In January of 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the first permit for the agricultural use of drones. The permit sparked controversy concerning the ethics of such a decision, yet, as far as this particular debate goes, I have to agree that the usage of drones is a benefit to agriculture.

Before delving into the usage of drones in the United States, it is important to recognize that unmanned aircraft have been used in other countries for some time prior to the American legalization. In fact, helicopter drones in Japan have been in use for agricultural reasons for over twenty years, while in South Korea, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) “have been used for various agricultural tasks since 2009.” The implementation of these devices has been largely successful in their respective nations.

In general, it can be said that the usage of drones greatly improves the efficiency and preciseness of modern farming. For example, drones can fly above massive commercial fields and examine crops for areas that are too dry, too wet, diseased, or are infested with pests. Having the assistance of drones to assist in the scouting of this nature bolsters production rate and improves crop health.

Moreover, some field application studies and experts further suggest that drones can be more cost-effective. To elaborate, with data collected during an examination, United States farmers can use data and narrow the application area of pesticides or herbicides. In doing so, fewer chemicals will be absorbed or be washed into runoff and farmers will have to spend less on restocking sprayable chemicals.

And still, these examples are just some of the benefits agricultural drones provide to the industry.

With all of this being said, there is still a storm of concerns surrounding these air-born devices. Many have brought up the concern of introducing more crafts to already crowded airspaces, have noted potential privacy threats (using drones for illegal spying), and damage liability.

To ease the concerns, the FAA, alongside the individual actions of some states and organizations, has placed restrictions on drones. For example, in multiple nations, officials have made policies that dictate “maximum altitudes for drones” and some “ban them from controlled airspace[s] (near flight routes, for example) and populated areas.” Even still, some governments have established rules that state “that drones can be flown only by licensed operators and only within sight of those operators.”

Due to the mere existence of these rules and the progressive law revisions and the likes being made over the topic, it would be a stretch to assume that chaos would incur upon drones being commercially legalized in the United States. Therefore, considering the benefits of these machines in use, it currently seems that farmer drones will revolutionize the industry and pave a better path for the future of agriculture.

Curious to know what other readers think about this topic? Take this anonymous >survey< to find out!

To begin, I’m stressing that I’m neutral on the matter of politics. In this post, my prediction will be based on factual, and some absurd occurrences, that I’m presenting to allow for an informed prediction to be made by you, the reader. The prediction does not stand as my own opinion on who should win, nor does it stand for who I think shouldn’t.

With that being said, the presidential election is eagerly peering around the corner, yet there is still a lot of contention surrounding the individual who will take, or reclaim, the presidential seat. Pre-election polls have been pivotal to giving everyday citizens an idea of the popular choice per demographic and the candidate that is most favorable from state-to-state. While the election, which is transpiring as I write this, actively establishing those statistics.

Polls and Statistics

As of November 4, 2020, the article, “Joe Biden Is on Track to Win the Electoral College”, states, “Joe Biden has taken the lead in the Electoral College and is on track to win the 2020 election. President Trump no longer has any incentive to stop counting the votes, because Biden is currently ahead in enough states to make him president” (Chait). The Electoral College, for those unfamiliar, is a delegated form of voting that is comprised of 538 official Presidential electors who, every four years, gather together during the presidential election to give their official votes for President and Vice President of the United States. The electoral college is was ultimately the Electoral College is what determines the president, whether in agree or disagree with the citizen’s popularity vote.

The popularity polls and pre-election surveys, according to multiple sources, were also showcasing Biden’s apparent path to victory. To be frank, this could be due to the awkward stances and actions both candidates have taken; Thus, forcing voters between two debated options. Focusing on President Trump, the second choice of popularity polls, the outrage surrounding his comments had been significantly higher. The article, “The Trump administration made many COVID promises for fall. Here’s where they stand,” notes, “[h]e argued that social distancing would keep the fatalities lower, and claimed models have been “very inaccurate.” Several models have been incorrect, but the president has regularly sought to downplay the virus’ death toll” (Rubin, et al.). The very act of downplaying and handling the novelty virus is one of the primary causes for his popularity dip since his election in 2016.

A Prediction Cast by the Least Expected

A certain flying squirrel – appropriately named Amelia – has cast her prediction as to the candidate who will win the 2020 Presidential Election. According to the article, “Amelia the Flying Squirrel Makes Presidential Election Prediction,” which notes that, “Amelia has built a good track record despite being in the prediction business for a few years. She’s gone 4 of 4 in her Super Bowl picks (including picking the Kansas City Chiefs in this year’s game), and correctly guessed the 2016 presidential election” (Umana). With a respectable track record saddled to her name, it could very well be tempting to those of risky, impulsive dispositions to align their prediction with that of the extraordinarily lucky rodent.

The process behind these fortuitous picks, however, is contrastingly methodical. To instill favorable odds for both choices, Amelia must choose between two nearly identical pumpkin seeds; Of which, both were selected from the same bag and possess similar weights and widths, placed in a cup, then dumped out one-at-a-time. The first to leave the cup was labeled with “T,” the standing initial for Trump, and “B” for Biden. According to the text, “Amelia started from the top of her cage and ran down once the seeds were placed down for her “selection”… After smelling both candidates, Amelia chose the “T” seed, predicting Trump’s second term” (Umana).

My Prediction and Conclusions

With data that leans heavily towards that of Biden, popularity polls that follow a similar trend, and a general populace upset over the mistakes of President Trump, I’m inclined to believe the 2020 Presidential Election will be going to candidate Joe Biden.

Whether you’re inclined to believe the pre-election polls or trust the spontaneity of the bizarrely accurate predictions of a flying squirrel, it would be safe to assume that the election occurring this November will be a close call that will leave many frustrated and even more excited. Though, as of now, my prediction remains with that of Biden.

Citations:

Rubin, O., Bruggeman, L., & Faulders, K. (2020, September 11). The Trump administration made many COVID promises for fall. Here’s where they stand. Retrieved November 3, 2020, from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-made-covid-promises-fall-stand/story?id=72938973

Amelia the Flying Squirrel Makes Presidential Election Prediction. (2020, November 03). Retrieved November 05, 2020, from https://wtop.com/animals-pets/2020/11/amelia-the-flying-squirrel-makes-presidential-election-prediction/

Chait, J. (2020, November 04). Joe Biden Is on Track to Win the Electoral College. Retrieved November 05, 2020, from https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/11/joe-biden-is-on-track-to-win-the-electoral-college.html

Curious to know what other readers think about this topic? Take this anonymous survey to find out.

In his short story, “The Most Dangerous Game”, Richard Connell tells the story of Rainsford as he is forced to become prey in a twisted cat-and-mouse scenario. General Zaroff, a rich psychopath, who forces Rainsford into this position, has become tired of killing animals that work without reason in times of distress.

The short story, at the very core, discusses the deplorability, or on the other end of the spectrum, the validity, of using fellow man like wild game. Rainsford argues the former, denying General Zaroff’s proposition of human hunting, determinedly stating, “‘Thank you, I’m a hunter, not a murderer'” (Connell 8). The General hardly considers the hunting of fellow man hunting, responding a moment later with, “Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong” (Connell 8).

Each man represents a polar opposite on ideas of morality and the value of human life. Which begs the question, why can one man value the life of others, while another can see human life as something designed to be snuffed?

The articles “How Fear Makes You Do Good Or Evil” by National Geographic and “What Happens In the Brain When We Feel Fear” by Smithsonian Magazine discusses the topic of how humans – both average and abnormal – mentally process topics and events that ‘scare’ us while delving into the psychology of those that have captivated thousands – psychopaths.

Why do animals and humans feel fear?

Fear is a deeply-wired mechanism in the psychology of organisms, used to protect said creature from a perceived threat to their integrity or overall existence. Generally, the animal kingdom operates following the modus operandi of passing on genetic codes. While human fear is not necessarily grounded in reproduction, humans are driven by the desire to establish a place in society or accomplish what they identify as being worthwhile. In both of these cases, a potential predatory situation serving a major hindrance to such. This is essentially the core reason why animals and humans instinctually feel fear.

What is the science behind fear in animals and humans?

As previously explained, fear is a mechanism hard-wired into the brain to protect the organism from a perceived threat. This instinctive reaction starts in a region of the brain, known as the amygdala. According to “What Happens In the Brain When We Feel Fear” by Smithsonian magazine, the amygdala is an “almond-shaped set of nuclei in the temporal lobe of the brain [that] is dedicated to detecting the emotional salience of the stimuli.”

From here, a fear reaction spreads through the body that prepares the body for the most optimal fight-or-flight reaction. The brain becomes hyperalert, pupils dilate, breathing accelerates, and the bronchi dilate, heart and blood rate increase, and organs not vital in an immediate survival situation – such as the gastrointestinal tract – shut down. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus then help the amygdala identify whether the threat is real or not by providing contextual evidence and reasoning.

Why do some people experience fear differently?

According to “How Fear Makes You Do Good or Evil” by National Geographic, the amygdala is crucial to how an individual feels fear and, notably, reacts to other people’s fear. Studies that have been conducted suggest that individuals that have been clinically identified as psychopathic show a reduced amygdala, while individuals that are considered altruistic, possess “amygdalae that were larger and more responsive.”

While seemingly a small difference it makes the world as to how an individual responds. An amygdala dysfunction impairs the ability of the individual to generate a “fear response”, while also making it impossible for them to identify fear in others. On the other end of the spectrum, a larger amygdala often leads to altruism – or acting solely for the sake of others, as the individuals are exceptional at identifying fear in others. Both are opposite ends of the extreme, with the average person falling delicately along the middle.

Citations:

Javanbakht, A., & Saab, L. (2017, October 27). What Happens in the Brain When We Feel Fear. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-happens-brain-feel-fear-180966992/

Strochlic, N. (2018, January 03). How Fear Makes You Do Good Or Evil. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/01/fear-factor-abigail-marsh-psychopath-altruism/

Curious to know what other readers think about this topic? Take this anonymous survey to find out.

Art is a journey that takes many years of experience and an abundance of effort. Few can ever label themselves as masters and even fewer would even dare to assume the title, but hope is not lost for aspiring artists of all mediums. Below are a few tips that I’ve learned as I progress on my own path of the fine arts, and hopefully, they’ll prove to be helpful to you as well.

1. Keep a Sketchbook.

Many who step into the world of visual art hear the words “practice, practice, practice” or “practice is key,” but it can sometimes be incredibly hard to internalize the wise advice. Nevertheless, I implore aspiring artists to keep a running sketchbook. As simple as a concept the idea maybe, the book provides visual representation of improvement, can serve as a reference in later projects, and allows for a collective space to keep work.

Moreover, a sketchbook is an ideal location for experimentation. As an artist, you want to present your best work to your audience, but you shouldn’t limit yourself to that alone. Curious about inking? Dedicate a spread to rendering your sketches to inked illustrations. Still a beginner at liquid watercolor? Keep an active collection of each piece.

Overall, while a sketchbook is not mandatory and could be a hindrance to some artists, it is generally a viewed as a massive help to beginning, advancing, and expert artists alike.

2. Draw Something and Repeat.

Artists learn from repeated exposure and if you expose yourself enough, you’ll pick up on a few things. Consequently, I implore you to pick a subject matter that is important to you. It can range from flowers to architecture to cats; the subject needs little rhyme or reason, just draw it. Then draw it again. And again. And again. You’ll eventually learn the base shapes of the subject matter, the compositional potential, colors that work well, and the list goes on. If you keep drawing something, the theory holds that you’ll eventually have an easier time of drawing that subject.

This also loops back to the benefits of owning or maintaining a running line of sketchbooks. Having that space to learn the basic structure of a subject matter helps in keeping in the know for what works and doesn’t for each attempt.

3. Join a Class

While losing anonymity in connection to sharing your work may seem daunting, art classes are a beneficial and a straightforward method of learning new techniques and broadening your medium usage. Outside of classes offered for electives, most individuals are passionate about art and want to improve as much as the next. Therefore, art classes are an idyllic situation to critique others, receive feedback, and “dip your toes” in a medium you had otherwise looked past.

Overall, while the first few days of attendance may be nerve-wracking, just breathe and do what you enjoy, the rest will come later.

4. Practice Color Theory

5. Practice Anatomy and Perspective

Ask most artists and they’ll tell you that perspective and anatomy are difficult mountains to climb. Proper lighting, proportions, and composition are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this particular subject matter, but a continuous effort births results that are visually appealing.

Fun Fact: Tricks like flipping the canvas in digital art or rotating your paper by 180° in traditional mediums assists in noting mistakes with perspective and anatomy before inking and coloring.

As a related tangent, it is important to avoid using excuses like, “It’s my artstyle” to make up for a lack in either perspective or anatomy, the latter being a more popular route. While an artstyle can rival realistic imagery, it should remain constant and still remain proportional. Abnormally large hands, lengthy noodle arms, and so on, only look appealing when in relation to a evenly balanced body.

• 

• 

It is important to remember that everyone develops at their own rate. An individual that starts at ground zero will progress faster than an individual already at Level 10. Consequently, while it important to acknowledge a skill gap to identify a need for improvement, it is equally – if not more – important to avoid dwelling on the rate of progress you undergo. A “style” takes time to develop and if you continue to work towards mastery, it can be achieved.

But, hey, this is just advice from a teenager still on the road of progression.

Want to test how well you were paying attention? Take this anonymous quiz to find out.

A Story That Survived The Tests of Time

Since the original publication in July of 1960, James Hurst’s short story, “The Scarlet Ibis” has become a classic of literature. While reading the tragic story of two brothers, I was captivated by the descriptive writing and the themes that bubbled to the forefront of my mind as I read.

The short story, “The Scarlet Ibis,” tells the story of two brothers; One known simply as Brother and the second, the younger of the two, nicknamed Doodle. Doodle was born with health issues that the text frequently mentions, in fact, on page 1 the text states, “[h]e seemed all head, with a tiny body which was red and shriveled like an old man’s. Everybody thought he was going to die-everybody except Aunt Nicey, who had delivered him.” (Hurst, 1) Consequently, birthed from embarrassment and a wounded pride, Brother sets out to teach his disabled brother what everyone thought would be physically impossible; Even though, such efforts ultimately disregard the younger brother’s plight.

I think, after reading through twice and annotating, I finally obtained an inkling as to why the story has become a classic of literature; And I attribute its mental impact on the reader through the brilliant indulgence of themes. Consequently, here are a few of the themes that are exemplified in the passage.

The Downfalls of Pride

“They did not know that I did it for myself, that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their voices…” (Hurst, 5)

The narrator continuously reflects on his young, childish pride while he shared time with the young Doodle. Doodle eventually dies during his childhood; in part due to his physical disability and in part due to Brother’s negligence. On page 4, the narrator states, “I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death” (Hurst, 4). Brother again mentions his pride in the final moments leading up to Doodle’s unfortunate death, stating: “[h]e had failed and we both knew it, so we started back home, racing the storm. We never spoke (What are the words that can solder cracked pride?), but I knew he was watching me, watching for a sign of mercy” (Hurst, 11). Prior to these rapidly unraveling events, Brother and Doodle had set forth on teaching and being taught, respectively, how to accomplish basic physical activities as a result of their previous success with teaching Doodle how to walk; despite how the younger brother’s physical disability almost made the feat impossible. With the weight of failure heavy in his heart and fueled by his cracked pride, Brother spitefully ran ahead, leaving the much weaker Doodle behind. The narrator, even years later, recalls “…I heard Doodle, who had fallen behind, cry out, “Brother, Brother, don’t leave me! Don’t leave me!” (Hurst, 11). While Brother returned for his younger sibling (when his burst of misled bitterness had been extinguished), he returned to find Doodle already dead from his birth defect’s tight hold; An outcome that is tragically irreversible.

Differences

“For the first time, he became one of us.” (Hurst, 2)

The narrator, otherwise known as Brother, experiences multiple cases of conflict when concerning the mere existence of his little brother. On page 2, when Doodle was still an infant, Brother admits, “[i]t was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so I began to make plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow” (Hurst, 2). His admittance of such a morbid fact reveals the narrator’s then unwillingness to accept others despite differences and the heartwrenching reality that a six-year-old was prepared to take his infant brother’s life.

Later, when Doodle reaches the age of five, Brother has issues coping with the fact that Doodle does not match with the idealistic perception of what a little brother should be like. He states, “[w]hen Doodle was five years old, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn’t walk, so I set out to teach him. ” (Hurst, 4) In doing so, he threatens Doodle with the fear of being different from his peers and the latter eventually warms to the idea.

While Brother eventually learns to accept Doodle’s limits and differences, even reaching a point where they openly enjoyed each other’s company, it was a lesson learned too late and one that he, presumably, continues to regret for years to come.

The Weight of Guilt

“It’s strange that all this is still so clear to me, now that summer has long since fled and time has had its way.” (Hurst, 1)

Brother, even when Doodle was alive, had reached a point where he sincerely loved his younger sibling, yet had serious difficulties accepting and adapting to the needs of little Doodle. It is only years later that the narrator recalls, “Doodle was just about the craziest brother a boy ever had. Of course, he wasn’t crazy crazy like old Miss Leedle, who was in love with President Wilson and wrote him a letter every day, but was a nice crazy, like someone you meet in your dreams.” (Hurst, 1)

Reflecting, the narrator came to a conclusion he wished he had reached as a young boy, although it, of course, was much too late. This is apparent by his insertion of mournful comments concerning his actions as a boy or enjoying the memories he has of Doodle. Moreover, the narrator felt a more immediate sense of guilt upon finding Doodle after he himself had abandoned him, the text stating, “For a long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain.” (Hurst, 12)

Conclusions

These are just three examples of prevalent themes in “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, and many more could be listed. Consequently, leading to the birth of many thematic statements, including those along the lines of “pride is a double-edged sword that can be a force of devastating destruction or great achievement” or “guilt can weigh an individual down even many years into the future.” Overall, it could be argued the themes and thematic ideas present in “The Scarlet Ibis” are what has established the story as a staple of classical literature and why it has been subject to study even decades in the future.

Before signing off, there are a few questions that I believe should be left behind.

• Can old stories remain relevant in modern life?
• Does guilt-laden grief affect life-choices as one grows older?
• Is pride always the parent to resentment or vice versa? Or is there a correlation at all?

Want to know how others think about these questions? Take this anonymous survey to find out.