Professional Documents
Culture Documents
How many of you here consider yourself caffeine addicts? How much coffee
do you drink a day? One cup? Two cups? More? How about caffeinated
sodas?
Caffeine is pervasive in our society these days and every few months we
hear about how a study has shown that it is bad for us or good for us. What
are we to believe?
Today I'd like to give you some of the facts about caffeine and its effects on
your body. It may not cause you to change your coffee consumption but at
least you'll be better informed about what you are putting into your body.
I'm going to talk about the beneficial effects of caffeine, the negative effects
and discuss what are considered safe levels of caffeine consumption.
Let's start with the good news. Caffeine, which comes from the leaves, seeds
and fruits of about 63 different plants, is well known as a stimulant. That's
why people drink it, right?
Caffeine does help you wake up and feel more alert and it has been shown to
increase attention spans. This is a beneficial effect for people who are driving
long distances and for people who are doing tedious work. Calling this a
health benefit may be stretching it, though staying awake while you are
driving a car is definitely a benefit to your well-being!
Caffeine also contains antioxidants which have been shown to have cancer
prevention qualities.
The negative effects of caffeine are largely dependent on how much you
consume.
When consumed in small quantities like, for example when you have one cup
of coffee or one soda, caffeine can cause your heart rate to increase, you
urinate more which can cause dehydration, and your digestive system
produces more acid.
In larger amounts, caffeine can cause you to have headaches, feel restless
and nervous, be unable to sleep, and even, in very large quantities to have
hallucinations.(Don't try that at home!) When larger amounts of caffeine
(over 600 mg per day) are used over long periods of time you can develop
sleep problems, get depressed and have problems with your digestive
system.
They say that having up to 3 eight ounce cups of coffee a day or 250 mg of
caffeine is considered (quote) "average or moderate". 10 cups of coffee a
day is considered excessive. Also, remember that the amount of caffeine per
cup can vary greatly depending on the type of beans that are used and the
strength of the brew.
Most sodas with caffeine, unless they are specially enhanced like "Jolt" or
something like that, have about 35 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces so you don't
have to worry too much unless you are drinking several 2 liter bottles per
day. Also, the effect of caffeine on you personally will depend on a number of
factors like your weight, general health, mood and personal sensitivity to
caffeine.
You can see that caffeine can have both positive and negative effects on our
health and well-being but the bottom line is that if you drink your coffee or
sodas in moderation, you don't have to worry too much.
So, the next time you are wondering whether you should have that second
cup of coffee to perk you up, relax. At least now you know what it is and isn't
doing to you!
Ever See A Liger?
An episode of the edgy, humorous, and often line-crossing show South Park
had the four young main animated characters singing the song "Pig and
elephant DNA just won't splice" after a visit to the South Park Genetic
Engineering Ranch. Unfortunately, this is how much of the country thinks
about hybrid animals.
When most people hear the term "hybrid animal," they often think of odd,
mutant creatures - hippopotamuses mixed with lions, dogs mixed with cats,
or squirrels mixed with porcupines. Indeed, the word hybrid invokes the
imagination and encourages one to entertain these improbable combinations
as miracles of science.
The idea of hybrids dates back to the mythology of ancient times. Folk tales
were full of animal-human hybrid stories like mermaids and minotaurs. The
word hybrid comes from the Ancient Greek, meaning "son of outrageous
conduct." But understanding hybrid animals lies both in nature and science.
The mixing of animals that are closely related happens naturally more than
you might think. In fact, scientists have recently identified a number of
hybrid zones, or places where animal hybridization is most likely to occur
based on a number of different factors. These hybrid animals are far more
important to nature than you might think. Evolutionary biology studies show
that the fittest animals survive, no matter whether they are hybrids or not,
and while some are simply not genetically compatible in terms of survival,
many others are.
Science, as well as nature though, has created some of its own hybrids for
various purposes. Take, for instance, the mule - a cross between a female
horse and a male donkey, which has existed since Ancient Roman times. For
centuries, mules have been used as a means of transportation and labor.
Even today, their sure-footedness makes them one of the best animals to
have in rough terrain or narrow passages. In countries such as Chile and
China, mules are valued for their navigability. In fact, mules are still used to
tour the Grand Canyon's steep and narrow trails!
Hybrid animals are closer to home than even the mule, though. Common
pets like cats and dogs are often hybrid animals, having been crossbred with
another breed. Thoroughbred cats and dogs are valued for the purity of their
blood, but because of the cost involved with thoroughbreds, most people find
themselves with crossbred dogs or cats for pets.
The value of hybrid dogs and cats is changing, though. Crossbred dogs and
cats were once considered mutts or mongrels, but today, with the ever-
increasing crossbreeding and technology, some find that hybrid dogs and
cats are "more valuable" because of their temperate personality, the
shininess of their hair, or other desirable characteristics. Perhaps you want
the security a Doberman Pinscher can provide, but you do not want its
aggressiveness. Breeding with a more amiable dog could provide you with
the best combination of characteristics.
Crossbreeding is a process that has occurred for centuries. There are many
hybrid animals in the world, whether produced artificially, by scientists or
naturally in a common habitat or because of familiar characteristics.
Though many believe the unlikeliest hybrid animals, such as the liger, can
occur only in a laboratory, the hybrid polar/grizzly bear found in the wild
repudiates this belief. In this way, hybrid animals provide us with fascinating
questions on fertility as well as the limits, or rather non-limits, of nature,
while challenging our imaginations, and our animated television shows like
South Park to envision the possibilities.
ENTERTAINING SPEECH
"I don't know," I would cry, "How do you tell the difference between elephant
and a letterbox?"
"If you haven't worked that out, you'd better not post any letters."
I knew how to tell the difference between the end of a queue and a letterbox.
One makes a tail and the other takes the mail. I knew the difference between
a riddle and an elephant sitting on a bun. One is a conundrum and the other
is a bun under em. See? Those riddles had a satisfying answer. They were
complete.
My mother offered no solution. When I appealed to her she just laughed and
explained "It means that if you can't tell the difference, you might post the
letter in the elephant's trunk."
Surely they didn't think I was that stupid! Anyone could tell the difference
between an elephant and a letterbox! But the riddle was incomplete. Why
ask a riddle if there was no answer?
It was the same with some of the words I didn't understand. No one would
tell me when I asked, "What is Plissity?"
But I knew there was. Plissity was something special. I heard it at Sunday
School. I was taught to pray, "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon a little
child. Pity mice and plissity. Suffer me to come to thee."
I prayed this prayer every night, earnestly, specially the part that said, "Pity
mice." After all, with all the cats round, these defenseless little creatures
needed all the help they could get.
But I didn't understand the rest of the prayer. It said "Pity mice and plissity"
What was plissity? Some other creature, obviously, but there were no
pictures of them in my big book of zoo animals, and there was no mention of
them in "The Animals of Farmer Jones"
So I asked my mother.
"What's plissity?"
Perhaps it was one those words that made my mother change the subject
quickly if I said it in front of visitors. I still prayed for the plissity each night
but I was careful not tomention it again in case it was something
embarrassing. And I stopped asking for the answer to the elephant and the
letterbox riddle. Grown ups seemed to have secret jokes they wouldn't share
with us.
When I was old enough to read, I was given a dictionary. At last! Here was
my chance to find out. Eagerly I looked up P.L.I.S.S.I.T.Y. I couldn't believe it.
It wasn't there! I looked up "elephant" and "letterbox" They were there but it
gave no clues to this secret adult joke.
Then one day I was given a book of children's prayers. I was able to read for
myself, "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon a little child. Pity my......
Simplicity."
But I never did find out how to tell the difference between an elephant and a
letterbox.I still think of it as I step over the cracks on my way to post a letter.
I hope I don't meet an elephant!
An Alarming Experience
What is it? I wake in fright. And the cat dozing on the end of my bed leaps in
terror and runs headfirst into the wall. I sit up in bed, my heart pounding and
my mind whirling in confusion. The still night air is ripped apart by a shrill
piercing sound.
I rush from room to room, searching and sniffing for fire. There's not a trace.
But still the smoke alarm shrieks on, jangling my brain with its strident
sound.
Is this some kind of joke? How dare it wake me from my exhausted sleep! I
switch on the light to see if the alarm can be turned off. Obviously, the only
way to stop it is to remove the battery. The alarm is set high on the ceiling.
"Just call us when the battery needs to be changed," the man had told me
when he installed the alarm. "Don't try to climb up and do it yourself."
I stand on a chair. The alarm is still out of reach. It shrills on and on. Surely
the neighbours can hear it? It's a wonder no one has phoned the fire brigade.
I'd feel pretty silly if they arrived, but at least someone might be able to stop
this racket. I look out the window.
No sign of life anywhere. The neighbourhood sprawls in blissful slumber.
I grab my broom, reach up and prod the alarm. After a few bashes it gives a
final shriek and goes silent. Phew! Peace at last. I turn out the light and flop
back into bed. My heart rate has almost returned to normal.
But what's that? A shuffling sound comes from the corner of the room. It's
obvious that I am not alone. I watch in transfixed horror as the door of my
wardrobe slo-owly creaks open. Someone - or something is about to emerge.
I try to scream but the scream sticks in my throat as out... creeps ... the cat!!
She nervously resumes her place on the end of my bed and carefully washes
her face.
With a sigh of relief I collapse weakly on my pillow and finally fall fast asleep.
Suddenly the room reverberates once more with the earpiercing sound. That
infernal alarm again!
I leap out in fury, turn on the light, grab the broom and whack the alarm.
Again and again. It stops - then it starts, stops and starts again. Each time I
put the broom down, the noise starts, pounding in my brain, taunting me.
"I'll fix you for good!" I yell. I keep ramming and bashing it with the broom
handle. The alarm seems as though it will never give in. Well, neither will I.
I'll kill it this time!
Finally, I give it a mighty whack. The alarm loses its grip on the ceiling and
lands at my feet, still protesting loudly. I perform the final act by wrenching
out the battery.
Silence. My head is still ringing, but the night is at rest once more.
I turn the alarm over. The warning on the back - which I hadn't been aware of
- says, "Gives a warning chirp when the battery is low." Chirp! They call that
a chirp?
I throw away the battery. If I get that smoke alarm put back up, it will be on
the wall where I can reach it.
No doubt smoke alarms do save lives when they warn in time of real danger.
But what if that unnecessary fright had given me a heart attack? And it could
happen to a frail, elderly person. If I had died in the night, they probably
would have performed an autopsy to determine the cause.
But would anyone have suspected the real culprit - the smoke alarm!
Sample Speech To Persuade
Note: The data presented in this sample speech is fictitious and is intended
only as a backdrop
for this illustration. Also, this example illustrates a mid point between the
initial narrative form
and the final note card form of the speech. This entire speech should be
reduced to three or four
5" X 8" note cards for an extemporaneous presentation. Remember, the
less narrative data on
the note cards, the less temptation to read.
Introduction
3. Motivational Statement: and tonight, I'm going to provide you with some
information that can literally save your life.
4. Overview:
- What has been done by city officials and law enforcement so far
to resolve this problem
Body
I. The problem that we are facing is the deadly intersection of H Street and
Laurel Avenue.
-- According to a summary of Lompoc City Police reports filed within the last
14 months,
there have been 19 collisions at the corner of H Street and Laurel Avenue.
Of these, 19
collisions, 11 were attributed to the failure of East/West Laurel Avenue
traffic to stop
at H Street. The remaining 8 accidents were attributed to motorist
traveling North and
South on H Street, striking cars in the rear that had just turned on to H
street from
Laurel Avenue.
Well, now that we've examined the nature of the threat we are facing
lets take a look at what has been done so far to defend against this threat.
II. Debate by city officials and increased patrols by law enforcement have
not
solved the problem.
-- During the last two City Council meetings held in January and February of
this year,
the council acknowledged the need for a traffic signal but concluded that
the cost of
$127,000.00 would take away from funds needed for other city projects.
"While Police were present and visible, people were normally more
careful, but when no police were present it was business as usual."
III. In order to protect ourselves and those we love, we can drive defensively,
but most
importantly, we must demand a traffic light be installed without further
delay.
-- When we get this traffic signal installed we will all be safer. Tragedies will
be
prevented. The city council must hear our voices. Remember, 27 people
have
already been seriously injured and 4 have died at this intersection.
$127,000.00
may be a lot of money but can we afford not to spend it on a traffic signal
for the
intersection of Laurel Avenue and H Street? How long will it be before
you and I
are one of those accident victims? How often do you use this
Intersection? Will
you use this intersection tonight when you leave class? We can't wait
any longer !!!!!
-- If we do not act now and demand the installation of this traffic signal
then we will be contributing to the injuries and deaths and pain to
surviving families because of our lack of action. We must act now!!
-- The next City Council meeting will be held April 12th, next Thursday at
7:00 p.m..
The agenda includes comments and a call to vote on this traffic signal
issue. The
more of us who attend that council meeting and support immediate
installation of a
traffic signal, the better the chance we will have of getting it
.
Ladies and Gentlemen, attend that meeting with me and with me, demand
this
traffic signal be installed immediately!!!
Conclusion
-- Remember the 27 injured and 4 who were killed there, not one block from
where we are right now.
then
- We discussed what has been done so far by both city officials and law
enforcement to deal with this problem.
-- We saw that the City Council has been debating installing a traffic signal.
-- We saw that the Police Department tried increased patrol of the area.
--- But remember the words of Patrolman Glover, when he said that as soon
as police were not immediately present it was business as usual.
and finally
- We looked at what we can do to further protect ourselves from the threat
posed by the serious problem of no traffic signal at the corner of H Street
and Laurel Avenue.
2. Purpose Statement: So, ladies and gentlemen, now you have the
information that can
literally save your life. And so the time for action is here. I urge you to go
to the City
Council meeting with me next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and demand a
traffic signal be
installed at the intersection of Laurel Avenue and H Street immediately!!!
3. Closure: If you need a ride to the meeting or if you have any questions,
see me after class.
I'll be happy to talk with you.
SAMPLE PERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE
(Motivated Sequence)
Thesis Statement: The need is constantly growing for organ donors and it
is very simple to be an organ donor when you die.
I. INTRODUCTION
B. Tie to the audience: One of the people on the waiting list for an organ
transplant might be someone you know.
C. Thesis and Preview: Today I’d like to talk to you about first, the need for
organ donors in our area, second, how you can become an organ donor after
you die, and finally, how your family and organ donor recipients benefit from
you donation.
[Transition into body of speech]: I’ll begin by telling you about the
need for organ donors.
II. BODY
A. People around the world but also right here in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa,
and Illinois, need organ transplants and they need our help.
[Transition: I’m sure that you can see the need for people like you to
donate your organs. The majority of this class has already said they
would like to donate their organs when they die. But you might be
asking, well, how can I make sure my organs are donated after I die?
Let me tell you.]
B. This is how you go about making sure your organs are donated.
1. Talk with your family about your decision. They will be involved in the
donation arrangements when you die. If they do not know your wishes of
becoming a donor, your wishes may never be carried out.
2. Mark your driver’s license so that your license indicates your intent to
donate. Each state varies.
a. Fill out, sign and carry a uniform donor card with you.
b. This donor card says what organs you wish to have donated and also has
places for your family members to sign as witnesses after you have
discussed your decision with them (Gundersen Lutheran Hospital [LaCrosse,
WI] undated brochure).
C. Organ donation benefits both the donor’s family and the recipients.
1. If you do donate your organs, your family and the people who receive your
organs might benefit in a similar way like this family. A seventeen year old
died of head injuries in a car accident. His mom decided to donate his
organs. His heart went to a prison chaplain, his kidneys went to a mother of
5 children and a Vietnam vet. The Vietnam vet is "energetic" and finally is
getting his college degree. The teenager gave life to others and his family
feels a sense of satisfaction and comfort that other lives have been touched
by his (University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics 1991 brochure).
2. The problem arises when you are thinking about becoming a donor but
never do anything about it. Then, no one knows your wishes and your organs
will not be donated. The consequences of this are more people waiting for
organs and there will still be an incredible shortage of available organs.
III. CONCLUSION:
B. Summary: I’ve told you about the need for organ donors in our area, how
you can become an organ donor after you die, and finally, how your family
and organ recipients benefit from your donation. You become a donor by
talking to your family and making sure they know you want to be a donor, fill
out and sign a donor card, and indicate your wishes on your driver’s license.
C. Tie Back to the Audience: What if the person waiting on the list needing
an organ transplant was someone you loved? Imagine if you had a brother or
sister who had unexpectedly died and you were able to meet the person who
received their heart, for example. Think of the satisfaction and possible
comfort knowing that your brother or sister provided life for somebody else.
D. Concluding Remarks: I’m going to leave you with a short message from
Michael Jordan who is a sponsor for the Iowa LifeGift Coalition on Organ and
Tissue Donor Awareness and appears in their 1996 brochure. "Please make
the decision to become an organ and tissue donor. Remember: Share your
life. Share your decision."