The Consumption Of Alcohol

The Consumption Of Alcohol Presentation General Health is the study of securing and improving the wellbeing of networks through training, advancement of sound ways of life, and examination for malady and injury anticipation. So as to create programs that ensure the strength of your family and network, general wellbeing experts dissect the impact on soundness of hereditary qualities, individual decision and the earth. It is worried about dangers to wellbeing dependent on populace wellbeing investigation. The elements of wellbeing can include a condition of complete physical, mental and social prosperity and not only the nonattendance of illness or sickness, as characterized by the United Nations World Health Organization. Generally speaking, general wellbeing is worried about ensuring the soundness of whole populaces. These populaces can be as little as a nearby neighborhood, or as large as a whole nation. The interdisciplinary methodologies of the study of disease transmission, biostatistics and wellbeing administrations, fuses through general wellbeing. Natural wellbeing, network wellbeing, social wellbeing, and word related wellbeing are other significant subfields. The utilization of liquor can have valuable or hurtful impacts relying upon the sum devoured, age and different qualities of the individual expending the liquor, and indicates of the circumstance clarified by Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2005). Liquor implies unbiased spirits refined at or over one hundred ninety degrees proof, regardless of whether such item is therefore diminished, for nonindustrial use. The term liquor, except if determined something else, alludes to ethanol or ethyl liquor. It is a slight, clear fluid with unforgiving consuming taste and high unpredictability. Mixed refreshment implies any fluid reasonable for drinking by people, which contains one-portion of one percent or a greater amount of liquor by volume. Liquor drinking is a necessary piece of family, social and word related life for some individuals in the UK. While low to direct utilization isn't related with abundance hazard, and may even be helpful, over the top utilization, especially in youngste rs, is a developing reason for worry to strategy creators, wellbeing and social consideration experts, and general society, it was evaluated by Smith and Foxcroft (2009). Why it is a Public Health Issue? Liquor abuse influences physical, passionate, yet additionally social part of an individual and an individual methods people in general. As indicated by Faculty of Public Health (2008), for a considerable length of time and numerous individuals use it judiciously despite the fact that liquor has been part the way of life; its abuse has become a genuine and intensifying general medical issue in the UK. The abuse of liquor whether as incessantly overwhelming drinking, hitting the bottle hard or even moderate drinking in unseemly conditions not just represents a danger to the wellbeing and prosperity of the consumer, yet in addition to family, companions, networks and more extensive society through such issues as wrongdoing, hostile to social conduct and loss of efficiency. It is likewise straightforwardly connected to a scope of medical problems, for example, hypertension, mental sick wellbeing, coincidental injury, brutality, liver illness and explicitly transmitted contamination. Idea of Public Health The two most basic proportions of illness in populaces are predominance and rate. At some point the two terms are utilized in the depiction of a sickness or infection episode. Predominance, which has just been referenced, is the individual from individuals who have an illness at a given time; that is the number right now experiencing the infection or confusion. Rate, on the hand, is the quantity of new instances of a sickness, for example, the other hand, is the quantity of new instances of an ailment, for example, flu, being higher than expected for the year. This shows the quantity of new cases is higher than what is regularly expected, while a report demonstrating expanded commonness would mean the quantity of existing cases is higher asses by Evans. The study of disease transmission is the science that takes a gander at the connections between infections happening in populaces and gatherings, commonly trying to diminish dangers and, pack horribleness into the most recent years if the populaces life range. Life expectancy is the constraint of normal life with the end goal that through all backings and endeavors one has lived insofar as is conceivable. Future methods something other than what's expected, in that this term applies to the normal length of life one may live dependent on sexual orientation, race, where one lives, etc. Liquor Consumption and Trends There were a few overviews talks about the patterns of liquor utilization. A few says it diminishes and others increments, yet as per The NHS Information Center (2010), drinking conduct among grown-ups and youngsters in England, in 2008: 71% of men and 56% of ladies (matured 16 and over) detailed drinking a mixed beverage on at any rate one day in the week before meet. 11% of men and 6% of ladies detailed drinking on consistently in the earlier week. 38% of men drank more than 4 units on in any event one day in the week preceding meeting and 29% of ladies drank multiple units on at any rate one day in the week before meet. 22% of men detailed drinking more than 8 units and 15% of ladies revealed drinking more than 6 units on in any event one day in the week preceding meeting. The normal week after week liquor utilization was 16.8 units for men and 8.6 units for ladies. 28% of men revealed drinking in excess of 21 units in a normal week. For ladies, 19% revealed drinking in excess of 14 units in a normal week. 18% of school students matured 11 to 15 detailed savoring liquor the week preceding meeting; this figure is lower than 2001, when 26% of understudies announced savoring the most recent week. 48% of understudies said they had never had a legitimate mixed beverage, contrasted with 39% in 2003. Understudies who savored the most recent week expended a normal of 14.6 units In 2006 to 2008, youngsters in London were less inclined to have flushed liquor in the most recent week (39%) than youngsters living in some other Government Office Region (51% to 63%) Information and mentalities to liquor In 2009, 90% of Great Britain (GB) respondents detailed that they had known about estimating liquor in units. There has been an expansion from 54% in 1997 to 75% in 2009 in the extent of individuals in GB who had known about day by day drinking limits. All through the period, contrasts among people have been slight. Students in England matured 11 to 15 are getting less lenient of drinking and inebriation among their companions. For instance, in 2008, 36% concurred that it was OK for somebody of their age to drink liquor once per week, contrasted and 46% in 2003. Over a similar period, the extent who thought it was OK for somebody of their age to get alcoholic once seven days likewise fell, from 20% to 12%. Liquor Misuse and other drinking designs The utilization of liquor for a reason not steady with legitimate or clinical rules called liquor abuse. There are various examples in drinking liquor; one is hurtful drinking, liquor utilize that makes harm physical or potentially emotional wellness. Hurtful use regularly, yet not constantly, has antagonistic social outcomes. Dangerous drinking is an example of liquor utilize that expands the danger of destructive ramifications for the person. Rather than hurtful use, perilous drinking alludes to examples of utilization that are of general wellbeing noteworthiness regardless of the nonattendance of any current issue in the individual client. An example of drinking that surpasses some standard of moderate drinking said to be a substantial consumer. In the UK, overwhelming drinking is characterized as devouring at least eight units for men and at least six units for ladies on at any rate one day in the week. In conclusion, moderate drinking, an inaccurate term for an example of drinki ng that is by suggestion diverged from overwhelming drinking. It indicates drinking that is moderate in sum and doesn't cause issues. Drinking among Young People Youngsters are less well prepared than grown-ups to adapt with the impacts of liquor, genuinely and inwardly. A similar measure of liquor will have an a lot more noteworthy impact on the body of a youngster or youngster than on a grown-up, in light of the fact that their bodies are as yet developing and creating. Additionally, a youngster doesnt have the experience expected to manage the impacts of liquor on judgment and observation. In any case, as indicated by NHS organization review (2009) it shows that in an ongoing study, 14% of 15 and multi year olds in the UK had been flushed multiple times or more during the most recent a year and half have been smashed in any event twice. Also, 58% of multi year olds who had smashed liquor as of late had endured negative results, for example, getting into a contention, been sick, missing school, been harmed or in a difficult situation with the police. Among those matured 15 and under, 18% had flushed liquor in the earlier week Diment et al ( 2009). Despite the fact that the extent of schoolchildren who have never had a mixed beverage has ascended (from 39% in 2003 to 48% in 2008), the individuals who do drink are expending more. Somewhere in the range of 2007 and 2008, mean liquor utilization among youngsters matured 11 to 15 (explicitly, the individuals who had smashed liquor in the earlier week) expanded from 12.7 units (102 g) to 14.6 units (117 g) Diment et al (2009). Territorial investigation shows that utilization is most noteworthy among those living in the North East (17.7 units) and the North West (16.3 units). It is least in London (11.3 units) The NHS Information Center (2010). Likewise, almost 10,000 kids and youngsters (younger than 18) are admitted to clinic every year because of their drinking Department for Children, Schools and Families (2009). It is a significant issue realizing the new age are being presented to this general medical problem. By their blameless information, they will be casualties that in the more drawn out term, drinking can negatively affect a youthful people school work, public activity and companionships, just as their general wellbeing. Theyll additionally be in a tough situation in the event that they overstep the laws about purchasing and drinking liquor. Consequences for Health and Social Services Liquor is related with a wide scope of criminal offenses what's more

Movie Review on Crash

The film began with Don Cheadle, who played a Los Angeles investigator, remarking about how individuals collaborate with one another. He said that the demonstration of contacting is forestalled by the presence of counterfeit components, for example, metal and glass. Along these lines, individuals tend to crash with each other so as to feel one another. This intriguing line sums up the whole plot of the film which rotated around prejudice and generalizing. The term â€Å"crash† portrayed the many clashing occasions among the principle characters that happened in the film. It characterized the multifaceted connections of individuals from various social foundations, shades of the skin and financial status. There were numerous ideas in the film that accentuated contrasts in race and sex that showed the accompanying influence, separation, despise wrongdoing, bigotry, riches, lewd behavior, ethnicity, minority, bias, generalization, isolation, pluralism, absorption, substitute, wrongdoing against property and sex definition. Force was found in the scene where the District Attorney played by Brendan Fraser got organized by the LAPD when his vehicle was taken. He utilized his height as an administration official all together for the police power to quickly deal with and resolve his case. In the mean time, I saw a type of separation when Matt Dillon who played a white bigot cop, called the emergency clinic to ask about the clinical treatment required by his dad. All through their discussion, he was extremely unsatisfied so when he asked who was he conversing with, the individual at the opposite stopping point, gave a name that was a run of the mill Black name and Dillon promptly accepted that the purpose for the inadmissible assistance was on the grounds that he was managing a Black individual. A case of despise wrongdoing was additionally portrayed in the film. At the point when the Persian storekeeper expected that the Hispanic locksmith was behind the harming of his property in light of the fact that the locksmith resembled a normal hoodlum or criminal, he attempted to murder him by shooting him before his home. Fortunately, the locksmith was safe from the occurrence. In connection with this, preceding this occurrence, the Persian attempted to purchase a weapon for him and his family's assurance from an American-claimed firearm store. The American proprietor would not offer a weapon to the Persian in light of the fact that the proprietor connected the Persian with the Arab Muslims who were answerable for the 9/11 fear monger assault. This was a type of prejudice that indicated narrow mindedness for another social or racial gathering. Then again, riches was apparent with the characters of Bullock and Fraser who played a rich white couple while Howard and Newton's characters who were the wealthy dark couple. These characters represented that notoriety and fortune can be accomplished and delighted in irregardless of the shade of the skin. In another scene in the film, I saw a demonstration of inappropriate behavior between a dark lady who was the person in question and the white man who was the harasser. It is where the character of Dillon pulled over a vehicle of a dark couple and cross examined them. During the cross examination, Dillon genuinely looked through the character of Newton who played the rich dark spouse of Terrence Howard, a big cheese dark maker. Dillon improperly contacted the assortment of Newton which suggested an unwanted lewd gesture. On another note, toward the start of the film, a few social personalities were introduced. A dark man, a Hispanic lady and an Asian lady were assembled together in one spot in view of an auto accident. This scene depicted the combination of various ethnic gatherings in a single region wherein their various dialects, convictions and culture connoting the presence of different ethnicity in LA. In any case, multiculturalism likewise involves having minority gatherings. In the film, Chinese unlawful outsiders were being sold as slaves by Americans in downtown Los Angeles. This scene delineated that the Chinese are as yet considered as a minority or a subordinate gathering in an American overwhelmed city where they are denied of their fundamental needs. In the mean time, partiality was seen when the character of Bullock grasped the arms of her better half after observing two African-American guys strolling on a similar walkway as they seem to be. Bullock's activity demonstrated her rushed judgment of the two blacks. She accepted that they were criminals or looters so she made a signal looking for insurance from her better half. In a comparative situation, Bullock generalized a Hispanic locksmith with a hoodlum on account of his shaved head and tattoos. This is a type of generalizing wherein one sums up a particular idea to any individual who exemplifies that idea. In the interim, isolation is obvious in the scene where individuals of Mexican or Hispanic inception are typically pigeonholed in hands on occupations, for example, local works or development. In the film, the servant of Bullock and Fraser was a Hispanic lady. On account of the servant's nationality and the idea of her activity, Bullock continually looked down on the capacity and knowledge of the Hispanic lady. In addition, pluralism was appeared by showing Los Angeles as a pluralist city. LA was viewed as a spot where Black and White Americans, Asians and Hispanics have safeguarded their particular social characters in the midst of the assorted variety. In the mean time, Terrence Howard played the character of Cameron Thayer who was an effective dark TV maker. The TV business was commanded by whites. Howard figured out how to be absorbed to the prevailing gathering by surrendering to the requests and needs of the whites to the detriment of ignoring his own needs and sentiments. This is an away from of social absorption. In the interim, in the scene where Detective Graham Waters played by Don Cheadles was exploring a shooting scene between a dark man and a white LAPD official, he discovered that the cop was blameworthy of doing criminal operations. So as to save the great picture and respectability of the LAPD, the dark man was utilized as a substitute by pinpointing him as the instigator of the wrongdoing. Then again, wrongdoing against property was represented when the store of the Persian was whipped. They were exposed to such hostile conduct due to their comparable physical appearance with the Arabs who were profoundly separated in the U.S. in view of the 9/11 assault. Last however not the least, sexual orientation delineation was exhibited in the film through the scene where the Persian lady was asking the American weapon storekeeper to sell them a hand firearm. Rather the proprietor verbally badgering the Persian lady demonstrating the status of ladies in a male-overwhelmed society. By and large, ladies are seen as sex protests or trained creatures. References Cheadle, D., Haggis, P., Moresco, R., Schulman, C., and Yari, B. (Makers) and Haggis, P.  â â â â â â â â â â (Director).(2004). Crash [Motion Picture]. U.S.A.: Lion Gate Films.

Arctic Power Case Study Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Cold Power Case Study CURRENT SITUATION It is the late spring of 1987. Ice Power clothing cleanser has contracted with the counseling firm of Smith and Jones, LTD to help Arctic Power in deciding their key heading and their item situating. Foundation AND HISTORY Ice Power, a clothing cleanser exceptionally planned to clean in chilly water, is a piece of Colgate-Palmolive Canada group of items. Colgate-Palmolive Canada is an entirely possessed auxiliary of the global enterprise Colgate Palmolive. In 1986 Colgate-Palmolive had overall deals of $4.9 billion with benefits of $178 million, with Colgate-Palmolive Canada having deals of $250 million. Colgate-Palmolive Canada (CPC) has a wide assortment of family and individual consideration items. Among the most well known CPC brands are ABC, Arctic Power, and Fab clothing cleansers, Palmolive dish cleanser, Ajax and Irish Spring body cleansers, Ultra Brite and Colgate toothpaste, and Baggies stockpiling packs. Colgate-Palmolive Canada utilizes an item the executives framework where item administrators are alloted explicit duty regarding a particular brand, for example, Arctic Power. Their general objectives are to expand deals and productivity of their brands. The undertaking administrator is liable for all the showcasing capacities, including arranging, publicizing, selling, advancement, and statistical surveying. An associate item director is relegated to work with the item chief. Before the late 1970’s Colgate-Palmolive Canada bolstered their brands on a national premise, at that point changed technique as CPC acknowledged they were extending their assets excessively far. During the late 1970’s through the mid 1980’s, CPC moved to a local methodology. While Arctic Power was as yet appropriated broadly, before the finish of 1981, a lot of the Canadian national market was 4% (comprising of a 11% offer in Quebec, 5% in the Maritimes, and 2% somewhere else in Canada). Subsequently, Arctic Power was vigorously advertised in Quebec and the Maritimes, with advancement support being pulled back from the remainder of Canada. This local methodology was fruitful as Arctic Power’s portion of the general Canadian market expanded to 6.4% in 1985, catching 18% of Quebec, 6% of the Maritime markets while dropping to under 2% somewhere else in Canada. 1986-87: THE WESTERN CAMPAIGN With the achievement Arctic Power had in their local procedure, Arctic Power propelled a campai... ...tegies. Spending plan In spite of confronting relentless rivalry that has seen the expense of products sold ascent 15% during the previous three years and costs rise just 5%, Arctic Power ought to have the option to keep on having a 18% commitment edge for its business dollars. Our essential spending technique is decrease expenses and advancement costs, while expanding the utilization of less expensive TV and radio publicizing. This would permit Arctic Power to expand brand mindfulness just as advance the advantages of cold water washing. Ice Power will likewise look to new cost sparing advances and different measures to guarantee benefit as time goes on. 14 YEARS LATER: THE CONCLUSION It is 2001. Through the endeavors of Smith and Jones, LTD’s showcasing system, Arctic Power is the main virus water clothing cleanser in Canada and has extended universally. The 1987 Arctic Power crusade will be generally concentrated by MBA understudies from Palm Desert, California to Palm Beach, Florida as one of the incredible promoting examples of overcoming adversity. Spiel and Dimick, LTD, will later proceed to enable some geeky To charge Gates kid advertise this exceptional thought of his called Windows while helping Al Gore in his new creation, the Internet.

Mus 1014-Understanding Contemporary and Popular Music Musicsmus 1014-Understanding Contemporary and Popular Music Musics free essay sample

Music Idolism blinds most people’s judgment on the planet be it in the event that he/she is instructed in music. All in all, what elements are associated with Music Idolism? The two central point included are appearances and obviously, music. A great many people would state ‘person An is my venerated image! ’ or ‘I love individual A! ’ and the purpose behind those announcements is the artist’s appearance and music. On the off chance that a craftsman is attractive or lovely, it as of now gives them a major bit of leeway. As what a great many people would discuss is their appearances as it is the initial introduction of the craftsman that gives him/her the prominence factor. Individuals at that point spread word about that craftsman to their companions and which thusly shares about that craftsman in the web through sources like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and some more. The other main consideration is music. What is associated with music that will cause the world to go insane? How did such a large number of craftsmen accomplish prevalence? In 21st century music, most mainstream craftsman utilize a four harmony circle or appealing rhythms that will draw the consideration of numerous audience members. Furthermore, soon, more specialists followed in a similar style in order to get renowned. After all these stated, how can it influence individuals on the planet today? Envision enlightening a gathering of companions concerning a tune and needing to acquaint it with them. Subsequent to stating ‘I need to acquaint you with this music. ’ A companion quickly says ‘no! Craftsman X is better; his music is acceptable and no one improves music than him, so I’m not going to tune in to this. ’ And he/she says that without tuning in to the music presented first. Other than these, we have seen numerous individuals who are impacted by their object of worship craftsmen. I have companion who said ‘I need to play the piano like musician X’ and numerous individuals began utilizing their objects of worship to pass judgment on others as far as music as well. At the point when I show my companion some piano recordings, a large portion of my companions will say explanations like ‘no, musician X is better’. At the point when I inquire as to why, the answer would be ‘because he is my object of worship and he is so attractive! ’ As such, numerous individuals see themselves as substandard compared to their golden calves and are stuck in their own â€Å"idol bubble. † Music Idolism isn't only an issue in the 21st century, we can likewise observe music idolism additionally in the mid nineteenth century. Seen in Beethoven’s time in Nicholas Cook’s book. From his book, Cook says that â€Å"for ages, finding your voice as an arranger implied characterizing yourself corresponding to Beethoven. â€Å" From this, the proof is solid that Music Idolism exists at that point. Numerous performers of the nineteenth century compose music for set events. Like Bach, who composes music for his congregation and Haydn, who composes music for a medieval landowner in Hungary. In any case, Beethoven composes music that he needed to compose. As such he started another thought in which numerous individuals followed and which thusly, numerous artists transformed him into their own venerated image. So from that point, music idolism existed and significantly after Beethoven’s passing, numerous different authors had his spot as an icon like the ever well known Chopin, who made numerous individuals of the 21st century learn piano, saying that they need to play like Chopin or play Chopin’s pieces. In any case, this likewise caused an alternate impact where individuals who are new to music simply need to become familiar with their (alluding to Beethoven, Chopin and the more acclaimed old style/sentimental writers) music without learning the fundamental aptitudes on the piano. I have seen individuals who learn piano only for these pieces however yet as they don't have essential abilities, I feel that they are a disrespect to the writers when they play the piece without sentiments or feeling and even with an incredibly part of mix-ups. It just makes me distraught to consider what a great many people see traditional amp; sentimental pieces as. Only a ‘show-off’ piece. Indeed, even these pieces are utilized in cutting edge film and music, when Chinese pop icon Jay Chou came out with his film ‘Secrets’, he expressed that he has extemporized Chopin’s music to make it sound like pop. This likewise started another response from his fans. In spite of the fact that the music originated from Chopin’s Waltz in C-sharp minor and Etude Op. 10, No 5, numerous fans demanded that Jay Chou is the first arranger of these pieces and dismissed Chopin. There are numerous different models even in 21st century. In the latest occasions we have a craftsman called PSY who thought of a tune called ‘Gangnam Style’ which drew an entire 1,129,853,656 watchers to turn into the most-viewed YouTube video ever. The world began learning the move, the music and even began to figure out how to resemble PSY. Before PSY, the world was on about Justin Bieber with his hit melody ‘Baby’ in which likewise surprised the world. We have all these incredible guides to perceive how Music Idolism has affected the world and how it influences us and the manner in which music is made or all things considered, influenced the noteworthiness of a few. In another manner, it tends to be said that individuals has been burglarized of their melodic inheritance. As Christopher Small says in his book: The central nature and significance of music lie not in objects, not in melodic works by any stretch of the imagination, however in real life, in what individuals do. It is just by understanding what individuals do as they partake in a melodic demonstration that we can would like to comprehend its tendency and the capacity it satisfies in human life. †¦ â€Å"†¦ everybody, each regularly blessed person, is brought into the world with the endowment of music no not exactly with the endowment of discourse. In the event that that is in this way, at that point our present-day show life, regardless of whether ‘class ical’ or ‘popular’, in which the ‘talented’ few are engaged to deliver music for the ‘untalented’ larger part, depends on a lie. It implies that our forces of causing music for ourselves to have been seized and most of individuals looted of the musicality that is there by right of birth, while a couple of stars, and their handlers, develop rich and popular through selling us what we have been persuaded we need. So as per Small, everybody has the endowment of music however not every person has figured out how to discover it. Also, in this way lead to feel that the vast majority are musically incompetent like what a large portion of my companions state ‘I’m not musically slanted like you. ’ However this isn't accurate! Frequently individuals ask each other ‘can you sing? ’ But I accentuate this to my companions, ‘everyone can sing. It’s how well you do it. ’ The equivalent, to my companions who think they are cadenced morons and can't follow beats. I would state to them, ‘If you figure you can't follow mood, at that point for what reason is it, that you can stroll in musicality? Furthermore, you can pound a nail in beat? What's more, all things being equal, your heart thumps in beat and you take in musicality. ’ So why at that point, that Music Idolism exists in this world? Everything prompts the person. Regardless of whether to choose to worship somebody or be consistent with oneself. Try not to misunderstand me, there is nothing incorrectly about tuning in to an artist’s music or discussion about it, or spread it to companions or even play it and extemporize it. Music is about oneself and not about others. Like what little stated, it characterizes one self’s psyche, character and how extraordinary one can be from the rest. In any case, clearly somebody has revered a craftsman when somebody says that craftsman An is better than craftsman B essentially in light of the fact that ‘he is handsome’ or ‘I like his music more’. There is no premise in these sentences. Envision, I need to purchase a frozen yogurt and when I go to the general store, I see that An is less expensive by state $2. It doesn't imply that A’s quality is terrible until I attempt it. So to keep away from Music Idolism, tune in to other’s music before saying that An is superior to B. Also, for artists, regard the authors. In the event that the piece isn't one’s current level, improve one’s abilities before learning it. Try not to learn music for a piece, learn music for oneself.

Dont Waste Daylight; Dont Lose Sleep

Don’t Waste Daylight; Don’t Lose Sleep I love the weather today. I rode my bike home through puddles and gulped down the wetness in the air like I imagine a fish would if it, and not I, were in that spot on the sidewalk of dorm row. I shuffled into my suite on the fourth floor of Burton Conner shedding a trail of water from my backpack and raincoat, looked out the window, and exclaimed joyfully to my roommate, Its so gray! Shes from the northwest corner of Washington, and Im from the valley in Oregon, so we feel the same way on days like this. When its wet, warm, and kind of dark, when the forecast is downright dreary, we feel right at home. In eleven days, we will be home. I guess Im surprised Im still alive. Ive survived. Coming here was so overwhelming in the beginning that I didnt think beyond first semester. I dont know what I thought would happen to me: that Id freeze? That Id get lost in the tunnels between Stata and some far-off building and live underground forever? That Id step into traffic or lose my balance on the T? All of those things happened, but I made it through every one of them, and I did eventually find my way out of the tunnels. Im doing fine. Im doing great. I got ten hours of sleep last night, made oatmeal for breakfast, made an attempt at making my bed, and I might even go to the gym maybe probably not. But Ive memorized half of Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie, Ive registered for ceramics glasses over IAP, and after years of wanting to try but not really trying, I can ride my bike with no hands. Im on a roll. Maybe I should call it recovery, instead. This feeling of being completely okay is pretty recent. The last few months were rough. I knew they would be. I came to MIT completely unprepared. My background in science at math is flimsy at best. I slept eight or nine hours a night in high school, hardly ever had to study, and didnt count attendance as one of my strong points. I came to MIT because I wanted to do something truly difficult; until I came here, Id just done what I enjoyed, and enjoyed it enough to do it well without too much effort. I wanted, like everyone at MIT does (according to the fantastic pressure survey in the Tech, which youve probably already read about), to be hardcore. Only, I didnt know how at all, and I failed a bunch of tests. Miserably. And I had all kinds of other problems, and I missed my sisters and brother and dog and favorite bookstore, and I got sick of doing psets, and then I got actually sick. Like I said, the last few months were rough. The problem wi th being in a place as unusual as wonderful as MIT is that you lose perspective. Everyone around you is incredibly brilliant and as lucky as you are. People sparkle with intensity, and the stakes for everything seem higher, even though they arent. Really, as my friend Charlie confirms, nothing is a big deal. There are some big deals, but most of them happen far away, to other people at other times. Whether I finish every problem on a pset is really not a big deal. Whether I learned integration by parts in high school is not a big deal. Whatever inconvenience confronts me, its not a big deal. Saying that helps. What is a big deal? When Obama wins the presidential election, and it snows the next day, and Robyn, Anastassia and I slide around in the streets and spell out Snowbama in footprints on the tennis courts. When the sun comes back out, its warm enough in December for me to wear shorts three days in a row, and when the sunset looks like sherbet, like this: And when I turn eighteen, old enough that I no longer have to fax papers home for parent signatures, my best friend sends me a shirt with horses on it, and my roommate makes me a cake so fancy it looks storebought and so tasty I know its homemade. Im taking things lightly. Finals are coming up, tension is rising, the semesters winding up. Im trying to wind down (not that I wound up sufficiently in the first place). Ive implemented two new policies: I dont lose sleep, and I never waste daylight. Its going well. When the sun is out, Im out. When I need to sleep, I do. A third policy: when theres leftover cake in the fridge, I heat it up and have it with milk.