Melinda Sordino is the main character and narrator of Laurie Halse Anderson 's 1999 novel Speak.Her last name, Sordino, is an Italian word that can be translated as mute..oing into ninth grade at Merryweather High School, Melinda Mel Sordino goes to a party with three other friends and is raped by a senior, Andy Evans.
The Wear and Tear Theory of Aging. The wear and tear theory of aging believes that the effects of aging are caused by damage done to cells and body systems over time. Essentially, these systems wear out due to use. Once they wear out, they can no longer function correctly.
Intrinsic aging is the natural aging process that takes place over the years regardless of outside influences. After the age of 20, a person produces about 1 percent less collagen in the skin each year. As a result, the skin becomes thinner and more fragile with age. There is also diminished functioning of the sweat and oil glands, less elastin production, and less GAG formation. Wrinkle formation as a result of intrinsic aging is inevitable, but it will always be slight.