Saturday, November 30, 2019

The French Lieutenants Woman By John Fowles Essays - John Fowles

The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles On page 316 of the novel The French Lieutenant's Woman author John Fowles briefly interrupts the fiction to discuss with the reader his role as a novelist. He has come up with two very different endings to the novel and wishes to share both with his readers. However, he cannot give two storyline endings simultaneously, and if one comes before another, the final chapter will seem more potent than the first. In trying not to side with any particular characters he decides on a coin toss to decide which conclusion to give last. At this point Charles is on a train, and Fowles considers leaving him there to allow the reader the opportunity devise their own conclusion for the novel. I can only assume that Fowles came up with both endings at roughly the same time, and each of them seemed as valid an ending as the other to him. Traditionally, it would have been up to him to chose one ending and make it final. However it seems he was not able, or did not want to chose just one of the endings to the novel. It would seem that Fowles is trying to be fair to all of the characters by including the various endings which satisfy all of them. Fowles comments that the job of a novelist is "to put two conflicting wants in the ring and describe the fight", which is essentially what he has done. However it is hard to decide for whom to fix the fight in favor of when one owns both fighters. Fowles also briefly mentions allowing "freedom of characters" in his writing. This concept is somewhat vague. To allow freedom of characters is to essentially allow the characters to do anything that the author thinks of. Why would a character ever not be able to do whatever the author thinks of ? There are no written rules that authors must conform to while writing a novel about how characters must behave, and that a character must stay in character. The identity of the character is constantly changing as the novel progresses, constantly being updated since the reader has only a brief glimpse into the life of a character in the novel. I think it would be quite rare for an author to not allow his characters freedom (unless of course he is living in a country under dictatorship or communism, but that doesn't count because the author doesn't have freedom either so why should his characters). "The chief argument of fight fixing is to show one's readers what one thinks of the world around one". The author must fix the fight in favor of one side to make the writing a novel, to create the story with one's views on the world implanted into it. Fowles however did not live in the world he is fixing the fight in and can only know about it from other readings or indirect information. Fowles describes a story that has supposedly taken place over a century ago, and shows several views of another world by giving the novel two separate endings. Through this Fowles shows two separate views , by giving us two separate endings, which essentially changes his entire outlook on the world from one ending to another. One is more optimistic than the other, so he gives us an optimistic look at the world as well as a pessimistic view of the world in which the novel unfolds. The bulk of Fowles comments on what a novelist should be are somewhat contradictory to what he has done with his novel. He has said that it is the job of the author to describe the conflict after having chosen the outcome. However, Fowles himself seems to play quite an active role in The French Lieutenant's Woman , often jumping in to give modern day references such as in the case of Mrs. Poultney and the Gestapo. I believe this kind of writing is very beneficial for the reader. If the author has enough information about an era to convincingly write about it, and make references to modern times, it seems to give the reader a better understanding of the novel and make them feel more involved. Although Fowles has said that his job is simply to describe the fight it is somewhat more interesting when he slips back into the 20th century. In the many places in the novel when Fowles jumps in to the novel to explain or further describe

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Changing Date for Australia Day Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Changing Date for Australia Day Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Changing Date for Australia Day Name Institutional Affiliation Reasons Why Australia Day should be Changed . Native Australians associate January 26th with the invasion of their country. o It is a painful reminder of the harmful past that the aboriginals had to endure, the commencement of massacres, oppression, and land grabbing from the aboriginals. o On this day, people celebrate what is great about Australia. That means celebrating the history of Australia on a day that marks the commencement of suffering to the natives. . The original people of Australia deserve to mourn on the day their ancestors were invaded. o They should not be asked to forget and move on. The day should be remembered for atrocities that were committed, and not celebrated by the generations of people who perpetrated the crimes that their counterparts mourn. . The day relates to the destruction of the native population way of life and culture. o Celebrating Australia day on January 26 condones the start of genocide, racism, the end of freedoms to the indigenous population. . Changing the date presents an opportunity for all Australians to admit a wrong was done, and give an opportunity towards making things right. o It is fundamentally wrong to celebrate a day that marks the start of abuse for some people. . The Australian day celebration on January 26th glorifies the triumph of imperialism, while at the same time ignoring the guilt presented by the particular day. o On that day, indigenous people were displaced and disempowered and thus, the day must be changed to have inclusivity. . For many young aboriginals, 26th January represents the date that their ancestors were dispossessed of their rightful property and deaths. o Thus, to them, it is not a celebration to respect the diversity of Australians, but a day that suffering began for one particular group. . The day celebrates old history. o The modern Australia is multicultural, but the day marks dispossession of a people and the British settlement as well as the history of tragedy. Thus, celebrating Australia is not the problem; it is the date that it is celebrated on that poses the problem. References Amnesty International. (2017, January 24). 'WHY I DIDN'T CELEBRATE AUSTRALIA DAY': 9 INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS DISCUSS WHY THE DATE SHOULD CHANGE. Retrieved from Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.org.au/australia-day-change-the-date-2017/ Australia Today. (2017). INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS. Retrieved from Australia Today: https://www.australiaday.com.au/about/indigenous-australians/ IndegenousX. (2017). Why we need to change the date of Australia Day. Retrieved from IndegenousX: http://indigenousx.com.au/why-we-need-to- change-the-date-of-australia-day/#.WOoMHkV95dh Lui, N. (2014, January 25). Australia Day is a time for mourning, not celebration. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/26/australia-day-is- a-time-for-mourning-not-celebration The Conversation. (2015, January 25). The day I don't feel Australian? That would be Australia Day. Retrieved from The Conversation: http://theconversation.com/the-day-i-dont-feel-australian-that-would- be-australia-day-36352 The Conversation. (2017, January 25). Changing Australia Day is pointless - and there is much to celebrate. Retrieved from The Conversation: http://theconversation.com/changing-australia-day-is-pointless-and- there-is-much-to-celebrate-71010 Waxman, O. B. (2017, January 25). What to Know About the History Behind Australia Day. Retrieved from Time: http://time.com/4644497/australia- day-2017-history-origins/

Friday, November 22, 2019

Torralba and Ambrona - Lower Paleolithic Sites in Spain

Torralba and Ambrona - Lower Paleolithic Sites in Spain Torralba and Ambrona are two open-air Lower Paleolithic (Acheulean) sites located two kilometers (about 1 mile) apart on the Ambrona River in the Soria region of Spain, 150 km (93 mi) northeast of Madrid, Spain. The sites are at ~1100-1150 meters (3600-3750 feet) above sea level on either side of the Masegar river valley. Both were thought by excavators F. Clark Howell and Leslie Freeman to contain important evidence for 300,000-year-old hunting and butchering of mammoth by Homo erectus- a pretty revolutionary idea for the 1960s. More recent investigations and developing technologies have shown that Torralba and Ambrona do not have identical stratigraphies, and were occupied at least 100,000 years apart. Further, research has rejected much of Howell and Freemans ideas of the site. Although Torralba and Ambrona turned out not at all to be what their primary excavators thought, the importance of the two sites lies in the notion of ancient butchering and how that stimulated the development of techniques to define what evidence would support that type of behavior. Recent research at Ambrona has also supported the North African origin for the Iberian Acheulean during the Middle Pleistocene. Cutmarks and Taphonomy Howell and Freeman believed that the two sites represented the mass killing and butchering of extinct elephants, deer, and cows that took place at the side of a lake approximately 300,000 years ago. Elephants were driven into the marshes by fire, they hypothesized, then dispatched with wooden spears or stones. Acheulean bifaces and other stone tools were then used to batter open the animal skulls; sharp-edged flakes were used to slice meat and disarticulate joints. American archaeologist Lewis Binford, writing about the same time, argued that although the evidence didnt support butchering or killing, it did support scavenging behavior: but even Binford didnt have the technological advances that have dissolved the previous interpretations. Howell based his argument for hunting and butchery on the presence of cutmarks- longitudinal slices evident in the surfaces of the bones. This argument was tested in a seminal article by American archaeologists Pat Shipman and Jennie Rose, whose microscopic investigations first began to define the diagnostic features of cut marks. Shipman and Rose found that there was a very small percentage of genuine cutmarks in the bone assemblages, accounting for less than 1% of the bones they looked at. In 2005, Italian archaeologist Paolo Villa and colleagues described further taphonomic studies of the faunal assemblage from Ambrona and concluded that while bone and stone artifacts show varying degrees of mechanical abrasion, there is no clear evidence of either hunting or butchery. Animal Bone and Tool Assemblages Animal bone from the Lower Complex levels from Ambrona (dated to 311,000-366,000 based on Uranium Series-Electron Spin Resonance U/ESR) are dominated by extinct elephant bone (Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus), deer (Dama cf. dama and Cervus elaphus), horse (Equus caballus torralbae) and cattle (Bos primigenius). Stone tools from both sites are associated with the Acheulean tradition, although there are very few of them. According to Howell and Freemans two sets of excavations, ivory points were found at both sites: Torralbas assemblages included 10 and Ambrona 45, all made from elephant tusks. However, Villa and DErricos 2001 investigations of those points revealed a broad variability in length, width, and stem length, inconsistent with patterned tool production. Based on the presence of eroded surfaces, Villa and DErrico concluded that none of the points are indeed points at all, but rather are natural remnants of elephant tusk breakage. Stratigraphy and Dating A close examination of the assemblages indicates that they were likely disturbed. Torralba assemblages, in particular, appear disturbed, with up to one-third of the bones exhibiting edge-rounding, a characteristic thought to be the result of the erosive effects of having been rolled in water. Both occupations are large in area, but with a low density of artifacts, suggesting that the smaller and lighter elements have been removed, again suggesting dispersal by water, and surely by a combination of displacement, redeposition, and perhaps mixing between adjacent levels. Research at Torralba and Ambrona Torralba was discovered during installation of a railway in 1888 and first excavated by the Marques de Cerralbo in 1907–1911; he also discovered the Ambrona site. The two sites were first systematically excavated by F. Clark Howell and Leslie Freeman in 1961–1963 and again in 1980–1981. A Spanish team led by Santonja and Perez-Gonzalez ran an interdisciplinary research project at Ambrona between 1993–2000, and again between 2013–2015. The most recent excavations at Ambrona have been part of work identifying evidence for an African origin of the Acheulean stone tool industry in the Iberian peninsula between MIS 12-16. Ambronas levels dated to MIS 11 included characteristic Acheulean handaxes and cleavers; other sites supporting an African Acheulean include Gran Dolina and Cuesta de la Bajada among others. This represents, say Santonja and colleagues, evidence of an influx of African hominids across the straits of Gibraltar approximately 660,000-524,000 years ago. Sources Falguà ¨res C, Bahain J-J, Pà ©rez-Gonzlez A, Mercier N, Santonja M, and Dolo J-M. 2006. The Lower Acheulian site of Ambrona, Soria (Spain): ages derived from a combined ESR/U-series model. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:149–157.Postigo-Mijarra JM, Gà ³mez-Manzaneque F, and Morla C. 2017. Woody macroremains from the Acheulian site of Torralba: Occurrence and palaeoecology of Pinus cf. sylvestris in the Middle Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Comptes Rendus Palevol 16(3):225–234.Shipman P, and Rose J. 1983. Evidence of butchery and hominid activities at Torralba and Ambrona; an evaluation using microscopic techniques. Journal of Archaeological Science 10(5):465–474.Santonja M, Pà ©rez-Gonzlez A, Panera J, Rubio-Jara S, and Mà ©ndez-Quintas E. 2016. The coexistence of Acheulean and Ancient Middle Palaeolithic techno-complexes in the Middle Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Quaternary International 411(Part B):367-377.Santonja M, Rubio-Jara S, Pa nera J, Snchez-Romero L, Tarrià ±o A, and Pà ©rez-Gonzlez A. 2017. Ambrona revisited: The Acheulean lithic industry in the Lower Stratigraphic Complex. Quaternary International: In press. Villa P, Soto E, Santonja M, Pà ©rez-Gonzlez A, Mora R, Parcerisas J, and Sesà © C. 2005. New data from Ambrona: closing the hunting versus scavenging debate. Quaternary International 126–128:223–250. doi:

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy Essay

All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy - Essay Example Here Grady is more experienced with the cruelties and whims of life. His innocence and ignorance push him to do things at the risks of his life. Gail Moore Morrison portrays him as a man who â€Å"will risk much, for he is a man of action, of passion, of character and of honor† (184). Being pushed by his innocence he runs away to Mexico in quest of unnamed fulfillment. This unnamed fulfillment is more than the promise of adventure. In Grady’s case, it is the annihilation of the pain of ignorance. For the sixteen years old boy, his innocence changes into experience and consequently his adventure turns into struggle for life. In a world, full of struggles, Blevins’ death prove that a boy of broiling blood like Blevins must die unless he receives supervisions a realist like Rawlings. As the romanticism of the adventure begins to dispel, Cole starts to realize that a life-supporting job, as Cole takes the job of a wrangler in Mexico, is a must to survive amid the whi ms of life. In this regard, Seth M Packham comments on the change of the protagonist, â€Å"His heroism, and stubbornness to the cowboy code of chivalry are severely circumscribed by the evils of hostile Mexico† (14). In the novel stern realities and unexpected truth appear with their naked faces. The novel is fraught with the theme that the precondition of experience necessarily demands the interactions between human beings and the evil presences of this universe. In his journey to the region of the unknown Grady Cole confronts the evil that appears to be the inevitable component of the world in which human beings live, as Walter Sullivan comments, â€Å"In McCarthys novels evil is too endemic to require motivation† (651). The paradox of innocence and experience in the novel is that Grady Cole has to interact and at the same time be acquainted with the evil in the world and the evil within himself in order to

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Bankers Bonuses a Force for Good or Evil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Bankers Bonuses a Force for Good or Evil - Essay Example This essay seeks to dissect the negative side or the disadvantages that will be caused by the stringent government and European Union policies on limiting the Banker’s bonus, which is regarded as a force for good for the bankers and a force for evil for the public and the overall economy. Essentially numerous reasons are attributed to the culture of the banks offering lucrative bonuses to the bankers. Some of these include the motivation to work so hard in a bid to create more wealth hence more profits. This brings the aspect of profits depends on the individuals employees of a certain bank. This dependency on the operations and talents of various individuals is immensely attributed to the volatile nature of the banking industry in terms of profit generation. The banking industry has developed over time and it is at a point where profits can be generated by well organized and selected factors of production (SMITHERS, 2013). On a similar front, the losses can be made through uncontrolled payments such as the bonuses to the bankers. This is most risky aspect in this discussion since it has been attributed to the 2008 crisis where lucrative banks plunged into economic turmoil which ended them to closure. In addition, most banks extend the bonuses to the bankers, since t he banks enjoy unwavering spot for bonuses because, when times are good and the overall nations’ economy is growing, the banks reap well in terms of profits and hence no doubt that, they will enjoy such pilferages. On a similar note, the banks find it hard not to give its employees the bonuses since they are metaphorically surrounded by bonuses since their stock is money. They use it to trade even in the stock exchange. This goes without a say that, the banks have the ability to extend large sums of money to the employees as bonuses because the money is available. However the question arises whether the government policy through the Bank of England on capping of the bonus and crawling them to 10

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Politics and Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Politics and Global Warming Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Every day we go about our own business.   Many of us never take the time to look around and see how we are affecting our earth’s atmosphere.   Everywhere you look today you are bound to see some factory or machinery polluting our air. Just think how many times you have seen those large semi trucks or big fossil fuel factories emitting thick dark smoke into the atmosphere.   We need to come to reality and realize that all that polluting we have been doing over the last half-century is finally catching up to us. It is very easy to detect through scientific research that our earth’s climate is changing, Time magazine reports in its 2004 issue that the earth’s average temperature is increasing at a steady rate.   Yes, we all have heard the term â€Å"global warming†, however many people don’t know in depth what global warming is, or how our actions will affect our earth if we don’t respond to the issue.   If we can educate ourselves on what global warming is and how it will affect us in the near and far future, we can then begin to change our old habits of polluting and create new habits and goals to living in a much healthier and cleaner environment. The purpose of this study is to know what global warming is and what the government is doing to resolve the issue as well as what else can be done in short term and long term. Background What is global warming?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Global Warming is an issue that concerns almost everybody worldwide: it is the primary cause for the erratic and sometimes devastating weather that is experienced around the world. Global warming is causing the rise in sea level which in turn causes the flooding of coastal areas and areas with low elevation. Global Warming and doomsday   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Will global warming spell doom for our world? Scientists believe this to be so. â€Å"Much depends on what actions we take now and in the coming years.† Meteorologist Jagadish Shukla of the University of Maryland found out that deforestation would cause rainfall in the Amazon River to decline by more than 26 percent from the current 2.5 m. to about 1.8 m. a year (Bellamy, 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At the same time, the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal and oil, produces sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are hazardous to the atmosphere. Findings show that a single smokestack may produce as much as 500 tons of sulfur dioxide a day. When these gases combine with oxygen and moisture, sulfuric acid and nitric acid is formed. The rain will carry the acids to the ground (acid rain) which may cause the depletion of calcium and magnesium in the soil, elements needed by plants for the formation of chlorophyll and wood, or it may cause the release of aluminum in the soil, which are poisonous and can kill the roots of trees (Carwardine, 2000). Discussion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   During the earliest times, the life-styles of our ancestors were very simple. The air they breathed was clean. The streams were clear and free of harmful organisms. They used natural fertilizers for their agricultural crops. The surroundings were free of household throwaways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Today, there has been a tremendous growth in science and technology. Such advances have brought about changes in terms of new products, improved equipment, and more effective methodologies. Unfortunately, this same technology which made life easier for us produced wastes which are now affecting the quality of our surrounding air, water, and land. Factories and motor vehicles send tons of pollutants into our air. Excessive air pollution poses a danger to our health and environment. It can likewise cause stunted growth and even death to our plants. Out streams are polluted by discharges from industrial plants that use chemicals.   Garbage and sink wastes are carelessly thrown in our surroundings. Synthetic fertilizers and insecticides pollute our land and farm products (Johnston, 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At the same time, the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal and oil, produces sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are hazardous to the atmosphere. Findings show that a single smokestack may produce as much as 500 tons of sulfur dioxide a day. When these gases combine with oxygen and moisture, sulfuric acid and nitric acid are formed (Jenner, 1999). The rain will carry the acids to the ground (acid rain) which may cause the depletion of calcium and magnesium in the soil, elements needed by plants for the formation of chlorophyll and wood, or it may cause the release of aluminum in the soil, which are poisonous and can kill the roots of trees.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nitrous oxide or laughing gas is a colorless gas with a sweet taste and odor that is used as an anesthetic in minor surgery that H2O is responsible for about 6 percent of the human contributes to greenhouse warming. Methane or cow gas, on the other hand, makes up about 18 percent of human contributions to greenhouse effect. Cattle, sheep, goats, and other cud-chewing animals give off methane, in burps and flatulence as they digest (Cairncross, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   CFCs are estimated to account for 14 percent of global warming. Experts said that what is happening right now is not a matter of adding a few degrees to the average temperature of a community. A rise of this magnitude may cause life, for without the environment, creatures on earth cannot survive   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Are we all aware of the extent of the damages brought about by modernization? Have we contributed to such environmental dilemma? What have we done to minimize such danger to our lives?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How can we take care of our environment? We must undertake measures to preserve our resources and minimize utilization of energy before it’s too late. Our fight against pollution is an initial step toward conserving our environmental resources and energy. We must all join hands for this common goal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, of all issues affecting humanity, climate change is the most pervasive and truly global, posing a very real and serious threat to our environment. Climate change is the alteration of the pattern of global climate that may be due to human activity that alters the composition of the atmosphere.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If present day emissions of greenhouse gases continue, it is estimated that the rate of increase in global mean temperatures will reach about 0.3o C per decade. This will mean a likely increase of 1o C above the present level by the year 2025, and 3o C before the end of the next century. Resolution   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   a.) Recycling and Reuse of Solid Wastes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Solid wastes are now viewed as a potential resource which must be recovered and reused whenever possible. Since disposal forest resources are rapidly being depleted, recycling solid wastes offer a solution to both.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Consider the element phosphorus. Mined from phosphate ores, it is manufactured into fertilizers. It enters the plant tissues and we obtain it when we eat plant as vegetable. This is later excreted and joins the sewage system. The sewage system sludge can be used directly as fertilizer or soil conditioner.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Used bottles can be used over and over again. Durable plastic containers can be saved for more household uses. Tires can be recapped and used again. Old clothing materials are used as kitchen towels and bags (see Environment Matters: Industrys Guide to the Issues, the Challenges and the Solutions, 1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If the materials cannot be used over several times, then they can be shredded and converted into a new form. Old newspapers are repulped into new paper. Broken glasses are ground and manufactured into new ones. Tires are processed to raw rubber. Protein leftovers are manufactured into animal feeds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   b.) Conserving our Forests   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Every now and then we receive alarming news about our forests being denuded. Big logging concessionaires indiscriminately cut down trees without undertaking reforestation measures.   Without trees, the soil is loosened and rapid erosion occurs. As a result fertile topsoil is washed away, which makes growth of other forms of vegetation almost impossible. We suffer great loss of timber, wildlife, and other forest products. But the greatest danger is the occurrence of floods and global warming that cause losses of food, properties, and lives (Davidson, 1999). III. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of all issues affecting humanity, climate change is the most pervasive and truly global, posing a very real and serious threat to our environment. Climate change is the alteration of the pattern of global climate that may be due to human activity that alters the composition of the atmosphere.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I can personally say that as a young individual, I should do something about it before it is too late and must not only depend on our government. Global warming may affect my health, if not resolved, and may take my life at risk if nature starts to avenge of what people doing.   I need to recycle and reuse my solid wastes and encourage everyone to conserve our forests by not cutting down trees without undertaking reforestation measures. In addition, burning of fuel must be avoided because it can contribute to the possibility of having a global warming.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Future of Cell Phones :: Expository Essays Research Papers

The Future of Cell Phones We have seen the cell phone evolve from a big bulky cumbersome piece of equipment into a sleek small compact device. You can now pick different ring tones for your phone and can change the appearance. Right now you can even access the Internet. Even though it seems like we have seen it all, cell phones are still getting better. Just recently released were the new phones that can take pictures. Not only can you take pictures but you can also send them. However these phones were just released and are going to be very expensive. The Technology is constantly improving and it seems like no matter what type of phone you get a newer model will outdate it. A company in London, the name of it is Eleksen, has created something they call "intelligent fabrics" that can electronically sense a finger's touch and recognize the amount of pressure applied to it (16). You may be wondering, "What is this going to do for cell phones?" Well Erik Fok, who works for Eleksen, says that he hopes that the fabric will herald a new generation of lightweight cell phones that can be controlled with a squeeze of the hand or the glide of a finger (16). Can you imagine that? A cell phone that can be scrunched, folded, or shoved into your pocket. It may seem far away but believe me it will be marketed in a matter of years. Have you ever bought a calling card? Well in the future you may be able to buy disposable cell phones. That's right disposable. These phones, invented by Randi Altschul, will be made out of paper and of course will be recyclable (17). The phone is expected to be available soon and can be purchased for twenty dollars for sixty minutes of talk time (17). There is another inventor that has gone one step beyond this. Victor Chu, a fashion technologist in New York, wants to develop a biodegradable casing for prepaid phones that contains flower seeds and can be planted once the phone runs out of credit (16). I'll have to see that to believe it! Many people are predicting that cell phones will do so much more than voice communication in the future. They will hold keys to bank accounts and be used as remote controls to unlock doors to our house or car.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Plato and the Concept of Knowledge Essay

Plato’s Theaetetus is a dialogue that discusses and attempts to find a definition of knowledge. The two characters, Socrates and Theaetetus, approach the argument with the initial idea that knowledge is the addition of a true judgment and an account. However, Socrates raises some concerns regarding the fundamental aspects that make the definition true. Ultimately, the two characters find that their original definition of knowledge is not as accurate, nor as simple as they once believed. The article opens with Theaetetus recalling a definition of knowledge he once heard, which stated â€Å"true judgment with an account is knowledge [and is therefore knowable], and the kind without an account falls outside the sphere of knowledge [and is therefore unknowable]† (126). Socrates begins to question one’s ability to determine whether something is or is not knowable, and he demonstrates the concept using the relationship between elements and complexes. In doing so, he explains a recent dream of his, which, in turn, is actually an explanation of Dream Theory. Dream Theory states that â€Å"the primary elements, of which we and everything else are composed, have no account. Each of them itself, by itself, can only be named† (126). In other words, as elements cannot be broken down further, elements cannot have an account because that would require the determining of whether or not the said elements exist. The addition of that information onto the original element itself results in something that is no longer in its simplest form. Therefore, no elements can have accounts, nor can they be knowable; elements can only be perceived. Consequently, this poses the question as to whether or not complexes are knowable given that their elements are not. When complexes are viewed as the sum of all their elements, it is safe to conclude that the complexes are unknowable, as their elements are unknowable. This idea allowed Socrates to then consider whether complexes were mere sums or if they should instead be viewed as wholes that cannot be dissected into parts. However, the problem with this idea is that, when viewed as a whole that cannot be separated, the complex is then no different than an element, and therefore cannot have an account. After failing to determine what does and does not have an account, Socrates decides to turn his attention to determining what constitutes an account. First, he defines it as stating one’s judgment through speech. Immediately, this manifests flaws in the sense that any true statement could then be considered an account. If this were the case, there would be no differentiation between an account and a true judgment. Next, he defines an account as listing the elements of the things known. Again, this must be incorrect because the possibility exists that one could simply memorize the elements without actually understanding them. Without understanding, one cannot have knowledge. Finally, he defines an account as differentiating the known thing from everything else. This would require knowledge of the differences, and ultimately would again be a reiteration of the true judgment. Additionally, one would be defining knowledge as true judgment plus knowledge, which would be considered a fallacy. This marks the final turning point in Socrates’s and Theaetetus’s overall definition of knowledge, where the two characters decide that their initial definition could not be considered correct. Through their attempts to dissect the supposed explanation of knowledge, Socrates and Theaetetus finally reach the conclusion that knowledge is â€Å"neither perception, nor true judgment, nor an account added to true judgment† (133).

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Abortion According to Aristotle Essay

Do you believe that abortion is morally correct? That taking away someone else’s life is an option? That abortion is following the Golden Mean according to Aristotle? Currently, many people believe that it can be an option, because the baby hasn’t been born yet. But others, including Aristotle will disagree. First of all, who is Aristotle? Aristotle was a philosopher who thought that an act is morally correct if it follows the Golden Mean. This is an action or a feeling responding to a particular situation at the right time, the right way, the right amount or/and the right reason. See more: Ethnic groups and racism essay Not too much and not too little. The key to the Golden Mean is in moderation. I picked Aristotle because I believe that he has the best ethical philosophy. I agree with Aristotle’s ideas about the Golden Mean because I believe that if you are a moderate person, you will not take anything to an extreme and you’ll make good decisions. He also believes in the Sofia Virtue which is that you have to think straight, learn well and act accordingly. This idea mostly settles in the consequences of actions and how you may respond on them. The Golden Mean also tell us that you need to require virtue because it shows how moral a person is, but what I don’t agree that if a person is virtues, they will know exactly when to stop on their own. I don’t agree with that idea because sometimes virtuous people are forced to do something they don’t like to do so they try to stop it, but they are unable. Currently, abortion is a major issue facing the world, especially for teens. Abortion is when there is a conscious or intentional termination in human pregnancy. There are two types of it: therapeutic and elective. Therapeutic is when the mother needs to abort because of health issues while elective, is when the mother wants to abort because she doesn’t want the baby. The two ways to abort are: medical and surgical. Medical is when the doctor gives the patient some drugs to terminate the pregnancy. The only problem with medical abortion is that it can only function for the first nine weeks after conception and the patient will receive strong cramps. The other way, the surgical is when the doctor removes the fetus by manual vacuum aspiration/dilatation/evacuation. These three different ways are by absorbing the organs or pulling the fetus part by part. This can only be practice for 15 to 24 weeks after conception. According to Aristotle’s thought, abortion is not following the Golden Mean because it is an action that doesn’t respond at the right time by making a decision at a wrong time, in the right way and the right amount of reason, by choosing an excess. Also, abortion is not following the Sofia Virtue because when you are making the decision to abort, you are not thinking straight, acting accordingly, and learning well because you are choosing an option that is an excess. Another idea that abortion is not following Aristotle’s beliefs is that people who are choosing to abort are choosing an excess instead the mean. In this case, the deficit will be keeping the baby and the mean will be giving the baby for adoption. Adoption will actually be a mean because it is what is morally correct and is the best for the baby because he/she will be with a family that will love them instead of a place where they won’t be loved. While keeping the baby will be a deficit because they might know that they weren’t wanted and that will harm the baby. Aristotle also thought that if someone was virtuous, they would know when exactly to stop on their own or begin. When we relate this thought with an example of rape and adoption, many people disagree because many girls want to stop the rape, but they can’t. Later, their consequences are that they are expecting a baby from someone who rapes them. According to Michael Smith, rape is the reason for 13,000 of 1. 3 million annual abortions (Smith, â€Å"Women’s Health†). It may not be too many people but you can ask yourself about how many babies are being aborted. 13,000 have been killed because of it, and I believe that it is morally incorrect, that the safest thing to do is give it to adoption. Instead of going to an excess, these girls should use the Sofia Virtue and think straight and make an appropriate decision that will not affect anybody. Based on the moral reasoning of Aristotle, the correct ethical response to abortion is abstinence. To have sex at the right time, in the right way by protecting yourself, and with the right amount of reason so that if there is an unexpected baby, you will be prepare for it. So when, you are in a situation that you’ll need to choose between an excess, mean, and deficit, you should consider the Golden Mean because it will make you think straight and act accordingly while making the decision and learning the consequences that it may bring. Work Cited 1. Aspiration. †08 Feb. 1009. Web. 05 Apr. 2012 http://www. rhtp. org/abortion/mva/. 2. Hill, Peter. â€Å"Contact Medical News Today. †Medical News Today. MedLexicon International, 27 Feb 2004. Web. 23. May. 2013 http://www. medicalnewstoday. com/contactus. php. 3. â€Å"What is Abortion? † What is Abortion? N. p. , 08 June 2010. Web. 22. May. 2013 http://www. bpas. org/bpasyoungpeople/what-is-abortion 4. Smith, Michael, W. â€Å"Woman’s Health. †Abortion- Reasons Women Choose Abortion. Healthwise 22, Feb. 2011. May 23, 2013 http://women. webmd. com/tc/abortion-reasons-women-choose-abortion.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Sonnet 73 Analysis Essays - Sonnet 73, Sonnet 7, Sonnet, Sonnet 63

Sonnet 73 Analysis Essays - Sonnet 73, Sonnet 7, Sonnet, Sonnet 63 Sonnet 73 Analysis Poetry is a common medium for people to express love. Sonnets are almost always about love. William Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 is no exception. Senti-ments of love along with those of against and death are expressed through the use of figurative language. The poem is organized in such a way that, as it progresses, the reader feels the author approaching death as the use of carefully chosen meta-phors that give Sonnet 73 such powerful imagery. In the beginning of the poem the author uses the metaphor of autumn to stand for his progression in years. Just like the leaves change and fall from the trees, the author has changed and lost his youth. The author next states a compari-son of his aging to a sunset: In me thou seest the twilight of such day/ As after sunset fadeth in the west (lines 05-06). Here sunset represents dying. The next metaphor compares night, which occurs after sunset, to death. Which by and by black night doth take away/ Death's second self that seals up all in rest (07-08).It is important to note that the author has changed his focus from aging, to dying, to death, and narrowed his scope to the close of one day (05). In the final quatrain the author speaks of a deathbed of ashes (10-11). These ashes can be interpreted as the ashes of his youth. Those ashes had once been the fuel of the man's youth, that which provided his youthful energy. But now, they are now the place where the dying fire of his youth a nd strength dwindles to nothingness. It is the final couplet of Sonnet 73 that first mentions love. The entire poem is written to someone, probably a lover or a loved one. The last two lines, however, seem to appear to sum up the relationship: This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong// To love that well, which thou must leave ere long (13-14). Here the author is saying that even though he is so close to death, the lover still loves him. The author's advanced stage on life actually makes the love more strong (13), even though the lover knows that the author will not be around much longer. Although the author spends much of the sonnet speaking of aging, dying, and death, there is still an element of love. The poem addresses a lover of the author through figurative language and metaphors. The organization of the poem makes a steady progression from images of aging, to dying, to death, and ulti-mately to love. Sonnet 73 is a love poem with images of aging and death.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Analyzing the Literary Features of “The Lottery” Essay Example for Free

Analyzing the Literary Features of â€Å"The Lottery† Essay In the story of Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery†, many literary devices are used to convey messages, give clues and give the reader a better understanding on the story overall. Within the story, literary devices such as allegory, symbolism, and satire are used, which are for the moral that Jackson is trying to send to readers. Other devices used are foreshadowing, imagery and irony. Jackson uses imagery to give a good visualization of the setting. Foreshadowing helps give a clue as to what to happen next in the story, and Jackson uses irony for surprise effect to shock the reader in the end of the story. At the beginning of â€Å"The Lottery†, it opens with â€Å"The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. † This description Jackson gave is a clear example of imagery as she uses phrases such as: â€Å"richly green† â€Å"blossoming profusely† and â€Å"fresh warmth†. After reading this, the reader gets a sense of pleasantness in the story. Furthermore, Jackson writes â€Å"The lottery was conducted–as were the square dances, the teen club, and the Halloween program–by Mr. Summers†. This excerpt meant the lottery is traditional, and is followed by other fun activities such as square dances, the teen club and the Halloween program. From knowing the ending, this is an example of irony because the lottery is thought to be a fun opportune activity, but in the end it is found that the winner receives the prize of death. On forward, the lottery is introduced with the arrival of Mr. Summers and his black box he brings for the drawing. In the story, Jackson states â€Å"The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained†. The literary devices of symbolism and foreshadow are used here because the box color â€Å"black† is a symbol of death. With the box being in bad shape being faded and splintered badly, this adds to the symbol of death as fading means disappearing and wood splintering is signs of the wood’s breakdown. The names of these characters are also a form of symbolism and foreshadowing. Two characters, Mr. Graves and Mrs. Delacroix have names with deeper meaning. In the name â€Å"Graves†, grave means death as well, and within â€Å"Delacroix†, Croix is the French word for cross, which in the story of the bible, Jesus was sacrificed upon a cross and both are a form of Jackson’s symbolism to give a message. These objects of symbolism give off the literary device of foreshadow as the symbol of death means something bad may happen later within the story. Analyzing the Literary Features of â€Å"The Lottery†. (2016, Sep 13).

Saturday, November 2, 2019

S.W.O.T. Analysis of Maaco Auto Body & Painting Research Paper

S.W.O.T. Analysis of Maaco Auto Body & Painting - Research Paper Example Experts in franchising have recognized MAACO for its overall excellence, growth potential and helpful support systems for store operators† (MAACCO: About MACCO, par. 2). The positive image of the company contributes to the increase in outlets and clientele since its inception. Gaebler Ventures aptly describes MAACO as a winning retail operation with extraordinary brand recognition, no national competition, and about a 47% U.S. market share. Maaco is more than a franchise opportunity. It is a proven system that provides continuous support and training to position you to grow a prosperous business. With Maaco, you receive expert assistance, so you never feel alone† (Gaebler, par. 1). The competitive advantage of the company is manifested through leadership in the automotive repair industry. According to IBIS World, the nature of the work for auto body shops in the US encompasses repairing the interior and the body of passenger cars, trucks, vans and trailers. These firms also carry out customization work on the interior and body of vehicles. Some firms specialize in certain auto repairs; for example, paint shops specialize in post-collision paint jobs, while automotive glass shops replace, repair and tint windows. Restoration shops, which typically represent a niche market, are involved in restoring classic and antique cars† (IBIS, par. 10). In this regard, this essay aims to proffer a SWOT analysis of MAACO, by reviewing the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), to explore its competitive advantage in their field of operations.... Strengths MAACO was recently ranked by AllStar Franchise as an organization worthy to be included in its AllStar list due to its strengths in terms of longevity which is likewise tantamount to years of experience in their business. As revealed by All Business, â€Å"the company has ranked high in financial strength for two consecutive years, and this year its Web visibility improved significantly (from #202 to #106). Maaco offers a conversion program to turn independent auto body shops into Maaco franchises, which is appealing to many independents in a tough economy. Parent company Driven Brands, which owns several automotive-related franchise companies, also has a Dealership Jump Start program that converts car dealerships to Maaco centers† (All Business, pars. 2 & 3). From its 149 AllStar ranking in 2010, the rank improved to 84 in 2011 proving that MAACO continues to utilize its internal resources effectively and efficiently. It boasts of according customers a price for rep airs which is 33% less than those quoted and charged by other repair shops (MAACO: Home, par. 1). As revealed by White, â€Å"in 2011, MAACO was ranked #1 in class by Entrepreneur Magazine† (par. 4). The unique franchising strategy entices investors to open new shops due to the financial prospects and the number of clientele who continue to patronize MAACO auto body shops. Further, Gross revealed that various customers in Canada expressed their content and satisfaction from the services provided by MAACO. Gross averred that â€Å"Maaco is the collision shop that paints cars. We do it all, and just as importantly, give you much more Value than anyone else can. By bringing your car to Maaco, North America's Bodyshop, you benefit from our encounter, buying power,