Cancers and Tumors

Cancers and Tumors Cancer is any of more than 100 diseases characterized by excessive, uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, which invade and destroy other tissues. Cancer develops in almost any organ or tissue of the body, but certain types of cancer are more lethal than others. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada and second only to heart disease in the United States. Each year, more than 1.2 million Americans and 132,000 Canadians are diagnosed with cancer, and more than 1,700 people die from cancer each day in the United States and Canada. For reasons not well understood, cancer rates vary by gender, race, and geographic region. For instance, more males have cancer than females, and African Americans are more likely to develop cancer than persons of any other racial and ethnic group in North America. Cancer rates also vary globallyresidents of the United States, for example, are nearly three times more likely to develop cancer than are residents of Egypt.Birmingham Children's Hospital, S teelhouse Lane, B...Although people of all ages develop cancer, most types are more common in people over the age of 50. Cancer usually develops gradually over many years, the result of a complex mix of environmental, nutritional, behavioral, and hereditary factors. Scientists do not completely understand the causes of cancer, but they know that certain lifestyle choices can dramatically reduce the risk of developing most types of cancer. Not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising moderately for at least 30 minutes each day reduce cancer risk by more than 60 percent.Cancer begins in genes, bits of biochemical instructions composed of individual segments of the long, coiled molecule deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Genes contain the instructions to make proteins, molecular laborers that serve as building blocks of cells, control chemical reactions, or transport materials to and from cells. The...

Definition and Examples of Prewriting Strategies

Definition and Examples of Prewriting Strategies In composition, the term prewriting refers to  any activity that helps a writer think about a topic, determine a purpose, analyze an audience, and prepare to write. Prewriting is closely related to the art of invention in classical rhetoric. The objective of  prewriting, according to Roger Caswell and Brenda Mahler, is  to prepare students for writing by allowing them to discover what they know and what else they need to know. Prewriting invites exploration and promotes the motivation to write (Strategies for Teaching Writing, 2004). Because various kinds of writing (such as note-taking,  listing, and freewriting) usually occur during this stage of the writing process, the term  prewriting  is somewhat misleading. A number of teachers and researchers prefer the term exploratory writing. See Examples and Observations below. Also, see: Writing ProcessComposingDiscovery Strategies (Heuristics)FocusingGeorge Carlin on Finding Something to Write AboutYour Writing: Private and Public Types of Prewriting Activities BrainstormingClusteringFreewriting Journalists QuestionsJournal WritingListingOutlinePentadReading Examples and Observations Prewriting is  the getting ready to write stage. The traditional notion that writers have a topic completely thought out and ready to flow onto the page is ridiculous. Writers begin tentatively- talking, reading, brainstorming- to see what they know and in what direction they want to go. -Gail Tompkins, Rod Campbell, and David Green,  Literacy for the 21st Century. Pearson Australia, 2010Prewriting involves anything you do to help yourself decide what your central idea is or what details, examples, reasons, or content you will include. Freewriting, brainstorming, and clustering . . . are types of prewriting. Thinking, talking to other people, reading related material, outlining or organizing ideas- all are forms of prewriting. Obviously, you can prewrite at any time in the writing process. Whenever you want to think up new material, simply stop what you are doing and start using one of [these] techniques... -Stephen McDonald and William Salomone, The Writers Response, 5th ed. Wad sworth, 2012 The Aims of PrewritingUsually, the prewriting activities help you find a good topic, narrow topics that are too broad, and look at purpose. You should finish the prewriting activities with at least a sentence and a list. Or you may have something as formal as a three-part thesis sentence and a fully developed outline. Either way, youll have laid the groundwork. -Sharon Sorenson, Websters New World Student Writing Handbook. Wiley, 2010 Prewriting as a Method of DiscoveryJeannette Harris stresses prewriting while stating that discovery occurs throughout the composing process, even in revision, when the writer is still retrieving additional information, making further connections, recognizing emerging patterns [Expressive Discourse, 15]. In prewriting as well as free-writing and keeping journals, ideas and forms are discovered by provoking memory. In addition, the personal nature of much prewriting and freewriting serve as an affirmation that the memory of the student writer has a valid place in the writing classroom. -Janine Rider, The Writers Book of Memory: An Interdisciplinary Study for Writing Teachers. Routledge, 1995 Prewriting and Revising[P]rewriting plans are not carved in stone; they are simply tools for generating and organizing ideas. Writers frequently change their minds as they write, eliminating some details, adding and changing others. Thats why some writers say that prewriting is a misnomer; they return to their plans over and over during all stages of the writing process, often revising and adjusting the plans as they go. -Lori Jamison Rog,  Marvelous Minilessons for Teaching Intermediate Writing. International Reading Association, 2011

Server Virtualization Paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Server Virtualization - Term Paper Example These issues become a challenge when the business is unable to respond urgently due to budget constraints. Virtualization has proven to be a reliable solution in responding to problems associated with declining floor space and power. Virtualization is exemplified best in virtual memory where computer system software is capable of utilizing more memory than is physically available. This is made possible through the swapping process that allows data to be placed at the background of hard disk. Recent developments have seen this concept being applied in server hardware, networks, laptops, system software and application software. The widespread application of virtualization is due to the fact that most of the system processing resources are normally underutilized. Simply put, much of system time is wasted given that most systems and their applications spend a considerable amount of their time in idle states (Kusnetzky, etal. 2011). Virtualization technology allows more work to be done f rom a single hardware. By creating more than one virtual machine in a single server or laptop, a business executive is able to optimize his or her system resource. This is possible since the technology is non-disruptive and it does not interfere with normal functioning of the system. With the level of abstraction given by virtualization IT managers are able to respond to urgent needs of an organization and to implement cost effective IT infrastructure. This is possible because the managers have a quick access to a centralized pool of resources. Virtualization makes it possible for hardware to function independent of applications and system. In addition, this technology enables virtual machines to be installed in any system. Also, management of operation system and application as a single unit is made possible by incorporating them into virtual machines (Kusnetzky, etal. 2011). Incase a server is overloaded; virtual machines can be deployed to a different server. This ensures that sy stem response time is not compromised and that a system is not underutilized. When the workload goes down, the virtual machines can be incorporated back to their original server so as to cut down costs by saving power. Few years ago it was not possible to exploit full potential of virtualization. This was because it was impossible deploying virtual machines in a secure environment. Server and network administrators at the time had difficulties managing virtual environment since routers and switches were not compatible with virtual machines. Nevertheless, with virtualization, management of resources was fairly easy since applications were readily available. In case a server encountered problems, virtual machines within it were readily restarted in a separate hardware. However, with automatic deployment made possible, efficiency is greatly improved since it is possible to move a virtual machine ahead of time in case a system administrator decides to service the server or to shut it do wn for some other reason. Virtualization has evolved to an extent that network vendors are able to perform certain activities which they could not few years ago. The development of BLADE network technology has seen the launch of switches (VMready) that have solved most of previous experienced problems. The switches readily recognize virtual machines within servers. The switch is also compatible with almost all Hypervisors e.g. Microsoft, VMware, Red Hat etc (Kusnetzky, etal.

Can We Attain Happiness Without God Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Can We Attain Happiness Without God - Essay Example They perceive that the attainment of the happiness is dependent on the attainment of the presence of God in our lives in certain manner. The religious teachings and the normal points of the view differ in achievement of the happiness. A majority of the religions speak of the importance of God as the primal force behind the attainment of the happiness. There are a number of prominent philosophers, like Aristotle; who have propagated that happiness is a state of mind. This forms the base of the contradictory nature of the definition of happiness. The Christian teachings place a lot of importance on the seeking of God as a means of happiness (Milton 179). This can be attributed to the basic view of God as a driving force of this universe. This also emanates from the fact that God as seen as an omnipotent being who does well to all. This essential property qualifies him as a quintessential source of happiness. The contemporary philosophers like Voltaire have pointed to the material natur e of happiness (Olson 201). They also argue that happiness is a state of the mind. Some have an external locus of happiness, as for example, the material possessions, money, clothes and wife. For some others, it is internal in nature. After a thorough analysis of all the points, I concur with the view of the faith, that God gives us happiness. It is of likelihood to me as it puts the onus of happiness to a greater power. This rests the grail of happiness in a power that is bigger than us, better than us, more intelligent than us and ultimately makes happiness seem more attainable. VIRTUES Virtue is a kind of moral excellence. The denomination of virtue is positive and renders a sense of inherent goodness in any human being. They serve as the cornerstone of the development of any person. They are inherent to the development of the greatness of any individual. This can also be termed as the pattern of the thought in all the individuals. The virtues can be considered as a subset of the values. The values are the base of the system of the operations of a person. If the values are maintained in the proper way, that leads to an all-round development of the individual. There is a classification of the virtues, which tend to divide the virtues into a number of tangible patterns. The established literature talks about two kinds of virtues, one is the Kantian virtue; the other is the Aristotle kind of the virtue. Aristotle values mention a list of values. They are temperance, the practice of justice, the practice of liberality, magnificence, the pride (being aware of the achievements of self and not being pompous), gentleness and a few other qualities. These are the general list of the virtues that are common to the literature. Aristotle has suggested the practice of the moderation in all the virtues. This shall help in the attainment of the needs of all the humans. Everything must be practiced in the right kind of the moderation for the attainment of the goals. This he lps in the development of the fundamental nature of humans at any point of time. One of the examples is the use of the moderation over the thinking. There is the need to practice middle path by not getting too anxious about anything, while maintaining the seriousness of any situation. I believe in the practice of the virtues, as they would help us in becoming better humans. It would also allow us to gain a

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Through a Freudian Lens Essay

Without personal access to authors, readers are left to themselves to interpret literature. This can become challenging with more difficult texts, such as Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness. Fortunately, literary audiences are not abandoned to flounder in pieces such as this; active readers may look through many different lenses to see possible meanings in a work. For example, Conrad’s Heart of Darkness may be deciphered with a post-colonial, feminist, or archetypal mindset, or analyzed with Freudian psycho-analytic theory. The latter two would effectively reveal the greater roles of Kurtz and Marlow as the id and the ego, respectively, and offer the opportunity to draw a conclusion about the work as a whole. Sigmund Freud’s theories on the construction of the mind are simple, but fundamentally changed the field of psychology. He proposed, among other things, that the human mind is composed of three parts: the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. The preconscious consists of information, such as a telephone number, that is â€Å"accessible to consciousness without emotional resistance† (Schellenberg 21). In Freud’s estimation, the unconscious is the most important area of the mind. The information stored within it has â€Å"very strong resistances† to becoming conscious (Freud 32). Residing in the unconscious is the id, which â€Å"contains everything†¦that is present at birth†¦ – above all, therefore, the instincts which originate from somatic organization† (14). From birth, all action is instinctual, from the id. The id recognizes and entertains no desires but its own and is impatient to have its needs met. This phase lasts until a part of the id changes â€Å"under the influence of the real external world† (14). This changed portion b... ...o, while the novella’s archetypal structure glorifies Marlow’s domination of Kurtz. These two analyses taken together provide a much fuller and more comprehensive interpretation of the work. Conrad presents the idea that there is some darkness within each person. The darkness is is inherited and instinctual, but because it is natural does not make it right. He celebrates – and thereby almost advises – the turn from instinct. By telling Marlow’s tale, Joseph Conrad stresses to his audience the importance of self-knowledge and the unnecessity of instinct in civilization. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: Penguin Group, 1997. Freud, Sigmund. An Outline of Psycho-Analysis. Trans. James Strachey. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1949. Schellenberg, James A. Masters of Social Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Through a Freudian Lens Essay Without personal access to authors, readers are left to themselves to interpret literature. This can become challenging with more difficult texts, such as Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness. Fortunately, literary audiences are not abandoned to flounder in pieces such as this; active readers may look through many different lenses to see possible meanings in a work. For example, Conrad’s Heart of Darkness may be deciphered with a post-colonial, feminist, or archetypal mindset, or analyzed with Freudian psycho-analytic theory. The latter two would effectively reveal the greater roles of Kurtz and Marlow as the id and the ego, respectively, and offer the opportunity to draw a conclusion about the work as a whole. Sigmund Freud’s theories on the construction of the mind are simple, but fundamentally changed the field of psychology. He proposed, among other things, that the human mind is composed of three parts: the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. The preconscious consists of information, such as a telephone number, that is â€Å"accessible to consciousness without emotional resistance† (Schellenberg 21). In Freud’s estimation, the unconscious is the most important area of the mind. The information stored within it has â€Å"very strong resistances† to becoming conscious (Freud 32). Residing in the unconscious is the id, which â€Å"contains everything†¦that is present at birth†¦ – above all, therefore, the instincts which originate from somatic organization† (14). From birth, all action is instinctual, from the id. The id recognizes and entertains no desires but its own and is impatient to have its needs met. This phase lasts until a part of the id changes â€Å"under the influence of the real external world† (14). This changed portion b... ...o, while the novella’s archetypal structure glorifies Marlow’s domination of Kurtz. These two analyses taken together provide a much fuller and more comprehensive interpretation of the work. Conrad presents the idea that there is some darkness within each person. The darkness is is inherited and instinctual, but because it is natural does not make it right. He celebrates – and thereby almost advises – the turn from instinct. By telling Marlow’s tale, Joseph Conrad stresses to his audience the importance of self-knowledge and the unnecessity of instinct in civilization. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: Penguin Group, 1997. Freud, Sigmund. An Outline of Psycho-Analysis. Trans. James Strachey. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1949. Schellenberg, James A. Masters of Social Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978.

Legalize anabolic steroids

SummaryThere is a huge national concern over the misuse and abuse of anabolic steroids for enhancement of muscular stature and performance among competitive athletes.   Latest estimates have shown that approximately 5% of all high school students have used anabolic steroids, with almost half of the high students believing that these drugs are not harmful to their health.   Drug enforcement legislations have included anabolic steroids in its list of traffic-controlled substances (21 USC Sec. 801 1/22/02; Schedule III).   However, the bigger picture of the medical and research benefits of anabolic drugs have been overlooked due to the sensationalize media coverage of these drugs.   Current scientific researches are still inconclusive on whether anabolic steroids are extremely unsafe for administration, opposite to what has been actively claimed by anti-drug officials and government authorities.DatesThe Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 (ASCA) was established to regulate the distribution of anabolic steroids in the United States.   The Drug Enforcement Administration of the U.S. Department of Justice has been mandated to implement measures to protect the people from these dangerous drugs.   A four-part definition of anabolic steroids serves as a blueprint to identify any analogues of the chemical substance that may be uncontrollably dispensed to athletes and other youths.The definition included substances that are chemically and pharmacologically similar to testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, as well as a very close likeness in its enhancement for muscle growth.   The Act classified anabolic steroids in the same category as barbiturates and LSD precursors and claim that these substances result in dangerous effects to the human body.   The Act declares that any individual caught in the possession of these anabolic steroids will be arrested and prosecuted.   The list of anabolic steroids in the Act are continuously being updated, as new versio ns of these drugs are progressively being created through the years.AddressesDrug Enforcement AdministrationU.S. Department of JusticeWashington, D.C.   20038-8083SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATIONBackgroundAnabolic androgenic steroids are testosterone derivatives that are mainly used for muscle and performance enhancement.   These drugs are frequently used by competitive athletes in order to achieve an edge or better control of their physical strength and performance during professional sports games.   Retrospective surveys indicated that anabolic steroids have been used since the 1960s to date (Duchaine, 1983), with current national user rates ranging from 3% to 9% among high school students alone.   The exact effect of anabolic steroids in the developing human body has not been fully studied, and the increase in number of reports of teenage athletes committing suicide has called the attention of the legislation to assess and review drug enforcement laws covering this specific drug .It has been reported that the prolonged use of anabolic steroids have may cause a number of adverse effects to the human body, including liver damage, gynecomastia, atherogenesis, psychiatric disorders such as aggression and violence, and even death (Balbigian, 2001; Brower, 2002; Glazer, 1991; Pope and Katz, 1990; Malone et al. 1995).   Investigations on the nationwide use of anabolic steroids have prompted Congress to establish the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990, which mainly indicates that the non-medical employment of anabolic steroids is punishable by law.   Any violations will be penalized by at least 15 days to 5 years imprisonment and/or $1,000 to $1,000,000 fine, depending on the extent of the violation.   So far, the general public has supported the Anabolic Steroid Control Act, mostly due to the massive and militant media coverage of the topic.However, the actual negative effects of the use of anabolic steroidal drugs have not been comprehensively investigate d to date, and that the reports that have been disclosed in the media have been isolated cases picked out from millions of cases of teenage users around the United States.   Scientifically, the adverse effects from the prolonged use of anabolic steroids remain inconclusive to date, and in actuality, anabolic steroid use has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of medical disorders.In one report, it has lately been determined that the effect of an anabolic steroid to the treatment of weight loss in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is equivalently effective and safe as compared to the commonly administered recombinant growth hormone that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (Storer et al. 2005).   In another scenario, the administration of an anabolic steroid has been beneficial in prostate cancer patients by preventing further migration of prostate cancer cells to other parts of the body (Guerini et al. 2005).   The anabolic steroid oxandrolone has been successfully used in the treatment of muscle loss in patients diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and may be a potential powerful candidate for general treatment of such types of patients (Balagopal et al. 2006).Scientific research shows that anabolic steroids provide more beneficial effects than what has been claimed by legislation as serious, adverse effects to the human body.   More so, the negative reports that have associated with the use of anabolic steroids have not been investigated scientifically and have only achieved much attention through the help of media and press coverage.   Therefore, it is imperative that the legislative bodies review the restrictions associated with the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 and fully determine the actual effects of anabolic steroid intake.   It is regretful to know that there are other drugs and activities that are much more deleterious or harmful to people but are not actively controlled by the Sen ate, including smoking, cosmetic surgery and over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen, which has caused even more cases of deaths and hospitalizations that anabolic steroids.The Proposed RuleBased on the above information on the current status, knowledge and use of anabolic steroids, we would like to propose that anabolic steroids be legalized for use in the United States.   In turn, we would like to emphasize the need for further scientific research to determine the mechanisms of action of each type of anabolic drug to gain a better understanding of its indications and contraindications.   There should be a comprehensive survey on the frequency of use of anabolic steroids across the human population, with stratified categories of users such as teenage athletes, geriatric patients, cancer patients, and so on.   Any cases that report any adverse effect from use of anabolic steroids should be properly documented and analyzed.   Should there be sufficient reason tha t anabolic steroids be stopped from circulation in the community, we are willing to review these effects once significant information has been gathered from reliable reports.Legal ConsiderationsAs the use of anabolic steroids is legalized, we in turn, propose that a nationwide surveillance program on the use of anabolic steroids be implemented by the Drug Enforcement Administration, as a measurement tool on the exact effects on the use of these substances.   The information that will be gathered will be integrated into an national anabolic steroid database for analysis and interpretation.   All anabolic steroid cases will be included in the database, including any advantages, disadvantages or no visible effects that may be related to the intake of this drug.The surveillance program will be conducted for 2 years, of which at its culmination, will be evaluated and further amendments will be based on the results of the analysis and interpretation of this database.   Such survey w ill provide a better understanding of the effects of anabolic steroid use, which will be more reliable, robust and scientific, and we will not have to depend on influences or propaganda from the media or other government officials.ReferencesBabigian A, Silverman RT (2001): Management of gynecomastia due to use of anabolic steroids in bodybuilders. Plast. Reconstr. Surg.   107:240–242.Balagopal P, Olney R, Darmaun D, Mougey E, Dokler M, Sieck G and Hammond D (2006):   Oxandrolone enhances skeletal muscle myosin synthesis and alters global gene expression profile in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.   Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 290:E530–E539.Brower KJ   (2002): Anabolic steroid abuse and dependence. Curr. Psychiatry Rep.   4:377–383.Duchaine D., ed. (1983):   Underground Steroid Handbook, 1st Ed. California: HLR Technical Books, 84pp.Glazer G (1991): Atherogenic effects of anabolic steroids on serum lipid levels. Arch. Intern. Med. 151:1925–1 933.Guerini V, Sau D, Scaccianoce E, Rusmini P, Ciana P, Maggi A, Martini PGV, Katzenellenbogen BS, Martini L, Motta M and Poletti A (2005):   The androgen derivative 5ÃŽ ±-androstane-3ÃŽ ²,17ÃŽ ²-diol inhibits prostate cancer cell migration through activation of the estrogen receptor ÃŽ ² subtype.   Cancer Res.   65(12):5445-5453.Malone DA Jr, Dimeff R, Lombardo JA, Sample BRH (1995): Psychiatric effects and psychoactive substance use in anabolic-androgenic steroid users. Clin. J. Sports Med. 5:25–31.Pope HG Jr. and Katz DL (1990): Homicide and near-homicide by anabolic steroid users. J. Clin. Psychiatry   51:28–31.Storer TW, Woodhouse LJ, Sattler F, Singh FB, Schroeder ET, Beck K, Padero MC, Mac P, Yarasheski KE, Geurts P, Willemsen A, Harms MK and and Bhasin S   (2005):   A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of nandrolone decanoate in human   immunodeficiency virus-infected men with mild to moderate weight loss with recombinant human growth hormone a s active reference treatment.   J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.   90(8):4474–4482.

Analysis Of The Book American Psycho By Bret Easton Ellis

American Psycho is a novel written by Bret Easton Ellis in 1991. The book details the life and subsequent descent into madness of yuppie investment banker Patrick Bateman. Bateman appears to everyone as charming young man but is also possibly one of the most vicious serial killers in American history (whether Bateman committed the murders is left ambiguous). It takes place at the height of the Reagan era in Manhattan and is primarily a critique of the vapid and capitalist society that Bateman resides in. Ellis criticizes various aspects of American culture through both the actions and thoughts of Patrick Bateman and those around him. Bateman acts as symbol of the death of ones humanity that occurs in a superficial and nihilistic post-modern society. The things that are critiqued the most in this novel are materialism, conformity, superficiality, and the depravity of man. One of the most prevalent aspects of society criticized by this novel is the depravity of man. Ellis portrays Am erican society as a place rife with violence and horror yet is also desensitized to it. For example this is summarized perfectly on page 4 when Timothy Price (a friend of Bateman) looks through a newspaper and says the following: â€Å"In one issue—in One issue—let’s see here... strangled models, babies thrown from tenement rooftops, kids killed in the subway, a Communist rally, Mafia boss wiped out, Nazis†Ã¢â‚¬â€he flips through the pages excitedly â€Å"baseball players with AIDS, more Mafia shit, gridlock,Show MoreRelatedEssay about American Psycho: Analysis of Novel and Movie Production1618 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican Psycho: Analysis of Novel and Movie Production American Psycho has been recognized as a brilliant thriller of its time and can legitimately be labeled a scandalous novel. The novel was published in 1991 by the daring author Bret Easton Ellis and was later adapted into a movie production in 2000 by the director Mary Harron. The novel endured nasty criticism to the point of rousing riots and the boycott of the publishing company, Simon Schuster; who later dropped the publication ofRead MoreThe Psycho of Wall Street: Diagnosing Patrick Bateman in American Psycho1938 Words   |  8 Pagesof certain behaviors may be difficult because there is much overlap among mental conditions. In Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, the protagonist, Patrick Bateman, is apparently simply a psychopath. However, Bateman can be diagnosed with other mental illnesses such as Asperger’s syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, narcissism, and antisocial personality disorder. In both the book and film adaptation, Batemanâ₠¬â„¢s actions can be understood more accurately when analyzed in light ofRead MoreThemes Of Illusion And Reality By Bret Easton Elliss Trainspotting And American Psycho 2248 Words   |  9 Pagesacknowledge it. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh portrays a drug addict who rejects any conventions of normalcy in the pursuit of an alternate reality. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis does the same through the depiction of a rich and greedy Wall Street tycoon. This essay will closely analyze the themes of illusion and reality in Trainspotting and American Psycho. The relationship between the fantasy world and the â€Å"real† world in these texts are closely linked and aid the narrative in a criticism of social