Author: rainbow987

Safer Saws – rainbow987

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/a20673/bosch-reaxx-saw/

1A. A representative of Bosch estimated that the process to reassemble the saw blade after it is forced to stop “should take a minute.”

1B. In this claim, the representative is providing an average time on how long it should take a customer to reassemble the saw correctly after it being forced to stop by the finger-saving technology.

1C. This claim is opinion based. It is not a proven fact that it takes one minute to reassemble the saw blade. Rather, it is dependent on the person who is putting it back together.

1D. Although the accuracy of this claim may not be entirely correct on an individual basis, it is fair to believe that the claim is reasonable. The Bosch representative did his best to provide an estimate of how long the process would take for the benefit of the customer. Although it is unlikely that the process would take exactly a minute, it is likely that it would take around a minute for a person.

 

http://www.nclnet.org/10_amputations_a_day_the_need_for_a_safer_table_saw

4A. A representative from NCL stated to USA today the following: “If you have a pattern of injury, a safety technology that can address it, and it’s affordable, you should move toward a mandatory standard so that all parts of the industry comply.

4B. This representative is assuming the position that the SawStop technology should be required on all saws in order to prevent injury. He/she feels this way since the product is effective in preventing injury and it is affordable. Therefore, all manufacturers should be required to use it.

4C. This claim is opinion based. It is the NCL representatives opinion that the SawStop technology be regulated and required on all manufactured saws. Others may have differing opinions based on a variety of factors.

4D. The logic behind this claim is extremely compelling. It makes sense that the SawStop technology should be required on saws, since it prevents injury. Making it required would ensure that all manufacturers comply. This regulation would save many people from serious injury. However, the claim is opinion based. Therefore, other people may have different opinions, such as manufacturers. The manufacturers may not believe that the product should be required due to price concerns.

 

https://www.protoolreviews.com/news/bosch-tools-sawstop-lawsuit/3806/

2A. The author of the article stated “To our knowledge no manufacturer is anxious to pay SawStop an 8% license fee for this product any time soon, especially when the manufacturing for the technology alone will increase the average price of a table saw by anywhere from $150-$200 by the time it hits the shelves.

2B. The author is stating he does not believe that saw manufacturers are willing to pay for the SawStop technology when it will increase the overall price of the sale of the saw, which would potentially lower potential sales.

2C. This claim is entirely opinion based. Although it is likely that manufacturers would not want to pay more money for a product that will raise the cost of their product, it is not a guarantee.

2D. The concept behind this claim makes sense. Most manufacturers do not want to pay more money for a product that will raise the cost of their product, potentially lowering overall sales, Although morally it does not make sense that anyone would not want to take advantage of the injury-preventing product, it does make sense from a business perspective.

 

https://www.schmidtlaw.com/table-saw-injury-lawyer/

5A. The author of the article claimed the following: “In March 2017, about 46,000 Sears Craftsman 10” portable table saws were recalled because the stand can collapse and cause severe injuries.”

5B. “In March 2017, about 46,000 Sears Craftsman 10” portable table saws were recalled because the stand can collapse and cause severe injuries.

5C. This claim is evaluative. The speaker is claiming that the reasoning behind why the saws were recalled was due to a stand that could collapse and cause severe injuries. Therefore, it is evaluative, since it is judging or assessing a matter.

5D. The logic behind this claim is very reasonable. It makes sense that the product would be recalled if it was faulty and led to severe injuries. It would be extremely unsafe to keep the product on the market knowing that it could lead to injuries due to a defect in the product. Therefore, it makes sense that the product was recalled.

 

http://fcir.org/2013/05/16/power-tool-industry-circles-the-wagons-as-disabling-saw-injuries-mount/

7A. The author of the article stated the following: “Table saw accidents are painful, life-changing and expensive.”

7B. “Table saw accidents are painful, life-changing and expensive.”

7C. This claim is an opinion. Although most people would agree that table saw accidents are painful, life-changing and expensive, there is no guarantee that everyone feels this way. For example, some people might believe that table saw accidents are not expensive, or that an accident would not change their life very much.

7D. I find this claim to be reasonable. I think that it is fair to argue that most people would agree that table saw accidents are painful, life-changing and expensive. I do not think that many people would feel the need to counter this argument. Therefore, I believe that it is logical and reasonable, even though there is a possibility that not everyone share the belief.

Proposal +5 – rainbow987

For my research paper, I will be discussing the thought that mental illness, specifically postpartum depression, has cause for blame in a person. Assigning blame to a mental illness such as postpartum depression as a method of reasoning does nothing but worsen possible symptoms and negative feelings that one may be experiencing. It does not make sense that a serious illness that is often caused by traumatic events or biological hormonal changes can be one’s “fault” for having. Postpartum depression is not well understood, which leads to a severe misunderstanding of the disorder. The lack of knowledge that many have of the illness causes a stigma that those with postpartum depression are “crazy” and looking for attention. In addition, many women with the illness are assigned blame for their feelings, which may cause them to assign blame onto themselves as well. However, these thoughts are backwards and entirely counterintuitive. Society does not blame or look down upon anyone for having diabetes, so postpartum depression should be viewed similarly. To be frank, the idea of depression as a whole makes people uncomfortable because it is not well understood. In response to this uneasiness, society attempts to “justify” depressive feelings on the basis of them being insincere. Depression, which includes postpartum depression, is not brought upon willingly or intentionally by any person, so it is counterintuitive that people feel the need to assign blame for the disorder.

Resource 1: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01612840701748698

“Stigma Towards Mental Illness: A Concept Analysis Using Postpartum Depression as an Exemplar”

Essential Content of the Article:
Stigmas are a large issue related to mental illness. The impact that negative stigmas have on a person. People often do not seek treatment for serious health concerns, such as postpartum depression, due to the fear of being judged or accused of having self-inflicted their issues. The author discloses statistics and historical background related to the negative stigmas regarding mental illness and how people are affected by them.

What it Proves:
This article will assist me by providing statistical research that has been conducted regarding the social effects of stigmas against mental illness. I can apply this data to women that suffer from postpartum depression and how negative stigmas affect them and their health.

Resource 2: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033318298713556

“Hormonal Changes in the Postpartum and Implications for Postpartum Depression”

Essential Content of the Article:
Biological factors could lead to the possible development of postpartum depression in a woman. Preexisting factors such as genetic history or a predisposition to depression could lead to postpartum upon delivery of a child. However, in addition to this, there are dramatic hormonal fluctuations when a woman gives birth that could have a significant effect on mood, which could also cause postpartum depression.

What it Proves:
This article will provide concrete evidence that postpartum depression is not entirely “in a person’s head,” as many believe. Therefore, if there is biological evidence supporting the cause of postpartum depression, a person cannot be blamed for inducing it. This argument supports my thesis well.

Resource 3: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09540269609037816

“Rates and risk of postpartum depression—a meta-analysis”

Essential Content of the Article:
This article provides evidence of psychological factors that could lead to postpartum depression. It explains that traumatic and/or stressful life events can often be a cause for postpartum depression in women. Other causal factors could include socioeconomic status, marital life, and disturbance during pregnancy, all of which are related to high levels of stress.

What it Proves:
This article supports the claim that postpartum depression can develop due to traumatic events that occur in one’s life. This information supports the idea that women are not looking for attention by displaying feelings of sadness and emptiness. Moreover, the stress and psychological trauma on the body proved too powerful, leading to these justified feelings.

Resource 4: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453098000225

“HORMONAL ASPECTS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION”

Essential Content of the Article:
This article goes into specific detail about the hormonal changes that a woman goes through during pregnancy and delivery. The large fluctuation in hormonal levels during this time period have been known to cause postpartum depression in some women. The article chronicles this idea in a variety of ways through the use of detailed statistics and clinical experiments on test subjects over a vast time span.

What it Proves:
This articles gives my argument further support regarding biological factors that could lead to postpartum depression. The research gathered in this document will help to provide detailed information about hormonal fluctuations that are known to be a possible cause for postpartum depression. This idea proves that it is invalid to believe that women with postpartum depression are “faking” or looking for attention.

Resource 5: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9ooMp53Sh5kC&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=postpartum+depression+biological+causes&ots=cn7r5n-dEW&sig=6WR-n2Q9srWgzFQ_4fXjzhZtOtI#v=onepage&q=postpartum%20depression%20biological%20causes&f=false

“The Nature of Postpartum Depressive Disorders”

Essential Content of the Article:
This article provides a general information about postpartum depression, including what the disorder is and symptoms that come with the illness. It provides the reader with information about a variety of different aspects of the disorder and how it can affect women initially and over time.

What it Proves: I think that it is important to provide my reader with a general understanding of what postpartum depression is. It is not smart to assume that the reader has a background on the topic. Therefore, this article will help me to further my knowledge about the disorder and everything that it entails.

Visual Rhetoric Rewrite–rainbow987

0:02 – In the first image, a group of young people comprised of both males,females, and multiple races are sitting in a room. There is a tan couch and green striped curtains, which could suggest that they are in a living room. The curtains are closed. Therefore, I can infer that it may be nighttime, since the curtains could be preventing people from seeing into the house with the lights on. One of the boys is sitting on a bright pink, large bouncy ball on top of the couch. It is interesting that he is doing this. He looks unsteady, like he could fall very easily. Red solo cups are scattered around the room and in people’s hands, indicating that they are most likely drinking alcohol. I can assume from the balancing act on the couch that the kids are being slightly reckless due to the alcohol in their system. I can also assume that due to the reckless behavior and young age of the people, that the video is suggesting that they are underage. It is most likely illegal for them to be consuming alcohol. There is a guitar in the corner of the room, so one or more of the people in the scene are probably able to play the instrument. There is also a painting on the wall of a person on a skateboard. The painting further suggests that the house is inhabited by young people, since the artwork is rather juvenile.

0:03 – In this image, the boy on the bouncy ball is seen falling off and tumbling towards the ground. It can be assumed that a stuntman was hired to perform this action, since it is highly dangerous. The camera pans out to show more of the room. There is a big mess of red solo cups and food scattered around the room. There is a lamp turned on, which could possibly confirm the theory that it is night time. However, the curtains do not cover a window as previously thought. They cover a door leading to the outside. There are weights on the floor, which suggests that one or more of the people work out. All of the furniture is colorful and vibrant, as well as rather cheesy. The decor indicates that young people live in the residence. The house is either rented or owned by young people, or they are in a “kid’s room” of a house owned by older people. It is also obvious that the get together was planned ahead of time, since there are snacks scattered in bowls around the room.

0:04 – The boy on the bouncy ball completely crashes onto the ground, causing a table filled with food to break. He falls and is seen lying on the ground. White text appears on the screen over top of the scene. It says “PARTY FOUL.” This text is most likely referring to the boy falling on the ground. It was a poor choice to joke around on the bouncy ball, causing the boy to fall. Therefore, it could be considered a party foul. The camera pans out further and you can see another young girl holding a red solo cup, who is most likely underage. She has her hand raised to her face, indicating that she is shocked/surprised. This expression is probably a reaction to the boy falling and breaking the table, which is very unusual typically, but is common for a situation involving drunk teenagers.

0:05 – A new scene appears. A group of young people are sitting around a table, which appears to be in a kitchen or dining room. On the table, there is beer, red solo cups, hot sauce, and a plate that looks like it is filled with spicy peppers. A man in a red checkered shirt and backwards hat is eating the peppers by shoving a lot of them in his mouth at once. A woman is standing near him, dumping hot sauce onto the peppers as he eats them. There is a group of people gathered around the table cheering on the man as he shoves the food into his mouth. It looks like it is night time due to the lighting in the room. Also, you can see the darkness through the transparent brown curtains that are hung up on top of the windows. The lights are clearly on in the room due to the yellow hue. It is most likely summer, since the woman is wearing shorts and a tank top.

0:06 – The man is trying to swallow the peppers while laughing along with everyone. He appears to be struggling. He is sitting on a cushioned bench around a table. He is surrounded by a number of people who are watching him.

0:07 – The man stands up and spits out his food onto the table, creating a mess. The woman next to him opens her mouth wide, showing that she is shocked. You can see a reflection of overhead hanging lights in the windows.

0:08 – The scene is still the same, except more white text appears on the screen that says “PARTY FOUL.” It is obvious the text is in response to the man spitting out his food. It is implied that shoving too much spicy food into his mouth at once was a poor decision. The woman’s facial expression changes from one of surprise to one of concern.

0:09 – A new scene appears. There is a fireplace in the background with alcohol sitting on the ledge. There are people talking around the room. The lighting is dimmed significantly. There is a young man and a young woman in the room. The girl appears to be swinging a golf club. The boy appears to be assisting her. There are also blue solo cups scattered throughout the room, which suggests that they are drinking alcohol. Their actions appear to be very inappropriate for indoors and highly dangerous. Their actions are symbolic of the effects of irresponsible consumption of alcohol.

0:11 – The girl swings the golf club, and it flies out of her hand and lands on the ground. The couple looks surprised and shocked as to what just occurred. In addition, they also look worried that they might have broken a piece of furniture.

0:13 – The camera pans to the wall, showing that the golf club knocked a mirror off the wall. There is a table with two lamps on it. There are also a number of decor items on the table. The room indicates that the people who live there are well off financially. The people around look shocked and worried by their wide eyed expressions. The same white text appears on the screen once again, saying “PARTY FOUL.” Swinging a golf club indoors could be considered a poor decision, prompting the words.

0:14 – The scene changed once again. The camera is above a group of people crowding around a table. There are blue solo cups arranged on the table, suggesting that the group is partaking in a drinking game. There is food on the floor. There is a fireplace and a television, so it is probably a living or family room. There is a juvenile piece of art in the corner of the room, which reads “LOL.” This artwork further suggests that young people reside in the house.

0:15 – The young man that was standing near the table filled with the blue solo cups jumps onto the table, landing on his stomach. He jumped very high in the air, which is shown by the swaying of the overhead lamp after he hit it with his hand. There are people standing and sitting around the room with blue solo cups in hand.

0:16 – The table breaks as the man’s weight lands upon it. The blue solo cups fall onto the floor. The same white text appears on the screen reading “PARTY FOUL.” Once again, this text is referring to the poor decision of the man crashing onto the table.

0:18 – There is a group of young adults outside. It is night time. Everyone is dressed in short sleeves, suggesting that it is summer. There is a man smiling and holding his hand up. It looks like he might be about to give a handshake to the man standing next to him as an introduction. The group of people are standing along a wooden fence. There are two young men and a young woman of a variety of ethnicities.

0:20 – The people start walking in one direction. They are laughing, and it looks like they might be being loud. It is warm outside since the people are dressed in shorts and t-shirts/tank tops.

0:22 – One of the young men takes keys out of his pocket and unlocks a gray car. He and others and walking in the direction of the vehicle. The car lights are on, shining onto a driveway. It is nighttime.

0:24 – The young man walks to the car and pulls open the driver’s door. People are walking around him.

0:25 – The young man is laughing and appears carefree as he gets into the car. There is a young woman getting into the passenger seat. You can see a reflection of a house outdoor light in the car window.

0:27 – The scene is of the young man and woman sitting in the car. They appear to be facing one another while talking. White text appears on the screen that says “underage drinking and driving.”

0:28 – The same scene is in the background. However, new white text appears that says “the ultimate PARTY FOUL.” This message is in reference to the young man. He had obviously been drinking and therefore should not be driving. Therefore, it is an extremely dangerous party foul.

0:31 – The scene fades out and becomes completely black. White text is all that is left on the screen, which reads “ultimatepartyfoul.org.” The words provide a link for a viewer to go to in order to find out more information about underage drinking and driving.

This PSA, entitled “Party Foul,” is about underage drinking and driving. It shows multiple scenarios in which young adults make poor decisions due to the effects of alcohol. These actions are often dangerous. Then, it shows a young man who had been drinking getting into a car to drive, along with a passenger. Words appear on the screen explaining how this is a bad idea while also implying the danger of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1-ZJYEVhYA

Stone Money Rewrite–rainbow987

                                                      “Money is Worthless”

As defined by the widely used and accepted dictionary Merriam-Webster, money is “something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment.” However, this textbook interpretation does not explain the abstract question as to why society accepts a flimsy piece of paper or a transfer of virtual numbers on a computer screen as a sign of growth. As a small child I can recall asking my father a very similar question. I frequently asked “Why is money worth anything? It is only paper. Why do people care how much paper they own?” My father struggled to provide an explanation that I found sufficient. I decided, with my decision being recently confirmed in a podcast entitled “The Invention of Money,” that the only thing that you need for money to work is for people to believe in it. If people believe that it is valuable, then it is valuable. As soon as trust is lost, the value is also lost. It is similar to a car. When a new model is released, everyone wants to get their hands on it. However, one year later, people no longer want the old car. Therefore, its value is reduced significantly. This analogy shows that the value of money can fluctuate, just as the value of commodities can fluctuate. This simple yet complex theory has been proven true in a variety of ways among many different societies.

It is difficult to comprehend the simplicity of a currency system. The island of Yap, a small island located in the Pacific Ocean, has a monetary system comprised of large stones called fei. In the United States, small paper bills called dollars are exchanged regularly. Although being physically extremely different, the fei and the dollar are one in the same. The only source of security that either provide is their respective society’s trust in the object’s worth. The trust that a society has in its currency can fluctuate over time, which would change the overall value of said currency as well. In Yap, if ownership of a fei is transferred from one person to another, the fei is not physically transported to the new owner. Everyone in the community simply accepts that ownership has changed from one person to another. Milton Friedman’s essay entitled “The Island of Stone Money” chronicles this concept even further. In the 1800’s, Yap was a German colony. Upon inspection of the island, the German government insisted that the citizens of Yap work to fix the roads. The people refused, so the Germans used black paint to draw crosses on many of the fei. The black cross represented German ownership. In a different society, in which possession of a commodity is required to represent ownership, the Germans would have seized the stones. However, the Yap society does not require one to physically possess an object to own it and share in its wealth. Therefore, the black crosses proved as a sufficient form of symbolic “seizing.” It was done to motivate the people of Yap to abide by the German’s wishes. This small action caused the citizens of Yap to quickly agree to fix the roads, since the German interference created doubt in the value of the stones. Once the task was completed, the paint was washed away and the fei once again belonged to the original owner. It is strange to think that a small action such as painting an object can cause an entire group to believe that they are losing wealth. The fei was never moved from its location, yet to the people of Yap, the fei was no longer theirs to own.

This idea has been displayed throughout history many times. An example of this occurred during the span of time when the United States backed their money by gold. France did not want to depend on the pieces of paper that represented the gold, in fear that the American dollars would be worthless. In other words, the French were worried that the latest car model would be released, causing the older models to lose their worth. Instead, the country asked the US Federal Reserve Bank for their supply of gold upfront. They requested a commodity that everyone would value equally, which is gold, rather than the dollar bills. Instead of physically sending France their gold, the Bank chose to move the gold to a separate part of their office and essentially, label it as “France’s Gold.” No objects were physically traded. Although the gold was still in the United States, it was considered to belong to France because people believed that it belonged to France. In comparison, an article written by Anne Renaut for Yahoo! News discusses a virtual currency system called Bitcoin. The entirety of exchanges conducted through this resource are done on the internet. Physical objects are never traded. The only representation that ownership of funds changes is a number change on a computer screen. Although seeming trivial, the significance of this change is confirmed by the trust that people put into it. It is as significant as the label being changed in the Federal Reserve Bank, which redirected ownership from the United States to France. In every case discussed, the exchange of money is considered important and valuable because people believe that it is so. Without this faith, money would not succeed as a system of exchange.

In the late 1900s, Brazil struggled with extremely high rates of inflation. At its highest, the inflation rate was eighty percent per month. It was the norm for people to spend their paycheck as soon as it was received because the money was losing its value. In comparison, it was as though someone was handed the equivalent of a US one hundred dollar bill on Friday night, and it would be worth significantly less on Saturday morning. Brazil’s problem with inflation originated in the 1950s when money was created to fund the building of a new capital to be called Brasilia. Due to the mass production of cruzeiros, Brazil’s former currency, in a short time period, all money lost significant value. This issue worsened for the remainder of the century until several economists implanted an entirely new form of currency, the real. People had lost faith in the old system. Therefore, it was no longer functioning properly. By creating an entirely new currency that was not already considered valuable, people gradually began to depend and rely on it as its value remained constant while the cruzeiro’s declined. As the citizens of Brazil adapted to the new currency, inflation rates quickly returned to a reasonable level. This event further emphasizes on the point that trust and belief are the primary reasons that money is considered valuable.

It has been proven in a multitude of settings and cultures that a successful economy is formed and maintained by trust. In order for money to be valuable, people have to believe in its value. Without trust, a dollar bill would be nothing more than a piece of paper, and a fei would be nothing more than a large stone. It is important to realize how powerful the idea of trust truly is. Without it, a functioning currency system would not exist, along with many other concepts. Belief in an idea is what gives it its power and influence over a group. In its truest form, money is completely worthless. Nobody wants money, as in, nobody wants flimsy paper bills. However, almost everybody desires power, and power is garnered through the paper bills that we call money. Because we as a society believe that money represents wealth and influence, we consider it valuable. Therefore, it is valuable. The newer car model will always be more valuable than the older model because the majority of people value the newer model more. In this way, money itself is only valuable because the majority of people believe it to be valuable. My perspective on this topic has not changed drastically since reading more about it, though I do appreciate the acquired knowledge. As a child, I often thought about topics of the like, and I still believe that if were people not to believe in the value of the dollar, the fei, the real, or any other form of currency, that it would not exist as it does today.

                                                                Works Cited
Friedman, Milton. “The Island of Stone Money.” n.d. Diss. Hoover Institution, Stanford    University, 1991.
“The Invention of Money.” This American Life. N.p., n.d. Web.
“Money.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web.
Renaut, Anne. “The Bubble Bursts on E-currency Bitcoin.” Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, 13 Apr. 2013. Web.

Critical Reading – rainbow987

Section 14

1.) James was so anxious and so suicidal that he couldn’t even muster the self-preservation to get into inpatient treatment.

  • So anxious and so suicidal – It is expressed that James suffered severe symptoms due to his debilitating PTSD.
  • Couldn’t even – This statement implies that the following action is insignificant and trivial, which the author did not have the right to assume.
  • The author implies that it is a simple task to gather the courage to enter inpatient treatment through the phrase “couldn’t even muster the self-preservation to get into inpatient treatment.” Therefore, this statement expresses the author’s opinion on the topic.

2.) With three kids, eight, five, and two, and Kateri’s full-time job—as a VA nurse, actually—she could no longer manage his emotional plus physical problems: rheumatism consults, neuro consults for TBI, plus a burning rash on both feet he got in Fallujah in 2004.

  • This statement implies that Kateri has a busy schedule.
  • Could no longer – Kateri must have attempted to handle her husband’s disability on her own for a period of time.
  • Rheumatism consults, neuro consults for TBI, plus a burning rash on both feet he got in Fallujah in 2004 – This categorical claim lists the emotional and physical complications that Kateri’s husband dealt with.

3.) Finally they enrolled him in a private clinical trial to get a needleful of anesthetic injected into a bundle of nerves at the top of his collarbone.

  • Finally – It took Kateri and her husband a while to begin this process.
  • Enrolled – Kateri’s husband most likely had to fill out some sort of application to get involved in the trial.
  • Private – The trial was probably not well known.
  • Clinical trial – The trial was experimental. Therefore, there was a chance it could not work.

4.) That’s when her symptoms got worse, precipitating another meltdown, this time at a steak house where she took him to celebrate his newfound calm.

  • Kateri’s secondary PTSD symptoms intensified after her husband’s procedure, which helped him.
  • Precipitating another meltdown – Kateri felt on edge while waiting to see if her husband would begin showing PTSD symptoms once again.
  • Kateri experienced these symptoms in an environment that is not typically considered stressful. Therefore, this could be sign that her secondary PTSD symptoms are quite severe.

5.) They’d “assumed the normal positions,” she with her back to the restaurant, he facing it so he could monitor everyone, and suddenly, a server dropped a tray out of her periphery, setting her circulatory system off at a million miles a minute.

  • Assumed the normal positions – The way in which Kateri and her husband sat in restaurants was a usual event for them.
  • The action of Kateri’s husband facing the restaurant so he could monitor everyone was so that he could be aware if something dangerous occurred.
  • Suddenly – The dropping of the tray was not expected and was potentially shocking.
  • Periphery – The server was not in Kateri’s direct line of view.
    The server dropping the tray made Kateri so nervous because she was anticipating her husband having a “meltdown,” as she called them.

6.) “He just ate his steak like nothing,” she says.

  • This statement implies that Kateri’s husband would have reacted differently while eating at a restaurant if a tray was dropped before his procedure.
  • Kateri expresses surprise.
  • The statement shows that the procedure worked, at least initially, by helping Kateri’s husband to stay come when the tray dropped instead of having a flashback.

7.) “When you’ve become hypervigilant, the place you are most functional is on the battlefield,” McGill’s Brunet explains.

  • Brunet states that when you are extremely aware of sensory details, which can bring on anxiety, that you are able to function in high stress situations, which is the battlefield.
  • This statement expresses the idea that Brannan’s husband, Caleb’s, mind is still prepared for war through hypervigilance.

8.) Caleb, despite his injuries and his admission that war was pretty excruciatingly awful, told me he wishes he could go back.

  • Caleb’s injuries are so severe that he can no longer serve in the military.
  • Caleb wishes that he could return to the military, which is surprising considering the daily struggles that he endures now due to the war.

9.) Kateri, despite wishing her system hadn’t learned to run at a heightened state, at this point is like a drug addict, needing stimulation to maintain it.

  • Learned – Kateri’s body has adjusted to her hypervigilance.
  • At this point – Kateri’s symptoms have progressively worsened and proved problematic.
  • Like a drug addict – By comparing Kateri to a drug addict, the author is implying that Kateri cannot function without constantly being at a heightened state of mind.

Summaries–rainbow987

1: Give Heroin Addicts Heroin
https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-02-04/vancouver-combats-heroin-giving-its-addicts-best-smack-world

It seems counterintuitive that the prescribed treatment method for heroin addicts is to give them heroin. However, this act is being done for the severest of drug addicts in the Vancouver area. Since Vancouver is a port city, there are high numbers of drugs, including heroin, arriving by ship on a regular basis. To combat crime and other related acts committed in desperation as addicts attempt to find their next fix, the city has established a program that gives addicts free heroin. The program allows addicts to use heroin without the risk of getting into trouble. They are monitored by healthcare professionals and always given sterile materials. The program is only available to 26 people in Vancouver. These addicts have unsuccessfully attempted to get off of the drug many times in a variety of ways, including the use of methadone. This program is intended to be a last resort option.

This newly established program is an attempt to lower crime rates related to drug abuse. However, many argue that it is extremely inhumane. By giving drug addicts heroin, they are slowly dying. As soon as they are not able to have the drug, he or she will be in a detrimental situation and crime will most likely resume. Many argue against the program by saying that it does not provide any sort of rehabilitation. Either way, by giving an addict heroin, he or she is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

2: Is Walmart going “organic and local?”
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2012/03/walmart-groceries-organic-local-food-deserts/

It seems counterintuitive to say that Walmart is going “organic and local” when approximately only two percent of their produce is organic and nine percent is local. Walmart’s intentions are not to provide healthier options for the benefit of society. It’s intentions are to make sales. Therefore, it makes sense that the company tries to purchase produce “locally” to save money on transportation and lessen the rotting of products. However, the term locally is used loosely. Walmart considers local to be within the state. In addition, Walmart’s expansion of organic products is not focused on produce. It is primarily aimed at other products such as milk and baby food. Advertising for having produce that is organic and grown locally is rather deceptive and not an accurate representation of the majority of Walmart’s products.

It does seem counterintuitive to advertise produce in such a way at Walmart stores. However, it is an effective advertising technique to draw in customers. With many other health food stores opening, it is not likely that the average Walmart shopper will be extremely concerned about his or her food being grown organically and/or locally. Therefore, the words “organic and local” serve as a way to get someone to enter the building and spend money, even if they are not an accurate portrayal of the produce.

3: Figure Skating Bias
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/figure-skating-judges-get-10-duplicity

It seems counterintuitive that the instatement of a rule to prevent bias in judging would cause favoring and bias to increase. However, the judging for the Olympic figure skating competition did just that after a rule was established in 2002 to keep judges scores anonymous. The rule was created in result of a scandal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, in which judges traded votes to ensure that competitors from each of their countries placed highest. Keeping the judge’s scores anonymous, although meant to prevent vote trading, caused potential bias to increase by twenty percent. It was estimated that if a judge serving on a panel was from the same country as a competitor, that competitor would score two places higher than if the two did not share a country origin. The anonymity of the vote allowed the judge to vote as they please, with no one being able to accuse of bias since their vote was not revealed to the public.

Although counterintuitive that after a rule put in place to prevent bias was instated, bias rose, the rule itself does not seem effective. The rule to keep the judges votes anonymous to prevent bias through vote trading does not seem like it would work because there is no accountability involved. Therefore, it makes sense that bias would increase.

Visual Rhetoric – rainbow987

0:02 – In the first image, a group of young people comprised of both males and females are sitting in a room. There is a tan couch and curtains, which could suggest that they are in a living room. The curtains are closed, so it is probably night time. One of the boys is sitting on a pink bouncy ball on top of the couch. He looks unsteady, like he could fall very easily. Red solo cups are scattered around the room and in people’s hands, indicating that they are most likely drinking alcohol. There is a guitar in the corner of the room, so one or more of the people in the scene are probably able to play the instrument. There is also an abstract looking painting on the wall.

0:03 – In this image, the boy on the bouncy ball is seen falling off and tumbling towards the ground. The camera pans out to show more of the room. There is a big mess of red solo cups and food scattered around the room. There is a lamp turned on, which most likely confirms the theory that it is night time. There are weights on the floor, which suggests that one or more of the people work out.

0:04 – The boy on the bouncy ball completely crashes onto the ground, causing a table filled with food to break. He falls and is seen lying on the ground. White text appears on the screen over top of the scene. It says “PARTY FOUL.” This text is most likely referring to the boy falling on the ground. It was a poor choice to joke around on the bouncy ball, causing the boy to fall. Therefore, it could be considered a party foul. The camera pans out further and you can see another young girl holding a red solo cup. She has her hand raised to her face, indicating that she is shocked/surprised. This expression is probably a reaction to the boy falling and breaking the table.

0:05 – A new scene appears. A group of young people are sitting around a table, which appears to be in a kitchen or dining room. On the table, there is beer, red solo cups, hot sauce, and a plate that looks like it is filled with spicy peppers. A man in a red checkered shirt and backwards hat is eating the peppers by shoving a lot of them in his mouth at once. A woman is standing near him, dumping hot sauce onto the peppers as he eats them. There is a group of people gathered around the table cheering on the man as he shoves the food into his mouth. It looks like it is night time due to the lighting in the room. The lights are clearly on in the room due to the yellow hue. It is most likely summer, since the woman is wearing shorts and a tank top.

0:06 – The man is trying to swallow the peppers while laughing along with everyone. He appears to be struggling. He is sitting on a cushioned bench around a table.

0:07 – The man stands up and spits out his food onto the table. The woman next to him opens her mouth wide, showing that she is shocked.

0:08 – The scene is still the same, except more white text appears on the screen that says “PARTY FOUL.” It is obvious the text is in response to the man spitting out his food. It is implied that shoving too much spicy food into his mouth at once was a poor decision.
0:09 – A new scene appears. There is a fireplace in the background with alcohol sitting on the ledge. There are people talking around the room. The lighting is dimmed. There is a young man and a young woman in the room. The girl appears to be swinging a golf club. The boy appears to be assisting her. There are also blue solo cups scattered throughout the room, which suggests that they are drinking alcohol.

0:11 – The girl swings the golf club, and it flies out of her hand and lands on the ground. The couple looks surprised and shocked as to what just occurred.

0:13 – The camera pans to the wall, showing that the golf club knocked a mirror off the wall. The people around look shocked and worried by their wide eyed expressions. The same white text appears on the screen once again, saying “PARTY FOUL.” Swinging a golf club indoors could be considered a poor decision, prompting the words.

0:14 – The scene changed once again. The camera is above a group of people crowding around a table. There are blue solo cups arranged on the table, suggesting that the group is partaking in a drinking game. There is food on the floor. There is a fireplace and a television, so it is probably a living or family room.

0:15 – The young man that was standing near the table filled with the blue solo cups jumps onto the table, landing on his stomach. There are people standing and sitting around the room with blue solo cups in hand.

0:16 – The table breaks as the man’s weight lands upon it. The blue solo cups fall onto the floor. The same white text appears on the screen reading “PARTY FOUL.” Once again, this text is referring to the poor decision of the man crashing onto the table.

0:18 – There is a group of young adults outside. It is night time. Everyone is dressed in short sleeves, suggesting that it is summer. There is a man smiling and holding his hand up. It looks like he might be about to give a handshake to the man standing next to him. The group of people are standing along a wooden fence.

0:20 – The people start walking in one direction. They are laughing, and it looks like they might be being loud.

0:22 – One of the young men takes keys out of his pocket and unlocks a car. He and others and walking in the direction of the vehicle.

0:24 – The young man walks to the car and pulls open the driver’s door. People are walking around him.

0:25 – The young man is laughing and appears carefree as he gets into the car. There is a young woman getting into the passenger seat.
0:27 – The scene is of the young man and woman sitting in the car. They appear to be talking to one another. White text appears on the screen that says “underage drinking and driving.”

0:28 – The same scene is in the background. However, new white text appears that says “the ultimate PARTY FOUL.” This message is in reference to the young man. He had obviously been drinking and therefore should not be driving. Therefore, it is an extremely dangerous party foul.

0:31 – The scene fades out and becomes completely black. White text is all that is left on the screen, which reads “ultimatepartyfoul.org.” The words provide a link for a viewer to go to in order to find out more information about underage drinking and driving.

This PSA, entitled “Party Foul,” is about underage drinking and driving. It shows multiple scenarios in which young adults make poor decisions due to the effects of alcohol. These actions are often dangerous. Then, it shows a young man who had been drinking getting into a car to drive, along with a passenger. Words appear on the screen explaining how this is a bad idea while also implying the danger of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1-ZJYEVhYA

Stone Money—rainbow

P1. As defined by the widely used and accepted dictionary Merriam-Webster, money is “something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment.” However, this textbook interpretation does not explain the abstract question as to why society accepts a flimsy piece of paper or a transfer of virtual numbers on a computer screen as a sign of growth. As a small child I can recall asking my father a very similar question. I frequently asked “Why is money worth anything? It is only paper. Why do people care how much paper they own?” My father struggled to provide an explanation that I found sufficient. I decided, with my decision being recently confirmed in a podcast entitled “The Invention of Money,” that the only thing that you need for money to work is for people to believe in it. If people believe that it is valuable, then it is valuable. As soon as trust is lost, the value is also lost. It is similar to a car. When a new model is released, everyone wants to get their hands on it. However, one year later, people no longer want the old car. Therefore, it loses value. This simple yet complex theory has been proven true in a variety of ways among many different societies.

P2. It is difficult to comprehend the simplicity of a currency system. The island of Yap, a small island located in the Pacific Ocean, has a monetary system comprised of large stones called Fei. In the United States, small paper bills called dollars are exchanged regularly. Although being physically extremely different, the Fei and the dollar are one in the same. The only source of security that either provide is their respective society’s trust in the object’s worth. In Yap, if ownership of a Fei is transferred from one person to another, the Fei is not physically transported to the new owner. Everyone in the community simply accepts that ownership has changed from one person to another. Milton Friedman’s essay entitled “The Island of Stone Money” chronicles this concept even further. In the 1800’s, Yap was a German colony. Upon inspection of the island, the German government insisted that the citizens of Yap work to fix the roads. The people refused, so the Germans used black paint to draw crosses on many of the Fei. The black cross represented German ownership. It was done to motivate the people of Yap to abide by the German’s wishes. This small action caused the citizens of Yap to quickly agree to fix the roads. Once the task was completed, the paint was washed away and the Fei once again belonged to the original owner. It is strange to think that a small action such as painting an object can cause an entire group to believe that they are losing wealth. The Fei was never moved from its location, yet to the people of Yap, the Fei was no longer theirs to own.

P3. This idea has been displayed throughout history many times. An example of this occurred during the span of time when the United States backed their money by gold. France did not want to depend on the pieces of paper that represented the gold, so the country asked the US Federal Reserve Bank for their supply of gold upfront. Instead of physically sending France their gold, the Bank chose to move the gold to a separate part of their office and essentially, label it as “France’s Gold.” No objects were physically traded. Although the gold was still in the United States, it was considered to belong to France because people believed that it belonged to France. In comparison, an article written by Anne Renaut for Yahoo! News discusses a virtual currency system called Bitcoin. The entirety of exchanges conducted through this resource are done on the internet. Physical objects are never traded. The only representation that ownership of funds changes is a number change on a computer screen. Although seeming trivial, the significance of this change is confirmed by the trust that people put into it. In every case discussed, the exchange of money is considered important and valuable because people believe that it is so. Without this faith, money would not succeed as a system of exchange.

P4. In the late 1900s, Brazil struggled with extremely high rates of inflation. At its highest, the inflation rate was eighty percent per month. It was the norm for people to spend their paycheck as soon as it was received because the money was losing its value. In comparison, it was as though someone was handed the equivalent of a US one hundred dollar bill on Friday night, and it would be worth significantly less 0n Saturday morning. Brazil’s problem with inflation originated in the 1950s when money was created to fund the building of a new capital to be called Brasilia. Due to the mass production of money in a short time period, all money lost value. This issue worsened for the remainder of the century until several economists implanted an entirely new form of currency. People had lost faith in the old system of currency. Therefore, it was no longer functioning properly. By creating a new system using the real, people once again trusted that their money was valuable. As the citizens of Brazil adapted to the new currency, inflation rates quickly returned to a reasonable level. This event further emphasizes on the point that trust and belief are the primary reasons that money is considered valuable.

P5. It has been proven in a multitude of settings and cultures that a successful economy is formed and maintained by trust. In order for money to be valuable, people have to believe in its value. Without trust, a dollar bill would be nothing more than a piece of paper, and a Fei would be nothing more than a large stone. It is important to realize how powerful the idea of trust truly is. Without it, a functioning currency system would not exist, along with many other concepts. Belief in an idea is what gives it its power and influence over a group. Because we as a society believe that money represents wealth and influence, we consider it valuable. Therefore, it is valuable. My perspective on this topic has not changed drastically since reading more about it, though I do appreciate the acquired knowledge. As a child, I often thought about topics of the like, and I still believe that if were people not to believe in the value of the dollar, the Fei, the real, or any other form of currency, that it would not exist as it does today.

Works Cited

Friedman, Milton. “The Island of Stone Money.” n.d. Diss. Hoover Institution, Stanford     University, 1991.

“The Invention of Money.” This American Life. N.p., n.d. Web.

“Money.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web.

Renaut, Anne. “The Bubble Bursts on E-currency Bitcoin.” Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, 13 Apr. 2013. Web.