Essay --

Address: Block 257 Serangoon Central Drive #05-24, Singapore 550257 Phone: 83827470 E-mail: syng5@e.ntu.edu.sg ________________________________________ Career Objective I am a fresh graduate seeking a career in the civil engineering industries. With my background in Civil & Structural engineering, I believe that the skills I have acquired during the course of my education would be of value in a civil engineering and/or construction setting. Besides application of these skills, I also desire to progress in these skills and look forward to learn new skills during the course of my career. Being keen and enthusiastic individual, I pride myself on picking up new knowledge and skills. In conclusion, I am confident that my self-discipline, interpersonal skills, thus the ability to work and accomplish tasks efficiently in a team would be beneficial in any organization I am a part of. ________________________________________ Education Nanyang Technological University August 2011 – Current School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) in Civil Engineering CGPA: 3.49 During my course of study, I completed modules in Fluid mechanics, Mechanics of materials, Reinforced Concrete Design, Steel Design, Foundation Engineering, Structural Analysis, Computer Aided design, Transportation Engineering, CE management, Geotechnical Engineering, . Besides these core-engineering modules, I also completed modules in Human Resource Management, Marketing and went to Vietnam for a 6 months internship program with CapitaLand Vietnam. Singapore Polytechnic Apr 2006 - May 2009 School of Built Environment Diploma in Civil & Structural Engineering CGPA: 3.3 During my course of st... ...my specialization. I was exposed to site work which enables me to conduct various construction inspections, and coordinate with respective contractors to propose and rectify various projects. Hence these have enabled me to have a first-hand experience in site supervision. Having mentioned my work experience that is closely related to the field, I believe that I would be an asset to your company if ever I will be hired for the position. My strong dedication and experience to the field would make me an asset to your team. Attached herein is my resume with addition information for your kind consideration. I would be very willing to present myself for an interview at your most convenient time. I can be reached anytime via email at syng5@e.ntu.edu.sg or at my mobile, 83827470. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours Faithfully, Melvin Ng Si Yong (Mr)

Expectations versus Reality in Stephen Cranes The Red Badge of Courage

Expectations versus Reality in Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage The notion that war is an exciting, romantic endeavor full of glory and heroism has existed for centuries.   Stephen Crane set out to demystify war through his novel The Red Badge of Courage, which traces the experiences of a young soldier in the American Civil War. Crane shows the true nature of war by contrasting Henry Fleming's romantic expectations with the reality that he encounters. This contrast between romantic vision and cold reality can be seen early in the novel, with Henry's departure from home. Driven to a "prolonged ecstasy of excitement" by the rejoicing crowd, Henry enlists in the army and says good-bye to his mother with a "light of excitement and expectancy in his eyes" (709). He anticipates a romantic, sentimental send-off reminiscent of Spartan times and even goes as far as preparing remarks in advance which he hopes to use "with touching effect" to create "a beautiful scene" (710). However, Crane presents a more realistic view. At the news of Henry's enlistment, his mother simply says "The Lord's will be done" and continues milking the cow, having previously urged Henry not to be "a fool" by enlisting (709). She then destroys his hopes by offering sensible,... ...es in anguish while his friend Jim suffers and dies. Today, many of the romantic myths about war have been destroyed through television and movies such as Born on the Fourth of July, which shows war with all its suffering, pain, and death. Yet it was Stephen Crane who, a century ago, deglorified war through the experiences of Henry Fleming. With his frequent contrasts between romantic vision and cold reality, Crane clearly portrays the true horrors of war. Work Cited Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage. Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Geroge McMichael, et al. 5th ed.Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan, 1993. 707-87.

Philosophy that was born during the Renaissance Essay

Humanism is a philosophy that was born during the Renaissance, beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century. The theory introduced new ways of thinking that allowed people to question and interpret the Bible anyway they wish. Prior to Humanism, people lived their lives under the impression that it was all to serve god. It wasn’t until people began taking an interest in the work of Greek philosophers that true appreciation of human life became apparent. Humanism inspired people to believe that their life was meaningful and that they were capable of more than just working to please God. The key principle of the theory was that â€Å"human beings are not subject to God or any divine agency. They have no obligation to love, fear or obey any such supernatural agent.† (Victor A.Gunasekara) When the importance of human life prevailed, there was no longer a strained religious perception of earth and society and this is when the freedom of art and self-expression truly took form. Art was no longer a way of glorifying God, but a way of showing individualism and creativity within ones self. The origins of Humanism can be found in the Golden Age of Greek Philosophy. Xenophanes (580 BCE) said, â€Å"If cattle had hands and drew pictures of Gods, Gods would look like cows† making it patent that Gods are of our own making. When Protagoras (450 BCE) wrote, â€Å"Man is the measure of all things, of things that are that they are, and of things that are not that they are not.† he was accused of impiety and was banished for creating such freethinking sentiments that would be considered thoroughly unorthodox for his time. His words are metaphorical of us ‘knowing the world by our own proportion, from our point of view.’ He crafted the idealistic principle of human perception that shaped the humanism philosophy we know today. Humanism was not limited to mental thoughts and ideas on the value of human life, but shown physically through a spectrum of art mediums. The theory shaped various aspects of Renaissance art including the content, style and subject matter of all art forms. During the middle ages, well before Humanism took form, art was notable for glorifying and praising God. During this time, all art was assigned from the church and so the subject matter consisted of mainly biblical themes, stories and characters. Within these paintings, man wasn’t portrayed with anatomical accurateness, but as a small, off scale and minor element next to a much larger religious figure. Within almost all of Middle Age artworks, biblical figures were seen is the most powerful and most important; and so they were made to look exceedingly larger than people or children, who were painted on a much smaller scale. The importance of these religious figures was also shown through height and placement within the picture. They were often painted higher than other figures, adding to the overall impersonal and symbolic outlook of Middle Age art. Because most of the work at this time was so religious, people weren’t able to connect and view art for the purpose of enjoyment, but for worshiping a higher presence. Take the Ognissanti Madonna (1310) for example. The painter, Giotto, depicts Mary and her son with saints surrounding them. They’re portrayed as very large, while everyone else in the painting is very small. Neither of the two are life size nor are they anatomically accurate. However the most obvious aspect within the painting is the overstated size of the two most important biblical figures, Mary and Jesus. This was the conventional style of Middle Age art. The value of human life was never considered, nor was it illustrated through paintings or sculpture. During the late 14th century, Artists began looking at natural depictions of the world and ancient pagan culture. The notion of human form that characterized medieval art was supplanted with the concept of full anatomical accuracy. With the celebration of human life, precision of the human body within paintings and sculptures became a crucial part of depicting the realistic perception within art, one that was not justified by any singular religious context but ones desire for perfection. People began painting secular subjects and portraying man with the same importance that was used for religious figures within the Middle Ages. When the prominence of human life prevailed, people began taking an interest in the accurate portrayal of human characters. This provoked a range of pictorials to be created in parallel with the human form, reflecting the balanced and symmetrical form of the human body in art. Artists began creating precise proportions or the ’golden mean’ in order to establish symmetrical and harmonious composition within a varied spectrum of art mediums. The Golden Mean is the desirable middle between two extremes and is given the number Phi(= 1.618033988749895†¦) Commonly known as the ‘divine proportion’ to Renaissance artists, the Golden Mean was used for atheistic appeal and balance within architecture, but was often used effectively for other visual art forms, such as paintings or sculptures. Collective to the Greek mentality, the golden mean was considered an attribute of beauty that included symmetry, proportion and harmony. The Golden Mean can â€Å"be derived with a number of geometric constructions, each of which divides a line segment at the unique point where: the ratio of the whole line (A) to the large segment (B) is the same as the ratio of the large segment (B) to the small segment (C).† (http://www.goldennumber.net/golden-section/) Paintings, buildings and sculptures adapted and drew inspiration from classical roman structures (a time when the Golden Mean was recognized To Greeks as dividing a line in the extreme and mean ratio) during the High Renaissance period in order to interlace the crucial ascetic appeal that was desired when Humanism was at great interest. High Renaissance style architecture conventionally begins with Donato Bramante (1444-1514) who built the Tempietto at S.Pietro in Montorio, Rome in 1510. The Tempietto ‘’is an attempt at reconciling Christian and humanist ideals’’. With no limitations of Humanism on any particular art medium, Michelangelo’s sculpture of David in (1501) is a perfect example of its boundless effect on accurately conveying the human body with precise proportions and measurements. Other works relating to Humanism included The Birth of Venus (1485), by Botticelli. Prior to Humanism, the majority of art appeared two dimensional or flat. These artists were one of the first to begin adding vast details and highlighting the illusion of space, form and dimension in all art mediums. Combining these and taking into mind perspective (the notable technique of all Renaissance artworks) they ultimately crafted the image of humanist art; molding the backbone of the High Renaissance. In order to embrace this philosophy within art, artists needed to explore the relationship between the human body and mathematics. These artists are one of the many from the High Renaissance period to articulate this relationship physically through multiple art forms. Before the High Renaissance, there was Early Renaissance. During the mid 14th century, architects such as Leon Battista Alberti and Flippo Brunelleschi began taking an interest in proportion. The concept was that a building should be â€Å"fitted together with such proportion and connection, that nothing could be added, diminished or altered, but for the worse.† (Alberti) The rising theory of proportions was looked into by a number of artists and many architects such as Alberti and Brunelleschi over a long Period of time, but it wasn’t until Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man (1490) that people started to take it seriously. Not limiting himself to just art, but exploring the realms of math, music and science, da Vinci used his experience and knowledge to establish the link between art and mathematics. Some would say that his work acted as a catalyst towards the start of the High Renaissance and that he was able to pave the way for painters, sculptures and architects that were interested in creating realistic dynamics of human proportion within their art medium. When Michelangelo was commissioned in 1501 by the Board of Works for Florence Cathedral to sculpt David from marble, he used the opportunity to illustrate the true growth of the art movement and the influence of Humanism on various art forms. Michelangelo works against the medieval concept of humanity, a time where man was seen as sinful, immoral and ‘born of dirt’. He shows David before the fight, highlighting his ability as a human to make conscious decisions and a choice to commit himself to act. This depiction of man is one who can become godlike through his own intellect and power of will. Compare this David to Donatello’s David, made out of bronze during the 1440’s. Donatello depicts David as a young boy, looking rather effeminate in a shepherd hat and boots. He’s shown with a smug smile and his foot on Goliaths severed head subsequent to the battle. Donatello’s version of David is an interpretation of the biblical text. His feminine like physic serves the purpose of clarifying that his triumph in throwing the stone at Goliath was not of his own doing, but rather God’s will. He is created very close to the biblical story, having hat and boots typical of a shepherd, where as Michelangelo’s David’s complete nudity shows how he has stripped almost all biblical context from him, focusing entirely on the human entity. He is no young, scrawny boy that follows God blindly, but a man with the ability to make his own choices and fight his own battles. His full nudity shows the true beauty of the human anatomy, which fascinated Michelangelo. Not only has his work shaped the perception of humanity through symbolic catalysts, but through the riveting recreation of the human form with accurate proportions, illustrating the perfect use of the golden mean. It is clear that a grave amount of thought and work went into creating an accurate insight towards the human body. David’s hands and upper body are made slightly larger in order for the human form to look accurate and proportional when seen from the ground. The truthful portrayal of vein and muscle within the body highlights the humanistic elements within the sculpture. In contrast to this, Donatello’s David looks quite unusual and incongruous, although he was sculpted at a younger age than Michelangelo’s David, their anatomical differences are distinct in a way that can’t go unrecognized. Donatello’s work shows shoulders and a chest that are diminutive and slightly disproportioned to the rest of the body. Prior to Humanism, there wasn’t this striving focus for anatomical excellence within art for anyone unless they were a religious character holding the supremacy over man kind that everyone once believed they had. His work on David provided the humanist vision with its first and most prevailing artistic expression. He’s shown as a strong and heroic man, not a smug boy as shown in Donatello’s sculpture. The Birth of Venus, painted by Bottichelli in 1486 is a celebration of Renaissance Humanism, depicting the classical myth. The picture is very calming and somber, focusing on the true beauty of Venus with warm and soft tones. Venus, Goddess of Love, is shown emerging from the sea on a shell, parallel to the story of her birth. There is an emphasis on sea imagery that was used to please church authorities. Zephyr and Chloris are blowing her to the shore with wind, amongst a shower of flowers, while a Nymph, Flora, is reaching out to cover her naked body with a cloak. The nudity of Venus was very unconventional at the time; primarily, pictorials of naked women were only shown through portrayals of Eve; but here Venus stands; completely naked and not in a biblical context. In a time when almost all artwork was of Christian theme, the honest portrayal of Venus and the secular imagery had a crucial impact on High Renaissance art and was a catalyst for other artists to explore humanistic elements within their work. Venus, the goddess of love is depicted in human form with such magnificence and accuracy that humanist themes are not suggested, but a manifest to Botticelli’s audience. Godly figures began taking form of earthly beings and showing the true exquisiteness of the female body. There is a de-emphasis of deep space in order to stress the sense of pattern and beauty that defines the painting. Flora is not giving the cloth for just modesty, but giving her the ‘veil of wisdom’. She shows us how great intellectual gifts are always concealed from plain sight. Botticelli’s portrayal of the female body is used to further drive ideas of Humanism. Her physique is quite an accurate and refreshing portrayal compared to earlier years were nudity was not yet established in non biblical paintings. Her stomach is a truthful portrayal of what a women with some muscle tone in her abdomen would have, the legs and arms are somewhat shapely, showing the female body in its most natural form. Venus in this painting is both humble and pure. It’s plausible that one of the main themes within this painting, second to Venus’s birth; is the idea of beauty. The picture has a decorative quality to it; not only does it showcase the substantial change in art during the High Renaissance, but its symbolic of a rich classical history, reinvention and an earthly world view. It is through The Birth of Venus, and many other High Renaissance paintings, where the true impact of Humanism is made clear. Artists would incorporate Greek and Roman mythology as apposed to writing and painting about biblical texts. This was because humanists turned to the classics for inspiration, and so these were often the themes of High Renaissance art. The inspiration of Greek Philosophers inspired those within this period to strive less for divinity. This painting is one of the many to depict Roman or Greek deities, other famous works include Mars and Venus and The School of Athens. One of the most outstanding changes during the High Renaissance period was Architecture. The statement that man is the measure of all things is mirrored within different art mediums, showing a great point of difference within humanist and non-humanist architecture. Humanism meant that architects built not only churches, but palaces and buildings exposing ideals of classical styles. Humanism gave people a chance to look for inspiration from ancient Greeks and thus buildings took influence from the Ancient Classic period. One of the highlights in High Renaissance Architecture is the Tempietto, built in 1502 by Donato Bramante. The building marks the crucifixion site of St Peter and follows selected traditions from the Christian building the Martyria while employing classical principles that create a geometric ideal. Both ancient Greeks and ancient Romans employed the circular plan that governs the perception of the Tempietto. The devotion to symmetrical perfection makes it clear of Bramante’s conscious decision to recreate this in a way that is not only true to the humanist theory, but one that depicts the thoughts of the ancient roman writer Vitruvias, who studied and wrote about architecture and correct proportions within it. Bramante is really following this line of thought with the Tempietto. He’s created a radial building with a round structure that is very dissimilar to the traditional crucifix form of church, which is based on the ancient basilica. His work is considered almost nothing short of architectural brilliance, due to his innovative techniques at changing the orthodox designs of churches and buildings. The building is the perfect example of the relationship between ideal ancient geometry and the divine. Geometry was thought by the ancient Greeks and again later in the Renaissance to be a vehicle in which we can imagine the perfection of heaven. The Tempietto is a building that truly celebrates Humanism. It’s believed to show how man can produce exemplars on earth of the perfection of the heavenly, using correct geometrical structures and symmetrical portrayals. This is similar to that of the golden mean, while relating to the work of Michelangelo and Botticelli, where Humanism was celebrated through the accurate portrayal of the human form. The Humanist theory allowed Bramante to make these changes within architecture; he drew inspiration from classical traditions while making his own original decisions to enhance the symmetrical nature of the Tempietto. His work is similar to that of classical origins, but he allowed for variation. Greek and Romans would not put pilaster that pairs with the columns of the building, however Bramante did. By aligning the true columns with the false columns, he was able to maximize the radial quality and overall centrifugal theme of the building. The Tempietto shows a rhythm, one that was definitely inspired by classical antiquity, the Doric Order in particular. The columns of the Tempietto are a roman variant of the first level of the Coliseum. Depicting the styles of the Doric Order, there are triglyphs and metopes above the columns. Mitchell Beazley was literal when he wrote; â€Å"The emphasis here is on the harmony of proportions, the simplicity of volumes (cylinder, hemisphere) and the sobriety of the Doric Order. The circular plan symbolizes divine perfection. Inspired by ancient temples, the Tempietto is both a homage to antiquity and a Christian memorial.† Humanisms affect on architecture was one of the largest. Despite differing in architectural elements, different styles of columns were explored throughout all High Renaissance architecture, utilizing techniques that show proportion and highlighting themes of classical tradition. Nearly all buildings constructed after Humanism follow these principles and show a vivid influence of ancient Greek and Roman cultures. The Humanist movement allowed architects to make changes in what they were creating. They drew inspiration from classical architecture, traditions and even philosophies and refabricated it within new architectural masterpieces that shaped the Humanist theory in many inconceivable ways. Alberti and Brunehlleschi were a crucial aspect in the innovation of humanist architecture. They were no Greek philosophers, however they employed the idea of symmetrical excellence and inspired the creations of many renowned and prominent buildings including the Tempietto itself. Many great architects of the high renaissance period such as Bramante and Michalangelo were captivated by this idea and were thus able to shape traditions and techniques to produce the conventional high renaissance architecture style that we’re accustomed to today. Inclusive to classical traditions, architects began taking the beauty of human proportions and reflecting it through architecture, similar to the way humanist painters and sculptors depicted the human form with symmetrical perfection. Humanism was noted for 3 things. The revival of classical Greek/Roman art forms and styles, faith in the nobility of man as apposed to pure worship of religious or god-like figures; and finally the appreciation of the human body, that influenced almost all artists and architects of the era to portray this accurately in their work. Humanism shaped the art of the High Renaissance period through a change in architectural style and content; subject matter of paintings and sculptors; and a difference in the anatomical structure and proportions of man. People became important and an appreciation for human life fell apparent through a range of art where human history and perspective was no longer considered sinful, but was explored multiple times with a range of artists. Humanism provoked the study of classical and mythological traditions. Paintings began to depict Roman or Greek deities. Biblical figures no longer subjugated artworks with height and proportion, but became equal to man. Sculptors began creating humanist characters that were strong and noble, architects began referring to classical and ancient antiquity for new innovation towards humanist architecture†¦ the freedom of thought and self expression was at its highest.

Proposition 19 Essay

The legality of marijuana has been the subject for debate and controversy for decades. With the new generation, the number of supporters of marijuana legalization has increased dramatically. In the United States, legalizing marijuana is a major concern because it is the most frequently used illegal drug. Nearly 98 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once. Politicians have thought of legalizing marijuana to increase revenue by imposing taxes. At the forefront of this idea is California, which is currently the most populous state in the United States yet has the highest budget deficit of all states. Also, California has the 5th highest unemployment rates exceeding 12 percent. In 2009, the California economic crisis became severe as the state faced bankruptcy. This budget shortfall has caused the state to look for ways out. California’s way out of a huge budget deficit begins with Proposition [5] Proposition 19 also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 would legalize various marijuana activities, allow local government to regulate these activities, allow for marijuana related government axes, and authorizes various criminal and civil penalties by local government. The California ballot for Proposition 19 opened on November 2, 2010 in California, hoping to change the fate of marijuana legalization in America forever. The bill failed, but only trailed the outcome by nearly 500 votes. 4] Among the arguments for the passing of Proposition 19 was that legalizing marijuana in California could reduce drug-related violence, based on a study conducted by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy. In addition some believe that it would help alleviate the drug war in Mexico. Based on the theory adopted by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that up to 60% of Mexican drug cartels’ profits come from sales of marijuana, legalizing the drug in nearby California would drastically cut their funding. As a result, supporters of this argument believed that legalization would lead to a decrease in drug-related violent crime in Mexico. [3] Also cited were a savings of $960 million per year in law enforcement costs, and a generation of $350 million a year in state and local tax revenues. Supporters also argued that passing the measure would result in additional benefits including tourism and spinoff ndustries such as cafes and paraphernalia. Based on California’s wine industry, proponents of this theory anticipated that legalizing marijuana in the state could generate up to $18 billion, including the creation of 60,000-110,000 Jobs. [4] Perhaps one of the most well-known arguments for the legalization of Marijuana is to treat conditions including pain and nausea caused by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other conditions. When presented with all the information above it’s easy to see why so many people can rationalize their decision to support Proposition 19. Increasing revenue and employment rate’s while decreasing law enforcement costs and crime, ll by providing the public with a safe â€Å"wonder drug† to aid in a variety of ailments. What could e better? Untortunately though all these claims seem viable none ot them can escape scrutiny. To address Marijuana as a potential drug, scientific evidence needs to be provided to substantiate the claims. To date the evidence is not sufficient for the marijuana plant to gain FDA approval, for two main reasons. First, there have not been enough clinical trials showing that marijuana’s benefits outweigh its health risks in patients with the symptoms it is meant to treat. The FDA equires carefully conducted studies in large numbers of patients (hundreds to thousands) to accurately assess the benefits and risks of a potential medication. [5] Also, to be considered a legitimate medicine, a substance must have well-defined and measureable ingredients that are consistent from one unit (such as a pill or injection) to the next. This consistency allows doctors to determine the dose and frequency. As the marijuana plant contains hundreds of chemical compounds that may have different effects and that vary from plant to plant, its use as a medicine is difficult to evaluate. However, THC-based drugs to treat pain and nausea are already FDA approved and prescribed, and scientists continue to investigate the medicinal properties of cannabinoids. Regarding the supposed economic benefits of taxing marijuana, some comparison with two drugs that are already regulated and taxed, alcohol and tobacco is worth considering. People dont typically grow their own tobacco or distill their own spirits, so consumers accept high taxes on them as retail products. Marijuana, though, is easy and cheap to cultivate, indoors or out, and Proposition 19 would allow individuals to grow as much as 25 square feet of arijuana for â€Å"personal consumption. â€Å"Why would people volunteer to pay high taxes on marijuana if it were legalized? The answer is that many would not, and the underground market, adapting to undercut any new taxes, would barely diminish at all. This bill also implied that marijuana would be regulated and controlled by the initiative. In fact, the law provides for no regulation or control, but leaves it up to local governments to initiate such controls and or regulations. In addition, there are no provisions to tax marijuana cultivation or use in the initiative. Instead, such taxation, f it ever happens will be left to local governments. In fact, a provision of the initiative specifically prevents the state of California from taxing marijuana sales any more than the usual sales tax in contrast to cigarettes and liquor. 1] Since the enforcement of locally enacted taxation will be next to impossible, there will never be any significant revenue produced through this initiative. Another major conflict is that this bill would create a state law that conflicts with federal drug laws. On the surface, this does not seem to be a big deal, since President Obama has stated that e won’t enforce the federal law in California. Howe ver, there is another issue that could cause the loss of billions of dollars to the state. Public contracts and grants require grantees to effectively enforce the drug-free workplace requirements (which includes marijuana use) outlined by the federal government’s Federal Workplace Act of 1988. Not only may schools lose their federal grants, but medical research institutions, could lose millions of dollars annually The current healthcare and criminal Justice costs associated with alcohol and tobacco far surpass the tax revenue hey generate, and very little of the taxes collected on these substances is contributed to offsetting their substantial social and health costs. For every dollar society collects in taxes on alcohol, for example, we end up spending eight more in social cos ts That is hardly a recipe tor fiscal health A recent Rand Corp. report, â€Å"Altered State,† found that it is difficult to predict estimated revenue from marijuana taxes, and that legalization would increase consumption but could also lead to widespread tax evasion and a â€Å"race to the bottom† in terms of local tax rates. Perhaps the biggest concern is safety on the roads. In 2010 a comment was made by a formal General Sergeant that â€Å"driving under the influence of Marijuana is much like being under the influence of Alcohol. In response an experiment was conducted by two local Los Angeles Journalists who decided to take a car and drive stoned. With the help from the California Highway Patrol the highway was closed to the public and several obstacles were arranged simulating how a driver might need to operate in heavy traffic. The experiment, said one of the Journalists â€Å"was to see how impaired I was after smoking pot† California has more drivers than any other state, 22 million of hem. So the big concern was if legalizing marijuana would make the roads less safe. The proponents of Proposition 19 insist it won’t. The common conception among supporters is that the impairment is rather slight like taking an antihistamine. The journalists certainly found that driving and drugs don’t mix. One of them nearly veered off the highway through a test course. â€Å"l wasn’t 0k, so that was kind of shocking to me† said one of the drivers. But safety seems to be a big reason support for proposition 19 dropped. 1 percent opposed and 39 percent supported in a poll conducted before the bill was denied in 2010. 5] To give credibility to the tests conducted by the Journalist’s we can explore the affects Marijuana has on the brain. When marijuana is smoked, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. THC acts upon specific molecular targets on brain cells, calle d cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are ordinarily activated by chemicals similar to THC called endocannabinoids, such as anandamide. These are naturally occurring in the body and are part of a neural communication network (the endocannabinoid system) that lays an important role in normal brain development and function The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana over activates the endocannabinoid system, causing the high and other effects that users experience. These include distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory. Because it seriously impairs Judgment and motor coordination, marijuana also contributes to accidents while driving. A recent analysis of data from several studies found that marijuana use more than doubles a driver’s risk of being in an accident. Further, the combination of marijuana and alcohol is worse than either substance alone with respect to driving impairment. As a recreational drug, marijuana is not quite as benign as most of its proponents would claim. Heavvy marijuana use results in long-term effects on the brain, including lower responses in those areas which are affected by THC. Although users are able to compensate somewhat through the use of other brain areas, the long term effects of his damage, as user’s age, has not been determined. This damage may be responsible for impairments noted in short-term and long-term memory, along with a host of possible other psychiatric illnesses. Regular use of marijuana use by young people can nave especially negative long lasting impact on the structure and tunction of their brains. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed a profound deficit in connections between brain areas responsible for learning and memory. And a large prospective study (following individuals across ime) showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost as much as 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38; importantly, the lost cognitive abilities were not restored in those who quit smoking marijuana as adults. [4] A proportion of marijuana users become addicted and suffer from classic withdrawal symptoms upon abstinence. For a minority of users, marijuana is a gateway drug, and they proceed to use and abuse more powerful psychostimulants. Besides its effects upon the brain, Marijuana raises heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours. In one study, it was estimated that marijuana users have a 4. 8-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug. This may be due to increased heart rate as well as the effects of marijuana on heart rhythms, causing palpitations and arrhythmias. Marijuana use can lead to increased risks for respiratory cancers and may have some adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects in some users. Marijuana smoke has been placed on the California Proposition 65 list of carcinogenic materials, as required by California law for materials proven to cause cancer. 5] Marijuana use during pregnancy has been shown to result in lower child intelligence, while increasing the incidence of mental health problems. The idea that marijuana is a harmless recreational pastime has been disproved through continuing scientific research. Although this bill was denied the continued support for legalizing Marijuana is great, ensuring that this is a topic that will be an issue of debate for years to come. In my opinion we don’t need all the problems that will result from the passage of Proposition 19 . This bill would established a legal â€Å"right† to use marijuana, potentially endangering the lives of thers through allowing intoxicated individuals to perform crucial driving Jobs. In addition, this bill could result in the loss of billions of dollars in federal grants and contracts to schools and hospitals, which would be unable to comply with federal drug-free workplace requirements. Contrary to the claims of proponents, Prop 19 would neither regulate, control, nor tax marijuana, but merely provides the legal right of local governments to create their own hodgepodge of local laws and ordinances, which would be virtually impossible to enforce. Although marijuana use does not egatively impact all users, it does have numerous adverse health effects on a significant percentage of individuals, which will result in increased medical and social costs to the people of California. This was a poorly written initiative that needs to make drastic revisions before it can be considered, in addition to the conduction of more scientific research needs to be done to determine future health risks for the users.

Joys of Motherhood Essay

Though many themes and poignant arguments arise in Buchi Emecheta’s Joys of Motherhood, the most bold of these is the impact of colonial rule on traditional African society and its ambiguous affects thereafter. These themes specifically come about in the text as the clash between colonialists and Africans and how colonial occupation comes to alter the natural development of African cities and villages. It becomes obvious that the influences of colonial presence in Africa are and will continue to be disruptive and detrimental to the lives of Africans. Though this colonial disruption is highlighted immensely, the oppressed people continually move to sidestep the obstructions placed within their society. Even with the oppression of colonial rule upon them, Emecheta’s characters manage to create insular communities to maintain both dignity and tradition. Nnu Ego returns to her father’s house and is again married off, but this time to a fellow Ibo working in Lagos as a domestic for British colonials. The arranged marriage between Nnaife and Nnu Ego is never smooth, and indeed from her first sight of her husband on their wedding day in Lagos, Nnu Ego is disillusioned, though willing to follow custom and fulfill her duties as a wife (Emecheta, 43). Though Nnu Ego is unhappy with Nnaife’s duties as a domestic servant, she stays positive in the marriage in the hopes that her chi will bless the union by allowing her to become a mother. Though her first child dies, Nnu Ego eventually goes on to mother eight children. Despite his less than desirable position as a British domestic servant, Nnaife fully assumes his position as the male head-of-household in his home in accordance with Ibo custom (Emecheta, 47-48). As the eldest son of his family, upon his younger brother’s death, Nnaife marries his two sisters-in-law and brings one of them to Lagos and incorporates her and her children into the household with his family with Nnu Ego (Emecheta, 120). The marriage of Nnu Ego and Nnaife contain many examples of the endurance of traditional African culture throughout colonial rule. As an Ibo minority in Lagos among Yorubas and British imperialists, Nnu Ego and her family struggle and live below the poverty line. One of the main conflicts depicted for Nnu Ego, her family, and society is the navigation of the British imperialistic order. United against a common adversary, the Ibos and Yorubas in The Joys of Motherhood forge a loose knit community and rely on each other during hard times. This alliance between Ibo and Yorubas is especially apparent in the relationships between the women. For instance, as a new wife in Lagos, neighboring women show Nnu Ego the best places to market for cheap, fresh foods (Emecheta, 52). When Nnaife loses his job, the neighboring women help Nnu Ego find cigarettes and other goods to stock a roadside retail stand in order for her to earn extra money (Emecheta,103). Through these hard economic times under colonial rule, the enduring principle of African community values emerges strong as ever. The women of the town especially rely on each other when the men work away from home and during the war when many are drafted into the British army. When the British army commandeers her living quarters, Cordelia helps Nnu Ego move her children and belongings into new housing (Emecheta, 98). When Nniafe is drafted and Nnu Ego is unable to read his letters, Mama Abby helps to read the letters and deposit his allotment checks into the bank (Emecheta, 149-150). Though these allotment checks from the British are extremely useful in caring for the household, Nnu Ego is working constantly and not knowing when Nnaife will return. Though it seemed that colonialism provided new opportunities for the poor to improve their economic woes, would they have been as poor to begin with if colonialism was not the rule of the land? The separating aspect of taking the men from Africa was extremely detrimental not only to those left behind but also to those who go to war. Many return mentally scarred or are ostracized for their involvement with Europeans (Lunn, 45-46) Nnu Ego and her fellow neighbors experience the variations of a changing society but manage to do so without losing the essence of their traditions. As had become custom of imperialism, Africans suffered many hardships under colonial rule for the most part without knowing what the conflicts of the â€Å"Western powers† were about. Asks Nnu Ego of her friend, â€Å"But, Ato, on whose side are we? Are we for the Germans or the Japanese, or the other one, the British? † Ato answers back, â€Å"I think we are on the side of the British. They own Nigeria you know. † Nnu Ego responds back, â€Å"And Ibuza too? † â€Å"I don’t know about that,† Ato states (Emecheta, 98). The implication of this exchange demonstrates that while the British may have political and economic control over the country, the cultural essence of the people cannot be owned. According to Lunn, most African communities were staunch in asserting tradition and sticking to it in these colonial times, showing a strength that Europeans undoubtedly were not expecting (Lunn, 46). The Joys of Motherhood portrays a distance between the generations in the relationship between Nnu Ego and her children, and in particular, the relationship Nnu Ego has with her oldest son, Oshia. In keeping with tradtion, the family invests in Oshia by providing him with the best education, and respecting his status as an elder male, and in return he is expected to take care of the family (Emecheta, 190-191). As a product of an imperialist society, Oshia is educated in a British school system and goes abroad to college where he learns the western value of self-reliance and making his own fortune independently out in the world (Emecheta, 200-201). His selfishness is borne from two both traditional and colonial influences. The fact that he’s the first-born son grants him privileges and honor from the first day he is born along with his association with wealthy students at school teaches him to expect more from life. However, in the end it is the dissociating factor of colonialism and individualism that pulls Oshia away from his family duties. The demonstration of how Nnu Ego, Nnaife, and their neighbors maintain their traditions is embodied by the numerous celebrations they have throughout the novel. Although money and power are in short supply, the African society continues to celebrate births, homecomings, and marriages. The hosts of each party are certain to have large supplies of palm wine and food for everyone, even if they cannot afford it. Upon his mother’s death, Oshia returns to the village and throws a costly funeral celebration. The funeral puts him into debt which would take three years to pay off, but there is a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that an expected ritual has been performed to honor the dead (Emecheta, 224). The new colonial economic order impacts cultural customs is always present, though. When Nnu Ego returns to Ibuza to visit her father, she is happy and becomes comfortable with the ease of being at home and surrounded with fellow villagers (Emecheta,156). However, a grand-aunt admonishes her to return back to Lagos and not to shame the family by failing to live up to her responsibilities as wife (Emecheta, 159). In this respect, tradition is extremely limiting, in that Nnu Ego’s life and her children’s lives would be much easier in Ibuza than in Lagos. Though traditions can be limiting, especially in the case of a traditional marriage such as Nnu Ego’s, the traditional bond is what links and sustains the community in Lagos. What on the one hand undermines tradition as limiting can also be seen as the thread of continuity necessary for the cultural health and identity of people. The issues about traditions that Emecheta raises stem from the dilemma of how a society reconciles and develops when ideals between cultures clash. British colonial rule certainly made life more difficult and even began to chip away at certain norms and traditions such as familial duty and class systems. The individuality espoused by British culture was in direct violation of the Ibo culture of Nnu Ego. A certainty represented in The Joys of Motherhood is when the community and family worked together, they would thrive. The individual must look to find acceptance in ways that merge into the larger cultural community and that are mutually beneficial to the traditional culture that remained steadfast and a rock during the tumultuous days of colonial rule.

Antitrypsin Deficiency

Alpha- l -Antitrypsin (AAT), is a chemical synthesized in the liver and circulating throughout via bloodstream. Also known as Alpha- l -Proteinase Inhibitor (A1 -PI), it is a member of the serpin or the serine protease inhibitor family. Its physiological target is elastase.A normal individual inherits two AAT genes: one from each parent. Nevertheless, when individuals inherit two abnormal AAT genes they tend to show symptoms of alpha-1 deficiency. Some people inherit only one abnormal gene and they are called alpha-1 â€Å"carriers. † Alpha-1 is therefore purely a genetically inherited condition.According to the American Thoracic Society (2006), risk of major health problems in a person with one abnormal gene or a carrier may be lower as compared to a person with two abnormal genes (American Thoracic Society, 2006). WHO (2008) categorizes Alpha- l -Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) as a genetic disorder that can cause liver and lung disease in adults and children. Alpha-1-antit rypsin (AAT) deficiency is associated with 85%-90% reduction in serum concentrations of AAT. This causes increased risk for liver and lung ailments such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and emphysema (Stoller, 2005; Primhak and Tanner, 2001).In normal and healthy individuals, the primary role of AAT is to defend the connective tissue of lung against breakdown by a degradative enzyme called neutrophil elastase. In AAT deficient individuals, lack of AAT allows neutrophil elastase to destroy the connective tissue in the lungs (Stoller, 2005) and apart, in affected individuals, deficiency of blood levels below a level called â€Å"protective threshold† value makes them vulnerable to emphysema. This conditional may usually occur in prime of life, i. e. by age 40 even though there is absence of added risk factors such as cigarette smoking (Stoller, 1998).Polymerization of a mutant AAT protein in the liver cells, along with abnormal accumulation of AAT in the liver ends in hep atocellular injury (Primhak and Tanner, 2001). It is believed that this abnormal accumulation of AAT within the liver cells is mainly due to a structural abnormality of the AAT protein. Normally, it is secreted from the hepatocyte and circulates through bloodstream, but in abnormal conditions it accumulates within liver cells leading to deficiency of AAT in the blood (Brantly et al. , 1988).The mutant AAT molecules are usually retained in the endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatocyte and are also hepatotoxic . Teckman et al. (1996) reveals that these retained AAT appear to be periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive, diastase-resistant eosinophilic inclusions in the periportal hepatocytes. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency disorder occurs also in newborns. Primary symptoms in newborns are jaundice, swelling of the abdomen, and poor feeding. In late childhood or adulthood Alpha-1 disorder can be detected by symptoms such as poor appetite, fatigue, swelling of the abdomen and legs or abnormal l iver tests.

Performance of Senior Executives in a Firm Essay

Performance of Senior Executives in a Firm - Essay Example Interestingly though, the changing times have never seen difference of opinion in one particular area; how the masses criticize their bosses at large! One major factor which generates such opinion is the considerable difference in remuneration and perks for the higher ups, which are always in sharp contrast with their subordinates. Hereunder shall be a discourse of how examples from a very different arena of sports, can be successfully extrapolated to reconstruct the work infrastructure of the top-level management. In psychology, the core theories of behavior modification revolve around the concept of reward and punishment. And this being the primary science that studies human behavior, much can be applied from it unto the realm of economics. Organizational psychology and workplace economics in any setting, therefore, is incumbent upon the fact that people work because of their motivation and incentives. Regardless of passion and loyalty, the primary needs of a person have to be fulfilled in order for him to perform beyond the ordinary. Incentives, here, play the role of that little 'extra' spice that is added to life; something more that the employee and the organization are looking forward too and yearn to achieve. At this point in time, it is important to consider the Directorial level of the organization both as human beings, and as employees of the organization! For a small child, a toy or a candy can play the role of a potent incentive. Obviously, the adult human demands for much more than that. Nonetheless, the primary role that is played by any incentive-providing-stimulus is the same - it generates more interest in a person, and the overall productivity of work increases. But here, an interesting fact must be considered. The same child, if knows, that no matter how much he cries or yells he will get the toy, the incentive factor diminishes to a negligible level. However, when the same toy is presented to him on accord of providing a disciplined stance, or taking his supper on time, than it acts as a positive incentive and concrete behavior modification can be seen. Exactly on the same principle, if any employee of an organization, regardless of seniority level, knows that come what may, the actual increment in pay and perks will be there, than it is much too obvious that the productivity shall not be the same. However, when a realization is set into the individual that increments shall be performance-based, than we see a positive vector definition for work by the individual, which provides a symbiotic benefit to the organization. Now here, focus is required upon the top-level management. The aforementioned theory is generally applied on subordinates in all organizations at large - do good work and get good pay. Yet, contrary to the theoretical norms of economic and organizational management, the Mangers are kept out of this 'struggle for work'. Once a person is in the higher ranks, it seems predestined that the ladder will only go up, much in the manner of an escalator! This not only creates a bias and division in understanding of human workplace ethics, but also creates unrest in the minds of lower-levels in the firm. (a) Analogy from Payment Systems for Jockeys Though some top managers may find it bizarre to be compared to race jockeys, yet the