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Chinese Literature and Dissidence

Posters littered Chinese edifice declaring an initiative to free Nobel Peace price winner, Liu Xiaobo.

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Literature has to serve as both a medium of social schemes and also affects social conditions. It has altered the course of societies as well as bringing about sweeping change. It is both a catalyst and a tool for social transformation. It has helped to preserve culture and ideas. It has enabled ideas to proliferate and be accessible to much of society. It also serves as a vessel for cultural values and socially acceptable notions. It can be a force for good or a means of evil. It is in some cases, bound by the forces of society, or it may dictate on those forces. It is a tool of expression and a mirror of society’s current state. However, in most cases, especially in restricted societies literature is not seen as a positive element but an element of dissidence. In these cases, it is considered a means of deviance and subversion. This is perhaps the scenario in the People’s Republic of China. Literature that does not serve the state and is inconsistent with ideology of the state is prohibited.

Dissent From Society

Individuals whose ideas are transcendent and revolutionary in most cases are treated as radicals and source of dissent in a particular polity or political community. The establishment and the institutions consider it more pervasive if these ideas are proliferated via a popular medium such as through written materials. Even if the work is a genuine representation of creativity and brilliance it is seen as a social evil. This is truer so if the work is a reevaluation and criticism of society’s current state.

To delve into its realities, magnificence and flaws are nothing short of involvement and awareness. Literature produced in this context tends to be a very good source of social assessment. In fact, the highest honor in the realm of literature, the Nobel Prize, is usually given for such works. The recent recipient of it is a Chinese author that took the courage and had the will to write and deconstruct the society of his time. Unfortunately, the state is not yet fully ready for such acts of expression. Thus he is viewed as a dissident and a subversive.

Trend Setting

Change begins with a catalyst, a first and someone who takes the initiative. Change on the social scale cannot take place without a precursor. An ideological revolution cannot sweep across society, unless there are those who are willing to raise the idea of it. Ironic that China, the birth place of the Cultural Revolution is attempting to hold back a revolution of ideas when it could instigate one in the past.  It is said that these bold actions of this Chinese Nobel Prize Winner will set the stage for the sweeping change in China, especially about ideas. This is something for it to consider in terms of trends in its social scheme.

References:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i3Uc_PNsJ7YyKvpVBXxLMG4LRDDg?docId=CNG.c81a656973793fe072f583c520733516.381

http://marinanemat.com/essay_dissidence.pdf

November 5, 2010 Posted by | Society | , , , , | Leave a Comment

Britney On Glee Created Another Record and Another Controversy

Britney Spears, The Circus

This photo, 347x490 pixels, 124 KB, was taken by Imaprile.

Some weeks ago, Ryan Seacrest confirmed on Twitter, Britney Spear’s appearance on “Glee”, about which he had spoken to Ryan Murphy, co-creator of “Glee”. The much-awaited episode on Britney aired last September 28 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on Fox, creating another top rating of 13.3 million viewers. This tribute episode to the “Princess of Pop” featured her hit singles, “… Baby, One More Time”,“Toxic”, “I’m A Slave For You”, and a 30-second cameo of Britney herself.

BRITNEY AND BRITTANY CONTROVERSY

Despite the success of the program, a group of parents, called Parents Television Council (PTC), tagged it as “Worst Show of the Week”. Parents criticized Britney’s credibility as a good role model, referring to her public meltdowns, rehabilitation, and parenting skills, further accusing Britney of promoting the use of narcotics. Parents Television Council has not only announced their disapproval of Britney’s appearance but also of Britanny and Santana’s intimate relationship, citing “Me Against The Music” video of Britney and Madonna having “plenty of girl to girl bumping and grinding.”

According to gossiponthis.com, the PTC official statement says: “Glee’ earned its highest ratings ever with this Britney Spears tribute, drawing 13.3 million viewers. A scary thought considering that the mostly young teen/tween audience basically witnessed an endorsement of narcotics abuse, public masturbation and school-sanctioned burlesque.” PTC was not alone in its protest against the Glee Tribute to Britney content. UK’s Daily Mail branded the episode as “X-rated”, for featuring lesbian love scene between cheerleaders Brittany (Heather Morris) and Santana (Naya Rivera).

AGAINST ALL ODDS, BRITNEY IS STILL ON TOP

Britney appeared unperturbed by the negative reaction the Glee episode on her garnered. She was spotted in Los Angeles, California, spending another day, shopping. She has, perhaps, learned to embrace the costs of popularity, which include controversies and less privacy. No matter how many times she gets into rehabilitation and performs antics, to some of the public’s dismay, her charm does not seem to peter out at all. Admit it or not, her entertaining, record-busting skills wins out.

References:
http://gossiponthis.com/2010/10/15/britney-spears-glee-episode-slammed-by-the-parents-tv-council/

http://www.thirdage.com/news/britney-spears-accused-promoting-narcotics-abuse-public-masturbation-glee_10-15-2010

November 5, 2010 Posted by | Entertainment | , | Leave a Comment

Experimental Drug: A Hope for Melanoma Patients

Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type of melanoma and demonstrates color variation and irregular borders.

by skincancerexample.com

Last October 10, Dr. Georgina Long announced that the experimental melanoma drug helps control brain metastases and reduced the size of brain tumors. She gladly pronounced the success of the phase two trial of the oral drug to the congress of European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). Dr. Long also facilitated the first clinical trial of the melanoma medicine. It was the earliest achievement of the study. The third stage of the experiment will be held in July, next year.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a rare skin cancer. It is an abnormal production of melanin-producing cells. Melanin gives the human body its color. The onset of the disease is the excess discoloration in the skin. Sometimes, it is mistaken to be a mole. It may also start in the eyes or intestines. The mole-like appearance is easily distinguished by its irregular shape, uneven border, rapid growth and painful sensation. Melanoma is curable. It has the highest number of death cases among skin cancer.

Genetics and tanning beds, which emit ultraviolet rays are some of the causes of this condition. Excessive sun exposure, especially during the hottest part of the day can be the causative factor. The prognosis of the disease is good if detected and diagnosed early. The treatment focuses on the prevention of aggravating complications like brain metastasis or growth of tumors. The new experimental drug is a good innovation from the company since this disorder is resistant to therapy, especially in the latent stage. (insert)

Experimental Drug

GSK2118436 is the tentative research name provided by GlaxoSmithKline. Dr. Long used ten subjects with brain metastasis melanoma. Based on the outcome of the experiment, all the sample representatives had control of the spread of the cancerous cells in the brain. Fortunately, nine of them revealed a significant decrease of the tumor. The success of this drug was widely accepted.

The pharmaceutical company approved the third phase of the trial and re-tests its quality. There were also corporations that had the same results like Roche Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb. In its final screening, PLX4032 and Ipilimumab were the treatments which showed qualified effect. The new experimental drug is expected to show the same relevant upshot with its late-stage development.

Hope For Melanoma Patients

Based on American Cancer Society, in the year 2010, about 68,130 new melanomas cases will be diagnosed in the United States. There will be about 38,870 men affected and 29,260 in women. It is common to young women and older white men. The statistics showed a bigger possibility on the increasing incidence of melanoma.

The wide researches conducted by several scientists and physicians can alleviate the consequences of the disorder. The newest experimental drug is another hope for the reduction of the severity of the disease. The simplest strategy to detect or prevent such an illness is health awareness. Medical consultation is also advised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

References:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6990MJ20101010

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma

November 5, 2010 Posted by | Health | , , , | Leave a Comment

Imagine Life Without Google; Is it Still Possible?

This photo 640 x 127 pixels - 26 kb was taken on September 30, 2009

I often hear people say “Google it”, as if Google has almost become something one cannot do without. This said about Google may seem slightly dipping in exaggeration, and yet, I have experienced it to be true. I wonder what it was like living without the Computer and Internet. Life and its many affairs would have been like counting the days by the number of full moons, deciphering stone tablets, and bartering silk sheets for bushels of barley.

Internet Origin

According to Wikipedia, Charles Babbage originated the concept of a programmable computer. He is credited for inventing the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex designs. One hundred eleven years after his death, the idea of a global network was formed from internetworking. An abbreviation of internetworking, ‘Internet’, was adopted from the first Request for Comments published on the Transmission Control Program protocol in December 1974 by Vinton Cerf, Yogen Dalal, and Carl Sunshine.

Google Functions

Web Search Engines store information. Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded a search engine in September of 1998, called Google, Inc. Marziah Karch in About.com Guide writes, “Google is one of the five most popular websites in the world. It is a web search engine that lets you find other sites on the web-based on keyword searches. Google also provides specialized searches through blogs, catalogs, videos, news items and more. Google provides Internet services that let you create blogs, send email, and publish web pages. Google has social networking tools, organization tools, and chat tools, services for mobile devices, and even Google branded merchandise.”

Google Technology claims well over eight URLs in its index. Moreover, that its web pages are most useful and comprehensive. Google search is not likely to waste one’s time as it shows only the results that are a match to the terms in its homepage search box. The sameness can be observed either in the page’s text or the link’s text. Its comprehension is sensible to the point that it analyzes the terms to find out its subtext, making the results more likely to be relevant to what one is looking for. These make almost anything a click away from our fingertips. Business, communication, and education have become convenient and efficient. The world and lives on it have never been explored at any more vast a scope and close a range than anywhere, with an Internet connection and search engines, such as Google.

References:
http://google.about.com/od/googlebasics/p/whatisgoogle.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Internet

November 5, 2010 Posted by | Computers & Networking | , , , , | Leave a Comment

Marriage: Falling In Love Again

 

Love, trust and acceptance are key elements in a happy relationship.

by luckystories.com

Marriage is defined in several forms, aspects and belief. In general, Marriage is a legal union between two people who shares common interest, origin and values. It is basically a social and intimate partnership. Marriage is an institution which recognizes and unites cultures and traditions. With this comprehensive meaning of marriage, there are still couples, which forget the real essence of this life-long bond. The recent study of Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a detailed account on the countrywide marriage and divorce rates. Based on National Vital Statistics reports, there are 306.8 million Americans who have undergone divorce in 2009. This survey was higher than the previous year proving the constant rise in couples’ separation.

Securing a married relationship

There are various tips on how to save marriage or rekindle the old flame between partners. This advises are found in different magazines, newspapers, television, talk shows and the internet. Being in a married relationship entails trust, acceptance and fidelity. It is a higher stage of adjustment and knowing one’s partner deeply. There were certain causative factors attributing to nullification of marriage. Some couples are busy with their work and financial obligation in the family neglecting each other. Some broke their promises of loyalty while others were physically abused.

Do’s in marriage

There were considerations to remember in maintaining a married relationship. Sometimes, marriage is accompanied with sadness and difficulties. Our partners are the shock absorber yet never repeatedly nag. Past events are the important features of our lives. It is advisable to reminisce over romantic events instead of the traumatic ones. There would be a certain point in married life that we begin to regret the current situation due to many responsibilities in the household. It is an effective way to communicate these sentiments in a calm and simple manner. Honesty is still the best policy.

Appreciating another woman’s beauty and body, is a normal reaction of guys. Wives should accommodate their husband’s fantasies and allow them to share these urges. Unfortunately, we have our flaws, both parties should accept each other and even our disgusting, humiliating  mannerisms or routines. Choice is a basic human right. We choose our partner. It is not purely on fate so, whoever it is, it’s always part of our decision. A famous writer said, true love can only happen after you’ve fallen out of love, when you begin choosing to love, even if you don’t feel like doing it.

Falling in love again

Boredom can bring a lot of difference in married couples. Adventure is one way to rekindle the flame of passion. There is no absolute rule on how to maintain a loving, sweet and cozy environment within marriage. It is still worthwhile to consider the possibilities of falling in love again with our spouse rather than resorting immediately to divorce. Marriage is also a task. Love stays forever if we constantly work on it.

References
http://marriage.about.com/od/marriagetoolbox/a/harmfulbehav.htm
http://post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/573294/Making-Sense-Of-Marriage.html?nav=5192

November 5, 2010 Posted by | Opinion, Society | , , , | Leave a Comment

   

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