The Importance Of Water To Life On Earth Essays -

The Importance of Water to Life on Earth Water is the most important substance in our evolution and our daily lives. Without water, life as we know it would not have been possible. This essay will examine the water molecule in order to ascertain how it brought about Earth's thriving ecosystem and how important it is to us today. Each water molecule consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. The oxygen atom (or the apex of the water molecule) bears a slight electronegative charge while hydrogen possesses a more positive one1 (figure a). Because opposite charges attract, the water molecules are drawn together. When an oxygen atom is linked to a neighboring molecule's hydrogen atom, a bond called a hydrogen bond is formed2. In an ice crystal the hydrogen bonds govern the shape of the crystal so that the grid of molecules surrounds relatively large spaces (imagine figure b in three dimensions). In a liquid form, water has no such spaces; thus ice is less dense and will float on liquid water. If not for this, great bodies of water would freeze from the bottom up without the insulation of a top layer of ice and all life in the water would die. The water molecule is a very small one but because of its unique properties it behaves like a larger one. The bonds between water molecules are so strong that water resists changes in its state (Solid, liquid, gas); thus water has a higher melting point and a higher boiling point than another molecule of similar size. If water followed the example of other molecules its size it would have a boiling point of -75?C and a freezing point of -125?C4. This would mean that, on Earth, water would be a gas all of the time and life would not be possible. When heat is applied to solid water, some hydrogen bonds get so much kinetic energy that they break and the ice melts. Liquid water does not necessarily have all four hydrogen bonds present at all times but it must retain some of them5. For any object to penetrate water, it must be able to break the hydrogen bonds on the surface of the water. These bonds resist breaking thus forming a "skin" that allows small insects to walk on the surface of the water. Without the cohesiveness of water, those insects would not have survived. All plant life on Earth benefits from the ability of water to make a hydrogen bond with another substance of similar electronegative charge. Cellulose, the substance that makes up cell walls and paper products, is a hydrophilic substance ("water-loving")6. It interacts with water but, unlike other hydrophilic substances, it will not dissolve in it. Cellulose can form strong hydrogen bonds with water molecules7. This explains why a paper towel will "wick" water upwards when it comes in contact with it. Each water molecule will make a hydrogen bond with cellulose and pull another water molecule up from down below and so on. Without this feature (capillary action8), plants would find it more difficult to transport water up their stems to the leaves in order to make food through photosynthesis. Water has a very high heat capacity. Most of the heat introduced to water is used not to set water molecules in motion (giving them kinetic energy and causing their temperature to rise), but to move hydrogen atoms around between neighboring oxygen atoms9. If all of this heat was used solely to warm the water, living cells would boil in their own heat. Every action in a living cell releases some heat. If the heat was not dissipated by the water, all living things would cook themselves. In order for water to evaporate from the surface of liquid water, a certain amount of energy must be expended to break its hydrogen bonds. Because these hydrogen bonds are so strong, water requires a lot of heat to boil (100?C). When water vaporizes, it takes along all of the heat energy required to break its bonds thus having a powerful cooling effect on the original body of water 10. It takes very little water loss to cool water substantially. If humans had no way

A Besetting Sin

A Besetting Sin A Besetting Sin A Besetting Sin By Maeve Maddox A reader asks for a definition of besetting sin. What †¦ is a besetting sin? Are there different types of sin, or is sin an inclusive? What is sin anyway? Does it have anything to do with missing the bulls eye? Theologically speaking, sin is a transgression of divine law and an offense against God. For the nonbeliever, sin can be a violation of a moral principle, or merely a violation of some standard of taste or propriety. Hester and Dimmesdale committed a sin that did not intentionally hurt anyone but their own souls, Nicolas Sarkozy has committed the sin of voluntarism THE 1913 Natives Land Act is considered by many people to be SAs original political sin The verb of which besetting is the participle form means to surround with hostile intent; to set upon, attack, assault on all sides. For example, The fox was beset by hounds. St. Anthony was beset by demons. Believers are beset with sin. In the expression besetting sin, however, the word besetting seems to mean chief or principal. Judging from usage, a besetting sin is one to which a particular individual is particularly susceptible. A besetting sin is one to which on account of our constitution, or circumstance or both, we are peculiarly exposed, and into which we most easily and most frequently fall. In the life of every individual, there is a besetting sin that can tower like a mountain between the individual and God. Pastor John has a good word for those who battle the besetting sin of worry. Prodigality is nearly as much the besetting sin of youth as avarice is the besetting sin of age; Evelyn Waugh observed: Prince of Darkness is a magnificent study of sloth- a sin which has not attracted much attention of late and which, perhaps, is the besetting sin of the age. Tolerating intolerance is still this countrys besetting sin The expression besetting sin derives from a verse in the New Testament: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us†¦ Hebrews 12:1 KJV Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?Cannot or Can Not?7 Proofreading Steps

Legal Assignment for Architecture Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Legal Assignment for Architecture - Case Study Example A covenant is an agreement written under seal commonly used with reference to sales or leases of land. Covenants are privately negotiated and agreed not necessarily obligating both parties involved, but a promise to perform or give something to the other party. The legal document is part of the deed of ownership and represents a binding contract between two parties: the covenantor (the person bound to perform the promise or stipulation) and the covenantee (the person on whose favour it is made). In this instance, Robert is the covenantor, one doing the favour, and John is the covenantee, for whom the favour is intended. Favour at this instance is the retaining wall in Robert's property. Covenants are subdivided into numerous classes. Restrictive covenant is a covenant which restricts the use of land, which is binding not only upon the current owner, but also upon the future owners of the land. A covenant real runs with the land and descends to the heir and is also transferred to a purchaser. If the original owner of Robert's land covenanted to maintain the wall, then the nature of the covenant is a restrictive covenant. Robert is obliged by the restrictive covenant to maintain the retaining wall that already exists. Trying to get a covenant enforced is risky and can be expensive and time consuming. If a covenant is breached, John should check if enforcement is possible by going through the courts. He would need to prove if his rights are affected. If Robert fails to maintain the retaining wall on his property and risks to damage or cause detriment to John's property, John must show that the disrepair of the retaining wall amounts to liability on Robert's part. 2. Does John have a right of support from the wall What is the nature and effect of such a right John has a right of lateral support from the wall. Since John's property or soil had not been altered and it was in its natural state, thereby allowing for the right of lateral support. Lateral support is the right of a landowner expected from the neighbouring property against any slippage, cave-in, landslide, flood, etc. In the case of the two owners, in addition to separating lands, the retaining wall serves to retain the earth. Although John's land is at a much lower level than Robert's, he still has the right of lateral support since the right signifies maintaining the land in its natural position. Since Robert owns the retaining wall, it is his obligation to maintain the wall to prevent soil from slippage upon the adjoining property and that the damage or impending damage is due to the natural state of his property, at this instance, the growing roots of a tree in his property. This impending damage on another's natural state of property requires Robert to give due John's right of lateral support. In this instance where John's property is in danger of land slippage from Robert's property due to a caving or damaged retaining wall that has been covenanted by Robert, caused by the growing trees in Robert's property, John may seek lateral support. 3. Can the tree be chopped down if it is subject to a tree preservation order John needs to request from

Mini-Literature Review Evaluation assignment Research Paper

Mini-Literature Review Evaluation assignment - Research Paper Example The patients experienced physical discomfort and difficult behavior. The intervention employed to make the patients comfortable is STA OP! (Dutch version of the STI protocol) Compared to the control intervention. The design used is cluster randomized controlled trial in moderate or mild patients in nursing homes (Pieper et al., 2011). This study was conducted by several persons with end-stage dementia who were under the care of a hospice. The method used was randomized controlled palliative care trial with an objective of enhancing patient’s comfort. The intervention employed comprised of long-term enteral feeding, phlebotomy, systematic antibiotics and new feeding tubes. The research concluded that it was not possible to assess the degree of comfort and awareness of feeding through a tube (Ahronheim, Morrison, Morris, Baskin & Meier, 2000). This research was conducted to analyze the end-of-life care in patients with dementia. The method used was in a form of questionnaires that consisted of questions in regard to emotional and physical signs that hap ended in the last three months of the patient. The interventions utilized include (CAD-EOLD) comfort assessment of dying individual with dementia, psychological and physical signs (Volicer, Hurley & Blasi, 2001). The implementation of the serial trial intervention for pain and challenging behaviour in advanced dementia patients (STA OP!): A clustered randomized controlled trial. Retrieved February 10, 2015, from

Why the troop withdrawal timeline is not a good idea Essay Example for Free

Why the troop withdrawal timeline is not a good idea Essay The withdrawal of twenty to forty thousand U.S. troops from Iraq this fall would have a great impact on November elections that are just about to take place. A new Gallup poll just released showed that Bush’s approval rating reached a new low of thirty four percent and that on average his approval rating has been dropping one point a month over the past four years because of this timeline of troop withdrawal. This withdrawal would show progress in the war in Iraq and this will have a great impact in the coming elections on who should take charge to prevent the war. The republicans state that primary goal is to get as many Iraqi soldiers trained as possible so that they can fill in for departing U.S. troops before they can withdraw the U.S. troops from Iraq. The war in Iraq has been a political issue since House and Senate leaders voted on a resolution giving the president license to use force in Iraq just weeks before the 2002 midterm election. Republicans hammered Democrats who opposed the war, as well as their unwillingness to support relaxing labor rules for employees of a newly created Department of Homeland Security. There is a notion if Iraq can forge a truly legitimate state, there is a slight assumption by some that the Iraqis can never match US troops, that training an indigenous force is politically required but operationally suspect. History indicates that counter insurgency operations are more effective if undertaken by local forces and to the degree that the deployment of Iraqi forces reduces American casualties hence it can relieve American domestic political opposition to the war.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A US decision to withdraw troops under these conditions would leave an intensely corrupt, divided, dysfunctional and authoritarian regime that would affect Iraq immensely and this would be a loss of confidence to the Democrats on handling the war in Iraq. This would impact the people’s opinion on the coming election of voting for those who do not support the war on the Iraqi. The conventional criteria for the withdrawal of US troops thus come down to the capacity of US trained Iraqis to impose, enforce and maintain security. The U.S should ensure that the timeline of troop withdrawal comes when we have competent, skilled, equipped security-making and security-keeping Iraqi force that will be able to stop the war on Iraq.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 2006, the American people elected a Democratic Congress to change course and end this war. It’s the whole reason the American people voted for change. Yet, 10 months after the election, we still have the status quo and Congress has still failed to do the people’s will of stopping the war on Iraq. The Republicans add that a small withdrawal of the surge will not be enough to satisfy anti-war Americans to be able to vote for the Democrats but instead will progress the war. Sectarian violence could erupt on a scale never seen before in Iraq if coalition troops leave before Iraqs security forces are ready. Supporters of al Qaeda could develop an international hub of terror from which to threaten the West.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops would hurt Americas image and hand al Qaeda and other terror groups a propaganda victory that the United States could not be able to stop the war but withdraw its troop. This is a big blow to the democrats especially at this time of the elections drawing near. Sunni Muslim fighters who support al Qaeda would seek an enclave inside a lawless Iraq along sectarian lines into Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish regions hence a threat to terrorism to the Americans. The republicans want to prevent the central and western Iraq from becoming a Sunni militant state that threatens our interests directly as an international terror hub especially for the Americans. There is an increasing attempt by terrorists to establish a training sanctuary in Iraq when the U.S. troops are with drawn from Iraq because the Iraqi troops are not well train to deal with terrorist and hence require more time to be trained well. No one wants an abrupt withdrawal that produces a civil war, a bloodbath, nor a wider war in an unstable Mideast hence until Iraq troops can be able to govern their own states well without the U.S. troops. The politicians do not want a U.S that is perceived as having been badly defeated in the global war on terror or as an unreliable future ally or coalition partner thus they are all up against the withdrawal of the troops until they are confident that no more civil war can take place. This withdrawal timeline is dangerous especially for the political climate that has deep effect for the democrats to take back the position of power through elections. There is also a great anticipation of an increase of both the U.S troops’ left and Iraqi casualties if Iraq’s neighbors would be drawn into the all out civil war likely if U.S. forces left too quickly. Iran could move in to further strengthen its influence in southern Iraq, Turkey likely would move against the Kurds in the north and Saudi Arabia would be inclined to take action to protect Sunnis in western Iraq. There are also fears that an Iraq left without U.S. support could turn into a center for international terrorism and a proxy battlefield for regional powers like Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. All the surrounding countries will think their interests are much better maintained not by directly sending troops but by continuing to send money and weapons to the people fighting that war. I think it would cause a huge vacuum that the enemies of Iraq enemies of the government would take advantage because they U.S. will also withdraw all its support to Iraq.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The oil sector could also get hit hard, with Iran potentially mining the Persian Gulf and attempting to close the Straits of Hormuz thus putting a stranglehold on oil flow especially to the U.S. who also deeply depend on Iraq for oil. Thus this timeline to withdraw the troop could affect the U.S economy greatly because the oil flow could be greatly affected. Oil prices would go up perhaps changing from current prices of about $60 a barrel to more than $100 a barrel, with consequent rises at the gas pump. Saudi Arabia will not allow increasing Iranian dominance to endanger its regime and oil economy if Iran could strengthen its influence in southern Iraq. The Politicians should use US policy to combat, contain, and roll back the violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq of the Government of Iran.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another issues that could be dangerous for U.S interest to withdraw its troop at this time is that the U.S. have spent so much with the deployment of its troop to Iraq and the reconstruction of Iraq after the war. Withdrawing its troop now could be seen as a loss especially to the U.S. economy because they have spent so much money through their troops and in the rebuilding of Iraqi state. If the troops are withdrawn now and the country goes back to war then the U.S would have lost so much resource that they have invested to bring down the Saddam regime to far worse regime. This would be a big blow politically to President Bush for having to fail and the U.S. having lost 264 troops as the highest number of fatalities or military casualties ever in that period and more than double the number of Americans killed in Iraq in summer of 2004 on war. The American will not allow the democrats to take charge and will not vote them in the coming elections. Losing in this war would also mean loss for the Americans and for the Interest of the U.S. government. The other states or nations would also see this as a big blow especially for U.S having to start the war, bringing the Saddam regime down but having to no effort to reconstruct Iraq being a Super power nation. The families who lost their men in the army will also be affected having sacrificed their member and the government not having to accomplish their task of restoring peace but withdrawing their troops where their men dedicated their strength. Lastly this timeline withdrawal is also greatly opposed as politicians also state that the Iraq troops should also be left to form their own government and defend their nation as early as possible because they have been trained and the U.S troops will have to leave at some point. The U.S troops are also blamed to cause this civil war and if withdraw immediately peace will prevail and Iraq government will have to take control and rebuild their nation. This timeline seems dangerous for this political climate due for election hence the troops should not be withdrawn until the Iraqi troop can be able to take full charge of their government. Reference David E Michael R. (2007): Chaos Overran Iraq Plan in 2006, New York Times. Daniel B. and Kenneth P. (2006):- Explosive Affinities. Cross-Border Consequences of Civil Strife, Berlin Journal. Dahl, R. (1998): On Democracy: New Haven: Yale University Press. McKay, D. (1997):- American Politics and Society: Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers. Tocqueville, A. Alfred A (1999): Democracy in America: New York Publishers.

Similarities Of Characters In Lord Of The Flies And Farenhite 451 :: Comparative Literature

In Fahrenheit 451 and Lord of the Flies, the characters are alike in some ways. In Fahrenheit 451 the characters are Montag, Faber, Clarisse, and Beatty. In Lord of the Flies the characters are Ralph, Piggy, Simon and Jack. Jack and Beatty, Ralph and Montag, Simon and Clarisse, and Piggy and Faber all have some similarities. Jack and beatty both want to take control over everyone and sells fear. Ralph and Montag want to move on and find a better plan to make everything work. Simon and Clarisse are Christ-figures. Piggy and Faber are very intellectual and are wise men. The books may contain different story lines but have very similar types of characters. In Fahrenheit 451 the main characters are Montag, Faber, Clarisse, and Beatty. Montag is someone who knows what he wants and what he wants is change. He is a fireman who suddenly realizes the emptiness of his life and starts to search for meaning in the books he is supposed to be burning. Though he is sometimes rash and has a hard time thinking for himself, he is determined to break free from the oppression of ignorance. He quickly forms unusually strong attachments with anyone who seems receptive to true friendship. At first, Montag believes that he is happy. He thinks this because of the question that Clarisse asks him. When he views himself in the firehouse mirror after a night of burning, he grins "the fierce grin of all men singed and driven back by flame." His biggest regret in life is not having a better relationship with his wife. Faber is a very wise and intellectual man. He readily admits that the current state of society is due to the cowardice of people like himsel f, who would not speak out against book burning when they still could have stopped it. He berates himself for being a coward, but he shows himself capable of acts that require great courage and place him in considerable danger. Clarisse seems to always be of in her own world. She was a beautiful seventeen-year-old who introduces Montag to the world's potential for beauty and meaning with her gentle innocence and curiosity. She is an outcast from society because of her odd habits, which include hiking, playing with flowers, and asking questions. She asks questions such as, "Are you happy?

Journal Entry – A Clockwork Orange

Journal Entry #3 – A Clockwork Orange Burgess' novel, A Clockwork Orange, carries many themes prevalent to the time- period of the novel's release. In a futuristic city governed by a repressive totalitarian super-state, humans have become machines or lower animals. The main protagonist of the story, Alex, asserts his free will by deciding to live a life of debauchery and violence before being robbed of his free-will by the government. When A Clockwork Orange was written the war against Communism was at its peak.With many countries such as Russia and Cuba spreading communism to different parts of the orld, the fear of depriving an individual's free-will in light of the public was set in with the United States and its ally forces. Free-will then despite its predication that individuals such as Alex can make the choice of being wicked can also make the choice as a moral agent to do well. Without those choices the human-act of kindness/ good becomes nothing more than a shallow beh avior. In the beginning of the novel, Alex merely appears to be a mindless brute, with his thoughts and behaviors geared strictly towards violent behavior.It is not until he returns home and his post- orrectional officer, Deltoid, enters into his apartment and confronts Alex on his behavior that his views on free-will are made clear; after Deltoid leaves, Alex dismissed Deltoid's apprehension, and states that a government that does not allow its citizens to act badly is a power of authority that robs people of their free-will. Subsequent Alex's attempt to rob an older ladys home, Alex enters the Stala State Jail where he is sentenced fourteen years in prison. It is there that Alex begins the process of being robbed of his free-will. He is stripped of his clothes and his name.He is given a prison Jump-suit and a number, 6655321. However, despite Alex's confinement, he is still allowed to partake in his one enjoyment, Classical Music. The prison Chaplain who took an interest into Alex allowed him to read the Bible while listening to Classical Music. During his confinement Alex participates in a program known as Reclamation Treatment. Being successfully selected for use of the program, Alex goes through behavioral reconditioning and loses his will for violence and his love for Classical Music. Becoming a baseless human being, re-programmed by the government, Alex has lost his free-will and humanity.It is not until the end of the novel that Alex's free-will is restored through the reversal of the reconditioning that was done to him. When Alex met Peetie again at a coffee shop and his wife, he realizes how much Peetie had grown and recants his own views on violence and classical music even. This leads to Alex thinking of his future and the following generation through the scope of his future-son and realizes free-will is the catalyst to human-nature†uncontrolled and responsible for its own mistakes. It is at this point Alex truly becomes a complete human bein g. Journal Entry – A Clockwork Orange By pkmaximum