The Evolution of an 18th Century Farmhouse

Media Power and Media Bias Essay - 995 Words

The powerful media barons have always altered broadcasts to achieve their personal or corporate agenda. What purpose does the media serve now? Measuring Bias on Television by Barrie Gunter has elaborated on the idea that news was originally set up to act as a national tool to stir thoughts. But is it? No! Is the media even enlightening the public now? After careful speculation of mass media and the communication world, I am under the impression that broadcasts have been used to entertain, frighten and cause controversy as a means to keep people watching. First off, the media serves as an authoritative power. It strikes the public as informative, knowledgeable and some may even go as far to say that to audiences, the media is omniscient.†¦show more content†¦Consequently, although the media does hold a strong power over public ears and eyes, there is a higher power in which the media assists. In terms of interests that the media serves, Kallen’s At Issue: Media Bias in troduces a term that’s new and also striking to me. Not only is the public concerned with the political, economic and religious aspects of the news, but At Issue: Media Bias also explains that audiences crave more â€Å"infotainment†. Infotainment is engaging to viewers/listeners because it often deals with sex scandals, murders, celebrities, etc. â€Å"In a world where people are surrounded by innumerable media options†¦ sex and violence are proven attention getters† (Kallen, McChesney 34). McChesney seems disheartened and disappointed when he says that political coverage in American media is â€Å"empty and meaningless†. The tough questions on important issues, such as the War on Terror, are being ignored and there is less and less of political coverage these days (McChesney 55). In opposition to this idea, David Niven’s novel, Tilt? The Search for Media Bias, claims that the â€Å"media becomes even more important in times of crises† (Niven 129), suggesting that viewers are still interested in current events and worldly happenings, such as September 11, 2001 or political elections. Another important thing to consider when it comes to the media is fairness, objectivity and bias. There is a fine line betweenShow MoreRelatedMedia Bias Law And Legal Definition976 Words   |  4 Pages This first venture into media did not end well: the authors ran afoul of the ruling government and it was shut down a stunningly short four days later. It was not until the end of the 18th century that newspapers became fully established as the source of news in the country (Early American Newspapering, 2003). However, it was not until the 1920’s that the idea of objectivity was applied to journalism in response to â€Å"growing recognition that journalists were full of bias† (The Lost Meaning of ‘Objectivity’Read More media Essay examples1407 Words   |  6 Pages The ‘media’ as a whole plays a major part in one’s life. Media messages can be presented in many ways from reading newspapers to watching news on television from the comfort of your own home. However, the most important factors are how the news is retrieved and portrayed by an individual or a group of individuals as each individual has the right to accept what they believe not what they are manipulated to believe or to accept. There are various issues that can be looked at to conclude whether orRead MoreAnalysis Of Donald Trump Won The 2016 U.s. President s Election1450 Words   |  6 Pagescitizens vote to exit the European Union successfully, the major news media there foretell this event correctly while opposite claims are still remarkable. For example, according to Fortune’s report, it is unbelievable that most mainstream media got the wrong election’s prediction because they simply couldn’t trust most people would choose Trump (Ingram, 2016). Additionally, before the event of â€Å"Brexit†, many major British news media including BBC, ITV and the Sky all had predicted that the exit wouldRead MoreThe 8 Violations Of Media Objectivity Essay1051 Words   |  5 PagesThe 8 Violations of Media Objectivity 1. Misleading definitions: Prejudicing readers through language. Language is too often used to promote an agenda. The media must exercise caution when consciously choosing to adopt (or avoid) certain terms, proper nouns, or foreign words. George Orwell articulated the potential problems: â€Å"But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.† 2. Imbalanced reporting: Distorting news through disproportionate coverage. Journalism distorts news throughRead MoreMedia Bias And The Civil Rights Era1286 Words   |  6 PagesMedia bias is a topic that has been in great focus of many political leaders over the past few presidential elections. However, what many people fail to see is that media bias has been around since the beginning of major news companies. Most Americans do not know what media bias is or how to identify it. That stated many people have noticed that most news stations are biased towards one religion, political party or even gender. This has been like this for decades however has become much more prominentRead MoreMedia Bias And The Media1365 Words   |  6 PagesMedia Bias In today’s society, remaining connected and knowledgeable of current events and the newest trends is vital to staying ahead in business, education, and social standing. This information is supplied to everyone through the internet, newspapers, television, and radio. One can tune into stations such as CNN, NBC, Fox News, Al-Jazeera, and many others (â€Å"SQs of Media Outlets†). In order to meet the needs of viewers, readers, and listeners, the ideal media system would contain accurate, quickRead MoreThe Values Of The Textbook1158 Words   |  5 PagesThe Values of the Textbook Description: What media outlets do Why they do it What they should do 1 Worry about file swappers illegally downloading songs (p.72) Sales decrease for recording labels (p.72) Use internet to post music/videos to gain larger audience at less of a cost (p.72) 2 Homogenized radio industry (p.108) Saves money (p.108) Let there be interaction between Deejays and the audience. Live vs. voice tracking (p.108) 3 Introduced VOD-DVRs, iPods, Netflix (p.155) Enables customersRead MoreMedia Bias Essay1173 Words   |  5 PagesIs the Media Bias? One problem that plagues us every day without us even realizing is media bias. We see it in the news, our favorite sitcoms and even in the newspapers. Yet, we really dont recognize it when we hear or see it. Media bias is evident in every aspect of the media. The problem is that we dont recognize it when its in our faces. Are the impressions that we form about individuals a product of the media? In my opinion, the media plays an important and powerful part in some of our livesRead MoreElections, Campaigns, and Politics619 Words   |  3 Pagesand the media plays a significant role on informing the public on elections and campaigns and politics; although, the public is in constant need of new information from the media, there is an underlying distrust in the American population on the media for false campaigning covered and which can be perceived as media bias. There are countless of misconceptions on how the government can and does influence the media and equally how the influence media has on the government. Moreover, the media aids inRead MoreMedia Bias on Women’s Issues700 Words   |  3 PagesMedia Bias on Women’s Issues Detecting bias in news media is a challenge that every person who watches, reads, or listens to the news should accept. Subtle changes in the details of a story can change the entire focus of an event and affect all members of the audience. Applying the gender-based critique analysis process to the media coverage of the 2004 March for Women’s Lives in Washington, D.C. provides an excellent exercise in identifying news bias. The article, â€Å"Muting the Women’s March: Media

Health Risks of Smoking Essay - 678 Words

Health Risks of Smoking According to the American Cancer Society, one in five deaths in the United States is a result of tobacco use. This statistic translates into over 400,000 smoking related deaths in the United States each year. From these two statistics alone it is obvious that smoking is bad. It is an epidemic that has been plaguing the United States since early settlers began growing the â€Å"stinking weed.† Earlier in the century people weren’t aware of the effects of tobacco, but now the facts speak for themselves and still several million people pick up the habit each year. Two million of these people are children, adolescents ages 11-17. Each day nearly 4,800 adolescents try smoking; of these, nearly 2,000 begin to smoke†¦show more content†¦Almost half of all smokers die prematurely. The fact of the matter is that smoking can take up to 25 years off a person’s life. It is a documented fact that between Emphysema, lung cancer, and other smoking related disea ses, the last few years of a dieing smoker’s life are agonizing. In some severe cases of emphysema people can’t even breath by themselves let alone talk. In these cases, the people need machines to do both. What’s even worse is that the tobacco companies aren’t just going after adults. They target their advertisements towards kids. 90% of new smokers are children and teenagers. This is for many reasons. Children are more impressionable than any other demographic, and if they get addicted early than there is a good chance Big Tobacco has a customer for life, instead of just a portion of that life. An example of this advertisement is the now banned Joe Camel. Joe Camel was a â€Å"cool† cartoon character created by Camel brand cigarettes to sell their product. The first problem with this ploy was the fact that â€Å"Joe† was a cartoon. Cartoons obviously attract kids. Secondly, the cartoon was drawn to be extremely smooth and cool something that adolescents and teenagers strive their entire lives to be. A broader example is the presence of attractive woman and men appearing on billboards and in magazines holding a cigarette and having such a great time. Who doesn’t want to be attractive and always having a good time? This is an excerpt from anShow MoreRelated The Health Risks of Smoking Essay658 Words   |  3 PagesThe Health Risks of Smoking Every year nearly one in every five US deaths are related to cigarette smoking, that means that every year 440,000 people alone die from cigarettes. Deaths caused by alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined are actually less than the number of deaths caused by cigarette smoking. Being the grandchild of a grandpa who died of lung cancer from smoking, I know and understand what cigarette smoking can do. Tobacco smoke is a mixtureRead MoreShould Smoking Be A Health Risk?1819 Words   |  8 PagesResearch Paper Have people told you, smoking is bad for you or bad for the environment, but just left you there and did not explain why? Cigarettes have been a major problem ever since they were created and have caused harm to everywhere the wind takes it. The smoke from that cigarette can cause very bad damage to perSonal objects like walls or electronics over time. That little white stick of tobacco has caused billions of dollars in damage and health costs, which does not help the state sRead More The Health Risks of Smoking Cigarettes Essay1400 Words   |  6 PagesThe Health Risks of Smoking According to Global Smoking Statistics, 80,000 and 100,000 youths start smoking everyday. Smoking is everywhere, in shops, restaurants and malls. Smoking can be controlled if the right steps are taken. If you walked around downtown Fort Collins, the odds are good that you will encounter a smoker. The negative effects of smoking outweigh the positive effects of smoking yet people still do it. There are ways to quit that can make your life better if you smoke. SmokingRead MoreHealth Risks Between The Smoking Of Cigarettes And Hookahs1122 Words   |  5 PagesThe purpose behind this paper is to analyze the major differences and health risks between the smoking of cigarettes and hookahs. There are a plethora of research documents regarding the similarities and differences between the hookah and conventional tobacco products such as cigars or cigarettes. This paper will simply display research regarding each of the previously mentioned smoking mediums, and strive to determine fact from perceived fact. The hookah (water pipe figure 1) originated inRead MoreCauses Of Smoking Essay1288 Words   |  6 PagesRisk: Smoking A major public health issue among young adults is cigarette smoking. Many people know the relationship between lung cancer and smoking, but there are countless other health risks linked to smoking. Smoking can increase your risk for cancer of the bladder, throat and mouth, kidneys, cervix and pancreas. Smoking not only affects the smoker but the people around them. About 54% of American children are exposed to secondhand smoke (â€Å"Smoking: Do you really know the risks?â€Å"). NonsmokersRead MoreThe Effects Of Smoking Tobacco On Individuals With Poor Health And Wellbeing Outcomes1415 Words   |  6 Pagesreport will focus how smoking tobacco can result in individuals with poor health and wellbeing outcomes. The report with the first overview of the Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015-2019, outlining how the determinants of health can influence at-risk population groups. Afterwards, one of the priority area, tobacco-free living, will be selected along with the two at -risk groups, those who are lower on the social gradient ladder and Aboriginal Victorians, then one at-risk group will be analysedRead MoreState Of Oklahoma, Oklahoma And Its Health Risks1115 Words   |  5 Pagestogether, interact with one another and their environment and share common characteristics, attitudes, interests, and goals. This paper will talk about the smoking community of Tulsa, Oklahoma and its health risks. The paper will then compare and contrast the major health risks of Tulsa to other cities and the state of Oklahoma, and address why this risk is present. Next, the paper will discuss the sources used, how the data was located, and the reliability of the information. Finally, relevant chartsRead MoreShould Smoking Be Public Places?1055 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Smoking is hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, and dangerous to the lungs.† -King James I, royalty. Picking up a cigarette, is equivalent to putting a limitation on life. Sadly, numerou s people will perform this activity anywhere they are, even where there are signs that read â€Å"no smoking.† Prohibit smoking in public places due to the fact that it can affect others health, pregnancy, and even harm their own body. People should be more aware of the effects smoking has on everyone, not justRead MoreThe Effects Of Smoking On Public Places993 Words   |  4 Pagesenvironmental tobacco smoke has been an issue. Smoking tobacco products is the leading, preventable cause of death in the United States. More than ten times of the deaths from smoking cigarettes have added up to be more deaths than all the wars fought by the United states (Jones, Page 65, 2016). There are more deaths caused each year from tobacco use than all deaths of HIV, illegal drug and alcohol use, car accidents, and murders combined (Judd, page 110, 2009). Smoking harms nearly every organ and part ofRead MoreEssay on Smoking Cigarettes1386 Words   |  6 Pages Smoking, AKA Deaths Candy Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Smoking cigarettes can do very fatal damages human health (Bender 17). There are over fifty ways of making life miserable through smoking due to illnesses, and more than twenty ways of killing a person (â€Å"Action on Smoking and Health† 1). The probability that someone who smokes will develop a major complication in their health is one hundred percent; no matter what, it will happen (Bender 33). Smoking

Benefits Of Legalizing Medical Marijuana - 1076 Words

For many centuries in ancient India cannabis was a major component in religious practices as well as in medical practices. Most parts of life incorporated cannabis of some form. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug made from the cannabis plant. It is sometimes used as a recreational drug by a few individuals, medical ailments and for spiritual purposes as well. The key element in marijuana is the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This psychoactive component is found in the leaves of the plant (Ethan B Russo, 2013). This essay will demonstrates the advantages of legalising medical marijuana such as treatment for pain relief, nausea and vomiting. Then it will examine disadvantages which includes impaired cognition, issues with memory retention, intoxication and heightened heart rate and blood pressure. Medicinal marijuana is best known for its ability to act as a pain killer. It proves its usefulness especially during extreme pain that may be caused by spinal injuries or arthritis. In an New York article published in 2005, Dr. Shipley said, â€Å"In healthy volunteers, the drug caused no psychoactive effects. But there has been only one small trial showing that the drug provided better pain relief than a placebo.† It was also reported that â€Å"New drugs are not expected to reach the market for a few years, and many may fail or have unacceptable side effects. Still, the void left by Vioxx has buoyed companies like NicOx, which two years ago faced a bleak future when a big drug companyShow MoreRelated The Economic, Medical and Industrial Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana1710 Words   |  7 PagesThe Economic, Medical and Industrial Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana is the dried flower clusters and leaves of the hemp plant when taken to induce euphoria. Marijuana has been in existence for centuries even Magellan spoke of it during his trip to India. In his log he spoke of a plant that you smoked that made a man drunk without drinking. Marijuana would be beneficial if legalized because it would bring in extra money, it has medical uses, hemp is one of the best materials in theRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1269 Words   |  6 PagesAbu Matar 1 Mahmoud Abu Matar English Composition 2 Research Paper 14 April 2015 Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana is most commercialized drug in the world, so why not just legalize it? Although there are legal restraints against marijuana, 1 in 3 Americans have tried it, out of curiosity at least once. Multiple studies have proven that, marijuana is psychologically and physically healing. Medical marijuana should be legalized for its beneficial advantages, such as, treating or preventing health conditionsRead MoreThe Legalization Of Recreational And Medical Use Of Marijuana1237 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of recreational and medical use of marijuana is still a controversial social issue faced by the United States. Although marijuana was seen as a dangerous drug back in the 1900’s, research has revealed the truth about marijuana, making the drug less frightening towards Americans. Now in the year 2015, marijuana is generally more accepted by Americans and many more see marijuana in a positive manner. Although marijuana does have some negative side effects, the side eff ects are notRead MoreReasons for Legalizing Marijuana841 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Reasons for Legalizing Marijuana Abstract Marijuana can be used by the public for many purposes. Medicine is an important part of our lives and marijuana has been tested to cure cancerous cells as well as help people with their epilepsy. Using marijuana for medical purposes is one major aspect that people should take into consideration for legalizing it. Marijuana’s market has also been brought to many people’s attention because it has been poised to grow faster thanRead MoreEssay on What If Marijuana Became Legal?623 Words   |  3 Pages Legalizing medical marijuana would reduce crime rates all across the United States. Marijuana is a widely used drug and a lot of crime revolves around it. A lot of money is spent on marijuana, whether it is at a dispensary in Colorado or police officers spending large amounts of money on drug busts. Police officers want a strong relationship with the community they serve. Police want to catch real criminals who hurt real victims. It would save departments a lot of money because they are wastingRead MoreMarijuana Decriminalization and Legalization636 Words   |  3 PagesThe validity of marijuana decriminalization (and even legalization) is illustrated in the following analysis of the social, fiscal, political, and medical attributes and conceptions associated with the drug. Marijuana has been used for thousands of years, in 2008; archeologists discovered over two pounds of cannabis in a 2,700-year-old grave of a shaman found in Central Asia. (Armentano, 1) Should marijuana be legalized or at least decriminalized in America? The following information may give theRead MoreThe Potential Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana Essay1152 Words   |  5 Pages Legalizing marijuana is a concept that can potentially benefit the public as well as the local economies. There has been a nationwide debate on whether marijuana should be legalized or not. The major consensus is that marijuana is not only bad for one’s health, but it is also dangerous to the community. These allegations are not true. Marijuana actually has health benefits that most people overlook. It is important to understand the many issues of legalizing marijuana in order to better understandRead MorePersuasive Essay On Legalizing Marijuana1746 Words   |  7 PagesLegalizing Marijuana Can you imagine being just six-years-old and suffering from over three hundred violent seizures a week? From birth, Charlotte Figi suffered from a rare form of epilepsy, which caused these seizures. After trying everything to help Charlotte, her parents finally decided to try medical marijuana, and it worked! Charlotte still had seizures, but now, she had maybe two or three seizures a month instead of three hundred a week. Charlotte’s story and many similar stories, alongRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1149 Words   |  5 PagesJacomino English 1410 23 March 2015 Legalizing cannabis Marijuana or cannabis is a preparation of the cannabis plant intended for use as a hallucinatory drug and a medicine as well. The principal hallucinatory constituent of marijuana is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Twenty three states and the District of Columbia has legalized marijuana for medical or recreational purposes in the United States. Legalizing marijuana has many benefits to it. Not only has marijuana been proven to counter act someRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1474 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana has always been a big deal in society, ever since it has become known as a street drug. In the current year of 2016, not only citizens abuse marijuana, Celebrities, professional athletes, and college students all abuse the substance for its benefits. We are becoming more aware how recently this year that marijuana has been legalized in ten countries and twenty five states in the United States of America. That is one half of our country that is able to use this sub stance. By legalizing marijuana

Genetic Technology in the News

Question: Discuss about theGenetic Technology in the News. Answer: Introduction Can you imagine a designer baby with all the desirable traits? Truly it can be the most extensive work of art if we can produce a human being with desirable features and free of diseases. It may become possible in the near future but it is always on the better side not to play too much with the natural process lest we end up making a Frankenstein. CRISPR, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats, is a recent technology which has the potential to edit genes at specific locations in a cells chromosome. Originally discovered in bacteria as a defence mechanism from viruses (Cong et al., 2013), the process is carefully modified by researchers to produce insertions, deletions and breaks in a chromosome. Which means that it is possible to replace defective genes or cut off a viral gene that is integrated in a chromosome. Well, it may be a cure for many genetic diseases but we have to wait for its full potential to be achieved yet. This technology may find applications in medical science, plant genomic manipulation, research etc. The technology uses an enzyme that is called Cas (endonuclease) and a short RNA sequence that is complementary to the target DNA sequence to be manipulated. When the RNA also known as guideRNA (gRNA) forms a complementary base pairing with the target DNA the Cas cleaves the DNA at specified location. The technology is still at its nascent stage but it is already available for use as cure for sickle cell anaemia but still cannot be used pertaining to safety issues. Although, genetically modified mouse with CRISPR-Cas technology for diabetes research is successfully produced (Delerue Ittner, 2015). References Cong, L., Ran, F. A., Cox, D., Lin, S., Barretto, R., Habib, N., . . . Marraffini, L. A. (2013). Multiplex genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas systems. Science, 339(6121), 819-823. Delerue, F., Ittner, L. M. (2015). Genome editing in mice using CRISPR/Cas9: achievements and prospects. Cloning Transgenesis, 2015.

Naguib Mahfouz free essay sample

Born in Egypt, his country would become the setting of nearly all his works, however his intricate descriptions of the common man and women would give them a universal appeal. Living through periods of great political and economic upheaval in modern Egyptian history, his stories would often address the strife and turmoil that resulted from these periods. In order to avoid the censorship of the powers that he was often critiquing he would hide his messages in metaphors and allegories. Often spinning an intricate story of an average person any reader could relate to and giving them a challenge to overcome, though not always allowing them to succeed. However the protagonist is really Egyptian society as a whole trying to overcome the social and political challenges facing it, and similarly not always succeeding. In order to further discuss this I will draw from two of Mahfouz’s short stories; Half a Day and The Norwegian Rat. I choose these stories specifically as they are the most assessable in trying to understand Mahfouz’s style of using metaphor and allegory to discuss the social and political problems facing Egyptian society during his time. In Mahfouz’s â€Å"Half a Day† the author describes a child’s first day of school. The story begins with the boy’s father walking him to class. The father having to comfort the sacred and nervous child, but once in school the boy discovers new friends and enjoyment in playing and learning. It is not all enjoyable though, the strictness of those in charge and their unbending attitudes cause pain if you cross them. The story finally comes to an end with the boy leaving at the end of the day. On his walk home he notices first differences in his neighborhood and then how he himself has aged, and slowly the realization that time has completely passed him by. However the episode described is an allegory for how the masses are shaped and controlled by society and those ruling in particular. Once we turn of age we are taken and told by those in power what to do, who to marry, and what to believe leaving no chance for free will. The father even describes school to the boy. Factory that makes useful men out of boys† (pg. 5). Describing the school as a factory implies that the boy will become the man the teachers, or the ruling powers, want him to be not the one he wishes to become. At the beginning of the day the teachers, those leading and ruling society, explain, â€Å"Here too there are mothers and fathers. Here there is everything that is enjoyable and beneficial to knowledge and religion† (pg. 56). Telling the students that all they need to know is found within this school. The child finds latter that those who speak up or change their minds will be met with physical punishment from the teacher. The clearest example of the allegory comes in the last two sentences describing the school day, â€Å"Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion, struggle, and perseverance. Those who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happiness that presented themselves amid the worries† (pg. 57). This could just as easily be used to describe Egyptian life during Mahfouz’s time, living under an oppressive government. Life being a constant rat race to provide for yourself and your family, constantly afraid of being swept aside. Though there is only a tiny chance of reaching the top you still take opportunities and advantages where you can. This often brings you into conflict with others like you, leading to rivalries and fighting. This constant chaos of trying to persevere and make ends meet, gain advantage over rivals and competitors, and avoid the punishment of the â€Å"teacher† takes up all of one’s thoughts and abilities. Until finally realization comes that time has passed you by and you haven’t really lived life but spent it competing in a game you could never win. This description of being forced into a life of competition and chaos by those ruling Egyptian society at the time would have most likely brought immediate censorship on Mahfouz’s story and possibly punishment from the â€Å"teacher† upon him. That is why Mahfouz hides his message in the description of a child’s first day at school. This is brilliant as it is a topic so easily accessible. Almost all the people who would be able to read Mahfouz’s story would have had to gone to school to learn to read in the first place so it is fairly universal in its ability to relate to people. Once more many people can easily remember the dread of first going to school and meeting people who would soon become your friends. The excitement of learning new things and playing with new friends is something we’ve all experienced. However what appears to be a simple story of a first day at school takes on a new meaning when one focuses on Mahfouz’s subtle hints. Describing school as a factory that produces men also few people would describe school, especially elementary, as â€Å"exertion, struggle, and perseverance† (pg. 57) against ones classmates. The main warning comes at the end, after realizing that time has seemingly passed by him the boy, now man, looks upon a scene of chaos in his old neighborhood. He observes a fight between a taxi driver and his occupant, an immovable traffic jam, a fire truck seemingly unable to reach its fire, and many other frantic people coming and going. This provides a stark contradiction to the description of a picturesque neighborhood at the beginning of the story. Mahfouz, speaking out against the chaos and competition of modern society allows the man to state while watching the fire truck, â€Å"Let the fire take its pleasure in what it consumes. As if remarking, let this modern society burn what good is it if we cannot even appreciate and enjoy the time we have? The first story, â€Å"Half a Day†, dealt with the problems many Egyptians faced as a result of living in a society that stressed personal gain and competition. Though the ruling party of society might be part of the problem, enforcing and encouraging this system, they were not the whole of it. This next story, â€Å"The Norwegian Rat†, is a critique of the ruling party and warning against allowing the government to control you through fear. The story is set as Cairo is being infested by Norwegian rats which are bigger, meaner, and more dangerous than normal rats. The setting is an apartment building whose tenants are trying to keep the building free of rats. As time goes by the residents find they have to give up more and more, whether it be money, time, or liberties, in order to keep the building free of a pest that none of them has actually seen. The story ends with a government inspector coming to assess the apartment’s defenses. However upon offering the bureaucrat a meal some of the tenants notice he takes on the appearance of a Norwegian rat. Here Mahfouz is warning against allowing the government to control its population by promoting the fear of an invented or unrealistic enemy. In the story Mr. A. M. , a government minister living in the building, convinces the tenants that the only way to combat these rats is to follow the instructions of the government, â€Å"†¦Carry out instructions meticulously, both those that come directly through me and those that come by way of authorities† (pg. 127). Later when the tenants complain of the strain on their nerves it causes Mr. A. M. angrily asserts that they are in war and a tate of emergency, forcibly implying there is no room for argument or discussion. Another mechanism the government uses is to promote fear by propagandizing the rats, not only their size and abilities but allowing rumors to abound that they can destroy entire villages and convincing the tenants of an eminent attack. They then contrast this by assuring the tenants that the government is with them and also taking extra burdens to keep the people safe. The narrator, a tenant, describes the feelings of the tenants after the second meeting, â€Å"†¦We told ourselves that we were truly not alone in battle. Gratitude welled up in us for†¦ and our revered Governor† (pg. 129). This keeps the blame and anger off the government which is implementing and enforcing these policies, and places it on the rats. Propagating the belief among the tenants that the government is doing what it has to do for their own safety, initially at least. Mahfouz also gives a hint at what likely things people will have to give up and lose in order to feel protected by their government. After every meeting the tenants are asked to sacrifice more and more. In the story it’s the direct cost of defenses, paying for and feeding cats. The indirect costs the time spent defending and losing chickens, cats, possibly even human lives by leaving poison out. The last cost is comfort, having to seal all windows and doors and leaving them constantly shut. In the real world these can translate to extra taxes or war bonds to fund the defenses. The indirect consequences both economically and non-economically in having to take time from your life in order to combat the threat. And lastly the sacrifice of personal civil liberties in the name of defense and safety. Here Mahfouz is able to escape censorship by making his story so ridiculous. A city ever taking these kinds of measures to defend against rats in unbelievable, as is a rat that can destroy cities. Buying rat traps or keeping your apartment sealed off hardly seems like major sacrifices. However these things are metaphors of actual possibilities and real sacrifices. By keeping it silly Mahfouz is able to present the tale as a humorous story, requiring you to read deeper in order to understand the real message. In the very end this message comes out when the bureaucrat takes on the form of a Norwegian rat. Allowing the tenants to realize the enemy is ot some foreign invader but actually the very people who are propagating the fear of attack. Mahfouz is well known for his sympathetic portrayals of the common man and women and the struggles they often go through in society. These stories came in to form of a critique against society in general, as in â€Å"Half a Day,† or as a warning against an oppressive government, â€Å"The Norwegian Rat. † What is truly amazing is that he would often be able to address these critiques and warnings to the Egyptian people, by using a style reliant on metaphors and allegory, without censorship from the powers above. Truly Mahfouz’s insights were helpful and needed for a society that was going through the great upheaval of modernization. However even today they carry relevance, as Egypt is going through a similar upheaval and realignment of society it would be wise for Egyptians to take another look Mahfouz. It would be wise to use his stories, and their critiques and messages, as a guide to evaluate current decisions and to keep from repeating the same mistakes.