Monday, January 20, 2020

Essay --

Throughout history, Term limits have been a very controversial issue as well as a powerful reform regarding politics. Term limits can best be defined as a restriction or a limit to a number of times an official may be elected or serve. For years, American politics have been dealing with the movement to limit political terms. Though there are some who disapprove of term limits for Congressmen, there are many Americans who have approved. There is widespread support on Term Limits, which shows us that the public is dissatisfied with what is occurring in Congress presently. In many states, cities and counties across the United States term limits have been established for state and local officials. Congress is currently running on a system of seniority. Individuals who have spent the most time in office gain more power. As a result, these Congressmen focus on how they can stay in office and that plan leaves limited room for fresh new officials to have a chance to make changes. Term l imits should be placed on our Congressmen and women because it would allow for a more efficient Congress. The problem with not having term limits is that one person in Congress exercise too much power. As John Adams said, â€Å"Without [term limits] every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey.† (Smith 73). Similarly, Thomas Jefferson once stated, â€Å"To prevent every danger which might arise to American freedom from continuing too long in office, it is earnestly recommended that we set an obligation on the holder of that office to go out after a certain period.† (Smith 73). Our country needs term limits in Congress for several reasons. Presently, in Congress there are members who serve very lengthy terms. Members in the House of Representatives ser... ...rse legislature.† (Epstein 855). Term Limits would make being apart of Congress more possible. Millions more Americans would find it an attractive option for them. To sum it all up, Term limits presently occur all over the country in state legislatures and they are working. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 15 states currently have term limits for legislatures. Term limits increase the likelihood of turnover in state legislatures. Term limits also weaken seniority systems in state legislatures. Term limits help non-traditional candidates such as Hispanic, African American and Asian to run for seats in state legislatures. It is time to change the system so that people who care about the future of our nation and our state can and will compete fairly to represent us. That is what democracy was meant to be, and that is what it can be again.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

North Carolina Gubernatorial Election

The election for governor of North Carolina proved to be tightly contested race; with Richard Vinroot the republican candidate gaining support in the weeks immediately prior to the election. Mike Easley had an early advantage, being the democratic incumbent. Easley was the better-known and better-financed candidate, which helped him to an early advantage. However, during the final weeks of the campaign the advantage swung to Vinroot as undecided voters were swept up in a republican surge lead by the momentum gained by presidential candidate Bush. With the gubernatorial race growing ever closer, the candidate†s stance on issues began to stand out as the determining factor for many voters. Thus, Democrat Mike Easley was able to gain an advantage not because of party affiliation, but the due to his stance on important issues, one important issue being education. So how did the numbers stake up? Well the final elections showed Mike Easley receiving 1,492,170 votes or 52 percent of the vote; Richard Vinroot received 1,335,862 votes or 47 percent of the vote; the rest of the vote being split between the Libertarian and Reform candidates . The 2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election was closely contested and would be decided not mainly according party affiliation, but by the candidate†s stance on major issues. The Democratic candidate for governor Mike Easley has a strong background, which brought him public favor and votes. Michael F. Easley is 50 years old, was born in Nash County, received a degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina, and gained a law degree from North Carolina Central University. Easley served as a District Attorney, which gained him a reputation due to his prosecution of drug traffickers. Easley was elected the Attorney General of North Carolina in 1992. He was re-elected in 1996 by a large margin receiving 60 percent on the vote. While he was Attorney General, Easley gained a strong reputation, Easley sought to reduce violent crimes by pushing for a new sentencing structure and removal of the prison cap. Easley was fairly successful, â€Å"Since he took office in 1993, the rate of violent crime in North Carolina has fallen by more than 15%. Easley also gained a strong reputation due to his efforts of attacking consumer fraud, creating a Citizen†s Rights Division, and increasing the environmental section with the creation of an Environmental Crimes Task Force. As Attorney General, Easley also contributed to the national tobacco settlement, and â€Å"Brought nearly $5 billion in revenue to North Carolina to protect farmers, communities and the public health. 2† Mike Easley†s stance on important issues played an important role in the election. One important issue, which Easley highlighted, was his plan for patient†s rights. His plan includes patient privacy and a system that would provide prescription drugs for the elderly. While campaigning Easley outlined his plan for patient†s rights, however he made it apparent that his major concern was his â€Å"No Excuses† approach to education. The main points in Easley†s plan are smaller class sizes, and a pre-kindergarten program. The staple of Easley†s plan is not to raise taxes, with financing coming from a state lottery. Easley†s focuses on three aspects in his education plan; character education, alternative schools, and dress codes. Easley†s education plan states, â€Å"In order to enhance academic performance and safety in our public schools, we must nurture the personal character of young people while demanding that all students be disciplined and appropriately attired. † Candidate Mike Easley brought his strong reputation, and stance on important issues to the gubernatorial campaign in order to gain popular support. Richard Vinroot the Republican candidate for governor also brought his strong reputation and background to the campaign trail. Vinroot like Easley also had a long list of credentials and a strong background, which helped him win public favor. Vinroot was awarded a Morehead Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were he received a degree in business administration and later his law degree. Vinroot is also a Vietnam veteran and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. In 1991, Vinroot was elected mayor of Charlotte and was re-elected in 1993. As mayor of Charlotte Vinroot focused on crime, while he was mayor crime dropped 17 percent. Vinroot also focused on taxpayer relief. One of the major issues in Vinroot†s campaign was also education. Vinroot made it apparent that he supported tax paid vouchers, which gives parents a choice to send their children to the school of their choice. Vinroot†s plan supports home schooling and vouchers for children to attend private schools. Vinroot also supports a pay system for teachers based on merit. Vinroot†s main stance during the campaign was that he continually promised to never raise taxes and offered real change in education. Richard Vinroot gained public support in the gubernatorial campaign with a strong personal background, and by pronouncing never to raise taxes. The Reform candidate, Douglas Schell, and Libertarian candidate, Barbara Howe, offered voters additional choices for governor. However, both candidates played an insignificant role in the election with each candidate receiving about one percent of the vote. Similarly to Easley and Vinroot, both candidates† main issue was education. Howe†s education plan was a tax-based scholarship system giving the student an option when it comes to education. Schell†s stance on education was a plan for initiating a minimum salary for teachers, and focusing on discipline and school standards. However, both candidates were severely under funded; lacking the resources like Easley and Vinroot were able to attain. Thus, the Reform and Libertarian candidates played an insignificant role in the election. Richard Vinroot the republican candidate for governor hoped to ride the coattails of George Bush. Vinroot did gain support because of Bush strength in North Carolina, but this only helped make the race contested. However, Vinroot was unable to seize upon Bush†s support in North Carolina to become governor. Vinroot tried to play the connection with Bush to the fullest, thus making a late comeback. Unfortunately for Vinroot, several other factors caused Mike Easley to seize the election. The election showed that image, personality, and more importantly stance on issues wins votes rather than party affiliation. An important factor is swaying voters to Easley was his standing on important issues, especially the education issue. Easley was able to gain votes by strongly opposing tax-paid vouchers for education. In addition, Easley†s plan for education was more widely accepted including his pushing for a state lottery to pay for education. Some distinctions that caused the party splitting in North Carolina, was Easley†s stance on education. Image and personality also played key factors in Mike Easley†s election win. These traits where made apparent to voters in the campaigning through the numerous television ads and in the debate. Television ads played an important role in the campaigns of both candidates. Easley, due to better finance was able to run more television ads, allowing him to run more issue-focused ads. Conversely, Vinroot ran many ads attacking Easley in an effort to label him as a liberal, and associate of Al Gore. Vinroot†s attacks gave him an aggressive image, which hurt him in the election. Vinroot†s aggressive image was also apparent in the one television debate, Vinroot even grabbed Easley†s arm during the debate. Television ads also helped contribute to Mike Easley†s election win, especially the ads Easley ran the weekend before the election. Easley†s last television ads played upon the popularity of actor Andy Griffith, who endorsed Easley in those final ads. Image and personality are important to voters and these characteristics favored Mike Easley. The first North Carolina governor of the 21st century won an election that became tightly contested due to party affiliation. However, in the end it was not party affiliation that was the determining factor in the election. The determining factors in the election were the candidate†s stance on major issues, namely the issue of education, and the candidate†s image and personality. Richard Vinroot made the election contested by playing heavily on the popularity of George W. Bush; this did not however carry him into office. Voters broke party lines and voted for the candidate who best addressed their needs. Mike Easley was able to win because he promised to improve education without raising taxes due to a state lottery. Richard Vinroot had a chance in the gubernatorial election by trying to ride the coattails of George W. Bush, but when it came down to it voters concerned themselves not with party affiliation, but concerned themselves with the current issues, with the greatest emphasis on the issue of improving education.

Friday, January 3, 2020

pKa Definition in Chemistry

If youre working with acids and bases, two familiar values are pH and pKa. Here is the definition of pKa and a look at how it relates to acid strength. pKa Definition pKa is the negative base-10 logarithm of the acid dissociation constant (Ka) of a solution.pKa -log10KaThe lower the pKa value, the stronger the acid. For example, the pKa of acetic acid is 4.8, while the pKa of lactic acid is 3.8. Using the pKa values, one can see lactic acid is a stronger acid than acetic acid. The reason pKa is used is because it describes acid dissociation using small decimal numbers. The same type of information may be obtained from Ka values, but they are typically extremely small numbers given in scientific notation that are hard for most people to understand. Key Takeaways: pKa Definition The pKa value is one method used to indicate the strength of an acid.pKa is the negative log of the acid dissociation constant or Ka value.A lower pKa value indicates a stronger acid. That is, the lower value indicates the acid more fully dissociates in water. pKa and Buffer Capacity In addition to using pKa to gauge the strength of an acid, it may be used to select buffers. This is possible because of the relationship between pKa and pH: pH pKa log10([A-]/[AH]) Where the square brackets are used to indicate the concentrations of the acid and its conjugate base. The equation may be rewritten as: Ka/[H] [A-]/[AH] This shows that pKa and pH are equal when half of the acid has dissociated. The buffering capacity of a species or its ability to maintain pH of a solution is highest when the pKa and pH values are close. So, when selecting a buffer, the best choice is the one that has a pKa value close to the target pH of the chemical solution.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Countries of Central America and the Caribbean

Central America is a region at the center of the two of the American continents. It fully lies in a tropical climate and has savanna, rainforest, and mountainous regions. Geographically, it represents the southernmost part of the North American continent and it contains an isthmus that connects North America to South America. Panama is the border between the two continents. At its narrowest point, the isthmus stretches only 30 miles (50 km)Â  wide. The mainland portion of the region consists of seven different countries, but 13 nations in the Caribbean are also normally counted as a part of Central America. Central America shares borders with Mexico to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Colombia to the south and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The region is considered part of the developing world, which means it has issues in poverty, education, transportation, communications, infrastructure, and/or access to health care for its residents.The following is a list of the countries of Central America and the Caribbean arranged by area. For reference the countries on the mainland portion of Central America are marked with an asterisk (*). The 2017 population estimates and capitals of each country have also been included. All information was obtained from the CIA World Factbook. Central America and the CaribbeanCountries Nicaragua*Area: 50,336 square miles (130,370 sq km)Population:Â  6,025,951Capital: ManaguaHonduras*Area: 43,278 square miles (112,090 sq km)Population:Â  9,038,741Capital: TegucigalpaCubaArea: 42,803 square miles (110,860 sq km)Population:Â  11,147,407Capital: HavanaGuatemala*Area: 42,042 square miles (108,889 sq km)Population:Â  15,460,732Capital: Guatemala CityPanama*Area: 29,119 square miles (75,420 sq km)Population:Â  3,753,142Capital: Panama CityCosta Rica*Area: 19,730 square miles (51,100 sq km)Population:Â  4,930,258Capital: San JoseDominican RepublicArea: 18,791 square miles (48,670 sq km)Population:Â  10,734,247Capital: Santo DomingoHaitiArea: 10,714 square miles (27,750 sq km)Population:Â  10,646,714Capital: Port au PrinceBelize*Area: 8,867 square miles (22,966 sq km)Population:Â  360,346Capital: BelmopanEl Salvador*Area: 8,124 square miles (21,041 sq km)Population:Â  6,172,011Capital: San SalvadorThe BahamasArea: 5,359 square miles (13,880 sq km)Population:Â  32 9,988Capital: NassauJamaicaArea: 4,243 square miles (10,991 sq km)Population:Â  2,990,561Capital: KingstonTrinidad and TobagoArea: 1,980 square miles (5,128 sq km)Population:Â  1,218,208Capital: Port of SpainDominicaArea: 290 square miles (751 sq km)Population:Â  73,897Capital: RoseauSaint LuciaArea: 237 square miles (616 sq km)Population:Â  164,994Capital: Castries Antigua and BarbudaArea: 170 square miles (442.6 sq km)Antigua area: 108 square miles (280Â  sq km); Barbuda: 62 square miles (161Â  sq km);Â  Redonda: .61 square miles (1.6 sq km)Population:Â  94,731Capital: Saint Johns BarbadosArea: 166 square miles (430 sq km)Population:Â  292,336Capital: BridgetownSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesArea: 150 square miles (389 sq km)Â  Saint Vincent area: 133 square miles (344 sq km)Population:Â  102,089Capital: KingstownGrenadaArea: 133 square miles (344 sq km)Population:Â  111,724Capital: Saint GeorgesSaint Kitts and NevisArea: 101 square miles (261 sq km)Saint Kitts area: 65 square miles (168 sq km); Nevis:Â   36 square miles (93 sq km)Population:Â  52,715Capital: Basseterre

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Traits Differentiating Scholars from Normal Students

According to the Oxford dictionary, a scholar is those who specialises in a particular branch of study, especially the humanities. If the word is to be further defined, in archaic terms it means a student or pupil. In an institute, there would be students and scholars. However, most scholars are students too. What are the traits that distinguishes them from normal students? This will be further explained below. First and foremost, the most common trait a scholar needs to have is humility. This trait is most commonly known to be defined as the quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance. Therefore, a scholar should always view himself as an equal towards others and never as a superior, which will lead to negative values such as arrogance and egoism. In my opinion this trait is what led many scholars to succeed, as they would always be humble of their actions, which in result they would be well respected and looked upon. Thus humility is a trait that must be present in a good scholar. In relation to the trait ‘humility’, another noticeable trait of a scholar is integrity. This trait is defined as the attachment to moral and virtuous principles, such as honestly. As a result, this trait would be present in everyone, however, not everyone practices this. For example, an honest person would be trusted more than a person who repeatedly lies. This would show that the scholar would uphold the value of integrity. 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Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Gatsby is Presented Mysteriously Essay Example For Students

Gatsby is Presented Mysteriously Essay Bob Gragetty1/21/99EnglishChapters 1-4Through the first four chapters of the book The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is looked upon as a character who is secretive and mysterious. This is clearly showed through Gatsbys lifestyle, money, acquaintances, his past and the his non problematic attitude towards life. In chapter one, Gatsby makes his first appearance in the novel. Nick, Gatsbys neighbor while on his was home, sees a man acting very odd and mysterious. The man (Gatsby) is standing outside his estate, all by himself, stretching his arms out across a lake; he is trembling to himself while he glares at a green light on a dock a far. When Nick attempts to get a good look at Gatsby, he seems to have vanished into the night. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness(P26) In chapter two there was a rumor that was passed when Nick was having a conversation with Catherine. The rumor was that Gatsby gets all his money from Kaiser Wilhelms. Well, they say hes a nephew or a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelms. Thats where all his money comes from.(P37) The others think that this is a scary thing and seem to want to have nothing to do with Gatsby. In chapter three Gatsby is mysterious because has another big routine party and has no real reason to e ven do so. The interesting thing about Gatsbys parties is that most of the people who wind up coming to the party are not invited, they just show up cause they know they will be allowed into Gatsbys house and have fun. People however look on as Gatsby as sort of scary and strangely eerie. At a previous party a girl named Lucille tore her dress on chair; Gatsby got her name and address and he replaced the dress for her even though he had nothing to do with the direct involvement of the dress being destroyed. He doesnt want any trouble with anybody(P48) During the middle of Gatsbys current party there is a time when Nick is looking everywhere for Gatsby and he can not find him. I havent even seen the host(P52) This interestingly odd, because it makes no sense to not be able to find the host of a party in the owners house. Many rumors about Gatsby do surface at his party. There were two references to Gatsby killing a man; one reference to Gatsby being a German spy during a war; however a countering reference saying that Gatsby was in the American army during the same war. A final reference saying that he is an Oxford man. In conclusion, Gatsby is a very interesting man with a quite developed mysterious character. Gatsby is so because has quite a fortune from a mysterious source, he is alone and stretches his arms out in the night towards green lights far away, he can not be found at his own party and he has a whole slew of rumors about himself and his past. This makes Gatsby out to have quite a lot of experience in his life, all the experience makes him almost seem as if he has a secret that lies within himself.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Philosophy - In Search Of Absolute Beauty From Platos Symposium Essays

Philosophy - In search of Absolute Beauty From Plato's Symposium Webster defines beauty as the quality or the aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit. Is this correct? Cannot one person's definition of beauty differ from another person's definition? One person may find beauty in something another person finds repulsive. When someone says a woman is beautiful and another person says that a type of music is beautiful are he or she talking about the same kind of beauty? Everyone has a different idea about what is beautiful, so how are we to know what true beauty is? If everyone has his or her own opinion about what is beautiful is there a standard on which to base beauty (Dye 1)? Plato said that we see beauty in its simplest form, but with the right guidance we can see beauty in its purest form. He put forth the notion of ideal forms as a way for us to view the world in which we live. In Republic, Plato used a myth, the Allegory of the cave, to explain ideal forms. In the Allegory of the cave, prisoners are chained in a dark cave and facing the back wall of the cave. A fire casts shadows of the outside world on the wall of the cave and these shadows represent the real world to the prisoners. They assume that the echoes from the outside world are made by the shadows and they even gave names the shadows, just as we have names for objects in the real world. The prisoners are released and led to the surface of the earth and are very confused. They are unable to comprehend the true forms of things, which cast the shadows in the cave. And when the prisoners looked into the sun this new, foreign light, which is so brilliant, would blind them. The prisoners must grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. ?At first, he will see shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves. Last, he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another, and he will contemplate him as he is.? This myth can be used to explain absolute beauty. We are like the prisoners, living in a dark cave, only seeing the shadows of what is real. If we have proper guidance, we can see the world in its true, pure form and not just a world of appearance. You cannot see the true forms at first, just as the prisoners could not see the real world at first because of the blinding sun. But they took small steps and were able to see and understand more and more as time went on. We too can see the world in its pure form if we take the right steps toward ideal forms (Plato 514a-521b). We still don't know what pure beauty is, only that we cannot see it without being enlightened. In Symposium, Diotma explained to Socrates what absolute beauty is and how to attain it. It cannot be explained in one idea, but many which described the different aspects of absolute beauty. To understand absolute beauty you must perceive beauty as itself and by itself, not as an object or idea. Human ideas, perceptions, and actions can partake of it but they cannot improve upon or lessen it. Absolute beauty is eternal. It has no start or no end. It does not come to be or cease to be and it doesn't increase or diminish. Absolute beauty is unchanging. It isn't attractive at one time, but not at another or attractive in one setting, but repulsive in another. Once absolute beauty is achieved, everything else in the world will pale in comparison. True beauty itself can make life worth living (Plato 211a-211d). Diotma says that things in the physical world can partake of absolute beauty, but nothing is absolutely beautiful itself. I find this hard to believe. I have experienced many things in my