5 Fixes for Pop-Culture Pile-Ups

5 Fixes for Pop-Culture Pile-Ups 5 Fixes for Pop-Culture Pile-Ups 5 Fixes for Pop-Culture Pile-Ups By Mark Nichol Alluding to science and technology, real and imagined, in lay publications or in references to popular culture is fraught with peril. You don’t know humiliation until you’ve been flamed by a science or tech geek or a sci-fi fanboy who castigates you for a misunderstanding about the way the universe works, or for perpetuating a misquote from a beloved movie, TV program, or other artifact of entertainment. Always verify the validity of such analogies or allusions as these: 1. â€Å"You don’t have to be the Man of Steel to open a Kryptonite bike lock.† This failed attempt at pop-culture metaphor in discussion of a brand of bike lock called Kryptonite is illogical, because Superman (known also by the epithet the Man of Steel) was â€Å"allergic† to kryptonite, so a bike lock made of the (fictional) element would disable him; this fact renders the sentence nonsensical. To rescue it, a wholesale revision and expansion of the analogy is required: â€Å"The Kryptonite bike lock wouldn’t faze Superman, and it doesn’t deter thieves, either.† 2. â€Å"I’m reminded of Captain Kirk’s familiar request to the ship’s engineer: ‘Beam me up, Scotty.’† There’s a bit of a problem with this reference to one of the most recognizable catchphrases in the pop-culture lexicon: It was never actually uttered by the television character associated with it. Always double-check even what appears to be the most airtight reference, and then, if it turns out to be inaccurate, slip that fact in: â€Å"I’m reminded of Captain Kirk’s apocryphal request to the ship’s engineer: ‘Beam me up, Scotty.’† (See also â€Å"I am your father, Luke† and â€Å"Elementary, my dear Watson.†) 3. â€Å"The huge tunnel-boring machine looks like an alien enemy of the starship Enterprise.† This awkwardly worded allusion to the Star Trek oeuvre is easily smoothed out to refer to the program rather than the spacecraft it featured: â€Å"The huge tunnel-boring machine looks like an alien vessel out of Star Trek.† 4. â€Å"The trend has taken off like the starship Enterprise making the jump to hyperspeed.† Hyperspeed is a technological convention in the Star Wars franchise; starships in the Star Trek canon, by contrast, achieve warp speed. Make sure you keep your fictional technologies in the correct universe: â€Å"The trend has taken off like the starship Enterprise boldly going at warp 9.† 5. â€Å"This agreement isn’t just a big step; it’s a quantum leap.† A quantum leap is commonly misunderstood to refer to a massive change. However, the literal meaning is of instantaneous change of any magnitude. Revise to reflect that fact: â€Å"This agreement isn’t just a big step; it’s a momentous one that will have a world-changing impact.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Spelling Test 1Whenever vs. When EverParticular vs. Specific

What is meant by the word abortion Essays

What is meant by the word abortion Essays What is meant by the word abortion Essay What is meant by the word abortion Essay The definition from the dictionary on abortion is removal of a baby from the womb before it has developed enough to survive.My definition of Abortion is the premature removal from the womb of a foetus at some stage in pregnancy. Most abortions take place when the baby is unwanted. When the foetus or embryo is removed they are destroyed. This can only legally be done before the mother reaches 28 weeks of the pregnancy.Your choice to have an abortion or carry on a pregnancy isnt a straightforward or easy choice. It is important to take the time you want to make the decision that is best for you. There are counsellors at abortion clinics that can help as you as you make your choice.There are lots of opinions regarding whether abortion should be legal or not. A number of people believe that having an abortion is murder because you are killing a life inside of you. Other people think that as the foetus isnt completely developed and still in the mothers womb, that i t isnt born yet therefore it isnt murder.Abortion is acceptable in a few circumstances:Christian teachingsChristians believe that abortion is wrong. Many have divided views about it but a lot think that it breaks the sixth commandment- murder. Other Christians also believe that it should be left up to the mother and that the decision shouldnt be forced.Some people think that the Bible doesnt teach any think about Abortion because there are no actual direct statements saying that abortion is a sin and should not happen.The bible teaches that life is a gift from god. The Bible says I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be prophet to the nation This means that you were created even before you were in the mothers womb. This is a very powerful teaching and could have great impact on the mother making her decision. This could be because if god chooses who is born, then how and why, should someone else be able to take that life.Another saying in the bible is Surely you know that you are Gods temple and the Gods Spirit lives in you, so if anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy him. For Gods temple is holy, and you yourselves are his temple. This means that god is part of you and to have an abortion, then you would be betraying him. This quote shows us that if you were to destroy a child then you would be destroying a piece of God and this is totally against what the bible teaches.Some Christians are against abortion for social reasons or as a means of birth control such as in China where it is used to control the population because woman are restricted to only having one child.How Christians might put their beliefs into action.Christians may put there beliefs into action by trying to teach younger people more about abortion and contraception etc. This may help younger Christians to understand abortion more and make them understand the consequences of pregnancy.They may use none violent protests or sit-in protests to get there message across. They could go to different communites, churches, schools etc. to teach younger people about abortion and get there message across. Christians can teach other options that woman can take in stead of having an abortion such as foster care or adoption.There is one charity called SPUC (Society for the Protection of the unborn child) which was started to protect unborn children. Many Christians fund these charities in order to gain media attention to their solid belief in the sanctity of life.More charities could be set up to perhaps assist young Christian people who want advice, support or help about abortion. It could also help women that are pregnant and need support or advice.Abortion is never justifiedI believe that abortion can be justified but I do also believe that in some situation abortion isnt justified.I believe abortion is justified:- If a woman became pregnant from rape- If the child was going to be permanently ill or handicapped. I think this because the child if the child couldnt be cured, then I dont think that life would be very good and not worth living if they will be in pain and unhappy. It would be a struggle for the family and I think that it is better not to have parents or a child suffer form it.- If the mothers life or health is a risk by having the baby. In this situation I think that abortion is mort justified. For example a mothers life could be at risk if it were a multiple birth therefore should be aloud an abortion. Although if there is a good chance in the mother and babies surviving then I think abortion shouldnt take place.- If it is a teenage pregnancy. I teenager is not fully mature and likely wouldnt be able to physically and emotionally with a child. Also they have their rest of there lives ahead of them and it would be ruined by a baby therefore I feel abortion is justified here.I dont believe that abortion is justified:- If a woman is happily in a relationship but they just dont want a baby. I think tha t this is selfish because the baby could be brought up happily.- If the father is willing to bring up the child. I think that fathers should have more rights and I feel that if the mother can have the baby without her health being affected then the father should be aloud to bring it up.

Miscommunication in Aviaition Safety Research Paper

Miscommunication in Aviaition Safety - Research Paper Example Consequently, miscommunication among these individuals may result in grave consequences such as a fatal crash or accident. Of all aviation accidents that have been reported, over 70% points to miscommunication as a significant contributor to the fatal aviation crashes. Hence, miscommunication in the form of improper English, language errors, as well as inefficient cockpit communication is among the leading causes of fatal aviation accidents. Language problem is the major cause of airspace accidents due to crew communication and coordination. Pilots operate huge and complicated planes in busy and large terminals, and thus, they need help from the ground including information and support on landing and taking off provided by the air-traffic control (ATC). Therefore, communication between ATC and pilots should be clear, efficient, and proper because any mishap in communication can lead to a fatal crash as seen in the case of two Boeing 747 crashing into each other. Evidence shows that improper English and communication interference were the major cause of the fatal crash on March 27, 1977 that injured 61 and killed 583 people (Tajima 454). The captain notified the controller that they were at a takeoff position, and since this statement has double meaning, the controller misinterpreted it. The controller thought that the captain meant they were waiting for runway clearance, but not in motion, but sadly, the plane was alrea dy in motion making a run on the runway. Further instructions given to the captain to standby did not reach him due to radio transmission interruption. What followed was a fatal crash between KLM 4805 and PAA airplane, which was still on the runway when KLM 4805 was taking off. According to Tajima, this was a case of improper English whereby the captain’s native language Dutch influenced unconscious code-mixing that interfered with English phrase resulting in inefficient communication to the ATC (456). Apart from pilot and ATC