Comparing and Contrasting

The point of comparing and contrasting is to distinguish the similarities and differences of two distinct subjects. When comparing and contrasting the two subjects, one must keep in mind that the two subjects should be relatively similar, but not entirely the same. If the two subjects are completely different, then there is no point in finding similarities in the subjects. For example, a pair of ballet shoes is different from a pair of running shoes. The style and purpose of these shoes are significantly different, but the similarity is that these shoes are made for one's feet.

In "The Meaning of Life" by Roger Cohen, there are several possible comparing/contrasting subjects the author proposes. One comparing/contrasting topic Cohen brings up is the lifestyle of two rhesus monkeys, Canto and Owen. Another possible comparing/contrasting topic is dieting and consuming whatever one desires to eat. Finally, the last possible comparing/contrasting topic that Cohen brings up is happiness and boredom.

In my perspective, there is an even balance for all three possible comparing/contrasting topics. In the first topic on comparing and contrasting Canto and Owen, the similarities are that Canto and Owen are both rhesus monkeys and that both are fed by the scientists. However, a difference is that Canto is on a restricted diet while Owen is not. In addition, Canto's physical features are different from Owen's features, since the two are experiencing different eating habits. 

In the second topic on comparing and contrasting dieting and consuming whatever one's heart desires, the similarity is that the people dieting or consuming anything are at least eating something. The only difference is that dieting causes rapid loss of appetite due to the caloric restriction (Cohen 293). An example Cohen uses to describe this topic is the resveratrol in red wine, where scientists are trying to "...produce a chemical like it in order to offer people the gain (in life expectancy) without the pain (of dieting) (Cohen 293). 

In the final topic on comparing and contrasting happiness and boredom, the similarity is that a person can experience both feelings and have some kind of effect from both, whether it is being happy or miserable. The difference between the happiness and boredom is the feelings, as mentioned earlier. Throughout the essay, Cohen brings up the topic of boredom when he states, "...boredom definitely shortens life spans" (291), and when he later states, "I suspect those dissenting scientists I didn't bore you with are right" (293). From these two quotations, Cohen stresses the idea that boredom negatively affects one's life, while happiness does not. Towards the end of the essay, Cohen states, "Laughter extends life" (293). According to Cohen, experiencing happiness can positively affect one's life, while boredom does the opposite.

The argument of this essay is that happiness extends one's life span, while boredom reduces the number of years one has left on this world. After reading this article, I agree with Cohen's argument on happiness versus boredom. If we do not or cannot experience happiness in our lifetime, then what is the point of living? In order for individuals to be truly content, they must experience happiness. That's just common sense. On the other hand, we must also experience boredom to actually realize the difference between happiness and boredom.

Lying is a Hobby

In "The Ways we Lie" by Stephanie Ericsson, she explained how lying as had an effect on society throughout the years. After reading her article, I would have to agree with her idea of lying and the various ways one could present a lie. The reason why I agree with her was because Ericsson gave ten different ways a person could lie that stayed within the boundaries of the definition she gave. Ericsson's definition of a lie was that it was either a false statement or action especially made with the intent to deceive or that it was anything that gave or was meant to give a false impression (Ericsson 121). The ten ways to lie stayed within the boundaries of lying because these ways gave false impressions or deceived people no matter what. However, I do not think there was any other type of lying, since her ways of lying pretty much covered everything.

Ericsson's purpose of writing this essay was to inform society of the actions everyone constantly does, which was lying. Similar to breathing, lying was something a person does out of habit. Ericsson wanted her readers to acknowledge the fact that everyone has a tendency to lie, whether it was a white lie or delusion. The reason why this article was able to be published was most likely because this article revealed the truth about society. Another possibility of why this article got published could be that this article opened the minds of many in that everything he/she did could be a lie. What was scary about reading this article could be that people could be lying without him/her noticing it. This was how lying has become an imprinted code in people's systems. It was in people's nature to lie and society would not stop.

Overall, I really enjoyed and liked reading Ericsson's article. i liked how she introduced the article with an anecdote that seemed to be something everyone would do when someone has a rough day. Later on in the article, I also liked how Ericsson gave the negative outcomes of telling the truth if she were to tell the truth about why she lied to the IRS, her co-worker, etc. In addition, I was satisfied with the fact that she included the proper definition of lying from Webster's definition of a lie. As a side note, my view of lying has changed because I did not realize that a lie consisted of anything that gave or was meant to give a false impression (Ericsson 121). I assumed lying was just giving a false statement to someone, but lying could also mean that a person could deceive the truth in general. 

Another aspect from Ericsson's article that I enjoyed was the out-and-out lies she described. I thought it was funny in how people could lie to a person's face where the lie was completely ridiculous and false. On the other hand, I did not believe stereotypes and cliches was a lie. Stereotypes was just a way people could identify others as, based on prior knowledge on those types of individuals or experience with them. In the end, I was content with Ericsson's article because it gave me a new perspective on what lying was and how we always lie. 

Robert Connor's Essay

Robert Connor's essay "How in the World Do You Get a Skunk Out of a Bottle?" was about the narrator helping a distressed skunk that had its head stuck in a jar. This essay started out with a question to the audience because Connor wanted to make the readers ask themselves first or after reading the essay on what they would have done if they were in his position. On the other hand, having this type of question as a title could also be a way to inform the readers that Connor had no idea of what he was doing and was sort of asking the audience for help.

Most individuals would never encounter a situation of pulling a skunk out of a bottle, let alone any animal for that case. But the reason why Connor developed this process analysis essay was most likely because of the idea that people should do the right thing. By this, I mean that if a person has an opportunity to do good, whether for another person, for the world, etc., then he/she should take that opportunity seriously. Connor did the right thing in saving that poor animal's life by risking his own life in the process of retrieving the jar from its head. Now I am not saying one should risk his/her own life for a small good deed. I am rather saying that if given the opportunity to be good, people should do good for others, the world, and even themselves.

The point and purpose of Connor's essay was to explain how an unlikely and awkward situation could turn into something great. Towards the end of the essay, Connor stated, "I hear it splash as I run on up the hill into a sunny morning whose colors are joy, joy, joy" (3). After saving the skunk's life and throwing the jar into a swamp, Connor probably felt satisfied with the fact that he saved an animal's life. Going back to the big picture of this, anyone could do something great in their lives, whether it is helping a neighbor out or giving spare change away to those in need. The world is full of good and bad, where sometimes the bad is more frequent than the good nowadays. But every once in awhile, someone does good in the world and the balance between good/bad is now equal. Be the one to make a difference in doing good.

Effects of Advertisement

The image above is from an anti-smoking advertisement by Chilean Corporation Against Cancer (CONAC). In the image, a child is seen crying while a cloud of smoke surrounds the head of the child. This cloud of smoke not only encompasses the child's head, but seems to resemble a plastic bag covering the head. In addition, the child inhales the smoke through his nose and mouth.

The purpose of this advertisement is to inform society about the dangers of smoking. Although smoking can negatively affect the individual that is smoking cigarettes, it can also affect those around that individual through second-hand smoke. The way the advertisement portrays the child being suffocated in a sort of smokey-plastic-bag is terrifying for most people. The media reveals ideas and concepts in ways that could possibly terrify society because of either the fact that the images are very explicit or that the situation could be real. 

Nothing can horrify people than something that can actually be turned into reality. For example, if a person watches an advertisement where cartoon characters promote the products of McDonald's, that person might just ignore the entire message because of the fact that the advertisement is shown through cartoons. However, if a person watches an advertisement that depicts an individual being beaten due to certain clothes he/she is wearing, that person might focus on the idea of not buying specific clothing brands because of the fear of being beaten. Through the media, this fear that people have, whether it is the fear of dying, the fear of losing, etc., is influencing people to act differently from what they normally do. 

Back to the anti-smoking advertisement with the child, the company that sponsors this advertisement, CONAC, wants to reveal the truth about tobacco in cigarettes. This truth is that tobacco causes cancer, which is something mostly everyone knows about. However, this company will do anything in its power to reduce the amount of people smoking cigarettes, such as promoting a horrifying advertisement of a child being suffocated by a cloud of smoke. 

Depression

Depression, much like a parasite, is something that spreads throughout one's life that could soon be fatal in the end. In terms of depression, some individuals that do experience this feeling are attending college, which should actually be the best experience in their lives. 

Alissa Steiner who was once a college student at the University of California at Davis wrote "Depression in College Students". Her essay focused in on the aspects of depression and how it could lead to suicidal thoughts if continued. According to Steiner's thesis, "Depression and suicide are major issues not only here in Davis, but also at college campuses nationwide." Steiner was able to support her thesis from a study by the American College Health Association in 2005 that "...showed that 15 percent of college students around the country have been professionally diagnosed with depression..." (Depression in College Students, 163). In addition, Steiner used the testimonials from doctors and teachers, such as Diana Hill, who was a UC Davis member of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS, and Phillip Clay, the chancellor for Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

In my opinion, Steiner's response to the issue of depression in college students was excellent. Steiner was able to present her thesis with reliable and credible sources. Adding on to her sources, Steiner used testimonials from doctors and teachers to have a better understanding of how others feel about the topic. But before Steiner went into detail on the issue, she explained what the definition of depression was and how it was caused, which I thought was very informational on her part. 

Towards the end of her essay, Steiner proposed counseling for those going through depression to reduce the level of depression and stress for an individual. This part was my favorite because Steiner tried to encourage those depressed or stressed to attempt to receive help from others. In addition, I enjoyed her ending section of "Looking out for Each Other", where she explained what students should do if they have friends going through difficult times as well as explaining her own experience with someone that had depression. If I were to write an essay on this issue of depression in college students, I would not do anything differently from what Steiner wrote. Her essay was an excellent essay and I would not know what else to talk about, since Steiner wrote everything that was necessary to know and realize about.

Book Smart and Street Smart

Geral Graff's argument in "Hidden Intellectualism" was that many schools and colleges were not encouraging students to use their street smarts towards academic purposes. Graff felt that the education system disregarded street smarts as another type of intellectualism. According to Graff, "What doesn't occur to us, though, is that schools and colleges might be at fault for missing the opportunity to tap into such street smarts and channel them into good academic work" (Hidden Intellectualism, 380).

In my opinion, street smarts should not be looked down upon as something less than book smart intellect. Based on Geral graff's experience as a child, he was forced to either be book-smart or street smart when he faced the neighborhood kids. In addition, Graff was fascinated by the concept of sports, which was his primary topic in writing articles about.

If individuals were able to distinguish the difference between going down a shady alley at night or strolling through a more lit environment, wouldn't this be considered as having intellect? Although this might seem obvious enough that some might not even walk through that dark alley, there could be a slight possibility that a few individuals might be foolish enough to do that. However, other examples that would be more likely to happen would be avoiding contact with certain people or dressing in a specific way in a particular environment. For example, a person might see a lonely child on the street in the ghetto and comfort the child. On the other hand, several individuals could even ignore the child, fearing the child might have some sort of disease or might pickpocket him/her. (Or they might just be heartless.) And a person would not wear a bright pink tutu in Harlem, New York or in downtown Chicago. Whatever the reason might be, people have different perspectives on what intellect is all about. Personally, being book smart and street smart should be equally accepted as showing signs of intelligence.

Society vs. Social Media

Technology has a significant impact on society. Whether it is the social media one uses to express his/her feelings or the electronic gadgets for entertainment, technology is important. Peggy Orenstein, a journalist and author, explains how countless individuals use the social media, such as Facebook or MySpace, to communicate what they are doing or feeling to others. Orenstein continues to clarify the idea that individuals are too informative on their lives. People are too revealing on certain topics, such as their love lives or actions they might have committed. All of this makes Orenstein question the difference between private and public life styles.

However, Steven Pinker, a psychology professor, has a different view on the use of technology. Although the use of technology might have a negative effect on one's attention span, it can be useful in other fields of work. Scientists need technology to progress forward in their line of work. Using the media is not as bad as it is criticized to be, if individuals are able to have self-control. The use of the media is good every once in awhile for work or for relaxation, but too much use of it could be unhealthy. Society can be too dependent on technology and the media, where if the world somehow lost its ability to retain this technology and media, society will collapse.

In Peggy Orenstein's reading, her use of Ethos and Pathos is clear. Orenstein is able to connect to the readers by using an anecdote in the beginning on her reading. In addition, Orenstein uses outside sources to support her argument from Sherry Turkle, a professor from M.I.T., and Erving Goffman, a sociologist. In Steven Pinker's reading, his use of Logos is clear. Pinker explains how the use of technology and the media helps scientists progress forward with science. However, unlike Orenstein, Pinker lacks the use of Ethos and Pathos, which could have made the readers more interested in his reading.

In my perspective, the use of technology is a love and hate situation. I love using the social media from time to time as well as playing my games on several game consoles. On the other hand, I have been too dependent on these medias and technologies to the point where if I am unable to use them, I will go crazy. When it comes to work and school, society should focus more on doing things the old fashioned way, which is the basic pen and pencil. If we continue the path on depending on technology and the media for everything, we will soon be in the same position from the movie "Terminators 2: Judgment Day", where technology has overrun everything and everyone.

Obesity on the Rise

While walking to McDonald's, David Zincenko spots Radley Balko in a restaurant and intentionally sits at the same table as him...

David Zincenko: Hello, Radley Balko. I'm David Zincenko.

Radley Balko: What are you doing?

David Zincenko: The fast-food chain is the primary factor of obesity in the United States, since it sells numerous unhealthy products to the American people.

Radley Balko: Oh jeez, not this conversation. Okay, I agree and disagree with what you just said.

David Zincenko: How can you agree and disagree? Can you please explain your reasoning?

Radley Balko: Well, I do agree with the idea that eating fast-food products can increase one's body mass index, or BMI. But I do not agree with the fact that fast-food companies are solely

responsible for one's obesity.

David Zincenko: How is it not the fast-food company's fault that made one's health at risk of obesity. These companies promote food products that are significantly high in calories.

Radley Balko: I agree with the products being served in high calories. But isn't it also the consumer's responsibility to eat the product or not? The consumer can choose to eat a meal that is healthy and nutritious or a meal that is unhealthy and unwholesome.

David Zincenko: I can see your point, but most consumers do not have the luxury in eating healthy food products. Some healthy food products are way too expense for people.

Radley Balko: How so?

David Zincenko: Well for example, a pound of apples might cost between three to four dollars at a regular grocery. This might not be as sufficient as a fast-food meal consisting of a hamburger and large fries, which could even cost around three to four dollars as well. So poorer families have the disadvantage in this case because they are forced to purchase these kinds of products.

Radley Balko: Couldn't the consumer learn to exercise more often if he/she is going to eat unhealthy food products in order to keep a balance?

David Zincenko: That's not the point. It isn't even relevant to the topic at hand.

Radley Balko: Actually, it is.

Thesis:

            Obesity is on the rise for various reasons. One reason could be that people are eating large amounts of fast-food products, such as McDonald's or Burger King. A second reason could be that people are just eating too much food in general. Another reason could be that people are not exercising as much as they are supposed to. Whatever the reason might be, the fact is that obesity levels are increasing at an alarming rate. David Zincenko is somewhat accurate in that big fast-food companies are knowingly serving their customers fatting food products. However, it is technically the consumer's responsibility and decision in eating the food product, which was what Radley Balko was referring to.