It's About Time

I'm about to put this blog to good use. I'm going to start transcribing my diary entries onto this site. This should end well.

Expanded Definition

WHAT IS CRYSTALLIZATION?

Crystallization is a complex but highly valued process in the petrochemical and manufacturing industries. Crystallization is described as the process of producing crystals through the precipitation of a solute from a solvent, a melt, or by being directly deposited from a gas. This can be accomplished through a variety of methods including, but not limited to, cooling, evaporation or chemical processes.
With the fast growth of the chemical industry in the last 100 years, the demand for the study of crystallization dynamics has increased greatly. Variations of this process have been used for thousands of years, and today many types of equipment are used depending on the product needed and the cost involved. From plastics, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food products, the process of crystallization is considered an important industrial process due to the large number of materials marketed as crystalline particles. Some of the many products which rely on crystallization in the manufacturing process include:

• Ascorbic Acid
• Bisphenol-A-Adduct
• Boric Acid
• Caffeine
• Calcium Chloride
• Potassium Phosphate
• Salicylic Acid
• Silver Nitrate
• Vitamin C
A sample of boric acid crystals.
The crystallization process is a type of unit operation that begins by dissolving a chemical compound into a given solvent creating a mixture called mother liquor. The solute substance is precipitated from the mother liquor under controlled conditions. In order to obtain effective control over the process, importance is placed on controlling retention time and crystal mass. The goals are to achieve the most favorable conditions for the development of crystal specific surface and the fastest possible growth.
The crystallization process is made up of two major events. These are referred to as the nucleation phase and the crystal growth phase. Nucleation is the step where the dissolved molecules which have been dispersed in the solvent begin to form into clusters that become stable under the current operating conditions. These stable clusters constitute the nuclei. Whenever these clusters remain unstable, they begin to redissolve. Therefore, the clusters need to reach a critical size in order to become stable nuclei. Such critical size is dictated by the operating conditions of the particular process used (temperature, pressure, supersaturation, etc.). It is at the stage of nucleation that the atoms become arranged in a defined and periodic manner that will define the crystal structure. Crystals are formed following a well-defined structure that is established by forces that work on the molecular level. As a consequence, during its formation process, the crystal is in an environment where the solute concentration reaches a certain critical value before changing phases.
The main factors influencing solubility are concentration and temperature. The formation of solid crystals, which cannot take place below the solubility threshold at the given temperature and pressure conditions, takes place at a concentration higher than the theoretical solubility level. This fundamental factor in the crystallization process, referred to as supersaturation, is the difference between the actual value of the solute concentration at the crystallization limit and the theoretical solubility threshold. Supersaturation is the main factor behind the initial nucleation step and the crystal growth that follows, neither of which can occur in saturated or undersaturated conditions.

Nearing The End

Just got called for a second job interview. This is an encouraging sign for me. That and I graduate in December.

Life Changes

I’m currently trying to decide if I want to start blogging about everything that’s going on in my life here or on my other blog. A lot of things are changing and some of those changes are going to either shock or offend some people. To those people I would just ask that you keep it to yourself. It’s hard enough without being harassed and hated on. I took a new saying to heart when I saw it and really believe that it’s going to help me get through the days easier when people try bringing me down:

Always be yourself. Because the people that matter don’t mind. And the ones that do mind don’t matter.

I recently started to keep a paper diary of some of my daily activities, the first one I’ve had in almost 30 years, which I might begin transcribing to my blogs. I guess I should look at my Google Analytics information to see what kind of traffic I’m getting. It may not be that big of a deal right now, and it may be that the content causes an explosion in traffic. I guess only time will tell. What really needs to be determined is what kind of people are reading my blogs. If all I’m getting is a bunch of closed minded, prejudiced, homophobic assholes, then I’m not going to put anything up on this blog or the other. I’ll start a new one just for the purpose of documenting what I feel could be very helpful to others as well as myself when I need to look back and see how far I’ve come. Comments and constructive criticism are welcome, but please try to keep it civilized. Life can be hard enough without someone trying to ruin your day before it’s even begun.

Working Copy For Essay 2

The assignment is based on an essay by Stephen Chapman titled The Prisoner's Dilemma: Why is it significant that punishment in the West is private and follows secular guidelines, whereas in Eastern cultures, punishment is public and follows Koranic law? Discuss how differences in forms of punishment reveal cultural values.


The establishment of laws in society and the punishments for breaking them have roots in religion throughout history. Many criminal behaviors today, such as murder and theft, have not changed in thousands of years, but the manner in which those crimes are prosecuted, judged, and punished have changed even in cultures whose laws were originally founded in religion. While religion has been the foundation upon which the basic structure of ethical behavior in society is based, it has been almost totally eradicated from modern court rooms in the west. This is very different from countries in the Middle East whose laws are based on the Koran, where the religion is the law and punishment is meted out according to scripture.

With the secularization of the legal system in Western countries, trials and subsequent sentencing were taken behind closed doors and away from the public eye. While some high profile crimes draw the attention of the media and are reported in the news rampantly, most are quietly decided and their defendants sentenced to be tucked away in a cell with other like minded criminals far from the public eye. There is seldom any impact on the psyche of the public, others involved in the same criminal activities, or even those that would ponder committing an offense against society. Only when capital punishment is being delivered for the most heinous of crimes does the public once again become aware of the seriousness of the what can happen when the law is broken.

Where Koranic law is the accepted practice there is a much more drastic approach taken to the trial and punishment of offenses which can be as trivial as singing or dancing in public or as severe as murder. Some offenses, such as blasphemy and abandoning Islam, carry the same weight as murder: the death penalty. Punishments are frequently carried out in public and commonly attended by large audiences of men, women and children. These public displays of discipline serve as a warning and reminder of the consequences for breaking the law, leaving an often graphic and brutal image forever etched into the minds of those present to witness them.

So how do these differing manners of implementing justice impact society and its miscreants? It has been shown that imprisoning criminals is doing little to accomplish the desired goal of rehabilitating them for re-entry into society. The prison system is overloaded with people convicted of petty non-violent crimes who, after being condemned to serve long jail sentences with violent offenders, will probably be scarred for life after their release. And while it can surely be said that a thief in the Middle East who has his hand cut off for stealing will also be scarred for life, he is highly unlikely to commit the same offense again, nor for that matter any other. As this once corrupt person carries on with his daily activities, the sign of his punishment serves as a visual reminder to everyone he encounters of the cost that must be paid for not obeying the law.

Review of The Four Agreements

This is more of a self help book than a business book.  However, it provides a powerful code of conduct to apply in today’s tough business world.  The code of conduct  is based on four values “agreements” that are hard to apply.  The difficulty in application comes from the fact that they go against the traditional way people are trained to deal with others and situations they face.  The four agreements are: be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best. 
The book was written by Don Miguel Ruiz.  In each section he explains one of  the “four agreements.  Be Impeccable with Your Word is the first of the four agreements.  It is about speaking with integrity.  Considering the word as a sacred testament of truth, Don stresses the importance of only speaking the truth and using the word for the betterment of self and others.  He elaborates on how  the word can be used as a “healing” tool and as a “poison.”  From a business perspective, one can draw parallels to being positive and negative in communicating with others.
Don't Take Anything Personally is the second agreement.  In this section, Ruiz makes a compelling demonstration on how nothing is personal.  When people hurt, cheat, abuse, or betray others, it is not personal.  So, when subjected to any of these evils of others, one should remember that it is not personal and react accordingly.  This is a tough thing to do in a world that takes everything personally, according to Ruiz.    He asserts that nothing others do is because of you. What others say or do is a projection of their own reality and dreams. When people say that someone “hurt their feelings” in reality they mean that they made a decision to be hurt by what someone said or did.  So, according to Ruiz what another person has done has nothing to do with how it affects us.  He takes this to the extreme without leaving room for any exceptions.  When a person is immune to the opinions and actions of others, then that person will cease to be the victim of needless suffering caused by taking what others do personally.  This can be especially important in business.  Competition, rivalry, and even disagreements and feuds are all not personal.  They are about the business and not personal.  It is better to focus on behavior and statements, rather than people, when trying to solve a problem.
Don't Make Assumptions  is about finding the courage to ask questions and to express wants and needs in a clear and candid manner. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. Assumptions make people believe things that do not exist by becoming hostage to their own assumptions.  Instead of assumptions, Ruiz suggests clearly expressing feelings and making an effort to understand clearly others’ motives, statements, and behaviors.  According to him, one can completely transform his or her life with just this agreement.  In business, making false assumptions is a cause of failure for projects and companies alike.  If people make less assumptions, or try to validate their assumptions, they would face less risk of making a wrong business decision.
Always Do Your Best is the last agreement, but could be the most important.    Someone’s best is going to change over time and depending on strength, psyche, and circumstances.  When people do the best they could, they avoid self-judgment and self-abuse.  When doing a person’s best, then there will be no regrets.  Don demonstrates how he himself uses this agreement to his advantage.  When asked whether he applies what he preaches, he always answers: “I do my best.” In the business world, after doing one’s best, one should be content with the outcomes.  This should have the positive effect of pushing self to the highest performance levels.  That will result in the highest possible effort been exerted towards achieving goals.
The four agreements affect each other as they are inter-dependent and complement one another.  According to the author, one must combine the four together to be able to apply any of them properly.  In the business world, all four agreements are applicable, and can relieve much of the stress that comes from the disappointments and problems of today’s business world. 
The book is based on the Toltec tradition.  Toltecs are a nation that ruled much of Maya central Mexico from the tenth to twelfth centuries A.D. Toltecs have been known throughout southern Mexico as "women and men of knowledge" for many centuries. The book author; Don Miguel Ruiz, is himself a shaman of the Toltec tradition.  Ruiz led a normal life as a surgeon until a near death experience in the 70s changed his life.  Don dedicated the first part of the book  to talk about the Toltecs, their beliefs, values, and views on life.
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The Four Agreements is a book written by don Miguel Ruiz, a shaman of the Toltec tradition whose life was transformed after a near death experience in the 1970s, in which he explains what the four agreements are and how they can be applied in everyday life. The book is based on the teachings and traditions of the Toltec people that ruled much of the Maya region of Mexico between the tenth and twelfth centuries A.D. and who were widely known in southern Mexico as "women and men of knowledge". The first chapter of the book establishes a background about the Toltec people, their beliefs, values, and views on life. In the sections which follow he explains each of the four agreements: be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, and always do your best. These four concepts are complimentary, they are each dependent on the others and must be combined for any of them to be applied properly. The four agreements are simple concepts to understand yet can be difficult to apply . This is because of the manner which people are accustomed to dealing with others and situations they face in their lives.

The four agreements start with Be Impeccable With Your Word. The focal point here is placed on only speaking the truth, speaking with integrity, and using the word for the betterment of others and yourself. Don Ruiz explains that the word should be considered a sacred testament of truth, and when it is, it can be used as a tool to bring about healing.

Don't Take Anything personally is the second agreement. Ruiz explains that this can be a hard thing to do in a world that takes everything personally. The assertion made here is that nothing others say or do is because of you, but it is rather a projection of their own reality and dreams. By immunizing ourselves from the opinions and actions of others we can stop being victims of the unnecessary suffering that comes from taking what others do to us personally.

Don't Make Assumptions centers on the ability to effectively communicate with people and clearly express our wants and needs and, according to Ruiz, a person can completely transform their life by just applying this agreement. When we make assumptions, we begin to believe in non-existent things which we in turn become hostages to. Ruiz explains that we need to have the strength to ask questions, express our feelings, and communicate clearly with others to fully understand their motives, statements, and behaviors. By doing so, we can avoid sadness, drama, and misunderstandings.

Always Do You Best is the last of the four agreements. This is very important because when we do our best, we prevent ourselves from falling prey to the misery which comes from self-judgment and self-abuse. After doing our best, we will have no regrets and be content with the results of our efforts.

The Four Agreements is the first book in a long time that I was able to finish reading. I was reminded of the books by Carlos Castaneda that I would spend hours pouring over. After reading the first chapter, my interest in rebuilding my collection of Castaneda's books was rekindled. The concepts are the same, yet beautifully simplified, so that anyone can read and understand it. Don Ruiz presents the Toltec teachings in a clear and easy to understand format for the casual reader. This is in stark contrast to Castaneda's books, which can seem more like fantasy novels. Castaneda's books were written from the perspective of a Toltec shaman's apprentice and targeted to a reading audience that typically had some background in metaphysics or the mystical arts. Now that I've finished The Four Agreements, I look forward to reading don Ruiz's other two books first in the hope that they will give me a little more insight into the Toltec teachings which could sometimes be difficult to comprehend in Castaneda's writings.

The Genie

A couple went golfing one day at a very, very exclusive course lined with million dollar homes. On the third tee, the husband cautioned, "Honey, be careful when you drive. If we break one of those windows it'll cost us a fortune to repair." Of course, she tee'd off and promptly shanked it right through the window of the biggest house on the course. The husband cringed, "I warned you to watch out...now we'll have to go up there and apologize and see how much that lousy drive is going to cost." They walked up, knocked on the door, and a warm voice said, Come on in." When they opened the door they saw glass all over the place and a broken antique bottle lying on its side near the broken window. A man reclining on the couch said, "Are you the people that broke the window?" "Ooh yeah, we're sure sorry about that" the husband replied. "Oh, no apology is necessary. Actually I want to thank you. You see, I'm a genie, and I've been trapped in that bottle for a thousand years. Now that you've released me, I'm allowed to grant three wishes. I'll give you each one wish, and I'll keep the last one for myself." "Wow, that's great!" the husband said." He pondered a moment and blurted out, "I'd like a million dollars a year for the rest of my life." "No problem, you've got it, it's the least I can do. And now you, young lady, what do you want?" the genie asked looking at the wife. "I'd like to own a gorgeous home complete with servants in every country in the world" she said. "Consider it done." The genie said. "And now, they both asked in unison, "What's your wish, genie?" "Well, since I've been trapped in that bottle and haven't been with a woman in a thousand years, my wish is to have sex with your wife." The husband looked at his wife and said, "Gee, honey, you know we both now have a fortune, and all those houses. What do you think?" She mulled it over for a few moments and said, "You know, you're right. Considering all that, I guess I wouldn't mind." The genie and the woman went upstairs where he ravished her for the rest of the afternoon. Both satisfied each other repeatedly, and afterward, as the genie rolled over he looked at the wife and asked, "Tell me, how old are you and your husband?" "Why, we're both 35" she responded breathlessly. "No kidding! Thirty-five years old and both of you idiots still believe in genies?"