Reflection: ENGL101S

When I first signed up for this class, I thought it'd be a typical English class -- read book, write paper on book, read another book, compare two books, etc, but it proved to be much more challenging.  I enjoyed choosing my own paper topic for once (even though by the third essay I got tired of it) because it gave me the power to do whatever I wanted with it.  This is how I usually feel about English:

Carolyn's teaching style is very unique and I feel like my writing and editing skills improved throughout the semester.  Rather than acting as a teacher, she acted more as a mentor and individually guiding us through our own problems with writing.  I'm glad that this English class was actually engaging and thought-provoking.  I will definitely miss everyone!

xkcd: Advanced Technology

Reflection: The Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a story about a woman's confinement and her journey to get better from her temporary nervous depression.  In the beginning it was rather confusing to understand because the story was written in a journal entry format.  The narrator mentions names and events that I don't exactly recall, so I usually assume that this or that happened.  But later on the story was easier to understand as the woman became more psychotic. Throughout the story I became angry at the doctor husband.  He treated the narrator more like a patient than a wife, and he seemed to convince her that he knew what was best for her simply because he was the doctor.  It was frustrating to see how her train of thought changed because of John.  She would write about what she thought about herself, then what John told her about her condition, then she would change her mind about herself, making it seem like John is always right about his diagnoses.  I think that Gilman's writing style helps her message (that resting will not cure her condition) get across to the audience.  The story is written in first person, so the audience reads the story as if he/she is the one going mad in the room and imagining the woman behind the wallpaper.  The journal entry style shows us step by step how the woman's mental condition progressively changed over time since it is told in her perspective.

Reflection: Waltz with Bashir (2008)

The scene from 28:00 to 29:00 starts with a line of tanks peacefully driving and the narrator saying, "When you are inside the tank you always feel completely safe. The tank is a gigantic enclosed vehicle, inside the tank it will protect it."  It follows with one tank crushing a bunch of parked cars and ends with the camera angle following the bullet that kills the commander.

This particular scene stood out to me because of how little narration was involved and how much detail there was with the art.  When the tank starts running over the cars and the narrator says his one line, the scene is in the perspective from inside the large tank.  The audience expects the tank to be indestructible and the people inside of it to be immortal.  The cheerful music makes the scene almost happy and somewhat humorous, so nobody expects anything to go wrong.  Then all of a sudden, you (the audience) are the bullet accelerating towards the tank.  This is where I think animation helps the film get its point across - that anything can happen in a war.  You know you're the bullet, you know someone's about to die, yet when it actually happens, you're surprised.

xkcd: War

Reddit

My daily dose of laughter :)

Newspaper Humor

Measles, Vaccines, and Japan

The article I mentioned in class: Measles Scare Hits 3 U.S. Airports

While I was reading the article, the Measles scare video was playing, and when it was done it automatically jumped to the next video: Fraudulent Vaccine Research Exposed, the topic from Willrich's article.  It shows interviews with Dr. Wakefield, other doctors/researchers, and families impacted by the fake research, including one mother who is convinced vaccines gave her child autism.

On another note, I really admire Japan's engineers and their advanced technology.  But even though Japan’s Strict Building Codes Saved Lives, there was still a vast amount of damage done: Satellite Photos of Japan, Before and After the Quake and Tsunami and Hundreds flee in Japan after Shinmoedake volcano begins spewing ash, boulders

I know very few people actually read this blog, but donate!
Google Crisis Response: Japanese Red Cross Society

Don't be like this guy:

xkcd: Charity

Reflection: John Q (2002)

The scene in which John and Denise Archibald are hearing the news about Michael from the hospital employees stood out for me.  The setting of the scene is a conference room with a rather large table for five people.  When they first sit down, we can see the tension that is about to arise because of where they sit: the Archibald's on one side and supervisor Rebecca Payne, Dr. Raymond Turner, and Dr. Ellen Klein on the other.

Dr. Turner straightforwardly tells the Archibald's what is wrong with his heart, "There are septal defects here, here, and here, which have induced a myopathy resulting pulmonary edema, and malignant ventricular ectopy."  Clearly, the Archibald's are not going to understand those medical terms, and John even asks him to rephrase in layman's terms.  The ethos in this scene is overwhelming.  Two doctors are telling John and Denise that Mike is dying. John and Denise are going to believe the doctors that have professional background knowledge about health.  The pathos hits the audience when we see Denise break down into tears and John's eyes start to water.  The audience can relate to this scene because everyone either knows the pain of losing a loved one or they can imagine how painful it must be to lose someone they love.  When Payne tries to convince the Archibalds that they should accept Mike's short future and say goodbye, the tension builds between the Archibalds and the hospital.  The audience also feels some frustration with Payne because of her lack of sympathy and consideration towards the Archibalds and their nine year old son.  But even though she is trying to make them let him go, John asks Dr. Turner what he would do if it was his son instead, which brings back the ethos of the scene.  Given the two options, both with very high risks of death, John turns towards the doctor for advice because of his status and education.

xkcd: Surgery

Research Log: Sources

1. Booth et al. "A case-control study of benign ovarian tumors." Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 46 (1992): 528-531. Print.

This case study in London investiages "the association between reproductive, contraceptive, and menstrual factors and the risk of benign ovarian tumours."  The results show age trends and the affect of oral contraceptives on ovarian tumours.

2. Parazzini et al. "Risk Factors for Functional Ovartian Cysts." Epidemiology 7.5 (1996): 547-549. Print.

This article is another case study that took place in Southern Europe that evaluates risk factors of ovarian cysts and compares women with functional ovarian cysts.

xkcd: Researcher Translation

Borders

I just came back from Borders, the last remaining Borders in my area.  Last year they already closed one nearby, but now the two-story Borders in White Flint Mall is closing! Of the 200 stores to be closed because of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy file, they had to close the ones near me! :( It was a little upsetting to see "STORE CLOSING" signs plastered everywhere, yet it was so exciting to see books on sale.  When are books ever on sale?

When White Flint Mall replaces Borders, I hope they turn it into another bookstore. There's something about bookstores that beats the library and the nook. Sitting in the comfortable couches with the soothingly quiet atmosphere, the low background music, the light coffee smell, and the untouched pages of a book just feels so peaceful and relaxing. I'm definitely going to miss it.

xkcd: Bookstore

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Reflection: Philadelphia (1993)

One particular scene that stood out to me was when Miguel gets frustrated with Beckett when they are alone.  He throws the notebook Beckett was writing in and says, "The least you can do is look at me, and give me a little bit of your time."  It's a rather short scene, but after watching it for the second time I noticed that during the dialogue, the camera is looking directly at the speaker as if the audience were in the recipient's shoes.  The whole movie focuses so much on what AIDS is, how AIDS is transmitted, and AIDS discrimination that I was genuinely surprised to see this snippet of Miguel and Beckett interaction.  It's a very subtle dose of pathos, but the scene does have an emotional appeal to it.  You realize that the victim of AIDS is not just Beckett; it also impacts those close to him as well -- his lover and his family.  When Miguel is speaking directly to the camera, you notice how scared he is of losing Beckett.  Even though Miguel understands what Beckett is going through and is trying to support him, he is frustrated with Beckett because of his lack of attention to their relationship.  Beckett replies to Miguel/the audience, "You are worried...we don't have very much time left, now aren't you?"  These are precisely the thoughts that Miguel has in mind, or anyone who knows someone with AIDS.  It plays on the emotional appeal because of how the audience can easily relate to the two characters in the scene.

xkcd: Positive Attitude

Blogging Prompt #4: Experience and Other Evidence Final Topic Choices

For my paper, I have decided to research about ovarian cysts.  Three and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with an abnormally large ovarian cyst within my left ovary, although it was almost misdiagnosed as cancer.  Normally, the size of ovarian cysts ranges from a pea to an orange, but the one within my body grew to the size of a pineapple.  Usually, women experience abdominal pain when a cyst forms, but throughout the many years that it could have existed for, I never felt such pain.  During surgery, the gynecologist surgeon removed my no longer functioning ovary with the cyst inside, donating it to NIH.

My final paper will cover the different types of ovarian cysts and the range of symptoms that ovarian cyst carriers may experience.  It will also include doctors' various reactions on how to deal with their patients' cysts and the impact ovarian cysts may have on women, especially those planning on having children.  What exactly is an ovarian cyst?  What makes it grow to various sizes?  What are the different kinds of ovarian cysts?  What effects would a cyst have if a women is pregnant? What other effects are there with an ovarian cyst?

xkcd: Lego

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Blogging Prompt #3: The Experience and Other Evidence Memo

1.  In high school everyone noticed something was wrong with me.  I was in denial, thinking nothing was wrong because I felt completely healthy.  When I went to the doctor's though and my mom asked about the matter, he transferred me to several other clinics to get scans taken, and then I learned the truth.  I had an ovarian cyst, with a height of 7 inches, a width of 3 inches, and a depth of 2 inches, to be exact.  What had baffled the doctor was how I didn't feel pain.  With a tumor that large, surely I'd feel something.  What had baffled me was how the doctor couldn't detect anything the moment he realized my stomach was disproportionate to the rest of my body.  If he had noticed, why hadn't he referred me to get scans earlier?  If he had assumed I was pregnant at the age of 15 (with said non-existing baby incubating for a couple years then), why didn't he at least confront me with his concerns?  What was he so afraid of?  What are the causes of ovarian cyst, or rather, what allowed the cyst grow to such lengths?  If a cyst that great of a size had burst, would it be fatal?  An academic audience for this topic would be gynecologists, family doctors, other women with ovarian cysts, or researchers studying tumors.  My ovary and cyst were eventually sent to NIH, and I often wonder what happened after that.

2.  On the rare occasion that I become sleep deprived, I experience an event (sensation? disease? condition?) called sleep paralysis, in which the body "paralyzes" for REM sleep, but the mind is fully aware of one's surroundings and then hallucinations occur.  These hallucinations are usually terrifying, and I find myself unable to move the body, but I can "see" the room clearly and "hear" what goes on in the room.  I always feel like I'm in danger, sometimes lying on a surgical table or just seeing silhouettes of random figures hovering above me as if they were studying me.  Sometimes I see faint ghosts darting around the room, or I hear mythical creatures cackling as they speedily tap around my bed.  I've learned when these hallucinations are about to occur, which is when I'm lying on my back right before I fall asleep, so I can forcefully wake myself up and reposition my body so the hallucinations don't occur.  What I'd like to know is exactly what causes it, or if there are multiple factors that influence sleep paralysis.  I know that there are people that strongly believe alien abductions or ghost encounters occur during sleep paralysis, so what other beliefs are there among different cultures?  Is sleep paralysis simply just a nightmare?  This topic would be directed towards psychologists studying sleep or those interested in cultural studies.

3.  Last year my dad experienced a brain aneurysm, which is when an artery in the brain bursts.  It led to multiple brain strokes, which increased his blood pressure, intracranial pressure, brain damage, as well as his risk of dying.  Currently he's in a coma.  I'd like to say that I know for sure he's in a coma, but it's completely uncertain since the brain damage is so large.  But the only symptom we knew of before the artery burst was his prolonged headache.  He said that it felt like there was a hammer banging inside his head.  Are there any other symptoms that could possibly predict a brain aneurysm will occur?  Can it be prevented if an individual goes in for screening every now and then?  What created this balloon in his artery in the first place -- stress?  As a coma patient, are there any "techniques" that can stimulate a response from a brain that has been damaged to such an extent?  Other than regular physical therapy, are there any other ways to maintain the flexibility within the joints of a coma patient?  I've noticed my dad losing white hairs over time, but lately his white hairs' existence seem to have an odd cycle, what do coma patients experience?  Is it possible to feel stressed in a coma?  An academic audience would be neurologists, those involved with long term care patients, physical therapists, doctors, or those that have woken up from a coma.

xkcd: Candy Button Paper

Reflection: Illness as Metaphor/AIDS and its Metaphors

In Illness as Metaphor, Susan Sontag compares how similarly people treated those diagnosed with cancer in the 1970's to those diagnosed with tuberculosis decades before.  In AIDS and its Metaphors, Sontag again makes a comparison between society's response to AIDS and cancer.  What stood out to me wasn't the metaphor or her point to "de-mythicize" the conception of disease, it was realizing how unified humans are and how we can't help but cycle our response to such events (7).  Sontag includes other authors' novels in her book, a character "refuses to say 'tuberculosis'" because it will quicken the effects of the disease or how just saying "'cancer' is said to kill some patients" faster (6).  In both examples, the diseases of two different times have become "taboo" in conversation.  The way people treated cancer patients is so similar to the way people treated tuberculosis patients were treated, even if the diseases are so different.  It shows how human, how flawed, people are.  What happens when we can't heal people of their sickness?  Fear them.  Confine them.  Alienate them.  As ridiculous as that sounds, humans can't help but reverting to the same answer every time.  Every time, we go through a cycle of judgments, stereotypes, superstitions, realizations, and understandings, as if we never learn.

xkcd: Seismic Waves

Blogging Prompt #2: On Confessions

A confession stems from guilt.  It begins like a tumor, small, benign, seemingly harmless, but as you feed it with feelings of guilt and shame, it will grow to the point when you just want to let it out.  I believe a confession is when one knows and understands what he/she did wrong -- either from his/her own perspective or from society's perspective of what is right and what is wrong.  But a confession does not necessarily mean people feel sorry for their actions, and that is where the difference lies between a confession and an apology.

An apology stems from regret.  It is when people seek forgiveness, from G/god(s), family, friends, people of authority, or anyone for that matter.  People confess their "acts of sin" to another, hoping the other will no longer resent them for their actions.  Or people apologize when they understand someone else's feelings.  They say, "I'm sorry for your loss," because they understand the difficulty of losing a loved one.

When people confess, without looking for forgiveness, they may simply want to relieve themselves of their guilt.  The examples of confessions in Wear and Jones's "Bless Me Reader for I have Sinned" seem to be one-sided confessions; they aren't looking for a response.  When people confess to another, then they want to be forgiven.

Based on a writing assignment from the past, drawing from personal experiences in writing can be helpful.  We remember little details more vividly and can easily incorporate them into our writing, making it more personal and enticing.  But at the same time it can hinder writing because it becomes simple to lose the focus of the paper and dwell in an entirely different event from the past.

xkcd: Control

Blogging Prompt #1: The Writing Autobiography

Hi! Welcome to my blog!

My name is Tiffany, and I'm from Maryland, where I was born and raised.  I graduated from Thomas Wootton High School and now attend the University of Maryland as a General Biology major pursuing pre-optometry.  I've always found the study of life fascinating, but I find the study of eyes, ophthalmology, ten times more fascinating.

In high school all of the writing I did was assigned to me.  Most of the essays focused on argument, rhetoric, research, and literary analysis.  Then there were the occasional different pieces of writing, which included a short play, a short story, and writing and recording a personal podcast.  I see myself as a creative writer, but sometimes I get too excited over writing from my own inspirations that I get writer's block right from the start.  Aside from school assigned papers, I've done my fair share in blogging, including Xanga, Tumblr (although it personally didn't last long), and a couple of group blogs on blogger.  I never thought blogging would be incorporated into an English class, so I'm rather excited!

xkcd: Blagofaire