The Fire Essays - Jemez Mountains, Los Alamos, New Mexico

The Fire Late one Wednesday night in May, my girlfriend and I spotted some smoke and could see lava-like fire coming from the Jemez Mountains. We knew right away that it was a forest fire, but did not know how serious it was. We drove to my house to ask my dad what was happening in and around the Atomic City. He didn't know the details of the fire, so we turned on the TV to get some information about it. Every channel was talking about the ?Cerro Grande? fire that had started from a prescribed burn. The rest of that night we never left the couch. The television broadcasted that all Los Alamos residents should be prepared to evacuate the following day. The phone rang and it was my dad's boss from the laboratory; he called to say that work had been canceled for the rest of the week. Shortly after that phone call, the news anchor on the TV announced that there would no work for all Lab employees. We figured that the fire must have been pretty serious. My dad laid lifeless on the couch, showing no emotion. One hour passed, and still he hadn't moved. Not only was the fire consuming up the Jemez Mountains, it was also eating my Dad. He was really quiet and that is not his normal self. My Mom and I sat with him watching the continuous coverage of the fire on all the local channels. The news was keeping us well informed of all changes that were taking place on that hill north of Santa Fe. The local stations helicopters showed us that this fire meant business. Flames shooting hundreds of feet high torched anything and everything in its way. Tornado like winds made it impossible for fire fighters and slurry bombers to try and stop the raging fire. From our house we could see a huge cloud of black smoke that covered a lot of the northern sky. When my Mom and I got home from school that next day, my Dad said that the fire was creeping closer and closer to the town and all the residents had to evacuate. He was afraid that the fire would consume his friends homes as well as his job. A few minutes later, it was confirmed that the fire had reached the outskirts of the town. On the TV shortly after, we watched those houses burn uncontrollably; it looked like a war zone. That night I went to bed pretty late, and I woke up the next morning thinking that it was all a dream. Unfortunately the morning newspaper was there to remind me of the devastation that had happened the night before. The TV as well, showed pictures of a town and forest that looked like the Apocalypse had swept threw it. Burning embers danced across the black floor making it look as if the end was never going to come. Live reporters showed just how windy it was outside, with their hair standing straight up and their jackets flapping louder than they could talk. We could hear bombs in the background, thinking that the labs and all its nuclear secrets were up in flames. The reporters assured us that the labs were intact, but butane bottles that residents had left behind were exploding. They said repeatedly that the laboratory was safe and only the outskirts had been damaged. At school, in all the class rooms, a TV was kept on to inform us of all the changing headlines. The moral of the student body was low, almost not existent. A lot of the students and teachers walked around like zombies, empty and zoned out. They were preoccupied thinking of the fire. One week after this hellish fire had scorched the Jemez Mountains and passed right threw the outskirts of Los Alamos; the media was a reliable resource. They kept the nation and most importantly my family informed of the ?Cerro Grande Wildfire.? Current Events Essays

Enthalpy Change for a Specific Amount of Reactant

Enthalpy Change for a Specific Amount of Reactant Here is how to determine  the change in enthalpy of a chemical reaction with a given amount of reactant.   You may wish to review the laws of thermochemistry and endothermic and exothermic reactions​ before you begin. Problem: For the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, it is known that:H2O2(l) → H2O(l) 1/2 O2(g); ΔH -98.2 kJUsing this information, determine ΔH for the reaction:2 H2O(l) O2(g) → 2 H2O2(l) Solution: When looking at the second equation, we see it is double the first reaction and in the opposite direction. First, change the direction of the first equation.  When the direction of the reaction is changed, the sign on ΔH changes for the reaction H 2O2(l) → H2O(l) 1/2 O2(g); ΔH -98.2 kJ becomes H2O(l) 1/2 O2(g) → H2O2(l); ΔH 98.2 kJ Second, multiply this reaction by 2.  When multiplying a reaction by a constant, the ΔH is multiplied by the same constant.2 H2O(l) O2(g) → 2 H2O2(l); ΔH 196.4 kJ Answer: ΔH 196.4 kJ for the reaction: 2 H2O(l) O2(g) → 2 H2O2(l)

Death penalty information center. Web site evaluation Essay

Death penalty information center. Web site evaluation - Essay Example The life of a human being, or for that matter any animate being, has an inalienable right of dignity and sustenance irrespective of whether social law dictates otherwise. According to this fact, no man has the right to kill another living being regardless of the intention. The system of capital punishment is a brutal ideology, which instead of respecting the value of life, forces upon us an artificial perspective of legality which tries to prove that punishing a criminal with a similar crime is ethical. There are several groups and resources in and around the world that voice their disapproval of this method of punishment and which shows us clearly that even though the penal code of justice was designed by man to streamline society, many of its nuances do not have complete consent of the society it is trying to protect. Among the various websites advocating the abolishment of the death penalty, one which stands out is the Death Penalty Information Center having abundant information o n the subject as well as all the ongoing campaigns being worked out in the various states of America. The choice of this website is based on the evaluation criteria that have been selected to judge its relevancy and results in the field of legal amendments to the section of the penal code on capital punishment. Among the criteria used in evaluating the website, first and foremost is the accuracy of the information and the credibility of the site authorities, following which is the periodicity of the available information and last but not the least are the proffered methods by which the general public can contribute to the cause as well as make use of the tremendous detail of reports on death penalty. On the initial visit to the DPIC website, one is amazed at the level of proficiency with which the subject of capital punishment is dealt with and would definitely be impressed by the amount of work that has gone into the preparation and maintenance of the site. It is clear that the concerned personnel behind DPIC are not amateurs and to validate this detail, the visitor is presented with an exemplary Board of Directors list when the 'Contact' or 'About DPIC' link is clicked. In very many cases we find that a professional and business like website lacks the simplistic feel and ease of getting around for a general visitor, but DPIC is so neatly designed to make the visitor comfortable in accessing the information in an organized fashion. The extensive information provided has been cited from various newspapers articles, books and television that were cross checked and found to be legitimate. The media sources are multifarious and give an authentic impression of the view subscribed by people from various walks of life about the death penalty. Clippings from news broadcasts, interviews and radio talk shows as well as a wealth of videos enables us to analyze real life accounts of families of murder victims and death row prisoners as to how the law is framed in injustice for what is being done. There maybe instances where visitors to DPIC may feel bombarded with vast amounts of information and statistical data, although not a single one of them deviates from the central theme of abolishment of the death penalty. But what we must keep in mind while analyzing the claims of this advocacy website as being a leader among other sites pertaining to the same subject, is that the expected visitor is more likely to be a relation or an acquaintance of a murder victim or a death row inmate, a student interested in the field of law or a researcher in social demographics with respect to crime and punishment. The statistical information provided, when the 'Facts' link is clicked, is vital to any research candidate and the thoroughly organized manner in which the information is laid out on the site is beneficial to quick finds and relevant gathering of data.

Alcohol problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Alcohol problem - Essay Example These questions can be used for a person with a current at risk behavior, but people with past or future at risk behavior are not analyzed. This quiz could be given to all ages due to the generality of the questions. However, only current at risk, moderate risk, and low risk can be determined at the time of the quiz. This quiz should include questions about past behavior. Instead of asking about recent or within a year, the quiz should ask the same questions with no time limit set. If high risk behavior is detected, maybe a more detailed timeline could be used. Finally, the most important question is missing from the quiz. I believe family drinking habits should be visited. For example, I have alcoholics on both sides of my family tree. This is an important factor to determine at risk individuals. 2. What is the difference between binge drinking and alcoholism? Why does society accept binge drinking in so many circumstances? In your life, what shaped your beliefs (acceptance, participation, or abstinence) regarding binge drinking? What do you think could change the culture of bingeing, especially in the college setting? Binge drinking is more hardcore alcoholism or for social reasons. It starts at parties and socially, but soon a person has to have that much alcohol. My views were shaped by my father’s drinking. At first on the weekends and then through the week. At the end, he was drinking 2 1/2 cases a day, plus a bottle of tequila. The violence, vomiting, and psychological belittlement made me want to abstain. Unless a college or university banned drinking totally on and off campus, I do not think that binge drinking would ever really change. 3. Taking what we have talked about in class so far regarding the pathophysiological changes in the brain that occur with addictions, what is the main area of the brain that might be involved with why young adults choose to consume alcohol.

Arguments for and Against Genetically Modified Food Essay Example for Free

Arguments for and Against Genetically Modified Food Essay Biotechnology involves any technique that uses living organisms or parts there of to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals or to develop micro organisms for specific uses (Dr Sriwatanapongse, www. afic. org) In the past century weve have been lucky enough to stumble upon one of the basic building blocks of organisms, DNA. In recent years scientists have been able to develop ways in which they can manipulate, alter, and transfer DNA in forms that can help improve our lives. One way in which DNA research has been used to improve our lifestyle, is by engineering the deoxyribonucleic acid into ways which can alter food supplies to make them bigger, taste better, resistant to pests and even make them have a greater concentration of nutrients. Of course this is great news to the human population, in terms of economic and life-saving values for third world countries, yet there are still disadvantages. With all the good news that comes from these altered crops, concerns are still among people. These concerns include; whether or not these alterations will affect humans in a negative way, or how they will impact the environment. Genetically engineering crops might play a significant role in increasing crop yield therefore allowing the world to feed more people while using less land. A recent study on bioengineered crops concluded that these crops are safe and can improve production dramatically. To date, total acres of biotech crops harvested exceed more than 1 billion with a proven 10-year history of safe use. Over the next decade, expanded adoption combined with current research on 57 crops in 63 countries will broaden the advantages of genetically modified foods for growers, consumers and the environment. (www. monsanto. com) Those opposing the genetically altered crops state that One major detriment to genetically engineered food is that there has been no adequate testing to ensure that extracting genes from useful functions will yield the same results in different applications and species (www. govhs. org). Predictions of future are that, consumers are able to get foods that last longer, taste better and are more nutritious than the current foods. There will also an even greater variety of foods all year round. These products will be made possible through genetic engineering, and some of them are already available. For centuries, farmers grew plants to produce special foods with unique characteristics: better taste, higher yield or greater resistance to drought or frosts. History shows, that five thousand years ago in Peru, potatoes were grown selectively. Plants, which produced potatoes with attractive characteristics, such as higher yields, were used to produce future plants. More than two thousand years ago, tree grafting was used by the Greeks to Gain a more fruit in orchards. Now, we have genetically engineered food that has been discovered and now offers a faster and more reliable method of establishing new traits in plants to provide foods that are better tasting, more nutritious or more in amount. Although all of this may seem futuristic, such crops do already exist. Not only have these crops been in laboratories for decades, but they have been in the market for years. Humans have only just begun to realize the benefits of these genetically altered foods. Genetically altered foods allow a wide selection of things to improve upon. Some altered abilities already exists in our fruits and vegetables, these include: pest, disease and herbicide. By using genetic engineering, plants that resist disease, pests or insects can be developed. This means that less chemicals, such as pesticides, are required. In the near future scientists hopefully will be able to improve the drought resistance of most crop species and could have major implications for crops grown in dry areas (www.abc. net. au/news). Weather resistance Plants could and can be developed to better withstand extreme weather conditions such as drought or frosts. Genetically engineering foods make crops easier to maintain and lower the cost in maintenance. One benefit of altered foods which is often overlooked is the Improved processing characteristics of these foods, leading to reduced waste and lower food costs to the consumer. Foods are being developed to contain more vitamins, minerals, protein and less saturated fat. For example, fruits and vegetables with higher levels of antioxidant vitamins may reduce cardiovascular disease risk and help reduce the risk of certain cancers (www. americanheart. org). The world population is expected to double to more than 10 billion people by the year 2050. Food biotechnology can help meet the increasing demand for food. By increasing a crops ability to withstand environmental factors, growers will be able to farm in parts of the world currently unsuitable for crop production. Along with additional food, this could also provide economies of developing nations with much-needed jobs and greater productivity. Genetically engineered foods seem to have solved all the problems farmers and growers have had for years. Unfortunately all the positive effects of altered foods seem to mask the reality behind these perfect crops. Some of the disadvantages of altered crops include the possibility of mutations. Plant breeders have induced mutations in selected plants by treating them with chemicals or radiation; however this is costly and unpredictable (Microorganisms, biotechnology and Disease). Genetic engineering changes the nature of the food eaten. It can cause unexpected mutations in an organism, which can create new and higher levels of toxins in foods. Genetic engineering can produce unknown allergens in foods. Some foods may be implanted with the ability to produce antibiotics. This may help the plant, but if these plants that are infected with bacteria emerge new strands of bacteria that may become resistant to the most advanced antibiotics, there will be a problem. With herbicide-resistant crops, weeds may evolve to also become herbicide resistant. The spread of diseases across specific species may also become a factor because of a loss of ? bio-diversity in crops. When crops are altered for specific abilities, they are then mass produced. They are the only type of species grown in field of thousands. Because of this, the species will only be able to pass on to all generations the same DNA. Once started, they may not be easily controlled or contained. It makes the crops hard to calculate. Unfortunately the biggest problem raised from new modified foods is the fact that the public is unaware of how it works and the results behind the genetically modified food. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the genetic code in living organisms. About twenty five years ago, scientists began to understand how DNA worked. From this ways for speeding up breeding processes were understood to a degree. Agricultural scientists today can identify the genes that carry specific traits they want, such as ? disease resistance or ? nutrient content and transfer those genes to a plant, therefore creating a transgenic organism. Genetic engineering is the process of artificially modifying these ? blueprints. By cutting and splicing DNA, engineers can transfer genes specific to one type of organism into any other organism. Some organisms have been enhanced through biotechnology such as; tomatoes, that go ? soft more slowly and so remain on the vine for longer. This gives them more colour and flavour. Also, virus resistant papyrus and squash, that make the crop more dependable. Genetically modified food seems to have already changed the world today. Many countries are already considering making more of their crops with genetically engineered properties. Scientists have gained a vast knowledge of genetic engineering and are now able to make many possibilities. Genetically engineered food has brought a lot of commercial benefits; increased crops quality, harvesting quantity, pest resistance, herbicide resistance, nutrient supplementation and more. Not only have the crops improved, but more crops are produced in less space. Although the benefits of bioengineering seem fantastic, there are still many mysteries left to understand in such a vast field of understanding. Genetic engineering might cause serious consequences to our future life as well next generations to come. Deeper insight into genetic engineering may be all that is needed for us to gain truly unlimited advantage from such a vast scientific field.

Underneath My Skin - Original Writing :: Papers

Underneath My Skin - Original Writing I am 15 years old, and I hate my life. My parents are dead, I have no friends, I get bullied every day, and the worst of it is that I can't do anything about it. I now live in Omaha, Nebraska with my aunt, Patrice, who just made 21 and is never home. She is my last living relative. At school this kid named Brian messes me all the time. I never fight back because I'm just peaceful like that. I get good grades (I have nothing else to do with my spare time except homework). I earn my own money by playing craps behind the school with loaded dice. That's why I don't have any friends. So I was walking home and here comes Brian with his sidekick Jim. Brian says, "Hey punk how's it goin'?" Then Jim says, "Yeah punk." I say, "I'm doing fine." "Gimme all your money, or my fist and your face will become good friends." Then he pushes me. All of a sudden, something came over and I just start wailing on the guy. I get up, look at Jim and say, "You want some of this?" He stands there in fear for a while and runs away. The rest of the way home I kept thinking about what happened, thinking about what came over me. In the middle of deep thought, I heard a voice say, "It was me." I looked around and no one was there. So I blew it off and went on home. I got home, laid on my bed still thinking about what happened. There was that voice again, "It was meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Makius." Now I knew something was up. "Who's there?" I said. "You don't know me but I know you very well," said the voice. "You know me," I said. The voice then said, "Yes, I know about the time when someone tripped you and everyone laughed. I know about the time when some bully stole your shoes, and wore them the next day.

Personal Development Paper Essay

I have a lot of scope for improvement. I have a lot of potential both professionally and in the personal space – I need to tap it. My asthetic sense, candor and imagination help me stand out in a crowd and I need to fine tune these skills. Given my high sensitivity to stress, I tend to get very irritable and frustrated during high pressure scenarios. I am exteremly disorganized and this has really harmed me all my life. I really need to work on my organization skills.Goals To be more organized, and disciplined. I need to have a stronger work eithc, and develop strong analytical and quant skills. I would also like to invest alot of time in reading, and wasting less time doing meaningless stuff. Reading and getting exposed to the opportunities everywhere gets me excited, and once I am excited – I am driven.Perception of others In all honesty, others view me as exteremly modest but that is because I am good at hiding my weaknesses. They respect my candor and people skills, and appreciate my input once in a while.Standards organization expects you to meet Disciplined, focused, very strong finance background, strong work ethic, working in high pressure scenarios, and having a strong sense of responsibility. DEVELOPMENTAL PLANNING WORKSHEET Professor Randall S. Peterson DEVELOPMENT ISSUE (from GAPS analysis): The issue is that I am easily intimidated, and not focused. I tend to get distracted with my surroundings and tend to loose interest in my own ambition and agenda. I tend to get bored easily, and leave things in the middle – very impatient.EXPECTED OUTCOMES: What will be different? What could someone else observe that will change? For starters I will be more diligent, focused and orderly. This can be seen through my group participation, my in class assignments, my club involvement and my career hunt activities. Juggling so many aspects at once will require all of the above. My quant and financial skills can really develop if I invest time, and effort in reading and understanding the material. This can also be a visible change.What will I gain by achieving the goal? What is in it for you? Happiness. Job. Personal satisfaction. Personal growth and development.WHO ELSE NEEDS TO BE COMMITED TO THIS: What will you need to do as soon as you get back to the office to get started? Who do I need to get committed to helping me? And what is in it for them? Me, myself and I.LEARNING STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT (use at least three of the six to make your development goal SMART) 1) Seek New Challenges/Projects Challenge PE CASE CHALLANGE Specific Action/Time/Deadline working with people in a field I have very little experience in. Taken a challenge. Have to work hard. This will improve my quant and tech skills.2) Take Courses and Workshops Course/Workshop Specific Action/Time/Deadline 3) Develop Ongoing Feedback Name(s)/Strategy for Identifying People Study Group Specific Action/Time/Deadline Montly feedback on progress – personally and professionally. Team contract also helps keep us in check. 4) Identify Role Models and Coaches Name(s)/Strategy for Identifying People Raluca – Class mate Specific Action/Time/Deadline She helps me stay focused and organized everyday. We plan the everyday in advance, and luckily always manage to achieve the target.5) Development Reading Books/Papers Specific Action/Time/Deadline 6) Other Learning Tactics Strategy Specific Action/Time/Deadline OBSTACLES What will I give up? I will give up making excuses. I will talk less listen more. I will give up wasting time, and reading more. I will give up being disorganized. What are the major obstacles and how will I manage them? Obstacle is just me and my mind – I need to be focused, and do proper time management. Not get distracted with the noise around me. Work at my pace, and be patient.How to work with me I am pretty flexible, and easy going. Only thing is I lack commitment, and have poor work ethics. I tend to get distracted easily and hence get frustrated when the pressure builds up. Please be a little strcit with me when it comes to academics. I need to get more responsibility so I am actually forced to put in effort, instead of depending on others. This will help me build my quant and analytical skills, and that will increase my confidence 10 folds. Since I tend to get distracted easliy, please always bring me back on track. I am very dependable, approachable, and I love interacting with people and learning through people. Hence, if I don’t understand something, and if someone explains it to me politely I will always listen. I tend to disagree alot, and sometimes unnecessairly. I am also very open to people criticizing me. I love negative feedback so I have room to develop. Please motivate me, and cultivate in me discipline.