Microbial Analysis of Soil Essay Example for Free

Microbial Analysis of Soil Essay Abstract: soil samples were collected fortnightly from area near Dahisar River, A river in suburb of Mumbai. laboratory analysis started from July 2010 to September 2010. Total bacterial and fungal count were estimated by standard spread plate isolation. Isolated bacteria were subject to colony characterization and were estimated by their morphological and biochemical characters. As being a monsoon the occurrence of variation of different species were high. The microorganisms isolated from the soil were of staphylococcus strain and were gram positive, aerobic, coccus shaped bacteria. The fungal species were also identified, of which Aspergillus and Penicillium were dominant, followed by mucur, as sub dominant .This project aims to find out the water and soil quality of River and as it is flowing through an industrial area, to find out if it is getting affected by the Industrial pollutants. Introduction: Soil is the region on the earth’s crust where geology and biology meet, the land surface that provides a home to plant animal and microbial life (Pelczar et al., 1993). Soil teems with microscopic life (bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa and viruses) as well as macroscopic life such as earthworms, nematodes, mites, and insects, and also the root systems of plants. The numbers and kinds of micro- organisms present in soil depend on many environmental factors: amount and type of nutrients available, available moisture, degree of aeration, pH, temperature etc (Prescott et al., 1999). Soil bacteria and fungi play pivotal roles in various biochemical cycles and are responsible for the recycling of organic compounds (Wall and Virginia, 1999). Soil microorganisms also influence above- ground ecosystems by contributing to plant nutrition, plant health, soil structure and soil fertility (O’Donnell et al., 2001). Soil is generally a favorable habitat for the proliferation of microo rganisms, with micro colonies, developing around soil particles. Numbers of micro organism . In soil habitats normally are much higher than those in fresh water or marine habitats (Atals and Bartha, 1998). Bacteria make up the most abundant group of micro- organisms in the soil (3.0 x 106 – 5.0 x 108) per gram of soil, followed by the actinomycetes (1.0 x 106 – 2.0 x 107), fungi (5.0 x 103 – 9.0 x 106), yeast (I.0 x 103 – 1.0 x 106), algae and protozoa (1.0 x 103- 5.0 x 105) and nematodes (50 – 200) counts per gram of soil are wide differences in the relative proportions of individual bacteria genera found in particular soils (Atals and Bartha, 1998). Soil fungi may occur as free-living organisms or in mycorrhizal association with plant roots. Fungi are found primarily in the top 10 cm of the soil and are rarely found below 30 cm. They are most abundant in well-aerated and acidic soils (Domsch et al., 1980). Most fungi in soil are opportunistic (zymogenous). They grow and carry out active metabolism when conditions are favorable which implies adequate moisture, adequate aeration and relatively high concentrations of utilizable substrates (Postage, 1994; Miyanoto et al., 2002). In this research we isolate culturable heterotrophic bacteria and fungi from different top soil samples MATERIALS AND METHODS Laboratory analysis Preparation of materials The materials needed for this experiment include; glass wares (conical flasks, bijou bottles, pipettes, petri-dishes) and they were washed with detergents. These glass wares were rinsed thoroughly with clean distilled portable water and left to air dry before sterilizing them in the autoclave at 15ââ€" ¦C for 1 hour. Also, the laboratory cabinets on which the work would be carried out was swabbed with cotton wool soaked in methylated spirit to sterilize it before any microbiological analysis was carried out to avoid the growth and isolation of other organisms not present in the samples. After sterilization, the plates were allowed to cool to about 45 degrees before they were used. Microbiological evaluation Ten (10) grams of the soil sample for microbiological evaluation was weighed into 9ml of sterile water. Preparation of serial dilution goes thus: 1ml of the original stocks solution was poured into 9ml sterile distilled water and mixed thoroughly to give 10-2 of the original sample and this was done for each sample and the bottles labeled according to date of collection Isolation and Enumeration of Micro-organisms. 1gram of the samples was homogenized in 9mls of distilled water to obtain a ratio of 1:9 and the second diluted of each sample was plated using the pour plate technique. Sterile molten nutrient agar (NA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), macconky’s agar,(MA) manitol salt agar (MSA) and deoxycholate astrate agar (DCA) were used{the potato dextrose agar (PDA) was acidified). These agars were then added and left to solidify undisturbed. These plates were incubated 37oC for 24hours (incubation was aerobic) and the procedure was repeated using 10-2 finally the number of colonies per plates were counted and recorded. The acidified PDA was incubated at 25C for 3-7 days for microbial growth. Total Bacterial counts (Cfu/g) The total bacteria count for each sample was determined with the pour plate techniques using nutrient agar. The plates were incubated between 24hours at 370C and all colonies appearing on the end of the incubation period were counted using digital unlimited colony counter and the counts were expressed in colony forming unit per gram {CFU/g} of the sample. Colonies of bacteria developing on the plates were observed, isolated and reisolated on a fresh media until pure culture was obtained. Preparation of Pure Culture It is necessary to isolate organisms in pure culture before studying and identifying them because a pure culture originates from one cell. Characteristics colonies from the original culture on the plates were picked with a sterile wire loop (using surface streaking method) and this loop was used to make streak of the colony on the surface of newly prepared sterile agar plates of NA,MA MSA. These streak will space out the inoculants and discrete colony of a particular specie of organism and then incubated at 35-37oC for 24hours to enhance microbial growth. Distinct colonies were re-inoculated on another fresh agar plates in order to obtain a pure culture. The isolates were picked with sterile loop and streaked into prepared agar slants, labeled and incubated for growth after which they were kept in the refrigerator for future use and identification. Identification of Isolates These isolated bacteria were identified using both morphological culture characteristics (i.e. the color, shape, elevation, capacity, consistency, edge) and biochemical test (i.e. citrate, oxidase, indole, sugar fermentation, test etc.)and the bacteria were identified based on the results obtained from the above mentioned biochemical characterization results and the procedures include. Grams Staining Techniques A drop of distilled water was placed on a clean glass slide. The inoculating wire loop was sterilized by flaming until it was red hot (this is to prevent the invasion of unwanted micro- organisms that might be inhabiting the wire loop) in the blue flame of a Bunsen burner. The loop was allowed to cool and the small portion of each colony of microorganisms to be gram stained was picked and smeared in the drop of water (distilled) on the glass slide and then spread into a thin smear along the slide. The smear was air dried and passed through the blue flame. The smear was stained with 1%crystal violet and left for 1minutes (60secs) and then washed with running distilled water it was then stained again with Lugols iodine for another 60secs and also washed with running distilled water. The slide was decolorized rapidly with 75% alcohol in order to present the organism from having the color of the primary reagent and it was washed immediately with distilled water. The slide finally was flooded with a counter stain safranine (a secondary stain) for 60secons and also washed off with distilled water and allow to air dry. The slide was covered with a cover slide and observed under the microscope using oil immersion x 100 objective lens with immersion oil. The gram reaction of the isolated arrangement and the shape of the cell were observed and recorded. Gram positive (+ve) bacterial were characterized by a purple color (i.e. the primary stain) while the gram negative (-ve) bacteria were characterized by red color (i.e. the secondary stain) .This procedure is actually used to ascertain the component of each organisms cell wall. Motility Motility was determined by hanging drop techniques. Using loop, a little part of the colony of the organisms were grown in peptone water for 18hours and then placed in the grease free slide and covered with a Vaseline bound cover slip and then observed under x100 objective lens. A motile organism is then seen moving in the drop of liquid. Identification Of Mold Isolates Mold isolated was identified using cultural and morphological characteristics and according to (Fawole and Oso, 2001), microscopic observation was carried out using lacto phenol blue stain. Procedure for Mold Staining A drop of lacto phenol blue stain was dropped on a clean grease free sterilized glass slide and after this a sterile inoculating wire loop was used to pick the mycelium unto the glass slide from the mold culture .The mycelium was spread evenly on the slide. Teasing was carried out to separate the mycelium in order to get a homogenous mixture and the mixture was then covered with cover slips gently and then allowed to stay for some seconds before observing under x40 under the microscope. The microscope examination of actively growing mold was on the basis of structures bearing spores, presence or absence of septate. BIOCHEMICAL TESTS Catalase Test Catalase test demonstrates the presence of catalase enzyme by aerobic microorganisms. Catalase is an enzyme that catalysis the release of oxygen from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). To test for catalase, a drop of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution was added to a slide and the organism to be tested for catalase production is brought in contact with the hydrogen peroxide. The production of gas bubbles however indicates a positive reaction and this shows that catalase enzyme is produced.(FawoleOso, 2001) Oxidase test This was carried out by placing a clean filter paper on the working bench or petri dishes and 2-3 drops of freshly prepared oxidase reagent was added to the isolate using a sterile inoculating wire loop. After this, a few quantity of oxidase reagent was added and a purple coloration was observed within 10-15minutes which indicated that the organisms is oxidase positive and according to Olutiola et al, 1991, a positive reaction is dependent on the presence of cytochrome. This test is also useful for the separation of Neisseria in mixed culture and in differentiating Pseudomonas from enteric bacteria. Indole test Olutiola et al, 1991, describes the test as one which is important in the differentiation of colonies and it depends on the production of indole from tryptophan by the organism. An inoculating loop was used to inoculate the organism into a test tube containing decarboxylase medium becomes violet. An uninoculated test tube serves as a control (i.e. remained yellow) Sugar fermentation test The ability of the isolates to utilize certain sugar as energy source was tested. If the organism does ferment a particular sugar, acid will be produced and gas may be produced or not. Acid production is indicated by color change of the medium from red to yellow and acid presence could also be detectable with a ph. indicator in the medium while the production of gas is indicated by a void produced in a Durham tube. The fermentation medium was prepared by 0.1g of sodium chloride and 0.1g of fermentable sugar (glucose) in 10ml of distilled water. An amount of 9ml of the medium was pipette into a test tube containing Durham’s tubes in replicates. 5ml of phenol red indicator was immediately discharged into the test tubes. The test tubes containing medium were sterilized in an autoclave at 121 o for 15minutes.After sterilization, each isolate were incubated in glucose Medium. An uninoculated test tube was also incubated for glucose to serve as a control. The test was also carried out using maltose, lactose, galactose, manitol, sucrose, fructose and mannose.(Olutiolaet al., 1991) Discussion: The abundance of bacteria and fungi in this study were typical of environment with high species richness and functional diversity. Despite the fact that it is possible that a number of bacteria and fungi may be missed in this study, the isolates could be readily assigned dominant (e.g. Bacillus sp, Aspergillus sp) or transient/succession roles in the isolation of organisms form different seasons, which form the basis of this study. In additions to the implications of the determination of the number of microorganisms during soil sampling, one should consider the qualitative aspect of the preservation of important species and groups of microorganisms and of the changes in these biochemical characteristics resulting from the variations in these counts. Although the results of this study would not be considered to be exhaustive, as it was done within the limits of facilities available in the laboratory, an insight into the population dynamics and distribution of culturable aerobic bacteria and fungi diversity has been elucidated. This is without prejudice to the possible influence which a substantial proportion of bacteria and fungi that are not culturable in vitro could have on the overall picture of event. It would require more modern technology (nuclei acid probes) to obtain such detailed overview of microbial diversity. This should be a subject of extension of this investigation in future. Conclusion Through this project, if emphasis is made on public health, the observation and findings show striking predominance of Salmonella typhi. And E.coli. E.coli being an enterobacter cause dysentery and S.typhi poses a great risk of typhoid. Health inspector and municipal authorities should look into this matter for further investigation and if possible improvement Acknowledgement Investigators are grateful to the Principal Management of S.V.K.M’s Mithibai College for constant encouragement support. And head of department of zoology Prof. V.V. Dalvie for providing me opportunities and Prof. Radhika D’souza, under whose guidance the project was successfully completed References 1 .Atals RM, Bartha R (1998). Microbial Ecology: Fundamentals and Applications. 4th Edition. Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company Inc. Addison Wesley Longman Inc. pp. 300 – 350. 2. Miyanoto T, Igaraslic T, Takahashi K (2002). Lignin–degradation ability of litter decomposing basidomycetes from picea forest of Hokkaida Myco.sci. (41): 105 – 110. 3. Domsch KH, Gaws W, Anderson TH (1980). Compendium of soil fungi 4. O’ Donnell AG, Seasman M, Macrae A, Waite I, Davies JT (2001). Plants and Fertilizers as drivers of change in microbial community structure and function in soil. Plant Soil (232): 135 – 145. 5. Pelczar MJ, Chan ECS, krieg NR (1993). Microbiology: Concept and Application International edition McGraw-Hill, USA. Pp 281-324. 6. Wall DH, Virginia RA (1999). Controls on soil biodiversity insights from extreme environments. Appl. Soil Ecol. (13): 137–150. 7. Fawole and Oso, 2001

A Streetcar Named Desire | Analysis

A Streetcar Named Desire | Analysis A Streetcar Named Desire, a play by a Southern playwright Tennessee Williams, presents the problems of the United States after both wars and Great Depression. It also touches the issues of immigrant families and the old settlers. Although the play is situated in the South but the compelling manner in which he provides themes makes it rather universal. A Streetcar Named Desire has two strong characters Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski that are concurrently similar and different. Both try to hide their own weakness but in a different way and try to get rid of their inner and also outer problem, but in a different way. Blanche DuBois arrives to her sisters apartment, which is located in New Orleanss part called Elysian Fields, to escape from her unpleasant reality. She and her sister Stella Kowalski are descendants of the old Southern aristocracy and they are descendants of the old immigrants. Even at the beginning of the play Blanche DuBois is considered to be a fallen woman in the eyes of others. She lost all family fortune and family estate Belle Reve, she was present her husbands suicide, her history of sexual relationships is very rich and she also has a serious drinking problem which she tries to cover up. Blanche is an opposite character to her sister Stella. According to their individual past they symbolize dark and light, dirty and clean characters. Blanche, who has very rich personal history which is a heavy burden to her and in fact forces her to leave a family estate behind and leave her hometown, in the play undertakes a process of cleaning herself and she tries to brush her life from every mistake she made and start new life. Underneath all the dirt and sins, there is an insecure, dislocated individual. In A Streetcar Named Desire there are several processes and action for that purpose. The cleaning does not include only personal history, reputation, her body but also relationships and the way she is treated. Blanches problems with men started when she got married too young a hidden homosexual, who committed suicide after the confrontation with his sexuality. During her carrier as a teacher she seduced or was seduced by many men including her student. Although she probably never was alone in her hometown but certainly she was lonely. Because of all her dirty and bad history of her, she wants to make a relationship in a right way. For Blanche a vision of marriage with Mitch means to escape from dirty and sinful past, to clean herself from the other men. In this case, the wearing of white dress, which is a colour of innocence, as a bride would symbolically clean her history with men. Mens exploitation of her sexuality has left her with a very poor reputation and with that came destitution. She believes she is an honorable lady of South who deserves to be treated that way but with all the gossips she cannot be. She tries to find a typical Southern gentleman who can save her and take care of her. This chivalric man is in the play represented by non-existing millionaire Shep Huntleigh. Blanche is depending on sexual admirations of men for it brings her almost lost self-esteem. In spite of every attempt for gaining normal marriage and dignity she fails again. Blanche will never be able to clean herself from the past and men because of her relying on them and putting her fate in their hands. The dependency and inability to see thing realistically leads to inevitable downfall rather than to purge. The strongest motif of the cleaning processes is bathing. Blanche bathes throughout the whole A Streetcar Named Desire. She claims that the hot water calms her nerves and in the Scene Two she says, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦all freshly bathed and scented, and feeling like a brand new human being! So the cleaning is taken as a physical symbol on the one hand metaphorically and on the other hand literally. Her sexual experiences made her a dirty person and subconsciously she wants to get rid of her odious history. Her efforts to forget and clean herself cannot erase her past and because of that her bathing takes a long time, it is almost never done. Blanches constant bathing starts in the Scene Two. Stanley and Stella are talking about the lost of Belle Reve. Stella is satisfied with the Blanches answer that it had to be sacrificed. However, pragmatic Stanley wants to see all the papers concerning the family estate. He seemed to always hope of owning the estate or take an advantage from its sale. Stanley checks clothes in Blanches trunk and accuses Blanche that money from the sale is in her wardrobe now instead of in his pocket. While Blanche is bathing first facts about her history is revealing. She baths as she would like to wash her guilt of losing the Belle Reve. And behind her back others are deciding of her future. During bathing Blanche is singing. In Scene Two and Seven there is a popular ballad Its Only a Paper Moon. The lyrics Its a Barnum and Bailey world / Just as phony as it can be / But it wouldnt be make-believe / If you believed in me, describe the world where love is turn from reality into a phony fantasy. Love dos not exist in the real world and it is only imagined. It narrates Blanches life and her strong believe that her future happiness with Mitch lies in her behaviour. Blanche thinks that if she would try hard enough the hope would have become reality. The song very well accompanies the process of cleaning herself during bathing. Tennessee Williams use a juxtaposition of Blanches perception of her love life and the cruel reality, Blanches optimistic interpretation of the song with Stanleys mischievous revelations about her. Williams creates an ironic dramatic situation where Blanche is singing about, in fact, nonsense. As Blanche takes a bath Stanley tells Stella about her sisters sexual history. Other important thing is taking place behind Blanches back. Stanley tells Stella that he also told the whole history not only to her but also to Mich. Stella is now sure that Mitch will never marry Blanche because of that. While Blanche is bathing other important information about her reveals. On the outside Blanche appears to be fresh and temporarily renewed. However, she fails the process of cleaning herself from past and her reputation again. Stanley has objections against Blanches constant bathing. On a metaphorical level he shows his rejections towards Blanches processes of cleaning and purification. There is other song Blanche is using for getting rid of her past and becoming as innocent as she was when she has been still married. The Varsouviana Polka is the tune which she hears in her head. It is also a tune which she was dancing with her husband and when she last saw him alive. The song reminds Blanche times of innocence and the time when the decline of her life became. The day when Allen Grey committed suicide she saw him with other male friend in bed and pretended that nothing happened. However, during dancing on the tune of Varsouviana Polka she told him that she found him disgusting. The polka represents Blanches longing for innocence which is already lost. First Blanche hears it during the meeting of Stanley in the Scene One. Other appearance of the tune accompanies Blanches narration of her young husbands death. Since her mental decline begins she can hear the Varsouviana Polka constantly. For the purposes of process of cleaning she tires to move her miseries out of rea lity and focuses on her imaginary dream past world, she focuses on the becoming innocent again. In fact, her insanity is a token of regression to ideal imaginary environment. In conclusion, Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire tries through various ways to get rid of the past, sins, mistakes, memories and reputation. She arrived in Elysian Fields, which is the place where souls come before they can come back to our world, we can assume that her journey will start all over again. So from the beginning it is clear that Blanche is going to fail. Her problems go hand in hand. Her troubles with man would be cleaned by a wearing of a white dress at her wedding with Mitch, Blanches obsessive bathing resembles plunging of souls, the processes of cleaning are very psychic because she hopes to get away her habitual sins, alcohol does not wash away memories and also the songs which accompanied washing of the sins away do not help. Blanche is forced to leave with all her mistakes back to the rough reality but from the fresh new start but to the same stained history and reputation. Literature Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire . New York: Signet, 1974.

Essays - Capital Punishment is Our Best Solution for Unwanted Criminals :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Essays - Capital Punishment is Our Best Solution for Unwanted Criminals      Ã‚  Ã‚   Have you been wondering where all our tax dollars are going to these days? A large amount of it is going towards maintaining murderers, rapists and thieves, and for what reason, to live the good life?   The average prisoner costs the federal government one hundred and fifty dollars a day which amounts to fifty- three thousand four hundred dollars a year.   Now, ask yourself this question, Is it worth all this money to keep these savage criminals in jail? Do you really want these brutal criminals after release from prison roaming freely in our streets near our homes?   The ultimate answer to these questions is only too evident, we must control the situation, we need to enforce an alternative... we need Capital Punishment.      Ã‚  Ã‚   For all of the murderers, thieves, drug lords, rapists and any other severe law perpetrator, there must be some form of control and it must be capital punishment.   Any person who kills people with no regrets or rapes innocent victims continuously, does not deserve to live in a luxurious North American penitentiary or anywhere for that matter, they deserve nothing but the death penalty.   When the words ‘death penalty' or ‘capital punishment' are heard, they obviously are disturbing and uncomfortable, but so are their crimes.   There is no hope for criminals with this kind of behavior and mentality. I believe that capital punishment is the key necessity.      Ã‚  Ã‚   If capital punishment was enforced for severe crimes, it would eliminate a fair amount of tax money going towards the judiciary system.   If a prison were to maintain a deadly criminal sentenced for life starting at the age of thirty and living to seventy, it would cost tax payers an unbelievable amount of two million one hundred and thirty-six thousand dollars.   It is hard to believe but it is true, and imagine, if that is the cost of just one criminal, imagine the astronomical amount of five hundred criminals each costing that amount of money... something must be done.   Capital punishment would eliminate those figures and leave you and me a whole lot happier.      Ã‚  Ã‚   When a murderer kills a person and goes to court, he expects to get around thirty to fifty years in jail, and if he behaves well in prison, he could very well get out in half the time.   It is also a fact that after the criminal has been released from prison, he will most likely perform the same acts that rendered him there in the first place.   Society can't handle these brutal

Politics and The Death Penalty :: the anti-death penalty position

The question regarding whether the United States should implement the death penalty as a form of punishment is a heated issue in American politics. The topic is so divisive because it deals with death, which is permanent. Life is valued in every society, and when life is taken away, emotions rise. Most human beings maintain a strong underlying fear of dying, so they wish to prevent their own death, especially their murder, at any cost. Furthermore, since crime is a prevalent problem in the U.S., Americans yearn for a successful way to reduce the homicide rate. However, most Americans do not favor the use of the death penalty when other options, such as life in prison without parole plus restitution, are presented (Dieter). By comparing the empirical and moral claims of the arguments in favor and against the use of the death penalty, we suggest that the presidential candidate take a cautiously anti-death penalty stance. The key issues involve whether the U.S. should sustain the current death penalty system, abolish it in favor of life in prison without parole plus restitution, or only reform the system to make it less costly and free of class, racial, and mental illness discrepancies. Many people have a stake in the issue. Organizations such as Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union are against the death penalty because they claim it is a cruel and unusual form of punishment, while other groups such as the National Center for Policy Analysis support the death penalty because they believe that life sentences do not deter homicide. Furthermore, victims’ families have a stake in the issue because they deserve justice for their murdered loved ones, and convicted murders have a stake because their own lives are in jeopardy as they sit on death row. Most importantly, all the citizens of the United States are involved in the matter, since the way in which we punish crime af fects public safety. Death penalty supporters believe that capital punishment is the only sure way to deter murderers from committing murders again. â€Å"The argument that murderers are the least likely of all criminals to repeat their crimes is not only irrelevant, but also increasingly false. Six percent of young adults paroled in 1978 after having been convicted of murder were arrested for murder again with six years of release† (Death Penalty Paper).

Internet Taxation Essay -- Internet Tax Taxing Essays

Internet Taxation The passage of the Internet Tax Freedom Act, on October 21, 1998 there has been an intense debate on whether to tax or not to tax Internet purchases. The conservative side is opposed to Internet taxation saying that it is too costly to collect tax on Internet purchases. They also believe that since Internet retailers do not have any of their operations in all the states, not every state should receive the sales tax made on the purchase. On the other hand, the liberal believe that taxation of the Internet should be lawful because states are losing valuable tax bases to Internet purchases. They believe that at current rates of online shopping, states are losing millions of dollars annually that are used for public roads, police protection, and education. Both sides of the Internet taxation argument use logos and ethos appeals. Logos appeals are the main form of argument for both sides. Plenty of examples and statistics are used to support the logos argument. Ethos appeals are not as prevalent as logos, but are enter strung throughout the articles to support both sides. Pathos appeals are almost non-existent in any articles found, so they are not a main contributing factor in the overall argument on Internet taxation. In the Issues & Controversies section of Clemson Universities Expanded Academic Search the article, â€Å"Internet Taxation,† both the pros and cons concerning Internet taxation are mentioned to establish both views concerning the issue facing the United States people. The conservative or con side on taxes mainly uses logos argument to make their point. Supports of the tax free Internet say that because of the way transactions are carried out on the web, electronic sales are vulnerabl... ...o adopt a unified sales tax for Internet purchases. They are a liberal group for Internet taxation, which recently got shot down with the onset of the extended Internet Tax Freedom Act. The coalition is not currently trying to persuade e-tailers to join their position on Internet taxation. Big names such as Amazon.com have not joined the talks for good reason. Online retailers do not want states to adopt a plan to implement taxes online since it would threaten the tax-free shopping advantage that these online retailers enjoy. Even with the onset of new rulings for a tax-free Internet there has not been a complete loss for the coalitions efforts. In a 1992 Supreme Court ruling states that e-tailers must collect sales tax in the states in which they have a physical presence. All in all efforts for both sides have resulted in a partial tax and tax-free Internet.

James I of England and Macbeth

Some say he's mad; others, that lesser hate him, Do call it valiant fury† (Caithness: Act 5, Scene 2) Consider Macbeth as a gothic protagonist in the light of this comment.Although William Shakespeare's ‘Macbeth‘ was written in a time before the introduction of the Gothic genre, it is fair to argue that he fits the role typically prescribed to Gothic protagonists. However, the question of whether he is ‘mad' or shows actions of ‘valiant fury' is a matter open to interpretation. Sickness and madness are common themes in Gothic texts, and it is arguable to suggest that as a Gothic protagonist, Macbeth is indeed driven to madness.Firstly, his repeated association with various supernatural elements in the play present him as being a character who is perhaps driven by his own mental manifestations; upon seeing a levitating dagger, Macbeth questions whether it is in fact â€Å"a dagger of the mind†, citing the possibility of his â€Å"heat-oppress'd br ain† being the factor behind this vision. However, while many Gothic protagonists are associated with elements of the supernatural, that is not to say that they are mad. For example, when Macbeth witnesses Banquo's ghost – â€Å"Never shake thy gory locks at me!† – it is perhaps fairer to argue that the ghost is a manifestation of his own guilt as opposed to an outright madness which possessed Macbeth.Those who argue that Macbeth is mad may relate his madness back to the notion of Gothic protagonists possessing an all-consuming passion or goal which they are determined to reach. In Macbeth's case, this desire is arguably his thirst for power and desire to kill the king. Some critics would refute this point, and argue that Macbeth does not harbour such a passion, and that it is the femme fatale-esque character of Lady Macbeth who taunts Macbeth with demeaning rhetorical language such as â€Å"Are you a man?† and â€Å"I would be ashamed to wear a he art so white†; there is certainly evidence to suggest that Macbeth's desire to be king does not lead to his madness, and that it is his wife's power that leads him to the first of many murderous acts.However, this interpretation may be too narrow in its analysis, and it is perfectly possible to argue that Macbeth's inherent thirst for power is what leads to his ‘madness'. In act one scene four Macbeth expresses quiet dismay at  Malcolm's appointment as the Prince of Cumberland, referring to the obstacles in his path to glory as â€Å"a step / On which I must fall down, or else o'er-leap†. In terms of structure, this scene occurs before Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's onstage discussion, and suggests that Macbeth's madness does indeed stem from the typical Gothic protagonist role as one who is driven to madness or inner conflict by an all-consuming passion. Furthermore, this passion is present even in Macbeth's first meeting with the witches, where Banquo notes that M acbeth is â€Å"rapt withal† at the possibility that he â€Å"shalt be king hereafter†.Another typical feature of a Gothic protagonist is a high social rank, which â€Å"noble Macbeth† certainly adheres to. It may then be in his nature as a worthy warrior to strive for greatness and power; perhaps Macbeth's actions are down to ‘valiant fury' after all. Shakespeare's use of adjectives such as â€Å"brave† and â€Å"worthy† establish him as a high-ranking soldier before he is even introduced; this of course contrasts with the language used to describe him later, where demonic imagery such as referring to him as a â€Å"hell-hound† and â€Å"something wicked† associates him with inherent evil.In act one scene two, the Captain describes Macbeth's fearlessness and fury on the battlefield, describing how Macbeth ran his sword â€Å"from his nave t'the chops† in what is considered an act of bravery. This may lead to the assertio n that Macbeth is not ‘mad' after all, and that the nature of his character is far more likely to succumb to ‘valiant fury', since he is a warrior and, as already mentioned, has the will to kill the king harbouring within him as soon as he hears the witches' prophecy. However, the word ‘valiant' suggests a sense of honour and dignity surrounding Macbeth's tyrannical reign.Macbeth's actions may have been valiant, had King Duncan been a cruel and oppressive king. However, Shakespeare presented Duncan as a kind and virtuous character, perhaps to appease King James I, who was the king at the time of writing and admired Shakespeare's work. The fact that Macbeth murders the king is already contrary to the divine right of kings at the time, but the fact that the king was virtuous allowed for little interpretation calling Macbeth ‘valiant'. Furthermore, Macbeth's duplicitous nature in the play sets him aside as a character who does not possess ‘valiant fury' at all.He openly lies to Banquo, his trusted friend, by replying with â€Å"I think not of them† when questioned about the witches, and after Duncan's body is found he  delivers a melodramatic and duplicitous monologue expressing his professed grief. The fact that Macbeth is called â€Å"noble† and is described indirectly as â€Å"a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust† directly contrasts with his duplicitous and cunning nature. This contrast is perhaps best explained as the extremes of Macbeth's behaviour as a character, a feature typical of Gothic protagonists.Most Gothic protagonists are caught in a dilemma or inner conflict, which often leads to extremes of behavior. In Macbeth's case, it is as though he is aware of his own actions and cannot even say the word ‘murder', instead making use of euphemisms such as â€Å"this bloody business†, yet he is also flippant in certain orders, such as the request that Macduff's â€Å"wife and babesâ €  should be killed. Therefore, considering his conflicting and deceptive nature, it is indeed possible to refer to Macbeth's actions as fury rather than madness. Valiant fury, however, is perhaps not true; there seems to be almost no honor or nobility in Macbeth's actions and willingness to lie.Macbeth's alleged madness is often linked to his use of emotive language. For example, the metaphor â€Å"full of scorpions is my mind† makes it sound as though Macbeth's mind is poisoned, or out of his control. However, as just one of many instances where Macbeth uses Gothic language, it is not necessarily true to link such metaphors to madness. Instead, it is perhaps likely that Macbeth is referring to the conflicting nature of his mind, and the inner turmoil that he is facing as a Gothic protagonist. In conclusion, the assertions that Macbeth is either ‘mad' or harbours ‘valiant fury' both seem to undermine his nature as a Gothic protagonist.Macbeth's ‘madness' is perhaps better described as the conflicting nature of any Gothic protagonist, and the notion that Macbeth's fury is ‘valiant' contrasts the numerous times where Macbeth's cunning is anything but valiant or noble. Macbeth is indeed typical of a Gothic protagonist but, like many, does not necessarily fall into just one category.

Quotes from the Outliers

Select one of the excerpts from below (quotes from heterogeneous chapters In Outliers book). Organization of paper Typed 12 meridian Times New papistic font, MEAL format regarding header, title, and parenthetical citations 2 pages in length Dates Work on paper in class (computer lab) Monday, closing facsimile due Wednesday (printed paper copy due in class). You must alike submit your essay online to www. Turning. Com by midnight on Wednesday, 2/12 or baptismal font up to a 20 point deduction.In Outliers Chapter 1, Malcolm Caldwell writes Its not enough to ask what undefeated people are like It is moreover by asking where they are from that we spate unravel the logic behind who succeeds and who doesnt. accommodate or disagree. Support your position with withdraw evidence. In Outliers Chapter 2, Malcolm Caldwell writes People were given a special opportunity to work really hard and seized it, and who happened to come of age at a time when that extraordinary hunting exped ition was rewarded by the rest of society. Their success was not Just of their own making.The paragraphs must be arranged in a logical order with transitions between them. 10 discourse Choice/Diction Word choice should be precise. No slang. No contractions. 5 Sentence Fluency/Effective sentence structure taste should contain a kind of sentence types. 10 8 5 Presentation (MEAL format with left and pay off headers, title, page numbers, etc. ) 10 Conventions Essay should be free of mechanical errors, tradition errors, verb tense errors, spelling errors. No run-ones. No fragments. ONE point off for apiece error. 1100 points