Interview With An Artist - Mark Mckee Essays - Snowboard

Interview With An Artist - Mark Mckee Interview with an Artist The artist/illustrator I chose to contact was Mark McKee. He's an illustrator/designer for World Industries, a skateboard and snowboard company. Some of his work has been very controversial and lawsuits have been filed on several occasions. Specifically for a board with a Winnie the Pooh look-alike and also for a design similar to a L. Ron Hubbard book. But I particularly liked his original work, specifically flame-boy and the smiley devil guy. Contacting him wasn't too hard; I found the number for World Industries in a snowboard magazine. When I called I was given a new number, since they changed offices. The secretary put me right through to Mark McKee's voice mail when I called the new number. I left a message and then realized I may not get a call back. Who wants to call someone to answer questions? So I figured I take a little more initiative and find out when he would be there so I could chat with him. After a second call to the secretary I found out I needed to call back in just about an hour and a half. I was put right through to Mark McKee on my third call to this number. He said he was more than happy to help me in any way possible. But after a few minutes of my interviewing he asked if this was for real or was I just *censored*ing with him? Apparently some friends of his like to play pranks and he thought this was one of them. I explained that this was a silly assignment, but it had to be done so that I could get my degree. A friend was the one who first got him interested in skateboard graphics, he first worked in the BMX industry after graduating with a design degree from UCLA. He was fortunate enough to not have to do any self-promotion after college and kind of fell into the job he has now. His official title is Art Director, according to him that's what his card says. He over sees five other artists at World Industries that produce skateboard and snowboard graphics. He didn't want to give any advice, he said didn't like doing it and had nothing more to say about it. At the end of the interview I thanked him again and he said he hoped he helped me with my project and wished me luck. I forgot to ask if World Industries would be hiring anyone new this May, but I still have the number and will call later in the spring. The number is (714) 847-0011 in case you wondered. The office is located in Huntington Beach, Ca. Arts and Paintings

Cigarettes essays

Cigarettes essays Cigarettes continue to be the most popular form of tobacco worldwide. This useless habit causes devastating problems in the United States today; it is common knowledge that cigarettes are extremely additive, create health hazards for nonsmokers, and cause complications for women who smoke during pregnancy. More importantly, the government should ban cigarettes because the chemicals and tobacco smoke are harmful to the environment, and children need protection from exposure to tobacco smoke. European explorers founded tobacco, a plant that is mainly growing in America and Australia, in 1942 on the North and South of America. However, many different native cultures had long traditions of chewing, smoking, and snuffing tobacco. Used regularly in ritual and social contexts, tobacco and its counterparts were appreciated precisely for their physiological and mind-altering effects, which, among other things aided the Amerindians (Travel). The Americans grasped the importance of the plant within native cultures and verbal descriptions of its use were featured in virtually all publications about the New World (4). Tobacco is filled with all sorts of chemicals. Instead of focusing on nicotine itself and removing the toxic contaminants, the tobacco industries took the opposite course and actually added several hundred more chemicals. These additives served various purposes, primarily smoothing and aromatizing the harsh smoke of natural tobacco (Tobacco). There are many powerful poisons in tobacco smoke. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to constrict raising blood pressure and forcing it to work harder than it should. Tar is a cancer-causing substance that clings to the inside of the lungs, forming a brown, sticky coat. All tobacco contains tar. Each time someone inhales smoke, carbon monoxide enters the lungs. The tiny blood vessels in the lungs pick up carbon monoxide instead of oxygen. Ammonia (used in window cleaners), phenol (toilet bo...

Integrated Logistics Core Process Redesign Case Study

Integrated Logistics Core Process Redesign - Case Study Example Siemens ROLM management was willing to benchmark its processes with other Giant corporations. They aimed at restructuring the whole company. This was a difficult project since it involved radical changes. The management awareness was a critical enabler to ensure that the re-engineering process was a success. This awareness was a process from the beginning of the project to when the company began to yield substantial profits. The process begins when the management recognizes the need to adopt the change to improve the operations of the enterprise. At his time the management knowledge and understanding is minimal. With time the management understanding shifts to another level where they understand the business process idea and how they can effectively adapt and bring change within the company. After the management has adopted the process, they clearly identify the company’s vision and then have a different view of the processes not as a project but a way to run the business (Sto ddard and Jarvenpaa, 1995). According to the case, the integrated logistics core process-reengineering program instigated in August 1992. This logistic was viewed as a cycle from the initiation until when the equipment was operational. The customer focus is another important enabler that Siemens ROLM focused on. At the beginning of the re-engineering process, the employees are uncertain of how to meet the customer needs. This is due to the change of products they are offering to their customers this tends to be difficult to determine the needs of new customers in the market. The employees also realize their aim top deliver extraordinary products and also realize that customers demand uniform excellence in the product quality. They later build up a relationship with the trading partners to meet the needs of the final customers. According to the case, ROLM had the reputation on focusing on its customers at whatever cost.

Wearing on Her Nerves by Brown and Ellerton Case Study

Wearing on Her Nerves by Brown and Ellerton - Case Study Example The following essay is about a case study that examines Kathy’s Multiple Sclerosis condition. 1. The nervous system consists of sensory systems, which are responsible for perception of sensory information. Receptors and neural pathways that constitute the sensory system effect sensory perception. The human body is a connection of sensory receptors throughout the body that are responsible for message sending to the brain. For example, the skin contains sensory receptors responsible for capturing messages. The messages are sent to the brain through the neural path to the brain, which then triggers the appropriate reflex action. 2. The musculoskeletal system gives organisms, including humans, the ability to move. This system is responsible for support, stability and movement of the body. The motor neuron of the skeletal system is responsible for the skeletal muscle movement. The motor neuron initiates signals to the muscles using the somatic nervous system. 3. A motor unit is a constituent of the motor neuron. It is responsible for the twitching and contraction of the muscles. The motor unit consists of four components. These include the motor neuron in the brain, its axion, peripheral nerve and the neuromuscular junction. 4. The contraction of muscles helps the body of a human being to stand up. The thigh muscles, which are initiated by the skeletal muscles system, need to contract. This is a joint mechanism between the muscle fibers and the sensory nerve system. The actin and myosin filaments receive signals from the sensory cells that enable the muscles to contract hence the ability to stand up. 5. Skeletal muscle fibers are enormous and multinucleated. Each muscle contains numerous nuclei in the cell membrane. During growth and development, myoblasts fuse together to form skeletal muscle fibers. The sarcolemma is the cell membrane of the muscles, and sarcoplasm or cytoplasm of the muscle fiber is surrounded by the cell membrane.

Promoting recovery in mental health (case study) Essay

Promoting recovery in mental health (case study) - Essay Example The concept of psychiatric rehabilitation was introduced in mid-1970s and the concept slowly evolved to absorb more fresh air and democracy through the next decades (Pratt, Gill and Barret, 2007, p.13 of the preface). A more recent development that happened to this concept has been the notion of psychiatric recovery, which evolved in late 1980s (Deegan, 1988). Pratt, Gill and Barret (2007, p.111) have expressed the essence of this concept by saying, â€Å"the idea of recovery represents optimism about the future.† Recovery model in psychiatric treatment has been the product of the brave research work undertaken by persons who had walked through the dark alleys of mental illness, and had come out of them with a new spirit of freedom and self-determination (for e.g., Anonymous, 1989; Ralph, 2004; Unzicker, 1989; Deegan, 1988). It was based on the models of â€Å"recovery from physically handicapping conditions, a number of researchers and scholars have helped to develop a conce pt of recovery for severe mental illness† (Pratt, Gill and Barret, 2007, p.111). ... he mentally ill person is assisted to take command of his/her own situation and he/she is no more totally at the mercy of others, whether they be psychiatric professionals, friends, relatives or institutions. This is the first step towards accepting a mentally ill person as a person having equal rights with a ‘normal’ person. And this is where the recovery concept of social inclusion comes in as the most important factor. Brown (1981), Chamberlin (1984), Jacobson and Curtis (2000), and Everett (1994) have been the major theoreticians who had developed the concept of recovery into a practical psychiatric practice. The basic tenet, to which this concept owes its emergence, is the idea that human interaction, love and mutual understanding are the core values of existence. In curing a mental illness of a person, his/her friends, family, neighborhood, community and the society have a responsibility to share (Ramon, Healy and Renouf, 2007). Deegan (1988) has drawn attention to the fact that the notion of recovery from mental illness is now a twofold intervention where, the patient has to take up one’s own responsibility and all the same, professional help is available for him/her to further the recovery. In particular, customer involvement has been the most important segment of the concept of recovery. This customer-first theory was an outcome of an era when mentally ill patients were victims of superstition and where they were deprived even of the basic human rights (Jacobson and Curtis, 2000). Out of this bleak situation, the mentally disabled persons gradually learned to raise their voice and to initiate a social movement (Jacobson and Curtis, 2000). The collaboration approach is also part of the recovery model. The scope of this concept includes, â€Å"education,

Saviour Siblings Debate

Saviour Siblings Debate A saviour sibling is a child who is born via pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This shows any fatal diseases in embryo screening, to find a tissue type match for the existing sibling so that stem cell transplantation can take place with the newborns umbilical cord. Many people believe that this is unethical because it doesnt consider the newborns rights, or simply because some cannot understand what parents go through. This is often questioned because it is typically thought of as wrong and that it will lead to designer babies being born and that the sibling will be treated as a commodity. My response to this is that the arguments presented against saviour siblings are flawed, in that not allowing a saviour sibling to be created would result in deaths of many children worldwide and will therefore conclude that there is nothing unethical about it at all, rather its unethical to do the contrary. Since, would it not be unethical to fail to protect people who are able to be protected in this way, would avoiding this not mean we are posing a threat or harm to their life purposefully? In this essay I will discuss how creating a saviour sibling is ethical and parents are doing the most loving thing possible and providing the gift of life, but more importantly saving a life. The main argument against saviour siblings being an unethical procedure is that the dismissing of PGD will result in many childrens deaths, of which most could have been saved, if a saviour sibling was born. It is unethical to say that a child being brought into the world is for purpose only; it is much more than that. As Sheldon and Wilkinson point out, You have to have a very powerful reason to resist the means by which a childs life can be saved (p.533). They show that saying it is unethical because of a slim possibility the child may be treated differently is highly judgmental, and is not reason enough to dismiss the concept of saving lives. It is more unethical to not help someone who is severely ill; it would be allowing the pain to continue at your will. Those who choose to save a life are extremely loving and ethical to consider it in the first place, as it would be heartbreaking to watch a sick child and be helpless. No-one who has not been in that position is in any place to comment on it being unethical, saviour siblings are available as a last resort to save a life and reduce suffering where possible. Modern day medicine is created and technology advanced for these sorts of purposes. The argument defends the idea of a saviour sibling being ethical on the grounds that saving a life is always going to be better that not saving a life. That latter would be more unethical. The process involves motivation and so the parents are highly unlikely to be anything but supportive and loving throughout the process, and especially toward the new baby. Parents are faced with a hard decision of choosing ways to help their child, and when most options are exhausted saviour siblings can be the only option to severe illnesses. Overall, the circumstances surrounding them initially shows that they thought a life was worth fighting for and a saviour sibling would endure the same amount of care. It would be a strange thing to do of the parents, to then think of him/her as a purpose only since the result of saviour would oversee the so called means of existing only because of an end which is needed. In response to my argument, those who prohibit saviour siblings on ethical terms always stand by the main point that the child would be treated as a commodity since they would be unwanted after they have served a purpose of saving a sibling. The main concern is that it is unethical since the childs welfare and rights are not taken into consideration and would be treated differently especially if the saviour sibling was to end up not saving their life. How would the parents then treat the child? Some say that they would see it as a failure, and love it less because he/she did not fulfill their sole purpose of benefiting the sibling. This leads onto the next point, that saviour siblings are treated as a means to an end and this is extremely unethical to do so. It is wrong to create children under certain proposals for an outcome, and Kants Dictatum points this out, Never use people as a means, but always treat them as an ends(Harris, p.398). Treating the child as a means of saving a sibling, rather than an end in themselves is to create a child which is not done for a selfless reason and therefore unethical. If the child was to find out that this was why they existed, then he/she would certainly have psychological problems as they would always wonder what its life would have been like had they not been born in this way. The problem is of course, that people do conceive children in this way, for means, since the only outcome of creating a saviour sibling is to help someone else. However it is rightly argued against it, that in by saying a childs life would be bad is unfair, since how would anyone be able to know this? Just because they were born under circumstances, does not mean that it would be so. There must be a valid reason for saying this, or be able to at least show why this would be true. And more to the point, how by denying a saviour sibling on ethical terms is more harmful than children dying; it couldnt be that it is worse. As seen here, Psychological research studies have identified that children brought up through assisted reproduction technology have just as close a loving relationship with parentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Harris, p.399). No parent would go through the pain of it just to end up treating the saviour sibling as an object, or in an unmoral way. There would be more love for him/her, and equally no reason to just treat them as an end to suffering, but rather as a blessing in itself that they have a new child to love and one which has helped their other child. No one ever seems to question the motives of people who have children to save failing marriages, or to have a brother or sister for their current childs benefit of having someone to play with. These are surely more trivial reasons, which apparently are more acceptable than those, which save lives. It is wrong to say creating a saviour sibling to save a life is unethical but creating a child for instrumental purposes suiting the parents is ok, it only benefits the parents needs, but a saviour sibling will always benefit everyone. Aside from the views argued, there are further implications. The main consideration is that its unclear as to what should constitute as an unethical reason for having a saviour sibling, and who is to be judge of this. Certainly though, it cant be said that saviour siblings cause parents to pick designer characteristics such as blue eyes and brown hair, since there are regulations in place which would never allow this for this procedure. Freeman states, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦PGD was developed it was envisaged that embryos would be selected for their own intrinsic merit and not for utility to another person (Harris, p.391). This intrinsic merit must be to save a life and live as a healthy child, and not to please the parents by having certain designer features to their future child. Much thought goes into these views, and it would mean that it would be just as much of a thoughtful process for parents. It is never the case that a parent endures the process of saviour sibling creation for characteristic means or to then treat the child as a sole purpose only. There is no moral or ethical equal between a saviour sibling and producing a child for designer reasons, as that would be an insignificant purpose. It is not the done thing by good parents, it is not in their nature and they would not have considered the process had they been uncaring, unethical and non-loving. Parents are hard done by this criticism of not taking into consideration their childs welfare and all possible problems. The benefit of saving a life is always going to surpass reasons of saviour siblings being born as a commodity with no proof of how they will live; it has little substance to the question of it being unethical. I would challenge anyone to deny the views and processes a parent goes thr ough, when their child is dying in front of them, not one reason could be more unethical than not saving a life when it is possible.

Biosafety Protocol: Is There A Need For One? :: essays research papers fc

Biosafety Protocol: Is There A Need For One? Outline Thesis statement: An international biosafety protocol should be created to establish and maintain control over the products designed with biotechnology. I. The existing laws and regulations that govern the release of transgenic organisms are inadequate or nonexistent. A. The developed nations of the world are using regulations that were designed to control and monitor crops created with traditional technologies. B. Biotechnology is regulated by three different agencies. C. The undeveloped nations have virtually no regulations governing transgenic organisms. 1. This indicates that biotechnological research can and is being conducted in these countries without regulation. 2. There are many biotech companies based in developed countries that have branches or joint ventures around the world. II. The potential risks of transgenic organisms to the environment is still being determined. A. Some experts warn that there is a danger that biotechnology can create mutant hybrids. B. Biotechnology has the potential to harm the economies of some developing nations. C. The last and possible the most important argument for an international biosafety protocol is in the name of ignorance and caution III. The United States, Germany, Japan, and Australia are the only countries opposed to the biosafety protocol. IV. The need for a change in the world of agriculture is undeniable. As the world moves closer to the 21st century, research and development in the area of biotechnology has increased dramatically. According to Bette Hileman of Chemical and Engineering News, the world population will increase by 3 billion people in the next thirty years while the amount of land available for agriculture cannot be greatly expanded. "Biotechnology - specifically that aspect involved in transferring genes from one species into the [DNA] of another - has the potential to alleviate . . ." (8) this and many other problems facing the world in the near future. Even though biotechnology has already shown dramatic results in the creation of beneficial transgenic (genetically engineered) species, many countries and researchers are ". . . quite leery about the uses of biotechnology" (8). Therefore, an international biosafety protocol should be created to establish and maintain control over the products designed with biotechnology. The existing laws and regulations that govern the release of transgenic organisms are inadequate or nonexistent. In general, the developed nations of the world are using regulations that were designed to control and monitor crops created with traditional technologies like hybridization and cross-breeding (Hileman 8). Pamela Weintraub, of the National Audubon Society, states that many expected problems with biotechnology can be kept under control with proper regulations, but the regulations (where there are any) governing biotechnology today are "tangled and obscure" (164). In the United States for example, biotechnology is regulated by three