Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Hydrogen Bond Definition and Examples

Hydrogen Bond Definition and Examples Most people are comfortable with the idea of ionic and covalent bonds, yet unsure about what hydrogen bonds are, how they form, and why they are important. Key Takeaways: Hydrogen Bonds A hydrogen bond is an attraction between two atoms that already participate in other chemical bonds. One of the atoms is hydrogen, while the other may be any electronegative atom, such as oxygen, chlorine, or fluorine.Hydrogen bonds may form between atoms within a molecule or between two separate molecules.A hydrogen bond is weaker than an ionic bond or a covalent bond, but stronger than van der Waals forces.Hydrogen bonds play an important role in biochemistry and produce many of the unique properties of water. Hydrogen Bond  Definition A hydrogen bond is a type of attractive (dipole-dipole) interaction between an electronegative atom and a hydrogen atom bonded to another electronegative atom. This bond always involves a hydrogen atom. Hydrogen bonds can occur between molecules or within parts of a single molecule. A hydrogen bond tends to be stronger than van der Waals forces, but weaker than covalent bonds or ionic bonds. It is about 1/20th (5%) the strength of the covalent bond formed between O-H. However, even this weak bond is strong enough to withstand slight temperature fluctuation. But the Atoms Are Already Bonded How can hydrogen be attracted to another atom when it is already bonded? In a polar bond, one side of the bond still exerts a slight positive charge, while the other side has a slight negative electrical charge. Forming a bond doesnt neutralize the electrical nature of the participant atoms. Examples of Hydrogen Bonds Hydrogen bonds are found in nucleic acids between base pairs and between water molecules. This type of bond also forms between hydrogen and carbon atoms of different chloroform molecules, between hydrogen and nitrogen atoms of neighboring ammonia molecules, between repeating subunits in the polymer nylon, and between hydrogen and oxygen in acetylacetone. Many organic molecules are subject to hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bond: Help bind transcription factors to DNAAid antigen-antibody bindingOrganize polypeptides into secondary structures, such as alpha helix and beta sheetHold together the two strands of DNABind transcription factors to each other Hydrogen Bonding in Water Although hydrogen bonds form between hydrogen and any other electronegative atom, the bonds within water are the most ubiquitous (and some would argue, the most important). Hydrogen bonds form between neighboring water molecules when the hydrogen of one atom comes between the oxygen atoms of its own molecule and that of its neighbor. This happens because the hydrogen atom is attracted to both its own oxygen and other oxygen atoms that come close enough. The oxygen nucleus has 8 plus charges, so it attracts electrons better than the hydrogen nucleus, with its single positive charge. So, neighbor oxygen molecules are capable of attracting hydrogen atoms from other molecules, forming the basis of hydrogen bond formation. The total number of hydrogen bonds formed between water molecules is 4. Each water molecule can form 2 hydrogen bonds between oxygen and the two hydrogen atoms in the molecule. An additional two bonds can be formed between each hydrogen atom and nearby oxygen atoms. A consequence of hydrogen bonding is that hydrogen bonds tend to arrange in a tetrahedron around each water molecule, leading to the well-known crystal structure of snowflakes. In liquid water, the distance between adjacent molecules is larger and the energy of the molecules is high enough that hydrogen bonds are often stretched and broken. However, even liquid water molecules average out to a tetrahedral arrangement. Because of hydrogen bonding, the structure of liquid water becomes ordered at lower temperature, far beyond that of other liquids. Hydrogen bonding holds water molecules about 15% closer than if the bonds werent present.  The bonds are the primary reason water displays interesting and unusual chemical properties. Hydrogen bonding reduces extreme temperature shifts near large bodies of water.Hydrogen bonding allows animals to cool themselves using perspiration because such a large amount of heat is needed to break hydrogen bonds between water molecules.Hydrogen bonding keeps water in its liquid state over a wider temperature range than for any other comparable-sized molecule.The bonding gives water an exceptionally high heat of vaporization, which means considerable thermal energy is needed to change liquid water into water vapor. Hydrogen bonds within heavy water are even stronger than those within ordinary water made using normal hydrogen (protium). Hydrogen bonding in tritiated water is stronger still.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Poem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Poem - Essay Example rtant to pronounce different words with different loudness to create necessary rhythm, and it is also possible only after reading a poem for several times. My pronunciation was rather good and developed while articulation requires more and more practice. I was not able to change the pitch, rate, and volume as fast as I needed and that is why the sense of some phrases was not clear. It is important to reread and listen to a poem for at least five times because each time adds to a meaning some special sense and finally it gives general picture of the poem. Reading the poem for the second time I indicated all the pauses, tried to speed intonation where it was necessary and tried to change the pitch and the tones of separate words. Some of the words were pronounced in a low voice some almost in whisper. My strength of vocal delivery is that I have rather good pronunciation of all the sounds while my weakness is inability to change capture I mind pronunciation, articulation, and deep understanding of the text because I switch concentration from to the other. That is why it is best to learn poems by

Thursday, October 31, 2019

The Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Media - Essay Example However, the greatest weapon of media is that it can magnify the truth of an act or incident, sometimes to the point of exaggeration. It is because of this power that media can keep checks and balances on political leadership. Besley, Burgess, and Prat (2002) observed that suppose â€Å"a politician is thinking of taking or making a bribe and that the probability of this will become public depends on the efficacy of the media in both discovering it and broadcasting it widely† (p.5). It is agreed then that the media can influence and persuade politicians to do their proper roles for fear of bad publicity. However, the media also are victims, and are even a mark suspect for political corruption or political advantages. Walgrave and Van Aelst (2004) stated that, â€Å"symbolic political agendas are more, and more immediately, affected by the media than substantial political agendas† (p.8). This fact cancels out the effectiveness of media as an aspect that provides a check on government actions. For the media to maintain its effectiveness in keeping watch over political affairs, it has to maintain a strong level of integrity and professionalism, while being impartial with regard to political

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

I don't have any topic or image for this, please choose one Essay

I don't have any topic or image for this, please choose one - Essay Example This very museum is famous for collection of all very old and rare pieces of art. Proper security measures are available to ensure that the picture remains safe since there has been a history of stealing and damage being caused to this picture in the past. The painter himself, Leonardo Di Vinci, lived in Europe, Italy, and is world renown for his paintings all over the world. In his pieces of art, he usually made use of the natural angles, proportions and various patterns that gave him an edge over other painters of his time. This is one of the many pieces of arts that has been gifted to the world by the genius. Every angle of the picture holds some interest for the students of art and has led to various assumptions on each angle. For example, in case of eye brows, it is being often said that they were removed unintentionally during the course of art making. A scrupulous review of the picture reveals that there is hardly any hair on the face, the only one that can be detected is prob ably through the employment of single use of the brush. Regarding the subject of picture, the lady herself, on many occasions is being termed as a lady named Lisa Gherardini (Klein 15), who was born in the late XV century and the painter did not even give the portrait to her just because he was totally obsessed with the art that he had crafted. The face expression has held attention of many over number of years through decades. The background of the picture equally compliments the facial expressions and beauty surrounding the face. Many pieces of his art were incomplete, however due to his personal interest and fascination of the subject of the picture, the incumbent brought it to the level of perfection that has many in intrigue. Though exact date of this picture is unknown, yet it is being believed that picture sketching took place somewhere in the early days of the XVI century (between 1503 and 1506) (Goyer and Yorkey 210). The lady on the picture is often named as La Gioconda. I t is being said that the entire portrait took nearly three years to reach the final point of completion, or the point where it is today. From the subject point of view, there is mystery all over the face of the lady. It is being considered as a real mystery for number of reasons. Umpteen amounts of mysteries and stories are attached to it, while some specialists are not sure about the gender, others term it as unresolved, others term it as self portrait while the few of the rest term it as the picture of his wife. To another opinion, she was the wife of a Florence citizen named Francesco Del Gioconda (Cremante 236). The timings attributed to this picture are late afternoon onwards when the natural light would spark at a little low intensity which matched the requirements for portrait sketching perfectly. It is also being said that the painter himself, Leonardo Di Vinci, fell in love not just with the painting but the model in picture. Many have it that he used to carry this portrait along with himself and during the course of its sketching, music and peaceful environment were always in the background to bring the best and most natural expressions out of his subject. Considering its importance and value in the field of arts, it has been stolen number of times, however, on all occasions it was recovered. One of those attempts was made by a person named Vincenzo Peruggia (Crispino 106) early in the XX century .The man was the employee at the very place and it took a

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Investigating The Causes Of Criminal Behavior Criminology Essay

Investigating The Causes Of Criminal Behavior Criminology Essay Crime. Why some people commit crimes and while others do not has always interested me. Every hour a crime is committed in the United States and people have been committing crimes as early as the Bible days. Later in the seventeenth century European colonists in North America considered crime and sin the same thing. They believed evil spirits possessed those who did not conform to social norms or follow rules. The act of committing a crime is not relegated to any particular race, sex, or age. Persons as old as 80 have been convicted of murder: James von Brun, who shot the security guard at the Washington DC Holocaust Museum in June 2009 will likely be convicted; he was 88 at the time of the murder, to children as young as 11: On January 14, 2000, Nathaniel Abraham, 11, was the youngest child convicted of murder. Many feel criminal activity and choosing to commit a crime is a case of nature vs. nurture. All of us combine good and bad traits, and while certain circumstances may cause individuals to go beyond the bounds of normal behavior, there is no basis to assert that these people are totally evil. We think we can spot lunacy, that a maniac with uncontrollable urges to kill will be unable to contain himself. In the street, it is the mentally ill we avoid, sidestepping the disheveled, unshaven man who rants on with himself It is evident that those guilty of the most heinous violent crimes tend to fit an otherwise average description. There are many reports where the neighbors of a mass murderer were shocked to find that the nice guy who lived next door had committed such despicable acts. The factors causing criminal activities are varied and hard to pinpoint. Some cases may be due to the financial status of the person, while others may be due to the mental health or social outlook of the person. Crimes like theft are committed for gain and excitement, while many violent crimes are committed by people who consider themselves powerless. But, how do some people decide to commit a crime? Do they think about the benefits and the risks? Why do some people commit crimes regardless of the consequences? Why do others never commit a crime, no matter how desperate their circumstances? I am fascinated with the television show, Bait Car, it forces you to ask these questions and want to put them in perspective. The police department goes into an area that has a high vehicle theft crime rate, stages an argument and it seems as if the person is so distracted that they leave their car; door open and keys in the ignition. Then they, wait and watch to see if anyone takes the bait and drives off with the car. Every single time, without fail, a person or persons get in the car and take off. Sometimes, you can see that they wrestle with good and evil; they go to the car, sit in it, look through it, and some even leave it. Only to return, and inevitably steal the vehicle. Some are forewarned, by either a bystander or a friend, but they always choose the wrong path and knowingly take possession of something that they know is not theirs. While in the car, cameras catch the euphoria of the criminals thinking that theyve gotten away with it, if they have a co-conspirator, they pr actice what to say when caught. When they are caught, excuses range from, the owner of the car asked me to bring it to them, I was going to turn it in, I dont know why I did, and I didnt steal it. For me, this show asks the question, Why would you get into a car that simply is not yours? Perhaps the answer to this is that some crimes are simply opportunistic and for the simple purpose of greed and stupidity. Some people decide to commit a crime and carefully plan everything in advance to increase gain and decrease risk. These people are making choices about their behavior; some even consider a life of crime better than a regular job-believing crime brings in greater rewards, admiration, and excitement-at least until they are caught. Others get an adrenaline rush when successfully carrying out a dangerous crime. Others commit crimes on impulse, out of rage or fear. What causes a person to turn to a life of crime? Is it the fault of the parents; is it a societal or medical mishap? What kind of upbringing breeds a child that would be violent enough at the age of fifteen to commit an act of armed robbery that results in murder?   It was an urge. A strong urge, and the longer I let it go the stronger it got, to where I was taking risks to go out and kill people risks that normally, according to my little rules of operation, I wouldnt take because they could lead to arrest.-Edmund Kemper. Why does Kemper have this strong urge, and why does it have such a hold on him? If we experienced this urge, would we be able to resist? Is the need to commit a crime genetic, hormonal, biological, or cultural conditioning? Do people who kill have no control over their desire? We all experience rage and inappropriate sexual instincts, yet we somehow know how to keep our inner demons locked up. Are we born evil? Born to be a criminal? Or does how and/or where we were raised determine that outcome? That same question was asked back in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when the role of genetics in crime was widely accepted (Joseph, 2001). Prominent researchers believed that genes were fully responsible for criminal activity and that criminals could be identified by their physiological features. This period was marked with inhumane treatment and the belief that genes were the sole reason behind criminal behavior. By the late twentieth century the general public did not believe that criminal acts were mental, they believed in free will and called for more prisons and longer bouts of incarceration. Researchers in the twenty-first century, however, continued to look at psychological stress as a driving force behind some crimes. In 1986, psychologist Robert Hare identified a connection between certain brain activity and antisocial behavior. He found that criminals experienced less brain reaction to dangerous situations than most people. Such a brain function, he believed, could lead to greater risk-taking in life, with some criminals not fearing punishment as much as others. Neurochemicals are responsible for the activation of behavioral patterns and tendencies in specific areas of the brain (Elliot, 2000). As seen in the Brunner et al. study, there have been attempts to determine the role of neurochemicals in influencing criminal or antisocial behavior. Included in the list of neurochemicals already cited by researchers are monoamine oxidase (MOA), epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an enzyme that has been shown to be related to antisocial behavior. Specifically, low MAO activity results in disinhibition which can lead to impulsivity and aggression. MAO is associated with many of the neurochemicals that already have a link to antisocial or criminal behavior. Norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine are metabolized by both MAOA and MAOB (Elliot, 2000). Serotonin is a neurochemical that plays an important role in the personality traits of depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder (Larsen Buss, 2005). It is also involved with brain development and a disorder in this system could lead to an increase in aggressiveness and impulsivity (Morley Hall, 2003). In addition, children who suffer from conduct disorder, have also been shown to have low blood serotonin (Elliot, 2000). There is a great deal of evidence that shows serotonin is related to aggression, which can be further associated with antisocial or criminal behavior. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with pleasure and is also one of the neurotransmitters that is chiefly associated with aggression. Activation of both affective (emotionally driven) and predatory aggression is accomplished by dopamine (Elliot, 2000). Personality traits and disorders have recently become essential in the diagnosis of individuals with antisocial or criminal behavior. Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) is characterized by argumentativeness, noncompliance, and irritability, which can be found in early childhood. When a child with ODD grows older, the characteristics of their behavior also change and more often for the worse. They start to lie and steal, engage in vandalism, substance abuse, and show aggression towards peers (Holmes et al., 2001). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is associated with hyperactivity-impulsivity and the inability to keep attention focused on one thing. Children diagnosed with ADHD have the inability to analyze and anticipate consequences or learn from their past behavior. Conduct Disorder is characterized with an individuals violation of societal rules and norms. This disorder can only be diagnosed when an individual is over the age of eighteen and at which point an individual shows persistent disregard for the rights of others (Morley Hall, 2003). It is of great importance that these early childhood disorders are correctly diagnosed and effectively treated to prevent future problems. Antisocial behavior between the ages of nine and fifteen can be correlated strongly with impulsivity and that aggression in early childhood can predict antisocial acts and delinquency. One statistic shows that between seventy and ninety percent of violent offenders had been highly aggressive as young children (Holmes et al., 2001). These personality traits have, in some research, been shown to be heritable. Searching for the origins of antisocial personality disorders and their influence over crime has led to studies of twins and adopted children. Identical twins have the exact same genetic makeup. Researchers found that identical twins were twice as likely to have similar criminal behavior as fraternal twins who have similar but not identical genes, just like any two siblings. One of the most fundamental studies influencing scientific opinions of nature vs. nurture would be a study done comparing identical vs. fraternal twins. (Christiansen, 1977). In this study, twin pairs were examined for the concordance of criminal behavior for both twins. This is a study of particular interest because both sets of twins were raised in the same environment but in one case, the case of the identical twin sets, the siblings are genetically identical where as in the other case, the case of the fraternal twin sets, the siblings are merely genetically similar. The identical twin pairs were found to have a 50% concordance (in one out of two cases both twins exhibited criminal behavior) where in the fraternal cases there was only 21% concordance. This illustrates a strong correlation of genetics and criminal disposition but it also indicates the relative importance of environmental factors as well; environmental factors influence criminal behavior, which explains why there is not a 1:1 correlation of genetic disposition and criminal behavior. Other research indicated that adopted children had greater similarities of crime rates to their biological parents than to their adoptive parents. A study was done using identical twins that were adopted by two different families and raised apart from each other. It was observed that adopted children are as aggressive as their adoptive parents rather than their biological parents. The results from both studies indicate that environment and genetic disposition are equally as responsible in shaping human behavior. (Mednick, Gabrielli, and Hutchings, 1984) The frontal lobe of the brain is the functioning area for behavior in human beings, and there are beliefs in the scientific community that damage to the frontal lobe can cause significant behavioral problems for individuals. In fact, there are findings that prefrontal cortical deficits and abnormalities in the temporal lobe are high within the incarcerated population Recent studies show that our criminal justice system is the new home for individuals with psychological problems. Although this may seem like a solution, it is creates a dilemma for society. Do we have the treatment and rehabilitation in prison to prepare inmates for life outside? Once we label these individuals as criminals it creates a stigma for those who may suffer from psychological problems. Certain psychological problems have been shown to be heritable and if given the right circumstances, individuals with those genes could find themselves engaging in criminal activity. If a tragedy occurs and a friend or loved ones life is ended purposely, or a child has been hurt or traumatized, people can lose control and act out of anger. And because of their reactions, they too, have now become the criminal. Not everyone who is incarcerated has criminal tendencies. Many have made irrational choices out of anger or desperation or no thought of the consequences of an action. There are many factors that can create a criminal mind, but there are also many factors that cause people to make irrational choices. It goes back to when we were taught cause and effect. We often speculate but there is no definite answer to why some people become criminals. The brain is a mysterious organ, that is constantly being studied.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Euthanasia Essay: The Hemlock Society and Assisted Suicide

Hemlock Society, Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Dori Zook, Hemlock Society public relations director, claims that Hemlock supports legalization of physician- assisted death only in cases of terminal illness. And Hemlock's website asserts that the Society favors physician-assisted suicide strictly for someone "who is already in the dying process." But there is a glaring discrepancy between this official stance and what prominent members of Hemlock have said and done. For example, there is this little gem from Hemlock co-founder Derek Humphry's book, Final Exit: "What can those of us who sympathize with a justified suicide by a handicapped person do to help? When we have statutes on the books permitting lawful physician aid-in-dying for the terminally ill, I believe that along with this reform there will come a more tolerant attitude to the other exceptional cases." Or take the actions of Hemlock leaders in the case of Elizabeth Bouvia. Writing about the Bouvia case, Humphrey expressed Hemlock's support of the right to voluntary euthanasia for "a person terminally ill, or severely handicapped and deteriorating...." Hemlock Quarterly 14 (1984). But Ms Bouvia was not "deteriorating." Cerebral palsy is not degenerative. The open-ended term "deteriorating" can be made to mean almost anything in order to justify a disabled person's suicide. Bouvia's lawyers, led by Richard Scott, another co-founder of Hemlock, distorted the nature of her disability, likening her to a terminal patient. "Were Plaintiff Bouvia an 84-year-old woman whose life was prolonged solely by various tubes and numerous machines," they argued in the Riverside Superior Court, "and she sought to end such an existence, it is doubtf... ...rejudice against people with disabilities, they must publicly denounce Jack Kevorkian's bigotry. The statements and actions noted above are neither stray, nor taken out of context. RTD leaders, time after time, have demonstrated the same willingness to promote this final "solution" to the problems of people with disabilities. Taken together, these words and deeds mark a clear and consistent pattern of promoting assisted suicide for people with disabilities. Why, then do RTD leaders now claim to advocate a narrower application of assisted suicide? Perhaps they tailor their message depending on the immediate political climate and who they think is listening. For the benefit of all of us who are listening, we call on Hemlock, its leaders, and allies to come forward with boldness and honesty to clearly state their complete agenda.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The One Percent Research Paper

Running Head: THE ONE PERCENTPage 1 THE ONE PERCENT Ryan M. Kerrick March 18, 2012 THE ONE PERCENTPage 2 Ryan M. Kerrick Mr. Richard Cannella English Composition II March 18, 2012 A good friend of mine recently recommended me to watch a documentary called â€Å"The One Percent. † I do not usually watch documentaries unless I am gaining some type of knowledge out of the information presented. Unsure of what it was about and what I was going to get out of it, I turned on NetFlix and proceeded to watch the film. I soon came to realize I was enamored by this film, â€Å"The One Percent,† and it remains one of my favorite documentaries of all time.The documentary deals with the disparity between the wealthy elite and the citizenry and how they are both so far removed from one another. â€Å"As of 2010, the top 1% of households (the upper class) owned 35. 4% of all privately held wealth. † (Domhoff, 2010, The Wealth Distribution, para. 1). The producer and interviewer presents this film through many wealthy American businessmen, critics, economists and even his own family to explain this major social gap that exists on our home front. When looking at the differences side-by-side, it is hard to grasp that we all live in the same place, the United States of America.The film was created by Jamie Johnson, the heir to one of America’s most affluent families. Being born with a â€Å"silver spoon,† Jamie never really had anything to worry about in life– from private schools to private jets, equestrian clubs and charitable dinner parties. But, he always felt something was missing in his life and he couldn’t quite put a finger on it. The fortune that Jamie inherited on his 21st birthday was from one of the wealthiest family-owned companies in the United States, Johnson and Johnson. THE ONE PERCENTPage 3 Ryan M. Kerrick Mr. Richard CannellaEnglish Composition II March 18, 2012 His great grandfather â€Å"started the company in 1886† (Johnson and Johnson, 1997) and it continued to grow well beyond imagination. Jamie would always wonder what made him deserve this prosperous lifestyle. After self-examination, Jamie was determined to investigate some of the questions haunting him in his head about the wealth disparity in America. Attempting to bring his mind to ease, he decided to create this documentary, â€Å"The One Percent. † Within the first few minutes of the film I noticed a sign labeled â€Å"Private Property Members Only. To me the sign is showing how the wealthy pride themselves in being part of such an elite club. Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum, the working class feel like they are not truly part of society at all. In the beginning of the documentary you see the Johnson’s having a family meeting. At first it looks normal, but they are not discussing chores around the house. It is a â€Å"family meeting† with their financial wealth and money management advis ors. The meeting is centered on managing their wealth and assets and essentially turning their millions in to more millions.The consensus from the advisors is that every year the family fortune tenfold and they continue to become richer and richer. Jamie seems to be upsetting his father with the making of this documentary and the advisors seem hesitant to talk about money and wealth on camera. THE ONE PERCENTPage 4 Ryan M. Kerrick Mr. Richard Cannella English Composition II March 18, 2012 His father’s initial reaction is that his son’s documentary is nonsense, but something that might have a huge ripple effect if taken seriously. Jamie does a great job trying to get answers and asking difficult questions to the wealthy elite of America.The footage he presents is of people giving their most honest views and thoughts and it is evident there is a huge gap between the wealthy and the poor. Jamie Johnson interviewed numerous people within different social classes. They rang ed from Milton Freedman and Steve Forbes, who owns his own private cruise ship, to some local residents of the south side of Chicago, who live in poverty without locks on their mailboxes. Jamie is presenting the social gap with visuals– broken down buildings compared to mansions, a homeless man asking for money compared to fancy beach resorts and post hurricane Katrina victims with private country clubs.A poignant moment that stood out to me in the documentary was when Jamie interviewed Nicole Buffet, the granddaughter of Warren Buffet through marriage (his son Peter’s ex-wife’s daughter. ) It was comforting to watch and I feel even Jamie felt a sense of self-awareness as he interviewed the young female. She seemed so confident in who she was but most of all peaceful, content and happy with the simple things in life. In this situation, you can see money seems to be the root of all evil. Even to the point of ridding someone of your family that has great memories of you. THE ONE PERCENTPage 5 Ryan M. Kerrick Mr.Richard Cannella English Composition II March 18, 2012 She talked of her â€Å"grandpa† as the loving man she knows him as (not as multimillion dollar business man. ) In response to her participation in the documentary, he wrote to her â€Å"I have not emotionally or legally adopted you as a grandchild, nor have the rest of my family adopted you as a niece of cousin. † (Schroeder, 2008, p. 976) He disclaims her as a granddaughter despite all the good she says about him just because of her role in the film. People argue that Buffet was not out of place because Nicole was adopted or a step child and was not part of his immediate family.I thought the same until I stumbled upon an article written in The Wall Street Journal. The article stated â€Å"Susan Buffett, Warren's first wife, who died in 2004, named Nicole in her will as one of her â€Å"adored grandchildren† and left her $100,000. She added that Nicole †Å"shall have the same status and benefits †¦ as if they were children of my son, Peter A. Buffett. † Also, â€Å"a source close to the family says Nicole spent â€Å"very little time† with Warren Buffett over the years but that he paid for Nicole's school and living expenses until she was 28. Nicole says that Mr.Buffett's reaction may have reflected his philosophy about wealth. â€Å"Sharing my experience as a Buffett was stepping outside the box,† she says. † (Frank, R. 2008). Another part of the film that stood out to me is when Jamie interviewed the taxi cab driver and I did like what the man had to say. He said, â€Å"My family is one of the richest families in the world, but not with money. With love, kindness, tolerance and patience. Qualities that are worth more than money and you can’t buy that. † THE ONE PERCENTPage 6 Ryan M. Kerrick Mr. Richard Cannella English Composition II March 18, 2012This showed the much clear distinction in values between the rich and the working class. Comparing what the taxi driver had said to the values of Warren Buffet who wrote his granddaughter disclaiming because she did not support the family lifestyle, which would you prefer? Watching this documentary I came to find that with money also comes a fear of losing that money and becoming consumed by it. Along with money comes the changing of your values and whole aspect on life. It allows families in America to move up in class, often times allowing them to adopt different ideas and different family values.After viewing this documentary my analysis on the disparity of the wealth gap is that it is reality and there isn’t much we can do about it. I am able to see what people have to go through to make it to the top. Business men do not become who they are by being nice to people. They have to be aggressive in the business world, cut throat, sharp and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams. That might come with risks or even mean walking all over people. But, sometimes to make a difference, you have to ride through hell to make it to heaven.This might be a hard pill for some people to swallow, but, it is reality and it is the truth. People have not become moguls overnight singing KUM-BAH-YA and dancing around a fire. Las Vegas was built on mob money before it was cleaned up and presented with a new face by entrepreneur investing. This is business. You have to be able to stomach it and it is not for the weak hearted. I would therefore have to agree with what I have seen in the documentary regarding Jamie’s father and his behavior. THE ONE PERCENTPage 7 Ryan M. Kerrick Mr. Richard Cannella English Composition IIMarch 18, 2012 He did what he had to do to get to where he is today even though he inherited his thrown. In my personal opinion, if you look hard enough you will always find dirt and the top of the social ladder. You do not only have to be rich for that either, all of huma nity is flawed in its own way. I do not believe that everyone was born to be a millionaire. However, I do believe that in our own way, if we preserve and strive to work hard, we are all able to be â€Å"millionaires† in our own eyes and live fulfilling lives and contribute to making our society a better place to live.Being unemployed, uneducated and living off welfare is not fair to the people who work hard to pay taxes to support their fellow citizens. I consider it to be a lazy and irresponsible way of life. However, it is a choice in life you have. The money is out there for the taking so it is also your prerogative whether you choose to go out and get it or not. Make your decision wisely and keep your values in mind while climbing the social ladder if that is the route you decide to take. THE ONE PERCENTPage 8 Ryan M. Kerrick Mr. Richard CannellaEnglish Composition II March 18, 2012 REFERENCES Johnson and Johnson. (1997). History of Johnson and Johnson. Retrieved from htt p://www. jnj. com/connect/about-jnj/company-history/ Schroeder, A. (2008). The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life. Domhoff, G. (2010). Wealth, Income, and Power: The Wealth Distribution. Retrieved from http://whorulesamerica. net/power/wealth. html Frank, R. (2008). The Wall Street Journal: The Rich Man’s Michael Moore. Retrieved from http://online. wsj. com/article/SB120371859381786725. html? mod=fpa_mostpop

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Bacevich, “Appetite for Destruction”

Bacevich argues that â€Å"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,† principles on which the American government were based, has always been associated with the desire to accumulate: territories, business markets, and precious resources. In the present day, for many Americans, this ideology equates with consumerism, and the consumerist/materialist/self-indulgent culture affects foreign policy. In the American conscience, expansion, abundance, and freedom have been inextricably linked.This linkage is most evident in the events and American’s economic and military status directly following World War II. The post-World War II expansion, however, reached a crisis point in the 60s with the Vietnam War, when America was transformed into an â€Å"Empire of Consumption. † Now, these three concepts are not related reciprocally: expansion is not leading to abundance. On the contrary, it is leading to scarcity. Bacevich argues that U. S.’s reliance on oil and pet roleum (and its dependence on foreign sources for this resource) has led it to stray from ethical foreign policy. This phenomenon was something that Carter recognized, but the American public was unwilling to admit that their primary threat was their own consumerist behavior (and not some outside threat). Reagan indulged the American public’s desire for instant gratification: oil consumption jumped considerably as did the size of the national debt, and savings dwindled as American’s borrowed more and more. The dependency on oil has made the U.S. dependent on Islamic lands, and Presidents have generally relied on military power to retain access to these necessary resources. In the aftermath of September 11, President Bush encouraged Americans to indulge their consumerism. Instead of advising them that saving might be prudent given that war costs money, Bush focused on preserving the American way of life. Because the American way of life has not been seen as a major prob lem, Americans now have expensive commitments in foreign lands and face dangers that they are poorly equipped to face.