Abortion by Elvira Orellana

            The word “abortion” by definition means the induced expulsion of a fetus from the womb before it is able to survive independently (Merrian-webster). Abortion is an extremely controversial issue because while some people are completely against it, others believe that a woman should have the right to choose. Abortion is morally and ethically wrong. How would you feel if someone took your ability to live? Imagine not having a say in whether or not you will have the choice to live. The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. It’s absurd how teen abortions costs the United States at least $7 billion annually ("Teen Pregnancy Troubled Teen Help").

            Abortion can be traced back to the mid-1500s, where the earliest known description of abortion is recorded on Ebers Papyrus, Egyptian medical book (Head). Since that time people have been killing innocent human being, and this practice has raised many human rights issues, religion issues, and economic issues. In the 1920’s Margaret Sanger, a proponent of eugenics, headed the rise of the birth control movement ("BlackGenocide.org | The Truth About Margaret Sanger - Page Five"). Eugenics is the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics, it was developed by Frances Galton as method of improving the human race ("The Definition of Eugenics"). In 1967 Colorado was the first US state to liberalize abortion (“History of Abortion”). Before 1973, abortion was not legal in the United States (1). Each state had the right to decide whether abortion was permitted or denied. But all that changed in 1973, when it was decided that a woman’s right to an abortion was part of a woman’s right to privacy, this was decided during U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade court case (Reuters). Doe vs Bolton then continues to make abortion legal in all stages of pregnancy by opening up the definition of a woman’s health.

 When we talk about the topic we tend to overlook how it can hurt the economy. Most people might even get offended when relating abortion to being an economic issue, but it has to be taken into consideration. In the United States, the national debt is $16 trillion, which has surpassed the nation’s annual GDP (Behna). Abortions are the most risky procedures and are responsible for over 75 thousand maternal deaths and over 5 million disabilities annually. In the United States alone, between 20 and 30 million abortions are conducted annually, and out of this number, between 10 and 20 million abortions are performed in an unsafe manner (Berer, 2004). It’s horrible enough that these innocent babies are murdered, but can you imagine what these 50 million lives could have contributed to in our society? Some of these aborted humans could have found the cure to asthma, cancer or even AIDS. They could have also contributed to our society by becoming successful business woman and men, or just by being the next influential teacher.

In addition, all those contributions to society could have made a higher GDP, and our country would be in a better standing. Every life counts, we do not know for certain that those unborn babies were going to be a big contribution to society, but now we will never know because they were not given the chance to live. Abortion is not only a problem in the United States but also around the world. For example, in china with the one-child policy, although they has made a big improvement in their economy from the past, it is only a matter of time before the one-child policy has an impact on the Chinese economy, with millions of babies being killed who could have eventually become productive citizens and contributed to the Chinese GDP (Head).

            If you view abortion through the eyes of religion, most of them will agree that life starts from conception. From the moment that the fetus starts developing, that child has the right to live. There have been ongoing debates since abortion was legalized, on whether religion accepts or rejects the act of abortion, but in the major religions it seems like it will never be legal. Recently, the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said, “It is horrific even to think that there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day.” ("US Religious Views on Abortion - Abortion - ProCon.org"). Many people will argue that the abortion issue is not valid when being seen through the eyes of religion, because religion does not provide scientific evidence but I am here to argue other wise. Even if an individual does not believe in a higher power, the right to life still stands. Let me ask you a question, what is the scientific definition of a cell, “the cell is the basic structural functional and biological unit of a living organism. A cell is the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently, and cells are often called the building blocks of life” ("The Basic Structural and Functional Unit of Life: The Cell"). So lets ask, what is conception/fertilization? It’s the process of one sperm cell and one egg cell coming together to form a zygote (Merrian-webster). There for we have use defined two of the smallest unit of life coming together to form a human life.

A way that this epidemic is hurting our society it’s that it is affecting our young girls that decided to make a choice to end the life of their child. A 16 year old girl named Jennifer found out she was pregnant by her 19 year old boyfriend. Her relationship fell apart before she even found out she was pregnant. Her boyfriend made it clear he was not ready for a child, and wanted her to have an abortion. Jennifer was put in a hard situation even though she wanted to keep her unborn baby and be a mother her family was poor. Being raised in a single parent household, her mother decide that being a young single mother was not what she wanted for her daughters future. Jennifer was soon forced to have an abortion. Till this day Jennifer things not fighting for her unborn child’s right to life and giving him or her a voice was the biggest mistake she ever made. Jennifer stated the abortion for a 16-year-old girl was a very physically painful procedure. She also stated that even though the physical pain did not last, the emotional pain is something she will carry forever. She has suffered post-traumatic stress since her abortion.

            Abortion has also become problematic in the fact that people have chosen to have this procedure in order to have race and gender selection abortions, and have also decided to determine the quantity versus quality of life by targeting individuals with disabilities. 

Studies performed by medical professionals reveal that younger women tend to find abortion more painful than do older adults. Patients typically found abortion more painful than their doctors or counselors expected. The use of more powerful general anesthetics can reduce the pain, but significantly increases the risk of cervical injury or uterine perforation. Complications such as these are common, as are bleeding, hemorrhage, laceration of the cervix, menstrual disturbance, inflammation of the reproductive organs, bladder or bowel perforation, and serious infection (Creanga). Even more harmful long term physical complications from abortion may surface later. For example, overzealous curettage can damage the lining of the uterus and lead to permanent infertility (Creanga). Overall, women who have abortions face an increased risk of ectopic tubal pregnancy and a more than doubled risk of future sterility. With each subsequent abortion the risk of these sorts of complications and the risk of future miscarriages increases.

There is strong evidence that abortion increases the risk of breast cancer. A study of more than 1,800 women appearing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 1994 found that overall, women having abortions increased their risk of getting breast cancer before age 45 by 50%. For women under 18 with no previous pregnancies, having an abortion after the 8th week increased the risk of breast cancer 800% (Creanga). Women with a family history of breast cancer fared even worse. All 12 women participating in the study who had abortions before 18 and had a family history of breast cancer themselves got cancer before age 45 (1).

            The first workable solution to abortion would be providing parents with the alternative options of adoption. There are certain things biological parent would need to do before placing the child for adoption. Step 1 is to create an adoption plan, what this means is that you are in charge of the adoption process. For example you will get to chose the ideal adoptive family, the type of contact you wish to share with your child, how you envision the hospital stay, and much more. Step 2 is finding an adoptive family. There are hundreds of families wanting to adopt a child so you need to find a family who will provide your baby with the best life possible. You do this by doing various background checks, phone calls and emails. Create an adoptive family video of all the families you have talk to. Step 3 is getting to know the adoptive family. If you are interested in a relationship with the adoptive family, you may get to know them through a meeting in your hometown, interaction at the hospital or email exchange. Step 4 preparing for the hospital stay. Once your baby is born, you usually must wait 48-72 hours before you can legally consent to the adoption (“American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency”). Step 5 is deciding what type of contact you which to have with the family after the adoption. Most women are interested in receiving pictures and letters of their child periodically for up to 18 years after the adoption (1).

            There are 3 types of adoption Closed, Open and Semi-Open adoption. Closed adoption means that you do not want any contact with your child. Also the agency selects your baby’s parents for you. Close adoptions are becoming less requested by birth mothers every year an estimated 1 out of every 10 adoptions are closed compared to larger numbers in the past. Open adoption refers to any adoption relationship between the adoptive family and birth parents in which identifiable information as well as contact are shared between both parties. You also select the parents for your child; you know where your baby lives. Semi-open means that you decided how much contact you have with your son or daughter. In semi-open adoptions you get to select the parents of your child. You have the right to exchange information with the parents and throughout your child’s lifetime you can send cards, letters, photos and the parents would be able to send you family updates (“American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency”). This will all take place with a mediator the adoption agency you picked. This is a workable solution because both of the parties have a say in the future versus abortion being a final decision can neither be change or taken back.

            Camus absurdity would have stated that abortion is a meaningless topic. Camus develops this principle by giving examples of the absurdity of life.  He comments on the absurdity of the day-to-day activity of the average person: “Rising, streetcar, four hours in the office or the factory, meal, streetcar, four hours of work, meal, sleep, and Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday and Saturday according to the same rhythm—this path is easily follow most of the time.  But one day the “why” arises and everything begins in that weariness tinged with amazement” (Camus). In this way Camus seems to be merely pointing out the absurdity of some people’s lives. Camus would say let the woman do what she wants, her life is meaningless, her babies’ life is meaningless, and aborting an unborn child would only be doing good for the child because life is meaningless. Camus develops this principle by giving examples of the absurdity of life.  He comments on the absurdity of the day-to-day activity of the average person:

 In conclusion, abortions have created human rights, economic, and religious issues and that it has always been viewed from a one sided party. A workable solution has been provided through adoption and this solution will start creating a way to solve some of the human rights, economic and religious issues abortion has caused.

Works Cited

     "American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency." What Is Open Adoption. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

"Abortion-Reasons Women Choose Abortion." WebMD. WebMD, 2005. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://www.webmd.com/women/tc/abortion-reasons-women-choose-abortion>.

"30 December 1994-- John Salvi Murders Two at Planned Parenthood Clinics in MA." - Democratic Underground. 30 Dec. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2016. <http://www.democraticunderground.com/11388612.

Smothers, Ronald. "DEATH OF A DOCTOR: THE OVERVIEW -- Abortion Doctor and Bodyguard Slainin Florida; Protester Is Arrested in Pensacola's 2d Clinic Killing." The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 July 1994. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.

           

Gun Laws by Robert Lizik

Pt. 1

Pt. 2

Gun Laws

            You hear screaming and what sounds like gunfire, while you are at work. You remember your office training; Run, Hide, Fight. You grab the only weapon you have which is a pen. You reside in a state like California, which doesn’t allow you to bring your firearm to work, so you cower and hide under your desk in fear. According to the NRA in the state of California, “It is unlawful to carry a loaded rifle, shotgun, or handgun in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated area or an area where firing a firearm is prohibited” (NRA). These absurd gun laws are a growing epidemic where law abiding citizens are not allowed to protect themselves. 

The Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) was enacted on May 19, 1986 by President, Ronald Reagan which started these absurd gun laws. The FOPA enacted a law to ban all full-auto machine guns, which is defined as more than 1 bullet coming out of the weapon after each trigger pull. Any full-auto weapon made before May 1986 is still legal, but is regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF). It also makes the BATF the government regulator, which means paperwork for registration of short barrel rifles with barrels under 16”, and short barreled shotguns with barrels under 18, suppressors, destructive devices, and AOW, (which means Any Other Weapon), collecting fees for gun ownership, and waiting times up to 3 to 6 months for processing. When full autos were banned in May 1986 more than “183K registered guns”(C, Alex) were still in existence and being bought, sold and traded by gun dealers and private citizens, since they were manufactured before May 1986. This law is absurd because you can still buy a full auto that was manufactured before May 1986 if you have the money.

 Registered firearm dealers can outmaneuver gun laws in certain circumstances.  Police departments are contracting with firearm dealers to make them demo weapons, such as full automatic firearms. There no restriction to how many you can make, and on top of that you can make ‘demo’ models just to show the PD different weapon platforms. So for instance, I am a dealer and the PD wants to buy full auto rifles. I make 3-4 different full autos out of common weapons, the PD then chooses their firearms and I start production. I can now keep the full auto demos. The only way the dealer loses that privilege is if they lose their Dealer permit, then they have to destroy the full autos. So as long as you are in business and pay taxes you can make all the full autos you want.

            Another flaw with the FAPA law is with the registration process and screening done by the BATF. Anyone legally allowed to buy a weapon would also be able to buy a SBR, SBS, Suppressors, destructive devices, and AOW. All you need to do is fill out 2 forms, pay $300, and wait 3-6 months. This is a flaw because of how easy it is to buy these ‘Restricted’ weapons.

            Other absurd firearm laws are all the different and confusing individual State laws. One example of an absurd firearm law is in the state of California, which requires you to register your firearms, and only allow standard round magazines which mean no more than 10 rounds. Right across the border, in the state of Arizona, citizen’s don’t have to register their firearms, can have Hi-cap magazines (more than 10 rounds), and you don’t need a permit to conceal or open carry in Arizona. In the state of Illinois, within the Chicago city limits there is a city ordinance making “assault weapons” illegal to have in the city, examples of assault weapons are semi-automatic all AKs and ARs. “Any shotgun which contains its ammunition in a revolving cylinder, such as (but not limited to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12” (City of Chicago Regulation Defining), but these weapons are legal outside of Chicago city limits.

            Federal law has the most absurd laws. To own a weapon in the United States you need to be 18 and it doesn’t matter if it’s a handgun or a long gun. In Texas, you can legally own any form of weapon at 18, but federally licensed firearm dealers cannot sell handguns or ammunition to people under 21.  Private sales are not regulated by BATF. An example of owning a weapon at 18 is if a family member buys you a handgun and gives it to you as a gift, this makes it perfectly legal.  The straw law is an illegal law where, “A straw purchaser is a person with a clean background who purchases firearms specifically on behalf of a person prohibited from purchasing a firearm because he or she is a…juvenile, mentally ill individual or other federally or state-defined prohibited person” (Straw Purchases Policy Summary). This also includes ammunition, you cannot buy handgun ammo until you are 21 but you can own a handgun. This law makes no sense because people under the age of 21 can own a firearm.

            Gun show loopholes, are a loophole in the background check for firearms. Private sales of guns are not regulated be the federal government and only a handful of states have just started to regulate them. One state which does this is Illinois, “From knowingly purchasing or attempting to purchase a firearm with the intent to deliver that firearm to another person who is prohibited by federal or state law from possessing a firearm;” (Straw Purchases Policy Summary).  Many states haven’t adopted regulations of private sales of weapons, therefore, private sales of weapons don’t require a background check and guns aren’t even registered in most states. There is no transfer of firearm paperwork involved. 

            Absurd gun laws exist at the local, state and federal levels. The second amendment of the Constitution the “right to bear arms” is heavily supported by the NRA (National Rifle Association.) This organization consists of over 5 million Americans (NRA-ILA). Gun Ownership is at an all time high and there are more guns in America than citizens.

            Logical gun laws in the United States do not exist. A majority of Republicans and the NRA do not support any gun laws which constrict rights of the Second Amendment.  On the other side of the spectrum the majority of Democrats and anti-gun citizens do support gun laws. The Democrats logical solution is a, “ nationwide ban on assault weapons, a nationwide ban on high-capacity magazines of over ten rounds, and nationwide expanded background checks that address unsafe loopholes” ("Bernie Sanders on Gun Policy").  The solutions to the nationwide epidemic of gun control run from the extreme to the absurd. Complete ban of all guns, which they have tried in Australia, the registration of all guns existing today, and federal background checks and the flaws within this system

            A solution that has been tried in Australia in 1996 was to ban weapons. This happened because of a mass shooting in Port Arthur which killed 35 people in April, 1996 by Martian Bryant. The Prime Minister, John Howard, imposed severe gun laws. Australia has 6 states which all agreed to ban semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. Background checks require 28 days and you must have a valid reason to own a gun (Beck). This legislation was passed in only 12 days. This has helped eliminate mass shootings in Australia, but gun violence is still in existence with an increase in gun ownership today.

            This solution would not work in the United States. First we would have to get all 50 states on board compared to just 6 in Australia. Every state in the U.S. has their own individual gun control laws and even cities like Chicago have even more gun laws which are tougher but only apply to the Chicago area. Also, Australia does not have a Second Amendment, “right to keep and bear arms”, which is a personal freedom that has a very strong and faithful following with powerful lobby groups like the NRA. Finally, legislation took only 12 days to pass which could never happen in the U.S. This year in January, President Obama put forth some of the same recommendations that Vice President, Joe Biden did in January of 2013 (Farley). Unfortunately, none of the recommendations for gun control laws were even passed through Congress since 2013.

            Registration of all existing guns is a very absurd idea, but registration of new guns does occur. U.S. citizens, who legally purchase a weapon from a federally licensed dealer, do fill out forms and go through a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) out of Clarksburg, West Virginia which is run by the FBI. The problem with this solution is it can exclude gun shows sellers, which is known as the gun show loophole (Magoon). These dealers do not have to be federally licensed to sell their weapons. On the flip side, I did attend a gun show in Houston 2 weekends ago and my dad did purchase a high power flashlight for my pistol. I did notice that almost all the dealers did run background checks on buyers purchasing their weapons.

The problems that exist with the NICS system is that individuals who have been diagnosed or treated for some type of mental illness have not been recognized by the court system as such, therefore, no record exists and no data is available in the system for the background check. These disturbed people can and do purchase firearms legally or at gun show. Criminals can also purchase guns from gun shows or private citizens. Even if a background check was done for a criminal by a federally licensed dealer, he might still be able to purchase a weapon because of the incomplete listing of criminal cases in the data base.

            One of the workable solutions which President Obama stated in his January 2016 proposal has been to get the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to “clarify” that anyone “engaged in the business” of selling firearms — even if the seller operates over the Internet or at gun shows — must get a license and conduct background checks”. In other words, Obama said, “It’s not where you do it, but what you do” (Farley). Internet dealers were also cited for selling firearms and need to perform background checks on buyers. Staffing increases of 230 FBI agents and 200 ATF agents is proposed with a 2017 budget.  This would also help with background checks and also help track illegal firearms. Criminal prosecution would be enforced for those selling without a required firearm license. Obama also mentioned $500 million which could help improve mental health services. Since most mass shootings seem to be done by individuals that either have had some type of mental illness or depression.

            Workable solutions are viable in the United States, and according to a 2014 Gallop Poll, 55% of Americans favor strict gun control laws (Guns). The poll also presented views from citizens showing that even with stricter gun laws they did not see mass shootings as decreasing (Guns).  The polls indicated that 86% favored universal background checks over all 50 states. 63% polled in 2014 also believed that having a gun in their home made them feel safer (Guns). This might stem from all the news media of violent criminal acts. Also, 58% of Americans view the NRA as favorable which goes to show why so many Americans own guns (Guns). The NRA is such a strong group and has a very large following compared to any other country in the world.

            Camus would enjoy the conflict over gun control in America. Gun ownership started out like The Plague with a small population in the late 1700’s owning guns but now has turned into an epidemic. Unfortunately, this is one epidemic that cannot be stopped. Camus might believe that the average citizen does not need to own a gun in this time period. I think he would believe in the government, military and police as the only population with rights to own weapons. The average citizen does not need to hunt and kill animals for food anymore and I don’t think he would believe in guns for sport. I think he would be very conservative in his views on gun ownership and steer more to gun safety than belonging to the NRA. If Camus were to take a side he would want to remove firearms from everyone due to his belief in non violence and would want people to question life instead of firearm ownership.

            The social epidemic of gun control and laws is clearly divided by the citizens of the United States. The major problem lies with American citizens who believe that any type of gun law is a restriction on their Second Amendment right. This right is upheld in courts throughout the United States which makes our country very unusual in our thought process on guns. A Pew Research Poll taken in December, 2014 shows a shift in Americans by 52% who view Gun Ownership rights as more important than Gun Laws 46% (Miller). Also, one of the biggest lobbyist groups in the U.S., the NRA which even has it owns Lobby group that helps thwart politicians from enacting too many restrictive gun control laws. Political parties are also divided on this topic and if Americans wish to have more gun laws enacted they need to vote for the party they believe will be successful in generating them in Congress. The federal government should take charge and be more powerful in finding a way to control the situation of gun control with all 50 states.

            Gun control is a growing topic in America. With no clear political lines between Democrats and Republicans for and against gun control, only time will tell if America makes gun control laws which protect citizens while not infringing upon the Second Amendment.

Works Cited

Beck, Katie. "Are Australia's Gun Laws the Solution for the US?" BBC News. BBC News Service9, 9 Dec. 2015. Web. 08 May 2016.

"Bernie Sanders on Gun Policy." FeelTheBernorg. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.

C, Alex. "Machine Guns Are Legal: A Practical Guide to Full Auto - The Firearm Blog." The Firearm Blog, 21 May 2014. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

"City of Chicago Regulation Defining “Assault Weapon”." City of Chicago Regulation Defining “Assault Weapon”. 13 Aug. 2009. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

Farley, Robert. "Sorting Out Obama’s Gun Proposal." FactCheckorg. Fact Check, 8 Jan. 2016. Web. 08 May 2016.

Friedman, Lauri S., ed. Gun Control. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2009. Print.

Gerdes, Louise I. Guns and Crime. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven, 2008. Print.

"Guns." Gallup.com. 11 Oct. 2015. Web. 08 May 2016.

Magoon, Kekla. Gun Control. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub., 2008. Print.

Masters, Jonathan. "Gun Control Around the World: A Primer." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 12 Jan. 2016. Web. 04 May 2016.

Miller, Mike. "New Poll Shows Major Shift in How Americans View the 2nd Amendment and Gun Control." Independent Journal Review. 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 08 May 2016.

"NRA-ILA | California State Profile." NRA-ILA.Web. 15 Feb. 2016.

"Straw Purchases Policy Summary." Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence RSS. 21 May 2012. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.

Stein, Sam. "Obama Gun Control Proposals Unveiled, Marking Biggest Legislative Effort In A Generation." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 17 Jan. 2013. Web. 08 May 2016.

Ziff, John. Gun Laws. Stockton: OTTN, 2014. Print.

There's No Place like Salem By Shelbi Fenoglio

Shelbi Fenoglio

Mrs. Hammett

                                                            There’s No Place like Salem

Introduction

            Have you ever been wrongfully accused of being something that you were not, or for doing something you had no part of? Usually, the issue can be resolved by explaining your side of the story and providing information to support it. However, if you lived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, a false accusation could eventually lead to your death by stoning, hanging, or even drowning. This craze that swept through the Puritan community revolved around the idea that witches existed, and they were living among them. What else could explain young maidens chanting in the woods, screaming and barking like dogs, and creating concoctions similar to those of witches (Witchcraft in Salem)? Why the Salem Witch Trials began is still questionable, but its impact on society is still felt today.  The ability to turn on others, even to the point of death, has been a phenomenon we have yet to understand, but still see traces of in the world we live in now. Would you have been accused of witchery, or would you have been an accuser? 

History

            The hysteria brought on by the Salem Witch Trials began in January of 1692. The “witch related” events commenced after a series of strange outbursts and fits from a group of local teenage girls. Abigail Williams, who was nine years old at the time, and Betty Pharris, who was eleven, began exhibiting odd behaviors like babbling incoherently and attempting to fly. (Purdy 1)

Salem being a small town, it did not take long for rumors to begin circulating that these outbursts could possibly be the result of the Devil after the town doctor diagnosed the children as being “under an evil hand” (Purdy 1). The people of Salem believed that “to be bewitched, a witch must draw an individual under a spell” (Witchcraft in Salem). This pushed the idea that the girls could not have possibly brought these actions upon themselves, and someone was responsible for this. The trials began with the intent of serving justice to those who were at fault. The fact that young girls, who had even less power than grown women in Salem, began this famous event in history is rather fascinating. The role of women in Puritan culture was simple. Women were made to get married, have children, and be subjected to their husbands. There was no equality between a man and a woman, and women were not to draw attention to themselves in drastic ways, like professing witchcraft.

Puritans often referred to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden during sermons. (2) It was often pointed out how Eve was the one to defy God first by giving into temptations presented by the serpent. This led to the Puritan’s beliefs that if the Devil wanted to overtake the Puritan community, it would be achieved easiest through a woman. The Trials have been described as “a fascinating mix of biblical passages and colonial statutes”. (Rosenthal 1) The Puritans often looked towards the Bible for insight on how to handle such situations. They eventually adopted the following ideas found within scripture. “‘If any man or woman be a WITCH, that is, hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death.’ Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:10-11” (1) Because of this idea put on women in the Puritan community, women were often looked down upon, and as the lowest level of power in the village. “Witchcraft confronts us with the ideas about women, with fears about women, with the place of women in society, and with women themselves.” (Purdy 4) This idea of women being closer with evil and darkness led to the obvious trend that women would be the majority of people accused of witchcraft, as well as the majority of deaths. Also, women who were targeted for accusations were generally strong, independent women who attempted to have equality with males in some form. (4)

Another belief to why these Trials began was the social tension that existed between the two social classes within Salem. Salem Town and Salem Village often compared themselves to the other, striving to be the more prestigious settlement. “Salem was a powder keg of jealousy, ambition, and animosity, and the trials ignited it.” (Purdy 1) Some look at the outbursts of the young girls as a reaction of the society in which they live, and that the “witch attacks” were in fact symbolizing the attack they felt from their community.

To oversee the judicial side of the Salem Witch Trials, the Court of Oyer and Terminer was created to hear the accused of witchcraft. Within this court, three main types of evidence were used to convict someone of being a witch. The first was confession, which required the accused to admit they were Wiccan, and more times than not, also name anyone they were working with (Rosenthal 1). The second type of evidence was a testimony of two or more eyewitnesses to the acts of witchcraft. This was not always reliable however, due to the fact that a person’s word may not always be true. Spectral evidence was the last major form of evidence accepted in the Salem Witch Trials. Spectral evidence involves the accused witch’s ability to cause harm to others without physically moving, or having witnesses. A person was generally not charged on spectral evidence alone. In fact, throughout history, the use of any spectral evidence at all has significantly “denigrated the legitimacy of the trials in the eyes of many both then and now”. (Rosenthal 1) Aside from these main forms of evidence, “prior conflicts, bad acts by the accused, possession of materials used in spells, greater than average strength, and witch’s marks” sometimes were also used as evidence. (Rosenthal 1)  However, a person accused may be asked to recite The Lord’s Prayer, because something so satanic would never be able to recite such holy words. (Rosenthal 1)

No one explanation of the trials has ever been universally accepted. Perhaps it began from a mix of multiple factors that influenced the Puritans during this time period. Whether it was witchcraft, Native Americans, diseases, drugs, or merely personal battles (Purdy 3,4), the Salem Witch Trials have certainly had their impact on American culture.

Example

One of the most profound, and most remembered, accusations during the Salem Witch trials was the accusation of a slave named Tituba. Tituba was the town minister, Samuel Parris’, slave. It is not known exactly where her native land was, but she has been depicted multiple times as being from African descent, although many believe she was actually an Indian. Tituba’s trial began after the accusation presented by nine year old Betty Parris, and eleven year old Abigail Williams. The young girls were often seen dancing in the woods and chanting to unseen entities. (Witchcraft in Salem) Tituba was an obvious outcast in the town of Salem, which is the most probable reason to why she was accused. Aside from that, she was also a woman and of a different race. These characteristics eventually led to the unfortunate fate of Tituba. 

Now, hundreds of others were accused and tried for witchcraft, what made Tituba’s case any different? Aside from being one of the first to have accusations thrown at her, Tituba actually confessed to the act of witchcraft, and also claimed that there was a coven of witches working together in Salem. It is assumed that Tituba was accused due to the fact that she participated in “witch-like” activities, like trying to contact the “tormentor” of Betty Pharris, and confessed only to escape further torment from her owners. It is thought that had Tituba not accused others of being in on this imaginary circle of witches that the trials would not have gone on as long, and would not have become as significant as they did.

Solutions to Witchcraft

            Throughout the trials, many actions were taken to try to fix the issue at hand. The whole point of the Salem Witch Trials was to cleanse the town from any and all forms of witchcraft. However, it seems as though the issues deal more with the society on an emotional level rather than the physicality of witches actually existing. The simple dislike of a neighbor could eventually lead to the accusation of that person with hardly any evidence at all. This somewhat explains why even after the accused “witches” who were found guilty were punished and sentenced to death, the trials still lingered on. Maybe the Salem Witch Trials had nothing to do with witchcraft at all. Whether that is an accurate statement or not, the town most definitely went to extreme measures to ensure witches were not walking among them.

            Once a person was convicted, on spectral evidence, confession, or testimony, they must go before a panel of judges to determine their fate (Rosenthal 1). The judges would sometimes ask the accused to perform certain tasks like reciting the Lord’s Prayer or bible verses to try to disprove the accusations. However, the young girls whom these trials seemed to have revolve around would sometimes shout and scream during these tests, and often caused the people in question to fail (Witchcraft in Salem).

            Another way judges look to separate the witches from the non-witches were specific body markings like birthmarks, moles, freckles, and scars. Marks like these were seen as portals into the mortal world, and were often looked at as a sign of being a witch (Witchcraft in Salem). Markings were often used to distinguish people from one another, and sometimes were added as evidence to cases where the only evidence available was spectral (1).

            The cases began to die down, and were eventually put to an end when the mayor’s wife fell victim to the accusations of witchcraft in the town of Salem. (Witchcraft in Salem) At the start of the trials, the typical target of the accusations were low class, out cast members of society who typically did not stand a chance to defend themselves in court. However, as the trials continued, the accusations grew more and more bolder, and this created doubt in the town of Salem (Salem Times Every Time 1). The people began to see that innocent neighbors were being accused and sometimes executed. Because of this, the trials eventually began to dwindle down, and eventually came to an end. 

            To determine what the fix was for the trials, the driving force for the trials would also have to be known. If witchcraft truly was the center of which they revolved around, the executions and trials could possibly be what ended the evil actions in Salem. However, if the problem runs deeper, it could be that the issue never went away. If jealousy and hatred are what fueled the fire for all of those months, these things will always exist. The realization that the trials were cruel and unreliable however, possibly helped shed some light on the people of Salem, Massachusetts.

Camus and Absurdity

            The ideas presented at the Salem Witch Trials can also relate to ideas presented by the late Albert Camus. Camus believed that while the meaning of life may be lost, or even non-existent, human life was precious, and each day should be conquered with “wit, grace, compassion for others, and even a sense of mission” (Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1). Camus says “you will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of” (1). The Puritans strived for this idea free of a perfect society free of wickedness and hate. However, their pursuit eventually morphed into a deceiving betrayal that overcame the entire town of Salem. Neighbors began to turn on each other simply for selfish ambitions or internal conflicts. “Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear,” Camus says (Brainy Quotes 1). The Puritans lived in constant fear during this time period, for no one knew who would be accused next.

            The general disregard for human life would be something that Camus would heavily disagree with. Camus believed human life was precious, and should not be taken for granted. The fact that some of these murders and executions may be the result of fictional accusations only worsens the situation. “The evil that is the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding,” –Albert Camus (Brainy Quotes). While the Puritans may have believed they were “cleansing” their town of evil witches, what if they were destroying their town and did not even know it?  Or even worse, what if they did?

`           While we may never know the true motivation behind these trials that forever changed this small coastal town, we can agree that some aspects of the trials do not add up. Because of this, the legitimacy of the trials is often questioned. Perhaps the trials were nothing but a social epidemic and a disregard to human life, fueled by jealousy and naivety.

Conclusion

            So how can something that happened so long ago relate to the world that we live in today? As it turns out, society as a whole hardly tends to drift from actions, tendencies, and behaviors that have grown custom since the beginning of time. Jealousy, betrayal, spitefulness, and vindictiveness will always have a strong presence in any society, whether it is on display or not. It is often the issues that are kept under the radar that can surface to produce the greatest epidemics society has seen.

However, because of the severity of the Salem Witch Trials, we can see the outcomes that are possible when a society becomes unraveled and is pulled in thirty different directions. It is also apparent how personal ambitions can drive people, and eventually a whole town, to turn on each other in the blink of an eye. While witchcraft may have played a small role in what went on during these months in Salem, it seems much more convincing to say there was an underlying evilness in the town, and witchcraft had nothing to do with it.

Salem, Massachusetts (now Danvers, Massachusetts) will always hold a spot in our history books, but perhaps it should also hold a place somewhere more personal. Like Camus explained, life should be lived in harmony and peace without question. Give the people you surround yourself with resect and appreciation, and never let your own personal ambitions overcome who you are as a person. Or who knows, even you could end up on the stake.

Works Cited

Rosenthal, Bernard. "Dark Eve." Salem Story Reading the Witch Trials of 1692: 10-31. Web.

Beau, Bryan F. Le. "Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project2006170 Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project . Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia 1999‐. Last Visited November 2005 URL: Http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft Gratis." Reference Reviews 20.3 (2006): 56-57. Web.

Purdy, Sean. "Conjuring History: The Many Interpretations of the Salem Witchcraft Trials." Rivier Academic Journal Spring 2007 3.1 (2007): 1-18. Web.

Louis-Jacques, Lyonette "Law News from the D'Angelo Law Library." The University of Chicago Library News. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://news.lib.uchicago.edu/blog/2012/10/29/the-salem-witch-trials-a-legal-bibliography-for-halloween/>.

"The Salem Witchcraft Trials: A Biographical Sketch of Tituba." The Salem Witchcraft Trials: A Biographical Sketch of Tituba. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/ASA_TIT.HTM>.

"Witchcraft in Salem." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association. Web. 21 Mar. 2016. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/3g.asp>.

"Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.

 "Albert Camus Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.

H1N1: The Pandemic that sent the World into a Frenzy by Carrie Franks

Introduction

            After deciding to stay home due to a headache, you feel your temperature rising and head pounding. Your aching body struggles to complete simple tasks. Your inability to keep balance, nausea and convulsions point to influenza. But is it just the flu? If it has lasted over ten days, there is a possibility that you could have H1N1, or Swine flu. In the year 2009, according to researchers:

“An estimated 151,700 to 575,400 people died as a result of the swine flu outbreak during the first year alone – meaning the death toll may have been 15 times higher than what was reported by the World Health Organization” (Crees 1).

How do you think you contracted this flu? Was it from the man who sneezed as he passed you in the grocery store? Maybe the microscopic drops of the mucous were on the door handle of the public restroom. The H1N1 virus can unfortunately be spread like any other flu, with some of the same symptoms. The virus got its nickname Swine Flu because the genetic makeup of the virus was similar to a virus found in pigs of North America. Swine flu is a disease deriving from pigs. This flu was classified as an extremely contagious respiratory disease.

 History

            In 2009, the first case of swine flu was reported in the U.S. The new virus was quickly spread as the United States and the rest of the world (Flu.Gov 1). The first U.S. case was diagnosed of April 15,2009. By April 26, the U.S. government declared the swine flu virus a public health emergency. This case quantity quickly jumped to 18,000 cases and a total of 74 countries were affected by the H1N1 virus (Pandemic Flu History).

            Like many other viruses, the swine flu is spread in the exact same fashion that an ordinary cold or flu would. If an infected person sneezed or coughed and did not cover their expelled body particles, the droplets couple spread at or about three feet (Choices 1). If someone were to cough directly into their hand without a follow up of sanitation, the droplets could easily be transferred to any surface the person comes into contact with.

            Evidence of the pandemic suggested that one infected person could infect at least two other individuals, and that spread particularly swiftly in closed communities such as schools, work offices, and private homes (Choices). The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that this H1N1 virus pandemic was the fastest moving influenza and deemed it “pointless” to count every case (Nebehay). By June 11, 2009, the United Nations agency revised its requirements so that health authorities would only report clusters of severe cases and deaths.

Causes & Effects on Society

            The H1N1 flu is caused by a virus, whose most common subtype or strain is influenza type A H1N1. H1N1 got its H and N from proteins found on the surface of the virus and are used to differentiate between the different subtypes.

            This influenza virus constantly changes its genes, also known as mutation. The swine flu virus being found in the human host is said to have “jumped the species barrier”. The mutation it goes through allows it to plague humans with the conditions of the flu. This particular strain is common in pigs, humans, and birds.

            Because H1N1 occurred in 2009, which was ironically around the launch of the infamously influential and real-time social media platform known as Twitter(1). This virus marked the first instance where a global pandemic occurred in the age of Web 2.0 and allowed public health officials to investigate the role of this website in public health emergencies (1). This study was referred to as “infoveillance” or information surveillance. This study was able to analyze how Twitter users primarily disseminated information from credible sources, but also turned it into a valuable source of opinions an experiences first hand (Chew and Eysenbach). Citizens reacted swiftly and went to their most convenient source of information: the internet.

 Examples

            The biggest questions about the pandemic were: Where did Swine flu come from? Did it really come from pigs? It is suggested that the best way to answer those inquiries would be to examine the genetic makeup of H1N1. The genetic strains actually proved to be similar to viruses that infected North American swine over the past decade (Webby). The most common conclusion is that the virus in pigs as well as the viruses plaguing pigs in Asia – somehow crossbred and mutated past the human body’s barriers. That being said, the answer is yes. In observation of the genetic strains, the pigs were in on this one.

            The infections on humans consisted of nausea, emesis (vomiting), diarrhea, and headaches among other symptoms of the common cold. The Swine flu was most commonly found in young adults and small children. Symptoms such as fatigue and fever, loss of appetite and chills were also apparent. Some cases would even fall to severe complications like respiratory failure, pneumonia, and death.

Solutions

            The contagious period of the influenza lasts for five to seven days after the host would become sick. Health officials implemented solutions by incubating patients for one to four days, with an average of two days. Some cases were incubated for as long as seven days (Davis 1).

            Because many patients turned to the internet for solutions and more information, many home remedies were found that claimed to “treat” the swine flu influenza. Mixtures and quantities of natural products such as cayenne pepper, menthol, or ginseng could be used to treat the flu symptoms and open the air passages. However, many over-the-counter medications, such as Aleve, Tylenol and Advil were used to combat and alleviate the discomfort. While the medications aided, they did not guarantee a cure.

                                        

         Vaccination was and is found to be the best way to reduce or prevent the chances of becoming infected with influenza viruses. Two antiviral agents, zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu), have been reported to help prevent or reduce the effects of swine flu if taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms (Davis).

Absurdity

            Albert Camus, was a French philosopher and journalist. His views contributed to the belief that it was impossible for man to “rationalize an irrational universe”. He wrote that his entire existence was dedicated to opposing the philosophy of nihilism while still leaning strongly  into individual freedom. He is also noted to have been an anarchist and atheist.

It is safe to say that Albert Camus would have been devastated by how fast the Swine flu spread. Small children were greatly affected, as well as our elders members of society. Citizens worldwide were plagued with stress and anxiety of the plague. Would they get contract the infection? Who would watch their family in the possibility of death? Who would explain to their youngest child that the matriarch of the family was not going to return home?

            However, because the pandemic was able to decline progressively, Camus would feel some sort of relief that it was able to have efforts made for prevention and quarantine.

Conclusion

            During this pandemic, an estimated 151,700 to 575,400 people died from contracting the swine flu outbreak during the first year alone (Crees). Schools were closed, and citizens were sent into a frenzy.  The swine flu quickly became a pandemic and spread across the United States and several dozens of countries, infecting the masses by the millions. Swine flu has been among the dominant strains of the flu circulating since 2009 (Conolly 1). The infected can expect to spend between one and three weeks sick, instead of the usual few days. Typically, small children and the elderly to face the most complications, this is not always the case in most recent years such as 2016.     

This year, young and middle-aged adults seem to be suffering more (Conolly). Pregnant women, those with diabetes, and small children are at particular risk, however there has been been a remarkable increase in the number of people who medical attention and care because of the flu.  Physicians encourage that patients have of rest and fluids the way they would handle a normal flu or fever, as this will minimize the suffering significantly. Painkillers such as the aforementioned Advil, Tylenol, and help pains while cough syrups can aid the airways and passages. Humidified air is also suggested.

Talk of the swine flu has also dramatically decreased, which has become a cultural norm for citizens. Every so often, a pandemic is introduced by the media…which sends some citizens into a state of panic and worry. It is interesting that months later… the next infection is introduced, while the previous fades into oblivion. To note, our current cultural panic is fixated around Zika, a disease transmitted from mosquitoes that affects mostly pregnant women and the elderly… which also has flu-like symptoms. Brazil, the country most plagued by the Zika virus, is facing another epidemic with the world Olympics just months away: a swine flu outbreak.

Works Cited

 Chew, Cynthia, and Gunther Eysenbach. "Pandemics in the Age of Twitter: Content Analysis of Tweets during the 2009 H1N1 Outbreak." PLOS ONE. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0014118 (2016).

Conolly, Marshall. "Feeling Crummy? You Could Have H1N1 Swine Flu - Health & Wellness - News - Catholic Online." Feeling Crummy? You Could Have H1N1 Swine Flu - Health & Wellness - News - Catholic Online. http://www.catholic.org/news/health/story.php?id=68073 (2016).

Crees, Alex. "Death Toll from 2009 H1N1 Outbreak Was Much Higher than Previous Estimates | Fox News." Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/26/death-toll-from-200-h1n1-outbreak-was-much-higher-than-previous-estimates.html (2016). 

Choices, Information From NHS. "Swine Flu: How the Influenza A H1N1 Virus Spreads." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/swine-flu-information/5258518/Swine-flu-How-the-influenza-A-H1N1-virus-spreads.html (2016).

Davis, Charles Patrick. "Swine Flu Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention & H1N1 Vaccine." MedicineNet. Web. http://www.medicinenet.com/swine_flu/article.htm (2016).

Nehebay, Stephanie. "H1N1 Pandemic Spreading Too Fast to Count: WHO." Reuters. Thomson Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-flu-who-idUSTRE56F57U20090716 (2016).

"Pandemic Flu History." Flu.Gov. http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/ (2016).

Webby, Richard. "Did This 'Swine Flu' Really Come From Pigs?" ABC News. ABC News Network. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SwineFluRiskAndPrevention/story?id=7737440 (2009).

Epidemic of Computers History by Diego Shandley

            People today have become over dependent on Computer Technology.  On all aspects of computer technology is ultimately becoming the "new world" around us. Identifying connection between humans and technology. Computers' give people potential to improve and gain technology experience. The world would be completely different if Computer Technology wasn't a part of today's society. Technology makes our lives a lot more convenient and colorful. Without it, it is hard to imagine how we can make business and digital marketing possible. They have become a critical factor in a person's everyday life; however, if Computer Technology was never thought of many discoveries and petabytes of information would never have been known.

            People came across this technology and found that it was very useful to our everyday lives. In 1822, "English mathematician Charles Babbage conceives of a steam-driven calculating machine that would be able to compute tables of numbers. The project, funded by the English government, is a failure. More than a century later, however, the world’s first computer was actually built" (Zimmermann). In 1936, "Alan Turing presents the notion of a universal machine, later called the Turing machine, capable of computing anything that is computable. The central concept of the modern computer was based on his ideas" (1). Douglas Engelbart shows a prototype of the modern computer, with a mouse and a graphical user interface (GUI). This marks the evolution of the computer from a specialized machine for scientists and mathematicians to technology that is more accessible to the general public (2). In 2015, Apple came out with the Apple Watch, while Microsoft comes with Windows 10. This is one of our most recent incredible movements to a whole new world filled with technology.

            Information Technology and Global Surveillance of Cases of 2009 H1N1 Influenza : The emergence and global spread of the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus illustrated not only the hazards of an interconnected world, but also the powerful role of new methods for detecting, tracking, and responding to infectious diseases (Brownstein). Information Technology, Public Space, and Collective Action in China: This explores the democratic implications of the Internet in the context of the interplay between the state and society by setting up a three-layered analytical framework, that is, the Internet as a tool for communication, the Internet as public space, and the Internet as a means for collective action (Yongnian).

 Supporting the technology epidemic, when we think about solutions for this epidemic, we are wondering what can be fixed for the epidemic. However, as far as a workable solution, would be correcting any glitches or bugs in the technology as a whole. When programs and other devices are being programmed and invented, there can be some errors that occur within these resources. For example, if we keep technology expanding and improving, it can help fight future epidemics and evaluate more thoroughly for cures for unknown curable sicknesses.

            “Technology cannot stop the spread of the epidemic but it can educate, warn and empower those on the ground and those that need to be aware of the situation to significantly reduce the impact” (Beijma). This example highlights the potential usage for technology and the results are beginning to show. “During an epidemic, communication is a critical tool to ensure we can both spot the virus spreading early and make attempts to contain it by educating the local population” (1). For example, technology being our way of communication would be a major factor insuring the overview of future epidemics. If technology continues to grow, (which there is no doubt technology is going anywhere) our epidemics will become easier to overcome. This could even minimize the likelihoods of epidemics taking place in the future. The chances of taking technology to another planet is very likely, it has rapidly improved and expanded, and will continue to grow as every day passes. It also comes down to competition between companies trying to take the spotlight on the next big thing, money is a critical factor in the technology epidemic. For example, smartphones today were one of the biggest improvements of human history, we are still living the competition between smartphones rising to the top of technology as we read this article. So yes, we are living in the epidemic and we are finding ways to further our expectations.

The technology epidemic is not so much a disease but from a perspective, it could look like one. With as many people addicted to the internet, devices, and applications, you could see it as some sort of “disease” if not an addiction. Technology is the next big thing in our world and people spite the fact that manual labor was even a thing in our past. Many people believe that artificial technology can be our future, and it feels as if the human race will become spineless and sluggish if technology takes its toll on people’s lives.

A famous philosopher, author, and journalist named Albert Camus did not believe in the supernatural, which means he does not think that there is a god out there, meaning that he believes the world and humans were meant to be together naturally. This relates to this epidemic because technology can change the world and has relation to change the world. Camus beliefs are alike because the technology epidemic is “absurd”.

Along with technology advancing, of course, something is on the opposing side. Computer hacking could possibly become the next epidemic in America, as the world becomes more and more reliant on computers the hacker industry is also rising to dangerous levels. Computer hackers are also known as computer terrorists, who usually start off young and believe that is harmless to nobody and do it for fun. However, hackers can be on the good side rather than the bad side. Think of it as a war between securities and anti-security, they go back and forth as technology advances. Once companies have a security update, there are constantly hackers with bad intentions that try and break through that security wall. However, the hackers with good intentions are attempting to stall them or stop them completely and save the company’s information.

Many hackers are soloists when it comes down to it, they feel they cannot trust anyone to snitch on them or get them in serious trouble. However, there are hacker groups that work together and take down big companies because they feel like companies are doing the “people” wrong. Although it is much more dangerous for them to get caught in a big group, they feel they are stronger when they unite and can end up with a larger outcome.

Good or bad intentions of hackers they all have something similar in common, patience. “Hackers will always do their work just like doctors will always treat patience. With the growth of technology come new threats, and new problems. This will continue to be on the rise due to advances in the world. Millions and millions of dollars will be put to end this but this will not work because new ways of hacking will always be made” (Computer Hacking Epidemic).

Technology is one of our most incredible achievements and is our “new world” today. With improvements in technology, future epidemics will become easier to overcome and could minimize the likelihoods of epidemics taking place in the future. As technology grows, so do the people evolving with it. People begin to figure out alternative ways of doing tasks, and can discover different inventions. Technology brings us into a learning curve of individuals and if we expand our horizons on technology, we expand individuals as whole at the same time.

Works Cited

Beijma, Hajo Van. "4 Ways Technology Can Help Fight Future Epidemics." World Economic Forum. TTC Mobile, 04 June 2015. Web. 28 Mar. 2016

Brownstein, John S. "Information Technology and Global Surveillance of Cases of 2009 H1N1 Influenza — NEJM." New England Journal of Medicine. NEJM Group, 06 May 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.

"Computer Hacking Epidemic." 123HelpMe.com. 02 May 2016

     <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=158555>.

Yongnian, Zheng and Wu, Guoguang. "Information Technology, Public Space, and Collective Action in China." Information Technology, Public Space, and Collective Action in China. SAGE Publications, June 2005. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.

Zimmermann, By Kim Ann. "History of Computers: A Brief Timeline." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 08 Sept. 2015. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.