Essay

The Ant and the grasshopper

            The story “The Ant and the Grasshopper” by W. Somerset Maugham writes about two main characters, George and Tom, play same roles as the ant and grasshopper in Aesop fable. George works as hard as the ant, and Tom enjoys his life that is similar to the grasshopper. The ant stores food in the summer. Because the grasshopper sings the whole summer, he begs the ant for food on the winter. The story has a different ending from the fable. George earns some money from his hard working, and he is old. Tom plays all the times. Because of his charming appearance, he has a lot of money from a rich woman. I agree with Maugham.
            One point of Maugham is people need an entertainment in their lives to relax and allow them to have fun. Since every person has his own destiny, he will have an opportunity to have money in the world. Like some people, they go to casino for amusing, and they may win some money. I know that some Chinese men who work very hard to make some money. They are the chefs in the restaurant and work at least twelve hours a day in the kitchen. When they walk out the kitchen, they do not know any news about this society that makes them difficult to enter the outside world. Then, they will be afraid to communicate with others. They fool themselves by the work.

            Spending most time in the work is not a good idea for the life. Too much work is a heavy burden of bearing on people. We have to combine the work and play together to have a wonderful life. We need to make money to support our lives. On the other hand, we should know how to spend money to bring fun to our lives. There are a lot of amusements throughout the world. That means we have plenty of choice to relax our bodies and mind. Some of them are good for our health such as golf.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

In the fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper" and the story "The Ant and the Grasshopper", George works as hard as the ant, and Tom enjoys his life that is similar to the grasshopper. The ant collects food in the summer. Because the grasshopper sings whole summer, he begs the ant for food in the winter. The story has a different ending from the fable. George is old and earns some money, but Tom is charming and has a lot of money.

I agree with Maugham. People need an entertainment in their lives which can relax them and allow to have fun. Also. every person has his own opportunity to have money in the world.Like some people, they go to the casino for amusing, and they may win some money in there. I know some Chinese men who spend their most time which is half-day in the kitchen. When they walk out, they are nervous because they do not know any news and they are difficult to enter into the outside world. They are only for the lower salary  without their own lives.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

I think the message in Maugham's story is the same as the message in the Aesop fable of the ant and the grasshopper. In Maugham's story,George has same qualities like the ant in the fable, and Tom is most like grasshopper. George works hard as the ant. George was in his office every morning at nine-thirty and never left it till six. And the ant was storing up food for the winter in the summer days. on the other hand, Tom wants to enjoy his life like the grasshopper. Tom had a little money and he spent two happy years in the various capitals of Europe. Similarly, the grasshopper sang whole summer to have fun.

I am the ant

I prefer to be the ant. The ant works all the summer to save the food for the winter. I am a lazy person. I know that I am better to study hard to get out from ESL. When I tries to learn more, there are many distractions to change my mind. The experience of failure lets me realize that  perseverance is hard for me. I want to have the ant's spirit in studying.

The Friendship Bond

The idea of friendship is alive and well. In my opinion, the internal qualities are more important than the external conditions by making a friend. I think a large number of people have same belief like me. If most people have similar themes in friendship, friendship will never be dead. According to the article, when we asked our readers to tell us what qualities they believe to be important in a friend, they valued, above all, loyalty and the ability to keep confidences, warmth, affection, and supportiveness were also high on the list, while external characteristics such as age, income, and occupation, were not. This example confirms my thought that the friendship is living.

Conflict

Yesterday, I sat on the subway, and a man started to play music. Then, a little girl lifted a small basket up to each person and asked for money. The train reached the 74^th Street. A beautiful woman stand up and said to the man, “This is illegal.” She turned to the girl “She is under the age.” The man stared at the woman straightly, “So what.” I saw the woman’s face became angry, and she picked up her phone and told to him, “Do you need me to call a police?”  The door opened, they walked out and argued. I had not seen the ending because the train was out of station. Other people began to discuss this event.

This kind of conflict often happens in this area. I do not really know what will be on the next. I think the woman has to call the police. And then, the police will use his power to educate this man. The individual speaking is weak to influence others.

Sunday in the Park

Opinion and Interpretation:

The author uses this article which an argument is among two families to expresses two curial ideas to us. First, the parents are responsible on children’s education. Second, a fighting cannot be a solution between the arguments. Joe’s father needs to stop Joe’s impolite action and tells him what right thing to do is. If the parents encourage their children do hurt other kids, their children will be violent and think it is correct in the society. Parents have to discipline their children to be nice to others. A fighting will bring worse things to people. It never gives a good thing to people who involve in a battle. People need to avoid starting a fighting.

Summary:

The story "Sunday in the Park" by Bel Kaufman tells us an event happens in the park between two families. Morton and his wife sit on the bench, and their son, Larry, plays in the sandbox. Joe, another boy, throws the sands at Larry. Morton's wife tells his not to do it, but Joe's father says that Joe can do everything he wants to do. Although Morton tries to communicate with Joe's father, he does not want. They stand up and star at each other, and there has a fighting spark between them. Then, Morton brings his family out of the park. Larry starts crying. Morton and his wife think it is the best way to stop a battle.

Henrietta Lacks' Immortal Cells

Opinion and Interpretation:

I like this reading document. It facilitates me to understand the book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks". The author divides the whole book into some important topics. And, using questions and answers make the book very clear when I read each topic. I am interested in this than the book. The professional vocabularies about the science in the book distract my attention. Also, some idiomatic languages will   make me hard to comprehend the stories. This reading document does not give me these problems.

Summary:

The reading "Henrietta Lacks' Immortal Cells" by Sarah Zielinski summarizes Rebecca' book and figures out the essential points about Henrietta's family and her immortal cells. Scientists grow HeLa cells for researching the diseases, and Rebecca writes a book to express what is going on the medicine and Lacks' family. While the sample of Henrietta's tumor is taken by Hopkins' doctor, her cells start growing. HeLa cells make many adventures in science and is used the false name to replace Henrietta Lacks. The reason of beginning of the book is because Rebecca interests on Henrietta's story when she first recognize her. When she does the researches, she tells Henrietta's family everything. Because HeLa cells are the contamination, scientists go to test her children to find a solution. Henrietta's daughter does not know her mother that she is surprised about her cells is alive, but HeLa cells do not give any benefits to her family. There are some lessons from this book for the scientists and other people.

Page 137~176

Summary:

HeLa cells divide faster than normal cells in the orbit. And then, normal cells will become malignant. George Hyatt tries to use the skin cells for treating badly burned wound, but cells become cancerous; that happens because HeLa cells are contaminant. When it is known by national Cancer Institute, they set up the Collection Committee to research on it. Also, some scientists use HeLa to check on the DNA using “cells sex”. Bobbette asks Deborah to stay in the school even she is pregnant. Deborah’s brothers start their own stories. Joe fights with Ivy and kills him after his military life. After he hides a few days, he surrenders himself to the police. He expresses that he just want to protect himself not means to kill Ivy, but a boy exposes the truth. Joe goes into jail. Chectah falls into drugs and starts to beat Deborah after they get married. Deborah does not deserve to get beatings, so she brings her children and runs away from Chectah.  Gartler announces his findings in the conference. HeLa cells are contamination because they come from a colored woman. If it is right, many scientists worry about their researches and a lot of money will be wasted. There are some scientists do not believe the announcement. Rebecca meets Henrietta’s family. Sonny says that Henrietta’s children do not know anything about her except Lawrence, but Lawrence only remember that Henrietta is strict by asking him to wash the diapers. Then, Rebecca talks to Henrietta’s family that her cells help to cure the blindness. Day tells her why Henrietta’s cells grow throughout the world. “Night doctors” often take the cells from the people without telling. Gey has a cancer, and he hopes his cells like Henrietta’s to live forever and help in the research. However, they don’t work after he dies. Henrietta’s family knows that her cells alive from the newspaper.

Impression:

When I read that Deborah’s husband would beat her and fall into drugs, I felt unforgivable. Frist, a man cannot hurt his significant other for any reasons. Second, the drug is a very bad thing in the life. Lastly, he does not be a good father and care for his children that are one of the worst things in the marriage.

Question:

Is really Henrietta’s cell contaminant?

Freewrite on Reading

This book is hard to read, I need to read at least twice to understand what is going on. When I read in English, I lie on my bed and use my dictionary at first time. After few minutes in reading an English book, I will go to my computer to wake me up. It is hard for me because I can’t concentrate in reading in a long time. The vocabulary is a big problem for me when I read a book. Sometimes, the idiomatic language will confuse me. We can discuss more in the class.

Page 93~136

Summary:

The book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is written by Rebecca Skloot. From 93 to 136, polio spreads in the world. Jonas Salk has developed the polio vaccine, but he does not test it. The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP) uses the monkeys for testing. It costs a lot of money so the NFIP ask Gey for help. Henrietta’s cells are the best one for experiments. Gey ships HeLa by using post office. Most cells are alive. When the NFIP hears this, they want HeLa for polio’s test and a factory is built at Tuskegee. Henrietta’s cells are used for helping virology, checking chromosomes, and testing fever. A Fritos factory is established to produce HeLa for selling by Samuel Reader and Monroe Vincent. HeLa is out of Gey’s control. Gey does not want Henrietta’s name to leak out, but it is a near-correct name in the Minneapolis Star. Gey creates the pseudonym to journalists instead of real name. After Henrietta’s funeral, Day works two jobs and Lawrence drops out school to help his father, but he is grafted by the Korean War. Ethel takes care of Henrietta’s children. She abuses them. Galen tries to touch Deborah physically. When she tells her father that, Day does not believe her. After that, Deborah does not talk this again and avoid meeting Galen alone. Rebecca goes to see Cliff, and then he brings her to Henrietta’s grave. In the family’s cemetery, Cliff tells her about the history of Henrietta’s family. Sotham uses HeLa to test what cause the cancer. He injects HeLa into patients, volunteers’ bodies without telling them that is a cancer research. There is a law to restrict the formal research in the United States.

Impression:

I feel so surprised on scientists’ research. When a scientist does a cancer research, he does not tell the truth to his experimenters. It violates to morality. We cannot do anything to achieve the purpose unscrupulously.

Question:

What does Henrietta’s family feel  when they know that someone uses Henrietta’s cells to earn the money?

Page 67~92

Summary:

The book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is written by Rebecca Skloot. From 67 to 92, Rebecca goes to Baltimore to meet David “Sonny” Lacks. When she reaches there, she cannot connect with Sonny. She faces same condition like Rogers. She tries to contact Henrietta’s family but no answering. So, she drives to Turner Station herself. Turner Station was boomed and changed from a safe place to a dangerous town. Rebecca wants to look for Courtney Speed who quotes in Henrietta’s newspaper article. She meets pastor in front of church, and he brings her to find Speed. Speed cannot tell her anything, but she gives her a tape. Rebecca watches and knows about Henrietta’s immortal cells in others’ views. Then, Rebecca drives to Clover. She asks Cootie for directing her to Lacks Town. Cootie is Henrietta’s cousin and says that she is a nice person and she helps him because his polio. Henrietta’s tumor spreads in her body. She needs a lot of blood, so Henrietta’s family and friends collect blood for her. She is near death. She wants Day to take care of their children. She died on October 4, 1951. The doctors want to do an autopsy for Henrietta’s corpse, they ask for Day’s permission. When Day agrees with them, they take some sample from her. It is raining in Henrietta’s funeral. When they put Henrietta’s coffin into grave, the big storm comes into Clover.

Impression:

            Rebecca’s spirit has a positive influence on me. She worked hard to complete her purpose. She did not fear the conflicts. When she started her research, she could not get the information to write her book. She was going to the black area based on her white identification to look for Henrietta’s family. She never gives up when she faces the problems. To do one thing that is really hard to you that means you need courage and perseverance to overcome many difficulties.

Question:

            Does Henrietta’s death cause the storm?

Chapter 1~3, Response

Our group’s post is too simple than other groups and there are a lot of information and grammatical using that we do not remind. Also, we go to wrong direction on the author’s process of writing. Other groups talk about the orders of the author in the book, but we write down the preparations of the author. In the society’s part, we can add more detail to express the society at that time. Like Wu’s group, they do very well on it.

Answers

1.      What year did The Tuskegee Institute open the first “HeLa factory,” supplying cells to laboratories and researchers and operating as a nonprofit? What was the name of the company that would begin selling Hela for profit?

In 1952, the Tuskegee Institute opened the first “HeLa factory,” supplying cells to laboratories and researchers and operating as a nonprofit. The company named Microbiological Associates that would begin selling Hela for profit.

2.      What year was Henrietta Lacks born?

Henrietta Lacks was born in 1920.

3.      What year did George Gey successfully culture the first immortal human cell line using cells from Henrietta Lacks’s cervix? Why was it given the name HeLa?

In 1951, George Gey successfully cultures the first immortal human cell line using cells from Henrietta Lacks’s cervix. It is given the name HeLa after the first two initials of Henrietta’s first and last names.

4.      What year did scientists use HeLa cells to help develop the polio vaccine?

In 1952, Scientists use HeLa cells to help develop the polio vaccine.

5.      What is the name of the hospital where Henrietta was treated for cervical cancer? In what year was it founded?

Johns Hopkins Hospital is where Henrietta was treated for cervical cancer. It was founded in 1889.

6.      What year did HeLa cells become the first cells ever cloned?

In 1953, HeLa cells became the first cells ever cloned.

Page 34~66

Summary:

The book “The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot tells us about Henrietta and her cells. From 34 to 66, Gey takes the sample of Henrietta's cervical cells to his lab and let Mary to care of it. Gey tried many kinds of ingredients to supply cells, but all of them died. So, Mary does not think that Henrietta's cell can live. She puts her cells into clean test tubes and writes “HeLa” on them to present Henrietta Lacks. Gey interested in cell culture when he was in college. After he graduated, he and Margaret built their first lab. In his lab, Henrietta's cells start growing. After Henrietta goes home, she does everything like usual. She doesn't like Turner Station so she often brings her children back to Clover. She enjoys her life; she will go to dance when her children go to sleep. Henrietta sent her daughter, Elsie, to Crownsville State Hospital because she could not take care of her based on her pregnancy. She goes to see her every week. Because of Henrietta's treatments, she needs to live in her cousins' house so she tells her cousins about her cancer. Henrietta says to her cousins that are uncomfortable on treatments. Rebecca calls Roland Pattiillo who can touch with Henrietta's family. He tries to ask her some questions to know her purpose. Then, he gives her phone number of Henrietta's daughter, Deborah. She connects her, but she gets nothing from her. Deborah lets her to look for her father or brothers. When Rebecca calls Day, he does not want to talk about Henrietta's cells. Henrietta does not know that her cells grow in lab. Gey goes to a show to say cells' researches. He shows a bottle of cells but he does not remind that they come from Henrietta. Gey also sends Henrietta's cells to other labs. Carrel’s chicken heart cells are a crucial step on cell culture. Henrietta starts to feel sick inside her. When she tells the doctor her condition, the doctor cannot help her. After her thirty-first birthday, she stays at hospital. She is sad and cries when she sees her family in Hospital. Gey visits her and tells her about her cells, she is happy that her cells can help others.

Impression:

Colored people are treated unfairly in that society. The doctors hire a lot of black men with syphilis for researching. They have a medicine that can cure them but they do not use it because they need more information about syphilis from them. They are very painful in that situation. When I read at this part, I cannot believe that a different and unequal treatment is between white and black.

Question:

Why does Gey tell Henrietta everything but he doesn't say Henrietta's name at show?

Page 1~33

Summary:

            The book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is written by Rebecca Skloot, from page 1 to 33, it talks us about the beginning of Henrietta’s cervical cancer. The author knows Henrietta is from her biology teacher Defler. He talks about the immortal cells from Henrietta. The author interests in Henrietta’s story and does a research to write a book about Henrietta and her cells. When Henrietta bears Deborah, she feels something is wrong in her belly. After her fifth child, Joe, is born, she finds out a lump grow in her womb. She tells to her husband Day, they go to Hopkins together to check that out. The doctor Jones needs to do a biopsy for a diagnosis so he cut a sample from Henrietta’s tumor. Henrietta is raised in Clover with other cousins by her grandfather.  She has to do housework. She leaves school in sixth grade.  She has her first child when she is fourteen. Then, Day and she get married when they have two children. They work on the tobacco filed to support their family. The war starts in the United States. The wars affect the tobacco company, Henrietta's family leaves Clover. Jones reports that Henrietta has a cervical cancer. Two types of carcinomas are invasive carcinomas and noninvasive carcinomas. Henrietta’s cancer is malignant. TeLinde is a cervical cancer expert and the Geys does cell experiments. Hopkins asks Henrietta’s operation permit for curing her, but TeLinde and Gey take her cells for examination without Henrietta’s knowing.

Impression:

            Henrietta is a brave and independent woman. When she has a cervical cancer, she accepts this bad news and the doctor’s treatment. She still enjoys her life and does what she needs to do. In my imagination, most women cannot stay calm when they get a cancer. Cancers are a terrible thing for all people whether they are invasive or noninvasive. If I have a serious disease, I will cry and complain that the world is unfair. The sadness and complaint cannot solve the problem which has happened. We have to study Henrietta’s spirit and attitude; she faces her life honestly and peacefully.

Question:

            Does Henrietta feel different on physical and mental when she has a cervical cancer?