Our G&T class recently finished watching Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days: Living on Minimum Wage. It was when Morgan and his fiance Alex spent 30 days living on minimum wage. They locked up all their cards and money, and started off with a week's worth of minimum wage savings ($5.15/hr), which was around $130-150 each. After that, they moved to Ohio because Ohio has 4 out of the 25 poorest U.S. cities within their state.
I think that something that surprised me the most was the hospital bills, and the minimum wage itself. Both Morgan and Alex had to go to the Emergency Room in the same day. For Morgan, just walking into the hospital was over $500..... And an ACE bandage was $40! How crazy is that. Think about how scary those numbers could get for people in poverty living without medical insurance (which is most people in poverty) For Alex, walking into the hospital had been over $100 and her prescribed medicine was over $20. That was something that really surprised me. Why is there any need for the walking in fee to be $500+!?!? Also, the minimum wage surprised me because it hasn't changed in over 7 years. The minimum wage has stayed at around $7, and there are some states that either have no minimum wage law, or have a minimum wage of less than $7.
I think that this was in some way a realistic view of living life on minimum wage. They had to live in an apartment that was in horrible condition because it was the cheapest one, they had rice and beans for most of their meals, they had to go to the free store to get free furniture and supplies, they couldn't get into the free clinic because they couldn't miss work, Morgan worked 2 jobs, they both got injured and had to pay off medical bills.. Even though some people go through much worse, this was still a realistic portrayal of what some people have to go through everyday.
Viewing this episode, I learned a lot about the minimum wage and the conditions of people living in poverty and on minimum wage. I didn't think it would be so bad, to be honest. I didn't think that people would have to work so long for just $50, and I realized that it's much worse for people with children. During this show, I was thinking about how bad it would have been for my family and me if we were living on minimum wage. It was saddening because it showed small parts of parents and children that were living on minimum wage, and single mothers struggling to provide for their children. It was saddening to see all of this going on in a country that actually has some very rich people and areas. People living like this get ignored everyday, and it's sad. There are free stores that they can go to. Free stores that people donate too, even when they themselves don't have much. In the store, Alex was tearing up saying something like, "I forgot that there actually are kind people like this." And it was sad, because so many people can be helping, yet they don't do anything to try to help these people in need.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Google 20% Project
This is the site I'll be using for my project. I'll try to paint using each technque to learn more about painting, more specifically, watercolor painting.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A Photographic Look At Poverty
I think that this picture really got to me because of the description. This 8 year old war-orphaned boy, Faustin Mugisa, has machete scars all over his head and body. Not only that, but he lost all of his family. In this picture, he is standing at the Kizito Orphanage in Bunia in northeastern Congo, February 24, 2009. When ethnic Lendu militiamen hacked to death his mother and 7 siblings in 2003, Faustin was left for dead in a pile of corpses. His father later found him alive and took him to the bush to recover. However, his father was later hacked to death by the same militia group. This picture really got to me, because this little 8 year old boy had to go through so much at such a young age. Losing all of the people he loved, being left for dead, and now growin up in an orphanage. I can't even imagine having to go through any of those events at that age.
(REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly)
I think that this picture got to me because I felt so bad when I scrolled to it. This war orphaned child was sitting in a cardboard box at the Kizito Orphanage. I have younger brothers, so I think this picture got to me because I can't imagine any child to have to be left in a box at an orphanage..
I chose this picture because you can see the bad conditions that this little girl lives in. If you look closely, you can see that her clothes are raggidy, and she only has one shoe. The huts/houses in the back are also not very clean or in good conditions, and her face is spotted with mud and dirt and she definitely doesn't look very happy. The picture also says that she is an Afghan refugee girl.
Waste Land Documentary
As an introduction to our Hunger, Poverty, and War unit, our Gifted and Talented just finished watching the documentary titled, "Waste Land". I thought that this documentary was really touching, and enjoyable to watch. It guided you through the life of the pickers (workers that pick out the recyclable materials), and it focused on a handful of them. The "Waste Land", Jardim Gramacho, was pretty much, a waste land. It was landfill, so it was where all the trash and recylcables were taken to be picked and sorted, and the conditions of course, weren't very good. The pickers created a group called ACAMJG, the Association of Recycling Pickers of Jardim Gramacho. Vik Muniz was able to pick a handful of people to focus on and get closer too, and in the beginning, some of those people enjoyed picking, while others despised it and was ashamed to be called a picker. It was amazing to watch the process of taking the photos, then picking and organizing the waste, to seeing those pickers help and become a part of this huge project. In the end, the artworks became very well-known, and it had changed the lives of those pickers. Not only did they receive money, but when they asked the people that, at first, despised being at Jardim Gramacho, they were able to confidently say that they were proud to be a picker and a part of the ACAMJG.
Vik Muniz did not only help the pickers money wise. Vik was able to change the persectives of the pickers. An example would be Isis. Isis hated picking trash. She also felt ashamed to tell people that she was a picker. But after becoming involved with Vik and this huge project, she was able to in the end, say that she was proud to be where she was, proud to be a picker, and proud to have been a part of this project.
This film made me realize that my family and I probably dispose of a lot of things without thinking about who exactly has to deal with our waste. We do however recycle what should be recycled, and try to dispose less. We don't waste a lot of stuff, such as food, and other materials. We use them for as long as we can, and that sometimes causes less waste. I will probably start to be more careful with exactly how much I throw out. Maybe look for items with less packaging. But just because I want to do this, doesn't mean I necessarily will. Most of the time I end up forgetting, but hopefully this can be something that I continue to remember and carry out.
I think that another area of society that could be highlighted is, maybe juvenile "delinquents". In other words, students that act up or get into trouble inside and outside of school. I feel like they could be helped in the way the pickers were helped in Jardim Gramacho, because if they are juveniles that constantly get into trouble, or have issues at home, then this would be a chance for them to get a break from all of it. Although some if not many could reject this sort of thing, I feel that if you tried to show them something new, show them that they could have the potential to do things much more beneficial to them, then that could be something done to their advantage.
Vik Muniz did not only help the pickers money wise. Vik was able to change the persectives of the pickers. An example would be Isis. Isis hated picking trash. She also felt ashamed to tell people that she was a picker. But after becoming involved with Vik and this huge project, she was able to in the end, say that she was proud to be where she was, proud to be a picker, and proud to have been a part of this project.
This film made me realize that my family and I probably dispose of a lot of things without thinking about who exactly has to deal with our waste. We do however recycle what should be recycled, and try to dispose less. We don't waste a lot of stuff, such as food, and other materials. We use them for as long as we can, and that sometimes causes less waste. I will probably start to be more careful with exactly how much I throw out. Maybe look for items with less packaging. But just because I want to do this, doesn't mean I necessarily will. Most of the time I end up forgetting, but hopefully this can be something that I continue to remember and carry out.
I think that another area of society that could be highlighted is, maybe juvenile "delinquents". In other words, students that act up or get into trouble inside and outside of school. I feel like they could be helped in the way the pickers were helped in Jardim Gramacho, because if they are juveniles that constantly get into trouble, or have issues at home, then this would be a chance for them to get a break from all of it. Although some if not many could reject this sort of thing, I feel that if you tried to show them something new, show them that they could have the potential to do things much more beneficial to them, then that could be something done to their advantage.
Friday, April 20, 2012
20% Project
I've decided to change the topic of my 20% project to painting. I found a site that shows different styles for watercolor painting, so I've decided that I could learn each of those styles, and bring in each different painting. It would be a visual presentation, not much talking. Most, if not all, of my paintings would be done at home.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Terri Schiavo Case
In 1990, at the age of 26, Terri suffered a mysterious cardio-respiratory arrest for which no cause has ever been determined . She was diagnosed with hypoxic encephalopathy - neuorlogical injury caused by lack of oxygen to the brain . It was also said that she struggled with Bulimia and possible abuse from her spouse . Terri was then placed on a ventilator, but was soon able to breathe on her own and maintain vital function . She remained in a severely compromised neuorlogical state and was provided a PEG tube to ensure the safe delivery of nourishment and hydration . On March 31, 2005, Terri Schindler Schiavo died of marked dehydration following more than 13 days without nutrition or hydration under the order of Circuit Court Judge, George W. Greer of the Pinellas-Pascho's Sixth Judicial Court . Terri was 41 .
Terri Schiavo died due to the removal of her feeding tube, having been starved and dehydrated to death . I think that even though it would be good to allow Terri to rest in a better place, it was wrong to starve her to death . She was still technicaly alive even though she was in a coma, and being starved and dehydrated to death wouldn't be the best option . There could have been other ways to "pull the plug". I still think that it was a good idea to pull the plug, however . She seemed to be unhappy with her life, looking back at how she was bulimic and possibly abused by her husband . For all we know, she may have been trying to end her life . She may have been so unhappy with herself and her life that she wanted to end her life, so then keeping her alive wouldn't have been good for her . She wasn't really living her life like she should have been at her age, and for 15 years she stayed in the state of her coma . If I were her, I would have wanted people to "pull my plug". If you read the article here, you will see that it is said that some patients that come out of a coma have to relearn the most basic human skills . It could be possible that Terri, after 15 years of being in a coma, would have to relearn basic skills such as talking . Terri was 41 at the time of her death, and if she were to have to relearn all these basic skills, then wouldn't it be best to just rest in a better place ? If you were 41 and you had to relearn all these things, wouldn't it be frustrating ? I think that it was best to end Terri's life, but I also think that there could have been an alternative to ending her life through the removal of her feeding tube .
Terri Schiavo died due to the removal of her feeding tube, having been starved and dehydrated to death . I think that even though it would be good to allow Terri to rest in a better place, it was wrong to starve her to death . She was still technicaly alive even though she was in a coma, and being starved and dehydrated to death wouldn't be the best option . There could have been other ways to "pull the plug". I still think that it was a good idea to pull the plug, however . She seemed to be unhappy with her life, looking back at how she was bulimic and possibly abused by her husband . For all we know, she may have been trying to end her life . She may have been so unhappy with herself and her life that she wanted to end her life, so then keeping her alive wouldn't have been good for her . She wasn't really living her life like she should have been at her age, and for 15 years she stayed in the state of her coma . If I were her, I would have wanted people to "pull my plug". If you read the article here, you will see that it is said that some patients that come out of a coma have to relearn the most basic human skills . It could be possible that Terri, after 15 years of being in a coma, would have to relearn basic skills such as talking . Terri was 41 at the time of her death, and if she were to have to relearn all these basic skills, then wouldn't it be best to just rest in a better place ? If you were 41 and you had to relearn all these things, wouldn't it be frustrating ? I think that it was best to end Terri's life, but I also think that there could have been an alternative to ending her life through the removal of her feeding tube .
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Gattaca & Natal Spectrum
Gattaca is a film that has to do with bioethics . The main character of the movie is Vincent (aka Gerome) . He is an in-valid, or a natural born . He wasn't genetically changed like his brother . In ways, I guess you could say that he felt inferior because he was an in-valid . Until one day, he meets Gerome Morrow . Gerome is a valid . But he's not like other vailds . He's paralyzed from the waist down . He stepped in front of a car, causing himself to become paralyzed . To sum it up, Vincent pretty much becomes Gerome . Gerome puts his samples in pouches for Vincent to use to pass off as a valid . And eventually, "Gerome" (Vincent) begins to work at Gattaca, which is a space board . Then a murder occurs at Gattaca . "Gerome" goes to check it out, and his eyelash falls off and floats onto the edge . The crime scene investigators find it, and have it scanned to find that the eyelash belonged to an in-valid . They become suspicious that the in-valid may have been the murderer, and starts a search . They have frequent samples taken from the employees at Gattaca, causing a lot of worries for "Gerome". Towards the end, they find out that the in-valid had nothing to do with the murder, and instead, it was a completely different person that had committed the murder . Then, "Gerome" finds out that the crime investigator is really his brother . They have another game of Chicken, which is when they both swim out as far as they can into the ocean, and whoever turns around to go back to shore is the 'chicken'. "Gerome" surprisingly not only beats his brother, but also saves his life by helping him back to shore . Then after more minor things happen in the movie, Vincent is finally going off into space, and Gerome decides to end his life because he had hated the feeling of always being inferior to others .
I think that this movie wasn't bad . I got confused at some parts because it was a lot to take in, but other than that, it was a nice movie . It definitely had me thinking about the possibilities of changing people genetically, before birth, and definitely had a lot to do about bioethics .
9 Natal Bioethical Issues from Least Controversial to Most Controversial
1. Natural Reproduction
2. Carrier Testing - Genetic tests of parents that show the risk of passing on a genetic disorder
3. Prenatal Testing - genetic screening of fetus for genes that cause disorders
4. Artificial Insemination - Insertion of sperm into female reproductive tract by syringe in a doctor’s office
5. Fertility Drugs - Prescription drugs which increase a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant
6. In Vitro Fertilization - Fertilization of sperm and egg in a Petri dish. Viable embryos are chosen and inserted into the female reproductive tract via a syringe in a doctor’s office.
7. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis for Diseases - Fertilization of sperm and egg in a Petri dish. Embryos are screened for a certain genetic disorder. Those without the defective gene are inserted into the female reproductive tract via a syringe in a doctor’s office.
8. Cloning - The creation of an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another .
9. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis for Non-deleterious Traits - Fertilization of sperm and egg in a Petri dish. Embryos are screened for genes of non-deleterious traits (such as hair color, height, sex). Those with desired genes are inserted into the female reproductive tract via a syringe in a doctor’s office.
I chose to order my list in this way, because of my ideas of what's right and wrong . Natural reproduction for me is the least controversial, because it doesn't involve any changing, or any artificial components, it's all natural . I believe that Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis for Non-deleterious Traits is the most controversial because it involves picking out the traits of your child, which is something that we discussed in class . That, and cloning are at around the same level, because they are both, in my opinion, two topics that many people can argue about . Prenatal and Carrier testing are also consider two of the least controversial because in my eyes, they are both for positive reasons . They are both to see if the child has any diseases or any disabilities before he/she is born, which could be treated before he/she is born . The rest of the ideas that are in the middle of least and most controversial are the ones that I believe could be considered to be for positive reasons, but at the same time could be considered wrong in the eyes of some .
I think that people should stop at Fertility drugs . Even fertility drugs could be controversial, but I think that everything afterwards is a little too much . For example, In vitro fertilization . Fertilization of sperm and egg in a Petri dish. In vitro fertilization is when viable embryos are chosen and inserted into the female reproductive tract via a syringe in the doctor's office . I for one, just don't like the idea of "viable" embryos being picked and chosen . Even though it could be to remove any risk of disease or disability, I just don't like the idea of picking out someone's traits . Even though this idea isn't necessarily changing traits, it's still choosing and picking out the "best" embryos . This is also why I'm pretty against Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis for Diseases . Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis for Diseases is when Fertilization of sperm and egg in a Petri dish. Embryos are screened for a certain genetic disorder. Those without the defective gene are inserted into the female reproductive tract via a syringe in the doctors office . So pretty much, it's when they pick out the traits that they want for their child, and that they would like . I believe that people shouldn't have to go as far as picking out their child's traits . Everyone is born with there own special traits which is what makes them special and unique . If everyone were to get their traits chosen and picked out, then how would anyone really be unique ? There would be so many people with the same traits . So even though some people may believe for this to be "right" I believe that it isn't necessary and it shouldn't be a method that people should have to turn to .
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