So, how old are you? I'm only a HUNDRED AND FIFTY!
How to Reverse Aging?
Have a look at this video:Indian Man has survived 70 years without food & water – Miracle or Myth ?
Although, the claim for not eating or drinking for 70 years is unsubstantiated, he has been kept in one of the Indian hospitals to study how he can do that. He has been in hospital for past 8 days and has not touched water or food and appears to be in great health.
Have a look at this video of Pralhad Jani:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGF7EY2Ucm8&feature=player_embedded
Pralhad Jani claims to have been blessed by a goddess when he was 8-years-old, which has enabled him to survive without sustenance and that he derives energy through meditation.
If you are not aware, there are many people can live without food for several weeks, with the body drawing on its fat and protein stores. But the average human can survive for only three to four days without water.
Hey guys! How's it going? Feel free to type in anything that comes to your head! I'm not going to ask any specific questions, because I don't want to constrain your thoughts. So just feel free to discuss anything interesting (or uninteresting) about the post, or beyond!
23 comments:
I feel as though he used a lot of big terms that have a very scientific concept. For the average person they will pay more attention to someone who sounds smart because they sound like they know what their talking about. He is also dressed really professionally this also gives off an image of him knowing what he is talking about. All this added up makes me believe that he wants us to believe that he is smart and knows what he is talking about.
I agree with what Jimmy said. He does a great job of coming across as an educated but not self-righteous academic. I even went ahead and checked out a couple of his other videos after watching this one. He explains complex scientific things in a way that is easy to understand, and he is carefully optimistic about what he is talking about, which makes his presentation easier to watch, since he's interested in what he's talking about.
With regard to the information presented, I personally was interested to learn about these enzymes and the solution he offers, but I think it's a bit obvious that eating less will prolong life, and I think what is more important is eating healthier food in the first place. And I know personally I am not going to change my eating and living habits that significantly with the hope that I can live a few extra years. What do you guys think?
Nice observations, guys! Well, Ben, I totally agree with you. I personally don't think it's worth changing your eating and living habits for just a few more years of life. I'd rather live and eat heartily than to restrict myself from having good food, just to "live" for a few years more years.
In terms of rhetorical analysis, I will examine the first video. I truly enjoyed listening to this man speak. Like Jimmy and Ben, I immediately believed that the speaker in the video was knowledgable about the topic of which he was professing. He had a gentle tone and a kind look in his eye. For this reason, I believed that he was truly a scholar of the subject, rather than an actor reading lines. Along with that, he used scientific language combined with common language which was easy to understand. The simple nature of the video was actually refreshing. Considering all of the mentioned attributes, I enjoyed listening to him speak.
Immediately after watching this vidoe, I mentally compared it to the first video on the blog about educational reform. The two videos use completely opposite approaches. I find it impossible to wonder: How would this video have been different if it utilized animation like the education one did? Does anyone else wonder the same? If so, what are your thoughts?
I thought the two videos were very different. The one about the man surviving without food and water was easy to watch just because it was such and interesting issue; however, the way the video was constructed (with different clips of people talking) was a little dry. On the other hand, the first video relied solely on it's information and presenter seeing how it had a plain white background. There was nothing to be distracted by. The man talking also presented well because he had voice variations and seemed interested in the topic himself. As Heather said though, it may really illustrate his point in a strong manner if he added illustrations.
As for the information itself.. in the first video, I really like how he said we have "pieces of a youth fountain." This is simply showing research is well on it's way and it's very likely this will happen in the future.
The second video is just amazing and has got me curious. I would really like to see the results found after the study!
First off I after watching the video and the way that it was presented, has me believing in the possibility of genetically enabling humans to live longer. I feel that the presentation of the idea was well done. Not only were the facts sound but they utilized a expert to present the facts that made the idea very believable. I felt that the detail in the facts were explained with clarity and transitioned into each other fluidly.
I liked the topic of this week's post! I found it to be interesting and unique! I agree with most of the comments so far, the first two especially with describing the first video. The speaker's language and choice of words make the audience assume he is a smart man who knows what he is talking about. The way he is dressed also implies he is a professional! The white background with the little "think big" symbol made me think this was also a professional video associated with a scientific company which made it feel much more legitimate! I also liked how Brooke pointed out the second video being much more interesting, I found it easier to pay attention and understand! Since the video had a speaker, but also a constant changing image I had something to keep my focus and keep me drawn in! Also in the second video the "press conference" scene helped add credibility to the video! I'm actually really curious to find out the results of this study and hope they have a follow up video!
As you guys have very well pointed out, both the videos are related to breaking the normal aging process of the human body and mind. The first video is built on a scientific premise, but the second video also talks about the use of "yoga" and "godly powers" to beat aging. I know that this is a really broad and debatable question, but do you guys think that this affects the credibility of the second video?
I found both videos to be interesting but I found the first one a little bit dry though. In response to Heather's question i think the video would have definitely been more interesting with animation and graphics rather than just the speaker explaining things although the speaker was very professional and knowlegable about the subject matter.
Meditation and eating healthy do benefit our health greatly but I do realize that as students its not always possible to change our diets significantly to live a bit more longer. As for the second video it caught my attention because there were many people who were speaking in it and I like the concept of utilizing the knowledge of how to survive without food and water and applying it in the astronomy field. It would be really ground breaking find if these researches actually discover the biological factor/reason behind this medical miracle of Pralhad Jani and find a practical way for humans to survive without food and water for as long as he did. I have definitely heard stories of countless yogi's claiming to meditate and survive on food for as long as Pralhad Jani but he's the first to garner such widespread attention and to be actually studied/be a research subject so I am very curious to know the biological/scientific explanation behind this phenomenon.
I do think that the topic in this week blog project is so interesting and fanscinating that makes me think a lot. Of course, being young forever or being a long life is everyone's dream. In the ancient China, the first emperor of Ch'ing Dynasty made pills of immortality and sent a large group of people to east to find the secret to keep alive, although he died eventurally. This shows that being long life is a dream shared the whole people, no matter in ancient time or in modern society.
To begin with, I would like to say something about the rhetoric in the first video from the perspective of ethos, logos and pathos. Ethos come first. I totally agree with what Heather said that "He had a gentle tone and a kind look in his eye". In his description, his tone is so gentle that is like a loving father tells scientific knowledge to his child, which catches my interest immediately. In terms of logos, the talking of the man included scientific(biological) jargons, showing that he is such a professional in his own research realm. And his persuasion is very logic without disorders. These logos used made the whole talking integrated, relevant and compelling. Last, the pathos. Though large numbers of scientific terms was used, the man's talking does not seem boring at all. Why? Personally speaking, the secret lies in that he connected the people's emotions, experience and self-feeling together with science, which made people feel that he is caring others and that biological science he is talking about is not like the frog on the experiment station. This caring people also adds many scores to his speech.
Besides, I want to say more about the issue of being long life with regard to the second video. To some degree, being healthy means being long life. As far as I am concerned, being healthy has two dimensions, the first one is the health of the body meaning no illness and no handicap. The second dimension is the health of appearance, by which I mean the outer appearance gives other people a healthy image. For the Indian man without food and water for 70 years, although, from medical inspection, he did had no sicks or handicap in his body, his appearance really did not leave a very good impression to other people. Such a skinny old man without eating or drinking for so many years, can he be really healthy that everyone longs for? I REALLY DOUBT!
Great analysis and descriptions guys! And Chenxi, I've heard that Chi'ng Dynasty story. I think there was something about it in Jackie Chan's film "Shenhua (The Myth)"!
I love both videos this week~
The first one is a very compelling "lecture" on the aging process and what they've found so far to prevent or slow down the process. The video is probably made to the public audience who don't have all the background knowledge, because the speaker explained and summarized his point with clear and everyday-language every time after he said a lot of scientific terms and biologic processes, and he did a great job. I agree with Taylor that this video looks really professional, which adds more credibility to it.
As for the second video, at first I thought it was just some kind of joke, but later on there was a press conference where many experts were talking about the issue pretty seriously, this was when I started to believe it a little bit. So I'm thinking adding professional perspectives in your video or paper or any writing is a good idea to convince your audience.
Well observations and interesting discussions!
I would like to say that he is really a successful speaker. Like commented before, he looks so kind that appear to me in seconds. Using body language effectively, he delivers his idea and explains scientific term concisely. In addition, at last, his tone changes and thus spurs audience to expect further analysis in future.
However, the second video contradicts the first one to some degree. The old man survives without food and water for several days. As Chenxi points out, the man’s facial countenance seems not to be very good, which reminds me what I learned in Environmental and Natural Resource class. The professor said, as an individual, the first goal is survive, then grow up, thrive and reproduce. As human beings, we are not simply eager to survive, but more importantly, live life in high quality. Hence, living longer like the old man is not our ultimate goal.
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Michio Kaku. I see this guy in those science-history-discovery channels quite often whenever I do bother to check them out, and I have to say, I always enjoy his way of speaking, using analogies and employing a question-and-answer method of explanation. It really helps guide listeners' trains of thoughts.
But oh heavens, look at the time!--It's Comment o'clock!
The notion of living forever has always intrigued me. Actually, I’d like to live forever—or die trying. Whenever this “Fountain of Youth” or “Immortality Pill” or “Longevity Treatment” comes around, I’d like to have a shot of it, hopefully see into the 2500s at the least (or most; I haven’t decided). I foresee, however, there to be quarrels simply because of it. I’m sure there will be people opposed to it for whichever ethical or religious reasons. In fact, I believe Albert Einstein himself would refuse it or denounce it, seeing as he said, the day before he died, “I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share, it is time to go. I will do it elegantly.” Of course, because living forever is a dream shared by all people, as Chenxi has said above, which indeed it is, I think that despite any probable debate, use of such a treatment will be allowed.
Regarding the second bit of this post… Well. Wow. I think it would be difficult for me to not touch southern barbecue for 70 years. I’d be crushed!
Ahem.
In all seriousness, it at first seemed like a joke of sorts—I after all do not believe in superstition, much less the supernatural—but that people are actually conducting research on it gives it that glimmer of credibility for me. I’m not sure what to think. If it does indeed turn out to be true, that one can survive on very little food and water, then… Well I’m quite torn. Being a cook, removing food and water sounds like a gloomy way to live longer. But on the other hand, if, like one of the men in the video said, such knowledge is used to find ways to live with very little resources to explore the moon and Mars, it then becomes practical. But it’s still gloomy. If I were to colonize the moon, I’d appreciate a lavish dinner when New Jamestown is established (to those unfamiliar, Jamestown is the first permanent English settlement in America). Here’s a side comment: several days without passing urine… For a man of 82 years, I’d say that’s quite an accomplishment.
I find it intriguing how the past three posts are tied together in one way or another. Immortality presents lower death rates, lower death rates present a growing population, a growing population presents a quicker loss of resources, a quicker loss of resources presents need to use fewer resources to live, the use of fewer resources to live presents a more cost-efficient way of expanding human habitation from Earth.
Pass me the barbecue. It may not help me to live forever, but whenever I take a bite it feels as though I will. Mmmm-mmmmmmm! This sauce has to be named Martian Spicy Tang: A flavor out of this world! So hot you’ll need a drink sooner than 70 years!
Excuse the length. I didn't have the time to make it shorter.
Y'all have a good day.
I think the first video is aimed at a older audience who actually want to know about that particular subject so they do not need any additional details to capture their attention. Also the white background keeps our attention on the speaker and prevents us from getting distracted.
The second video is from a news channel so it is aimed at everyone. And for anyone who's wondering, Prallad Jani was released from the hospital in less than three weeks, according to the comments for the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuoIij-e5Ko&feature=related
Which means he could not prove it.
Hey, guys! Check out this video! It explains the science behind aging!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4-wHQ0g0f0
I agree with Protiva that the first video is lot of technical and is meant for special audience. That's why most of you have commented on speaker's presentation instead of the inside matter.
We will try to explain this one better in class.
As far as the second video is concerned I don't believe it too. I think there are some facts which are unclear. As per the laws of thermodynamics energy cannot be created and nor be destroyed and this guy walks....
I think this video is very interesting, and if this can be an actual discovery of how you can survive longer periods of time without food or water it will be helpful to human society. The audience I believe is everyone because you never know when you will be in a predicament where may have to go with out eating or drinking water. The only thing about this claim is that it seems unreal after you have been taught for years that you can survive with no food for several weeks, but only can live without water for 3 or 4 days.
I also like how the first video kind of set you up and lead into the next video. I think the first video kind of prepares your mind for the possibilities and helps you to start thinking a certain way. The first video does seem credible because he uses scientific terms and and are able to give examples for the listener to understand.
Good points, Saurabh and Brandon! We can talk more about these in class!
I imagine that the first video would appeal more to a middle-aged audience since they seem to be more focused on aging than my age group would be, but his speech is so easy to listen to, even I can understand despite words I've only heard once or twice in my lifetime.
The second video is more for a wider audience because it's more for drawing "oohs" and "awws".
The idea itself is amazing because some dream of everlasting life. And I had always thought that the 3-day survival without water applied to every human, but this is very fascinating if not completely fabricated. The idea of living forever is fascinating, but is it really such a good idea?
I'd like to admit that I have developed mixed views on the issue after watching both the videos.
On the one hand, I believe thsat the concept of 'Anti- Ageing', if I may term it that way, is something that could take science to a whole new level; however, the video of the Indian man failed to captivate my attention.
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