Gerhard Richter Painting Review

This is the action project for the elective course titled Ollywood. Ollywood is the suffix for Hollywood, Bollywood, and Nollywood. The course investigated various movies and analyzed how stories are told through film. We discussed several films and gave them our thumbs up or down. Amazing discussions were had during and after each movie we watched. Getting to hear all my classmates perspectives was very eye opening and added to my overall positive experience in the class. We examined the three stages of movie creation, pre production, production, and post production. Students learned about what takes place before the camera start rolling and all the work that must take place to create a movie. During our study of production we took on the role of director and focused on framing and lighting. The last stage of movie creation, post production, is where all the final edits and changes are made. We went on a wonderful FE to Morningstar where we met with their in house video team. Getting to see professionals do their work and hear them speak was a pleasure and added to my overall understanding of many of the concepts. The course had one culminating action project that asked students to utilize skills from all three units. Students were asked to select a movie and conduct a review of it. I selected one of my all time favorite films titled, Gerhard Richter Painting. Below you can find my review of the documentary: Gerhard Richter Painting Review from Max Sheridan on Vimeo.

Planning My Economic Future

This is the Unit 2 action project for my Economics course. Unit 2 was titled Wealth and Wages and investigated the ways wealth can be accumulated as well as distributed. Students studied major economic systems and analyzed different conflicts involving governments and the market. We learned about free market capitalism and the economists that pushed for its implementation. Students learned about the stock market and how to make investments. The concept of time was approached from various perspectives in the unit. I really enjoyed all the connections to my personal life. This unit reinforced the idea that economics is a way of thinking that can be applied to many areas of life. The unit wrapped up with an action project that asked students to think about their own economic plan. The project was centered around this hypothetical situation: 18 years ago, your guardian angel set up a college savings plan for you with an initial investment of $8,500. Your angel contributed $50 each month to the college savings plan ($600 yearly). After 18 years at an average annual interest rate of 7%, compounded annually, the plan is now worth a hefty lump sum. Yesterday, you cashed out your plan and deposited the money in a brokerage account to invest on your own. Students had to first determine what that amount was and then use it to create and analyze three economic portfolios. Making these portfolios was a wonderful way to take everything I've learned in the unit and course and show my mastery of the knowledge. I really enjoyed this project and thought its connection to the real world was wonderful. Im very happy with how my project turned out!

After analyzing the information about the college savings plan set up by my guardian angel I have determined it's current value. In order to begin planning for what I hope to be a prosperous and secure future I have determined to cash out and begin investing. After completing several calculations I have come to the conclusion that the college savings plan in my name is currently worth a total of $49,128.87.

Before I dive into the details of my portfolios I would like to give an explanation of who I am as an investor. An investment philosophy is a set of principles that help guide an individual's choices when investing. My personal investment philosophy closely resembles several of my life philosophies. I would classify myself as a high risk person and investor. I see risk as an opportunity to grow personally and financially. Another large component of my investment philosophy is wanting to make socially responsible investments. I’m looking to make investments that align with my moral compass. A contrarian mindset is the last element of my investment philosophy. In investing, this manifests through making investments in opposition to the majority.

My high risk mindset can best be represented by this investment risk tolerance quiz I took online from finance professors at Rutgers University:

Risk Tolerance, Rutgers, 2016

The time horizons I have set for my investment goals are quite long. My short term plan is focused on growing and securing my future finances. Time horizon effects my investment strategy because my goals require more money as time goes on. In order to prepare for that, I’ve allowed my largest investment to also be my longest with the hope that steady growth over 25 years will result in a hefty return on my investment.

I created three SMART goals to help me create my portfolios and guide my investing. SMART goals are Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, And Timed goals. The specific goals I have created for myself are investments that are going to help me manage and progress my career as an artist. My three goals are:
1-year goal: Rent a space and have an art exhibition ($2500)

5-year goal: Pay off all existing debt as well as debt accumulated during college ($40,000)

25-year goal: Own a huge space for a complete art studio ($150000)

The type of companies I value the most are ones that balance their social and environmental footprint with their drive for profit. I believe that the profits produced by a company shouldn’t come at a detriment to the world. The companies I value operate using morals and ethics that are similar to mine. I attempt to identify companies that are working towards the things I want to see come into fruition in the world. An analysis of my choices:

Facebook (FB): I chose Facebook because it is company I use and have seen grown in a short period of time. I also love their values: Be bold, focus on impact, move fast, be open, build social value. They are working on a WIFI initiative that is attempting to spread internet which I strongly agree with and adore. Facebook also owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus Rift. In an economic context, Facebook has a P/E of 63 which is relatively high compared to the technology sector's P/E of 26. Since becoming a publicly traded company in 2012, Facebook's stock has been constantly growing with no major downticks. The market's sentiment of Facebook is bullish, which I agree with regardless of my usual contain mindset and strategy. I hope my assumption is correct that their current initiatives will become major successes and their constant growth will continue for many years.

Facebook Stock, Google, 2016

Alphabet Inc (GOOGL): Alphabet Inc is a multinational technology company that specializes in internet based services and products. Alphabet operates through various segments, Google being the most widely known. I believe the work they have done and are doing has an essential place in shaping our future in the best way possible. Alphabet and is various counterparts have been at the forefront of technological advancement and innovation for many years and don't plan on stopping any time soon. They have a plethora of amazing companies and products under them such as YouTube, Android, and Chrome. Economically, Alphabet's growth both quarterly and annually is significantly larger than the industry's average. Their yearly growth is 15.40% compared to the industry's average of -.057%. Looking a bit into the future, Alphabet is projected to grow 18.90% next year while the industry is only projected to grow .28%. Alphabet is a perfect company for me as investor because they share similar morals and work on projects that I believe will enhance life for everyone. They also have been following a steady pattern of growth and market projects say that will continue on into the future.

Alphabet Stock, Google, 2016

Canadian Solar Inc (CSIQ): Canadian Solar is a global energy provider with business in over 20 countries on 6 continents. They manufacture solar modules and provide solar energy solutions. I believe renewable energy is going to be the future of energy. Canadian solar is major player in the industry and has continuously innovated and pushed their limits. They have a P/E ratio of 5.5. Since going public in 2006, the stock has had its fair share of ups and downs. Currently the stock is at $14.76 which is low in comparison to the rest of the year. I believe that slowly but surely this stock is going to gain stability and begin to steadily grow. I believe that an energy revolution is going to take place over the next few decades and when it does I project Canadian Solar to be on top. 

Canadian Solar Stock, Google, 2016

Oil Future (/cl): This is unlike the previous stocks because this isn't a company I'm investing in but rather a commodity. Futures are financial contracts that facilitate the buying and selling of physical commodities at a predetermined future price and date. The oil future I've decided to trade is /cl and is traded in contracts which equate to 500 barrels of crude oil. I've decided to take my thinking from my CSIQ and play into the other side of it. The renewable energy boom I believe we are going to start seeing will inevitably cause the decline and eventually the demise of oil. My investment decision to short oil futures is due to a desire to want to see a happy and healthy environment that will benefit everyone. I hope that over the course of the next several decades we will start to see a rise in renewable energy and a decline in harmful energy sources such as oil, coal, and nuclear. I hope my investment in shorting oil futures will be both a benefit to the entire world as well as my future personal finances.

/cl Future, Bloomberg, 2016

Portfolio 1 (1Year):
$2164.28
4 shares of Facebook @ $131.29 ($525.16) 24% portfolio
2 shares of Alphabet @ $819.56 ($1639. 12) 76% portfolio

Portfolio 2 (5Year):
$21682.64
84 shares of Facebook @ $131.29 ($11028.36) 51%
13 shares of Alphabet @ $819.56 ($10654.28) 49%

Portfolio 3 (25Year):
$25281.95
858 shares of Canadian Solar @ $14.76 (12664.08) 50%
Shorting 259 contracts of /cl @48.70 (12613.30) 50%

$4.57 remaining from the original $49128.87

The stock sector I primarily focussed on was the technology sector. I believe that technology is going to be a powerful industry as we continue to venture into the future. My portfolio is based on the notion that we are moving into a time where technology will become increasingly integrated into our societies and lifestyles. The two technology companies I decided to invest in, Facebook and Alphabet, have clear missions and goals for the future. I want to put my money where my mind and heart is at. My 25 year portfolio is specifically focused on environmental technology. Investing in a renewable solar energy company was a no brainer for me. Shorting the oil future helped reinforce my idea of a clean energy future. I wanted to balance my desire for profit with a sensible peace of mind. I made sure the investments I was making were going to companies with positive intentions and a clear cut plan for their future growth. The investments I made were partially influenced by an individual. My father frequently shorts oil futures for economic reasons and I recognized that it personally interested me and I wanted to short it as well. Diversification was a key ingredient to my investment strategy. I really absorbed the idea of spreading out your investment from Sarah at Northwestern Mutual. There are so many assumptions made in this project. One of the biggest being that we don't know what the ROI will be for each stock as time passes. Another assumption being made is that we will adhere to the perimeters of the portfolio. Finally, I am assuming that these companies will continue to grow similarly to how they currently are.

Sources:
"${Instrument_CompanyName} ${Instrument_Ric} Quote| Reuters.com." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

By Taking This Quiz You Will Be Contributing to a Study on Measuring Financial Risk Tolerance. Your Results Will Be Recorded Anonymously. We Are Not Collecting Any Identifying Information. "Investment Risk Tolerance Quiz." : Personal Finance. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

"CL1 Commodity Quote." Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

"Facebook, Inc. Class A Common Stock (FB)." NASDAQ.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

In, By Or Used. "FB Profile | Facebook, Inc. Stock - Yahoo Finance." FB Profile | Facebook, Inc. Stock - Yahoo Finance. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

In, By Or Used. "GOOG Analyst Opinion | Analyst Estimates | Alphabet Inc. Stock - Yahoo Finance." GOOG Analyst Opinion | Analyst Estimates | Alphabet Inc. Stock - Yahoo Finance. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

Staff, By Investopedia. "P/E Ratio: Using The P/E Ratio | Investopedia." Investopedia. N.p., 2015. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

"Technology Sector - Yahoo! Finance Industry Browser." Technology Sector - Yahoo! Finance Industry Browser. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

Influential Voice

This is the unit two action project for my journalism course. Unit two was titled sound and investigated how radio has spread news and worked to connect us and bring us all together. I enjoyed getting to play the role of a radio journalist and learn the techniques used to spread news and stories. Our class went on a wonderful field experience to the journalism department at Columbia College. We met with a professor and got an inside view of their tv studios, sounds studios and news paper room. It was incredible getting to see college students working hard on various journalism projects that were relevant to our studies in class. We listened to a variety of podcasts and analyzed various stories and the power they posses. I enjoyed learning about Journalist Ira Glass and his ideas about how to tell a good story. He was interesting to study because he constantly touched on the need to take risks and fail in order to grow and succeed in life. The unit culminated with a very relevant action project where students were asked to profile an influential voice from the 20th century. I loved this action project because I was able to explore the life and mind of an artist I've adored for a long time. I thought the project required a tremendous amount of effort and dedication. Although it was hard, I felt I worked through my challenges and produced a very nice final piece. Overall this was a fantastic action project that I am very satisfied with.

What's The Meaning Of Life ?

This is the Unit 1 action project for my Journalism course. In Unit 1, we dived deep into what a photo journalist does on the job. We looked at famous images from different historical periods and analyzed their power, meaning, and relevance. We learned about bias and the truth not always coming out. We learned essential photography skills and the critical thinking behind the images that shape the way we view our world. We evaluated a photo journalist's suicide and asked ourselves the question is journalism the most dangerous profession? The class explored the murder crisis in our hometown of Chicago and looked at the role journalism played. We went on a wonderful and relevant FE to a galley where we viewed photojournalism work as well as other art work surrounding violence in Chicago. For the unit's action project, we had select someone to interview and photograph. The overarching topic for conversation was the meaning of life. I loved this AP because it was an exploration into a question that can never be answered. This is definitely one of my all time favorite AP's!

Sitting alongside my dad I asked him a question that’s faced humanity for all of existence: What is the meaning of life? Being the inquisitive person he is, he jumped right into questions. “What are the most important things,why are we here?” I explained to him that there are infinite perspectives that one can take when attempting to answer the question and that whatever route one chooses to follow will shed light on what is most important to them. I wanted to reassure him that it was a very deep and personal question with no right or wrong answer.

My dad is a fifty three year old Chicagoan, entrepreneur, and family man. Born in 1963 in Chicago, my dad was the youngest of three. He grew up in Winnetka and Evanston and attended Miami Of Ohio for college. He worked at the CBOE a short while before starting his own company called Thinkorswim. He worked very hard for over ten years, sold his company, and then took a few year break from work. During this time we bonded a lot and traveled to some wonderful locations. My dad is one of my favorite people in the world and someone I’ve looked up to forever. When thinking of the meaning of life myself, I felt obligated to ask my dad and hear what he had to say.

“We are all here for a reason. I think we all have turns at being here and once our turn is over we are leaving it to the next group of people. I think the meaning of life is making the most of the time you have here on earth because it is finite and at the same time I think we have a responsibility to leave future generations in a better place than where we started.” His response provided me with insight into his risk taking and open mindedness. His understanding that we are here for a period of time and then gone forever fuels his desire to not let opportunities pass by. The idea of having a reason and a finite time to fulfill it is something he has embraced. I thought it was interesting how he believes we have a duty to leave earth in a better place then where we started because he is someone who is always conscientious of his actions and their aftermath.

I proceeded to asking him if the meaning of life has always remained the same for him or if it’s ever changed. “My meaning in life became greatly different after becoming a parent in the sense that my main concern became my three children. My meaning for my existence changed dramatically once I married mom and significantly more so once we had children.” My dad is the most selfless person I know and hearing this from him just confirmed that he consciously strives to always be there for us. He puts us before himself because his heart is filled with awareness and kindness.

I was curious about the major changes that had occurred in his life, and when I asked if there were other points where his meaning had changed, he said “My meaning of life hasn’t changed but my appreciation for life changed dramatically two and a half years ago when I got pneumonia not once, not twice, but three times. As far as I know it was the closest I’d ever come to death and it was scary but I really appreciate all the support that I had from the family.” Seeing my dad so sick produced tremendous anxiety for me and caused a variety of issues in the family dynamic. I remember thinking to myself for a few brief and dark moments that  he might not make it. I wanted to know if his illness raised awareness to the fact that his time is finite. “It made me look at my life and the family differently. I was 50 years old and it made me start to look at time differently.”

Time is an important theme for my father. He believes we are all here for a certain reason and a short time. He thinks it's your duty to be the best you during your time here. He has always done the best and regardless of that he still suffered from a terrible illness. It was the unfortunate reality of his illness that woke up him and made him fully realize his time is here and now and once it’s gone it's gone forever. His wisdom has enlightened me and helped me to become aware of the now and my duty to be me.

MS, Scott Portrait, 2016

The portrait I photographed is a close up of my dad. I shot the portrait outdoors using a Nikon D90 and 60mm lens. The photo had no planning or coordinating. I allowed my subject to act freely and I shot away. I ended up spending a few minutes with my dad just casually chatting and shooting. The cropping of his head and hand are intentional artistic decisions. I was using a lens that had no zoom so I stood very close to his face in order to capture the portrait. The closeness of the photo is symbolic of the closeness of his answer and story. He was getting close to the core his internal world and I wanted to mimic that by getting up close to his thinking face. The aperture I shot the picture in is 5.6 with a shutter of 1/250 second and a 450 ISO. With a few minor Lightroom adjustments, I altered the brightness and contrast in order to produce a slight blue hue. I think the blue along with his mysterious look tells a very deep and meaningful story. Objectively, I think the image is powerful due to it breaking the rule of thirds and utilizing interesting lighting and shadows. Subjectively, I love it because of the subject. My dad is a fun person to photograph and this is one of my all time favorite shots of him. Overall I am very happy with the image's ability to capture the subject and their story. 

Art School Or Art World

This is the unit 1 action project for my Economics:Risking Value course. Unit 1 was titled Utility and Value and focussed on learning economics basics. We learned about supply and demand and how to create and read graphs. We practiced various ways of calculating interest. One of my favorite parts of the unit was learning about incentives. We had several experiments we used to test incentive in class such as a fake subway survey. I loved seeing the connections between economics and everyday life. Economics became less of an overwhelming subject for me and more of a lens which I can use to view the world. We took a wonderful FE to the Federal Reserve Bank and talked with an economist. It was thrilling to see so much money in so many varying denominations. My personal favorite was the ten thousand dollar bill. The unit culminated with an action project that asked students to evaluate the cost of college. I loved this action project because It did a good job of bringing the whole unit together. I think the real life connections and relevance this project had really did a good job of keeping me engaged and working hard. Overall I loved this first unit and thought this was a great action project to finish it off.

A Painting Life

This is the culminating blog post for my external credit. When I arrived at GCE for the second term of junior year I was fully operating a menswear brand called MAX-SHERIDAN. To provide a bit of background, I began my clothing career in 8th grade when I created a brand named Melange. I released a total of 4 collections as well as a few individual pieces and had a presentation at street wear fashion week in NYC. I was a little over two years into my first brand when I came to the determination that I wanted to rebrand. I felt that my overall vision and direction had changed and I wanted a new brand that fully represented that change. I transitioned from my roots in streetwear to a higher end market in ready to wear menswear. My new brand MAX-SHERIDAN created a collection full of hand made garments ranging from minimal hoodies and sweaters to leather and suede jackets. The collection was presented in LA and had a phenomenal response. I continued the process of designing and sourcing throughout my junior year at GCE. I had created a wonderful menswear collection which I was very proud of. I had sourced all the materials, found manufacturing, and was working towards my first collection in over a year. It was during the summer between my junior and senior year when a major change occurred. I had faced a lot of difficulties with manufactures for my new collection. These speed bumps made me slow down and reevaluate. I decided to terminate the clothing for the time being and transition my energies and focus to a more personal and refined craft. I had made this decision after a long period of thought and conversation. Running a clothing brand required me to make too many decisions with the consumer in mind. I needed an outlet to express my emotions and internal world with no restrictions or boundaries. Since I was young I had always enjoyed the arts and producing various works. It was this transition where I made the conscious decision to devote all my time and energy into my craft. I have created a variety of artworks ranging from furniture, drawings, photographs, digital work, collages, and installations. This particular post is focused on the 4 month period beginning from the end of may until nearly the end of September. Among other works, I produced 74 painting ranging in size, theme, and medium. I used my passion and skills in photography to capture every one of them and arrange them in an easy to view slideshow. The transition I made from clothing to fine arts was one that reflects my experience at GCE. My work now is limitless and has the ability to let me say and and ask anything. I am so grateful of the wonderful opportunity I've had to be myself and grow into who I want to be at GCE. I hope that the 74 paintings presented here are only the very beginning of my painting life !

Redesigned Area

This is the unit 3 action project for my Urban Planning course. Unit 3 was titled “Flow” and focused on cities as a whole. We learned about cities’ origins and how they have evolved over time. We looked at what makes a good or bad city. The class examined what goes into making a functioning and efficient city. Cities throughout history and around the globe were studied in order to inform us as well as spark our interests. The unit’s action project asked students to design and build a perfect block. The purpose of the project is for students to take what they've learned and use it to redesign an existing city block. I loved this project because it allowed for us to take any city in the world and do to it what we please. I really enjoyed the ability to be conceptual with my ideas and then turn them into a 3D model. Overall, I loved this AP and am very happy to finish off my junior STEAM track with this course and this final project!

Palais Royal, 2016, MS

The real urban area I chose to redesign was Rue De Valois in Paris, France. Rue De Valois is a channel of the 1st arrondissement of Paris. The 1st arrondissement is one of twenty and is located at the city’s center. It is home to the the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and its name has become synonymous with the Ministry in French media. Rue De Valois has a five star hotel named The Grand Hotel du Palais Royal. Rue De Valois is an area called the Palais Royal District which is the third of four administrative districts located in the 1st arrondissement. The Palais Royal was originally built in 1629 by a French Minister named Cardinal Richelieu. In the 1870’s the palace underwent an expansion in which arcades and shops were added. It currently houses the Council of State as well as other government offices. The actual palace is not open to the public but there is a wonderful courtyard and garden. The courtyard, Cour d’Honneur, contains various sculptures and fountains. The palace gardens, Jardin Du Palais Royal, is laid out around a center fountain. It's a peaceful and quiet escape in the center of the city. There are hundreds of arcade buildings along the sides of park as well as a selection of restaurants, shops, and galleries. The garden is an outstanding place to experience the harmony, beauty, and charm of French culture and architecture. This area possesses so much strength and value due to its amazing blend of modernity and nostalgia. This is a spectacular area due to its ability to combine commerce with culture. There is something for everyone at the Palais Royal and on Rue De Valois! Palais Royal and Rue De Valois’ importance is unparalleled making easy accessibility very important as well. Paris’s train and bus systems do a fantastic job of getting people to the area. One of the things that attracts me to the Palais Royal and Rue De Valois is its blend of the past and present. 17th century architecture collides with modern sculpture. I feel that the blend of times results in aesthetic beauty but would also like to see it applied to their energy systems. The palace uses a lot of power in order to operate all of its different attractions and areas. Traditional electricity methods are used which are costly both for France and the environment. This area needs a modern energy revival. It is now time for them to take action and implement several new sustainable and efficient energy systems.

The area I’m redesigning is surrounded by four streets which form a rectangular shape. The distance from the corner of Rue De Montpensier and Rue De Beaujolais to the corner of Rue De Valois and Rue De Beaujolais is the width of the rectangle and measures roughly 413 ft. The distance between the corner of Rue De Valois and Rue De Beaujolais and the corner of Rue Saint Honoré and Rue De Beaujolais is the length of the rectangle which is estimated to be 1253 ft long. The estimated total area of the the space, which can be found by multiplying the width by the length, is 517,489 sq ft.

Palais Royal Redesign, 2016, MS

My redesign for Palais Royal focuses on extending the area’s wonderful blend of nostalgia and modernity to the physical design of the space. It’s beautiful to see classic French sculptures and architecture seamlessly mixed with modern art and culture. I would like to see solar panels implemented on the roofs of the arcades. These panels could be installed to give the roofs a modern look as well as to generate renewable energy. This renewable energy could greatly reduce their spending and cut back on resources. The space is so popular and frequently used that there should be no excuse for the interference and disturbance of mother nature. A retractable glass sunroof, inspired by the design of the Louvre Pyramid, should be added in order for the space to always be useable. The wide and long walkways are fabulous but contain few areas to sit and rest. I want to add several benches and chairs. Going along with the theme of modern design, I would want the pieces to be designed and created by contracted artists. I want the traditional French sculptures to be complemented by their modern counterparts. I would once again contract artists to create sculptures which would be placed in the rectangular grass areas in front of and behind the central fountain. Lastly, I want there to be a freestanding wall located in the area of the already existing modern art piece titled the Buren Columns. This wall would be a reflection of the people that enter the space. It will be left open for additions and customizations. Its intention is to provide people with a free form way of expressing their feelings surrounded by their presence in the space. The wall will continuously evolve and act as a symbol of the different people and ideas that entered the space.

The long rectangles are representative of the solar panels that will be on top of the arcades. The dashed lines coming off of the panels are parts of the retractable roof. The four smaller rectangles are the new benches and sitting areas. The two stars located in the center green areas are the modern sculptures and the square on the right is the modern art wall.

My redesign was inspired by the cities and spaces I studied throughout the course. The two major changes to the physical structures are the solar panels and retractable roof. These were inspired by Denmark's energy plan. It was captivating to learn about the initiatives occurring in Denmark and how solar panels played a huge role in their success. I thought it would be interesting to redesign a very traditional space with a newer form of technology. My other additions were inspired by the TED Talk given by James Kunstler where he explained the need for a space to have a purpose and definition. My interest in art and design propelled a search for cities that used public spaces to implement medium to large scale art pieces. My research kept bringing me back to my hometown Chicago. The city is full of various art pieces in its neighborhoods and has Millenium park which is full of several large pieces. Chicago’s public art acted as my source of inspiration for a majority of my additions.

My redesign has little effect on transportation and housing. In terms of transportation, it provides walkers or bikers with areas to sit and rest. My plan impacts infrastructure in the sense that I’m proposing additions to already existing structures. I am looking to alter the present infrastructure by installing modern technologies. The goal of the redesign is to make these installations seamlessly flow and blend with the traditional infrastructure. The addition of benches and chairs also relates to infrastructure. My plan also impacts services. My plan would eliminate the need for electricity from outside sources. If enough solar panels were put in place, the Palais Royal could become completely self-sufficient.

One of the two new modern sculptures is comprised of a sphere resting on top of a cylinder. The radius of the sphere is 5 ft. Using the equation for the volume of a sphere, 4/3πr^3 , you’ll find the volume of the sphere is 524 sq ft. The cylinder supporting the sphere has a radius of 5 ft and a height of 10 ft. Using the equation for a cylinder's volume, πr^2h, one will find the volume of the cylinder to equal 785 sq ft. The second modern sculpture is a pyramid with a square cut out. The pyramid has a square base with an area of 100 square feet and a height of 25 feet. The volume of this particular pyramid is 833 sq ft. A 5 by 5 by 5 cube is cut out of the pyramid’s center. This has a volume of 125 sq ft. If you subtract the volume of the cut out cube from the volume of the pyramid, you’ll find the total volume of the sculpture equals 708 sq ft.

Modern Sculpture 3D Model, 2016, MS

Overhead 3D Model, 2016, MS

I created my 3d model using various materials and used roughly a 1/100 scale. I represented the base of the space with a rectangular metal container. I created the arcades and the surroundings of the palace using business cards supported by toothpicks. On top of the cards on the right side of the model there is a green plastic piece symbolic of the solar panels or strips. On top of the cards to the left is piece of the retractable roof. The metal container on top of the base is the modern art area where an already existing piece is located as well as my redesigned modern art wall which is represented by the charging block. The green lighters are the green areas that surround the fountain. The fountain is shown by the 10 bottle cap. The cardboard strips are the walkways with the crumbles representing both individual and group sitting area.

I encountered a variety of issues during the process. The initial step of choosing a city and then a specific area within that city to redesign was difficult. I was interested in so many cool spaces in various cities around the world that it was hard to finally pick one and dive deeper into it. A major difficulty for me was focus. As the end of the year approaches my attention span plummets. My abilities decrease and the time it takes me to complete tasks increases. I took it upon myself to recognize this shift and make the necessary adjustments in order to move forward with the the project in a positive direction. Additionally it was difficult to select the medium I wanted to use for my model. Overall, this was a difficult action project that required tremendous effort and commitment. I loved being able to take one of my favorite spaces in the world and rework it based solely on my creative vision

United States VS Jones

This is my unit 3 AP for my Policy class. Unit 3 was titled "Judge" and investigated the purpose and powers of the judicial branch. The class learned how the judicial branch functions and how that effects society. Additionally, we examined policy on a global scale and viewed what policies should govern all nations. The unit's AP asked students to select a Supreme Court case and analyze it. Students were asked to research both sides of the case as well as agree or disagree with the ruling based on the US constitution. I loved this AP and thought it did a phenomenal job of wrapping up the unit and the course. I really enjoyed selecting a case and seeing how its impacted society. Overall, this was an outstanding AP that was both interesting and fun!

Plan Colombia

This is the unit 2 action project for my Policy Class. Unit 2 was titled Execute and focused on purpose and powers of America's Executive branch and how those powers have been executed throughout our history. Students evaluated what the executive branch is and how it functions. The class learned how and who makes our policies. An important aspect of the unit was evaluating if a policy is right or wrong. For the units AP students were asked to select a war the US was involved in and determine if it was just or unjust. I really enjoyed this entire unit and especially the action project. I thought it asked us to show mastery of many of the important aspects of the unit and I loved being able to select a topic and dive deep into it! 

Aerial Spraying, 2016, TheGuardian.com

The War on Drugs is an ongoing international campaign initiated by the United States that uses military aid and intervention, as well as drug prohibition to attempt to reduce the drug trade. This war is rooted in a set of policies that aim to combat the production, distribution, and consumption of illicit drugs. On June 18th, 1971, President Nixon declared that drugs were “public enemy number one” and a war against an opponent with no agenda began. The war on drugs is an umbrella term for a variety of United States foreign policy and covert military activities that took place in the United States as well as South and Central America beginning in the 70’s and continuing on today. The United States rationale for engaging in the War on Drugs arises from their inflated ego which feels it's required to police the world in order to protect American democracy and values. America felt obligated to intervene due to their desire to control the conflict and eventually destroy it. One such US operation, known as Plan Colombia, provided billions of dollars in military aid, training, as well as equipment to the Colombian government to battle insurgent groups and drug cartels. Plan Colombia was unjust because it was a costly plan which employed techniques that had previously been implemented in the war but failed tremendously.

The plan was originally created between 1998 and 1999 by Colombian President Pastrana and US President Bill Clinton with the goals of ending the Colombian armed conflict and drug trade. Prior to Plan Colombia, President Clinton had been actively battling the War on Drugs. In 1993 Clinton raised the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which was implemented in 1989 under President Bush, to cabinet-level status. Plan Colombia was in essence a plan for Colombia's peace and was originally presented to President Clinton in a moral context. President Pastrana requested an increase in US aid for counter attacking illicit drugs, creating sustainable economic development, securing human rights, and establishing humanitarian aid. President Pastrana understood the importance of the US and their money and outlined an official document which would sufficiently address US concerns. Clinton and his administration’s input into the plan was significant and focused primarily on achieving peace and ending violence through the destruction of the Colombian drug industry. Clinton and his administration involved the US in this sector of the war because they felt it was necessary for national security. The near-collapse of Colombian democratic governance which which was a product of the armed conflict and drug trade captivated the attention of US policy makers. Congress supported Clinton’s actions in regards to the plan. US drug czar General Barry Mccaffrey declared that Columbia was in a state of emergency regardless of the fact that neither of the Colombian insurgent groups posed any threat to US security. The plan was sold to policy makers and the US public as a necessary component of the ongoing war on drugs.

Plan Colombia was widely criticized due to the claim that the Colombian Forces were involved in supporting the right wing parliamentary forces. Another controversial component of the plan was the aerial sprays intended to eradicate the coca crop. The US had previosuly attempted aerial eradication on Mexican weed crops as well as Colombian coca crop, both costed tremendous amounts of money and resources and failed miserably. The aerial sprays apart of plan Colombia not only failed to complete their intended mission but damaged legal crops and created adverse health effects. The aerial spraying of illicit crops was unsuccessful in reducing the supply and had negative social and environmental impacts. The attempted eradication failed partly due to the balloon effect, which meant when one cultivation area was sprayed, another would pop up and continue on. Colombia has remained the world’s largest producer of coca throughout the years regardless of the many attempts to halt or slow down production. The sprays were completely contradictory to many of the plans main intentions in relation to human rights and humanitarian aid. Thousands of civilians were displaced and had their income and food supply threatened. The failed attempts have left a ripple effect which is still felt socially and environmentally today. Congress was unable to see their plan failing and in 1999 tried to employ a mycoherbicide called Fusarium Oxysporum which had been questioned by environmentalists and then finally opposed by the Colombian Government.

Plan Colombia was completely unjust due to its effect on American taxpayers and the people of Colombia. The US spent nearly $8 billion on plan Colombia over nearly a ten year period. The US failed to eradicate the coca crop like they had hoped and did very little to slow or stop the drug trade. They destroyed more than they helped and wasted the countries money and resources. The US attempted to implement a police and military solution to a problem they had no involvement in or relation to. These intervention attempts resulted in lots of money spent, lots of lives lost and an harmed environment. Overall, Plan Colombia was an unjust part of a much larger unjust war.

Sources:

Angell, Tom (December 10, 2012). "Does Bill Clinton Support Legalizing Marijuana?". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 28, 2014.

"AllGov - Departments." AllGov - Departments. Web. 15 May 2016.

"Plan Colombia: A Retrospective." Americas Quarterly. Web. 16 May 2016.

Weiser, Benjamin. (September 5, 2012) FARC – Revolutionary Armed forces of Colombia" The New York Times.

Stokes, Doug (2005). America's Other War: Terrorizing Colombia. Zed Books.

Circuit Board

This is the unit 2 action project for my Urban Planning class. Unit 2 was titled Power. Throughout the unit, students played the role of an electrician and studied the math and science concepts related to electricity. We studied the role of power historically as well as the current need for alternative solutions. The class used Chicago’s relation to the War of Currents to learn about the early years of electricity. The second half of the unit primarily focused on how we can use less electricity and how energy efficient homes and communities are structured. The action project asked students to create a functioning parallel circuit which would then be used as a model for an energy efficient and eco-friendly home in which each resistor represented a different feature of the house. I really enjoyed this project because it allowed me to use the math and science I learned in the unit to create a functioning circuit as well as my creativity which I used as the basis for creating an imaginary eco-friendly home. This was an amazing project that I’m very proud of!

Energy Policy Modernization Act

This is the first action project for my Policy class. Unit 1 was titled Legislate and investigated the powers and purpose of the legislative branch of government. The guiding questions for the unit focussed on examining legislative branches at different levels of government as well as how one goes about proposing legislation. This unit was extremely entertaining and informative as I got to dive deep into one of the central parts of our nations government. I am most proud of my ability to connect a genuine interest and passion of mine with the action project.

MS 

GCE Lab School

1535 N. Dayton

Chicago, IL 60642

April 27, 2016

Paul Ryan
1233 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker,

The United States’ use of both nuclear and fossil energy have detrimental effects on the global climate. The ways in which we currently power our society don’t align or correspond to the needs of the environment and climate. Our country's unsustainable and inefficient energy policies are contributing to a world that is undergoing severe destruction. Our current policies have failed to create energy production, storage, and distribution systems that work effectively to fulfil society's energy needs while remaining conscientious of the environment and climate. It is time for us to collectively recognize the damage we’ve caused and work towards investing and building a prosperous future for both the environment and society. Speaker Ryan, I am asking for your support as well as advocacy in congress for the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. The country’s current energy policies have negative impacts on the climate, yet efficient and sustainable options are available. Fortunately the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 lays the groundwork for modernizing our country's energy systems. As speaker, your support of the bill will greatly increase its chances of a vote in the House, thus raising its chances of becoming enacted.

Currently, the United States’ primary source of energy is fossil fuels, which account for nearly 70% of all the electricity generated. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum emits carbon dioxide, which plays an integral role in global warming. Nuclear energy is dirty, dangerous, and expensive. The radioactive waste produced by nuclear reactors is extremely hazardous and can leak radiations which can cause issues for both the air and water systems. Nuclear energy requires uranium which is a scarce resource. Scientists estimate there is less than a 200 year supply of uranium left. There is no place for nuclear energy in a safe, clean, and sustainable future. In addition to laying the framework for minimizing energy productions negative impact on the environment, the bill it also raises conversation of the social and economic risks our nation faces as a result of our current system. The bill would create programs whose main focus would be improving energy systems in order to address the threat of cyber attack on the nation’s electrical grid. The technological era we live in has created the ability for people to do harm on a scale previously unimaginable. A U.S. official was quoted saying, “cyberwarfare can be used to disable the U.S. power grid. U.S. systems aren't any more protected than those breached in Ukraine.”

I’m reaching out to you Mr. Speaker in order to express a very real fear I posses. The way we as a nation are currently operating can not be sustained. Temperatures are rising, forests are being destroyed, and the air and water is becoming increasingly polluted while we continue to just do our thing. It’s our obligation to recognize the current state we’re in and make a conscious decision on how we want to proceed into the future. I am passionate about taking the next step into the future but want to do so in a way that works for everyone and everything. My right as a citizen of this nation to openly advocate and support policy along with my passion to want to continue humanity and and the well being of planet earth has caused me to try and get through to you in order to convey this message. I believe this bill is in everyone's best interest and feel as if it needs to be passed and become a law. A major opposition towards this bill comes as a result of the money involved with the systems and processes being reviewed and revised. The fossil fuel and nuclear industries are ginormous conglomerates that possess large amounts of money as well lobby over congress. They are at the top of the power structure consequently making them the ones most fearful and opposed to a change.

The enactment of this policy will propel us forward on our collective mission towards forming a sustainable and prosperous planet. This is a moral and ethical decision rather than an economic one. Its implementation will mark the beginning of a well awaited response to nature's cries. Our planet has suffered enough and will be unable to sustain us and our lifestyles if we continue to neglect its needs. As a young adult who is apart of this upcoming generation, I want to establish a set of policies that I know will protect our planet. I want planet earth’s longevity to be maximized and will to do everything in my control to minimize humans negative impact. I’m asking you to join the fight for humanity and planet earth. I’m calling upon you Mr. Speaker for your action as an influencer and constituent. Please take into consideration the fragile state we are all in and the direction we’re heading. Our futures can be changed and our planet can be saved. The waiting must stop and action must begin. It is time to take control and reverse our course of action. I would like to conclude by thanking you for your time and thoughts. I hope you can take my words and use them as a source of motivation and drive for the enactment of this bill.

Best,

Max

Sources:

"The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels." Union of Concerned Scientists. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

"Nuclear Energy." Greenpeace USA Nuclear Energy Comments. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

Davenport, Coral. "Senate Begins Debate on Comprehensive Bipartisan Energy Bill." The New York Times. The New York Times, 2016. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

"Summaries for the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016." GovTrack.us. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

"U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis."What Is U.S. Electricity Generation by Energy Source? Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

"First on CNN: U.S. Investigators Find Proof of Cyberattack on Ukraine Power Grid." CNN. Cable News Network. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

Popsicle Stick Bridge

Unit 1 of the Urban Planning course was titled load and evaluated how infrastructure overcomes obstacles. We learned about weight, load and all forces. Newton’s laws of motion were examined and applied in various problem solving tasks. Students investigated the math and science behind concepts such vectors, bridges, geometric modeling, and much more. Bridges were analyzed throughout the unit. For the unit’s action project students were asked to design and build a bridge out of fifty popsicle sticks and glue. I enjoyed the entirety of this unit as I felt it was both interesting and relevant to my daily life. I am most proud of my ability to fuse my creativity and design sense with math and science concepts.

Time Telling For The Visually Impaired

This is the unit 3 action project for my Light,Sound,Time course. Unit 3 was focused on time and examined some of histories earliest methods of telling time. We explored the connection between time telling techniques and math concepts such as the embodiment of trigonometry concepts in sundials and the the presence of arcs and circles in pendulums. Longitude and latitude as well as time zones were looked at. The class explored how different cultures used light and sound to tell time. The action project called upon students to take what they had learned and design a time telling device. A new device had to be designed and explained. This was an outstanding unit with a brilliant action project. I enjoyed the entire unit and felt as if this was a relevant and creative final project. Overall I am very happy with my new understanding of time as well as my new design.

MS, 2016, Watch Design

The device I designed is a time-telling bracelet intended for those who are visually impaired or blind. The watch is a snap-on bracelet produced from recycled plastics. A thin solar panel runs through the watch’s center and absorbs light which is then used as a source of power. The watch doesn’t have a traditional face with hands or digits but rather a moveable and constantly changing surface that translates the current time into a feelable and recognizable braille pattern. It contains an automated voice recognition and response system that allows the user to directly interact with the device by answering essential question such as what time is it, or what’s the date. An additional feature, which can also appeal to the deaf and auditory impaired community, is the watch’s vibrating capabilities. The device uses vibration to tell the time as well as send signals which act similarly to an alarm clock. It employs concepts of both light and sound to tell time. It utilizes the absorption of light to power the device and uses the user's voice along with the automated internal voice to obtain the time and date. There are a variety of units in which my device can tell time and the user has the ability to choose their prefered unit. In addition, the device will ask for your location in order determine your time zone and provide you with weather information.

My watch design is a meaningful and effective way of time-telling because it allows the visually impaired to access the same instantaneous and accurate time-telling information that people receive with traditional watches. It utilizes the functioning senses of the visually impaired such as their ability to feel and hear to tell time. There is an existing market for time-telling devices for the visually impaired but many of the products lack multiple functions and the ability to operate effectively and efficiently. My time-telling device is better than what’s already out there because it contains three effective methods of telling time and is environmentally friendly because of its recycled materials and solar power capabilities. The device solves common problems found in watches designed for the visually impaired because rather than the traditionally designed watches this new design removes the useless face and replaces it with braille readings. The braille readings constantly change and correspond to the current time. The watch removes the need to press a small button to hear the time and allows the user to directly interact with the device by speaking to it to retrieve the time. The voice recognition and accessibility can be used to program the device to generate timers and alarms that work based on vibrations. Active braille technology, interactive voice accessibility, and responsive vibration technology is what set this device apart from all other products. The desire to aid the visually impaired is the central goal of the design and the three features are seamlessly fused into a product which is both environmentally sustainable and effective in fulfilling the user's time telling needs. 

The device demonstrates both math and science concepts studied during the internal investigation of the unit. It demonstrates the math concepts of arc and pi. The watch is semicircular and has a circumference of 7 inches which is the average circumference of a wrist. With the arc angle equaling 320 an equation can be set up in order to find the arc length. The equation would be as follows: arc angle / 360 = arc length / circumference 320/360=x/7 360x=2240 x=6.22. In addition to the math concepts involved with my device there are science concepts that are present as well. The science concept of the sun and solar rays is present with the device because it contains a solar power strip where sunlight is collected in order to power the device.

My device has an interesting history and evolution. Watches designed specifically for the visually impaired have been around for many decades but have seen little innovation or evolution. Minimal progress in the design of this particular type of watches has caused me to make an evolutionary leap with my device. The ancestors of my device have ranged from traditional watches with a face and sound buttons, faceless watches with strictly audio, watches with large digital numbers, and much more. There has always been a need to find ways to allow the visually impaired to be able to easily tell time. Regardless of this need, time-telling devices for the visually impaired have seen minimal innovation during recent times. My device puts the user first and allows them to create an experience that works for them best. My device has a very close relationship to the culture associated with it. The device was designed with the sole intention of creating a product for the visually impaired that can effectively and efficiently tell time. The common struggles faced by the blind community were taken into consideration while designing the device in order to ensure that the product achieved what it needed to, tell time to those who can’t see. The close relationship between the device and user is evident due to the multitude of effective features. The Chicago lighthouse website had a tremendous article, titled “How Can People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tell Time?”, talked about a variety of ways people who are visually impaired tell time and how people shouldn’t take the ability to glance at your watch and tell the time for granted. The article provided me with a foundation and a general understanding of what the market was comprised of and what it was missing. This particular article as well as the field experience the class took to the Chicago Lighthouse really inspired me to to focus this action project on aiding the visually impaired.

This was a great action project that allowed me to unleash my creativity. I loved being able to dive deep into the concept of time and then being able to create my own time telling device. I learned a tremendous amount about the visually impaired and the challenges they face with time telling. I set out to design a device that allowed the visually impaired the same instantaneous access to time. This entire project was enjoyable and I'm pleased with the final outcome.

References:

"How Can People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tell Time? - The Chicago Lighthouse." The Chicago Lighthouse How Can People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tell Time Comments. 10 Mar. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.

"...Braille: Deciphering the Code..." ...Braille: Deciphering the Code... Web. 21 Mar. 2016.

Medical Cannabis VS Marinol

This is the Unit 3 action project for Arguments. In unit 3 we focused on comprise and synthesis. We examined how a synthesis is reached and what parts make them up. We studied the civil rights act of 1964 and went on an amazing FE to the Newberry library. This unit was focused on taking points from two opposing arguments and using them to formulate a new synthesized argument. I really enjoyed this unit and project as it forced me to view issues with multiple perspectives. I was constantly asked to create synthesizes which caused me to come more to the middle on topics. This was a great project which I feel I did an outstanding job on.

Cannabis, or marijuana, is widely referred to and thought of as a drug that makes you silly, hungry and euphoric, but it’s also a natural medicine that has been used for thousands of years as an effective form of treatment for a variety of ailments. I’m arguing for medical cannabis to be a legal and accessible form of medicine and treatment for individuals with a variety of ailments and illnesses. Sickness is an unfortunate reality of life and since the time of the first humans, people have set out to find and develop vaccines and medicines to help manage and cure illnesses. Naturally derived medicines and remedies such as plants and herbs have been used since the beginning of humankind. The tendency of early humans to take from nature in order to heal themselves and better their lives is both remarkable and worthy of our emulation. One such herbal remedy is cannabis, a budding flower of the female cannabis plant. Cannabis produces a diverse variety of chemical compounds called cannabinoids. When consumed, these various cannabinoids work synergistically and powerfully in conjunction to produce a wide range of effects on both the mind and body. These properties activate the body’s natural internal cannabinoid receptors. The most widely known cannabinoid is delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive chemical that is responsible for the high produced by the plant. The other primary cannabinoid is cannabidiol (CBD), which has been found to be an effective and efficient form of treatment for a wide range of conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, stress and anxiety. Cannabis should be a legal and accessible form of medicine for patients because it’s natural and contains both THC and CBD.

2016, Cannabis Flower

The evidence and support for my argument is as follows: “A lot of research has been made to isolate and characterize isolated single constituents of traditional herbal medicine to find their rationale for therapeutic uses,” the Israeli team concluded. “However, our data together with those of others provide legitimation to introduce a new generation of phytopharmaceuticals to treat diseases that have hitherto been treated using synthetic drugs alone. The therapeutic synergy observed with plant extracts results in the requirement for a lower amount of active components, with consequent reduced adverse effects.”
-Martin A. Lee
“Synthetic VS Whole Plant CBD”
WWW.ProjectCBD.com
February 22, 2015
"There are really no other medications that have the same mechanisms of action as marijuana. Dronabinol (Marinol) is available by prescription in capsules, but has the distinct disadvantage of containing only synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is only one of many therapeutically beneficial cannabinoids in the natural plant."
-Gregory T. Carter, MD
Co-director, MDA/ALS Center,
University of Washington Medical Center
Muscular Dystrophy Association
website article
Oct. 2003
“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid with therapeutic properties for numerous disorders exerted through molecular mechanisms that are yet to be completely identified. CBD acts in some experimental models as an anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antiemetic, anxiolytic and antipsychotic agent, and is therefore a potential medicine for the treatment of neuroinflammation, epilepsy, oxidative injury, vomiting and nausea, anxiety and schizophrenia, respectively. The neuroprotective potential of CBD, based on the combination of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, is of particular interest and is presently under intense preclinical research in numerous neurodegenerative disorders.”
-Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular III,
Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica,
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040-Madrid, Spain.

The strongest opposition to my stance on the legalization of medical marijuana is grounded in the notion that there are existing, man-made medicines that provide sufficient and effective care to individuals in need. Dronabinol, commercially known as Marinol, is a synthetic form of THC and is used to treat the weight loss of both Aids and cancer patients as well as the nausea caused by chemotherapy. Marinol differs from traditional cannabis because it consists of one pure compound that has been researched and can be used pharmaceutically in stable doses. The ability to take a pill and receive the same appetite stimulant and anti-nausea effects as traditional cannabis without the need to smoke is greatly beneficial to the patient. Marinol doesn’t contain any of the chemicals or tars found in the flower. Marinol has a Schedule III status on the U.S. DEA’s controlled substance list which is better for the patients in terms of legality than cannabis, which is schedule 1. Marinol is a better option than cannabis when it comes to treating patients because it contains one compound and has the ability to be administered in known and controlled doses to patients.

2016, Marinol Pills

If there was a dialogue between the opposing parties and they each asked their opponent a question the conversation would go as follows:
Cannabis: Do you run a for-profit company and make business decisions based upon your projected gains?
Marinol: We do indeed run a for-profit company and are seeking to produce revenue, but we also care deeply for our patients.
Marinol: Do you recognize the potentially harmful tars that can come from smoking cannabis flower and how potency and cannabinoid profiles vary from bud to bud?

Cannabis: We are most definitely aware of both of these points. We share this information with our consumers through various educational and informational processes because we feel it’s essential to inform our patients about their medicine.

Both parties can agree on their mutual desire to aid those in need. Additionally, each side agrees with the fact that there needs to be an effective and efficient form of medicine for patients.
After conducting question-based dialogue, each party gained a more comprehensive understanding of the opposing party's viewpoints. The pro-cannabis side recognizes the pharmaceutical industry's desire to continue providing medicine and treatment in societally accepted forms such as pills and tablets. They also understand and agree with the need to balance profitability and overall patient care. The pharmaceutical company that produces and is in favor of Marinol wants to maintain the flow of revenue as well as aiding their patients. Both parties have valid desires and concerns. Points from each party's argument can be taken and morphed with ideas from the opposing side in order to produce a new, synthesized argument. An argument made by Marinol is that smoking can be harmful and it isn’t a traditional form of administering medicine to patients. A happy medium that can be reached between the two sides is the oral and edible administration of cannabis. Capsules made with cannabis extract can contain the full cannabinoid profile as well as recorded analytics allowing for consistent and known dosing. An additional concern Marinol manufacturers have is around pricing and the need to generate revenue. Natural cannabis is cheaper to produce than synthetic Marinol. If pharmaceutical companies were to shift to natural cannabis capsules rather than Marinol they would both be saving money as well as providing significantly more effective medicine to their patients in a form that is medically accepted and understood.

The synthesis would be introduced by the pro-cannabis side at a healthcare or medical conference to the pharmaceutical companies. It would be introduced via a speech along with an informational presentation with the hope of reaching a compromise with the pharmaceutical companies.

2016, Medical Cannabis Capsules

The creation of this synthesis has transformed my own viewpoint on the issue. I now better understand the concerns of the pharmaceutical industry and see the unique ways in which cannabis regulation can be altered to fit a more traditional model of medicine. This synthesis has brought me more towards the middle ground of this debate and allowed me to see positive points in each side's argument, which could then be taken and used to create a synthesized argument. This particular synthesis was quite special because in most instances I adhere to my ideas very strongly and in this one I was able to genuinely move towards the middle. Overall, this was a great synthesis that taught me a significant amount about my original opposition and allowed me to come to a powerful conclusion and solution.

Code Of Conduct Amendment

This is my unit 2 Action project for my Arguments course. Unit 2 was titled 1857 and focused on investigating a nations flaws and contradictions. The class examined the famous Scott VS Sanford case as a way to better understand how a nation contradicts itself. A variety of guiding questions were present in the unit and included: What tests the strength of an argument, How can a nations logic be flawed, and Why should a nation's argument be challenged. For the unit's action project students were asked to demonstrate their understanding of an argument's strength and soundness by evaluating GCE's Code of Conduct and crafting an amendment to a section of it. This unit was extremely intriguing and insightful. I felt I gained a broader and more comprehensive understanding of such an important moment in our nations history. I am really proud of my continued ability to dive deeper and continue asking questions during the unit as it allowed me to gain a certain set of understandings that I know will remain with me and impact me throughout my life. 

The two, related articles from GCE’s Code of Conduct I’m amending are as follows:
Behavioral Contract, a written agreement between the student/parent/guardian and school listing requirements for improvement

Probation, a written agreement with the student for a defined period of good behavior in lieu of suspension

These two rules, located in the “How” section on page two of the GCE Code of Conduct, are pointless and unjust. A written contract and or agreement is void and holds no validity unless the signee is over the age of eighteen. Additionally, I believe this is an invalid rule because a written contract or agreement teaches the student nothing about their wrongdoing. It’s easy to craft an illegitimate argument and make statements and promises that one has an intention of keeping. A written argument and or contract has no place in the context of disciplinary action in a high school. An alternate way to establish an agreement is to have a common understanding of the school’s policies and overall mission which would then allow students to conduct themselves in a manner that aligns with the school’s ethos. The formal argument of this amendment can be found below:
P1: A student does something that goes against a rule or policy in the GCE Code of Conduct.
P2: A written contract or agreement is proposed as a way for the student to learn and change based on their wrongdoing.
C: The student learns from their mistake and pays for their wrongdoing, in addition to crafting an agreement to pursue a certain type of positive behavior.

I don’t believe there are any instances in which writing an agreement or contract should be used as a form of punishment or disciplinary conduct. An agreement makes students reflect, which is an important part of the learning and rehabilitation process but not the entire thing. In addition to reflecting on your actions it is vital to change them through positive reinforcement. In addition to my personal support of the amendment, fellow GCE Junior Maddie F gave her impression of the proposed amendment by stating “I think that using a written agreement is a stupid way to teach a student a lesson. it doesn't have any sort of effect on the student and they might just reciprocate the same behavior since they weren't given a proper punishment” I would like to completely remove these two points from the GCE Code of Conduct. The previous argument, newly amended by me is:
P1: A student does something that goes against a rule or policy in the GCE Code of Conduct.
P2: A written contract or agreement is proposed as a way for the student to learn and change based on their wrongdoing.
P3: A written contract or agreement with a signee under eighteen is invalid and a contract or agreement does nothing to ensure the student changes and improves their behavior.
C: A written contract should not be used as a form of punishment, agreement, or education for a student's wrongdoing.

To help individuals grasp the meaning of my argument and its significance, my critique of the rule as it is written relates to actual ability vs. perceived ability. Imagine You need enlightenment and knowledge and you set out searching for a source of both.

(2016) Blue Sphere

You locate a blue sphere that states it can provide you with both so you go ahead and acquire the blue sphere with the hope you’ll get what you've been searching for. The blue sphere turns out to be nothing more than its physical being. The blue sphere is deemed useless in the context in which it was originally presented. Life at school will change as the result of my amendment. In the unfortunate event when a student commits an act that goes against a rule or policy in the Code of Conduct there will be no written contracts or agreements in place because of their lack of validity and inability to effectively teach the student. An inefficient and ineffective policy will be removed allowing for the more fundamentally sound options to prevail and be correctly implemented. The US Constitutional amendment that relates the most to my amendment is the sixth amendment, which states the rights of an accused individual during the prosecution process. The amendment states an individual's right to a trial by jury as well as the right to confront opposing witnesses and to counsel. My amendment to the Code of Conduct is closely related to the constitutional sixth amendment because it focuses on the rights of an accused or guilty student. It lays a basic foundation of students rights by removing a pointless set of rules related to the creation of a written agreement or contract as a form of punishment and rehabilitation. The removal of the rules relating to written contracts reinforces the already existing rules and policies in relation to a student's punishment. The removal of the rules leave a set of policies in place that more effectively teaches the students of their wrongdoings and fosters positive change. The policies in place act to teach the student through action rather than writing, a much more effective way of learning from your mistakes.

My amendment demonstrates true citizenship by creating a certain set of rules and policies that effectively teach and restore students. My amendment's removal of the rules relating to written contracts and agreements refines and reinforces the already existing set of policies focusing on students punishment. The current policies in place regarding written contracts and agreements as a form of punishment are invalid and unjust because of their flawed logic and have a inability to properly teach and rehabilitate students. These weaknesses have caused me to call for their complete removal. Having certain policies in place that act to teach through experience and positive reinforcement are much more effective in achieving change than an argument that holds to validity or significance to the signee. It is vital to to have a set of policies that effectively deal with students in a way that truly teaches them about their wrongdoings in a way that will cause them to evolve and change for good.

Diddley Bow

MS(2016) Diddley Bow

This is the unit 2 action project for Light, Sound, and Time. Unit 2 of the course focused on sound. We investigated the human ear and learned about different organisms' ability to hear and produce sound. The course taught us the concept of sound as a wave and learned about the speed of sound and how different mediums affect it. We learned about a variety of instruments and their various ways of creating sound. For the unit’s action project we were asked to design and build our own diddley bows or one string guitars. This unit refined and reinforced my previous understanding of sound. The in-depth research and experimentation we did allowed me to look at sound in the context of math and science which in turn allowed me to develop a stronger overall understanding. I’m really proud of my ability to better grasp the concept of sound. I’m proud that this unit has left me with a strong understanding of something so universal and integral to life.

MS(2016)Diagram

The diddley bow I created produces sound when the string is plucked or strung. The vibration of the string becomes amplified and echoes through the cylindrical can located at the end of the device. The tension of the string allows for a certain pitch to be achieved while the volume is dependent on the strength of one's pluck. The diddley bow I created demonstrates a variety of the key science principles we studied and examined in the unit’s internal investigation. It demonstrates sound waves in several ways. When the string is plucked a sound wave is formed and travels through the tin can amplifier. The pitch/frequency of the diddley bow was determined by the tension of the string. How hard you pluck the string will determine the sound wave’s amplitude otherwise known as its volume. The Doppler effect is the apparent change in frequency of a sound wave due to motion relative to the listener. My diddley bow doesn’t directly demonstrate the Doppler effect but there could be a situation in which it would in fact demonstrate the Doppler effect. For instance, if I were strolling along the sidewalk playing a melody on the diddley bow, the person I would be approaching would be perceiving the sound waves as higher frequency while the person I had just walked past would experience the frequency decreasing. The data and measurements associated with my device are as follows: Length of vibrating string - 17 1/4th IN, ½ - 8.625 IN, ⅓ - 5.75 IN, ⅔ - 11.5 IN, ¼ - 4.3125 IN, ¾ - 4.9375 IN. The thickness of the string is .044 IN and the volume of the cylindrical tin can is 31 IN. The formula used for the volume of a cylinder was πRxR x H. The open pitch of the diddley bow is A# and has a frequency of 233.08 Hz and a wavelength of 148.02 cm. The first four harmonics along with their frequencies and wavelength are as follows: 1:466.16 Hz 74.01 cm, 2:699.24 Hz 49.34 cm, 3:932.32 Hz 37.005 cm, 4:1165.40 Hz 29.604 cm.

MS(2016)Harmonics

The recording I created uses a slide in it to alter the strings pitch. A metal slide was placed over my finger and while plucking with my other hand the slide was moved across the string to produce carrying pitches. It changes the pitch because it is altering the length of the string, a factor that alters pitch. I’m very pleased with the outcome of my project. I feel as if I designed and created a functioning diddley bow the demonstrates a variety of the key science and math principles from the unit’s internal investigation. If I were to do the project a second time I would take the knowledge I gained from the unit and the building experience to alter the design in a way which would produce an overall better functioning device. I would have loved to make my diddley bow come alive with color and additional design. Overall I am very pleased with the outcome of this unit and project as it provided me with a strong understanding of sound as well as allowed me to create a functioning musical instrument.