Ichabod Crane and Abraham Van Brunt Essay Example for Free

Ichabod Crane and Abraham Van Brunt Essay In the short story of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow you will find two very different men, Ichabod Crane and Abraham Van Brunt, competing against each other for but one woman’s hand in marriage, Katrina Van Tassel. Katrina Van Tassel was a ravishing young lady of only eighteen and the only child of a very wealthy farmer named Baltus Van Tassel. Her father paid little attention to her other than to be proud of her good doings when they were praised by others. Because of her beauty, along with the wealth of her father, Katrina had the interest of many men. Although these men were driven away in defeat by a man named Abraham Van Brunt, whom also had a strong interest in Katrina. Abraham Van Brunt, also known as Brom Brunt, was tall and extremely hansom with dark curly hair. He was described as muscular and strong, thus he was given the nick name Brom Bones by the townspeople. Brom was known for his rambunctious personality, his love for pranks, and his admirable great skills on horseback. He was known as the â€Å"village hero.† He wanted Katrina’s hand in marriage, not because he loved her, but because he was determined to inherit the wealth of her father Baltus. Brom managed to scare off all the other suitors of Katrina with violence and physical confrontation. He had no competition! That is until Ichabod Crane came along. Ichabod Crane was a shy school teacher who had traveled from his home state of Connecticut to Sleepy Hollow, New York. He came to teach the children about the area. He was known to be a strict teacher, but not cruel. Ichabod was described as a lanky man; tall and thin with big hands and feet and also a rather large nose. He was said to be an awkward n clumsy man. Although he was a rather thin man, he was capable of eating plenty and was often looking forward to do so. He was an extremely superstitious man, so much that he believed in every myth, legend, and tall tale to be truth. This resulted in him easily being scared of anything that reminded him of ghost, goblins, witches, demons, etc. Despite his awkwardness, Crane was a very sociable man. I guess he had to be considering the fact that he would live at the homes of the townspeople, a different one every week. He was said to be a kind man. He would sometimes walk his students home from school, he would play with some of the bigger kids, and he would even help farmers with all of their farming duties. Many women took a liking to Ichabod because he was known to be kind and gentlemanlike. Also, he loved to sing and he had a beautiful voice and the ladies loved it! In fact, his voice was so beautiful that he also taught the townspeople to sing and also led the choir at the village’s church. Katrina was a student of Ichabod. When he had first met her, like many others, he was mesmerized by her beauty. Although it wasn’t until he had met her father and seen her farmhouse that he felt he was in love with her. To me it seemed as if he had just fallen in love with the idea of inheriting her father’s wealth, but the story says he was in love with her and wanted her heart, not just her wealth. Of course, this didn’t sit well with Brom Brunt at all, and he would try to chase Ichabod off. But Brom couldn’t do it in his usual way of violence, because Ichabod had a way of avoiding physical confrontation with him. So instead, Brom would use his second best skill, pranks! Knowing that Crane was a superstitious man who was easily scared, Brom would begin to taunt and tease him with scary stories, including the town’s most famous one, the legend of the headless horseman. This would eventually mark the end of Ichabod Crane. The story tells that one night after attending a party held at the Van Tassel home, when Ichabod was walking home, he had an encounter with what seemed to be the headless horseman. He was never to be seen again. Some believed that it was actually the headless horseman himself who had taken the life of Ichabod, but others believed that is was just Brom Bones in costume out to get what he wanted, Crane gone! As you can see, in comparison, these two men were very different from each other. Quite the opposite I’d say. The only thing that they shared a common ground with each other would be their desire for the Katrina Van Tassel and her inheritance. Even then, they would attempt to woo her in very different ways, Crane with his songs and his stories of superstitions, and Brom with his violence and strength. Besides the way these men look, their personalities and even their interests and talents were very different. I’d say Brom Bones was a man of good looks and brawn but rather rowdy, rude, and perhaps cruel. While Ichabod was a sensitive man with a kind heart and although he was lanky and awkward looking he was a gentleman with good social skills.

Macbeth and R+J Essay Example for Free

Macbeth and R+J Essay Shakespeare communicates many moods in Macbeth and Romeo Juliet; the main moods are love, and hate fuelled betrayal, and in my work these are the themes I will analyse. In Romeo Juliet and Macbeth, vital characters have had to betray in order to achieve love, for example; In Romeo and Juliet; Juliet has to betray the authority of her father in order to fulfil her affection for Romeo. In terms of love this would mean that: The Storge (unconditional love, shared amongst family) that Juliet once felt for her father was met by misogyny (Hatred for Women) upon his realisation of Juliet’s Eros (love between two people) towards Romeo. Despite her subdued character, Juliet is adamant on not marrying Paris and betraying her family for Romeo. A quote to support this is; If all else fail, myself have power to die This signifies that Juliet would rather die than enter something that it not right. A quote from Juliet’s Father; â€Å"How now, how now, chop-logic! What is this? † – His use of repetition emphasises his fury in response to Juliet’s new found aggression in character, and his rhetorical question presents his dominance and highlights the hierarchy that was in place at the time to allocate superiority to male’s in a family, in this scene; the breakdown of Juliet’s Father and Mother’s relationship is most apparent. Furthermore this is a point where Juliet is most isolated from her family and becomes closer to Romeo. My alternate interpretation is that Juliet did not betray her family, but her family were betrayed by there own pride, Pride was the cataclysmic barrier between acceptance and condemnation. The most potent character development is Juliet’s, throughout the play she matures and becomes a lot more retaliant to authority and starts to become herself rather than obedient to thers, this process is strengthened because of the speed she has had to become responsible; due to the mandatory pressures she is expected to comply with and the swift 7 day time period in which the story is conveyed, this development in character gives her the willpower to betray her family; which also ultimately supports my point. The dramatic techniques used in Romeo and Juliet create a hastily strong impact due to the play being condensed into a week and an ambience of anxiety. In Macbeth there are several similarities that also support my point; Macbeth has to betray King Duncan despite his loyalty and Philia (The love of Friendship) has to betray him in order to acquire the Eros from the ever superior Lady Macbeth, this situation contradicts all convention as society was heavily patriarchal which suggests that women should be submissive to men; however in this occurrence Macbeth conforms with Lady Macbeths demands to murder King Duncan, this is the main contrast between Macbeth and Romeo Juliet. A quote that coincides with this is; â€Å"But screw your courage to the sticking-place, and well not fail† – Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth to murder King Duncan, presenting her dominance and ambition over Macbeth. A quote from Macbeth after when placing the blame on the guards for King Duncan’s murder; Here lay Duncan, his silver skin laced with his golden blood†¦ the murderers, steeped in the colors of their trade – This illustrates the betrayal that Macbeth has committed, as his use of alliteration strengthens the deviation of this line and the fact that he is further betraying King Duncan post his death by laying the culpability on the guards; simultaneously justifying there execution. Additionally an alternative interpretation of betrayal is explained using this quote; â€Å"Who can be wise, amazed, temprate, and furious† – Macbeths use of antithesis (underlined) displays how he has slowly become contradictory since his brutal murder of King Duncan which I believe indicates he has betrayed his own nature. The main dramatic technique used in Macbeth is dramatic irony, dramatic irony is where something that is indicated at the start of the play will either become true or change at the end of the play or furthermore could mean the opposite of hat might happen. An example of this is that; â€Å"This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses. † – This is a significant use of dramatic irony, the description of the environment is pleasant; however unbeknown to King Duncan, this is where he will be murdered, and this also links in to betrayal. Moreover, at the start of the play, Macbeth describes Banquo to be a â€Å"Friend† however later in the play we know that Banquo becomes his enemy and has to be killed due to the fact he is a great threat to Macbeth’s throne; which is a further deception that Macbeth has carried out. Conclusively; I believe Shakespeare’s whole use of dramatic irony links in to betrayal directly, because the constant use of dramatic irony means that the plot keeps changing; effectively displaying that the plot betrays itself continually. This constantly conveys a mood of false anticipation and an eerie sense of the unknown. Reading more in depth into both plays, there are further comparisons; Such as the use of fate, when Romeo and Juliet fall in love we know that because of their backgrounds; it will lead to death, and similarly in Macbeth the witches tell a prophecy in which Macbeth becomes king and then dies both plays contain different forms of tragedy however both plays meet the same end. Evidence to support this in Romeo and Juliet is: â€Å"A pair of star-crossd lovers take their life† – Meaning that two different sided (Montague/Capulet) lovers take their life. And for Macbeth: â€Å"All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter! † – This is the prophecy of Macbeth becoming king and then dying. Furthermore, in Romeo ; Juliet and Macbeth, death is a necessary price to be paid for peace, for example, Romeo and Juliet have to die in order for the Capulet’s and Montague’s to live in tranquillity, to support this, a quote from the beginning soliloquy: â€Å"What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend† – This means that where we have failed before we will strive to succeed now, signifying that Romeo and Juliet’s death were essential to the ‘Fair Verona’ achieving peace, likewise in Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s death was also fundamental to harmony being restored to the ingdom, an additional quote to support this is: â€Å"The usurpers cursed head: the time is free† – the quote is about Macbeth’s severed head, and diverts attention to the fact that with his death ‘the time is free’ which implies it is peaceful. However contrary there are many differences, for example the types of love/relationship between the two couples in each play; In Macbeth there relationship is very unstable and Lady Macbeth is very domineering over Macbeth; also there love for each other is not through passion; but through the lust for greed and power as Lady Macbeth is desperate for Macbeth to become king by killing King Duncan and betraying his loyalty to him: â€Å"And take my milk for gall, you murd’ring ministers† – This suggests she will do anything to become Queen and accentuates her ruthless nature; it also underlines the imbalanced relationship in which the position of superiority continuously changes dramatically. At the start Macbeth is a brave and noble hero and he is superior however as the play goes on and when Macbeth’s manhood is questioned by Lady Macbeth â€Å"are you not a man? † he then becomes submissive and is dictated by Lady Macbeth. In Romeo and Juliet

Investigation of Single Chain Sugar-based Glycolipid

Investigation of Single Chain Sugar-based Glycolipid Review on Investigation of Single Chain Sugar-based Glycolipid Self-Assembly in Lyotropic Phase Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy M.Faisal Khyasudeen* KEYWORDS (Word Style â€Å"BG_Keywords†). If you are submitting your paper to a journal that requires keywords, provide significant keywords to aid the reader in literature retrieval. ABSTRACT: Glycolipid in lyotropic phase has been widely study due to its nature similar to those in biological membrane. This uncharged amphiphilic molecules has been used in cosmeceutical industry as an emulsifier and as nano-carrier in pharmaceutical industry. Some of the reason on its application is because of its features such as low toxicity on environment, biodegradable, specific sugar-cell recognition as well as relatively cheap in production. Vesicle formation by the single chain glycolipid allow high efficiencies of drug delivery by the effective encapsulation of the active material until it reached the specific target cells. In this report, fluorescence studies using different probe were discussed to understand the stability and degree of flexibility of the lipid for its self-assembly. Tryptophan (Trp) with its ester derivatives (Trp-C4 and Trp-C8) are examples of probes to study the glycolipid hydrophilic head while pyrene molecules to gain insight of the hydrophobic group . Steady-state fluorescence indicate a reduction in polarity gradient from polar domain to the non-polar domain resulted from sugar head group and hydrocarbon tail respectively. While fluorescence lifetime measurement for the probes uncover an extra information such as ability to form two different rotamer or any heterogeneity arises due to flexibility of lipid self-assembly. Specifically, this review will be emphasized on characterization of glycolipid with probes component and how in turn these are related to the nature of self-assembly for the glycolipid. INTRODUCTION Amphiphiles are molecules that have a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. Because of this, amphiphiles when mixed with water is capable of self-assembly into a wide range of different structures with a variety of properties. Shown in Figure 1 are some examples of such structures [1, 2]. They include the lamellar structure, where the amphiphiles self-assemble to give a sheet like structure; the micellar phase where the amphiphiles form a spherical structure with a hydrophilic exterior and a hydrophobic interior; the hexagonal structure where amphiphiles form micellar cylinders that are stacked in a hexagonal lattice; and a whole family of cubic structures, which resembles pipe joints linking cylindrical micellar units. This lyotropic mesomorphism is exhibited by many amphiphiles [3]. The amphiphile systems can transform between these mesophases depending on the relative amphiphiles/water concentrations, salt concentrations, pH, temperature and pressure. Apart from the aesthetics of the various structures, the versatility of some of these amphiphiles structures has also been of great scientific importance and utility. For example, our body is made of 10^13 cells that are constructed from complex membranes self-assembled from amphiphilic phospholipids [4]. Lipids such as monoolein in its cubic phase has been used to crystallize membrane proteins, thus making possible their x-ray diffraction structure determination [5]. Similar lipids have also been used for drug delivery purposes [2]. Another example is the glycolipids [1], which form minor but integral components in the cell membranes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and are responsible in maintaining structure integrity in cells. Figure 1. Phase change in the Glycolipid self-assembly by changing the temperature of the system Glycolipids are one of the examples in large family of glycoconjugates in which the sugar head group is bonded to hydrocarbon chain. It is an amphiphilic molecule derived from the carbohydrate headgroup whereas the hydrocarbon tail builds up the hydrophobic part of the molecule. The glycolipids can exhibit liquid crystals properties and have mesophase behaviour. The advantages of using sugar-based non-ionic surfactants compared to the usual surfactants because they are highly biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and less toxic [2,3]. Besides that, they are also much cheaper, and have diverse biological activity. Figure 2. Example of probe used Alkyl glycoside has been used for numerous surfactant application. Microemulsion form by these nonionic surfactant will help in dispersing the water and oil in continuos phase. Direct application such as detergent and cleaner has been use including alkylpolyglucoside (APGs) where it is reported that APGs improves the foam properties of the product according to IPP quality standard. In addition, one development of alkyl glycoside which is still in its infancy is on its application as vesicles for drug delivery carrier as reported by Kiwada and co-workers. It is reported that high entrapment efficiencies of the anticancer drug with prolonged in vitro drug released particularly in spleen and liver were shown using alkyl glycoside as nano-carrier. Furthermore, it reported by Rauzah.H and coworker, the use of similar vesicle to enhance the drug skin penetration using maltosylated and lactosylated alkyl glycoside. Understanding the various factors that contribute to the stability of these different lipid phase structures will be important in further applications of these fascinating objects. One important factor that determines the stability of the various phases in different conditions are the hydrogen bonding networks of the water environment surrounding the amphiphile’s hydrophilic headgroup. In this report, fluorescence studies using steady state and time-resolved measurement were discussed in guiding to correlate the behavior of the probes with the local environment of the glycolipid. Columnar phase of an aqueous formulation of the single chain alkyl glycoside such in the example depict in figure 3 were reviewed due to the ability of it to form in wide range of concentration and temperature (cite the phase diagram). Since lipid membrane usually do not possess any intrinsic fluorescence, it is common to used extrinsic associating probe which strongly sensitive to its surrounding environment. One of the most common membrane probe is tryptophan and pyrene. Trp is used as a local reporter for hydrophilic head and pyrene which is non-polar molecule to probe in hydrophobic region. Figure 3. Example of chemical structure of single chain glycolipid. DISCUSSION One of valuable property of fluorescence probe is in their sensitivity towards different polarity gradient. Fluorophore such as trp shows a shift spectrum in steady state measurement correspond to change in dielectric constant of solvent. Spectrum shift as in Figure 3 reported by (Idayu paper) for both glycolipid, shows that the trp peak maxima shift towards the blue side by decreasing the solvent polarity. This is due to the solvent effect which cause the stabilization of excited state by the higher dielectric constant of solvent molecules. As explained in (prof Lakowicz), normally, fluorophore possess a higher dipole moment in the excited state compared to in the ground state. Thus the solvent dipole can relax to lower the energy of the excited state after the absorption process. The reported unstructured fluorescence is due to the 1La state while the structured fluorescence is reported to be in 1Lb state. The state in 1La is a solvent sensitive state towards the polar nitrogen ato m indole group in tryptophan. (1a) Steady-state and lifetime measurement for hydrophilic head using tryptophan with its derivatives Steady state spectrum of tryptophan and its ester derivative (Trp, Trp-C4, and Trp-C8) together with the lipid embedded were reported by (idayu paper) in n-dodecyl ÃŽ ²-D-maltoside(ÃŽ ²MaltoOC12) and octyl ÃŽ ²-D-glucoside(ÃŽ ²GlcOC8). From the fluorescence spectrum, it is clear that when the tryptophan and its derivative embedded in lipid shows almost a similar pattern as depict in figure 3. The spectra observed shift to the blue side relative to that in buffer. This indication explain the different local environment senses by tryptophan and its derivatives in the lipid system. By comparing the two spectra, tryptophan molecule shows less polar environment as compared to bulk water. This can be seen across the increasing chain length of the tryptophan ester. Due to increasing hydrophobic nature of the tryptophan moiety (trp C-4 and Trp C-8), it is pronounced that the tendency of the tryptophan penetration across the membrane will be also increase. Consequently, indole group in trypto phan will be attracted closer to the amphiphilic head of the glycolipid. Correlation between the fluorescence peak of tryptophan in lipid and in solvent predict the different in water profile across the aqueous nanochannel. The observation complement to the result that are reported by Dongping zhong and coworker, showing confined water in aqueous nanochannel can be divided into three distinct time scale;(1) ~100-150 ps correspond to two layers of well-ordered interfacial water which dynamically is a rigid water molecule. In this region, the solvent network which allow for water molecule to form intermolecular interaction with more than one water molecule were perturbed. This reduced the local polarity senses by the tryptophan ester similar to the peak maximum in 1,4-dioxane which is highly non-polar solvent. (2) 10-15 ps, correspond to quasi-bound water motion. This can be observed similar to the previous case where the tryptophan moiety resembles to those in methanol and ethanol. ( 3) 1 ps and lower, showing the bulklike near the channel centre where the environment shows the highest polarity similar to that in buffer. Basically the (1) and (2) is important in maintaining the global structure stability of the glycolipid and the flexibility to adapt different structure such in phase diagram. On lifetime of Trp in 10-9 magnitude (1 ns or higher), two different lifetime component is usually correspond to the exhibition of different rotamer (rotational isomer) by the Trp moiety. These result point to a degree of flexibility of the lipid self-assembly that allow the Trp side chain to adapt two different rotamer (1b) Steady State and lifetime measurement for hydrophobic tail using pyrene as probe. Investigation of tail region using pyrene as a probe were reported to be sensible in less polar environment due to the non-polar characteristic of the pyrene. The favour of pyrene can be explained by observing the spectrum shift in different dielectric constant of solvent as reported by (idayu) in figure 6. Solvent such as cyclohexane shows a blue shift as compared to that in buffer. The peak between 360nm-450nm indicate formation of monomer by the pyrene while the peak maxima around 465nm is due to the formation of excited dimer (or excimer) (cited Lakowich ngan paper lain) even at a very low concentration (0.05mM of pyrene). In a polar condition, it tend to form dimer because of the hydrophobic nature of pyrene which disliked polar solvent and thus forming a cluster to reduce the surface contact with the molecule of the solvent. The spectrum as shown in figure 7 in (idayu paper) shows a complete absent of dimer in the lipid. Pyrene molecule was said to be dispersed in the tail regi on as monomer and tend to isolate from each other. Additional information from the fluorescence spectrum of pyrene is the (I1/I3) ratio which correspond to the vibronic transition of 0-0 band. The value for the ratio of peak 1 and 3 indicate local polarity of the environment that the pyrene experienced. In principle, high value of (I1/I3) indicate more polar environment. Some examples for the values of (I1/I3) in different solvent and lipid composition were shown in the table 1, Table 1. Value of ratio (I The result of pyrene in lipid shows an intermediate between the value as in buffer and cyclohexane. However, the ratio shows a closer number towards the buffer solution which further indicate the favorable of pyrene to locate near the lipid head group. This was proved by the simulation worked done by (Prof rauzah. Embedding the tryptophan and pyrene together result in reduction of polarity based on the value dropped by 0.02 as compared with only single component of trp-C8 in lipid. The reduction of polarity in presence of trp-C8 is because of the result in increasing hydrophobicity around the pyrene molecule by the C8 chain in tryptophan. Lifetime measurement were conducted for both ÃŽ ²MaltoOC12 and ÃŽ ²GlcOC8 in hexagonal phase and reported in (paper idayu). In both case, pyrene shows two distinct lifetime correspond to short component (0.87 – 0.97ns) and long component (11 – 51 ns) as an indication for the heterogeneity that the pyrene adopt in the system . Furthermo re, lifetime of ÃŽ ²MaltoOC12 which is 51 ns shows a higher isolation (caging effect) of pyrene in tail region as compared to ÃŽ ²GlcOC8 which has decay component of 11 ns. Comparison between the two type of lipid shows the effect of adding Trp-C8 with pyrene in ÃŽ ²MaltoOC12 (27 ns) is more prominent than in ÃŽ ²GlcOC8 (11.3 ns) system. In both cases implied the presence of C8 chain in Trp to cause a reduction in the local viscosity of tail region. However, in table 1, it is further observed that, the value for ÃŽ ²GlcOC8 is actually smaller than ÃŽ ²MaltoOC12. Since the smaller value of this ratio correspond towards more non-polar environment, it leads to a certain assumption that ÃŽ ²GlcOC8 were actually interact more with the pyrene due to shorter alkyl chain compared to ÃŽ ²MaltoOC12 which has more random and wobbling motion in the longer chain.(C8 vs C12). This increased the diffusion of oxygen and hence reduced the lifetime of pyrene CONCLUSION While it is tempting to cover all the other information about the unique nature of glycolipid self-assembly, this review provide a valuable insight on using fluorescence probes to investigate the local environment around two distinct group which is the hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail of glycolipid. By comparing the fluorescence behavior of probes in solvent and in lipid, we will able to correlate those two in order to discover the local polarity in the lipid. While lifetime measurement in fluorescence uncover the hidden information that the steady-state measurement would not be able to obtain such as heterogeneity, flexibility and etc. These properties are crucial for biological processes such as ability of lipid in allowing different size of molecule to accommodate in the lipid. Understanding molecular self-assembly in microscopic scale and its behavior in different structure and phases will allow us to construct and produce efficient product for industrial application such as emulsifier and nano-carrier for drug delivery. ASSOCIATED CONTENT (Word Style â€Å"TE_Supporting_Information†). Supporting Information. A brief statement in nonsentence format listing the contents of material supplied as Supporting Information should be included, ending with â€Å"This material is available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.† For instructions on what should be included in the Supporting Information as well as how to prepare this material for publication, refer to the journal’s Instructions for Authors. AUTHOR INFORMATION Corresponding Author * (Word Style â€Å"FA_Corresponding_Author_Footnote†). Give contact information for the author(s) to whom correspondence should be addressed. Present Addresses † If an author’s address is different than the one given in the affiliation line, this information may be included here. Author Contributions The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. / All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript. / †¡These authors contributed equally. (match statement to author names with a symbol) . ABBREVIATIONS CCR2, CC chemokine receptor 2; CCL2, CC chemokine ligand 2; CCR5, CC chemokine receptor 5; TLC, thin layer chromatography. REFERENCES

Duty and Morality in Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals :: Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals

This selection is only the first section of Immanuel Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals. I am only going to discuss duty and morality. Kant gives three propositions regarding duty (p.107). Kant argues that the will that acts from reason is the will guided by duty. The first proposition helps us distinguish which actions have moral worth by differentiating acts that are motivated because of duty and acts that are not. Kant shows the differences using a few examples, the first is a salesman who does not overcharge a customer even if he knows they are inexperienced, but the salesman’s reasoning behind this is that he doesn’t want to tarnish his reputation if he were to get caught overcharging an inexperienced customer. Kant says this is not because of morals, because the salesman was not motivated by duty to treat the customer fairly. The second proposition is â€Å"an action done from duty has its moral worth, not in the purpose that is to be attained by it, but in the maxim according to which the action is determined.†(p.107). This meaning that an action is morally good if the motivating forces behind the decision to make that action are good. The third proposition is a combination of the first two, stated, as â€Å"Duty is the necessity of an action done out of respect for the law.†(p.107). Kant thinks you must respect the law. The law is the only thing â€Å"which can determine the will except objectively the law.†(p.108). So because the law can be objective, even if you are inclined to break it, you should not. Duty and reason often conflict for an individual. An example that Kant uses is lying. When you lie, you expect that other people will believe your lie, you believe this because the universal law is that you should be truthful. In this situation you have expected that the universal law you should live by is to be truthful, but you have also decided that you are going to allow yourself to make an exception to this universal law and lie.

XFL †What the Hell? Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Sports paperes

XFL – What the Hell? Vince McMahon is at it again. Vince McMahon, the head of the World Wrestling Federation, is trying to work his marketing wizardry by establishing a new professional football league, the XFL. This extreme football league with all-access media coverage, hard-hitting action, and fast-paced wide-open offense is supposed to be the next great entertainment frenzy. I, for one, think this league will be flop after a season or two for many reasons such as lack of fan interest, poor quality players, and lack of real football. Vince McMahon’s WWF is a multi-million dollar corporation and has been wildly successful in capturing the sports entertainment market. â€Å"Monday Night Raw,† the weekly soap opera on TNN, is one of the three most watched cable shows each week. In addition, the WWF has weekly wrestling shows on UPN and MTV. Personally, I am caught up in the phenomenon. I set aside my Monday evenings to watch Monday Night Football and professional wrestling. I enjoy attempting to figure out the storylines before they unfold and attempt to guess the action that may happen in the next segment. Surprisingly, many Americans share my point of view and enjoy this sort of entertainment. The WWF’s core market personality is an American male, between the ages of 12-35, very similar to professional football. The WWF provides high flying action, crushing hits, and exciting finishes; not much different than the NFL. Vince McMahon is attempting to extend the short NFL season and capture America’s passion for football while marketing more of his merchandise - not the best business idea in my view. The XFL is to begin play the week after the Super Bowl, Saturday, February 3, 2001. The league will be comprise... ...e McMahon will spend millions of dollars in a campaign to draw fan interest and support and very little return on investment will occur. Yes, the first season may be successful with the â€Å"all-access† view of football and little outside sporting competition. However, America will soon recognize that the XFL games have poor quality talent and that it is just Vince McMahon and Dick Ebersol trying to make a few extra bucks at the expense of the American public. I believe that this league will fold after its second season. As an accountant and an economist, I wish Vince and Dick the best of luck in marketing this gem. I hope they are able to make the XFL profitable and possibly change the face of competitive sports with the flare the WWF provides. However, they will have to do so without one avid football and professional wrestling fan supporting their endeavor, ME!

destroying a life :: essays research papers

Everyone can witness a miracle at least once in his or her life. It is a miracle which a man and woman can create. Unfortunately, many decide on a drastic choice to kill someone they should bring into the world. Abortion is a decision made constantly among pregnant adults and teens. A few reasons why abortions are so popular are the pre-marital sex leading to pregnancy, couples that don’t want the baby, irresponsible people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What many women don’t know is that abortion has many risks. Women in their first pregnancy who decide to have an abortion have a high risk of getting breast cancer. Studies at the National University of Wyoming have shown twenty percent to twenty-seven percent seeking abortion have a chlamydeous infection. Chlamydeous is a sexually transmitted disease that is a vaginal discharge that irritates and burns when urinating. At the time of an abortion, a girl can get an infection, have excessive bleeding, ripping of the uterus and a cervical injury. Many of these complications are considered life threatening. Not only can women abort and kill the baby, but they can have a chance of facing death as well. According to the North California research and Development Clinic, â€Å"Abortion is reported as the fifth leading cause of maternal death in the United States.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An abortion can impact a life forever. It can impact the mother’s life or the baby’s life. A fetus is considered to be human. Shortly after conception, the DNA is already forming a unique human . At eight weeks into the pregnancy, the baby’s heart is beating steadily and every organ is present. At eight and a half weeks, visual proof of the baby’s fingerprints are being imprinted. Having a child requires more maturity than it does to have an abortion. The unborn baby has a right to a mother instead of being killed before witnessing the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It shocks me that older and more mature women have abortions. It surprises me even more that teenagers have abortions. Teenage abortion is allowed in over twenty states without the permission of one’s legal guardian. Teenagers may start to take sex lightly knowing that abortion is always a choice if the girl gets pregnant. Because of their responsibilities, they’re making another life inside their very own body pay for their mistakes. Teenagers will continuously remind themselves if ever they get an unexpected pregnancy, they can always consider having an abortion.

Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering in Plants Essay

Less tillage needed, especially with crops containing herbicide tolerance transgenes, therefore conserves fertility through minimizing soil damage through compression. |GE agriculture claims low tillage weed control: this can be achieved by ending the practice of monoculture and instead introducing proper crop rotations designed specifically to combat the weeds of the particular locality. Monoculture creates a weed paradise. | All countries face problems caused by alien species accidentally or deliberately introduced into a new environment (e.g. prickly pear in Australia). The main factor permitting this is international travel, but nobody has suggested that this should be banned. The problem of alien species is manageable, as would be the problem of genetic pollution caused by spread of seeds or pollen. As regards pollen contamination from GM varieties and the call for compensation for growers of non-GM or organic varieties whose crops are contaminated, if one is to be fair one migh t reasonably expect growers of non-GM and organic varieties to compensate growers of GM crops if they are contaminated with non-GM or organic pollen. |Genetic pollution from transgenes spreads into other organisms through pollen, seeds and microbial processes. It is fundamentally different from other forms of pollution because once the genes are out, they can’t be recalled. The best example of pollen contamination is provided by the canola seed, which was multiplied in Canada. It was officially confirmed in May 2000 that this seed was contaminated with unapproved GM canola seed and accidentally shipped to UK and other countries. By then it had been planted in Europe and large acreages of the young crop had to be destroyed. According to Advanta, the contamination occurred because of cross-pollination in Canada, where the seed was produced. The nearest source of GM contamination was 4 kilometers away.| Organic farming has long accepted accidental contamination from herbicide sp rays from neighboring farms. If there is concern about GMOs, DNA tests can be carried out.|Risks destroying organic farming, which rules out the use of GM organisms. Who will compensate organic farmers for the extra surveillance and analysis, which will be needed to ensure that the organic food chains remain free of GMOs?| The Starlink debacle is indeed a lesson that the GM food producers will learn from. Identity Preservation Systems are being put in place, verified by DNA analysis, to ensure that GM and non-GM supplies are kept separate.|The massive contamination in 2000 of the USA corn (maize) crop and human food chain by Starlink, a variety that is not approved for human consumption, shows that genetic pollution from transgenic crops to non-transgenic crops and food is inevitable. Starlink maize produces the Cry9C protein, which may be a human allergen. Two other major contaminations of ordinary seed (maize and canola seed) with GM seed have already occurred leading to emergency recalls of the product.| Reduces labor costs. |Sustainable organic agriculture creates much needed jobs in depressed rural economies.| Environmentally relatively benign herbicides are used and less of them. Opposing GM crops forces farmers to use herbicide resistant varieties which have not been made by GM such as those resistant to sulphonylurea herbicides which more readily give rise to herbicide resista nt weeds.|Promotes â€Å"agribusiness†, therefore more herbicide use. Herbicides are responsible for much illness in farm workers and contaminate drinking water.| Enhances biodiversity by allowing weeds to continue growing for longer thus providing nutrition for animals. After weed kill a mulch forms which hosts a thriving population of insects, arthropods etc.|The total herbicides used with herbicide tolerant crops kill all weeds thus reducing biodiversity in the field.| No insecticidal sprays needed on crops that have insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-toxin genes engineered into them. Plants with Bt or other insecticidal genes are likely to give rise to lower levels of mycotoxins in the final food product. Less insect damage means less opportunity for fungi to infect the plant and bring toxic substances.|As with weed control, control of insect damage is achievable with properly designed crop rotation and other forms of good husbandry such as intercropping. Healthy pl ants not imbalanced by chemical fertilizers build up their own defenses against insect attack. | GM plants are carefully tested for environmental and ecological impact, including their effects on earthworms and beneficial insects. Bt crops target only insects, which attack the crop. Future insect resistance genes will be engineered to express in leaves and stem rather than in pollen and seed. There is already evidence that the Bt gene is expressed less in Bt corn pollen than in leaves/stems therefore the risk to butterflies (e.g. Monarch) through pollen drift onto their food plants (e.g. milkweed for Monarch) is diminished. |In relation to population variance, sample sizes in lab and field tests (e.g. of earthworms) are sometimes too low to detect even large effects. Insecticidal crops containing the gene for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-toxin kill beneficial organisms such as bees, ladybirds, lacewings & butterflies (e.g. through pollen). The Bt plant remains falling to the ground are harmful to earthworms and other members of soil fauna. Bt toxins are secreted into soil from Bt plant roots and are toxic to lepidoptera in the soil (Stotzky, et al. Nature 402, 480 (1999)). The specific targeting and elimination of one insect pest has led to other pestiferous insect species moving into the ecological niche created by the disappearance of the first species. Getting rid of one problem simply created another. If Bt toxin transgenes spread to wild relatives of crop plants the wild plants may also develop resistance to insect herbivores. This could lead to the affected wild plants becoming invasive weeds.| The problem of resistance to Bt toxin and other toxins engineered into crops can be countered by planting suitably sized ‘refuges’ of a non-GM variety of the crop at suitable intervals within the crop. The interbreeding of the wild population with the Bt-exposed potentially resistant population will dilute out the genetic trait and thus prevent it building up.|Putting the Bt toxin gene in the crop exposes the pest to the toxin for longer, thus allowing natural genetic resistance to the toxin to develop in the pest. So-called refuge systems do not work, partly because breeding cycles in the differing pest populations are not synchronized. Refuges of up to 40% of the acreage are having to be recommended and this is not practical or popular for farmers. The build up of Bt toxin resistance threatens to render ineffective an insecticide long used by organic agriculture. Increased use of biopesticides in transgenic crops deprives the ecosystem of one of its natural pest controls thereby putting at risk its ability to restore equilibrium after being upset by abnormal conditions. | Helps solve the problem of world hunger by creating varieties which will make more efficient utilization of scarce land and give higher yields because of better pest resistance, nutrient utilization etc.|World hunger will not be solved by technological means. It is a problem of inequitable distribution of wealth and corrupt governments. Reduces yields (e.g. cotton, soybeans and sugar beet in some areas).| If herbicide resistance spreads to weed populations it can be combated with another herbicide with a different active ingredient. The ecological and agricultural threat of a GM plant is no more than a non-GM invasive (exotic) species such as kudzu or purple l oosestrife. Although improved crop yields can be engineered by genetically modifying plants, there is ecological concern over whether these plants are likely to persist in the wild in the event of dispersal from their cultivated habitat. The results of a long-term study of the performance of transgenic crops in natural habitats on four different crops (canola seed, potato, maize and sugar beet) which were grown in 12 different habitats and monitored over a period of 10 years show that in no case were the genetically modified plants found to be more invasive or more persistent than their conventional counterparts. (M. J. CRAWLEY, S. L. BROWN, R. S. HAILS, D. D. KOHN & M. REES. Biotechnology: Transgenic crops in natural habitats Nature 409, 682 – 683 (2001)  © Macmillan Publishers Ltd)|Enhances spread of herbicide resistance to wild weed populations because the necessary genes are in the pollen, which can then pollinate wild relatives of the crop plant. This could create â₠¬Ëœsuperweeds’ especially if ‘gene stacking’ of several different transgenes occurs. Spread of transgenes is also caused by birds, animals & machinery carrying the seed to other locations (e.g. canola seed on Ailsa Craig isle, 10 miles from Scottish mainland) Increased weediness of GM crops is already beginning to show. In 1999, in Alberta, Canada canola seed volunteers (unwanted crop plants coming up the following year) resistant to three different herbicides have been discovered. A series of chemical and DNA tests confirm the weeds in farmer Tony Huether’s field near Sexsmith are resistant to Roundup ®, Liberty ® and Pursuit ® herbicide chemicals. Invasive species of plants can remain relatively unproblematic in a region for many years and then suddenly take a hold so much so that they become an economically significant nuisance. For this reason, the ecological impact of GM crops will be difficult to predict in the long term, i.e. over several decades. | Most cultivars are unlikely to survive amongst wild plant populations and those with herbicide resistance that escape will have no advantage from the herbicide resistance trait unless that particular herbicide is used. Such volunteers can be controlled with other herbicides.|Transgenic herbicide resistant cultivars could escape into the wild and become problematic ‘volunteers’ in agriculture. These volunteers will require increased use of more toxic herbicides.| Is a sustainable agriculture, because it reduces chemical inputs as well as fuel inputs for farm machinery.|Unsustainable — based on greed not need. Helps chemical agriculture to proliferate. The only sustainable agriculture for the future is organic (including biodynamic & permaculture).| Quicker and more precise than traditional breeding.|Breeding takes place outside the proper c ontext, i.e. in the laboratory, therefore the crops are so weakened that they need to have the environment of the laboratory (soil sterilization, artificial fertilizers and pesticides) brought to them in the field. Transgenic lines are unstable and can lead to crop failures (e.g. GM cotton in USA).| A greater range of distinct disease-resistant varieties can be created so that the farmer has a wide choice and can plant a mixture of several varieties of the same crop in the same field to insure against disease attack. Disease resistance traits can be rapidly introduced to cultivars, e.g. rice, thus keeping ahead of the changing pattern of disease in a particular locality.|Because of the huge investment in GM crops, the necessarily increased emphasis on single high-yielding varieties reduces genetic diversity within the crop itself. This can lay the crop open to massive losses when disease strikes.| Novel drought and salt-tolerant cultivars can be created (important for Third World Co untries).|Sustainable organic plant breeding can develop novel varieties properly suited to a locality perfectly satisfactorily.| Any royalties or technology fees are more than compensated for by advantages including higher yields and easier, therefore less expensive, husbandry.|No seed saving by the farmer is permitted. The farmer has to pay royalties to the biotech company. This undermines a traditional agricultural practice and particularly threatens peasant farming in developing countries. GM crops add to the tendency of modern chemical agriculture to undermine the autonomy of farmers and turn them into tractor drivers or machine minders for large transnational corporations.| New varieties are tested for toxicity more than any crop plants have ever been in the past, therefore they are likely to be safer. Jimmy Clark, a professor of ruminant nutrition in Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, reviewed the results from 23 research experiments, which wer e conducted over the past four years at universities throughout the United States, Germany and France. In each study, separate groups of chickens, dairy cows, beef cattle and sheep were fed either genetically modified corn or soybeans or traditional corn or soybean as a portion of their diet. Each experiment independently confirmed that there is no significant difference in the animals’ ability to digest the genetically modified crops and no significant difference in the weight gain, milk production, milk composition, and overall health of the animals when compared to animals fed the traditional crops. Clark concluded, â€Å"Based on safety analyses required for each crop, human consumption of milk, meat and eggs produced from animals fed genetically modified crops should be as safe as products derived from animals fed conventional crops.† Clark added that approximately 70% of the genetically modified soybeans produced in the world and 80% of the genetically modified corn produced in the United States are used as animal feed. â€Å"Since these genetically modified crops were grown beginning in 1996, they have been fed to livestock and no detrimental effects have been reported,† Clark said. (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Release, Apr il 2001).|Increases herbicide residues in the food because the herbicide is applied later in the growing season and closer to harvest | The issue of spread of antibiotic resistance from GM crops containing antibiotic resistance marker genes is unproven. If it is a problem at all it is likely to be small compared with the induction of antibiotic resistance through profligate use of antibiotics in animal nutrition, veterinary and medical practice.|Spreads antibiotic resistance to microorganisms in the environment, and then to pathogenic bacteria.| More profit for the farmer, seed producer and biotech company shareholder.|No demonstrable benefit to the consumer. | Crops producing ‘nutraceuticals’ can be engineered, i.e. food additives that have a nutritional benefit bordering on a pharmaceutical benefit, e.g. modified edible oils. The vitamin content of plants can be enhanced by GM. Plants which previously did not contain a particular vitamin can now be made to produce lar ge amounts of it (e.g. Vitamin A ‘golden’ rice). The aim of the GM Vitamin A rice project is not to achieve ideal levels of vitamin A intake through this source but to augment the extremely low intakes which lead to blindness and death of hundreds of thousands of people a year (Prof. Dr. Ingo Potrykus, statement, February 2001). |In 1999, Deutsche Bank issued a report advising investors to avoid investing in GM crop technology (agribiotech). A balanced diet of fresh fruit & vegetables plus cereals and protein is all that is necessary. ‘Nutraceuticals’ are a sticking plaster (band aid) attempt to remedy fundamentally unhealthy diets. Existing food sources provide adequate daily intakes of vitamins provided they are eaten in sufficient amounts and the vitamins are not destroyed in the processing or cooking. Vitamin-enhanced GM plants are an unnecessary technical solution to a problem, which does not exist. Even with Vitamin A GM rice a normal daily intake of 300 gram of rice would, at best, provide 8% percent of the vitamin A needed daily.| The ‘killer genes’ of the technology protection system (‘terminator technology’) allows the seed producer’s intellectual property (patent) to be protected by a biological rather than litigious method.|No seed saving by the farmer is permitted. The farmer has to pay royalties to the biotech company. This undermines a traditional agricultural practice and particularly threatens peasant farming in developing countries.| The increased cho ice of modern high-yielding cultivars to farmers allows diversification to keep ahead of economic, climatic and plant disease trends.|The possibility of further globalization of crop varieties that GE offers through the introduction of traits necessary for introduction into new regions of the globe erodes cultural diversity – i.e. traditionally, different crops and varieties are grown by different cultures. Genetic engineering works towards global uniformity, i.e. globalization of Western/Northern culture. There used to be far greater choice of crop varieties for farmers, sometimes hundreds of varieties of a particular crop in a given region, but this diversity is falling at an alarming rate because of the industrialization of farming under pressure from the agrochemical industry. This will be accelerated by biotech agribusiness.| GE allows the creation of plants that produce vaccines, pharmaceuticals or enhanced pharmaceutical raw materials. |GE is already used to produce ph armaceuticals in microorganisms in the much safer containment conditions of biotechnology factories. It should not be taken out into the environment thus putting the environment at risk. In any case, much of the pharmaceutical production, which would be created, is designed to treat diseases caused by industrialization and urbanization, which could be better treated not by a genetic fix but by changing lifestyles and environment.| Novel food crops are tested for genetic stability (breeding true), ‘substantial equivalence’, nutritive properties, toxicity and allergenicity. It is well known that conventional breeding can introduce increased levels of natural plant toxins into a new variety or can modify its digestibility or nutritiousness. Furthermore, certain organic crops have been shown to have higher levels of toxic substances, e.g potatoes.|GE introduces unpredictable toxic or allergenic effects into food plants (e.g. Brazil nut gene in transgenic soybeans). ‘Substantial equivalence’ is a political-commercial concept rather than a scientific one. GM plants are not genetically stable. For instance, the number of copies of an inserted gene changes through later generations of the GM plant. | This technology is completely new to the insurance industry. It is natural that insurers will be cautious about it. However, when they realize that the risks are no worse than with introduced ali en species that are dealt with by conventional methods of weed control, the problem of insurance will disappear. No amount of research under containment conditions will reveal how a GM plant will behave when grown en masse in the open field.|As the degree of escape of genes from GM crops is unpredictable, they can’t be recalled once they have escaped and they could multiply in the wild, some insurance underwriters have stated that such risks are uninsurable. There should be a moratorium on experiments in the open until the safety of the GM plant is fully tested under containment conditions. | Plant pathogens need not be used in making GM plants. The genes can be blasted into plant cells using a ‘gene gun’, which fire microparticles of metal coated with the DNA of interest.|Plant pathogens such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens (literally ‘cancer causing’) are used to shuttle genes into plants and viral gene sequences such as cauliflower mosaic virus promo ter are used to make the genes express themselves once in the plant. The pathogens could recombine with their natural equivalents in the plant thus risking unpredictable outbreaks of plant disease.| Bioprospecting has gone on since very ancient times. There is no reason why an organism, which just happens to be at a particular location of the globe, should be in the sole ownership of the people living there. Agreements can be entered into in order to protect the traditional usages of indigenous peoples.|Steals genetic commons from peasant farmers and indigenous peoples (biopiracy by the rich North, e.g. neem tree & basmati rice).| Biopolymers can be produced in GM plants allowing the manufacture of biodegradeable plastics (e.g. PHBV, Biopol), which are also sustainable because they are not made from fossil fuels. |No comment|