New Blog Idea

I came up with a new blog idea.  linked below
vegasstudies

I am using my blog as a way to study, before I used to write notes in my notebooks and today while I was procrastinating, while avoiding doing any studies what so ever, I came up with the idea of making a blog that gave people of the internet some knowledge in different subjects, almost as if this blog is a way for viewers to observe what its like to be a college student, while simultaneously allowing me to test my knowledge of these subjects by writing about them. I hope you enjoy my knew idea and even if no one read anything I writ, at least i will be helping myself learn these difficult subject all the same.

Thanks yall. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

The Biological State

Tyler Golightly

Prof. MulHolland

Eng. 102 sec#3017 E1

13 February 2012

The Biological State

The citizens of a state collectively contribute to their communities, as well as gain many benefits from it, a cycle which ensures the longevity of the entire system. Governed societies are similar to conscious, complex organisms, such as humans, and therefor should be viewed as living beings, in their own right. Much like Ortega y Gasset’s thought on how the majority’s destiny is to be lead and not followed, it is the destiny of the body to be led by the mind (Ortega,91). A human body cannot survive without its master the brain, for the brain tells the heart when to beat and the lungs to breath. The mind has its own values, and decides upon the distribution of resources. Brains do nothing but command and strategize, just as as Lao-Tzu wrote in the Tao, ” The master does not talk, he acts,” (Lao-Tzu 25).

The brain leads the body, just as a government leads its people. Ortega states in “The Greatest Danger, the State”, that the masses are destined to be lead by a minority, just as the body is destined to follow the mind, anything else would be a rebellion of destiny which is a rebellion of the truth (Ortega,91).  The brain governs naturally, there is no struggle, as Lao- Tzu wrote, “The master sees things as they are, without trying to control them / She lets them go her own way / and resides in the center of the circle” (Lao-Tzu 26). Societies would be like starved saplings without the direction of their leaders.

Without a brain, a body cannot govern itself, and without a population to govern, any government, would perish. Ortega wrote that without superiors, the majority would not be able to sustain its livelihood and safety, for without guidance the body would cease to be (Ortega 91). Science has shown that humans have evolved to rely on their bodies, just as governments have learned to rely on manpower for their perpetual machine of extortion and greed. The single cell organism has become systematically reliant on its cell community and can no longer make a relevant contribution by its lonesome; dependency is a large aspect of the human, as well as the governmental, machine.

Interests of the minority should never outweigh the interests of the majority, for if this happens the minority will lose focus on what is truly virtuous. Dictators hold absolute control in their states, and with this amassed power there is desire for more power and with more power more corruption and greed, he who leads has a choice of pleasuring himself or supporting the commoners. One’s mind can only be so virtuous, an individual may choose to buy a point of heroin instead dinner for the week, if the wrong choice is made then body will either suffer, it is all up to that which has control. Health should not replace pleasure and pleasure should not replace health, balance and harmony should be the goals of the mind, not destruction or fear. To quote Lao-Tzu,” If you want to learn how to govern / avoid being clever or rich / The simplest pattern is the clearest”(Lao-Tzu 29).

To conclude, governed societies are not much different than the humans that run them, and thus should no longer be thought of as an abiotic system of laws and enforcers, but as a thriving organism with a pulse and life cycle. The brain governs the body on the great adventure that is life, for it is in its destiny. Both brain and body are reliant on each other to progress on this adventure and to overcome and endure the hardships it may face, just as a government and its people are reliant upon each other for defense and prosperity. It is the responsibility of the brain lead wisely, because with great power comes great responsibility. Like all organisms, death is the only true end.

Understanding the Personal Unconscious

Tyler Golightly


Prof. MulHolland


Eng. 102 sec#3017 E2


26 February 2013

Understanding the Personal Unconscious

Below the waterline of the conscious mind dwells the unconscious. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the unconscious as, “the part of the mind that is inaccessible to the conscious mind but which affects behavior and emotions”. People should hold a higher understanding of their unconscious so they can understand themselves more fully. According to Sigmund Freud, the unconscious contains repressed thoughts and memories, motivations, and thought processes, which are not accessible to the conscious mind (Hockenbury 462). Even though one is not fully aware of the unconscious, unconscious thoughts affect an individual’s emotions and behavior. An individual is able to consciously access the unconscious by reaching a state of near consciousness, and by doing so, is even able to address previously unknown issues through acceptance and expression.


The unconscious is the septic tank of the mind, where suppressed thoughts, traumatic memories, as well as desires lie. These thoughts make up a large portion of an individuals personality, even though they may not even be aware of it. Underneath all of ones conscious desires and goals, lies many much more sinister desires that the conscious expends a great deal of energy suppressing. For example, Freud explained that the developing frontal lobe represses the natural infatuation one has with their parent of the opposite sex (Freud 483). These thoughts are believed to be repressed by the newfound morals and judgments adopted from ones environment (Freud 483). Repressing unconscious thoughts can lead to neurosis, an excessive and irrational anxiety or obsession, which can cause psychological and even physiological symptoms.


The conscious mind, also known as the ego, undergoes constant conflict with the unconscious. When the ego is overwhelmed by the demands of the unconscious, the end result is anxiety. The ego may attempt to reduce anxiety by distorting thoughts or perceptions of reality, these attempts are known as ego defense mechanisms, the ten major ego defense mechanisms being; repression, displacement, sublimation, rationalization, projection, reaction formation, denial, undoing, and regression (Hockenbury 464-5). Most people are not aware of the impact that these defense mechanisms have on their conscious mind and physical body. By understanding these defense mechanisms and what causes them, an individual is able to cope more effectively with their anxiety.


When in a state of near consciousness, an individual is able to consciously acknowledge their unconscious mind. A person can reach this state of near consciousness through the acts of meditation, hypnotism, psychoactive chemicals, or dreaming. Dreaming is the self-expression of the unconscious through symbolism and emotion, and is also the most accessible method for reaching a state of near consciousness. By interpreting the symbols and feelings conveyed through ones dreams, it is possible to grasp a rough concept of ones unconscious mind.


To truly understand oneself, an individual must truly be aware of their unconscious. Repressed thoughts, desires, fears, and memories, are buried beneath the conscious mind in the unconscious. These thoughts effect the emotions and behavior of an individual even though they are not consciously aware of them. One is able to access these thoughts by reaching a state of near consciousness, and by doing so understanding the very source of their mental and even physical woes. The unconscious is the very core of ones being, and thus their true self.

Works Cited

Hockenbury, Don H., and Sandra E. Hockenbury. Psychology. New York, NY: Worth, 2010.


          458-67. Print.


Freud, Sigmund. The Oedipus Complex. 1953. A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College


          Writers. By Lee A. Jacobus. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 478-84. Print.


"unconscious". Oxford Dictionaries. April 2010. Oxford Dictionaries. April 2010. Oxford


          University Press. 04 March 2013


          http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/unconscious.

Scholarship help

Blackness emblazons my surroundings, a bright light is but a short distance away, but the darkness of the cave devours every beam within arms reach. My body is encumbered by fear, frustration, and sentiments, while financial chains restrict my limbs. I struggle to stand in this cave, a cave where my father and my mother remain, and my grandmother and grandfather died. Sure, it may be better to accept the cave, to exist as a faceless individual in the sea of darkness, remaining ignorant to what lies outside, but while it may be the simpler choice, and possibly the optimal choice, I refuse to remain in the cave any longer. I can pull the weights, but I cannot break the chains alone, therefore I need one more pull from the Claudine Williams Harrah’s Las Vegas Employee Scholarship to stretch these chains closer to their breaking point.


I will become a distinguished man of science upon leaving the cave; I will travel the world bringing knowledge and hope to all who accept it. A pedestal must be set, a pedestal of knowledge and recognition, which I may use to improve the lives of all beings, plants and animals alike. My life’s goal is to inspire countless people to follow their dreams, let go of their inhibitions, and to be one with the planet. I will accomplish my goal by understanding the very fabric of reality and using this knowledge to improve all forms of life.


These chains are too short to move forward, too strong to break, a pull from the Claudine Williams Harrah’s Employee Scholarship can bring these chains closer to their breaking point and myself closer to my goals. I must improve our planet, I must improve my environment, and I must improve my community. Bring me closer to the light, so I may do the same for all who accept my help.

Acid Rain on Earth

Acid Rain on Earth

Tyler J Golightly

College of Southern Nevada

Abstract

            Citizens of the United States will not truly be aware of the destruction caused by acid rain until they experience the effects first hand. Acid rain is slowly destroying the environment, and should be reduced to preserve the earth’s ability to sustain life. By compounding research from federal environmental websites, academic journals, and a chemistry textbook section catering to the subject of acid rain, I have compiled the causes and effects of the misunderstood phenomenon. Hyposulfite and nitrogen oxides reacting with water vapor in the atmosphere are the cause of acid rain. These ions are the byproducts of industrial processes, combustion engines, natural events, and bacteria. Acid rain lowers the pH of soil, damages leaves, and weakens the immune systems of plants and trees. The acidic runoff waters leach aluminum ions and nutrients from the soil depositing them in high concentrations in lakes and streams. Runoff water from melted snow or heavy rainfall can drastically lower the pH of lakes that have small buffering capacities. The low pH reduces and can even eliminate fish’s ability to reproduce. Acidic waters promote the growth of algae, plankton, and other invasive species. These species produce toxic phosphorus and cause eutrophication. Particles that cause acid rain also create toxic smog in sunlight and reduce visibility. Acid rain is not directly detrimental to human health but the hyposulfite and nitrite particle are shown to increase the risk of asthma and bronchitis. Increasing regulation on industrial processes and increasing the efficiency of combustion engines can reduce acid rain.

            Acid rain consists mainly of sulfuric and nitric acid. Uncontaminated rainwater is naturally acidic and has a pH of 5.6 (Brown, LeMay Jr., Bursten, Murphey & Woodward, 2012). The acidity of uncontaminated rainwater mainly comes from carbon dioxide reacting with water to form carbonic acid. Acid rain usually has a pH of around 4. A substance with a pH of 7 is a neutral substance, while a pH less than 7 is acidic, and a pH above 7 is basic. As the pH falls below 7, the substance becomes more acidic. What makes an acid an acid, is the amount of free-floating positive hydrogen ions, or put more plainly, protons, in the substance. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Both sulfuric and nitric acids are considered strong acids, meaning that they dissociate completely when dissolved in water. For example, sulfuric acid consists of two hydrogen ions in an ionic bond with one sulfate ion, when dissolved in water the ionic bonds break and the hydrogen and sulfate ions become free-floating ions that are very reactive. Sulfur dioxide is produced from volcanic gasses, forest fires, bacterial action, fossil fuel combustion, and industrial processes (Brown, LeMay Jr., Bursten, Murphey & Woodward, 2012).  However, nitrogen oxides are mainly the byproducts of atmospheric electrical discharges, internal combustion engines, and the combustion of organic matter. According to Brown et al. (2012) the combustion of coal accounts for roughly 60% of the sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere, while the combustion of oil accounts for another 20%. That means that over 80% of acid rain is produced by the burning of fossil fuels alone.

            Acid rain is detrimental to the health of forests and other plant life. Leaves and pine needles are damaged by acidic rainwater. The waxy surface layer of a plants leaves or needles are stripped, which allows the acidic rainwater to leach nutrients from the leaves and also can be a precursor to disease. This rainwater also leaches essential plant nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium from the soil, making it unavailable to plant life (Likens, Driscoll, & Buso, 1996). Nitrogen oxides, which are contributors to acid rain, react with light to form nitrogen and ozone. Nitrogen is an inert gas, and surprisingly makes up over seventy percent of our atmosphere, while ozone is highly reactive and toxic to all forms of life. Plants and trees affected by acid rain experience slowed growth and according to Our changing planet (2011) can cause trees to suffer the loss of 25% or more of their leaves or needles. These detrimental effects of acid rain where discovered after foresters and scientists observed the browning of leaves, slowed growth rates and the death of trees that otherwise should have been prospering. In special cases even whole sections of forest were decimated.

            Runoff waters from acidic rain and snow are deposited in bodies of water such as lakes and streams, lowering their pH and depositing toxic solutes, endangering aquatic life. Natural waters normally have a pH between 6.5 and 8.5 while a 2008 study shows that the pH of ground waters is far below these values (Brown, LeMay Jr., Bursten, Murphey & Woodward, 2012). Fish must maintain osmoregulation, the delicate balance of solutes in their tissue, to survive (Emily, 2002). Acidity changes the equilibrium of the water, which in turn reduces a fish’s ability to maintain minerals such as calcium ions from being displaced. This reduction in nutrients causes fish to grow to smaller sizes and reduces a female’s ability to produce eggs.  Aluminum, which is normally insoluble in higher pH water, is dissolved from deposits in the ground by the acidic runoff water where it eventually is deposited in lakes and streams. Aluminum ions are shown to damage the gills of fish, impairing their ability to take in oxygen. Studies have shown that the majority of fish killed in waters of high aluminum concentration die of starvation (Butcher, 1988). Aluminum ions have been shown to be lethal to some species of algae and reduce the reproductive rate of plankton, this reduction of food sources is a definite reason for the large amount of fish dying of starvation in waters of high aluminum concentration (Butcher, 1988).  Nitrogen ions from fertilizer are dissolved by the acidic runoff and can end up in lakes and ponds, which can begin the process of eutrophication. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of algae, which over time increases the amount of decaying matter to the point where aerobic bacteria consume oxygen faster than the living algae and plants are able to produce it (Brown, LeMay Jr., Bursten, Murphey & Woodward, 2012). Eventually all oxygen breathing animals are eliminated leaving only anaerobic bacteria to thrive on the dead matter.

            Acid rain is not directly detrimental to ones health, but the precursors sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are both highly toxic. The EPA states that scientific evidence shows that short-term nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide exposures and adverse respiratory effects are linked. These effects including airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction were shown to be present in healthy people with symptoms being increased in individuals with asthma ("Six common air," 2012). Combustion engine driven automobiles, a leading producer of nitrogen dioxide, are very prominent in cities and highways. Individuals who live near highways and high traffic roadways are at higher risk of experiencing these respiratory symptoms. Electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 393nm breaks the nitrogen-oxygen bond; this free oxygen reacts with diatomic oxygen forming ozone. Ozone is highly toxic and has similar respiratory effects as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide react with moisture in the lungs forming strong acids; this attacks the tissues of the lungs and can cause emphysema and bronchitis.  The negative effects of these acid rain precursors can cause chronic health problems and even premature death in people who are at high risk of exposure.

            The effects of acid rain cannot be extinguished overnight, there is much humankind can do to reduce acid rain as well as diminish the symptoms. The clean air act of 1970 was calls for the regulation of stationary and mobile pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. In 1990, the clean air act was revised specifically targeting acid rain, urban pollution, toxic air emissions, and stratospheric ozone depletion. The Clean Air Act of 1990 greatly reduced the amount of acid rain with the Acid Rain Program. The Acid Rain Program was the first large-scale cap and trade program in the world. A cap and trade program allows for companies to buy unused emission allowance from other companies. Newer, more high tech factories are subsidized for upgrading to cleaner, more efficient equipment by selling their unused emissions. From 1990 to 2008 the cleaner air act has reduced acid rain causing sulfur dioxide by 51%, all while GDP has grown 64% ("40th anniversary of," 2010). It is possible to reduce the acidity of lakes and ponds by neutralizing the acidity with powdered limestone (Simonin, 1988). The limestone reacts with the hydrogen ions in the waters and by doing so increases the pH of the water. Research has shown that lake liming cans reverse the downward spiral that acid rain initiates allowing for a more diverse ecosystem.

            Acidic rainwater has the potential to ravage the environment and thanks to innovations in science and lawmaking the detrimental effects that acid rain has had on the environment can be stopped and possibly even reversed. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides being released in large amounts into the atmosphere is what causes acid rain, the main producers of these gasses being the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels. Forests and farms are drastically affected by acid rain especially in areas where soil has a weak buffering capacity. The runoff waters reach land water poisoning aquatic life and decreasing biodiversity. The dry precursors to this acidic rainwater are toxic to animals, including humans, and causes respiratory problems that can lead to premature death. With innovation and an increase in strict regulation the effects of acid rain can diminish and eventually be reversed. By protecting our environment future citizens of the world will be able to breath easy knowing that the Earth has remained fertile.

References

Brown, T. L., LeMay Jr., H. E., Bursten, B. E., Murphey, C. J., & Woodward, P. M.

(2012).Chemistry: The Central Science. (12 ed., Vol. 2, pp. 758-60). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Butcher, G. A. (1988). Retrieved from US Environmental Protection Agency website:

<http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/BCguidelines/aluminum/aluminumtech.pdf>

Emily, K. (2002). Effects on lakes and aquatic ecosystems. Retrieved from

<http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~kagan/phy367/P367_articles/AcidRain/effects-on-lakes.html>

Likens, G. E., Driscoll, C. T., & Buso, D. C. (1996). Long-term effects of acid rain: Response

and recovery of a forest ecosystem.Science, 272(5259), 244-244. Retrieved from <http://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/213554701?accountid=27953>

Our changing planet. (2011). Retrieved from

<http://www.umac.org/ocp/EnvironmentalEffectsofAcidRain/info.html>

Simonin, H. (1988). Neutralization of acidic waters. Retrieved from

<http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es00175a600>

U.S Environmental Protection Agency, (2012). Six common air pollutants. Retrieved from EPA

website: <http://www.epa.gov/airquality/urbanair/>

(2010). The clean air act – highlights of the 1990

amendments . Retrieved from Environmental Protection Agency website: <http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/CAA_1990_amendments.pdf>

The Criminalization of Mind-Altering Substances is Unethical

 

Criminalization of Mind-Altering Substances is Unethical

Tyler Golightly

College of Southern Nevada

Abstract

Drug use may be as old as humanity itself, but only in recent times has such a large array of substances been made illegal. Criminalizing the sale, possession, and use of mind-altering substances causes more problems than it solves, the moral thing to do would be to end the criminalization of these substances. By gathering information from books, a journal, the Internet, and personal experience, I have determined the flaws in the attempt to eradicate drug use in much of the world. Humans have been consuming mind-altering substances since before spoken language was invented, only in recent times has drug use been synonymous with existentialism. The effects of these substances can even be attributed as the catalyst for the creation of religion and the beginning of early society. In more modern times, International agreements between multiple countries to control the distribution and production of multiple substances in their borders because they are unhealthy, addictive, cause crime, ruin lives, and along with numerous other reasons, and thus began the non-religious criminalization of drug use, trade, and possession that still goes on to this day. The criminalization of controlled substances in itself actually causes more problems than it prevents, problems such as organized crime, health risks, fear, inflated crime rate, unemployment, misinformation, impure substances, and the rise of more dangerous legal alternatives. Drug use and possession should be decriminalized, with quantities and substances being regulated.

            According to American scholar Terrence McKenna (1993), mind-altering substances were a catalyst for the evolution of mankind and religion. In the early years of human history when the nomadic lifestyle was staple, when the concept of a town or city could not be fathomed, when an individuals diet consisted of anything edible, humans consumed copious amounts of mind-altering plants in their effort to obtain sustenance. There is no doubt that some curious soul happened upon a field of grazing cattle and was greeted with the sight of Stropharia cubensis, the entheogenic mushroom that todays western culture demonizes so ignorantly, perched precariously on top of a mound of dung. The individual enjoys the easy meal that took no real effort in obtaining, but it is what comes approximately 20 to 60 minutes later that will truly make a significant impact on this individual’s life. Without a true understanding of the chemical nature of the fungi or the metabolic reaction that ones body has with the chemical components, this prehistoric individual must be in awe at the sheer power that he/she is overcome by. The individual may experience ego death, which is a very surreal, spiritual experience where a person feels the boundary of self and environment are dissolved and begins to realize that they are apart of the universe. An example of ego death is a scene in the movie I ♥ Huckabees when Albert realizes that he and Brad are both the same person (Russell, 2004). Drug induced experiences of ecstasy such as these are the beginning of religion and possibly even civilization as we know it today.

            Drug use and possession is criminalized for multiple, understandable reasons. According to Talleos (2009), a treaty was signed at the 1912 Hague International Opium Convention between France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Siam, the UK and the British oversees territories (including British India), to which the countries agreed to control the production, trade, and use of certain mind altering substances. This treaty was the beginning of non-religious drug criminalization that is still in effect today. Addiction is the most reasonable reason for the criminalization of drug possession and use. An addicted person loses control of their life to the substance that they are addicted to. Health risks such as overdose, heart attack, liver damage, and diseases transmitted through the blood such as AIDS, paint drug use in an immoral light, and aid in swaying public support of drug criminalization. Addict parents are in no mental or physical health to care for children, the media as well as public officials love to use children as a way to sway the public to believe that the criminalization of drugs protects children.  Society is accustomed to hiding the truth from children to protect them, in the case of drug use, protect them from ruining their childhood and possibly their life. Children are taught to abstain from drug use, most of the time by over exaggerating the truth and even giving out false information. Hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, PCP, mushrooms, and marijuana, can put individuals in a state of mind that they could never reach without them, if they are in an environment that is deemed unsafe or are in the wrong state of mind they may develop anxieties or bring about an unknown mental illness. Society feels it is their job to save an individual from themselves, making drug use an immoral and criminal act is a way of trying to force individuals to conform to their standards.

            Criminalizing drug users does more damage than it prevents. By criminalizing drug use, production, and trade, it is forced in the shadows allowing true criminals to profit. Like prohibition in the early 20^th century, organized crime profits greatly from the barring of certain greatly demanded substances. Organizations soon claim turf and use violence to maintain their hold on it. Lowly peddlers, high level criminals and even innocent civilians end up getting killed in acts of violence, violence used to maintain the high profitability of illegal trade. Crime is not the only killer; misinformation is another dangerous outcome of drug criminalization. Individuals grow up only learning abstinence but never the proper way to go about doing the drug. People are still doing drugs and they do not have the necessary information within reach to take the drug safely. Misinformation is the main cause of accidental overdose in first time users because these first time users are unaware of the onset and/or dosage of the particular drug. By putting the drugs in the underground, society is putting the users in the underground as well. Individuals find legal alternatives most of the time are more dangerous than the drug they are mimicking. I know of a synthetic cannabinoid called AM-2201 that has a dosage of 2mg, this drug is very cheap, and just last year was very legal. This cannabinoid has no ceiling, unlike the natural cannabinoid THC, and thus is very dangerous. By making drug use so taboo if an individual becomes addicted to a drug they may be hesitant to seek help because by using the drug they automatically become seen criminals and bad people. These individuals can even be cast out from their homes, jobs, religious institution or even their schools.

             The best way to end the crime and woes associated with drug use is to end the war on drugs and the resulting war on the people who use them. By ending the demonization of these substances, it allows doctors, teachers, parents and community leaders to stop misinforming the public and start informing the public on using substances in a safe and acceptable manor. Moderation and safety in addition to abstinence should be the new form on drug education, like Nietzsche (2010) wrote in regards to morality; our culture of excess must become one of moderation. Even substances such as sugar or aspirin can cause great harm to individuals, especially in a culture of excess such as the United States. Bootleggers and the organized crime associated with it in the days of prohibition should be used as a model of what the barring of substances brings about, which is a state of corruption and fear. We can contrast this with the Mexican drug cartels in the early 21^st century that, thanks to the war on drugs, have viable unregulated markets with almost no competitors. The United States war on drugs actually lowers the quality of life of not just the American population but the quality of life of other countries, such as Mexico, by fueling their organized crime organizations. Portugal decriminalized drug use in 2001 and according to Hughes and Stevens (2010),“Portuguese decriminalization did not lead to major increases in drug use. Indeed, evidence indicates reductions in problematic use, drug-related harms and criminal justice overcrowding,”  and therefore was a resounding success. Drugs change ones perception, like the bag in I ♥ Huckabees (2004), can help an individual put their thought processes into perspective, and allows the individual to become in touch with their spiritual and naturalistic humanity, which Nietzsche (2010) explained is one of the great causes of woe in modern man.

            The criminalization of mind altering substances and those who posses and abuse them is doing more harm than good, and therefore the moral thing to do is to decriminalize them. Man has been using mind altering substances since the before written or even spoken language. Only in recent times has such a large scale effort to abolish all mind altering substance from free control for non religious reasons such as addiction, health, crime, and other reasons too numerous to mention. The downfalls of criminalization outweigh the good, downfalls such as organized crime, misinformation, unregulated substances, and the search to find legal alternatives. The use, possession, and trade of controlled substances should be decriminalized and regulated, with an emphasis on moderation and safety being added to the already dominant practice of teaching abstinence. The war on drugs, which was fueled by corruption, racism, misinformation, and greed, must be put to an end if our society ever wants to progress at the rate our prehistoric selves have.

References

HUGHES, C., & STEVENS, A. (2010). What Can We Learn From The Portuguese

Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs?. British Journal Of Criminology, 50(6), 999-1022. doi:10.1093/bjc/azq038

Jacobus, L. A. (2010). Friedrich Nietzsche: Morality as Anti-Nature. In A World of Ideas:

Essential Readings for College Writers - 8th Edition (8th ed., pp. 713-26). Boston, MA: Bedford/St.Martin's.

McKenna, T. K. (1993). Food of the gods: The search for the original tree of knowledge : a

            radical history of plants, drugs, and human evolution. New York: Bantam Books.

Russell, D. O., Baena, J., Goodman, G., Rudin, S., Hoffman, D., Tomlin, L., Schwartzman, J., ...

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc. (2004). I [heart] Huckabees. Los Angeles, CA: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Talleos, J. (2009, April 12). The great mistake. How illicit drugs became illegal in the first place

- Hartford Conservative | Examiner.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013, from <http://www.examiner.com/article/the-great-mistake-how-illicit-drugs-became-illegal-the-first-place>

Minor Threat Analyzation

Analyzing Minor Threats “Salad Days”

Minor Threat’s “Salad Days”, describes the end a youthful time in one’s life and the reassurance that there is no turning back, stressing the importance of living life to its fullest potential.

  The preservation of youth is an important topic addressed by Minor Threat in “Salad Days”. In the excerpt, “Wishing for the days when I first wore this suit,” can express a feeling of regret for not considering the valuableness of youth. The hope that maybe one can stay young is diminished by society’s views on midlife children, or the anxieties caused by experiences in everyday life. The term “suit”, may represent the physical body, and the line “when I first wore this suit,” can illustrate when an individual was born. This can show the common urge for a time in one’s life, when it was accepted to be inexperienced. The lines “But I stay on, I stay on Where do I get off? On to greener pastures,” can represent a youth waiting to become an adult. It can signify the feeling of still being young even if one was at the age of maturity. It can also represent a child’s idea of being an adult, and the assumption that life gets easier with age.

The struggles to meet expectations set when in times of youth are described by Minor Threat in the lines, “Baby has grown older, It’s no longer cute,” and, “Baby has grown ugly, It’s no longer cute”. These separate statements can represent a parent struggling to repudiate their past expectations and accept their offspring for what they have become. It can also denote the strife of the child, who cannot meet expectations set by their parents, or society. The quote shows that as an individual reaches the standard age of adulthood their state of mind doesn’t exactly change with their new age. This portion simply expresses how fast time passes and how people aren’t aware until it’s too late.

The term “ugly”, can refer to an individual who changes from a sweet baby to a criminal. In the quote, “too many voices, they’ve made me mute,” the idea that peer pressures help mold you is stated. For example if an individual is demeaned multiple times they can develop an uneasiness to interact socially.  The quote shows the effects of being told what’s wrong so many times, illustrating how it can make a person just give up on their aspirations’ completely.  The quote can also express the fear of expressing one’s self, due to social anxieties or fear of conflict. As a person gets older they’re core beliefs and morals change, the quote, “The core has gotten soft,” puts that idea into a good perspective.

Minor Threat puts life in a different veiw, where either you live to die or live to live. The lines “But I stay on, I stay on Where do I get off? On to greener pastures,” can represent the many followers of religion, who set aside their true goals to dedicate their lives to making it into heaven. It describes the many people who believe every story and follow every law, no matter how brutal. The same people who live a whole life of worship only to make it to heaven.

One of the key messages to this song is to savor time. Life goes by fast and there is no way to go back. Minor Threat criticizes society for wasting time in the quote,” Look at us today We've gotten soft and fat Waiting for the moment, Its just no coming back”.  This statement illustrates how lazy our society has become from the lack of effort. It is symbolized to “Dwell upon our memories,“and sit around waiting for excitement gets us nowhere. Life is what you make it, not how you made it. The passage emphasizes the importance of living each day to the fullest no matter what age. People don’t get anything accomplished waiting around living in memories. The blunt statement,” It’s just no coming back,” explains there is no way to relive your good times. In the excerpt, “Wishing for the days when I first wore this suit,” the desire to be reborn and relive ones childhood is expressed. The word “wished” was used to emphasize that it’s not possible in reality.  No matter how hard you try theirs no going back to the past.

Minor Threat articulates the importance of living life to one’s own standards. Wasting time worrying what other people think can keep a person from accomplishing they’re true desires. In the last line, “there are no facts,” Minor Threat emphasizes the fact that there is no right way to have fun. If someone has fun robbing people they are still having fun. It doesn’t matter how society looks at it, as long as it feels fun to you, than you are having fun. The same goes for beliefs, If it feels right to you than follow it to the end.

In conclusion, Minor Threat’s “Salad Days” describes the end of youth. The pressures and desires of everyday life in this sensitive time are explained both upfront and paradoxically. They signify the importance of making each day memorable and not looking back.

CJ Tried to Steal My Shit.

Trust cannot be learned through books, it can only be learned through experience. How a friend acts in your view cannot solely justify your trust for them. I remember an experience when I was betrayed by a trusted acquaintance. The experience forced me to question my view of who should be considered a friend. It all begun with an ignored phone call moments before ending my shift at Johnny Rockets, the tiny little malt shop perched in the center of Meadows Mall. Before the call was received it felt like any other summer day. I was casually working in the back room dumping loads of spattered dishes into the tiny dishwasher. The blue slip resistant floor holding the soles of my shoes as I stood by the massive three tub sink, It’s tainted stainless steel cut off by the dirty off-white walls. It was only a few minutes until closing and I was almost complete. I had been there for at least eight hours constantly gathering and cleaning random dishware. It was no surprise that all I could think about was clocking out, how hopefully I could skate to the bus stop in time. After dumping a load of glasses into the dishwasher and my cell phone begins vibrating. I let the phone rumble as I remind myself of the form I signed earlier in the day and how the new policy strictly prohibited cell phone usage.

Grabbing a cart full of waste, I began sprinting toward the dumpster, drifting and swerving past obstacles in my way. I jumped in the air as I slam through the double doors, flashing into the dimly lit hallway. The dozens of dark holes adorning it’s sheet rock walls. I veer left and push the final doors open reaching the dumpsters. I stop the cart and grab the one black bag and two smaller white bags. The giant half full dumpster relaxes it’s disgusting mixture, the softening heat radiating from every square inch of its steel being. As I step closer and toss the bags into the behemoth, I gag from the horrible stench radiating from the opening. I jump back in disgust breathing the untainted air to relieve my nausea. I grab the cart and reenter the building and run back to the restaurant, quickly entering the door upon arrival. Hurriedly, I began unbuttoning my soiled uniform. As I stood struggling with the sleeves I become frustrated and rip off the shirt, breaking the still latched buttons. I grab my skateboard and run to the register, clocking out at nine forty two.

             I burst out of the doors and throw my board to the asphalt below, and with one swift push I proceed to haul ass. I push harder and harder hoping that if I go fast enough I just might catch the bus. For about five minutes I ride with no breaks and no sidewalks, while traffic blazes past me on my left. Eventually, I become too tired to keep the pace up any longer. I stop kicking and start to slow.    Reaching into my right pocket I pull out my portable phone hoping I had time to spare. As the LCD screen flickered on the phone read “1missed call”. I then press the small metallic button in the center of the directional pad telling the phone I want more info.  The screen changes to a new page reading a missed call from an old acquaintance of mine Cj. After pressing the end button, the screen flashes back to the home screen. The date and time typed on the lower half of the screen. I read the time only to realize it was nine forty eight and I had two minutes to get to the bus stop. I freak out and close my phone, quickly placing it in my left pocket. I begin riding faster and faster, only to realize how fatigued I am, my chest stinging with each new breath. I continue pushing past the pain, increasing my effort with each movement. My wheels rattle as I slam my foot back striking the smooth asphalt below. I insist on trying to roll faster but the reality was that my pace was slowing with each burst of effort.  Suddenly I see the bus approximately hundred feet away, accelerating past the newly greened light. It steamed across street I was riding on so viciously, stopping at the people ridden bus stop. The doors fling open and the passengers start boarding the bus. ”STOP!! HOLD THE BUS!!” I scream at the figures lined up by the door of the bus, only to be ignored. I frantically start kicking as hard and fast as I possibly could, feeling pain with every kick and every breath.  I finally reach Decatur taking a sharp right into the lane of traffic and as I do this the buses’ doors close. I use my last bit of energy and smash along the left side of deuce swerving in its path. The bus driver gives me an angered look as he opens the door and I quickly jump off my board only to board the bus. Still wheezing I swipe my transit card and walk up the stairs, sitting down in the back of the bus. I rested my board on the seat to my right next to the window. After catching my breath I begin to relax, feeling as if the day’s ordeals have ended.

            As I arrive at my house at around ten fifteen I am surprised by a mongoose bike strung about on my lawn, the torn piece of tape with “el presidente” written in sharpie peeling of the frame. Confused, I continue walking down the patio toward the door glancing at the unlit bathroom window on my right. A smiling figure, which I assume was my little sister stands staring at me. I continue into my house greeting my mother. I question her about the owner of the bike sitting so precariously upon our lawn. Confused and tired I walk up the stairs into my room only to see my glass water pipe lying on my bed with a large water puddle. Angry at the site I ask my mom if she went in my room and she denies it. Believing her I assume my little sister might be the culprit. I open her door abruptly and see her passed out on her bed. I ask her if she had been in my room and she denied it in a sleep like tone. Frustrated, I continue talking to my mom about the situation, and suddenly Cj walks out of my bathroom with a mischievous smile on his face. His long greasy hair running down his back touched his black Bevis and Butthead t-shirt.

            Cj was an acquaintance of mine, but now he seemed shady. Immediately we confront him, and assault him with questions, only to receive cryptic messages in a heavy accent. We ask him why he was in our house and he replied that he thought I was home. Furious my mom kicks him out of the house and I follow to hopefully get the real story. He continues nervously answering my barrage of questions, not really giving me any info. I ask him about the pungent water puddled around my floor and he tells me he spilled it accidentally while observing my “piece’s” beauty. He honestly thought he did no harm. Frustrated, I instruct Cj to wait while I clean the resinous water spill caused by his stupidity.

            After coming back outside I saw that Cj had left and my friends Devon and Dakota were waiting in his place.  I tell them the story and they inform me of how when they arrived Cj looked extremely nervous, and how he left just as they arrived. Nothing in my room was missing so I just thought it was some kind of cultural difference. As we proceed to smoke and skate up the street we discussed the situation and what I should do. My phone begun vibrating, interrupting my speech. I answered the phone call addressed from my mom. She stated how she discovered evidence in our backyard. She told me of a bag with a name scrawled on the outer canvas sitting on a table in our backyard. Our Nintendo Wii and all its games filled the backpack to the brim. She told me how she also found a bag full of change dumped from a small change bucket standing on a dresser in my room. Upon hearing this, my engines were started. It was all the info I need to pursue the ordeal previously faced. I began discussing the newly found information with Devon and Dakota. We then began discussing whether we should just go to his house to get his address or maybe convince him to “kick it” which would seal his fate. I then took out my phone and dialed his number and to my surprise I called his moms phone instead.

            The Robbers mother, unaware of her son’s rotten escapades, greeted me in a heavy accent while answering her mysterious cellphone call.

“Hey, where’s Cj?”I questioned bluntly

            ”Deis isn't his phone number, cull Cj's cellphone if you wanuh reach em,”

I took a deep breath, and began to speak in a calm casual voice.

            ”oh well just to let you know about twenty minutes ago I caught your son trespassing in my home and trying to rob us,” 

I explained the bag only to discover it was her name written on its face. Like a water jet drilling a giant sponge, constant shock and loads of information ripped at her thought process. She was dead quiet.  I proceeded to threaten her with exaggerated prison terms, and tease her with false promises of leniency.

“So If I could have your address me and my friends are going to skate to your house to call the police.” I took a short pause to allow her to regain her composure.

”Maybe if you get your son to turn himself in, he won't receive too heavy of a charge.”

There was no clear response on the other line as she discussed the information with a man in the background.

            “Here eez Cj's number,” Shouted the man in the background.

He yelled numbers at Cj's mother as she relayed them each to me individually. In her heavy accent, she told me his full number before she quickly hung up the phone. 

            Frustrated we continued west up Lone Mountain toward Jones, and too thirsty to continue, I entered the 7-eleven on the corner while my friends waited by the door. I walked down the aisle towards the cooler, opening the transparent door and grasping a can of Arizona green tea. After purchasing the drink I exit the building and stop next to Devon and Dakota waiting by the door. I pull out my cell phone and begin dialing Cj's real number. I placed the receiver beside my ear and prepared myself for the worst. When he answered I began telling him what the situation has become and how I had the police involved.  He immediately became frightened. He kept trying to convince me that he was sorry. He told me that I never have to talk to him again, but I didn't buy it. I told him if he didn't want to go to prison he would meet us at his house to turn himself in to the police. Like a mouse trapped in a snake’s aquarium, he agreed, hoping to avoid extreme consequences.

            We Left the corner store and continued riding North down Jones, passing the arena like church muffling the area. We skated for about two miles and reaching his neighborhood just south of Ann road. I turned left into his neighborhood and the first right down a dimly lit street. We screeched to a halt in front the one story house covered in vines and surrounded by shrubbery. The gate held up by a single bungee cord, swaying back and forth as the chalk like rocks crunched below. I text the address to my mom and wait for her reply. About fifteen minutes after we arrive Cj pulls up on his stolen bike.

            “Why did you do it scumbag?” I said mockingly.

            “ I wasn't trying to rob you man. I was just seeing if you were home...,”

He paused for what seemed like twenty seconds as he watched the dusty concrete gutter at his feet.

”If I took your stuff I would have just, kinda, borrowed it, ”

            ”If you were going to borrow it then why were you hiding in my bathroom with the lights shut off?” 

            ”I wasn't hiding. I had…to use the restroom,”

            “Why would the lights be off if you were going to the bathroom, tell me that, huh?”

            “I always piss and shit in the dark... me.. me and  my step dad do it all the time in my house... so I.. I.. do it at other people’s houses too,“ he murmured.

 I busted out with laughter; it was the most bullshit explanation I have ever heard. I began unleashing my thoughts on the subject, telling him that he needed to get his life situated. He told me how his best friends started ditching him and that he never had a group to hang out with. He said I was always busy and never answer his calls, and that I never ask him if he wanted to skate. He continued telling me how maybe he wanted to also. Saddened by his confessions I advised him that his predicament was no reason to rob anybody. After that no words were exchanged.

            Since reaching Cjs residence we waited about two hours for the North Las Vegas police to arrive. Cj turned himself in, and I wrote my statement. After thanking the cop I began skating back toward the direction of my home, sore and sleepy. I entered my dark house at one thirty on the Wednesday morning and walked clumsily up the stairs tripping on my loosened jeans. I felt as if I was the criminal. Maybe I shouldn’t have called the police I thought to myself. I guess there is no real trust in this world. As long as people are free thinking they can’t be trusted.