Elena's Legacy. Texts written by Elena, excerpts from texts she liked, her artworks.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Top 3 Ways to Overcome Writer's Block

Top 3 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block

Ok, so it’s exam time and you finally sat down to write that dreadful English literature essay (not to single out English literature majors here, it’s just that that post is about creative writing and writing for such classes are likely to be far more creative than an essay focusing on molecular biology.

A computer graphics enhanced pigeon. Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Number 3.

Talk to a friend. Yes, this could be seen as yet another way to procrastinate even further on that long overdue term paper, but since plagiarizing isn’t an option unless you want to get yourself expelled from the school altogether, you will have to find a way to turn in that assignment. Thus, talking to friends and peers stimulates us cognitively and may spark your though processes just enough to get you started on that new page, and many say that’s all it takes – to get started.

What is art? Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Number 2.

Plagiarize. No, no, no! This is a bad attempt at a joke. Whatever you do, do not plagiarize, it will not only get you a bad grade on the assignment, it may lead you to fail the course and even to get expelled, yes expelled, as in kicked out forever, from the schools, college or university you are attending. For the sake of people’s academic careers out there, I repeat: Do no plagiarize! However, reading up on the subject and even using properly cited and referenced material may given you a head start and even an advantage on your analytical essay.

Creative flow. Infinity. Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Number 1.

Distract yourself. This particular step works better with math problems but it may come in handy with writer’s block as well. Sometimes, when you’ve been hard at work with the same math problem for hours, you’ve exhausted all your cognitive resources and the solution is nowhere nearer. In those critical times, it’s better to distract oneself, like go to the gym and exercise (which actually increases cognitive function and releases endorphins making you feel good). Once rested and replenished, you can take on the task with new vigour.

Where the Living Is Easy

In the US everyday necessities cost less in the Midwest and the South

Residents of New York City pay twice as much for movie tickets as their counterparts in Sioux City Iowa. A visit to the doctor costs more in Los Angeles than Montgomery, Alabama. Prices for a range of items differ from city to city and state to state, sometime dramatically. As a rule, the cost of basic items – from food to housing to entertainment – tends to be higher in a large metropolis than om smaller cities or towns. The cost of living is cheaper in the South and Midwest than it is on either the East or West Coast.

Nationwide, there isn’t much of a difference in the cost of basic consumer items, largely because of national brands and efficient interstate transportation. Bet there are significant regional differences in the prices of some services, notably health care and child care. Together, goods and services account for 35 to 40 percent of annual family spending.

Where the living is easy. Credit photo: Elena

The biggest cost differentials are in housing and taxes, which account for the lion’s share of most family budgets. According to figures compiled by Runzheimer international, a management consulting firm that determines relocation for businesses, the annual cost of three- to four-bedroom house or apartment in Little Rock, Arkansas, for example, is a third the cost of a similarly sized place in Washington, D.C.

Where quarters are cramped and prices high: Any large metropolitan area is going to be more expensive than a small town, but some big cities are a lot more expensive than others.

Of course, everything is relative. Even the most expensive cities in the United States are bargains compared with many cities abroad. Runzheimer, in fact, touts the United States to its foreign clients as an attractive relocation destination because of its comparatively low living costs.

Here’s the good news: New York looks like a bargain compared to Hong Kong.

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)

You’ll never know the days, the nights, the tears, the tears I’ve cried – Tina Turner

No finance students goes through graduate or even undergraduate school without learning about the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). The CAPM formula involves a risk free rate, beta of the security and expected market return. The model is used in assessing risk and compare it to expected return and thus in determining the best price for risky securities. The model rests on the basic assumption that investors must be compensated in terms of value of money as well as of the risk they undertake.

In other words, the CAPM model attempts to predict whether a investment should be made according to the risk that it involves. Risk is seen as an inherent part of investing. For example, some individuals are risk averse, while others are risk tolerant. Such different character traits correspond to diverse investor profiles, and are likely to result in very different portfolios. In general, the more risk is involved, the more growth and income, but as with any subject, it is better to refrain from simplistic conclusions.

We will stand tall – Adele. RBC Dominion Securities. Image: Elena

Typically, diversification is seen as a method of reducing risk (modern portfolio theory). However, usually diversification cannot eliminate risk completely. Thus, the next best thing is for investors to be compensated for the risk they take on by a corresponding rate of return. Therefore, CAPM is a model showing the rate of return that should justify the particular security. Notwithstanding, much of theory is debated. Financial theories are no different. Hence, the CAPM model remains likewise argued about in the literature.

Historically, the CAPM was developed and introduced by financial economist William Sharpe in his book Portfolio Theory and Capital Markets. According to the theoretical construct, there are two types of risk: systematic and unsystematic. The CAPM is designed to compute systematic risk.

Sleep: Art and Science

Art can take many forms: music, animation, literature, photography, design, painting, drawing and other illustrative or visual fine arts… the list goes on and on. But what about scientific endeavors? Science is usually recognized, among other signs, by its methodology (the rigorous scientific method), the replicability of results and theories supported by evidence.

Amazingly enough, at times science meets art in unusual ways (aside from cartoons about neuroscience), and the result can be quite intriguing. For example, the word SMURF refers to mythical blue creatures originally created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo. Notwithstanding, the identically sounding abbreviation stands for Smad Ubiquination Regulatory Factor (a ligase). Similarly, ROCK can mean a popular, somewhat rebellious musical genre, as well as Rho-associated kinase. Finally, the most famous of the Pokemons, Pikachu, lent his name to a protein discovered in Japan. Pikachurin is an essential protein-like polyssacharide in the brain.

Perhaps not as much as love and magic, but sleep has fascinated many an author or storyteller. From the legendary Sandman to stories about alternate worlds located in dreams, fictional accounts have often centered on this basic human function. While the relationship between sleep, neuroregeneration and neurorestoration is being looked into, it has largely been established that sleep aids memory and learning. In particular, scientists have shown that procedural memories (the type of implicit memory that aids skill formation) are greatly aided by getting enough sleep.

Which thoughts spring to mind when looking at such pictures? Science fiction and fantasy stories often involve portals allowing travel between alternate worlds, realities and times. Image: Copyright © Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Experiments have demonstrated that in the absence of Zeitgebers (German for ‘time givers’) mice woke up a little later everyday, extending their chronological cycle. Interestingly, other research has documented that humans get used to a certain amount of hours of sleep (within reasonable limits), that they can change with training and habit. Also, sleeping may be classified into two types: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement). Despite this, of course there are infinitely many types of dreams…

In conclusion, it seems that a text about sleep and art would be incomplete without Sleeping Beauty. She is the central protagonist of a folktale (Charles Perreault, Brothers Grimm, cultural variants, Disney animated film, etc.) in which a young princess falls under a wicked spell and ends up sound asleep until her Prince Charming one day wakes her up with a kiss. Today, most likely from the fairytale, many use the saying ‘beauty sleep’, referring to how much better one looks when well rested.

A dream. Photo by Elena

Coping with Poisoning

Most cases involve children, but most deaths occur among adults

Ninety percent of all poisonings happen in the home. Most cases involve young children swallowing house-hold or garden products or medications that are inappropriate. But fatalities involve adults and are frequently suicides or drug-related. Here are the American Red Cross’s suggestions as to what to do in most cases:

How can I tell if someone’s been poisoned?

The physical clues to poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the chest or abdomen, difficulty breathing, sweating, seizures, and shifts in consciousness. When the victim is conscious and old enough to communicate, ask him or her what happened. When this is not possible, carefully inspect the scene for clues. Do you see any open or overturned containers, any plants that don’t look right, or any medicine cabinet that is opened? Are there any flames, smoke or unusual smells?

What if I strongly suspect a poisoning?

Move the victim away from the poison source if necessary. Check his or her level of consciousness, breathing condition, and pulse. Treat any life-threatening factors. Then call a poison control center or emergency hotline with any information on what the victim may have been exposed to or swallowed.

What if the poison has been swallowed?

Never have a victim eat or drink unless medical professionals advise it. If you can’t locate the poison source and the victim throws up, save some of the vomit for the hospital to test.

If you do know the poison, contact a poison control over center for precise instructions or administering an antidote. If vomiting must be induced, using syrup of ipecac is generally recommended. For someone over 12 years of age, the normal dosage is two tablespoons of syrup, followed by two glasses of water. For children under 12, the dosage normally is one tablespoon followed by two glasses of water. The intended result should com within 20 minutes.

Coping with poisoning. Photo by Elena

When is inducing vomiting a bad idea?

Never induce vomiting when the victim has taken an acid or alkali, which can burn the esophagus, throat, and mouth tissues. The same is true for petroleum products such as gasoline or kerosene.

What is the role of activated charcoal in treating poisoning?

A solution made from activated charcoal is often used to help neutralize poison that remains in the stomach even after vomiting. The charcoal comes in both liquid and powder forms and is sold in pharmacies over the counter. The powder form needs mixing with water so that it becomes milk shake-like in its consistency. Young children have a hard time swallowing the mixture and often need it dispenses to them at a hospital.

How should toxic fumes be handled?

When the victim’s skin is pale or bluish, it’s a tip-off that toxic fumes may have been inhaled. The most common toxic fumes are carbon monoxide from car exhaust, carbon dioxide from wells or sewers, and chlorine from swimming pools. Glues, cleaning solvents, and paints also give off fumes, as do drugs such as crack cocaine. The most important thing you can do for a toxic fume victim is to get the person to fresh air as soon as possible. If the victim has lost consciousness, start rescue breathing.

How should chemicals on skin be handled?

Flush the area in question with continuously running water and call the rescue service. When the chemical is dry and there’s no running water, brush off the chemical and see a doctor as soon as possible.