Fact or opinion? True or false?

I thought that the results of the survey we did this morning "Fact or Opinion? True or False?" (2015) were interesting for a couple of reasons. First, we clearly disagree about what these basic terms means, as shown in the pie charts for several of the questions.

But also interesting, and in need of some explanation, is the variation between answers. For example, most of us think it is true that killing people for fun is morally wrong; however, the very similar statement about abortion got a very different set of results.

And then there are the results for the fact - opinion status of 2+2=5, which contrast with those for 2+2=4.

What do you think? What definitions of the words fact, opinion, true and false are most useful here? Can something be both a fact and an opinion? Can a belief be both true and false? Can it be neither true nor false?

That I wrote two questions for each statement, suggests that I think the pairs of ideas in each are distinct. Do you agree? But is there nonetheless some connection between the two pairs: fact, opinion; and true, false?

As always, comments are welcome.

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Reference

Fact or opinion? True or false? (2015, December 10). [Survey results.] Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/a/auathailand.org/forms/d/1oobtPV8q1NoOivuHO2uatgRvveGkFBHmIn7iJNpLlws/viewanalytics 

Provisional proposition - Peter (3) - nurture persons first

Provisional proposition - Peter (3) - nurture persons first 

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question:  
   What should be done about women who drink alcohol or take drugs when they are pregnant?  

________________________________________________

• My provisional proposition is: 
   Public health authorities should encourage women who are addicted to or have used significant amounts of drugs, especially alcohol, during early pregnancy to have an abortion. 

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

• it is better for the continuing life of the mother
• it reduces the social problems of unmarried mothers
• it reduces crime and other social problems 
• it reduces children growing up in bad situations 
• it prevents a needlessly awful life being inflicted on a child 
• it saves the public money in ongoing health and other costs 
• although it kills a human being, it harms no person 

________________________________________________ 

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Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Provisional proposition - Union (wit is the best weapon.)

Provisional proposition - Union (wit is the best weapon.) 

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question:  
   What can be done to persuade children not to begin taking illicit drugs?

________________________________________________

• My provisional proposition is: 
   We should provide the children with the information about the pros and cons of illicit drugs abuse as well as effect on their life.

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

• Children's curiosity cannot be forbidden anymore because of the communication technology.
• Children may get the distorted or half truth story from the biased source.
• Children can access to the illicit drug sooner or later.
• Good, enough and well rounded informations they derive can lead to the better decision they make.

________________________________________________ 

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Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Provisional proposition - Tan ( As tormenting a person)

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question:  
  What should be done about women who drink alcohol or take drugs when they are pregnant?

________________________________________________

• My provisional proposition is: 
  Pregnant women who have positive tests for drugs and alcohol should be arrested and prosecuted for tormenting babies. 

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

• New born babies will be protected from the impact of drugs and alcohol.
• It will decrease the numbers of drug-abusing mothers.
• It will decrease the numbers of drug-affected babies.  
• The government will save money that could be spent for taking care of disable people who were harmed by the effects of drugs when they were fetuses.
• A fetus should be considered as a child, so a mother is responsible for its life.   

________________________________________________ 

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Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Provisional proposition - Na- Right of Non-smokers

Provisional proposition - Na (Right of Non-smokers) 

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question:  
   Should the government be involved in the campaign to stop people from smoking? 

________________________________________________

• My provisional proposition is: 
  Non-smokers must be protected by the government. 

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

• Smoking causes lung cancer and many other harmful diseases. There is a proven research that the 2nd hand smoker is heavily affected than the actual smokers. 
• It's a responsibility of the government to provide a harm free environment for non-smokers because they do not consciously making a harmful choice (smoking). 
• Part of the tax will be used to provide health care for the smokers which is not fair to the non-smokers which are more in numbers.    

________________________________________________ 

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Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Provisional proposition - Nori(to know drugs user experience is good for children? )

Provisional proposition - Nori(to know drugs user experience is good for children? ) 

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question:  
   What can be done to persuade children not to begin illicit drugs? 

________________________________________________

• My provisional proposition is:  
  The government should  be had an opportunity to listen the experience of illicit drug user for children.     

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

•  it can teach children about the fear of illicit drug as a one of real examples.
•  it is a good chance for children to think deeply about the fear of drugs.
•  children know  the end of  using drugs.  
•  after this opportunity, if children don't  begin illicit drugs, drugs user declese. .
• it is good chance for society to teach about illicit drugs with children and thier parents.

________________________________________________ 

___________

Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Provisional proposition - Ning (public service advertising for not smoking )

Provisional proposition - Ning (public service advertising for not smoking ) 

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question:  What can be done to persuade children not begin smoking?
  
    _______________________________

• My provisional proposition is:  The government should make all kinds of public service advertising to prevent children from smoking.

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

• It will make teenagers know exactly the dangers of smoking through all kinds of advertising on TV or on the wall in school: smoking can cause breath and mouth problems, increase the risk of cancer, waste money, pollute the health of others around you, reduce the sense of smell and taste, and so on.
•  Only the government has the power and money to make such public service advertising.
•  It will be good for both the health of new generation and the future of the country.
• It will help people pay attention to the healthy way of life.
• It will reduce the smoking rate and cancer rate as well as other illness caused by smoking.  
• It will encourage the parents to keep their children away from smoking.

_______________________________________________ 

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Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Provisional proposition - Toon (Be responsible for yourselves)

Provisional proposition - Toon (Be responsible for yourselves) 

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question: 
   What is possible solution to the problem of alcoholism?

________________________________________________

• My provisional proposition is:
   The public health insurances and medical care services must not provide any benefits to treatments and medical cares due to chronic alcohols abuse.

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

• It discourages prolonged alcohols consumption.
• It helps save government spending and reduce financial burden.  
• It stimulates personal health responsibility.
• Saved money can be used on alcoholism treatment programs.
• It is not inhumane.
• Social problems relating to alcoholism will decrease.

________________________________________________ 

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Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Provisional proposition - Peter (2) - more choices for all

Provisional proposition - Peter (2) 

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question:  
   Should the government be involved in the campaign to stop people from smoking?  

________________________________________________

• My provisional proposition is: 
   Smoking may not be banned by law in restaurants and other privately owned property.  

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

•   It respects owner's right to set conditions of entry to private property. 
• Acknowledges difference between public places and publicly property. 
• It allows smokers and non-smokers greater choice. 
• It does not impose any non-consensual risk on anyone. 
• It encourages personal responsibility for health and lifestyle. 
• Smoking bans are right for publicly owned property; therefore, right to equal access without health risk there is protected.  

________________________________________________ 

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Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Provisional proposition - Peter (1) - legalize all drugs

Provisional proposition - Peter (1) 

In the academic writing exercise that is part 5 of chapter 7 of Quest, "Medicine and Drugs: Addictive Substances," Pamela Hartmann asks us to answer one of the questions on pages 224 and 227 (2007).  

• I have chosen to answer the question:  
   What can be done about the problem of drug addiction? (p. 227) 

________________________________________________

• My provisional proposition is: 
   The sale and use of all illicit drugs should be legalized.  

Briefly, I think this is one effective solution (there might be others) because:

•   It will increase tax revenue. 
• It will save money on policing costs. 
• It will reduce corruption. 
• It will reduce drug related crime, especially violent crime. 
• Saved money can be used for education, rehabilitation and health care. 
• It will not increase drug use rates, and may in fact lower them. 
• It's also morally right - but this is not one of my supporting reasons, which are all solidly practical. 

________________________________________________ 

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Reference

Hartmann, P. (2007). Quest 2 Reading and Writing (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Our drug addicted grandparents - how bad were they?

I noticed with my afternoon dose of caffeine that one of my FB friends had posted an amazing picture which fit so perfectly with our discussion this morning that I had to blog it. It's an advertisement for cough syrup from the 1930s - but look at those ingredients! If you sold or used it today, in most countries you would be in prison for years.

That prompted me to do a bit more research. A Google of the image search string "one night cough syrup heroin cannabis cocaine" turns up a wonderful collection of old time remedies that show how much our ancestors, at least my ancestors, loved their drugs.

The obvious question is: should our grandparents, who were the sellers and customers of these products, have been in prison? Were they raving drug addicts? Were the readily available hard drugs of addiction being sold in family corner stores and through news paper advertisements destroying society? Was all of this freely sold and used cocaine, heroin and other drugs destroying the young people of the 1930s and earlier?

Should the executives of the giant Bayer pharmaceutical company be in prison for the heroin that they used to sell along with aspirin?

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Reference

There is no reference citation for a Google or other search, but you can describe your method, which is what I did above.

A cat with enormous, long and curve teeth

If you had to choose between an ancient sabre-toothed tiger and a modern tiger, which one would you choose?

In “ Did our ancient ancestors ‘killthe cat’?”, BBC News (2015), Hellen Briggs tells us that the 300,000-year-old fossils of a sabre-toothed cat were found in Schöningen, north-central Germany, where early humans Homo Heidelbergensis also resided, indicating that Schöningen families may have to defend themselves from these giant cats with spears.

This article makes me think of my favorite cartoon animation Ice Age, in which one of the protagonists is a sabre-toothed tiger, who is a good friend of a sloth and a mammoth. This cartoon features a sabre-toothed tiger as a kind, funny guy which is, I think, the opposite of what real giant tigers were 300,000 years ago. Their enormous, long and curve teeth which were for ripping fresh meat could portray their vicious features.  

I have to admit that I did not know much about the history of a sabre-toothed tiger. But when I started to read this article, I decided that I had to do a little bit of research about this cat and our ancient cousins Homo Heidelbergensis who were the first of early humans to start to use wooden spears. I have to thank this article for helping me to educate myself. 

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Reference

Briggs H., (2015, December 2). Did our ancient ancestors ‘kill the cat’?. BBC News. Retrieved from

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34944560

China’s smog: “orange level” alert

For the fourth day in a row, large sections of northeast China are troubled in the smog. The sky is darkened and the invisibility is really low. In recent years, there will always be a period of time when the air is very bad in winter in the northeast big cities, especially in Beijing.

As the BBC News “Beijing pollution:schools keep children indoors” tells, schools in the Chinese capital city Beijing have been ordered to keep students indoors amid extremely high levels of air pollution.

people in Beijing wear a mask

Now PM2.5 is very popular among northern Chinese people. PM 2.5 is a measure of pollution, which refer to the concentrations of airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter. The maximum limit WHO recommends is 25 micrograms per cubic meter. Now it can hit 900 micrograms, which means the air is really bad.

Coal is the major factor. It is used to support the factory production and some of the electricity system. What’s more the cold weather in November also increased the amount of coal burning, so the heating system is a major factor. A cold front or a wind, expected on Wednesday, should bring some relief.

Some factories are told to cut down the production and heavy duty tracks are not allowed in the central city. Many construction sites have stopped. The government has taken a lot of measures to change the environment and to reduce the pollution in the process of economic development. But it needs time to see the effects. Also, laws from central government are commonly ignored by lower officials, particularly when they might affect the economic growth. It is much easier to pollute than improve the environment, so more prevention measures should be taken before pollution occurs.

When I was living in Beijing, some of my friends and I try to go work by public transportation instead of driving a car. We think we should do our small part to help. Although environmental problem is quite hard and complex, it is not a thing that should be considered just by the prime minister.

To summary, as for environmental pollution solution, government policy comes first, especially the enforcement of policy. The smog comes as President Xi Jinping attends the opening of the UN Global Conference on Climate Change in Paris. We appeal to the government for environmental improvement. We are looking forward to see the efforts of the government and the effects.

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Reference

Beijing pollution: schools keep children indoors. (2015,December1st). BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34971642