Contact Zones in Chicano Culture Essay

Meeting someone from another culture expands your knowledge of the world. As you receive new information, you are giving some of your own. The experience of two different people meeting is far less than the experience of two different cultures of people meeting. The most common outcome of these meeting is one culture dominates over the other. This domination eventually leads to hatred towards the oppressors, until the dominated are free. Over many years, the dominated population has integrated their culture with the dominant one but there is still conflict. In â€Å"Arts of a Contact Zone† Mary Louise Pratt writes about the effects of a contact zone, when two different cultures meet and interact, and why it is good. Contact zones bring people together to share ideas and cultures but it can also lead to slavery and conquest . We will focus on one effect: literate arts. Some of the literate arts are autoethnography, transculturation, bilingualism, critique, and denunciation. These literate arts are ways people use language to express a clash of two cultures. An â€Å"autoethnographic text†, a text that a writer uses to respond to the way other people sees their ethnic group, uses things familiar with a dominant race to make a point. Pratt gave us an example of â€Å"autoethnographic text† called New Chronicle and Good Government by Guaman Poma. The title New Chronicle comes from the name of the apparatus used by the Spanish to present their American Conquests to themselves. Poma uses this to create a new picture of the world by rewriting the Christian history with the Andeans at the center of the religion. The new â€Å"Christian-Inca† history resembled European manners and custom descriptions but included the meticulous details of information stored in the Inca societies. Poma used this manner to write his letter to make a parody the Europeans could understand. Gloria’s Anzaldua essays â€Å"Entering into the Serpent† and â€Å"How to Tame a Wild Tongue† are examples of an â€Å"autoethnographic text. † She uses her essays to destroy some of the stereotypes readers have before they read her essays. Some of the stereotypes of Chicano are they are hated by the US and Latinos and have a conflicted identity. The idea that Americans and Latinos hate Chicanos comes from the belief that they cannot identify with Standard English or Standard Spanish cultures. Since the Chicanos are born in the United States but are ethnically Mexican, they do not â€Å"belong† in the United States or Mexico. The hatred of Americans and Latinos caused the unknown identity of Chicanos. Transculturation occurs when two groups of people integrate different aspects of a culture with each other. An example of transculturation is Poma’s illustrations in New Chronicle and Good Government. The pictures had a European genre but they used Andean systems of spatial symbolism to express values and aspirations. In Anzaldua’s essays, we see transculturation in the religion. â€Å"My family, like most Chicanos, did not practice Roman Catholicism but a folk Catholicism with many pagan elements† (Anzaldua 73). The Roman Catholicism that was the religion of the Spaniards intermingled with Anzaldua’s â€Å"snake religion† to form the folk Catholicism version of la Virgen Guadalupe as Coatlalopeuh. Transculturation and autoethnography both manipulate language. Anzaldua wrote the essays in English and Spanish to identify herself with the Chicano and show us her experience with English speaking people. Poma’s wrote his letter in Quechua and Spanish so both cultures could understand the main points of the letter. In childhood we were told that our language is wrong. Repeated attacks at our native tongue diminish our sense of self. The attacks continue throughout our lives. Chicanas feel uncomfortable talking in Spanish to Latinas, afraid of their censure. Their language was not outlawed in their countries. But for a language to remain alive, it must be used. By the end of this century English, and not Spanish, will be the mother tongue of most Chicanos and Latinos (Anzaldua 89) The language of a culture identifies a person. If someone’s language is banned it makes the person feel unwelcome so to fit in they speak the main language but wonder what is wrong with their own language. When Chicanos speak Spanish they â€Å"spoil† the language and when they speak English they are traitors. This idea of having a wrong language causes confusion and shame, which will lead to not a Chicano identity but an American identity. By identifying with her culture, she creates a known identity for her people. Chicano Spanish is unlike English or Spanish but a combination of both, which results in bilingualism. Anzaldua’s first essay shows us what her religion meant to her, and she blames and criticizes the Catholics for taking away her sexual identity. Before the Spaniards conquest, the male dominated Azteca-Mexica culture had replaced all the female deities with male ones. This replacement split the female deities and the female self. If there were no female (spirit) deities then there was no female identity, according to Anzaldua. After the Conquest, Guadalupe became a virgin and all the other female deities (snake goddesses) were whores. The change in identity of these female deities encourages the virgin/whore dichotomy. This separation of mind and body made it hard for her to find her sexual identity. Pratt’s definition of a contact zone makes it a wonderful and horrible place to be but Anzaldua seems to disagree. Anzaldua’s experience with Catholic people seemed to be the worst thing that happened to her. These chapters from her book Borderlands/La frontera only show one type of opinion with no other positive outlooks. Her dislike of the Catholics inspires her to write these chapters to show us how her life was like and to â€Å"blame† everyone who reads her book. She was not able to have a true contact zone through her experience so she is unwilling to understand the Catholic religion. Anzaldua’s essays are another example for Pratt to use in her essay. The concept of literate arts is present throughout. The essays mainly show the bad parts of Anzaldu’s contact zones but that is the main result of contact zones with a dominant culture. Even though Anzaldua may not agree this is a contact zone. Her bias shows the readers the horrors of her cultures past to encourage a response.

Chemistry- Alkanes and Alkenes

The process of naming compounds allows chemists to communicate formulae in words rather than in chemical symbols. There are, however, a few rules about naming compounds which need to be known in order to write a formula in word form or translate a compound in word form into chemical symbols. Ionic compounds If the compound is ionic, then the name of the cation (usually metal) comes first, followed by the ‘compound' name of the anion.To find the compound name of an anion, replace the end of the element's name with ‘ide'. name of cation + name of anion, suffix ‘ide' E. g. NaCl: sodium, the cation, first, followed by chlorine changed with the suffix ‘ide' = sodium chloride If the anion is polyatomic and contains oxygen, then the suffix is ‘ate'. name of cation + name of polyatomic oxygen anion, suffix ‘ate' E. g. Na2CO3: sodium, the cation, first, followed by a polyatomic group containing carbon and oxygen to form carbonate = sodium carbonate Note:E. g. MgO: magnesium, the cation, first, followed by oxygen changed with the suffix ‘ide' because oxygen is the sole ion and not part of a polyatomic group = magnesium oxide Sometimes if the compound contains hydrogen, the word ‘hydrogen' shortens to ‘bi' such as with NaHCO3, which is known as sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. Hydrogen compounds If the compound contains hydrogen and a metal, the metal comes first, followed by the word ‘hydride', to denote the hydrogen component. etal + hydride E. g. NaH: sodium, the metal, first, followed by hydrogen changed with the suffix ‘ide' = sodium hydride If the compound contains hydrogen and a non-metal and does not contain water (H2O), then the hydrogen comes first, followed by the element's name replaced with the ‘ide' suffix. hydrogen + non-metal, suffix ‘ide' E. g. HF: hydrogen first, followed by fluorine changed with the suffix ‘ide' = hydrogen fluoride If the hydrogen non-met al compound dissolves in water, it tarts with the ‘hydro' prefix, followed by the element's name replaced with an ‘ic' suffix, followed by ‘acid'. hydro(name of element, suffix ‘ic') acid E. g. HCl: hydro, then chlorine with an ‘ic' suffix, then ‘acid' = hydrochloric acid Oxygen compounds When naming ionic compounds that contain oxygen the basic rule is similar. If the compound contains hydrogen and an oxygen anion (oxyanion) and does not contain water, then hydrogen comes first, followed by the element name with the suffix ‘ate'. hydrogen + element, suffix ‘ate' E. g.HCO3: hydrogen followed by carbon with the suffix ‘ate' = hydrogen carbonate The ‘ate' rule is used for the most common or the only compound made with an oxyanion. Some compounds, however, form more than one type of compound with oxygen and the amount of oxygen will affect the prefixes and suffixes used. This occurs for all oxyanions, with or without hydrogen involved. Table 1. 1: Naming more than one type of oxygen compound Oxygen level| Prefix| Element| Suffix| A little oxygen| hypo-| | -ite| Some oxygen| | | -ite| More oxygen| | | -ate| A lot of oxygen| per-| | -ate|E. g. Chlorine forms four different oxyanions named: ClO = hypochlorite ClO2 = chlorite ClO3 = chlorate ClO4 = perchlorate The oxygen level corresponds with the relative amounts in different compounds and not necessarily the specific numbers of oxygen atoms. If an element forms just two types of oxyanion compounds, then the suffixes ‘ite' and ‘ate' will suffice. If the hydrogen oxyanion compound is dissolved in water, it forms an acid using similar rules, only the ‘ite' suffix changes to ‘ous' and the ‘ate' suffix changes to ‘ic', followed by the word ‘acid'.Table 1. 2: Naming more than one type of hydrogen oxyanion acid Oxygen level| Prefix| Element| Suffix| Acid| A little oxygen| hypo-| | -ous| | Some oxygen| | | -ous| | More oxy gen| | | -ic| | A lot of oxygen| per-| | -ic| | E. g. The above example with chlorine and oxygen plus hydrogen: HClO = hypochlorous acid HClO2 = chlorous acid HClO3 = chloric acid HClO4 = perchloric acid Covalent compounds If a compound contains two non-metals in a covalent bond, then: * the least electronegative element is named first if the compound contains hydrogen, hydrogen is named first * the number of atoms of each element is indicated by a prefix * if the first element only has one atom the prefix is not used * the name of the element has the suffix ‘ide' least electronegative + number prefix, most electronegative element, suffix ‘ide' The prefixes used to number the atoms come from Greek and are as follows: 1 = mono- or mon- 2 = di- 3 = tri- 4 = tetra- 5 = penta- | 6 = hexa- 7 = hepta- 8 = octa- 9 = nona- 10 = deca-| E. g.CO: carbon, the least electronegative atom, first, followed by the prefix ‘mon' to indicate one atom of oxygen, the most electronegativ e atom, with the suffix ‘ide' = carbon monoxide CO2 carbon, the least electronegative atom, first, followed by the prefix ‘di' to indicate two atoms of oxygen, the most electronegative atom, with the suffix ‘ide' = carbon dioxide H2O the prefix ‘di' to indicate two atoms of hydrogen, which has naming priority, followed by ‘mon' to indicate one atom of oxygen = dihydrogen monoxide Common names There are a number of common names that chemists like to use instead of the proper scientific names.Most common names and formulae are well-known. It is recommended that common names and formulae be written down as they are encountered so they can be memorised later. Here are a few examples: Common name | Proper name| Chemical formula| water| dihydrogen monoxide| H2O| baking soda| sodium hydrogen carbonate| NaHCO3| table salt| sodium chloride| NaCl| limestone| calcium carbonate| CaCO3| quartz| silicon dioxide| SiO2| See animation 1. What is an acid? Ancient civilis ations had already identified acid as a sour-tasting substance that corroded metal, but confirmation about the exact nature of acid eluded chemists until the 20th century.Early in the 20th century, a number of chemists developed specific chemical definitions for the term ‘acid', although many of these definitions refer to subatomic processes, going into much greater depth than required here. The simplest, most general definition is that an acid is a substance that contains hydrogen and which can release hydrogen cations (H+) during a reaction. The strength of an acid depends on its ability to release hydrogen ions – stronger acids release hydrogen ions more readily. Some of the properties of acid are that they: * Dissolve in water to form excess hydrogen ions Are highly reactive and will corrode most metals * Conduct electricity * Have a sour taste (strong acids are dangerous and should not be taste-tested) * Produce a stinging sensation (as above, strong acids should n ot be handled) There are some common edible acids such as citric acid, which is found in fruits like oranges, lemons and limes, acetic acid, found in vinegar, carbonic acid, which is the ‘fizz' in soft drinks and dairy products, which contain lactic acid. Examples of other acids include: sulphuric acid, present in batteries; and hydrochloric acid, which breaks down food in your stomach. See image 1.Acids like vinegar are used to preserve food because many organisms cannot live in an acidic environment. Similarly, fermentation of food can also produce an acidic environment for preservation purposes – vinegar is an acetic acid formed from grapes, lactic acid comes from fermentation of milk. What is a base? Bases are substances with the opposite properties to acids, that is, a base is a substance that accepts hydrogen ions in a reaction. Strong bases will accept more hydrogen ions than weak ones. Alkalis are soluble bases that contain hydroxide ions (OH-). Some properties of bases include that they: Dissolve in water to absorb excess hydrogen ions * Neutralise the effect of acid * Denature (change the molecular structure) of proteins * Have a bitter taste (strong bases are dangerous and should not be taste-tested) * Feel soapy (as above, strong bases should not be handled) Basic substances in everyday use include sodium hydrogen carbonate, also known as sodium bicarbonate, used in baking to help bread rise, sodium carbonate, used to make soap, and magnesium hydroxide, commonly used in indigestion remedies. Because of an ability to denature proteins, basic substances break down grease and make good cleaners.Considering that the human body is made up of proteins, this makes bases more dangerous for humans than acids. Clarification of terms Before proceeding, it is important to clarify some terms used in experiments with acids and bases. Strong substances are either acids that readily lose hydrogen cations or bases that readily gain hydrogen ions; weak substances less readily lose or gain hydrogen ions. For clarity, concentrated acids and bases are either pure or come dissolved in very little water, while dilute substances are dissolved in a lot of water.Therefore, strong and weak refer to the chemical reactivity of an acidic/basic substance while dilute and concentrate refer to the ratio of water into which the substance dissolves. Indicators It is also important to learn about some of the ways in which to test the strength of acidic and basic substances, since it is not permitted to taste or touch chemicals in a laboratory environment. Chemical substances are classified as acidic (containing acid), basic (containing base) or neutral (containing neither acid nor base). Chemists have developed a number of methods to test the acidity or alkalinity of a substance using chemical indicators.These indicators use the pH scale, with measurements from one to 14 based on the activity of hydrogen ions in the solution. Substances with a low pH are acidic. Substances with a reading of seven are neutral while basic solutions will elicit a higher reading. Developed by Danish scientist Soren Sorensen, the pH scale may have come from the German word ‘potenz' (meaning power or potency) and ‘H', the chemical symbol for hydrogen. It is also possible the term is derived from the Latin ‘pondus hydrogenii', which translates to ‘weight of hydrogen'. See animation 1.Many plants are excellent indicators of pH as they need optimum acidity/alkalinity in the soil to grow. Hydrangeas produce white or blue flowers in acidic soil or pink flowers in basic soil. Blue or red litmus paper, made from a fungal/bacterial growth called lichen, turns red in acid or blue in a base but will not change colour in a neutral solution. A synthetic indicator, bromothymol blue, starts blue and then changes yellow in acid. If placed in a basic or neutral substance it will remain blue. Another indicator would be needed to find out if the substance were neutral or basic.This demonstrates that when using an indicator it is necessary to observe a change in colour to define whether a substance is acidic, basic or neutral. Most indicators have only two colours. The universal indicator is an instrument that mixes several types of indicators and colours in order to show whether a substance is acidic, basic or neutral. Universal indicators have a colour scale that corresponds to the numbered pH scale. After testing, the colour of the paper is matched to a number on the scale for a more exact reading of acidity or alkalinity. See image 2. ReactionsSince acids and bases are more or less opposite substances, they tend to cancel each other out in a process called neutralisation. This reaction produces a salt and water. acid + base salt + water Neutralisation is commonly used in a number of remedies, such as the treatment of bites and stings. Bluebottles inject a basic substance when they sting, so a weak acid like vinegar ( acetic acid) will neutralise a bluebottle sting. Conversely, bee stings are slightly acidic, so a bee sting would be neutralised with a weak base, such as sodium bicarbonate. Seafood gives off an odour due to the basic amines it contains.An acidic acid substance such as lemon juice is squeezed over it to neutralise the smell. Excess acid in the stomach causes indigestion, so it can be neutralised with a weak base called an antacid. An example of an equation using this format is when hydrochloric acid meets sodium hydroxide to form sodium chloride and water: HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O Adding an acid to a base does not necessarily mean that the product is automatically neutralised. The strength of each of the reactants must be matched so that all the ions released by the acid find a place with the base.A strong acid with a weak base will result in an acidic salt, a weak acid with a strong base will result in a basic salt, while acids and bases of the same strength will neutralise completel y. Both acidic and metallic substances are highly reactive, which is why acid reacts aggressively in the presence of metal, corroding the metal much faster than moisture and air. The combination of an acid and a metal produces a metallic salt and hydrogen gas in an equation represented like this: acid + metal metallic salt + hydrogen The hydrogen ions are easily lost and replaced by the metallic ions, forming a metallic salt.The hydrogen then forms molecules with itself, resulting in hydrogen gas. An example of this is sulphuric acid and magnesium producing magnesium sulphate salt and hydrogen gas: H2SO4 + Mg MgSO4 + H2 No Flash, No Problem Highlight to reveal names Formula| Names| N2F6| Dinitrogen Hexafluoride| CO2| Carbon Dioxide| SiF4| Silicon Tetrafluoride| CBr4| Carbon Tetrabromide| NCl3| Nitrogen Trichloride| P2S3| Diphosphorous Trisulfide| CO| Carbon Monoxide| NO2| Nitrogen Dioxide| SF2| Sulfur Difluoride| PF5| Phosphorous Pentafluoride| SO2| Sulfur Dioxide| NO| Nitrogen Mono xide| CCl4| carbon tetrachloride|P2O5| diphosphorus pentoxide| | | Rules 1. The first element is named first, using the elements name. 2. Second element is named as an Anion (suffix â€Å"-ide†) 3. Prefixes are used to denote the number of atoms 4. â€Å"Mono† is not used to name the first element Note: when the addition of the Greek prefix places two vowels adjacent to one another, the â€Å"a† (or the â€Å"o†) at the end of the Greek prefix is usually dropped; e. g. , â€Å"nonaoxide† would be written as â€Å"nonoxide†, and â€Å"monooxide† would be written as â€Å"monoxide†. The â€Å"i† at the end of the prefixes â€Å"di-† and â€Å"tri-† are never dropped. Prefix| number indicated| | mono-| 1| | di-| 2| | tri-| 3| | tetra-| 4| | penta-| 5| | hexa-| 6| | hepta-| 7| | octa-| 8| | nona-| 9| | deca-| 10| Carbon Allotropes by siebo— last modified April 20, 2007 – 11:54 The allotropes of ca rbon are the different molecular configurations (allotropes) that pure carbon can take. Following is a list of the allotropes of carbon, ordered by notability, and extent of industrial use. Diamond Main article: Diamond Diamond is one of the best known allotropes of carbon, whose hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry.Diamond is the hardest known natural mineral, making it an excellent abrasive and also means a diamond holds its polish extremely well and retains luster. The market for industrial-grade diamonds operates much differently from its gem-grade counterpart. Industrial diamonds are valued mostly for their hardness and heat conductivity, making many of the gemological characteristics of diamond, including clarity and color, mostly irrelevant. This helps explain why 80% of mined diamonds (equal to about 100 million carats or 20,000 kg annually), unsuitable for use as gemstones and known as bort, are destined for industrial use.In addition to mined diamonds, synthetic diamonds found industrial applications almost immediately after their invention in the 1950s; another 400 million carats (80,000 kg) of synthetic diamonds are produced annually for industrial use—nearly four times the mass of natural diamonds mined over the same period. The dominant industrial use of diamond is in cutting, drilling, grinding, and polishing. Most uses of diamonds in these technologies do not require large diamonds; in fact, most diamonds that are gem-quality except for their small size, can find an industrial use.Diamonds are embedded in drill tips or saw blades, or ground into a powder for use in grinding and polishing applications. Specialized applications include use in laboratories as containment for high pressure experiments (see diamond anvil), high-performance bearings, and limited use in specialized windows. With the continuing advances being made in the production ofsynthetic diamond, future applications a re beginning to become feasible. Garnering much excitement is the possible use of diamond as asemiconductor suitable to build microchips from, or the use of diamond as a heat sink in electronics.Significant research efforts in Japan, Europe, and the United Statesare under way to capitalize on the potential offered by diamond's unique material properties, combined with increased quality and quantity of supply starting to become available from synthetic diamond manufacturers. Each carbon atom in diamond is covalently bonded to four othercarbons in a tetrahedron. These tetrahedrons together form a 3-dimensional network of puckered six-membered rings of atoms. This stable network of covalent bonds and the three dimensional arrangement of bonds that diamond is so strong. GraphiteMain article: Graphite Graphite (named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789, from the Greek : â€Å"to draw/write†, for its use in pencils) is oneof the most common allotropes of carbon. Unlike diamond, grap hite is a conductor, and can be used, for instance, as the material in the electrodes of an electrical arc lamp. Graphite holds the distinction ofbeing the most stable form of solid carbon ever discovered. Graphite is able to conduct electricity due to the unpaired fourth electron in each carbon atom. This unpaired 4th electron forms delocalisedplanes above and below the planes of the carbon atoms.These electrons are free to move, so are able to conduct electricity. However, the electricity is only conducted within the plane of the layers. Graphite powder is used as a dry lubricant. Although it might be thought that this industrially important property is due entirely to the loose interlamellar coupling between sheets in the structure, in fact in a vacuum environment (such as in technologies for use in space), graphite was found to be a very poor lubricant. This fact lead to the discovery that graphite's lubricity is due to adsorbed air and water between the layers, unlike other lay ered dry lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide.Recent studies suggest that an effect called superlubricity can also account for this effect. When a large number of crystallographic defects bind these planes together, graphite loses its lubrication properties and becomes what is known as pyrolytic carbon, a useful material in blood-contacting implants such as prosthetic heart valves. Natural and crystalline graphites are not often used in pure form as structural materials due to their shear-planes, brittleness and inconsistent mechanical properties.In its pure glassy (isotropic) synthetic forms, pyrolytic graphite and carbon fiber graphite is an extremely strong, heat-resistant (to 3000  °C) material, used in reentry shields for missile nosecones, solid rocket engines, high temperature reactors, brake shoes and electric motor brushes. Intumescent or expandable graphites are used in fire seals, fitted around the perimeter of a fire door. During a fire the graphite intumesces (expa nds and chars) to resist fire penetration and prevent the spread of fumes. A typical start expansion temperature (SET) is between 150 and 300 degrees Celsius.Amorphous carbon Main article: Amorphous carbon Amorphous carbon is the name used for carbon that does not have any crystalline structure. As with all glassy materials, some short-range order can be observed, but there is no long-range pattern of atomic positions. While entirely amorphous carbon can be made, most of the material described as â€Å"amorphous† actually contains crystallites of graphite [1] or diamond [2]with varying amounts of amorphous carbon holding them together, making them technically polycrystalline or nanocrystalline materials.Commercial carbon also usually contains significant quantities of other elements, which may form crystalline impurities. Coal and soot are both informally called amorphous carbon. However, both are products of pyrolysis, which does not produce true amorphous carbon under norma l conditions. The coal industry divides coal up into various grades depending on the amount of carbon present in the sample compared to the amount ofimpurities. The highest grade, anthracite, is about 90 percent carbon and 10% other elements. Bituminous coal is about 75-90 percent carbon, and lignite is the name for coal that is around 55 percent carbon.Fullerenes Main article: Fullerene The fullerenes are recently-discovered allotropes of carbon named after the scientist and architect Richard Buckminster Fuller, but were discovered in 1985 by a team of scientists from Rice University and the University of Sussex, three of whom were awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. They are molecules composed entirely of carbon, which take the form ofa hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube. Spherical fullerenes are sometimes called buckyballs, while cylindrical fullerenes are called buckytubes or nanotubes.As of the early twenty-first century, the chemical and physical properties of fullerenes are still under heavy study, in both pure and applied research labs. In April 2003, fullerenes were under study for potential medicinal use — binding specific antibiotics to the structure to target resistant bacteria and even target certain cancer cells such as melanoma. Fullerenes are similar in structure to graphite, which is composedof a sheet of linked hexagonal rings, but they contain pentagonal (or sometimes heptagonal) rings that prevent the sheet from being planar. Carbon nanotubes Main article: Carbon nanotubeCarbon nanotubes are cylindrical carbon molecules with novel properties that make them potentially useful in a wide variety of applications (e. g. , nano-electronics, optics, materials applications, etc. ). They exhibit extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, and are efficient conductors of heat. Inorganic nanotubes have also been synthesized. A nanotube (also known as a buckytube) is a member of the fullerene structural family, which also incl udes buckyballs. Whereas buckyballs are spherical in shape, a nanotube is cylindrical, with at least one end typically capped with a hemisphere of the buckyball structure.Their name is derived from their size, since the diameter of a nanotube is on the order of a few nanometers(approximately 50,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair), while they can be up to several centimeters in length. There are two main types of nanotubes: single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs). Aggregated diamond nanorods Main article: Aggregated diamond nanorods Aggregated diamond nanorods, or ADNRs, are an allotrope of carbon believed to be the least compressible material known to humankind, as measured by its sothermal bulk modulus; aggregated diamond nanorods have a modulus of 491 gigapascals (GPa), while a conventional diamondhas a modulus of 442 GPa. ADNRs are also 0. 3% denser than regular diamond. The ADNR material is also harder than type IIa diamond and ultrahard fullerite. Glassy carbon Main article: Glassy carbon Glassy carbon is a class of non-graphitizing carbon which is widely used as an electrode material in electrochemistry, as well as for high temperature crucibles and as a component of some prosthetic devices.It was first produced by workers at the laboratories of The General Electric Company, UK, in the early 1960s, using cellulose as the starting material. A short time later, Japanese workers produced a similar material from phenolic resin. The preparation of glassy carbon involves subjecting the organic precursors to a series of heat treatments at temperatures up to 3000oC. Unlike many non-graphitizing carbons, they are impermeable to gases and are chemically extremely inert, especially those which have been prepared at very high temperatures.It has been demonstrated that the rates of oxidation of certain glassy carbons in oxygen, carbon dioxide or water vapour are lower than those of any other carbon. They are also highly resist ant to attack by acids. Thus, while normal graphiteis reduced to a powder by a mixture of concentrated sulphuric and nitric acids at room temperature, glassy carbon is unaffected by such treatment, even after several months. Carbon nanofoam Main article: Carbon nanofoam Carbon nanofoam is the fifth known allotrope of carbon discovered in 1997 by Andrei V.Rode and co-workers at the Australian National University in Canberra. It consists of a low-density cluster-assembly of carbon atoms strung together in a loose three-dimensional web. Each cluster is about 6 nanometers wide and consists of about 4000 carbon atoms linked in graphite-like sheets that are given negative curvature by the inclusion of heptagons among the regular hexagonal pattern. This is the opposite of what happens in the case of buckminsterfullerenes, in which carbon sheets are given positive curvature by the inclusion of pentagons.The large-scale structure of carbon nanofoam is similar to that of an aerogel, but with 1% of the density of previously produced carbon aerogels – only a few times the density of air at sea level. Unlike carbon aerogels, carbon nanofoam is a poor electrical conductor. Lonsdaleite Main article: Lonsdaleite Lonsdaleite is a hexagonal allotrope of the carbon allotrope diamond, believed to form when meteoric graphite falls to Earth. The great heat and stress of the impact transforms the graphite into diamond, but retains graphite's hexagonal crystal lattice.Lonsdaleite was first identified from the Canyon Diablo meteorite at Barringer Crater (also known as Meteor Crater) in Arizona. It was first discovered in 1967. Lonsdaleite occurs as microscopic crystals associated with diamond in the Canyon Diablo meteorite; Kenna meteorite, New Mexico; and Allan Hills (ALH) 77283, Victoria Land, Antarctica meteorite. It has also been reported from the Tunguska impact site, Russia. Chaoite Main article: Chaoite Chaoite is a mineral believed to have been formed in meteorite impac ts.It has been described as slightly harder than graphite with a reflection colour of grey to white. However, the existence of carbyne phases is disputed – see the entry on chaoite for details. Variability of carbon The system of carbon allotropes spans an astounding range ofextremes, considering that they are all merely structural formations ofthe same element. Between diamond and graphite * Diamond is hardest mineral known to man (10 on Mohs scale), but graphite is one of the softest (1 – 2 on Mohs scale). * Diamond is the ultimate abrasive, but graphite is a very good lubricant. Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, but graphite is a conductor of electricity. * Diamond is usually transparent, but graphite is opaque. * Diamond crystallizes in the isometric system but graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. Between amorphous carbon and nanotubes * Amorphous carbon is among the easiest materials to synthesize, but carbon nanotubes are extremely expensive to make. * Amorphous carbon is completely isotropic, but carbon nanotubes are among the most anisotropic materials ever produced. ALKENE NAMES Root names give the number of carbons in the longest continuous chain.Alkene names are formed by dropping the â€Å"ane† and replacing it with â€Å"ene†The following list gives samples:Example: root = propane – drop â€Å"ane† = â€Å"prop† alkene = â€Å"prop† + alkene ending = â€Å"ene† = propene | No. of Carbons| Root Name| Formula CnH2n| Structure| 2| ethene| C2H4| CH2=CH2| 3| propene| C3H6| CH2=CHCH3| 4| 1-butene| C4H8| CH2=CHCH2CH3| 5| 1-pentene| C5H10| CH2=CHCH2CH2CH3| Following is a list of alkanes showing their chemical formulas, their names, the number of isomers, and the melting and the boiling point. Please note that, except for the first four alkanes (n=1.. ), their chemical names can be derived from the number of C atoms by using Greek numerical prefixes denoting the number of carbons and the suffix â€Å"-ane†. Formula| Name(s)| No. of Isomers| m. p. [ °C]| b. p. [ °C]| CH4| methane (natural gas)| 1| -183| -162| C2H6| ethane| 1| -172| -89| C3H8| propane; dimethyl methane| 1| -188| -42| C4H10| n-butane; methylethyl methane| 2| -138| 0| C5H12| n-pentane| 3| -130| 36| C6H14| n-hexane| 5| -95| 69| C7H16| n-heptane| 9| -91| 98| C8H18| n-octane| 18| -57| 126| C9H20| n-nonane| 35| -54| 151| C10H22| n-decane| 75| -30| 174|The simplest organic compounds are hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons contain only two elements, hydrogen and carbon. A saturated hydrocarbon or alkane is a hydrocarbon in which all of the carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds. Each carbon atom forms four bonds and each hydrogen forms a single bond to a carbon. The bonding around each carbon atom is tetrahedral, so all bond angles are 109. 5 °. As a result, the carbon atoms in higher alkanes are arranged in zig-zag rather than linear patterns. Straight Chain Alkanes The general formula for an alkane is CnH2n+2 where n is the number of carbon atoms in the molecule.There are two ways of writing a condensed structural formula. For example, butane may be written as CH3CH2CH2CH3 or CH3(CH2)2CH3. Rules for Naming Alkanes * The parent name of the molecule is determined by the number of carbons in the longest chain. * In the case where two chains have the same number of carbons, the parent is the chain with the most substituents. * The carbons in the chain are numbered starting from the end nearest the first substituent. * In the case where there are substituents having the same number of carbons from both ends, numbering starts from the end nearest the next substituent. When more than one of a given substituent is present, a prefix is applied to indicate the number of substituents. Use di- for two, tri- for three, tetra- for four, etc. and use the number assigned to the carbon to indicate the position of each substituent. Branched Alkanes * Branched substituents are numbered starting from the carbon of the substituent attached to the parent chain. From this carbon, count the number of carbons in the longest chain of the substituent. The substituent is named as an alkyl group based on the number of carbons in this chain. Numbering of the substituent chain starts from the carbon attached to the parent chain. * The entire name of the branched substituent is placed in parentheses, preceded by a number indicating which parent-chain carbon it joins. * Substituents are listed in alphabetical order. To alphabetize, ignore numerical (di-, tri-, tetra-) prefixes (e. g. , ethyl would come before dimethyl), but don't ignore don't ignore positional prefixes such as iso and tert (e. g. , triethyl comes before tertbutyl). Cyclic Alkanes * The parent name is determined by the number of carbons in the largest ring (e. g. , cycloalkane such as cyclohexane). In the case where the ring is attached to a chain containing additional carbons, the ring is considered to be a su bstituent on the chain. A substituted ring that is a substituent on something else is named using the rules for branched alkanes. * When two rings are attached to each other, the larger ring is the parent and the smaller is a cycloalkyl substituent. * The carbons of the ring are numbered such that the substituents are given the lowest possible numbers. Straight Chain Alkanes # Carbon| Name| Molecular Formula| Structural Formula| 1 | Methane | CH4 | CH4 | 2 | Ethane | C2H6 | CH3CH3 | | Propane | C3H8 | CH3CH2CH3 | 4 | Butane | C4H10 | CH3CH2CH2CH3 | 5 | Pentane | C5H12 | CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3 | 6 | Hexane | C6H14 | CH3(CH2)4CH3 | 7 | Heptane | C7H16 | CH3(CH2)5CH3 | 8 | Octane | C8H18 | CH3(CH2)6CH3 | 9 | Nonane | C9H20 | CH3(CH2)7CH3 | 10 | Decane | C10H22 | CH3(CH2)8CH3 | Alkenes contain carbon-carbon double bonds. They are also called unsaturated hydrocarbons. The molecular formular is CnH2n. This is the same molecular formula as a cycloalkane. Structure of Alkenes 1. The two carbon ato ms of a double bond and the four atoms attached to them lie in a plane, with bond angles of approximately 120 ° . A double bond consists of one sigma bond formed by overlap of sp2 hybrid orbitals and one pi bond formed by overlap of parallel 2 P orbitals Here is a chart containing the systemic name for the first twenty straight chain alkenes. Name| Molecular formula| Ethene| C2H4| Propene| C3H6| Butene| C4H8| Pentene| C5H10| Hexene| C6H12| Heptene| C7H14| Octene| C8H16| Nonene| C9H18| Decene| C10H20| Undecene| C11H22| Dodecene| C12H24| Tridecene| C13H26| Tetradecene| C14H28| Pentadecene| C15H30| Hexadecene| C16H32| Heptadecene| C17H34| Octadecene| C18H36| Nonadecene| C19H38|Eicosene| C20H40| Did you notice how there is no methene? Because it is impossible for a Carbon to have a double bond with nothing. The Basic Rules: A. For straight chain alkenes, it is the same basic rules as nomenclature of alkanes except change the suffix to â€Å"-ene. † i. Find the Longest Carbon Ch ain that Contains the Carbon Carbon double bond. (If you have two ties for longest Carbon chain, and both chains contain a Carbon Carbon double bond, then look for most substituted chain. ) ii. Give the lowest possible number to the Carbon Carbon double bond. 1.Do not need to number cycloalkenes because it is understood that the double bond is in the one position. 2. Alkenes that have the same molecular formula but the location of the doble bonds are different means they are constitutional isomers. 3. Functional Groups with higher priority: iii. Add substituents and their position to the alkene as prefixes. Of course remember to give the lowest numbers possible. And remember to name them in alphabetical order when writting them. iv. Next is identifying stereoisomers. when there are only two non hydrogen attachments to the alkene then use cis and trans to name the molecule.In this diagram this is a cis conformation. It has both the substituents going upward. (This molecule would be c alled (cis) 5-chloro-3-heptene. ) Trans would look like this v. On the other hand if there are 3 or 4 non-hydrogen different atoms attached to the alkene then use the E, Z system. E (entgegen) means the higher priority groups are opposite one another relative to the double bond. Z (zusammen) means the higher priority groups are on the same side relative to the double bond. (You could think of Z as Zame Zide to help memorize it. ) In this example it is E-4-chloro-3-heptene.It is E because the Chlorine and the CH2CH3 are the two higher priorities and they are on opposite sides. vi. A hydroxyl group gets precedence over th double bond. Therefore alkenes containing alchol groups are called alkenols. And the prefix becomes –enol. And this means that now the alcohol gets lowest priority over the alkene. vii. Lastly remember that alkene substituents are called alkenyl. Suffix –enyl. B. For common names i. remove the -ane suffix and add -ylene. There are a couple of unique one s like ethenyl's common name is vinyl and 2-propenyl's common name is allyl.

Ethical concepts management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ethical concepts management - Case Study Example To find out the important management concepts, I carried out an oral interview from a manager to develop an insight into the critical aspects of corporate managerial assignments. This is a report of the oral interview of Mr. Olivia Akani, the founder and chief executive officer of Customs mobile catering company. This interview was undertaken on 5th November 2013 in the office of this Iconic entrepreneur who opened a closed door on a new approach towards service to humanity. This interview was based on business ethical dilemmas which is an aspect of management and is an emerging serious issue in the society. This topic was obtained from the chapter three on the nature of ethics from the given text. Theoretical concepts in this chapter and the case of coming across a person being mugged and pondering over helping will act as the guiding tool in the interview and conclusions. Introduction Ethics is a generally acceptable unwritten way of doing things which is consistent with the social order of any organization. The code of conduct is always defined by that given organization’s cultural beliefs (Trevino, Linda and Katherine 36). This cuts across various communities, corporate world, governments and individual behavior. In this case, an interview was conducted with the chief executive officer as the interviewee and the focus was on how to inculcate the concept of ethics within employees and ways of solving a situation of ethical dilemma like in the case study referred to in the text chapter. Management requires requisite critical analysis ability and in-depth assessment of consequences of any action. Managers may always find themselves in ethical dilemma either directly or through their juniors (Ko?ster 65). Top manager like a Chief executive officer is always bound to make difficult decisions that demands win-win outcome with an ethical concern. In an effort to make profit, there is always the code of ethics practiced by any organization that need to be ad hered to every time in the course of production process (Garsten and Tor 125). This interview would serve as the basis of further analytical concepts of ethical dilemmas in management process. Summary of questions and corresponding responses from the interview Question Response The industry the company belong The company falls within the competitive food, beverages and events catering services industry Management levels in the company The company is headed by CEO, top brass managers, middle managers and supervisors in that order. The management position held Chief executive officer of the company Daily work and overall job description Being the CEO, the daily work entails overseeing the activities going on in the company through reports received from top management team and individual observation. The job description in this case can summarily be defined is act as the overall custodian of all management activities that are meant to propel the organization to greater heights. Persona l management approaches and skills Participatory decision making is the best as it incorporate the diverse ideas of various stakeholders to the company hence ensuring that the decision made serves the interest of the company and its stakeholders in equal measure. Sound interpersonal communication skills are the best tools to apply in success focused management. Personal values and traits that helps in managing the organization Being a strict adherent to the company’s laws, regulations and codes of ethics is one trait that can has brought the company to where it is today. These values can be transmitted to other managers and the non-managerial employees through being a role model which has worked in the company. Interest in details is also a critical tool that has helped in exhaustive resolution of a challenges

Heroes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Heroes - Essay Example iety. There is a difference between the heroes of different people which come from different fields, for example, a soldier has a war hero who has been martyred in a war (Warner 2004). Many young boys and girls have heroes which only act as heroes such as our celebrities and music stars. There is a large influence of media hero. Now a day most young choose movie stars and music stars as their heroes but only few have heroes which have inspirational carriers such as Lincoln or Martin Luther (LaBarge 2010). Our heroes represent us. Sometimes, people are so much devoted to their heroes that they can die for them too. Many sports events end in cries of the people who focus their attention not at the game but at their hero and when their hero fails, they try to beat the other player or just cry a lot. People do not think that their hero is also a human and someone can defeat him too. In 2005 Andre Agassi lost to Roger Federer, which made the Agassi’s fans cry a lot. ... To become a hero in the eyes of people is not a difficult task. All one has to do is to identify his potential and struggle accordingly. Heroic qualities are present in every ambitious person and people can show their capabilities by devoting themselves to some area of interest that keeps the capability of making them a hero in people’s view. According to Raj Arunugam (2007), â€Å"the individual should recognize the full potential in themselves and instead of being in awe of their heroes, or being jealous of their superiors, should treat their heroes as mentors and seek their help in achieving their full potential†. This can be done by recognizing the heroic acts of our hero or the positives of hero and apply them in our life. The acts like hard work and truth can lead us in achieving the goal of our lives. Heroes are important as they help people in recognizing truth or lie, right and wrong and other ethical disciplines. Many people have heroes which are related to sp orts and whish have such carriers which can inspire a person. The heroic image in sports is not only created by great sports but also with courageous, brave and just attitude. Today most psychologists have the opinion that the heroes not only influence newspapers and magazines but they also influence the minds of the people by relating with them. The heroes perform a psychological function by uniting people to come up as a nation. Even some heroes have not got the victory are praised for their heroism by showing the heroic traits like great courage, grace and endurance. A person has still a lesson to learn from the hero (Warner 2004). Many football events ends in the victory of one and defeat of other but people realize that the losing team has worked hard and their

Racial differences (introduction) Personal Statement

Racial differences (introduction) - Personal Statement Example I am a firm believer of the theory that allows for people to remain glued to their own racial and ethnic backgrounds and I am all for their resolute beliefs in them no matter how difficult the circumstances are. This indeed is what I am proud of and it makes me strong and committed day after day. The aspect of my identity that is in line with my work regimes and my academic qualifications are something that I hold on to very firmly. I let the same remain communicated to all and sundry so that my personality develops due to such strong points being on my side. I would rather want people to focus more on my personality traits than choosing to discuss my racial and ethnic priorities because I believe these are insignificant and trivial matters, not providing benefit to anyone at all. Thus I choose not to share such matters with anyone as it creates a sense of animosity between people belonging to different races and ethnicities. The cultural events and occasions have strengthened my perspective upon life and my childhood is full of festivities, cultural exchange, weddings, death anniversaries and so on. I believe all of these points form up as strong basis for my association with my self-identity and this is one characteristic within my personality that I am in love with. My feelings for these occasions and incidents are tied with emotion and a sense of belonging all the same while I have tried my best to remain attached to my roots in the wake of both happiness and grief - a very quintessential feature of my values and the overall upbringing. 4. What or who was influential in shaping your present attitudes towards your own background and toward people from different background' My grandfather was the person who provided meaning to my life. It would not be wrong to suggest that he was and still is my source of motivation that comes from within. He developed in me a sense of finding out the world around me on my own and journeying through the thick and thin of things with a sense of challenge for my own self. He made me a strong person - up for attempting anything in life and this indeed me a tough woman. I cannot think of anything else apart from my rich background and this provides me a cushion to fall back upon in the event I run into problems and distress. I know there are my roots upon which I can place my trust. 5. If your feelings regarding your perceived identity have changed since childhood, who or what has contributed to this change' The only change that I believe has contributed in a small quantity has been in the wake of relationships which in the world of present times have started to diminish unfortunately. Children are getting away from their parents and grandparents and for a woman like me who has been brought up with the patronage of my grandfather; this comes out as a complete surprise for me, living in the time and age of today. However since my personality is molded in a strong way courtesy my family, I know that whatever that is

Company critical analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Company critical analysis - Research Paper Example Before devising strategies it is also important to evaluate organizational capabilities after which resources are integrated to enhance these capabilities. Strategic Management: Southwest Airlines The airline industry is one chocked by intense competition and need for constant changes in strategy to outdo competitors. However, the advantage lies in the fact that it is a growing industry as a result of growth in globalization and tourism expands. This notwithstanding each airline is struggling to capture as big market share as possible. The most competitive regions are Europe and North America with numerous airlines serving relatively small geographical areas. The United States airline industry has almost 100 carriers in both regional and major categories’ categories. The current airline industry is defined by a number of issues among them high oil prices, mergers, safety, flight delays and bankruptcies among others. It is therefore harder in the 21st century to run a sustainab le airline than it was in late 20th century (Belobaba, Odoni & Barnhart, 2009). In analyzing strategic management in this industry of choice Southwest Airlines will act as an example. ... An example of these is engagement in corporate social responsibility. Southwest begins this by ensuring that it has offered quarterly dividends to shareholders. It is important to note that it is the only airline to have a record of 33 consecutive years of profitability (Southwest, 2011). The airline offers one of the best working environments as well as salaries. It has the best customer service record as well. The airline has lured its customers into a charitable cause whereby Southwest donates a dollar each time a customer checks in for flights through Facebook. Industrial analysis in respect to Southwest brings into focus the Porter’s 5 Forces. Suppliers have a high bargaining power owing to the fact that Southwest uses only Boeing aircrafts. It is expensive to switch to another manufacturer i.e. Airbus since pilots and engineers will have to be retrained. Fuel costs keep fluctuating leading to high uncertainty and possible losses. Fast trains and boats are acting as subst itutes even over long distances (Grant, 2009). Video conferencing is also curtailing expansion in business travel. Bargaining power of buyers is moderate although airline customers are known to have low loyalty. There is a risk of new entrants especially from foreign carriers but it is unlikely that they will beat the low-cost low-fares strategy. Industrial rivalry is intense with delta, JetBlue, Northwest and others trying to adjust their strategies e.g. lowering ticket prices to align themselves to low-fares strategy. The key success factors of this airline include its market share, price competitiveness, brand awareness, customer service and financial position as indicated in the table below. Fig. 1 Critical Success Factors (Belobaba, Odoni & Barnhart, 2009) Southwest boasts of

Inquiry-Based Report (Professional Inquiry and Reflection) Essay

Inquiry-Based Report (Professional Inquiry and Reflection) - Essay Example Secondly, there is commonly a substantial distinction in classes between students who collect good marks and others who do not acquire reasonable grades. Those students who acquire low grades can be further categorized into two. One group belongs to those students who are efficient learners and understand concepts and theories which are being taught to them. Despite their efficient learning, their grades are not sufficient as compared to the other efficient learners. The other category of low grading students is consisting of those students who find it difficult to understand and reflect upon concepts and theories which are taught in class. This signifies two of most critical issues regarding the scope of education which include the role of assessment criteria and those factors which are affecting the learning capabilities of some students in a uniform environment. Regarding to these issues, the research questions for this study are: Why certain theories are emphasized in curriculums ? How assessment and evaluation criteria contribute to the issue of good learning students having lower grades? What factors are causing the distinction among students regarding the understanding of taught concepts and theories in a uniform environment? Conducting research In order to accumulate the information regarding the research question, the assessment of previous literature is essential. Kolb, Alice Y. and Kolb, David A. "Learning Styles and Learning Spaces: Enhancing Experiential Learning in Higher Education." Academy of management learning & education 4.2 (2005): 193-212. Print. In this article, authors are aimed draw a more enhanced implications for experiential learning. A framework of learning space has been introduced to the better understanding of the relationship between students’ learning styles and the learning environment of institution. It proposes that the concept of experiential learning must be applied of whole learning environment. The problem of studen ts with learning and understanding the concept due to any major possible reason, like inequity in race, gender or class, can be addressed through this literature. It also deals with the alterations in the curriculum by which the learning of students is highly associated. Mezirow, Jack. "A Critical Theory of Adult Learning and Education." Adult Education Quarterly 32.1 (1981): 3-24. Print. The author, in this article, illuminates the subjective perspectives of students in their learning processes in the light of Jurgen Habermas’s ideas. The intention and goals of learning and the accusition of learning process in the domain of academic learning of students play a sufficient role in the attainment of good grades. However, the research question regarding the assesment criteria also illuminates the institutional flaws in the description of certain criteria by which students can successfully acquire the information regarding the choice of learning process. Mezirow, Jack. "Transfor mative Learning: Theory to Practice." New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education 1997.74 (1997): 5-12. Print. In this article, a transformative learning process has been proposed by the author in that the stress is upon critical thinking. The article presents that the thinking in order to learn must be comprised of autonomous and critical cognition instead of straight absorption of

CASE STUDY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

CASE STUDY - Essay Example The US industry has endured tough times like the economic crisis of 2009, which forced many of the airline companies to close shop, while others deciding to merge to increase their competitiveness in the competitive industry. Merging perhaps can be one of those approaches that has helped small airline companies to remain in business after they were declared bankrupt. The result of these tough economic times saw the introduction of low-cost carriers that operate from one point to another as opposed to flying to certain particular destinations. The US airline industry has become very competitive in the recent past, with emerging airline companies developing different competitive strategies different from those of companies that have been in the industry for a long time. For instance, the economic crisis made many of the seemingly small companies to be declared bankrupt with formation of mergers being the only approach that would help them regain a substantive market share and consolidate on it (Kowit 7). For instance, The US airways pushed for a merger with American Airlines after realizing that they could not manage the tough business environment. According to this case, the main reason for the many mergers in the industry included the need to reduce excess capacity and reduce the operational costs. Additionally, it would also serve as a perfect strategy for elimination of much duplication in the competitive approaches, thus providing more return on the investments of these airlines. After 2010, many companies stabilized from the effects of the economic crisis, with small companies developing cost-effective competitive strategies that included introduction of low-cost flights among others (Kowit 8). The US airline can be described as having certain strategic groups depending on their competitive approaches. For instance, many of the new entrants in the industry have concentrated

A research paper on the 3 largest minority groups in the U.S Essay Example for Free

A research paper on the 3 largest minority groups in the U.S Essay The top three largest minorities in the United States are the Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. The United States 2000 census indicated the total population as 281. 4 million where the 3 minorities represent approximately 30. 1 percent of the population. The purchasing power for the 3 major minority groups in very important n marketing and is provided in this study (Sfm 2008). African Americans African Americans are the second largest group of minorities and heavily contribute in the national politics, social welfares as well as economy. The population has increased in number within the various government and states welfares. This helps the group to advance financially according to the joint center for economic studies survey (Dana 2007). The total population of African American consumers is approximately 36. 4 million which relates to approximately 12. 9 percent of the total population in the country. As a result, targeting these consumers and studying their growth impacts on the multiplication of wealth and properties in the country. A landmark survey conducted in 2008 illustrates increased growth especially in the â€Å"mortgage originations, medium household income, and small businesses entrepreneurs and obtaining of degrees in higher education levels† (Sfm 2008). According to census bureau, African Americans have the second highest purchasing power in the minorities with turn over of $532 billion which translates to 73 percent growth as compared to 1990. In the education sector, the number of degrees offered in higher education is hitting three times as much as that of general market. African Americans have made use of the mortgage system to own house hold houses and around 50% of the household resides in their own homes (Sfm 2008). On entrepreneurship and ownership of small and medium businesses, the rate of expansion is five times as much as white Americans where revenues according to a business study conducted has experienced a 60 percent growth. The average age for African Americans is 30 and around 15 percent earns a household income of more than $50,000. The average house hold income in 2008 was $34,000 (Dana 2007). Availability of income influences the purchasing power of an individual. A study conducted in 2007 indicate that around 300, 000 African American house holds has a house hold income of above $100,000. This indicates that approximately 1 in every 6 households in the group earns this income (Dana 2007). For the medium households, the group is experiencing 60 percent growth in comparison to the whites’ households. This has helped in offering various opportunities for this minority group with a â€Å"mean portfolio size of $115, 000 for each house hold and approximately $57, 500,000 dollars of investment at hand† (Sfm 2008). With the use of statistics for projection, the investment dollars is expected to multiply to $83,375, 000 in duration of five years and attain a mean of $115,920,000 after a decade (MacInnis 2009). African Americans according to the United States population census represent 12. 1 percent of national citizens. This composes of the of all those who have been born in the country and have resided with their families for more than 300 years as well as those who have immigrated from Africa in the recent past. African Americans represent people from the black race (MacInnis 2009). On the regional demographics, African Americans are not clustered in limited areas with respect to other minorities. However, the group is the main driver for the markets in most of the cities in the United States. Report from the United States census Bureau indicates that â€Å"76 percent of the total population in Detroit, 65 percent in Washington and approximately 62 percent in New Orleans† are African Americans (Sfm 2008). Their population is also evident in various other states including â€Å"New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Houston, Baltimore and Memphis. † For the universities in these states, approximately 78 percent of the students are African American (MacInnis 2009). Extensive migration for the African Americans is being experienced mostly to the south. Various states including Atlanta are experiencing massive economic expansion through the group activities. There are also increased employment opportunities mainly in â€Å"Houston, Dallas, Raleigh-Durham and other states from the south† which are attracting the African Americans into the region. The region has also cheap real estate, moderate weather and easily affordable way of live (MacInnis 2009). Successive marketing in the African American society requires clear understanding of their culture. The group according to a survey is discerning shoppers and is very careful on quality and satisfaction. They are loyal customers and remain in the brands they use thus a good relationship is required. Appearance in advertisement is very appreciative for the group in the utilization of their talents (MacInnis 2009). The internet is another media form that is widely used by the African Americans through the on line commerce. In investment, the group mainly engages in real estates business and banking sector as opposed to the bonds and stocks which is popular among the whites (Sfm 2008). Hispanic Americans The Hispanic population in the United States the largest minority group and is increasingly growing and thus affecting various sectors. This might be from political to business view. The population for the Hispanics is currently approximately 35. 3 million, approximately 13% of total population according to census department which translates to a percentage growth of 38 percent in comparison to overall population growth of 9 percent (Dana 2007). The population is projected to reach a high of 96 million by 2050 where they will take a quarter of the total population. Among the Hispanics, approximately 2 million people earn more than $75,000 in every year. The average house hold income in 2008 was $40,800 (Sfm 2008). The population has a huge transactional power of approximately $428 billion. This is expected to reach $600 billion in five years. The Hispanics household income is significant and their mean number of people in every household is 3. 6. This also gives an average age of 26. As a result, there is need to understand the group’s culture for effective marketing (Dana 2007). Majority of the Hispanics originate outside countries. The dominating countries of origin are â€Å"Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rica, the Dominican republic and various countries in south/central America† (Sfm 2008). The group heavily embarks on their family with much priority hoping to offer the best. Respect of culture with marking of various events is also common with the group. The population like watching sports over the television with professional boxing followed by base ball being the favorite according to a study by MDI (Dana 2007). The United States census bureau indicates that majority Hispanics, approximately 80 percent reside mainly in five states. However, around 59 percent reside in ten states including â€Å"Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, McAllen, Dallas, Worth and San Diego† (Sfm 2008). For effective marketing in the group, products relevant to their culture provide a consolidated base and increased number of customers. Products that would address family matters and its importance are also marketable in the Hispanics (Dana 2007). Language is very important for the Hispanics and they prefer the use of mother language thus advertising of products should be done with Spanish speaking media rather than English speaking media (MacInnis 2009). Creation of friendship and one to one contact with the customers is required due to relationship orientation by the group (Dana 2007). This would also call for recruitment of Hispanic personnel. Considering that around 30 percent of Hispanic population is below 18 years of age customization of vehicles is advisable. In the universities, approximately 21 percent of undergraduate students are Hispanic (Sfm 2008). Asian Americans Asians represents various nationalities including â€Å"Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, and Asian Indians. † In the United States, Asian Americans total to 11. 9 million which represents 4. 2 percent of the total population. This is projected to get to 35 million by 2050. The Asian Americans have a high purchasing power of approximately $300 billion annually (Louis 2010). Asian Americans have a mean age of 33 years where more than half of population aged 25 and above are married. The population strongly values their family. The Asians have a multi generational type of house holds with mean of 3. 8 per household (Sfm 2008). Majority speaks their mother language and educate their students on language schools mainly Chinese. Majority of the Asians are entrepreneurs with long working hours with reduced leisure shopping. They are ranked as the lowest group in leisure related activities. Due to their increased hard work, they are the highest income earners in the United States. The average household income for the Asians is was $66,900 in 2008 (Louis 2010). In the education sector, Asians household have the highest education level with comparison to the various other groups. It was reported that 38 percent of the Asians Americans have a degree certificate (Sfm 2008). Effective marketing in the Asian American population require intensive knowledge as well as preparation in addition to staffing from the group. In the advertising a number of agencies have already been established that specializes in the Asian American markets. Ethnic group members play the advertising procedure thus one requires understanding of community as well as language for excellence. The strong language preference has led to the growth of Asian media in the United States with increased Asian language television, radio, newspapers, and magazine (Sfm 2008). Asians reside in a few states and this provides n easier communication program for the population. Among the key states where Asian American resides include â€Å"California, New York, and Texas† (Louis 2010). They also reside in Los Angeles and San Francisco but in reduced numbers. Filipinos are more so concentrated in Los Angeles whereas the Chinese are in New York City. For the case of San Francisco, the two are concentrated. The Asian population is also expanding in â€Å"Washington, Seattle, Houston and Dallas. This is as a result of technological expansion and other investment gains (Louis 2010). References Dana, L. P. (2007). Handbook of research on ethnic minority entrepreneurship: a co- evolutionary. Massachusetts. Edward Elgar Publishers Louis E. Boone, David L. Kurtz. (2010). Contemporary Business 2010 Update. New York. John Wiley Sons MacInnis, D. J. , Park, C. W. , Priester, J. W. (2009). Handbook of brand relationships. New York. M. E Sharpe publishers. Sfm. 2008. Article accessed from http://www. sifma. org/services/hrdiversity/pdf/African. pdf

Exercise and Appetite Regulation versus Adipokines Essay Example for Free

Exercise and Appetite Regulation versus Adipokines Essay Adipose tissue has long been considered a storage organ for triacylglycerol, but it is now known, that adipose tissue also produces and releases a variety of signaling molecules – †adipokines† or â€Å"adipocytokines†. Some of these adipokines are well described as regarding plasma concentration and in vitro gene transcription, secretion and effect on various cell types, but only little is known about in vivo regulation of adipokine secretion [XLAB 2008]. Adipokines may mediate insulin resistance or modulate the likelihood that obesity results in the development of type 2 diabetes [CARE 2003]. Obesity is strongly associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (Depres J-P 1990). There are recent studies that adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin suppresses the development of atherosclerosis which is a cardiovascular disease (Reilly MP 2004). Adipokine or fat can raise such insulin levels, which promote the growth of cancer cells [FHCR 2007]. And because of these risks in chronic diseases, exercise is very important to burn fat that causes these diseases. In order to reduce risk in chronic disease and strengthening the immune system, exercise is very important. Lack of exercise may contribute of having a chronic disease which may be long lasting or recurrent. A recent study showed that intensive workouts can not only slow the progress of coronary disease, but actually restore lost coronary function when the disease is still stable. For chronically ill individuals, the psychological as well as physical benefits of exercise can be profound. Even ten minutes of light exercise a day, can help most chronically ill patients feel more vibrant, energetic and alert [PREV c. 008]. Physical activity fights the intra-abdominal fat or Adipokine tissue that can fuel risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes [FHCR 2007]. Some people use anti-inflammatory drugs to regulate their metabolism and immune function such as Glucocortisoids. Regulation in the metabolism helps maintain the level of fat your body need. Whereas mineralocorticoids, it helps maintain blood volume and control renal excretion of electrolytes which are good for people with high blood pressures. While some anti-inflammatory drugs are just used to increase muscle and bone synthesis. Some anti-inflammatory drugs are used to stimulate secretion of hormones that burns fat. In addition to anti-inflammatory medical drugs, there are many herbs that have anti-inflammatory qualities. Some of these herbs are ginger, hyssop, Turmeric, Amica Montana and willow bark. Appetite regulation balances the food intake that results to stabling the fat that only the body needs. In appetite regulation, anti-inflammatory foods are sometimes being taken. These anti-inflammatory foods burns fat and sometimes stimulate hormones that make your brain think that you are not hungry even though you are not eating anything yet. Anti-inflammatory foods include most colorful fruits and vegetables, oily fish and certain nuts, seeds, herbs and spices such as ginger. Those following an anti-inflammatory diet will avoid refined oils and sugars, and show a preference for anti-inflammatory foods in their meal choices[Hyman M. 2006]. To regulate overall food intake, long-acting adiposity signals ultimately affect the number and size of individual meals. They, therefore, influence decisions regarding when to start and stop eating. The sense of fullness that contributes to meal termination results from mechanical, neural, and humoral signals that arise from the gut and are relayed to the brain primarily via the brainstem [AMER 2003]. Hormones that govern energy homeostasis—leptin and insulin—increase responsiveness to short-acting satiety signals (Schwartz MW 2000). Consequently, when fat stores diminish and leptin and insulin levels decrease, sensitivity to meal-related satiety signals is blunted, promoting increased meal size. Body adiposity indirectly modulates the efficacy of meal-related satiety signals from the gut, thereby influencing meal size [AMER 2003] Chronic disease may be prevented through these anti-inflammatory drugs or foods but not only anti-inflammatory drugs or foods but also accompanying these drugs with exercise and avoiding tobacco, because Exercise makes your heart stronger and improves the circulation of blood in your body. It also improves your body posture. I believe that in order to reduce the risk of developing certain common chronic diseases, regular physical exercise is an important step in taking care of your health and protecting yourself from health problems.

An Understanding Of The Term Looking Glass Self

An Understanding Of The Term Looking Glass Self In his book Human Nature and the Social Order (1902), the pioneering American sociologist Charles Horton Cooley introduced, somewhat incidentally, the term looking-glass self. This metaphor has since become a standard concept in American sociology with a larger meaning than Cooley himself first implied or envisioned, and with important implications in psychology, ethical studies, theories of child rearing, and other fields. Cooley meant by this term that to some degree individuals develop their identities or self-concepts, and come to understand and define themselves, by considering the ideas and reactions that they think others have about them especially others who seem significant in their lives. Thus, in the process of socialization, which is especially critical at the earlier stages of life but is always occurring, people mold their natures and personalities and assume their roles in response to their reactions to the other people in their social contexts. In that sense, accordin g to Cooley, ones self may be said to mirror social aspects that are outside oneself; it reflects society itself in many individualized ways. The concept actually implies an interacting pair of mirrors. First one imagines oneself pictured (and judged) in the mind of another; then one mirrors in ones mind those judgments that one imagines, thus regulating ones behavior and partially defining oneself. What is reflected in the mirror of ones own mind includes the value systems, self- definitions, and judgments of others in the surrounding society. In this view, ones self-development does not necessarily depend upon objective social realities; rather, it comes about because one perceives or conceives of others responses in certain ways. Thus the feedback that one thinks one is getting from society may actually be more important than any objective reality outside oneself. As sociologist George J. McCall and J. L. Simmons summarized Cooleys theory in 1966, our imaginations of self reflect our interpersonal concerns. Patricia R. Jette, writing in The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Sociology (1986), says that the looking-glass self theory distinguishes three separate components that contribute to the development of self: the responses of others to the individual; the individuals perception of what these responses are, were, or might be (which may differ from the actual responses); and the i ndividuals patterned internalizing of these perceived responses so that they become parts of his or her self-concept and behavioral makeup. In this latter stage, the individual molds a self that reflects the social surroundings and people in itas she or he has subjectively perceived them. Noting the precise way in which Cooley first used his term can help one to apply it with its original subtleties. In Human Nature and the Social Order, the term occurs in the chapter entitled The Meaning of I, one of two chapters about the social self. Cooley makes clear, in proposing the term looking-glass self, that it is not intended as an absolute definition of the nature of the self but is merely one very large and interesting category in which the self (or the I) is defined by its social surroundings. According to Cooleys original language, one imagines oneself appearing in some other mind, and then the kind of self-feeling one has is determined by the attitude . . . attributed to that other mind. A social self of this sort might be called the reflected or looking-glass self. Cooley goes on to quote an anonymous verse couplet: Each to each a looking-glass/ Reflects the other that doth pass. Thus Cooleys first use of the term suggests that, in any social interaction, each of two minds is a mirror: that of a self-conscious person, and that of another person who is a reacting mirror. In real life, one can imagine some interchanges, especially among social peers, as working both ways, in a balanced fashionwith each person simultaneously being both a self-conscious actor and an evaluating judge. Young people in the earlier stages of socialization, however, or people lacking in social power, would be most likely to function in the self-conscious roles, while those who are older, more powerful, or more authoritative would be most likely to be the self-assured judges whose opinions matter enough for the other person to take them into account and allow them (perhaps unconsciously) to govern behavior Social psychologists such as Tamotsu Shibutani emphasize the importance of Cooleys ideas in the socialization process. In Shibutanis view, the looking-glass self means simply that each persons orientation toward himself is a reflection of the manner in which he is treated. Cooley noted what Read Bain confirmed in the 1930sthat children know other people as objects, and call others by name, before they sense themselves as separate entities. Many experts agree that children see themselves as recipients of action before perceiving themselves as actors. Therefore, their evolving natures as active selves acquiring personalities will be likely to mirror the way they have been treated by others; they first gain self-identity from social interaction. Cooleys metaphor, like any analogy, embeds both the merit of vividness and the danger of distortion. Though McCall and Simmons call Cooleys looking glass a somewhat clouded concept, the term is commonly used by sociologists to help explain certain aspects of the process by which all people achieve their identities, regulating and in effect fine- tuning and modulating them as they go. Most sociologists grant that Cooleys idea contains an important truth. Applications The generalized examples that Cooley used when he first mentioned the looking-glass self in 1902 are good beginning points for illustrating how the concept works in real life. Cooley suggests, first, that as we pass a real mirror and see our face, figure, and dress reflected, we are naturally interested, and we are either pleased or not, depending on whether what we see measures up to what we would like to see. Similarly, when we meet another person, we readily imagine ourselves as mirrored in that persons mindour appearance, manners, aims, deeds, character, friends, and so on. In the next step, we find ourselves imagining what that other persons judgment of our reflected selves may be. The third stage triggered by this sequence is a reflective feeling in ourselves such as pride or mortification when we conceive of this judgment. Cooley himself admits that the metaphor of the looking glass is not adequate to explain the second of these three componentsthat is, the subjective evaluation of the onlooker. The nature and role of the onlooker is strategic in any such hypothetical situation, because one will be concerned about the onlookers evaluation only if that person seems somehow significant. Assuming the onlookers importance in ones life, Cooley says, one will be ashamed to seem reticent if one knows the onlooker is straightforward; one will not want to seem cowardly if one knows the onlooker is brave; and one will hesitate to appear gross if one knows the onlooker is refined. One may, in a certain social situation, boast to one onlooker about how one made a sharp business deal, but with some other person whom one perceives as having different social values one might try to hide the very same fact. In these senses, then, the outside mirror of the onlookers mind actually determines the nature of ones social se lf, generating ones behavior and role in a given setting. Though Cooleys examples do not imply that the whole of anyones self is determined by the process of such interactions, one can see how generally speaking, from earliest childhood onward one is likely to shape oneself to fit what one anticipates to be the expected judgments of those with whom one is dealing. In individual situations throughout life, even after ones identity is rather fully formed, one tends to adopt the contextual roles that one thinks of as suitable when mirrored in the minds of others. Thus in ones grandmothers living room or at a church service, one may in effect be one person, while at a basketball game one may reveal an entirely different self; this is role-playing behavior. Proud parents may discuss their children freely with other parents, but, with some degree of consciousness, they may refrain from mentioning their children when talking to someone who is childlessor who has recently lost a child in a car accident. In these cases, the looking glass of social surroundings and audience shapes ones perceived identity. Although Cooley illustrated only interchanges between two adults and did not specifically explore the implications that his concept has for childhood socialization, the looking-glass self helps to explain early identity development: A young child tends to become a combination of the features that are approved and desired in society. Society always puts pressure on individuals to conform to its values and judgments in order to receive approval; thus humanswho generally seek acceptance and want to be well thought ofshape their social actions according to the signals they get from the social mirror into which they are always looking. Since children tend to internalize what they encounter outside themselves and to act as if it were valid and true, it is clear that those who are treated as worthwhile entities have a better chance of becoming socially productive than those who are treated with abuse or disregard. The development of negative self-concepts as children discourages individuals from acting later as if they have positive contributions to make to society.

Charley Skedaddle Essay -- American History

Charley Skedaddle   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charley Skeddaddle is a story that takes place during the Civil War (1861-1865) in the North. The main character is Charley Stephen Quinn. He was a young boy growing up in New York City without parents. Charley’s older brother Johnny died at the Battle of Gettysburg. We learned about Johnny through Charley’s memories. He lives with his older sister Noreen, who recently became engaged to be married. Charley was involved in a street gang called the Bowery Boys.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charley has had a rough life and has difficulty learning to accept his brother’s death. He wants to get revenge against the Confederate soldiers and this motivates him to join the Union army. He is inspired when he sees a military parade and a friend of his brother, or so he believes. That would be a perfect solution to his problems at home and a way to punish those responsible for his brother’s death. He had admired Johnny greatly and felt the only answer was to sneak into the army. Charley could not enlist because he was only 12 years old. He was determined to be a hero like his brother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since Charley was too young to be a soldier he became a drummer-boy for the army. He trained and worked hard to be a good one. He may have been physically ready for his first battle, but emotionally he was not. I don’t think he really knew what killing a person involved. All of his life he watched the people he cared about be taken away from him. First, it was his parents, ...

The Importance of Childhood Vaccination Essays -- Medicine Vaccination

Since the introduction of vaccinations, medical science has managed to all but eliminate many formerly fatal and debilitating childhood illnesses in countries where the immunization of children is nearly universal. Diseases such as measles, mumps, diphtheria, rubella and polio have been relegated to a marginal status in developed countries with active immunization campaigns; smallpox is actually considered to have been completely eliminated from the earth, without a single case having been reported since roughly 1979 (â€Å"Childhood†). Largely centered around a study published in 1998 in the British medical journal â€Å"The Lancet†, there has been an upsurge in concerns of the safety of vaccinations and a resulting decrease in their usage. This has led to a somewhat anachronistic return of these diseases. In many developed countries, parents are relying on herd immunity to protect their children when they choose to forgo immunization over concerns about their safety. Herd immunity essentially means that when a small percentage of a social group â€Å"can't get certain vaccines for medical reasons, or some children are not able to respond to certain vaccines. For these children, the immunity of people around them is their only protection† (â€Å"Childhood†). While some parents' concerns over the safety of vaccinations are based upon the well-intentioned desire to keep children safe from autism, the act of choosing to not vaccinate their children actually causes far greater damage by exposing them to acquiring potentially life-threatening illnesses and removing a critical link in the chain of herd immunity. Over the last 12 years, a growing population of parents have chosen to avoid immunizing their children with the misguided belief that they are... ...s In Context. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. Deer, Brian. "MMR doctor Andrew Wakefield fixed data on autism." The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers Ltd , 8 Feb. 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. â€Å"Hazlehurst v. Secretary of Health and Human Servs.† 604 F.3d 1343 (2010). Leagle.com. Leagle, Inc. Web. 28 Oct. 2010 "Noncompliance with Mandatory Vaccinations Threatens Community Health." Should Vaccinations be Manditory? Ed. Noà «l Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. "Vaccine Risks Are Outweighed by the Risks of Not Vaccinating." Should Vaccinations be Manditory? Ed. Noà «l Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. "Vaccines." Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Capital Punishment †Fair and Balanced Essay

Capital punishment is a difficult issue to address and has been the subject of highly controversial debates over the decades. The United States Supreme Court decided in Furman v. Georgia that the death penalty was a form of cruel and unusual punishment. However, just three years later in 1975, the Supreme Court reversed their decision, and executions resumed under state regulation. The death penalty is considered the harshest from of punishment enforced today. The most common method used to implement this task is lethal injection; although, the electric chair is still used in some states. The large debate over the death penalty comes from liberal fanatics who use deception and falsehoods to further their cause. Supporters of the death penalty consider capital punishment the only way for true justice to be executed for the severest of crimes. Supporters also claim criminals that commit such harsh crimes, including murder and rape, deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Preventing future crimes and deterring criminals from committing such harsh acts also play key roles in support of the death penalty. Concrete proof of deterrence alone is not a valid reason for capital punishment, nor is it the underlying principle in use by astute death penalty advocates. Criminals ought to be punished for their crimes committed and not merely to deter others. That said however, the death penalty unquestionably â€Å"deters† the murderer who is executed. Strictly speaking, this is a form of incapacitation; similar to the way a robber put in prison is prevented from robbing on the streets. Vicious murderers must be eliminated to prevent them from murdering again, either in prison, or in society if they should get out. Both as a deterrent and as a form of permanent incapacitation, the death penalty helps to prevent future crime. The argument against capital punishment relies on myth, propaganda, and misplaced emotion. Many people against the death sentence claim that the justice system is discriminatory. This statement is blatantly false. African-Americans and other minorities are not impacted unfairly by the justice system. The fact of the matter is the majority of those executed  since 1976 have been Caucasian males. If the death penalty is truly discriminatory, then it is biased against white murderers and not blacks, because figures show that African-Americans make up a majority of those convicted of murder. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, blacks committed 51.5% of murders between 1976 and 1999, while whites committed 46.5%. The latest of hate crime laws are likely to only exacerbate the hypocrisy. A â€Å"hate crimes† frame of mind translates into tougher sentences for interracial crimes. Since Caucasians are killed by African-Americans 2.6 times more often then the other wa y around, more killers of Caucasians will be predisposed to receiving the death penalty.Finances are also argued frequently on the topic of capital punishment. â€Å"It costs more to execute a person than to keep him or her in prison for life. A 1993 California study argues that each death penalty case costs at least $1.25 million more than a regular murder case and a sentence of life without the possibility of parole† (Deathpenalty.org). This statement deserves no response, because the figures are not perfect, and are dubious at best. Nevermind the fact that justice should not be up for sale. Serving justice is not about saving money, and should not be treated as if it were an item being contracted, trying to get the â€Å"lowest bid.†Retribution is an additional reason for capital punishment, which some opponents of capital punishment confuse with vengeance. As a sound principle of natural law and common sense, the punishment should fit the crime. For example, if someone had been convicted of the assassination of the president, and the judge had sentenced him or her to only five years in prison, the nation would have been pr operly outraged. Having a fit punishment for the crime committed has been around since the beginning of civilization. Hammurabi’s Code of Law, developed long before the birth of Christ, claims retribution as, â€Å"an eye for an eye, life for a life†. Retribution makes capital punishment justifiable because it is an injustice to tolerate such unimaginable horror.If one commits a crime, he or she should be ready to accept the consequences. Murder is a crime that involves the loss of innocent life, and that act needs to be rightly punished. Murderers should not receive an overextended welcome in a prison. Those who commit these serious offenses do not belong in society. Realistically there is no solid argument against the death penalty. If society were to take capital  punishment away, the public would not have an effective justice system and crimes against innocent people would continue. Opponents of the death sentence need to accept the fact that capital punishment is fair and just. Using lies and deceit will only go so far. The people of this country are smart enough to realize the difference between fact and fiction, and the truth is capital punishment works.

Loss of Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

â€Å"Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square.† This environment as Scout Finch accurately describes is not the best or conducive place for young children, loud noises, and games. In the same way as the children, the adults of the novel played games that came from their imaginations, and they themselves are the ones who provided the fear for everyone. As most children do Jem, Scout, and their newly-found friend Dill find amusements to make the days pass by with excitement. When they first met Dill at the beginning, the day’s play is in the backyard. The implication is that it becomes routine for them to play and that each day brings a different experience. When Dill joins them in their daily adventures, they begin to create more elaborate activities. Many days they spent improving the treehouse, and acting out parts of plays by Oliver Victor Appleton, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. There games of Tom Swift the Rover Boys, and The Ghost are the sources of their pleasures for hours and days upon end. Once these games seem rot and overplayed they decide to make Boo Radley come out. Thus the â€Å"Boo Radley†, plays begin. These plays are simply for amusement in the end, they teach Jem, Scout, and Dill lessons about respect, courage, and understanding. The â€Å"Boo†, games begin with a simple dare that Jem has to carry out in order to gain respect from his sister and friend. Scout and Jem both learn about courage through the first Boo game they invented by testing their levels of fear. The game has turned into a dangerous, scary expedition that leaves all three of them shaken. Boo’s unspoken, unseen presence at the fire put him in a new light in Jem’s and Scout’s eyes. Yet again, they see reality and their games slowly fading and losing their meaning. The burning house and Boo’s reappearance show Jem and Scout more pieces of reality and causing them to push that much closer to reality and the adult world and that much more of their innocence and childhood is lost. As the trial crept closer, Scout and Jem each have to test their self-control in accepting or ignoring the multitudes of â€Å"nigger-lover† comments coming their way, by adults as well as children. Scout ends up losing all control when she beats up her cousin Francis, for testing her patience by criticising others. Though Scout doesn’t totally understand her mistake until her uncle Jack, punishes and guides Scout to realization. Jem, of his own fault, has to read to Mrs. Dubose every day and eventually he learns an important lesson. Jem and Scout learn about death and they gain an understanding for the type of person Mrs. Dubose is when they see how her views on life have an effect on her death. The adult games have been going on for a while but Scout and Jem are just beginning to see the games evolving. The most difficult matter for Jem and Scout to understand soon comes to be the trial. Though they have been faced with ignorant people calling them â€Å"nigger-lovers†, they haven’t truly had a full understanding of the slang term until the trial is upon them. Scout, Jem, and Dill experience a faint taste of the adult’s games’ flavor, watching from afar as the mob of common men around Maycomb County gather around Atticus, threatening his and Tom’s lives. Scout still in her innocence, breaks the crowd by recognizing Mr. Cunningham and she, proceeds to praise his son Walter without thought to the fact that Mr. Cunningham realizes that he is a father, not just part of a nameless mob, and, in a sense, he â€Å"walks around in Atticus’s skin† for a moment. The individualizing Scout has done humanizes the originally dehumanized mob and ends the threat to many lives at stake. Scout does not realize the extent of her actions until later on and the understanding raises her up a level of maturity. The game that the men are playing puts lives at risk and shows Scout that adults play with strange sets of rules. She reaches an understanding in the jailhouse scene that still continues to push her into the adult world.