Reading Response 1/31/13

Reading Response 1/31/13

Henry Kiem

Article: “The Bite That Heals” National Geographic Magazine

            “The Bite that heals” is a very interesting article about huge breakthrough in antivenom medicine and the medical potential it has. The article tells many stories about victims from venomous bites. One man, who goes by the pseudonym Michael, was bitten by one of the most venomous species in South America: a bark scorpion. Often victims of a bite like that of a bark scorpion die; however, with the use of particular antivenom he was fine after a day and a half. This is a huge breakthrough because it uncovers so many medical possibilities.

            The first reason this is a big breakthrough is because it eliminates the dangerous potential behind many venomous creatures. The story about Michael doesn’t end with the antivenom relieving the pain of the scorpion sting. In fact, Michael suffers from a chronic spinal condition, which causes a lot of pain. Here is the weird thing, after the scorpion sting, the pain hasn’t come back. If the venom from the scorpion actually caused his back pain to disappear, then what other medical capabilities do certain kinds of venom have? Michael is a doctor, and even though he doesn’t want to outright state that the scorpion sting removed the back pain, he does think that it may harness certain medical abilities that we are only just uncovering.

            The second big reason that venom is an important medical breakthrough is because of how many different venoms there are and how many uses there could be for all of them. The weird thing about many toxic venoms is that they are useful for the same reasons that they are helpful.  Most venom works like an enzyme. It locks into target molecules like a key. This is the same way most modern medicine works. Obviously, there is a connection between the two. If we could harness venom to control certain molecules, we could create more cures to diseases such as cancer and other autoimmune diseases.

            After reading, it is very obvious that there are so many new possibilities with venom. We need to harness more of these venoms to use as cures to many autoimmune diseases. We need to begin to research these toxins because right now we are just on the cusp of the uses to many of these amino acid strands that can both kill us, and heal us.

Westing Game RR

Reading Response
Henry Kiem
812



     The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is a magnificent classic. It is a highly inventive mystery that requires so much brainpower to comprehend, you can't help but read the book for hours on end. I love The Westing Game and this is the third or fourth time I am reading it. The characters are so amazing and the way that the author introduces them is so intriguing. I think that the major theme of this mystery is to explore information and how certain people interpret it. Throughout the book certain facts confuse people and others assume certain things that are entirely untrue. Throughout the book, people misinterpret information.

     The first reason that I think this book's theme is the ideas of misinterpretation and confusion is because of a certain chapter. In chapter four, "A Corpse Found", Turtle sneaks into the westing house and Doug Hoo times her. After possibly hearing her name, she runs out of the house screaming. Then, the next day, the newspaper pronounces Sam Westing dead. But Doug and Turtle are very confused because they have no idea how the body was found. Ellen Raskin creates so many possible story lines that you  have no idea what is about to happen next which is key to a mystery novel. In the case of chapter four, evidence that Turtle was in the house could be found which could lead to an accusation of murder. This book has so many possible stories going on and that is what makes it so interesting. That is why  I think the theme of this book is how misinterpretation can affect people and how confusion is creating such an interesting story.

     The second reason I think the theme of this book is misinterpretation is in chapter 7, "The Westing Will". In this chapter the Will of Samuel Westing is read to his 16 nieces. The will says that one of the sixteen took Samuel Westing's life. The will then tells them to "play the westing game" after a silent prayer. The Will is broken up into sections. FIRST, SECOND, and so on. This could be a code or a clue to what is really going on here. The fact that the will is telling people to do things as if it is in the present company of them also could be another clue as to who is who. You really don't know with this book!

     Finally, I definitely think the theme of this book is all about misinterpretation. I mean, the amount of confusion and misleading facts in this book is magnificent. I also think that this book is so great because it leaves even you assuming things along with the character. And by the end, when you find out what really happened, you think, how can that be! But after the explanation, it all makes sense.