Pollution is one of the single largest threats to our ecosystem today. Things like litter, air pollution, and pesticides have been wreaking havoc on native species and lands. It also has a direct connection to climate change and global warming. This is not news, and most people are aware of how destructive pollution is. Things like atmospheric CO2 levels and sea animals ingesting plastics get a lot of media coverage, but they aren't the only consequences. It's not to say that these things aren't important, but some aspects of pollution (and climate change) go unnoticed by the general public. While there is an obvious connection between ocean litter and plastic content in sea creature's stomachs, not all consequences are so clear-cut. Things like the human impact, the sociological impact, and some elements of the environmental change are beginning to surface. Today, I'd like to share some of the things I find to be particularly saddening.
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AbstractAfter Mary K. was reported missing on October 23, 2018, the forensic team pursued a local recycling center. There, a cooler was disposed by Gerald V., was initially thought to contain the body of Mary K. The team tested the pH of various lakes in order to determine the source of the water sample that was found inside the cooler. The team concluded that the police should search Lake Berryessa because of the lower pH, consistent with the water sample in the cooler. When Elizabeth G’s delivery truck was discovered at the bottom of Lake Berryessa, the team used the kinetic molecular theory to determine that the truck could have been recovered safely without damaging evidence. The delivery truck was then recovered, and various substances inside the truck were tested. Cocaine was found on the inside of the truck, which led the team to believe it had been used by either Larry J.K., and much later in the investigation, Gerald V. Once Mary’s body was recovered, the team used a toxicology analysis to determine her approximate time of death (~24 days before the body was recovered), as well as the dosage of her medical tracer (Iodine-131). We determined that a lethal dosage (>30g) of Iodine-131 was administered. Gerald V, who worked at the medical facility where Mary was receiving her cancer treatments, would easily have been able to poison her. He, in addition to previous convictions, had a history of drug possessions. He had a long-standing relationship with Larry J.K., and may have been using Gladys’ (his mother) truck to traffic drugs. His recent marriage to Elizabeth G. would give him access to the gun used to shoot both Mary and Larry, and he likely had access to the Lake Berryessa home owned by his mother. After reviewing all of the evidence, the forensic team can conclude that the killer of Mary K. was indeed Gerald V. Full Forensic Report1/29/2019 0 Comments What Makes an Effective Closing?Today, I wanted to take a look at what makes a closing effective & powerful, while still being concise. As an example, I will use my edited version of my co-counsel Eilidh's closing statement for our current case (People v. Klein). The elements of this closing are illustrative of the case, and outline the ways in which a closing can communicate a case theory well.
Before I begin, I would like to discuss the elements of the closing. A great closing actually starts with a great opening. In the opening statement, the attorney should communicate the theme and theory behind the case. This theme, whatever it may be, should be proved with witness testimony throughout the trial. At the end of the trial, the closing is used to summarized the testimony of witnesses, and should remind the court of the theme of the trial. In our case, we use the theme of Occam's Razor, the principle that the simplest solution is the most reasonable.
The defendant admits writing the threat (note) and posting it. Motive is not an element of the crime but it is important to this case. Occam’s Razor is the proposition that the simplest explanation is typically the correct explanation. The simplest explanation here is that Defendant had the motive to get Sawyer. The fake Hayden account was created and used to be cruel to Sawyer. Marlow, Cameron, Sawyer, and Defendant all told us that. If the Defendant was angry enough to go to all the work of setting up the fake account to get back at Sawyer, what happens when they lose their job? This theme is brought up multiple times throughout the opening and closing. This helps to show continuity and communication within the team. Next, it is extremely important to include an accurate and extensive summary of valuable witness testimony that was attained during the trial. This is also a great opportunity to tie in the theme, or for the defense, establish doubt. In our case, we mentioned how the victim was threatened by a comment made by the defendant: And we know that Sawyer took these threats seriously. Sawyer testified before you today that this was the first time that something like this had ever happened to him. He didn’t know what to do or how to react. You heard Sawyer testify that he was terrified. In this case, the specific language used (terrified) was vital in both the testimony and the closing. This is where the witness's ability to convey emotion becomes useful. Furthermore, it shows the value of the testimony and how it is important to the case. The attorney should also tie in relevant evidence and even use exhibits to illustrate their point (if they so desire). Perhaps the most important part of an effective closing is the story. Telling a story that's not too brief but not too long, not too biased but not boring either, is a challenging but necessary act and can make or break a closing. The best way to do this (in my personal opinion) is to lay out the facts while weaving in testimony and evidence along the way. These are things that I personally found useful during this Mock Trial season, and it is by no means a complete list. Hopefully next year we'll be able to write even better closings and openings and incorporate what we have learned this year. American Dream DefinitionThe American Dream The American Dream is a subjective concept based on the idea that happiness can be achieved through hard work and dedication, regardless of social status. America, historically, has been referred to as “the land of opportunity”, and early notions of the American Dream (take Truslow’s original definition, for example) is an abject fulfillment of this concept. He defines is as “the dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone”. In this case, a “better” life is defined on an individual level. Some Americans value material objects, while others seek emotional or personal validation. My personal “American Dream” is vastly different from the traditional characterization. For me, it is an intersectional and inclusionary community that would reflect my values. While a common definition involves “working hard and becoming successful” (Merriam-Webster), I don’t value material or career success in the same way that others might. In some regard, a ‘dream’ is indicative of a personality more so than values. Someone who seeks emotional fulfillment might dream to have a loving family. Another, who seeks economic security, might dream to be rich. This is why a common understanding of the American Dream “consists of tenets about achieving success” (J.L. Hochschild), as success can be measured in many different ways. In a way, to define the American Dream, you have to define success on a personal level as well. For me, success wouldn’t necessarily be achieving my dream, but would be something very close. My dream is a functional, connected community that is rooted in respect for the environment and a mutual respect of its inhabitants. This community, however, is more theoretical than anything else. What’s significantly more consequential is the motivational impact of the dream. Some people, like myself, use the concept of a dream to motivate them, while others are more focused on achieving tangible results. In either regard, dreams are an effective motivational tool that can to guide someone throughout their life. My American Dream CollageMy collage is an abstract, almost dada-esque depiction of my american dream. It’s a commune, which is reflective of my political ideology, and is ecocentric, which communicates my personal values. There are other elements of my personality that reveal themselves in my collage. Take for example, the presence of Alison Bechdel, a well-known author and creator of the Bechdel Test, whom I idolize. While the nature of the collage is somewhat esoteric, it symbolizes the most crucial part of my American Dream: community. I took influence from Hannah Hoch, particularly her pieces Cut with the Dada Kitchen Knife through the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultural Epoch in Germany (1919) and Das schöne Mädchen [The Beautiful Girl] (1920). The gross disorganization and sheer volume of the elements of her work are what I wanted to incorporated into my collage. Overall, the collage is meant to convey my American Dream (again, a cooperative community) through symbolic and abstract means.
11/30/2018 0 Comments Native American StrugglesDoes Native American history and culture teach us lessons that can help reduce the enormous potential for ethnic and religious conflict in today’s world?
Native Americans have a massive history and culture, but for a long time it has been overlooked or erased by western colonialism. Today, Native Americans live in poverty on reservations in remote parts of the country. Native American history is rarely taught in schools, and their languages are almost lost. Most Native Americans suffer from alcoholism and are unemployed. The oppression of Native Americans was perpetuated by President Andrew Jackson, with his Indian Removal Act which would lead to the death of over 4,000 natives. Native Americans would not gain their citizenship until 1924, and would still be forced to live on indian reservations. This type of consistent repression of human rights is a play right out of the imperialist's handbook: invade, oppress, and forget. But this type of conflict is different from the more direct examples. There was never a massacre or a genocide, but rather a denial of rights over hundreds of years. This teaches us that sometimes the worst outcome of colonialism isn't always death, but rather the destruction of a culture and people with a millennium of history. How have major wars throughout United States history affected women voices in writing?
In Many Sisters To Many Brothers, Mary Macaulay outlines her experience as a woman during WWI. While many incapable men were allowed to fight on the front lines, women were reduced to staying at home and taking care of children. Kind of like how instead of studying something interesting, we’re reduced to writing blog posts about short stories and poems. Mary describes a desire to fight, but isn’t permitted to because of her gender. The following lines illustrate this: “Was there a scrap or ploy in which you, the boy, Could better me? You could not climb higher, Ride straighter, run as quick (and to smoke made you sick) . . . But I sit here, and you're under fire.” It is almost as if she is writing to a young man who she knows well. She knows she is very proficient (in contrast to him), but he is allowed to fight and she is not. This is an injustice that influences her tone, which is almost condescending. She is acknowledging her position in relation to men, and is frustrated by the fact that she isn’t perceived as equal. 10/19/2018 0 Comments Free Write - The Yellow WallpaperHow do societal expectations affect women?
Why are women subjugated by men? Why are their ideas or feelings overlooked? How does it affect someone when they are disregarded? In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Yellow Wallpaper, these questions are addressed through the narrative of a woman during her descent into derangement. She begins the story fairly able-minded, describing her scenario and how her husband makes decisions about her care. She is confined to a room with what she describes as hideous yellow wallpaper, with confusing and irritating patterns. Later in the story, she begins to mention a woman, whom she believes to be trapped behind the wallpaper, creeping around in the shadows. This woman she mentions is likely a metaphor for women everywhere; and the patterns on the wallpaper represent the patterns of expectations that society forces on women. Near the end of the story, she begins to resemble the woman; creeping around the room and biting off the wicked wallpaper. Her husband, who could be held responsible for her madness, is painted as dismissive and self-opinionated. He disregards his wife’s feelings towards the wallpaper, and keeps her in the room so that she can recover from her illness. He treats her like a child, and does not allow her to write. She is reduced to writing in secret, and fills her journal with observations of the room. Where the wallpaper in once instance might represent a cage for women in society, in another it might represent the nature of her husband, and how he traps her in the room. 9/27/2018 0 Comments Molecular LabUpper Left - Vinegar CHOOH
Upper Middle- Methanol CH3OH Upper Right - Glycerol C3H5(OH)3 Middle Left - Hydrogen Cyanide HCN Middle Right - Propane Gas C3H8 Lower Left - Nitrous Oxide N20 Lower Middle - Methane Gas CH4 Lower Left - Ethylene Gas C2H4 @weebly add a super/subscript feature 9/20/2018 0 Comments Cooking In ChemistryIt's rare that anyone thinks about the chemical composition of their food. Most natural ingredients, despite popular knowledge, tend to have a laundry list of obscure chemicals in their composition. For example: did you know that there's tryptophan in corn? Or that there's Manganese, a deadly trace element, in black pepper? (Granted, it's a very small, non-lethal amount.) Cooking food, on the other hand, was not as easy or exciting (for me personally). We made Lumpia, which is a Filipino version of spring rolls. We didn't have a couple of vital ingredients, including cabbage as well as bean sprouts, and ended up using oyster sauce that was over three years expired (oops!). We had trouble getting our oil up to frying temperature, so our lumpia ended up soggy, oily, and undercooked. Still, we managed to get food cooked and on the plate, which, in my opinion, warrants a success.
3/23/2018 0 Comments Card Game DevelopmentChance of Blood is a fun & strategic card game that allows players to engage with socio political ideologies and provides them with a better fundamental understanding of politics in a historical context. The goal in Chance of Blood is for the player to amass more influence for their ideology than their opponents. Cards will have an effect or point value, and the player may choose to play the card on their self or an opponent. In Chance of Blood, players will utilize cards that mimic the values summarized in their ideology. The game includes 4 ideologies: Capitalism, Communism, Fascism, and Monarchy. Each ideology has different ideals, and those ideals are manifested through a unique array of mechanics. Historical context for the card is provided both in a short summary of the card, and in a booklet that contains larger passages related to each card.
The audience for our game is college educated men and women who are interested in history. The game is intended to be realistic, educational, and fair. Chance of Blood could be used to teach socio-political concepts in an engaging way, or help students to study. It can be played casually or competitively, and is perfect for families and educators. Developing this game has been an interesting experience. There are many things I found more challenging than I initially thought they would be. Things like designing engaging mechanics, implementing feedback, and designing cards have been difficult. There has been much tweaking involved, and due to the size of our group, we sometimes have clashing opinions on how to approach the solution to certain problems. The process as a whole has been long, and I have come to realize why it takes extended periods of time to make a game. Working on this game has enabled me utilize some of the skills I have learned this year. It has also challenged me to improve my skills with software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Designing the artistic elements for this game has been a journey all in itself, but overall I am happy with the concepts we have produced. |
AuthorI'm Sabrina, a student at New Tech High. Archives
April 2019
CategoriesAll After Affects Biology Digital Media Environmental Oceanography Personal Research Tutorial |