his objections are based on the premise that, for any action whose outcome is uncertain and perhaps bad, we ought to presume that the worst could happen, and work to address all conceivable exigencies before proceeding further. Thus, going by the fantasy (the story), we have seen how a cure that is rather an everlasting treasure in the hearts of many has turned out to be the greatest nightmare of all time to the society. Perhaps, if the world had applied due diligence (as noted in Agar’s book) before legalizing such cure, these problems could have been avoided. The book is an awesome read because it raises one’s curiosity as you go further. You are eager to know what happens next and how things will unfold. It is a story that could very well happen. Most of the events in the book are also plausible reactions that the world could very well experience. The first two parts of the book are intriguing as the world goes through a dramatic change with the recognition of the cure, and I admired the tension that arose between pro-death and pro-cure groups. Again, similar religious protest was seen in Chapter 3 of Dickenson’s bioethics where religious movements fought against stem cell research and funding to a halt. Although the ban on its funding was later rescinded by President Obama, but the issue  is still contested in courts. However, one minor issue that I hope to point out is: for a story that started out in 2019 and runs through 2079, technology did not advance that much. Apart from a few inventions like plug-in cars mentioned in the book and which even has same level of sophistication as today’s plug-ins (charging duration of 48 hours), technological innovation seems to be frozen for several decades. One would expect that the significant population explosion expressed in the book would be accompanied by a robust ‘capacity building’ and technological development that is aimed at addressing the problems of a few extra billion population of people around the world, rather technology seems stagnant in this book.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Automobile A New Paradigm In Transportation Essay

The automobile represented a new paradigm in transportation. Moving from horses to high-speed gas powered vehicles was a big change for society. There was no precedent and little to limit what could be done with the automobile. Driving regulations for automobiles have altered over time and in the beginning of the 20th century there were few regulations because there was no precedent for motor vehicles. Drivers, excited by their shiny new thousand pound speeding block of metal, would take to the road without any thought for the damage cars could CAUSE. ALTHOUGH AUTOMOBILES WERE A LUXURY â€Å"TOY† IN THE EARLY 1900S, PLAYING AROUND WITHOUT AN understanding of the power behind the wheel was the cause of numerous accidents and fatalities as automobile popularity increased. In the 21st century today we know how dangerous cars can be. However, at the turn of the 20th century the citizens were not aware. According to the accounts of several journalists during this time the number of laws regulating the automobiles was limited, however, as the years progressed beyond 1900, automobiles were given limits and penalties for pushing those limits. Automobile accidents rose in conjunction with the expansion of new automobile recreation activities. Racing became a popular event at the turn of the 20th century however, that period of racing is not like modern times with special tracks and guardrails. 20th century racing was performed in the streets of towns and cities. Racing was unregulated and drew in as many SPECTATORS AS IT DID SPEED DEMONS BEHIND THE WHEEL. THESE RACES WERE KNOWN AS â€Å"AUTOMOBILE Scorching† and were an obvious danger to the public, leading to heavy protesting. 1 In 1900 France, many citizens pushed for regulations when civilians were being injured. In Paris, horrible THINGS LIKE â€Å"AN AUTOMOBILE DASH[ING] AT FULL SPEED INTO A WEDDING PRECESSION† WERE MAJOR. headlines. 1 Drivers were uninhibited to race through the streets, causing havoc wherever they 1 â€Å"Automobile Scorching† New York Times (1857-1922), Apr 22, 1900,http://search. proquest. com/docview/95980973? accountid=12725. †MOTOR. 1 TRAVELED. NO LAWS WERE IN PLACE TO CURB THIS BEHAVIOR. THE WRITER OF â€Å"AUTOMOBILE SCORCHING† wrote from the perspective of someone in the beginning of the automobile age and he claims to have witnessed auto scorching first hand. He mentions that the French government was beginning to regulate the auto racing and speed limits to decrease the number of street races and injuries due to them. He wrote this article to shed light on how dangerous street racing was. USING THE WORD â€Å"SCORCHING† BRINGS A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION. BY GIVING A NEGATIVE VIEW ON automobile racing, he is sending a message that actions need to be taken to limit the drivers of automobiles. Civilians in 1900 had never had access to a high-speed transportation unit that was owned and operated by the everyday person. Richard W. Kinney witnessed firsthand how dangerous the streets became following the widespread introduction of vehicles. Kinney was killed after dodging one careening car only to be hit by another. 2 There was no notion of a speed limit in America and meanwhile, the French government had taken control of the street racing in France with the output of speeding regulations. Road racers were a danger, but even the typical driver could be a hazard to the public. Think of it as learning to ride a bike: the world had just removed the training wheels and drivers were still wobbling on their wheels. Fatalities due to automobiles were climbing and the public pushed the government to respond. Not only were the pedestrians within cities affected, but the farmers in rural areas were as well. The lack of regulation outside the cities allowed motorists to the put the pedal to the metal at will. The sounds and movements of the cars frightened the horses on farms. Automobiles in 1900 GOT EXPONENTIALLY LOUDER AS THEY WENT FASTER. THE FARMERS COMPLAINED, â€Å"THE TROUBLE WAS 2 â€Å"Automobile Kills Man. † New York Times (1857-1922), April 12, 1900, http://search. proquest. com/docview/96041762? accountid=12725. 2 occasioned by men who were on the roads testing machines for speed rather than pleasure. †3 The French were ahead of the United States in regulating automobiles; they began a new paradigm. 4. The Americans however, were stuck in no paradigm of new technology beyond the car and the writers of articles in local papers noticed this all to well. Information spread quickly once people discovered the danger of automobiles. Newspapers regularly posted articles to inform society about not only the dangers of the automobiles on the streets, but also how the government was responding to the accidents. The writers all presented DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEWS, AS IS EVIDENT IN THE TWO ARTICLES â€Å"AUTOMOBILE KILLS A MAN† AND â€Å"TO REGULATE AUTOMOBILE DRIVING† BOTH WRITTEN IN THE NEW YORK TIMES WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. The first article gives an account of a man killed after a car hit him. The writer of this article is writing from the perspective of how the public had to adapt. The days of crossing the street at will were gone. The second article gave an account of the concerns of farmers and their horses. The writer of that article wrote from the perspective of how the noise changed with the introduction of the automobile. The writer was trying to let the public know how the cars were affecting the countryside in hopes of possibly reaching out to change behavior. Both writers were pushing for the automobiles to be given restrictions. The automobile was a new technology, and the public needed help in learning how to safely use it. The car was a vehicle that involved minimal physical effort, unlike the bicycle. The car did not have to be domesticated, nor prepared like a horse with a saddle. The problem with the new technology was what Dr. Forbes Winslow keyed as â€Å"Motor Intoxication,† 5 Dr. Winslow 3 â€Å"To Regulate Automobile Driving. † New York Times (1857-1922), May 11, 1900, http://search. proquest. com/docview/96298677? accountid=12725. 4 â€Å"Automobile Scorching† New York Times (1857-1922), Apr 22, 1900,http://search.proquest. com/docview/95980973? accountid=12725. †MOTOR. 5 â€Å"Motor Intoxication and Speed Madness. † New York Times (1857-1922), Jun 21,1903, http://courses. ncsu. edu/hi341/lec/001/Auto/motorintoxication1903. pdf. 3 STATES, â€Å"THE RACING MOTOR HAS GIVEN US A NEW DISEASE. † THE AUTOMOBILE WAS NEW AND EVERYONE wanted to feel what it was like to have a way to go faster than others do; these early automobilists craved speed. However, this euphoric feeling was also very dangerous for those AROUND THEM. DR. FORBES DID NOT WRITE THE ARTICLE â€Å"MOTOR INTOXICATION AND SPEED MADNESS† IN which the interview and views of the writer are published, however, by choosing to interview Dr. Forbes, the writer is admitting his view on the automobile. In choosing a doctor who is clearly against the effect the automobile has on society the writer must have felt similar feeling. Writing IN JUNE 1903, WHICH IS AFTER THE BILL IN â€Å"REGULATING AUTOMOBILES† IS PROPOSED, PROVES TO THE public that one regulation will not solve all the issues. He wanted the public to take responsibility instead of relying on the government to fix everything. He states that if treated life a disease then there is no cure. However, treating motor intoxication as a wive puts responsibility on the driver and presents a cure and treatment. 6 He was allowing society to look into the mirror and change their ways. As euphoric driving rose, auto accidents climbed as well. This was a short-lived phenomenon and regulation was coming. Automobilists were victims of much hostility from those who were dependent on horses. In 1902, A DRIVER WAS SHOT AT BY A FARMER BECAUSE THE AUTOMOBILIST HAD BEEN DRIVING AT â€Å"A HIGH RATE of speed† and frightened the farmers horses. 7 Such hostility was also expressed in efforts to RESTRICT AUTOMOBILE SPEED. THE INCIDENT WITH THE FARMER LED TO â€Å"MANY EFFORTS TO RESTRICT SPEED OF vehicles along city streets and suburban and country roads. 8 The speed restriction limited motorists to 8 miles per hour. Automobilists were resistant to the new laws and regulations. 6 â€Å"Motor Intoxication and Speed Madness. † New York Times (1857-1922), Jun 21,1903, http://courses. ncsu. edu/hi341/lec/001/Auto/motorintoxication1903. pdf. 7 â€Å"Automobile Topics of Interest. † New York Times (1857-1922), Jul 6, 1902, http://courses. ncsu. edu/hi341/lec/001/Auto/auto%20topics%20of%20interest%201902. pdf 8 â€Å"Automobile Topics of Interest. † New York Times (1857-1922), Jul 6, 1902, http://courses. ncsu. edu/hi341/lec/001/Auto/auto%20topics%20of%20interest%201902. pdf 4 Within the article, the writers mentions an important note. He brings up the notion that restricting cars to 8 miles per hour is restricting them to the walking speed of humans. He goes on to say that cyclists went, on average, 15 miles per hour. He brought up the point that the hostility is not towards drivers who are within 20 miles per hour, but those who exceeded the racing speed of 50 miles per hour. The writer of this article is an advocate for the common automobilist. He wants regulations in place, but he also wants the makers of those laws to be fair, for them to consider the speeds of all vehicles on the road and the speeds of all automobilists. In 1902, there were few laws that limited the speed of automobiles. This was especially true along the country roads. The driving habits of so automobile racers to drive at 50 miles per hour or MORE DREW THE LAWMAKER’S ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR REGULATION AND CONSEQUENCES. In 1903, the legislature of New York passed a bill that finally regulated speed limits and road conditions regarding pedestrians and horse drawn vehicles. One cause of the continuous accidents was the speed and unsafe driving habits with no consequences in the case of accidents OR DAMAGES. IN APRIL OF 1903, LAWS PASSED STATING THAT â€Å"NO MECHANICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE SHALL PASS A PERSON DRIVING A HORSE†¦OR PASSENGERS WALKING IN A ROADWAY AT A GREATER SPEED THAN 8 miles per hour. †9 The bill passed that day by New York and many others alike started a new paradigm of control and punishment. Not only were there laws in places, but also consequences such as fines and imprisonment for breaking the laws. This bill was a direct result of the hostility towards drivers who raced through the countryside. Along with restricting the speed, the bill also stated that an automobilist was required by law to stop if a horse driver made the request. The writer of this article calls automobile drivers a class within themselves. He furthers states that 9 â€Å"Regulating Automobiles. † New York Times (1857-1922), April 25, 1903, http://courses. ncsu. edu/hi341/lec/001/Auto/regulating%201903. pdf 5 â€Å"if users of automobiles had, as a class, been reasonable, the law would be unreasonable. †10 The WRITER OF â€Å"AUTOMOBILE TOPICS OF INTEREST† HAD WANTED THE LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER THE ACTS OF DRIVERS WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE. THE WRITER OF â€Å"REGULATING AUTOMOBILES† RESPONDS TO THAT. HE elaborates on the previous statements on the motorist class by stating that the law is designed based on the class that showed a lack of decency and respect for the lives of others. Law makers made this law in response to racing motorists. Due to much opposition to the eight mile per hour speed law, Senator Hill of Albany, New York, supported auto clubs such as the American Automobile Association in the introduction of his bill THAT REVISED THE PREVIOUS SPEED LAWS. HIS BILL PROMOTES A SPEED THAT HE SAYS â€Å"SHALL BE REASONABLE and proper. †11 This speed is defined as being roughly between eight and twenty miles per hour. The bill not only revised speed laws, but also regulates the speed based on location and proximity to persons or horses. The bill stated that speed must be reduced when approaching the horses, crossings and bridges, curves, and when passing animals or pedestrians. A driver was now also responsible for recognizing the signals when a horse was becoming frightened and in coming to a stop in response. Failure to respond resulted in no clearly defined penalties such as fines and minor imprisonment. 12 Senator Hill’s new bill was in response to the previous bill passed by New York in 1903. That bill received some opposition so the Senator proposed a bill that would not punish the entire class of drivers. New laws were being passed thanks to the efforts of many auto clubs like the AAA. Their support and persistence made a huge difference in the automobile industry. 10 â€Å"Regulating Automobiles. † New York Times (1857-1922), April 25, 1903, http://courses. ncsu. edu/hi341/lec/001/Auto/regulating%201903.pdf 11 â€Å"New Automobile Bill. † New York Times (1857-1922), Jan 19, 1904, http://search. proquest. com. prox. lib. ncsu. edu/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/96419946/35BD2AA8E1C4B5BPQ/3? accountid=12725 12 â€Å"New Automobile Bill. † New York Times (1857-1922), Jan 19, 1904, http://search. proquest. com. prox. lib. ncsu. edu/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/96419946/35BD2AA8E1C4B5BPQ/3? accountid=12725 6 In 1907, the American Automobile Association began meetings on passing a new bill in order to ban street racing. The reason for their consideration had been a recent accident involving a man named L. W. Smelzer. Smelzer died in a racing crash and the AAA decided that racing needed REGULATION AS MUCH AS CIVILIAN DRIVING. THE PRESIDENT OF THE AAA, MR. HOTCHKISS, STATED â€Å"THE fatality of last Saturday simply emphasizes the demand prevalent throughout the country for abolition of races other than on tracks especially built. †13 Automobile scorching, as street racing was called, caused numerous accidents. The accident involving Smelzer and the incidence in which an auto drove through a wedding reception and injured many people are just a few. 14 By 1907, the automobile industry had expanded and the streets were becoming busier. With all the speed regulations in tact, there was no room for racing on the public roads. The AAA, who supported the bill by Senator Hill, recognized the dangers and proposed a way to regulate racing. THE WRITER OF â€Å"MAY PREVENT ACCIDENTS† ACTED AS A SUPPORTING INFORMANT. HE KNEW THAT RACERS would resist the regulations put in place for them, but the writer also shed some light on the situation. He mentions the new speedways to be built in order to keep the public and racing community calm as they look forward to future of racing. The automobile began as a luxurious toy and grew to be a necessary means of transportation and labor. In 1900, the automobile industry had many kinks to work out. The main danger the car presented was not the infrastructure, but the lack of regulation, limits, and consequences. The automobile, like any new object that hit the markets was merely a prototype with unpredictable outcomes. From speeding to public street racing, the pedestrians of society faced numerous perils simply walking around downtown. In 1903, a bill was passed that punished the motorists by 13 â€Å"May Prevent Accidents. † Los Angeles Times (1886-1922), Oct 2, 1907, http://search. proquest. com/docview/159194894/BC8543109BBF4EB1PQ/2?accountid=12725. 14 â€Å"Automobile Scorching† New York Times (1857-1922), Apr 22, 1900,http://search. proquest. com/docview/95980973? accountid=12725. †MOTOR. 7 limiting their speed to the walking speed of a person. 15 The 1904 law, supported by auto clubs, recognized the automobile as a new paradigm and gave drivers more discretion16 The jumpstart to these bills was the continuous new articles of accidents and hostility towards the automobile. The automobile was an asset to the economy so banishing them was out of the question. 17 Instead, laws and consequences for breaking those laws were put in place. Laws for the automobile were constantly changing and improving. Automobile clubs such as the AAA, pushed for regulations to be put in place in order for driving to become safer. 18 Without the support of these auto clubs, many laws would have been undermined and tossed aside. The clubs showed the lawmakers that automobiles can be safe along side horses and pedestrians with limits and consequences for exceeded limits in place. 15 â€Å"Regulating Automobiles. † New York Times (1857-1922), April 25, 1903, http://courses. ncsu. edu/hi341/lec/001/Auto/regulating%201903. pdf. 16 â€Å"New Automobile Bill. † New York Times (1857-1922), Jan 19, 1904, http://search. proquest. com. prox. lib. ncsu. edu/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/96419946/35BD2AA8E1C4B5BPQ/3? accountid=12725 17 â€Å"May Exports and Imports,† Horseless Age, July 4, 1906, 6, http://books. google. com/books? id=0yofAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=horseless+age&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6tBdT4axI47rtgea9pCIDA&ved =0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=imports&f=false 18 â€Å"May Prevent Accidents. † Los Angeles Times (1886-1922), Oct 2, 1907, http://search. proquest. com/docview/159194894/BC8543109BBF4EB1PQ/2? accountid=12725.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

A Brief History of the Clarinet

A Brief History of the Clarinet Most musical instruments evolve into their present form so gradually over many centuries that it is hard to pinpoint a date they were invented. This is not the case with the clarinet, a tube-shaped single-reed instrument with a bell-shaped end.  Although the clarinet has seen a series of improvements over the last few hundred years, its invention in around 1690 by Johann Christoph Denner, of Nuremburg, Germany, produced an instrument very similar to the one we know today. The Invention Although Denner based the clarinet  on an earlier instrument called the chalumeau, his new instrument made such important changes that it really could not be called an evolution. With the help of his son, Jacob, Denner added two finger keys to a chalumeau- which at the time looked much like a modern day recorder, though with a single-reed mouthpiece. The addition of two keys might sound like a small improvement, but it made an enormous difference by increasing the musical range of the instrument more than two octaves. Denner also created a better mouthpiece and improved the bell shape at the end of the instrument.   The name of the new instrument was coined shortly thereafter, and although there are different theories about the name, most likely it was named because its sound from a distance was somewhat similar to an early form of trumpet. (Clarinetto is an Italian word for little trumpet.)   The new clarinet with its improved range and interesting sound quickly replaced the chalumeau in orchestral arrangements. Mozart (d. 1791) wrote several pieces for the clarinet, and by the time of Beethovens prime years (1800 to 1820), the clarinet was a standard instrument in all orchestras.   Further Improvements Over time, the clarinet saw the addition of additional keys that improved the range and airtight pads that improved its playability. In 1812, Iwan Muller created a new type of keypad covered in leather or fish bladder skin. This was a great improvement over felt pads, which leaked air. With this improvement, makers found it possible to increase the number of holes and keys on the instrument.   In 1843, the clarinet was further improved when Klose adapted the Boehm flute key system to the clarinet. The Boehm  system added a series of rings and axles that made fingering easier which greatly helped, given the wide tonal range of the instrument.   The Clarinet Today The soprano clarinet is one of the most versatile instruments in modern musical performance, and parts for it are included in classical orchestra pieces, orchestra band compositions, and jazz pieces. It is made in several different keys, including B-flat, E-flat, and A, and it is not uncommon for large orchestras to have all three. It is even sometimes heard in rock music. Sly and the Family Stone, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Tom Waits, and Radiohead are some of the acts that have included the clarinet in recordings.   The modern clarinet entered its most famous period during the big-band jazz era of the 1940s. Eventually, the mellower sound and easier fingering of the saxophone replaced the clarinet in some compositions, but even today, a great many jazz bands feature at least one clarinet. The clarinet has also helped to inspire the invention of other instruments, such as the flutophone. Famous Clarinet Players Some clarinet players are names many of us know, either as professionals or well-known amateurs. Among the names you might recognize:   Benny GoodmanArty ShawWoody HermanBob WilburWoody Allen

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Word Choice Into vs. In To - Proofread My Paper

Word Choice Into vs. In To - Proofread My Paper Word Choice: Into vs. In To In speech, the distinction between â€Å"into† (one word) and â€Å"in to† (two words) is pretty easy to miss. As a result, â€Å"into† and â€Å"in to† are often (wrongly) used interchangeably in writing. However, there is a difference between these terms. And while this isn’t exactly the worst grammatical error you could make, you’ll want to avoid confusing â€Å"into† and â€Å"in to† in formal or academic writing to ensure clarity. Into (Movement and Change) The preposition â€Å"into† has various uses, but most fall under the following categories: Expressing movement towards or entering something (e.g., â€Å"Bob climbed into the box†); Indicating a change in state (e.g., â€Å"The chemical turns into a gas when heated†); Meaning â€Å"about† or â€Å"relating to† something (e.g., â€Å"An inquiry into spending habits†); Showing interest in something (e.g., â€Å"I’m really into yoga these days†). Getting into yoga may involve twisting your body into some interesting shapes. The first of these covers physical movement, but can also include continued movement towards a specific point in time: She worked deep into the night to solve the problem. Likewise, when used to describe a change, this can be physical, but it can also be something more abstract, like a change in emotional state or translating something â€Å"into† another language. Importantly, all of these relate to movement, action or change. In To (Part of a Verb Phrase) As the variety of definitions above might suggest, using â€Å"into† is correct a lot of the time. The main exception to this is when â€Å"in† appears next to â€Å"to† in a sentence as part of a phrasal verb, which is when â€Å"in† is used with another word to create a verb phrase, such as â€Å"break in† or â€Å"drop in.† This can be confusing when â€Å"in† is followed by â€Å"to,† as the temptation is to combine these as â€Å"into.† But when â€Å"in† is part of a verb phrase, it needs to be kept separate from the preposition â€Å"to†: I stepped in to separate the fighters. – Correct I stepped into separate the fighters. – Incorrect Here, for instance, the verb phrase â€Å"stepped in† (meaning â€Å"intervened†) is treated as a single element in the sentence, with â€Å"to† a preposition indicating the reason for acting. Saying â€Å"I stepped into separate the fighters,† on the other hand, doesn’t make sense. This is because the preposition â€Å"into† implies entering something, but â€Å"separate the fighters† doesn’t follow from this. Nor is shouting Im going to enter you! an acceptable form of trash talk during a fight. Into or Into? As mentioned above, a lot of the time â€Å"into† is the correct term to use when describing a movement, action or change. In these cases, â€Å"into† is a single preposition. This is different when â€Å"in† is used as part of a phrasal verb followed by â€Å"to,† since here â€Å"in† is not used as a preposition in the sentence. Keeping â€Å"in† and â€Å"to† separate in these cases helps to ensure clarity, as it clearly shows the structure of the sentence. Remember: Into = Preposition indicating movement, action or change In to = Part of a verb phrase

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Discrimination in Gtan Torino Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discrimination in Gtan Torino - Essay Example The 2008 film Gtan Torino, which stares Clint Eastwood exhibits a high level of cultural diversity. However, Walt Kowalski, who is the main character and protagonist in the movie, shows high level of resistance to the abundant cultural diversity. He is filled with stereotypes and prejudice on the cultural units he desists. Kowalski lives a rather miserable life, as he is haunted by memories of the people he killed in the war in Korea, when he was in the military. His wife also dies, he is not in good terms with his children and family, and does not get along with the neighbours. Therefore, his is a solitary life, which he lives with his dog.   Kowalski is an angry veteran, who hates and despises Koreans. He also hates and despises his neighbours, who are Hmongs. He treats them in an ill manner, abuses them, and considers them barbaric and uncivilized.   Stereotyping, which is a form of discriminating is wrong, and most of the time, does not depict the true picture of the person o r group being discriminated against. Stereotypes are false perceptions about a group of people, which outsiders hold about them. Nonetheless, unless one interacts with certain people, and learns their way living and doing things, then holding any type of stereotypes about them is wrong. In this film, Kowalski has various stereotypes about most Asian ethnic groups. For instance, he believed that all Chinese people cooked and fed on dogs as a meal. Nonetheless, his neighbours were Hmongs.... In this film, Kowalski has various stereotypes about most Asian ethnic groups. For instance, he believed that all Chinese people cooked and fed on dogs as a meal. Nonetheless, his neighbours were Hmongs, who are an Asian ethnic group from parts of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Kowalski therefore, despises his neighbours, and thinks they too cook and eat dogs. However, when he finally establishes a close relationship with them, he realizes that they prepare and eat good and decent meals, just like him. This therefore, proves his stereotype against them wrong. Discrimination against a certain group of people based on their race might make one to miss special opportunities of exploring and getting in touch with human diversity. One might fail to see the good side of the people whom they discriminate against. This is because; those who discriminate against others are less likely to associate with them, as they regard them to be less important. Therefore, discrimination is wrong, si nce it denies one the opportunity to experience and benefit from a different cultural group. In this film, Kowalski is a lonely old man, who does not have company, as even his own children do not like being around him, and even plan to take him to a retirement village. Nonetheless, when Kowalski gets in close association with his neighbours, through the young Sue and Thao, he begins to learn many positive facts about the Hmong people, which he never imagined, as he had belittled the Hmongs and other Asian ethnic groups. Although one might consider their ethnic group as superior, compared to others, there might be many factors, which the other groups that are perceived less powerful, have, that