Response to "Drugs"

In the essay “Drugs,” Gore Vidal made numerous points on the benefits of legalizing all drugs. He argued that by taking away the monetary incentives from drug pushers,  such as the Mafia and the Latin American cartels, that the problems associated with drug users will simply disappear. However, there is an implicit assumption that seems to be erroneous: the crimes associated with drug use are only to acquire money for the drugs. People on drugs, have impaired judgement and are more likely to make poor decisions often endangering the safety of Americans. One of the liberties guaranteed in the Constitution is the right to pursue happiness with the caveat that it does not impinge upon others the rights of others . Allowing rampant drug use violates these rights. The government should not give up all attempts to prevent drug usage.

One solution that has been fairly effective is the Netherland’s drug policy. It categorizes drugs into two categories: soft drugs and hard drugs. For soft drugs, such as marijuana, the government does not target individual users. It targets the distributors. For hard drugs, such as heroin, both possession and intent to distribute are punished. The cultural emphasis that drug addiction or usage is a disease rather than a sinful act allows individuals to be treated instead of punished. Of the European countries, the Netherlands has one of the lowest percentage of drug users and the lowest percentage of crime related to drug use. Their system is not perfect, but it provides a better solution to the current way Americans deal with drugs.

ICE

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Response to Politics and the English Language

George Orwell comments about how the English language has starting to morph and distort the true meaning of words. However he does not address how languages rarely remain static. Shakespearean English is vastly different from modern day language or his own writing. Perhaps writers from the 1400s would shake their heads in dismay at the state of the current language. New words and phrases are continually added to the official English language due to cultural or technical changes. For example, people now tell others to go “Google” something. Back in Orwell’s time there was no internet and no need for that concept so he would not see the need for that word. Change to language is inevitable. It is curious that such an iconic writer would criticize the process of change in terms of language.

Orwell doesn’t address that the meaning of words meaning depending upon the context. Sure, words can be deceiving if individuals do not pay careful attention. Many politicians do employ misleading phraseology but to those seek the truth rather than the glossy surface the facts can be discerned. Even own words contradict themselves. Janis words are the epitome of double meaning. For example, the word “fast” can mean move quickly (fast car) or prevent from moving (held fast).  It is up to the individual to understand the truth.

One of Orwell’s points was that English has incorporated too many foreign words that are unnecessary. There is an element of truth that some writers are grandiose to a fault and that colloquial words are more effective. However more elegant words convey a sense of professionalism and sophistication that simple words cannot. When writing a college application I am not going to say “yeah, my buds and I just chillax by the pool.” Instead I might write “basking in the sun with some of my dearest friends, I expend the majority of my interval of complacency at the community pool.” Although large words may seem unnecessary, these multi-syllable words can be used to distinguish individuals from the academic masses.

Research Paper Topic

1.       My topic is on the involvement of the FDA in regulating the development of pharmaceutical drugs, in particular compounding pharmacies.  

2.       There is always a debate about how much the federal government should regulate businesses. The manufacturing and production of drugs is no different. Should the FDA regulate compounding pharmacies’ and pharmaceutical companies more or less? Especially with the recent outbreak of meningitis derived from a contaminated product produced at New England compounding pharmacy, there are concerns about the lack of FDA regulation.

3.       I can find references in the Napa City County Library and find numerous apt articles on the internet involving the recent meningitis outbreak and the role of the FDA in the approval a drugs.

4.       Everyone is concerned about their health and it is particularly disturbing when doctors and known medicines, which are entrusted to help individuals, are the cause of illnesses. People are continually trying to improve their health and minimize risks associated with ingesting unknown compounds.  

5.       The role of the FDA involvement in business is always questioned. It is an ongoing debate that was catalyzed by Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. The meningitis outbreak is relatively new so I doubt that many AP students have already written papers involving that particular event.

6.       Should I narrow my topic and just talk about compounding pharmacies’ regulations or expand my subject area so that my paper discusses pharmaceutical companies’ regulations?

A Hamburger Today

One of the most delectable blogs I found was A Hamburger Today, a blog that solely discusses the making of hamburgers. At first I was a little bit skeptical that I would enjoy this blog – I do not care the mashed mysterious meat of hamburger or hotdogs – but the pictures were phenomenal. Pictures of sizzling mushrooms toppings , a burger with a cheese stuffed pepper, and an elaborate machine comprise of the majority of the blog. A Hamburger Today also varies the quality of the subject, ranging from a gourmet organic burger to the average McDonald’s cheeseburger. The actual blog is an accumulation of reviews of restaurants that serve hamburger, which allows a huge geographical range. The setup of the blog also makes it extremely enjoyable. There is always a large picture that grabs the reader’s attention. Above the picture is a header that gives a few details, where the burger was made and the name of the restaurant that made it. If the reader wants to know more, there are a few sentences to the original review right below picture. To read the full review, the reader needs only to click on the header or the picture to read the full review. This is a great blog to read!

Personal Choice 2

On an overcast Thursday, I stepped out of the car and entered my Karate dojo hoping to earn my third stripe for green belt. I ignored the sprinkling rain and pervasive cloud cover, for it is always cloudy in Bellevue, Washington, and hurried into the building. As I warmed up with toe-touchers and pikes, a new student stepped on to the mat. He was very little, about four years old, and had a mop of brown hair that hung in his eyes. Deeming him too young to talk to and therefore unimportant, I ignored the little boy and went back to focusing on the warm-up. Little did I know that the little boy was Bill Gates’ son, Rory. I was shocked to learn that arguably the wealthiest man on earth had decided to send his only son to a dojo whose clientele composed of mainly middle class families. Gates could have bought the dojo without blinking but he decided to send Rory to class as an ordinary student. What is the thought processes behind this computer genius? How did he become the iconic figure for innovation and business?

While enrolled at prestigious preparatory school, Bill Gates encountered his first computer at the age of thirteen.  He was fascinated with intricate computations and puzzles associated with computer program. Gates spent the majority of his free time studying the source code of the CCC program – I honestly have no idea what that is but it is computer related. The expectations from his parents and a SAT score of 1590 out of 1600, Bill Gates attended Harvard with the original intent of becoming a lawyer like his father. However, during school he aimlessly studied subjects with no real intent of ever getting a law degree.  Gates eventually dropped out of school to start his own company with the help of one of his buddies, Paul Allen.

Gates and Allen developed a new computer thingamabob that made computers better. To those knowledgeable and interested in the intricacies of computer programming, this new innovation was incredibly exciting. Microsoft, Gate’s company, - I doubt that anybody did not know that already – partnered with IBM. Due to anti-trust laws, Microsoft was able to expand and become the prominent computer company of the day. Gate puts his new found wealth into many charities, especially his own philanthropic charity called the Gates Foundation.

Through unconventional methods Gates became the most successful, and wealthiest, man in the world. Gates is a counterexample of the stereotypical method to become successful: individuals need to earn a college degree and then work hard for the rest of their carrier to achieve prosperity. He dropped out of college to go off on a seemingly ill conceived endeavor and ended creating a revolutionary technology and company. Gates’ path to success highlights the dual nature of traditional schooling, it enabled his exploration into computers but stifled him form devoting the majority of his focus onto the interests he loved.  Like many other iconic figure’s actions, Bill Gate’s path to success highlights how true innovation comes not from rope memorization but through taking risks that are oftentimes rejected by the faint of heart

Girl Imitation

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Process Analysis

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