1. We are trying to figure what it means to be deviant here in our community and how people react and respond to it. If we do not test the boundaries of deviance, then we will never know how much we can get away with and what the punishments are to those who cross those boundaries. For the most part our experiment is exploratory because we are exploring un-charted waters with people who aren’t expecting it.
2. The only things we need to really enforce when going into our experiments are that it should not look planned and that the victims don’t see the camera that I’m filming with. If they see a camera or our experiment looks rehearsed then they are going to assume were just a bunch dumb kids fooling around and won’t take us seriously. As for variables that are necessary and available, all we need is a camera, a sneaky filmer, and a gutsy daredevil.
3. We are planning on doing two experiments; the first is that we approach someone sitting alone at star bucks with a lot of unoccupied seats and invade their space. So while they are enjoying their coffee and solitude we will sit directly with them.
Hypothesis 1. We assume that at first they will suggest that the students go sit at one of the many seats available. If we persist they will eventually give in. Our second experiment was to try to bargain with a von’s cashier. SO instead of paying money we offer to give them something like a pen or even an I.O.U.
Hypothesis 2. The cashier will flat out say no and we will keep spewing out offers and they will keep refusing. We assume that because people value their personal space and will fight for it and because it is against the law to get paid with anything but money.
4. The reason that this is experiment is suited for the initinal question is because we were really testing peoples boundaries and their tipping point. The subjects that we choose to do our expermint were the avarge american workers/consumers and that is why we used a vons cashier and a starbucks consumer. It is very likely that our subjects’ reactions will translate over to all other American cashiers and average consumers.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Salton Sea Madness
What to do About That Puddle of Filth Known as: The Salton Sea The Salton Sea was once one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state of California. It was teeming with wildlife from shore to shore and thousands of came to see this majestic sea in the desert. Unfortunately it has become a near-environmental disaster. Almost no one wants to claim responsibility for its demise and more importantly, it seems like no one wants to step up to the plate to restore the sea. The Salton Sea is vital to the future of southern California and any restoration effort would be worth the trouble.
The Salton Sea was created in 1905 when massive snow melt and rainfall caused the Colorado River to breach a dike and flood the Salton Sink (a basin in south-east California). For years afterwards the Salton Sea was a popular attraction, bringing thousands of tourists to its shores to witness its splendor. However, because the Salton Sea's main inflow is from agricultural runoff ( disgusting water filled to the brim with pollutants) the Sea became more and more uninhabitable. Seaside towns and resorts became less and less populated and by the mid 1980's the Sea had been abandoned by society. Only the most reclusive people remain in the seaside towns that are now eroded and rundown, accompanied by only the thousands of dead fish carcasses and migratory birds.
The Salton Sea's salinity is rising at a rate of about 1% a year. This is mainly because there is no outflow. The Sea simply stagnates and eventually evaporates. Because of the rising salinity, thousands of fish die each year. The only fish that can still be found in the lake are Tilapia. The sea is also a major haven for migratory birds such as the American White Pelican. If the rest of the Tilapia in the sea die than their will be no food left for the migratory birds. As you can imagine this is not a good scenario for the migratory birds. If the state of California does not act and allows the Salton Sea to effectively rot there are some major scenarios that could play out. If the Sea continues to evaporate at it's current rate than this could create major problems for Southern California's air quality. This is because pollutants generally sink to the bottom of the lake, and if the bottom of the lake is exposed than desert winds will blow these pollutants towards major population centers ( imagine Los Angeles with even more smog). The airborne pollutants would also blow through Palm Springs; a major tourist attraction and resort, resulting in less tourism and therefore less revenue for California.
Politicians have been squabbling over the fate of the Salton Sea for decades. The few who say that they will do something about it usually do not have much support, meaning most people do not care much about the sea. However, time is running short and some critical decisions must be made about the future of the Sea. Some independent organizations have concluded that the best way to restore the sea would be a pipe in/out system, which would pump high salinity water out to the gulf of Mexico and pump lower salinity water into the Salton Sea. This would bring the overall salinity down and help preserve the remaining fish population as well as the migratory birds. Now some may argue that the pipe in/out idea is too expensive and that our tax dollars are going to waste and all that hoohah. Those who argue this point need to be informed that our tax dollars would not be going to waste because restoring the Salton sea would actually pay for itself in the long run. If the Salton sea is restored than it could become the popular tourist haven it once was. If resorts and casinos can be built on the shores of the sea than this would attract large numbers of people. This would generate millions of dollars of revenue for the state of California and those who are apathetic towards the fate of the Salton Sea would realize the stupidity of their initial assessment. The Salton sea is a valuable asset to the great state of California and even to the United States. Without the Sea, thousands of fish and birds will face extinction. The Sea's fate will affect the environment around it as well as millions of Californians.
Any restoration effort would be well worth the time and would eventually benefit our state economy. The Salton Sea has the potential to return to what it once was; A jewel in the desert, but only if Californians decide that it is worth their time.
The Salton Sea was created in 1905 when massive snow melt and rainfall caused the Colorado River to breach a dike and flood the Salton Sink (a basin in south-east California). For years afterwards the Salton Sea was a popular attraction, bringing thousands of tourists to its shores to witness its splendor. However, because the Salton Sea's main inflow is from agricultural runoff ( disgusting water filled to the brim with pollutants) the Sea became more and more uninhabitable. Seaside towns and resorts became less and less populated and by the mid 1980's the Sea had been abandoned by society. Only the most reclusive people remain in the seaside towns that are now eroded and rundown, accompanied by only the thousands of dead fish carcasses and migratory birds.
The Salton Sea's salinity is rising at a rate of about 1% a year. This is mainly because there is no outflow. The Sea simply stagnates and eventually evaporates. Because of the rising salinity, thousands of fish die each year. The only fish that can still be found in the lake are Tilapia. The sea is also a major haven for migratory birds such as the American White Pelican. If the rest of the Tilapia in the sea die than their will be no food left for the migratory birds. As you can imagine this is not a good scenario for the migratory birds. If the state of California does not act and allows the Salton Sea to effectively rot there are some major scenarios that could play out. If the Sea continues to evaporate at it's current rate than this could create major problems for Southern California's air quality. This is because pollutants generally sink to the bottom of the lake, and if the bottom of the lake is exposed than desert winds will blow these pollutants towards major population centers ( imagine Los Angeles with even more smog). The airborne pollutants would also blow through Palm Springs; a major tourist attraction and resort, resulting in less tourism and therefore less revenue for California.
Politicians have been squabbling over the fate of the Salton Sea for decades. The few who say that they will do something about it usually do not have much support, meaning most people do not care much about the sea. However, time is running short and some critical decisions must be made about the future of the Sea. Some independent organizations have concluded that the best way to restore the sea would be a pipe in/out system, which would pump high salinity water out to the gulf of Mexico and pump lower salinity water into the Salton Sea. This would bring the overall salinity down and help preserve the remaining fish population as well as the migratory birds. Now some may argue that the pipe in/out idea is too expensive and that our tax dollars are going to waste and all that hoohah. Those who argue this point need to be informed that our tax dollars would not be going to waste because restoring the Salton sea would actually pay for itself in the long run. If the Salton sea is restored than it could become the popular tourist haven it once was. If resorts and casinos can be built on the shores of the sea than this would attract large numbers of people. This would generate millions of dollars of revenue for the state of California and those who are apathetic towards the fate of the Salton Sea would realize the stupidity of their initial assessment. The Salton sea is a valuable asset to the great state of California and even to the United States. Without the Sea, thousands of fish and birds will face extinction. The Sea's fate will affect the environment around it as well as millions of Californians.
Any restoration effort would be well worth the time and would eventually benefit our state economy. The Salton Sea has the potential to return to what it once was; A jewel in the desert, but only if Californians decide that it is worth their time.
Letter to Congress
Dear Congressman Filner,
I am writing to you about my concern s for the future of the Salton Sea and how I fear it may affect southern California, possibly for the worst but hopefully for the best. As you may know the Salton Sea is on it's way out, the future of the sea and it's wildlife population is grim. As you also may know, many ideas have been proposed about what to do with the sea however none of them have gotten much support. I am asking you to make the Salton Sea a top priority. I understand the state of California is currently having financial problems and that federal funding is not the best option right now but I believe that any work done to restore the Salton Sea would benefit the not only the environment of Imperial county as well as southern California but also our local economy. With the Salton Sea restored through a pipe in/out system, it could be turned into a tourist attraction that would attract possible investors wishing to turn the Sea into a resort area that would offer the best inland fishing and boating area in southern California. In the long run this would boost our local economy and would hopefully benefit our beautiful state. The choice is yours Congressman and I hope you do whatever is in your power invest in our future. Thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely,
Zack Farrell
I am writing to you about my concern s for the future of the Salton Sea and how I fear it may affect southern California, possibly for the worst but hopefully for the best. As you may know the Salton Sea is on it's way out, the future of the sea and it's wildlife population is grim. As you also may know, many ideas have been proposed about what to do with the sea however none of them have gotten much support. I am asking you to make the Salton Sea a top priority. I understand the state of California is currently having financial problems and that federal funding is not the best option right now but I believe that any work done to restore the Salton Sea would benefit the not only the environment of Imperial county as well as southern California but also our local economy. With the Salton Sea restored through a pipe in/out system, it could be turned into a tourist attraction that would attract possible investors wishing to turn the Sea into a resort area that would offer the best inland fishing and boating area in southern California. In the long run this would boost our local economy and would hopefully benefit our beautiful state. The choice is yours Congressman and I hope you do whatever is in your power invest in our future. Thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely,
Zack Farrell
Raiders of the Lost PCP
Raiders of the Lost PCP
Eight Police cruisers clog up the narrow neighborhood street, making no effort to park their vehicles. Each officer stands outside their car with confused looks on their face as they watch a twenty-something man walk in circles in the middle of the street. He flails his arms wildly while making incoherent noises, only stopping occasionally to peel off an article of clothing. Each officer maintains a ten-foot distance, shooting confuses glances at one another. The officers know he is hallucinating because of some kind of illicit substance, but are unsure as to what exactly that could be. Suddenly the hallucinating man wobbles over to a thick wooden fence and punches right through it, breaking every bone in his hand. He then turns to the officers, screams some more incoherent babble and walks towards them. He is completely oblivious to his broken hand, which now hangs limply by his side. One officer pulls out her tazer and fires at his stomach, only to look in amazement as he continues as though nothing happened. A tazer would normally put down even the toughest guys, but this hallucinator has not even flinched. Finally the officers rush the hallucinating man in unison, and immobilize him. However it takes all eight officers to do it, because the man's superhuman strength and his inability to feel any pain.
The hallucinating man in the story above was high on PCP ( phencyclidine) a powdered street drug that is known for being one of the most hardcore and dangerous drugs on the street. It is a white powder that is water soluble. This powder is typically snorted, smoked, or injected.7 Strong doses of this drug can result in one hallucinating, inability to feel pain, increased stamina and strength, and feeling removed from one's own body. In order for someone to understand PCP they should probably know of it's history and how it has come to be what it is today.
PCP (Phencyclidine) is an dissociative anesthesia that was first synthesized in 1926. Nothing significant was done with PCP until 1956 when it was studies to see if it could be used for medical purposes. Initial tests done on animals indicated that it may be effective as an anesthetic. PCP was first tested on humans intravenously before they underwent surgery. However, after surgery the patients were reported to be having problems such as slurred speech, delirium, hallucinations, agitation, and disorientation. Hallucinations typically resulted in a feeling of weightlessness and and feeling removed from the body. However, despite popular belief PCP is not a hallucinogen like LSD because it takes large doses to create hallucinations. PCP is highly addictive and many users have very difficult times kicking their addictions once hooked. Long-term effects of PCP include weight loss, difficulties with memory, and depression. These symptoms may continue for a year after users have stopped taking the drug.
In the late 1960's PCP hit the streets of San Francisco. Most users did not know much about the drug and as a result the subsequent effects came as a rather unpleasing surprise. It did not take long for PCP to gain a bad reputation and many drug users stayed away from it. However the drug was sold to users across the country in a power or liquid form. Drug dealers started mixing PCP with Marijuana to produce very strong effects as well. Because most drug users at the time steered clear of PCP, drug dealers tricked many inexperienced users into buying PCP, telling them it was another drug. The side effects of PCP were described to be a living death for these users and many incorrect assumed they were dying or had been poisoned. Throughout the 1970's, a string of very bizarre PCP-related death's occurred. Many of them were incredibly brutal ( such as peeling one's own skin off or severing certain body parts) that PCP was removed from the markets. Now illicit laboratories had become the sole source of PCP.
PCP today is known as one of the most dangerous drugs on the market. It is still fairly common for dealers to mix PCP with other drugs in order to trick drug users, who unfortunately find out there drugs were mixed the hard way. Oddly enough PCP use peaked in 1979 when the prevalence rate was 14% lifetime use amongst High school senors and young adults aged 18-29. By 1992 lifetime use had shrunk to 2% amongst the same group. It seems as though most people have caught on to what PCP really is and it's horrible psychologically and physically damaging effects. In order for PCP use to be curbed even more, people must be educated as to what PCP is. Many people who are not familiar with the drug may try it without knowing what they are getting into. Since PCP is less popular then cocaine and heroin it is not talked about too much. However, it is much more dangerous then both of these drugs and preventive steps must be taken in order to create as close to a PCP-free society as possible.
Fortunately for today's youth PCP is no longer a widely used drug, however an estimated two out of one-hundred high school senors will have tried PCP at least once, again probably because they were unaware of it's horrible effects. If the youth are the generation of the future then it would make sense to invest in them and help educate them about drugs such as PCP. A safer and cleaner America is right over the horizon, but it can only be reached it we work together and invest in the next generation of good Americans.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Green party
So the party that my views are most closely aligned with is the Green party. yes the party of ummmmmm Nader haha. Well hes a funny guy. Anyway so the green party is this super liberal party that believes in all kids of great stuff, like gender equality, universal healthcare, localized government, and other great things. I dont remember the party's platform exactly but I do remember agreeing with most of it.
Politcal party
If I could register than I would register as an Independent just because I dont want political mail. According to this survey I took in your class my views are closely in line with that of the green party. I am pretty comfortable with the Democratic party on most issues so I do not have a problem supporting them. I think the two party system has gotten kind of old though, I would like to see a viable third party candidate in the future but I doubt that will happen.
Issues I care about most
Foreign Policy: This is a big one. Our foreign policy position during the Bush Administration has been such an effing joke. Seriously its horrible. We have said and done all the wrong things. Invading Iraq, pissing off Iran and Russia, being too tough when we dont need to be, and overall waving the flag of democracy when it is clear that we only care about oil. The rest of the world sees right through it and I think most Americans are catching on too. So I believe that we need to have a much more cautious foreign policy during the Obama Administration. I think he is going to be much better about that.
Immigration is also a big deal for me. I believe it is unfair for us to deport illegal immigrants when all they are trying to do is make a decent living. People like Rush Limbaugh talk about how Illegal Immigrants are all criminals and dirty but they are pretty honest hardworking people. They dont come here because they want to but because they have few other options. I believe that some kind of Amnesty is the best way to go or even the "path to citizenship" program. Whatever it takes to allow these people to become legal citizens because most of them would probably like to be recognized as Americans and not looked down on as "illegal aliens".
Healthcare: It's about time that the United States adopts some kind of Universal healthcare system . The rest of the free world has done it so why cant we. it works well in Canada and Europe but Americans dont seem to like it because it might raise our taxes or make government too big. Government is already big and its not like any Conservative schemes are going to make it smaller. Anyway too many millions of people do not have healthcare and they are hardworking decent people who deserve healthcare. So I hope to god that Barack Obama can bring that to us.
Immigration is also a big deal for me. I believe it is unfair for us to deport illegal immigrants when all they are trying to do is make a decent living. People like Rush Limbaugh talk about how Illegal Immigrants are all criminals and dirty but they are pretty honest hardworking people. They dont come here because they want to but because they have few other options. I believe that some kind of Amnesty is the best way to go or even the "path to citizenship" program. Whatever it takes to allow these people to become legal citizens because most of them would probably like to be recognized as Americans and not looked down on as "illegal aliens".
Healthcare: It's about time that the United States adopts some kind of Universal healthcare system . The rest of the free world has done it so why cant we. it works well in Canada and Europe but Americans dont seem to like it because it might raise our taxes or make government too big. Government is already big and its not like any Conservative schemes are going to make it smaller. Anyway too many millions of people do not have healthcare and they are hardworking decent people who deserve healthcare. So I hope to god that Barack Obama can bring that to us.
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