Los Angeles Times Precis

"Anonymous Sources" written by Tina Dirmann


Tina Dirmann's online article, Anonymous Sources, discusses the Pass It Along Project, which was designed to assist struggling individuals survive another day in their tough living conditions. Dirmann explains how the Program came about and has contributed to 392 success stories and grants throughout the years. Founded by two anonymous donors, the Program is ran by the California Community Foundation (CCF). CCF "specializes in administering funds for a full range of charities supporting educational opportunities, health-care needs, neighborhood revitilization projects and artistic development". The donors specifically set out to design a program that gives to people in need, who then promise to give back to their own communities after being helped hemselves. From the very beginning, the donors of the Pass It Along Program wanted their names kept private, to prevent any personal attention, when their only intention was attention for the program. Although the Program is thriving, the available donation amount is slowly decreasing and is now in jeopardy of extinction. The program is expected to shut down or "fall under" early 2009. Through the use of countless facts, and quotes, Dirmann informs her audience about how a little kindness can really pay off.

Discussion Questions:
Style: Does the author's writing style make it easier or more difficult for younger readers to understand what's being discussed in the text?
Application: Would anybody be able to do anything to prevent the possible closing down of such a good program?

Stiff (Post #3 pgs.222-292)

In the last few chapters of Stiff, Roach examines more ways cadavers have been useful to the advancements of science. She takes things one step closer, when introducing the ideas of cannibalism, mellified man, the use of the placenta, fecal matter, and alternative ways to cremate bodies. Roach finishes out the book on a strong note, with plenty more expert opinion, backed up with facts, quotes, exerpts, and countless rhetorical questions. She also doesn't cease to spread her humor within the given facts and her personal experiences with some of these described scientist. Roach also appeals to logic as she describes the beliefs by which countries such as China, find human cannibalism a traditional thing, but how in American we would consider plain crazy or completely out of the question. I found the last few chapters very interesting as Mary Roach investigated the mellified man and cannibalism as a whole. Some of the information really suprised me as she discussed the use of the placenta, fecal matter, saliva, urine, and other bodily matter that has been used to cure (or believed to) or help physical injuries or diseases. Later in the chapters, Roach tells of alternatives to traditional cremation or casket funerals,introducing an "enviromentaly friendly" way of using cadavers as compost instead of adding to the environmental issues that already exists today. As the book winds down, Roach finally faces herself with the big question of whether she'll donate her body to science, after deep consideration and examination of cadavers in their many uses. Stiff was both informative and suprisingly enjoyable considering the humor of the author and the questions sparked while reading the book.

Clarification:
Was the mummy elixir the same thing as the mellified man? From my uderstanding people ate both of them for treatment, so I found this very confusing. HELP!

Application:
After learning about cadavers throughout the book Stiff, have you changed your opinions about donating your body to science, or are they still the same?

My Statement (possible discussion):
I truly cannot believe the fact that there are really cannibals out there. What do you think can possibly drive someone to eat another human being, especially someones buttocks or breast (238)? A human is a human, reguardless of the part!

Stiff (Post #2 pgs. 148-221)

Continuing to educate us of cadavers and their uses, Mary Roach includes plenty of factual evidence combined with her non-stop humor and use of imagery. Throughout this chunk of Stiff, Roach discusses the multiple uses of cadavers in medicine and science such as, crucification experiments, beating heart cadavers, live burials, decapitation, reanimation, and the human head transplant. Within this chunk, Roach raises a question in the reader's mind, what excatly determines whether a person is still alive or not? Do we consider a brain dead person living, knowing they still have a heartbeat, or not? She also explains the research of many scientist conducted to prove the authenticity of "Shroud of Turin", and the early research projects from the first head transplants performed by doctors and scientist. Mary Roach includes plenty of humor while presenting plenty of useful information, for example while she looked on as doctors took part in the harvesting of organs, she refers to the abdomn filled with blood and crushed ice as a "Cherry Sno-Kone". Another instance of this, was shown when Roach said "But whenever it is that I am however I feel about it, I know that all cheek cells belonging to me within fifty miles of here feel the same way". She also bring up the good point of how live patients are wheeled down hallways with a sense of urgency, rather than cadavers,or the dead, which aren't in any type of rush. I never thought about how true she actually is, I appreciate how Roach sparks new points of view for me, while simply presenting facts and backing it up with proven research.

Clarification:
Why excatly were scientist going around doing head transplants on dogs? I didn't understand why Guthrie grafted one dog's head to another, making the first manmade two-headed dog, what was the purpose?

Application:
Would you ever consider donating your body to science if that meant being apart of experients such as studying the effects of decapitation, or being the main attraction at the next organ harvest?

Stiff (Post #1 pgs.74-147)

Mary Roach's "Stiff", explores the multiple uses of cadavers and their contribution to the advances of sciences. Throughout this first chunk, she uses imagery, and anecdotes, combined with the countless expert opinion and plenty of humor. Within this section of the book, she really puts things into perspective for us, as far as the variety of things cadavers are used for and plenty of things we don't take the time to put into consideration. For example, "A cow carcass is upsetting, a brisket is dinner. A human leg has no face, no eyes, no hands...This is just tissue. It has no feelings, and no one has feelings for it".(pg.105) Roach also includes non-stop humor scattered from page to page as she talks of her experiences visiting and shadowing people with different professions involved with the use of cadavers in one way or another.

Clarification:
Were all the animals dead or alive while taking part in these experiments?(I was really confused on whether it was one or the other, or possibly both, depending on the experiment.)

Application:
Do you think people donating thier bodies would truly want to know what aspect of science they'll be used for?(Specifically, what procedures will be done on them.)