|
[20 Mar 2007|07:32am] |
Rebecca Shamis Shamis 1
English
Mrs. Brady
March 13, 2007
The American Dream and Its Corruption
When one thinks of the American dream, they often think of happiness and success. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, this dream is portrayed as corrupt, and is filled with greed, materialism, and adultery. Many of the characters dream of success and riches, and most of them are shot down in the end, due to some sort of corruption they have become a part of. Gatsby’s dream of wealth and success is one that ends tragically, because of the corruption and greed around him. Although these dreams may start out with good intentions, it is frequent that the American dream ends with corruption, and even despair.
“The American dream was originally about discovery, individualism and the quest for happiness. In the 1920’s shown in the novel, however; easy money and relaxed social values have corrupted this dream, especially on the East Coast.” (Death of the American dream) The 1920s was a time period filled with partying, and high hopes of success. The stock market was on the rise, making it easy to accomplish these dreams of wealth. Many people moved from their homes in the west, with hopes that they could become a part of the lavish lifestyles led by the wealthy residents of the east coast. Those who has money living in the west, were typically categorized as “old money”, and had inherited their fortunes. The east was filled with people trying to make a big break and become wealthy on their own. Often, people tried to gain fortunes in a corrupt manner. Morals and values were overshadowed by thoughts of money.
In the novel, Gatsby and many others around him are so set on rising in social status, that they are able to lose sight of their ideals and stoop to corrupt and illegal actions. “Meyer Wolfshiem and Gatsby’s fortune symbolize the rise of organized crime and bootlegging.” (Death of AD) Both Gatsby and his friend Meyer Wolfshiem made their own money by “bootlegging”. Jay Gatsby was born in the mid west and was brought up without wealth and riches. He moved out to the east coast and became part of the prosperous party scene on Long Island. Gatsby threw parties every week, in which all of the guests would drink heavily, and seem to feed off of his wealth. In the novel, Fitzgerald describes these parties by saying “ The bar is in full swing and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside until the air is alive with chatter and laughter and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.” (Fitzgerald, 44) None of Gatsby’s company seem to care much about him, although they attend all of his parties and exchange greetings with him. Corruption comes hand in hand with this lifestyle because everyone is so lost in the midst of drinking and their social status, that they are oblivious to the real world that exists around them. When Gatsby is killed, none of the people who attended his parties were able to find time to attend his funeral. This shows that these people did not actually care for Gatsby at all; rather, they were only interested in drinking and partying in an environment that juxtaposes them with an elevated social status.
Although Gatsby's parties are filled with drinking and corruption, he throws them with the intention of coming in contact with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. This love affair is the reason why Gatsby wanted to become a wealthy man, which shows that his American dream starts off with good intentions. Daisy could not be with a man that wasn't able to support her, and therefore Gatsby felt it was necessary to try to become a rich man. Although Daisy is married, she is disloyal to her husband Tom, who also has a mistress. Their marriage is filled with dishonesty and adultery, and both Tom and Daisy so carelessly caught up in their own lives that they are not able to see the corruption that is going on around them. In the end, this reckless adultery is what leads to both the death of Gatsby, and the death of the American dream. “The means corrupt the end, and Gatsby's dream dies because of Daisy, Gatsby, and Tom's carelessness and superficiality, as does Gatsby for the same reasons” (Millet) Because of carelessness and dishonesty, in the end both Gatsby, and Tom’s mistress Myrtle are killed. The corrupt ways of the characters throughout the novel leads up to an ending filled with death and despair.
In the beginning of the novel, Nick says, “No—Gatsby turned out all right in the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short winded elations of men.” (Fitzgerald 2) Gatsby’s dream begins as a pure one; but it is corrupted by the “dust”, which is the inevitable effects that come along with money and wealth. In trying to be with daisy, he becomes so consumed by the thought of wealth that he becomes a part of the corruptions, and illegal actions. The drinking, partying, greed, and adultery all came hand in hand with the dream of being successful and rich and all of this corruption results in the death of Gatsby.
www.uiowa.edu/~smack/archive/smack1.2/2ess2.htm
www.e-scoala.ro/referate/engleza_fitzgerald_american.html
http://www.honors.umd.edu/COURSES/0608/268t0608.html
http://www.msu.edu/~millettf/gatsby.html
|
|
|
[16 Mar 2007|01:39pm] |
Rebecca Shamis Shamis 1
English
Mrs. Brady
March 13, 2007
The American Dream and Its Corruption
When one thinks of the American dream, they often think of happiness and success. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, this dream is portrayed as corrupt, and is filled with wealth, materials, and advertisements. Many of the characters dream of success and wealth, and most of them are shot down in the end, due to some sort of corruption they have become a part of. Symbolism such as the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg along with other signs of advertisements throughout his work, convey the idea that the dream is filled with greed and materialism. Although these dreams start out with good intent, it is very often that the American dream ends with corruption, and even despair.
“The American dream was originally about discovery, individualism and the quest for happiness. In the 1920’s shown in the novel, however; easy money and relaxed social values have corrupted this dream, especially on the East Coast.” (Death of the American dream) The 1920s was a time period filled with partying, and high hopes of success. The stock market was on the rise, making it easy to accomplish these dreams of wealth. Many people were moved from their homes in the west, with hopes of becoming a part of the lavish lifestyles lead by the wealthy residents of the east coast. Often, people tried to gain fortunes in a corrupt manner. Morals and values were overshadowed by thoughts of money.
In the novel, both Gatsby and Wolfshiem are so set on rising in social status, that they are able to lose sight of their ideals and stoop to illegal actions. “Meyer Wolfshiem and Gatsby’s fortune symbolize the rise of organized crime and bootlegging.” (Death of AD) Jay Gatsby, born in the mid west, was brought up without wealth and riches. He moved out to the east coast, and became part of the prosperous party scene on Long Island. He made his own money, but did so by “bootlegging” along with his good friend Meyer Wolfshiem. Gatsby was now throwing weekly parties at which all of the guests would drink heavily, and seem to feed off of Gatsby’s wealth. None of Gatsby’s company seem to care much about him, although they attend all of his parties and exchange greetings with him. Corruption comes hand in hand with this lifestyle because everyone is lost in the midst of drinking and their social status, that they are oblivious to the real world that exists around them.
Although Gatsby's parties are filled with drinking and corruption, he throws them with intent of meeting his former lover, Daisy. This love affair is the reason for which Gatsby had wanted to become a wealthy man. Daisy felt that she could not be with a man that wasn't able to support her, and therefore Gatsby felt it necessary to become a rich man. Daisy is the root of Gatsby's corrupt ways but does not seem to notice. All Gatsby wants is to be able to be with Daisy, even though she is now a married woman. Tom, her husband, is very wealthy, and their marriage is one filled with dishonesty and adultery.
www.uiowa.edu/~smack/archive/smack1.2/2ess2.htm
www.e-scoala.ro/referate/engleza_fitzgerald_american.html
www.honors.umd.edu/COURSES/0608/268t0608.html
http://www.msu.edu/~millettf/gatsby.html
|
|
|
[04 Feb 2007|11:40pm] |
Rebecca Shamis
Chapter 14 – Fingerprints
I. History of Fingerprinting –
A. Attempts at Personal Identification –
1. First systematic attempt at personal identification was devised and introduced by French police expert Alphonse Bertillion, in 1883.
2. Bertillion system relied on a detailed description (portrait parle) of the subject, combined with full-length and profile photographs and a system of precise body measurements known as anthropometry.
3. Anthropometry assumes dimensions of human bone system remained fixed from age 20 until death.
4. System was considered most accurate for two decades.
5. Only in early 1900s did fingerprints become appreciated – it’s now the pillar of identification.
B. Evolution of Fingerprints in Criminal Justice -
1. The extensive research of Englishman Francis Galton provided the needed impetus that made police agencies aware of the potential of fingerprints in identification.
2. Galton published Finger Prints in 1892, a book that discussed methods of recording them and anatomy. Also proposed the three main pattern types of today.
3. Next step in development of fingerprint technology was provided by Englishman Sir Edward Richard Henry.
i. His methods of filing fingerprints were adopted by Scotland Yard and most English-speaking nations (incl. USA) use his version of classification today.
C. Fall of Bertillion System –
1. Famous case of Will West mistaken with convicted felon William West whose BM’s were near identical was the last application of the Bertillion System.
2. USA – first systematic and official use of fingerprints used by NYC Civil Service Commission in 1901.
3. Court case US. V Byron C. Mitchell established precedent for the admissibility of fingerprints as evidence.
II. Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints –
A. First Principle: A Fingerprint is an Individual Characteristic; No Two Fingers Have Yet Been Found to Possess Identical Ridge Characteristics –
1. The individuality of a fingerprint is not determined by its general shape or pattern, but by a careful study of its ridge characteristics (also known as minutiae).
i. If two prints are to compare, they will have to reveal characteristics that not only are identical but have the same relative location to one another in a print
2. There are as many as 150 individual ridge characteristics on the average fingerprint.
3. Experts are still debating how many ridge comparisons are necessary before two fingerprints can be identified as being the same. Numbers ranging from 8-16 are suggested as acceptable.
B. Second Principle: A Fingerprint Will Remain Unchanged During an individual’s Lifetime –
1. Fingerprints are a reproduction of friction skin ridges found on the palm side of the fingers and thumbs.
2. Skin is composed of layers of cells –
i. Layer nearest the surface is called the epidermis
ii. Inner skin layer is called the dermis.
iii. The boundary separating the two is called the dermal papillae.
3. The dermal papillae are what determine the unique ridge patterns (that develop in the fetal stage) which remain unchanged for the remainder of the individual’s life.
4. Each skin ridge is populated by a single row of pores that are the openings for ducts leading from sweat glands.
5. When a finger touches a surface, perspiration, along with oils and hairs can be transferred onto that surface, leaving an impression of the finger’s ridge pattern (a fingerprint).
6. Prints deposited in this manner are called latent fingerprints.
7. Criminals have tried to no avail to change or remove their prints.
i. Most famous case was gangster John Dillinger who used corrosive acid. This only makes more unique characteristics.
C. Third Principle: Fingerprints Have General Ridge Patterns that Permit Them to Be Systematically Classified –
1. All fingerprints are divided into three classes on the basis of their general pattern: loops, whorls, and arches.
i. 60-65% of the population has loops
ii. 30-35% has whorls
iii. 5% has arches.
2. A loop must have one or more ridges entering from one side of the print, recurving, and exiting from the same side.
3. If a loop opens towards the little finger, it’s called an ulnar loop. If it opens towards the thumb, it’s a radial loop.
4. Whorls are divided into four distinct groups:
i. Plain
ii. Central pocket loop
iii. Double loop
iv. Accidental
5. All whorl patterns must have type lines and a minimum of two deltas.
6. A double loop is made up of two loops combined into one fingerprint.
7. A combination of any 3 types is an accidental.
8. Arches, the least common, are subdivided into two distinct groups –
i. Plain arches
ii. Tented arches
9. Plain arch is the simplest of all fingerprint patterns – formed by ridges entering from one side of the print and exiting on the opposite side.
10. Arches do not have type lines, deltas, or cores.
III. Classification of Fingerprints –
A. The Primary Classification –
1. Primary classification is part of the original Henry system and provides first step in the FBI system.
2. First step: pair up fingers, placing one in the numerator of a fraction, the other in the denominator.
i. R. Index R. Ring L. Thumb L. Middle L. Little
ii. R. Thumb R. Middle R. Little L. Index L. Ring
3. Presence of absence of the whorl pattern is the basis for the determination of the primary classification.
4. Fingerprint classification system cannot in itself unequivocally identify an individual; it merely provides the examiner with an umber of candidates to work with.
5. It’s a rarity for a crime scene to yield anything more than a single partial print, therefore the 10-finger file will only be valuable to known suspects.
B. Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems –
1. The heart of the AFIS technology is the ability of a computer to scan and digitally encode fingerprints so that they can be subject to high-speed processing.
2. The AFIS uses automatic scanning devices that convert the image of a fingerprint into digital minutiae that contain data showing ridges at their points of termination (ridge endings) and the branching of ridges into two ridges (bifurcations).
3. The AFIS, after scanning and comparing, provides an examiner with a list of closest correlations – the human makes the ultimate decision whether two prints match.
C. Methods of Detecting Fingerprints –
1. Three types of crime scene prints:
i. Visible prints – made by fingers touching a surface after the ridges have been in contact with a colored material such as blood, paint, grease, or ink.
ii. Plastic prints – ridge impressions left on a soft material such as putty, wax, soap, or dust.
iii. Latent or invisible prints are impressions caused by the transfer of body perspiration or oils present on finger ridges to the surface of an object.
2. The method of choice in finding latent or invisible prints depends on the surface being examined.
3. Hard and nonabsorbent surfaces require different procedures than soft and porous.
i. Former are preferably developed by the application of a powder or treatment with Super Glue, whereas the latter require treatment with one or more chemicals.
4. The Reflected Ultraviolet Imaging System (RUVIS) is a breakthrough in detection – locating prints on most non absorbent surfaces without the aid of other treatments.
5. Of the several chemical methods used for visualizing latent prints, iodine fuming is the oldest.
i. Must be photographed quickly since “amplification” isn’t permanent.
6. Another chemical is ninhydrin (for latent prints). Illuminates amino acids present in perspiration. May take several hours for prints to appear.
7. Physical Developer is a third chemical mixture used for visualizing latent. Silver nitrate based.
8. For most examiners, ninhydrid is the method of choice. Its sensitivity and ease of application have nearly eliminated iodine fuming.
9. Application of Physical Developer will wash any traces of proteins from an object’s surface; hence, if one wishes to use all of the previously mentioned chemical development methods on the same surface, it is necessary to first fume with iodine, then treat with ninhydrin, then apply Physical Developer.
10. Since 1982, technique known as Super Glue fuming has gained wide popularity for developing latent prints on nonporous surfaces such as metals, electrical tape, leather, and plastic bags.
11. Chemically, it’s 98-99% cyanoacrylate ester.
12. New methods are constantly under development – the illumination of latent prints using laser light is promising.
i. Perspiration contains a variety of components that fluoresce when illuminated by laser light.
13. Next advancement in latent fingerprint development occurred with the discovery that fingerprints could actually be treated with chemicals that would induce fluorescence when exposed to laser illumination.
i. Zinc chloride after ninhydrin treatment or dye rhodamine 6G after Super Glue, caused fluorescence and increased sensitivity for laser illumination.
ii. Called alternate light source.
14. Chemically induced fluorescence made it unnecessary to rely on perspiration residues.
15. Studies have demonstrated that common fingerprint developing agents do not interfere with DNA testing methods used for characterizing bloodstains.
D. Preservation of Developed Prints –
1. Once the latent print has been visualized, it must be permanently preserved for future comparison and possible use in court as evidence.
2. Photographs must be taken before any further attempts at preservation are made.
3. Additionally, photographs must be taken to provide an overall view of the print’s location with respect to other evidential items at the crime scene.
4. Two methods of transporting prints:
i. If object is small enough, it should be transported in entirety with cellophane protection.
ii. If too large, it needs to be lifted using a broad adhesive tape similar to Scotch tape.
E. Digital Imaging For Fingerprint Enhancement –
1. Digital imaging is the process by which a picture is converted into a digital file.
2. The image produced from this digital file is composed of numerous square electronic dots called pixels.
3. The input of pictures into a digital imaging system is usually done through the use of scanners, digital cameras, and video cameras.
|
|
| english essay |
[07 Jan 2007|11:52pm] |
Rebecca Shamis
Task 3 Essay
In order to achieve personal fulfillment in one’s course of work, it is necessary to feel satisfied in the end, and to be doing something enjoyable. Both passage I, and passage II exemplify the idea that one must take pleasure in their work. Through literary elements and techniques such as characterization, point of view, and theme, the authors of these two passages are able to convey this message. Passage I describes a man working without being paid a large salary. He still feels satisfied and content although he has not been very successful. The second passage portrays a girl who enjoys working and being with her father. That alone brings her satisfaction in her employment.
In passage one, the narrator describes a man working building model ships. He is pleased with what he is doing, even though he is not earning money doing this work. The author portrays the theme that one must be happy with their work in order to feel successful. “He had never been so well, so contented. ‘the whole foolish business has cost me nearly two hundred dollars. It is the only thing I ever did that gave me any real satisfaction’ he said”. Though it has cost him money, the man loves what he is doing, and is fulfilled. This theme conveys the idea that work must give a person some sort of satisfaction. Through characterization, the speaker describes a content man who enjoys his work. “He had never carved anything, but when he was a boy in Philadelphia he spent a great deal of time in the shipping [area]. At night, as a boy, he dreamed of ships.” Though he had never built a ship before, it was something he was passionate about. He was passionate about ships and decided to go into a course of work in which he could take part in something he loved. He is described as going into the job inexperienced, but in the end is able to complete a model that he is pleased with.
The second passage, the narrator describes her time working with her father in the Ford plant. She woke up early with her father and would go to work with him. She describes the plant in which the employees eat, and chat, and work.
|
|
|
[20 Dec 2006|11:29pm] |
Observations
Element Color turned
Na+ Bright yellow/orange
K+ purple
Li+ Magenta
Ca+2 Orange
Sr+2 Bright orange
Ba+2 Yellow orange
Cu+2 blue
Element
Unknown 1 K+
Unknown 2 Li+
Questions
1. The two unknown elements were Potassium and Lithium. You could tell because of the colors they turned when heated in the flame. They were the same as the lithium and potassium that we had tested previously.
2. Inaccuracies could be differences in the way people view the colors or if a
3. Na+, Ba+2 and Sr+2 were all similar. All of them produced an orange/yellow color.
4. The colors in the flame tests are produced because
5. A) quantum- an amount
B) ground state- an electrons energy level where it is found before energy is added
C) excited state- an electrons location when energy is added
6. If the elements were heated and a spectroscope was used to observe it,
Errors-
See question #2
|
|
|
[07 Jul 2005|12:39pm] |
Rebecca Shamis
Human Mitochondrial Sequencing
I. 1. Mitochondrial point mutation is a SNP detached in the ring shaped chromosome that is found in the cell’s mitochondria.
2. Mutations are common in mitochondrial DNA, because of exposure to oxygen free radicals, which are generated as a by product of respiration.
3. Mitochondrial mutations can be used to retrace the common maternal lineage of modern humans, as well as determine our relationship to the extinct hominid Neanderthal.
II.
1. We believe that human lineage originated in Africa, from primates, about 5 million years ago.
2. our genus, Homo erectus, arose in Africa as well, about 2.5 million years ago.
3. Some theories about the origin of modern humans exist such as, the displacement theory, which states that the human populations are derived from a single modern population that left Africa about 80000 years ago, and the multiregional theory, which states that the modern populations developed independently from archaic hominid populations in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
III.
1. in many forensic applications, the mitochondrial genome is the genome of choice for a few reasons, including that it is highly amplified, and many copies exist. This makes it possible to obtain a mt. DNA type from the equivalent of a single cell’s worth of mt. DNA.
2. in this lab, we are
|
|
|
[28 Jan 2004|08:11pm] |
friends only
add me and ill add you back
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
becca89's journal