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.

5 tips to getting over writers block

Writers block can be most devastating, especially when something is due the next day. Why keep suffering from this issue? Get yourself cured of your writers block by following my 5 easy to do exercises.


1. Change your perception.
         Do what you can to change how you perceive situations. Emulate something that is not oneself, create another state of mind.

2. Move
          Exercise improves blood flow, which insures that your mind stays alert. Don't get tired and lazy, get up and move.

3.Take mushrooms
          Taking mushrooms is something that everyone should do in their life. Mushrooms can unlock an incredible amount of creativity and will make your life better in the long run as well.

4.Create art
          Stimulate your creativity by being creative. Making music, drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. will get your creative juices flowing and make writing a breeze.

5.Be wierd
          Nothing says creative like some weird shit.




There you are fellow interwebbers and human beings. Let me know how the shrooms work out for yah. Feel free to donate, I really need a new car.

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>

Adderall Review

  I was diagnosed with ADD by a psychologist while in high school. My physician asked me a couple of questions and prescribed me with Adderall XR 20mg. I weighed around 155-160. I took the pills and I did a lot better in school, but something was not right. The pills I was prescribed depleted me of my personality and made me feel like a living zombie. Soon after being prescribed Adderall I  stopped taking it. I hated being a zombie. So many things that I loved about life lost their luster. Being a zombie was not in my agenda so I dumped Adderall like a ton of bees.
  After high school I enrolled in my local college and I realized that I may have needed those pills more than I thought I did. I could not sit still in my classes unless I was deprived of sleep or stoned. My math class was the worst though. I was obnoxious and fidgety. I recall one class I was full of so much energy that I had to leave the class and skateboard around the campus as an attempt to calm myself. It did not work.
  The next semester I tried to prepare myself. I went to the doctor and asked for my prescription again. I was given the same Adderall XR 20mg as last time. I realized that the pills worked extremely well at first, they improved my social anxiety. During the semester I earned all A's which was the same as I earned my first semester. I studied more than I ever have in my life. I started reading. I met a lot of cool people. It felt as if the pills were helping me improve myself.
  After taking the pills for over a month I started to relise the cost of my improvement. The pills caused my appetite to vanish completely. I was so busy with what I was doing I would forget to eat. I had to try and schedule meals because I was never hungry. The pills also made eating unenjoyable. Eating food felt more like work than an enjoyable activity.
 Adderall also made sleeping extremely difficult. I would spend nights laying in bed waiting for hours to fall asleep. After I fell asleep I would wake up more than 3 hours earlier than I normally would. Adderall is a drug that you cannot take everyday. You have to have days were you can catch up on sleep and fatten up a bit.
  Adderall would make you extremely thirsty all the time. My mouth felt dry as a cotton swab and water would never fix it. I would drink 50,000ml of water while in school for 6 hours. I would urinate constantly. It got to the point were urinating begin to hurt. I did some research and it is shown that Adderall can cause urinary tract infections.

  To conclude this article, Adderall can be great for improving yourself but it comes at a price, and that price is your health. Adderall will take away all of your favorite things in life sex, food, sleep, sanity and enjoyment. Take this drug only if you truly need it and if you are thinking of taking Adderall for recreation think again, its not worth it.

Geneder roles and stereotypes

Gender roles

Stereotypes of Gender

-       Male

-       Female

-       Gay male

-       Gay female

***Stereotypes are usually derived from truth***

Do we have gender roles?

Put at least one stereotype for all.

The Modification Of Social-Phobic Behaviors

TL;DR
Read Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of this behavior modification is to reduce symptoms of social anxiety. Methods used to modify the negative behavior associated with this disorder will be: positive thinking, progressive relaxation, and the use of a random webcam chat website on the Internet to develop interpersonal skills and an immunity to criticism. Social interactions will be compared on the basis of consistency of avoidance, the amount of overwhelming anxiousness, the amount of overwhelming awkwardness, and the rate of successful interaction.  Previously recorded social interactions after being thoroughly analyzed, showed that a wider the range of social experience, and the use of positive thinking in combination with a relaxation technique dramatically increase the rate for a successful interaction.

The Modification of the Mental and Physical Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Introduction

            This study on the modification of several behaviors related to social anxiety disorder, sheds light on working methods to curb the physical and psychological symptoms associated with the disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2010), 15 million American adults age 18 and over, or about 6.8 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have social phobia.  Social anxiety is not a cure overnight disorder; it takes much time, patience, and will power to successfully reduce the physical and psychological symptoms. There are multiple drugs for anxiety but they are only temporary fixes, ”In fact, large-scale, long-range (i.e., longitudinal) studies over the past decade have consistently shown cognitive – behavioral therapy to be the only therapy that can be dependably relied upon to help people overcome clinical anxiety disorders,” explains Thomas A. Richards, Ph.D. (2010). This is why it is very important to relearn ones thought process, and not force it upon ones self. According to Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2010), “Relaxation exercises are easy to learn and implement and can be remarkably effective in addressing stress, test anxiety, all kinds of phobias and other similar concerns,” by using relaxation techniques in the face of physical turmoil, it is possible to once again regain control over one’s mind and body.

What is Social anxiety?

            Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, involves intense fear of certain social situations. Stress caused by social anxiety can be great and effects a person both mentally and physically. The following situations are often stressful for people with social anxiety disorder: interacting socially; in situations involving a large body of people; being teased or criticized; talking with important people or authority figures; attending parties or other social gatherings; interacting with the opposite sex; making phone calls; going on dates; performing on stage; being watched while doing something; making small talk; public speaking; interacting with peers in school and in class; being the center of attention; meeting new people; speaking up in class or in a meeting; and being in a group of people (Smith & Jaffe-Gill, 2010).  Physical symptoms of social anxiety include: an elevated heart rate, muscle tension, muscle spasms, euphoria, sweating, dizziness, clammy hands, rapid breathing, dry mouth, nausea, trembling, blushing, and a lower speaking volume (Smith & Jaffe-Gill, 2010). Social anxiety causes multiple maladaptive emotional behaviors that when left unchecked can make everyday responsibilities difficult. Psychological symptoms may include: depression; low self-esteem; excessive self-consciousness; intense worry for days, weeks, or even months before an upcoming social situation; extreme fear of being watched or judged by others, especially people that you do not know; fear that others will notice that you are nervous; avoidance of social situations; and fear of acting in a way that will embarrass or humiliate yourself (Smith & Jaffe-Gill, 2010).

The avoidance associated with social anxiety can make it difficult for an individual to better ones self, and will in turn lead to a more severe case of anxiety. The constant fear of being exiled and humiliated can make it extremely difficult to interact with other people in a positive manner. The way society views fear as a weakness can add to the anxiety, even if one tries to immerse themselves in social situations, the realization that the person is in a great deal of fear and stress can cause a group to single out the person, causing an even greater deal of worry and apprehension. This effect can cause a vicious cycle that if left unchecked can diminish a person’s psyche.

Method

Practicing Social Interactions from a Comfortable Environment

Simple methods can be used to repress the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety. The practice of training the mind to interact socially and to deal with criticism can be done effectively without any real social consequences by using a webcam chat roulette website such as (http://shufflepeople.woome.com/). This website takes time to find people worth talking to because some men find it amusing to masturbate on camera, but with a little determination one can easily experiment with conversational skills. The beauty of this method is that one is never in harms way, no matter what you say, no matter what the other persons reaction is, there are no consequences. If one feels uncomfortable they can press the next button and start fresh with another person. The website can be described almost like a social videogame, where the goal is to hold a conversation as long as possible, and once the game is lost it can simply be restarted. These interactions will never get physical and there is no community backlash because one will never talk to the person ever again, unless contact information is exchanged. This method would be used for people who are uncomfortable with their conversational skills, and who are looking to test new conversation topics without fear of social rejection.

Progressive Relaxation

Social anxiety can cause a great deal of muscle tension, which in turn may cause an excess of worry. The mind cannot relax unless the body is relaxed as well, “learning to relax lessens the power of negative emotions,“ (Harling & Nyrup, 2005). The practice of progressive relaxation can help an individual understand their otherwise unknown tensions, and help them to obtain a relaxed state. Progressive relaxation is the process of completely tightening individual muscle groups and then completely relaxing them. The process goes through each group of muscles until eventually the entire body is in a completely relaxed state ( Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 2010). Anxiety can cause the body to go Fight or flight mode, mistaking social interaction with a threat. The body does not turn off this reaction until one either conquers the fear or flees. The individual may assume that everybody around them knows they are in this state, and they may multiply the otherwise small threat. If one can learn to relax fully they will be able to stop the fight or flight response that causes great stress in their bodies. Even if a person is psychologically comfortable their psyche can be diminished if their physical being is in turmoil. This illustrates the relations ship between physical and psychological well being. This method will be used to stop some of the physical symptom associated with social anxiety by performing the progressive relaxation technique when one becomes stressed in social situations.

The Use of Positive Thinking

            Negative thinking can be one of the main triggers of a social anxiety attack. Dr. Thomas A. Richards (2010) writes about changing bad habits by "restructuring" the mind by means of disputing irrational thoughts and beliefs and substituting rational thoughts and beliefs in their place. By thinking positive in the face of negativity the negative thoughts will eventually be replaced with positive thoughts. Negative thoughts will decrease ones self-esteem, reduce creativity, create a negative outlook on life, and make an individual magnify stressful situations to the point where it is almost impossible to function. If one thinks negatively they may have an apprehension to state what they truly feel.  This apprehension makes it very difficult to reach goals set by ones self. The goal of this modification will be to restructure ones habits of thinking with the ultimate goal of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. Dr. Thomas A. Richards (2010) explains how it is important, in the cognitive process, to turn the tables on automatic negative thinking slowly. “One should start by replacing automatic negative thoughts and make them rationally neutral,” explains Richards (2010),” this neutral thinking is gradually moved up, always in a step-by-step manner, to a more realistic level,” these slight changes make it less difficult to think positive, because the thoughts are not forced upon ones self. By slowly changing ones thought process the modifications become ingrained. Eventually the automatic negative thoughts will be replaced.

Thinking positive will change ones perception. Instead of expecting yourself to impress other people, it is the other people who should impress you. This change of role will make a person feel more significant. For example, if one is in a large group of attractive people, one should not assume that they are more attractive. By convincing oneself that it is them who is the most attractive person, the feeling of being unwanted and insignificant based on appearance is avoided. This can make it easier to break out of one’s shell and communicate with others more freely without feeling unworthy. This method will be used before and in the process of social interaction. It will be used before to prime ones mind for the challenge ahead, and it will be used during the interaction to keep one from giving up.

Results

            Results are based on the likelihood of the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety dominating a social interaction.  A base line consisting of one week of normal social interaction will be compared with forty-nine days of modification. Several different methods will be tested in the certain social situations that bring about this anxiety. The effectiveness of each method will be measured by comparing similar conditions, one without using any new method and another similar situation using these new methods individually and in combination. The results will be used to find the most effective method of curbing the symptoms of social anxiety. The amount and the degree of symptoms will be compared to determine the success of each method.  My journal was thoroughly analyzed for the following elements: excessive anxiousness or nervousness, excessive awkwardness, and the avoidance of social situations. Successful interactions were based on comfort, lack of worry, and conversation.

By using these methods the likelihood for a successful interaction more than tripled; the likelihood for anxiousness dominating ones thought process after the modification decreased by 12.5%; the likelihood of having an awkward interaction after the modification was only one third of the baseline rate; and the likelihood of avoidance was completely eliminated. Percentages are based on the modification analysis document.

Discussion

            By improving ones conversational skills in an environment devoid of threats, the feeling of awkwardness decreases dramatically. By learning acceptable conversations before hand and testing them in the field, one learns ways to distract other people from the awkwardness of the situation, which in turn makes things less awkward for ones own self. By combining the newly gained experience with positive thinking anxiousness and awkwardness are decreased dramatically. One must ignore the fight or flight response to successfully use these techniques. The fight or flight response can be diminished with a successful relaxation technique. By using the chosen relaxation method, also know as progressive relaxation, one can remain anonymous in their attempt of reaching a relaxed state. This method is great for relieving muscle tension and spasms, and is even more successful when used with positive thinking. This technique helped improve the rate of anxiousness by diminishing it before it got out of hand. By remaining relaxed feelings of awkwardness were dramatically reduced. By using other relaxation techniques such as controlled breathing in combination with progressive relaxation, it is possible to reach an even more relaxed state. By training the mind to stay positive and the body to remain calm it is possible to significantly improve ones life, and with enough experience it will become easy to interact in a normal fashion, making it possible to become successful in the modern world.

References

Hobart and William Smith Colleges. (2010, December 10). HWS: Relaxation Techniques.

Retrieved October 13, 2010, from Hobart and William Smith Colleges Web site: http://www.hws.edu/studentlife/counseling_relax.aspx

Harling, I., & Nyrup, M. (2005). Relaxation. In I. Harling, & M. Nyrup, Slieght of Mind (2nd

Edition ed., pp. 60-65). Denmark: Spellbound.

National Institiute of Mental Health. (2010, December 10). The Numbers Count: Mental

Disorders in America. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) Retrieved November 5, 2010, from National Institiute of Mental Health Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml#Social

Smith, M. ,., & Jaffe-Gill, E. M. (2010, December 10). Social Anxiety Disorder and Social

Phobia: SYMPTOMS, SELF-HELP, AND TREATMENT. Retrieved October 9, 2010, from Help Guide Web site: http://helpguide.org/mental/social_anxiety_support_symptom_causes_treatment.htm#authors

Richards, T. A. (2010, November 19). What is Compreensive Cognitive - Behavioral Therapy.

(The Social Anxiety Institute, Inc.) Retrieved October 9, 2010, from Social Anxiety Institute Web site: http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/ccbtherapy.html