Assess the power of the National Rifle Association in U.S. politics Essay

Assess the power of the National Rifle Association in U.S. politics - Essay Example This would provide both the parties an opportunity to express their minds as well as discuss the pros and cons of either having or not having the guns. There are gun control laws existent in the US, according to National Rifle Association, which has made a principled agreement, one that cannot be changed by any person, or who does so in an individual capacity becomes immediately invalid or void for that matter. It must be noted here that this issue takes its birth as well as dies its own death in the name of safety and security, the other matter being that of animal hunt, which is strictly banned in some regions of the United States. The Opinion Journal has written in its editorials that Germans who want to get hold of a hunting rifle have to experience certain checks which have a span of more or less a year and those who desire to own a gun for sporting activities and the like, have to register as a member of a particular club as well as attain a stamped license from the police authorities. Similarly, the editorial is of the view that those Frenchmen who wish to own a gun must possess legal gun permits that are given after a comprehensive background as well as health checkup and a need is seen as to whether its demonstrated in the papers and documents or not. The gun control is also dependent upon the intensity of the need for the person concerned. This permit is valid for a span of three years, thus showing the French system of strict litigation and legal proceedings. Moving ahead, Switzerland has also taken some due steps in the same department whereby it has changed its liberal laws into somewhat tighter dea lings with the police authorities. America has also undergone a complete revamp ever since it had its laws in place concerning gun control and the like way back in the year 1985, when just eight states possessed the most liberal right-to-carry laws that mechanically allowed grant permits in the case applicants pass a criminal background check as

Stem Cell Treatment in Age-Related Macular Degeneration AMD

Stem Cell Treatment in Age-Related Macular Degeneration AMD Background: Age-Related Macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless disease that usually affects people over the age of 60. The Macular is the part of the fundus which is responsible for the patients central vision which allows them to see in fine detail and aids in facial object recognition. The patients peripheral vision is not affected so AMD does not result in complete blindness. The diagram shows the positions of the main structures inside a normal healthy eye such as the macula optic nerve. The general symptoms that a patient with AMD would experience are: Â   Â   Â   Blurred central vision distortion reduction in contrast sensitivity blind spots (scotomas) hallucinations (occasionally, more common in Wet AMD) (Symptoms taken from www.nhs.uk website) There are 2 types of AMD, Wet and Dry, the clinical presentations and the symptoms the patient experiences differ. Wet AMD occurs when the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) underneath the retina at the macula thickens and then breaks. The oxygen supply to the macula is disrupted and the body responds by abnormally growing new blood vessels through the RPE towards the macula to help increase oxygen supply, this can cause the macula to appear raised. The new vessels are fragile and poor quality so leak or bleed. This causes atrophy to the macula which results in rapid decline in central vision. Wet AMD is the most sight threatening of the 2 types as once the vision has be lost it cannot be regained again but there are treatments that can help slow the progression of the disease such as Anti-VEGF injections which stop/slow the growth of the new abnormal vessels. (www.nhs.uk) Dry AMD is the most common form of AMD, around 90% of cases. The clinical presentation of dry AMD is drusen appearing at or around the macula area. Drusen looks like white/yellow dots, they can be small and well defined or large and blurred margins. Drusen occurs as the eye may have a problem with disposing waste from the photoreceptors and so calcium and lipid deposits build up. The retinal pigment epithelium layer may thin and the drusen will push through. The drusen then causes photoreceptor death/degeneration causing atrophy of the retina. This is when the patients vision will start to reduce. It is a much slower disease process than wet AMD, it can be a couple of months before the patient experiences any symptoms relative to dry AMD. (www.AMD.org) Normal Fundus Wet AMD Dry AMD Stem Cells: Stem cells are undifferentiated cells which can differentiate into specialised cells such as muscle, skin and bone cells. In mammals there are 2 types of stem cells this depends on the source which they are taken from; these are embryos which are 4-5 days old in the blastocyst phase and in adult tissues throughout the body such as bone marrow, the brain and skeletal muscle tissue. (www.medicalnewstoday.com) The first trial was on 2 patients who were in late stage of AMD; they underwent immunosuppressive treatment to reduce a negative response to the new stem cells. The embryonic source is chosen for this treatment, the researchers used mouse skin cells to help the stem cells to differentiate into retinal cells. They are then purified so not contaminated by mouse cells. These purified retinal cells are then made into a 1ml solution and injected into only one eye (this is done in trials as they dont know if the treatment will have a damaging or successful effect on the eye). The general results from this trial were good; one patient had Stargardts macular dystrophy that before treatment could only see hand motions but 2 weeks after transplant was able to count fingers with only the eye that had the transplant carried out in it. Their vision continued to improve over the next 3 months. (www.nhs.uk, Bazian January 2012.) Structure Abstract/Intro -Short intro about what a stem cell and age related macular degeneration is. -Aim of dissertation; what I want to achieve through the dissertation as a whole. -Should be roughly 1 page. Stem cells -More detail on what they are. -Different types of stem cells; explain where they are found and when they would be used. -What type of AMD does this treat and why? Age-Related macular Degeneration -Background on both types (containing the anatomy of the eye, normal/abnormal) -Causes -Epidemiology -Pathogenesis -Pathology -Prevention -Treatments (current and new) Potential of stem cell -How do the stem cells differentiate to photoreceptors RPE cells? How well does it do this? -How well does the trials transfer from animals to humans? -What is the success of these trials? Discussion -Does this look like a viable treatment for AMD? -Could it be used for either wet/dry or just one? -What are the advantages/disadvantages? -Ethical argument in using stem cells from embryos. Conclusion Perspective -What I think of the whole argument for and against the treatment -Do I think it is a viable and effective treatment? -Do the results from trials back up the theory and argument for stem cells? New research -How have the trials been taken further? -Has any improvements or adjustments been made? E.g. Have administration methods or cell culturing methods changed? References Projected Timetable of Work 30/11/16 Sections 1, 2 ; Abstract, Stem cells What is AMD. 31/12/16 Section 4; Potential of stem cells in the treatment of AMD. 31/01/17 Section 5; Discussion. 28/02/17 Section 6 7; Conclusion/Perspective New research. 31/03/17 Section 8; References. Dissertation Complete, to be proof read and bound. 13/04/17 Final Hand in Date. References: www.amd.org/what-is-macular-degeneration/dry-amd/ www.cnib.ca www.medicalnewstoday.com www.nhs.uk/conditions/macular-degeneration/pages/introduction.aspx www.nhs.uk/news/2012/01January/Pages/embyonic-stem-cell-trial-macular-degeneration.aspx, Stem cell therapy safe for eye condition. January 24, 2012. Analysis by Bazian, edited by NHS Choices. rgw.com Webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu

Essay --

Microchip Implant Technology is defined as an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of a dog, cat, horse, parrot or other animal. The chip, about the size of a large grain of rice, uses passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. This device may appear innocent on the surface but as we take a deeper look into the subject the demons reveal themselves. I do not feel it is necessary or ethical to track humans with this form of technology. There has been much controversy over the last decade on the subject of Implant Tracking Technology. Implantations in humans has a lot of futurists worried. In October 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the VeriChip in humans. VeriChip is a microchip, the size of a grain of rice, which can be implanted under the skin with a simple injection. Like the bar codes on consumer products, it stores coded information that can be read with a scanner. VeriChip is among the latest versions of an existing technology: radio frequency identification chips (RFIDs) that are small enough to be implanted in human beings, but used mostly by businesses to track their inventories and shipping companies to log cargo. RFIDs are also popular among wildlife managers, farmers, and pet owners: one million chips have been implanted in pets and livestock. The idea of tracking animals does not bring a negative feeling upon me unlike implantation in humans. It is one thing to track your livestock but when it comes to tracking humans it seems like such an invasion of privacy. Many people would likely welcome these tracking devices such as those caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, or parents worried about how well their day care center is wa... ...ers? You could be a ticking time bomb with your life in someone else’s hands. The Safe Medical Devices Act, which became a law in 1990, requires USA manufacturers of implants and medical devices, to adopt a method for identifying and tracking their products permanently implanted in humans, and to keep track of the recipients, in case malfunctions arise. Breast implants, pacemakers, replacement heart valves and prosthetic devices implanted in millions worldwide are all to be tracked. And one of the methods used to track these devices is implanting microchips which store data about the manufacturer, the surgeon, the date of implant, etc. The best way to prevent an invasion of privacy by implant tracking technology is to not receive the implant. At this point it cannot be forced. It is rumored that millions may already be carrying microchips in their body worldwide.

Movie Review of War Horse Essay

Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse is a based off of its Tony award-winning Broadway play. The movie starts off in Devon where we are first introduced to a young man named Albert, his father Ted, mother Rose and Lyons the landlord. The father goes to a horse auction in high hopes of finding a horse to help plow the land for crops in order to pay rent and make a living. Once Ted is at the auction he looks upon this horse that is much smaller in size than all the other horse but seemed to have more energy than the rest. At the auction Lyon and Ted bid on the horse going back and forth over price until Ted uses part of his rent money to out bid Lyon. Once ted returns back to the farm his wife realized that this is not the kind of plow horse needed in order to plow this land and also the amount of money he spent in order to get him. Albert decides he is going to train the horse and plow the stone filled field; he then names the horse Joey. Albert begins spending time with Joey trying t o train him. Just like new recruits need to go through basic training in the military they need to learn how to fight and shoot. At first Joey is a little reluctant to learn from Albert but after while begins to get into the swing of things. One day Albert decides that he can’t wait any long to teach Joey how to plow, the land needs to be plowed in order to plant crops and see for the overdue rent. Once again Joey is reluctant to learn how to wear the plow collar but starts to accept it and puts it on. They attempt to plow thru the hard dirt and rocks with little to no result. At one point it seemed that there was no end until it started to rain. Once it started raining Albert noticed the soil loosed up and little and started plowing again, this time with vengeance and determination. Joey and Albert work tirelessly through out the night and rain whereby the next day they have plowed thru all the rock and soil. Time goes by and Albert continues spending time with Joey training him to be mor e obedient and a riding horse. Everything seemed to be going well for the family until one a big storm comes and wipes out all of the crops the have planted. Ted realizes that if he doesn’t do something quick he will not be able to pay Lyon for rent and end up losing his farm. Being despite for money Ted thinks he has no other choice but to sell Joey to the Army. The young officer who purchases Joey realizes that it is something special about  this horse and tells Albert that he promises to return Joey once the war is over. Afterword’s Joey was then trained to be a military horse. After being engaged in machine gun combat the captain is killed and Joey and the remainder of the horses were captured and now under German command. Once at the German camp a young man asks if the horses could be used for the ambulance to pull the wounded off the battlefield. The brother of the young man is called into duty while the brother was asked to stay and watch the camp. The young man unable to persuade his brother not to go into combat takes Joey and another horse goes and grabs him and they run away to a windmill at a farm where they were found and executed by firing squad for treason. The next day the Germans take Joey and the other horse, Topthorn, and end up pulling heavy artillery up a hill. Moving forward Albert was now fighting beside Lyons’s son David who was an officer by this time. After the struggle into no mans land they finally make their way through the dreadful German trenches. Joey and Topthorn made it through yeas of hardship in the Army, although Topthorn was a healthy horse sadly died due to exhaustion. Left to fend for himself Joey is left alone and faces a fierce looking tank. He is confused and freighted and not sure where to run or what to do. As the tank approaches him he decides to take a leap of faith and leaps on to and over the tank. Confused and frightened he runs through no mans land, where he is running and leaping over barbed wires and mortar made holes, he gets entangled in one of the barbed barriers. A scary sight for anyone one to see a horse entangled all over by barbed wired piercing the horse along with deep cuts. To Joey this looks like it’s the end. He struggles to get untangled but just makes it worse. The struggle tires him out and he just rests in position. Two soldiers from both sides decide to come out of their safety and come help Joey. They can’t believe any man or animal could have survived that night. The soldiers release Joey and flips for the ownership of Joey. The coin was flipped and the British soldier won the toss. Albert who has joined the Army and has been injured due to a gas bomb is now resting at a British medical facility and over hears someone talking about an amazing horse that has been rescued from no mans land. The Army doctor looks and Joey and deems him to bad off to put him out of his misery due to the injuries from the barbed wires. Before the Sgt was about to shoot Albert makes a sound that Joey learned as a young colt. He is once again reunited  with his first owner Albert. Unfortunately, only officers can have their horses shipped home and now finds a huge dilemma in being able to keep Joey. The unit comes together and gives Albert all that they could for the auction in order to win him back. He loses the auction to an older gentleman and begs to keep the horse. The older gentleman wanted Joey because it reminded him of his granddaughter who was killed in the war. After a brief conversation with the older man he realizes that the best place for Joey to be is with his best friend and owner and gives joey back to Albert. Albert and Joey return home to the farm where by they are met by mother and father. How I might use what I’ve learned from this movie to counsel veterans is going to be very different from most. I have a different view on things and share same experiences. I have been to combat three times and know the feeling and triggers that many of the veterans I speak to have. As a soldier we all go through trials and tribulations rather it be trying to get promoted or having the unfortunate task of having to take a human life. Merriam-Webster defines tribulations as distress or suffering resulting from cruel or unjust treatment of misfortune (Dees, 2011). Its easy for me to emphasize when discussing military trauma because I have experienced it myself. This allows me to have a special relationship with a veteran and makes it much easier for us to discuss what feelings are present and what type of trauma has occurred. Trauma is the Greek word for wound. The word also means damage and defeat (Dees, 2011). John 16:33 says that I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (NKJV). Many returning combat soldiers have this feeling. Unfortunately, this is not something that can be seen on the outside but a battle within the individual. For many soldiers resilience starts in basic training. It starts with learning and understanding of military standards and unit comradely. In reference to the Resilience life cycle this would be the Before Building Resilience Phase (Dees, 2011 p.86). In the â€Å"During phase† of the life cycle is when I see soldiers who are just dealing with their trauma going through life seeking help in understanding why they have experience the horrific trauma of combat and are looking for an guidance. I like to reference James 1:2 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God  has promised to those who love him (NKJV). During the â€Å"After phase† soldiers are starting to seek help and getting back into their â€Å"normal Routine†. They have the will and want to be back to normal and having a better understanding that it’s going to be a rough road but a road worth traveling! References: Dees, R. F. (2011). Resilient Warriors. San Diego, California: Creative Team Publishing. The BIBLE King James Version

Humanism in Renaissance Art

The Renaissance, occurring between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries, was a period of great rebirth. Humanism, an important part of the Renaissance, brought about more color, perspective, and realism within the artistic community. A few aspects of humanism include individualism and Greece-Roman influences. Humanist ideals manifested themselves in works of Renaissance art such as Michelangelo Sistine Chapel and his David sculpture, as well as Repeal's School of Athens. Individualism emerged in the works of Michelangelo along with numerous other Italian artists of the time.In Michelangelo Sistine Chapel painting, each of the over one hundred people depicted has its own distinct facial features. Prior to the Renaissance, artists would replicate the same prosaic face onto all of the people in a large group. However, Michelangelo preferred to distinguish every individual figure present. He also ventured so far as to include a depiction of God in the form of he paintings benefactor, Pope Julius II. The characteristics of individualism repeatedly appear in the works of Italian Renaissance artists. The prevalence of humanist ideals is also present through the inclusion of Greek and Roman themes.The statue of David by Michelangelo was a sculpture created between 1501 and 1504 featuring a nude male representing the biblical hero David. Davit's contrasts pose is the Renaissance interpretation of the common Greek theme of a casually standing heroic figure. Another ancient Greece-Roman theme represented in the statue is the idea of a biblical hero depicted as a supreme athletic embodiment. Additionally, Repeal's School of Athens, painted between 1 509 and 1 510, conveys classical Greek and Roman ideals. Aristotle and Plato, well known Greek philosophers, serve as the central focus of the scene.Furthermore, the building portrayed in the painting has the rounded appearance and incorporation of columns used commonly in Romanesque architecture. Also, there are two statue s visible in the background of the painting: one is of the Greek god Apollo, the god of light and cheery, and the second is of the Roman goddess Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. A myriad of Italian artists were influenced by the humanist ideals of the great thinkers. The likes of Michelangelo and Raphael used these principles of the great Renaissance humanists to advance their artwork. Humanism in Renaissance Art By illegible

capone1 essays

capone1 essays Alphonse Capone And His Rise To Power During the Capone era many mobsters were in power. As Al Capone grew, he began to associate with many different bosses and was in the neighborhood with many mob run gangs. After being involved and associated with these gangs, Capone then joined one, which just so happen to be run by Johnny Torrio, mobster to become leader of the underworld. There were many influences that helped Capone grow and gain until his rise to power as Chicagos most notorious mobster. One of the most common fictions is that like many gangsters of Capones era, he was born in Italy. This is untrue, he wasnt born in Italy but was born in New York(Bardsley 1). Alphonse Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899, of an immigrant family (Al 2). Gabriele Capone, Al Capones father, was one of 43,000 Italians who arrived in the United States in 1894. He was a barber by trade and was one of the few who could read and write his native language. He was from the villa of Castellmare di Stalia, sixteen miles south of Naples (Bardsley 3). Capones mom, Teresina Capone, came to America with her two-year-old son Vincenzo and infant son Raffaele (historical 1). In May of 1906, Gabriele became an American citizen (Bender 26). Al Capone quit school after the sixth grade and associated with a notorious street gang. Becoming accepted as a member. Johnny Torrio was the street gang leader and among other members was the great Lucky Luciano (Al 1). As Capone grew, Torrio gave him more responsibility and Capone soon became apprenticed by him. On December 18, 1918, Capone married at the age of 19, to a 21 year old Irish girl names Mae Coughlin. A short time later Albert Francis Capone was born to the couple (Bardsley 8). At the same time this was going on, in New York Johnny Torrio moved all of his operations to Chicago. Torrios prospects in New...

Californias Supreme Court Weighs in on Proposition 8

Californias Supreme Court Weighs in on Proposition 8 Since 1911 Californians have played an important role in shaping California's Constitution. Then Governor Hiram Johnson began his term by giving the citizens of California a tool in which they could use to adopt laws and constitutional amendments without the support of the Governor or the Legislature. California became the 10th State to adopt the initiative process (Secretary of State Debra Bowen, 2002).English: Debra Bowen, Secretary of State for Calif...In 2008 the citizens of California introduced Proposition 8, a ballot initiative written to overturn an earlier court decision legalizing same sex marriages. Proposition 8 eliminated the right of same sex couples to marry in California. It also provided that only marriage between a man and woman would be recognized in California. With both sides of the issue weighing in the measure was put to the voters on November 4, 2008. The ballot measure passed with 52.3% saying yes and 47.7% saying no (CBS Broadcasting Inc. (CBS). The State im mediately adopted the measure on November 5, 2008 and challenges to its constitutionality have been on going through the legal system.While thousands demonstrated outside; the California Supreme Court listened to arguments on the constitutionality of proposition 8. Gay rights advocates are seeking to overturn Prop 8 citing the initiative was put before the voters improperly; specifically that changes to the state constitution must be approved by the state legislature before being put on the ballot. Proponents of the Prop 8 are arguing that the initiative was approved correctly and in a free election the voters choose to exercise their right to change the constitution. Arguing for Prop 8, Ken Starr stated "it would be a miscarriage of justice for the court to overturn the results" (Sakuma, 2009, Â ¶ 4).The justices put forth a barrage of questions to Atty. Shannon Minter, arguing for gay...