Architextuality Preservation of the Urban Built Environment

Architextuality Preservation of the Urban Built Environment Material Culture Summary: Architexturality: An Argument in Favor of Creative Preservation of the Urban Built Environment This article was written by Michelle Metro-Rolland. It explores how the various levels of historical structures are preserved in the cities that are struggling with rapid development and modernization (Critical Conservation par. 1). Most cities that have historical structures were analyzed. Moreover, various ways of preserving the structures were identified.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Architextuality: Preservation of the Urban Built Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The article has been introduced with definition of the term ‘city environment’. Moreover, the importance of history in the development of the cities has been highlighted. The writer identifies the well being in several city landscapes in the United States, Europe, and the Far East. The historical structure s offer an in-depth understanding of the political, economical, and social practices of the people who developed the cities (Rypkema 4). The author argues that while the past should be appreciated, it is also vital to embrace modernity. The article identifies available methods that are used in the preservation of urban structures. Several international bodies that enforce international laws and policies are currently available. They mainly target the preservation of historical sites in the cities (Critical Conservation par. 2). These bodies create awareness on the need of preserving monumental structures located in cities. Some of these organizations include UNESCO, HUL, and ICOMOS. The art of preservation of the monumental structures emerged in the late 19th century. Currently, several countries have et up laws and policies that are aimed at preserving important historical structures in their respective cities (Rypkema 4). The author managed to identify several challenges facing th e preservation of structures that belonged to old cities. The most outstanding challenge is the deplorable status of the old structures. Most of them are inhabitable and thus, pose danger to the city dwellers. The environmental conditions of the houses are also not suitable for settlement. Furthermore, modern lifestyles and living conditions have made most of these structures to be inhabitable. Since such structures cover large city areas in Eastern Europe and the U.S. it becomes quite cumbersome to maintain those structures in their original states. The author is also quite categorical that most of the monumental structures in the cities are privately owned. This poses a significant danger towards the preservation of such structures since governments have limited control on development projects carried out on privately owned properties. However, the author highlights some ways in which privately owned monumental structures have been renovated and utilized in the modern world.Advert ising Looking for article on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As much as the use of the structures is not similar to the original use of the structure during the historical times, it has proved to be an effective way of preserving the monumental structures without undertaking major modifications (Rypkema 5). Some of the structures that are owned by the state are used as museums and tourist attraction centers. As a matter of fact, reusing the structures proves to be a better way of preserving them (Built Environment par. 6). The writer acknowledges the importance of buildings as a form of history preservation since movable historical artifacts can easily be lost, stolen, or destroyed. The author appreciates the modernization of the cities but believes that it can still be done without destroying the historical structures. He also visualizes that any city is a very rich historical landscape that c an offer the story of its settlers and the changes that have taken place in the social-political settings of its environment (Built Environment par. 5). Built Environment. 2013. Web. Critical Conservation. 2013. Web. https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/ Rypkema, Donovan. Celebrating Our Urban Heritage: Globalization, Urban Heritage, and the 21st century Economy. Global Urban Development Magazine 1.1(2005): 1-8. Web. globalurban.org/Issue1PIMag05/Rypkema%20PDF.pdf

Why Were British Forces Militarily Superior To American Forces In The

Why Were British Forces Militarily Superior To American Forces In The Why Were British Forces Militarily Superior To American Forces In The First Years Of The War How – Coursework Example American and British Strengths and Weaknesses al affiliations This essay analyzes the main strengths and weaknesses of American and British forces during the American Revolution. Key words: American forces, British forces, Revolution, war.American and British Strengths and Weaknesses Despite the superiority of British military forces in the 18th century, the Americans were able to win the war â€Å"for their rights, their independence, and their liberty† (â€Å"The American Revolution.†). How did this happen? What helped American nation to prevail over the British Empire, the dominant European power? There were many reasons for such an outcome. Both sides had advantages and disadvantages. In April 1775, when the war started, the odds were against American forces. Britain had larger population, trained and experienced army, allies, and wealth. According to â€Å"The American Revolution.†, â€Å"Britain’s military was the best in the world. Their soldiers w ere well equipped, well disciplined, and well fed.† Funds were used to hire mercenaries from other countries to fight the Americans. What is more, most Americans did not want to fight, and they were hoping to settle all controversial issues peacefully. British Empire maintained its position until 1777. But American leaders were qualified, clever and high-principled. The battle of Saratoga was crucial. It helped Patriots to retreat and increase their forces. Also, in early 1778, France recognized American independence and became an ally. The war got more expensive â€Å"and the British population debated its necessity† (â€Å"The American Revolution.†). Soldiers were tired and far from home. â€Å"Military orders, troops, and supplies sometimes took months to reach their destinations† (â€Å"The American Revolution.†). It all offered hope and courage to continue the struggle for independence. In conclusion, it should be said that Americans showed the ir strength of will and powerful faith. Despite all the difficulties, they sustained the Revolution and won the war.ReferenceThe American Revolution. (n.d.). In U.S. History Online Textbook. Retrieved from ushistory.org/us/11.asp

The Methodology of Risk Decreasing and Fraud Operations Avoiding with Essay

The Methodology of Risk Decreasing and Fraud Operations Avoiding with Payment Cards of International Payment Systems - Essay Example As the discussion stresses the great quantity of these methods gives us an opportunity to choose the most suitable for each specific task, for each kind of database. This paper declares that systems analysis of multiple risks is used when we have no considerable database of certainly fraud operations, which represents different fraud kinds. The idea of using this methodology lied in developing of system classification by degree and level of risk and situation recognition of given classification. Alaric, a company, which specializes on banking systems, insists that fractal systems of fraud prevention, based on adjusted rules with using Bayes logic, are more effective then neuronets. But the high result production of there systems can be reached only after 4 months for banks with great quantity of emitted cards and high branched acquirer system. The neuronet can help to create a mechanism of operation stream evaluation, which will be based on special rules. Firstly, these rules are defined by experts, later changed and corrected with system. This function is necessary system component, as the fraud methods are changed as times goes by, and detectin g them mechanically, we’ll miss more refined and, surely, more detrimental for a bank. The second task is trivial enough. For topology identification can be used next algorithms of local optimization with calculation of partial derivatives of first order; local optimization with calculation of partial derivatives of first and second orders.

Preceptor Scenario Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Preceptor Scenario - Coursework Example 3). Jackie, a thirty-one-year old Japanese with two children was complained by her preceptor. The preceptor approached the manager and stated that the new nurse doesn’t listen to her and might be the least intelligent person she has ever met. The preceptor wondered how this new nurse made it to nursing school and wanted to be demoted as the new nurse’s preceptor. The manager told the preceptor to wait until she finds a replacement. While walking through the unit, the manager overheard the senior nurse belittling the new nurse in front of a group of peers. No one dared to say anything to the senior nurse and the new nurse was already upset of the situation. As the manager, the uncomfortable situation between the preceptor and the new nurse seems to be alarming and needs to be addressed promptly to avoid serious complications. The manager may call the senior nurse and the new nurse in a private conference so that none of them will feel intimidated and can freely verbalize issues and conflicts. The case of preceptorship is like meeting two strangers (Fitzpatrick& Wallace, 2009, p. 132) and by having a conversation, the senior nurse might understand the reason why the new nurse does not listen to her (e.g., language barrier) and the new nurse might address areas of change (e.g., enhancing comprehension).

PRINCESS DIANA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PRINCESS DIANA - Essay Example Being a free soul, she loved music and dancing. Also, she was quite fond of the popular culture and even after her divorce, later in 1982, she maintained her celebrity image amongst the masses. She was also deeply indulged in charitable causes including HIV AIDS, homeless and especially children with needs. Her leadership skills developed over time eventually and after consistent mentoring by Stephen Twigg, her personality transformed from that of a suicidal woman trapped in royalty to courageous women world stage performer. Furthermore, James Hewitt and Oliver Hoare turned out to be quite positive influence on her personality and helped her move forward. However, having met Hasnat Khan, she found a renewed sense of companionship and confidence in herself which transformed her leadership skills (Morton 1994). As a human being, Lady Diana was quite generous and kind. She was often found spending time in hospitals, old folk homes and various institutions. It is also said that her soul was dissatisfied and distressed, and devoting her time to Charity helped her with the healing process. She was also quite nurturing in nature as she spent a lot of time with her sons and taught them about the life outside the palace. Also, she reflected her celebrity image not just in Britain but also globally as she actively participated in charitable events around the globe including the Red Cross. During her marriage, she was acquainted to about 100 charities as Patron or President. She was also quite creative in character, and her interest and fascination with music led toward accomplishing various titles and awards. She motivated people by spreading a positive aura and sense of affection amongst others, especially the less well off. People responded with gratefulness and an even higher sense of affection toward her. Not only did they reciprocated her contributions with immense acknowledgement but also they gave her a very high

DNA Transformation in Bacteria

DNA Transformation in Bacteria 1.0 Introduction and Objectives The ability of bacteria to incorporate DNA from external sources is the primary reason for their survival and proliferation. Bacteria can take DNA from their surroundings or from other bacterial cells by cell wall-transfer. While an interesting phenomenon to examine for scientists, practically it is of great concern for the human race and a source of constant challenge for the Pharmaceutical Industry. The ability of bacteria to modify their genetic information has given rise to problems such as antibiotic resistance wherein bacteria become resistant to medications that were once effective in eliminating them. In this experiment, we examine the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Circular DNA called plasmids are introduced in bacteria whose cells have been modified to promote uptake of plasmid DNA. This plasmid DNA will give rise to antibiotic resistance in the bacteria, which can be observed by allowing the bacteria to proliferate in an environment containing the antibi otic. Modification of genetic information in bacteria may be a source of concern, but that ability in the hands of humans has always been coveted. Genetic engineering is an increasingly popular research area given the breakthroughs made in recent years and the potential for commercial application. Various applications require large quantities of specific DNA sequences and this is where the bacterial ability to uptake DNA and reproduce it is beneficial. Introducing plasmids containing desired sequences into bacteria, allowing bacteria to reproduce and then isolating the required DNA is a common method used to obtain large quantities of particular DNA sequences. This aspect is also explored in this experiment. 1.1 Objectives The objectives of this experiment are to: a) Observe and examine the phenomenon of DNA Transformation. b) Observe the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria through the process of gene transformation. c) Inculcate proper Sterile Technique for laboratory procedures involving bacterial strains. 2.0 Principles This section explores the underlying concept behind the experiment. Genetic Transformation is a process of horizontal gene transfer whereby DNA from the environment is taken up by a host cell. In this experiment bacterial cells are transformed. Escherichia Coli bacteria, which are generally non pathogenic are used in this experiment. The plasmids which constitute the external DNA contain a gene that makes the cell ampicillin resistant. Ampicillin is a bacteriostatic and will normally prevent the reproduction of E. Coli bacteria. This provides us with an easy way to test if gene transformation has occurred and to what extent by means of calculating the transformation efficiency. The introduction of genetic material within the bacterial cell is done by the process of electroporation. Electroporation involves applying an electrical voltage across the bacterial cells containing the plasmids. The ionic concentration of the DNA is kept low to prevent arcing. When the voltage is applied, holes open up in the walls of the bacteria. The plasmids can then enter the bacterial cells through these holes. Application of the voltage is done for a very short period of time. As soon as electric current stops flowing, the holes in the cell wall begin to close. A nutrient rich medium is then added to the bacterial cells, some of which will have transformed, to aid cell recovery. Incubation is then carried out, after which the cell suspension is diluted further and applied to agar plates containing the antibiotic. The cells are left to incubate for up to 24 hours and then the number of colonies determined. Calculating the transformation efficiency gives us a method to determine the extent to which the transformation occurred. 3.0 Methods and Materials 3.1 Materials The equipment and materials required for this experiment are outlined in this section. Equipment Required: A shaking incubator operating at 37ÃÅ'Ã…  C A non-shaking incubator An electroporator Materials Required: Cells treated for competency 2 agar plates with ampicillin with a concentration of 100 Â µg/ml pUC-19 plasmids 0.1 cm cuvettes Ice in an ice-box Deionised ultrapure water S.O.C. medium at room temperature 2 tubes with snap caps with a volume of 15 ml 3.2 Sterile Technique Sterile Technique is a must when handling pathogenic strains of bacteria. In this experiment, nonpathogenic bacterial strains are employed. However, using sterile technique is still good experimental procedure and promotes safety. Using sterile technique prevents errors in experimental results by preventing contamination from the surroundings. It also prevents contamination of the surrounding environment by the bacterial strain. Steps employed to prevent contamination included: Carrying out the experiment in an uncluttered area. Utilizing a fume hood to perform all procedures involving the bacteria. Washing hands both before as well as after the experiment Disposing off all bacterial waste in the appropriate container for bio-hazardous materials. 3.3 Procedure 3.3.1 Preparation for Electroporation The 0.1 cm cuvettes were cooled on ice. The electroporator was prepared based on prescribed settings. In order to bring the S.O.C. medium to room temperature, it was removed from the ice box. The cells and plasmids were allowed to thaw in the ice-box. Plates were heated at 37ÃÅ'Ã…  C to prepare for the incubation process. 3.3.2 Procedures I Â µl of pUC19 control DNA and 1 Â µl of ultrapure water were added to 2 separate microcentrifuge tubes with the aid of a pipette. The tube was then placed in the ice-box. 25 Â µl of competent cells were added to each of the microcentrifuge tubes. The contents of the tubes were gently mixed. Care was taken to avoid usage of the pipette for mixing. The tubes were then returned to the ice-box for 1 minute. The contents of each microcentrifuge tube were transferred to a cuvette using a pipette. It was ensured that the cells made contact with the cuvette walls and that no air-bubbles were present. This step was done rapidly to prevent heating up of the cells. The cuvettes were then electroporated. 250 Â µl of S.O.C. medium was added to the cells immediately after electroporation. Each of the two suspensions was transferred to a 15 ml tube. The shaking incubator was then set to 225rpm and used to incubate the cells for an hour to allow expression of the acquired antibiotic resistance. 10 Â µl of the transformed sample was then added to 90 Â µl of S.O.C. medium. The plates containing the ampicillin were then used. 20 Â µl of each of the two diluted samples from step 7 was added to a plate. Even spreading of the sample on the agar medium was ensured. Using the non-shaking incubator, the plates were incubated at 37 ÃÅ'Ã…  C for a day and the results recorded. 4.0 Results and Discussion 4.1 Results Answers to Questions (1) Schematic of observations of the agar plates: Figure 1: Results as Indicated by the Agar Plates (2) Count the colonies and calculate the transformation efficiency. Number of colonies observed = 13 Figure 2: Calculation of Transformation Efficiency Using the formula shown in figure 2, Transformation efficiency = 1.78 1010 transformants/Â µg plasmid DNA 4.2 Discussion Answers to Questions (1) Define the vocabulary used in this experiment: transformation, electroporation, host, plasmid, and competent. -Transformation Transformation is a process of horizontal gene transfer whereby DNA present in the environment of a cell is taken up by the cell. In this experiment the transformation involves the uptake of a plasmid containing a marker that results in ampicillin resistance by E. Coli bacteria through electroporation. -Electroporation Electroporation involves subjecting cells to an electric voltage to create holes in the cell wall. External material can then enter the cell through these holes. Natural processes then cause the hole to close and return the cell to its original state. -Host An organism that harbours a parasite is called a host. -Plasmid A plasmid is circular extra-chromosomal DNA. -Competent A competent cell is one which can internalise DNA present in its external environment. Competence can either be natural or artificial. (2) State why E. coli is used in many genetic engineering experiments. The popularity of Escherichia Coli for genetic experiments is due to various reasons. Firstly, most E. Coli strains are non-pathogenic and pose no harm to humans. Safety is a significant factor in the laboratory and E. Coli use is generally safe. Secondly, E. Coli grow easily and can be duplicated through metagenics. Thirdly, their genetic make-up is relatively simple and can be manipulated with ease. Fourthly they have been extensively studied and a lot is known about them. This makes it easier for researchers and they therefore prefer to use E. Coli for genetic engineering experiments. (3) Explain why competent cells, ampicillin, and S.O.C. medium were used for the transformation. Competent cells are necessary as transformation involves taking external genetic material into the cell. If cells are not competent this cannot happen and the experiment cannot be carried out successfully. Ampicillin is an antibiotic. Specifically, it is a bacteriostatic for E. Coli. It helps distinguish between bacteria that have taken up the plasmid and those that have not. This is because the plasmid contains a marker that causes ampicillin resistance. E. Coli cells do not naturally contain the genetic sequence that causes ampicillin resistance. Thus, ampicillin selection is possible to distinguish between transformed cells and untransformed cells. S.O.C. medium contains the nutrients required to help cells stabilise after electroporation. Electroporation introduces holes into the cell wall of the cell and therefore causes destabilisation of the cell. S.O.C medium contains yeast extract and other nutrient sources that help the cell recover. Once the cell has recovered and if the plasmid has entered the cell during electroporation, the cell will multiply and give rise to a colony during the incubation period. (4) Explain the purpose of the controls in this experiment. The control in this experiment constitutes bacteria without the plasmid that inculcates antibiotic resistance. Without this extra piece of genetic information to enable the bacteria to mount defences against the attack of the antibiotic, ampicillin is this case, the bacterial cells will be unable to multiply in a medium that contains the antibiotic. The cells that were treated such that they could incorporate the plasmid DNA into their genetic make-up will be able to multiply in a medium where ampicillin is present as long as there are enough nutrients available for growth. Thus, the control helps us show that the DNA plasmid was indeed taken up and incorporated into their genetic make-up by the bacteria. The only way for E. coli to have survived with ampicillin present is if they had taken up the plasmid and transmitted it to all generations when they reproduced after uptake of the plasmid. Hence, the control serves to confirm uptake of the plasmid as well as its transmission to fol lowing generations by comparing it to cells in the control that did not have the extra DNA. (5) Explain how the colony growth relates to gene transformation. A colony of bacteria stems from the binary fission of one single bacterial cell. When bacteria reproduce vertical genetic transfer occurs whereby the offspring has the exact copy of the genetic material of the parent. In this experiment, bacteria are introduced into a medium containing the antibiotic ampicillin. E. Coli bacteria with their original genetic make-up will be unable to reproduce due to the presence of the antibiotic as they do not have the means necessary to resist antibiotic attack. This is what is expected in the control sample as ampicillin is a bacteriostatic.. The positive sample on the other hand has bacteria which have undergone horizontal gene transfer by transformation. The plasmid DNA that was used for the transformation process contains genetic code that results in E.Coli developing ampicillin resistance. Thus, bacteria that can incorporate this plasmid and pass it on to their offspring by vertical gene transfer can grow in the environment. This is how colony growth relates to gene transformation. (6) Describe how ionic strength of DNA solution affects electroporation. The ionic strength of DNA solution comes into play due to the electroporation stage where holes are created in the bacterial cell wall to allow uptake of the plasmid by transmission of an electric voltage. For this step, the ionic strength of the solution must be low. If the ionic strength is high, arcing will occur. Arcing is visible during the experiment by sparks and a sound like a micro-scale thunderclap. It can cause cell death as well as equipment damage. Thus, for the experiment to be carried out successfully and to safeguard the apparatus, the DNA solution must be of low ionic strength. (7) If your transformation efficiency is lower than 1 109 cfu/ÃŽ ¼g, conjecture and explain potential reasons for the low efficiency. The transformation efficiency is greater than the benchmark stated above. This corresponds to good transformation efficiency and indicates a successful transformation process. However, the close clustering of the colonies makes it possible that some of the colonies are satellite colonies rather than transformed colonies. The experiment could be repeated with a higher concentration of ampicillin to obtain more reliable results. (8) Discuss current and potential applications of gene transformation techniques in biotechnology. Gene transformation techniques play a crucial role in biotechnology. This is because gene transformation provides a method to produce copies of desired DNA sequences. This is especially useful in the pharmaceutical industry to develop medications that are target specific. Also, this could potentially lead the way to genetic engineering, where defects to the genetic code could be repaired and desired traits inserted through addition of the corresponding DNA sequences. Gene replacement therapy could prove to be the cure for nearly all diseases that take human lives contemporarily. In the future gene transformation could be used to engineer human beings and other animals and plants according to desired specifications. Genetic transformation is also used in the development of pest-resistant crops, which could potentially increase the productivity of the land. This could be key to feed the ever-growing population as the quantity of agricultural land decreases. Understanding the evolution of drug resistance could help us devise ways of preventing drug resistance as well as developing drugs that can overcome resistance. In this arena gene transformation plays an important role horizontal genetic transfer is a natural process in bacteria. 4.3 Sources of Error and Suggestions for Improvement There are a few sources of error that could result in incorrect conclusion being drawn from experimental results. (i) The number of colonies seen need not correspond to the bacteria that transformed. This could be due to the growth of satellite colonies. Large bacterial colonies will secrete beta lactamase, which is what causes ampicillin resistance. Thus, the area around the colony will contain this secretion and be ampicillin-free. A satellite colony could grow in this area from untransformed cells. To avoid this problem, the incubation period should strictly be restricted to 24 hours. Satellite colonies emerge after a delay. By ensuring that results arr recorded promptly, the interference in results brought about by satellite colonies can be minimised. Another method is to use a higher concentration of ampicillin. More time will be required to create a antibiotic-free zone around a colony if the concentration of antibiotic is high. (ii) Identifying the number of colonies can be difficult, especially if the size of the colony is miniscule. This could result in an incorrect calculation of transformation efficiency. In order to increase accuracy of results, a different selection marker can be used. Some selection markers have properties that can be distinguished by shining UV light and other such techniques which result in a high contrast. Using these markers may result in higher reliability of results. (iii) Distinguishing between colonies can be difficult if they grow close to one another and appear to be one large colony. Also, closer colonies would also result in a higher chance of there being satellite colonies. To minimise this problem, crowding on the plate must be minimised. For that, a higher concentration of ampicillin could be used, carbenicillin selection could be used instead of ampicillin selection (although expensive) or the nutrient dilution could be adjusted such that it discourages very rapid proliferation. 5.0 Conclusions The objectives of this experiment were to explore the phenomenon of gene transformation and the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria as well as to inculcate the practice of sterile technique for handling bacteria. Gene transformation was observed with the development of ampicillin resistance in transformed Escherichia Coli bacteria. The bacteria not exposed to the plasmids containing the genes for antibiotic resistance did not grow in an environment containing the antibiotic while the transformed bacteria formed colonies in the same environment. A calculation of transformation efficiency returned a value of 1.78 1010 transformants/Â µg of plasmid DNA, which is greater than the threshold of 109, indicative of a successful experiment. However, the possibility of some of the 13 colonies of bacteria being satellite colonies as opposed to transformed colonies reduces the reliability of the results. Methods to increase reliability of results were therefore suggested. References 1. Port, Tami. (2008, June 14). Bacteria Horizontal Gene Transfer. suite101.com. Retrieved 3rd April, 2010 from http://bacteriology.suite101.com/article.cfm/bacteria_horizontal_gene_transfer 2. Metzenberg, Stan. (2002). Bacterial Plasmids. California State University Northridge Department of Biology. Retrieved 4th April, 2010 from http://escience.ws/b572/L2/L2.htm

George Orwells 1984 and Today Essay -- Television 1984 Freedom Essays

George Orwell's 1984 and Today TV rots the senses in the head! It kills the imagination dead! It clogs and clutters up the mind! It makes a child so dull and blind. He can no longer understand a fantasy, A fairyland! His brain becomes as soft as cheese! His powers of thinking rust and freeze! An excerpt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, By Roald Dahl, 1964 When George Orwell’s epic novel 1984 was published in 1949 it opened the public’s imagination to a future world where privacy and freedom had no meaning. The year 1984 has come and gone and we generally believe ourselves to still live in â€Å"The Land of the Free;† however, as we now move into the 21st Century changes brought about by recent advances in technology have changed the way we live forever. Although these new developments have seamed to make everyday life more enjoyable, we must be cautious of the dangers that lie behind them for it is very possible that we are in fact living in a world more similar to that of 1984 than we would like to imagine. In 1949 when Orwell’s novel was published, television was a relatively new invention. Fewer than 10% of the United States households had a television set in them and at this time programming was limited to mainly news-oriented shows. Many people believed that television would never surpass radio as the chief means of mass communication; they could not have been more incorrect. Presently 98% of the households in the United States have one or more televisions in them. What once was regarded as a luxury item has become a staple appliance of the American household. Gone are the days of the three channel black and white programming of the early years; that has been replaced by digital flat screen televisions connected to satellite programming capable of receiving thousands of channels from around the world. Although televisions and television programming today differ from those of the telescreens in Orwell’s 1984, we are beginning to realize that the effects of television viewing may be the same as those of the telescreens. The telescreens in 1984 served two purposes, surveillance and mind control. Unlike the televisions of our present day, the telescreens in 1984 also served as a device constantly monitoring the citizen’s actions by means of an integrated camera and microphone in addition to broadcasting continuous p... ...her say to us â€Å"No, I’m sorry I can’t do that right now, I’m watching my show.† Americans have ceased to live their own lives and have practically become slaves to their televisions and the corporations that stand behind them. Unlike the citizens of Oceania, we are able to make our own decisions. We can turn off our televisions; we can live our own lives and make our own experiences. We can learn about and do practically anything we want. Most of us do not take advantage of this freedom. In fifty years when my generation has become grandparents, what stories will we have to tell our grandkids? Will they really want to hear about that episode of Friends that we loved so much? Will we really have any knowledge or experiences worthwhile to tell them? Perhaps it won’t even matter. Perhaps our grandkids will be too interested in what they are watching on television to even want to listen to us. Yes we live in the â€Å"Land of the Free,† but until we really start taking advantage our freedom to the fullest and pull ourselves away from the television we are no better off than the citizens of Oceania and the telescreens that surround them as they toil on in their non-eventful lives.