"Monsters are real, ghosts are real too, // They live inside us, and sometimes, they win."

"Cancer patients with depression 'are being overlooked'"

By: Smitha Mundasad

Source: BBC News

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28954661

The article explains how depression can affect the chances of surviving cancer. The article mentions how three quarters of cancer patients who suffer from depression do not receive the psychological therapy they need, because the main particular focus is on the physical symptoms. Researchers argue that depression in cancer patients is often overlooked, but could be treated at a fraction of the cost of cancer drugs. People often mistake depression for sadness, but the two are completely different. Depression is a clinical term, and most of the time when people say they are depressed, they technically mean that they are sad. Sadness is emotional pain associated with, or characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness, or sorrow. Depression is when one feels that they are testing their limits all the time. They fear to explain what they feel, at the risk of crossing the line of what people around them are comfortable hearing. They worry about driving people away by their constant negativity. Depression can make people feel like their minds have rebelled and taken over. Depression is being sad when life in general is on the right track. It is the feeling one cannot escape, and eventually become numb to. People often think that depression is a side effect of cancer, but surely it is not. Researchers, now report that a new nurse-led treatment designed specifically for cancer patients, could reduce depressive symptoms and help thousands of people. Those suffering from cancer are more likely to suffer from depression rather people from the general population, but those with cancer report symptoms of depression because they do not receive treatment partly because they did not consider seeking help and professionals did not pick up on their illness. The costs for treatment and therapy are also quite expensive, and Jacqui Graves, says: "It is heart-breaking to think cancer patients who are already dealing with the toughest fight of their lives are also struggling with depression, without adequate support" (Mundasad, 1).

This article is important to read because it raises the awareness of true depression and cancer-related depression. It helps clarify the difference between sadness and depression. The article also raises awareness to charity and calls out to those who suffer from depression. 

SOAPST for "Speech to the Troops at Tilbury"

Subject - Queen Elizabeth's support for her troops

 Occasion - 1588 at Tilbury before an attack by the Spanish Armada

Audience - The English soldiers and the larger world

Purpose - Encouraging her troops to face the battle with courage and determination

Speaker - Queen Elizabeth

Tone - Assuring, motivating, inspiring, powerful, nationalistic, and charismatic

The SOAPST is important in understanding the given speech, because it offers a practical way to approach the concept of the rhetorical situation. It gives general background of the speech and a general view of what the speech is about. Understanding the purpose of the SOAPST can help the audience connect to the speech emotionally. The occasion and the speaker helps the audience understand the choice (diction) and arrangement (syntax) of the words. Often the biggest challenge is understanding the tone of the piece, because it is the tone that can achieve the speaker's purpose. Using the SOAPST, one can understand the tone.

Queen Elizabeth's speech is effective because the queen appealed to ethos, pathos, and logos. Since, Queen Elizabeth is a queen, her automatic ethos as the monarch is established, still she begins and ends her speech by stating how confident she is in her subjects. She appeals to pathos by revealing her personality as a weak and old woman, but she swears to her audience that on the inside she is as strong as a king. Not so evident, is Queen Elizabeth's logos, but her promise to repay her loyal troops with rewards can be considered to be a logical extension of her support for them. 

Fly Me to the Moon

"If This Is What Lunar Colonization Looks Like, We're Ready For The Future Now"        

By: Katherine Brooks

Source: The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/15/project-astoria_n_5673247.html

The article starts off by having the reader imagine a colony of humans building some sort of paradise on the moon. Then the article has the reader visualize, that fifteen years have passed since the colonizers had began on their  endeavor to build a paradise. The children who populated the society on the moon (nicknamed "Project Astoria"), set out for adventure. These young explorers, on their journey of exploration, discovered despicable and atrocious animals and stunning crystal plant life. This is all a fictitious, visually rich, and an alluring eleven image photo series coming from the minds of Los Angeles-based artists, Todd Baxter and his wife, Aubrey Videtto. They have "brought a utopian-dystopian dreamscape to life in their "Project Astoria: Test 01" series. They've essentially created a universe out of thin air -- Todd digitally painted the strange scenes from various photographs, involving tapirs, modular homes and Wes Anderson-esque uniforms, and Aubrey later crafted the "guide" to their world" (Brooks, 1). Todd drew inspiration from the first English colony, Roanoke which resulted in a mysterious disappearance, hence given the name "The Lost Colony." Todd and Aubrey added more to these images with an obscure species called "ubi." They are harmless, but can also be dangerous. "I remember being five or six years old, at the National Mall museums with my family... in the Air and Space Museum, walking through a replica of Skylab, the first US space station, and I knew my dad had worked on it as an engineer for the Space Program. As I was walking through the exhibit, I saw these manikin astronauts in their uniforms inside of the space station doing different things. One of the guys was in a kitchenette area, just sitting there eating food. I remember observing this frozen moment of people living in space, the interior of a kitchen, food, and it really sinking in –- this is a real thing. People can live in space! To my kid brain, this was pure wonderment, pure magic" (Baxter, 1). This experience was yet another implement which helped Todd and his wife create this majestic photo series.

            This is an important article as it has the audience imagine and be curious. Imagination will carry the viewer into this dystopian era that does not actually yet exist and curiosity will lead them down new paths.  Whilst viewing these series of images, there are many questions, that remain a mystery to the viewer. This mystery gives the viewer the ability to imagine and wonder. This article gives the audience a glimpse of what that age of discovery and leisure activity might look and feel like in the not-so-distant future . 

"Thank You doesn't begin to cover it. But it's a GOOD place to start."

The picture above depicts brave soldiers from Afghanistan standing beside each other for a photograph to thank the people involved with Operation Gratitude. This ad is an example of ethos because these men in uniform are members of the army which concludes to be an example of automatic ethos, because of the status they pledge. Whilst viewing this ad, one might acknowledge the experience and sincerity it delivers, and because of that recognition, the viewer would have a reason for trying to grasp the meaning of the given subject matter. This ad would be an example of logos because of the website the ad provides. The website www.OperationGratitude.com  would be considered to be logos because visiting this website would give the viewer a clear main idea, using specific details, examples, facts, statistics, or expert testimony to back it up. This given evidence can be immensely persuasive to the viewer. This ad is an example of pathos because it appeals to the emotions of a viewer. Whilst the viewer observes the presented image, their emotions might differ with sympathy, hopefulness, attentiveness, courteousness, inspiration, et cetera. The given website may also be considered to be pathos, because it may give the viewer the sudden urge and desire to try to give back to these men and women. Overall, this advertisement is effective, because it achieves a desired emotional effect, it is persuasive and truthful, it considers its audience, it leaves an unforgettable mark in one's mind, and uses all three major appeals.

"Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first one who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior."

My favorite book is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I love books that I can relate to, ones where I become one of the main characters, but everyone feels that particular way whilst reading the books they become fascinated with. Reading The Catcher in the Rye, I felt as if I somehow found one of my many missing shattered pieces. Everyone has their broken pieces which are left behind and forgotten. It depends on the person and when they will choose to seek them back. Like Holden Caulfield, I used to believe in the idea that I was broken and could never be fixed. Imagine a shattered person forced to grow up much sooner than all else. Lacking self-esteem and feeding on the misery of those around them, in attempt to comfort their own, growing up in a wicked and twisted world, always knowing that there is no bright side, and that life will never get better for them, and wondering if it is possible for someone to genuinely want to help them. That is the sort of life Holden lived, although I feel as if I might have exaggerated a bit. The story is narrated by a young boy named Holden Caulfield. The plot revolves around an exceedingly judgmental and apathetic Holden trying to figure out what his feelings are and what causes him to feel that way. He judges to such an immense amount that at times it becomes extremely funny. It is truly hard for me to explain these indescribable feelings this book has over me. Even though the situation Holden was put in was much worse, I felt as if I could relate to him and his thoughts and feelings. This book is my favorite because it is one of the few implements that give me an insight on who I wish to be. I wish to make people happy before their time runs out. I wish to help people live rather than only exist. I want them to be lying down on their deathbed without having any regrets. I wish for all this, while remaining nameless. I wish to be a secret hero. Reading The Catcher in the Rye is one of the few resources that has helped me embark on the endless voyage of discovering myself.