Columnist Project: Step 2.5

Kennicott once again opens with flawless imagery and personification - the reader is immediately drawn in. He seeks to bring to light the importance the height limits in D.C. have on a larger scale than just the aesthetics of the skyline. He is constrained somewhat by the almost instinctual reaction of the reader to not really care about something like architectural laws. But with extensive evidence and historical background, Kennicott creates an appeal to authority. The reader trusts his knowledge and can hardly help but become emotionally invested in the issue. His tone is one of concern - for his city and the larger repercussions of the potential law change. He once again utilizes a distinctive periodic structure by laying out of his ideas before stating his opinion in the final sentence. As always, his diction is superb, using a combination of both erudite language and common, understandable vocabulary. As always - superb.

Kennicott, Philip. "D.C.’s height limits: The risk of ending them - The Washington Post." The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post. The Washington Post, 13 Sept. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/dcs-height-limits-the-risk-of-ending-them/2013/09/13/ba188bce-006b-11e3-96a8-d3b921c0924a_story_1.html>.

Agree/Disagree/Qualify examples "McMurtry"

I agree with McMurtry's claim that society is sick, backed by football's evident violence. I have read several articles in TIME magazine that discuss the long term negative effects of the game on players and society's apparent willingness to ignore those consequences. 

I disagree with McMurtry's claim that society is sick, because although a violent subculture exists, there are many people that demonstrate a desire for peace and do not glorify violence, as shown simply by many bumper stickers. And while football may have roots in brutality, when the players kneel in respect to injury, it shows that there exists no complete obsession over it. 

I subscribe to the claim that McMurtry makes that society is sick, shown by massively televised and marketed bloodshed in movies, video games and sports such as wrestling but his use of football as evidence is invalid. While football may have roots in brutality, when the players kneel in respect to injury, it shows that there exists no complete obsession over it.

Even though McMurtry's assertion that football has an obsession with violence is valid, I disagree that society is sick. While a violent subculture exists, there is not an all consuming obsession and acceptance of it.  

Factoid Friday #6

When the institutional movement first began in the 1850's, facilities for the mentally ill were expertly designed, with many of the same treatments that are now considered moral. But near the end of the 19th century, new treatments from Europe emerged, like shock and insulin therapy and institutions became overcrowded and in terrible condition. As a result of this the deinstitutionalizing movement began, and still has steam. But the lives of mentally ill now could hardly be argued to be better then the way it was in institution. So if properly run, mental institutions are far superior then forcing the mentally ill to live on the edges of society. 

Panero, James. "A New Moral Treatment by James Panero, City Journal Spring 2013." City Journal. The Manhattan Institute, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2013. <http://city-journal.org/2013/23_2_institutionalization

Taking the cliche out of cliches

Many hands make the work need to go through 2 committees, a board, and the Supreme Court.

The eyes could be windows to the soul. Except windows usually work best when they're transparent.

Burn the midnight popcorn.

Factoid Friday due 10/4

My fact:  Research shows that renting apartments for homeless, mentally ill people in the neighborhoods where they are, and getting them treatment there, works better than shipping them off someplace.

"Colorado Weighs Reopening Psychiatric Hospital For Homeless : Shots - Health News : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. NPR, 13 May 2013. Web. 4 Oct. 2013."

Factoid #5

My fact: New research out of Sweden finds that prolonged use of technology, particularly within an hour before bed, throws off the sleep cycle and circadian rhythms of young people and can lead to symptoms of depression. 

P.C., F.A.C.S., David Volpi, M.D.,. "Heavy Technology Use Linked to Fatigue, Stress and Depression in Young Adults." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 02 Aug. 2012. Web. 26 Sept. 2013.

The Third of the Fabled Factoid Fridays

The fact: There are roughly 320,000 seriously mentally ill people in prisons and jails this year and there are only about 100,000 beds for psychiatric patients in hospitals and mental institutions. Which means there are almost 3 times as many people with serious mental disorders in prisons as there are in proper health care facilities.

Pan, Deanna. "TIMELINE: Deinstitutionalization And Its Consequences." Mother Jones. Mother Jones, 29 Apr. 2013. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.