Compare and Contrast The Crips and the Neo-Nazis Essay Example

Compare and Contrast: The Crips and the Neo-Nazis Essay All gangs and mafias have their own initiation rituals and modes of operations. The same is true of the two different gang cultures being studied here – the Crips and the neo-Nazis. In the autobiographical account of Monster – one of the leaders of the gang – we learn about the initiation rites, organizational structure, modus operandi, economic targets, treatment of rivalries, etc. The Crips is a predominantly black gang that hogged headlines during the post-war decades of the 1950s and 60s. In some ways the Crips represented a militant underground movement parallel to that of the Black Nationalist movement. While the Crips adopted some of the violent methods of the movement headed by Malcolm-X, it is not political in nature. So, despite its racial affiliation, the means and ends of the gang are largely anti-social. Likewise, in the film American History X, we are exposed to a dark underground cult of American society. Commonly referred to as ‘skin-headsâ €™, the Neo-Nazis are the remnants of Hitler’s vicious Aryan supremacy movement. (Musto, 2001, p.41) It is interesting how the neo-Nazi movement came into being in America, which was totally isolated from Nazi propaganda during the Second World War. In many ways, both the Crips and the Neo-Nazis are similar in their ruthlessness. They are both identified by the lack of scruples when it comes to targeting, assaulting and eliminating perceived opposition. Blood and violence are an everyday reality for these groups. In fact the moniker ‘Monster’ was the result of Shakur’s brutal, unrelenting assault on an opponent in a street clash. The victim was punched on the face with such ferocity and repetition that his face was permanently disfigured and he went into a coma. The Neo-Nazis are not far behind in terms of readiness for violence and brutality. (Dichiara Chabot, 2003, p.23) We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: The Crips and the Neo-Nazis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: The Crips and the Neo-Nazis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: The Crips and the Neo-Nazis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer One area where the Neo-Nazis differ from Crips is the organization size and structure. Crips is a gang with limited members and their localities of operation are also restricted. The Neo-Nazis, on the other hand, are a widespread and ideological sub-culture. Even if their organization is not granted legitimacy by civil society, there is some form of hierarchy and structure. There are protocols to be followed and cult tenets to be adhered to. While one can debate about the veracity of their claims and the relevance of their motives, there is no lack of seriousness. The Neo-Nazis take pride in sacrificing for their cause and do not hesitate to endanger their lives for the same. The Crips, on the other hand, are not as strongly held by ideology or a shared set of beliefs. The prime mover of the gang is power-lust and quick monetary gain. As a result, defections and treasons are common place, leading to internal fissures within the gang. There is also a difference in the economic sustena nce of Neo-Nazi organizations and the Crips. The latter is an economy onto itself. In fact the lure of making a quick buck is what motivates many individuals from the lower rung of society to join such gangs. (Hagedorn, 2008, p.86) Loyalty is a fundamental quality for all members. If a Crips member switches over to the arch-rival gang of the Bloods or the Rolling 60s or the ETG, they are bound to suffer retaliation. Indeed traitors and betrayers are dealt with severely, in most cases leading to fatalities. Revenge and honor killings are a feature of both these set-ups. In fact every act of aggression is projected as revenge or avenging ‘honor’. Misogyny is a common theme in both the groups, though it is somewhat pronounced in Crips. Women are treated shabbily and masculinity is expressed through violence towards them. Neo-Nazis are not much better in this respect. (Dichiara Chabot, 2003, p.29) One aspect where the two groups are in sharp contrast is in the targets of their racial prejudice. The Neo-Nazis are a white supremacist group, whose ideology includes elements of militant nationalism, xenophobia, homophobia and anti-Semitism. They are identified by their tonsured heads and call themselves the Fourth Reich – following up from Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Despite such a regressive socio-political agenda, the organization manages to thrive in several countries across the world. The Crips, on the other hand is a small entity confined to a metropolitan quarter. Even in terms of their politics, the neo-Nazis are at the far right of the political spectrum. The Crips, though not actively political can be located on the left. (Musto, 2001, p.49) In the two documents perused for this essay we see how the characters of Kody and Derek epitomize what it means to be a Crip or a neo-Nazi. Their lives were very precarious, dramatic and eventful. Often pushing or breaking the limits of law, their indulgences, follies and indiscretions were theatrical and morally dubious at once. Their personal stories, however engaging and thrilling they may be for the audience, cannot be set as example for children. In many ways, they both represented the darkest facets of their respective organizations. Their biographies share the theme of how not to ruin one’s life. Hence, what we have learnt through the study of Crips and Neo-Nazis is how volatile underground culture can be. The members of these groups lived each day as if it could be their last. While they make good material for adventure novels, their impact on real society is decidedly negative. But one cannot apportion blame on individuals who gravitate toward these groups, for it is victims of social injustice who end up joining these groups. Hence social policy makers, instead of taking a retributive attitude toward the social menace, will have to look at prevention and timely intervention. A constructive idea is to identify high risk children in schools and given proper guidance and support. References: American History X, Produced by John Morrissey, Distributed by New Line Cinema in 1998. Sanyika Shakur, Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member, published by Grove Atlantic Books in 1993 Hagedorn, John M. (2008), A World of Gangs: Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States:University of Minnesota Press Musto, David F. (2001). â€Å"Opium, Cocaine and Marijuana in American History†. Scientific American 265 (1): 40–47. Dichiara, A. And Chabot, R. (2003) ‘Gangs and the Contemporary Urban Struggle: An Unappreciated Aspect of Gangs’, in Gangs and Society: Alternative Perspectives. New York: Columbia University Press.

Friendship College Essay

Friendship College Essay Free Online Research Papers What is a home? A home to me is a place where you are comfortable and safe. My safe place is with my friends, away from my house. No one can harm me when I am with them, because they are the ones who care about me most and are by my side no matter what. When I am at other people’s homes, I feel more comfortable, than I do at my own. My mom and my dad split up when I was 18 months old, and I lived with my mom but still got to see my dad every other weekend. Before I was three, I moved from New Milford to Danbury six times. My mom had moved in with her boyfriend, so she left me at my grandmother’s house for almost three months before she finally came back to get me. Even though I was so young at the time, I still feel like she did not want me around, and that pain still gets to me now. I have problems trusting my mom now because she lets all the guys, who are in her life, control what my younger brother and I do; she is our mother and those guys are only her boyfriends. She is the one who is supposed to tell us what to do and care more about us more than them. When I am with my friends, I feel like they care so much about what happens to me and what I do. They always help me with my problems when I need them the most. I trust them because they keep my secrets and are not so quick to judge me because of my mistakes. We can have our fun times and make the worst moments the best moments. I feel like I can be myself when I am with them and they can be themselves around me. When I’m at my friends house, their parents treat me nicely and I just get this feeling that makes me feel safer there. I never thought I could really find a person who really got me and truly understood me, until the beginning of my junior year when I met my friend Marshanti. She is one of my craziest friends, but also one of my most caring friends. When I’m with her, there is nothing stopping us, it’s us against the world. This one time Marshanti and I had gone to Big Y to get some â€Å"munchies† for the night, and the whole time we spent it laughing like crazy and bumping into shelves causing mischief. When my boyfriend and I had broken up, she was the one who talked to me and wanted to know everything that happened and see if I was alright. She never took sides and she never said that either of us were wrong, which was exactly what I needed to hear. It hurts me sometimes when I think that I am a better person now because of my friends and not my parents. I learned a lot from my friends and that’s why I consider them a family to me. One day I will have a better life and it will never be how mine is now. I have grown stronger since I became friends with these people that I care so much about. Some days I wish I did not have the past I had and that the people in it did not exist. Then I think to myself, would I still be the person I am today if it were not for that past and for those people? Would I still be friends with these people if I did not have that past? My home is where my friends are and it will always be that way, that is the best thing I could ever ask for. Research Papers on Friendship College EssayTrailblazing by Eric AndersonPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsCapital PunishmentHip-Hop is ArtComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Fifth HorsemanThe Spring and AutumnArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)

Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 34

Personal Statement Example Furthermore, during my years in high school, I passed very well in my major subjects and more specifically, anything related to the philosophy of law. On the contrary, I would watch television programmes that were based on the application of law and how the courts of law work. Additionally, I spent a couple of two days a week in my father’s friend’s office who is a solicitor to learn more about law. This was very advantageous to me because I was granted chances to attend magistrate’s courts on numerous occasion. Therefore, apart from my academic prosperity, I believe I am the best candidate to pursue law because I have field experience of the application of the same. In high school, I was the class representative and highly participated in co-curricular activities such as games and sports. I was a basketball player and I enjoyed every bit of the game. During practice sessions, I was given a mandate of being a referee by our school coach because I was quick to administer judgement very fairly. My critical thinking techniques and conflict resolution skills enabled me to be given such responsibilities. I also helped my former classmates to study and improve their GPA in the subjects they were weak at because I saw it as my duty to help them overcome their obstacles. On the other hand, my oral skills are outstanding because I participated in drama and acting, which enabled me to construct accurate and fluent sentences. I was also good at written text and thus my high school career was marvellous. My dream career is being a judge. It is my sincere prayer and hope that given an opportunity to undertake a course in law at the university will mold me into achieving my dreams. I am sure that given the correct guidance and hard work will see me through to achieving all my future plans because I am very gifted at law. It is my belief that my calling was in pursue of law and a great

Understanding cultural and ethnic identity of United States Essay

Understanding cultural and ethnic identity of United States - Essay Example Culture is people's way of life. It denotes what a people value and abides to as normal. It is that complex whole of a people's collective experience in life. It includes religion, political, economical, ethics, social and aesthetic. 'It is the sentiments of belonging or connection to ones larger culture as in case with U.S minority ethnic groups mixing their ethnic oriented values with some of the larger US cultural values' (p94). A people's culture can have strong or weak cultural salience.Cultural identity is something larger than ethnic identity; it relates the culture of one group in relation to the culture of another group especially when one group is dominant. Strong cultural salience reflects weak cultural identity and the opposite applies.Ting-Toomey defines ethnicity as an inheritance where members of a particular group perceive each other as emotionally bounded by a common set of traditional, worldviews, history, and heritage. (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005).It is difficulty t o trace ones ethnic origin especially where one is from parents of multiple ethnic backgrounds. This can go back to great grandparents who had mixed ethnic heritage. Group membership among communities defines social identity along the ethnic cultural boundaries( Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005).The issue of ethnic and cultural identity has been a dominant and salient issue of many minority ethnic groups for along time... This dictated the way and how far they could practice their ethnicity and culture. Their cultures and ethnicity became threaten by this dominant culture and therefore minority community became more ethnic and cultural aware of their origin as people '...from somewhere... ' (p94) In order to understand the significance of an individual's ethnicity, it is imperative to understand the ethnic value content and ethnic salience of that person's ethnic identity salience in particular. A closer look at different ethnic backgrounds of American people, we can identify a European or a Latin, Asian and Native American by looking at the salient aspect of individualism and collectiveness. A European will tend to exhibit individualist tendencies whereas Asian, Latino and Native American will have in-group orientation thus collectiveness. Strange enough African -American will tend to blend both collectivism and individualism for the purpose of survival and adaptation. (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005). The adaptability process of minority groups in America can be analyzed along a number of factors on the ground. First the social economic situations of the host culture: America is mythically known as 'land of great opportunities'. Therefore, immigrants were welcomed by the host culture, as there were a lot to share since the economy was doing well. This could not be the case where the host culture is experiencing economical hardship. The host would become hostile to the immigrant and this means very difficult for the newcomers to settle and adapt to new cultural environment ( Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005). In addition, consciously or unconsciously, the host culture may have a preconceived definition of the immigrant as part of their bigger human family or aliens or visitors. This

Analysis of the sculpture of Leander by William Henry Rinehart Essay

Analysis of the sculpture of Leander by William Henry Rinehart - Essay Example His facial expression is peaceful but, at the same time, thoughtful and distracted. His head is not raised and, consequently, he does not look directly at the observer but gazes into the horizon. The purity, grace and proportion of the figure are greatly enhanced by the quality and color of the medium chosen to execute it: pure white marble. For the spectator, the main reaction after observation of the sculpture is probably one of awe and admiration for the technical skills and artistic proficiency of the author, who manages to capture with great expertise the perfection of the male human body. The work of art of choice is exquisite, a piece of extraordinary beauty. Looking at this sculpture immediately brings to mind the famous sculpture of David by Michelangelo, one of the best known works of art of the Renaissance, which Rinehart knew from his stay in Florence between 1855 and 1857. Rinehart, like Michelangelo with David, in his representation of Leander has provided the observer with a great illustration of the perfect male human form. One of the greatest differences between David and Leander makes itself evident when one looks at the two heroes in the face: while David shows fear, tension and aggression in his facial expression, Leander looks relaxed, pensive and meditative. The tension in David's face is believed to be due to the fact that he was about to confront Goliath in battle. Additionally, Leander's proportions are more realistic than David's, who exhibited an upper body and head that appeared slightly out of proportion. This is due to the fact that the sculpture, due to its monumental proportions, was designed to be admired from u nderneath. Leander is also less muscular and thus more realistic than David. Both heroes show a very similar posture. The body is lightly rested over one leg, the other is slightly flexed, which helps give the impression of movement or action. Rinehart repositioned Leander's left leg with respect David's, achieving a more open stance. With respect to their hands, David is holding a stone that he is about to throw, while Leander keeps a delicate hold of the cloth that covers his nudity. Leander, shown at the edge of the shore, is actually in the act of undressing himself ready to get in the water that can be seen at his feet. 3. Interpretation The sculpture of Leander is one of a pair that was produced to illustrate a tragic love story of the Greek mythology. Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, and Leander were lovers residing in opposite sides of the Hellespont. Each evening Leander would swim across the strait in order to meet with his beloved Hero. Tragedy struck one stormy night, when the lighthouse he used as a guide failed and, as a consequence, he got lost and drowned. Overcome with grief, Hero decided to meet the same fate as her lover and threw herself into the sea [Greek Mythology Link]. Rinehart's work shows, on one shore, Leander undressing in preparation for his evening swim and, on the other shore, Hero in anxious wait for her lover with the guiding lamp right beside her. The waves that can be observed at the bases of both sculptures represent the waters of the strait [The Magazine Antiques]. It is worth noting that,

Nocardia Isolation by Paraffin Baiting Technique

Nocardia Isolation by Paraffin Baiting Technique Nocardia isolation from clinical samples with paraffin baiting technique Abstract Background: The genus Nocardia is cause infection in lung, skin, brain, cerebrospinal, eyes, joints and kidneys. This bacterium is slow-growing and it is difficult to isolate of polymicrobial specimens. Several methods have been reported for Nocardia isolation from clinical samples. In current study, we used of three methods such as paraffin baiting technique, paraffin agar, and conventional media for Nocardia isolation of various clinical specimens from Iranian patients. Methods: In this study, we collected five hundred and seventeen from various clinical specimens including sputum of patients with suspected tuberculosis, bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum of patients withcystic fibrosis, trachea, cutaneous and subcutaneous abscess, cerebrospinal fluid, dental abscess, mycetoma, wound, bone marrow biopsy, and gastric lavage. Smears of all clinical specimens were investigated with Gram stain, partially acid fast and kinyoun stain. All collected specimens were cultured on to carbon free broth tube (paraffin baiting technique), paraffin agar, sabouraud dextrose agar, sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and incubated at 35 °C. Results: In direct microscopy, partially acid fast and Gram staining were seen positive for five and three clinical specimens respectively and the kinyoun stain were negative for all isolates. Seven isolates of clinical specimens were isolated with paraffin baiting technique. In our study, paraffin baiting technique is more effective than conventional media and paraffin agar for Nocardia isolation. Conclusions: In the present study, shown that use of paraffin baiting technique is more effective of other methods for Nocardia isolation of various clinical specimens. Key words: Nocardia, Paraffin baiting technique, Paraffin agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar Introduction Nocardia spp. are group aerobic actinomycetes, gram positive rods, partially acid fast, non-motile, filamentous branches, catalase positive and methenamine silver-positive [1-3]. The genus Nocardia is opportunistic pathogens [2] that are found around the natural environments. This bacterium is not part of normal microbialflora in human body and animals [1, 4, 5] as well as, there is no report of person to person transmission [5]. This microorganism first introduced by Edmond in 1888 [1, 6]. Nocardia species are cause serious infections in different parts of the body especially lung and skin [6]. Nocardial infections acquired via inhalation of aerosolsor skin damage [7]. In recent years, nocardiosis increased in immune disorder diseases such as Pemphigus disorder, Behà §et’s disease, malignancy, organ transplantation [8-10]. Todate, isolation and identification of Nocardia is improved from clinical specimens [11, 12]. Clinical diagnosis in nocardiosis is controversial and clin ical signs are not specific for this bacterium. Standard tool in Nocardia infections identification are including: isolation and pure culture, Gram stain and partially acid-fast [12, 13]. Nocardia species are slow growing bacteria and isolation this bacterium of polymicrobial specimens is difficult in clinical microbiology laboratory [14]. Decontamination of pulmonary specimens such as sputum is toxic for the genus Nocardia. Paraffin baiting technique was reported for Nocardia and mycobacteria isolation of soil [15]. Paraffin baiting technique was reported that is successfully for Nocardia isolation of various clinical specimens especially poly microbial specimens such as sputum [3,14, 16]. The aim of this study is unique for two reasons: The first aim of this study were comparison of paraffin baiting technique with other methods such as conventional media including sabouraud dextrose agar, sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and paraffin agar to isolate Nocardia from various clinical specimens such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), sputum of patients with suspected tuberculosis, sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis, cutaneous abscess, cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), dental abscess, mycetoma, trachea, wound, bone marrow biopsy and gastric lavage. The second aim was to estimate the prevalence of Nocardia infection in Iranian patients. There are few numbers of case reports of Nocardia infection and there is no comprehensive database of nocardiosis, therefore, it is essential to better assess the prevalence of this bacteria. Methods Sample collection Five hundred and seventeen various clinical specimens such as sputum of patients with suspected tuberculosis, sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis, BAL, cutaneous and subcutaneous abscess, CSF, dental abscess, mycetoma, wound, bone marrow biopsy, gastric lavage and trachea were collected between February 28, 2011 through March 8, 2013 (Table 1). Direct microscopy All clinical specimens were examined with direct microscopy. The first, clinical specimens were homogenized and were centrifuged in 10000 rpm for 10 minutes and the supernatant was discarded. The smears were prepared from the sediments and were stained with Gram stain, partially acid fast and Kinyoun stain. Culture on different media Sediment of specimens were inoculated on sabouraud dextrose agar (Merck- Germany), sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide(cycloheximide-Sigma-Aldrich-USA), paraffin agar (KH2PO4, K2HPO4, NH4Cl, NH4NO3, MgSO4 .7H20, ZnSO4, FeSO4, MnSO4, Bacto- Agar and Distilled water) and McClungs carbon-free broth tube (MgSO4 7H2O: 0.5 g, ZnSO4: 2 mg, FeCl3: 10 mg, MnCl2. 4H2O: 8 mg, K2HPO4: 0.8 g, NaNO3: 2 g, Distilled water: 1lit, pH 7.2) with paraffin coated glass rod placed. Tubes were incubated at 35 °C for one month with daily controlled [14, 17]. Results Examination of stained smears in direct microscopic, were detected three specimens with Gram staining and five specimens with partially acid fast staining and all smears were negative for Kinyoun stain. In McClungs carbon-free broth, colonies similar cream to white-colored appearing on the paraffin-coated glass rod (Figure 1). Colonies similar to the genus Nocardia were cultured on nutrient agar and were purified (Figure 2). Colonies were stained with Gram positive and partially acid fast and were negative for Kinyoun stain. All clinical isolates were grown in lysozyme broth medium. Seven specimens were positive for the genus Nocardia (1.3%) with paraffin baiting technique as compared with sabouraud dextrose agar and sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and paraffin agar (Table 1). In comparative to various media, paraffin baiting technique was better in the isolation Nocardia, so this technique is effective and specific for Nocardia isolation of various clinical specimens espe cially poly microbial samples (Table 1). Prevalence of nocardiosis in sputum (238 specimens), BAL (143 specimens) and cutaneous abscess (45 specimens) were 1.6%, 1.3%, 2.2%, respectively. In our study, we isolated one Nocardia spp. from cutaneous abscess of patient with Pemphigus disorder. Discussion In scientific resource, recommended the use of paraffin baiting technique for isolation Nocardia from polymicrobial flora such as sputum [18]. Nocardia spp. utilized of paraffin wax as the sole carbon source [15, 19]. It has been reported different medium containing antibiotic for isolation this organism such as chloramphenicol with sabouraud dextrose agar. Some species of the genus Nocardia are susceptible to chloramphenicol [16]. A wide range of nocardiosis occurs in Immunocompromised and immunosuppressive patients [8-10]. Mycobacterium tuberculosis mimicking pulmonary nocardiosis so isolation and identification Nocardia is very important because treatment in two organisms is difficult. In a study by Mishra and colleagues in 1969, they investigated 555 clinical specimens such as sputum, BAL and Gastric lavage and were positive respectively 10, 1 and 1 about Nocardia spp. [19]. Singh et al surveyed 1510 sputum specimens and results showed paraffin baiting method has higher efficacy of sabouraud dextrose agar [17]. Another study by Venugopal et al were examined 350 sputum, BAL, pleural fluid, pus , biopsy specimens and isolated 15 strains of Nocardia [20]. A study in 2001 from Iran, Eshraghi et al surveyed 142 sputum specimens and was positive 1 isolate (0.7%) but in our study was positive 4 isolates (1.3%) of 291 sputum of patients with suspected tuberculosis. The results show that Nocardia infection is increasing in Iranian patients. The reports showed paraffin baiting technique is more selective and effective than usual medium and paraffin agar. Conclusions We recommended that the be used of paraffin baiting technique for Nocardia isolation in clinical laboratories. due to aging and autoimmune or immune disorders in Iranian patients, isolation Nocardia spp is very necessary for treatment. Acknowledgments This study was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Deputy of Research. References 1.Eshraghi SS Molecular typing of Nocardia species. J Med Bacteriol 2012; 1(1): 38-45. 2.Budzik JM, Hosseini M, Mackinnon AC Jr, et al. Disseminated Nocardia farcinica: literature review and fatal outcome in an immunocompetent patient. Surg. Infect 2012; 13(3): 163-170. 3.Hollick GE. Nocardiosis. clinical microbiology newsletter 1988; 10(14): 105-109. 4.Eshraghi S, Amin M. Nocardia asteroides complex in patient with symptomatic pulmonary nocardiosis in a patient with bronchiectasis. Iran J Public Health 2001(3-4); 30: 99-102. 5.Stevens DA, Pier AC, Beaman BL, et al. Laboratory evaluation of an outbreak of nocardiosis in immunocompromised hosts. Am J Med 1981; 71(6): 928-934. 6.Brown-Elliott BA, Brown JM, Conville PS, et al. Clinical and laboratory features of the Nocardia spp. based on current molecular taxonomy. Clin Microbiol Rev 2006; 19(2): 259-282. 7.Patel MP, Kute VB, Gumber MR, , et al. Successful treatment of Nocardia pneumonia with cytomegalovirus retinitis coinfection in a renal transplant recipient. Int Urol Nephrol 2012; 45: 581-5. 8.Poonwan N, Kusum M, Mikami Y, , et al. Pathogenic Nocardia isolated from clinical specimens including those of AIDS patients in Thailand. Eur J Epidemiol 1995; 11(5): 507-512. 9.Srifuengfung S, Poonwan N, Tribuddharat C, et al. Prevalence of Nocardia species isolated from patients with respiratory tract infections at siriraj hospital, Thailand. J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents 2007; 24: 1-6. 10.Sahathevan M, Harvey FA, Forbes G, et al. Epidemiology, bacteriology and control of an outbreak of Nocardia asteroides infection on a liver unit. J Hosp 1991; 18: 473-480. 11.Das D. Actinomycosis in fine needle aspiration cytology. Cytopathology 1994;5(4): 243-250. 12.Wada R., Itabashi C, Nakayama Y, et al. Chronic granulomatous pleuritis caused by Nocardia: PCR based diagnosis by nocardial 16S rDNA in pathological specimens. J Clin Pathol 2003; 56(12): 966-969. 13.Gupta N, Srinivasan R, Kumar R, et al. Two cases of nocardiosis diagnosed by fineà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ needle aspiration cytology: Role of special stains. Diagn Cytopathol 2011; 39(5): 363-364. 14.Shawar RM, Moore DG, LaRocco MT. Cultivation of Nocardia spp. on chemically defined media for selective recovery of isolates from clinical specimens. J Clin Microbio l 1990; 28(3): 508-512. 15.Narang P, Dey S, Mendiratta D. Paraffin slide culture technique for Baiting Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria. Indian. J. Tuberc 2000; 47(4): 219-222. 16.Garrett M, Holmes H, Nolte F. Selective buffered charcoal-yeast extract medium for isolation of Nocardiae from mixed cultures. J Clin Microbiol 1992; 30(7): 1891-1892. 17.Singh M, Sandhu RS, Randhawa HS. Comparison of paraffin baiting and conventional culture techniques for isolation of Nocardia asteroides from sputum. J Clin Microbiol 1987; 25(1): 176-177. 18.  Yu C T, Chua JA. Nocardiosis. PJMID 2001; 30: 56-61. 19.Mishra S, Randhawa H. Application of paraffin bait technique to the isolation of Nocardia asteroides from clinical specimens. Appl Microbiol 1969; 18(4): 686-687. 20.Venugopal PV, Taralakshmi VV, Subramanian S, , et al. Nocardia species from bronchopulmonary infections and mycetomas. Sabouraudia 1980; 18(1): 11-18. Figure 1. Isolation and growth Nocardia on paraffin coated glass rod Figure 2. Nocardia grown on nutrient agar medium 1

Natural Gas and Its use as a Alternative Fuel Compared to Gasoline Ess

Natural Gas and Its use as a Alternative Fuel Compared to Gasoline Have you ever confused the terms â€Å"Natural Gas† and â€Å"Gasoline†? Well don’t, because they are two very different types of gases. Natural gas and Gasoline are considered fossil fuels to most scientists because it is believed they were formed from the remains of sea animals and plants that died 200-400 million years ago. These sea animals were then covered by layers of sediment and rock over time which caused them to become buried deeper and deeper, until enormous amounts of pressure and heat turned them into oil and gas. Raw natural gas is a mixture of different gasses and the main ingredient is methane, a natural compound that is formed whenever plant and animal matter decays. On the other hand, gasoline is made from crude oil, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons (compounds containing hydrogen and carbons). Gasoline is most commonly known as the gas that you use in your car to help your engine run. In a car's engine, oxygen is mixed with a fine mist of gasoline which is ignited by a spark, causing the combustion reaction to take place. This all takes place within a cylinder of your car. When the fuel/air mixture "explodes" (or combusts) in the cylinder, the expansion of gases from the mini-explosion pushes a piston; this movement is what ultimately makes your wheels move. A greenhouse gas is then emitted, called carbon dioxide- which contributes to global warming. (â€Å"How does car pollution affect the ozone layer and Environment?† King, Jennifer SFGate n.d. Web.) An alternative fuel such as natural gas has been considered by many scientists as a much more environmentally friendly gas on the environment that could run automob... ...uld be the right way to go due to its cleanliness and cost. Natural gas burns clean due to its naturalness. According the NGVAmerica, Natural gas costs about $1.50- $2.50 per gallon of gas. This type of change in gas would kill two birds with one stone, bye reducing prices for the people’s benefits and reduce greenhouse pollution, for the environment’s benefit. Works Cited . (â€Å" How natural gas Vehicles Work†.How stuffworks.n.d) (www.NEED.org 2011). . (www.NEED.org 2011) . (â€Å"What Is Hydraulic Fracturing?† Propublica.org.) (â€Å"How does car pollution affect the ozone layer and Environment?† King, Jennifer SFGate n.d. Web.) (Preston, Benjamin â€Å"I Feel Gassy† 5.8.12) Picture 1 – â€Å"Seismic Graphing Natural Gas & Tech†. NaturalGas.org) Picture 2- (â€Å" Natural gas & Tech.† Natural gas.org) Picture 3 – )â€Å"Comparing Natural Gas Vs. Other Fuels.†.Wb Web.) Socal gas.nd

The principle source of income for the state of New York

The principle source of income for the state of New York for 1998 is taxes. The priciple expenses of the stste of New York for 1998 are: Education is an expendature that should be increased. If education was increased children would get better jobs and better jobs pay more money which produces more taxes, taxes pay for better schools. More community centers with sports facilities should be created to get kids off the streets. Kids would have a place to go to have fun plus it would make alot of money all schools should be pdated with new computers to prepare students for entering the business community. The state should propose to start a partnership with computer companies and the board of education of education in purchasing the computers. The private companies would benefit from this because the more computers used the more computer orientated customers are created. A way to pay for expenditures is by cutting out the â€Å"pork barrel† pet projects by the legislatures. If the budget just passed there were 350 million â€Å"pork barrel† projects requested by the legislatures. If the government cut that in half it would pay for the increases I suggested. Conservative groups that believe the goverment play too much of a role in their lives of the voters would not be in favor of my proposals. In recent years there have been increasing numbers of strikes by public employees like teachers, transit, sanitation, and municipal workers. In many instances these acts were in violation of existing laws which prohibited such One reason why many states and federal government prohibited strikes is because of public safety. If the fire department was to strike lives would be at stake. Neighborhoods would would be burned down. Police shouldn't strike because crime would rise , traffic enforcement people wouldn't pay attention to light and possible riots. If sanitation had a strike it would cause a health hazard. The second reason is for business purposes and commerce. If the transit were to strike people wouldn't be able to go to and back to work. The banks handle the money of civilians. If teachers were to strike kids wouldn't get the ducation they need to get a good job and they might cause trouble on the On the other hand private bus services should be able to strike. Althogh some people may be hurt by this it does not affect the cities commerce. I do not believe that government employees should have the right to strike. They should sign a statement before they are hired because if they strike it puts the publics Arbitration should be the process that should be put in affect to settle disputes between the employees and the city. Te city chooses someone then the employees choose someone then they choose a third person. This panel determines the settlement of the contract of the employees strike. Striking has become a major problem in recent years because striking is the last weapon the employees have to defend their rights . For instance if workers are working in an unsafe environment they have the right to strike. In York there is a law which prohibits striking this is known as the Taylor Law. Punishment for striking could be dismissal or dock in pay. The principle source of income for the state of New York The principle source of income for the state of New York for 1998 is taxes. The priciple expenses of the stste of New York for 1998 are: Education is an expendature that should be increased. If education was increased children would get better jobs and better jobs pay more money which produces more taxes, taxes pay for better schools. More community centers with sports facilities should be created to get kids off the streets. Kids would have a place to go to have fun plus it would make alot of money all schools should be pdated with new computers to prepare students for entering the business community. The state should propose to start a partnership with computer companies and the board of education of education in purchasing the computers. The private companies would benefit from this because the more computers used the more computer orientated customers are created. A way to pay for expenditures is by cutting out the â€Å"pork barrel† pet projects by the legislatures. If the budget just passed there were 350 million â€Å"pork barrel† projects requested by the legislatures. If the government cut that in half it would pay for the increases I suggested. Conservative groups that believe the goverment play too much of a role in their lives of the voters would not be in favor of my proposals. In recent years there have been increasing numbers of strikes by public employees like teachers, transit, sanitation, and municipal workers. In many instances these acts were in violation of existing laws which prohibited such One reason why many states and federal government prohibited strikes is because of public safety. If the fire department was to strike lives would be at stake. Neighborhoods would would be burned down. Police shouldn't strike because crime would rise , traffic enforcement people wouldn't pay attention to light and possible riots. If sanitation had a strike it would cause a health hazard. The second reason is for business purposes and commerce. If the transit were to strike people wouldn't be able to go to and back to work. The banks handle the money of civilians. If teachers were to strike kids wouldn't get the ducation they need to get a good job and they might cause trouble on the On the other hand private bus services should be able to strike. Althogh some people may be hurt by this it does not affect the cities commerce. I do not believe that government employees should have the right to strike. They should sign a statement before they are hired because if they strike it puts the publics Arbitration should be the process that should be put in affect to settle disputes between the employees and the city. Te city chooses someone then the employees choose someone then they choose a third person. This panel determines the settlement of the contract of the employees strike. Striking has become a major problem in recent years because striking is the last weapon the employees have to defend their rights . For instance if workers are working in an unsafe environment they have the right to strike. In York there is a law which prohibits striking this is known as the Taylor Law. Punishment for striking could be dismissal or dock in pay.

5 Reasons Building a Personal Website Will Help You Find a Job

5 Reasons Building a Personal Website Will Help You Find a Job It’s all about the branding†¦how many times have we heard that mantra? How many times have we used it ourselves? Lots, and there’s a good reason: you need to stand out. In life, sure, but especially when you’re looking for a job. When you apply for a job, you know you’re great (confirmed by your fifth grade soccer trophy, among other things), but how do you prove that when there are 10, 20  other applicants with similar resumes? Building a personal website! It seems overwhelming, but a little bit of time up front can yield great results for your job hunt. Read on to find out why.1. It impresses hiring managers.Having a supplemental website that outlines your professional goals and achievements shows that you’re committed to your job search, and are trying to find ways to stand out in the crowd.2. Like your career, a website can evolve.A resume is what it is: a frozen snapshot of you at a particular point in your career. Once you send it out t he door via email or on paper, there’s no taking it back, no making changes in the short term. Having a personal website (which you’d link in the cover letter or the resume itself), gives you the opportunity to update information that hiring managers can see in real time. Think of it as a kind of living resume to supplement the traditional one that goes out.3. It’s easy.Even if you’re not comfortable with doing web design yourself, these days everyone has a brother, cousin, or roommate’s buddy who does freelance web design. And if you don’t go that route, there are plenty of free and inexpensive tools online that can help you get started with a basic website. Sites like Strikingly or GoDaddy can help you get your brand online quickly and easily.4. It’s a way to collect your branding in one place.Chances are, hiring managers are going to Google you. Normally what would come up is a smattering of social media accounts (and hopefully not that blog you started back before people knew they needed to moderate their online presence). Having your own branded site can collect all of those things in one place, creating a hub that’s all about you. (Of course, make sure that only the social media that shows you in your best professional light are included.)5. It can raise your profile.Your website won’t just be accessible to hiring managers- you might be surprised at the opportunities that could come from potential employers searching online. A website can also enhance your social media presence, and start building the kind of network that could introduce new opportunities as well.If you find that you’re struggling to get interviews or stand out from the pack as you apply for jobs, it’s time to shake things up a bit and add something new. Building a website shows a commitment to your professional brand, and could be just the extra edge you need to get in the door for an interview.

Publishing with a Hybrid Press

Publishing with a Hybrid Press Ever since I signed the contract with  She Writes Press  for the publication of my debut novel,  This Is How It Begins  (available now), writers have been asking, â€Å"Why did you choose a hybrid press?† First, what is a hybrid press? A hybrid press walks the line between traditional publishing (the â€Å"Big 5† of HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, Hachette and Macmillan) and self-publishing (CreateSpace, Kindle Direct, Ingram Spark), taking aspects from each. I chose a hybrid press for several reasons:   Ã‚     After 14 months of getting close but not close enough to land a literary agent, I got impatient with the lengthy process and decided to take matters into my own hands.   Ã‚     I decided against self-publishing because I wanted traditional distribution to bookstores, and that’s not something I could do myself.   Ã‚     I also decided against self-publishing because I knew I wouldn’t have the bandwidth to learn everything there is to learn in a timely fashion.   Ã‚     I wanted to work with a publisher who had ample experience with publishing and selling books, and I wanted a team to give my book its best chance. After much research, I chose the cream of the hybrid crop- She Writes Press (SWP). This innovative press is blazing quality ground in the publishing industry right now. Here’s what their hybrid model looks like:   Ã‚     Emphasis on quality books- they carefully curate their list;   Ã‚     Traditional distribution through Ingram Publisher Services (IPS)- that means a dedicated sales team from IPS sells SWP books directly to booksellers, so your physical books end up in stores;   Ã‚     Generous royalties- You invest up front for editorial, book production and printing, but you get a higher royalty per book sold than you would with traditional publishers (60% of the net profits on print books and close to 80% of the net profits on ebooks);   Ã‚     Respect for authors- Authors are partners in the publishing process, get an education in how best to sell books, have a say in how books look, and retain ownership rights;   Ã‚     Community- SWP fosters a supportive community of women authors, who learn from each other and support each other throughout the publishing process and beyond;   Ã‚     Housekeeping- they take care of all the â€Å"metadata,† which goes to all outlets where books are sold, they warehouse books, file copyright and Library of Congress numbers, fulfill orders †¦ all the stuff you don’t want to have to do from home. One thing I worried about at first was whether working with a hybrid would limit my book in some way - would booksellers consider the hybrid press a poor cousin to traditional publishers? Would I be eligible for the big literary awards and grants? In the case of SWP, I’ve seen no indication whatsoever that booksellers are thinking twice about carrying my book (my preorder numbers from bookstores were quite high). I’ve easily submitted, and been asked to submit, to many of the big-name book awards. There will be some grants that prohibit me from applying (the NEA Fellowship, for instance), but I’m going to try to blaze a new trail with those institutions Not all hybrids are created equal; there are other models out there to consider. Since I can’t speak about them from experience, I’ll leave you with some good articles for further reading:   Ã‚     Not All Hybrid Publishers Are Created Equal: How Authors Should Evaluate Their Choices, Jane Friedman for Publisher’s Weekly   Ã‚     The Indie Authors Guide to Hybrid Publishing: Hybrid publishers look to combine the best of traditional and self-publishing,

Food comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Food comparison - Essay Example In terms of use, they are not heavily used in cooking in American food as compared to the British cuisine but are often used in desserts. Apple is also used for juice, cider and syrup since it has a good taste and a rich aroma. A key difference when comparing to oranges is that the apple fruit can be consumed peeled or unpeeled while the orange is usually had after it has been peeled (IFR, 2006). Orange peel often finds other uses in the food industry while apple peel is used as a part of the fruit (Wikipedia, 2006). The majority component of both apples and oranges is water but a lot of other minerals are also stored in them. Both fruits are also good sources of vitamin C but the orange contains almost double the amount of Vitamin C as compared to an apple (IFR, 2006).Additionally, oranges come in a whole variety of flavors which range from sweet to bitter (Wikipedia, 2006). They are a more popular fruit than the apple since they are cultivated, used and consumed on a larger scale t han apples (IFR, 2006). Unlike the apple, they also have a heavy use in industry since orange oil is used as a scent adding ingredient in household washing supplies, furniture polish and even liquids used to clean automobile upholstery (Wikipedia, 2006). In conclusion, both fruits have their uses and our diet as well as our lives would be very different had we no apples or oranges.   . Clearly we would not be able to compare them to each other but more importantly, we would lose out on a lot of flavor.

Nation State and Transnational Entities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nation State and Transnational Entities - Essay Example This essay stresses that USA is a perfect example of a nation state. Though it is a multicultural society, it is regarded as a nation-state due to the existence of the shared American "culture." It has a territory that is composed of all the states; it also has a government as well as sovereignty. This paper makes a concludion that the European integration process has been characterized by two periods. These are; the Cold War and Second World War. After these two historical events, a majority of the European States recognized the need for cooperation. After the Second World War, Europeans learnt a lesson that encouraged them to test practically benefits that could accrue from European integration. The War had led to reduction of European power. In addition, this decline was an opportunity for the Soviet Union and the US to lead in terms of security, political as well as economic positions. These therefore pushed European leaders to put behind their differences and cooperate. The cooperation was intended to eliminate the causes of war and promote European political as well as economic union. It is worth noting that there were different reasons that motivated them. There was a group made up of states that had been destroyed following the war and were keen on reconstructing their economy as well as reestablish the lost international power. These states were prepared to sacrifice their national sovereignty so as to reach their goals.