Definition of Portmanteau Words in English

Meaning of Portmanteau Words in English A portmanteau word is a word framed by combining the sounds and implications of at least two different words. All the more officially known as a mix. The term portmanteau wordâ was authored by English essayist Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871). Afterward, in the prelude to his jabber poem The Hunting of the Snark (1876), Carroll offered this clarification of Humpty-Dumptys hypothesis of two implications pressed into single word like a portmanteau: [T]ake the two words smoldering and angry. Decide that you will say the two words, however leave it agitated which you will say first. Presently open your mouth and talk. On the off chance that your considerations slant little towards smoldering, you will say raging irate; in the event that they turn, by even a hairs broadness, towards angry, you will say incensed seething; yet on the off chance that you have the rarest of blessings, an entirely adjusted psyche, you will say frumious. Models and Observations: Brangelina (Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie)bromance (sibling romance)Cronutâ„ ¢ (croissant doughnut)dramedy (show comedy)Frankenfood (Frankenstein food)infomercial (data commercial)motel (engine hotel)netiquette (net etiquette)Oxbridge (Oxford Cambridge)pixel (pic element)quasar (semi heavenly star)sexpert (sex expert)sexting (sex texting)smog (smoke fog)splatter (sprinkle spatter)statusphere (status atmosphere)Tanzania (Tanganyika Zanzibar)telethon (TV marathon)Viagravation (Viagra aggravation)A word framed by melding components of two different words, for example, Lewis Carrolls slithy from vile and agile. He called such structures portmanteau words, since they resembled a two-section portmanteau pack. Mixing is identified with shortened form, induction, and aggravating, however particular from them all.(Tom McArthur, Blend. The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press, 1992) The Sound Bites of Modern English [D]ancercise, simulcast, Frappuccinoâ - they wear their implications on their abbreviated sleeves. Portmanteau words are the sound nibbles of present day English, determined to get on the first run through individuals hear them.(Geoffrey Nunberg, The Way We Talk Now. Houghton Mifflin, 2001)Smirting happens when two individuals, smoking outside, tumble to being a tease, and find that they share more for all intents and purpose than essentially nicotine. In Ireland, where the term started after the boycott in 2004, there is even proof of non-smokers joining the smoky crowd outside on the grounds that the climate there is more flirtatious.Smirting is a portmanteau word, framed by pressing pieces of two words together to make another, consolidating the feeling of each.(Ben Macintyre, Ben Macintyre Celebrates the Portmanteau. The Times, May 2, 2008) Portmanteau Survivors:Dumbfound, Flabbergasted, Gerrymander Portmanteau words are as often as possible more unconventional than valuable and dont endure, yet many exist. ... Dumbfound, from idiotic and frustrate, was assembled in the seventeenth century. Confounded, one of the more created, is evidently an eighteenth century mix of out of shape and alarmed. Manipulate consolidates the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry and lizard, alluding to the state of a redistricted Massachusetts province. Anecdotage, adding the ramifications of dotage to story, and Clifton Fadimans hullabalunacy from mayhem and lunacy, are sufficiently smart to merit survival.(Robert Gorrell, Watch Your Language!: Mother Tongue and Her Wayward Children. College of Nevada Press, 1994) Portmanteau Games Two games can be played with portmanteau words. In the main game, one player thinks about a portmanteau word and requests that the following player state which words are mixed to make it. In the subsequent game, players attempt to make up new, hilarious portmanteau words and give their definitions. In this way you may mix the words hen and perseverance to make hendurance, which means the persistence of a hen attempting to bring forth out an egg. Or then again you could mix the name of the pooch Rin-tin-tin (who featured in films) and the word resonance to get Rin-tin-chime: an extremely boisterous ringing of bells.(Tony Augarde, The Oxford beginning to end of Word Games. Oxford University Press,1994) The Lighter Side of Portmanteau Words So a blog is a web log? Is there a punctuation, or do you all not have the quality for that? You’re simply going to stick two words together?(Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, Feb. 2006)In her first tweet, [Sarah] Palin didnt compose stand up; she utilized another termâ - refudiate. A couple of moments later, the Tweet was revamped with refudiateâ - which isn't really a word -  removed,â replaced by disprove. ...The word got someones consideration, on the grounds that a couple of hours after the fact Palin would not disprove refudiate, she tweeted that shes simply following in Shakespeares footsteps.Refudiate, misunderestimate, small weed up. English is a living language. Shakespeare got a kick out of the chance to coin new words as well. Got the chance to observe it!(Carolyn Kellogg, Wherefore Art Thou, Refudiate? Sarah Palin as Shakespeare. Los Angeles Times, July 19, 2010) Elocution: port-MAN-tow Otherwise called: mix

Body Modification & Fashion Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7500 words

Body Modification and Fashion - Thesis Example The exposition Body Modification and Fashion endeavors to clarify the importance and practice of body changes, history, reasons of various alterations, observations about adjustment from antiquated to present day culture, and advancement of design that body change brought from past to mainstream society. The act of body adjustment ranges from non-changeless alterations, for example, cosmetics, dress and semi-perpetual changes, for example, hair and skin shading, haircutting to lasting changes, for example, inking and puncturing. Since its commencement, individuals altered their bodies for different reasons which incorporate individual, otherworldly and social encounters. Regardless of whether we think about old practices or contemporary responsibility, in spite of the evident torment related with body alteration rehearses, the fundamental achievement of the acquirer has consistently been professed to be some type of happiness and fulfillment. Since the beginning, body adjustment prac tice has been obtained by numerous developments as emblematic significance of their comprehension and insubordination to mainstream society and social set up. History uncovers that a few people love that training, some abhorred, and some looked downward on it, and some stayed terrified of individuals rehearsing it, yet, it leaves the blemish on history perpetually and no uncertainty, it will remain in human life in one structure or the other in future too. The term â€Å"body modification† alludes to the practices that adjust the appearance and type of body either briefly or for all time, such.

Couldnt We Call Them Loan Lions Or Loan Vipers by a Shark

Couldnt We Call Them Loan Lions Or Loan Vipers by a Shark Couldnt We Call Them Loan Lions? Or Loan Vipers? by a Shark Couldnt We Call Them Loan Lions? Or Loan Vipers? by a SharkI have some numbers for you. 450. 23. 1.Lets start with the first number. 450 people in the United States die falling out of bed each year.The second number, 23, is the number of annual skateboard-related deaths.And the “one?” That’s how many Americans are killed by sharks each year. And yet, sharks like me are constantly being demonized.We’re typecast as villains in movies like Jaws and Deep Blue Sea. Children songs warn of a “shark attack doo doo, doo doo doo doo.”When was the last time you saw a positive portrayal of sharks in the media? Street Sharks? It’s been off the air for over two decades, and I think it’s fair to admit that it was, perhaps, slightly derivative of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.But I think nothing has been quite so pervasive, quite as subtlety damaging, as the term “loan shark.” It’s not that I have thin skin. My skin, in fact, is actually quite thick and rough. If you rub it the wrong way,  you’ll get quite the nasty cut, so believe me when I say that isn’t the issue.Sharks hunt for food. Predatory lenders hunt for profit.“Loan sharks” are lenders, often of dubious legality, who take advantage of people in unfortunate financial situations, whether it be bad credit, gambling problems, or otherwise. They offer dangerous bad credit loans and no credit check loans that trap unsuspecting borrowers in a never-ending cycle of debt.Some of them, like payday lenders, target potential customers who have nowhere else to turn. Payday loans have short payment terms, often only two weeks, and if you can’t pay back the whole amount with fees and interest in that time, you may have to pay a “rollover” fee to extend the loan another two weeks. This is a great way to start drowning in debt.They also might hide unfavorable terms in the small print of the contract you have to sign to get the loan. Or they might advertise it as a simple cash advance when in fact its a loan that comes with 500 percent APR! That’s why it’s important to scan the terms of the agreement as though it was a body of water and you were trying to find your preyâ€"like a dolphin, or a big school of tuna, or ahem But let’s get back to my initial point.What about title loans? These are another kind of short-term loan, usually about a month long, that asks borrowers to repay a large amount of money in a single lump sum. If I told you, that you had a month to pay back a $1,500 loan, would that seem doable? No, I thought not. And title loans use your car as collateral, which means that failing to pay it back could easily result in your vehicle being repossessed!Sure, sharks have anywhere from five to 50 rows of razor-sharp, terrifying teeth, but we dont take your car away just because you cant afford a 300 percent interest rate. Now, granted, if cars werent made of metal, but instead were made of, like, seal flesh, that would be an entirely different story. But I d igressWe (and by we I mean sharks) deserve better.Do you know of a single shark that has ever been a lender, let alone a crooked one? Because I don’t, and as a shark, I’m going to go out on a fin and assume I know more sharks than you do.I’m also aware that within the idiom “going out on a limb,” the limb is meant to refer to a tree branch, and not a human limb. Thus my pun about “going out on a fin” is certainly not as clever as it would have been in an alternative world where the origin of the idiom did relate to human limbs. Sadly, that is not the world we live in, and I’m sure you’ll agree that making the pun, however flawed, is better than letting it go unmade. I just wanted to head off the assumption that just because I’m a shark, I’m ignorant of idioms.On the contrary, I’m all too aware of human expressions and the harm they can cause, as is the case with “loan shark.” Although the animal kingdom is entirely devoid of lenders, I will allow the crea tive license required to refer to a crooked lender with an animal term. But so many animals would be more appropriate.What if we called predatory lenders something else instead?Are you attempting to highlight the sneakiness of predatory lenders? Everyone knows  shark fins are visible above the water as we approach. We dont so much sneak up on our prey as we wear it down from a long chase. If youre looking to capture sneakiness, sharks are not your animal. Perhaps “loan viper” would be a better fit. Or what about loan cuttlefish. Those dudes are sneaky as all heck.“Loan lion” could also be a good choice, though it might imply a majesty unbefitting of crooked lenders. But could not the same be said of “loan sharks?” We dont have the Disney movie bonafides that lions do, but I dare you to find a sea creature as majestic as we are. And dont say  Whales. Whales suck. Those guys are jerks.I hope you’ll take these humble suggestions into consideration.Sharks deserve better th an being compared to predatory lenders. We might be a little intimidating, but those guys are the real monsters. I’ve said all I plan to on the subject, and now I have to move on. Because if I don’t keep moving, water will stop passing through my gills and I will die.To learn more about predatory lending, check out these related posts and articles from OppLoans:Affordable housing shortage may be fueling the Las Vegas payday loan industryYour Guide to Cash Advance ScamsWant to Avoid No Credit Check Loans? Build an Emergency FundWhat do you think we should predatory lenders instead of loans sharks? Let us know!  You can  email us  or you can find us on  Facebook  and  Twitter.ContributorsA Shark. It swims in the ocean and eats seals.Because its a shark. D.F.A. from Cornell.

Dangerous Knowledge - Frankenstein Essay examples

Chakari Monsanto 12.6.12 AP Literature Frankenstein Dangerous Knowledge From the beginning of time until now the limitless pursuit of knowledge reveals man’s weakness. Modern society provides humans with a wide variety of sources on how to gain knowledge, both good and evil. The thirst for forbidden knowledge beyond what man can essentially handle, causes a tragic life. The protagonist in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley exemplifies the behavior of the ideal man grasping for more knowledge than he can truly bare; in turn this knowledge becomes tarnished. Shelley eludes to the Greek myth of Prometheus allowing the reader to delve deeper into the general theme that those who pursue an insatiable desire for knowledge, if not tamed,†¦show more content†¦When people received the fire they were amazed by its benefit – it made preparing food faster, brought warmth in a cold area, and illuminated the darkness. The attributes of fire made survival easier for the people until the usage of it became uncontrollable. They found out that f ire, when left unkempt, spreads and destroys everything in its path. As time went on people recognized the great power of fire and harassed it to do evil instead of good. People used fire to start wars, demolish forests, and burn others alive. The fact that everyone knew how to start a fire but could not stop it, proves that it should have been left with the immortals. Prometheus’ theft of fire for man irritated Zeus not only because he disliked the people but also because it gave the people the same power and knowledge as the gods. Zeus punished Prometheus for giving fire to the people by tying him to a rock and allowed a vulture to eat out his liver everyday for the rest of his life. Victor Frankenstein, also known as the modern Prometheus according to Shelley, holds a similar yet different story and fate as Prometheus. While Prometheus only wanted to correct his brother’s mistake in making a superior race of man, Victor wants to understand â€Å"the secrets of heaven and earth† in order to elevate himself to a godlike status (Shelley, 30). He decides that he will create â€Å"a new species† which â€Å"would owe their being to† him and give him theShow MoreRelatedFrankenstein: the Dangerous Pursuit of Knowledge1552 Words   |  7 PagesDanielle Bouquio ENG 210 10/16/12 Frankenstein: The Dangerous Pursuit of Knowledge Over the past few centuries, the intellectuals of society have made countless advances in science and the development of technology, which, to different degrees, have all benefitted mankind. These scientific discoveries are a result of man’s thirst for and dedication to acquiring knowledge, information, and power. The innate curiosity and desire for understanding in an individual can grow so immense that hisRead MoreDangerous Knowledge in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley1074 Words   |  5 PagesFrankenstein is a book written by Mary Shelley in 1818, that is revolved around a under privileged scientist named Victor Frankenstein who manages to create a unnatural human-like being. The story was written when Shelley was in her late teen age years, and was published when she was just twenty years old. Frankenstein is filled with several different elements of the Gothic and Romantic Movement of British literature, and is considered to be one of the earliest forms of science fiction. FrankensteinRead MoreMoral Lessons in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein1322 Words   |  5 Pages Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has become a classic in modern literature. Her tale is full of moral lessons that encompass a wide variety of subjects but one of the most prevalent is the theme of knowledge and its pursuit. 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Victor Frankenstein is used as the main symbol thatRead MoreShelley s Views Of The Dangers Of Knowledge1679 Words   |  7 Pagesdangers of knowledge contained in her novel Frankenstein â€Å"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes not be a serpent to sting you, as mine had been,† this fragment of Victor Frankenstein’s conversations with Robert Walton exemplifies Mary Shelley’s views of the dangers of knowledge, in her novel, â€Å"Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,† where main characters Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein ruthlessly peruse knowledge. The themeRead MoreThe Pursuit of Knowledge Can Be Dangerous Essay1019 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout Frankenstein it is evident that Victor and Robert express their thirst for knowledge, which often leads to destruction. Through analyzing Frankenstein it is possible to find many examples that illustrate the fact that wanting to have more knowledge can be extremely dangerous. Firstly, as Victor is creating life he is able to create a humanoid monster, unfortunately he is appalled by his creation and becomes very i ll. Afterwards, when Victor is completing the female companion for his originalRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley902 Words   |  4 Pageslikely served as an outlet for those thoughts, helping her put things into perspective and not get beyond herself into a state of insanity. In the book’s introduction, we are presented with a quote by Shelley that describes a vision that inspired Frankenstein and her first image of what would eventually become Victor and the monster. â€Å"I saw-with shut eyes, but acute mental vision-I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of aRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1272 Words   |  6 PagesCritical Response Mary Shelley s gothic romance novel Frankenstein (1818) features numerous ideas and concepts that develop over the course of the story through the use of repeated and contrasting elements. The ideas and themes Shelley based the novel on were popular issues in her society at the time of writing. Themes are crucial ideas that are explored throughout a literary work. The themes present in Frankenstein included: dangerous knowledge, sublime nature, monstrosity, secrecy, and texts . MotifsRead MoreFrankenstein and Robert Walton975 Words   |  4 PagesDangerous Knowledge—An Analytical Essay on â€Å"Frankenstein† The pursuit of discovery and knowledge are thrilling aspects of human achievement, but can also be very dangerous if not handled correctly. In Mary Shelley’s â€Å"Frankenstein,† Shelley portrays these two aspects of accomplishment as dangerous, destructive, and even fateful. Shelley begins her novel with an ambitious seafarer named Robert Walton. Walton is determined to reach the North Pole, where he may â€Å"tread a land never before imprinted by

Fall Prevention Program for Elderly in DC - 1610 Words

In DC, community based fall prevention programs have been rising to address falls but fall related incident, injuries and the cost has continuously been rising among elderly people (Costello Edelstein, 2008). In the study conducted by Berland et al. (2012), showed that in home health, not viewing patient safety as primary prevention, lack of investigation causing fall and frailty of elderly adult have been some factors contributing to falls in home health. Falls negatively impacts an individual living in their home by causing them physical, emotional problem, giving rise to additional cost by losing workdays and income. In USA, one in three adults over age 65 suffer fall while 20% to 30% experience moderate to severe injuries (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). In 2010, the cost of falls among elderly people for US health care system was over $30 billion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Over the last few decades the rate of fall related deaths in U SA has sharply been escalating. Many older adults have developed the fear of falling, limiting their social activity and forcing them to live in fear. Some adults suffer lacerations, fracture and trauma during fall, deteriorating their quality of life. According to World Health Organization (2007), the magnitude of falls worldwide of people aged 65 and over is 28-35%. Whereas, people over 70 is 32-42%. Globally, fall mortality rate accounts for 40% and in next fewShow MoreRelatedImproving Geriatric Health, Decreasing Healthcare Costs Essay1740 Words   |  7 Pageshealthcare and lifestyles that are available to individuals of the Baby Boom generation. The current healthcare crisis does not have to be hopeless and wrought by pessimism; changing the way patients and doctors currently deal with healthcare and prevention can reduce costly financial burdens and improve quality of life. On average, members of the Baby Boom generation will gain nineteen years of life in comparison to their parents (American Geriatrics Society, 2013, p. 623). The American Hospital Association’sRead MoreHealthcare in America1458 Words   |  6 Pagesputting off seeing a doctor until last moment and then usually end up visiting an emergency room. If they cannot pay for the visit, the cost of that ER visit falls back on the taxpayers, people who have health insurance coverage, and the Federal Government. The young, under the age of nineteen, are usually covered by Medicaid and the elderly, 65 and up, are usually covered by Medicare. The people lost in the middle are mainly those aged 19-64, who are uninsured and do what they can to keep themselvesRead MoreResume6916 Words   |  28 Pagesinsurance by 1965 (though less than one-half of the elderly population did), 67 percent had surgical insurance, and there was a growing market for major medical insurance (Health Insurance Institute, 1980). But few were insured for primary or out-of-hospital care. Of the members of the general population who reported they had pains in the heart, 25 11 1996/Volume 18, Number 2 percent did not see a physician (Andersen and Anderson, 1967). The elderly were particularly hard hit. The classic exampleRead MoreOsteoporosis: bone Mass7865 Words   |  32 Pagesand quality of life. Osteoporosis can be prevented with lifestyle changes and sometimes medication; in people with osteoporosis, treatment may involve both. Lifestyle change includes preventing falls and exercise; medication includes calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates and several others. Fall-prevention advice includes exercise to tone deambulatory muscles, proprioception-improvement exercises; equilibrium therapies may be included. Exercise with its anabolic effect, may at the same time stop orRead MoreNursing Essay41677 Words   |  167 PagesUNCORRECTED PROOFS Copyright  © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12956.html THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of EngineeringRead MoreUrinary Tractinfection5962 Words   |  24 PagesElimination of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) Developing and Applying Facility-Based Prevention Interventions in Acute and Long-Term Care Settings About APIC APIC’s mission is to improve health and patient safety by reducing risks of infection and other adverse outcomes. The Association’s more than 12,000 members have primary responsibility for infection prevention, control and hospital epidemiology in healthcare settings around the globe. 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(APA Manual, 2001) The American Psychological Association (1) states in Section 2.17 Age, â€Å"Elderly is not acceptable as a noun and is considered pejorative by some as an adjective. Older person is preferred. Age groups may also be described with adjectives: gerontologists may prefer to use combination terms for older age groups (young-old, old-oldRead MoreAir pollution: A significant cause of morbidity and mortality especially in many large cities of the developing world.5088 Words   |  21 Pageshigher level of indoor and outdoor exposure which in turn results to a high mortality rate. These needs as mentioned earlier have to be met despite limited availability of clean fuels and technologies, and lack of effective environmental protection programs. 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Rumor Paper Free Essays

Finally, and most important of all, moors consist of information that is not validated, as actual news is (Diffusion 376). Rumors frequently begin with a hint of truth, but facts are not checked, sources are unreliable, and the truth gets lost as the rumor is spread. In this age of pop media, including television, radio, and internet, rumors spread at lightning speed and results are immediate. We will write a custom essay sample on Rumor Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 1969, a young writer named Fred Labor printed a rumor about Paul Ancestry’s death. He became a bit famous because of the rumor and was asked to appear on a television show. His nerves got the best of him and he admitted to the television host that the Tory was completely fabricated. The host, F. Lee Bailey, replied, ‘†Well, we have an hour of television to do. You are going to have to go along with this† (Glenn 367). Pop media does not care if a rumor is valid, as long as it tells a good story and creates publicity. Gregory Rodriguez states in his article, â€Å"Truth is in the Ear of the Beholder’ that â€Å"rumors and conspiracy theories can only thrive in the minds of people who are predisposed to believe them† (347). People tend to believe things that agree with a viewpoint, meet wants and needs, and follow particular beliefs and biases. Every rumor has a target audience and pop media has a way to reach each and every one of them. Robert Knapp says, in his article â€Å"A Psychology of Rumor,† there are three kinds of rumors. The â€Å"Wish Rumor† expresses the hopes of those who circulate it. The â€Å"Bogie Rumor† plays into a group’s fears and anxieties. The â€Å"Wedge-driving Aggression Rumor† is motivated by hate and aggression and is usually successful at dividing a group. Knapp also lists characteristics of a good rumor, (1 ) most good rumors are short and simple, (2) in time a successful rumor becomes a good story, (3) the farther a rumor is removed room fact, the more twisted it becomes, (4) names, numbers, and places cause instability in a rumor, (5) no matter where a rumor comes from, the rumor gains prestige when it is attributed to someone in authority, (6) rumors become an agreement to the culture of the groups circulating them, and (7) rumors must keep adapting themselves to current opinion and interest. Pop media can play a big role in helping to provide authority and prestige to a rumor, as well as keeping them in the public interest. The media, however, is less apt to cause distortion in a rumor than when it is passed from person to arson because more people hear the rumor in its original context at a given time. Sandra Salmons advises how extreme the results of a rumor can be in her article, â€Å"Fighting That Old Devil Rumor. † Proctor and Gamble, a very old and reputable company, was besieged by a rumor that their moon and stars logo was a mark of the devil and that the company condoned devil worship. The rumor received a great deal of publicity in papers and on television and became a major problem for Proctor and Gambler’s consumer services department. The company set forth a massive public relations campaign, sing great financial resource, in order to dispel the rumor. Finally, after years of dealing with the rumor, Proctor and Gamble took legal recourse against those they had enough evidence against to take to court. To this day, the company still receives a few calls about the rumor. In this case though, the media was partially responsible for spreading the rumor, the company also sought media help in trying to dispel the rumor. Proctor and Gamble learned a difficult lesson that Gregory Rodriguez had mentioned in his article. Once a rumor has been established, it cannot always be destroyed by providing the Ruth. Another rumor that gained a great deal of notoriety in 1969 was the tale that Paul McCarty Was dead. McCarty Was a beloved icon of the time and a member of the legendary rock group the Beetles. Alan Glenn discusses the phenomena of this rumor in his article, ‘†Paul is Dead! (said Fred). † He tells us that on October 12, 1969, a well-known Detroit disc jockey, named Russ Gibbs, got a phone call from a listener wanting to discuss the story that Paul McCarty had actually died three years earlier and had been replaced by a double. Supposedly, the Beetles had covered up Encasements death but revived clues on their albums. Thousands of listene rs heard the discussion and one listener took the rumor to another level. Fred Labor, a writer for the Michigan Daily, printed an article with the news of Ancestry’s death and clues that were evidence of the rumor. A second copy of the paper needed to be printed because so many people were drawn into the rumor that La Four is still credited with sending it out of control. He admitted, and still admits to this day, that he made up most of the clues. They were nothing more than fabrications spread, once again, by pop media of that time. This rumor was spread, largely by the power of suggestion, to a young clue hungry audience who were part of the manic Beetles fantod. The McCarty rumor was discussed on television, in papers and magazines, and promoted on alternative radio. Like most rumors, this was short lived due to a complete debunking, however, it is still mentioned occasionally today. Another kind of rumor that is often spread by popular media is the political smear rumor. This kind of rumor generally falls into Nape’s aforementioned â€Å"Wedge-driving Aggression Rumor. † According to Samuel G. Freedman, from his article, â€Å"In Untruths About Obama, Echoes of a Distant Time,† a political smear rumor is a crude attempt at fear mongering and character assassination† (369). This type of rumor has been used many times to misrepresent political candidates, especially during presidential elections. Anti-Catholic bigotry rumors were spread against Alfred E. Smith in 1 928, by mailing misleading pictures to thousands of influential people. Catholics were unable to win a presidential nomination, by any major party, until John F. Kennedy received the Democratic nomination in 1960. This political rumor achieved a great deal of success. More recently, there have been many hate rumors spread during both presidential campaigns of our current President, Barack Obama. The rumors have developed into hate campaigns that, to this day, attempt to portray the President as disloyal to his country and not a true American. Internet blobs, mass e-mails, Insight magazine, and Fox News have represented the President as Muslim and reputed his claim that he is a Christian. The media has also questioned Beam’s citizenship by insisting that his birth certificate is not real and that he was not born to a U. S. Citizen. Though each of these claims have been contradicted by fact many times, the opposing campaigns remained diligent in using Town Hall Meetings and other media events to promote these rumors. It is not surprising that the first African American president would face the same kind of prejudice as those of the Catholic faith did years ago. It is surprising, however, how easy it is for unverified information to become accepted journalism fact with the help of pop media. Jeremy W. Peters discusses the dangers of an instantaneous news culture and the role popular media plays in the spreading of hearsay to an incredibly huge audience in his article, â€Å"A Lie Races Across Twitter Before the Truth Can Boot Up. He states that it only took two minutes for a young flogger, trying to make a name for himself, to release an unfounded rumor on Twitter that immediately became mainstream news. According to Peters, the flogger, Logan Smith, posted a report on Twitter stating that South Carolina Governor, Nikkei R. Haley, was facing indictment on tax fraud charges. There were reasons to doubt the charges and the flogger later admitted that he was not sure that his sources were correct. Neither did the flogger bother to give the governors office a chance to comment. Instead, he posted the blob on Twitter as if it were fact. Smith later admitted, â€Å"l reported that credible sources said they believed the governor would be indicted – not that knew she would be indicted, or even whether or not I personally believed she would be indicted† (Peters 372). The post was immediately picked up by respected and widely read news sources. Ms. Halley office released a letter from the Internal Revenue Service proving the rumor to be false. The governor, however, felt her reputation had already been damaged. She also believed that this would not be the last time that unfounded rumors would be posted about her on line. It did not matter that the information was untrue ND unsubstantiated. In the media world of Twitter and Backbone, there is no need for validation because what the posters are seeking is notoriety. The rumor gains credibility when reputable news outlets mistakenly report it as fact. The rumor remains current because these internet media sites provide the opportunity to keep talking about it. It is ironic that social media, the fastest way to spread a rumor, established a means of debunking popular rumors, as well. In 1 995, Barbara and David Michelson, professional researchers and writers, established Snoops. Com, a website that has become one of the internet most valuable resources. Snoops. Com advertises as â€Å"the definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation. † One of the earliest rumors tackled by Snoops. Com was the story that Kentucky Fried Chicken had changed its name to KEF because they were no longer using real chicken, but instead had developed a genetically engineered bird that replaced the chicken. Supposedly this bird had no beak, no feathers, no feet, and fewer bones so that there is more meat. This rumor is declared to be one of the first to spread worldwide by e-mail. Snoops. Com, as well as Cuff’s website, refuted his rumor using fact and finally, the rumor seemed to die down. Recently, however, the use of artificial hormones in animals and the growth of transgenic food crops has caused a resurgence of the rumor. Once again, as the rumor spreads through social media, Snoops. Com tries to dispel people’s fears regarding the use of frankincense’s by KEF by explaining the truth. Each of these articles discussing rumors is a reminder to be wary of what is heard and read in all types of pop media. They are reminders that much of the information reported on Twitter and Backbone is buzz-seeking unsubstantiated, and full of impropriety. They caution that because it is presented as breaking news in a magazine does not mean it is reputable journalism. These articles also show that one cannot always believe what is seen on television. Rumor can be full of misinformation and exaggeration, yet it is presented, in all forms of popular media, as fact. Pop media is more interested in gaining an audience than in providing the truth. People spread rumors everyday about things of interest to them. The newest and fastest way to spread rumors is by the use of popular media including television, radio, and the internet. Some rumors can be meant as a joke and provide entertainment. Others can be more dangerous, playing on fears and promoting hate and aggression. People process information according to their own needs, then accept it as fact or reject it. How to cite Rumor Paper, Papers

The influence of Conan Doyles work Essay Example

The influence of Conan Doyles work Essay Sherlock Holmes is an enduringly popular character and is so for many reasons. Conan Doyles stories about the afore-mentioned detective have been popular for many generations and have made a large impact on literature. The stories even began an entire genre and stereotype. The influence of Conan Doyles work can still be seen in TV and film today; it is because of this that it is important to understand the reasons behind this popularity.  There are several reasons that Sherlock Holmes has been so enduringly popular. Some of the reasons for Sherlock Holmes popularity are linked to the time the play was written; these give the play its original popularity and others more to do with Conan Doyles writing talent which give them a more enduring appeal. Sherlock Holmes was first introduced to the public in 1886 in A Study in Scarlet. He was introduced for entertainment only. The Victorian times werent easy times to live in and the people needed some relief and entertainment, this is one of the reasons Sherlock Holmes was so popular originally. At the start of A Study in Scarlet we are introduced to another character before Sherlock Holmes, we are introduced to Watson. Watson is the narrator of the stories; he is by all accounts a literary device used to tell each story.  In the year 1978 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University or London and proceeding to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. We will write a custom essay sample on The influence of Conan Doyles work specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The influence of Conan Doyles work specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The influence of Conan Doyles work specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The first lines of A Study in Scarlet introduce Watson and immediately start to build his credibility as a narrator. He is shown as a learned and honourable man, a doctor and someone who has pride in his country, these things would have been very important in the Victorian times and would have helped the reader a great deal when it came to trusting him. It is very important that Conan Doyle builds his credibility so early on and presents him as a trustworthy character as the readers of the story needed to be able to trust him, because of Conan Doyles skill in presenting Watson this way the readers are able to trust in what he says and engage in the stories in a more interactive way as he acts like a link for them. Watson is used to tell the stories and due to the eccentric nature of a lot of the cases and because of the amount of exact information he apparently relays from memory, it is important that this trust and respect for his intelligence are built early on so that the reader can easily believe him and trust in what he says. It is after we have a good idea of Watson and his ways that we have our first information on Sherlock Holmes.  Yes, but it may be pushed to excess. When it comes to beating the subjects in the dissecting-rooms with a stick, it is certainly taking a rather bizarre shape. In our first mention of Sherlock Holmes he is being recommended to Watson as a potential room-mate but his first impression is shocking, he is referred to as a kind of scientist and a cold person, very calculated in his nature. It is also mentioned that he beats bodies with a stick. As this is Sherlock Holmes character a typical Victorian reader may have been shocked by this and taken an instant dislike to Sherlock Holmes had the story been a direct introduction of him and had it been told by him, but Watson acts like a buffer. As Watson is between the reader and Sherlock Holmes and as the reader already trusts Watson it makes it acceptable for them to read on and enjoy the story even though Sherlock Holmes seems quite strange and something they wouldnt normally want to associate with. Conan Doyles language does also help dull down some of Holmes antics which could have been found offensive as it is predictable and structured like a police report. Our first introduction to Sherlock Holmes is an interesting one though.  When Watson is first introduced to Sherlock he is in his laboratory and performing an experiment. The experiment he performs is one on haemoglobin and it is a success. Why, man, it is the most practical medico-legal discovery for yearscriminal cases are continually hinging on that one pointnow we have Sherlock Holmes test and there will no longer be any difficulty.  Holmes says this with a pinch of salt and makes it seem unimportant, to him it is but to a Victorian reader he has just helped engage them further into his world. The Victorian reader had such a hard life that they where reading Sherlock Holmes for entertainment only and just wanted to get away. As Sherlock Holmes is showing that he is a man of science, working for the greater good for of the people and helping to keep them safe from crime; in a time when there is a crisis in religious faith, a rise in crime and an inadequate police force this makes Sherlock seem like a pretty good bet and will help the reader trust him and engage in his cases so they can get away from everyday life, this will obviously increase the stories popularity.