The Lottery, The Health Threats of Climate Change, The Chief Software Architect

The Lottery

            Throughout history, certain traditions and rituals have been able to dictate human behavior, even to the point where the person loses their sense of morality. Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” tells us the story of a small, American town, set in the former half of the 20th century. On the outside, this settlement seems quite normal. It had roughly three hundred people, most of whom were farmers. The postmaster, Mr. Graves, was the leader of the town, seconded only by Mr. Summers, who owned the local coal business. However, despite the quaint atmosphere, this deceptively tranquil village has a single unscrupulous blemish. Every year, on the 27th of June, a lottery is held in the town. Despite the connotation, winning this lottery renders the individual far from fortunate. This lottery, in which every town member must participate, determines which person will be stoned by his fellow residents. This horrendous action is the result of a ritual which had been integrated into the society during previous generations. The townspeople had long since forgotten the significance, most of the details, and original intent of this ritual. They only remembered that every June 27th, they were to hold a lottery for the whole town, and brutally murder the winner.

Perhaps one of the most powerful attributes of tradition is its ability to induce obstinacy among its followers. Throughout the inhabitants of the town were unwilling to change even the slightest detail involving the lottery. When Mr. Summers suggested using a new box, due to the fact that the current one had deteriorated greatly, the citizens adamantly refused, because the box was supposedly made with pieces of the original box that was used when the first settlers of the town inhabited the region. Even in its weathered condition, this black box was a symbol to the town of the impending doom which awaited one unlucky individual every year. The townspeople were also very reluctant to switch from wooden blocks to paper slips as means of drawing for the lottery. However, with much persistence from Mr. Summers, the townspeople eventually conceded, because the town had grown too large for each piece of wood to fit in the box. The townspeople were also unyielding in the proceedings of choosing the lottery slip. Only on the rarest of occasions was a woman allowed to choose the slip for her family; it was customarily the job of the husband, or a son who was of age. This is demonstrated when Jane Dunbar’s husband was unable to attend the lottery due to a broken leg. It was very apparent that Jane felt out of place when she was drawing her ticket. The Watson family was fortunate enough to have a son who was old enough to draw for his father. The crowd favored this much more than a woman drawing, as they told Jack “Glad to see your mother’s got a man to do it.” The villagers were also very stubborn that the lottery remains a tradition in the community. The lottery had become so ingrained into their culture that they those who did not practice it to be uncivilized. Old Man Warner compared abolishing the lottery with living in caves and refusing to work. The surrounding villages which chose to end the lottery were referred to as a “pack of young fools” by him as well. Old Man Warner represents the most devout followers of a tradition. Though they do not seek leadership positions, they are resolute that if things have been practiced a certain way for a long period of time, then these thing ought not to be changed. Old Man Warner was upset with the fact that Mr. Summers was being jovial with the residents as they selected their lottery slip, because he believed that it was inappropriate for the lottery to not be held in an austere manner. He was also irritated with Nancy Hutchinson’s friends’ apprehension at the thought of her being the winner. Mercy and compassion clearly had no placed in the lottery.

The second, and most noticeable trait of this ritual, is its dehumanizing effect. The winner of this lottery is stoned by his own town. Friends and family show extreme callousness as they join the bloodthirsty crowd to stone one of their own. Moments before the lottery began, Mrs. Hutchinson had a friendly chat with Mrs. Delacroix. However, when Mrs. Hutchinson had been declared winner of the lottery, all previous illusions of friendship between the two had been erased. Mrs. Delacroix was sprinting towards her with the largest stone she could find, excited to have the chance to slaughter one who, just the day before, she would have called friend. As disturbing as this may be, it is not nearly as unnerving as the betrayal among family members. It is clear that these families had no love for one another. Rather, they saw each other simply as pawns which would reduce the likelihood of their being chosen at the lottery. Mr. Hutchinson’s final words to his wife were “Shut up, Tessie”. Mrs. Hutchinson, when she sees the possibility of herself being chosen, immediately tries to lessen her chances by asking that her married daughter choose as well. Her children, rather than expressing dismay over her imminent death, show pure jubilation when they see that their lives are spared. Towards the end of the story, children and adults alike join in stoning Mrs. Hutchinson. Even Little Dave, who may have been as young as five years old, was given pebbles to throw at his mother. This shows the desensitizing of murder which to town implants in the youth. From the time they can walk, kids were taught to join in the slaying of a human being, whether it was someone who they didn’t know, or a member of their own family.

This short story illustrates how tradition has the power to influence our lives in such a way that we lose the ability to know what is right and wrong. These people were conditioned to murder one person each year, simply because it was the way things had always been done. While there are also favorable aspects of ritual, they are not depicted in the short story. Jackson clearly strived to show the reader how dangerous tradition can be.

The Health Threats of Climate Change

Health Impacts of Climate Change

Changes in the greenhouse gas concentrations and other drivers alter the global climate and bring about myriad human health consequences. Environmental consequences of climate change are such as extreme heat waves, rising sea-levels, changes in precipitation resulting in flooding and droughts, intense hurricanes, and degraded air quality, affect directly and indirectly the physical, social, and psychological health of humans.  For instance, changes in precipitation are creating changes in the availability and quantity of water, as well as resulting in extreme weather events such as intense hurricanes and flooding.  Climate change can be a driver of disease migration, as well as exacerbate health effects resulting from the release of toxic air pollutants in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with asthma or cardiovascular disease.

Certain adverse health effects can be minimized or avoided with sound mitigation and adaptation strategies. Strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change can prevent illness and death in people now, while also protecting the environment and health of future generations.  Mitigation refers to actions being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to enhance the sinks that trap or remove carbon from the atmosphere. Adaptation refers to actions being taken to lessen the impact on health and the environment due to changes that cannot be prevented through mitigation. Appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies will positively affect both climate change and the environment, and thereby positively affect human health. Some adaptation activities will directly improve human health through changes in our public health and health care infrastructure.

Health Impacts

Climate change is expected to affect air quality through several pathways, including production and allergenicity of allergens and increase regional concentrations of ozone, fine particles, and dust. Some of these pollutants can directly cause respiratory disease or exacerbate existing conditions in susceptible populations, such as children or the elderly. Some of the impacts that climate change can have on air quality include:

·         Increase ground level ozone and fine particle concentrations, which can trigger a variety of reactions including chest pains, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion, as well as reduce lung function and cause inflammation of the lungs

·         Increase carbon dioxide concentrations and temperatures, thereby affecting the timing of aeroallergen distribution and amplifying the allergenicity of pollen and mold spores

·         Increase the frequency of droughts, leading to increased dust and particulate matter

Adaptation and Mitigation

·         Mitigating short-lived contamination species that both air pollutants and green house gases, such as ozone or black carbon. Examples include urban tree covers or rooftop gardens in urban settings

·         Decreasing the use of vehicle miles traveled to reduce ozone precursors

·         Utilizing alternative transportation options, such as walking or biking, which have the co-benefit of reducing emissions while increasing cardiovascular fitness and contributing to weight loss.  However, these activities also have the potential to increase exposure to harmful outdoor air pollutants, particularly in urban areas.

Heat-Related Morbidity and Mortality

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat stroke, and death, as well as exacerbate preexisting chronic conditions, such as various respiratory, cerebral, and cardiovascular diseases.  These serious health consequences usually affect more vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.  Socioeconomic factors, such as economically disadvantaged and socially isolated individuals, are also at risk from heat-related burdens.  As global temperatures rise and extreme heat events increase in frequency due to climate change we can expect to see more heat-related illnesses and mortality.  Public health systems need to be prepared for extreme events and responses will demand a concerted effort among the public health community, the medical establishment, emergency responses teams, the housing authority, and law enforcement in order to quickly identify and serve the populations vulnerable to extreme heat events.

Health Impacts

·         Increased temperatures and increase in extreme heat events cause heat exhausting, heat stroke, and death, especially in vulnerable populations.

·         High concentrations of buildings in urban areas cause urban heat island effect, generation and absorbing heat, making the urban center several degrees warmer than surrounding areas.

Mitigation and Adaptation

·         Heat early warning systems and proactive heat wave response plans

·         Increased air conditioning use

·         Decreased time spent outdoors during extreme heat events

·         Increased use of sun-shielding clothing

Vector borne Diseases

Vector borne diseases are infectious diseases whose transmission involves animal hosts or vectors.  Vector borne diseases, such as malaria, are those in which an organism, typically insects, ticks, or mites, carry a pathogen from one host to another, generally with increased harmfulness (virulence) of the pathogen in the vector. Vector borne diseases that are found in warmer climates and vulnerable due to global trade and travel. 

Health Impacts

·         Changes in temperature and precipitation directly affect Vector borne diseases through pathogen-host interaction, and indirectly through ecosystem changes and species composition.

·         As temperatures increases vectors can spread into new areas that were previously too cold. For example, two mosquito vectors that carry malaria are now found at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Mitigation and Adaptation

·         Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to influence local ecological environment, thereby altering the life cycles of certain disease vectors and animals 

·         Preserving forests and wetlands to affect ecology and transmission cycles 

·         Developing and implementing early warning systems to reduce exposure to environmental hazards and limit susceptibility in exposed populations

The Chief Software Architect

Bill Gates is an American business magnate and computer programmer who is the co-founder of Microsoft, the world’s largest PC software company. Since the company’s formation in 1975, Gates has held several positions including those of the chairman, CEO and chief software architect. One of the most famous entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution, he has been consistently ranked among the world’s wealthiest people starting from 1987. Born as the son of a successful lawyer, Bill Gates was encouraged from a young age to be competitive. Bright and curious, he developed an interest in computers while in school and wrote his first computer program as a young teenager. After completing his schooling, he enrolled at the prestigious Harvard College though he did not stay there long enough to complete his studies. He dropped out to pursue his passion in computers and teamed up with Paul Allen, a former schoolmate, to form Microsoft. The company proved to be highly successful and within years Gates became an internationally known entrepreneur. Currently the wealthiest person in the world, he is a renowned philanthropist who along with his wife has created the charity organization "Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation”. He has also authored and co-authored several books.

Childhood & Early Life:

Born as William Henry Bill Gates III on October 28, 1955, he is the son of William H. Gates, Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. His father was a prominent lawyer while his mother served on the board of directors for First Interstate Bank System and the United Way. He has two sisters. He studied at the Lakeside School where he developed an interest in computing. He was just 13 when he wrote his first software program on the school’s computer and by the time he was in high school he, along with some of his friends, had computerized their school’s payroll system.

His future business collaborator, Paul Allen, was a senior at Lakeside. At the age of 17, Gates teamed up with Allen to form a venture called Traf-O-Data, to make traffic counters based on the Intel 8008 processor. He graduated from high school in 1973. He was a National Merit Scholar and scored 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT. He enrolled at Harvard College later the same year. As a college student he spent a lot of time on the computers though he was not much interested in studying other subjects. His friend Allen suggested that Bill drop out of college to start a business.

Career:

Bill Gates and Paul Allen collaborated to found Microsoft (initially called Micro-Soft) in 1975. In the beginning they adapted BASIC, a popular programming language for use on microcomputers. It proved to be a success and they continued to develop programming language software for various systems. In 1980, the duo was approached by International Business Machine (IBM) with a proposal that Microsoft write the BASIC interpreter for IBM’s upcoming personal computer, the IBM PC. Microsoft created the PC DOS operating system which they delivered to IBM in exchange for a one-time fee of $50,000. Soon Microsoft’s operating systems became very popular and the company introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985, as a graphical operating system shell for MS-DOS. Over the following years Windows came to dominate the world’s personal computer market acquiring over 90% market share. The company saw phenomenal financial success, and being the company’s largest individual shareholder, Bill Gates amassed a great fortune. Microsoft introduced Microsoft Office in 1989. The package integrated several applications like Microsoft Word and Excel into one system that was compatible with all Microsoft products. The success of MS Office gave Microsoft a virtual monopoly on operating systems for PCs. In the mid 1990s when the use of the internet spread throughout the globe at an alarming speed, Gates focused Microsoft on the development of consumer and enterprise software solutions for the Internet. Windows CE operating system platform and the Microsoft Network were among the innovative solutions developed during this time. In January 2000, Gates stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft though he retained his position as chairman. He created the new position of Chief Software Architect for himself. Over the next few years he gradually transferred his duties to others at Microsoft and started spending more time in philanthropic works. He stepped down as Chairman of Microsoft in February 2014, and currently serves as technology advisor to support CEO Satya Nadella.

 Major Works:

Bill Gates is best known as the co-founder of Microsoft, the multinational technology company which is today considered one of the world's most valuable companies. It is the world’s largest software maker measured by revenues

Awards & Achievements:

In 2002, Bill and Melinda Gates received the Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged. Gates received the Bower Award for Business Leadership from The Franklin Institute in 2010 in recognition of his achievements at Microsoft and his philanthropic work. Bill and Melinda Gates jointly received India’s third highest civilian honor Padma Bhushan in 2015 for their foundation's philanthropic activities in India.

Philanthropic Works:

 In 1999, he donated US$20 million to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the construction of a computer laboratory which was named the “William H. Gates Building” in his honor. Along with his wife, Melinda, Bill Gates formed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF or the Gates Foundation) in 2000. It is the largest private foundation in the world and aims to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty worldwide. In 2010, Gates along with fellow billionaire investors Warren Buffett, and Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg signed the “Gates-Buffet Giving Pledge”, committing to donate at least half of their wealth over the course of time to charity.