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anendoandfriendo · 2 years

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A vent about terms and a vent about people and some not-quite word art

We're getting tired of people spreading misinformation about soulbonds real fucking fast, let us tell you that. As if we were sick of it before? Seriously?

It's largely focused on people who'd be considered "well-known fictional" in this universe, but that's not the only way to do SB or to be an SB. Is this truly the difference between factive and fictive? What hapoens when you are the soulbond instead? The initial communities were literally focused on what fandom would call "OCs" but even beyond that, the literal only definition is that you are multiversal at some point.

Gateway Headmate? You fuckin' mean a Day Tripper, the language was always there. Not that it didn't take effort to find it ourselves.

Walk-In? You mean Permanent Resident??? Again, the language was always there. Not that it didn't take effort to find it ourselves.

We aren't trying to be mean when we say this, and more terms is always good, but there are some terms that sound like...exactly the same to us. Everything is the same though, to be fair. Another day at Walmart. Another sameass day feeling like a fucking failure. Maybe it's just that we had the ability to actually look this stuff up and are used to checking obscure things out. We've never felt so in the shadows before. We are sick of shining, the ornament to the tree. Have you ever just wanted to disappear or not exist? Maybe it's something else. At this point we've chosen to accept that we don't understand and move on, but sometimes we just wonder if people just straight up never looked into it. We still lie to our body's mother about where we work. She'll never look into it, huh? We hear they don't like, teach you a lot of critical thinking skills or research skills in school anymore unless you're in an honors class what do you folks do these days? we think it's been almost a decade since weve been in high school and that's just...shitty, because this is how you end up with so much cannibalizing of the community we think.

And while we are definitely NOT old by any means we feel like we are in a very different plane than some of the folks who are just now discovering their systems. We havent seen our second cousin since she was three because of our shitty ex-partner-system, and shes in like fifth grade now. She has only ever heard of us, we want to explain ourselves so bad. And if we're protogenic...is she gonna be okay? We figured it out smack dab in the middle of when plurality was Very Niche and when it was Starting To Become Visible. We figured it out maybe...2018? We think? We still get people in our system, crying they want to go home lol. That'd be our second year in uni. And so we can't relate to Ye Olde Systemes like The Crisses to Astrea as much but we also can't see ourselves relating to AimKid and her system, or literally anyone later than 2020 — and that's not even mentioning that 2020 was the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore making us feel pushed even further away from that direction. We are chronically lonely.

Like. We don't know. It could just be that we feel fucky-wucky. Our system name is very visible outside of Tumblr. Hah! Imagine that: were seen yet again, overtaken by our own brigthness. Again. We actually wouldn't be surprised if some folks initially followed us because of that.

Please allow us to feel bitter for just a few seconds before we put this plaster back on.

Please allow just a few seconds for us to cry.

It's not like we don't like to help, we just feel like...

Why does anyone trust what we say?

...folks take what we say out of context. Maybe it's how we use words compared to some folks. Or that we use larger ones.

People really just think we're "smart" huh?

They could do this too if they tried. Not really. Yes they could. No they couldn't. Back and forth all over again, debating weather to keep hoping.

We have no choice but to have a larger well of hope than other people, why don't folks get that?

It is not in human nature to detract; it is in their nature to want more. Small difference.

To The Eras: it is, indeed, possible to care about human beings and not their social norms. Shut the fuck up about how we're black-and-white. We were much more grey than you ever were, you just mistook a strong opinion for a naive one.

We have understood everything up to this point.

Allow us a moment to beat the shit outta something, or someone. We never got our justice.

Or allow us to be bitter and cry before we put this plaster back on. Because that definitely helps.

So why is it. That people can't shut the fuck up? Why can't we seem to chase them away, back to the shadows they came from?

Hi. We're people lol.

#this isn't perfect by any means #but we really just needed to get this off of our chest #and a diary wasn't gonna do that #so now we get to trauma dump on pur own blog!!#because we're a walking talking motherfucking contradiction!!!#Rusanya Writes #our writing #plurality #plurality as a veil to all of our other bullshit issues might be a more accurate description #our personal shit #diary entry #writing #poetry #not-quite poetry #vent #holy SHIT is this a vent #we have Feelings(TM) and a lot of them are at odds with each other

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okay-victoria · 3 years

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General Information

If you somehow got here not from SpaceBattles, the story for which I’m referencing this information is:

https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/we-are-each-our-own-devil-youjo-senki-saga-of-tanya-the-evil.815438/

Because I have one of the least-wild Tanya stories out there from a “how crazy can I make her life” perspective, my take on Tanya living a (relatively) normal life ends up coming into more frequent conflict with widely-believed pieces of fanon than its relatively mundane plot would imply. In an effort to stop posting long explanations every time those questions come up, I’m going to try this method.

I only aim to be canon-compliant with the LN, and am only strict on it up to Vol. 5** [when I started writing], but try to fit in any additional worldbuilding info from later volumes if it doesn’t mess everything up.

**Exception - For the future lookback segments where Tanya has been disappeared, it seems...unnecessary to work that into my plot, and kind of sad.

I’m putting canonical references here as they relate to my story, for people to take a gander at and grab information from when they think I’ve abused my author privileges to make the plot work how I want it while ignoring the facts. If you still think I’m blatantly ignoring the actual facts after you read it, I’m happy to discuss on SB, but I don’t feel that is the place to simply point out that counterarguments exist or what the other possible interpretations from the facts are. I’m aware there is an SB discussions thread, but it felt a bit intrusive to bombard it with all this stuff that is related to my story, as I don’t particularly care about convincing people about this that aren’t asking to be convinced.

If you would just like to debate the points in the abstract, and it isn’t an issue of this actual story having a SOD-breaking moment that I haven��t sufficiently explained enough to let you agree to disagree, you are welcome to go back and forth here if you want to debate me personally. To the best of my first-day-on-Tumblr ability, I’ve made it possible for other people to submit full posts/anonymously comment on my posts. It’s possible I’ll join a debate in the SB Discussions thread if you pull something out of here and put it there.

When possible I have not quoted copyrighted information where I thought I could avoid it. I left it in where it felt necessary to have the wording itself be laid bare. If people feel like they need a direct quote on specific bullet points where I haven’t included it, you can ask.

I feel like it hardly needs to be said, but SPOILERS in basically all other posts. The bulk of my info is from Volumes 1 to 5, but there are a handful of references through Volume 8. Mostly they deal with people’s personalities and world-building facts so aren’t going to spoil a bunch of plot happenings.

As a final note, I gathered up all this information to help me write, because unlike Tanya I’m clearly super chill and don’t attack things with a fanatical single-mindedness once I decide to do them. Like all authors, to some degree or other, every word you put on the page is a plot contrivance. I needed a baseline to go off of to determine where there was flexibility in directing the plot as I want to direct it, and where there wasn’t.

More to the point, this information was never intended to be used to nitpick other stories, especially because the LN isn’t the only source you can go to, it just happened to work best for me. I only have the time and energy to harass myself about details, and I wouldn’t want strict adherence to minute details to be what prevents a good idea from turning into a good story, regardless. I have plenty of my own minute details I overlook. I am not the Lord of the Details, I don’t want to be the Lord of the Details, and if you look there’s a bunch of places in my story you could lob a “it wouldn’t really happen like this” criticism very accurately. Hilariously, those are simply the times when I’m letting Tanya be the OP Tanya everyone knows and loves, so it slides on by without comment.

Please do not be that person, and don’t use a factoid from this to go bother other authors about things you would’ve otherwise not cared about.

Also, as stated in the intro, this is meant as a reference for when your headcanon conflicts with the one used in-story, so that you may hopefully accept that there are reasonable alternative perspectives, even if it isn’t how you choose to personally interpret it. It is not meant to change anyone’s mind, and not necessarily meant as a place to actively browse for opportunities to change my mind just for the hell of it so that we may all converge on the Fandom Headcanon Singularity. The variety of personal headcanons are what makes fanfic possible in the first place :)

However, in general I’m happy to debate as long as I know I’m only among people who care about participating/watching the debate.

#general info #LN Reference

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thecourtneychronicles · 4 years

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“Courtney Act says she’s enjoying an endless “hot girl summer”. Which, for those not initiated into American rap memes, basically means she’s having a damn good time.

“I’m kind of lubed up and ready for Mardi Gras, so to speak,” she says. As Australia’s most famous drag queen, active since the turn of the century, Courtney helped lead the mainstreaming of queer culture in this country along with figures such as Carlotta and Bob Downe.

But being a leader or pioneer doesn’t guarantee being comfortable in your own skin. Courtney says that until recently her understanding of sexuality and gender was actually quite limited. When she was performing, she was a woman, but when she stripped off her make-up, she went back to being Shane Jenek, a man.

“Although I did drag, my masculinity and femininity were compartmentalised in the binary,” Courtney says.

But over the past few years, as public discussion of gender, sexuality and identity has grown, she has discovered things are more complex than your genitals, clothes and hair.

“I think sometimes people think identity has something to do with the wrapping, but really it’s the gift underneath,” she says. “It’s about how you feel. For me, I definitely feel like I occupy masculine and feminine qualities.”

Courtney explores this journey in her pop-cabaret show, Fluid, showing this week at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst as part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival. It’s a change of pace for her after focusing on television in recent years; first by winning Britain’s Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, then as the runner-up (with Joshua Keefe) on last year’s Australian Dancing with the Stars.

It’s also a far cry from her humble beginnings in the DIY world of drag, which has never been regarded as high art but remains a staple of gay bars and culture worldwide.

“There’s a lot less hot glue and sticky tape in this show, which makes it feel a lot more professional,” Courtney says of Fluid. “I don’t know if that will hold until opening night.”

Set to original music, Fluid was written by Shane and American comedian Brad Loekle. For the most part it’s a one-woman show, with some help from a ballroom dancer in the second half. (“It’d be weird doing a ballroom dance by yourself,” she says.)

The show acknowledges that, more than ever, people are being flooded with “ever-changing and flowing ideas of who we are, what we are and what we might become”.

This is something we should embrace, says Courtney. “We change our clothes every day – we change our hairstyles, we change our jobs. Everything is constantly in motion and constantly fluid. But we have this idea that our identities are fixed. When we look at our lives they’re actually a lot more fluid than we think.”

Courtney, or Shane, doesn’t identify as trans but has said that seeing more transgender people represented in the media was liberating and allowed her to explore her own doubts about gender. She’s previously been described as “gender fluid, pansexual and polyamorous”, although she no longer embraces those labels as she once did.

“They all work,” says Courtney, who prefers to identify as “just generally queer” these days. “It’s funny … so many of our groups identify so strongly with labels and they’re so important to us. I kind of feel less attached to those labels.”

She also understands why some people might feel confused, or even confronted, by the politics of queer identification. The acronym LGBTQIA+, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and others, has expanded over the years to the point that some critics deride it as “alphabet soup”. Even those who are part of the community can be intolerant.

“I get that LGBTIQA+ is a little cumbersome from a marketing standpoint,” says Courtney. “But if you find yourself with the time to complain and be confused by a few extra letters, then you’re one of the lucky ones. If there are people that get to understand themselves more because of a letter in an acronym, I’m all for it.”

“I definitely feel like I occupy masculine and feminine qualities.”

Courtney casts a sceptical eye over everything, including the rise of cancel culture, a predominantly left-wing phenomenon which argues that anyone who says or does something deemed to be racist, sexist, homophobic or in any way offensive should be called out, shamed and, preferably, silenced.

Lamenting the state of political discourse while appearing on the ABC’s Matter of Fact program last year, she said: “The volume’s too loud now and everybody’s yelling.” While history showed that people sometimes need to raise their voices, “when you actually sit down opposite someone and have a conversation with them, you get so much further”.

How, then, does Courtney view the debate over religious freedom that has raged ever since Australians voted to legalise same-sex marriage in 2017? She says it’s clear that sometimes people, especially older white males, perceive other people gaining rights as a threat to their own. She says religion can be a lost cause because it is, by definition, about faith rather than rational argument. Still, queer people have to make the effort to engage.

“The way to do that is to get people to picture themselves in other people’s experiences. That’s the only way you can foster that empathy.

“Rather than yelling aggressively back at the people trying to oppress us, I think the most important thing to do is to share our stories.”

Another thing you can do, of course, is march. This weekend, Mardi Gras culminates in the annual parade up Oxford Street, which will feature more than 200 floats and 10,000 marchers. For the first time, Courtney will co-host the coverage on SBS with comedians Joel Creasey and Zoe Coombs Marr, and Studio 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs.

She had something of a practice run hosting the coverage on Foxtel some years ago. “I saw a clip of it the other day,” she says. “And I’m definitely hoping to redeem myself.”

As a character, Courtney has been on the gay scene for about 20 years. The person behind the facade, Shane, turned 38 last week. He grew up in Brisbane and remembers watching the parade on television as a teenager in the 1990s, huddled up close to the TV so he could quickly switch it off if his parents came downstairs.

Shane came to Sydney when he was 18 and attended his first Mardi Gras. “I just remember it was such a melting pot of people,” he says. “It was the first time I really understood what a community was: that there were all these different parts, and we all faced different challenges and struggles.”

But even then, Shane says he failed to really comprehend about what Mardi Gras was all about. Just like many heterosexual critics over the years, as a young man he gawked at the giant dancing penises, fetish-wear and nudity and wondered: why?

“I remember thinking: why can’t they just be normal?” Shane says. “Have your parade, but why does it have to be about sex and penises? Because I had shame about all of those things. I realise now that the parade’s brash display of sexuality liberates the shame … it’s a really radical way to shake people and say there’s nothing wrong with sexuality – not just homosexuality but sexuality in general.”

The queer community has given Shane a lot: acceptance, identity, a career and fame. It has taken him to Los Angeles, where he was based for some years until 2018, and now to his new home in London.

Love, on the other hand, remains elusive. He is “on the rebound” at the moment, though eternally optimistic. “It’s Mardi Gras time, it’s summer in Sydney, I think this is the perfect time to be single. Maybe I’ll find love under a disco ball at the after-party.”

Incredibly, at 38, Shane is about to attend his first ever wedding, straight or gay – his friend Tim is marrying his partner Ben. It is set to be a baptism of fire. “They have asked my ex-boyfriend and me to give the best man’s speech together, which could be slightly sadistic,” he says.

Shane is still adjusting to the relatively new world of same-sex marriage. It’s not for everyone – many queers still think of it as a conservative and unnecessary institution – but it’s growing on him. “Weirdly, seeing all these people get married, I feel like my cold heart has melted a bit,” he says. “I think there’s something really beautiful about marriage.”

It’s a reminder of why events like the Mardi Gras are still so important – a celebration of diversity at the same time as the old divisions between straight and gay are knocked down. As well as marriage, this can manifest in small shifts, like the politics of Bondi Beach.

“I was at North Bondi on Saturday [and] it was surprisingly unlike North Bondi,” Shane says. “It was all families and those banana umbrella things. I was like, ‘Oh, I remember when this used to be [gay nightclub] ARQ, but with more light.’"

“I guess that’s the progress we fought for – the families are happy occupying the gay beaches now.”

Fashion director Penny McCarthy. Photographer Steven Chee. Hair Benjamin Moir at Wigs By Vanity.

SBS’s Mardi Gras broadcast airs live from 7.30pm on February 29. Fluid will return for a tour of Australia and NZ in spring.

This article appears in Sunday Life magazine within the Sun-Herald and the Sunday Age on sale February 23.”

Courtney’s interview for The Sydney Morning Herald - February 21, 2020

#ca interview #21.02.20 #courtney act #sydney mardi gras

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mpecher20ahsgov-blog · 5 years

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State and Legislative Action

1) Assembly member Kahan and State Senator Glazer

a. My issue, safety of endangered species, is really more of a national issue rather than state. Most laws that could apply to the subject are subsections of the Endangered Species Act, which is under federal decision. So, while states may be able to create laws to help, most just leave it up to the federal government because it is classified as an overall problem in the US, not just one state.

b. From looking at both individual’s website, we can see other environmental issues which both appear to have a positive stance on. While their exact position on endangered species isn’t clear, it can be assumed that they would act in favor of these animals. This is a position I agree with and I also think it is good to represent California in that way because it shows we don’t have to prioritize economic needs over environmental health.

c. It appears that neither have sponsored specific bills relating to endangered species.

2) California Bill

a. Bill number: AB-527 (assembly)

b. Introduced February 13, 2019

c. The bill is still waiting for it’s Hearing by the committee as it has been postponed even after several amendments.

d. The purpose of this bill is to delay the prohibition of importing of a crocodile or alligator for commercial purposes, possessing with intent to sell, or selling within the state, the dead body, or a part or product thereof, into the state until January 1, 2030. It would also require a specific disclosure on any product sold in the state prior to that date, and violation of that would result in a punishable misdemeanor. While I don’t think this is necessarily the most important bill to focus on in terms of endangered animals, it should still be supported because any help is good help. For the sake of importance equaling priority, I understand why they postponed the Hearing. I think I would support it but I also think maybe they should just shorten the date because 10 years is a long time to still allow the use of alligator or crocodile parts.

3) Congressman Desaulnier, Senator Harris, and Senator Feinstein

a. I was unable to find Desaulnier’s or Harris’s opinions on my topic, so I sent them emails regarding the subject. However, while Feinstein may not have had bills specifically regarding endangered animals, she does have information about climate change clearly represented on her website. She provides a multitude of papers consisting of facts and statements about certain changes in the climate, pollution per country, altered temperature, weather danger, and other environmental disruptions. She also provides various solutions or things we can do to help such as forms of renewable energy, and other actions she has taken or will take to reduce negative environmental impacts.

b. Again, the only legislation I could find was regarding the climate rather than specifically endangered animals, however because of her views and efforts to resolve this issue I believe she would support enactment of bills to protect endangered species. This is a stance I would support.

4) Bills

a. There are numerous bills and issues under the Environment issue tab. For specifically endangered animals, while there are certainly other previous debates and bills about it, the most recent ones I saw were regarding laws limiting hunting for sport, wildlife trafficking, outrage against Trump’s reduction of power given to the Endangered Species Act, and whether or not the grey wolf should be taken off the endangered species list.

b. Bill number: SB-831 (senate)

c. This bill discusses whether grey wolves should be taken off the endangered species list because of it’s recovered numbers, or kept on the list to solidify these growing numbers and efforts to their conservation.

d. Depending on the vote, grey wolves may or may not be taken off the endangered species list. If taken off the list, the grey wolf would be under control of states, tribes, and federal agencies. If they stay, the progress made so far could be longer lasting and allow the wolf population to flourish rather than just meet the recovery point.

e. I would vote no, I do not think other people that don’t have the wolves best interest in mind should have control over their numbers.

f. It originated in the Senate. It is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Environment and Public Works and has not yet been voted on by both the Senate and House.

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peonyun · 5 years

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Yun Yi’s Masterlist 🐾

This will be my masterlist for various topics, mostly KM. Everyone is free to refer to this post for their reference which I hope would be of use to you! Thank you to the people who put in the effort to create these wonderful posts and unless stated otherwise, all credit goes to them!

Now, let’s get started~ ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶

(Disclaimer: Though many share the sentiment that there’s something between KM or they’ve already begun dating, these are all still just speculations unless confirmed by KM themselves. Please be respectful when sharing your opinions and be open for debate because not everyone will share the same opinions as you do. But if you do find someone who does, that’s great! Also, keep everything KM-related within the KM tag and don’t spread hate among the other ships! Regarding analysis and theory posts, though they may be interesting, fun and relatively harmless to watch, it may be best to watch the original moment to form your own conclusions rather than basing your opinion on the ones of others. Stay calm, critical and logical, and have fun reading!)

(Last updated: 29/3/19)

Starter posts: How not to ship (1, 2) / Best dancer debate by finch-and-jay | "We’re all mad here” / When you start to doubt KM, read this by peachblossomsofair

Personal Favourites:

Jungkook's Gaze by finch-and-jay

CHiRP: THE look by finch-and-jay

CHiRP: Home Party Boop by finch-and-jay (honestly everything by finch-and-jay is great -- her masterlist here)

Subtle KM moment: JK's Highschool Graduation by peachblossomsofair

A Director's Outlook on G.C.F by thebangtankaijuu (Tokyo/Osaka, Saipan, USA)

Kookmin Sus(picious) (tagged):

BTS & KM (vid) (1, 2, 3)

KM Anniversary Theory (1, 2)

KM's Late-night Adventures (bv2 laundry, face-timing each other)

KM in vlives (Eatjin ft. KM by satellite-jeon)

Sukira Kiss the Radio: Jungkook's look (vid) (1)

Jungkook's poem (vid) (1)

Jungkook’s song recs/covers (1)

G.C.F in Tokyo Tutorial Video (post by an880322)

Osaka V-live (vid) (analysis video, post)

Summer Package (1, 2)

“Dangshin” (vid) (1)

"Let's go, baby" (vid) (1, 2)

“Where do you think you’re going?” -- Jeon Jungkook

Bon Voyage Special Live Commentary (post by la-fleur-de-lotus)

Jimin is Jungkook’s Flower by jungkookie-saranghae)

KM-related posts (tagged) :

Satellite Jeon (tagged) (tagged posts by tee-ae) (1, 2, 3, 4)

Jeonlous (tagged) (vid) (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Whipped Jeon (tagged) (gifset) (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, bonus: both are whipped)

MMA (vid, gif) (behind THE moment, It’s in the Eyes, Break down of THE moment, Tee-ae’s post, locals’ reactions)

A part in G.C.F. in Tokyo that needs more attention by jiminiekookie5813

Happiness, Compassion and Joy by btsthoughtss

Serendipity analysis by sandroila

Non-shippers/fans & KM (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

KM push & pull (vid) (1)

KM dynamics (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

KM behind the scenes (1, 2, 3, 4)

KM on twitter (1, 2, 3)

KM size difference (1)

KM terms by satellite-jeon

KM in Bon Voyage (vid, compilation by goldenjapan, post by satellite-jeon)

KM being loud/obvious (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Jungkook’s body language by taetaesbfaaf

JIMIN-related posts (tagged):

(Note: Look through if you want to feel better or cry because you will, probably)

‘WOW i love this man’ folder (playlist) (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7!!!, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Underappreciated things about Park Jimin (1, 2) by dearestnana

Reasons Jimin can whoop your ass in every damn aspect of life by thisheartsmadefullmetal

On Jimin and Flirtation by finch-and-jay

People gushing over Jimin or men questioning their sexuality because of Jimin (videos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) (posts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

BTS & Jimin (1, 2)

My posts (art & thoughts) (tagged):

My Journey with KM (1)

Director JK on Getting into Video-Making

I plan to update this masterlist as regularly as I can! (Though I doubt it because I still have schoolwork to do (｡•́-ก̀｡) but I’ll try my best.) I hope you enjoyed going through my list as much as I did making it~

#jikook #kookmin #my masterlist #this should be called a monsterlist #i almost broke my back making this #and i had to go through so many jimin pictures and videos and fancams #i wont deny it i got sidetracked watching his fancams ajhfgaskj #there's still so many posts i haven't added here too shsgfdsjh #aaa too many things to do not enough time

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hcsmca · 6 years

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How Ethics and Morals Bring Clarity to a Chaotic World

The terms “ethics” and “morals” are often used interchangeably, but there are important differences between the two. Ethics require a group consensus of some form, whether formal or informal, whereas morals is for the individual to decide. Of course, one impacts the other, with a sort of chicken-and-egg effect, and both have an enormous impact on how we approach difficult subjects and navigate complex problems. TEDMED 2018 Speakers Adam Waytz, Rabiaa El Garani, Sherry Johnson, and Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin are each tackling moral and ethical dilemmas and sharing their wisdom from the Stage this November. Whether through research or lived experience, these Speakers will share stories of exploring, grappling with, and resolving health-related moral and ethical dilemmas on both individual and societal levels.

Adam Waytz, a psychologist and associate professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, is interested in uncovering what motivates a whistle-blower, or a person who decides to come forward to report someone else’s unethical behavior. Adam and his colleagues have conducted research to discover the psychological determinants of whistle-blowing in order to shed light on the factors that either encourage or discourage a potential whistle-blower to come forward. Their findings revealed that there are two basic moral values at odds when someone decides whether or not they will speak out about an offense: fairness and loyalty. People who prioritize fairness over loyalty tend to show a greater willingness to be a whistleblower, while those who prioritize loyalty show more hesitation to speak out. Through his work, Adam is lending new insight into how the guiding principles of ethics and morals can vary so much from person to person and contribute to drastically different decisions.

There are some issues around which morality and ethics are seemingly clear-cut. For instance, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is widely recognized as a serious crime and human rights violation. Unfortunately, SGBV is still a common occurrence in far too many places in the world. As an international investigator of SGBV and a member of the Justice Rapid Response-UN Women SGBV Justice Experts Roster, Rabiaa El Garani has traveled to places that are experiencing deep moral and ethical conflict surrounding SGBV—including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and the Central African Republic. In the JRR-UN Women documentary Evidence of Hope, a survivor who shared her traumatic experiences with Rabiaa underscored the importance of Rabiaa’s SGBV investigative work, saying “After I met [her] I realized that there are some people in the world that care about us.” Rabiaa’s work is bringing justice to survivors of SGBV, voicing their stories, and laying the groundwork for a new code of ethics in parts of the world where SGBV is often ignored or even accepted.

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While SGBV is considered a crime in every state across America, many people would be surprised to learn that child marriage is not. Sherry Johnson is a survivor of child marriage who was forced to marry her rapist at age 11, and by age 27, she was a mother of 9. Today, Sherry advocates for the fair treatment of children and fights for the abolishment of child marriage in the United States. After spending the past several years lobbying the Florida legislature on the issue of child marriage, Sherry recently achieved a major victory with the signing of SB 140 into law, which restricts marriage in the state to those who are at least 17 years old. However, the fight is far from over—almost all states still have some legal variation for children to marry.

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Another ethical debate that concerns America’s young people surrounds the practice of vaping, which is the inhaling and exhaling of aerosol (also referred to as vapor) through an e-cigarette or similar device. Vaping and e-cigarettes were initially considered to be a less harmful alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes, however recent studies have shown their effects to be much more deleterious than originally thought. Furthermore, with advertising that appears to target youth, candy-like flavors like mango and fruit medley, and devices that pack an alarmingly high nicotine content, the vaping industry has become the subject of extensive ethical scrutiny in recent years. Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin is a biobehavioral scientist and a professor of psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine whose research focuses on the bio-behavioral understanding of vaping and substance use behaviors in young people. By digging deeper into teen vaping behavior, Suchitra is uncovering important information that can be used by policymakers as they look to regulate the e-cigarette industry in an effort to help keep children away from the highly addictive and harmful habit.

From health and wellbeing to human rights and policy, we look to ethics and morals to help bring clarity to our often chaotic world. Although the lines between right and wrong may seem clear to many, such as in the cases of child marriage, SGBV, and teen vaping, the fact is, these are not universal truths. Furthermore, given the individualized psychology behind how we establish our morals, we may never be able to see eye to eye on some things. We’re excited to continue exploring the complexities of ethics, morality, science, and behavior from the Stage this year and to gain a deeper understanding of these concepts from TEDMED 2018 Speakers Adam, Rabiaa, Sherry, and Suchitra. We hope to see you there!

The post How Ethics and Morals Bring Clarity to a Chaotic World appeared first on TEDMED Blog.

Read more from TEDMED https://blog.tedmed.com/how-ethics-and-morals-bring-clarity-to-a-chaotic-world/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

#TEDMED #California #HCSM #2016

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afrolesbikita · 3 years

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Stories & interesting updates on POS and POS Equipment.

Beto O’Rourke is on the road again, trying to build public pressure on Congress to take action on voting rights while his fellow Democrats in the Texas Legislature take the fight to Washington, D.C., after killing Republicans’ priority elections bill in Austin.

Arguably the state’s best-known Democrat, O’Rourke has been crisscrossing the state since June 3 and plans to wrap up with a large rally Sunday at the Texas Capitol, which he hopes will send the loudest message yet to federal legislators.

It has been the most statewide travel for a political cause that O’Rourke has done since his blockbuster 2018 U.S. Senate campaign when he narrowly lost to Sen. Ted Cruz.

“I can’t get it out of my system,” O’Rourke said during the first stop of the tour in Midland. “I want to see the state again. I want to be with people.”

Buzz about a potential 2022 gubernatorial campaign has followed O’Rourke everywhere he has gone, but he has deferred a decision on the race until after the current battle over voting rights.

By the time of the Capitol rally, he will have visited at least 19 cities on his statewide tour, which he has titled “For the People: The Texas Drive for Democracy.” And the stops have not just been in the major Democratic cities but also places like Wichita Falls and Brenham, reminiscent of the go-anywhere spirit of his Senate campaign.

Like the state House Democrats who defeated the GOP voting bill by walking out of the chamber late last month, O’Rourke is using the national spotlight on Texas to urge Congress to pass the For the People Act, a far-reaching elections overhaul that would expand voter registration, end partisan gerrymandering and restore voting rights to felons who have finished their sentences. O’Rourke also supports passage of the narrower John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would require many changes to state election laws to go through “preclearance,” or federal approval.

O’Rourke said the two elections proposals in Congress are “mutually reinforcing” and “you need them both.”

The odds are stacked against O’Rourke, both at the state and federal levels. Gov. Greg Abbott plans to revive the state elections bill in a yet-to-be-scheduled special session. Senate Bill 7 would have placed new limits on early voting hours, banned drive-thru voting and tightened vote-by-mail rules.

Meanwhile, the For the People Act remains doomed without GOP support or the elimination of the filibuster, which requires at least 60 votes to advance legislation in the 50-50 chamber. O’Rourke has joined progressives in calling for the end of the filibuster, though the votes are still not there to do so.

O’Rourke is still hopeful things can change in Washington.

“I think Texas has done about all we can, including the very extraordinary step taken by the Texas state House Democrats who walked out at the 11th hour of the regular session,” O’Rourke said in an interview Thursday. “We’re gonna all do our best to stop whatever voter suppression bill comes through in a special session, but at this point, we really need the federal government.”

That is expected to be the main message of Sunday’s rally, which will also feature Julián Castro, the former 2020 presidential candidate, U.S. housing secretary and San Antonio mayor, as well as several of the state Democrats from the walkout. The rally starts at 5:30 p.m. Central on the south steps of the Capitol.

O’Rourke said he would like to use the event to give Democrats in Washington, D.C., an “extra push” as they prepare to vote next week on the For the People Act.

O’Rourke’s reemergence has given Texas Republicans fodder to further make a boogeyman out of him ahead of a potential 2022 campaign. Since O’Rourke’s road trip started, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, has emailed supporters multiple times mocking what he calls O’Rourke’s “Texas Drive For Voter Fraud” tour.

“Beto O’Rourke is traveling across Texas pushing Leftist talking points that run counter to what Texas is all about,” U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin said in a fundraising email Thursday. “He’s laying the groundwork for an all-out push to flip Texas blue next year.”

Amid the 2022 buzz, O’Rourke has sought to keep the focus on voting issues for now, and he said he was heartened by two developments in recent weeks. The first was state GOP lawmakers walking back two of the most controversial provisions in Senate Bill 7, a sign that Texans’ voices are getting through to the Republicans, O’Rourke said. The lawmakers said they will tweak parts of the proposal that had to do with the Sunday early voting window and overturning elections.

O’Rourke also pointed to the floating of a potential compromise earlier this week by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has been the sole Democratic holdout on the For the People Act. O’Rourke argued that was due “in no small part” to the state lawmakers who visited Washington, D.C., this week to lobby members of Congress — including Manchin — for federal voting legislation before meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris.

O’Rourke praised the job that President Joe Biden has done so far in elevating voting rights as an issue, citing Biden’s recent speech in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the statement he issued in opposition to Senate Bill 7 a day before the walkout. Biden used the Tulsa speech to say he will “fight like heck” against GOP efforts to restrict voting, and he said in the statement on SB 7 that it was “part of an assault on democracy.”

But O’Rourke said Biden could do more to show how the debate has roots in former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 elections was stolen and the events that came after that, including the U.S. Capitol insurrection.

“I would like to see him go further, and I would like to see him bring this country together around this issue and connect the dots for all of us,” O’Rourke said.

While O’Rourke was thrilled to see the walkout by state House Democrats last month, he was deferential to the lawmakers on how they should try to stop the elections bill in the forthcoming special session. O’Rourke said they are “leading right now, and the last thing they need is advice from me or anyone else.”

“They have done so much so far,” he said, “and I’m confident they’re gonna do whatever it takes in any special session” to stop the legislation.

On Thursday, state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, told CNN that breaking quorum again is on the table, saying “it’s no secret that that’s something that has been effective in the past.”

In addition to the voting rights fight, O’Rourke’s political future has been an open topic of discussion during the road trip, with audience members raising it as part of their questions to him, sometimes multiple times in one city. Elected officials have also brought it up along the way.

“This is truly a Democratic state, and we’re gonna make it that,” U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, said during O’Rourke’s visit to her city. “They could gerrymander all they want to, but it will not keep us from getting registered and getting out to vote — and it will not keep us from electing Beto as governor.

“Now, nobody wants to talk about that right now,” she added amid cheers, “but I do.”

In the interview, O’Rourke reiterated what he has told countless interviewers in recent weeks: that he would not consider a 2022 run until he sees through the current battle over voting rights. He said “there’s just nothing more important” at the moment.

At the same time, he said he has “really enjoyed the way I have been serving over the last couple years.” That has included registering new voters and working with volunteers through his Powered by People group. Whether as a candidate or not, he said, he will continue “dedicating myself to public service.”

The above article was provided here.

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aion-rsa · 4 years

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Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 Episode 7 Review: Unification III

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This Star Trek: Discovery review contains spoilers.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 7

The Vulcans have long been one of Star Trek‘s most fascinating creations. A society built on the value of logic, The Original Series immediately challenged the concept by making main character Spock half-human, with all of the emotionality that comes with it. Through his struggles, we were able to see both the value and limits of a life led by logic; his conclusions (and ours) on the matter were rarely simple ones. That legacy continues on today in Discovery, with an episode decades in the making. “Unification III” is more than just a reference to the 90s-era Next Generation two-parter (“Unification I” and “Unification II”) that told the story of Ambassador Spock’s efforts to bridge the divide between the long-separated Vulcan and Romulan civilizations, it is an intentional and direct continuation of that story. (If we didn’t get that from the content, we’d glean it from the episode’s title.) This is a yet another Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 installment that is deeply interested not just in pulling back in some of the franchise’s most celebrated characters, but in engaging with its most enduring themes.

What are the pros and cons of being part of something larger than yourself? It is a question last week’s episode, “Scavengers,” explicitly delved into and its one we see front and center yet again here, to even greater effect. It’s a question Michael needs to answer for herself, as she continues to question her place on the Discovery and in the Federation as a whole following her year without them. And it’s a question Ni’Var, the ex-Federation planet formerly known as Vulcan, cannot ignore, as it continues to live in a post-reunification society composed of both Vulcans and Romulans.

It is shocking to know that the planet that used to be Vulcan, one of the founding members of the Federation and always a beacon of light and justice, is no longer part of the interplanetary alliance. Frankly, it’s the biggest warning sign so far that perhaps this future incarnation of the Federation cannot be trusted. But that debate is for another episode. This episode’s debate lies firmly within the confines of The Burn, a mystery that has become increasingly tangled up in the story of Michael Burnham—not because she has any personal memory of the tragedy but because she has made it her mission to get to the bottom of the incident that tore the Federation apart in the hopes that she can bring the Federation back together again.

The mystery of The Burn leads Michael and the Federation to Ni’Var. Prior to The Burn, all Federation member planets were asked to put resources towards Starfleet’s dwindling dilithium problem. Ni’Var came up with SB-19, and experimental project that involved somehow moving ships through space in a near-instantaneous manner that is not unlike the Discovery’s spore drive method. However, the Ni’Var scientists deemed the experiment too dangerous and planned to shut it down… until the Federation ordered them to continue. When the Burn occurred, Ni’Var believed it was their fault and that the Federation forced them into the tragedy. Ni’Var chose to leave the Federation as a result.

Michael is insistent on bringing her new findings on The Burn to Ni’Var, as she believes it proves that SB-19 was not the source of the accident. She also wants access to any data from the SB-19 project that could help lead to more answers about The Burn. Despite her insistence, Michael is initially and surprisingly hesitant to go herself. However, Vance convinces/orders her. After all, who better to act as the Federation’s ambassador to Ni’Var than the sister to Spock, the person who paved the way to the Vulcan-Romulan reunification?

Unfortunately, Ni’Var President T’Rina immediately and definitively shuts down Michael’s request for the SB-19 data. But this is far from Burnham’s first time dealing with stubborn Vulcan-types. She invokes the T’Kal-in-ket, a Vulcan ritual that demands a quorum entertain her request for scientific data. Basically, it’s a debate club meet mixed with a therapy session with tiki torches for ambiance, and it is all so very Star Trek.

Michael is appointed an advocate from the Romulan Qowat Milat, aka the order of warrior-nuns seen this season in Star Trek: Picard and, in the biggest surprise of the episode, it is Michael’s long-lost mom! Honestly, the plot twist that time-traveling Gabrielle has someone become a Ni’Var warrior nun sometime in the last few years is a bit hard to swallow, but it’s such a glorious reunion that I’ll allow it. It also leads to one of the most intense moments of the episode, when Gabrielle more or less emotionally manipulates her own daughter in front of the Ni’Var quorum, the Ni’Var president, Saru, and a roomful of others into publicly working through her issues.

Why is Michael so obsessed with finding out why The Burn happened? How can she claim to speak for and trust the Federation when she was disobeying direct orders just last episode? Where does Michael belong? These questions, in grand Star Trek tradition, are asked in what is more or less a courtroom drama. And, in grand Star Trek tradition, when our protagonist reaches for faith in the institution of Starfleet, in her Discovery family, and in the ideals of the Federation, she finds it. In the process, she convinces T’Rina to share the SB-19 data with her—not by effectively and logically arguing her point in the T’Kal-in-ket, but by prioritizing protecting the fragile peace between the Romulans and Vulcans over getting answers about The Burn.

While Michael needed a win right about now, she needed the process of returning to a place she once called home and being forced to be honest with herself even more. Ni’Var gave that to her. Roughly halfway through the season, Michael has found where she belongs once again. She started this episode “between places,” as her mother described it, and she ended it being where she is: part of something bigger. If this validation of a commitment to and a belief in something bigger than one’s self—for Michael, for the Romulans and Vulcans of Ni’Var, for all of the member planets of the Federation—ends up being Star Trek: Discovery‘s enduring thematic legacy, then this journey to the future will be time well spent. After all, isn’t this what Star Trek has always been about?

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Additional thoughts.

In the other main plot of the episode, Saru asks Tilly to be his Acting First Officer. (Just give her the job!) Tilly has trouble with it, asking what are honestly some really difficult and important questions: Does Saru want her for this job because she is qualified or because she is compliant? He informs her that it is because he thinks it is what would be best for the ship, which I guess means the first option. It checks out that Tilly would have low self-esteem about this. We’ve seen it from her before, no doubt at least partially a result of her overly critical mother. But we’ve also seen how, when given the time and support, Tilly is able to advocate for herself. Honestly, she will make a great First Officer. I am excited to see this relatively non-traditional Captain-First Officer team of Saru and Tilly in action.

Speaking of which, I’m glad Stamets got his act together on this because his initial reaction to Tilly’s request for advice around the possible promotion was pretty harsh and not very helpful.

“The union of the Vulcan and Romulan people will not be achieved by politics diplomacy will not be achieved by politics or diplomacy — but it will be achieved.” Did anyone else cry when Leonard Nimoy came on screen?

I guess they didn’t have the budget to go to the surface of Ni’Var, huh? Bummer.

“What if you hadn’t made it back? What would I do?” I love that Tilly calls Michael out for putting hr in such a shitty position last episode. These two really are very good at being friends.

“You guys are chronic overachievers.” Book nails it.

“There is a whole galaxy out there, full of people who will reach for you. You have to let them.” This quote from last season remains one of my absolute favorites, and is obviously a guiding theme for Star Trek: Discovery.

“You always know where to find me.” Gabrielle, finally, to her daughter.

“Headline: Michael Burnham is Coming.” I love how Vance just transitions into Newsies mode here.

I am kind of shipping Saru and T’Rina?

“You feel like home.” Book and Michael are such a functional couple.

Confirmed! Michael and Tilly are still roommates.

“She wondered how much of the man Spock became was a result of who his sister was.” Wow, this is such a powerful, rare message: the idea that the legacy of an important man, or any important individual, is made up, too, by the people who supported and loved them.

I’m still side-eying that cat.

The post Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 Episode 7 Review: Unification III appeared first on Den of Geek.

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nhlabornews · 7 years

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AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin 4-21-17: Protecting Public Schools From Edelblut's Power Grab

In terms of public activity, this was a relatively quiet week at the State House, but be assured, wheels are turning. The House met in session yesterday for only two hours, passing a number of smaller or less important bills, while work continues on the big pieces of legislation. Probably the most noteworthy moment was the brief set of comments offered by Representative Kat Rogers in commemoration of the Columbine school shooting. Her remarks were brief, pointed, and applauded by many, but not all (you can imagine what ideological element of the House refused to honor her efforts). In similar fashion, the Senate also met and rendered decisions on a number of pieces of legislation, each important to certain constituencies but none of major, state-wide importance. The big issues and the controversial legislation is yet to come forth; likewise, work continues on the Senate’s budget proposal.

Protect Public Schools The Senate will convene next week (April 27) while the House will not convene again until May 4, 2017. In the meantime, committee work continues. The House Education Committee held a working session on SB 193, the voucher bill, this week, and it was a rather contentious occasion. Much of the energy focused upon a potential amendment/rewrite of the bill being put together by supporters of vouchers and those who wish to starve the public schools of funding. Thus far, it does not appear they have solved either of two major problems—the fact that NH’s Constitution bars use of public monies to support religious schools, and the reality that vouchers will siphon money from public schools and thereby lead to higher local property taxes. The Attorney General’s office again warned of constitutional problems with SB193, and there was continuing discussion regarding the financial impact of this legislation. What hampered the committee, however, was the lack of any actual language or text of an amendment, meaning that member were debating and arguing over ideas lacking any specificity or detail. Voucher proponents have yet to reveal their grand plans to rescue SB193 and it now appears that time is running out. The committee will vote on SB193 and any amendments on April 25, recommending the House either pass or kill the bill. Don’t be surprised, however, if the committee decides to instead “retain” the bill, allowing it to be re-introduced in 2018 and providing time to work on the myriad problems bedeviling this bad piece of legislation.

Actions Needed Let us be sure to maintain contact with members of the NH House Education Committee and ask them to defeat SB 193 in any form. You can contact the entire committee at the following address: [email protected]

Also, please also take just a moment to tell your state representatives to vote NO to SB 193.

More Edelblut One strong advocate for SB193 is Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut. To no one’s surprise, the man who claimed in his confirmation hearing that he would be a mere administrator and not a policy-maker is now out waving the voucher flag and slamming public schools. At the same time, he continues to push for legislation granting him broad powers over budgets and personnel in the Department of Education, so as to remake it into a State agency leading the fight for vouchers and privatization of education. Having no experience or interaction with public schools in his entire adult life, Edelblut unsurprisingly advocates what he knows best, homeschooling and private schools. What is fascinating is that while voucher advocates demand accountability and transparency for all those supposed cheaters using food stamps, they are ready to give millions to private and religious schools and home-schoolers, with nary a peep about accounting for how the money is spent or providing any transparency in the expenditure of public funds. The inconsistencies abound.

NH Department of Education The Senate Education Committee heard the amendment from Sen. Reagan which is a power grab by Education Commissioner Edelblut to completely revamp the Department of Education. The Committee will meet next week on Tuesday, April 25th on HB 356 to consider this non-germane and rushed amendment. Senator David Watters has submitted a revision that would properly slow down this last minute amendment and have the matter studied thoroughly. And we learned this week that Governor Sununu will not reappoint State Board of Education Chair, Tom Raffio and instead has nominated conservative consultant, Drew Cline, who worked for the Union Leader for 14 years. Edelblut is working hard to consolidate power so he can move forward with his extreme agenda. We must keep a watchful eye on the actions at the Board of Education.

Voting Rights Finally, there are two other legislative issues of note. SB 3, the voter suppression bill, has yet to come out of the House Election Law Committee, but action will soon be forthcoming. Don’t be surprised if the committee recommends passage to the full House, where we will assuredly hear more tales of ghostlike busloads of Massachusetts citizens crossing into New Hampshire, buying cigarettes and liquor, and then going to cast illegal ballots on election day.

NHRS- Double-Dipping Lastly, the Senate is still considering the fate of HB 561, a bill to limit ‘double-dipping’ into the NH Retirement System by providing enforcement penalties for those who exceed hourly work limitations and establishing greater accountability by having towns and cities pay into the system when reclassifying positions as part-time or interim. The bill easily passed through the House but is facing opposition in the Senate, despite being supported by an odd coalition of organized labor and conservative legislators. Politics does indeed lead to strange bedfellows at times, and the wheels continue to turn!

In Solidarity,

Douglas Ley

AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin 4-21-17: Protecting Public Schools From Edelblut’s Power Grab was originally published on NH LABOR NEWS

#AFT-NH #Frank Edelblut #Protect Public Schools #Vouchers

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shrutime-blog1 · 7 years

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Do participants actually get an idea where their money is going Explain.

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Business Ethics

CASE STUDY (20 Marks)

Dallas: For the last six months, many Roman Catholic priests have felt like the public face of scandal, in their communities, even though most had no role in the sex abuse crisis engulfing the church. Now, they say, they face a new concern: whether the blameless in their ranks will be hurt under the ambitious policy bishops have adopted to keep abusive clergy away from parishioners. Under the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” clergymen who molest children will never again be active in church work, and some will be formally removed from the priesthood. Many priests say they are concerned about the document’s board definition of abuse, and they question whether the church leaders who approved it have taken enough responsibility for their own roles in creating the moral emergency. “The policy is driven a lot more by public sentiment than the principle of compassion.” Said the Rev. Robert Silva, Head of the National Federation of priests’ Councils, which claims a membership of about half of the nation 46,000 priests. Since the scandal erupted in January with the conviction of a former Boston priest for molesting a boy, scores of people have come forward with accusations of sexual abuse by priests and indifference from church leaders. At least 250 priests have since resigned or been suspended. Silva said priests – already anxious about their interactions with children – we be even more apprehensive because of the definition of abuse the bishops approved on Friday. Abuse will now be considered as any inappropriate contact with a child, regardless of whether it involves force, physical contact or whether any harm is apparent. Silva called the wording "very frightening.” Philadelphia cardinal, Anthony Bevilacqua, who is a canon lawyer, said he too was concerned by the language and hoped it would be clarified when the document comes under review in two years. “It’s very difficult to come to a definition,” he said. “It must be something of a serious nature and involve some kind of bodily interaction.” Silva also complained that the plan contained severe punishments for the priests but no sanctions for bishops who mishandle abuse cases. The bishops have informed a national governor Frank Keating, to annually review whether church leaders are complying with the policy. Some clergy said that wasn’t enough. The bishops added a clause saying they “deeply regret that any of our decisions have obscured the good work of our priests.” But Mondignor Kenneth Lasch, a parish priest and canon lawyer in Paterson, New Jersey, Diocese felt the apology sounded stilted.

Answer the following question.

Q1. Give an overview of the above case.

Q2. Discuss the moral and ethical issues w.r.t the facts above.

CASE STUDY (20 Marks)

Paula is a freshman at a large university in southern California. She is involved with a sorority, Alpha Alpha, on her campus. Paula rushed Alpha Alpha because she heard that it was heavily involved in philanthropy. In fact, Alpha Alpha hosts an annual philanthropy week donating money to a charity that raises money for cancer research. Paula is excited to take part in the weeklong activities because philanthropy and service have always been an important part of her life. She wants to find out more about the charity, and is thrilled that other college students will also be finding out more about cancer research and what they can individually do to help fight cancer. When the week approaches, Paula is surprised at the activities that will take place. She notices that not once in the week’s activities does it mention cancer research. Teams simply signup and have each member pay $15 to partake in the activities. Paula notices that the activities are simply attending a dinner at a local restaurant, performing a two minute dance on stage, a karaoke tournament, a fashion show, and a scavenger hunt. Paula thinks the week is a lame excuse of a philanthropic effort. She hears from her older sorority sisters that teams just pay the fee and never hear about the charity again. Teams allegedly just participate to get drunk and attempt to win the activities for bragging rights. Paula is disappointed to be a part of such a philanthropy week.

Answer the following question.

Q1. Are philanthropy weeks, like the one Paula’s sorority puts on, ethical? Give your comment.

Q2. Do participants actually get an idea where their money is going? Explain.

Q3. What about charity balls that older individuals take part in? Oftentimes individuals pay a large sum of money per plate at these charity events, but don’t learn much about the charity and just attend to boost their social status. Discuss.

Q4. Is there a difference between the way they are run and these college philanthropy weeks? Debate.

CASE STUDY (20 Marks)

US researchers said on Monday they have created a new human embryonic stem cell by fusing an embryonic stem cell. They hope their method will provide a way to create tailor made treatments from scratch, using cloning technology. That would mean generating the valuable cells without using a human egg, and without creating a human embryo, which some people, including President George W. Bush, find objectionable. But the team, led by stem cell expert Douglas Melton, Kevin Eggan and others at Harvard Medical School, stress in a report to be published in next Friday’s issue of the journal Science that their method is not yet perfect. Stem cells are the body’s master cells, used to continually regenerate tissues, organs and blood. Those taken from days old embryos are considered the most versatile. They can produce any kind of tissue in the body. Doctors hope to use embryonic stem cells as a source of perfectly matched transplants to treat diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and some injuries. But because some people object to the destruction of or experimentation on a human embryo, US law restricts the use of federal funds for this kind of research. It is a hot debate in Congress and several bills have been offered for consideration that would either relax the federal restrictions or tighten them even more. Melton has complained about the restrains and, like other experts, has used private funding to pursue stem cell work. He and other experts say they only want to understand how to reprogram an ordinary cell and hope the use of human embryo would only be a short term and interim step to learning how to manufacture these cells. The Harvard team says they have taken a big step in this direction. Currently, embryonic stem cells are either taken from embryos left over from fertility clinics, or generated using a cloning technology called nuclear transfer. This requires taking the nucleus out of an egg cell and replacing it with the nucleus of an adult cell, called a somatic cell, f from the person to be treated. This reprograms the egg, which starts dividing as if it had been fertilized by a sperm.

Answer the following question.

Q1. Give an overview of the above case

Q2. What is cloning technology? Explain.

Q3. Explain the unethical aspects of cloning.

Q4. Discuss necessity and ethical aspects of cloning.

CASE STUDY (20 Marks)

Frank and Bobby are freshmen at a university on the semester system. They meet at orientation and bond over their major, Economics, and their hobby of playing sports. They decide to request one another as roommates, and both enroll in the same mathematics class: calculus for business majors. The two get off to a bad start academically. They are experiencing the freedom of living on their own for the first time. No parents are around to make sure they are keeping up with their homework assignments or readings. In fact, since Frank and Bobby are both in the same math class, they often take turns going to class. It starts off with the boys alternating going to class, but eventually turns into both boys often skipping. One evening, midway through the semester, Frank and Bobby run into a classmate who informs them they have a midterm the next morning. They successfully get her class notes, however they soon realize they don’t have enough time to study unless they pull an all-nighter. Bobby doesn’t believe he can stay up all night and still perform well on the test the next morning. He decides that it’s in his best interest to create a cheat sheet and plug equations into his calculator. He Frank is against cheating. He calls out Bobby, saying that this is unethical. Instead, he buys two Adderall pills from a student in their dorm who has ADD. He has heard that taking Adderall helps you stay awake and focus. Bobby gets upset when he finds out Frank is taking Adderall to study. Bobby claims that there is no difference between taking a drug that isn’t prescribed to you to help you study and bringing in a cheat sheet. Bobby says they are both forms of cheating. Frank disagrees, claiming that at least he’s going through the process of studying for the midterm.

Answer the following question.

Q1. Do you believe it’s cheating to take an academic performance enhancing drug that isn’t prescribed to you? Comment.

Q2. Is relying on academic performance enhancing drugs to study dangerous in long term? Explain.

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ongames · 7 years

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The Most Outrageous Abortion Legislation Of The Last Month

Keeping up with the many abortion-related bills working through state legislatures right now can be dizzying, particularly since President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence took office vowing to push forward an anti-abortion agenda, emboldening lawmakers who would like to see reproductive rights stripped away. As Rewire reports, in the first month of 2017 more than 167 anti-choice bills were introduced at the state level (71 percent, it should be noted, by white Republican men).

It is essential, however, not to lose sight of just how much anti-choice legislators are chipping away at abortion rights in ways that disproportionately affect low-income women and those in Southern states. Women who live in states where the government has protected abortion access, like California or Connecticut, cannot forget would be remiss to forget that in other parts of the country late-term abortion bans, TRAP laws, mandatory waiting periods and other regulations mean that abortion is a right in name, and not much more. That’s why HuffPost Women is tracking some of the more unbelievable bills being proposed and passed month-to-month around the country. Here are four just from March.

Arkansas passed a law requiring abortion providers to “investigate” patients.

At the end of the month, Arkansas’ governor signed a law, sponsored by Rep. Charlie Collins (R), requiring abortion providers in that state to investigate their patients by requesting all medical records pertaining their pregnancy history before they are able to perform an abortion. They would not be able to do the procedure until a “reasonable amount of time and effort” is spent tracking down those records, though what that actually means is left undefined.

Supporters of the law say it bans “sex-selection abortion” ― the notion that women terminate pregnancy based solely on the sex of the fetus. But that is a false premise. There is no evidence that American women regularly have abortions for that reason. (Collins has indicated that the idea for the bill came partly from what he understands of the former one-child policy in China.)

Opponents of the law have also slammed it as an invasion of patients’ privacy. “Health care providers should never be forced to investigate patients for the reasons behind their personal, private decisions,” Lourdes Rivera, senior vice president for U.S. Programs at the non-profit Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a press release. “When a woman has made the decision to end a pregnancy, she needs high-quality health care, not an interrogation.”

Status: The law will take effect on January 1, 2018.

Texas’ Senate passed a bill making it OK for OB-GYNs to withhold information from pregnant women.

In late March, Texas’ Senate passed Senate Bill 25, which would prohibit patients from bringing “wrongful birth” suits against their doctors. Under SB 25, a pregnant woman would not be allowed to sue her doctor if he or she found a fetal abnormality during prenatal testing and failed to disclose the results. The bill’s proponents have argued that it protects both doctors and children with disabilities, and still allows patients to bring malpractice suits. But reproductive rights advocates ― including several OB-GYNs who have testified against the bill ― believe it has the potential to erode trust between doctors and patients and even makes it possible for care providers to “lie” to parents based on their own personal abortion-related beliefs.

“[It] is another thinly veiled attempt to prevent Texans from accessing their constitutional right to abortion,” Heather Busby, executive director at NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, the reproductive healthcare advocacy group, told The Huffington Post last month.

Status: The Senate passed the bill, and the House began hearing testimony regarding HB 434 ― the similar companion bill― this week.

Kansas’ House specified the font size used on information given to patients.

The Kansas House fixated on the font size (12), font (Times New Roman) and color (black) used in information given to patients before they get an abortion. As The Wichita Eagle reports, the bill requires patients be given information about where their doctors received their medical degree, whether they have malpractice insurance and whether they’ve ever faced disciplinary action. That, however, is not information given out to patients having other types of surgery, which sends a message that abortion providers are somehow different than other medical providers, opponents of the bill say.

As far as the handwringing over font, one democratic legislator also tried to bring an amendment removing the font specifications from the bill, The Wichita Eagle reports, arguing that the government shouldn’t be involved in that level of detail. The amendment failed.

Status: The bill will now go to the Kansas Senate.

Iowa considered a “heartbeat” bill.

Lawmakers in the Iowa House proposed what would have been the strictest anti-choice law in the country, banning abortion once fetal cardiac activity is detectable. That can happen as early as six weeks, making the procedure illegal before many women even realize they have conceived. A day after proposing the measure, Iowa House Republicans dropped the so-called fetal heartbeat measure, moving instead to ban abortions after 20-weeks in the state, the Globe Gazette reports. (Notably, that is a very similar pattern to what happened in Ohio last December, when Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) signed a 20-week ban into law while vetoing a six-week ban, a move critics called “smoke and mirrors” and “backdoor politics,” trying to appear moderate on abortion while pushing through regulation.) The Iowa bill would allow for exceptions if the woman’s life is in danger or if there is risk of “substantial and irreversible” physical damage, but does not allow women to terminate if the fetus has abnormalities that mean it will not survive after birth.

Status: The six-week ban was dropped, but the Iowa House is debating the 20-week ban ― a version of which has already cleared the Senate ― this week.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Most Outrageous Abortion Legislation Of The Last Month published first on http://ift.tt/2lnpciY

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yes-dal456 · 7 years

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The Most Outrageous Abortion Legislation Of The Last Month

Arkansas passed a law requiring abortion providers to “investigate” patients.

Status: The law will take effect on January 1, 2018.

Texas’ Senate passed a bill making it OK for OB-GYNs to withhold information from pregnant women.

Status: The Senate passed the bill, and the House began hearing testimony regarding HB 434 ― the similar companion bill― this week.

Kansas’ House specified the font size used on information given to patients.

Status: The bill will now go to the Kansas Senate.

Iowa considered a “heartbeat” bill.

Status: The six-week ban was dropped, but the Iowa House is debating the 20-week ban ― a version of which has already cleared the Senate ― this week.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

from http://ift.tt/2nOBi6o from Blogger http://ift.tt/2nOSl8x

#http://www.happiness2arab.tk/2017/04/the-most-outrageous-abortion.html

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imreviewblog · 7 years

Text

The Most Outrageous Abortion Legislation Of The Last Month

Arkansas passed a law requiring abortion providers to “investigate” patients.

Status: The law will take effect on January 1, 2018.

Texas’ Senate passed a bill making it OK for OB-GYNs to withhold information from pregnant women.

Status: The Senate passed the bill, and the House began hearing testimony regarding HB 434 ― the similar companion bill― this week.

Kansas’ House specified the font size used on information given to patients.

Status: The bill will now go to the Kansas Senate.

Iowa considered a “heartbeat” bill.

Status: The six-week ban was dropped, but the Iowa House is debating the 20-week ban ― a version of which has already cleared the Senate ― this week.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://huff.to/2o6E4qe

#Healthy Living - The Huffington Post

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jjsterc · 7 years

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Two Washingtons

My first published piece was edited significantly. This is the piece as it was originally submitted:

One Senator, Two Washingtons

by Justin J Stercula

A cold wind whipped outside the Washington state capital the morning of February 1st. The electronic monitor in the hallway of the John A Cherberg Building listed the day’s senate session as commencing at 1:30 PM. By 4:30 PM, the floor remained empty. Save for the occasional staffer placing documents on the symmetrically aligned desks of the various state senators, there was no movement. Conversations in the halls of the chamber remained hushed murmurs. The delay was the result of a cancelled flight that would have brought Senator Doug Ericksen of Washington state’s 42nd District on schedule to Olympia from Washington, D.C.. The senator’s been splitting his time between the coasts since being appointed to President Trump’s EPA transition team. In January, Sen Ericksen accepted a position as the Special Advisor to the Administrator and Communications Lead for the incoming administration’s team, causing him to miss time in Olympia in order to fulfill his new duties on the east coast. The senator’s absence has become a cause for concern for many.

Ericksen, however, is confident in his ability to fulfill his obligation to both Washingtons.

“I’m on top of everything. I’m working on my committee, on my bills, on sponsoring legislation. I’m doing all my duties as a senator,” Ericksen said in a January 31 interview with The Bellingham Herald.

The same day as Senator Ericksen’s missed flight, a 9:00 AM hearing for the Senate Energy, Environment, and Telecommunications Committee, a committee which he chairs, went on without him. According to a February 1 Seattle Post-Intelligencer story, the senator has missed more than half of such committee hearings this session .

His recent EPA appointment has proven problematic for a variety of reasons ranging from concern over his absences in Olympia to what his intentions are in the position. Matt Krogh, Director for the Extreme Oil Campaign at Stand is troubled by the potential of a more permanent Ericksen EPA appointment in Seattle, home to the EPA’s Region 10 offices.

“That’s a lot of power over polluting industries that [the] EPA is supposed to have right now and that Senator Ericksen would be almost certainly determined to relinquish were he in charge.”

Where Krogh sees cause for concern, Representative Matt Manweller, of Washington state’s 13th district sees opportunity.

“Most EPA rules are adopted with little input from the states. Thus, their one-size-fits-all rules rarely work for [Washington]. Sen. Erickson will bring an important perspective as someone who has been intimately involved in state-level policy making,” Manweller writes in an e-mail.

Senator Ericksen is no stranger to criticism. He has endured a significant degree of opposition from various groups during his time in office. On February 9th, there was a petition and protest calling for a recall of the senator’s elected title in response to his dual-roles in the senate and EPA. Two years earlier, in 2015, a group of students, including activist and Western alumni Chiara D’Angelo, went as far as to attempt to have his master’s degree revoked due to his climate change views.

“The science is very clear and I think that anyone that negates science and calls science based thinking un-American is extreme,” said D’Angelo.

D’Angelo is most known for her activism, which included chaining herself to a Shell Oil Arctic drilling support vessel. She has frequently found herself in opposition to Senator Ericksen’s efforts.

Ericksen himself catapulted to the national spotlight in November 2016 when he proposed the outline of what would become SB 5009, a piece of legislation that would classify certain types of protests, including the actions of D’Angelo, as felony offenses under the designation of “economic terrorism”.

Some saw the bill as nothing more than an opportunity to appease constituents who harbored economic concerns regarding the disruption of their businesses. Matt Krogh agrees.

“I think it’s [an] interesting reactionary ploy to try to get favor with his base” said Krogh.

Todd Donovan, professor of political science at Western and Whatcom County Councilman, is also skeptical of the senator’s purported environmental advocacy.

“He has no environmental policy. [He’s] a champion of industry and interests that not only contribute to him, but that are big players in his district. He’s got two refineries in his district and he represents those interests. He’s not an environmentalist,” said Donovan.

Fellow 42nd district representative and House of Representatives member Luanne Van Werven sees otherwise.

“One thing I know about Senator Ericksen is that he is passionate about the environment - as a matter of fact, that’s even his background,” said Van Werven.

Despite criticisms, Ericksen does have a history of pro-environmental practice. After obtaining his Bachelor’s at Cornell, he travelled to Taiwan to teach English. Disturbed by the heavy levels of air pollution there, Ericksen pursued an MA in political science and environmental policy. Before his bid for elected office, he took a job with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and aided in the creation of the Salmon Habitat Recovery Act of 1998.

Yet his environmental activism appears less comprehensive since beginning his senatorial career. Nick Abraham, Communications and Accountability Manager with Washington Conservation Voters says the organization drafts an environmental scorecard for every member of the state legislature. According to Abraham, Senator Ericksen’s lifetime score is 6%. “He is very, very low on that scale and is much lower than a number of Republicans,” said Abraham.

The political divide in the United States has only sharpened since the contentious 2016 presidential race. Seemingly every issue has become highly partisan, with no room for compromise. This is where Ericksen’s role as an environmental policy maker comes into question. While Ericksen and his political allies no doubt see his actions as the best way forward, others remain critical of his role.

It’s easy to paint Senator Ericksen in broad strokes based solely on his party affiliation, but Ericksen is no die-hard, lifelong conservative. He went to graduate school on the fence about which party best aligned with his ideals. It wasn’t until his exposure to and study of environmental issues that his values started to significantly take shape. In an interview with Business Pulse, Ericksen states:

“My time at Western was enlightening. You go in there a little naïve about the process. You find out that some of the people working in the environmental world are not necessarily about the environment, but that they have another agenda that’s more about control, and an anti-capitalism, anti-American way of life, and that also drove me the other direction.”

The enigmatic nature of Senator Ericksen’s environmentalism often comes down to partisan politics as usual. Where liberals see a cause for environmental concern, conservatives see an opportunity for economic growth.

“Ericksen brings a balanced approach to considering the diverse values of environmental stewardship, economic development and the general quality of life in Washington. He will help develop [and bring] that same balanced approach to the EPA,” Representative James Walsh said in an e-mail.

Whether or not this type of balance is indicative of Senator Ericksen’s efforts to date is still cause for debate among many. Regardless of one’s opinion of Senator Ericksen, he plays an undeniably large role in the realm of environmental policymaking. His efforts will have a significant effect on the future of environmental policy at both the state and federal levels for years to come.

(Senator Ericksen could not be interviewed due to scheduling conflicts resulting from his frequent travel between Washington state and Washington, D.C..)

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