History Of Sexuality Essays - Sexual Acts, Masturbation, Fertility

History Of Sexuality As you may well know and as I have recently discovered, there are endless publications concerning themselves with sex. However, finding sources that deal with the subject of masturbation are few and far in between. I first began by gaining access to the Internet to begin my research under the notion that I couldn't go wrong using a tool containing such a wealth of information. After having initiated a search of the word "masturbation" and finding that nearly all of the results directed me to sites dedicated to pornography, it became obvious that I was heading in the wrong direction. I then decided to take the more traditional route by utilizing the San Francisco State University Library and Bookstore, where after much mental strain, I was able to successfully conduct a thorough research of the topic. However, much of the text I was able to find, seem to quote each other, all stemming from the works of just a few scholars from centuries past. Very little "new" ground seems to be covered, and it is almost impossible to find anything that didn't either make me yawn, or that offered me a fresh or interesting perspective. As a result, I have taken what I feel to be the most beneficial and engaging segments from the sources that I have gathered and pieced them together to create this report: The Criminal History of Masturbation. Hopefully, what little information I was able to find will be of interest to those of you who already consider yourselves experts on the subject. Thesis Statement Masturbation, as you might suspect, is a purely solitary form of sexual behavior, and as such can tend to be regarded as even more personal and intimate than sex itself. As such, it gains a status as a taboo subject, even among people like myself who consider themselves among the sexually liberated. But, these attitudes concerning masturbation are quite recent, shifting considerably in the last 50 years or so. Historically, masturbation was not a subject that you would so kindly label as "taboo" but, for example, as "a self-polluting sin against nature that threatens all that is Godly....remedied only by condemning such sodomites to their deserved fate of eternal damnation." Even to the most closed-minded and modern traditionalists, those who endeavor to protect their own believed concepts of decency and decorum, this may seem to be a bit harsh. My goal in this report is to explore the subject matter of masturbation and the attitudes surrounding it throughout our history. I hope to divulge to the reader an overview of these negative connotations, hopefully forming an understanding of how nonsensical and absurd they may seem, especially to individuals like myself who endorse the "normality" of autoerotic pleasure. As an artist, I have decided to include some examples of medieval art, which portray negative connotations of masturbation. I will then form a conclusion to my report that will include a summary of my findings and an explanation of my reaction to a subject that has historically been considered as criminal. The Criminalization of Masturbation There are no clear answers as to the origin of the word "masturbation", but an educated guess and a little help from Paula Bennett M.D., author of Solitary Pleasures, gives its entomology to the Latin language, manus (hand) ? stupro (to defile). However many scholars believe it to have a Greek beginning, mezea (genitals), with the original meaning, "to arouse the genitals". The lack of certainty as to the origin of the word stems from the fact that both the Romans and the Greeks mentioned the subject of masturbation very rarely. However, Hippocrates noted that he believed excessive loss of semen caused spinal consumption. And even though several Christian and Judaic followers consider the act of masturbation sinful, the Bible has no clear-cut stance on the subject. (The story of Onan [Genesis 38:9-11], is often sighted as proof of the Bible's stance. God condemned Onan to hell for having spilt his seed on the ground rather than conceiving a child, which the law demanded. However, it seems biblical scholars believe that it is instead, a reference to coitus interuptus [the act of pulling out the penis from the vagina before ejaculation]). As a result, masturbation was more commonly known as "onanism" well into this century. The negative connotation associated with masturbation can be traced back to a Swiss physician, S. Tissot (1729-1797). Tissot believed that all sexual activity was dangerous because it forced blood to rush to the head, leaving the rest of the body dangerously low.

Overview and Book List for A Merlin Mission Books

Overview and Book List for A Merlin Mission Books The Magic Tree House Merlin Missions include Books # 29 and up in the wildly popular Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Like the first 28 books of the Magic Tree House series, each of the books subtitled A Merlin Mission features the magic tree house and time travel adventures of brother and sister Jack and Annie, but there is also a lot thats different. The time travel missions of Jack and Annie are now assigned by Merlin the Magician from Camelot, which is why the subtitle for every Magic Tree House book from book #29 on is A Merlin Mission.  The Magic Tree House, A Merlin Mission books are designed for kids who are ready for more advanced books than those in the first 28 books of the series for young independent readers. What to Expect Books #29 and higher are generally between 105 and 115 pages long, about 40 pages longer than books #1-28. They are also at a higher reading level, mostly between 2.4 and 3.4, and the target audience moves from 6 to 10 to 7 to 10 or 11 for the later books. Jack and Annie have also moved up in age. Jack is 11 now, and Annie is 10. Most of the books have several pages of facts and activities at the end. A chapter from the next book in the series is also provided. Like all of the other books in the Magic Tree House series, Sal Murdocca illustrated books #29 and up, with one or more engaging illustrations per chapter. New secondary characters and more complicated plots are now the norms. The overarching goal of each mission, which takes four books to complete, is more emphasized. For example, in books #33-36, Jack and Annie have to go on four missions, each to a real place and time, to demonstrate that they can use magic wisely. As a result of a successful mission in Venice, Baghdad, Paris and New York City, they receive a special award, the Wand of Dianthus, described as a powerful magic wand that would help them make their own magic. (Source, MTH #39, page 2) However, readers can continue to read and enjoy the books independently of one another, and in the order they prefer. At the beginning of the later books, author Mary Pope Osborne shares information about how her own experiences and interests relate to the books subject. In a portion of her letter to readers in Eve of the Emperor Penguin, Magic Tree House book #40, Osborne explains: While I was writing this book, I combined my memories of watching the penguins at the zoo with my research on Antarctica. And I used my imagination to think about Jack and Annie searching for a secret of happiness to share with Merlin. I always mix these three things together to create a Magic Tree House books: memory, research, and imagination. But theres one other ingredient that goes into my work on this series: joy. I love to write - and I love sharing Jack and Annie s adventures with you. One of the reasons Osborne receives so many letters from young readers is that her letters to readers make them feel that they have a personal connection with her. For more about Mary Pope Osborne and her books, check out these interviews with her: Magic Tree House Series Author Interview and 20th Anniversary of the Magic Tree House Interview With Mary Pope Osborne. As of March 2016, there was a total of 54 Magic Tree House books, with more forthcoming. All Merlin Mission books are first published in hardcover and, then, in paperback. They are also available in library binding and as audiobooks and eBooks. Also, there are 26 Magic Tree House Fact Tracker books, research guides, companion nonfiction books for some of the books in the series. Happily, ever since book #42, a Fact Tracker is published at the same time each new book in the Magic Tree House series is published. For more information about the nonfiction books, see Spotlight on the Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Books. List of Magic Tree House Books #29-48 (Merlin Missions) Christmas in Camelot, Magic Tree House, Book #29Haunted Castle On Hallow’s Eve, Magic Tree House, Book #30Summer Of The Sea Serpent, Magic Tree House, Book #31Winter Of The Ice Wizard, Magic Tree House, Book #32Carnival at Candlelight, Magic Tree House, Book #33Season of the Sandstorms, Magic Tree House, Book #34Night of the New Magicians, Magic Tree House, Book #35Blizzard of the Blue Moon, Magic Tree House, Book #36Dragon of the Red Dawn, Magic Tree House, Book #37Monday with a Mad Genius, Magic Tree House, Book #38Dark Day in the Deep Sea, Magic Tree House, Book #39Eve of the Emperor Penguin, Magic Tree House, Book #40Moonlight on the Magic Flute, Magic Tree House, Book #41A Good Night for Ghosts, Magic Tree House, Book #42Leprechaun in Late Winter, Magic Tree House, Book #43A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time, Magic Tree House, Book #44A Crazy Day with Cobras, Magic Tree House, Book #45Dogs in the Dead of Night, Magic Tree House, Book #46Abe Lincoln at Last!, Magic Tree House, Book #47 A Perfect Time for Pandas, Magic Tree House, Book #48Stallion by Starlight, Magic Tree House, Book #49Hurry Up, Houdini!, Magic Tree House, Book #50High Time for Heroes, Magic Tree House, Book #51Soccer on Sunday, Magic Tree House, Book #52Shadow of the Shark, Magic Tree House, Book #53Balto of the Blue Dawn, Magic Tree House, Book #54 The Allure Finding a series your child loves can pay off in helping them to develop their reading skills. The nice thing about the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne is that there are so many choices in terms of subjects and books and children can enjoy the books over time as they build their reading skills. The Magic Tree House books are also popular with teachers, particularly those teaching grades 2-4. Mary Pope Osbornes Magic Tree House Classroom Adventures Program site contains a great deal of information that will be helpful to teachers and parents alike in terms of reading levels and curriculum connections, as well as lesson plans.

Research summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research summary - Essay Example Between 2000 and 2005 silicosis has been documented to be the cause of 162 annual deaths in the US. During hydraulic fracturing, inhaling dust is hard to avoid and hence the necessary protective gear need to be worn to avoid this. The source is applicable to update Gasland subtopic because it outlines how natural gas and oil extraction produces silica that pollute the air causing health complications such as kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, lung cancer and tuberculosis. Although, hydraulic fracturing is seen as profitable it is the main cause of death in the US as inhaling dust from such extraction is hard to avoid and hence the necessary protective gear need to be worn to avoid this Winter, Mary. "Drilling Down on Shale Gas." State Legislatures. 39.7 (2013): 8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 Oct 2013. Environmentalists assert that hydraulic fracturing is a threat to public health because it is air and water pollutant. This is supported by a study of water in heavily drilled Pavillion, Wyo. Residents here are said to complain of brown smelly water. Although some have disputed the study, it was found out that the ground water contained compounds associated with gas production practices such as hydraulic fracturing. ... This conforms to Gasland story in that hydraulic fracturing pollutes both water and air causing brown smelly water, for instance some studies discovered that in the US and other nations where gas extraction is common ground water contained compounds associated with gas production practices such as hydraulic fracturing. "Business heats up in New Mexico." Rock Products. 116.4 (2013): 13. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Oct 2013. Wisconsin center for investigative journalism that incorporates the Wisconsin public radio and the superior telegram has fanned out that one fifth of Wisconsin’s 70 active fracking sand mines ND processing plant were cited for acts of building without the proper permits s well as air pollution. Of more concern to the investigative journalists is the fact that there are rules and regulations governing operations in the mining industry and they are being enforced. The mining businesses need to be familiar with complex storm water, run off and air polluti on regulations and fracking sand mining have shown blatant disregard for environmental regulations. Wisconsin confirms that some mines and processing plants are started without proper permits irrespecting of various rules and regulations governing operations in the mining industry enforced, and thus increasing air pollution. Disregarding these environment regulations have various health effects on people as confirmed by Gasland film. Krisberg, Kim. "CDC releases national action plan to prevent unintentional child injuries." Nation's Health. 42.5 (2012): 6. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Oct 2013. Racing has been recognized as one of the environmental hazards bringing about air pollution near wells. The US environmental protection agency has noted this and has issued new air