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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Is Marijuana A Solution For The Opioid Epidemic Example For Students
Is Marijuana A Solution For The Opioid Epidemic? An Opioid Epidemic in the United States The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of late distributed an investigation that indicated tranquilize overdoses are the main source of unplanned passings in the United States â⬠outperforming even that of car crashes (ââ¬Å"Opioid Addictionâ⬠). A greater part of these passings are identified with remedy sedatives and heroin use. Sedatives are medicates normally endorsed as torment relievers, including oxycodone, codeine, morphine, and fentanyl. The class of medications additionally incorporates the illegal medication, heroin (ââ¬Å"Opioid Addictionâ⬠). Remedy narcotics are as of now associated with ââ¬Å"more overdose passings than some other drugâ⬠with 20,101 related passings in 2015 â⬠multiple times the number in 1999 (ââ¬Å"Overdose Death Ratesâ⬠). Heroin overdoses have additionally risen fourfold in the previous 16 years, with 12,990 passings in 2015 (ââ¬Å"Opioid Addictionâ⬠). Many are calling this sensational increment in narcot ic related overdose passings in the United States a ââ¬Å"Opioid Epidemic.â⬠This pestilence has three principle markers: increments in deals and solutions of sedatives, high paces of narcotic related mortality, and a flood in admissions to treatment habitats for sedative addictions. Driving this pestilence is the flood in the remedy of sedatives, which almost significantly increased from 76 million solutions filled 1991 to 259 million solutions filled in 2011 â⬠comparing to the emotional increment in narcotic related overdose passings (Nolan). A considerable lot of these painkillers are in any event, being endorsed for conditions they have been demonstrated ineffectual for, including constant agony. This expansion in deals and use for solution sedatives is risky on the grounds that narcotics are related with a high danger of overdose passing and compulsion. Numerous investigations additionally point to a solid causal connection between remedy narcotics and heroin use. As per the American Society of Addiction Medicine, a study of new heroin clients found that four out of five began mishandling solution narcotics (ââ¬Å"Opioid Addictionâ⬠). Heroin is an a lot deadlier and addictive medication, with 23% of clients building up a sedative fixation (ââ¬Å"Opioid Addictionâ⬠). The overdose potential for the two medications is high on the grounds that patientsââ¬â¢ resilience to the poisonous impact of narcotics assembles more slow than resistance to its euphoric impacts (ââ¬Å"Opiates (Narcotics)â⬠). Many recommend that cannabis could be a remedy for this ascent in risky sedative use since examines show that maryjane is less addictive than narcotics and have a close to zero potential for overdosing (Hall and Pacula). This paper will break down whether maryjane could go about as an elective treatment for conditions generally rewarded by narcotics and how clinical weed sanctioning effects tricky use, impact the flexibly of sedatives driving the issue, and impacts heroin and sedative use rates that describe the narcotic pandemic. Cannabis as Treatment Substitute In ââ¬Å"Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,â⬠the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) assessed 79 applicable preliminaries that inspected the effect of pot on an expansive scope of conditions that pot is ordinarily recommended for, for example, interminable torment, sickness and retching because of chemotherapy, spasticity from different sclerosis, and dozing issue (Whiting et al.). Despite the fact that they additionally found that cannabinoids were related with moderate upgrades for the greater part of the conditions broke down, a larger part of the investigations had high dangers of predisposition or the enhancements were not measurably noteworthy (Whiting et al.). The JAMA examination found ââ¬Å"moderate-quality evidenceâ⬠that bolsters a ââ¬Å"30% or more prominent improvement in torment with a cannabinoid contrasted and a placeboâ⬠(Whiting et al.). In any case, this useful impact was joined by the expanded dan ger of transient unfriendly impacts, including unsteadiness, queasiness, and weariness from the cannabinoids themselves. Notwithstanding the unfavorable impacts, this capability of cannabinoids to mitigate constant agony is promising. There is a lot of discussion over opiatesââ¬â¢ adequacy in rewarding non-disease constant torment (ââ¬Å"Opioids for Chronic Painâ⬠). In certain patients, because of a blend of resilience â⬠the change of the body to measurement after some time â⬠and narcotic incited hyperalgesia â⬠an expanding affectability to torment, narcotics assumed control over an all-inclusive timeframe may really build the measure of torment experienced (ââ¬Å"Opiates for Chronic Painâ⬠). In the event that weed can treat constant agony better than sedatives can over an all-encompassing timeframe, at that point pot can fill in for sedatives. Not exclusively could lessen sedative related symptoms, however it could likewise decrease the remedy measurements required. Therefore, less narcotics would should be recommended, lessening the gracefully accessible for use and abuse. Cannabis as a treatment substitute could bring down hazard for sedative related habit and possibly overdoses. .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 , .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 .postImageUrl , .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 .focused content territory { min-stature: 80px; position: relative; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 , .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5:hover , .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5:visited , .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5:active { border:0!important; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 { show: square; progress: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-change: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; mistiness: 1; progress: murkiness 250ms; webkit-progress: haziness 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5:active , .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5:hover { darkness: 1; progress: obscurity 250ms; webkit-progress: haziness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 .focused content region { width: 100%; position: r elative; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 .ctaText { outskirt base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: intense; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; text-embellishment: underline; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; text style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5 .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; fringe: none; outskirt span: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; textual style weight: striking; line-tallness: 26px; moz-fringe sweep: 3px; text-adjust: focus; text-improvement: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-stature: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/straightforward arrow.png)no-rehash; position: total; right: 0; top: 0; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .u717aa2dd7 795128099e55c794fb9fac5 .focused content { show: table; tallness: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .u717aa2dd7795128099e55c794fb9fac5:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: Prevention For Opioid Drug AbuseAbrams and his partners examined the impact of weed sedative association in patients with ceaseless agony. They directed disintegrated cannabis to 21 patients with different conditions who were accepting either oxycodone or morphine in stable portions (Abrams et al.). Following five days of regulating the fume, the specialists assessed the patientsââ¬â¢ torment level and found a normal torment decrease of 27.2% when cannabis was added to the sedative. This noteworthy decrease in torment proposes maryjane upgrades the agony mitigating impact of narcotics. Since less sedatives are expected to accomplish a similar impact, blending narcotics with maryjane might take into consideration lower narcotic dosages and a going with decline in narcotic related symptoms, for example, sickness and sedation (Abrams et al.). This proposes another treatment for incessant agony â⬠a blend of both cannabis and narcotics to limit the measure of introduction to each medication. In addition to the fact that this would bring down the danger of sedative reliance, yet in addition limit the danger of long haul hurts related with cannabis utilize that may in any case be obscure.
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Analyzing TM Berhad using Bolman and Dealââ¬â¢s Four Frames :: essays research papers
Bolman and Dealââ¬â¢s Four Frames: Case Report 1.0à à à à à Introduction The motivation behind this paper is to break down TM Berhad utilizing Bolman and Dealââ¬â¢s four casings, according to figure 1 underneath. Bolman and Deal recommends that ââ¬ËLeaders like every other person, see their encounters through a lot of preconditioned focal points and filtersââ¬â¢ (Bolman and Deal, 1991, p 510) (Adjusted from Bolman and Deal, 1997) In this paper, we have inspected our organization of decision, TM Berhad, using every one of these four casings as a ââ¬Å"spectacleâ⬠to decide the authority approach of its administration, and afterward specifying the more unmistakable of the edges utilized. TM Berhad was picked for our case investigation, because of accessibility of information from huge inclusion on the organization granted by the media. 2.0à à à à à Telekom Berhad (ââ¬Å"TMâ⬠)- Profile TM is a legislature connected company, through its significant investor Khazanah Malaysia (Khazanah), the Malaysian Governmentââ¬â¢s principle venture vehicle. It is a significant part of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Berhad Composite Index. In 2004, another Group Chief Executive Officer, Dato Abdul Wahid canister Omar was named by Khazanah under a general patch up exercise of the GLCs. TM is the primary across the nation supplier of media transmission administrations. It has x no of auxiliaries and works in three center working regions of: â⬠¢ Telco-Its center media transmission business â⬠¢ Telekom Multimedia-Develops new media organizations â⬠¢ ServiceCo-Oversees operational exercises, for example, armada and property the board. The fixed line business and private telephone utilities remain the center business of TM. TMââ¬â¢s association graph is delineated in figure 2 beneath: Figure 2 3.0â â â â â Four ââ¬Frame Analysis Our four-outline investigation (Figure 3 above) uncovers that TM, similar to some other present day huge organization, puts overwhelming accentuation on the auxiliary casing. Other casing components are additionally present, for instance, profession improvement and preparing programs are proof of HR outline use, just as sending of a re-marking exercise and other emblematic customs to give representative casing components. We may likewise make surmisings that the political casing is additionally in play from motivation setting, equivocalness and vulnerability brought about by the legitimization and rearrangement prompting shortage of assets and interior clash, and consenting to of an aggregate arrangement to indicate haggling and exchange. We have decided to concentrate our point by point investigation on the more conspicuous auxiliary casing. 4.0à à à à à Structural Frame Analysis Bolman and Deal list six suspicions behind the Structural Frame. 1) Organizations exist to accomplish set up objectives and goals. 2) Organizations work best when sanity beats individual inclinations and outside weights. 3) Structures must be intended to fit hierarchical conditions.
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Michael Xiang Double UROP Extraordinaire!
Michael Xiang Double UROP Extraordinaire! Speaking from experience, having a UROP is a big time and emotional investment. On average, UROPers spend eight hours in the lab per week and a lot of free time thinking about possible experiments and troubleshooting. You can imagine how awesome Michael Xiang, a junior in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, must be for having not one, but two UROPs! Since February 2005, he has been simultaneously working on biology-related projects at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and a lab in the Health Sciences Technology (HST) program. Xiang has an incredible amount of passion for research and loves that at MIT theres so much going on that youre bound to find something that will get your blood flowing, your mind thinking, or your heart racing. At the Whitehead Institute, Mike works under the auspices of Prof. Harvey Lodish and senior investigator Christopher Hug on a project studying the expression cloning of the adiponectin receptor. Identified in the Lodish lab a few years ago, adiponectin (see the ribbon representation on the right) is a hormone excreted by fat cells, also known as adipocytes. It acts on muscle and the liver to promote the metabolism of fatty acids and glucose, as well as aids in the synthesis of glycogen (a large branched molecule that stores glucose in cells). Since adiponectin is used to metabolize, or break down, fats and sugar, you would expect it to be in high levels in obese or diabetic people. However, the opposite has been found its actually found at decreased levels! The signaling receptor of adiponectin is still unknown, but could be crucial for further understanding the hormone and possibly applying the knowledge gained to preventing diabetes and obesity. To find the receptor, Mike and his colleagues are using a technique called expression cloning. Mike explains, Basically, we take the mRNA from mouse tissue, make DNA from it (called cDNA), and then deliver the DNA to cells that cannot bind adiponectin. Some cells will get DNA enabling them to bind adiponectin. By identifying and isolating those special cells, you can figure out the DNA coding for the receptor. Voila! His UROP in HST is in the field of bioinformatics. He uses MATLAB to analyze data, form and test hypotheses, and write code to the previous things. Thus, he has a lot of flexibility in his hours since all he needs is his laptop, instead of a giant bench top with lots of fancy, expensive equipment. Mike helped to build a database called the massome where you can search for protein interactions based on the mass of the interactors. This database will help study how mass relates to protein interactions and protein functionality. He also worked on software to identify the most significant biological functions that are represented in a sample of proteins. Mike found out about these UROP opportunities in two very different ways. He got the Whitehead UROP by emailing professors, but warns that this method does not always yield the best results. If you really want to work in a specific lab, its in your best interest to speak to the professor directly. For example, he got his HST UROP by taking a class in IAP 2005 called Bioinformatics proteomics: an engineering-based problem-solving approach. After the conclusion of the class, he talked to one of the lectures and nailed a job. He says, at MIT, its good to always be on the lookout for opportunities, because they could present themselves at any time and there are so many. As a self-professed workaholic, Mike loves learning about new areas of knowledge and new lab techniques, while finding the potential of making a new discovery to be very adrenaline-inducing. Though the day-to-day pace can be pretty slow, he says that he really cherishes the moments when dramatic results come in or are on their way. The anticipation can be addictive! He also really enjoys the atmosphere and camaraderie of the Lodish lab, they even went together on a day trip to climb Mt. Moosilauke of the White Mountains in NH (picture below, Mikes wearing the ZBT sweatshirt). One of my best friends from high school spent the summer maintaining the trails there, so I can imagine that a trip there would be quite the treat! In his free time (yes he has free time, who would have thought,) he keeps sane by participating in the Concert Choir, serving as Philantropy Chair and Treasurer in his fraternity Zeta Beta Tau, tutoring, and participating in the Biology Undergraduate Student Association (BUSA) and the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES.) Take Mikes advice by working hard and playing hard, and remember, if you dont like being here or you find youre unhappy, somethings wrong he obviously knows what hes talking about. (Picture of adiponectin from: this site)
Friday, May 22, 2020
The Differences Between Islam And Christianity - 1178 Words
Islam and Christianity, the two main religions in the Middle East have an overwhelming amount of followers which garners a lot of media attention as well. With all of this media attention focused around these two giants, conflict arises and causes many individuals to perish because of it. While that conflict is happening, many smaller religions who live in these regions garner very little attention and continue with their daily lives. Religions such as the Yazidis, Zoroastrians, Druze, and the Samaritans have been there for millennia and still very little is known about them. Things such as their religious followings, religious celebrations, and common practice are still widely unknown. Some of these religions only have tens of thousands of followers left, but continue to be practiced in these remote regions and passed on for generation. These religions have stood the test of time and continued practice while everyone thought these people would end up going extinct. In ââ¬Å"Heirs t o Forgotten Kingdomsâ⬠, Mr. Russell argues that the survival of these small religious groups such as the Yazidis, Druze and Samaritans is due to religious coexistence with Islam and Christian culture that links these people of the Middle East link Europe and the rest of the world through their shared pasts. To start, Mr. Russell supports his claim by introducing the reader to the Mandaean people who are inhabiting the marshes in southern Iraq and are relatively undisturbed as a society. They use boatsShow MoreRelatedDifferences Between Christianity And Islam Essay1484 Words à |à 6 PagesIn this paper, the author analyzes the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam and how to apply this learning to optimize the health outcomes of patients whose belief systems differ from that of the health care provider. The worldviews of both religions are researched, generating a comparison of their different belief systems. It is confirmed that critical components of religion such as prayer, scripture reading, connection to spirituality and meditation can be used as religiousRead MoreDifferences Between Islam And Christianity944 Words à |à 4 Pages# 01 Religion 101 Islam and Christianity are wide spread religions in the world. Contrast based on five pillars of Islam and Christianity rituals. In this paper I will explain their differences and similarities based on Prothero and Paden, using paradigms ââ¬Å"ritualsâ⬠. The concept of rituals are more important in understanding religion. Prothero admits that Christianity is the great religion in the world this is not mean that Islam is not popular religion in fact he compare Islam with fast growing religionRead MoreDifferences Between Islam And Christianity871 Words à |à 4 Pages1. The question of Origin. i. Of the many ways in which Islam and Christianity differ, answering the question of origin remains primarily the same as it does amongst all three of the monotheistic religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism) wherein a single infinite God created the heavens and earth. ii. Though there is considerable contrast between how Islam and Christianity present the creation story both the Bible and the Qurââ¬â¢an textually agree all was created in six days (Qurââ¬â¢an 10:3; GenesisRead MoreDifferences Between Christianity And Islam1152 Words à |à 5 PagesCommonalities, Differences, and Consequences Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are among the best known and most widely practiced religions today, and have had enormous cultural, ideological, and historical impact on the peoples of every continent. Arguably more so than any other ideological systems, Abrahamic religion has been among the most influential forces in human history. The shared elements of their traditions have allowed them to develop in part through a multi-faceted dialogue with eachRead MoreDifferences Between Islam And Christianity941 Words à |à 4 PagesTwo religions may share some common terminology and theology. Islam and Christianity are both different in their own way. Islam represents an oriented religion with Christianity faith is based on the shed of blood of Christ. Religious traditions also embrace the idea of human dignity in the biblical idea of the creation of all human beings in the image of God. Mohammed founded Islam in 610 A.D, were people worshipping multiple Godââ¬â¢s. During, a time of pol ytheism Mohammed had a vision; being perceivedRead MoreDifferences Between Christianity And Islam1838 Words à |à 8 PagesChristianity and Islam are the two religions with great similarities of concepts while minute differences within both religions. Christianity having being a religion since last 2000 years obviously was a religion that dwelled as a ââ¬Å"Soft Monotheismâ⬠meaning the concept of Trinity: presence of three personalities within one personality of God. While, itââ¬â¢s existence was related to the ââ¬Å"Hard Monotheismâ⬠: only one God in the form of Judaism. Similarly having borrowed from both the religions, Islam inRead MoreDifferences Between Christianity And Islam2708 Words à |à 11 PagesReligious Differences in Marriage From the past to the present, society has valued the partnership between two people and a spiritual God and/or leader. The unique union/partnership, also known as marriage, has been and continues to be a practice among religions of all kinds. The one common trait that each religion shares is the spiritual agreement and commitment to promise oneââ¬â¢s self to another person forever in sickness and in health. Although the basic idea of marriage is shared, many religionsRead MoreThe Differences Between Christianity And Islam Essay1937 Words à |à 8 Pagesinterested in knowing more about the Christianity and Islam religion-the largest religions in the word, both having similarities and differences between them. In this letter I will be presenting their key beliefs and practices, and also I will be explaining the significance of salvation for these two religions. Islam religion was established by Muhammad in the seventh century, and its believers are called Muslims . They follow the Islam practices - the Five Pillars of Islam, and the Quran - the word of GodRead MoreDifferences Between Christianity And Islam2108 Words à |à 9 PagesBeing religious carries many aspects within a being that are expressed through internal and external practices reflecting teachings and beliefs of a religion. Both Catholicism and Islam have a large number of people of the faith and thus both religious practices are witnessed almost everywhere expressing their morals and values. These especially include the formal rituals carried out on sacred times for each religion, the presence of places of worship; Churches and Mosques and actions of such religiousRead MoreDifferences Between Christianity And Islam1444 Words à |à 6 Pages Although our world is filled with diverse religious backgrounds, ââ¬Å"humanity forms but one communityâ⬠(ââ¬Å"Nostra Aetateâ⬠). There is an indisputable bond between humans, regardless of the beliefs they hold. Christianity and Islam are two religious traditions dominating the world, accounting for over 55% of the population (ââ¬Å"Common Wordâ⬠). While they greatly differ, the two have undeniable similarities that offer a common ground for the two traditions to unite. It is necessary for these two traditions
Friday, May 8, 2020
The Rhetoric Templates for Argumentative Writing - 600 Words
The Rhetoric Templates for Argumentative Writing In the Introduction to They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates, that were created from fundamental writing moves, that writers usually pick up along the way without realizing it. Those moves are so common that the authors turned them into templates in their book. The authors consider the main template ââ¬Å"They Say / I Sayâ⬠to be the foundation for all successful dialogue. Specifically, Graff and Birkenstein argue that the types of writing templates they offer help less experienced writers, as well as accomplished writers guidance and direction, to structure and generate their own writing. As the authors themselves putâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Thus, the best academic writing is deeply involved with other peopleââ¬â¢s viewpoints. Although some people believe that the templates may take away their freedom to express themselves as well as their originality and creativity, Graff and Birkenstein insist that the templates in their book aid the writer, to become more creative and original, not lessen, hinder or take away from the writing. In sum, then, their view is that to be a great writer you should be able to make logical, well supported and consistent statements, they should not just consist of smart and true expressions, which are completely void at their core. There needs to be an argument, a conversation in our writing, the reason we write is because of our need to challenge, agree, disagree etc. I agree. In my view, the types of templates that the authors recommend are a great guide for all writers alike. For instance, accomplished writers are able to show that they respectfully disagree with the other party and argue their point of view, thus helping the reader think critically about their own believes. Less experienced writers are able to use the templates as a guide to learn structuring their writing. In addition, it gives the writer a frame to work with, making the writing process much simpler. Some might object, of course, on the ground that it might be considered plagiarism. Yet I wouldShow MoreRelatedThe World Of Osama Bin Laden2435 Words à |à 10 Pagesbiggest reliefs. I never thought that this day will come. I chose Osama Binââ¬â¢s speech to the nation about Osama Bin Laden being dead. In this paper, I am going to research and critically examine and evaluate by using the five classical ââ¬Å"canonsâ⬠of rhetoric. I will explain into detail Obamaââ¬â¢s speech dealing with the invention, organization, style, delivery, and memory. May 1, 2011 Barack Obama presented a speech to the American nation and the world that Osama Bin Laden was dead. Obama did this speechRead MoreEssay Writing7014 Words à |à 29 PagesImportant things to look out for in narrative essay writing I am assuming that the student is able to construct basic sentence and grammar structure (past amp; present tense etc.). If the student is unable to do so, he/she is in no condition to attempt essay writing. Please sign the student for basic language/ grammar classes instead. There is a limit to how much advice I can offer via text. So I will just offer two key points. 1. ESSAY FLOW 2. CHARACTERSââ¬â¢ EMOTIONS / FEELINGS * 1. EssayRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words à |à 1617 Pagesreading, discussing, writing). 3. There is less emphasis placed on information transmission and greater emphasis placed on developing student skills. 4. There is greater emphasis placed on the exploration of attitudes and values. 5. Student motivation is increased, especially in adult learners. xviii PREFACE 6. Students receive immediate feedback from their instructor and peers. 7. Students are involved in higher order thinking (analysis, synthesis, evaluation). Our goals in writing this book were
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Second Foundation 14. Anxiety Free Essays
Poli placed the breakfast on the table, keeping one eye on the table news-recorder which quietly disgorged the bulletins of the day. It could be done easily enough without loss of efficiency, this one-eye-absent business. Since all items of food were sterilely packed in containers which served as discardable cooking units, her duties vis-a-vis breakfast consisted of nothing more than choosing the menu, placing the items on the table, and removing the residue thereafter. We will write a custom essay sample on Second Foundation 14. Anxiety or any similar topic only for you Order Now She clacked her tongue at what she saw and moaned softly in retrospect. ââ¬Å"Oh, people are so wicked,â⬠she said, and Darell merely hemmed in reply. Her voice took on the high-pitched rasp which she automatically assumed when about to bewail the evil of the world. ââ¬Å"Now why do these terrible Kalganeseâ⬠ââ¬â she accented the second syIlable and gave it a long ââ¬Å"aâ⬠ââ¬â ââ¬Å"do like that? Youââ¬â¢d think theyââ¬â¢d give a body peace. But no, itââ¬â¢s just trouble, trouble, all the time. ââ¬Å"Now look at that headline: ââ¬ËMobs Riot Before Foundation Consulate.ââ¬â¢ Oh, would I like to give them a piece of my mind, if I could. Thatââ¬â¢s the trouble with people; they just donââ¬â¢t remember. They just donââ¬â¢t remember, Dr. Darell ââ¬â got no memory at all. Look at the last war after the Mule died ââ¬â of course I was just a little girl then ââ¬â and oh, the fuss and trouble. My own uncle was killed, him being just in his twenties and only two years married, with a baby girl. I remember him even yet ââ¬â blond hair he had, and a dimple in his chin. I have a trimensional cube of him somewheres- ââ¬Å"And now his baby girl has a son of her own in the navy and most like if anything happens- ââ¬Å"And we had the bombardment patrols, and all the old men taking turns in the stratospheric defense ââ¬â I could imagine what they would have been able to do if the Kalganese had come that far. My mother used to tell us children about the food rationing and the prices and taxes. A body could hardly make ends meet- ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢d think if they had sense people would just never want to start it again; just have nothing to do with it. And I suppose itââ¬â¢s not people that do it, either; I suppose even Kalganese would rather sit at home with their families and not go fooling around in ships and getting killed. Itââ¬â¢s that awful man, Stettin. Itââ¬â¢s a wonder people like that are let live. He kills the old man ââ¬â whatââ¬â¢s his name ââ¬â Thallos, and now heââ¬â¢s just spoiling to be boss of everything. ââ¬Å"And why he wants to fight us, I donââ¬â¢t know. Heââ¬â¢s bound to lose ââ¬â like they always do. Maybe itââ¬â¢s all in the Plan, but sometimes Iââ¬â¢m sure it must be a wicked plan to have so much fighting and killing in it, though to be sure I havenââ¬â¢t a word to say about Hari Seldon, who Iââ¬â¢m sure knows much more about that than I do and perhaps Iââ¬â¢m a fool to question him. And the other Foundation is as much to blame. They could stop Kalgan now and make everything fine. Theyââ¬â¢ll do it anyway in the end, and youââ¬â¢d think theyââ¬â¢d do it before thereââ¬â¢s any damage done.â⬠Dr. Darell looked up. ââ¬Å"Did you say something, Poli?â⬠Poliââ¬â¢s eyes opened wide, then narrowed angrily. ââ¬Å"Nothing, doctor, nothing at all. I havenââ¬â¢t got a word to say. A body could as soon choke to death as say a word in this house. Itââ¬â¢s jump here, and jump there, but just try to say a word-â⬠and she went off simmering. Her leaving made as little impression on Darell as did her speaking. Kalgan! Nonsense! A merely physical enemy! Those had always been beaten! Yet he could not divorce himself of the current foolish crisis. Seven days earlier, the mayor had asked him to be Administrator of Research and Development. He had promised an answer today. Well- He stirred uneasily. Why, himself! Yet could he refuse? It would seem strange, and he dared not seem strange. After all, what did he care about Kalgan. To him there was only one enemy. Always had been. While his wife had lived, he was only too glad to shirk the task; to hide. Those long, quiet days on Trantor, with the ruins of the past about them! The silence of a wrecked world and the forgetfulness of it all! But she had died. Less than five years, all told, it had been; and after that he knew that he could live only by fighting that vague and fearful enemy that deprived him of the dignity of manhood by controlling his destiny; that made life a miserable struggle against a foreordained end; that made all the universe a hateful and deadly chess game. Call it sublimation; he, himself did can it that ââ¬â but the fight gave meaning to his life. First to the University of Santanni, where he had joined Dr. Kleise. It had been five years well-spent. And yet Kleise was merely a gatherer of data. He could not succeed in the real task ââ¬â and when Darell had felt that as certainty, he knew it was time to leave. Kleise may have worked in secret, yet he had to have men working for him and with him. He had subjects whose brains he probed. He had a University that backed him. All these were weaknesses. Kleise could not understand that; and he, Darell, could not explain that. They parted enemies. It was well; they had to. He had to leave in surrender ââ¬â in case someone watched. Where Kleise worked with charts; Darell worked with mathematical concepts in the recesses of his mind. Kleise worked with many; Darell with none. Kleise in a University; Darell in the quiet of a suburban house. And he was almost there. A Second Foundationer is not human as far as his cerebrum is concerned. The cleverest physiologist, the most subtle neurochemist might detect nothing ââ¬â yet the difference must be there. And since the difference was one of the mind, it was there that it must be detectable. Given a man like the Mule ââ¬â and there was no doubt that the Second Foundationers had the Muleââ¬â¢s powers, whether inborn or acquired ââ¬â with the power of detecting and controlling human emotions, deduce from that the electronic circuit required, and deduce from that the last details of the encephalograph on which it could not help but be betrayed. And now Kleise had returned into his life, in the person of his ardent young pupil, Anthor. Folly! Folly! With his graphs and charts of people who had been tampered with. He had learned to detect that years ago, but of what use was it. He wanted the arm; not the tool. Yet he had to agree to join Anthor, since it was the quieter course. Just as now he would become Administrator of Research and Development. It was the quieter course! And so he remained a conspiracy within a conspiracy. The thought of Arcadia teased him for a moment, and he shuddered away from it. Left to himself, it would never have happened. Left to himself, no one would ever have been endangered but himself. Left to himself- He felt the anger rising-against the dead Kleise, the living Anthor, all the well-meaning fools- Well, she could take care of herself. She was a very mature little girl. She could take care of herself! It was a whisper in his mind- Yet could she? *** At the moment, that Dr. Darell told himself mournfully that she could, she was sitting in the coldly austere anteroom of the Executive Offices of the First Citizen of the Galaxy. For half an hour she had been sitting there, her eyes sliding slowly about the walls. There had been two armed guards at the door when she had entered with Homir Munn. They hadnââ¬â¢t been there the other times. She was alone, now, yet she sensed the unfriendliness of the very furnishings of the room. And for the first time. Now, why should that be? Homir was with Lord Stettin. Well, was that wrong? It made her furious. In similar situations in the book-films and the videos, the hero foresaw the conclusion, was prepared for it when it came, and she ââ¬â she just sat there. Anything could happen. Anything! And she just sat there. Well, back again. Think it back. Maybe something would come. For two weeks, Homir had nearly lived inside the Muleââ¬â¢s palace. He had taken her once, with Stettinââ¬â¢s permission. It was large and gloomily massive, shrinking from the touch of life to lie sleeping within its ringing memories, answering the footsteps with a hollow boom or a savage clatter. She hadnââ¬â¢t liked it. Better the great, gay highways of the capital city; the theaters and spectacles of a world essentially poorer than the Foundation, yet spending more of its wealth on display. Homir would return in the evening, awed- ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s a dream-world for me,â⬠he would whisper. ââ¬Å"If I could only chip the palace down stone by stone, layer by layer of the aluminum sponge. If I could carry it back to Terminus- What a museum it would make.â⬠He seemed to have lost that early reluctance. He was eager, instead; glowing. Arcadia knew that by the one sure sign; he practically never stuttered throughout that period. One time, he said, ââ¬Å"There are abstracts of the records of General Pritcher-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I know him. He was the Foundation renegade, who combed the Galaxy for the Second Foundation, wasnââ¬â¢t he?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not exactly a renegade, Arkady. The Mule had Converted him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, itââ¬â¢s the same thing.â⬠ââ¬Å"Galaxy, that combing you speak of was a hopeless task. The original records of the Seldon Convention that established both Foundations five hundred years ago, make only one reference to the Second Foundation. They say ifââ¬â¢s located ââ¬Ëat the other end of the Galaxy at Starââ¬â¢s End.ââ¬â¢ Thatââ¬â¢s all the Mule and Pritcher had to go on. They had no method of recognizing the Second Foundation even if they found it. What madness! ââ¬Å"They have recordsâ⬠ââ¬â he was speaking to himself, but Arcadia listened eagerly ââ¬â ââ¬Å"which must cover nearly a thousand worlds, yet the number of worlds available for study must have been closer to a million. And we are no better off-ââ¬Å" Arcadia broke in anxiously, ââ¬Å"Shhh-hâ⬠in a tight hiss. Homir froze, and slowly recovered. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s not talk,â⬠he mumbled. And now Homir was with Lord Stettin and Arcadia waited outside alone and felt the blood squeezing out of her heart for no reason at all. That was more frightening than anything else. That there seemed no reason. On the other side of the door, Homir, too, was living in a sea of gelatin. He was fighting, with furious intensity, to keep from stuttering and, of course, could scarcely speak two consecutive words clearly as a result. Lord Stettin was in full uniform, six-feet-six, large-jawed, and hard-mouthed. His balled, arrogant fists kept a powerful time to his sentences. ââ¬Å"Well, you have had two weeks, and you come to me with tales of nothing. Come, sir, tell me the worst. Is my Navy to be cut to ribbons? Am I to fight the ghosts of the Second Foundation as well as the men of the First?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦ I repeat, my lord, I am no pâ⬠¦ preâ⬠¦ predictor. Iâ⬠¦ I am at a completeâ⬠¦ loss.â⬠ââ¬Å"Or do you wish to go back to warn your countrymen? To deep Space with your play-acting. I want the truth or Iââ¬â¢ll have it out of you along with half your guts.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m tâ⬠¦ telling only the truth, and Iââ¬â¢ll have you reâ⬠¦ remember, my lâ⬠¦ lord, that I am a citizen of the Foundation. Yâ⬠¦ you cannot touch me without harvesting mâ⬠¦ mâ⬠¦ more than you count on.â⬠The Lord of Kalgan laughed uproariously. ââ¬Å"A threat to frighten children. A horror with which to beat back an idiot. Come, Mr. Munn, I have been patient with you. I have listened to you for twenty minutes while you detailed wearisome nonsense to me which must have cost you sleepless nights to compose. It was wasted effort. I know you are here not merely to rake through the Muleââ¬â¢s dead ashes and to warm over the cinders you find. ***You came here for more than you have admitted. Is that not true?â⬠Homir Munn could no more have quenched the burning horror that grew in his eyes than, at that moment, he could have breathed. Lord Stettin saw that, and clapped the Foundation man upon his shoulder so that he and the chair he sat on reeled under the impact. ââ¬Å"Good. Now let us be frank. You are investigating the Seldon Plan. You know that it no longer holds. You know, perhaps, that I am the inevitable winner now; I and my heirs. Well, man, what matters it who established the Second Empire, so long as it is established. History plays no favorites, eh? Are you afraid to tell me? You see that I know your mission.â⬠Munn said thickly, ââ¬Å"What is it yâ⬠¦ you wâ⬠¦ want?â⬠ââ¬Å"Your presence. I would not wish the Plan spoiled through overconfidence. You understand more of these things than I do; you can detect small flaws that I might miss. Come, you will be rewarded in the end; you will have your fair glut of the loot. What can you expect at the Foundation? To turn the tide of a perhaps inevitable defeat? To lengthen the war? Or is it merely a patriotic desire to die for your country?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦ I-â⬠He finally spluttered into silence. Not a word would come. ââ¬Å"You will stay,â⬠said the Lord of Kalgan, confidently. ââ¬Å"You have no choice. Waitâ⬠ââ¬â an almost forgotten afterthought ââ¬â ââ¬Å"I have information to the effect that your niece is of the family of Bayta Darell.â⬠Homir uttered a startled: ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠He could not trust himself at this point to be capable of weaving anything but cold truth. ââ¬Å"It is a family of note on the Foundation?â⬠Homir nodded, ââ¬Å"To whom they would certainly bâ⬠¦ brook no harm.â⬠ââ¬Å"Harm! Donââ¬â¢t be a fool, man; I am meditating the reverse. How old is she?â⬠ââ¬Å"Fourteen.â⬠ââ¬Å"So! Well, not even the Second Foundation, or Hari Seldon, himself, could stop time from passing or girls from becoming women.â⬠With that, he turned on his heel and strode to a draped door which he threw open violently. He thundered, ââ¬Å"What in Space have you dragged your shivering carcass here for?â⬠The Lady Callia blinked at him, and said in a small voice, ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t know anyone was with you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, there is. Iââ¬â¢ll speak to you later of this, but now I want to see your back, and quickly.â⬠Her footsteps were a fading scurry in the corridor. Stettin returned, ââ¬Å"She is a remnant of an interlude that has lasted too long. It will end soon. Fourteen, you say?â⬠Homir stared at him with a brand-new horror! Arcadia started at the noiseless opening of a door ââ¬â jumping at the jangling sliver of movement it made in the comer of her eye. The finger that crooked frantically at her met no response for long moments, and then, as if in response to the cautions enforced by the very sight of that white, trembling figure, she tiptoed her way across the floor. Their footsteps were a taut whisper in the corridor. It was the Lady Callia, of course, who held her hand so tightly that it hurt, and for some reason, she did not mind following her. Of the Lady Callia, at least, she was not afraid. Now, why was that? They were in a boudoir now, all pink fluff and spun sugar. Lady Callia stood with her back against the door. She said, ââ¬Å"This was our private way to meâ⬠¦ to my room, you know, from his office. His, you know.â⬠And she pointed with a thumb, as though even the thought of him were grinding her soul to death with fear. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s so luckyâ⬠¦ itââ¬â¢s so lucky-â⬠Her pupils had blackened out the blue with their size. ââ¬Å"Can you tell me-â⬠began Arcadia timidly. And Callia was in frantic motion. ââ¬Å"No, child, no. There is no time. Take off your clothes. Please. Please. Iââ¬â¢ll get you more, and they wonââ¬â¢t recognize you.â⬠She was in the closet, throwing useless bits of flummery in reckless heaps upon the ground, looking madly for something a girl could wear without becoming a living invitation to dalliance. ââ¬Å"Here, this will do. It will have to. Do you have money? Here, take it all ââ¬â and this.â⬠She was stripping her ears and fingers. ââ¬Å"Just go home ââ¬â go home to your Foundation.â⬠ââ¬Å"But Homirâ⬠¦ my uncle.â⬠She protested vainly through the muffling folds of the sweet-smelling and luxurious spun-metal being forced over her head. ââ¬Å"He wonââ¬â¢t leave. Poochie will hold him forever, but you mustnââ¬â¢t stay. Oh, dear, donââ¬â¢t you understand?â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠Arcadia forced a standstill, ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t understand.â⬠Lady Callia squeezed her hands tightly together. ââ¬Å"You must go back to warn your people there will be war. Isnââ¬â¢t that clear?â⬠Absolute terror seemed paradoxically to have lent a lucidity to her thoughts and words that was entirely out of character. ââ¬Å"Now come!â⬠Out another way! Past officials who stared after them, but saw no reason to stop one whom only the Lord of Kalgan could stop with impunity. Guards clicked heels and presented arms when they went through doors. Arcadia breathed only on occasion through the years the trip seemed to take ââ¬â yet from the first crooking of the white finger to the time she stood at the outer gate, with people and noise and traffic in the distance was only twenty-five minutes. She looked back, with a sudden frightened pity. ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦ Iâ⬠¦ donââ¬â¢t know why youââ¬â¢re doing this, my lady, but thanks- Whatââ¬â¢s going to happen to Uncle Homir?â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know,â⬠wailed the other. ââ¬Å"Canââ¬â¢t you leave? Go straight to the spaceport. Donââ¬â¢t wait. He may be looking for you this very minute.â⬠And still Arcadia lingered. She would be leaving Homir; and, belatedly, now that she felt the free air about her, she was suspicious. ââ¬Å"But what do you care if he does?â⬠Lady Callia bit her lower lip and muttered, ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t explain to a little girl like you. It would be improper. Well, youââ¬â¢ll be growing up and Iâ⬠¦ I met Poochie when I was sixteen. I canââ¬â¢t have you about, you know.â⬠There was a half-ashamed hostility in her eyes. The implications froze Arcadia. She whispered: ââ¬Å"What will he do to you when he finds out?â⬠And she whimpered back: ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know,â⬠and threw her arm to her head as she left at a half-run, back along the wide way to the mansion of the Lord of Kalgan. But for one eternal second, Arcadia still did not move, for in that last moment before Lady Callia left, Arcadia had seen something. Those frightened, frantic eyes had momentarily ââ¬â flashingly ââ¬â lit up with a cold amusement. A vast, inhuman amusement. It was much to see in such a quick flicker of a pair of eyes, but Arcadia had no doubt of what she saw. She was running now ââ¬â running wildly ââ¬â searching madly for an unoccupied public booth at which one could press a button for public conveyance. She was not running from Lord Stettin; not from him or from all the human hounds he could place at her heels ââ¬â not from all his twenty-seven worlds rolled into a single gigantic phenomenon, hallooing at her shadow. She was running from a single, frail woman who had helped her escape. From a creature who had loaded her with money and jewels; who had risked her own life to save her. From an entity she knew, certainly and finally, to be a woman of the Second Foundation. An air-taxi came to a soft clicking halt in the cradle. The wind of its coming brushed against Arcadiaââ¬â¢s face and stirred at the hair beneath the softly-furred hood Callia had given her. ââ¬Å"Whereââ¬â¢ll it be, lady?â⬠She fought desperately to low-pitch her voice to make it not that of a child. ââ¬Å"How many spaceports in the city?â⬠ââ¬Å"Two. Which one ya want?â⬠ââ¬Å"Which is closer?â⬠He stared at her: ââ¬Å"Kalgan Central, lady.â⬠ââ¬Å"The other one, please. Iââ¬â¢ve got the money.â⬠She had a twenty-Kalganid note in her hand. The denomination of the note made little difference to her, but the taxi-man grinned appreciatively. ââ¬Å"Anything ya say, lady. Sky-line cabs take ya anywhere.â⬠She cooled her cheek against the slightly musty upholstery. The lights of the city moved leisurely below her. What should she do? What should she do? It was in that moment that she knew she was a stupid, stupid little girl, away from her father, and frightened. Her eyes were full of tears, and deep down in her throat, there was a small, soundless cry that hurt her insides. She wasnââ¬â¢t afraid that Lord Stettin would catch her. Lady Callia would see to that. Lady Callia! Old, fat, stupid, but she held on to her lord, somehow. Oh, it was clear enough, now. Everything was clear. That tea with Callia at which she had been so smart. Clever little Arcadia! Something inside Arcadia choked and hated itself. That tea had been maneuvered, and then Stettin had probably been maneuvered so that Homir was allowed to inspect the Palace after all. She, the foolish Callia, has wanted it so, and arranged to have smart little Arcadia supply a foolproof excuse, one which would arouse no suspicions in the minds of the victims, and yet involve a minimum of interference on her part. Then why was she free? Homir was a prisoner, of course- Unless- Unless she went back to the Foundation as a decoy ââ¬â a decoy to lead others into the hands ofâ⬠¦ of them. So she couldnââ¬â¢t return to the Foundation- ââ¬Å"Spaceport, lady.â⬠The air-taxi had come to a halt. Strange! She hadnââ¬â¢t even noticed. What a dream-world it was. ââ¬Å"Thanks,â⬠she pushed the bill at him without seeing anything and was stumbling out the door, then running across the springy pavement. Lights. Unconcerned men and women. Large gleaming bulletin boards, with the moving figures that followed every single spaceship that arrived and departed. Where was she going? She didnââ¬â¢t care. She only knew that she wasnââ¬â¢t going to the Foundation! Anywhere else at all would suit. Oh, thank Seldon, for that forgetful moment ââ¬â that last split-second when Callia wearied of her act because she had to do only with a child and had let her amusement spring through. And then something else occurred to Arcadia, something that had been stirring and moving at the base of her brain ever since the flight began ââ¬â something that forever killed the fourteen in her. And she knew that she must escape. That above all. Though they located every conspirator on the Foundation; though they caught her own father; she could not dared not, risk a warning. She could not risk her own life ââ¬â not in the slightest ââ¬â for the entire realm of Terminus. She was the most important person in the Galaxy. She was the only important person in the Galaxy. She knew that even as she stood before the ticket-machine and wondered where to go. Because in all the Galaxy, she and she alone, except for they, themselves, knew the location of the Second Foundation. How to cite Second Foundation 14. Anxiety, Essay examples
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
The Alternate Universe of Second Life free essay sample
When is the last time you used your head and not a calculator to do math? When is the last time you walked to the corner store, instead of driving the two blocks up the street? I mean some people would be lost if they didnââ¬â¢t have their cell phones. Is the world coming to rely on technology for everything, even happiness? Are people using technology as an escape from the real world? Isnââ¬â¢t that why people take vacations? People donââ¬â¢t read books during their leisure time anymore because that would be boring and not to mention time consuming. We live in a fast paced world and if you donââ¬â¢t keep up youââ¬â¢ll be left behind with the AM/FM hand radios. That is why we have our expensive computers, I Podââ¬â¢s, flat screen televisions, and fast cars to take us anywhere our minds desire. We will write a custom essay sample on The Alternate Universe of Second Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Jessica Bennet and Malcolm Beith wrote an interesting essay called ââ¬Å"Alternate Universeâ⬠. The essay is about a 3-D virtual world called Second Life. You can do anything you want in this world, even fly. You could be a doctor, a dancer, a designer, what ever makes you happy. You can even find true love on Second Life by dating other avatars, which are what your characters are called. The possibilities are endless with what you can do in this virtual world. Youââ¬â¢re sitting on cloud nine and all you need is your computer. All you have to do to be part of what some would call their dream is sign up, create a character to your liking and start living your second life online with millions of other people around the world. This is not just a game to pass time for some people. People are taking this game very seriously, theyââ¬â¢d bet their lives on it. The authors give an example saying that one person actually said, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d rather panhandle on the street than leave Second Life. â⬠(Bennet and Beith 15). This person would rather beg on the street than ever leave Second Life. How dependent have we become to the satisfying elements of technology? There are eight millions users on Second Life, all of them living what they wished their real life really was, online. Bennet and Beith tell us that by ââ¬Å"2011 four of every five people who use the internet will actively participate in Second Life, or some similar medium,â⬠so that mean that ââ¬Å"1. billion out of 2 billion internet users will have found new lives onlineâ⬠. These users are spending between eighteen to thirty hours a week playing, or living, Second Life. They tell us that users typically spend their time running their business, partying, and meeting new people. If you can actually make real money in Second Life, who needs a real job anyway? Benn et and Beith give us examples of how two people make their money on Second Life. ââ¬Å"Anshe Chung is a virtual land baroness with a real life fortune. (Bennet and Beith 3). They tell us how Chung has a business called Anshe Chung Studios run by her avatar called Ailin Graef. Her company builds homes and then sells or rents it to other avatar for a pretty penny. She even has sixty people on her staff that works for her. She was Second Lifeââ¬â¢s first millionaire. The other example is of a real life Pathmark department manager doubling his daily salary by opening up a clothing store where he designs clothes for other avatar to buy with real money. The authors make it seem like you havenââ¬â¢t had a real job till youââ¬â¢ve had a Second Life job, itââ¬â¢s that easy. No set hours, or boss to answer to just ââ¬Å"click and dragâ⬠. Imagine waking up in the morning, still in your pajamas, you sit in front of the computer for say two to three hours, check how much money youââ¬â¢ve made off your Second Life, maybe design a new virtual wedding gown, or a build a four story mansion and then put it in the virtual market, go back to sleep and then do it all over again in a few hours. The authors make it seem as though this is the perfect alternate life. You can make friends, and make all the money you need without ever leaving your house, but they fail to mention the things that you will be losing by living this life- social skills and life outside your house. They are promoting this virtual world with a big red banner that says ââ¬Å"Pick me! â⬠They tell you how one woman became a millionaire, and they put the idea in your head, ââ¬Å"well maybe I could do that too, that sounds awesomeâ⬠, but they very briefly mention how much money she had to invest to make that million. People are so easily swayed, especially with the way the economy is, they will try anything to make money. People hear money and dollar signs light up in their eyes. If thatââ¬â¢s what they authors were trying to do they were definitely successful. The authors also tell us that some companies are also using Second Life as part of their work environment. ââ¬Å"Some are holding staff meetings where avatars representing employees can discuss ideas via instant message, email, or Skype, in a souped-up virtual office. â⬠( Bennet and Beith 17). Some companies are using it connect to customers. Like IBM, Sears, Circuit City, and Nissan all connect to customers through Second Life. Nissan even lets you ââ¬Å"test-driveâ⬠a car on a ââ¬Å"virtual trackâ⬠so you never have to leave your house. What has happened to face-to-face interaction with employees and customers? Itââ¬â¢s not that they canââ¬â¢t do it or donââ¬â¢t have the time, it is just easier to use the computer. This way we can be participating in our business meeting and making dinner. Why do the authors make it seem like that is such a good thing? How could it be in any way better test driving a car online than actually doing it in real life? I think that the authors go a little overboard in trying to convince their audience that Second Life is great. I canââ¬â¢t see that many people agreeing with it being better to test drive a car online than in real life. Are we so bored with our lives that we feel we need to buy virtual things (i. e. clothes, cars, houses) for a fictional character that is supposed to represent you. I donââ¬â¢t have the money to buy a real car and people are buying virtual cars for their avatars. Although the money ratio is not the same, it is still money spent on something that you will never be able to touch, or hold. Money that could have been spend filling up your gas tank, or on groceries. One US dollar is worth 270 Linden dollars. The authors tells us that ââ¬Å"on a typical day customers spend $1 million buying virtual clothes, cars, houses, and other goods for their avatars,â⬠and that ââ¬Å"by the end of the year users will have spend about 125 billion Linden dollars in Second Life (about $460 million). â⬠I really donââ¬â¢t think that my money would be well spent if I bought a virtual island for $1,395 as the authors tell us that one person did on eBay. The authors write so freely about money. They talk about money like everyone has so much of it to just waste on this fake life. Who has one million dollars lying around? They do make it a point to say that one US dollar is worth 270 in fake money (Linden dollars). Yes, that is a big inflation from one dollar to 270 but its not real money, so why not one dollar per every 1000 Linden dollars? In the end it is all fake things that you are buying with this fake money that you are using REAL money to purchase, which the authors do not make it a point to mention. If I canââ¬â¢t feel my feet in the sand, swim in the ocean or drink a real martini on it, I am not buying it. It crazy to think this virtual world, filled with virtual things, is making us happier people. I wonder what less fortunate people who donââ¬â¢t have a computer do? I think some are just happy to be alive and well. So a computer costs about say $1000, or more if you want a really nice one. Maybe get a portable one for a little bit more and then you we can carry our second life with us. Our whole life is beginning to revolve around this little box that spits out information. People are starting to rely more and more on it for their connection to the world. I mean why work, date, or socialize with friends when you got your computer in a little carrying case that contains your Second Life. I think that the authors do a good job in advertising all the iced up things that Second Life has to offer but they forget to mention what Second Life could do to a world if everyone relied on it. People wouldnââ¬â¢t need a job, or friends, because Second Life provides that all from the comfort of your home. Bennet and Beith do say that ââ¬Å"Some critics are uneasy with the idea of people getting more and more social activities online,â⬠but they say four sentences about it and then move on to the next topic. They donââ¬â¢t make it a point in their essay to mention the negatives things. They do this because they are pro-virtual life so they trivialize what is happening. All their good things outweigh the bad, so they decide to briefly mention it. They make it seem like who needs social skills or a real job when you have all this money? Imagine a world where no one leaves their homes and Second Life becomes their real life?
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